#what is the difference between http and https

[blueforpercy]

Reader: What’s a word that’s a mix between sad and mad?

Annabeth: Disgruntled, malcontent, desolate, miserable...

Percy: Smad

Reader: There are two types of people...

[kimyoonmiauthor]

Anti-AI Programs/Apps/Websites/Colleges List (with Links to Pro-AI and Neutral)

So you can avoid them stealing things from you, the artist/writer, etc.

Note: The list has gotten so long that I had to reorganize. (Thanks for the suggestions.) I UXed it best I could. I'm updating the best I can as notes come in. As such, I'm adding an update date since Tumblr doesn't update the old blogs with the newer version.

Update: US time. July 25, 2026

After reaching the post limit, I decided to move a bunch of the text off of this blog post onto its own website. I own said website. I absolutely get no profit from posting the website. If anything, I lose money by doing it. There's risks UX-wise to doing this, but I hope the benefits outweigh the losses. I can add music and gaming companies that are clearly anti-AI to this list, which has been requested before, but being aware of the posting limits I couldn't do it. I also can store version notes so you can see what happened when without me having to bend over backwards to maybe remember what happened when.

I also hope to add things about browsers and AI as well.

The website also gives me an opportunity to add a search engine that's visible so you can see if your favorite/doomed program is on the list. Please be patient with the transition as I move things around. The website doesn't look glamorous, so I ask for patience while I try to sort it out between real life stuff. Thank you.

***

Previous edit:

I have reached the post limit on this post. I can't add more links, even as plain text and also the character limit. I'm trying to figure a work around. This could be I have to split the post by type in the future and link it from there. OR I can link it to my own website.

Anyway, I originally added a section for Vivaldi, Brave, Ecosia, Paralives, and Bluesky all of which have been requested.

Too long, can't write it? Vivaldi is based on Google, and Google has a habit of blocking programmers who use their base code, also comes with its own search engine. Brave and Ecosia also are browsers come search engines with Brave bugging you every time you use a different search engine. I strongly advise against using a browser with the same search engine. Paralives announced that it WILL NOT use AI and never will. I had a link... but I don't know if that will trip it.

And the Blue Sky thing I have to wait on.

***

This is tentative. But Barnes and Nobles is going to turn to the evil side:

More Perfect Union (@moreperfectunion.bsky.social)

The CEO of Barnes and Noble says he will stock AI written books.

We still have room to protest like hell and raise a firestorm.

Write to the CEO, call and harass them to back off of this idea.

There have been several requests to add programs, but either they aren't well populated, their projects are short, or they have the murkiest anti-AI statement I've ever read.

Additional Note: GenAI, an algorithm and AI tools aren't the same.

What Counts as "AI" for this list is here:

https://www.noaisearch.com/2026/07/26/hello-world/

I go over what does and doesn't count here.

https://www.noaisearch.com/2026/07/26/what-are-the-gen-ai-llm-possible-stances/

All disclaimers for the list are here:

https://www.noaisearch.com/disclaimer/

Pro AI Companies

https://www.noaisearch.com/2026/07/26/pro-genai-websites-programs/

AI Neutral Companies

https://www.noaisearch.com/2026/07/26/ai-neutral-companies/

Strong positions against AI

Social Media

Pillowfort- This is a social media website. Somewhere between Tumblr and Deviant Art. They banned all AI images. They don't have a social media algorithm. (So you won't be on top of each other. You have to earn your own followers.)

Item 13 of the Banned images section of their terms of service: https://www.pillowfort.social/termsofservice

A bit of a jab to put the item between "No prohibited images of minors" and "revenge porn". (basically lack of consent)

Suggested by lindwurmkai

I read the other TOS too, and it seems pretty fair and in plain language.

Thunderbirdmail (not released yet)

Coming Soon! Thundermail & Thunderbird Pro: Mozilla Is Building the Future of Private, Open-Source Email Services

At DarkHorse IT, we love seeing tech that aligns with our values—privacy, transparency, and putting the user first. That’s why we’ve always

Released to be competition to Google mail without the privacy glitches of Gmail and have NO AI. It's open source, yet private, and has a lot of the features of Gmail, no equivalent of Google Docs and no equivalent to online spreadsheet, but still free. But will have other appendages, like scheduler, etc.

Writing

Offline (mostly)

Scrivener (Creator vowed against adding GenAI during Nanowrimo scandal #2 on Twitter. Request for AI features has been denied.) Writing program. There is an active forum, and versions for Mac, Linux and PC. It is paid, but at ~60 USD, it's cheaper than most programs. There is usually a holiday sale around Christmas. It has a learning curve, but with an active forum with the programmer of it there to ask obscure questions it's not a dead zone. They often take suggestions and implement them over time. (Especially if you rank the importance, applications, etc) US company. Scrivener works with Mac, Windows and Linux (with some fussing): https://forum.literatureandlatte.com/t/tutorial-running-scrivener-3-1-5-1-under-linux-w-wine-64bit-with-activation/136046

Also has sharing and comparing versions capability as long as you have a cloud harddisk. (Be sure to check out cloud services that are safe)

There was a question of if they added GenAI, but that proves to be false. Up through November 2025 they have sworn against GenAI. https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/scrivener-and-ai-why-do-i-see-ai-prompts-in-my-scrivener-projects-on-mac

I have made a Better Script Template for US/CAN/AUS/NZ:

Post by @kimyoonmiauthor · 3 images

💬 0  🔁 0  ❤️ 3 · Better Screenplay Scrivener Template (US/ CAN/AUS/NZ) · Posted: Saturday, August 9, 2025 Updated: Monday August 11, 2025 I

One for the UK: https://www.tumblr.com/kimyoonmiauthor/791598143262392320/better-uk-screenwriting-scrivener-template?source=share I have a Better Novel Template as well: https://www.tumblr.com/kimyoonmiauthor/750865969317052416/better-novel-scrivener-template?source=share I am in no way affiliated with Scrivener. If you have issues, with the program, please direct it to the forums. With any of the templates, be sure to read ALL instructions first BEFORE downloading, including the Read Me in order to get it to work. I never write any instructions that are unnecessary.

LibreOffice Open source and free Spreadsheet and Word processor program that can replace Microsoft Office (Word processor, spreadsheet, presentations, drawing, formula, database creator). Some people might have seen older versions where it was called Neo Office (now extinct) and Open Office. LibreOffice is still populated, plus the forums are super helpful if you get stuck. The UX is pretty intuitive if you've used Microsoft Word. Scrivener, BTW, supports exporting to odt (the native file) as well as .doc, and this can open both. The slight thing is that sometimes it doesn't export to .doc smoothly. And I DO wish more magazines, and agent (big clue here) supported .odt files since it is free. Part of the reason .odt isn't as supported is because Microsoft and Adobe have a deal with the devil with each other, so Adobe's Book formatting program InDesign doesn't support ODT. (BTW, if you have a good open source replacement for InDesign that supports ODT, let me know.)

yWriter is a free Writing program and like Scrivener, and has vowed against AI Last I looked it had some UX issues, but some people swear by it. The learning curve is higher than Scrivener because of the worse UX.

Dabble (as suggested by SF stories, see reblog) is a writing program. Similar to Scrivener. Has vowed against AI and to resist it. 108 dollars a year for Basic. It is almost twice the price of Scrivener who lets you update for fairly cheap. 29 dollars a month, v. 59 dollars for the whole program (Scrivener). Scrivener, for the 59 dollars a month has all of the same features of Dabble at Premium, making Dabble in total more than triple the price of Scrivener. You choose.

NovelWriter is an Open source writing program done offline. It has less capabilities than Scrivener or YWriter or Dabble. (Can't make templates, Can't save to cloud to compare) The GUI isn't as slick, but because of that it's super easy to use and lower entry in learning curve. (anonymous suggestion through inbox)

StudioBinder- is a script to video production software. Made an Anti-GenAI statement on their Youtube channel (see below).

This is not an official Anti-AI stance and might be tongue-in-cheek. But does look serious as something they are NOT interested in. Pricing is here: https://app.studiobinder.com/pricing

Phone/Online Writing

Ellipsus is an online writing program and vowed against AI [Link]. The main feature I like (which Scrivener doesn't have) is the ability to change spellcheck based on region/language. It is a requested feature of Scrivener, but lower priority. So if you have a Brit, you can get the spelling for the character. They are a German-based company in Berlin.

Writer P AKA Writer+ (app for when you're on the go) is a simple word processor app for your phone that doesn't use AI. (Find on the Android app store) The original programmer stopped updating, so Writer+ programmer took over and isn't out to make a profit since it's free in the spirit of the original app. It has subfolders you can use. Since it was programmed before GenAI it doesn't have AI. Intuitive, easy to use. Fairly easy to upload the files through three dots->share. The files can save to your card or phone with some settings fussing. Simple word processor.

Art

Sites

Cara.app (The creator of the website sued GenAI there is no chance they'll convert) is an artist website. Cara is trying to institute an auto Glaze/Nightshade into the website if given enough funds. People see it as a soft replacement for deviant art. (which went fully AI) If you believe in human art, please donate if you can. Zhang Jingna, the creator, is Chinese-Singporean. She lives in Singapore.

Artgram is an art posting website with a super strong Anti-AI statement It will delete all Ai art and has detection measures in place. And signatures added to the art so they can form you legal protection and make takedown requests. It is free to use.

Fur Affinity Hard ban on All AI use, not even backgrounds. Furry Art posting website. BTW, found this and Artgram on this website: https://brushwarriors.com/art-websites-that-ban-ai/ which does not show as any kind of result on Google, because Google is trying to block anti-AI content as of last week from the search results. (About the day after I posted the Grok gives poor people cancer). You can only find it using a searxng search.

Handmade vowed against AI (Selling any artwork with AI, and also drop shipping, etc) and promised to never sell itself for stock prices to prevent AI (as a replacement for Etsy.)

Handmade: A Global Artisan Marketplace

Discover a world of creativity and craftsmanship through Handmade, an innovative platform connecting passionate artisans with discerning buy

Art Programs (Raster, and Vector)+ Suites

Clip Studio Paint is a mostly raster, somewhat Vector program that does comics, illustration and animation. They added genAI, but saw the light and decided to protect artists instead because of protest and removed it. It can do 2D animation, and generally is a replacement for Corel Painter and can do manga/comics, etc. I'd still recommend paying for the offline version rather than monthly subscription just in case they change their minds back, at least you'll still have the program AI free without worry about them stealing directly as you're drawing. There are tutorials and a good forum if you get super stuck. Based in Japan, so the UI and UX is really clean [Explanation].

Tahoma2D is anti-AI and open source animation program. Takes a little getting used to, but is good for animations and doesn't crash as often as Animate. Programmers are in the forums and some bugs are fixed within hours. The forums are super responsive and helpful.

OpenToonz is an anti-AI open source animation program. It's almost identical to Tahoma 2D, but has less responsive forums (I tried both) and on a Mac, you can't customize which drive it saves to. Tahoma's forums responded within hours, Opentoonz, I gave a week and got no response. Tahoma, in these regards is ahead. Tahoma has their own forum, v. OpenToonz which is on github, so your response gets lost. (If anyone wants to fix it). (Suggested add by anonymous via inbox, opinions my own.)

