#to be near her till she eventually leaves for college | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

hyeque · 2 years

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fake it till you make it [suna rintarō] [college au]

@rinoomi said: can i request for suna rintarou + prompt 3 from angst! (I go by she/her and as for preferred name, can u use sophie :"0)

synopsis: in which suna shows you what a proper date should be like.

notes: so so sorry for how long this took, i had a hard time with writing this but it was fun :) this is fake dating to eventual lovers, sorry fir but you're a bit of an oblivious mess in this :/ also this is the longest fic i've written...i got into the zone and well here we are.

word count: 4.3K+ :0

"i'm going to be 40 before i ever go on a date at all." you complain to your friends. "it's hopeless."

"what?" a laugh-an obnoxious one-interrupts your sad thoughts, "ya never been on a date before?"

you glare at the piss-haired boy who lays near you. "that's what i just said, not that it's any of your business."

"you kinda made it mine by sharin', darlin'," atsumu shrugs, slinging his arm over your shoulder. "all i'm sayin' is that ya don't really put yerself out there. it's simple, all ya have to do is-"

"-as if anyone would want to take dating advice from you of all people." osamu snorts.

"w-what's that supposed to mean?!" the setter hisses before grabbing his brother in a violent fashion. it doesn't take long before they both are bickering.

"i could take you out on a date."

you turn around and see your best friend, suna looking right at you. you didn't think he was listening to the conversation since he was so absorbed into his phone. but his grey eyes wait in anticipation of what your answer is going to be.

"really? you'd take me out on a date?" you ask, tilting your head to the side.

he shrugs, raising a brow. "why not? you can't be that hard to date." a smirk follows his words.

suddenly all the warmth and happiness at the thought of your friend doing everything out of the kindness of his heart vanishes. you scowl at him before hitting his arm. at the same time, you fault yourself. it's suna rintarou for crying out loud what did you expect?

"if you're going to joke around then don't say anything..." you mumble, a hurt expression on your face. "this isn't something i'm in the mood to laugh about..."

the brunette frowns, stepping closer to you. "i'm being serious, you know. i just wanted to tease you a little." he says, a small expression of guilt forming on his face. "i hear you complain all the time so i thought i'd help lift the burden...think of it as a friend date but with implications of a romantic one..."

it's almost criminal how quickly your mood switches again. "really? oh thank you so much, rin!"

you throw your arms around his neck, hugging him tightly." he's shocked but slowly wraps his arms around your body. the familiar scent of you calms him and his rapidly beating heart. while you're celebrating a fake date, suna's patting himself on the back for even initiating it. even if, dare he say it, it's not exactly what he wanted.

the two of you pull out of your hug and the middle blocker is back to being his nonchalant self. "it's no big deal. you know i'd do anything for you." he says, looking away. if you don't look closely you can't see the faint blush that creeps on his cheeks.

but across the room, two particular individuals are watching the whole scene unfold. once the two brothers had untangled each other's limbs their attention turned to the two of you.

"samu yer seein' this, right?" atsumu says, yanking the brunette's head in the direction of you and suna.

"well i have eyes, don't i?" osamu snaps, pushing his brother's hand away. "isn't hard to notice two lovesick puppies."

suna announces he has to leave and that he'll catch up with you all later. he then turns to you, poking your side to get your attention.

"i'll pick you up tomorrow. 7 o'clock in the evening. try to dress nice." he says before walking away.

"i-i dress nice, thank you very much!" you snap, watching suna's retreating figure snicker. the flustered look on your face doesn't go away until you look away from him.

atsumu peers at you, squinting his eyes.

"what is it, pisshead?" you say, tilting your head in his direction.

he chuckles, shaking his head. "yer joking, right?"

you blink. "about what? dressing nice? you're one to talk-"

he clicks his tongue, ignoring your comment and osamu's giggling. "goin' on a date with suna? platonically?" he leans in towards you, smirking, "yer sure ya don't have any feelings for him or anything?"

your eyes widen in shock, hands feeling clammy. "there's no way. rin and i are just friends! that's always been true and that's how it always will be." you answer, a little too quickly for your own liking.

atsumu clicks his tongue, looking off somewhere. "how can ya be so sure about that? that you'll always be 'just friends'?"

you frown, not understanding the question. "huh? wha-"

"tsumu shut yer trap, you've said enough." osamu chides, glaring at his brother. his expression softens once looking to you. "ignore him."

"i didn't know it was a crime to ask a question," the blond retorts, "i mean, what's so wrong about ya two dating anyways? like for real? even if yer friends, the both of ya have nothing standing in yer ways that makes it difficult for dating to be a thing."

it's silent for a good moment before you look to your other friend. "samu?"

he sighs, scratching his head. "i'm afraid he's right. i'm not sayin' the whole fake dating thing is wrong, but i would approach everything carefully...ya never know what might happen. maybe...something unexpected."

"oh but i'm the one who's talking too much? just wait till she finds out-"

"find out what?" you interrupt.

"nothing." the twins say at the same time, plastering on the same innocent but devious smiles on their faces.

that night when you went to bed, you had never felt more conflicted in your entire life. you never felt that way about suna, so what's going on?

the first date comes soon enough and suna curses himself for teasing you because he knows you dress well. the moment he sees you he tries hard to be discreet, but is unsuccessful. he can barely take his eyes off of you.

"you look very pretty." he breathes, his eyes drinking you in. he's looking you over once, twice, and again before he realizes it's been too long. he clears his throat before nodding towards the door. "ready to go?"

"y-yeah!" you pipe up, face burning from the unfamiliar attention that your best friend gave you not only seconds ago. "you don't look bad yourself, rin. i didn't know you could clean up so well." it's true, he's wearing a button-down shirt and dress pants. all aspects flatter his fit and muscular figure and you find yourself feeling warm. damn pro athlete.

"then i guess there's a lot you don't know about me, still." suna says, snapping you out of your thoughts.

before you can reply, he's walking out the door. he doesn't hesitate to grab your hand once you lock it. he leads you to his car and opens the passenger door to let you in before closing it.

"you sure take this fake dating stuff seriously." you joke once he's in the car.

he hums in acknowledgment before turning on the radio.

the two of you sing in the car like you usually do, and elation swarms you at how fun it is. suna doesn't even like singing but he does it with you. you aren't the best but he didn't care.

would your future dates ever sing with you like this?

when you get to the restaurant you were expecting a diner-like place. but not what was in front of you.

"this place is super nice, how'd you find it?" you say, looking around the establishment in awe.

"it was a recommendation from my sister," he explains sheepishly, "if it's too much we can go somewhere else-"

"no! no, this is perfect. let's go!" you tug on his hand, easily slipping your fingers within his. suna's breathing hitches and he hesitates before looping his much larger hand with yours, holding it tight.

suna oddly seemed polite during the entire date. when you speak he nods along, occasionally adding in his own input. but he doesn't make fun of you like he usually does. you try to get a read on what he's thinking but you can't. finally, you decide to just ask and see.

"hey," you say, reaching across the table to him, "if you're uncomfortable with doing this, we can leave."

he frowns, eyes flickering between the close proximity of the two of you. "what?"

"you're acting weird." you point out, "not once have you insulted me the entire time we've been here."

he lets out a dry laugh, leaning back. "me being nice is weird? good to know that," he replies, lips in a thin line. "and i don't think it would be fair to insult a pretty girl on a date."

your breathing hitches and you stare at him, waiting for him to say something else. waiting for a punch line.

"y-you know you don't have to say all of that." you look away, your face burning.

"why not? i wanted to." he shrugs, crossing his arms.

you open your mouth to respond but before you can, a little kid rushes up to suna, beaming and saying that he's a fan. you watch as suna signs a napkin for him before being asked for a photo to which suna happily agrees to.

"you mind taking the photo?" he asks, handing the phone to you.

"oh um, not at all!" you take the device count down, and tell them both to say cheese, which they do. suna wraps his arm around the boy, both of them doing a peace sign. but nothing could've prepared you for what happens next.

suna smiles. if smiles could kill his sure would. perhaps it's a blessing in disguise that he doesn't smile much. your heart skips a beat at seeing the handsome grin and you remember atsumu and osamu's words from yesterday.

the little boy bows, thanking suna, who just waves with ease before bidding the kid goodbye.

the ravenette looks at you who happens to be staring at him. "are you okay? now you're acting weird."

"yeah I'm fine. forget i said anything." you reply, shaking your head.

the rest of dinner carries out normally and when it's time to pay and leave, you both reach for the bill.

suna narrows his eyes at you, unimpressed. "don't be dumb, hand it over."

"at least let me-"

"no." he holds out his large hand before snatching the checkbook from you. he quickly excuses himself to go pay the bill.

as you sit there, half grumbling about how aggressive he was, your ears pick up on another conversation.

"that guy is really hot. do you think he's single?" a girl says.

your eye twitches. they aren't talking about-no, they can't be...not when you're clearly sitting right here...right where he was-

the other girl speaks. "i sure hope so, he's like, really fit. just look at his back. it's so broad. what i would do to-"

you look over to where suna is standing and sure enough the girls both have their eyes trained intensely on his figure.

the thing is, suna is pretty. all your life you'd heard comments about him and the twins, girls around you gushing and fawning over him. hell, they'd even ask you for their number.

"rin, you're back!" you say loudly, hands clasping around his muscular forearm when he approaches you. you cling to his side before your eyes look over to the girls.

"huh?" he blinks. "i was gone for like two minutes, wha-"

"i just...i got cold! sorry! you're really warm." you lie, shivering to make it seem believable. you see the girls roll their eyes, looking away.

good. you think.

he nods slowly, blinking. "oh. are you okay?" he slides his jacket over you.

suna can always tell when you're lying. it's just something he knows by nature. so you bite the bullet and just tell him your thoughts.

you decide to laugh to brighten the mood. "looks like i need to stop hanging out with you. so many girls keep drooling over you."

his eyes sweep the restaurant, disinterest clear on his face, "this again? and why would we have to stop hanging out?"

"so girls can stop asking me to give them your number," you mumble, clutching his jacket tighter.

suna rolls his eyes. "why don't you just lie or something? if it bothers you so badly just know i'm not interested."

"it doesn't bother me," you smile, digging your nails into your palm. you don't even know where the unusual irritation is coming from just now. "and how is that fair to you? i can't decide that without your knowledge. what if you were interested?"

he clenches his fist before sighing. he's frustrated, obviously. but why? why, when you're only trying to be considerate?

"well, i don't want to stop hanging out. and i don't even know what girls you're talking about. they don't matter. so that's the end of it." he bites, before grabbing your hand to head out.

it's tense on the way home, silence filling the car as you both don't say a word. from time to time you both sneak gazes at each other but nothing is said.

before you know it, suna pulls up to your house. he parks and unbuckled his seatbelt, looking at you hesitantly.

"let me walk you to your door." he offers.

you don't decline and let him, silence engulfing you both again. when you reach your doorstep you turn to him. startled, you don't realize how close suna is to you.

"i'm sorry about lashing out like that. i shouldn't have done that." he says, his gaze soft as he looks at you.

your body relaxes once you realize he's not mad. "it's okay, i shouldn't of said all of that. you know i'd never want to stop hanging with you."

"good because i wasn't planning on letting you get rid of me that easily." he smirks, making you both laugh.

"thank you for showing me what a date should be like. i appreciate it a lot," you speak, smiling.

"of course." he nods. "what are friends for?"

you blink, the words hitting you before nodding. "right."

suna's eyes trail down to your lips, licking his own. he's going to hate himself for his next move.

"have you ever kissed anyone before?"

you stare at him before sputtering. "ah n-no, i haven't." your face burns and you look at the ground. "it's lame, right?"

"it's okay. i can show you how." he offers.

"r-rin, you don't have to-"

suna presses his lips to yours. his lips are a lot softer than you imagine-well not imagine-and you gasp softly, melting into his touch. he's very cautious when kissing you, not wanting to seem like he's taking advantage of the situation. he's glad he's not, his whole body is on fire at the moment and he doesn't know how much more he can take.

you both pull away eventually and you feel dizzy. everything seems to be spinning.

"i..." suna trails off.

"that was..." you start.

"too much?" he blurts, scratching his head. "i shouldn't of-"

"n-no, it was great!" you say, fiddling with your hands. suna seems unsure still and you move without thinking. you kiss him again, taking him by surprise. he doesn't move away or forward.

when you pull back you quickly say, "for practice, right? just to make sure the real one is perfect."

"r-right..." he nods.

the two of you stand there awkwardly for a few more moments before suna decides to give you a hug. you interject with grabbing his hand and shaking it. bidding a quick goodbye afterward and rushing inside, not looking back.

suna stands there, only thinking of how absolutely fucked he is now.

- "ya did what?"

"it was just practice. she never kissed anyone before."

"so ya were her..."

suna grunts in response, burying his face in his arms. "i'm just glad it's over now."

four weeks had passed since the date. the three men had just gotten out of volleyball practice and were out eating. ever since the 'date', things had been a little strange between the two of you. you saw each other less, and suna's mood had drastically dampened even further ever since you told him you'd gotten yourself a date with someone.

"'over'? 'glad'? you're clearly upset by all of this. ya dug yourself a bigger hole than ya can get yourself out of." atsumu states. he suddenly beams, impressed with himself, "oh that actually sounded really smart. good job tsumu."

osamu rolls his eyes before looking over to his best friend. "yer hurting yourself, rin. and we don't want to see that." he explains, looking at the black-haired man with sorrow. "just tell her how ya feel!"

"i can't do that." he shakes his head. "i'm sure she'll just be worried that our friendship will be ruined. what if she rejects me?" he mumbles.

"ya still would have yer answer at least. it's better than not knowin' anything." atsumu chimes in. "you've been pining after her for years and let me tell ya, it's hard watchin' you follow her around like a puppy. you even glare at nearly every person who talks to her!"

suna glares at the blond, "i do not glare-"

"you glare." the twins say.

"besides, sophie isn't all to innocent herself." osamu sighs.

suna blinks. "what do you mean by that?"

"she's oblivious alright, that's for sure," osamu says, "but i think it's so bad that she doesn't realize her own feelings for you."

"she was acting weird. said we should stop hanging out because girls keep asking her for my number."

"oh ya, i remember that. girls would ask for yer number in high school and she'd specifically give them osamu or i's number." atsumu says, annoyed. "just more trouble for us."

suna flinches. "she did? why?"

his suddenly phone chimes, the ringtone that's yours specifically, and he picks up his phone quickly.

"ah, it's her. she said she needs to meet me. it's an emergency." suna scoots up off the chair before grabbing his stuff. "i'll talk to you guys later."

"simp." atsumu says under his breath.

"hey, at least bring it up to her? just be honest. not for us but for you." osamu says, patting suna on the back.

"sure." he nods.

he rushes off to meet you, finding you sitting under a cherry blossom tree near a park, your meeting spot that the two of you have had since you were kids.

"i got here as fast as i could. what's wrong?" he kneels by you, taking in your weak form. his hand ghosts over your face before he pulls away to sit down.

"i had that date," you respond solemnly, staring at the sole of your shoes.

suna's neutral reaction is pained slightly but he quickly recovers. "really? well, how'd it go?"

you're silent for a while, the expression on your face one of confusion. "i don't know? they talked a lot, i didn't really feel like i could get any words in. b-but they were nice! i think!"

"you think?" he said echos.

you look up, finally meeting his eyes. "it just...it didn't feel right, you know? the conversation was so once sided but what do i know? i didn't want to interrupt them if anything, i felt bad." you explain.

"why would you feel bad about someone who doesn't have your best interest at heart?" he frowns, "he clearly only cared about himself. did i treat you like that when we went out?"

"no..." you mumble, "but you're my best friend. you always listen to me. you're supposed to."

suna huffs, "that's not the point."

you chew on your bottom lip. "he tried to kiss me, but i wasn't interested."

he feels himself stiffen, moving to examine you. "did he force himself on you?"

"ah, no. he didn't. i'm okay, i promise." you say, "i made it clear i didn't want that."

you sigh. "i don't know what i was expecting. it was one date, so of course, it couldn't have gone perfect, right?" you laugh bitterly. "but it's hopeless. i'm never going to find the one." you sigh, looking up at the sky. "am i really that unlovable?"

"don't say that." suna snaps. "of course you're lovable."

you flinch at his tone and he notices, softening a little. sighing, he speaks again.

"i just don't get why you keep wasting your time with all these other people. none of them are what you need."

"yeah?" you laugh, turning your head to look at him, "and do i need, rin?"

suna's grey eyes are clouded. you can't tell what kind of emotions are running through him right now but you know he's conflicted on something.

"...have you ever thought, maybe it's me?" he finally asks.

your breathing stops but you heave out a dry laugh by force, rolling your eyes. "very funny, rin."

"i'm not joking, sophie."

you blink, staring at him in awe. your laughing dies down and you become silent. is he really being serious? he couldn't be. there's no way. he's just messing with you.

almost as if suna is reading your thoughts he speaks, "come on, did you really think i took you out on those dates only as a 'friend'?" a laugh, "i thought you were smarter than that."

you sputter, your brain failing to process any and all coherent thoughts. "b-but we've always been best friends, we-"

"yeah, to you," he corrects, habitually shoving his hands in the waistband of his shorts. "i've always known that i wanted to move past the friend stage since the second year of high school."

"high school..." you breathe, feeling a weight on your chest. all that time he liked you?

the thing about suna rintarou is that he is complicated. one minute he's serious, the next he's joking, and more than half the time you can't even tell which is which. his blunt nature helps some part, but it also ends up with you berating him angrily. sometimes, there are things you didn't want to hear.

but the catch about hearing things from suna rintarou is that you cannot be selective.

"rin...i'm so sorry...i didn't-i thought-" you fumble. "all those times you were teasing me, i just thought you were joking...i never saw it that way. i-"

he smiles at you, pinching your cheek playfully. but that doesn't stop you from seeing the sadness behind his eyes.

"it's okay. the bright side is that i can no longer say that i've never been on a date with you. so now atsumu can shut up," he jokes, "and i don't expect you to reciprocate my feelings, but i really thought that it was time i let you know."

he gets up from his spot and holds his hand out for you to grab. you grab it and pull yourself up, watching him in shocked silence as he begins to collect your stuff.

he looks at you over his shoulder. "we should get you home, it's late-"

"w-wait!" you grab onto his jacket sleeve to get his attention. his eyes slowly make their way to yours and he quirks a brow.

the moonlight really emphasizes every feature on suna's face and damn, god sure took his time making him. the angle of his face shows off his high cheekbones and angular jaw. his grey eyes reflect the hidden gold flecks, ones that you always admired about his eyes. the small upturn of his nose, one so perfect and kissable. but not nearly as kissable as his lips. you find yourself short of breath as you look at him and the thumping rhythm of your heart doesn't slow down.

is it hot outside? your eyes dart around for a moment and your hands suddenly feel clammy. is there moisture in the air? the night is young, the sky clear is beautiful. so what could possibly-

right. oh.

"what if...i do feel the same way?" you blurt, not wanting to keep the middle blocker waiting any longer.

you watch the way his body stiffens before he turns away from you. he always does that as a way of protecting himself.

"you don't have to say all of that to make me feel better, you know." he sighs.

"i'm not," you huff, gripping his wrist tighter, "what i realized is that it wasn't what the guys were doing, but who i was with. none of them are you. and they never will be. all i'm saying is...is that if i let you walk away right now, i'd be making the biggest mistake in my life."

he takes in your words before turning you so you're faced front in of him. his hands cup your face and he scans over you, probably to detect if you're lying.

"you're serious?" he breathes, his body closing the gap between the two of you.

"if there's anything i've learned it's that i don't want to spend most of my time with anyone else. i want it to be with you," you respond softly.

he cocks his head to the side and smirks. "'most'? how do i get all of your time? huh, baby?"

"r-rin..." your face burns at the pet name, unable to look right at him.

"just teasing you," he whispers, eyes flickering down to your lips. his thumb runs over the skin and he pulls your face close. "you have no idea how happy i am after you said that."

"I'm sorry i was so oblivious before. that must of sucked for you."

"it's okay, we both know you're not very bright."

once again you hit him before turning serious again. "are we done pretending? are we making this a real thing now?" you ask, grasping onto his hand tightly.

"i never was pretending. everything i've expressed and felt has been genuine," he admits.

"then i guess i've just been in denial then. afraid of my own feelings and blind to who was right in front of me." you explain.

and he kisses you again. "damn right you were. but i'm glad i can call you mine now."

you lean into him, closing your eyes. "me too."

even if you hadn't been sure of what you felt and what was right, one thing for sure is that suna's arms were the right place to be.

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applerubyy · 3 years

Text

Ciao Adios

Summary: When you find your boyfriend cheating on you yo decide to expose him in the pettiest way you can think of.

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader (some Loki x Reader if you squint)

Word Count: 4k

Warnings: Cheating and cursing (I think that’s it?)

A/N: Hi! So this is my first time writing and posting anything here so if its terrible please tell me nicely :). This is some AU where everyone lives and all is happy ok? Also english is not my first language so I apologize in advance for any grammar or spelling mistakes. Anyway, if it turns out that some of you like it I think I’d be willing to do a part 2 if you like. Hope you enjoy it! <3. Btw, the gif is not mine so credit to whoever made it.

Crack. That’s the sound of your heart breaking, ripped to pieces in just a few seconds. And no, you were not exaggerating. Seeing your boyfriend kissing someone else while taking off their clothes would do that to a person. And in his office of all places.

How did you not see that coming? They had a lot in common and they did spend a lot of time together but you were just so naïve thinking that he was the most trust-worthy person ever that you looked the other way and believed him when he told you she was “just a friend”.

Just a friend my ass you thought as you calmly walked to your room. No running, that would draw attention to you and you didn’t need that. No crying either, because once you started you wouldn’t be able to stop. Walking down the hallway and taking the elevator to your floor feels like it takes forever.

Time is funny that way. It has that annoying tendency to slow down or speed up at the worst times. Like when you were in college and the clock seemed to literally stop, you would look at the time and it was 10:20 am and check again after what felt like half an hour for it to be 10:25 am. Or like when you are having fun with your friends at a club and you see it’s 12:30 but when you look again a few minutes later it’s 2:40. Right now it feels like the former, time seems to have slowed down. Maybe Dr. Strange did something to it? No, that’s stupid, he wouldn’t play with time that way.

Finally the elevator pings open and you rush to your room. Well, it’s not only your room anymore. You share it with him and everything is a reminder of what you just saw. The art supplies on the desk by the window, the famous shield leaning against the wall near the door, the messy bed where you sleep together every night …

And every single thing brings tears to your eyes until finally, the dam breaks and you let the tears fall down. You bring your hand to your mouth to muffle a sob that brings you to your knees. Crying is the only thing you can do right now because your brain is stuck on a loop. All you can see is Steve kissing her, unbuttoning her shirt with one hand while the other grabbed her ass. And all you can hear are their moans, Sharon’s whimper when he touched her and his groan as he did so.

And now you are full on crying and choking on air because that scene keeps replaying itself over and over no matter how much you want it to stop. And you do, Gosh you do because there is so much your heart can take and this is too much. It shatters you in more ways than one. It makes you question everything you thought you knew about him, about her, about your relationship and about yourself.

You remember the first time you met him. You were already in college and looking for an internship. Luckily you happened to be the niece of the one and only Pepper Potts. And who wouldn’t want to work near Earth's mightiest heroes? You sure did. You were studying journalism and communications in New York and working with the Avengers was the ultimate dream, one that was about to come true.

Your first day was uneventful, it consisted mainly of coffee runs, delivering files and passing messages along. That was until your third coffee run where you ran straight into a wall, well actually it wasn’t a wall but it felt like it. The coffee spilled everywhere, on your clothes and his, and you were going to fall on your butt if it wasn’t for him grabbing your arms to steady you. Imagine your surprise when you looked up to see Captain America himself.

And that’s the moment your love story started. It seemed like something straight out of a romantic comedy and you loved it. It started with flirting, a date and then another, him asking you to be his girlfriend and finally asking you to move in once you graduated. It felt like a fairytale.

Tony wasn't very happy about you and the Capsicle but he saw how happy you were so he tried to be happy too. Tony was your uncle even if you didn’t share any blood. Growing up you would visit your aunty Pepper in New York and he was always around, you even stayed at his house when Pepper and him had to work. So, you two became really close even before he became Iron Man and started dating your aunt.

The same thing happened with Rhody. Your close relationship with Tony meant you were close to him too, seeing as he was one of the most important people in his life. Rhody treated you like his niece and was the only one he didn’t make fun of which you took as the ultimate compliment.

So those three you knew before you started working at the compound and before Steve. But once you started working there you met the rest of the Avengers. Being Pepper and Tony's niece and Steve's girlfriend meant they all wanted to get to know you.

You met Bruce Banner, the Hulk, and you became really close. But that was thanks to his close relation with Tony and all the time you spent with him working on his social media presence to make sure people saw him as more than just the green monster who smashes things. After a while of working there they promoted you and now you manage the Avengers social media.

Nat and Wanda became your best friends from the moment you met. You just clicked and hung out as much as possible, being the only girls on the team meant they were really happy to have another female added to the mix. As for Vision, he liked you because Wanda did, simple as that.

Bucky and Sam were the funniest people ever, their constant bickering always brought a smile to your face and they welcomed you with open arms. Happy that their friend had finally found someone to be with.

Thor and Clint were like the fun uncles you got to see every once in a while. The God of Thunder was like an excited puppy and would hug you till you couldn’t breath every time he came to Earth and Clint would joke around with you and FaceTime you when he was with his kids because they loved you (“best babysitter ever” that called you).

You met Peter when he started working for your uncle. He was a sweet kid and your love of memes, vines and pop culture made you instant friends. He would ask you for advice on girls and tell you science jokes.

But we all know not all fairytales have a happy ending and this one definitely didn’t. You’re feeling so many things at once. There’s anger, sadness, jealousy and something else you can’t put your finger on. You keep crying and are unable to move from your kneeling position on the floor. Checking the clock you realize you’ve been on the floor crying for an hour so you stand up.

