Summary: you and Tyriq's first night after a recoupling.
A/N: Hi guys thanks for reading! I'm a little lost on what to write next, any requests?
âI want to choose this boy to couple up with because he is a man. Heâs hilarious, intelligent, and kind. I am so excited to be in a couple with him, and Iâm excited to learn more about him as a person, and Iâm glad that we get to share a bed tonight.â You do a small victory dance. âThe Man I am coupling up with is⊠Tyriq.â You smile. There goes his big smile. He walks over to you, grinning ear to ear, and grabs you into a tight embrace. Everyone claps and cheers for you both
âThank you,â he mumbles into your ear. You pull back from the embrace, and your eyes bore into his. You canât help yourself and you place a chaste kiss on his lips, not too fast or too slow. He kisses your back, holding the back of your head to add a level of intimacy. You both go back to your seats; you were the last islanders to go up.
âCongratulations you guys! Enjoy your night,â Ariana says as she heads out in another jaw dropping outfit. You all bid her goodbye. Everyone stands up from the firepit and goes their separate ways, but you and Tyriq stay put. He takes your hands into his, playing with your rings.
âThank you again for choosing me, gorgeous.â He compliments. âYouâre welcome, handsome.â His gaze is intense, but you donât fidget under it. A second of uncertainty passes between you. Youâre waiting for him to kiss you, and he does. He cups your jaw, pulling you into him and closing the gap between you. Â The kiss was soft and intentional, like your new couple. He put his hands lower on your back, avoiding your ass because he didnât want to make you uncomfortable. You could tell, so you grabbed his hands, putting them there. He smiled and sighed into the kiss, grabbing it a bit harder now, earning a moan from you. You ended the kiss with a few small kisses on his lips.
âDamn girl. Iâm never letting go of you.â He admitted softly, like that was only meant for him to hear. Your heart clutches at his comment.
 âDonât make any promises that you canât keep Tyriq.â You shook your head.
âI donât.â he states. You purse your lips at him.
âOkay Tyriq.â You dismiss, walking away. He suddenly grabs your wrist, pulling you into him.
He looked down at you and kissed his teeth. He sent you a knowing look before pecking your lips one last time. âIâm gonna talk to the girls, okay?â you say breathlessly.
He nods, letting you go. You felt chills all over your body. That was the buzziest interaction that youâve ever had. You turn around, ready to tell your girls, and they were all sat by the lounge chairs, facing you. Half of their jaws were open, and the other half smirked. Your face was on fire, and you had a big grin on your face. âDid yâall see that?â you asked meekly. âDid we see it? We propped our feet up and ate some popcorn and watched the show.â Chelly snorted. You squealed, basically running up to them. You peeped Andrea off to the side looking a bit judgy. Youâve been nothing but nice to her despite the circumstances that yâall met in, so her being so stand-offish was confusing to you. You shook it off. You told the girls everything, before you were rudely interrupted by an agitating voice.
âHey, Y/N? Can I pull you for a chat?â You turn around to Johnny behind you. You scrunch up your face in disgust and confusion for a second before quickly fixing it. Hearing whatever bullshit he had to say could be fun, you think to yourself.
âUh, sure.â You get up and walk with him over to the dock. You both sit in awkward silence for a moment. âSo?â you pop your neck a little.
âSorry. I just wanted to pull you and formerly apologize for making you feel disrespected before. That was never my intention.â You shifted in your seat, kind of annoyed. This could have been sent in an email.
âUh-huh.â
âI still want to get to know you, Y/N.â he states boldly, catching you off guard.
You raise your eyebrows in confusion. âHuh?â You blow a raspberry finding this humorous. This man dumped you, and suddenly after you found someone else, he now wants to continue getting to know you?
âSorry.â You throw out, not really feeling that way. âYouâre joking.â
He shrugs his shoulders. âWhatâs funny?â
You point between you and him. âThis!â you laugh so hard you snort, slapping your hand to your face, kind of embarrassed, but this is cracking you up too much for you to care.
âY/NâŠâ
âI donât want to do this with you. No hard feelings man, you donât have to worry.â You say standing up and you walk away snickering to yourself.
