Now we know how Dr. Stone men are in love, how about when their courting/pursuing and to being a husband? 🤭
masterlist
˗ˏˋ꒰ 💭 ꒱ RAE'S NOTE. it took time but here you've it, my dear. i hope you enjoy the read as i've enjoyed writing it (^^).
˗ˏˋ꒰ 💭 ꒱ pairing. senku × gn! reader, gen × gn! reader, tsukasa × gn! reader, xeno × gn! reader, stanley × gn! reader
˗ˏˋ꒰ 💭 ꒱ summary. how they'd flirt with you, plus a brief example of their confessing.
courting headcanons
—Senku Ishigami is in denial (again). He absolutely denies he’s “courting” anyone, yet he’s inventing things that just happen to make your daily life easier. He calls it “optimization,” but his ears go red when you thank him. Not at all subtle.
—Your life is soon filled with more details about science than before. His explanations of scientific concepts come in an oddly intimate manner, with metaphors tailores too your own interests. Then, he decides to make little experiments for just the two of you, such as stargazing sessions where he quietly watches your reactions more than the sky.
—Senku starts to remember everything, and when I say everuything I mean it, you say. Offhand comments become projects. Do you like a certain scent? He’ll recreate it. Say you miss a food? He’ll reverse‑engineer it. If you ask him? It's for the advancement of civilization, 10 billion percent sure.
—His version of a confession is undeniable his in style, indirect but unmistakable. He'll invite you to join a long‑term project, something that will take months or years.
❝Don't make a big deal about it… I want you in my future when we rescue humanity.❞
—Would you believe me if I told you it started as a joke? Gen Asagiri flirted with you as he had done with many others before, but with you, something's different. He starts sizing up your reactions more closely after every interaction. His jokes become gentler, more intimate. His compliments stop being generic and become specific, almost vulnerable.
—Then, he starts bringing you things that seem casual… But that everyone knows is not. A pretty feather, a perfect leaf, a polished stone, all small tokens which he hands you theatrically. And once you turn around with his gift already in your hands, he stares at your back with a tenderness that he doesn't allow himself to show face-to-face.
—Gen can be a showman in public, in a way. But in private, his act tones down, revealing a softer side of him. He likes to sit with you at sunset, when the world turns golden and still. And when the conversation becomes intimate, he looks at you with an expression he doesn't use with anyone else: a mixture of longing, desire, and fear.
—In case it wasn't clear, he's afraid of what he feels. He's insecure about his own feelings because of their profound nature. However, one day he blurted it out as if it were a joke, despite the slight tremor in his voice.
❝You know… I like you more than is strategically sensible.❞
—As I've said before, Tsukasa Shishio shows affection through protection. He doesn't see you as weak, if you're wondering it, yet he doesn't hesitate to position himself between you and any possible threat without making a show of it.
—Tsukasa is an avid listener at that. When you speak, he gives you his full attention, as if your words are something sacred. He doesn't talk much about himself. Nevertheless, it's your trust in him that makes him lower his walls, sharing personal details that no one else knows.
—Another quiet show of his interest comes in the form of small rituals he has started to form with you: He leaves wildflowers where he knows you'll find them, he prepares the best piece of meat without saying a word, he covers you with his coat while you sleep, he watches you tenderly when you think he can't see you. They're not that grandiose, but they're enough to make you warm on the inside.
—Then, one day, the imminent arrived. It was in the way he looked at you, really at you, and admitted wanting to give you a future, one which he's willing to protect with his own life if it meant you would be happy.
❝I want to build a world where you can live without fear.❞
—I hope you're ready, because Xeno Wingfield finds your mind stimulating enough, which translates to a new attraction to debating with you about anything and everything. If he starts seeking you out to debate, to listen to your ideas, to ask your opinion on complex issues… Oh, he’s already halfway gone.
—Similar to Senku, he finds it intimate the prospect of sharing knowledge, especially the one he holds dear. For such, he'll offer to teach you anything you may ask him about, whether it's the intricate works of space, or why his gloves have those metal claws attached.
—Intense emotions aren't Xeno's strength, which seems pretty clear, so he lets them escape through small cracks during your moments together. Funnily enough, if you make him laugh, really laugh, he stares at you as if he doesn't understand what just happened to him.
—When he finally decides to say something, he does so with precision and a deep vulnerability. Despite the firmness present in his voice, his hands trembled just the slightest. For him, admitting his affection is a leap of faith.
❝You have become… Important to me. More than I anticipated.❞
—We're already aware that Stanley Snyder is a man focused on actions; that is, his affection is shown through various actions that demonstrate his attention to you. He fixes things for you, sharpens your tools, stands guard nearby without being asked…
—Those eyes of his will be set on you, whether you're aware of their constant presence or not. He watches you from a distance at first, almost like a soldier assessing a battlefield. Based on what he learns from his curious and respectful observation, he adjusts his behavior accordingly. His attention is constant, silent, and almost devotional in nature.
—His teasing is… He teases you dryly, to be honest. Yet if someone else does it, he shuts them down with a single look. He's the only one with the right to fluster you, and everyone should know that.
—Stanley isn't the most open about himself at first, taking his due time to open up for you. His life comes to your knowledge in fragments: a story from his past, a scar explained, a rare laugh shared. He doesn't talk about himself. Not out of pride, but because he doesn't know how. But with you… Things just slip out.
—And, when he finally gains the courage, his confession comes bluntly, directly, and devastatingly sincere, just like him.
kinktober day 2!
cws: face riding/sitting, hair pulling, interrupted sex, sorry guys I couldn't help myself... and neither could Xeno apparently. let me know if I missed anything!
1.1k words | ao3 link | kinktober masterlist
Stanley thought he was in heaven.
I mean, what other way could he describe the feeling of your pussy suffocating him?
You’d been so mad at him earlier—something about messin’ with those damn brats. Truthfully, he didn’t care. In fact, he’d do it again in a heartbeat if it meant you would continue grinding on his face so nicely.
The way you moved above him, every shift of your hips, each soft, breathy gasp, filled him with an immense sense of pride.
It was hard to concentrate on anything other than the way his tongue moved against you, slow and deliberate, then greedy and insistent, tracing and teasing. The way he would lick and suck at your clit as if it were his last meal.
He was starved—desperate for every inch of you you’d give him. And he was going to drink you in full.
Your hands threaded through his hair before you even realized it, tugging instinctively, nails raking slightly through the strands. The sound he let out—a low, guttural groan—shook through his chest and reverberated straight through you, making your knees tremble and hips ache for more.
Stanley’s hands gripped at your thighs, gently guiding and rocking you back and forth to match the pace he’d set. Sinful, needy moans echoed around Stanley’s head as he lapped at your clit, hungry yet precise, relentless in his attention. Your thighs clenched tightly around his head as you gasped, fingers digging harshly into his hair as you rode his mouth, utterly powerless to the way he had you consumed.
It was easy to lose yourself in the sensation—the ragged gasps, the heat pressing deep into your chest, the intoxicating taste and scent of yourself coating his lips and tongue. Even his own hips moved subtly, pressing upward in time with his mouth, as if every push, every flick, would grant him some fleeting relief from the need he couldn't hide.
“F-fuck... Stan—!” you whimpered, hips stuttering, chest heaving as your breaths came in short, uneven pants.
You didn't expect him to respond—not with his face buried so completely-but he did, and the sound of his low, muffled voice made your knees tremble. His words were thick, wet, vibrating against your most sensitive part, eyes rolling back, mouth parting in a silent moan as he pulled you closer.