Taking a shower seems like the best thing to do, your head is pounding and your face is all puffy. As you shower it hits you, that other feeling swirling around is inevitability. In a way you always thought he was too good for you, you always thought he would eventually get tired of you and trade you for someone else.

It just hurt too much that it was her, the woman he shared so much with. The niece of Peggy Carter, his first love. An agent of S. H. I. E. L. D. Someone who risked their life for the world like he did. Someone prettier. Someone better than you.

Yeah, you were definitely on a self-pity party. But you needed to be miserable for a while, to cry it all out, to hurt so that you could move on to the next stage of grief: anger. And when that came, there was no stopping you.

You weren’t a mean person, or a petty one. You gave everyone countless opportunities and forgave way too easily so you never really got angry. But when you did, when you said enough is enough, yeah, you better watch out. That could be the meanest bitch you ever met and she had no mercy.

So you got out of the shower, dried yourself and started getting ready. Tony was throwing yet another party about who knows what and you were not missing it. You liked parties, they were the perfect excuse for wearing pretty dresses and putting on make up. And tonight you were going all out.

Your inner bitch was concocting a plan and you were going with it.

You hear the door open and prepare yourself to put on the best acting of your life. You take a deep breath and in the sweetest voice you can muster say: “Steve is that you babe?”

“Yeah doll it’s me” you hear him say. A few second later he pops into the bedroom and gives you a peck on the lips as you continue with your makeup.

“How was your day?” Steve asks as he takes off his clothes, probably to take a shower. “I missed you today, i went by your office but you weren’t there” he says with a small frown between his eyes. You could stare at his blue eyes forever but snap out of it when you remember what he did.

“Oh not much, i left work earlier to get ready for tonight” you answer. Shit your work. You really did leave like that, but after tonight hopefully they’ll understand. “You should start getting ready, the party starts in thirty minutes”.

He smiles at you and tells you he’s going to take a quick shower before getting dressed. He goes to the bathroom and you feel like breaking the mirror but instead take a few deep breaths and remind yourself he’s getting what he deserves later on. With that in mind you finish applying you makeup and smile at yourself, you look good. Moving on to your hair you decide to do some loose waves and that’s it, you really don’t know how to make those complicated updos.

Steve gets out of the shower and starts putting on his suit. Men really do have it easier you think to yourself when you see all the work you had to do and he just showers and that’s it.

You take your dress out of the closet and admire it. It really is beautiful. It has a deep plunging neckline that shows a lot of cleavage and is skin tight with a slit on one side. The fact that it is silver with sequins makes it even better. Pepper helped you pick this dress.

You put on the dress and admire yourself in the mirror. You look good. Behind you, you hear a whistle and turn around to see Steve watching you lust in his eyes. He comes closer and grabs you by the waist, pulling you to him.

“You look stunning” he says as he wets his bottom lip. “I can’t wait to take it off of you when we get back”. Lying cheating bastard.

“Can't wait” you lie as you wrap your arms around his neck and kiss him. This is just a kiss goodbye you tell yourself. One last kiss before he’s out of your life and probably runs to her. Tears threaten to fill your eyes but you hold them down. Not now.

You break the kiss when the need to breathe is too strong. Grabbing his hand you start walking towards the door and say: “Come on, we’re already late”.

——————————————————————————

The party had already started once you walk in and in true Tony fashion it is elegant and extravagant. Everyone is there: S. H. I. E. L. D. agents, the Avengers themselves, politicians and a few famous people.

You and Steve walk to the bar and order drinks. A whiskey for him and a strawberry daiquiri for you, yes you are that basic but hey, it tastes awesome. He offers you his arm and with drinks in your hands you start looking for your friends. A lot of people stop you on the way, nobody wants to miss an opportunity to talk to Captain America.

One thing, or rather on person, catches your attention: Loki. He’s sitting on one of the cushions alone with a drink in his hand. It’s weird to see him there. Sure, he was redeeming himself for what he did in 2012 and Thor said he was doing better but he rarely left Asgard (he “hated mortals”) and when he did come to Earth it wasn’t for a party.

As if he could feel you staring he turns his head and locks his eyes with yours. You weren’t going to lie, he was gorgeous. He was incredibly tall, had those charming green eyes and was actually funny (but you’d never admit that to anyone). But you were in love with Steve and never saw him as anything more than Thor's hot brother. And everyone in the Avengers was hot so that’s not saying much.

You turn away from him and see Nat and Wanda on the dance floor and you tell Steve you’ll see him later and to go find his friends. He’ll need them after tonight you think to yourself. You greet the girls and start dancing with them, for a moment forgetting about what you saw today and putting Loki out of your mind.

The three of you decided to take a break and order some more drinks. Once at the bar Wanda orders for you and when your drinks arrive you go back to the dance floor. You spend the next few hours dancing, talking to your friends and pretending that nothing's wrong. Talking to Steve and pretending that nothing's wrong. Hugging Steve and pretending that nothing's wrong. Kissing Steve and pretending that nothing's wrong.

The fact that Sharon is at the party doesn’t help at all. When you see her talking or touching him you feel like you’re gonna lose it but you remain strong. You remind yourself of your plan and try to keep them out of your mind.

There’s a small stage at the far end of the room and you see your uncle Tony step on it and grab the microphone.

“Hello everyone and thank you for coming to another one of my amazing parties. I hope you are having a good time and taking advantage of the free bar over there” he points to the other side of the room and continues, “Now for what we have all been waiting for: karaoke! And yes, i want everyone to sing something because that’s the whole point of this. I'm looking at you Manchurian Candidate, you’re singing”.

With that he gets off the stage and passes the mic to Sam who decided to sing a Marvin Gaye song. He’s pretty good actually but you can’t fully concentrate on him because your mind is going a thousand miles an hour for what it’s going to happen later.

More people go up and sing their songs and you applaud when they’re done. Nobody is talking much, they're all too busy either laughing at the others performance, drinking or actually listening to the songs. You’re sitting with Steve to your right, Bruce to your left and the rest of the Avengers nearby. You’re your own little group.

It’s finally your turn and as you walk to the stage you can hear your friends whistling and cheering you on. Once you’re up on the stage you choose the song and start singing.

Ask you once, ask you twice now

There's lipstick on your collar

You say she's just a friend now

Then why don't we call her?

So you wanna go home with someone

To do all the things you used to do to me

I swear, I know you do

Used to take me out in your fancy car

And make out in the rain

And when I ring you up

Don't know where you are

'Til I hear her say your name

Used to sing along when you played guitar

That's a distant memory

Hope she treats you better than you treated me, ha

As you continue singing you get more and more confident and take the mic. You walk off the little stage and over to your friends while dancing and you can see them smiling, clapping and having fun. They have no idea how much i mean all of this you think. You look at Steve and he’s completely oblivious. Good, you want to take him by surprise. You arrive at your little circle of friends and start singing the chorus.

I'm onto you, yeah you

I'm not your number one

I saw you with her

Kissing and having fun

If you're giving her all of your money and time

I'm not gonna sit here wasting mine on you, yeah, you

Ciao adios, I'm done

You keep dancing and go back to back with Wanda who’s also singing along. You then turn to Nat and she grabs your hand and makes you do a little spin.

After three, after four times

Why did I bother?

Tell me how many more times

Does it take to get smarter?

Don't need to deny the hurt and the lies

And all of the things you did to me

I swear, I know you did

And now you take her out in your fancy car

And make out in the rain

And when she rings you up

She know where you are

But I know differently

Now she sings along when you play guitar

Making brand new memories

Hope you treat her better than you treated me

You go up to Tony and he starts dancing around you busting out some dad moves. You laugh and keep on singing and dancing.

I'm onto you, yeah you

I'm not your number one

I saw you with her

Kissing and having fun

If you're giving her all of your money and time

I'm not gonna sit here wasting mine on you, yeah, you

Ciao adios, I'm done (I'm done)

Ciao adios, I'm done (no, no, no, no)

Ciao adios, I'm done

If you're giving her all of your money and time

I'm not gonna sit here wasting mine on you, yeah, you

Ciao adios, I'm done

And now you take her out in your fancy car

And make out in the rain

And when she rings you up

She know where you are

But I know differently

Now she sings along when you play guitar

Making brand new memories

Hope you treat her better than you treated me

You walk back to the stage as you sing and step up. You put the mic back into place and sing the last part of the song.

I'm onto you, yeah you

I'm not your number one

I saw you with her (with her)

Kissing and having fun (and fun)

If you're giving her all of your money and time

I'm not gonna sit here wasting mine on you, yeah, you

Ciao adios, I'm done (I'm done)

Ciao adios, I'm done (you get on with your life, I'll get on with my life)

Ciao adios, I'm done

If you're giving her all of your money and time

I'm not gonna sit here wasting mine on you, yeah, you

Ciao adios, I'm done

When you’re done people are clapping and cheering and you look to your friends to see them all smiling. You look at everyone and make a little mock bow and when you straighten you see Loki sitting on the same couch as before. But this time he’s looking at you and he’s laughing, not smiling and cheering but actually laughing.

You look back at your friends and say “Thank you, thank you” with a smile on your face. You continue , “I wanted to dedicate this song to my boyfriend Steve” you point at him.

“In case it wasn’t clear enough, i wanted to tell you that i saw you with Sharon”. You could hear a pin drop. No one was talking and all eyes were on you. This is what you wanted, to humiliate him as much as he did you. And what better way to do it than publicly? Oh but you weren’t done.

You could see Steve's face going pale and nobody knew where to look, if at you or at him. Tony look ready to murder him as did Rhody, Pepper, Peter and Bruce. Thor, Clint and Vision looked shocked. But Bucky, Sam, Nat and Wanda looked guilty.

Your heart breaks a little more when you realize they knew. You can’t really blame Bucky and Sam for not telling you, they were Steve's friends after all. But you thought the girls were your friends, that they would have told you. Apparently you overestimated that friendship.

You keep on smiling and continue “So… I’m breaking up with you. Hope she was a good fuck and wasn’t uncomfortable with the fact that you were once in love with her aunt”. You do a dramatic pause and make a little disgusted face. “Anyway, if I’m lucky i´ll never see you again. Have a great life!”

And with that, you walk off the stage and make your way to your friends. Steve is rooted to the spot and his face is red with embarrassment. You walk up to him, look him straight in the eye and give him an evil smile. He gulps and opens his mouth as if he’s about to say something and then closes it. He does is two more times and still nothing comes out.

You turn to your group and look at Wand and Nat, who can’t seem to be able to look you in the eye. You sigh and say: “Who want enemies when they can have you as their best friends right?”. They look up then and start talking. Telling you how sorry they are and to please forgive them. You raise your hand to silence them and they do.

You go to your aunt and uncle who look like there should be smoke coming out of their ears and say: “I’m gonna stay in a hotel for the night, can’t stand to be here anymore”. Tony scrunches his eyebrows and look at you like you’re crazy.

“Hell no. You’re staying here. We can find him another room to sleep in but you’re not leaving. If anyone’s leaving is Mr. Star-spangled over there” he practically screams the last part as he points at Steve.

You take a deep breath and hug him. It takes him by surprise but he puts his arms around you. “I appreciate it uncle Tony but i can’t stay at the compound, it just hurts too much” you say as you let go. Turning to your aunt you hug her as well and say: “Thank you for everything but I quit”.

The moment those words leave your mouth everyone starts talking at the same time telling you how crazy you are and to think about it. You just smile at them and tell them you already made up your mind. “I'm gonna go pack a bag and ask Happy to take me to a hotel nearby. Please make sure he doesn’t follow” you say as you point to a still red-faced Captain America.

With that you turn around and leave. The room is silent for a few seconds before you hear your friends all screaming at Steve. You look around for a second and notice that Loki is staring at you with a smirk on his face. When you look him in the eye he raises his glass at you ant takes a sip.

You give him a small smile and walk through the doors towards the elevator.

#steve rogers x reader #captain america x reader #steve rogers imagine #captain america imagine #avengers #avengers imagine #loki x reader #loki imagine #tony stark #steve rogers x y/n #captain america x y/n #steve rogers fanfiction

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teenwolffan-with-nolife · 3 years

Text

Mistakes

Word Count: 1,713

Characters: Derek Hale, Scott McCall, Stiles Stilinski, Reader, OC Characters

Pairings: Eventual Derek Hale x Reader

Warnings: ANGST, Derek being an asshole, TW: drugs, overdose, death

A/N: this will have mulitple parts, either 2 or 3, so nothing too long lol

Masterlist

“I don’t care! Keep looking!” Derek paced around the loft, while Stiles and Scott sat on the couch, bounding their legs nervously. Allison, Lydia, and Isaac were out with Argent, all looking for you.

“People don’t just disappear,” Stiles shook his head.

“Yeah, no shit,” Derek replied.

“Okay, just think. What did she do all day? Did she go anywhere o-or something? Has anyone seen her all day?” Scott asked.

“She was with you guys last. Her phone’s right here,” Derek held up your phone, before exhaling harshly.

“Maybe it’s time to tell your dad, Stiles. He can help us,” Scott suggested.

“Maybe I should, yeah,” Stiles got out his phone, before hearing the loft doors open.

The three of them froze, looking at the door cautiously as you stood in front of them.

“What’s going on?” you frowned slightly.

“What’s going… What’s going on!?! Everyone has been looking for you for the whole day! Where the hell were you?” Derek yelled at you.

“I was on a hunt, I-I forgot my phone, I meant to text you-” you started.

“Stiles, Scott, get out. Now,” Derek clenched his jaw as he kept his glare on you.

The two boys nervously stumbled out of the loft, not wanting to leave you alone with Derek.

“Did you not think it was important to let someone know where you were?’ his voice was calm, but the anger was still evident in his face.

You hated when he would act like this. Ignore you for 40 percent of the time, yell at you for 60. You had grown tired of it.

“I forgot,” your voice was low.

“We wasted the entire day looking for you,” he crossed his arms.

“And I never told you to look for me. If you’re just gonna get mad at me, then I’d like to go now,” you replied.

“You’re unbelievable, you know that? If I had it my way, you wouldn’t be in the pack. You’re less important than Stiles,” you always felt hurt by his words, yet never showed any emotions.

“Yeah, I’m unbelievably useless, as you keep reminding me,” you sighed.

“I don’t understand why you can’t just…” you cut him off, before running your fingers through your hair.

“Why I can’t just listen? Why I can’t just stop being useless? I’m a fucking mistake and you keep reminding me every single second you get. Don’t you think I know by now? If I could change, I would. You refuse to give me the bite and so does Scott. I’d leave Beacon Hills if I could, leave instead of forcing you all to live with the burden of knowing me,” you were already exhausted from your day, and Derek pushing your buttons didn’t help one bit.

“I never said that,” he started.

“You don’t have to. I see the way you look at me, I see the way you all look at me. I have nothing more to say to you, Derek, so if you don’t mind, I’m going home,” he stayed silent while you walked out of the loft. You felt a tear fall down your face before wiping it away, heading back home.

---

“Mom, I’m home,” you placed your bags aside as you pulled off your jacket.

You walked up the stairs, kissing your younger brother’s forehead.

“How’s Mom?” you asked him.

“She said she was feeling better but I don’t believe her,” he replied.

“Thanks for being a strong kid and looking after her while I was gone,” you gave him a small smile before patting his back.

“Go eat your dinner, I’m gonna go check up on Mom,” you said, before making your way up to her room.

“Mom?” she was sitting up in her bed, holding a cigarette in her hand.

“Mom! You can’t have those!” you yanked it out of her hand, throwing it aside.

“Why not? I feel fine,” you could see dark bags under her eyes, while her skin was visibly paler than earlier that day.

“Did you take something?” you asked.

“What do you mean?” she shook her head.

“I’m talking about drugs, Mom! Did you take any drugs?!” you yelled.

“That’s none of your business,” she crossed her arms.

“Except it is. Do you not remember what happened last week?” you scoffed.

“Last week was a mistake, it’s different now,” you shook your head, remembering her near overdose.

“No, it’s not. You need to get clean, Mom. For yourself, for Sam. Are you forgetting who found your body in the bathroom?” you ran your fingers through your hair as you sighed, thinking of your brother

“Sam should have left with his father,” your mom scoffed.

You felt chills go down your spine, at the mention of your dad.

“Well, Dad’s gone, and he’s an asshole. Mom, please. I need you to start taking care of yourself. I already dropped out of college and I can barely keep us afloat,” you begged her.

“You only started college a month ago,” your mom frowned.

“Yeah, I know. But our family is more important. When we’re stable, I’ll start college again. But in order to do that, you need to promise me, no more drugs,” you said.

Your mom nodded her head before you wrapped your arms around her. You could hear her snoring within a few minutes while you chuckled softly, slowly putting her back in bed before flipping off her lights.

You frowned, feeling your neck and arm bugging you from the hunt, before you rubbed your eyes, yawning.

“(Y/N/N)... I need some help with my homework,” you heard your brother’s voice as you held in a groan.

“Sure, kiddo, Come on,” you led him to your room, before closing the door, making sure not to awake your mother.

---

“Scott, you’re joking,” you exclaimed.

“We called partners like 20 minutes ago! You weren’t here and no one picked Derek,” Scott groaned.

“Yeah, and for good reason. I don’t understand why I can’t be by myself,” you shook your head.

“Because it’s dangerous,” Scott said.

“It’s a vampire!” you exclaimed.

“Exactly!” Scott replied.

You squeezed your fists before exhaling sharply.

“Fine, where’s the douche-bag?” you sighed before Derek walked to you, rolling his eyes.

“Well, let’s go then.”

---

You rolled your eyes, visibly bored as you and Derek sat in silence. The two of you sat in the car, waiting for any suspicious activity while you watched people walk in and out of the restaurant.

You turned on the radio, before Derek pushed your hand away, turning it off. You glared at him, before taking out your phone.

“Get off your phone,” he said.

“I’m bored,” you replied.

“And we’re on a stakeout mission. Get off your phone,” he said.

You turned it off, before hearing it ring. He glared at you, while you gave him a look, checking your texts.

You felt your chest aching as unbuckled your seatbelt.

“I have to go,” you said quickly.

“What? Why? (Y/N), you can’t leave me-” he started.

“I’m sorry, I really have to go,” you could feel tears rushing from your eyes as you pushed out of the car before he grabbed your wrist.

You pulled away from him, running off into the night.

---

Your brother sat in a chair at the hospital, bouncing his leg nervously.

“Sam,” his head shot up as you called his name.

He ran to your arms, burying his head into your chest.

“I-It wasn’t… It wasn’t an accident this time,” he cried out.

“What happened?” you bent down to his level, putting your hands on his shoulder.

“W-We were watching… We were watching a movie, a-and then she got up, a-and… she didn't come back,” your brother stumbled with his words, holding in his cries.

“Shh, it’s okay. It's okay,” you wrapped your arms around him tightly, before shutting your eyes tightly.

She was getting better, it has been a week since your conversation with her, and she was trying so hard.

“(Y/N) (Y/L/N),” you heard the doctor as he walked towards you.

“I’m so sorry…” their words drifted off as you bit your lip, tears rushing down your face as you held onto your brother tightly, holding in your cries as you shut your eyes tightly.

She was gone. She died.

---

You held onto your brother as the two of you made your way back to your house, biting back a sob.

“H-Here… I need you to… How about you go to y-your room?” you said.

He nodded before walking upstairs. Your body began to visibly shake, while you cried, holding in your sobs so he wouldn't hear you.

You leaned against the table, breathing shakily as more and more tears escaped from your eyes.

You heard loud knocking, banging at the front door as you wiped your face, before opening it.

You were met with Derek’s angered face as he gripped your arms tightly.

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” he yelled.

“I-I,” you stuttered.

“No! Shut up! The vamp killed three people before I could do anything! Do you have any idea how big of a mistake you made?! Why did you leave?! What was so important that it couldn't wait till later?!” he yelled.

“I’m sorry,” you started.

“You little…What is wrong with you?!” he yelled.

You pushed him away from you, as you clenched your jaw. He only walked closer to you, before you swing your fist, punching him in the jaw, only angering him more.

His eyes glew red as he pushed you against the wall. You could see his claws coming out of his hand, digging into your arm.

“Derek…” your voice broke.

“(Y/N)?!” you heard Sam crying loudly, standing by the stairs.

Derek’s class retracted, his face softening.

“Who the hell is that?” Derek asked.

“Get the hell away from me! You want me out so bad?! You got your fucking wish! Leave!” you screamed at him.

You punched him back, kicking him out of your house before locking the door behind you.

You fell to the ground, sobs erupting from you while Sam ran to you, burying his head in your lap.

“I-It’s gonna be okay,” you cried softly, running your fingers through his hair.

“It’s gonna be okay.”

#teen wolf #teen wolf text #teen wolf fic #teen wolf fanfiction #teen wolf angst #Derek #derek hale #derek hale text #Derek Hale Angst #derek hale imagine #derek hale x reader #derek hale x you #derek hale x reader angst #derek hale x platonic!reader #scott mccall #scott mccall imagines #stiles stilinski #stiles stilinski imagine

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fanfics4all · 3 years

Text

Lioness And Her Lion

Request: Yes / No So the reader is Daryl’s younger sister and with soulmate marks Glenn and the Reader each have half of a tattoo please? any season is @julia-potter626

Requests are closed <3 Have a nice day/night

Glenn Rhee x Fem!Dixion!Reader

Word count: 2645

Warnings: Nothing really I think

Y/N: Your Name

PLEASE DO NOT STEAL MY WORK, I WORK HARD ON MY FICS AND IT’S NOT COOL TO STEAL SOMEONE ELSE’S WORK!

If you want to be on the tag list for anything (My series fics, specific character fics, or just all of them) All you have to do is send me an ask and I will add you!

Masterlist

(Not my photo, credit to whoever made it!)

My two older brothers taught me all about soulmates when I was growing up. They each had a different tattoo. Merle’s was a deer on his hand while Daryl had a really pretty cherokee rose with two arrows.

They each got theirs when they were fifteen, so when it was my turn I was so excited to see what I would get! As soon as I blew out my candles I searched my body for the new tattoo. I found it quickly on my arm and smiled.

“That’s pretty badass, little lady.” Daryl said with a smile.

“I don’t know little lamb, seems you’re stuck with some asshole.” Merle said and Daryl smacked him.

“Fuck off, don’t scare her.” Daryl growled and I rolled my eyes at my brothers.

“Can you two please not fucking fight on my birthday?” I groaned. They always seemed to be at each other’s throats, but I was the only thing that seemed to bring them together. If anyone ever messed with me they would come together and take care of the problem. After I got my tattoo, they seemed to be extra protective of me. So when the world ended they took me with them and made sure I was always safe.

A month into the apocalypse, I had become really depressed. I gave up hope of ever finding my soulmate and my brothers noticed how crushed I was. Daryl always tried to keep my mind off it, or tell me that my person was still out there, but it was just so hard to believe that with the way things were going. It was especially hard to believe his words when I had Merle telling me that he was wrong and I should just give up like he did. Eventually the three of us found a group and joined them in surviving. Daryl had met his soulmate Carol, which went roughly, but turned out alright in the end. Merle had turned into more of a druggie and Daryl kept me away from him. I was honestly distant from everyone in the group. I was still so broken up about never finding my soulmate that I would just spend most of the time in my tent or out hunting with Daryl.

One day I was sitting alone in my tent, just staring at my lioness tattoo. That's really how I spent a lot of my time. How could something so beautiful bring me so much pain?

“Hey! Y/N!” I heard Daryl call for me. I sighed and pulled down my sleeve, then made my way outside.

“What is it bubba?” I asked, walking over to him. I noticed he was standing with one of the guys in the group, Glenn I’m pretty sure his name is?

“What did I tell ya about using that damn nickname around other people?” He growled and I rolled my eyes.

“Get over it. If you can call me little lady around everyone then I can call you bubba.” I said crossing my arms and he sighed.

“Whatever. Kid, show her your arm.” He said to Glenn.

“Uh, alright?” He said and extended his arm towards me. My eyes widened and I looked down at my covered arm.

“D-Do you think?” I whispered and looked up at my brother for confirmation.

“Only one way to find out.” He said and I pulled my sleeve up. I placed my arm next to his and our tattoos started to glow softly. Both our eyes widened and we looked into each other’s eyes.

“It’s you…” We whispered at the same time.

“Told ya you’d find him.” Daryl said and I smiled.

“But, if you even think about hurtin her, you’re gonna deal with me!” Daryl threatened and I groaned.

“Way to ruin the moment!” I said and my brother shrugged, but walked off.

“I was honestly starting to lose hope.” Glenn said, making me look back at him.

“I already lost hope, that’s why I’ve been so distant.” I blushed. Glenn placed his hand on my cheek, making me look into his brown eyes.

“You don’t ever have to worry about losing me.” He said and I smiled.

“I really hope so.” I replied.

Our group had grown, which meant we needed a bigger place to keep everyone. We had found a prison that we were all living in, it was a nice little community. Everything was great, until the Governor attacked us with a tank. I was grabbed by Maggie during the attack and she helped me get to safety, along with Sasha and Bob. I had no idea where Daryl or Glenn were, and I had no idea if either of them were safe or dead. The four of us were in the fog and walkers were growling all around us. We all stood back to back killing any walker that made their way to us. It was hard and I was almost bit, but Sasha shot it.

“You ready?” Maggie asked once we were all safe and recovered from the attack.

“We should wait till the fog clears.” Sasha said.

“We’ve been waiting a while.” Maggie said.

“You see all this? We got lucky. We need visibility. And we’ve got six bullets left.” She sighed.

“She’s right. We’ve been doing good following the plan. No need to get sloppy now.” Bob said and I rolled my eyes.

“I am a tracker, I could just lead us away from the walkers.” I pointed out.

“No, if we don’t keep you safe Daryl will have all our heads on spikes.” Sasha said and I sighed.

“Glenn wouldn’t be too happy either.” Maggie said and I nodded.

“Fine, whatever.” I said as Maggie pulled out a compass.

“What is it?” Sasha asked. Maggie tossed it to her and sighed.

“It’s broken.” She said and Sasha sighed in defeat.

