#relationship struggles

[mydarkawaits]

[alarminglybad]

Come on, it’s like the first 2 rules

[aventurineswife]

Underneath the Broken Pieces

Summary: After accidentally breaking one of Ratio’s prized possessions, the tension between him and you escalates, leading to a week of silence and emotional distance. Despite the fracture in your relationship, you secretly work to fix the broken item. As you become sick from overworking, Ratio steps in to care for you, leading to an emotional reconciliation and an apology from both sides.

Tags: Ratio x Reader, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Reconciliation, Sickness, Apology, Emotional Healing, Relationship Struggles.

Warning: Mild emotional conflict, Themes of frustration and anger, Illness/fever (reader overworking to the point of sickness), Light angst.

A/N: was originally a Wattpad req but why not share share it here 🫶

The warm glow of the lamps flickered in the cozy shared house, casting soft shadows on the bookshelves lining the walls. The faint scent of parchment and ink filled the air as the two of you settled into your evening routine. Ratio, as usual, was absorbed in his research, his violet wavy hair brushing against his face as he poured over ancient texts and data sheets. You, sitting at the other end of the room, worked diligently on a project of your own, though your eyes occasionally wandered toward him.

It was in that moment of distraction when disaster struck.

Your hand brushed against a delicate artifact resting on the desk—an intricate, purple gem-studded sculpture that had been a gift to Ratio. A relic from his early days in the Intelligentsia Guild. Before you even realized it, the sculpture wobbled and crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces.

Your heart stopped. You stared at the shattered remains, horrified. Ratio's prized possession—gone.

The sound of his footsteps approaching sent a chill down your spine. His expression darkened as he saw the destruction.

"You—" His voice was tight with anger, more contained than you expected, but the venom was clear. "You broke it."

"I'm so sorry, Ratio. It was an accident, I didn’t mean to—"

His voice cut through the air, cold and unforgiving. "Accidents? This was something important. This was precious to me. Why are you so careless?"

Your chest tightened at the harshness in his tone. It was a rare sight—Ratio, the brilliant, confident man, was now consumed by frustration. But the sting of his words hit deeper than the guilt you felt for the broken item.

You took a step back, eyes brimming with hurt. "I didn’t do it on purpose, Ratio... I just... I didn’t mean to."

"Obviously," he retorted, his tone biting. "But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s ruined. Irreparable."

The silence that followed was suffocating. You swallowed the lump in your throat, feeling the weight of his disappointment. Your hands clenched into fists at your sides, but no words came. Nothing you could say would erase what had happened, and the sharpness in his eyes made it impossible to apologize any further.

"I need some time alone," Ratio muttered, turning on his heel without another glance in your direction.

And so, the fight had begun.

The days that followed were clouded with tension. You kept your distance, each of you retreating into your own world. The house, once filled with conversation and laughter, now felt cold and distant. No one spoke. No apologies were exchanged. The silence between you two had settled like a heavy fog.

For an entire week, you didn’t speak a word to each other, each lost in your own thoughts. Ratio buried himself in his work, while you tried to focus on your projects, all the while haunted by the knowledge of what you had done.

It was during one of those long, quiet days that you found yourself back in Ratio’s study, where you had originally broken the artifact. His desk was cluttered with papers, but amidst the chaos, the pieces of the shattered sculpture lay in a pile. You couldn’t bear the thought of leaving it in such a state.

Determined, you sat down at the desk, carefully gathering the fragments, your fingers shaking with nerves. It wasn’t much, but you were going to try. You found glue and began piecing the fragments together, meticulously fixing what had been broken.

You didn’t notice him enter until his voice pierced through the quiet room.

"What are you doing?"

You froze, the glue stick hovering just above a fragment. Ratio stood in the doorway, his piercing eyes focused on you, though there was no anger now. Just… quiet curiosity.

"I—I’m fixing it," you replied softly, avoiding his gaze. "I know I can’t make it perfect, but I want to make it right."

He didn’t say anything for a long time, just watching you with an unreadable expression. Slowly, he stepped closer, his gaze softening as he observed your efforts. You continued to work in silence, afraid to look at him but driven by the hope that maybe, just maybe, this would make up for the damage.