You walk over to Olandria, Nic, Iris, and Pepe. Nic makes a surprised face. âWhat was that about?â You control your laughs for a second. âI think he just tried to get back with me?â You sigh, taking your first big breath since laughing uncontrollably.
âY/N, youâre so unserious.â Olandria admits, laughing to herself too. The rest of the table started laughing too. âOh my god weâre all laughing at Johnny, and I just made out with Tyriq. This is the best night of my life, like seriously.â
âWhy is this the best night of your life?â Tyriq asked, coming out of nowhere.
âJohnny asked Y/N to get back together.â Nic states. Tyriq looks over at you with concern on his face.
âOh?â
âYeah, and I laughed in his face.â You let out.
Tyriq put his hand on his chest, letting out a breath you didnât know he was holding. âFoul.â He shakes his head.
-
You just got out the shower, and youâre in the makeup/dressing room doing your makeup routine. Tonight, youâll be sharing a bed with Tyriq for the first time, so you wanted to look and feel your best. You put on a baby pink Cami and short set and a pink matching bonnet.
You moisturize your body with a vanilla and amber scented lotion, and added a vanilla perfume to top it off, as you do every night before you go to bed. âHey Y/N,â Andrea called, getting your attention. âHey, whatâs up?â
âWhat did you and Johnny talk about?â You bit the inside of your cheek, wondering what to say. You didnât want to make her feel bad or embarrassed. âHonestly, itâs nothing for you to worry about. He apologized to me for the way things ended.â
âI overheard you saying that you wanted to get back with him.â She crossed her arms.
âGirl, what? He asked me. Damn girl, the last time I spare your feelings.â You turn away, now trimming your eyebrows that are a little grown out.
âGirl stop lying.â She shook her head. You sighed and rolled your eyes.
âI do not want that buff ass labubu back. Have your fun with his weird ass. I hope that you guys run off into the sunset together.â You fire at her and get up from your seat. Johnny and his girlfriend were seriously getting on your nerves. Luckily you were done with your eyebrows, or youâd have to listen to her bitch until you were done.
Your nerves were on fire. You wanted this Johnny situation to be over with and out of your hair. You can handle confrontation, but your problem lies within the tension. All you wanted was for everyone to get along.
You entered the bedroom, and all of the islanders were in there, including Tyriq.
You walk over to your bed, shaking off your nerves. âHey, pretty girl.â He greets. Heâs wearing grey sweats, a white wife beater, a black durag and a gold chain. He looks damn near edible.
And there you were, looking as sexy as ever. Tyriq scanned over your body, pausing on your long legs first, then your stomach where a sexy belly button ring was placed, then on your beautifully soft face, half covered in your pink bonnet.
âHey,â you smile getting into bed with him. âExcited to not sleep alone?â you quip.
âIâm excited to sleep with you, specifically,â he corrected. Â âI filled up your water bottle for you.â
âThank you, I appreciate that a lot actually.â He hums.
âWhatâs your love language?â
âActs of service is definitely one of them,â
âYour water bottle was really just a small thing though.â
âYeah, I know, but the small consistent things matter to me the most.â
âNoted. What else?â
âMmm,â you think for a moment. âWords of affirmation, and gift giving.â
âWords of affirmation?â he asks. You nod.
âEvery time I compliment you, you kind of turn into mush.â He playfully winces.
You lightly slap his arm. âI do not!â
âOkay, I think that you look sexy as hell in this,â he says, tugging on the strap of your top. âYou put this on for me?â asks.
âHm. What else do you think of me?â You asked.
âYou didnât answer my question. You put this on for me?â he asked again, smirking. You awkwardly laughed, turning away for a second, hoping that it would give you confidence.
âOnly a little. I wanted to look good for you, I guess.â
âYou always look good for me. You donât gotta try,â he shook his head. âBut you look good,â
âThank you, now What else do you think of me?â You repeated.
âGirl, if I told you everything, I thought about you, I think Iâd scare you a little.â He laughed.
âIn a good way?â you asked.