“We don’t need it. Sun comes up in the east, sets in the west. We’ll keep an eye on it in between. We’ll be fine, right Y/N?” Bob asked and I gave a small smile.

“Yeah, we’ll be fine.” I agreed. The two women didn’t seem too convinced, but didn’t say anything.

Once the fog cleared we all headed out. We found some tracks and I sign that read.

‘Sanctuary for all community for all those who arrive survive Terminus.’

“Terminus. When we were out on the run to the veterinary college, we heard a message about this on the radio.” Bob said.

“They were broadcasting?” Maggie asked.

“What did it say?” Sasha asked.

“Couldn’t make it out. I only know because I’m seeing it now. “Those who arrive survive.”” He answered.

“We should go.” I said. Maybe Daryl and Glenn are there.

“I thought we were looking for your brother and Glenn.” Sasha said.

“What if they saw one of these? They would go looking for me looking for them.” I said and Sasha sighed.

“Look at this map. All these tracks from different directions, all leading to the same place!” I said with a smile.

“It’s far. And we don’t know if there are other signs.” Sasha said, thinking with her brain rather than her heart.

“You don’t think this is the only one?” Maggie asked and I smiled slightly.

“This is the best lead we’ve had so far. It says sanctuary. That’s just another reason to try. Others from the prison could be there. Tyreese.” Bob tried convincing Sasha.

“If it sounds too good to be true… Maybe if Glenn or Daryl saw one of these, maybe they’d feel the same way.” She said.

“Glenn wouldn’t. He’d believe, I know it.” I said.

“And Daryl?” Sasha asked and I sighed.

“Daryl would probably agree with you.” I answered and she nodded.

“Look, what do you want to do, Sasha? Keep making these circles from the bus? Or are you talking about us starting to do something else?” Bob asked and she looked at him.

“We’re not splitting up. That can’t happen. You want to take a vote or something?” He suggested.

“We don’t need to vote.” She said and walked away. I smiled at the other two and followed behind them.

After a while we set up camp in the woods nearby. Bob and Sasha stayed at the little camp while Maggie and I went to get firewood. Maggie had become the older sister I’ve always wanted. When we first met, she had become protective of me almost instantly, said I reminded her of herself when she was my age.

“Sasha isn’t gonna go through with it ya know.” I said with a sigh.

“Yeah, I know.” She also sighed.

“I’m goin’ with or without them.” I said and she gave me a small smile.

“Then I am too. I promised your brother and Glenn that I’d keep you safe.” My eyes widened.

“Really? You’d risk everything for me?” She nodded with a smile.

“Of course, I need to see my sister too.” She said and I nodded.

We decided we weren’t gonna actually tell them we were leaving. Instead, while the two of them were asleep, we left a note.

‘Don’t risk your lives 4 me good luck’

The two of us were off to Terminus. Trying to find anyone from the prison. Our siblings, my soulmate. We followed the tracks and ended up finding another sign. We ran up to it and I went to write on the box it was on, but a walker growled behind me.

“I got it.” Maggie said, but I stopped her.

“No, I got this.” I said with a smile. I walked up and kicked it in the knee, then stabbed it in the head. I cut its stomach open and used some blood to write on the box.

‘Glenn and Daryl go to Terminus Y/N, Maggie’

Maggie gave me a smile and nodded for us to continue. She handed me a rag and I cleaned the walker blood off.

“That was a smart idea.” She said and I smiled slightly.

“Thanks, Daryl taught me use what you got.” I said and she chuckled.

“Smart man your brother is.” She said and I nodded.

“It came in handy when the world ended.” I said and she sighed.

“The worlds not over.” I looked at her confused.

“What’d you mean?” She smiled.

“The worlds over when all the good people are gone.” She said and I thought about that for a moment. Maybe she was right.

When we passed another building with a walker near it I did the same thing.

‘Glenn and Daryl go to Terminus Y/N, Maggie’

I needed to leave a trail. I needed to be with them again. I needed to know they were alright. Not knowing anything was killing me, more than anything that’s happened before. I refused to believe either of them were dead. But I had to be strong like Daryl and even Merle taught me. Dixions were strong right till the very end.

Maggie and I reached a town. The two of us decided to see if we could find anything. It was abandoned like most places were nowadays. There ain't nothin’ safe out there anymore. Terminus might not even be safe, but it could be safe enough for a while. Maggie might have wanted to look for supplies, but I needed to find another walker.

“We need to rest for a bit.” Maggie said and I sighed, knowing she was right.

“Ain’t nothin’ looks safe enough.” I pointed out and she gave me a small smirk.

“We got walker blood all over us, we could just lay in the small pile over there and blend in.” She said and I thought she was crazy, but it was the best idea we had. So, the two of us laid down and rested for a bit.

We woke up to a sudden crash and walkers coming out from all their hiding spots. Maggie grabbed me and we went to grab some weapons. Maggie grabbed a sign and I pulled my bow from my back. We heard someone else fighting them and found Sasha on top of a car. The two of us joined in the fight.

“Where’s Bob?” Maggie asked.

“Out looking for you two.” Sasha answered.

“What are you here?”

“Supplies and rest.” Maggie answered and I bit my lip.

“I was looking for another walker.” I said and Maggie looked at me with slightly wide eyes.

“Obviously, we found more than I wanted…” I blushed slightly in embarrassment.

“Y/N, we didn’t need to go into town to leave another message.” Maggie said, grabbing my shoulders.

“I know, but what if they came through here before they saw any of those damn messages! I gotta leave as many as I can!” I said and She sighed.

“We’ll find them.” Sasha said and we both looked at her.

“We can make it there.” Maggie said.

“I know, so let’s find Bob and let’s make it there.” She said and I smiled.

It really wasn’t that long before we found him. All we had to do was follow the tracks, but at a faster pace. We saw him walking along the tracks and we all smiled.

“Bob.” Sasha called and turned to face us. He smiled and the three of us hugged him. After the short reunion we followed the tracks to another sign.

‘Glenn and Daryl go to Terminus Y/N, Maggie, Sasha, Bob’

We walked a while and made it to a tunnel. Another perfect spot for a message.

‘Glenn and Daryl go to Terminus Y/N, Maggie, Bob, Sasha’

We all tried goin’ through the tunnel, but we heard walkers. We couldn’t go through. We had to go around, I only hoped my boys would do the same. During our trip we found some people in a car. They had been with Glenn! We all heard shooting from inside the tunnel and quickly drove in.

“Get down!” Abraham shouted. Each of us took aim with our guns and killed the small hoard of walkers. When they were all dead I walked up to Glenn and hugged him crying.

“Oh my God.” He whispered. We pulled apart and I kissed him more than once.

“Hi.” I whispered.

“Hi.” He whispered back. My heart felt fuller than it did before and we kissed again.

All of us were clearing the walkers to the side, deciding to stay the night here.

“God, you are so beautiful.” Glenn said after we just dropped a walker on the ground. I smiled and laughed. He was adorable as ever.

“How’d it go?” Glenn asked Rosita as she walked back with the girl Glenn had been protecting.

“End of the tunnel’s secure. If anything tries to come in, we’ll hear it in plenty of time.

“We ain’t get to officially meet.” I said to the girl.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Tara, this is Y/N. Y/N, Tara.” Glenn said and she shook my hand.

“Hi.” She said.

“Hi.” I replied.

“He’s a big fan of yours.” She said and Glenn gave a small chuckle.

“I met Tara on the road. Couldn’t have made it here without her.” He said and I pulled her in for a hug.

“Thank you.” I said.

“When she heard what I was doing, she said she had to help me. She’s just that kind of person.” He said, smiling at her. If it was any other situation I would probably be jealous, but he was my soulmate and based on what she said, he talked about me a lot. Glenn grabbed my hand and I pulled him in for another kiss. My other half was back and I felt happy for the first time since the prison. Now all I needed was Daryl and my world would be perfect once again. But for right now, this was enough.

Tag list: @les-bio-lie @tashy-bear @ashwarren32 @hollie-blogs-blog1 @schisbro87 @lover-of-books-and-teas @nerdygaloresposts @teenwolfbitches2 @genius2050 @drw0301bieber @lady-of-lies @ravenmoore14 @ravenempress101 @cillianchamp @rowanthomasknapp @rachelxwayne @lover2448

#The Walking Dead #the walking dead imagine #glenn rhee #glenn x reader #glenn x fem!reader #glenn rhee x reader #glenn rhee x fem!reader #glenn x dixion!reader #glenn rhee x dixion!reader #daryl dixon #daryl dixion x sister!reader #daryl x sister!reader #fanfic #request #soulmate #soulmate au #soulmate tattoo au #the walking dead soulmate au

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duckpatrolstories · 3 years

Text

𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄, tetsuro kuroo x reader - ch. 1

— in which an unfortunate bartender in the wrong place at the wrong time gets kidnapped by one of the biggest crime syndicates in the city.

female reader, original on wattpad, cw; swearing

word count: 1341 — next

"Here's your drink, sir," you say as you set the glass in front of the young man. He flashes you a toothy grin and winks, a charismatic thank you rolling off of his tongue before he takes a drink.

You effortlessly ignore him, used to the flirtatious attitudes of tipsy college students and just men in general. You walk back over to the till to quickly add his drink to his bill before tending to the other customers up at the bar.

As a group of girls request a couple of shots, you smile and grab a couple of glasses for them. Despite the happy and friendly face you have plastered on, you want nothing more than to go home and sleep. The bar is busy and hectic, and your feet are sore from walking around all night, bouncing from one end of the bar to the other, taking orders and making drinks. Plus, the booming bass of the music and LED lights are starting to give you a headache.

"There you go, ladies," you say after you finish filling the shot glasses with their desired alcohol. They giggle happily as they each grab their own shot.

"Miss! Another drink down here!" a man calls out to you.

"A couple of shots over here, please!" another calls.

"Another beer for me, miss!" and another.

You sigh, feeling yourself stretching thin with the number of orders coming in. But, when a hand pats your shoulder, you feel a wave of relief wash over you.

"I got the ones down here," your coworker, Yuta says as he pushes past you.

"Fucking finally, my gosh," you growl in annoyance and punch his arm. "I was starting to think you would never come in."

Yuta rubs his arm and glares at you. "You know what? I'll clock out right now, seeing as you can't appreciate my glorious presence."

You roll your eyes, "Glorious, my ass," you snip. "Go make those drinks or I'll cut your pay for being late."

"Yes, ma'am," Yuta says with a nod and heads over to one end of the bar while you head over to the other.

From the outside looking in, it could easily be interpreted that you and Yuta don't like each other very much. But despite the constant bitching and bickering, the two of you are actually pretty close. He's your favourite coworker, if you're being honest, and you see him as one of those cool, badass brothers.

"Hey, miss, we ordered squid tempura a while ago," a woman says as you set her drink before her. "We haven't gotten it yet."

"Sorry, I'll go check on it," you say with a polite bow before dismissing yourself from the bar. You head to the door to the kitchen, the sounds of culinary and commanding voices meeting your ears when you push the heavy door open.

The few chefs on duty frantically work to cook up meals and snacks, moving around the kitchen on quick feet.

"Oi, Haruto," you call, your eyes landing on the head chef. He looks up from his work at the sound of his name. "We need squid tempura out here."

"Ah, sorry," Haruto apologises and points to the dish sitting on the good-to-go counter. "It's right there. I got a little preoccupied."

"It's alright," you nod and quickly grab the plate. You leave the kitchen as Haruto scolds one of the chefs for overcooking the rice. You shake your head and head back towards the bar.

You set the dish down in front of the woman and her friends with an apologetic smile. "There you go, ma'am. Sorry about the wait," you say.

"Don't worry," the woman says as she and her friends dig into the bar snack. "It's busy tonight."

The night proceeds to drag on slowly for a few more hours despite the number of people filling up the bar. You continue to work hard, making drinks left and right and bringing out snacks to the hungry customers at the bar. Only when the clock nears closing time, around two in the morning, do things start to calm down and people start to leave.

As you slide a drink down the bar to an older man, you turn to Yuta. "I suppose you can clock out a bit early. I can take things from here," you say and pat him on the shoulder for his hard work.

"Thanks, boss," Yuta says and takes the hand towel from his shoulder, tossing it on the bar counter before heading to the break room to do as you told him.

You glance over the bar. A few tipsy friend groups sit at tables and chatter away, and the dance floor has a couple of people dancing away. There's three others sitting up at the bar, slowly dozing off from the amount of alcohol they consumed in the past three hours or so. You give the DJ a nod and he turns down the volume of the music a bit, signaling to those still in the bar that it's about time they should go home.

You sigh and place your hands on your lower back. Arching backwards, you hear a satisfying pop. "Damn, that feels good..." you groan out as you straighten up.

"Old lady," Yuta remarks from behind you.

"Shut the hell up, I'm only 23," you whirl around and growl at him.

"Yeah, old lady," Yuta teases.

You attempt to smack him upside the head but he expertly dodges. "Respect your elders, you damn delinquent!" you snap.

"Look who's talking," Yuta laughs. "You're the one who dropped out of college."

"Just go home, asshole," you huff and start pushing him towards the exit.

"Alright, alright, I'm gone," Yuta says, raising his hands up in surrender. You glare at him as he leaves. He gives you a cheeky salute as he pushes the door open and steps out into the crisp autumn night.

Cheeky bastard, you think with a shake of your head as the door closes and you watch him walk down the sidewalk.

You spin on your heel and head into the kitchen again, deciding to tell Haruto and the other chefs the same thing.

"You guys can head home, if you want," you say. All of them, except Haruto, eagerly finish up what they're doing and take off their overcoats and hairnets. As the other chefs leave the kitchen to clock out, you turn to Haruto, who continues washing the dishes. "Not gonna go home?"

Haruto shakes his head. "I can stay back and help clean up," he says. "Plus, there's still some people out there, yeah? Can't leave them without anyone to cook them food."

You sigh and shake your head. "Dude, it's twenty minutes to closing time. I'm gonna have to kick them out sooner or later. They won't be ordering any food," you say.

"I can still clean up," Haruto persists.

"Alright, if you insist," you say. "But at least let me take out the trash for you, yeah?"

Haruto smiles at you. "I'd appreciate that, thanks."

You walk over to the large garbage bin and pull the edges of the bag off the rim. Tugging the strings shut and tying them into a secure knot, you struggle to pull the unreasonably heavy bag out of the bin. Haruto laughs at your feeble attempts and you playfully flip him off. But you eventually get a good grip on the bag and successfully lift it out of the bin.

You push the back door open and make your way over to the dumpster. You set the bag down beside it with a huff, your fingers hurting from the thin plastic strings. You take a moment to decide whether to toss it in the dumpster, but decide not to. You don't have the upper body strength to do so, and you're too lazy and tired to even try.

You turn to head back inside.

"Is this everything?"

The sudden, unknown voice catches your attention and you stop.

#haikyuu!!#haikyuu mafia #au #fanfiction #haikyuu fanfic #x reader #female reader #kuroo x reader #kuroo tetsuro #tetsuro kuroo #kuroo x female reader #wattpad #tetsuro kuroo x reader

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fafulous · 4 years

Text

Take Me Home (2/5)

Andy Barber x Reader (Post!Defending Jacob)

Summary: After the unfortunate events of the trial and after, a depressed Andy Barber decides to call it quits and start a mundane life far away from Newton. He decides it is best to have a fresh start away from prying eyes and alone, but he never thought his caring neighbor (and her son) would change all of that.

Themes: MAJOR D.J. SPOILERS ((The series is following the BOOK ENDING and not Show)), Sad and soft Andy Barber, Single Mother Reader. Cursing.

a/n: I dedicate this chapter to my LOML @sinner-as-saint. Happy Birthday Darling! ILY!

Part 1

Warnings: Small Hints of Abuse.

—

It was your full day shift at the library

You still couldn’t stop thinking about that horrid graffiti left out on Andrew’s Garage door. Why would anyone write something so horrific? It is never a common occurrence to accuse someone of being a murderer; Besides, you didn’t even truly know who the man was.

In one of your breaks while sipping on your hot cocoa, your curiosity got the best of you and googled about him. Those amateur press reporters wouldn’t crowd around a random vandalism; you knew something was up.

To your dismay, you came across terrifying articles of his family. Specifically, about his son.

You read about how Andrew Barber, the Local district attorney of the Newton County was found to be tangled in a murder case because of his son. You didn’t bother to read further for the headlines were awful; described how his 14-year-old son was in trial for the murder of his own classmate.

The details were too horrifying. The press reported every court proceeding but you didn’t proceed to read about what happened. Perhaps his son went to jail? Or he was declared not guilty but was separated from his family? You thought how a good handful of weeks passed and he had absolutely no visitors to his house. Best decision you made was to close the articles for it made you sick to the stomach.

Not only did it feel like you were invading on someone’s privacy, it was also not difficult to picture your son in Jacob Barber’s shoes.

You felt bad for the man, you really did. But then you recalled how he questioned your parenting. It takes years to build self-confidence, but just one statement to shatter it all.

It didn’t feel right reading about your neighbour, it felt like you were a stalker. And so, you resumed to stock up and label the new pile of books.

The Librarian desk was placed in such a way that you would immediately know if anyone entered the library. It would normally be teenagers and college go-ers labelled as nerds who would spend hours and hours of studying and reading. But this time, the one approaching your desk was the last person you ever wanted to see.

Nikolai’s father.

A week ago, Chad did make an appearance into your life out of the blue, asking you to take him back. But you couldn’t for you believed in two things: Your self-respect wasn’t weak, and that Nikolai didn’t deserve a pathetic excuse of a father. After you found out about his infidelity, you mentally decided not to take him back and that was a final decision.

You dropped whatever you were doing and made a beeline to Chad. “You can’t drop in during work like this.”

Quarter of an hour perhaps was spent on arguing back and forth in whispers. You will never deny that how it would be perfect for Nikolai to grow up with a father, but you kept reminding yourself not to give in to him.

“Listen Y/N. I really am sorry for barging like you on this. I want to make things right. “

“You can’t Chad,” you whispered, “I can’t. It is not fair to Nikolai and to me. Just go.”

Chad suddenly pushed you back to one of the bookshelves by gripping your shoulders. His shoulder touches were something that he used to do to offer you comfort at times of distress. But now this was causing you stress.

He gritted his teeth. “Why can’t you just fucking take me back?”

“Because I wasn’t the one who slipped into my co-worker’s vagina!”

Before you realised Chad was going to get unpleasant with you, another familiar voice interrupted the small run-in.

“Hey everything alright?”

You turned around to the stern voice only to see your neighbour, Andrew. You were fixated on him to the point where you couldn’t take your eyes off of him.

He looked so handsome.

He was wearing a formal dark navy suit, his tie almost matching his hair colour. His hair and beard were neatly groomed with just a hint of messy. His beautiful trench coat accentuated his arm muscles. He did look like a textbook District Attorney.

Andy on the other hand exchanged looks between the both of you, glaring at the man who dare pushed you back against the bookshelf. He got near to them which made Chad leave his grip and take a few steps away from her.

Chad continued the conversation with you without acknowledging the intruder’s existence. “I’m going to leave now. Think about it. I’ll come in a few days to pick up Nikolai.” He soon left, making sure he didn’t make eye contact with the formal dude who seemed to be much taller to him.

Andy approached you cautiously while your hand pressed the wrinkles off of your shoulders. “Couldn’t help but hearing the whole co-worker slipping into your vagina statement. That man your ex?”

Dealing with two arrogant men simultaneously was not something you signed up today. “Be careful Mr. Barber, the attorney in you is showing.”

Andy stiffened his shoulders but did not let go of his grin. He liked a woman who was snappy, especially when he has seen the caring side of you. “So, you know about me?”

“I can take care of myself,” deflecting from his question. You didn’t want to admit about your slip up that you read about him from an online article. “You didn’t have to do that whole saviour stunt on me Mr. Barber,” you walked away from him, heading outside the library to catch a breath of fresh air. Andy followed you like a puppy would.

“You didn’t have to do it alone too, Miss”

You noticed how he didn’t call you formally. “Andrew, I told you I-I am never going to have a conversation with you ever.”

“I know I know.” He paused and you crossed your arms, waiting for him to say something while you admired the beauty of his trench coat on his frame.

“I need to talk to you.”

“I’m busy. M-my shift ends in an hour.”

“I can wait.”

“No Andrew, my car is in the repairs and I’m bailing on my assistant to drop me home-“

“I can drop you. We literally live next to each other. Please Y/N,” He neared you, anxiously looking over at you, “Give me this tiny speck of a chance.”

You stood there trying to pull off a stern look, trying so hard not to display you inhaling his musky cologne that made you excited. Who would’ve thought you would fall for a meanie who just had a pair of needy, blue eyes?

“Alright fine,” you said giving in. “Read a book or something inside.”

Andy was happy at his sweet victory.

In that time Andy decided to look through the well-ventilated library. It was quite spacious, his senses hitting with the smell of old books and natural pesticides to keep the books from deteriorating. There were enough tables for people to sit and read at their leisure. He even recognized familiar books he used to read with Laurie every night. It was an intimate ritual for them; so eventually for the past few months, he gave up on reading.

Andy then noticed you scuttling around for a while till you plopped on your desk. Your work attire was silk white blouse with a yellow pencil skirt. There was a strut of confidence every time you took a step or gave orders to her assistant.

Neither of you would deny the lingering glances you gave each other in that time.

An hour passed and both of you stood outside near his beautiful black car.

“What is it Andrew?”

“I wanted to sincerely apologize to you. This is not right I know. I know I’ve hurt your feelings and this apology doesn’t even cover it. I stepped out of line many times even though you remained to be kind to me.”

You puffed out a breath of air. Judging by the tone of his voice, you knew the man before you were being sincere.

“Just let me make it up to you one day at a time please. It would kill me if I didn’t do anything.”

“Y-you don’t have to anything Mr. Barber. Its just-“

“I know take your time. I hope we could hit the refresh button excluding the part where I make it up to you.”

“Yeah no um- I also owe you another thanks for helping back at the Library- uh Chad? The bloke you interrupted me with?”

Andy nodded. “It was nothing really. So, can we start fresh?” He extended his hand to you and a firm handshake was exchanged.

“Apology accepted I suppose.”

Soon you found yourself in Andy’s car, who was kind to even open the door for you. Chivalry isn’t dead.

For now.

The ride back was quiet, you observing in the interiors of the sleek black car. The seat felt so comfortable, along with the man beside you. A comfortable silence prevailed the drive back home, Andy popping in superficial questions about your work and Nikolai and vice versa.

“So any plans for tonight?”

“Nikolai wanted to watch a Disney movie tonight with some Chicken Lasagne. Oddly, specific I know but kids these days, right?”

“Yeah.” You noticed how his face fell slightly and so you tried to change the topic. “What about you?”

“The usual. Netflix and Takeout. Trying to cut on the beer though you know with the new job and all.”

“Thanks for the drive back home Mr. Barber.”

He took this as a good sign. “From now on you can call me Andy.”

“Listen Mr. Barber- Andy I have to get something off of my chest. “

Andy unbuckled his seat belt and faced you, unsure of what she wanted to say. “Sure please, go ahead.”

“Okay Andy. I just want to clear the air that only know about you as an attorney because my curiosity irked me after your whole garage shed incident. I didn’t dig much because I felt like the inner me was being like a creep.”

He raised his eyebrows heart slightly sinking that you had already become the judge of his character. “So, you do know about me then?”

“Not more than how your son was involved in a murder trial,” you fumbled. “I don’t know the outcome and I don’t know why I am telling you all of this oh my god.”

Andy chuckled to see you covering your face in embarrassment, feeling a little relieved to know that you didn’t have much of an idea of who he was. He reassured her that it was completely fine, and you saw you going back home.

The next couple of days went smoother for both you and Andy. After a week it seems you and Andy always left home for work at the same time, passing casual morning greetings…which you had to do by successfully covering your blush because he never failed to look nothing less than good looking even though he was now just a swimming instructor.

Andy told you that day he apologized to you at the library was the day when he gave in an interview for the Swimming Instructor position opened at the community gym. He said it was something he used to do in his free time, and he wanted to give it a shot

You weren’t even surprised to find your mind in the gutter when you thought about Andy in skin-fit Speedos that stuck to his thick thighs and broad back. Or would he just wear trunks? You smacked your head; this what happens when the last time you got laid was two years back…

No offense to your expensive vibrator.

Andy would drop you to work if you didn’t feel like it and pick you up too. He even would take Nikolai alone for car rides which he enjoyed.

“Mommy! Wandi car go zooooom!”

He once popped into the library telling you that he would like to be a member. You would have never thought that this man was a bookworm. He soon told you how he used to have a habit of reading a book every night and now that he wants to revive it.

Normally for new inquisitive children or young adults who wanted recommendations to begin the practice of reading was handled by your assistant, Tracy. You weren’t surprised when Tracy was almost proactive when she saw Andy. But to the utter dismay of your assistant, Andy wanted to hear it from you.

Its not like you won a battle with your assistant, but you happily concurred with you head held high. He wants me. (You smacked yourself mentally again, jealousy is an ugly stain).

“How do I know you’re not bluffing Andy?” you whispered.

“Hey hey,” he leaned nearer to your ears. “I’m new to this place and I want a couple of books and recommendations that’s all. It can get lonely at home sometimes.”

As Andy and you spoke over books, you saw he had no shred of the hostility he had in these past few weeks. Andy also noticed how you looked much more comfortable than you were initially. For the both of you a new friendship was blooming.

For now.

“What kind of books are you into Mr. Barber?”

“Well I was the thriller and mystery kind, but things have changed, looking for a change rather. Nothing old sticks on to me now.”

“Ah yes. Every reader has that phase and I have just the solution.”

He was almost puzzled when you took him to the young adults section and handed over two books or rather two parts of a beautiful story.

“Harry Potter? Isn’t that a children’s book?”

“Objection your honour!” You went on to tell him the premise of the books without spoiling much for him. It suddenly struck him that Jacob had these books at home too. But he was able to push the twinge away when he hears your sweet whispers of excitement. He did complain he has watched the movies but the bookworm in him knew that books are always better than the movies.