Krita is a raster-only open source and free, no AI. I'd rank it secondary to Clip Studio Paint (which is paid) I haven't tried the forums, but it's pretty intuitive and can stand for a lower level replacement for Painter, and do a lot of the basics of Photoshop. It's usually ranked higher than the equally open source Gimp. As gathered by erkhyan: As of 15 April 2026, discussing or distributing genAI plugins and related tools isn’t allowed on the Krita forums anymore.

Rebelle- Honestly tipping towards Neutral with their Anti-AI statement found here: https://www.escapemotions.com/blog/escape-motions-stands-by-artists but just enough to make them anti. I'd keep an eye on them. Here are some of the neutral statements I'd red flag: "Rebelle's NanoPixel export, for example, allows you to scale your images up to 16x for larger export files, which would not be possible without machine-learning technology. Many artists agree that AI art is a powerful tool but believe it shouldn't be celebrated in the same way as human-created art." "We believe images created with AI can serve for inspiration but to just put a whole painting together through AI is not in alignment with our vision."

They are on Cara, though and their protections against scraping and attempts to prove copyright for their artists is heartening. Still, GenAi is terrible for the planet and doesn't serve as great inspiration.

Inkscape is a free vector program and no AI. It is harder to use than illustrator and has less features. But if you're doing smaller vectors for one-offs with less complexity, it'll do you after some learning curve. Best of the lot. I hate Affinity Designer which is the same thing, only paid. (Neither Affinity program was worth the money paid)

StudioBinder- is a script to video production software. But I put them also down here because it can also do Moodboards. Made an Anti-GenAI statement on their Youtube channel:

This is not an official Anti-AI stance and might be tongue-in-cheek. But does look serious as something they are NOT interested in. Pricing is here: https://app.studiobinder.com/pricing

GIMP- Open source 2D Image editing software. Works natively on Linux, can kinda port to Mac, and kinda works on Windows. It has less features than Krita and has generally fallen out of favor with the public for not being able to keep up as well. The UX isn't bad, but use Krita instead. You'll be happier. Krita is Mac and Windows stable and works on Linux. There isn't any extra fancy things you need to do with Krita to DL it and Krita is fairly intuitive if you know Photoshop.

Moho- is a 2D animation software. Anti AI Stance is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMFeLjLWFd4 . This was originally made by Mike Clifton at Lost Marble and then the name changed to Anime Studio under Smith Micro. Then it was changed back to Moho and then sold back to Lost Marble, LLC, who now has taken a strong stance against AI. There is a Pro version and a Debut version. The pro version is 399.99 USD (as of 2025) Debut is 59.99. There is a student discount too.

Online Art Programs

ProCreate: Anti AI Stance as noted by mortavaine (in comments). It's an art Studio and can be used on an iPhone. 12.99 (currently) for the Art Studio one, time dealie, not reoccurring. 19.99 (currently) for the animation software. Based in Australia.

3D Modeling

Blender is a 3D art program and does not use GenAI. It can do 2D animation, but Tahoma is easier to use in this regard. It's open source and free. Plus there are plenty of tutorials. The forums can be touch and go sometimes, but there are plenty of sub Blender communities that might be responsive. It can also do animation. After Version 7-8 the UX vastly improved and a ton of features were added.

Art Sharing Clouds, Website Creation, etc (Specialized, not part of a Suite.)

Swiss Transfer: The Swiss government is going to put strict restrictions on AI and have pretty strict privacy laws. So they can't steal your content.

It has a better deal than WeTransfer did after the buyout.

In the fallout from WeTransfer there is also this list (but I haven't vetted it).

8 Best WeTransfer Alternatives Compared (2025)

We compared 8 WeTransfer competitors based on functionality, use cases, user reviews, and of course, price. Which one is best for your needs

Because you need to send files to clients without breaking NDAs.

Scribus is a replacement for InDesign and can layout magazines. It doesn't use GenAI, BUT be careful since there is a AI gen named after the program. (Because of course they would.) The learning curve is hard and it's not as advanced as Adobe for things, but it can layout magazines decently. So click the link instead.

Davinci Resolve Pro is a film editing software that's super good. Their CEO came hard against GenAI: https://forum.blackmagicdesign.com/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=205673 when it was brought up in the forums, as a request to add, there was a hard no from the CEO. There is a free version and a paid version. The forums are responsive. The programmers aren't always present. There is a healthy group of tutorials. Black Magic is an Aussie company, but the program's core was DaVinici Systems, a US company (Florida), where the program originated. DaVinci Systems was bought by Black Magic. Black Magic has offices in US (Bay area/Los Angeles), UK (Manchester), Netherlands (Amsterdam), Australia (Melbourne), Singapore, China (Beijing), Japan (Tokyo, Osaka), Korea (Seoul). Clean UX. It does take a little bit of time to remember the shortcuts. primary-blog-nothing-here asserted that they took data in order to create AI, but this turned out to be not a true claim. AI Tools are not the same as Gen AI. All of the tools claimed on Davinici Resolve 20 are AI tools that existed before GenAI existed. (Mostly about precutting up the timeline based on different shots). If you object to AI tools, stop using Gaussian Blur. Really they put AI in front to make it seem fancier. It's only a little more complex than the smart selection tool. They won't take your data. Cloud won't be used to train AI which they added after the whole Dropbox debacle. https://nofilmschool.com/blackmagic-ai-training-stance Note that AI tools is not the same as GenAI.

ANTI-AI Colleges and and Universities

Take Away

The thing is you think you doing it alone will do nothing, but the more AI feeds on itself, AI images, the worse they become, and the less detailed so, denying it the images, adding poison or not being able to read the human text is eventually going to lead to an AI collapse.

AI models collapse when trained on recursively generated data - Nature

 Analysis shows that indiscriminately training generative artificial intelligence on real and generated content, usually done by scrapi

And why not help that along?

I don't want to give cancer to poor people [Link] or make the planet burn faster [Link]. So GenAI collapse is everything I dream of. GenAI apocalypse is not. BTW, the information about poor communities having cancer from GenAI servers I got from Reese Waters who pointed out it's usually poor Black elderly communities. But especially Grok. Timestamp is 16:28.

Solidarity.

[makereadgrow]

RIP Joann, now what?

FIND AN UPDATED LIST HERE

I wanted to make a post I could copy and paste and or link when I see folks asking where to buy fabrics when Joann is gone. I sew a lot, generally between 100-200 items a year and I don't do it on a big budget. Stores are not in a particular order.

Notions:

Wawak.com - start here, mostly stay here. Wawak is a supplier for professional sewing businesses and have the prices that show it. I will not pay for gutermann Mara 100 anywhere else. I buy buttons, tools, thread, and most elastic here.

Stitch Love Studio - this is where I buy lingerie supplies https://www.etsy.com/shop/StitchLoveStudio?ref=yr_purchases

Fabric:

Fabric Mart - this is one where you want to sign up for emails and never buy unless its on sale. They run different sales every day and they rotate. Mostly deadstock fabrics but I buy more from here than anywhere else. Fantastic customer service and if you watch you can get things like $6 wool suiting or $4 cotton jersey. https://fabricmartfabrics.com/

Fabrics-Store - again, buy the sales not the full price. Sign up for the emails but redirect them to a folder because it is TOO MANY. They stock linen or good but not amazing quality. https://www.fabrics-store.com/

Purple Seamstress - This is where I buy my solid cotton lycra jersey. They have other things, but the jersey is what I'm here for. Inexpensive and very good quality. If you ask she will mail you a swatch card for the solids. https://purpleseamstressfabric.com/

LA Finch - deadstock fabrics with a fantastic remnant selection https://lafinchfabrics.myshopify.com/

Califabrics - mix of deadstock and big brands, easy to navigate and always seem to have good denim in stock. https://califabrics.com/

Boho Fabrics - good variety, nice bundles. I have also gotten some really great trims from here. https://www.bohofabrics.com/

Firecracker Fabrics - garment and quilting fabrics, really nice selection and great sale section. I've bought $5 yard quilting cottons here several times. https://www.firecrackerfabrics.com/

Hancock's of Paducah - Quilting fabric and some limited garment fabric. AMAZING sale section. Do not sleep on the sale section. This is my first stop when buying quilting fabrics. Usually the last stop too. Not particularly speedy shipping. https://www.hancocks-paducah.com/

Itokri - This is something a little different. Itokri is an Indian business with incredible traditional fabrics. Shipping to the US is expensive, but the fabric is so inexpensive it evens out. I generally end up paying like $30 for shipping. Beautiful ikat and block prints. https://itokri.com/

Miss Matatabi - this is a little treat. This isn't where you go to save money, but there are so many beautiful things in this shop. Ships from Japan incredibly quickly. https://shop.missmatatabi.com/

Lucky Deluxe - Craft thrift store, always has an incredible selection and fantastic customer service. I need to close the tab fast because I never go to this website without finding something I need. https://www.luckydeluxefabrics.com/

Swanson's - the OG of online craft thrift stores, but I find their website harder to navigate. https://www.swansonsfabrics.com

Honorary Mentions: I haven't shopped at these places yet but I have had them recommended and likely will at some point.

A Thrifty Notion - https://athriftynotion.com/

Creative Closeouts - https://creativecloseoutsfabric.com/ being rebranded to sewsnip.com on March 1 - quilting deadstock

Hawthorne Supply Co. - I just got this rec and I think I need to not look too closely or I'm going to slip with my debit card. https://www.hawthornesupplyco.com/

This is not an exhaustive list of everywhere you can buy fabric, or even a full list of where I shop. There are SO many options out there in the world. You also need to think outside the fabric store box. I thrift men's shirt fabrics for quilts and sheets for backing fabric. I don't do a ton of in person thrifting and my local stores don't get a lot of craft materials but every thrift store is its own universe and reflects the community it is in. Go out and find something cool.

Oh and final note: Don't shop at Hobby Lobby.

[evitcani-writes]

“It seems like almost all of those people don’t have HIV,” said Jennifer Kates, HIV policy director at KFF, a health-research nonprofit. “If they did, that would be substandard care at a pretty severe level,” she said.

Ya’ll. United Health just got accused of $17 billion in medicare fraud.

Basically they made up diagnosis which are improbable or impossible, “forgot” to remove ones which had been cured, and overall allegedly stole billions from taxpayers.

The government pays insurers a base rate for each Medicare Advantage member. The insurers are entitled to extra money when their patients are diagnosed with certain conditions that are costly to treat.

… About 18,000 Medicare Advantage recipients had insurer-driven diagnoses of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but weren’t receiving treatment for the virus from doctors, between 2018 and 2021, the data showed. Each HIV diagnosis generates about $3,000 a year in added payments to insurers.

… He said internal company data for 2022 showed a treatment rate for patients UnitedHealth diagnosed with HIV of more than triple what the Journal found. He said the pandemic disrupted care, lowering treatment rates during the period analyzed by the Journal, and that the analysis failed to account for patients who started treatments in future years.