“Yes, sweetheart?” He groaned, voice muffled but unmistakable.
“F-feels good—just like that… please Stan,” you cried out, mind scattered.
Stanley had always been good at following orders. It wasn't just a habit—it was part of the job. But it was impossible not to be grateful that the skill didn't vanish the second he stepped into the bedroom. He knew exactly how to read a target, how to find the right angle, the right pressure, the right rhythm at the exact right moment. And right now, every ounce of that precision, every trained reflex and instinct, was focused entirely on you—on how to work you open, on how to pull every broken moan, every shiver, every flicker of surrender from your body.
You were teetering on the edge, nerves aflame, body trembling as you whimpered, “Stanley... please... let me—mmph!” Hips stuttering, chest heaving, mind melting into the sensations.
Ah, seems like you’d forgotten you were the one who was supposed to be calling the shots, not that he’s complaining, he’d gladly take over for you.
Though suddenly, his phone rang. Sharp, insistent, cutting through the haze of pleasure. Your pulse jumped.
“Ignore it,” Stanley murmured, voice low, gruff, keeping his face buried between your thighs, “Focus on me.”
But the phone kept ringing, the caller ID flashing insistently.
“Ngh—b-but its—X-Xeno!” you stammered,
“Tell him to fuck off,” he grumbled, completely unbothered, fingers pressing you harder against him.
“What if it’s important?” you all but whined, voice trembling.
Stanley hummed against you, a low, amused vibration. “Fine,” he growled, “answer it. But I’m not stopping.” His words pressed into you like a challenge, and your knees shook.
Hands shaking, you snatched the phone and put it on speaker. “H-hello,” you whispered, voice barely holding together, every syllable trembling around the moans threatening to escape.
Xeno's voice came through immediately, calm and unflinching. “Why do you sound like that?” Then, not a second later, “Where's Stanley?”
Stanley hummed low and darkly against your body, lips pressing wetly into your core. “Tell him I'm busy,” he murmured, indifferent to your desperate attempt at composure. Every movement of his tongue, every press of his hands, left you shaking, breathless, completely at his mercy.
Just as you were about to answer for him, Stanley gave a particularly mean suck, and you couldn't hide the whine that slipped out.
At that point, you didn't even care if Xeno heard.
“H-he's... a little—preoccupied!” you admitted, voice faltering.
Xeno, calm and precise as always, began to speak, ready to relay the information both you and Stanley needed. But barely five words in, Stanley groaned, frustration and desire twisting together.
With a swift, practiced motion, he lifted you and slid you down so you were straddling his chest instead of his face, pressing you firmly against him. He ripped the phone from your grasp, growling, “Fuck Xe… you really don’t know when to quit, huh?”
“I don’t care about what you and your wife have going on,” Xeno said evenly through the speaker. “This is important. Though knowing the both of you, that probably means nothing. Keep going for all I care.” It was clinical, precise—and entirely unbothered by what was happening on the other end.
Stanley chuckled, low and dark, the sound vibrating through your body from his chest all the same. “You’re only saying that ’cause y’know you want her too,”
Your cheeks flushed as you jabbed him lightly in the chest. “Stan…”
“What? He knows it’s the truth,” Stanley replied with a grin, eyes glinting mischievously.
Xeno didn’t respond immediately. You could hear him clear his throat through the receiver. “That’s beside the point.”
“Anyway, I need you both to—” Xeno began, but he didn't get much further.
Stanley groaned, clearly done with whatever little game the call had been, and muttered, "Yeah, yeah, yeah... got it. Call ya back later," slamming the phone down without another word.
Before you could even catch your breath, his hands were on your thighs, yanking you back up over his face. “Sit back down,” he commanded, tongue flicking to lick a slow, deliberate stripe against your clit.
“I haven’t had my fill yet.”
an: omg wdym I can write for characters other than Senku???? ok jokes aside, I had a lot of fun working on this and I hope it turned out well! my first drst post was a stanley drabble so this brings me back.... @lo1itado11 oh the memories 🥹
In which the childhood friend of Stanley and Xeno settled for a simple life, and they're not going to let her waste her talents.
Reader is ── Female | Diner Server
Story is ── Romantic | 2.1k words | Part One
Warnings ── N/A
Parts ── Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Epilogue | Director's Cut
A photo of a short boy with white hair and goggles on his head, a taller blond boy with a lollipop in his mouth, and a girl between them showing off a big smile that was missing a few baby teeth was the first of many. Next was their kindergarten ceremony, each growing a tad taller, followed by their middle school graduation, each in cute mock-graduation gowns and caps and each distinct in style.
The last time you achieved something in unison was your highschool graduation photo, Xeno with his hand on your lower back and Stanley with his arm over your shoulder, sandwiching you between them, each showing off your certificates.
Every picture after that was for the individual: Stanley’s promotion ceremonies and returning home celebrations and Xeno’s many graduations from bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs, along with his post-project awards. You three were always in each photo, celebrating Xeno and Stan’s brightest moments, but none seemed to focus on you.
Stanley swiped through the photos on his phone while Xeno stirred milk and sweetener into his coffee, watching the other reminisce.
They’d come all this way, to a dingy little diner off Route 66 built sometime in the 60’s and last renovated in the 80’s, just to see you. Since they hadn’t warned you ahead that they’d be visiting, you weren’t able to get the day off, and you were still fuming about that as you returned to the table with two plates.
The full works breakfast was placed in front of Stanley, and a breakfast sandwich with homefries was slammed front of the smirking scientist across from him.
“Ouch, gentle darling!” Xeno teased, though he’d visibly jumped at the slam and tried to play it off.
“I’ll do damn well as I please, Doctor Wingfield.” You rolled your eyes, turning to look at Stanley. He was chewing on a toothpick, only removing it to begin eating. You expected something snarky from him, but this time he remained silent, and you wouldn’t be surprised if it were because he was still upset that you had missed the last Marine Corps Ball.
In your defence, you couldn’t exactly fly to the east coast and take all that time off work when you wanted; it was costly!
Seeing as they didn’t need anything else, you dismissed yourself to check on your other tables. As always, you could see Xeno doing most of the talking while Stanley observed. Only, Stanley seemed to observe more than just his friend but everyone else present, especially you. Anytime your back was turned, you could feel his dark eyes staring you down, likely judgementally.
The other servers had come to recognize Xeno and Stanley and knew to seat them in your section whenever they stopped by—no matter how much you insisted they not.
When all your other tables were paid and cleared, you took the chance to pull off your apron and push your way next to Stanley for a quick break.
"My co-workers are offering to cover the closing hour for me if you want me to leave early." Stanley allowed you to pick one of the fruits from his plate and pop it in your mouth, having left the berries he knew you liked untouched.
“Unfortunately we’re here on business.” Stanley glanced at you while he spoke, feeling the same guilty pang he always did when you seemed sad.
“We’re passing through on our way to test my new engine cooling system; we booked a field out here to get it away from people.” Small, old towns hugged Route 66, and between them were vast uninhabited areas of sand and dried-up plants, perfect for testing things that may just explode.
You gave a half-hearted smile, partway glad to see them and partway sad it wouldn’t be for longer. With Stanley climbing up the ranks and Xeno being so well-regarded at NASA, it seemed as though they could do anything they wanted when they wanted, and you were still answering to the same diner owner that hired you a handful of years prior.