“Okay okay! Objection is sustained.” He laughs. A genuine laughter after what seemed like eons.

You didn’t want the conversation to end. It felt refreshing to talk to Andy and so you felt generous.

“You can drop the usual food takeout today yeah? When was the last time you had home cooked meal?

Andy thought for a while. “An awfully long time Y/N. It’s okay-“

“Dinner is at my house. No excuses.”

Andy found a little purpose to be excited in life.

–

On Mondays, Andy comes home with a bottle of wine to beat the heat of a horrid Monday morning.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays, Andy flaunts his cooking skills to you and Nikolai. Surprisingly, he has not lost his touch over cooking. He loved it how the little boy gets the food names all jumbled up and how, much to your embarrassment, he would ask him for food requests. Can we have Pawsta and bwed? Or Can we have spwagety?

Wednesdays and Fridays, Andy chilled out on your sofa having a tea party or fighting an alien invasion with Nikolai while you effortlessly cooked to your delight.

It’s almost become a ritual over as the weeks go by. Andy and you talk a lot, but never about each other. Both of you talk about books, or debate over politics or even talk about movies.

It was in these nights when both of you unintentionally spills the beans of your past.

First was Andy when was discussing about how he loved the Harry Potter books you suggested that the waterfall of backstories began. After dinner got over both of you sat on your couch talking about the day’s work, while Nikolai fiddled with toys on the cushioned chair. He mentioned how Jacob had these books.

“Who is Jacob?”

Andy looked ahead at Nikolai sitting at one of the comfort chairs with a couple of his figurines while his eyes fought with slumber, “My son.”

“Oh, how is he? Is he with his mother now?”

Maybe it was too soon to ask. You literally saw with your own eyes how Andy’s eyes drooped, and his figure slumped before you. It even became confusing when he shook his head slightly sideways.

Realising you may have overstepped a line, you tried to steer the conversation to another direction, but Andy blurted it out as if he needed to remind himself the truth.

“Jacob died in a car accident and his mother is in prison for the very same.”

Whispering a oh my god underneath your breath while covering your mouth didn’t stop your eyes from pricking with tears.

Andy narrated the events of the trial briefly while he grabbed the bottle of wine drinking from it directly, not getting in too detail. He mentioned how his son was dropped of all the charges and how after one vacation, everything changed. He mentioned how his now ex-wife successfully attempted to kill Jacob in a car crash because she was convinced that her son was the actual murderer.

Andy was numb to this story (the kinder version where you didn’t know he was the son of the murderer Billy Barber) and he didn’t realise the kind of reaction it would evoke from someone who had no idea about his past. Guess he was surrounded with nosy people all his life until now.

He internally panicked to you see your tearful state.

“Andy I’m so sorry.”

In an instinct you pulled Andy to you, arms wrapped around his shoulders in a hug. Andy needed a hug so bad he may have wrapped his arms around you an inch closer while he rubbed your back in assurance. He heard your small sniffles, which made him hug you tighter.

His hoarse reassuring whispers that he was alright made you even more devastated. “Hey look Y/N. I am alright okay?”

You pulled away from his embrace in embarrassment. Andy’s heart was hard as a rock, he gave you a half-hearted smile, “God I’m such a fool sometimes. Quick to come to conclusions. I shouldn’t have been so judgmental.”

“If you’re forgetting that was me a couple of weeks back.” His gently touched your cheeks wiping a tear or two away. “Hey come on now. Tears don’t suit you momma bear.”

“So, I’m a bear now huh?”

A little giggle came out of your lips and Andy felt warm. Your mind was fluttering as Andy still stroked your cheek with his thumb. You never realised could be so soothing until a worried Nikolai tried to scramble up on both of your laps.

“Mommy why you cwying?”

“Nothing peaches. Its just-“

“I ate your mommy’s cookies Nikolai,” Andy interrupted earning a dramatic gasp from the little boy while you stifled your laughter.

“Its okay Wandi. Mommy you can take the cookies fwom my jahr. Don’t cwy mommy”

After a series of awws from the two adults, Nikolai went back to his toys. It was time for Andy to leave, standing on the threshold of your house.

“This fresh start is not happening for me at all Y/N. You have been such a wonderful person entertaining me these nights but, I still can’t sleep you know. It’s haunting.”

“Andy,” you still sniffed. “The minute the garage incident was over, that was the minute you stepped away from prying eyes. No one is going to bother you now Andy. You can start fres, infact I think you already did. You bagged a Swimming Instructor shift at the local gym, you have got a new house and most importantly, or not, is that you have Nikolai and Me.

“We all have skeletons in our closet Andy, that’s the unfortunate truth. Its not going to be easy but life has to go on because little do you know you have people depending on you.”

Andy knew you were referring to Nikolai, but for him he had no one depending on him. What was the point of moving on?

“Good night Y/N”

He only left the threshold after he realised you had placed a kiss on his cheek and gave him a hug on your tiptoes.

Another night, it was your turn.

Andy soon realised Nikolai wasn’t anywhere around the house. The toys were neatly placed, and the Television wasn’t running. Music was playing from your phone, but it was low and from the smell of it, you were cooking Chicken Lasagne, Nikolai’s favourite dish.

“Where is Niko? Is he sleeping?”

“He is with his father and the grandparents.”

The dinner went awfully quiet, sure he tried to sneak conversations here and there, but he wasn’t able to hold it. He learned how you decided to actually listen to Chad’s wishes under the conditions that his grandparents would be around. Andy saw your little smile when he learned that Nikolai was extremely reluctant to go with his father. A rational side of you didn’t want to separate Nikolai from his father.

It was while you were flipping through the channels that you broke out like a dam.

“You know Andy, what you heard that day in the library was the truth you know.”

“Niko’s father Chad?”

“It was Nikolai’s first birthday. We were all gathered at home for a small birthday party. Chad and I called in our co-workers that day. In the name of this little one everyone began drinking by around four when we scheduled the party at six.”

Andy noticed how you sardonically laughed in between.

“Before we could cut the cake, I went in search of Chad because Niko wouldn’t cut the cake without him. So, I went around searching for him because I remember Chad was kind of drunk. And then I find him in our room fucking his co-worker while he screamed her name.”

You looked below and began fidgeting with your fingernails. “The next half an hour went in a haze. The guests left. Chad and I went hysteric. We were at each other’s throat. I screamed at him and Chad somehow became sober and began to um- hit me uhm-“

You were breaking and Andy didn’t want to ask you to stop narrating. You must have trusted him enough to talk about something that you evidently found traumatic. Andy scooted closer and took your palms in his hands.

“And I didn’t even realise how I was scarring Niko. He was sitting on the couch all alone scared at our hysterics. In that half hour I- I- forgot about him. The guests were gone, and he didn’t cry. Niko just sat there with his beady eyes clutching his figurines, looking at me in horror after that bastard went up to his room like nothing mattered. I’m the reason for Nikolai’s state.”

“Hey what state Y/N?” Andy stroked your cheek; the lines of formality were blurred between you two. Right now, it was just one soul comforting another in a time of agony. “Nikolai is such perfect child. I have never seen such a brilliant three-year-old in my life.”

You whimpered, “N-Niko hates birthdays. The sight of candles on a cake make him cry and disturbed. H-his nursery is left incomplete because he has these terrible nightmares when he is left alone. He comes crying in horror even if I try to let him sleep alone for once. He always sleeps with me. W-what if I damaged him Andy? Wh-what if he likes his father more in this visit? What if he leaves me?”

You sobbed uncontrollably into Andy’s chest. He didn’t hesitate in cradling you and stroking your hair. He pulled you closer, leaning back at the couch. He waited for your crying to die down.

“You’re such an amazing mother darling,” he whispered, the loving nickname going unnoticed because it seemed so right, “So caring, so kind. Nikolai loves you, you know that right?”

He felt you nodding your head at his chest while none of you bothered to acknowledge how both of your legs were intertwined now. Andy scooted lower on the sofa, lying down with you still cradled to him.

“Chad was a fucking scoundrel okay? Anybody would have reacted like that like you did.” Andy gritted his teeth when he recalled that he hit you but suppressed his emotions because his emotions wasn’t important now. “Nikolai is going to be simply fine. When he comes back, he’s going to run into your arms and say how much he missed you and then proceed to ransack the living room with his toys.”

That genuinely made you laugh. You didn’t want to let go of Andy. His cologne was calming. His sweater shirt was soft. You even felt his little belly; he did mention he was drinking a lot of beer and whiskey when he can’t sleep in the night. It felt so intimate; it felt so right in spite the fact the neither of you are dating.

“You’re a good man Andy.”

Andy places a chaste kiss on your forehead. He saw your cheeks scrunch up, like you were blushing. His lips felt soft on your forehead, a warmth running through the both of you. Andy decided to leave but your grip on his meant something else. Looking down, he felt your soft breaths on his neck now for you tucked your head on his neck. You must be clingy he wondered, but he didn’t mind. He needed a dose of clingy looking at his current state of life.

“Good Night Y/N.”

He was supposed to get up slowly and untangle from your limbs and spread a blanket on you before he left. He was supposed to go back inside his house and have another round of sleepless nights.

Not cuddle and have a good night’s sleep peacefully with you in your soft sofa?

–

Finally, Saturdays and Sundays are the lazy days, ironically both of you don’t hang out as much on the weekends for deep inside Andy thought he was invading Nikolai and yours family time.

When Nikolai was back the next day, just like Andy had mentioned, he ran into your arms and kissed you so much. He even hugged you harder and said he didn’t want to go back to his father.

“He’s not like Wandi. Wandi likes tea pawties. Papa says tea pawties is for guhls and not for boys.”

“Peaches that’s not true, you can play tea party any time you want. You can play with me and Andy okay?”

“Yeah okay. Can we play tea pawty inside Wandi’s cahr too?”

“Niko!”

Your little boy also managed to change your mother-son ritual into a mother-son-neighbour ritual. He persisted you into calling Andy for the everyday evening picnic at the lawn. You knew your son loved Andy but a little voice asked if this was too much.

Apparently it wasn’t. Andy was extremely happy to join you and Nikolai. He kept asking if it was okay but a few reassurances later Andy joined you with a jar of lemonade. “I may have peaked out of the window and seen your daily picnics. None of them have this baby.” (Of course he was talking about his lemonade).

“Mommi look, Wandi made lemonade! Yaaaay!”

He runs over and hugs Andy as tight as his little hands can.

“I bake this boy five types of cookies and he falls for your lemonade? Blasphemy Andy. What are you doing to my son?” you ask him with feigned wound in your heart.

“Oh Y/N. He’s just found a new friend. Don’t be jealous now.”

Seeing your son and Andy bond made you heart make a little small wish; that Niko and you find a companion like Andy. Wishing for Andy himself is like wishing for a star. Why would this perfect man fall for a broken person like you?

Andy and you spoke while the little boy ran around the lawn with his toys and it was then his senses came alive and he took in his surroundings.

A pink stained sky; clouds imitating to be cotton candy. A beautiful house in a quaint neighbourhood. The faint smell of your warm cookies and refreshing lemonade while your son ran around. A woman of his dreams weaving her palm through the strands of her hair. This was a dreamland.

And in that moment, he scooted near you and he entwined his hands into yours. You were perplexed at what he was doing but you went with the flow. He wanted his utopia.

“Andy? What are you-“

“Y/N, will you go on a date with me?”

After a few minutes later, your answer gave all the reassurance that he finally got his fresh start; that he can finally start a new life without the demons in the closet.

Right?

–

Part 3

–

Taglist (IS OPEN): @art-estrange @sinner-as-saint @captainscanadian, @kakakatey @bluevelvetsam @mrsbarneswillseeyounow @anqelicstarc @lcandothisallday @https-bucky @readermia @chrisevansforever @ruthyalva96 @thedarkplume @sammyfresh @bloglovelylady @stuckys-dirty-girl @rindaastridfreakinreign @buckys-plums3 @marvelouspottering @sweetlittlegingy @emilykjhgsj @poppunkdork @bval-1lovepeacefood @captainchrisstan @hista-girl @xlanawriter @denisemarieangelina @xoxabs88xox @adreamemporium @yoncevans @oceanlenny @ididntchoosethislife @evansinlove @ninaminaromina @sodonutnutnut @nickysurfer28 @captainchrisstan @charmed-asylum @lovepeacefood @trashboggart @elementoffire1988 @kelbabyblue @princess-evans-addict @secretlyactivated @harryismyonlyangel @agentmstark @firstangeldragonranch @tessa-bl @morganclaire4 @i-ship-it-ironically @kiza4 @morganclaire4 @may-machin @shikin83 @lovingonshawn @turtoix @tenaciousperfectionunknown @in-a-constant-daydream6 @dangerdolns @fckdeusername @missus-rogers @themadhattersqueen @heatherhollowayst @littleprincessma @this-is-serenaa @youllbemineandillbeyours @cevans-is-classic @funfickgirl22 @mery-be @jojo-lindholm @evans-dejong

#Andy Barber #Defending Jacob #Andy Barber x reader #Andy Barber Imagines #Chris Evans x reader #chris evans #chris evans imagine #defending jacob spoilers #andy barber smut #andy barber fluff #andy barber angst #chris evans x you #andy barber imagine #defending jacob finale #andrew barber #jacob barber

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bcb-sucks · 2 years

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Things that are different in my AU

If you get confused by the weird writing I’m trying to translate my notes from my gibberish and also they’re backwards and I didn’t notice till halfway through writing

No one is physically violent without repercussions

When Lucy transfers, she transfers somewhere near Sandy. I know Sandy travels because of modeling and probably takes classes online but I like the idea of the two getting to know one another. Lucy could be like a Tutor

David needs to become more than just “ha ha funny” guy. David is openly bi/Omni, and likes everyone. He makes so many jokes about it that other characters just brush them off so when he eventually does say he’s queer he says “I thought y’all knew?” “NO WE THOUGHT YOU WERE JOKING!” “Oh? Well, that’s funny.”

Mike shouldn’t have gotten the play role for plot convenience. Give him a background role or make him good at it.

Paulo and David start a band. Are they any good? Debatable, but you know the two idiots would start a band to try and get groupies.

Mix up Lucy’s parents breeds?

Keep Mike a Korat

“Daisy and Sandy as endgame??? Poly Paulo/David/Daisy????” Man I need to write better notes

No Mike/Lucy

Trans Tess? FtM? After graduation, of course.

Jasmine could be bi and when Paulo comes out they could laugh about it together!

Nonverbal Amaya

Tess doesn’t flirt back with Paulo, instead she babies him so eventually he knows how Daisy feels when everyone babies her.

Sam is either Aro/Ace or very serious about putting his studies before relationships

Love the idea that Amaya and Lucy interact and since Amaya is mute her and Lucy start having a very animated conversation through ASL and everyone is really confused. So then she decides to give lessons to the friend group so they can communicate with her. Mike knows very little, really only the basics. He really didn’t have to learn because Lucy’s mom can read lips well and Lucy was just his translator and interpreter

Abbey is Ace, Daisy isn’t. This would not be why they break up but Abbey would go through a moment where he’s suddenly worried he doesn’t like Daisy because he isn’t attracted to her like that. Also can add into his hatred of Paulo because he doesn’t understand how someone can sexualize others like that.

Paulos dad isn’t homophobic but is definitely one of those parents who’s political views are not openly shared and looks like he could be homophobic/transphobic. His mom on the other hand, is.

Lucy’s dad should not have a “backbone” and just kind of agrees to everything while the mom has to keep the house from falling apart while Mike’s dad is aware of everything that goes on in his home and is the one who has to put his foot down.

Mike has a crush on Lucy first. Obviously that crush gets squashed when he realizes Lucy isn’t nice.

Mike has twin siblings who are conniving little gremlins who are sweethearts around the adults.

Mike has a lot of siblings and is one of the middle children. He has to share a room with one of his siblings and eventually when one of them leaves to go to college he will fight his siblings on who gets the spare room.

Mikes eldest sibling is friends with Sam

Lucy doesn’t admit it but her deaf ear is an insecurity

Lucy was thought to be deaf when she was younger because she wouldn’t listen to anyone. In reality that’s just because she was a brat.

When Sam finally returns home he admits to Lucy that he shouldn’t have babied her like he did. He just really cared about her and worried for her saftey.

Jordan eventually gives up on trying to “protect” Lucy because Lucy can beat his ass. They solve their quarrels by having a mutual sibling wrestling match.

Paulo will back off of a girl when they turn him down, but that won’t stop him from being a baby about the rejection.

Lucy becomes as aggressive as she does because her older siblings babied her a lot.

Lucy and Mike meet at Taekwondo

Mike and Daisy’s relationship would be mutual through Sandy.

Possibly starting it all in their Freshman Year?

Lucy’s mom is deaf.

Lucy doesn’t beat up Yashy. They’re like her children and she would never beat them because she knows better.

She teaches Yashy to not call people Whore’s

She doesn’t let Yashy believe Mike is her father

Daisy doesn’t date Abbey and swoon over Mike

Still up in the air if Lucy has her attempt. If she does I’ll have to treat it with more tact.

Lucy has PTSD from her time in the city where they got mugged and beat up and she nearly got SA’d.

#bittersweet candy bowl #AU #bcb #bcb au

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locke-barmecide · 3 years

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Ok I’m here to explain Kiyo and Bell because I love these two hehe.

Ok so! Big long ramble coming up

Kiyo finds that they’re done with sisters ghost and in a fit of desperation they get together a few friends and they all do a seance Kiyo found in a book.

Rantaro, Shuichi, Kirumi, and Kokichi (reluctantly on Kiyo’s part) help Kiyo to perform the seance/exorcism. They have every single detail perfected. So on they go.

Once the seance is completed suddenly a bright light appears where Kiyo was. They all pass out for seemingly no reason. When they wake up there’s two of Kiyo on the floor. This is concerning.

Kiyo is immediately in panic mode as they feel weak and are stuck looking at this other version of themselves who looks almost blank.

They ask who this being is, expecting something along the lines of their own name considering their appearance. This being says their name is Bell (she actually just says bell, referencing their now matching bracelets that must’ve appeared when Bell formed.)

Bell is very instantly attached to Kiyo. She grabs into their arm and will not let go. She wants to be as close to them as possible at all times. Kiyo realizes that being away from Bell is physically painful. They can’t stand even being across the room from her.

They try separating the two but Bell quickly grows violent. She’s extremely extremely protective of them to the point where she won’t even let anyone near them. Kiyo doesn’t understand this or Bells existence.

Kiyo does research, trying to find out what’s behind this phenomenon. They find out that it’s a legend of sorts. People getting cloned during seances was only supposed to be a myth. To scare people out of doing seances.

They decide to search the internet. They finally stumble across a woman who was trying to escape the ghost of her father. She got cloned instead. Kiyo goes on a trip with Bell and Rantaro to try and figure out how to deal with this. Instead the trip is a nightmare because it’s freezing and Kiyo can’t stop Bell from trying to hurt Rantaro anytime he gets close to them. They eventually have a compromise where they sleep with Bell on one side of them and Rantaro on the other.

When they meet the woman they basically learn nothing. She doesn’t really know how it happened and she doesn’t enjoy talking about it very much. Kiyo leaves lost and even more confused. Part of them is extremely interested in this strange event but having someone so attached to them again is uncomfortable.

They begin to grow more attached to Bell as she helps them through multiple episodes despite not really talking much. She seems to sense whenever they remember something bad or are having an episode. She’s extremely protective of them and they’re the same with her, though not quite to her level.

Kiyo decides that they want to be able to be away from Bell without being in pain. At first Bell hates this idea and refuses but learns that it’s for the best. They start off small, trying to be in separate rooms. Overtime they make it to the point where they can be away from each other for the entire day up till about 7pm. They’re both in college. Kiyo decides to sign Bell up for an art class so that Angie can help her find something she likes as far as classes go. Bell finds that she really likes art and she really likes Angie.

Bell has a difficult time becoming her own person. She has all of Kiyo’s memories up until 16, but she’s not like Kiyo really. She lacks their rambles and instead doesn’t really speak at all. She and Kiyo learn ASL to communicate better and easier.

People often ask if Bell is Kiyo’s twin. They hate that. They hate the idea of having another sibling. Bell doesn’t like it either.

Bell eventually decides to go on a trip with Angie to her home. Kiyo and Bell are both very scared for this as they’ve never been that far away from each other before. They both end up in a lot of pain at first and then really sick for a few days. Angie is absolutely happy to take care of Bell and is insistent on giving her lots of kisses despite her worries about Angie getting sick. Angie knows it isn’t contagious.

Rantaro takes good care of Kiyo too. Both Kiyo and Bells first complaints are that they’re cold. In both of their sleep they mumble about missing each other. Thankfully they FaceTime a lot (FaceTime and text since Bell doesn’t speak enough for calls to work)

Bell’s favourite thing in the world other than Angie is art history! She’s quite the researcher. She adores art but can only draw sheep. She enjoys researching artists and art eras of the past, even dabbling in architecture. She also really enjoys camping with Angie.

Eventually Bell and Kiyo’s connection is better, still strong but not straining. Though they see each other once a month at least. They’re quite physically affectionate because they sort of rely on one another for proper energy.

Now, this is not romantic or familial. Just a bond between clones.

Please ask me questions about Bell and this AU I love these two mwa mwa

#korekiyo shinguji #bell shinguji #danganronpa #danganronpa korekiyo #danganronpa v3 #korekiyo #korekiyo shinguuji kin

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thevividgreenmoss · 3 years

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My grandfather was awake and lucid for a longish while between late Friday night and Saturday morning apparently first time since this past Sunday when we all thought that was It and crammed ourselves seven people in one sedan that got a flat on the way over of course (as we were leaving the handle of the screen door came off in my hand as I was closing it behind me so the vibe was very on the nose things farcically falling apart that whole goddamn day lol) but then when we made it he was smiling and laughing and talking to and teasing everyone that was there, albeit with much more effort than it would have taken him even just a week earlier when he was already in a really frail state because of his hip surgery. My sister happened to be up later than she usually ever is and got to video call and chat with him for a bit I wanted terribly for my cousin in Colorado to be able to also but by the time he could get through my grandpa's blood pressure had suddenly spiked or something and he'd drifted back into that borderline unconscious state so they didn't get a chance to talk which makes me want to claw my fucking skin off of my face but who knows maybe another opportunity will present itself hopefully it does like he suddenly became really talkative and energized the other day after not having said more than maybe a couple sentences over the few previous days like I was there with him for several hours on Thursday and the entire time he didn't say a word and only opened his eyes once for like half a second and even that I might have been imagining after sitting there sleep-deprived and holding his hand trying not to cry because then my mom would start crying and then my aunt and on and on and if he's conscious at that point he'll start to get worried and his heart rate will destabilize but after that for this one stretch without anyone expecting it he was really talkative and alert and joking around with the nurses and doctors and all that for a while but then later yesterday afternoon he started to get disoriented and drift in and out of the present in between dreaming and waking again at one point apparently he kept saying 'look at my shoes' to my mom and her sisters and they thought it was just just the medication/pain-induced delirium talking but he kept insisting and eventually said 'you're not taking me seriously' and I guess gave up? Or said it a few more times I'm not clear on the course of events I only heard all this secondhand when my younger aunt, who also got diagnosed with cancer late last year but thankfully is more or less in the clear now, got back home last night and she and I went into his room and took all the shoes out of the cabinet he keeps them in and like looked inside and turned over and examined the soles of every pair, took the cushion insert things out of the ones that had them, checked for scooby doo-esque hidden doors, all that but there was nothing there just shoes. Her kids flew back out yesterday morning, the older one's tentatively returning to Toronto in the next week or so she had a painfully rough time in some ways her first couple of years and then abruptly had to be uprooted and leave because of covid then everything with her mom and in time honored eldest daughter tradition bearing the brunt of the familial frustration and insanity associated with that and now everything with our grandpa I really really want her senior year to go smoothly and be enjoyable and memorable in a manner opposite to how this past year+ has been I'm so worried about her and her little sister's starting freshman year there in the fall and I'm terribly worried about her in a whole different way like she's still really attached to her parents in this innocent way that still strongly resembles like a baby's adoring my mom hung the moon type attachment and it can be especially hard being away for the first time ever when that's the case...like she's hyper hypersensitive even by my family's standards lmao but she does have this sort of self-possession and inner groundedness that no one can quite pin down but it's

definitely there and maybe that

could carry her through I really hope so...they were saying to come up to visit them in the fall hopefully I can find a job soon after returning to Texas and like be able to afford to do that and also like keep paying the bills and shit lol in either case I hope so so badly that they'll be okay like I think they will be the women in my family are all really strong but they've also had to be because of various fucked circumstances and I don't want that to keep having to be the case...my grandpa's a Strong Woman in a certain way also honestly lmao like my mom's aunts have always been like your father raised you in a way beyond even most mothers which like who fucking receives let alone genuinely deserves that kind of praise from their in-laws lmao let alone a man from a notoriously patriarchal culture of a generation when fathers from any culture barely had any involvement in their children's upbringing at all which I mean most still don't but even more so back then and like literally everyone we've been hearing from or seeing drop by at the hospital has a story of how at one point or another my grandpa was there for them when no one else was like distant cousins variously removed and loose family friends all with something about how he comforted me when no one else could, I remember word for word what he said to me when I suffered some loss of my own, he's the strongest man in our family, the best times we ever had were when he was near us, when he'd take us out, his youngest brother's children saying he cared for and spoiled them as if their were his own after their dad died suddenly when they were just kids, my mom's third cousin whose own father was with her till a late age saying that he was even more of a father to me than my own father, his other brother's son who was ostracized for decades by his immediate family on some straight up racist ass bullshit on the part of his mom and older brother because he married a black woman but my grandpa stayed in touch and made sure my mom and uncle did as well and made sure we all got together when he'd came to the states, like even now lying there on what very well might be his literal deathbed when he can barely talk he was telling my uncle he's worried about him and he needs to go home and rest, asking who's taking care of the house, are the kids all okay even at this point his thoughts are for others. After I put his shoes back in the cabinet I closed it and opened the one beside just in case I guess just in case what I don't know but it was just like standard cabinet stuff clothes a shaving kit and a couple of what I assume are photo albums that I didn't feel like I should open for some reason and a few old books, a collection of Ghalib's which I can't really read very easily if at all because it's in Urdu lol, a history of government college of Lahore where his father was teaching at the time of his death and the two philosophy textbooks my great grandfather had written himself, Inductive & Deductive Reasoning, and inside the latter I found a handful of yellowed pages torn out of an old notebook upon which mostly seem to be translations of french poems and I think maybe a song or two? I guess old coursework or just for funsies I'm not sure whether written by my grandfather or his own father. My khala was mentioning just the other day that she'd kept one of my grandpa's old notebooks marked as having been designated for biology but inside it were no actual notes just urdu poetry which she wasn't sure whether it was his own original tossed off work or something the lifelong frustrated creative transcribed while bored in class. The night I got here I was looking through his bookshelves after everyone had gone to bed and then a couple of weeks ago I was sitting in the living room by myself watching archer when my cousin came and sat down next to me upset and unable to sleep on her own first night here and I held her and tried not to cry and then went through the same bookshelves again, this time with my cousin who we came to Pakistan for the first time after moving to the US