The Medicare data, however, show UnitedHealth’s patients with insurer-driven HIV diagnoses were on the antiretrovirals at low rates even before the pandemic, and hardly any started the drugs in the years after UnitedHealth diagnosed them.

Source: https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/medicare-health-insurance-diagnosis-payments-b4d99a5d

I bet United Health really wishes it was a different week right now.

UPDATE/EDIT: Article is from July. I didn’t notice myself since it came up in my news feed. Don’t always trust the internet to be time accurate. 😎My guess is it is getting promoted due to current events. However, there are some updates concerning actions taken based on the report which you can look into by checking the authors’ other articles.

[daglout]

[kentluv3r]

hello! may i humbly request this:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTScEUMHn/

with jason todd and/or dick grayson

please and thank you!!

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 SUMMARY: you miss THEM! [DICK, JASON, TIM, DAMIAN, DUKE, BARBARA, STEPHANIE, BRUCE] while they’re gone so why not ask them for a simple favor; send a video of them doing push ups while saying your name!

ⓘ CONTENT WARNINGS: horny texts, flirting, multi-character, implied sexual content! MINORS DNI! -> horny! fem! reader ノ teasing ノ dirty talk ノmentions of disabilities ノ obvious usage of y/n but not overly done!

AUTHOR’S NOTE: mhmmmmm, this request is so good, i luv it. instead of just dick or jason, i decided to do a lot of the bat family so there’s a lot of variety. if you can’t get the link, it’s a tiktok that says “life is too short. just ask him to send an audio saying your name while doing push ups.” hope i do this justice bc i loved the idea!

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 DICK GRAYSON !

you: *link*

you: babe, look at this

my birdman 💙: the first text i get from u on patrol

my birdman 💙: WHAT do you want me to do?

my birdman 💙: babe, asking for a dick pic would be easier

you’re a little shocked that dick hasn’t seen the video; the fucker somehow knows every horny video out there, every single little thing you could ask your man to do… and yet this is the one that trips him up. it’s cute in a way.

dick was out on patrol with duke and wally— they’ve grown a great friendship and now dick is practically third-wheeling for them but he doesn’t mind, the more people out in the streets of gotham, helping out, the better. it gives him a chance to have a little bit of breathing room in between all the fighting going on. 

my birdman 💙: baby, i’ll do it, you know i will

you: then get to it, pretty boy

my birdman 💙: i just wanna know why?

my birdman 💙: we have god knows how many sex videos

you: because dick

you: sometimes a girl wants what a girl wants

you: now do it before i bite ur dick off

my birdman 💙: that would be hot

you: fine

you: cut it off

my birdman 💙: okay, damn babe

my birdman 💙: give me a minute to find a roof top 

and eventually, three minutes later... a video pops up on your screen, and you click on it without second thought.

the video loads without issue... and there dick is, in full nightwing costume, escrima sticks stuck to his back, domino mask still on as you see that he's on top of a building, looking out at gotham city. the phone is already propped up on one of the roof's electrical boxes.

"alright baby, since you need me oh so badly." he jokes as he gets into formation.

even through the nightwing suit, you can still see his big biceps, big thighs, and overall strong posture that you scratch at every night when he’s balls deep into you— but there’s something sexy about the nightwing suit that you love so much. you couldn’t put your finger on it.

but you don’t think too much of it as he begins to move, his arms flexing and the gotham wind blowing his black hair strands in different directions as he does the pushups… most notably with one hand behind his back.

“y/n… y/n, y/n, y/n…” he continues over and over again, that cocky fucking grin on his face as he speaks to the camera again. “you better like this shit, baby, making me do your horny little fantasies… not like i’m complaining.”

he just has a great way with words, doesn’t he?

you could feel your pussy clench around nothing, your free hand can’t stop itself from drifting downwards close to your pants as his words fill in your mind. just the implications make your mind melt… and the way he does it is so good.

“fuck, dick…” you whisper to your empty bedroom as you watch the video, his movements not slowing down for a moment.

“y/n… y/n… shit this is easy baby, but trying to not imagine you under me right now is what’s fucking me up baby.” he mutters, chuckling as he continues to push up and down off his left hand. 

you shudder at his words, body heating up at the idea of being under him in this current moment. he’s able to ruin you even from afar— and god you hate it as much as you love it. 

eventually, he reached up to 45 times, his arm working over and over again, his head looking behind himself to see gotham behind him. "they're probably handling it pretty good down there." he speaks, meaning wally and duke. "i'm too busy making my pretty girl happy..."

your hand strokes your own thigh at his words. "quit being such a sap..."

“y/n… y/n… y/n…” not knowing damn well that on the streets, wally and duke are fighting a bunch of joker goons— because of course he decides to try to fuck with them this night.

the heat in your stomach curls with need as dick finishes the pushups, standing on his two feet as he flexes his biceps in front of the camera, jokingly showing off his back muscles for you as well. he just has a phenomenal way of acting.

“there’s a few extra things for you as well.” he tells you as he picks up the phone, waving at the camera. “get a good’s night sleep girly, i’ll be home soon… like i never left.”

the video ended and you felt ten times hotter than you felt before the video.

you would eventually find him in your bed two hours later when you fell asleep, just like he said he would. but that’s a topic for another day.

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 JASON TODD !

see; you found the tiktok at the perfect time.

because jason wasn't in bed with you sure, but you knew where he was at— currently in the gym, doing whatever core exercise he had on the agenda today because despite his denial of it; he has his work-out regimine on a piece of paper. at the beginning of the week? legs, get it out of the way. middle of the week? chest, arms, and back. and the last days of the week? his core and whatever he failed to get if he skipped a day.

you knew it because he always told you before he left— it's kinda sweet in a way... but you knew it would be a day where he'd answer.

you: *link* 

you: jason 

you: know ur lifting but watch this

jay: oh jesus baby

jay: ur always making me do this shit

you: complaining?

jay: nope

jay: just, simple observation 

you: good

you: now do it

jay: why u gotta be so mean

you: i’m not mean, i’m horny

you: now do it

jay: yes ma’am! 

soon enough, you see the notification and you click on it, the video loading up in no time.

there jason was, in the gym with his headphones around his neck, black hair sweaty and messy in the ways you only saw after-sex, with one of his stupid tank tops on and gym shorts— you only call his tank tops stupid because they're always so fucking sweaty and stink up your apartment for a good hour before going in the wash.

but jason waves at the camera as he puts it against the gallery of weights, nobody around him.

clearly, it's an empty day at the gym. not that uncommon at eleven pm on a friday night when everyone else is drinking or partying at this hour.

"hope all is well at home, baby." he begins as he gets in position, perfect push-up form as he begins.

jason starts off slow, going down and back up not too quickly. "y/n..." he mutters, loud enough for you to hear— you also hear the slight change in his breath, it's obvious he just got done lifting some heavy ass weight as seen next to him with a "125" pound dumbbell. "y/n..."

you get that feeling in your body in the same way he teases you when he touches you. trying to ignore it, you continue to watch, rolling on your stomach and putting your chin on your forearm. "jay..."

in the video, he speeds up. "y/n... y/n... fuck— y/n..." almost using your pretty name like a pushup counter to himself but god it sounds beautiful. "y/n..."

jason continued his fluid motions, so easily going up and back down then back up, his muscles showing every time he extends his arms.

“y/n, y/n, y/n.” each time he says your name like that, it only works to drive you further and further into a horny mess, and this asshole knows it, that is what makes you even more happier inside and wetter in your underwear.

"god damn, jay... so good f'me." you whisper as you watch him push up and down, looking down to see his hand veins, just the way they look puts images to your mind.

jason almost loses track at how many he does in a row; just using your name is able to make him go further than his usual set reps of pushups. he loves hearing your name, even if he's saying it, so he keeps going.

"y/n... ngh, fuck, y/n... keep going for you, hun." he says, almost thinking about his cock with his hand stroking himself for you; the only reason he stops himself is cause he's not trying to have a boner in the middle of the gym... even if there's nobody else there besides the workers.

you keep your eyes on him, everything around you seeming irrelevant as the video continues till it's the last minute where you see him slow down finally; you don't know how many times he said your name, but it had to be in the sixty amount.

"y/n... y/n..." he's not out of breath but still, he catches his breath as he finally stops, standing on his two feet as he walks over to his phone and grabbing it; giving you a damn good look at the sweat beading down his face and the stupid white streaks in his hair falling in front of his face.

he smiles at the lens. "hope that fufills your filthy little idea, baby..."

jay: did u enjoy it?

jay: baby?

you: for fucks sake, jason

you: yes, i did enjoy it, god i loved it

you: you're hot, it's fucking irritating

jay: don't worry baby, i'm almost done

jay: then you can have me all u want, hun

you: good

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 TIM DRAKE !

you hated being away from tim, so obviously, when you saw the video on your for you page… it’s obvious what you were thinking about.

he was always doing some detective work; you loved his intelligence and his way of thinking about things… but one of the worst things about it? he was always gone at the worst times possible. he made time for you, but sometimes, when you really wanted him… no where to be found. 

you: *link*

you: tim.

you: timothy 

you: do this for me

handsome timmy: what happened to hey

handsome timmy: what happened to how was your day, tim?

you: not the time

handsome timmy: fine fine

handsome timmy: let me buy a second real quick

that’s the thing about tim that you loved; even when he was busy, even when he was away from you… the moment you asked him to do something? he would try to find the time and a way to do it.

meanwhile, in the inner city, away from you, tim was filing through paperwork one of his sources gave him.

the hotel room dim with both lamps on, tim’s eyes reading over the lines of text. it was a simple case of murder (well, simple to describe murder isn’t the best word to use… but it is the most accurate. it wasn’t convoluted in the “there’s so many suspects” way but more like “which gang put the hit out”) on a poor mailman who unknowingly smuggled another gang’s weapons to their biggest rivals. the more confusing part was just figuring out which member is apart of which gang because… of course members switch and betray and align.

it’s all tiring for one robin… so getting a text from you? wanting him to do pushups and say your name… he’s smart enough to know what that implies.

handsome timmy: you perv

you: yep!

you: you’re not here to do it… so this will do

handsome timmy: baby don’t u have other videos of us?

handsome timmy: you have that video in the bathroom

you: yeah and i love that video

you: but i’ve already watched it

you: i want something fresh, baby

handsome timmy: okay baby, since u need it so bad

he was busy, but he was willing to do it; for you and you only.

three minutes later, you got the video and laying on your apartment couch, legs sprawled out. you immediately press on it and it loads up; tim, in grey sweatpants and a tanktop, his stupid black hair messy but falling in front of his face gorgeously, eyebrows furrowed as he gets into pushup position.

“can’t believe i’m doing this… but only because you asked me for it.” he mutters before he begins to do the pushups, his grunts fill the room and the audio of the video as he continues.

“y/n… y/n… y/n— ngh, shit— y/n…” it’s not even hard for him to do a pushup, it’s just the entire thing about what it’s implying as well as his cock aching with need but who said that? his biceps flex, eyes on the floor before he looks over at the camera and winks at you. “hope you enjoy this, my filthy… perverted… pretty girl.”