âOf course. With your beautiful ass.â
âHow do you feel about cuddling?â he asks. Before you can answer the lights automatically turn off, causing you both to laugh.
âWe can cuddle.â You confirm. He lays on his back and opens his arms for you to lay on his chest, and you do. He places his hands on your back, and runs them up and down your body, stopping at your thighs before moving back up. You mind runs at a million miles per minute. Last week, you were with someone else, and now youâre cuddled up with someone new. Things move so fast here, and you start to wonder how quickly things could move without it being in your favor. At your core, youâre an avoidant when it comes to relationships.
Honestly, you liked Johnny because he didnât feel permanent. You knew eventually one of you would leave, and most likely it would be him since he was so superficial. But thatâs how you liked it- not real.
And now youâre in bed with a guy who you think might actually really like you- which scares you. This could be something real. And of course, you didnât come on Love Island for a man to play in your face, but this could take some getting used to.
âTyriq.â You say softly. You know heâs still up because his hands are still moving up your sides, slower now.
âHow are you?â you ask innocently.
He chuckles. âIâm okay, how are you, boo?â you blush at the nickname.
âIâm okay. I wanted to let you know, it takes me a little second to open up to people. I hope youâre okay with that.â You admit.
âThatâs okay. So do I, and Iâm a patient guy anyways.â He shrugs.
Iâm a patient guy anyways. You smile. âOkay. Goodnight, Riq.â
ăăă â±ă ăđăăđŹalt and pepper , dean winchester .
ă
âââáŠââđââđđđăđđđđđăăđ”âăâ â â â in which , dean sees his first grey hairăđ
đđźđ¶đżđ¶đ»đŽăê°ăolder ! dean winchester x fem ! reader
đźăïčăfluff àŒ angst ? àŒ age gap ( reader is a few years younger , no age precised except mid-thirties ) â established relationship àŒ able - bodied àŒ black ! fem ! reader àŒ reader has curls àŒ s14-15 ! deanăâŽïžăđđČđ»đŒđżđ đ±đŒ đ»đŒđ đ¶đ»đđČđżđźđ°đ
â đ â° đ â Ęâ â â Ëâ â đ â ăâ đđđđ đđđđđ đđ đđđ đđđđđđđ đđđ đđđ đđ đđđđ đđđđđđđđ đđ . He knows you like that too, his older features added maturity. Something Dean never suspected until Sam and you pointed it out a few weeks ago when he declined going to the bar, saying he was way too tired and wanted to go home to finally catch some hours of sleep he wasted during your last hunt.
However, he hadn't expected to see silver hairs scattered here and there among his beard. It was way too soon for him to be called and seen as an old man. It was something he used to call John, Bobby. Anyone, really, older than him. It was affectionate in his own way. But now he has to be designated as a middle aged man ? Hell no.
What would you think ? The thought wasnât meant to bloom but it did anyway and that got the older Winchester to sweat a little, lean forward the mirror and take a better look at the grey hair in his three days beard under the champagne light drowning the bathroom. You were younger than him, only a few years. You looked great in your thirties, letting your hair grow longer, finally taking care of your damaged curls - you never had time to properly treat them.
He was being self conscious about it, he knew that. Dean always made sure to look good, treat himself whenever he could. Even when it was some junk food bought on the road, sided with milkshakes or beer.
â Dean ? â Hearing your voice , he straightened and casually reached for the sink, opening the running water to splash some on his face. â I thought you were tired.â
You padded into the room still wearing your clothes from today, a pair of jeans and a lavender baby-tee. The golden pendant youâre wearing glittered faintly under the light.
â Yeah.â He turned off the water, emerald eyes lancing at you through the glass. You walk up behind him and circle your arms around him. You craved him just enough for you to tighten your embrace and nuzzle your cheek onto his back.
â You good ?â
â Always am.â He feels you leave his back for a few seconds then your chin dips in his shoulder blade.
â We both know thatâs not always the truth.â And you are right. Dean ? It was easy for him to act foolish when it came to his well-being. He would brush it away with a shrug, go back to whatever he was doing. It was like words left your lips only to disappear into thin air, as if they never existed. Here, he was quiet. Too quiet, too still. Something occupied his mind. You donât want to press him yet you are desperate for him to talk to you.