to see being born who turned three

the day we arrived on what until this current trip was the last time I was here her little sister having just been born earlier that same year (whose life I may or may not have saved when I caught her after she was dropped by the person holding her (the fact that (parentheticals within parentheticals!) I may or may not have been the one who dropped her in the first place is immaterial imo not that I'm the one on trial here but what's important is that I caught her and if anything this would be an even more athletically impressive and frankly heroic incident if I'd been the one that was holding her to begin with since I was 8/9 years old at the time and there wasn't much of a distance for her to fall and yet I kept her from hitting the ground like talk about reflexes like that's what's important and what's more important than even that @ my year older cousin (whose younger sister was the first baby in the family after myself whose arrival in this world when I was three had me positively giddy in the way that young children get when witnessing the miracle of even younger children, who's the only other one of the cousins that's been here during all this, just me and the three I got to see as darling little babies) who was the only other person in the room with me at the time, is that we take this to our fucking graves no one can hear a word of this least of all any adults in the house who like not that they're the ones on trial here either but like who allowed for this scenario to transpire in the first place where two children and an infant are in a room by themselves unsupervised in retrospect that's somewhat irresponsible not that I'd ever hold it against them or even mention it because then they might get mad and not let me hold my little cousin anymore and I do love holding my little baby cousin and carrying her around everywhere, mostly without incident)) neither of whom I'd see in person again until we visited them in Canada the summer after I graduated college the trip during which I finished the last of the Neapolitan novels the day after landing and turned 22 the day after their mother, my younger khala, turned 43, looking through my nana's bookshelves with my baby cousin no longer a baby but a U of T classics major entering her senior year, noting the overlaps with our own, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, George Eliot, the same exact copies of Cheever and Kafka's collected shorts, Umberto Eco, Proust, wondering what the various titles meant to him or what they might say about him, wondering how much of even the version of him that can be hypothesized based off his library I'm missing now that I'm limited to the much reduced version of what had been in his old home in Lahore (when he visited us after my junior year of hs and my mom was trying to convince him to downsize and move in with my other aunt with whom he's been living the past several years, the one who most resembles my grandfather the only one that has his cheekbones my khala whose eyes have sunken all the way into her skull before my eyes with exhaustion and grief over the past two weeks, when my mom was like what's the point of just hanging onto a bunch of books that you've already read: I look at them [dramatic pause], and I feel happy [my mom sighing equally dramatically in.exasperation, me cracking up in the background]) the city I was born in the house where I spent the first almost five years of my life before we moved to the US to join my dad who'd moved back shortly after my mom became pregnant with what turned out to be me, abu nana's house with the garden we'd walk through every morning holding his hand and following along as he puttered around with his plants in the garden in the house in the city he had to leave to move into my khala's house in Islamabad where I've been the past almost a month now where two weeks ago he suddenly came down with pneumonia and had to be dragged to a hospital in Rawalpindi where he's been since, not in his house, my nana's house, with the garden in the city I haven't seen since the last time I was in this country the

summer I

turned nine the day after my khala turned 30 the day before my other khala turned 32(?) the summer I first remember obsessive compulsive disorder becoming an overwhelming aspect of my consciousness although it was there before, the first summer of the Iraq war and being terrified watching the Iraq war unfold on the BBC evening news my nana would turn on

at dinner time and hearing for the first time or maybe just the first time I remember the night we left the phrase 'the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer' from my younger khala talking to her sisters and some family friends that had come over to see us off feeling terrified and cold then embarrassed because she noticed my face visibly fall from across the room and told my mom and I was like godammit everyone knows I'm scared now smhead then crying the entire flight back home because I missed everyone and maybe had a little kid premonition that I wouldn't return to my nana's house and I would be years and years till I saw any of them again some I still haven't or maybe there was nothing premonitory about it but in either case that's the way it turned out. I do feel grateful I got to see him again at all, when he last came to the US late 2016-early 2017 I was sure it would be the last time we would be in the same room. I'd make breakfast for us every morning and we'd eat together and the entire day I'd sit next to him inhaling secondhand smoke and talking and reading. I was in the midst of my initial aborted attempt to read Swann's way when he arrived. I'd gotten to Guermantes way last summer but I couldn't find a secondhand copy so I had to read it via ebook and that didn't feel right so I abandoned it until now I've been reading a copy pulled from his bookshelf. Last he visited was the first time I learned we were both Garcia Marquez-heads which I'd kind of assumed before and I showed him Mad Men which he heavily fucked with and also every John Le Carre adaptation I could track down online. From the first time I read one hundred years of solitude the summer after freshman year of college the passage describing Colonel Aureliano Buendia's death already absolutely and unbearably heartwrenching enough immediately brought thoughts of my grandfather, aching aching sorrow over the solitude that he himself existed within in all the fucking pain his life has been inordinately filled with grief over the knowledge of this inevitable final separation from him after so many years and so much distance already having separated him from the people he loved and cared for and he loved and cared for so many people so deeply with such sincerity and beauty and endless endless warmth and compassion and humor when Gabo wrote of the colonel trying to reach back through to his memories and being unable to after previously recalling that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice even years later, as he faced the firing squad, at the moment of his death like a 'baby chick' my poor frail beautiful grandfather appearing exactly the same way when he'd take off his dentures and curl over to the side to sleep, then when awake but still half asleep hearing your voice having brought his apple cider vinegar and garlic concoction or a cup of tea or just coming by to hold his hand or play with his beard the way all of his grandchildren have at one point or another and smiling with his eyes still closed smiling bright and wide the expression of a precious little cat purring as you scratch under its chin always the most beautiful smile and even as his hair turned white and his body withered and wrinkled and shrunk his cheekbones while still not bad long ago ceased being the way they were in that picture from his wedding day back when he he looked like young Robert De Niro's much much prettier Kashmiri cousin from then until now always that same radiance and those same quick-witted and kind and bright bright bright sparkling eyes. The past month and a half I've been feeling like I'm seeing my own mother dying before my eyes along with her father, my adorable beloved abu nana, I can't even begin to comprehend how she must be feeling right now I feel like I'm witnessing her death in advance through all of this and losing the part of her that is him even though I know that's not actually the case. Things have been so fucking painful and complicated between us but the one thing we've shared that's never

been painful is our love for him. When he left after his last visit four years ago I spent the next two days barely able to even talk. Compliments or like any positive comments directed in my directions have almost always caused me this reflexive discomfort and uneasiness but whenever he or anyone else would say that I'm his favorite grandchild I'd want to hold on to that as closely as i possibly can. I don't want him to leave us and more than that I want for whatever happens to at least happen with him back at home but neither of those things seem likely right now although who the fuck knows. I hope his last thoughts can be of flowers, like Kafka's, and Lispector's, or of love, wherever he is I hope it's not asking too much to hope for that at least. For someone that spent his life so deeply immersed within that Garciamarquesian solitude he never made those around him feel any way other than at home, safe and warm and loved and adored and adorable and lovable and at home not because of a place not even the garden at the house in Lahore but with him always always I've never felt more at home than during the times I spent near him, and his love and his flowers

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poke-breeder-rowan · 3 years

Text

My main team and two support Pokémon.

This team has been with me for years. Serena has been here since I was eight. Bare in mind Service/support Pokémon cannot fight if they are seen as outside the 6. They all have helped while I was trying to compete for champion. Raven was my rival and best friend while I also had a few friends who also would fight against me. For the most part my team didn't change too much during it all. Especially with joining up as a ranger when I was young. Now adays I go around as a breeder and study Pokémon variants and how they adapt to their environment in college. My main team I rarely fight with as I have a separate competitive team. Serena First Pokémon I ever got was a Eevee called Serena. She's been with me since I was eight when I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She and I trained together and so she could help me manage. Near the end of her training she evolved into Sylveon and we then started a little bit more specific training so she could help using her ribbons. She did evolve really early on but she's doing well and is happy enough. She's a fully certified diabetic alert Pokémon and is often seen following me around. She's the most likely Pokémon of mine to see with me in town and at home. She also is very close with the fox , cat and dog pokemon on site. Especially Nyx, Sandwich and Nightshade. Saturn. This lil guy actually didn't become my Pokémon till much later. He was a lil Pidove who I would feed in my first home back down at Postwick. He got really use to me and would even sit on my hand. I'd tend to keep Serena away from him just in case. One day I had to move and expected never to see him again. I spent the whole two days at the times he usually comes to my windows and he never showed up. On the third I moved up to Wedgehurst to my dads. Only to find a Pidove all too familiar in town with a folk. He stayed wild till I was 12. When I actually caught him. He was usually with me anyway but I caught him when he made it clear he wished to join me on my journey and see the whole of Galar. Now he's a Unfezant who's a glutton. He hasn't been caught for so long due to me joining the Rangers when I was 12. He flies about and helps me find any missing or injured Pokémon. He fits in my team fairly well though him and Sandwich can be quite the hand full. Especially since hes aware of how pretty he is and loves going to contests. Hes quite the bad loser too. (His favourite contests are the cuteness and beauty.) Sandwich My starter Pokémon. A gift from my partner Raven as I started my journey quite late due to my family being worried about me with my health issues travelling through Galar. I managed to get them to let me leave after I showed my friends who would be joining me on my adventure. I didn't get to start till I was 13. My partner, friend at the time gave me a shiny Vulpix variant (Classic/kanto) named Sandwich. Sandwich is a calm and mischievous Ninetales. She was my main Pokémon partner and she loved competing against my friends. Now a days most contests are at contest spectators and a friendly fight ever now and then. She took along time to decide to evolve. Now she's a Ninetales who is absolutely aware of how gorgeous she is. She's often found wandering with me or hanging out with Nyx. They form snuggle piles and all the fox Pokémon will sit with them, its utterly adorable. She serves as the guardian of the farm. Nightshade. Another support/service Pokemon. I got him gifted to me from the same breeder my family got Serena from. I knew he was most likely to Evolve into a Umbreon just from his connection to the moon and being wide awake at night. Which was really good for sleepless nights while out or at home. We often go out on late walks when I cant sleep or if I just want to enjoy the night. This lil guy helps with anxiety and my autism. He reminds me to take my meds too though my partner does that plenty anyway. Nyx. A Zorua shiny that I found in the Crown Tundra. He was on his own and badly hurt. I was a ranger at the time and we got told we were watching the Crown Tundra for a bit. I looked

after him the most. Eventually he ended up joining me and being registered under my Trainer ID. He gets along alot with Sandwich, Serena and Nightshade. They use to form a little fur pile. Now sometimes they'll sleep together and it is the cutest thing. Nyx is mostly seen as the dad of the farm. He occasionally gives canine and fox pokemon rides in his fur.

Bud. A Cottonee who's parents I caught in the wilds. Shes my first ever pokemon I got myself from breeding. She started my love for grass types. She is wonderful to relax and sit with. She loves decorating her cotton various accessories like ribbons and bows. She is wonderful. I was 14 when I raised her with the help of other breeders , Pokémon and partner. She is a cross she mostly looks like cottonee but she has a little bit of Roserade making it so she has small flowers behind her horns.

Avalon. Avalon was given to me around a year after I stopped being a Ranger. I started joining small clubs for Pokémon breeding some were variants and others for competitive Pokémon. I gave one of the members one of my pokemon (A corviknight.) I got them back a few weeks later but about my anniversary of leaving the rangers I was alerted that I was sent a Pokemon. Turns out it was a little Applin. Now I know that couples often present one to one another and I really thought of giving him to my partner especially since Sandwich was given to me by them. While looking after him I came up with the name Avalon. He has stayed with me since. He usually sits on my shoulder or curls on my bag, cuddling onto me while I do chores. Nagi Nagi the Noivern. He is a little rascal and second dragon type Pokémon I raised from an egg. He would sit and hang from my tent pole alot during camping. He was the last pokemon in my party. I got him after I stopped going to gyms after leader Allister and being a ranger. Nagi and the rest of the team helped defeat all the way to Leon. Though I failed to defeat him. After that I went on to work, got a place and now go full time to college. He helps out a lot with travel which ill take him over a Corviknight taxi unless I must. He helps with any emergency travel spots to the Pokecenter. Hes a lot calmer now happy to go out on rides though and he still loves the game catch. I toss a ball up in the air and he usually tosses it around for a bit before returning it and repeating all over again. And that's all my Pokémon!

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alecmagnuslwb · 3 years

Text

Plus One

Read on AO3

Izzy & Meliorn ~ May 1st, Saratoga Springs, New York

“So?” Alec says tentative and a little nervous. He’s never had to give a wedding speech before and he can guarantee he’ll never give one as important as this. His baby sister will only have one wedding, god willing, and he wants to get it right.

Magnus taps his finger to his lips quietly the setting sun catching in his brown eyes as he leans against the pillar outside of the venue where the reception is being held.

“Pretty good, could be a little shorter though,” he settles on with a serious nod of his head.

“Shorter?” Alec says all nerves gone. “Magnus it’s not even five full minutes, I make it much shorter and it becomes a haiku.”

Magnus perks up with a smirk. “A haiku could be nice!” he says pushing off the pillar and stepping closer to Alec. He reaches out brushing something Alec was unaware of off of his shoulder. “People are here to dance and take advantage of the free bar, not listen to the Gettysburg Address.”

Alec rolls his eyes and brushes Magnus’ hand away. “I’m not making it any shorter, Isabelle will hate it if I keep it too short and if I upset her I’ll get that disappointed head tilt that Meliorn gives when anyone makes her sad, you know how bad that head tilt is.”

“It is very judgmental, makes you feel like you kicked a puppy,” Magnus says before tilting his head towards the entrance. “Come on you better get in there.”

Alec nods shaking out the last of his nerves and following Magnus into the hall beautifully decorated like some sort of magical forest.

The first few hours of the reception are a blur, Alec makes his speech and Magnus raises a glass of champagne at him with a wrap it up gesture that has him barely containing his eye roll while letting out a chuckle that eases any lingering nerves he has about the whole thing. After that he loses track of his friend, being passed around from family member to family member inquiring about his obvious lack of a date and plans for the future.

Eventually he finds himself at the bar finally shaking the grilling of his great aunt about the nice man from church she knows that’ll be perfect for him. Meliorn sidles up next to him flipping their complicated braid over their shoulder.

“Finally shake great aunt Emma’s love connection attempts?” they ask pausing for a moment to order two glasses of wine.

Alec nods taking a sip of his whiskey, “I thought I was going have to physically fight her to leave me alone.”

Meliorn hums in understanding. “Give her till the day after the wedding and she’ll be hounding Isabelle and I about having children, that should lighten the burden on you.”

Alec snorts. “Damn is she going to be more disappointed with that venture than she is with her failed attempts at setting me up with every gay man who so much as smiles at her.”

Meliorn smirks a little as he accepts the two glasses of wine from the bartender and turns out to face the dance floor.

“We’ve been debating whether lying and making her think we might have them or being truthful about our complete lack of ever wanting to procreate is better,” Meliorn says taking a sip from one of the glasses. He looks out at the dance floor watching mesmerized as Isabelle glides across the floor dancing with their little brother Max. Alec smiles, he’ll never stop being so endlessly happy for his little sister finding someone who adores her the way Meliorn does.

“Either way we’ll figure it out together,” Meliorn says finally pulling their gaze away from the dance floor. “Speaking of together,” he says looking over to the right where the singles table sits. “You should go check on your boy.”

Alec looks over and sees Magnus slumped over his head on the table and his fingers gliding along a few too many empty glasses.

Alec turns ready to correct Meliorn on the ‘your boy’ comment, but they’re already gone sliding over to hand the second glass of wine to Isabelle. It’s not the first time since Magnus moved back to New York that Meliorn or a number of others have made such a comment.

He and Magnus aren’t together, not like that. They’re old friends and that’s all. They’d met in college when Magnus had briefly dated Alec’s roommate, in the short tenure of that relationship they became closer than Magnus had with his roommate and from there they’d just stuck, their friends’ groups crossing over and even hooking up like Izzy and Meliorn eventually had.

Their friendship became distant after graduation though Magnus moving to London for work made them more email on your birthday friends than anything else, until nearly six years later he’d made his return to New York. They’ve been pretty tight since then, but more and more lately as all their college friends have paired off and they near thirty people seem to assume he and Magnus are a thing.

He’s not quite sure when the shift occurred for everyone else and why exactly it happened. He’s shaken from his thoughts about it however when he watches Magnus attempt to stand and he practically falls right back into his chair far less graceful than he usually is.

Alec discards his glass and heads for the table arriving just as Magnus attempts to stand again. Magnus stumbles a bit and Alec catches his arm just in time preventing the fall.

“Woah there, maybe it’s time we cut you off,” Alec says as he stabilizes Magnus.

Magnus looks up at Alec confidently. “I’m fine, Alexander,” he says closing his words out with a hiccup at the end.

Alec snorts. “Sure you are,” he says. “Let’s get you to your room.”

Magnus shakes his head furiously and then looks like he instantly regrets it pressing a hand to his forehead.

“Don’t have one,” Magnus says with an overexaggerated sigh.

“You don’t have-,” Alec starts and sighs. He shakes out his arm and looks at his watch. It’s nearing midnight, the reception is already pretty empty, his mom and Luke are some of the only one’s still here dancing with Max to a song he knows for a fact his little brother requested, and he’s fairly certain Isabelle won’t be offended if he takes his leave.

“Just wait here a second,” he says settling Magnus back down into his chair. Magnus salutes him playfully before resting his chin on his hands.

Alec walks over to where Isabelle is tangled together with her partner. Meliorn whispers something in her ear and she giggles into his shoulder. It’s such a beautiful, private moment that he loathes to intrude, but he also knows he’ll never hear the end of it from her if he just leaves without a word.

She waves him off before he can fully explain the situation getting up from her spot on Meliorn’s lap and hugging Alec tightly. He moves back over to the table where he left Magnus, ruffling his little brother’s hair as he passes by him.

Magnus hasn’t moved an inch and for a second Alec wonders if he fell asleep.

“Magnus,” he says startling him upward. He attempts to stand but sways a bit again and Alec puts an arm around his waist stabilizing him. “Come on let’s get you out of here.”

“So handsy,” Magnus says with a chuckle. Alec just huffs out a laugh and tugs him along. The hotel he’s staying in is luckily only next door and aside from stopping Magnus from chasing down a cat they see in the alleyway they make it there without incident.

They’re quiet as they walk into the lobby. Alec looks to the elevator a line of people waiting and sighs pulling Magnus along in the hopes that he can handle the stairs.

“Where are we going?” Magnus asks finally saying something as they start up the steps.

“My room since you didn’t deem to get one,” Alec says moving so Magnus goes up the stairs first that way he can catch him if necessary.

Magnus wiggles his eyebrows with a giggle and Alec just rolls his eyes once again at his drunk friend.

"And why didn't you get a room?" Alec asks as he helps Magnus up the stairs.

"Because I had intentions of catching the bus back tonight," Magnus says with a confident smile right before he stumbles over a step making his recovery look impossibly elegant despite his state. Alec holds his hands out hovering over him just in case, but Magnus keeps going. “Which I still could you know,” he adds on.

Alec shakes his head even though he knows Magnus can’t see him. “No way. It’s late and I am not letting you get on a bus alone and drunk, I already had to speak at a wedding I’m not speaking at your funeral too.”

Magnus snorts as Alec pulls them to a stop on his floor. “You’re not allowed to speak at my funeral, you’ll talk too long,” he says with a bright smile as Alec tugs him along down the hall to his room.

“Still on that, huh?” Alec says as he checks open the door with his shoulder and guides Magnus inside.

Magnus walks directly over to the bed and falls backwards onto it. He groans as he lays an arm across his eyes. “The singles table sucks, I wouldn’t have drunk so much if I wasn’t so heavily reminded of my terminal singlehood all night,” Magnus says with a sigh.

Alec walks over and sits down on the bed beside Magnus he reaches out a hand to pat Magnus on the shoulder the best he can.

“I get it,” he says sympathetically. He does get it, he’s been to his fair share of weddings solo, tonight he just had the luck of being a part of the wedding party instead of being relegated to a table with a bunch of other rejects he doesn’t really know. The older they get the more he realizes that he seems to be one of the only ones not settling down, each new wedding invitation he receives is a reminder that he hasn’t had a relationship go beyond a few dates in years.

Magnus sits up holding his stomach a bit as he does.

“I’m gonna get you some water,” Alec says heading to the bathroom he returns a moment later with a glass and some Tylenol in hand. He holds both out to Magnus and he takes them gratefully.

“Thank you,” he says before downing the whole glass of water and both pills.

Alec just nods and heads back into the bathroom to change into sweatpants and t-shirt discarding his suit. He grabs an extra t-shirt and some running shorts. He leans out the door and tosses them onto the bed beside Magnus startling him from another micro drunk nap it seems.

“You need to sleep,” he says. “Get changed, I’ll take the floor, you take the bed.” The last thing he sees before giving Magnus his privacy is a pout on his face as he looks down at the clothes beside him. He waits a few minutes before heading back out to find Magnus, clothes changed and sitting cross legged on the bed under the covers on one side.

He lifts his head up and smiles at Alec then immediately puts his head back down with a groan.

“You gonna be okay?” Alec asks as he walks over to the bed. Magnus just waves Alec off with a hand not lifting his head back up.

Magnus takes a moment to compose himself as Alec grabs the second pillow. He moves his bare feet and feels satisfied with the feel of the carpet under him as a sufficient place to sleep.

"Alec. Alexander. Alexander Lightwood," Magnus says after a few more beats his head in his hands.

"Are you just saying my name for fun or," Alec says trying not to laugh at Magnus as he struggles with his words lifting his head successfully this time.

"You can't sleep on the floor. You're 7 billion feet tall, you'll never fit," he says gesturing to the room at large.

Alec laughs at that and Magnus glares.

"One I'm literally only like four inches taller than you and two I think the floor has plenty of space," he says tossing the spare pillow down.

"Nope come on," Magnus says tossing aside the covers on the empty side of the bed.

Alec sighs. He knows he's not winning an argument with a drunk Magnus they may not have been bff’s in college but he's seen that determined blurry look in Magnus eyes before and he's lost the battle every single time be it over which drive through place to hit up or how many games of beer pong is too many games of beer pong.

He sighs picking up the pillow off the floor and throwing it and himself down dramatically next to Magnus.

"If you throw up on me I'll never speak to you again," Alec says as he gets comfortable.

Magnus rolls his eyes and settles down as well. "So dramatic," he says as he snuggles into his pillow. "I'll have you know Mr. Lightwood I haven't thrown up for any reason alcohol or otherwise related since 2003."

He reaches a hand across the bed bopping Alec on the nose. Alec scrunches up his face at the action as Magnus giggles, a cute little titter than Alec can't help but smile in response to.

"Vomit free since '03, my friend," he says proudly before promptly and immediately falling asleep.

***

The next morning Alec wakes up with Magnus impossibly sprawled sideways across the bed his legs strewn across Alec’s chest, his head dangerously close to falling off the side of the bed. Alec just shakes his head and slides out from under him heading downstairs to grab some of the continental breakfast for the both of them.

Magnus is awake by the time he gets back, looking impossibly good for someone who’s hungover and slept in their makeup. They eat quietly in companionable silence before Magnus drags himself into the shower.

Alec gets dressed while he’s in there forgoing a shower of his own in favor of getting on the road early so he can avoid any unnecessary traffic.

Eventually Magnus rolls out of the bathroom in the shirt and now wrinkled pants he’d worn to the wedding the night before and pair of sunglasses so large Alec has to laugh.

Magnus holds up a finger to him in warning and snatches the extra coffee Alec had picked up for him off of the tv stand before heading to the door.

Alec smiles, and only laughs a little bit all the way down to his car.

Magnus is quiet for the first hour or so of the drive sipping his coffee slowly and leaning his head against the window. Eventually he pushes the large sunglasses up on his head settling them in his messy, yet somehow still artfully styled hair.

“Thank you for last night,” Magnus says tilting his head to the side to look at Alec.

Alec shakes his head. “Don’t mention it.” He means it, ensuring the safety of his drunk friend isn’t a burden in any way.

“Well still, I didn’t intend to get so sloppy drunk last night and you saved me a lot of embarrassment and I appreciate it,” Magnus says.

“You may have not planned it, but I understand your reasoning. If it weren’t for the fact that I had to give that speech I would have been drinking right alongside you,” Alec says glancing at Magnus quickly with an understanding smile before looking back at the road. “I’ve got way too many of these things to go to this summer and I’m not looking forward to getting sat at the single’s table every time either.”

“I feel like I have like two dozen weddings to attend this summer alone, sadly you won’t be at every one of them to collect my drunk ass though,” Magnus says with a sigh.

“If you strategically plan out your drunkenness, I will be there for,” he pauses thinking in his head about the ones he knows they’ve both been invited to. “Five of them and I’ll make sure you don’t embarrass yourself too much. Well, at least not in front of anyone except me.”

Magnus laughs. “Ugh, from what I recall I wasn’t too bad, I’ve been worse,” he says in his own defense. “Hell, you’ve seen me worse.”