“this is not perverted.” you defend yourself to him even if he can’t hear or see you, eyes dragging up and down to watch his hands and his biceps.

he repeats your name over and over again, taking deep breaths to try to calm yourself down while he takes deep and guttural breaths in between each push on his arms, a single line of sweat beading down his head.

“bet you’re enjoying this, i’m glad though…” he mutters, keeping his eyes locked on the camera. “y/n… y/n… y/n…” he looks forward, biting his tongue in between his teeth, trying to not think too hard about the implications… but how could he not? he loves the thought of you under him.

tim continued to push up and down until he felt his body burn, stopping at the thirty pushup mark, taking deep breaths as he sits on his knees, grabbing his phone and chuckles. “you probably look so cute right now… too bad i’m over here, doing paperwork… but i’ll be home soon.”

you laugh under your breath at his words, the video ending and you find yourself with a smile on your face.

you: god, you’re so hot

you: fuck the paperwork, come fuck me

handsome timmy: I WILL. TRUST

handsome timmy: I WANT YOU TOO

handsome timmy: but i gotta do this shit but…

handsome timmy: maybe send me a video… possibly?

you: you’re lucky i’m horny

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 DAMIAN WAYNE !

work has you travelling all over the world sometimes… the problem? none on the surface.

you loved to travel, seeing the world even if it was for work related stuff. you went to other states to talk to different people about work, you even got to go to other countries for your work— being a high ranking employee will do that, so obviously, you love the travel for work aspect of your job.

the only problem you seem to be dealing with? you miss your boyfriend.

damian is a great boyfriend, there’s no one else like him.

which meant traveling for work and being away from him sucked. hard. he sometimes went with you if gotham allowed him to leave for once and you loved that time with him— he knew it was important for you to travel so he never bothered you when you had to leave… but he definitely hates it as well.

thankfully, he has his family and jon to bother him when you’re gone.

so, obviously, when you get the video on your screen… your pussy acts first instead of being smart.

you: *link*

you: damian

you: watch this and do it

dami 💚: what happened to hi? hello? how was your day?

you: not important

you: need to see your body

dami 💚: this is what this is about?

dami 💚: HEY 

dami 💚: I HAVE THAT VIDEO SAVED 

you: good

you: you know me too well

dami 💚: shirtless or with a shirt on?

you: why do u even ask

dami 💚: just making sure, princess

you: do it shirtless, genius 

it doesn’t take long before your phone dings and you see a video on your screen. 

you click on the video without a second thought.

the video loads and there damian was; shirtless, in his bedroom at wayne manor. his tv paused at whatever he was watching as he placed the phone on the wood bedframe leg, backing up and seeing if it will fall as he gets on his hands and knees. 

“okay… you’re good? won’t fall and ruin this video for my girl?” he questions the phone, extending his legs and getting into the typical pushup position. “good. stay like that.”

he mutters as he looks at the lens with a softer gaze. “okay, i hope this is a good enough angle, baby… for your little fantasy.”

and right after that, he goes down and goes back up, doing what you wanted him to do slower but making sure you heard every single grunt, groan, and breath. “y/n… y/n…”

he can feel his hands shift as he gets more comfortable with his movements, letting you get a glimpse of his broad back when he goes down and his chest when he goes up, the light in the room being enough to see his muscles each time.

“y/n, y/n, y/n, pretty good form if you ask me.” he jokes midway through, not even counting how many he’s doing— he’s just going up and down and trying his hardest not to get a raging boner at the idea of you under him, on your stomach, and instead of pushups, he was thrusting.

you were also trying your hardest not to think about that too much, but how could you not?

here’s your sexy boyfriend, saying your name while shirtless and doing an exercise that comes close to replicating it— rivaling only hip thrusts with weights. “dami… fuck…” you moan oh so quietly.

damian chuckles as he shifts his form, putting his hands out wider as every time he goes down, he goes to the right then back up then he goes to the left downwards, pressing his lips on each hand as he goes down. 

deep down, he’s pretending it’s your lips or your head he’s kissing and not his own hands. “y/n…” he mutters into his right hand before going back up and going down to his left hand, kissing the top of it. “y/n…” 

his arms being extended shows off his triceps and forearms in all their glory; you love his forearms oh so much. 

"y/n, my love. y/n, my sweetheart. y/n, my horny ass girlfriend." he says as he comes to his final pushups, going back to the center for the final couple of pushups, this wider approach to his movements allows you to see his back and lower back as well, making your pussy throb only more.

"dami..." you whisper as he does his final one, letting himself fall to the carpet floor after he goes back down and grabs his phone from the bed's leg, fingers wrapping around the phone.

rolling onto his back, he moves the phone to above his head, letting you see his abs as he catches his breath. "here's what you're missing baby, 'cause you wanna be such a good employee." he jokes, then furrowing his brow as he brings his phone closer to him. "just kidding, baby... 'm glad you're good at the job and they can see that. love you, sweetheart."

and just like that, the video ends and you're here, wanting him only more than you did before this.

you: god you’re the best

dami 💚: ur welcome baby :) 

dami 💚: missing u!!!

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 DUKE THOMAS !

you loved vacation much as the next person.

you were lucky to have this… but with how hard you were working at your place of employment, constantly putting in overtime to get a little extra money… it was obvious this was close to happening.

you loved the location and the week that you’ve had; the only thing you didn’t like? being away from your boyfriend, duke, who was busy fighting crime in gotham.

he encouraged you to go— he loved seeing how hard you worked and get repaid for it, plus he knew as much as you did that you needed this vacation with a few of your closest friends, so he wasn’t mad about it; he had no problems!

but you hated being away from him. 

you loved the man and that showed, so of course, when you’re scrolling through your for you page, lounging around in your rented house… you knew exactly who to send it to; the only person you wanted to listen to.

you: *link*

you: duke, my baby

you: you better not be busy 

you: cause i need u to do this

duke 💛: wow, not even an update on ur vacation

duke 💛: but i’m not busy, sweetheart

you: just don’t die on me duke

duke 💛: i’m not gonna die sweetheart

duke 💛: not from the criminals at least

duke 💛: but the lack of pussy might kill me

you: you’ll fucking survive.

you: now watch what i sent you

duke 💛: bossy woman but sure

you: i am not bossy

duke 💛: yes u are

duke 💛: but jesus baby, just ask me for a video of my dick

you: where’s the fun in that?

duke 💛: true

duke 💛: give me a minute, pretty baby

and just like he said, not even too long later— maybe four minutes later, a video pops up in your text messages…

duke 💛: *video*

duke 💛: god i wish i could see u watch it 🫠

and you don’t hesitate to click on it.

in front of the camera is duke, wearing only pajama bottoms and a black shirt, a big smile on his face as he gets into pushup position. it’s clear that he just got done with patrol and just got out of his batsuit, a bandage on his forearm. “don’t mind that, sweetheart.” he mentions, his hands close together as he decides to do a diamond-style pushup. “now… you better enjoy this, hun.”

and without hesitating, his pushups begin; elbows close to his chest every time he goes down and comes back up, the veins in his forearms show clearly. “y/n… y/n… y/n… y/n…” 

you lick the inside of your cheek, watching with glee as duke pushes up and down, taking deep breaths in between each push of his arms— he always says to never hold your breath when doing pushups— and he’s clearly letting you get your mind going in the dirtiest of directions.

you could just imagine him right now, pushing in and out of you instead of pushing up and down, imagining it was his chest you were laying on as he fucked you— but of course, he wasn’t here to do it. so you took this, and you loved it.

“duke… fucking hell.” you whisper as he continues.

“y/n… y/n… y/n l/n, my love… my baby… making me do pushups instead of jerking off… quite creative if you ask me… y/n…” he mutters, letting his own mind go into places but he continues on the video.  

he’s able to do this so easily, feeding into your thoughts as he repeats your name over and over again, making your mind fulfilled at the same time yearning for him only more. 

“y/n… y/n… final one.” he says as he pushes up one more time, clapping his hands and just as quickly, putting his hands back down. “y/n…”

you giggle at his stupid little clap pushup. 

he remains in the down position before he kneels on one knee, reaching over and grabbing his phone with his left hand, smiling at the camera. “hope vacation is treating you the way it should, baby… you deserve it…” 

and just like that, the video ends, your mind a whole lot filthier than it started out as. 

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 BARBARA GORDON !

you know deep down, in your heart, sending your wheelchair-bound girlfriend this tiktok would be... definitely a little off the cuff, but you truly couldn't help yourself; you were lonely, a lil horny, and besides, she joked about her wheelchair more than you (including the time she let tim's dumb ass do wheelies in the fucking thing) but not in the self-deprecating manner people thought she would, just as a throw-away line, so it's not like it would be totally wrong.

you: *link*

you: barb, baby... watch this

you: you're always on that damn computer

you: answer me, babyyyyyyyy

barb 💻🫦: ???

barb 💻🫦: babe. baby. sweetheart.

barb 💻🫦: does it look like i can do that?

you: c'mon

you: you have to have done a push up once in ur life

barb 💻🫦: honey, i love you and you know that…

barb 💻🫦: and you’re far from blind

barb 💻🫦: but did you mean to send me this shit?

you: absolutely!

you: besides, who would i ask anyway? there's only one pair of lips i want saying my name that way

barb 💻🫦: good

barb 💻🫦: u don’t need anyone else to do it

you: u don't have to do it, just thought it was funny

you: i don't want you to hurt urself, baby

barb 💻🫦: no it's fine, baby. ain’t mad at it

you: busy dealing with bruce?

barb 💻🫦: happily

it's minutes before barbara texts you back. you took her words for granted— bruce, especially on missions as batman— drives her up a wall sometimes but it's not like it's hard work, she's the greatest asset on the team if anyone really thinks about it, so it's easy work for the oracle... it's just tedious work listening to the deep voice of batman asking for coordinates every ten seconds.

the thought did cross your mind: was it wrong? sure it was a joke but still… you didn’t want to cause barbara any actual trouble over a shitty little tiktok.

it’s not until seven minutes after barbara sent her last text that you get a notification on your phone.

you reach for it and click on the message without even thinking a second thought.

barb 💻🫦: *video*

barb 💻🫦: here you go, hun ❤️

the video loads without issue… and on your screen, barbara stares into the camera as she readjusts it on the floor, sitting on the floor with her wheelchair slightly veered to the left on the right side of the video.

she bites on her tongue as she balances the phone against one of the many computer desk’s legs. “c’mon you… these things are not stable at all.”

finally, the phone stays still and barbara keeps a close eye on it. “don’t you dare fall or else.” she threatens the device as she adjusts her position to get on her right side, using both arms to hold herself up as her palms press down into the floor of the computer room of wayne manor. “hope this suits your needs, baby.” she speaks to you through the video.

your eyes watch as she’s able to balance her self with just core strength, even if her legs don’t want to move for her. you knew from what shes told you about being paralyzed from the waist down that her legs feel limp most of the time even with physical therapy helping her balance when she does attempt to walk and with training, she has been able to put her toes down but never fully walk, so her legs are practically dead weight for her ninety perfect of the time.

and without hesitation and no issue whatsoever, barbara begins to push up and down, using her arms and core to balance herself even if those damn legs of hers wanna fall back to the floor even if barbara can’t control their actions.