Not that you hadn’t chosen this path; it wasn’t as if you were godawful in school or lacked dreams. The other two were just…rare. You were an exceptional student, but they were inhuman.
“That’s nice. I’m glad you’re already in the testing phase.” You meant to share your words with enthusiasm, but they came out rather plain as you mindlessly stirred the coffee in your mug. Your eyes were lost in the swirling liquid, your mind busy considering how impressive Xeno’s projects always were.
Why did they always make a point to see you? You never had anything fun to share.
The silence stretched while you lifted the mug to your lips, taking in the watered-down coffee you were used to tasting. Although everything you did felt mediocre, you were motivated by a specific goal.
You’d been saving as much of your pay as possible to help fund a degree in archival studies, not including paying off the student debt you already had. You had managed to complete a bachelor's in two and a half years already, but you still needed a master's and doctorate to be considered in a genuine archive.
“Still foolishly rejecting our offer?” Xeno had both elbows on the laminate table, resting his chin on the back of his hands. It only took meeting eyes for a moment for you to look back down at your hands, fingers drumming along the sides of the warm mug between them.
“I can’t let you guys do all the work for me. I was super close anyways—just one more year and then I can apply to the UT master's program.” Your words were both reassurance for them and yourself.
“You said that last time.” Stanley added unhelpfully.
“I know! I know… Just, some unexpected expenses and all.” It felt like you had the worst luck; after saving up just barely enough to quit, your car broke down, and it was completely unfixable. You had to bike to work for a week before you could go out to buy a new one, and it practically halved your savings.
Stanley only scoffed, raising a hand to rest on your head. He ruffled your hair, earning a playful slap to get him to stop.
“Best I get back to work. Thank you guys for stopping to see me, really. Oh! Don’t pay. I’m taking your bill.” It was a small gesture, but you got a discount anyways, and you wanted to treat them somehow. Xeno nodded along, standing to put his coat back on while Stanley reached for his matches.
To leave you here, in the middle of nowhere, as if you weren't the single most important thing to either of them, felt wrong. But your wishes took priority.
As you moved to put your apron back on, Stanley stopped you by taking the straps. Albeit a tad tighter than you usually made it, he tied it snug around your waist with a bow, careful enough to make sure it looked even before seeing himself off. Xeno gave a quick snicker at his companion's antics and opened his arms to offer a hug. Of course, you accepted, and he held you until you parted of your own volition.
“Good luck with your project, Xeno. Even if you don’t need it.”
“I’m always better off with your luck than without it. Until next time!”
Just like that the diner seemed to quiet down, no longer filled with their banter or the sheer force of their presence. It was dipping into the afternoon, anyhow, and your morning shift was nearly over.
Your coworker hailed you over to the main counter by the till, offering you a billfold.
“What’s this?” You took it in your hands, looking up at her with a confused glance.
“Your little admirers paid while you were in the kitchen and told me not to tell you.” You opened it to reveal cash that was well over quadruple the cost of the bill itself.
You slammed it back shut, jogging to the door to catch the perpetrators only to see their car was already taking off down the empty road, stirring up dust behind it and leaving you cursing under your breath. They were always one step ahead of you, and you hated that you’d become predictable enough for them to get away with whatever they liked.
“I can’t believe you’re still dragging those boys for a ride, they’re totally whipped for you.”
“Yeah, you’re better than me! The muscles on that military man…”
“Not to mention how smart the scientist is!”
“I bet they’re both loaded.”
The two servers you’d gotten relatively close with bickered behind you as you processed the payment, putting the overly generous tip in your apron pocket with a dramatic sigh.
“They aren’t ‘whipped’ for me. They’re just being nice because they feel bad that their childhood friend didn’t make it big like them.” At least, that was what you assured yourself with to keep all the ridiculous, childlike, crushing thoughts away. You’d all grown up together; of course they would try to make you feel better.
“Whatever you say, girl.”
It had been a week since you saw those two.
Xeno had updated you by email on how it went, including images and attachments of the project paper. You had parsed it, though most of the technical jargon was lost on you. It seemed things had gone well, since it was marked as ‘approved.’
Today was one of your days off, and it was about time you checked the mailbox you’d neglected during the last handful of workdays. Not that it needed to be checked daily. Most of the mail you got was from Stanley while he was deployed or the NASA aerospace engineering newsletter Xeno sent (fully annotated on what he had a hand in) to you every month. This time there were a few flyers, though most peculiar was a legal-sized envelope with no return address.
‘Huh.’
Using your finger to rip the folded edge open, you found a handful of papers held together with a paperclip, underneath which was a NASA business card for the one and only Dr. Xeno Houston Wingfield. The top paper caught your eye: an acceptance letter to the School of Information master's program at the University of Texas.
Your grip on the papers tightened, flipping through the ones behind it: your course schedule and upcoming meetings with your supposed advisor at the university, a co-lease agreement to an apartment awaiting your signature, confirmation of a moving company arriving two weeks from now, and a letter of sponsorship evidence from Xeno himself.
The papers fell from your shaky grip onto the kitchen counter below, your hand coming to your mouth, which hung open.
It wasn’t long before you pulled yourself from the shock, grabbing your phone and dialling Xeno’s cell. It only rang once before the hum of his workshop came to life through your speaker. It was always noisy wherever he worked.
“What the hell is this, Xeno?”
“You may have to elaborate on what ‘this’ means, dear.”
“You know damn well what I’m talking about! How do you even apply on someone’s behalf? This is insane!” You could hear him stifle a laugh, as well as distinguish that he was walking away from all the noise, which abruptly cut at the sound of a door closing.
“Don’t worry about how. Just worry about packing.” Xeno clicked his tongue, and though you couldn’t see it, you could tell he had a mischievous smile on his face. “And how about thanking us while you’re at it?”
You were stunned to silence on the other end, fidgeting with one of the flyers on the counter while your eyes scanned your run-down apartment. There wasn’t a ton to pack, but still. To have this sprung on you out of nowhere… It felt just like the days in school when you’d get pushed into one of his experiments; you could never predict what came next.
A sigh broke from your lips.
“Of course I’m thankful, Xeno. I don’t know where to begin thanking you.”
Your eyes watered against your will. While your expression couldn’t be seen through the call, Xeno still picked up on the quiver in your voice, which only boosted his ego.
“Sorry, did you say ‘thanking us’ earlier?”
“Who do you think you’re moving in with? Stanley went through all the trouble of getting relocated to Austin so you wouldn’t be alone.”
“Hah!” You snickered at the joke, though his end was silent.
“Wait, seriously?”
Authors Note | Im leaving this pretty open ended because I think there good enough potential for a part two,,, if well received!
Ofc Stanley would abuse his rank to move close to readers school,,,, so he can live with her,,,,no ulterior motives!
Series Summary: Originally from the United States, beloved spouse of Captain Stanley Snyder and Dr. Xeno Wingfield was in Tokyo, Japan at the time of the petrification. Awakening on their own in the stone world, they find themselves stumbling upon a new and budding civilization- The Kingdom of Science- a group of young scientists, warriors, and more, that will soon become like family to them.
With one goal in mind- finding and reviving their husbands on the other side of the world- what will happen when the fledgling science troupe finds themselves in America and find it's already settled?
Part Summary: The night before leaving for America, you find a quiet spot to think about what this journey will bring. Your hope for a few moments alone is squandered by a certain mentalist.