He never wants you to shut down, to feel bad, to get hurt. When itâs his turn ? Oh, everyone acts as if heâs gonna die because the truth is that he actually risks his life. Lord knows he was lucky enough to be saved from rotting six feet under many times.
â You remember about that time I told you I got old ? â
A smile forms on your lips. One you canât refrain. You remembered that story very well. It was a long time ago and you weren't in the picture yet. It was about a year after he died and came back from hell , you were told by Sam and Dean â as well â on a random night while the three of you stayed in the unique motel room you could afford.
â Oh yeah. Why are you asking me if I remember it ? Got something you never told Sam ? Me ? â You question.
â No itâsâsomething else sweetheart. â You donât move or say anything for a few seconds. The silence stretches between you two until he finally talks again. â Iâm getting old. â
â LikeâŠme , â your chin leaves his shoulder blade. Your hands slid from his soft tummy to hold his arms between your limbs. â Like everyone. â
He says your name in a way that feels painful for him. â No. Iâm really getting old. â Despite knowing you canât see his face , he lowers his head. Your brows met atop your lids.
You decide to step from behind him and place yourself at his side. He turns his head in your direction, meets your eyes then quickly snaps them away. Thatâs when you finally see it too. A small silver hair surfacing right there on his cheek. â Now what , those scare you ? â
â Yeahâfuck. If it wasnât just that. â
You tilt your head on the side. He stays quiet and thatâs enough for you to acknowledge his silence.
â You checked down there , too ? â
â No. Not yet. I donât want to, though. â He exhaled. â Iâm just thinking, Iâm getting old and you might notââ
You interrupted him , knowing what was about to exit his pretty lips. â I might not, what , hate it ? You know it ainât gonna happen. Dean , I genuinely fucking love you. I wouldnât mind anything about your looks. Even if you get a dad bod. â
He frowns. The fuck is a dad bod ?
â If so , I think that addsâŠa little extra. â
â What extra ? â He looks at you while you decrease the distance between you , your hand hovered over his shoulder until it set on his bicep. The same you liked to be wrapped in and belonged to the man you loved whom you find ridiculously cute getting worked up over his first grey hair.
â I dunnoâŠthe DILF kind of extra. â
He huffs , amused by your attempt at flirtation. â Iâm not even a dad , sweetheart. â
â Not yet. â Your chirped , standing on your toes to leave a kiss on his cheek. He smirks and turns fully to catch your hips and bring you against him.
â That sounds like a threat. Should I be scared ? â
dennis whitaker x woc!reader
wc. 3.5k
warnings/tags - angst, hurt/a little comfort(..?), implied manipulative+asshole dennis, car crash, minor smut mention (no smut in story), low-self esteem reader, desperate reader, fem!reader, not proof read, mentions of blood, mention of baby trapping
note: lowk took me forever to write this but who's rlly counting. i do like this as a follow up though so shout out to those who wanted it..! @bealove-1 @sideblogmeanz i'm glad there are other evil!dennis whitaker truthers out there tbh or at least i think..
pt. i stldfm
fluoresce lights clouded your vision as your ears were being battered by the constant noise of the er. crying, talking, yelling, beeping. you weren't sure how much more of it you could take.
luckily, it was the last hour of your shift so you'd be going home soon. or at least you hoped. everything was going well this shift, no super complex cases or procedures, you got multiple laughs from your coworkers today, and even had meaningful conversations with your patients.
you were tired, but satisfied with your day. you took a sip from your water bottle as you leaned up against a wall, you saw nurse dana pick up her pager.
"incoming head trauma, car crash, eta 3 minutes." she shouted straight through the noisiness of the er, catching dr. al hashimi's attention.
"okay," al-hashimi took a breath before calling out your last name, "joy, and whitaker you're with me."
'oh fuck me' you thought.
"what's open?" al-hashimi asked.