“y/n— fucking hell.” she begins as she consistently pushes up and down with her core doing an insane amount of work to keeping her body up. “y/n…” she repeats, over and over again without issue.

you could see the veins in her forearms of her rolled up sweatshirt sleeves, there was something so fucking hot about it that you couldn’t describe simply because of how needy you got watching the video.

she continues her movements without issue, driving her palms into the ground to keep her balance. “y/n, y/n, y/n… shit, baby, you’re making me work for it.” god, you could just imagine her saying that in between your thighs, her fingers curling deep when you tell her to keep going. “y/n…”

by the fifteenth name call off her sweet lips that only drives you further up the wall, she gives her last pushup; getting back on her ass and grabbing her phone, smiling at the camera with the smile you love oh so much. 

“i’ll be done soon, hun, don’t stay up if you can’t.” she tells you, looking up at the monitors above her. “bruce probably wants me back on comms… this fucking guy.” she says it with love for the man. “see you sweetheart.”

and the video ends just like that. fuck this woman’s gonna be the death of you.

you: holy shit

you: you’re the sexiest woman ever

you: u actually did it

barb 💻🫦: baby, i do anything you want

you: men ain’t shit

barb 💻🫦: i know

barb 💻🫦: now let me get back to work

you: you’re eating my pussy when u get home

barb 💻🫦: yay! 

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 STEPHANIE BROWN !

you hated being sick, mostly because it didn’t allow you to do most things.

you were laying in bed, resting from a stupid sickness you got maybe three days ago. it sucks and you’re still kind of shocked that it’s still running through your system, but you’ve been doing everything in your power to feel better; called off work, only did things if you actually needed to, and knocked out a few things you actually wanted to get done.

you also had your girlfriend, stephanie, making sure you took care of yourself. 

which brings you to your current predicament; scrolling through tiktok and seeing a video that strikingly sounds like something you want stephanie to do… so you sent it to her not thinking much of it.

stephanie was a little busy right now; dancing in a club in downtown gotham with dinah lance and kate kane— stephanie only knew dinah because of a situation where both of them were on the same crime at the same time, as well as the very important factor that dinah was in a two year long relationship with barbara so she kinda had to be civil with dinah… but she wasn’t too bad.

she hesitated to go with them but you insisted, wanting her to go out and have fun and you’d join them next time… which is how you ended up alone but not sad… but you knew stephanie, if you sent her a text? she’d immediately answer it.

you: *link*

you: heyyyyyyy

you: hope the club is good, baby

you: do this when u get a chance

steph 💜: my baby

steph 💜: you feeling okay? 

steph 💜: yeah, i’ll see it, give me a moment

steph 💜: oh my god, kate is trying to climb something

you: feeling alright over here steph

you: just missing you :( 

you: miss your sexy ass

steph 💜: trust me baby, miss u too

steph 💜: but i’ll be home soon

steph 💜: now what the hell did you send me?

steph 💜: oh you freaky girl

you: yes, now do it

steph 💜: alrighttttt, lemme find a place!

it takes a few minutes, but eventually, your phone dings on the blanket as you finish your plate and put it on the coffee table, pausing the movie you were watching and look at the phone.

you open the video stephanie sent you, her long blond hair, curled slightly due to sweat in the front filling your mind as you hear the muffled sound of the bar she was at with dinah and kate— neither of them in frame but stephanine starts the video by yelling at someone behind the door as she sets up the phone against the shitty bathroom sink.

“hold up, dinah! doing something for my girlfriend!” she yells— it strokes your heart just hearing her call you “her girlfriend”, it’s mundane but god it’s so good.

dinah groans from outside the locked bathroom door. “oh my god! you better not be fingerblasting yourself there! this is not the place to do it!”

stephanie cackles out a laugh at dinah’s words but gets into pushup positon as she does it. “aye! me and my girl weren’t the ones who caught making out on the computer desk now were we?” stephanine bites back, giggling in front of the camera.

you get a good look at her; black canary shirt rolled at the sleeves (cause she knows how you feel about her arms), her blonde hair damp and sticking in different directions but not too messy, and her makeup slightly fucked up but in the sexiest way possible. 

dinah scoffs. “you’re lucky your sister’s hot, or else.”

“yeah, yeah, whatever.” stephanie says, finishing her little bout with dinah as she looks back at the camera— smiling. “now she’s gone… hey baby, bet you look so cute right now… bet you want me to come home… god you look so gorgeous and i can’t even see you.”

your heart flutters, this fucking girl. but you can’t think too much of it before she begins to do the pushups.

the thing? she’s already sweating. not even because it’s difficult or anything (you’ve seen this woman knock out 50 pushups with no issue) but rather the already built-up strain of her muscles dancing at the club and sweat due to moving her body to the music that’s got her sweating… but god she looks so sexy like this.

“y/n… y/n, fucking hell baby, you’re lucky this place even has a bathroom.” she jokes, looking at the sticker-covered wall of the right side of the bathroom, so many different stickers and sticky-notes with phone numbers and names, different pop culture references, even someone’s dick pic… but you’re too focused on your babe to look at anything else. “y/n… y/n…” 

you can feel a certain dampness in your underwear but you don’t pay it any mind— you try to not think about it but c’mon… who would blame you.

the way your name falls from her lips is incredible and you watch as she slowly stops her movements at the 35 range, your name said for every single one of them. “y/n… y/n… fuck— y/n…” the last three times before she looks over at you, in the up position as she gets on her feet.

catching her breath as she grabs the phone, she smiles and kisses the lens. “love you baby.”

and the video ends just like that; your underwear ten times damper than it previously was.

you: god you’re good at that

steph 💜: i’d hope so

you: if i wasn’t dying, you’d be between my thighs asap

steph 💜: oh baby

steph 💜: maybe in the morning

you: you’ll get sick though

steph 💜: death by pussy sounds pretty good to me

you: steph… 

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 BRUCE WAYNE !

asking bruce wayne to participate in any type of relationship trend or request was easy.

he loved you and you loved him... contrary to popular belief, the man knew pop culture and he knew his shit when it came to relationships— not in the same way his sons did but he knew things, he knows what tiktok and twitter and all these apps are— he's old but he's not that fucking old, get a grip. he doesn't have any social media accounts, just wayne enterprises accounts that he doesn't even manage, and he only shows up on occasion in one of dick's or stephanine's videos and that's in the background of 'em.

so when you text him the video while laying in your shared bed in wayne manor... it's not too long after that you receive a text.

you: *link*

you: bruce, baby

you: if you aren’t busy, look at this asap

bruce 🖤🦇: darling

bruce 🖤🦇: you’re serious?

you: of course!

you: i know you know how much i love those arms

you: so lemme see them work!

bruce 🖤🦇: dear god

bruce 🖤🦇: it might be a minute though

bruce 🖤🦇: busy right now but i’ll do it soon

you: i’ll be waiting handsome

bruce 🖤🦇: keep testing it

you: or what, bruce? gonna fuck me?

bruce 🖤🦇: at this point, you want that

you: i’m not dumb!

he may not understand most pop culture things… but when you talk about it? he pays the most attention to it, wanting to understand what you’re talking about.

and yet, the man is able to understand trends faster than most (when one of his kids try to explain it to him during patrol)... just the batman intelligence you guess.

it's just... he's nonchalant about it, which comes off as "he doesn't know anything about it" but instead, he understands…

bruce 🖤🦇: *video*

bruce 🖤🦇: here you go, sweetheart

bruce 🖤🦇: hope this is suits you, hun

you knew he was busy; you didn't know what but you knew he would be home soon and he's being safe. probably at a high-end gala or a philanthropy event. maybe even doing some detective work with gordon, but when you pull up the video... the place he's in... looks recongizable.

the brick as a flooring, the gates in the background with the bushes, the sun going down... but you don't pay attention to it when bruce begins to do the pushups.

positioned right on ground level, the phone leaned up against... something... bruce begins to do pushups just like you requested, veins popping out from under his short-sleeve shirt and his voice ringing out.

"y/n... y/n... y/n..." his deep voice makes your pussy flutter even under the sheets of the bed, his sleeves rolling up to show his biceps, neck vein showing up during one of the pushes up— god he's so good. "hope you're enjoying this baby..."

you smile. "oh i am bruce." you whisper into the room, licking the inside of your cheek as he continues, babbling your name about fifteen times until he's close to reaching twenty.

"y/n... y/n... almost there, baby... y/n... jesus baby, you better enjoy this." he says, looking at the camera. "trying to do push-ups in dress shoes is not a good thing, hun..."

you laugh at his words but you know damn well this man can get a new pair faster than anyone else could.

"y/n... y/n... y/n..." he repeats, his growl-like voice making your mind melt in the best way possible— he's just good like that. "y/n. y/n. y/n."

you're not shocked that he's this good at this. not only is he muscular than most men, but this was the playboy-in-his-youth billionaire you're dating, so he's used to doing shitty things for his girlfriends... but to you? he doesn't care about doing it.

he loves you so much he'd do anything.

"three more, baby, y/n... y/n... y/n..." he groans before finishing after his final pushup, doing about twenty-seven pushups, stepping on his two feet as he stretches his back out as he grabs the phone, and you get a damn good look at his background.

the front door of the wayne manor.

"hope you loved that, baby... be home soon."

and the video ends. just like that. before you could realize that he was literally a minute away from you.

you: bruce

you: my love

you: my handsome man

you: as if i couldn’t love you even more

bruce 🖤🦇: good

bruce 🖤🦇: now unlock the bedroom door

ADDITIONAL NOTE: prolly the only time i’m adding one of these but for anyone wondering why i did barbara… because i love her. decided to do a mix of pre-2011 and post-2011 treatment of barbara’s legs. i’ve always really loved oracle so whenever i write for barbara, it will be oracle! barbara, plus its my fic so my interpretation of these characters.

masterlist is here! click here for more!

ⓘ KENTLUV3R’S WORK. all my fanfics (not the characters) is my very own, coming from my own efforts and my time. do not copy my work, rewrite it, shove it through an ai machine and shit out slop, and don’t repost to wattpad/ao3/c.ai!

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The world has moved on

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/06/11/lapsarianism/#nostalgia-is-a-toxic-impulse

Douglas Adams wrote, "Anything that is in the world when you're born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works. Anything that's invented between when you’re 15 and 35 is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it. Anything invented after you're 35 is against the natural order of things."

I think about this quote whenever I get angry at the technology around me. When I rail against the Great Enshittening, am I simply committing the sin of nostalgia ("Nostalgia is a toxic impulse" -J. Hodgman)? I am, after all, old.

I've written before how conservatives' yearning for "simpler times" is really just a wish to be a child again. The reason times seemed simpler during your childhood is that you were a child, and if your parents did their job, they shielded you from a lot of the complexity of their adulthood so you could enjoy your childhood:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/24/hermit-kingdom/#simpler-times

That's where the "National Customer Rage Survey" comes in. It's been surveying a panel of 1,000 representative consumers every three years for a decade, continuing a research project that started in 1976. The survey measures respondents' attitudes towards the businesses they deal with, and as of 2025, it's fair to say, customers are pissed:

https://customercaremc.com/2025-national-customer-rage-study/

We're experiencing more problems with the products and services we use. Those problems are more severe, they make us angrier, and they produce lingering stress. More and more, we are seeking revenge on the businesses that piss us off.