TW: None :3
Word Count: 2,535
A/N: Genuinely I can't believe the love this series has gotten so far :') Thank you all for your support, and being patient with me!! I have certain parts of this planned out, but I'm mostly just flying by the seat of my pants haha
I included a lil flashback moment in here for y'all to give some actually StanXeno x Reader content :3
Enjoy!!
There was a sharp chill in the night air, the feeling of late fall. You had wandered away from the settlement, everyone else having turned in for the night, and had settled in a clearing atop a small hill- looking up at the night sky, out on the expansive forest, and the tents and buildings of the Kingdom of Science. You had just returned from Treasure Island. The trip was a whirlwind, and terrifying at times, but you had secured the platinum you had gone looking for. Everything was in full swing to prepare for your voyage to America- the Persues was to set sail in the morning. You had fully invested yourself in every part of this project, in your journey to the island, and in preparations for the next leg of your voyage- eager to help in any way you could. Eager to continue to be a pillar of strength and wisdom for the (mostly) adolescent crew.
In the silence, your mind wandered. You thought about what would happen next. You knew where the ship was heading. Soon, you would be heading to America. You would be heading back home. It had been two years since you had broken out of the stone. So much had happened since then, you had changed so much. And yet, your end goal never altered. Your stomach tied itself in knots thinking of the possibilities. What was it like there? Was there any semblance of truth in Senku and Gen’s bluff against the Tsukasa Empire? Would America be back up and running already? If so, how long would it have been like that?
You had everything to lose there. You were terrified of what you would find. Or, what scared you the most, what you wouldn’t find. With the negative thoughts flooding your head, you, for the very first time since being revived in the stone world, let yourself cry. Away from curious eyes, eyes that depended on your strength, you let the fear and emotions escape from you. Your mind wandered back. Back to the last morning you had with your husbands- a morning 3,722 years ago.
You struggled against Stanley’s iron grip holding you firmly on his lap on the couch. You were stuck in a burst of giggles, trying to pry his arms from around your waist.
“Stan,” You struggled to get his name out through your laughter, “Stan, please. I need to leave. If I miss my flight because of you I swear-” His grip on you loosened, and you finally thought you had broken free. Just as you were getting up, he changed his hold on you, turning you around to straddle his lap. You groaned in feigned annoyance as he pulled you in and attempted to press kisses all over your face. You blocked his attempts with a hand on his forehead.
“Stanley Snyder,” you said, your tone firm, but a dopey grin plastered on your face, “if you get that lipstick all over me right before I’m about to leave, you are going to be down one spouse.” He laughed, and pulled himself back.
“Is it really so awful to want to love on my doll before they go on a big long trip?” He brought his hands to your face, gently cupping your cheeks.
“It’s not so awful,” you leaned forward, pressing a firm kiss to his lips, “but, I do have to go.” You frowned, “You have to get your ass to work, too, babe.” He gave you another kiss, grip still firm around your waist. Xeno stepped out of your shared bedroom, dressed for work with a coffee cup in hand. He walked up to you and Stanely, wrapping an arm around your shoulders with his free hand. He placed a kiss to the top of your head.
“Stanley, dear, contain yourself. Our darling has an important flight to catch.” Xeno mused. Stanley groaned, and finally dropped his hold on you. Xeno offered his hand to help you stand. You smiled and grabbed his chin, gently pulling him in for a kiss. You felt your phone buzz in your pocket. You pulled it out and frowned.
“Okay, boys. My car is pulling up. I really do have to go,” you gave Xeno another kiss, and turned to Stanley as he stood up, placing a kiss on his lips as well, “I love you both. Behave while I’m gone,” you pointed at both of them, getting a chuckle out of them both.
“No promises,” Stanley said. He grabbed your bags from in front of the door, “I’ll walk you out.”
“I will do my best to keep him in line, darling,” Xeno teased. “Safe travels, my dear, we will see you in a week. I love you.”
Stanley opened the front door for you, and you both walked out. Your ride pulled up as you stepped off the front porch. He loaded your bags in the back of the car and opened the back door for you. He stopped you with a hand on your shoulder before you climbed into the car.
“Stay safe, baby. Keep us updated as much as you can.”
You nodded in response, “I will, Stan. I’ll be home soon. Don’t worry about me too much, drama queen.” You teased and placed another kiss to his lips, and climbed into the car.
“Love you, doll.”
“I love you, too, Stan. See you soon.”
With that, he shut the door and the car drove off.
That was the last memory you had of your husbands. “See you soon” had turned into millenia. Tears fell freely down your face the more you thought about it. Your chest ached with the feeling of missing them, of longing to be in your house with them again. You would give anything to be trapped in Stan’s arms again, to have him leaving purple lipstick marks all over your face. You would give anything to feel Xeno’s gentle touch, his kind and adoring kisses, to listen to him talk through his work at you while you fixed dinner.
Through your sniffles, and lost in your thoughts, you didn’t hear the footsteps of the person sitting down next to you.
“Now, what brings you all the way out here on this fine night, hm, dear Y/N?” You could see Gen settling down next to you. Fuck, you thought to yourself, there’s no getting out of this one.
“Just enjoying the peace and quiet. It’s a beautiful night.” You managed to get the words out with minimal shaking in your voice. You tried to wipe the tears streaming down your cheeks away as subtly as possible, hoping the darkness of the night would cover for you.
From the moment you arrived, Gen had gladly seated himself right in your business. In the beginning, he acted as your translator as you slowly started to learn Japanese (and even teach a little English to the Kingdom of Science). Now, he acted as the pain in your ass. You meant that with the most love in the world. Despite the near decade age gap between you two, you had formed quite the friendship with the young mentalist. But, damn, you could not keep a secret around him. Which included right now. He chucked as you spoke.
“I thought you would have figured it out by now- but, you can’t lie to me, Y/N. Especially not after two years of ostively-pay delightful friendship.” He teased, but you could hear the care in his tone. He turned his head to look at you, seeing the reflection of tears on your face in the moonlight.
“Now tell me, dear Y/N, what’s troubling you?” His voice softened. You felt like his gaze was boring holes into you. You thought for a moment about if you really wanted to get into this now. And, then, you thought that you didn’t really have a choice. Gen could, to your dismay, read you like a book. You knew he already had it figured out, he just wanted you to say it.
“I’m scared, Gen. Really scared.” Your voice quivered as you spoke, a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill from your eyes.
He hummed in response. “About the voyage? About going back to the States?” You nodded. “I had a feeling that was it. This is an important and exciting journey for the rest of us, but it’s very personal to you.” He watched your face, reading your expression. He wanted you to talk about it, to get your feelings out, but he didn’t want to overstep. When your face remained unchanging, he continued, “You were married in the old world, right?”
You closed your eyes, those tears from before freely flowing down your face. You nodded again. “I was. My husbands and I lived in California at the time of the petrification. All I can think about is if their statues are still intact. God, I hope I can find them.”
There was a pause before Gen spoke up, “I’m sorry, did you say husbands? As in, more than one?” There was genuine surprise in his voice, but no judgement. You hadn't spoken about your personal life in the old world much since depetrifying. There was no time, and it pained you to think about it too hard. Gen’s question did break a short laugh out of you.