The following days were just as quiet, but something shifted. As the work on the sculpture was nearing completion, you found yourself growing weaker. The stress of the broken object, coupled with late nights spent overworking to fix it and to keep busy, was wearing you down.

One night, you finally collapsed on the couch, exhausted and feverish. The sickness had taken hold of you, and you couldn’t summon the energy to even stand.

It wasn’t long before Ratio found you. He stood at the doorway, his eyes scanning your form with concern. He had never seen you like this—pale, trembling, weak.

"You're ill," he stated, more softly than you expected.

You didn’t respond. Your body was too tired to speak, and your head swam with dizziness.

Without another word, Ratio walked over to you. His fingers gently brushed your forehead, his eyes widening slightly at the warmth there. "You’re burning up," he muttered under his breath, clearly frustrated with himself.

He lifted you carefully, carrying you to the bed. His movements were gentle, as though afraid to hurt you. "Rest," he ordered, though his tone had softened considerably. "I’ll take care of everything."

For the next few hours, Ratio fussed over you in a way that was completely foreign to his usual demeanor. He brought you water, checked your temperature, and even tucked you in with a blanket.

It was only when he stood in the doorway, looking down at the sculpture on his desk, that he finally spoke again.

"You fixed it," he said, his voice quieter now, almost regretful.

"I—I didn’t want you to be angry anymore," you whispered, your voice barely audible. "I just… wanted to make it right."

Ratio paused, the weight of your words sinking in. Slowly, he walked back to your bedside, his hand gently brushing your hair back. "I’m sorry," he murmured, the apology sincere and deep. "I shouldn’t have reacted that way. You didn’t deserve that."

A small smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you finally looked up at him. "I’m sorry too, Ratio. I shouldn’t have been careless with your things."

The tension that had hung between you for so long finally began to dissolve. Ratio took your hand in his, squeezing it gently.

"I’m just glad you’re here," he whispered, his voice tender now. "And… thank you. For fixing it. For everything."

You closed your eyes, feeling the warmth of his presence surrounding you, the broken pieces of both the artifact and your relationship finally being healed.

And for the first time in days, you both found peace again.

[batsigsonly]

Between Deadlines & Heartlines

⋮ ⌗ ┆synopsis: burnout changes people, you didn’t mean to let it change the way you love satoru — but asking him for quiet might cost you more than expected.

✮⋆˙ pairings: Gojo Satoru x reader

₊⊹ cw: emotional burnout, relationship strain, miscommunication, angst.

Recently, a promotion was presented to you, a promotion you've been dying to get. It's been taking a sizeable amount of emotional and mental influence on you, and the last thing you need is something—or particularly someone—nagging you.

Don't get it wrong, you really do love Satoru, but oftentimes he can really manage to get on your nerves. Satoru always grew up with people whining and complaining about him being too annoying, too loud.

When he met you? Everything changed. He stopped being so insecure, so self-conscious, so self-depreciating.

Sometimes, you can't help but feel a little overwhelmed. It was never in your interest to make him feel like he's an annoyance or anything. Unfortunately for you, he easily finds a way to really get on your nerves.

You stumble to your doorstep, fumbling desperately for your keys. It's been a long day, and you're this close to collapsing if you don't head straight to your bed.

Eventually, the door gives way and you enter, closing the door behind you with a soft thud. You drop your belongings onto the floor and hastily take your shoes off.

All you want to do right now is just sleep. You hope and pray that's what'll finally happen after a lengthy day of your manager repeatedly piling work and papers over your desk while simultaneously yelling at you for minor mistakes.

But no, you can never have it your way.

Heavy thuds of what seem to be footsteps grow louder and louder—Satoru emerges from the bedroom with a huge smile on his face.

"Sweets!!! You're finally back,” a pair of arms embrace you whole, not planning on letting up. “How was work? Any trouble?”

Just a bit more, and you can rest, you remind yourself.

"You know, the usual." Curtly, you slowly try to lift his arms off of you. Instead, his hold is tighter, more grounded.

A loud booming laugh sounds next to your ear at your attempt, and the next thing you know, Satoru is dragging you into the living room and onto the couch. Satoru collapses beside you, lazily wrapping an arm around your waist.