So it's not just me, an old man yelling at the cloud. The world is getting shittier.

The latest Customer Rage Survey inspired The Guardian's Heather Timmons to launch a new investigative series looking at how fucked up everything is. Her inaugural installment is very good, and it's drawn a massive reader response:

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jun/04/us-consumer-rage-prices-economy

I spoke with Timmons this week about the series. She told me she's been deluged with emails from readers who feel that the world is different now – and many of them cite my work on enshittification. Timmons wanted to know what advice I had for her readers. I told her that I don't think you can solve this as a consumer, because this isn't a market problem, it's a political problem, and shopping isn't politics:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/05/21/purity-culture/#stop-fucking-that-chicken

Later, Timmons forwarded one of those emails to me. It gave an eloquent and evocative account of just how rancid the vibe is these days. The writer said that when they and their spouse encounter this rot, they cite Stephen King's Dark Tower novels, quoting the oft-repeated phrase from that series: "The world has moved on."

At this point, I should warn you that the following contains some Dark Tower spoilers, so if you're planning to read a decades-old (but very good) dystopian western/science fiction crossover series, and if spoilers bug you, this might not be the essay for you.

Spoiler alert!

Still with me? OK, then.

In the Dark Tower novels, we crisscross a fallen world in which decay is all around us. The buildings are rotten, the machines have stopped working and no one knows how to fix them, babies and livestock alike are frequently born with deadly congenital defects. Much of the world has fallen into wasteland, cracked and barren. An army of wreckers, led by the demagogue John Farson (who styles himself "The Good Man") are slowly but surely conquering the land, laying waste to those few remaining outposts of civilization and conscripting the young men in the conquered lands to march on their neighbors.

It wasn't always this way. There was a time when the world was defined by hope and virtue and light, when the machines were fixed and the crops were harvested. Life wasn't golden – there were still squabbles and sorrows and even wars – but life was good.

And then the world moved on.

For reasons that no one truly understands, the normal push/pull of decay and renewal turned into a one-way, irreversible process in which everything that crumbled or snapped or burned up couldn't be repaired or replaced or recovered. Our mysterious ability to beat back the Second Law of Thermodynamics – an absurdity we probably should have always treated as an aberration – has collapsed. The world has moved on.

The Dark Tower series is a long, long, long Bildungsroman, with many detours through the life-stories of the characters in the ensemble cast, as well as the biographies of many of the figures they meet along the road. It's mostly an adventure novel, as road-trip tales tend to be, but those character studies and the lore that they surface – from our world and theirs – creates an overwhelming, many-layered, richly textured sense of loss and worse, of despair. For the world has moved on, and despite the love and care and bravery of many of the people in that world, the world cannot be redeemed. Each terrible day of those people's lives is the best day of the rest of their lives. From here on in, it only gets worse.

When Timmons' reader and their spouse greet every fresh depredation in modern life – hours on the phone with customer service to resolve a billing error that the company repeats every month, say – with "the world has moved on," they are invoking something heavy. This isn't just a rancid vibe, it's the fucking end-times.

For all that the Dark Tower novels are a series of cracking adventures and thoughtful character studies, they are also a mystery. Over and over again, we are made to ask ourselves, why has the world moved on? Was it John Farson and his army? Was it the Man in Black, the evil wizard whom the book's protagonist has pursued across time and space? Was it the Crimson King, the evil force whom the Man in Black serves?

Well, yes – and no.

Midway through the novels, we learn that the Crimson King and his evil minions have laid siege to "the beams," vast ley-lines that span the universe and provide the force that pushes away entropy, creating breathing room where repair and care can live. "All things serve the beams," we're told. The beams are the organizing force of the universe, the answer to the riddle of how such pitiful things as we could have fought back remorseless entropy for so long. By attacking the beams, the villains of the series have all but snuffed out that force, and so the world has moved on.

When I read that email and the invocation of the Dark Tower, I was immediately struck by how apt this comparison is. Because, as I've written many times, there were always enshittifiers who would have plundered your data and money and treated you with naked contempt:

https://pluralistic.net/2025/03/04/object-permanence/#picks-and-shovels

There were always enshittifiers, but those enshittifiers faced external forces that checked their wreckers' urge. They were held in check by competition, and regulation, and workers' sense of fairness and duty, and by the threat of new products and services that might pop up to correct the defects they deliberately introduced into their products by enshittifying them.

And the foundation – the Dark Tower upon which all the beams converged- was antitrust enforcement, grounded in the idea that we could not afford to let any company – not a "good" company, nor a "bad" company – get so large that it could no longer be regulated, lest its executives become "autocrats of trade":

https://pluralistic.net/2022/02/20/we-should-not-endure-a-king/

The same people who laid siege to antitrust law would later come after all forms of checks and balances. These are the people who gave us the "unitary executive" and Project 2025, and the collapse of accountability that has allowed the worst people to commit the gravest sins they could imagine and still reap vast fortunes. These beam-breakers wanted kings, and they got them.

I collect definitions of "conservatism," and one of my favorites comes from Corey Robin's book, The Reactionary Mind. Robins asks how it is that we can call so many disparate, irreconcilable ideologies – various ethno-nationalisms, imperialism, financialism, patriarchy, Christian nationalism, libertarianism, white supremacy, etc – "conservative"? What binds all these views together?

https://pluralistic.net/2025/07/22/all-day-suckers/#i-love-the-poorly-educated

Robin's answer: the foundation that all these otherwise disparate views share is that some people are born to rule, while others are born to be ruled over. When these lesser people are elevated to positions of power, their inferiority creates a system of misrule, by which we all suffer. The best outcome for everyone is for us all to know our place and defer to our social betters.

That's why conservatives are obsessed with affirmative action, DEI, and any form of anti-racism. For them, the discriminatory outcomes we see in the wild are natural, reflecting the in-born defects in the people at the bottom of the social order. That's why, after every plane crash, every collision between a cargo ship and a bridge, every spectacular corporate bankruptcy, conservatives race to uncover the race, gender, religion and sexual orientation of the captain, the pilot or the CEO.

If the person who oversaw the catastrophe has anything remotely resembling a marginalized identity, then this is loudly trumpeted as confirmation that "diversity hires," promoted above their station, are ruining our society and wrecking our bridges. Naturally, if the person in charge was a wealthy, well-born, straight white guy, that's just proof that shit happens – it definitely doesn't prove that white straight guys, as a class, should be removed from positions of power.

For conservatives, virtue is "whatever the people who are born to rule desire." Hence Frank Wilhoit's definition of conservativism, "exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect." It's not a crime if the president does it. It's also not a crime if your boss does it, or if a monopolist does it, or if ICE does it. It's not a crime if the IDF do it, or if the Epstein Class do it. "Taxes are for the little people":

https://pluralistic.net/2021/06/15/guillotines-and-taxes/#carried-interest

The attack on antitrust law was part of the attack on the rule of law, the campaign to put everyone back in the their place. It's a piece of the effort to establish a new hereditary aristocracy, and every hereditary aristocracy requires heredity serfs (that would be us):

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/06/the-end-of-the-road-to-serfdom/

The ideology of economism – which says that market outcomes are the only way to govern a society – cashes out to "the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must." If we interfere with mergers, or labor practices, or commercial conduct, we "distort the market," which is literally going against nature:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/27/economism/#what-would-i-do-if-i-were-a-horse

That's why Trump dismantled the consumer protection agencies, the antitrust agencies, the labor protection agencies, the environmental protection agencies. When someone in power cheats the system, that's not a crime, no matter how many people they rob, maim or kill. As Trump told us on the debate stage in 2016, that kind of cheating "makes me smart":

https://pluralistic.net/2024/12/04/its-not-a-lie/#its-a-premature-truth

That's why Elon Musk (almost) got to force every pension saver in America to bail out his money-incinerating AI business and his failed social media takeover – because the rules that protect everyday investors are "for the little people." Musk's mistake was trying to get a bunch of billionaires to hold the bag, too. The one form of systemic violence our society will not tolerate is trillionaire-on-billionaire violence:

https://www.cnbc.com/2026/06/05/spacex-blocked-from-early-us-benchmark-index-entry-as-sp-reaffirms-existing-rules.html

The world has moved on. 50 years of neoliberal rule has weakened and snapped the beams – the rule of law, consumer and labor rights, civil rights – that radiated from our Dark Tower – antitrust law, which blocked the emergence of the "autocrats of trade." The people who besieged these beams had the same motives as the Crimson King and John Farson and the Man in Black: they were willing to pay any price for a world free from consequences for people like them. They knew they were born to rule, and that the rules were "for the little people," that breaking those rules "made them smart."

They wanted "bossism." Or, as rendered in the original Afrikaans, "baasskap," which means, "the social, political and economic domination of South Africa by its minority white population":

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baasskap

Not for nothing, baasskap is the foundation of Muskism, the ideology that Elon Musk epitomizes, even if he can't articulate it:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/21/torment-nexusism/#marching-to-pretoria

In "The Utopia of Rules," the late David Graeber described how neoliberal deregulation produced exactly the kind of state that we were warned we'd get under communism. Thanks to monopolies, all the stores were the same and they all sold the same goods. Thanks to the dismantling of labor protection and unions, no one had enough money to get by. Thanks to elite impunity, we were ruled by monsters who committed crimes in the open and thrived as a result. Thanks to unchecked greed, we paid everything we had for healthcare, only to be denied treatment when we needed it. Thanks to the dismantling of the welfare state, more and more of us had to wait in long lines to fill out absurdly long forms in triplicate. Thanks to the intrinsic instability of such a terrible system, more and more of us ended up in prison, and protest became more and more illegal:

https://memex.craphound.com/2015/02/02/david-graebers-the-utopia-of-rules-on-technology-stupidity-and-the-secret-joys-of-bureaucracy/

Graeber pointed out that the rise of the web made it seductively easy for people in authority to force us to fill in forms. When analog bureaucracies impose paperwork costs on us, they also impose paperwork costs on themselves, because processing and filing those forms requires substantial effort, even if filling in those forms requires even more effort from us.

When it comes to virtual paperwork, the asymmetry is even more pronounced. Sure, it takes some admin to set up an online form and write the scripts to process its outputs, but that's a one-off. The form-giver can perform a very little admin and still impose a giant, repeated admin burden on the rest of us.

AI has only made this worse. Now, thanks to vibe coding, everyone can produce a form and its associated processing and analytics back-end with prompts, which creates a grave moral hazard. The kinds of activities that I used to fill in a single short form to accomplish now requires ten lengthy forms, created by different people in the same organization, all asking for variations on the same information. Through AI, we have democratized bureaucracy. It's Kafka-as-a-service.