“Yes, I had two.” You wiped the tears from your cheeks. “Well, legally, I had one husband. But a marriage certificate really isn’t anything but a piece of paper. We only got legally married because he was in the military. He was, uhm, very high ranking, and was often sent on deployments. So, we figured it would be smart to have the legal safety net. Survivor’s benefits, you know. Just in case…” You trailed off, realizing you had begun to ramble. “But, yes, to answer your question. Two husbands.”
Gen nodded, “So, a wildlife biologist, a soldier… What did your other husband do?”
“He’s a scientist, too. Aerospace engineering. He worked for NASA.” You brought your knees up to your chest, resting your head on them, still looking out into the distance. “I hope I’ll get the opportunity to introduce Senku to him.” you stare at the stars, a small smile on your lips. “They have… Conflicting views on science, to say the least.” You laugh, “But, I know those two would talk each other’s ears off for hours. I think Senku could teach my husband just as much as he could teach Senku.”
Gen groaned dramatically, “You’re telling me there’s a possibility there’s going to be two of them?” He fell backwards, throwing his arms up in the air in mock defeat. You laughed at his showmanship, feeling much of the tension you carried from before falling away. You still felt the pit of anxiety in your stomach.
“Lucky for you, I think our chances of that happening soon are slim to none. They were in Pinnacles National Park, for an expo that I was actually supposed to be at but you know… Got stuck here with work…” You frowned. You didn’t regret your time with the Kingdom of Science, and you considered them family now. You couldn’t imagine a future where you didn’t know them. But still, the fantasies of being with your beloved husbands during the petrification, of being revived together, and not aging without them lived at the forefront of your mind.
“Pinnacles is a two hour drive from the nearest beach. Even if we drop anchor there, the logistics of it feel so out of reach. It would take four days, minimum, round trip, and that’s not including the time it might take to find them… If there’s anything left to find.” You sighed, feeling the tears well up in your eyes again. “We have important work to do over there, and we’ll have limited time. I don’t want to risk ruining everything for a selfish endeavor like that. We all have people that we back. I wouldn’t feel right taking the time and resources just for something that only I wanted.”
“Well, they certainly sound like they have desirable skills. I mean, a trained combat expert and a rocket scientist? You do recall that our end goal is a trip to the moon, right? We could use people like them on our team. Even if they wouldn’t be idiculous-ray assets to the team, I think you’ve put in more than enough work to deserve to be a little selfish.” He turned to look at you. You looked back at him and quickly broke your gaze, trying to find anything else to look at.
“Yeah… I guess that makes sense. Yeah, maybe.” Your voice softened, almost a mutter.
“You’re trying to avoid it, Y/N. Why?” His tone was curt. Straight to the point. You shifted nervously.
“I’m scared, Gen. Terrified. There are a million possible outcomes, and so many of them are bad. What if their statues are broken and we can’t fix them? What if we can’t find them? What if they’re so buried under almost 4,000 years of geographical change that they’re never found again? I know they stayed conscious- I know it. It was torture for 3,700 years, imagine that for eternity.” Your voice broke as tears once again began to stream down your cheeks. “Or what if the rest of the world never turned to stone, or the rest of the world got back up and running hundreds or thousands of years ago and they grew old and died without me? I don’t want to do the rest of this without them, Gen. I don’t know if I can. We grew up together. For so long, it was just the three of us. We only had each other. They are the loves of my life, my everything. The only thing that’s gotten me through the last two years is the hope that I get to see them again. What if I can’t get them back?”
“You’ll paralyze yourself with indecision if you keep thinking like that, Y/N. You won’t know unless you look for yourself. You need to face this, but you know you don’t have to do it alone, right? You don’t have to carry all the weight by yourself.” He placed a hand on your back, and stood up. “It’s late, Y/N. We should head back and get some rest.”
You shook your head, “I’m going to stay out here a while longer. Thanks for listening to me, Gen.”
He smiled down at you, “Any time, dear Y/N. You give everybody else a great deal of your love and hard work. You deserve that same kind of care in return.” And with that, he was off back towards the settlement. Once again leaving you alone with your thoughts.
The Perseus was setting sail in the morning. You didn’t have long before you had to face your fears head on. You were terrified, but soon enough, you wouldn’t have a choice. For now, all you could do was hold on to the crumb of hope that you managed to hold on to.
I hope you enjoyed this part! I personally really love the little flashback I put in, and loved getting the chance to expand on one of the reader's relationships in the KoS :) I luv Gen
Also, every time I was reading through this to edit, the "now, he acted as the pain in your ass" line made me laugh out loud. I think I'm way funnier than I actually am.
Part 4 is pretty much finished, and should be out soon! I also want to keep writing for my little StanXeno series I have going on- so hopefully I'll be able to get that out soon, as well! AND, I need to start working on some requests lol. God help me
Tag List: @pandash @eyllwz @weponxwrites @im-lovely-stfu @i-need-sleep-bitch @night-shadowblood-writes2
A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)
Stanley isn't one for sappy words, he never will be. Rather, he's huge on teasing and backing you into a corner. other than that, he shows affection through his actions. Following you around on patrol post-revival, forcing you to learn some self defense moves, making a conscious decision not to smoke around you, this is how he shows affection.
B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)
Reliable, always. he's a very loyal, and veryy capable man, so having him as a bestie means you hit the absolute jackpot. though, he's not as open and it would be moderately difficult to approach him with the intentions of being best friends during adulthood.
so more than likely, the friendship with stanley starts in your childhood when you approach him and strike a conversation about him. since he pretty much grew up alongside you, he would be as protective about you, as he is with xeno.
C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)
Yes and no. he doesn't mind cuddling if you ask, although when you do, the cuddles are usually accompanied by some smug remark. he is neutral about cuddles and won't actively ask you to cuddle with him.
don't let him know but he cuddles you naturally as he sleeps.
D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)
surprisingly, even better than you. tbh, he has seen and done enough in life already, there's nothing he longs more than to settle down with the love of his life. but he shakes off these thoughts for the sake of fulfilling duties assigned to him.
E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)
Not happening. there was once a time when he was assigned for a life-threatening mission (per usual). he mapped out his possibilities to survive and then texted you to move on in life without him to ease the heartbreak yet to occur.
but when he battled against his odds and survived, readying himself to see you with another man, you were still there. waiting for him. after that incident, if any circumstances were to arrive that would result in a break-up with you, he would not let go. it's you and him versus the problem, never you versus him.
F = Fiancé (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)
you could walk him like a dog if you wanted to. he's just that heavy on commitment. he dates to marry, no questions asked. though, there won't be any rush towards marriage because of scheduling problems.
G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)
he's a rough manhandler trying his level best. he's especially gentle when he's being a flirt, or when you guys are talking about feelings. not an emotional guy but gives you space when you need it.
H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)
yes!!! he mostly gives back hugs, and doesn't mind receiving. kabedon and draping his hand over your shoulder while you guys sit are his thing though
I = I Love You (How fast do they say the L-word?)
he's a whisperer. the quiet evenings when he's sure you have drifted off to sleep, he whispers it like he's spellbinding you. other than that, its RARE. but you can see the love in his actions.
J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)
this man literally follows you around like a puppy, of course he glares at anyone looking at you funny. since he's already a menacing guy, very few, if not zero, attempt to shoot their shot.
what he's jealous of the most is your pet that gets to spend more time with you than he does.
I have never done headcanons, so please forgive me if I am doing them wrong! Anyway, I will be doing as requested (how would reader parents react to finding their child engaged while they were petrified) with Senku, Sai, and Stanley. Thanks for the idea, I love the concept! >:D
Senku
>I am sorry, but this man will scare your parents when they first hear of your engagement. He looks insane! White hair with green tips standing up on his head with a full scientist get-up! No way their child is marrying this guy!