"trauma one." dana responded before working on something near her desk.
after your very subtle break-up with dennis, you haven't been running into him too much. not at work or at home. you only remember he lives with you whenever you stay up too late and hear mary or when you see his backpack near the door.
other than that, you don't exist to him. or at least he doesn't exist to you. he's professional at work, greets you when in front of the students he's been guiding throughout the er.
but for some odd reason, whenever you walked away, you felt eyes on your back. little holes piercing through your skin like lasers.
everytime you sat down, everytime you got up, when you breathed, when you charted. you felt eyes on your arm or your back.
almost everyone in the er could tell he wasn't over you. joy and ogilvie, the observant people they are, picked it up on the first interaction they saw dennis have with you. but you were less obvious with not being over him, because in your mind you were and that false truth projected to everyone else. somehow.
you hated that you were still perceived by him. the stench of desperation and humiliation comes back to you all at once whenever you remember how hard you fought to stay with him. you were glad to put that all behind you now.
and even though it's been two months, you and your therapist agreed that you were making good progress in terms of getting over him. turning a new leaf in terms of yourself improvement.
you quickly got out of your head when you heard the EMTs give dr. al-hashimi all of the information she needed to help the patient.
"oh fuck," dennis whispered to himself as he walked into trauma 1.
you looked at dennis while hearing the last bit of information from the emts. the color drained from his face matched his horrified expression.
everything was moving too quickly you barely got a good look at the patient. it wasn't until you recognized that specific shade of brunette hair until you realized it was her.
'poor mary,' you thought as you directed your attention towards her bloodied, battered appearance.
she looked like hell, even though she was on the verge of going to heaven.
"one, two, three," al-hashimi counted down as you all transferred mary to the trolley bed.
as the nurses started to hook her up to the equipment to check her vitals, you watched as al-hashimi started to check her reflexes.
princess went to cut her clothes after checking her blood pressure.
whitaker went straight for her head, using his light to check her pupils and assess her physical capacity.
"how's the airway whitaker?"
"uh, good volume, good stats," whitaker then stuck a wooden stick down her throat, "and she has a gag reflex. she's present." he reported quickly. "joy can you do a sternal rub on her chest, please?"
"nice," you watched over joy as she performed the quick examination, "spontaneous eye movement, responds to pain." you said as you continued to guide joy through the examination.
mary had a big bruise on her chest, most likely from the seatbelt. and her face looked like she had been in a fight, dark blood around her nose. light blood painted her forehead and parts of her hair.
mary groaned as whitaker's hands carefully checked her pretty face, which was now slightly cut and bruised.
"whitaker, orders?" al-hashimi questioned him.
as you started to examine mary's arms, which were looking fine, whitaker brushed past your backside as he went straight to the computer. "a ct to rule out internal bleeding, a cbc, cmp, ua, and a blood alcohol-tox screen."
you inhaled sharply when you felt him. there was no way he was being serious right now.
"nice." al-hashimi praised as she stood at the foot of the bed.
you glared at whitaker's back as he typed into the computer. watching his arms flex, his short sleeves making most of his arms visible. his arms were filling out his scrubs.
'i thought i was better than this fuck.' you cursed yourself before taking in a deep breath, returning your attention back mary.
"where am i?" she weakly asked, you could tell she was using most of her energy to do so.
princess continued to work with the monitor, starting to prepare any medicine mary might need.
"you're at a hospital, you were in a car crash. you're okay now." you placed your hand near her head, trying your best to comfort her.
whitaker glanced back, his eyes squinting slightly and his breath catching. it's been months, he should be over it by now. he had someone.
as your pager beeped in your pants, you picked it up and put it to your ear. "ct is ready to take her." you informed the room, al-hashimi nodded at you.