What's more, when you're dealing with a monopoly, you have no choice but to complete whatever paperwork they throw at you. And when the vibe-coded back-end scripts shit the bed and lose or misinterpret your data, you have no choice but to endure an infinite telephone hold queue (if you're lucky) or get shunted to a customer service bot (if you're unlucky):

https://pluralistic.net/2025/11/11/sorry-to-bother-you/#we-dont-care-we-dont-have-to

It's entirely possible to build webforms that are thoughtful, fast, respectful of our time, and well-processed. The problem is that fielding these forms requires that the form-giver undertake some intensive, moderately expensive work (once), while skipping this step merely requires that we all perform intensive, time-consuming work (over and over and over again):

https://mohkohn.co.uk/writing/html-first/

This is how we end up with government forms that require you to list every trip you have ever taken to the USA, since your infancy, with every flight number, which you can only get help with by talking to a chatbot that emails you an out-of-date PDF no matter what question you ask of it:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/02/06/doge-ball/#n-600

This is how we end up with massive customer service queues, long lines at tills, and no one at the gate to answer your questions when your flight is canceled. Understaffing is a form of enshittification, one that shifts value from shoppers to owners, and shifts consequences from owners to workers:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/22/nobodys-home/#squeeze-that-hog

This is how we end up with broken machines that no one can fix. Firing workers and replacing them with chatbots or contractors means incinerating their process knowledge – the precious, inchoate, unrecorded understanding that keeps everything working:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/04/08/process-knowledge-vs-bosses/#wash-dishes-cut-wood

This is how companies that make products we love suddenly decide to wreck those products: when the only consequences for shitty products is angry customers with nowhere to go and no one to vent their rage upon except workers who have no labor rights and can't afford to quit, why not do a mafia bust-out for every business?

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/28/microincentives-and-enshittification/

The world has moved on. Nothing works. Everything costs too much. No one can help. No one knows how to fix anything. The beams were broken by the Crimson King and his economism-crazed minions. The Dark Tower might fall.

So what consumer advice do I have for people who are angry about this? I don't have any consumer advice, I'm afraid. You can't shop your way out of a monopoly. Once again, shopping is not politics.

What I have for you is political advice. To restore the beams and beat back entropy again, we need a better system, not more virtuous individuals. If you feel – as I do – that "the world has moved on," then to wrench it back, you will have to join a polity. Support activist groups like the Electronic Frontier Foundation, the digital rights group I've been at for the past 25 years:

https://supporters.eff.org/donate/join-eff

Join a union. If there's no union at your jobsite, start a union. If you work in tech, you start this process by talking to techsolidarity.org and the techworkerscoalition.org. In the UK, get in touch with United Tech and Allied Workers:

https://utaw.tech/

Get involved in party politics. Find a political party whose local organization supports your values (even if the national version of that party sucks) and then work with your fellow grassroots activists to drag or replace the party leaders. Get involved in local politics: if there's one thing Moms For Liberty has taught us, it's that unregarded, seemingly unimportant local offices have enormous potential to change facts on the ground for the people where you live. Those changes don't have to be change for the worse.

Doing politics is hard. Hell, after all, is other people. It would be great if we could make change by changing ourselves, but that's not how any of this works. The world has moved on, and you can't save it. But together, we can restore the beams and beat back entropy. Hell is other people, but only because other people are so great but it's so hard to figure out how to work together. We can do it, though. We did it with the post-war settlement, the 30 glorious years when we built the welfare state, regulated polluters and bosses, and kicked off the civil rights movement. We did it then, and we can do it again. We must. All things serve the beams.

[calumsargwife]

https://www.tumblr.com/calumsargwife/795090396942336000/parents-conference

never been so obsessed

i love the ex-husband trope so bad

the way i would die for something ‘bad’ or stressful to happen to y/n and she calls him out of instinct to which he comes over immediately with no hesitation to help and comfort her wiping her tears away and them just having an intimate moment regardless of being divorced

YOU CALL ME

ex-husband!rafe x ex-wife!reader

summary: After a car accident, there's only one person you want to call.

word count: 4.1k

warnings: language. I don't own a car so maybe what I'm saying is all wrong?😭. car accident. (as always English is not my first language so apologies for any possible grammatical error). any errors would be edited if found.

author's note: hey!! I'm so glad you loved the first fic, I'm also obsessed w this trope 🤭. after the first fic did so well, I'm definitely feeling the pressure lmao but I hope you guys like this one as well.

update: I just posted the tag list for anyone who wants to be added!

EX-HUSBAND!RAFE MASTERLIST.

Wednesdays are always the longest day of the week when the kids are with you. You normally have meetings all day, you spend most of your time between phone calls and zoom meetings while the kids are at school while cleaning your entire house at the same time, planning what your next month is going to be like, where you are going to be and who you're going to be working with.

Parker has hockey practice twice a week and he finishes at 7 pm today, much to your despair. If it wasn't for it, you're day would be over at 4 pm after picking up Olivia from a little playdate with one of her friends. She's been... struggling for the past few months, so every chance she gets to do something different, you and Rafe always say yes to it, no matter how far is it, how late it can be, she's going.

So here you are now, with a sleepy Olivia on her side of the backseat and a grumpy Parker that was complaining about how one of the kids on the hockey team wouldn't pass him the puck right on time multiple times in just ten minutes. He reminds you of Rafe whenever he gets like this, he start puffing, he frowns and pulls that airy tone out of his lips when he's complaining, and he absolutely pouts. Something that Rafe always denied that he did.

The Outer Banks roads are mostly empty, it's a cold night despite the closeness of summer. The humidity is making everything ten times even harder, you feel heavier, everything's slower and the windshields aren't doing enough to keep you from going insane.

You stop at a red light, resting your arm in the window as you closed your eyes for a moment, thinking about how you have to defrost the steaks you'll have for dinner, how Parker has to be extra early at school on Friday and how Olivia enters at 9, the fact that you have to talk with Rafe about the next time you're leaving town and—

You feel a force pushing you forward, a sharp blow that definitely took the air out of your lungs, it's strong enough to feel like you almost broke your neck, your hands stopped you from face slamming the steering wheel. Then alarms, like a car has definitely been hit and it's definitely yours.

What the fuck?

The reactions are almost immediate, Olivia starts crying and Parker starts asking "Mom, mom?!" As he looks around, sounding desperate after the impact. You open your eyes widely, looking back to the rearview mirror next to you and the car behind that just fucking hit you at a red light like it was a free world.

You groan and touch your neck for the sudden impact and the way your head has been moved, especially since you were momentarily relaxed before it happened, you weren't prepared for it. You feel your chest tightening as your start hearing your kids mumbling in desperation.

"Hey, hey." You try to speak firmly around all the noise. "It's okay. Mom's okay," You took a moment to look at them and check for injuries before affirming. They have their hands against the seats, like they tried to stop themselves from hitting themselves with it. They look a little pale and shaken. "You're okay." You said to yourself more than to them before taking a big breath of air, trying to release the weight in your chest. "Wait here, guys." You came out of the car with your heart hammering.

"Hey!" You screamed, entitled to be the one under stress after your car just got hit. You can't even see the person driving the other car, they're front bumper was pretty much destroyed.

You have the chance to take a look to the back of your car, the rear bumper was almost destroyed, dented inwards and the back lights were cracked. The trunk lid had been affected as well. How did this car almost cracked the rear hatch glass?

"Holy shit." The other guy said, a few years younger than you, 25 and probably with his first real car. "What—" He said in shock as if he didn't drove his car into yours. "It was a greenlight!"

You scoffed, voice immediately going high with stress and frustration. "It was not a greenlight!" When he was about to interrupt again, you cut him off. "It wasn't." You said with that authority tone of your that you tend to use with your kids.

Your kids. Ugh, shit.

"Even if it was, why the fuck would you drive like that?! It's an empty road!" You dragged your hands down your

"It was a greenlight!"

“You hit us, that's the end of it. My kids are in the car—” You said, hand gripping your phone tightly with anxiety raising inside of you.

The man interrupts again, raising his hands on the air as a sign of innocence. “Don’t even try to pin this on me. You slammed on your brakes out of nowhere.”

"I was at a red light!" You screamed again, feeling how if this doesn't start to get into an actual logical conversation, you were about to rip your throat. "What was I supposed to do, huh?"

But the guy doesn’t let up. He looks like one of those frat boys that should have finished his major so long ago but he doesn't because he simply won't pass his finals and he wants to extend the experience of having a justification to not work. “Yeah, but you stopped too fast. You weren’t paying attention. You caused this.”

Is this guy for real or are you seriously going mental? "I was already stopped. What the fuck are you talking about? My kids watched it—"

"They're kids, they don't count for witnesses."

"Oh, my God—" You said in disbelief.

"I'm calling insurance. I'm not getting charged for this bullshit—" He said, hand already flying to his phone as if he was about to call daddy for the fifth time this month to get his mess fixed.

"Yeah, call them, please." You said sarcastically as you walked back to the your own car, breathing deeply.

"Mommy, what happened?" Parker said, peaking his head out the window.

"Just an accident, sweetie. Get inside." You said as you gently guided his head inside the car again.

"The police it's on its way—" You heard the guy say, bragging as if he already won this battle.

"Police?" You heard Olivia talking, she was already out of breath as she tried not to cry too much.

Opening the car door to talk to them, you kneeled so they could see your face better. "Everything's fine, nothing's gonna happen—"

"Moooom!" She cried.

"Olivia, everything's fine—" You said, but you knew no words would help right now.

You stood up again, throat closing as you tried to calm yourself. You watched the young man, so clearly in belief that he was entitled to do whatever the hell he wanted around the island. You know these kinds of guys, they believe they own half the island just because their dad is probably a lawyer. But they don't, Rafe probably does.

Rafe.

You looked down at your phone, and almost out of instinct your fingers were already moving to search for his contact. Chest going up and down like a wheel being inflated with how fast your nerves were raising.

You only waited one tone before he answered.

"Hey." You heard, voice husky and tired, he probably just got home. "What happened? You alright?" He immediately questioned, finding your call a little odd. You never call, not anymore.

"Rafe—" You panted, a hand going up to grab your temple. "I— A fucking car just hit us, I'm with the kids—"

"I'm on my way."

Immediate, instant, like lightning. He was already on his feet the moment you called him tho, sensing that you were calling for a reason and he was sadly right. Normally he would've been happy to hear your voice, he would've taken the chance to make you nervous or get a rinse out of you just to get the stimulation and motivation he needed for the rest of the week.

But not this. You sounded so nervous, so out of breath and like you definitely needed help.

"Send me your location. I'm on my way already." He said, sharp and steady, exactly what you needed right now in this moment of instability.

You only managed to whisper a little "Okay..." Closing your eyes again for a second.

"I'm on my way." He repeated again when he heard the tone in your voice, you could hear him grabbing his keys and walking around his own house. "Okay? I'll be there in five. Don't worry."

"Okay, okay." You nodded, breathing out slowly just to get your nerves on check. He hung up a moment later. With trembling fingers, you sent him your location. It wasn't far away from his house, probably twenty minutes; knowing Rafe, he will get there in less than ten.