>It only gets worse after they hear about his previous activities.
“WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE GOT A DIVORCE BEFORE?!” Your mother would look absolutely horrified.
>I do imagine the first weeks would be hell. Your parents would be trying desperately to persuade you out of it, while Senku is indifferent and just stating the plain facts (and we know he would rage bait)
>Eventually, I think your parents would watch the chemistry (yes, that was a pun) and understand they couldn’t persuade you out of it.
>I still don’t think they would accept it, though, until they see he does actually care about you and he isn’t a bad guy.
>They might even be happy after they see you chose a brilliant man like Senku.
It’s just going to take a while.
Sai
>Okay, Sai seems like a more normal person, so I doubt they would freak out immediately.
>He would be nervous, stuttering, and stammering while fiddling with his fingers during the introduction.
>I feel your parents would just be skeptical at first
“You sure this guy is the one?”
Your father studied the man standing before him. Sai looked like he was going through multiple heart attacks.
“DAD! I made my decision.”
>It would probably take a while to win your parents over. But after seeing you genuinely happy with Sai (and him not looking like a nervous wreck with you around), they would allow the relationship.
>They would be happy you found someone who makes you happy and can take care of you. Plus, he is a programmer and a world-renowned mathematician! That’s a smart thing, ain’t it? (And he just so happens to be related to a rich conglomerate that could take care of you)
Stanley
>Oh my god, where do I even begin?
>Your parents will most definitely freak out. It could even go worse than Senku’s intro.
>Imagine, your parents open their eyes out of the stone and find you have been engaged to some nicotine-addicted, tall guy who is a shooter and wears purple lipstick.
>And let's be real. His history is NOT helping.
“What do you mean he shot at people and killed multiple of them?!” Your mother’s tone was horrified.
“Mom, please, I promise he is a better person!”
“YOU'RE NOT DENYING IT?!”
>At least, Stanley has his southern hospitality going for him.
>I imagine he wouldn’t marry you unless he got your parents' permission.
>He has at least some things going for him, like being a soldier, which has to get him some marriage points!
>Eventually, your parents will accept the engagement after seeing how much Stanley cares for and protects you, but it will definitely be a while. I doubt they will trust him for a year or two.
stanley snyder x gn!reader | 4.1k wc | warnings: nsfw. first-time sex, relationship fear/doubt, light angst. it’s my first time writing nsfw (sort of) it’s not just nsfw!! There is other things 😭
again, there is nsfw in this!! ⚠️
♫ cariad / the royston club | beach house / daydreamers | summer / keshi | night before the end / xdinary heroes
Stanley had never done it before.
He talked big, boasted to his friends as if he had, but he’d never actually participated in the act. So when he asks you to be his first, he doesn’t think much of it, because the lie is there to protect him, even if you knew him like the back of your hand.
“It’s like–” Stanley thinks for a moment, snapping his fingers as he actively recollects his memory. “A parting gift. You know, before soldiers are shipped off to war.”
“Okay,” you make a sound that’s in between a scoff and a laugh. “What makes you think I’m entitled to give you my first time?”
“Because you love me.” Something about the way he responds, like he’s so sure that’s reasoning enough, irks you to your core. “And I love you. We’re not strangers, we won’t be awkward, it’ll be fun. Something good to remember me by.” He winks at the end of his explanation, again, as if that was enough to get you to agree.
With crossed arms, you take a seat on his bed beside him, staring at the floor. “Why me?”
“I just told you, because we’re not strangers. We love each other, don’t we?”
“No, Stanley.” You shake your head, lifting your eyes to his, clutching your bicep a little tighter when you see the panic in his eyes. “Why me?”
He takes a moment to respond, not to collect his thoughts and come up with a reason, but to give himself time. Time to prepare, to let go of the secret he’s kept well hidden under his facade. “Because I can’t imagine it being anyone else but you.” He lifts his eyes to meet yours, fingers twitching on his lap as if he were restraining himself from reaching out to you. “I don’t want anyone but you.”
It’s not a lot, but it’s enough.
—
We won’t be awkward. He’d said, but Stanley is frozen in his place as he watches you inch towards his headboard. Even when you gesture him forward, to meet you in the middle, he stays rooted in place at the foot of the bed, standing like an idiot.
With a sigh, you scoot back to him, taking his hands carefully and placing them at your waist. You keep your eyes on his as his fingers clutch the hem of your shirt, slowly lifting it past your head. His eyes shoot down for a split second, then they come right back to yours with a soft sigh.
When it’s his turn, his breath stutters, your fingers pause briefly, his shirt pulled up halfway, before he nods his head and shuts his eyes while you pull it off completely.
“We can go slow, or we can go fast.” You say quietly, tracing shapes mindlessly against his skin. “Whatever you want, Stanley, I’m okay with.”
He only nods, placing a hand at your waist and the other on the back of your neck. Slowly, he lowers you down to the bed, gulping as he takes in the way you look under him– on his bed, naked.
“I’ve never–”
“I know.” Your voice is soft, the way you look at him is soft, your skin, your eyes, you. “I know you a lot better than you think, Stanley.” As your fingers tangle in his hair, he dips his head down slowly, brushing his lips against yours to test the waters, before he presses onto you without hesitation.
He pulls back the second he feels like he can’t breathe, lips shiny from your tongue, wet as he immediately makes a line of kisses down your jaw to your neck. He nips at your pulse point, relishing in the feeling of your fingers digging into his skin, repeating his actions just to hear you make that sweet sound again.
Stanley pulls back a second time to see what he’s done, reveling at the sight of the deep colored mark on your skin– captivated by it so much that something stirs inside him. He turns his head to the side, offering his neck quietly in hopes you get his message.
I did it to you, now you do it to me.
Your lips latch onto his neck, a strangled sound rising out of his throat as you bite carelessly into his skin. His arms nearly give way when your hips lift to meet his, one hand flying down to your waist hastily to keep you at bay, as if the action alone was enough to push him over to the other side.
“Impatient, are we?”
A breathy chuckle falls past your lips and onto his skin, “Shut up.”
Despite the calm tone in his voice, his fingers tremble as they travel down your stomach. He keeps his eyes on you, forehead pressed against yours, trying hard to ignore the tightness in his chest when his fingers press into you.
Your breath catches in your throat, a choked-back noise falling past, and your fingers dig into Stanley's skin hard enough to leave a mark.
“You alright?” He asks, gentle, like the kiss he presses against your forehead in hopes of soothing you.
“Yeah,” You nod, easing up on your grip. “Just feels weird.” He inches his fingers a little deeper, watching your hips lift again, then flits his eyes back to you for any word. “Keep going, I’m alright.”
Stanley tries to hold back, but the sounds you're making, the way your body is curving into his, cloud his head, his judgment, and his senses. His pace is unforgiving, fast but somehow still gentle, with his lips glued to yours, swallowing every sound you make.
He pauses his movements when your hands tap his shoulder, your hips are still rocking against his fingers– barely– face twisted with pleasure. “You’re doing so well.” He whispers, swallowing dryly when your movements quicken at his praise. “You sound so pretty, sweetheart.”
He drops his head down to your neck when his name comes out of you with a whimper, he kisses mindlessly, breath hot against your skin. You haven’t even touched him properly yet, and he’s already losing his mind.