He has. Alec is to this day not a big drinker, but in college he always found himself dragged to some party with an empty red solo cup in his hand safely collecting his sister and friends at the end of the night.

“Like Omega-Phi senior year?” he says with a smirk referencing a specific evening he’ll never forget. Magnus however he knows doesn’t remember much at all, especially not the pants-less karaoke.

“How dare you?” Magnus says with a smile as he slaps Alec lightly on the chest.

“What was the song again, Spice Girls right? Not even one of their good songs too,” Alec teases, Magnus reaches out again smacking him a little harder this time. Alec playfully winces taking a hand off the wheel to rub at his chest as though it hurt.

“Spice Invaders is an underrated hit,” Magnus defends.

“It is called Spice Invaders it is absolutely not an underrated hit,” Alec says with a chuckle eyes on the road from the corner of his eye he sees Magnus roll his eyes.

They settle in quietly for a while after that Magnus looking brighter than he has since before the reception started the night before. They chat lightly for the rest of the drive on and off before Alec pulls up outside of Magnus’ building.

Alec gets out first, getting Magnus’ door for him. He stands gracefully not even needing the sunglasses anymore to block his eyes from the bright sun.

“So, I guess I’ll see you at Helen and Aline’s wedding in a couple weeks?” Alec says as Magnus stretches out his arms.

“Yeah, see you then,” Magnus says with a smile before turning and heading to his front door. Alec rounds his car once again when Magnus’ voice stops him as he opens the door.

“Alec?” he says turning back around the end of his sunglasses between his teeth clearly in thought. “What if we went together?”

“Went to what together?” Alec questions closing his car door and leaning his arms on the roof.

“Helen and Aline’s wedding, and well, all the other one’s too,” Magnus says stepping closer to the car. Alec raises an eyebrow and Magnus quickly adds on. “I mean as friends obviously, but we can mark the little date box on everything and not get stuck at singles tables.”

Alec takes a breath and thinks it’s not the worst idea. They’re close enough to keep each other company and play offense against any nagging relatives or friends that want to enquire on their singleness. Magnus is pretty much the only person outside of Isabelle he’d want to spend that much time with at events he only kind of wants to be at anyways.

“Plus,” Magnus continues on not realizing he’s basically already sold Alec on this idea. He reaches the car again and leans on the passenger side mirroring Alec. “We could split the cost on everything, rooms, travel all of it. Having a friend to get through it all and saving some money wouldn’t be so bad, right?”

Alec smiles with a shake of his head. “That’s a pretty great idea.”

“Really?” Magnus says a smile of his own forming on his face.

“Yeah, it’ll be fun taking on the hells of married people together,” Alec says. “Especially the straight ones.” He adds on with a laugh.

Magnus responds in kind before he rounds the front of the car, Alec does the same until they’re standing right in front of one another.

“So, be my wedding date for the summer?” he says holding out a hand to Alec with a smile.

“Only if you’ll be mine,” Alec replies taking Magnus’ hand with a soft agreeing grasp. And for the first time since each wedding invitation arrived in his mailbox he feels a little bit excited about attending each and every one.

***

Helen & Aline ~ May 15th, Napa Valley, California

Alec tosses his phone back and forth between his hands sitting on the edge of their hotel room bed. He hadn’t been expecting the news his mother just gave him. She’s getting married. It’s not that she and Luke haven’t been obviously in love for years now, but part of Alec thought she’d never take the full plunge again, not after how terrible her marriage to his father had been.

But she’s doing it and she’s not wasting any time already planning for the ceremony in October. More surprisingly she wants Alec to be her man of honor and to make a speech. It’s a big thing, a big thing that makes him even more nervous than speaking at Isabelle’s wedding did in some ways. For Izzy he had to get it right for what will hopefully be the only time, for his mom though this has to better than anything that was said at her first wedding considering how that turned out.

Magnus steps out of the bathroom looking damn good in white pants and a light blue shirt. Alec’s wearing a similar outfit just with a light pink shirt instead, as per requested by the dress code, and he feels like he looks ridiculous. Magnus looking as good as he does makes him feel this to be even more true.

“Everything okay?” Magnus asks nodding to the phone in Alec’s hand.

Alec nods. “Yeah, my, uh, my mom’s getting married,” he says and Magnus smiles. “She wants me to be her man of honor and give a speech and everything.”

“Woah, even after that long drudge at Isabelle’s wedding huh?” Magnus says jokingly.

“Ha, ha,” Alec says dryly with a roll of his eyes and Magnus just keeps that teasing smile as he rolls up the cuffs of his shirt.

“Let’s go we have to hike up like ten miles to get to the ceremony,” Alec says standing and pocketing his phone as he heads to the door.

Magnus follows and tugs the door closed behind him. “You’ll do great,” Magnus says more seriously, completely genuine as he reaches out flicking some invisible fuzz off of Alec’s shoulder.

Alec smiles thankful and holds out his arm for Magnus to take. Magnus doesn’t hesitate.

***

Alec and Magnus come to a stop when they reach the bottom of the hill that leads to the ceremony. Magnus slides his sunglasses down at the same time Alec does and admires the sprawling vineyard. Helen and Aline have gone all out or more likely it’s more Aline’s mother has gone all out. If she’s half as controlling now as she was in college, Alec assumes she did everything down to picking what underwear the brides are wearing.

“Who makes their guests walk a hill?” Magnus questions as a few other guests slip past them making their way up.

Alec shrugs and starts walking, Magnus falling in step right alongside. “You remember how Aline’s mom was in college, I’m sure she thinks this will build character for the guests or something.”

Eventually they make their way to the top of hill and find their seats. With all its sprawling beauty and extravagance the wedding is nothing but classy. Helen and Aline seem more and more in love every time Alec see them and in a way he envies that.

They have to make their way back down the hill for the reception and Alec only half-jokingly suggests that they just roll down. Magnus looks like he almost wants to do it.

For the most part the reception passes by quickly, they drink and catch up with old friends. Magnus even drags Alec out onto the dance floor a few times. It’s the most fun he’s had at a wedding in a while, all because he’s not doing it alone.

Every time the subject of his romantic life comes up Magnus is there to divert the conversation and Alec does the same for him, instead of being constantly reminded they’re single they have each other’s back the whole night.

“What about him?” Magnus says tilting his champagne glass towards the right. Alec’s eyes follow the motion to see a somewhat handsome dark-haired man at the end of the bar.

“I don’t know what about him?” Alec asks taking a sip of his drink.

“As a potential suitor,” Magnus says turning his attention back to Alec. “I figured being a decent wingman through this whole thing would be good compensation for the fact that I’m a bed hog.”

Alec snorts. There’s nothing in this world that would make up for that, that morning Alec had woken up with Magnus half on him and his own body half on the floor. Bed hog is an understatement to what Magnus somehow manages to do in his sleep.

Alec takes another look at the guy and grimaces a bit. “Pass, I try not to date men that look exactly like me,” he says. “Also, potential suitor, you’re such a nerd.”

Magnus flicks him on the shoulder for the nerd comment before taking another quick glance at the man at the other end of the bar.

“You’re right he’s like a less handsome you,” he says before scanning the room. “I’ll keep my eye out though.”

Alec has no interest in finding a potential suitor tonight, so he surprises himself and holds out a hand asking Magnus to dance just to distract.

***

“You know I’d say this was a complete success,” Magnus says later sitting cross legged on the bed while Alec packs for their departure the next morning. Magnus only teased him slightly for insisting to do this now and not wait till morning.

Alec looks up from his bag and smiles. “Yeah I had a lot of fun,” he says. Fun might even be underselling it.

“So,” Magnus says with a bright smile. “When’s our next wedding?”

***

Lydia & Raj ~ June 5th, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

“The gentlemen at the end of the buffet asked me to give you this,” Magnus says when he returns to their table holding out a pink napkin that smells of peonies to him. Alec takes it looking at a name and a few digits written hastily in black ink.

Lydia and Raj’s wedding has been a blast so far, everything here looks like a tricked out floral cabin and it’s perplexed them both to no end. The wedding itself has been the most heterosexual thing in human history, from the color schemes to the seventeen-tiered cake to the crazy scented napkins.

Alec never could have done this without someone else, specifically someone who’s not straight. Lydia has been a family friend since he was a kid, he’d even call her one of his closest friends if he really thought about it, but sometimes she’s so straight it baffles him.

Alec looks up at the buffet and sees the man in question, he’s tall, dark skinned and doesn’t look like Alec which is an improvement over Magnus’ attempt to get him laid at the last wedding. Alec vaguely remembers making some small talk with the man earlier in the night when Magnus had been engrossed in some conversation about art with Raj’s grandmother.

He gives Alec a bright toothy smile and Alec gives him a light one back pocketing the napkin. The guy seemed nice enough and is definitely good looking enough, but Alec doesn’t think he’ll actually utilize it. He isn’t however cruel enough to blatantly reject the man from across the room.

“I’m killing this wingman thing now,” Magnus says with a smile sitting down with a heavy plate of snacks for them to share. Under the plate is another napkin with the start of a number on it as well. Alec slips it out from under the plate and sees the name Abby written in bright red marker.

“Seems like you’re doing alright for yourself too,” he says handing the napkin over to Magnus. Magnus takes it from him with a shrug.

“The buffet was busy what can I say,” he says stuffing the napkin into his pocket carelessly. “Now try one of these little sandwich things, they’re to die for.” Magnus holds out one of the said tiny sandwiches for Alec and he leans over, Magnus popping the bite sized thing right onto his tongue with a smile.

They spend the rest of the night like that chairs close together, laughing and making up outlandish backstories for the stuffy rich people that surround them while snacking on every bit of free food that’s available to them.

“I’ve never seen a man look more like he’s the owner of a diamond encrusted toilet in my life,” Magnus says subtly pointing at a man on the dance floor who’s wearing an insane looking purple suit with a matching rhinestone hat. Alec’s not sure, but he thinks it might be Lydia’s uncle that runs a chain of furniture stores.

“Probably has a second one in gold too,” Alec says. Magnus laughs and looks down at their plate that’s been refilled too many times to count. The party is winding down, most of the guests starting to say their goodbyes and make their way back to whatever flowery cabin themed hotels they’re staying in.

It’s weird, but Alec kind of doesn’t want it to end, it’s something he’s never experienced with a night like this. It speaks volumes to the impact Magnus’ company is having on him.

***

The next morning they don’t even ask if the other had fun, it’s clear on their faces, it’s clear in the way Alec doesn’t even complain when he wakes up with Magnus hogging all the covers and his knee in his side.

This deal of theirs works, and it’s going to keep working for the rest of the summer without a doubt.

Magnus tosses a couple bottles of hotel shampoo into an open bag before he heads for the door his backpack slung over one shoulder. Alec looks around the room checking to make sure they haven’t left anything behind when he catches sight of the napkin from the night before on the nightstand and picks it up looking at the digits for a moment.

Magnus is already at the door back turned, his foot holding it open for Alec to follow. Alec looks at Magnus and then back down at the number. He bites his lip in thought for a moment before he crumples the napkin up and tosses it in the small garbage can by the table near the door.

He leans down to pick up their last bag that’s sitting beside it and catches sight of a second napkin next to his crumpled one. This one is barely folded with digits he doesn’t recognize on it and the last letters of the name Abby visible. He pauses with his fingers wrapped around the handle of the bag and looks up at Magnus who’s still standing in the doorway holding it open for Alec.

He thought that Abby was a sure thing, the woman coming around again later in the evening and asking Magnus to dance. Alec had seen them out there and for a moment thought he might be going back to their hotel room alone. He must have read it all wrong, he’s not quite sure why but he’s oddly pleased about that.

“You coming?” Magnus says turning back to look at Alec with a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah, yeah,” he says covering up his surprise at his find with a light cough and grabs the bag following after Magnus.

He allows himself a small smile all the way down the hall wondering if maybe he wasn’t the only one who had more fun with his wingman than anyone else last night. And that, that’s an interesting development.

***

Maia & Raphael ~ June 12th, The Ridge – Marshall, North Carolina

They spend the week between weddings constantly texting. Magnus is more than a little excited about this one it’s clear. Alec doesn’t know Raphael or Maia, but he’s heard a lot about them.

The flight to Asheville, where they’ll be staying and taking a wedding bus into Marshall for the actual ceremony and reception, is filled with Magnus telling Alec a thousand tales about the shenanigans he and Raphael have gotten up to over the years. Each new story, even if Alec doubts the full truth of some of them, makes Alec a little more excited for to meet him. Raphael is part little brother, part mentee to Magnus and it’s not lost on Alec that he’s delighted to see Raphael has found his match, found someone who doesn’t ask him to change anything about himself.

And his match she is, Alec sees it clearly when he meets the pair instantly getting along with the both of them. He and Raphael have similar grumpy demeanors that bonds them fast and Maia is a fiery soul that reminds Alec of his own sister. He gets Magnus’ love for them immediately and isn’t disappointed in the slightest when the four of them end up spending most of their time together.

They attend the rehearsal dinner for this one, while Maia and Raphael have opted for no wedding party Magnus is unofficially the best man. He gives a speech that night that sounds more eloquent than anything Alec could ever come up with. However, he doesn’t have it in him to not tease Magnus just a bit when he sits back down.

“Could’ve been shorter,” he says into his glass of water looking at Magnus playfully from the corner of his eye.

Magnus nudges him in the ribs lightly, “Shut it.”

The wedding the next night is beautiful. Maia and Raphael say I do just as the sun sets in a ceremony that is a perfect combination of Maia’s heathenism as she called it the night before and Raphael’s devout Catholicism.

Nothing is overly flashy or overdone despite the sprawling beauty of their location. The warm summer night drifts by easy and slow, Alec choosing to keep close to Magnus the whole night in favor of any sort of mingling.

“You two are great together,” Maia says smiling at Magnus and Alec as they chat with her under a sparkle of twinkling white lights.

“Oh we’re not together, together,” Magnus corrects her smiling at Alec quickly almost a little nervously before looking back at Maia. “It’s just like a friend thing, you know single people unite situation.”

“Right,” she says like she knows something they don’t know as her eyes pass between them. She doesn’t get to further on whatever it is she does seem to know though because Raphael finds them with a plate of food in his hands that he holds out to her like a precious diamond.

“Mi corazón,” he says looking at her with eyes so filled to the brim with fondness it seems almost impossible.

If he though Helen and Aline were in love-love these two are on another level entirely.

“Food! Real food,” she exclaims making grabby hands for the plate and digging in immediately. “You’re a saint, Raphael Santiago.” She adds on between bites.

Raphael rolls his eyes fondly wrapping an arm around her waist as she continues to eat. “I bring her one plate of rice and tamales and she’s putting me up for sainthood.”

They chat some more in the short time it takes for Maia to finish her plate of food before they re-enter the fray making their rounds to other friends and family. Magnus gets Alec out on the dance floor a lot as the night moves on.

First it’s a few fast songs that he just follows Magnus’ lead for and then a slow number that he can actually keep up with.

“I really like Raphael and Maia,” Alec says as they sway together, bodies close his hands linked together at the small of Magnus’ back.

Magnus smiles looking all too pleased. “Good, I’m glad,” he says slipping his hands down from behind Alec’s neck and to his shoulders. “They’re two of my favorite people in the world.”

Alec smiles, he can see why and says just as much. They fall back into a companionable silence after that just swaying to the sweet romantic song playing around them. He spots Maia and Raphael to their right not really dancing just holding each other and whispering things that makes the other laugh in each other’s ears.

“God they’re cute,” Magnus says looking at them too and then back at Alec. “I mean we’re cuter obviously,” he adds on quickly. “In a platonic adorable way of course.”

“Of course,” Alec says in agreement his eyes on Magnus. They hold each other’s gazes for a while till their swaying becomes more stagnant, more like they’re just holding onto one another.

“Alec,” Magnus starts and the music switches to something far faster paced, the dance floor getting a little more crowded. They pull back from one another and Alec lifts a hand to rub at the back of his neck, a nervous gesture he rarely does these days.

“I’m gonna go, uh, get another drink,” he says and Magnus opens his mouth to saying something but stops and just nods as Alec walks away.

Alec leans against the bar waiting for the bartender to spot him and runs a hand through his hair. He’s not totally sure what just happened, but he’s pretty sure that had that song gone on a minute longer Alec might have kissed Magnus. A tension has been building between them since Alec saw that crumpled up napkin next to his in the trash in Tennessee.

First the texts got more teasing, then there was the trip here that was filled with such joy and openness. And now, now there’s this lingering between them. They’ve been doing this thing as friends, but this trip has felt different this trip has felt almost like they were a real couple.

It’s a dangerous line to be playing at if Alec’s the only one feeling this way.

“Wanna get out of here for a while?” Magnus says pulling Alec’s head back upright. He raises an eyebrow in question.

“Evidently there’s a pool connected to the little hotel down near where the bus will pick everyone up and some people were gonna head over,” he explains and Alec nods his head. If Magnus wants to get out of here, Alec does too.

The pool is probably the least fabulous thing about this whole space, but that doesn’t deter anyone from jumping in fully clothed. Magnus introduces Alec around to few people that he knows making small talk before he himself hops in. Alec makes camp in a plastic chair at the far end of the pool watching as people slowly pair off one by one drifting down to the bus stop.

His eyes for most of the time stay on Magnus, Magnus who does a few laps and then lifts himself up with strong arms to sit at the edge of the pool chatting with a curly haired woman that Alec can’t remember the name of. She reaches out and brushes her hand across Magnus’ exposed forearm when he says something that makes her laugh and it sparks a twinge of jealousy in Alec’s gut that he’s never experienced before.

Magnus meets his eyes when he slips back down into the water and Alec looks away quickly.

“Alexander,” Magnus says slowly in a way that Alec doesn’t have the ability to ignore. His eyes return to Magnus’ the makeup around them a little smudged from the water and his once spiky hair is completely flat and pushed back away from his face. He looks impossibly good in the artificial lighting around them.

Alec’s always been aware that Magnus was attractive, he has two perfectly functioning eyes after all. But now here in this moment he’s never been more aware of the fact.

“Come on, get in,” he says and Alec shakes his head. A few others are lingering at the other end of the pool, but for the most part it’s just them. Alec’s not even sure what time it is, his phone discarded with Magnus’ dead one behind him.

He stands crouching over beside the edge of the pool with a shake of his head.

“I’m good staying dry,” he says and Magnus lifts up onto his elbows on the edge of the pool pretty brown eyes shining up at Alec.

“Come on, five minutes,” he says with a tilt of his head. “For me,” he adds on sweetly and Alec can’t resist.

“Fine,” he says trying to sound put out, but coming off fonder than intended as he settles down on his butt and takes off his socks and shoes. He slides into the pool next to Magnus and turns to him.

“There, happy?”

Magnus pushes off the wall and swims over till he’s hovering in front of Alec. “Almost,” he says just before he reaches out putting both hands on Alec’s shoulders and pushing him down with all his strength.

He submerges Alec and then swims away with a laugh. Alec pops up from the water shaking his head out like a wet dog and chases after Magnus catching him at the center of the pool by the ankle and pulling him back.

Magnus doesn’t fight it, just lets himself be pulled until they’re face to face again splashing a little more water playfully at Alec’s face.

“Really, Magnus?” he says with a smile splashing back at Magnus a bit.

“Really,” he says with a chuckle swimming around Alec once until he settles back in front of him. Magnus lifts his right hand from the water and pushes back the trusses of wet hair that have fallen in front of Alec’s eyes. His fingers drag through Alec’s dark hair and slowly move down across the shell of his ear and down till it’s settled on Alec’s neck. Magnus’ thumb falls a bit rubbing slowly at his exposed collarbone where Alec’s unbuttoned his shirt, his tie long abandoned.

Alec’s not sure which one of them leans in first or if it’s a simultaneous reaction, but between one heartbeat and the next their lips are a centimeter apart just about to touch when a loud honk breaks them apart.

“The bus,” Alec says as Magnus curses under his breath. They both swim to edge quick grabbing their discarded phones and shoes and making a run for it.

The bus is pulling away just as they reach the sidewalk, just far enough away that no one inside can see them.

Alec holds out his phone and sees the time, it’s just past midnight, he doesn’t know where the time went or how he lost such track of it. Magnus puts a hand on his arm and he is reminded of just why he lost track of it in an instant.

“That was the last one wasn’t it?” he says and Alec nods. Magnus sits down on the curb and slips his shoes back on. “Guess we’re walking.”

Alec sits next to him and does the same before pulling his phone back out and pulling up his GPS. As soon as he gets it connected to their coordinates his phone screen goes black.

He curses and pockets the dead device looking around.

“Follow the lights that’ll take us back into the city,” Magnus says pointing in the direction Alec agrees might be their best bet. “Once we get back to street signs we can figure it out.”

“Yeah, okay,” Alec nods and starts walking. They’re quite all the way till they reach the city limits just walking and enjoying each other’s presence. Or at least he hopes that’s what they’re doing, he hopes this isn’t actually an awkward silence after what had almost happened in the pool and on the dance floor.

The area starts to get a little more familiar as they walk, but Magnus starts to slow down his feet clearly getting tired. Alec can understand why with the heel on his boots being what they are.

“Hey, let’s cut through this graveyard, I’m pretty sure it’ll get us to the hotel faster,” he says coming to a stop in front of the large stone wall of the graveyard. The gate is cracked open and while technically they’re not supposed to enter after hours he’s willing to take the shortcut for Magnus’ feet sake.

“Through a graveyard?” Magnus says a little hesitantly peeking into the gates.

Alec smiles stepping up to Magnus’ side. “What, you scared?” he teases.

Magnus turns his head giving him an offended look. “I’m not scared,” he says assuredly. “Just a little superstitious.”

He leans down using one hand to stabilize himself on Alec’s arm and slips off his first shoe then switches and does the same on the other side.

“Magnus what are you doing?” he asks as Magnus holds his shoes in his hand.

“If we’re cutting through a graveyard, we’re running and holding our breath,” he says holding out his free hand for Alec to take.

“Seriously?”

“Most seriously,” Magnus says wiggling his fingers for Alec to take. Alec huffs out a little laugh and twines their fingers together. They step up to the gate hand in hand pushing it open enough so they can both fit through side by side. Magnus takes a deep breath in, holds it and then they’re off.

The warm summer wind whips around them as they rush through the graveyard, bobbing and weaving around gravestones as they go. Alec has to take a breath when they narrowly dodged a large epitaph and laughs.

Magnus joins in with him just as Alec trips himself up over a small epitaph just barely sticking up from the ground and lands face first into the grass.

“Alexander!” Magnus startles as their hands separate. He falls to his knees at Alec’s side as Alec turns over looking up at the stars and then at something much brighter.

“Ow,” he says when he meets Magnus’ eyes. Magnus giggles falling down into the grass beside him.

“Well so much for getting through quickly huh?” he says between giggles and Alec can’t help but join in. Magnus rolls to his side, pushing up close against Alec. He lifts himself up on an elbow and looks down at Alec still giggling just a bit. He moves one leg to tangle with Alec’s.

It’s not the first time they’ve been this close, they’ve woken up in the same bed numerous times now and they were even closer than this not but an hour ago in the pool. But something about this, about this carefree laughter and silly superstitions feels even more intimate.

Alec lifts himself up just enough for their lips to meet. There’s no hesitation on Magnus’ end, their lips slide together slow and easy until Magnus’ tongue trails along the seam of Alec’s lips. He opens his mouth to Magnus easy and falls back bringing Magnus along with him.

Magnus moves with him like it’s as natural as breathing resituating himself until he’s straddling one of Alec’s thighs. He can feel Magnus growing hard against his leg as they kiss making Alec rut his own hardness up against him.

Alec lets his hands drift to Magnus’ waist untucking his shirt and letting his hands drift up to naked skin. Magnus moves his hands down as well unfastening Alec’s belt. Alec gets with the program working at the buttons on Magnus’ pants as well.

They pull back before either of them go any further a question in both their eyes.

“Can I?” they say at the same time and start laughing. Magnus presses his forehead to Alec’s as they laugh hands still lingering at the edge of his briefs.

“Yes,” Alec says enthusiastically when his laughter settles down. He leans in kissing Magnus fast and hard once before he pulls back again. “Yes.”

***

Alec wakes to the whirring sound of a lawnmower. He peels opens his eyes to see the blinding rising sun. Magnus is cuddled up against his side, his head on Alec’s chest. Alec lifts a hand smiling as he runs a hand through Magnus’ hair. For a moment he forgets where they are until the lawnmower gets far too close to his head.

Alec watches as a graveyard groundskeeper cuts around them like they’re just a part of the grounds and Magnus grumbles.

“Magnus,” Alec says shaking his shoulder gently. “We gotta go Magnus.”

He moves slowly lifting his head up from Alec’s chest and squinting at the sun. He looks beautiful in the morning light, all bleary eyed and sleep warm. Alec doesn’t remember falling asleep here, doesn’t remember much after his mind-blowing orgasm and the look on Magnus’ face as he followed close behind. Evidently though they fell fast asleep not long after that.

He smiles despite the grass stains no doubt on his clothes and the ache in his back from laying half on the corner of hard stone. Magnus sits up, Alec following along as they help each other stand. Magnus reaches out with a chuckle redoing Alec’s belt, thankfully they’d had enough energy the night before to tuck themselves back into their underwear at least not giving the graveyard groundskeeper an eyeful.

They cut the rest of the way through the graveyard, which yes it turns out actually would have been a shortcut to the hotel if they had made it all the way through, hand in hand giving a passing wave to the groundskeeper who barely chances them a glance. It makes Alec wonder just how many times he’s found living people fast asleep here.

They’re in a rush once they get back to the hotel cutting their checkout time close, so close that they don’t have any time to talk. By the time they get on the plane to head back home they’re both still so tired they fall asleep almost instantly.

They share a cab once they land back in New York and Alec helps Magnus gather his bags from the trunk as they both linger outside of his building.

“So,” he says handing Magnus his bag their fingers lingering a touch as he does.

“So,” Magnus says in reply an almost shy smile on his lips.