"alright, you guys can take her up now." al-hashimi ordered.
you watched as whitaker and the nurses rolled mary off to get her ct.
taking off your gloves and grabbing some hand sanitizer, you pushed open the doors and headed back out to the main floor.
you didn't realize it, but you were breathing faster than usual. not sure if it was the adrenaline from saving someone in somewhat critical condition or being in a room with the two people who you once thought ruined your life and trust in people.
seeing whitaker, being that close to him, made you remember all of the times he held whenever you two were cooking together. nothing too special, regular domestic memories. moments that you missed dearly. and even though you thought you were getting bad, that persistent need for validation was still there. the need to prove yourself was still there.
you didn't spend too much time in your head as the intruding nature of the ed brought you comfort after the awkwardness in the trauma room.
for mary's sake, you hoped she was okay. for whitaker's, you hoped she'd croak.
as the hour continued on, you pushed through. you passed on your patients onto the nightshift doctors before you went to catch up on your charting.
after typing and chatting for about another hour, you finally felt somewhat at peace. not anymore peaceful than you would be at home, but as peaceful as you could get in the emergency department.
"we're going out for drinks tonight, wanna come cuck?" trinity's sly smile brought you a sense of familiarity.
you gave her a playful glare before responding, "ha ha ha very funny, but no thank you."
"suit yourself, i'll see you at home?"
"see ya then." you smiled at her before gathering your belongings.
making your way to triage, through the waiting room, and up the stairs. you needed a moment, or moments, alone to yourself before you went home. nothing too serious, just a time to reflect on the day you had. and a way to celebrate almost clocking out on time.
as you pushed open the metal door to the roof, the cool evening air hit your skin. you sighed a breath of relief as you were thankful for hearing the sounds of the city. the coldness pierced your skin, bringing you back to your sleepy reality. you paused as you saw whitaker standing behind the railing.
his hands were in his pockets, his broad back was turnt away from you. his arms filling out his shirt ever so slightly. you could even see the silver chain he wears around his neck glinting under the moonlight.
you tried to control your breathing and your heartbeat, debating if you should turn around or approach him. either option would make you anxious beyond repair.
"hey," you spoke softly but loud enough for him to hear.
he turned his back so you could see half of his face.
"hey."
as the cool, evening air hit your skin, you sighed a breath of relief. thankful for hearing the sounds of the city. the coldness pierced your skin, bringing you back to your sleepy reality.
"how's- how's mary?"
"she's okay, she's gonna be okay. nothing people haven't recovered from before." he nodded his head, not sure if he was reassuring himself or you.
you walked towards him, resting your arms on the railing as you tried to admire the view.
whitaker sniffled then rubbed his nose quickly, you could see it in his eyes that he'd been crying. there were still tears fighting to spill, his nose and cheeks were red as well. he looked cold. but he didnât necessarily look sad, he looked guilty and remorseful.
and you weren't sure if you wanted to throw him off of the roof or put a blanket around him and tell him everything was going to be okay.
the silence was comforting, reminding you of the many nights you and whitaker spent together. alone, sleeping, or spent talking about your pasts in that dark room. surrounded by nothing but medical books, a few things that reminded him of home, and his comforting smell.
you don't think you would ever tell him this, but you missed him way more than you thought you should have. every moment you spent awake you were constantly fighting your brain to not bring up his face, his voice, his naturally sad but sweet looking eyes. you wanted to be over him, you knew you should have been. you missed his touch.
you wondered why you didn't turn around the second you saw his back.
"how have you been?" you asked, hesitance taking over your voice.
you could tell the question threw him off guard.
"you're wondering?" his smug smile made you light-headed. "i've been okay." the way his face was lit under the moonlight made him look more cinematic than he usually looked.
you followed up, "any trouble in paradise-"
"you know i miss you."
you wanted to slap him.
with the genuine look on his face, you could tell he was being serious. you were used to seeing his face whenever he was vulnerable as you've been on the receiving end of almost all of his rants. you thought back to the time when he told you, 'you're one of the only people i can be honest with.' thinking about it again made you want to throw up, despite how warm and wanted it made you feel.
"you made a cuck in a relationship that i had no business fighting for, and now you miss me?"
"i never broke up with you. i don't think missing you is too far-fetched."
"just one girl isn't enough for you?"
"i like having options, i always thought it was going to be you though."
"what?" your eyes widened at this information. you thought for sure it was set in stone that he and mary would go on to have an unfathomable amount of kids, spend their summers at his family farm, spending time with their neighbors they couldn't stand.
but the idea that it would have been you instead of her. even you thought, knew, you were not good enough to be apart of his world made all of those feelings up back. the same feelings that had you sobbing every night he wasn't in your bed, holding you. the same feelings that had your stomach dropping at the mere mention with someone with the letter 'M' as their first initial.