When your hips no longer lift, he pulls his fingers out of you slowly, kissing your cheek when you hiss at the loss of contact. He holds them awkwardly at his side, propping himself up with one hand beside your head.
“You want some water?” He asks hesitantly, grabbing the bottle off his desk when you nod. He looks at anything but you while you sip, jolting when you press the cold bottle against his chest. “Rude.” He takes it from your hold, tossing back a long sip before returning it to its place.
“You have condoms?” You ask, already moving to rummage in his nightstand, cheering in triumph when you find the box.
He stutters when you draw him close, tearing the condom open carefully. “Don’t you need to like– I don’t know, rest? You’re not sensitive?”
“We’ll go slow this time. This is different than just fingers.” His eyes trace over you carefully before nodding, holding his breath when you slip the condom onto him, and hiding his face when his hips buck involuntarily. “Do you want me to…?” You trail off mid-sentence, but Stanley understood you completely.
He nods, at first hesitantly, but when you don’t make any moves and just stare at him, he nods again, firmer. “Please.” He sighs, hiding his face again.
The moment your lips wrap around him, his heart nearly seizes in his chest. His hips stutter, and he’s sure that if you weren’t holding them, he’d have bucked right into your throat without warning.
Someone once told him sex didn’t feel as good when wearing a condom, he wonders if that person was lying to his face– because this feels just like heaven.
Stanley doesn’t bite back his moan when you take him in fully, doesn’t shy away when your eyes lift to meet his; he stares back with flushed cheeks and pinched brows– something about that tells you he’s already close.
His fingers tangle in your hair, grabbing a fistful to tug experimentally, something a friend of his had mentioned once: ‘It feels good in the moment,’ or something like that. His teeth sink into his lips when that draws out a moan from you, breath catching when the vibrations go straight through him.
“If you do that again, I won’t last another minute, seriously.” He says shakily.
You pull off him briefly, licking your lips at his tuckered-out face. “Good.”
Your hand moves at the same relentless pace he’d shown you earlier, not letting up even when he nearly falls over from how good it felt.
“You’re close, aren’t you?” You whispered against his skin after his body had curled down to yours. His hands grip your shoulders subconsciously, half needing something to ground himself to, half just wanting to touch you.
He nods into your shoulder, stuttering out a broken plea, over and over again until his whole body shudders, and he’s filling the condom full.
“Such a mess, pretty boy.”
Stanley drags a hand down his face, still struggling to catch his breath. “Shut up.”
“Why don’t you make me?” His head lifts at the challenge, eyes darting to your hand as you carefully slip the spent rubber off of him and replace it with a new one. “Comfortable yet, Stan?”
He pushes you down with a little more force than he means to, but when your body lifts from the bed to grind against his, he figures you would be alright with him not holding back anymore.
———
Stanley has four days left before he leaves.
He ignores you for the first two, an immature solution to keep his overflowing emotions at bay. But he still texts you to reassure you (and himself) that he doesn’t regret the other night, that he’s just sorting things out at home, and that he’ll see you soon.
On his last night before deployment, Stanley finds himself sitting with you in his backyard, staring mindlessly as his dog chases fireflies out of the bushes.
“Will you miss me?”
He knows it was a simple question; one where you’re not looking for an honest answer, just something sarcastic, an answer that was one hundred percent him. But it still hits him in a place he never imagined would hurt as much as it did. It sinks in slowly, present, like watching a doctor inject something into you.
“Yeah,” he swallows thickly on the words aching to come out. “I guess.”
A weak laugh fills the silent air around you, forced, almost as if you felt the same way as he did. “I guess I’ll miss you too.”
“I’ll be back before you know it.” He says, whether to assure you or himself, he didn’t know. You can only muster up a nod in response, Stanley tries to ignore the sight of tears brimming in your eyes, and starts talking to you like it’s just another day.
As if he wasn’t leaving you behind.
—
Stanley’s been gone for three months. It’s short, a summer's worth, but it felt like forever.
He’s still the same, with shorter hair and a stance that feels more rigid than composed, as if he wasn’t convinced he was as hardened as others thought.
There’s less than a week before he has to leave again, he doesn’t know how long this time, a month or a year– maybe even longer– and Stanley’s feet carry him to the one place he’s been dreaming of since he set foot off the base.
The door to your house mocks him as he lifts his fist to knock, breath caught in his throat because he isn’t prepared for what, or who, he’ll see on the other side of the door.
But it opens before he can rap his knuckles against the cold steel, you’re in the middle of laughing at something someone inside says, utterly unaware that he was right in front of you.
And then you bump into his chest with everything but grace, cursing under your breath at the, quote, brick wall you’ve just collided with. Your hand is on his chest, whether you knew it or not, and your eyes haven’t quite met his yet.
“Missed me?” He asks softly, almost afraid of what you’ll answer with, nearly bashful about wanting to hear you say yes.
“Stanley.” When your eyes meet his, he has to bite the inside of his cheek to keep himself from smiling too widely. Only offering half a smirk to maintain his cool image. “You didn’t–” a laugh of disbelief slips past before your fist hits his chest playfully. “You didn’t tell me you’d be home!”
When your arms wrap around him, Stanley feels like he’s reached heaven. Melting into your embrace unashamedly, holding you tightly against his body until you pulled away.
“Look at you,” you huff, eyes slowly tracing his figure. “Only three months, and you’ve gone through a second puberty.”
He scoffs, “Don’t be ridiculous. It’s just muscle gain.” You respond with a shrug, watching as his eyes travel across you without a care, narrowing your own when he hums. “You’re just as pretty as the day I left.”
“You’re an idiot.”
“So be it,” he shrugs, slipping his hand into yours. “As long as it means I’m yours.”
“Oh, wow.” You whistled, tugging lightly to bring him closer to you. “Did they teach you that in your training camp? How to woo someone with precision?”
He hums, nodding his head. “Part of the manipulation tactics of war. Pretty interesting stuff.” A laugh breaks out when you shove him away from you, only for him to bring you back in even closer from behind. “I’m kiddin', sweetheart. You know that.”
“Course I do,” a light kiss to his cheek makes his grip on you falter, just enough to let you turn in his hold. “I just like seeing you chase.”
“Well, I’ll keep running after you my whole life if it means I get to hold you like this every time.”
—
Before you can get used to him, Stanley tells you he’s leaving again in a week. It’s quick, mumbled blearily into your hair as he awakes from slumber, and it pierces through your heart fast like an arrow.
You try to pull away before he can take in too much of you.
Yet, you still indulge in his every desire. You go to the street fair with him, you accept the ugly stuffed duck he wins for you, and you take a bite out of the nastiest fried food you’ve ever had when he holds it up to your lips. You do everything you said you wouldn’t do because he asks.
Because this is Stanley’s last bit of freedom and pleasure before he’s off to board a Naval ship to god knows where for months, maybe years. A place where he couldn’t coax an employee to let him toss a few more rings on bottles to win his date a prize, a limited area where the closest thing to leisure was quiet hours when you weren’t on watch.
You still have him for three days, but you tell him you miss him anyway.
“I’m right beside you, sweetheart.” He says with a laugh, but you can feel how heavy it is.
“I know,” he pulls you closer. “It just feels different when you don’t know how long you’ll be gone.”
Stanley tries to make it up to you the next morning. Though it was executed poorly because he’s just given you a taste of waking to an empty, cold bed.