“We should probably talk,” Alec says with a huff. “Maybe we can get lunch tomorrow?”

“I’d love to, but I have to leave for that business trip,” Magnus says sounding disappointed.

“Right, London and you won’t be back until the day before Hawaii,” Alec says sadly. He’d forgotten about the two-week business trip that will keep Magnus away, it’s why they won’t be flying to Hawaii together for Simon’s wedding.

Magnus nods his head. “We can talk then though right?” he says.

“Of course,” Alec says. Two weeks is a long time for Alec to think about this nonstop, but he can handle it.

Alec hesitates for a moment not sure what to do next, Magnus makes the decision for him leaning up and pressing a light kiss to his lips before turning away with a wave and a goodbye over his shoulder. He gives Alec one last look over his shoulder as he enters his building winking as he goes.

Yeah, it’s gonna be a long two weeks.

***

Simon & Maureen ~ June 26th, Oahu, Hawaii

Alec lands in Hawaii and just like the past two weeks his mind is instantly on Magnus. It should probably be on their old college buddy and his pending nuptials, but frankly he couldn’t care less about Simon right now.

They’ve talked here and there over the past two weeks a few passing texts and funny photos, but they still haven’t really talked about what happened, about what exactly they are now.

They fucked in a graveyard and it’s fine, it’s not weird, it’s not consuming Alec’s every waking moment or anything. It’s not. It’s just consuming about half of his waking moments and yeah, his wet dreams have gotten a lot more specific and star the same gorgeous man now, but whatever it’s still totally not a big deal.

He's totally cool with however this goes down once Magnus arrives in Hawaii and they see each other face to face.

***

He’s too jittery and eager to see Magnus to hang out in their hotel room once he’s settled in. He sits outside of the hotel at one of the little tables for far longer than he should head perking up every time a cab pulls through and being disappointed each time it’s not Magnus.

Eventually at least for a little while he distracts himself with the book he brought down to at least create the illusion of doing something other than eagerly awaiting his dates arrival like a dog waiting for their owner to come home from work.

“Oh my god, Alec Lightwood is that you?” a familiar voice says. Alec looks up pushing his sunglass back up the bridge of his nose to find Magnus hanging halfway out of a cab window.

“Oh my god it really is you,” he says far louder than he needs to pushing open the door. Alec huffs a little laugh and stands making his way over to the cab as Magnus hands a tip to the cabbie who’s pulling his suitcase from the trunk.

Magnus turns his attention. “It’s been what ten years, Cabo right?” Magnus says exaggeratedly as he bounds up to Alec tossing his arms around him in a tight hug.

He pulls back with a smile. “You look so different, the doctors finally figured out what to do about that face huh?” A few other hotel guests eye them questionably at that, but Alec’s focus stays on Magnus.

Alec smiles playing along, “Just like they figured out what to do about that hairline of yours it seems.”

Magnus shimmies his shoulders playfully thanking the cabbie as he sits his bag down beside him.

“It’s a miracle the things they can do with horse manes these days,” he says and the cabbie startles giving them both an odd look before he’s backing away and retreating to the driver’s seat.

“Hi,” Alec says with a smile amused by Magnus’ antics.

“Hi,” he parrots back finally speaking at a socially acceptable level. He looks down at Alec’s hands and snatches the book he’s still holding onto. “Did you bring a book to a Hawaiian vacation?”

Alec shrugs. “I was bored,” he says in his own defense.

“Aww couldn’t have any fun without me?” Magnus says using his free hand to tangle his fingers with Alec’s.

Alec pushes up his sunglasses and smiles. “Something like that.” They stand there for probably longer than two people should smiling at each other and swinging their joined hands between them.

“Be a dear and get my bag,” he says squeezing Alec’s hand once. “You have to show me this beach view we’re paying for.”

Magnus doesn’t drop his hand all the way up to the room only separating himself from him when he catches sight of the big fluffy bed that Alec has yet to touch.

Magnus flops back onto it bouncing a bit as he lands. He spread eagles out moving his arms back and forth like he’s making a snow angel.

“Well this is fancy,” he says smiling as he lifts himself up from the bed. He takes a moment to look out at the view as Alec looks at him before he catches sight of the bouquet of roses and chilled champagne sitting on the table.

“Was this you?” he asks turning back to Alec.

“Complimentary for all the wedding guests, but I’ll happily take credit if it scores me some romantic points,” Alec says just putting it out there. He’s been thinking about this, about Magnus nonstop for two weeks now and even though he’s not sure why it’s happening now he’s okay with this happening. He wants to try this with Magnus, something about them has always clicked and now it just clicks a little more.

Magnus runs his fingers over the petals of one of the roses before stepping over to Alec wrapping his arms around his waist.

“The way you’ve been looking at me since I hung my head out of that cab is earning you more romantic points than this would anyway,” he says. Alec leans down just a little hesitant to place a light kiss to Magnus’ lips.

“About what happened in North Carolina,” Alec starts as he rests his hands on Magnus’ shoulders.

“I don’t regret it,” Magnus says quickly.

“Neither do I.”

“Good, so should we maybe do it again some time? Preferably not in a graveyard,” Magnus says his finger unlinking behind Alec’s back to rub up and down slowly. Alec tenses at that, if Magnus just wants to keep having sex Alec’s not sure he could handle that. As much as he wants Magnus he’s never been good at separating sex and feelings and there’s no way in hell he could do that with Magnus. They’ve become too tangled up in one another lately for that.

Magnus must sense his tension though because he quickly continues on. “And other stuff too, you know like hand holding, cuddling, double date brunches with people we really don’t like and low-lit dinners.”

“So, like a relationship?” Alec says lifting his hands to cup Magnus’ neck.

“Yeah, one of those,” Magnus says leaning in to Alec’s touch. “If you want to try.”

Alec nods his head maybe a little too enthusiastically and Magnus chuckles. “I want to try,” he says before leaning in to kiss Magnus again.

***

They wander around the hotel for a while after they talk Alec’s arm slung over Magnus’ shoulder and Magnus’ hand in one of his back pockets like they’re some sort of teen rom com couple. It’d be cheesy if Alec didn’t like it so much.

Magnus tells him all about being back in London and how it felt odd that it didn’t feel like home anymore, which makes Alec a little sad for Magnus, but happy knowing that it means Magnus is staying put in New York.

Eventually they head down to the hotel bar meeting up with one of Alec’s lacrosse buddies that Magnus had never met when they were all at college together and his fiancé.

“Say what you will about us as people, but a queer couple would never make you travel this damn much for a wedding,” Victor says resting his hand on Elias’ thigh.

“Clearly you weren’t invited to Lorenzo and Andrew’s Canadian dream then,” Alec says with a disgruntled sigh, he’s not looking forward to that one at the summer’s end.

Victor chuckles, “Matter of fact I was not invited to that one, Lorenzo still hasn’t gotten over the fact I shagged his fiancé three full years before they even met.”

“Well, then how’d Alec get invited to that one, he did the same thing?” Elias says twisting the umbrella from his drink between his teeth.

Magnus turns to Alec with glee. “You did what now?”

Alec shakes his head furiously. “I did not! Fuck you very much Elias, I have better taste than your fiancé does, I turned blondie down after he fairly aggressively hit on me ten seconds after Vic dumped him.”

“Damn,” Magnus says with a sigh leaning a little closer to Alec. “We could have caused a real scandal at that one if you had.”

“Okay Alec what the hell? Why did you never bring Magnus around to hang with us in college, he’s my new favorite person,” Victor says with a laugh. Magnus raises his glass in his direction in thanks.

“That’s exactly why. I needed you to be my friend so I could cheat off your math homework to stay on the team and you’d have ditched me to hang out with him without thought,” Alec says pointedly and Victor concedes with a ‘you got me there’ shrug of his shoulders.

They stay at the bar till late drinking out of coconuts and trading stories with Victor and Elias until the other couple decides to call it a night. They head back to their room and get into their pajamas falling into bed together. For a moment they stay on their own sides of the bed just like they always have when sharing a bed, or at least have when they first go to bed how they wake up is between their sleeping selves, until Alec reaches out for Magnus because he can.

Magnus shuffles up close to him until they’re chest to chest and they fall asleep tangled together purposefully for the first time.

***

"How tacky would it be to steal all of these towels?" Alec asks from the bathroom as he ties one around his waist. He’s happy, hasn’t been able to take the smile off his face since he woke up in the morning with his head on Magnus’ chest and his strong arms around him. "Cause they're like heaven sewn into a towel."

"It's only tacky if we get caught,” Magnus says turning away from the mirror where he'd been fixing his hair to face Alec as he steps out of the bathroom still in nothing but the towel.

"Cool, we're definitely stealing them all then," he says and stops when he notices Magnus’ eyes dropping down, lingering, ogling really. That's when it hits him Magnus has never actually seen him without a shirt on. He's had his hands on Alec's dick, but they're graveyard tryst hadn't exactly given them time to get naked anywhere above the waist.

"Sorry, I'm back," Magnus says after a moment shaking his head, pulling his eyes away from the dusting of hair on Alec’s chest and the stark black tattoo over his heart to force himself to look Alec in the eyes. "I support you in all your towel thieving endeavors" he says taking one last look at Alec's chest before turning and walking over to his suitcase rummaging through nothing. Under his breath Alec swears he hears Magnus say a quiet emphatic "damn," and maybe just a little Alec privately gloats about it.

He gets dressed quickly, he and Magnus moving in each other’s space easily with lingering touches and quick kisses. The wedding is a lovely affair, Simon stumbles over his vows and Maureen doesn’t mind, she just laughs when a particularly hard wind comes through and nearly blows Simon’s yarmulka off his head catching it and pinning it back into his hair softly.

They spend the ceremony like a real couple, which ironically isn’t all that different from the way they were at the last wedding. They do shots with Victor and Elias and Alec gets to taste the tang of lime on Magnus’ lips when they’re done.

They slow dance a little slower and kiss this time though which is nice and when Magnus feeds him hors d'oeuvres he playfully bites at Magnus’ fingertips.

They don’t linger long at the reception both equally as eager to get back to their room and be alone. They don’t waste any time when they get there the door shut firmly behind them without pause. Alec pushes Magnus up against the closed door without hesitation kissing him for all he’s worth and pushing at his jacket.

It doesn’t take long for them to fall into bed both completely naked.

Magnus' reaction to Alec's bare chest pales in comparison to the no doubt slack jawed look Alec is sporting now. Alec's never seen anyone who looks like they were actually cut from marble before, Magnus' chest is like a damn Greek god. He always knew Magnus was fit could tell from the teases of skin he's seen over the years when Magnus would sport something particularly low cut, but the glimpses never could have prepared him for the full view. Alec dated a literal male model for a brief time a few years ago and even he couldn’t hold a candle to every bit of downright gorgeous that Magnus is. If Alec ever had any doubts that he was gay the vision of a naked Magnus straddling his lap makes him 1000% certain.

It's intense, but in the best possible ways. If they're graveyard quickie hadn't left Alec's mind for weeks this, this is going to be imprinted in his mind for the rest of his life. It's just him and Magnus and endless hours on soft sheets. He put his lips on every inch of Magnus' skin committing every pleased sound to memory, runs his hands over every dip and curve making a pathway he hopes to memorize as he goes. He gives it all, puts his whole self into making Magnus feel good. And Magnus, goddamn does Magnus give right back.

All it takes is one full night together and he's pretty sure Magnus has ruined him wholly and completely for any other man.

***

The glow of them being together doesn’t fade away when they get back from Hawaii like Alec feared it might. Dating Magnus in the city is just as good.

They get takeout and watch bad tv together on his couch, they even manage to get drinks with Izzy and Meliorn one night. It’s an easy thing almost like they’ve been double dating for years.

It’s all so easy the transition from friends to couple and for a good long while Alec doesn’t even get in his own head about how easy it’s been.

***

Lorenzo & Andrew ~ July 3rd, The Royal Conservatory of Music – Toronto, Canada

“I’d bet Andrew cheats on him before they hit their second year,” Alec says idly watching the couple as Lorenzo snips at something Andrew says.

“Alexander,” Magnus says chidingly stealing away his glass of champagne and sipping from it. “You can’t say that at their wedding, it’s so cynical.”

“Oh I can and I just did,” he says with a smile stealing his drink back from Magnus.

“Just because they’re,” Magnus pauses looking at them as Lorenzo straightens out Andrew’s tie, Andrew looking increasingly annoyed at Lorenzo’s micromanaging. “Unconventionally happy, doesn’t mean it’s doomed.”

“True,” Alec says sliding his glass back over to Magnus after he takes a drink of his own. “It’s doomed because Andrew has the ability to commit to monogamy the way a shark can commit to giving up living underwater, just ask Victor, and Lorenzo is an overbearing windbag.”

Magnus snorts covering his mouth to hide his obvious laughter. Alec smiles wrapping an arm around Magnus’ waist and pulling him closer to his side. This wedding has been ridiculous, a tacky nightmare of two personalities that clash so much Alec can’t fathom how they lasted this long. If it weren’t for the open bar, the giant complimentary gift basket back at their hotel room and the way Magnus looks in his auburn suit Alec would be questioning why they even made this trip all the way out here.

“You wanna get out of here soon?” Magnus asks discarding their shared glass on a passing ornate tray with a smile.

“Definitely, but I’m gonna steal some more of those shrimps before we go though,” Alec says already heading for the buffet with full intentions to stack a plate as high as he can and feed them to Magnus in bed.

***

Ragnor & Catarina ~ July 17th, San Francisco, California

Alec doesn’t realize he’s nervous about the San Francisco trip until he lands in San Francisco. This isn’t just some wedding of a college friend; this is meeting Magnus’ family. This is Magnus’ hometown; his sister is getting married to one of the friends he met in London that made London feel like home right in his mother’s backyard.

This is more than a wedding; this is Magnus bringing Alec home to meet his family like real boyfriend’s do. This is five days of Magnus showing Alec the places he liked to go to when he was younger, telling him stories about the streets where he used to ride his bike. This is what Alec does every day they spend together in New York when they pass by some place he has a memory, but packed into just five days. Even more so it’s Magnus really showing Alec a piece of him he’s never gotten to see. This is a man who despite his outward life of the party vibe is actually quite closed off saying to Alec here I am please still like what you see.

This is serious, because they are serious now Alec realizes, with each passing day Alec becomes more and more infatuated with his boyfriend. He won’t say he’s in love just yet, but that’s what this is.

“They’re gonna love you,” Magnus says reassuringly as they stand on the front steps of his childhood home.

Alec looks at him and lets out a deep breath he didn’t realize he’d been holding.

“Mom’s gonna love you instantly it’s in her nature and Rag and Cat will hound you but I promise it’s only because they’re tired of hearing me talk about you,” Magnus says squeezing his hand once. “You got this.”

Alec nods his head and takes another deep breath before putting on his best win the boyfriends family over smile. Magnus smiles a happy little smile at him before pushing the front door open and pulling Alec inside.

In an instant there’s a woman turning the corner with a big, bright smile on her face rushing towards Magnus.

“My baby!” she shouts barreling into him and holding him tight. A little too tight it seems judging from struggling, but fond look on Magnus’ face.

“Hi mama,” Magnus says when she finally pulls back. She lifts up a hand and pats him on the face once before running her fingers along his goatee.

“This is new,” she says observing the look. “It suits you.” Magnus smiles pleased.

His mother turns from him and sets her eyes on Alec seriously looking him up and down once, twice before turning back to her son. Magnus looks so much like her and it’s especially clear in the way she looks when she’s in deep thought, sizing up something or someone and forming an opinion. He’s seen that exact look on Magnus’ face a number of times, even on himself when they met for the first-time years ago.

“So tall, and quite handsome,” she says turning back to Magnus with another big smile. She turns away from him and puts her arms around Alec pulling him into a hug. She’s about the same height and build as his mother when she doesn’t wear those sensible heels she’s prone to so Alec’s reaction to hug her back is immediate.

“I’m Nadira. It’s nice to meet you Alec,” she says pulling back from him. “Well I guess meet you again. Drop your bags, come along I’ll get you some tea.”

She grabs Magnus’ hand and gestures for them both to follow her along into the kitchen.

“You remember the first time?” Alec says as he trails along after them. She pulls out two chairs for them to sit in and gently pushes them forward to take a seat as she flits about the kitchen fetching them some tea.

“Of course,” she says as she turns around attempting to juggle three mugs. Alec jumps up to help her and she smiles at him in thanks when he takes two of the mugs, keeping one for himself and handing Magnus the other.

“So, polite,” she says with a smile towards Magnus before she takes her seat. “Anyways, yes I remember you. You were still growing into that handsome face, but just as polite that parent’s weekend at NYU. All of Magnus’ other friends were hooligans, but you called me ma’am and held doors open for me.”

Alec smiles putting his hands around his mug. “I was just doing what any decent person would.”

“Exactly, it made you stand out,” she says. She reaches out laying a hand on one of Magnus’. “Plus you two were so cute together, I’m surprised this,” she says gesturing between them. “Didn’t happen sooner.”

Alec looks at Magnus unsure of what to say. People here and there have been saying as such since they officially got together in Hawaii and Alec to started to wonder about it himself.

Magnus just shrugs. “I guess we happened when we happened,” he says and then the conversation shifts. Magnus and his mom catch up while she asks questions here and there of Alec wanting to get to know him better.

***

“So, do my west coast ways live up to your east coast snobbery?” Magnus teases as he kicks his legs out swinging them back and forth.

They’re sitting on the edge of his and Catarina’s childhood “treehouse” it’s more of a cabin than a treehouse really, but any argument about the semantics of its design died on Alec’s lips when he saw his boyfriend and Cat jump inside both really too tall to fit now but squeezing in anyways. Magnus had just looked so damn carefree and happy that Alec couldn’t stop smiling.

From there they’ve spent two days just exploring the city, Magnus taking Alec to all his favorite spots, showing him the little corners that tourists don’t get to see that he and Cat would spend hours just wasting time away in.

Of course there’s been wedding duties and huge family dinners as well that have felt so easy. Cat and Ragnor have welcomed him in like family just as Magnus’ mother had from moment one.

Alec laughs. “With the food your mother has been feeding me alone, and you can never tell my born and bred New York family this, I would happily convert into a California guy.”

Magnus smiles one of those private bright little smiles he does and wraps his arm around Alec’s leaning his head on his shoulder.

Alec places a kiss on his hair and smiles. Things with Magnus are just so easy, sometimes he wonders if it’s almost too easy.

***

The night before the wedding is a frenzy of decorating the backyard and attempting to the cover it all with tarps in the hopes no raccoons will wreak havoc on their hard work. Magnus is moving nonstop, Alec isn’t even sure what he’s doing half the time, but he watches from the sidelines fondly lending a hand whenever his height is needed.

“Well you’re in love-love with him then aren’t you?” Ragnor says coming up behind Alec and startling him from his post happily just watching Magnus flit about the backyard. He turns to Ragnor stumbling over his words a bit.

“It’s not like, we’re not,” he says and Ragnor just waves him off with a chuckle and an amused shake of his head.

“Sure you’re not,” he says. Alec starts to try and explain, it’s not that he’s not very fond of Magnus and it’s not that maybe he’s there already, but it’s too soon. It’s way too soon to be showing his hand like that, things have gone so smoothly so far he’s certain dropping the L word so quickly would not be the right move.

But he doesn’t really get the chance to say any of that, which is probably for the better, because Catarina calls out for her husband to be across the lawn.

Alec leans back against the railing of the back porch again and finds Magnus once more. He’s crouched down talking to one of the daughters of an old childhood friend of theirs. Magnus says something that makes the little girl giggle before handing her a twisty little bouquet of flowers that he has in hands.

The scene makes Alec smile and just like that he realizes Ragnor is right, but it can’t be that easy can it? Nothing is ever this easy.

He knows he’s distracted the rest of the night thinking about Ragnor’s words and his own realization.

It’s not until they’re alone in Magnus’ room that he finally snaps out of it his attention solely on Magnus when he crawls onto the bed and straddles Alec’s waist. He trails his hands slowly up under Alec’s shirt and leans down placing a light kiss in just the right spot on Alec’s neck.

“Magnus,” Alec says trying to sound put out while turning his head to give Magnus more access to the long line of his neck.

“Alexander,” Magnus says breathy and warm against his neck before pressing another slow sweet kiss there.

“Magnus we can’t have sex in your childhood bedroom,” Alec says looking around the space, he makes eye contact with Magnus’ plush llama and shakes his head. Magnus lifts up his hands still on Alec’s chest.

“Why not?” Magnus pouts and oh, boy Alec is going to have a hard time standing his ground here.

“Because your llama is watching me and your mom is down the hall,” he says sitting up so that he and Magnus are nose to nose. It’s a bad idea because now his resolve is crumbling even more with Magnus’ lips so close to his.

Magnus leans over for a second knocking the llama to the floor.

“One problem solved,” he says with a smile. “As for my mom wells she’s a heavy sleeper, don’t worry I used to sneak out all the time and she never knew. As long as you can stay quiet we can do this, baby.”

Alec scoffs. “Me stay quiet?” he says incredulously. “As if I’m the loud one, I thought for sure you’d end up waking the dead in the graveyard that night.”

Magnus chuckles resting his forearms on Alec’s shoulders. “Okay so we’re both a little rowdy, it’ll be a fun game to play see if we can both stay quiet.”

Alec sighs and feels his resolve completely crumble when Magnus leans in and brushes their noses together.

“Fine, but one loud noise and I’ll leave you wanting,” Alec says flipping them over so that he’s hovering over Magnus.

Magnus hums pleased. “Keep talking like that and this won’t last long.”

Alec rolls his eyes fondly then kisses Magnus all messy tongue and teeth letting himself get lost in it, letting himself drown out the little voice in the back of his head that’s saying he can’t be this happy by accident, that somethings gotta give.

***

Alec promises himself that he’s not going to overthink for the day and somehow he manages to keep that promise. He ties Magnus’ tie for him in the morning and just basks in the closeness of it, he helps Nadira set out food for the reception and sings along when she starts her own little karaoke party.

He lives in the moment for the day, just like he had when things with him and Magnus first started, when he wasn’t overthinking how this happened and what could go wrong.

The wedding is by far the nicest one he’s been too of late because of its simplicity. There’s no flash or fanfare, Cat wears a dress she borrowed from her adoptive mother and looks more beautiful than any bride ever has. Ragnor dresses like a librarian and says vows that Alec can’t believe aren’t prepared. They’re incredibly in love and happy in the backyard where Cat and Magnus used to play and it’s perfect.

“Thanks for coming,” Magnus says while they sway on the deck of the treehouse, some slow 90’s song Alec doesn’t recognize but Magnus had gotten insanely excited about playing in the background. The lights in the yard twinkle in Magnus’ eyes and here in this moment it kind of feels like they’re the only ones here despite being surrounded by dozens of people.

“I know this was probably a lot with the whole family and everything, so thank you,” he says quietly tightening his arms around Alec’s waist.

Alec shakes his head. “You don’t have to thank me, I wanted to be here. With you. This wasn’t a lot, you’re not a lot,” Alec says truthful. Whatever the hell has sparked his sudden brain melt about this being so good and thinking it can’t be this good has nothing to do with Magnus or his family being too much for him to handle.

Magnus smiles at him pleased and a little surprised which makes Alec want to fight anyone that ever told him he was too much to handle.

“Good, that’s good,” Magnus says before laying his head on Alec’s chest. They stay like that for a long while, well after the song has switched to something more upbeat.

***

The five days in San Francisco move by almost too quickly. Before Alec knows it he’s getting another massive bear hug from Nadira and being handed a massive bag of leftovers that he has to load into the car. Leftovers that he knows they will absolutely confiscate at the airport, but he appreciates the thought nonetheless.

He shuts the trunk and leans back on it watching as Magnus says goodbye to his mother and now in this moment he’s back to slipping into his own head.

Alec looks at Magnus and he realizes he’s doing that thing he does. That thing where he questions something good that happened without any rhyme or reason, without him having to put any work in to make it happen. He’s the happiest he’s probably ever been and he’s questioning it, he’s questioning why it’s happened when it’s happened and what will inevitably go wrong.

He doesn’t want to do that with this, but he can’t seem to stop it creeping in.

***

Victor & Elias ~ July 31st, Brooklyn, New York City

“Earth to Alexander,” Magnus says waving his hand in front of Alec’s face. Alec shakes his head, once again overthinking just like he has been on and off since San Francisco. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” Alec says smiling so that Magnus doesn’t worry. Again this is all Alec’s dumb head, Magnus doesn’t need to worry about it. “Of course, ready to go?”

Magnus nods and holds out his hand for Alec to take. Tonight’s not technically a wedding Victor and Elias just didn’t care about the fanfare of it and plan to at some point get down to the courthouse, tonight is just for bringing them presents and drinking on a rooftop.

Magnus talks all the subway ride to the party telling Alec about a guy he works with who made a fool of himself earlier in the day. Alec listens like he always does, but he finds himself drifting.

He continues to drift when they hit the party only halfheartedly putting his energy into conversation with Victor and playful photobooth pictures with his boyfriend. Magnus notices of course giving Alec all these concerned looks as the night goes on.

“Or at least that’s what I heard,” Victor says finishing up on the rumor he’s heard about Lorenzo and Andrew already having problems.

“Well damn, looks like your cynicism was not misplaced,” Magnus says nudging Alec’s shoulder. Alec just hums into his glass in agreement. He doesn’t want his cynicism to be right, because if his cynicism about that was right then what if it’s right about how they’re relationship has been too easy so far. He wants to be wrong about that.

“Okay, what’s up with you?” Magnus asks turning his body to Alec. Alec looks up from where he’d been gazing off into his empty glass to find Victor and Elias gone.

“Nothing,” Alec says pushing back from the table. “You wanna dance?”

Magnus gives him a somewhat incredulous look. “Now I know it’s not nothing you never dance unless I make you, so what’s going on. Don’t think I haven’t noticed you’ve been having these moments where you’re so distracted ever since Cat and Ragnor’s wedding, so tell me what’s going on.”

He takes one of Alec’s hands in a tender hold and Alec says the wrong thing.