"I've been waiting all day, sweets," he grins, nudging your cheek with his knuckles. "You wouldn't believe what happened—"

You're trying to focus, you really do, but your head is pounding and you're this close to flaking out.

"That's great," you murmur, though you aren't even sure what you're saying anymore.

He pauses.

"...You didn't even hear me, did you?"

That same teasing tone of his that you love is still there, but softer now.

You sigh, pressing your fingers to your temples. "Satoru, I just got home."

"And I'm excited to see you." He lifts his blindfold just enough to watch your expression. "Is that a crime?"

"It's not about that."

"Then what is it about?"

You don't answer right away, because if you do, it won't come out nicely. You can already feel it — the frustration that has nothing to do with him slowly turning into something that does.

"Look, I just need five minutes," you say finally. "Without noise. Without talking. Without...anything."

His smile falters slightly, it's subtle, almost unnoticeable.

He quietly murmurs, "You're saying I'm...noise?"

There it is. That tiny shift you never wanted to come. Your chest tightens quickly,

"That's not what I meant."

"But that's what you said."

His arm slips away from your waist. Not dramatically, not angrily, just...gone.

He stretches his arms out, grinning like nothing happened.

"So," he says lightly. "I'll save my story for later. You look like your about to pass out.''

You nod.

He stands up first, "I'll make dinner. You rest easy."

For outsiders, this feels normal. Easy. But you know that it’s too easy.

You watch him walk into the kitchen, humming under his breath — quieter than usual. Not that exaggerated, off-key singing he always playfully annoys you with, and definitely not the the kind he hums absentmindedly.

You hate that you notice the difference. Now, the apartment feels larger, and somehow colder.

You try to convince yourself that this is good, this is what you wanted. At last, silence.

So why does it feel so heavy?

A few minutes pass. Then ten. You realize that he doesn’t come back to sit beside you. Doesn’t lean over the couch dramatically, or complain that you’re ignoring him.

He gives you exactly what you asked for.

And somehow that hurts worse.

You swallow.

“Satoru?” you call out softly . There’s a small pause before he answers, like he's hesitant.

“Yeah?”

He sounds normal. He always sounds normal.

And that’s what scares you.

Now, Satoru laughs it off. Acts like everything is okay.

You notice how he stops touching you, stops being loud, stops being himself.

You can't decide what hurts more, your own frustration or the fact that you just became another person who found him "too much."

Standing up slowly and making your way to the kitchen, you see him at the stove with his back turned away from you.

You want to say something, anything. That you didn't mean what you said, that he misunderstood you. You didn't and never found him "too much."

But the words die and feel heavy in your throat. You're terrified that if you say them now, they'll sound like pity.

[clairobscur11]

Rather than having to counteract every negative behavior with five positive behaviors, wouldn’t it make more sense to adopt a new mind-set about how you treat one another?

What if you treated your partner with the same kindness and respect in everyday life that you use with your boss, your best friend, or even your mom? What if you made the decision to be respectful, kind, and affirming, even during conflict or difficult conversations? Then you wouldn’t have to try so hard to make up for the painful, divisive interactions that weaken the closeness you share together.

Of course, there will still be times when you feel angry or frustrated, but if you make the commitment to always lead with respect and kindness, you’ll be less likely to fall into the bad habits that sabotage your connection. You control your words and behaviors with your boss and friends, even when they irritate you. If you are motivated, you can learn this same self-control with your partner, the person you love the most and who is most deserving of your best behavior.

Practicing respect and kindness isn’t just a nice thing to do. It makes a huge difference in the quality of your relationship. It builds mutual trust and fosters healthy communication. It allows you to manage conflict and challenges more effectively. Most importantly, it shows the depth of your love for your partner and the commitment you have to your relationship.

— Mindful Relationship Habits, S.J. Scott

[missmoonfrost]

A sensible mother - a wolfstar microfic

@wolfstarmicrofic - October 10: Leaves - Words: 466

“He lost the keys. Again!” Remus laments into his phone. “It’s like he doesn’t even care!”

“I’m so sorry to hear that, love.” His mother’s concerned voice immediately brings his anger down a notch. “If he doesn’t care, that’s not good. Keys are important. It’s about your safety.”