He walks in with a tray, kicking his bedroom door shut before the dog can waltz in and demand a bite. Two plates, one undoubtedly his by the odd colored pancakes compared to yours– protein-rich, he tells you, they taste horrible from what you can remember.
He talks to you in a hushed voice, for what reason you can’t decipher. Brings his fork to your lips so you can try a bite of his pancake, and holds a napkin to your lips when you make a face of disgust.
It’s too domestic, even for you.
“Do you know when you’ll be back?”
Stanley sighs, not in annoyance, but in a way that feels like he’d just been handed the weight of the world. “Depends on where I end up. Could be months, could be years.” You only nod in response, moving the berries on your plate around. “You’ll still be here when I come back, won’t you?”
“I don’t want to wait around and wonder when you’ll be home, Stanley.”
He shakes his head, “That’s not– I meant, will you still love me, even when I’m away?”
“I’ll love you for as long as I can.”
It’s not the answer he hoped for, not a promised forever, but he accepts it anyway.
—
Stanley spends the next day with his parents. He gets out of bed at seven in the morning despite your reluctance to let him go because his Ma wants him to come to church, and he’d rather let you sleep than drag you with him to listen to the pastor drone on about things he couldn't care less about.
He runs deliveries with Pa, behind the wheel instead of nestled in the passenger's seat like before. Makes small talk with the customers and drinks nine full glasses of water before the sun fully rises because he couldn’t say no to the people who are kind enough to support his parents' farm.
His phone dings as he waits for Pa to come out of the gas station bathroom, tugging it out of his pocket and flipping it open to see a text from you.
Just had to fight Polly for the last slice of pie.
He laughs as the sight of you fighting a golden retriever over pie flashes in his mind, typing out his response as fast as the, quote, ancient, flip phone allowed him to.
She’s an old girl. Let her win sometimes, would you?
He gets sent a frowny face in return, just as Pa wrestles the truck door open with that obnoxious knowing look on his face. “Are ya texting your sweetheart?” Stanley sighs in faux annoyance at his teasing, but nods his head regardless. “I remember when your Ma and I were like that.”
“How did you and Ma handle being away from each other so long?”
One look at his face, and he’s sure his Pa has him all figured out. “Oh, son,” he laughs, not in a mocking way, but in understanding because he’s been in Stanley’s place before, because he knows why he’s even asking. “It’s gonna hurt like hell, but it’ll be worth it in the end.”
He starts driving home after Pa’s seatbelt clicks, radio static filling his ears. It’s quiet, but it’s too much.
It startles him, the stray tear that cascades down his cheek. He tries to wipe it before his Pa can see it, but his hand reaches up to his face before Stanley’s can. “It’s alright, son.”
Stanley tries to accept the possibility that maybe you won’t love him for as long as he will, but he can’t.
—
He doesn’t tell you he cried at the thought of you no longer loving him. You don’t question the red under his eyes or the tight-lipped smile he gives you before he brushes past you to shower.
His parents don’t stay for long, calling out from downstairs to tell you they’re going dancing —to relive their youth, they’d said. They aren’t that old, but you don’t argue with their reasoning.
When the door clicks shut, you walk to the bathroom, knocking softly against the wooden door until Stanley replies with a loud ‘huh?’
“Can I come in?”
A beat passes. “I’m showering.”
“I’m aware.”
Another beat. “Alright then.”
You twist the door open and find Stanley’s head popped out from behind the curtain, hair slicked back. “Hi.” You greet, as if he isn’t naked behind that curtain, as if this were something normal.
“Did you want to join me or something?”
“If that’s alright with you.”
Stanley meant it as a joke.
But now you’re standing with him under the stream of water, diligently working shampoo through his hair while his hands are wrapped around you in fear of you getting cold. It should feel suffocating, he thinks. But it’s so sweet that Stanley feels a cavity form at the thought of doing this with you again.
He leaves tomorrow.
The joke is on his tongue. The same one he said to you before he left for boot camp, the same one that ended up with you being tangled in his sheets, sharing a warmth that only came from two people who loved each other.
He doesn’t say it.
Arguably, against the words of a lot of his squadmates and friends, this was a lot better than sex.
The feeling of your fingers carding through his hair, massaging shampoo into his hair, and washing it out with that same care. Your hands running along his shoulders to wash away soap, the laughter that follows when you reach that area, and your hands freeze in midair just before you could touch him.
“You take such good care of me.” He whispers, faint, almost unheard.
“Only because I love you.” You respond, sighing at the feeling of his thumb rubbing circles over your skin.
He doesn’t say it back, not just yet.
——
You try to leave Stanley before he can leave you.
It’s the break of dawn, and he’s begging you not to leave.
“You should spend the rest of your time with your parents.” You try to tell him, but his only rebuttal is that he’s spent his whole life with them already. He holds you close, grip loose enough for you to escape, just in case you truly wanted to leave him so early.
Your body relaxes— melts, practically— into his arms. You curse yourself for giving in to him so easily, but don’t make any effort to leave a second time.
Stanley holds you tighter. You feel like you can’t breathe.
“I don’t want you to leave.”
It comes out quick, a whisper, but loud enough for him to hear. Stanley doesn’t say anything at first, not that you expect him to.
“Don’t,” he sighs, nudging his head against yours. “Don’t say things like that.” You can hear it, despite his effort to muffle it; the slight tremor in his voice, the heartache that he tried to push down. “I might actually stay.”
Your hold on him gets tighter. Stanley feels like he can’t breathe.
It wasn’t supposed to turn out like this.
It was supposed to be a one-time thing between two friends who loved each other a little more than anyone else. A parting gift– something fun.
He wasn’t supposed to fall deeper in love. You weren’t supposed to let him any closer.
“You know,” you start quietly, loosening your grip slightly. “When you first left, I tried to hate you.” Stanley hums in acknowledgement and lets you continue. “For how you left– our goodbye, I mean—”
“I didn’t like how we left things.” You admit, “That we had sex and said those half-hearted goodbyes that probably meant everything back then.” Then with a scoff, “I didn’t even say I love you back, Stanley.”
“It’s not like that this time, is it?” He asks, staring at your back when you move to sit up. He watches you shake your head, as you try to hide the tears behind your hand, while your shaking shoulders betray you.
“I love you.” He says, “I’ll love you when I’m away, and love you more when I get back.” Your eyes are hidden, but you can hear Stanley moving to sit in front of you. “And even if you find someone else when I’m away,” he grabs your hands gently, moving them away from your face and to his lap. “I’ll still love you.”
“You don’t mean that.”
Stanley, with the nerve, chuckles at your doubt. “I do. Have I ever lied to you?”
You want to throw a rebuttal, but you can’t because no, he hasn’t.
“I’m sorry I said I wouldn’t wait for you.” At your apology, his posture straightens slightly– almost unnoticeable. “I didn’t mean it, I was just upset.”
“Hey, you don’t have to explain to me.” He assures, smiling softly. “I’m sure I would’ve said the same.” It’s not a total lie, despite his composure and level-headedness (his words), Stanley was just like everyone else; someone who spoke before thinking in the heat of the moment.
“Does that mean you’ll wait for me?”
The room feels smaller than before at his question, too abrupt, too expected. He doesn’t look at you, almost like he knows how you’ll answer, as if he knew you wouldn’t.
“There’s nothing else I’d rather do.”
A weight falls from Stanley’s shoulder, and yours feel just a bit heavier.