“Do you think we happened too easily?” he asks and instantly wants to put the question back inside his mouth.

“What?” Magnus says dropping Alec’s hand.

“I just, fuck,” he says running a hand through his hair. Now that he’s opened his mouth he can’t seem to stop. “Everyone seems to think we should have gotten together ages ago and I just can’t help but wonder why now and then it’s been so easy, so goddamn easy being with you.”

“And that’s a problem?” Magnus says. He sounds angry, not that Alec can blame him for that, but he’s keeping his tone controlled making sure to not draw attention to them.

“Yes, no, I don’t know,” Alec says his hands moving as he talks. “I mean good things don’t just happen and if they do I mean somethings bound to give right.”

Magnus laughs humorlessly stepping back a bit from Alec. “So what we’re doomed because we’re happy?”

Alec shuts his eyes in frustration for a moment trying to collect his thoughts to actually say something right.

“No, that’s not what I mean, I guess I just wonder if this is too good to be true,” he says dropping his arms to his side feeling a little defeated. That’s not what he wanted to say, that’s not how he should have worded it. He’s in love with Magnus and he’s scared that something is going to go wrong because it’s all gone so right so far and he didn’t even have to try to make it that way, that’s what he should say but he can’t seem to get any of that out.

“No I don’t think that, god Alec where is this coming from? All this time you’ve been here with me you haven’t questioned it, you haven’t second guessed it, so why now huh?”

Alec opens his mouth and nothing comes out so Magnus soldiers on.

“I mean do you want this to end is that what you’re saying?” Magnus asks a sad look in his eyes that Alec hates he’s the one responsible for putting there.

“No, that’s not-“ he starts and stutters out uncertain of what to say to fix this. Of course he doesn’t want this to end, that’s the last thing he wants that’s why he can’t stop thinking about losing it. He’s not lost on the irony that he was in his head about this falling apart because it’s been so easy and here he is the one making it fall apart because he can’t get out of his own head.

“Why are you suddenly questioning this Alec?” Magnus almost shouts.

“I-” Alec stutters out frustrated with this argument and with himself for starting it, for not being able to turn off his damn brain just once. Just for this one thing, this one good thing. “I don’t know,” he settles on running a hand through his hair tugging a little too hard at the ends of it.

Magnus huffs and just shakes his head. “Okay, well when you figure it out, give me call,” he says turning to leave. “But don’t wait too long, I know I won’t.” He moves fast turning for the exit before Alec can even get out another word. Before he gets the chance to say something to maybe convince him to stay.

Not that Alec has the words, he’s doing what he always does. He’s blowing up a good thing because he can’t figure out quite how he earned it.

***

Sebastian & Kaelie ~ August 7th, Lakeville, Connecticut

He doesn’t want to be here. He doesn’t want to be anywhere, really. He wants to sit at home and wallow in his sadness and think about all the things he should have said to Magnus and didn’t, about the fact that he hasn’t mustered up the courage to call him because he’s now worried he’ll just keep saying all the wrong things but Isabelle won’t let him. So now he’s watching two people he only kind of knows through family connections get married and he’s doing it all alone.

Despite the fact she quite literally dragged him from bed to be here Alec doesn’t talk to Isabelle the whole day. Every question she asks about Magnus or what happened he brushes off. He huffs his way through the ceremony his arms crossed and a no doubt upset look on his face. When Kaelie’s vows talk about timing and how it’s random sometimes it hits a little too close to home and he just barely refrains from getting up and jumping into the nearby lake.

Everything at this wedding sucks without Magnus so to make up for it the second vows are exchanged Alec is at the bar. It becomes his go to spot ignoring the concerned looks from his sister and ordering drink after drink. He orders a few more when they find their way to their table and he sees the little place setting beside his with Magnus’ name. He crumples up the paper and shoves it into the bottom of a glass of whiskey and still drinks it anyways.

The sun is still high in the sky and Alec is well and truly wasted sipping on his he doesn’t even know what number drink of the day at their little table.

He looks down at his glass determined to refill it and stumbles as he gets up from the table. Izzy is at his side instantly gripping his arm.

“Okay, that’s enough of that for you big brother,” she says taking the half empty glass from his hand. “Let’s get you some water.”

Meliorn stands at his other side and takes his other arm. “Let me take him.”

Alec watches as they have some sort of silent married people conversation with each other, he tries to open his mouth to defend himself, he’s not their child he doesn’t need them to take care of him but the second he starts to Isabelle is covering his mouth with her hand.

He sighs behind her hand and evidently their silent conversation is over. Izzy lets his arm go and nods at her partner.

“Get him some damn mints,” she says before sitting back down at the table. “His breath smells terrible.” Meliorn chuckles dragging Alec off to the side and through the little pathway that leads to a series of benches.

They sit Alec down and sternly tell him not to go anywhere. Alec waits till Meliorn is out of sight and tries to stand an action he regrets instantly when he feels everything start to spin. He barely manages to fall back onto the bench his head in his hands

“Drink this,” Meliorn says holding out a glass of something that smells of vinegar to him. Alec takes a sip and instantly grimaces regretting the day he met Meliorn.

“All of it,” Meliorn chides giving Alec a look that’s very akin to the ones he’s received from Isabelle since childhood when she means business. Alec grumbles a bit but complies downing the whole disgusting glass.

When he’s finished it down to the last drop he must admit he feels better, clearer, even if there’s a putrid taste lingering in his mouth.

“What was that?” he asks wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

“A mix of kombucha and some other things, a guaranteed instant sober cocktail I invented,” Meliorn explains taking the empty glass and sitting it on the ground beside them.

“Does it make people instantly sober because they want to be clear headed enough to punch you in face for making them drink something so disgusting?” Alec says still attempting to wipe the taste away.

Meliorn chuckles and gives him that I know more than you do look he gives sometimes. “Sometimes,” he says before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a water bottle and handing it to Alec. He takes it gratefully chugging it down and swishing some around for good measure in the hopes that it can wash the taste away.

“So, shall we talk about what’s going on with you and Magnus?”

Alec shakes his head. “There’s nothing going on with me and Magnus.”

“Yes, that seems to be the exact problem,” Meliorn says brushing their hair over their shoulder. It’s blue now a change from the last time he saw them. “So, what happened? Isabelle and I are very concerned, especially after that little display.

“How did you choose to marry my sister so easily?” he asks evading Meliorn’s question. They hadn’t hesitated when Isabelle had proposed on a whim after six months of dating. Alec can’t even get out of his head enough to make a relationship that could be the most important one he’ll ever have last a whole summer.

“I just did,” Meliorn says magnanimously.

“You just did?” Alec says laughing a little hysterically. “That’s it? God, I wish it was that easy, I wish I could just make a choice and not question it. In my head something doesn’t just happen, you don’t just do it. There’s work and there’s planning and if there’s not then the other shoe is always going to drop eventually.”

He runs a frustrated hand through his hair wishing Meliorn hadn’t sobered him up so easily.

“Alec loving someone sometimes just is, it’s not that there isn’t work you have to put in because there is, but sometimes things just happen and maybe the other shoe, as you say, will drop, but when it does you’re not alone,” Meliorn says. He reaches out a comforting hand resting it on Alec’s shoulder, it’s a rare moment of touch for them aside from when they first met and shook hands.

“And what do you do if you’re the one who dropped the damn shoe?” he says.

Meliorn drops his hand and stands up from the bench. “I hate the metaphor, but you pick it up and tell the person you love you’re a cynical asshole who is very sorry.”

He walks away at that leaving Alec alone on the bench with his lips turned up just a bit in a smile. He thinks about what Meliorn said in his own unique way and with a bottle of water in his hand and the lingering taste of vinegar hell in his mouth he decides to take their advice.

He might not be able to stop being a cynical asshole but at the very least he can tell Magnus what’s been running through his head, how he got scared and questioning because he’s a little messed up when it comes to these things. He doesn’t know if he stands a chance, it’s been a long week of radio silence that Alec himself has caused, but he’s determined to at least try to explain. To find the words that he couldn’t that night when Magnus walked away.

***

Bat & Gretel ~ August 14th, Queens, New York City

Alec technically wasn’t invited to this wedding, he knows that. He was just supposed to be Magnus’ date and that’s it, but that doesn’t mean he can’t hang around outside in a suit with a bouquet of Magnus’ favorite flowers hoping to catch the other man.

He thought about doing this some other way, but calling or texting seemed empty. Showing up without warning at Magnus’ apartment felt like a thing he just wasn’t allowed to do right now, so he decided to be here. Maybe in its own little way it’ll be romantic showing up at a wedding with some flowers since this has become their thing now, since weddings are what got them started in the first place.

Thanks to the fact that all of Magnus’ friends follow him on social media now he knows the wedding is still on and Magnus is still very much going, it’s just a matter of catching him at the door.

He’s spent a week planning what to say, planning exactly how to tell Magnus why he got so in his head and why he blew it all up and vow to do better. He also really needs to tell Magnus he loves him because it feels so stupid that he never did.

He wrings his hands as he waits leaning up against the wall outside of the church he smiles politely at guests who pass him by twisting around every time he hears a car door to see who’s getting out of the next cab.

What seems like hours pass as he waits until finally a cab door opens and Magnus steps out. He looks gorgeous and Alec’s never been so certain of the fact that absence makes the heart grow fonder because god he has never felt so much from just looking at person before. He stands up straightening out his jacket and double checking that the flowers are still intact and that’s when Imasu rounds the cab from the other side.

He doesn’t hold Magnus’ hand or offer his arm, but it’s clear they came here together. Off all the fucking people in the world it had to be Imasu. Magnus could have showed up with the ghost of Stalin and Alec would have been less annoyed.

Alec watches as Imasu looks Magnus up and down, a borderline predatory smirk on his lips. Alec wants to scream, to run and to punch Imasu for this and about a million little things over the years all at the same time. Magnus smiles at something Imasu says and he knows it’s not physically possible, but he feels his heart fall right from his chest.

“Shit,” he says to himself; this was clearly a mistake. He tries to move fast, turning around to find a place to discard the flowers and get lost before Magnus can spot him.

“Alec?” Magnus says and Alec hears his footsteps getting nearer, there’s no making a run for it now.

“Shit,” he whispers to himself again before putting on a brave face and turning. He does his best to keep the flowers behind his back out of sight and out of mind, but Magnus notices them his eyes trailing across the tulips.

“Hey, Magnus,” he says trying to come off casual and missing by a few thousand miles.

“Alec, what are you doing here?” Magnus asks and Alec for the life of him can’t read him. He’s more closed off than even when they first met in college. Alec can’t blame him for that, he’s the reason he’s put back up the wall, but it makes his heart clench.

“I am here to give these flowers to,” he pauses looking around and catching sight of a little girl who’s just about to walk past them. “You, here you go kiddo.”

The little girl smiles up at Alec and takes off with bouquet calling out to her mother excitedly.

“You’re here to give Gretel’s little sister flowers?” Magnus says his arms falling to the side.

“Yup and that’s done so, I should go,” he says with a nod trying desperately to ignore Imasu.

He starts to move, but Magnus shifts just enough blocking his path. “That can’t be the only reason you’re here.” The walls fall a bit at that, Magnus’ eyes looking a little softer at him.

Alec sighs sadly. “It’s not, but the other reason doesn’t matter now I guess.”

“Of course it still-” Magnus starts, but he’s cut off by Alec’s phone ringing. Alec curses under his breath once again and pulls it from his jacket pocket.

“Hey, mom,” he says as he answers it his eyes still locked onto Magnus’ like it’s the last time he’ll get to see them. On the other end his mom is talking fast, way faster than she usually does. So fast that he has to have her repeat what she says three times before he believes it.

He hangs up a few beats later his mom giggling away on the other end.

"I gotta go. My mom is high at a mini golf course and needs me to pick her up," Alec says running a hand through his hair.

"Alexander," Magnus says his arm reaching upward. For moment it’s almost like he was contemplating reaching out to touch.

"I know it sounds like a fake made up excuse to avoid talking but I promise it's real," Alec says with a disappointed chuckle. "All I've wanted to do is talk to you for the past two weeks, to tell you how I felt." He adds on more somberly.

Magnus says his name again, so much emotion that Alec doesn't deserve in the one word. Alec waves him off stepping back just as he spots Imasu hovering just off to the side clearly listening in.

"It's okay you've got a date," he says nodding his head in Imasu's direction. Magnus barely spares his date a glance. "And I've got a high mother. I blew it I get it, it's okay."

He says it quickly not even hiding in his tone of voice how not okay it is for him before he brushes past Magnus and heads for his car parked down the street. For a moment he wonders if he should take one last look back, but he just doesn’t have it in him.

***

Alec slows down outside of the mini golf course double checking the address to be certain he’s got the right spot when he spots his mother running towards his car a few of her friend trailing behind. She pulls open the door before he even has the chance to stop the car fully.

“Hi sweetheart!” she says as she ushers in her friends all giggling their asses off before she rounds to the front hopping in the passenger seat. “Drive!”

“Mom,” he starts and she cuts him off.

“No seriously drive, the manager was not happy with our shenanigans, we are banned and we stole these,” she says with a big bright smile holding up a bag of multicolored golf balls. His eyes go wide before he focuses back on the road. He’s questions her, but his mother is clearly too high to care already rattling off addresses of her friends so that Alec can take them home.

It takes nearly two hours to get everyone settled in which is time his mother uses to finally explain that for a little early bachelorette party she bought some weed from the neighbor kid and decided mini golf was the best way to utilize it.

Soon enough after dropping off the last of her friends and making said friend take all the golf ball contraband but one it’s just him and his mother driving slow as the sun goes down.

“Where is the lovely Magnus tonight?” Maryse asks tossing the bright pink golf ball she kept back and forth between her hands. She’s always asking after him even though she’s only met him once before at Izzy’s wedding. She was smitten with him immediately; a reaction Alec understands wholeheartedly.

“We, uh, we broke up I guess,” Alec says trying not to think about the image of Magnus walking into that wedding with Imasu, fucking Imasu.

“Oh, Alec,” she says sounding sad and pitying.

“It’s fine, I’m fine,” he says quickly squeezing the steering wheel a little too tight. “I overthought it and ruined it, business as usual.”

“Sweetheart, I’m so sorry,” she says sounding even sadder than she did before. She tosses her golf ball into the backseat accidentally and undoes her seat belt crawling over the middle console to follow it.

“Mom!” Alec shouts as she stumbles her way into the back very narrowly missing kicking him in the face.

“I’m good,” she says triumphantly as she lands in the backseat making a little aha sound when she finds her golf ball.

Alec rolls his eyes focusing on the road as she settles in and leans forward her hand on Alec’s shoulder.

“It’s my fault,” she says with a sigh.

Alec squints looking back at her briefly with a raised eyebrow in question.

“Your father and I, we never taught you to accept good things when they come,” she sighs again squeezing Alec’s shoulder in comfort. “We always told you the only way to have good was to earn it, that there was always a catch when something just happened and to question it from every angle.”

“We made you doubt every accomplishment, every win, every little thing that made you happy. We made you skeptical,” she drops her hand from his shoulder in favor of leaning forward to rest her chin on his seat just over his shoulder. “We made you think everything through so much you over thought to the point of distraction; we made you bottle up all your feelings thinking it was for the best. I wish I could undo it; I wish I was a better mother to you all growing up.”

From the corner of his eye he sees her looking out the window a sad look in her eyes.

He doesn’t say anything though, because deep down he knows she’s right and he’s gotten a lot better in recent years at not giving her an out for the way she used to be, for the number that her and his father did on all four of them, him as the oldest in particular.

“I know it’s a hard habit to break, but sometimes things are just good. Sometimes things happen and you don’t have to work hard for them. All that cynicism and overthinking will only lead to a life filled with loneliness and you deserve to never feel lonely.” she says pausing to give him a moment to respond. He stays quiet and she carries on. “I know you’ve been thinking about why now when it comes to you and Magnus after all these years, that you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

Alec freezes at the red light and looks at her a little wide eyed. Damn if he isn’t his mother’s son and she can read him like a book when she’s paying attention.

“But sometimes the shoe doesn’t drop, sometimes good things happen without having to sacrifice, sometimes things take their time and happen at just the right time and you can’t overthink it,” her face transforms and she smiles at him. “Like me and Luke, all these years later and now it happens if it’d overthought it, if I’d questioned every little thing, I wouldn’t be here right now. A few months shy of marrying my dream guy.”

“Yeah, well I think I already blew it with mine,” he says finally responding to her.

“Oh, honey, you’ve only blown it if you don’t fight for it. Don’t think just speak from the heart it’s a lot better than bottling it all up and waiting for a fall,” she kisses Alec on the cheek making him feel like he’s five years old again just as the light turns green and he drives forward. She falls into the backseat laying down.

“Can we get taco bell?” she says suddenly like she hadn’t just poured out some shockingly coherent wisdom for a stoned woman who was just forcefully removed from a mini-golf course.

Alec huffs out a little laugh with a nod of his head, “Yeah, we can get taco bell.”

In the rearview mirror he sees his mother’s fist rise up triumphantly.

***

After their trip to Taco Bell his mother seems satisfied and a little bit more sober so he takes her home leaving her in the capable arms of her fiancé. Luke chuckles at his high wife to be when she offers him one of her quesadillas and salutes Alec in thanks.

He smiles as he watches Luke usher her and her bags of Taco Bell inside carefully before he turns around and heads to his car. He drives home quietly in thought thinking of how happy his mom looked with Luke or how happy he probably looked with Magnus before he obliterated it all.

But he wants to take his mother’s advice, take Meliorn’s advice once again. He wants to fight for it.

Alec parks outside of his lonely little brownstone wondering if it’s too late to call Magnus. To take his mom’s words to heart and just throw it all out there, no overthinking just him with his heart on the line and the hope Magnus would listen.

He gets out his phone as he gets out of his car thumb hovering over Magnus’ name when he hears someone clear their throat. He startles, his phone leaping out of his hand he just barely catches it before it hits the concrete when he finally looks up and there in the dim light of his brownstones stoop is Magnus sitting with his elbows resting on his knees looking far more beautiful than any person has the right to be. He’s still wearing his clothes from the wedding sans the jacket; it highlights his arms even more and Alec can’t help but look them over intently for a beat.

“Magnus?” he questions as he rises back to his full height, phone in hand as he meets Magnus’ eyes.

“Is your mom okay?” Magnus asks as he stretches out his legs.

Alec nods a little numbly, still trying to rattle his brain with the reality that Magnus is here.

“Yeah, got her a Doritos crunch wrap and you would have thought I handed her a bar of gold,” he says with a small smile, chuckling fondly at the memory of the child like glee she’d exhibited when he handed her the bag of food.

Magnus laughs a little, that small beautiful smile he does when he’s happy coming to his lips.

“Good,” he says with a nod. He pauses for a moment chewing on his bottom lip a little nervously. “So what was it you wanted to say to me? Because you didn’t play off bringing flowers to a little girl you’ve never met as being your sole reason for showing up today very well.”

Alec opens his mouth and nothing comes out, of course.

“Come on Alec, I’m not sitting on your doorstep for another mouth gaping silent treatment. You said if you just wanted to tell me how you felt, so tell me,” Magnus says a surety and forcefulness that’s oddly gentle in his voice.

Alec takes a deep breath and finally pockets his phone. He wrings his hands together nervously pinching the skin to ground himself.

“I have this tendency to overthink things,” he says. Magnus snorts at that, the ‘tell me something I don’t know’ clear in the sound. Alec just playfully glares at him before soldiering on. “And that’s exactly what I did that night. How we happened, when, if something could go wrong someday, it doesn’t matter. All that matters is we did happen, that if something did go wrong someday maybe we could face it together and then I just blew it up.”

He takes a step closer to Magnus, comforted when Magnus doesn’t even break eye contact.

“The short of it is that sometimes I’m a cynical mess, and I can’t promise I won’t be that sometimes, but I want to try so damn hard to not be for you, for us. And the long of it is I’m in love with you and it scares the hell out of me, not that that’s an excuse for how I acted or how long it took me to say all this to you, but it’s the truth and I just, I get it if I don’t stand a chance here, but considering you’re sitting on my doorstep I’m hoping I’ve got a little bit of one left.”

He runs out of steam at that and waits. The silence is excruciating in a way it’s never been between them as he waits and watches as Magnus twirls the rings on his fingers and thinks. Alec’s not sure if it’s minutes or hours, but eventually Magnus stands straightening out his vest. Slowly he gets closer and closer to Alec until he’s standing right in front of him.

Alec holds his breath.

“You do realize that if I give you another chance you absolutely don’t deserve it right?” he says reaching out a hand to smooth the collar of Alec’s jacket.

Alec nods with a little laugh.

“And you do realize that for at least the next two weddings you’re paying for the hotel all by yourself to make up for your jackassery, right?” he says this time curling his fingers into Alec’s lapels.

Alec nods again.

“Well, in that case you’re forgiven I suppose.”

Alec finally breathes and it’s a good thing too, because before he can even nod again Magnus is pulling him in connecting their lips. As their lips slide together, for the first time in weeks Alec feels happy, just purely happy.

It takes a while, but eventually they part needing to breathe, that silly living human requirement.

Alec’s hands move from Magnus’ hips where they’d landed during the kiss and slide around him pulling him in even closer into his embrace. Magnus tilts his forehead to Alec’s and smiles that small beautiful smile again.

“I’m in love with you too, for the record,” Magnus says after a beat his hands moving up and twining around Alec’s neck.

Alec smiles.

“Also I just brought Imasu to the wedding to make you jealous cause I had an inkling from some vague weirdness Meliorn texted me that you’d show up, he wasn’t actually my date or anything in case you were overthinking that too,” Magnus adds on kissing Alec lightly on the lips once.

He wasn’t actually overthinking that, he’s weirdly proud of the fact, frankly he’d forgotten entirely about Imasu the second he saw Magnus sitting on his front steps.

“Well it worked,” he says honest, even though he hadn’t thought it about since he saw Magnus here, that doesn’t mean he hadn’t seethed all through the drive to get his mother about seeing the two of them together.

“You always did hate him,” Magnus muses twisting his fingers in the hairs at Alec’s nape.

“He’s pretentious,” Alec says defending his dislike of the man, it goes far beyond his attachment to Magnus and all the way back to college. The second Imasu had played three different instruments in front of him just to show off and called a bowl of party snacks charcuterie Alec had not an ounce of patience for the man.

“He’s cultured,” Magnus defends with smirk, absolutely just teasing Alec at this point. It’s nice, it’s a thing he’d missed and craved desperately these last few weeks without him.

“That’s just a polite way of saying pretentious,” Alec with a roll of his eyes. Magnus laughs scrunching up his nose and getting impossibly closer to Alec holding him in a proper hug.

***

Luke & Maryse ~ October 2nd, Atlanta, Georgia

“So?” Alec says with a bright questioning smile turning his head to look Magnus in the eyes.

Magnus runs his fingers along Alec’s shoulder in thought as Alec’s grip on his waist gets a little tighter.

“Bringing up your mother’s ex-husband, your deadbeat father, might not be the best course of action,” Magnus says lifting his other hand up to brush Alec’s bangs to the side. “This is supposed to be a happy occasion.”

Alec rolls his eyes. “It’s a metaphor Magnus, you know about things not always happening the first time around,” he says pointedly making it clear it’s not only about his mother, but about them, about how they ended up here in the right spot close together where they were always meant to be.

“And while I appreciate that, love, I mean isn’t it a bad omen or something bringing it up?” Magnus questions hand now fiddling with the collar of Alec’s shirt.

“If I take out the part where I mention my dad, I have to rework the whole thing, babe,” Alec says reaching up to take Magnus’ hand in his. “The reception starts in like ten minutes I can’t commit a new one to memory in that time.”

“Fine, but if they don’t like it don’t complain to me,” he says squeezing Alec’s fingers once softly.

“Mom loves a metaphor she’ll get it, and Luke owns a bookstore, words, metaphors he’s all about that stuff,” Alec says with a smile, maybe it’s a bit of a risk, but he’s 99 percent certain they’ll like it. “Also, you’re my boyfriend I’m absolutely going to complain to you if they don’t like it whether you want me to or not.”

Magnus huffs out a laugh giving Alec a quick kiss before pulling away.

“Shall we?” he says holding out a hand that Alec immediately takes happily being pulled through the archway to the reception hall.

***

One Year Later

Magnus & Alec ~ City Clerk’s Office, New York City

“Are you sure?” Alec asks once more because he needs to hear it.

“Of course I’m sure,” Magnus says with a smile eyes locked to his. “You’re sure, right? Not doing that thing where you’re going down cynicism lane again?”

“Of course not,” Alec says a little defensively. He’s been working on that little voice on ignoring it and just thinking about the good, about the future they can build together. Not the what ifs or the how’s. “I just figured you’d want to do a whole party or at the minimum make everyone travel a million miles to our wedding since we had to for all of theirs.”

“Oh don’t worry my dear, we’ll have a big party somewhere down the line and make every single one of them attend somewhere far, far away,” Magnus says, he drops one of Alec’s hands and taps his chin in thought. “Like Greece or Aruba.”

“I like the sound of that,” Alec says pulling Magnus’ other hand back to him. He squeezes both of his hands with a bright smile. “So, we’re doing this?”

“We’re doing this,” Magnus says leaning up quickly once for a kiss before turning to the Justice of the Peace. “I know I’m supposed to wait till the end for that, but look at him, it’s hard to resist.”

The Justice of the Peace chuckles as Alec rolls his eyes.

“Magnus,” he says chiding and teasing. Magnus just smiles at him unbothered.

“Shall we proceed?” the Justice of the Peace asks. He’s been very patient since they showed up here with a marriage license and two freshly bought rings cracking jokes the entire time.

They both nod in unison stepping a little closer to one another. It all started at a wedding a year ago, a wedding that he thought might be the most important one he’d ever attend, but he was so, so wrong. This wedding right here, this spur of the moment thing in a courthouse is the most important wedding he’ll ever attend. And just like how Magnus made that one a year ago a little more special, he’s doing the same here when he says I do.

#my fic #malec #magnus bane #alec lightwood #shadowhunters #malec fic

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