And he did, right at the same time with the police. He slammed the door of his own car and sprinted outside to meet you. He still had a white shirt on, now tiredly opened on the top, like he clearly just got out of work and had two moments of peace before your call.

Olivia, who was waiting inside the car in anguish, gasped the moment she saw her dad. With an agility that should have you worried at a different time, she opened the door and got out of the car.

"Daddy!" She screamed, already running to him in desperation.

"Hey, hey." He grabbed her when she ran to him, climbing up to him the moment he kneeled down to pick her up. Her cheeks were red and wet with tears, the same way yours get whenever you used to cry. He hasn't seen that image in a long time (he's sort of grateful for it, usually when you used to cry it was because of him). "Hey, princess. You're okay?" He murmured while roughly kissing the top of her head, walking over to where you are as the little kid hid her face on his neck.

Almost barking to get your attention, he called out your name. "You're okay? What happened?" He carefully rested his arm around your frame to pull you closer, searching for your eyes that were on the ground.

You looked nervous, eyes wet with anxiety like they were glasses about to break. "Yeah, this dick hit us from behind—" You gestured to the guy a few feet away from you.

"I didn't hit you, you stopped too fast!" He had the nerve to interrupt.

"Rafe, I was at a red light—" You said, feeling the need to make him believe you. You weren't crazy but you needed his assurance, to make sure that it wasn't your fault you put your kids at such risk.

"I know, I believe you—" He shook his head, touching your face with his free big and rough hand. "Don't worry about it." He murmured only for you to hear, almost unconsciously turning his body just to push Olivia's little ears away from listening, trying to give you both some kind of intimacy. Something he craves to have in any kind of mundane moment.

"You're okay, right? Not a scratch?" He asked as he looked inside the car at the same, checking on Parker, who was sitting inside with a pout and his arms around himself. "Hey, bud. It's dad, you wanna come out?" He talked with the window down.

Parker shook his head, tightening his own grip around himself as he tried to make himself smaller and avoided Rafe's eyes. "P, everything's fine, bud. No one's hurt, it's just another car." He assured the young kid.

At his father's comfort, Parker bites the inside of his cheek before he finally nodded, deciding to come out after a second when Rafe opened the door for him. Showing just how scared he was when he wrapped his arms around his waist. "Relax, kid. You're okay." He said softly, cradling both of his kids.

You look at him, the way he immediately took the charge of the situation. The way he just has this protective side to him that starts working the moment a frown appears on any of your faces, the way he cares about your kids, how he still clearly cares about you and tries to handle the situation just so you don't have to.

The image gets your chest tightening, you place a hand on it, rubbing softly the way you always do when the heartache might just be a little too much.

Two officers got closer, coming out of they're patrolman, walking over with those heavy steps that made everyone nervous. "Mr. Cameron." One of them said, recognizing Rafe.

And of course that Rafe was going to use that to his advantage. Unwrapping his free arm out of Parker and securing his grip on Olivia, he shook the officer's hand when offered. "Sir."

"What do we have here, huh?" The man asked, already taking a look over the accident.

When the police got involved, you expressed you wanted to give a report just to have an official record of the accident, also claiming that you were in a red light, already stopped for a few seconds before your car got hit.

"That's not true!" The guy, that you now know his name Brad (of course he is). "She stopped out of nowhere, she just slammed the breaks."

"That literally makes no sense! You should've slowed down earlier anyways."

"I was doing totally fine." He assured, hands resting on his hips and those stupid ass khaki bermuda shorts that were making no one a favor. "Not my fault you don't know how to drive, sweetheart." He used that cocky tone that made your blood boil. Especially because it was you against him, and the way he was making you feel so small, a feeling you're not used to, is completely crushing you.

"Who are you talking to like that, huh?" Rafe rises to his full height, stepping forward without any kid on his arms now after Parker and Olivia completely secured on his car as the adults dealt with the mess. He means to intimidate, to scare the guy into saying something wrong again.

"Alright, let's all calm down." One of the officers intervened.

The night ended with just the same amount of frustrations. Everyone came to agree that the security cameras (if there was actually any on this side of the island) to check who provoked the accident, but they encouraged to call the insurance company already just get everything started.

You wanted to snap so badly as you saw the tow truck picking up your car to go get it fixed after this Brad guy absolutely destroyed it. You sighed, covering your face with your hands in exasperation. The day was already long enough as it is and now you feel like you have a hundred pounds over your shoulders.

"Rafe, I swear I was at a red light—" You said, throat closing with anguish as you now started to doubt your own narrative. "I mean, like, I closed my eyes for like, two seconds because my head was killing me—" You stuttered.

Rafe tsked, clenching his jaw as his tongue hit his teeth. He shook his head and looked down at you. "You don't gotta explain it to me, alright? I know you don't mess around." He knows how much of a careful driver you are. The time he had to teach you how to drive (so long ago) he was utterly exasperated at how carefully you drove around.

With one steady arm around your shoulders, gripping you like you're about to vanish, he made you get inside his own car. The whole thing had already being dragged out long enough and he hated the somber expression on your face, so he needed to get you out of there as soon as possible before he actually combusts.

After a very quiet ride back home, the kids went running back to their respective rooms once the door was opened. They were uncharacteristically silent during the whole ride, which made your heart break in half with guilt.

Rafe closed the door behind him, helping you to get the kids things inside. He left Parker's gym bag on the floor next to the entrance. "Thanks for coming." You said softly, all the usual annoyance and banter between had been erased by the exhaustion and the spook the accident had given you. "I'm sorry I called so late, I just didn't know who else to call—" Your voice broke with stress and pressure.

For someone who's such a careful and sometimes overprotective mother, this accident is definitely getting the worst reaction out of you. You were nervous, guilty, on edge and worried after everything that happened.

"Hey, no." He quickly cut you off and in two large strides he was in front of you, holding your arms. "It's fine, alright? Don't worry." He comforted you.

"You call me, do you hear me?" He put himself at your eye level, to make sure you were listening to him and actually getting the information inside that beautiful but so aggravating brain of yours, which usually doesn't hold onto the information he gives you. "You call me." He repeated again.

"I just—" You breathed out exhausted, tears willing up in your eyes. "I don't think it was my fault. I closed my eyes for two seconds, Rafe." You said, voice full of self doubt and insecurity. "What if—" you cleared your throat. "Maybe it was at a greenlight and it was my fault—"

"No, no." Rafe's reaction was immediate, purely out of instinct, the necessity to comfort you and to ease the ache in his own chest at seeing you under such stress. "I'm sure you're right. You did nothing wrong." He knows what you're talking about, the fear that this was all caused because of you and the irresponsibility you don't have. He knows you're already punishing yourself inside of your head.

"Parker wasn't wearing his belt, because—" Your voice gave out as a sob escaped out of your lips, complelr inevitable. "He was just throwing a fit and I was so tired so I let him..." You cried in his arms, hiding your face against his chest. "What if it was my fault and..." You breathed through your fast thinking. "It could've been much worse."

"It wasn't your fault. He crashed you, okay? Greenlight or not, he should've slowed down, gone to the other lean. He had space," He sighed at the way you looked and cradled your face. "C'mon, did you see him? He doesn't know shit. I'm sure his dad paid for his license." He smirked softly, trying to get your head out of the self punishment habit.

You shrugged, showing that you didn't care how stupid the other guy was, you just know that the accident had happened and it got the kids really scared and it got your blood pressure over the roof. For now, you just limit yourself to rest your forehead against his chest, allowing yourself to have this one thing. No matter how wrong it is, no matter how your heart was doing gymnastics tricks inside your chest at the feeling of being so close to Rafe all over again.

He let out a big breath again when nothing was working. So, for a few moments, he just rubbed your back, that space underneath your shoulders that he knows that always works with you. His palm was warm against the fabric of your clothes, it was safe and comfortable. And you almost hated (you really couldn't) that it felt like it was always meant to be there.

No one had touched you, comforted you like this in so long and you know no one else will because no one knows how to do it like this. It's a Rafe thing. Something that naturally comes to him after knowing each other for longer than fifteen years already, after an entire life together.

"You call me, alright?" He said again against your ear, voice low and velveted like always. "Whenever something happens, you need help, you call me." And when you moved like you were about to talk, he interrupted again, knowing what you were about to say. "With kids or not, if something happens you gotta call me. I'll go help you."

Because you would take a step back, placing the distance where it should be put. But no, he doesn't let it happen and takes one step further when he dares to say that it doesn't apply just to anything that revolves around the twins. It also applies to you.

"That's what I'm here for." He said now, more gruffly as if he's reprimanding himself. You look up, finally picking up your head from his chest and give him the honor of seeing your eyes. Still so beautiful and so red and tired from crying and worrying so much. "I want you to call me if something happens. Okay?" He asked, grabbing your cheeks with both of his hands now.

"We got a deal?" He asked carefully, softly touching your skin as he takes the liberty of cleaning the tears that stained your skin. So delicately that you almost don't recognize him. And you can't deny that you love it. He rubs his thumbs underneath your eyes, making sure not a single tear is left in there. Not a single drop of stress and pain has to be left, he doesn't want to see it anymore.

A pause settled between you, not heavy with old wounds or the sharp edges of what was left unsaid or with old unresolved resentments that made the feelings linger. For once, it wasn’t resentment that filled the silence, nor the ache of things that didn't work. It was softer than that.

It was just... tender.

"Yeah." You whispered.

And he knows he can't take it further. No matter how much he wants to, no matter how temptingly close you are, he will never do that now. Not when you always draw the line so clearly with a permanent marker, one that couldn't be erased. So, he wouldn't do it.

He contained a devastating sigh and took a step back, finalizing the moment with one last caress on your shoulder.

"I'll come early tomorrow and take them to school." He talked again, leaving no room for argument and you don't dare to do it either. "Rest and let me know what the insurance company says, alright?"

You're left a little bit speechless at what just happened. At what didn't. You don't even know what you were expecting either.

"Yeah, okay." You said softly, watching the way he walked back to the front door, taking the little piece of sanity you had with him.

"I'll see you tomorrow. Rest, don't worry about it." He opened the door and didn't give you much chance to say anything else, almost like he stopped himself from opening his mouth too much.

You didn't breathe after the door was closed, not after a few moments passed, you did it once you heard his car going out the driveway, as if you were scared that with the way he knows you, he might as well hear the way you sigh and you can't let that happen.

He can't be conscious of the way he still brings you up to the edge of the cliff, like he makes you want to jump into the absolute and intoxicating feeling of him.

Little did you know he's doing the same. He only finally lets out the biggest sigh ever after he turns around the first corner back to his own house. He wants to let you know, wants to make you snap and be aware of just how much you still have a grip on him. How he's the one at the edge of the cliff and how you're the one holding him back by grabbing his heart. You could squeeze hard enough or let go of it at any given point and destroy him. You don't even know the effect you have on people.

And you probably don't want to know either.

Your heart does warm up with tenderness the next day when he sends you a selfie of the kids in the backseat of his car, with bright smiles and clean school uniforms on them, just fifteen minutes later after he picked them up like he promised.

He does it to comfort you, because he knows you'll be worried.

So yeah, you'll definitely call him next time.