Remus sighs and leans his forehead against the kitchen window. Sirius is sitting on the stone lining the flowerbed outside, motionless with his hands between his knees.

“Of course, he cares,” Remus mumbles, “I never said he didn’t.”

The yellow leaves slowly building up on Sirius’ shoulders accentuate exactly how still he has been for the past twenty minutes. Since the yelling. Sirius is only still when he is trying to shrink, trying to disappear, ashamed of who he is.

Remus hates being the one who make him feel like that. But then again, if Sirius had just held on to his fucking things, he wouldn’t have had to.

“I know I should stand up for myself and not accept this, but…”

Life without Sirius would be worse? Withstanding all his carelessness and impulsivity is worth it? Anything, making Sirius a part of his life is worth it?

Admitting any of these thoughts feels daunting, and saying them out loud too much so.

“Well, dear,” his mother carefully probes, “love never means you should settle for something that is not good for you. But if he does see it as a problem and is prepared to work with you on a solution, what I hear is you two are on the same side here.”

“Yeah, you’re right”, Remus drags a hand over his face.

“Didn’t you say he was going to this evaluation?”

“He hasn’t got a diagnosis yet, but the ADHD questionnaire sounded so much like him it wasn’t even funny.”

Remus closes his eyes. He is a terrible person. Because diagnosis or not, he has already borrowed a stack of books. He knows very well that losing things is a typical symptom. And yet he chewed him out as soon as Sirius admitted what had happened, not even caring to hear the entire story.

“Dear, remember you are not responsible for everything,” his mother’s voice soothes him, “You don’t have to know what to do, or say the right thing. But if you can work together - you two against the problem, I think you have won a lot already.”

“Yeah… Thanks, Mom! I think I… need to go.”

Remus throws another glance outside, where the leaves are still falling and the sky has started to darken, and quickly steps into his shoes. He might not be a terrible person. But opposed to Sirius, he does have a sensible mother to rely on, and thus it’s up to him to take the first step to repair this.

[writingisartdarling]

Okay, time for a pretty desperate relationship rant...I would appreciate some help/advice on all of the following.

If you've been following my blog for the past year or so, you might know that I got into my first dating relationship last spring. I was VERY surprised when he asked me, and I admit to having a big crush on him from that point onward...Or, well, I think I did because I've no real experience with this sort of thing. And he's a really nice guy, honestly.

But, for some reason (I don't know why...?) I have started doubting lately. I stress A LOT, like, over meaningless, little things, and this is a big thing so it's worse. At the start of our relationship, it was all scary and new and I kinda stressed about it because of that...Now? Now it's not very new anymore, but still I have started to feel anxious about this relationship more than I feel...fulfilled by it? And knowing I feel this way for some unknown reason, I make myself feel even more anxious by being anxious...If that makes any sense?

I think I probably didn't have a crush on him but rather on the thought of dating for the first time ever. And now I'm realising that and I don't know what to do exactly.

Our relationship hasn't been romantic, exactly, even if we are dating. We've established that. Which, I suppose, is fine because it doesn't need to be kissing and all that all of the time. Well, we've yet to kiss at all. We hug, yeah, but only when saying goodbye. I'm rambling, great...

Well, the point is...I don't want to be anxious about this relationship or about him, but the thought of sharing my thoughts with him or even breaking things off makes me feel even worse (like, I get hot and sweaty and almost feel kinda nauseous overall at the thought of this stuff whenever I'm reminded of it)...But I also know it's not fair to either of us to keep it up if it's not what one of us wants. Well, I don't know if I want this or not, only that it makes me uncomfortable. What makes it worse, also, is that pretty much everyone I know KNOWS about us. My mother is a bigger fan of him than I feel like I am.

Like, I kind of get it why some people might break up over text because I'm not sure I could bring it up face to face...but that's not something I would do because I respect him more than that.

Oh, it's all just pretty terrible. I honestly don't know what to do. Please, if anyone can offer me a kind word or two and a word of advice (maybe more than one of those...), I'd appreciate it greatly.

What do I do?

[wordsofabrokenbutmysticalfaerie]

I gave him the love he never got

In return

I got the pain I never deserved