"i mean, i like mary. she's pretty, funny, kind. but you're comfortable, considerate, caring." you didn't understand why he decided to continue talking, but you've missed his voice as well.
you knew it was scraps, what he was giving you. calling you comfortable as an attribute, a supposed compliment but you had a feeling he wouldn't be able to elaborate on that. you knew that he was just going to break your heart again. probably until you two died of old age together.
but the part of you that hasn't been comforted in months started to take over your mind. the part of you that had to avoid seeing dennis's face as it brought back too many memories, seeing his sweet, cherub face that made you crazy. as in he had this effect on you that you weren't even sure how it could exist. to be completely honest with yourself, you were obsessed with him. it was clear to anyone that you liked him more than he liked, or even wanted you. but you weren't sure how much you cared about that as long as he liked you in someway.
"comfortable.. what does that mean to you?" your eyes narrowed as you tried to laser his face off. even though it didn't work, it somewhat did in your mind.
"like you're cozy? nice to lay with, you feel like home." his head turned towards yours, looking you in the eye with his blue ones.
your heart stopped for a moment.
'i hate his face,' you thought. even though you knew that you didn't.
"wow what a way to describe someone." you sarcastically replied. you weren't sure why you were playing hard to get as if your heart wasn't racing hearing him describe you like that.
as if the concept of being 'home' to someone you begged any higher power for wasn't one of the only things you ever wanted. besides being a doctor.
you knew he wasn't shit. but you still loved him, or had some sort of weird bond with him. those kind of feelings don't go away easily. if it was truly up to you, you wouldn't have broken up with you when you did. you only did it for self-esteem reasons, because your therapist told you so. although you weren't too sure of the ethics on that.
"i think it describes you perfectly," his smile shifted into something sweet. his eyes had a glint of admiration. before they shifted to an expression of guilt.
"about two nights ago me and mary got into a fight," dennis's eyes softened as he confessed to you. "i moaned your name and she starting screaming about how i wasn't over you, that i was being inconsiderate. it was crazy.."
you were somewhat appalled by his nonchalance. but your desperation for him was back in full force, so you couldn't care as much as you should have.
"i wouldn't be happy if that happened to me," but on the outside, you were able to keep your composure. honestly, if dennis had ever moaned her name you would have pushed him out of the window. you were already having violent thoughts towards him, thinking of this made you even more upset.
"i know," dennis laughed. laughed in your face, or at least that's what it felt like. the way his face crinkled whenever he smiled made your knees weak. "i'm being serious when i said missed you though." his genuine demeanor assured you more than it should have.
'dennis, do you not realize you're an asshole who made me a cuck in my own home?' is what you would have said if you weren't desperate to get back with him. he was horrible to you. well he wasn't, he was actually very nice, and sweet, and kind, and adoring. he was horrible in the sense that he got away with dating two women.
"dennis.. i'm just not sure if i'm ready to be with you again."
"are you saying.. there's a possibility that you will be?" the expectant look on dennis's face had you sure that you were now ready. his soft nature was one you found charming.
you thought about dennis's irresistible charm. how it was one that you were so heavily drawn to and you had no idea why. and then you thought about his place in society. how being seen with him gave you a confidence boost, made you feel important.
you used him just as much as he used you. so you couldn't be too mad at him. even though you never played with his feelings in the way he did yours, you weren't sure if you were any better? and yeah, maybe this wasn't the definition of love your parents instilled into you when you were younger. but you were your own person, and if this was what love was to you. then who were they to try to tell you different?
if you liked being used, who could stop you?
who would stop dennis? certainly not himself. and not you either.
dennis looked at you with a hunger in his eyes.
he closed the distance in between you two. placing one hand on his waist, another cupping your cheek.
he didn't even ask, he just pressed his lips against yours. you kissed back, basically sealing your fate.
after a minute, you pulled back. needing to get some air after practically being suffocated by him.
dennis still had your face in his hand as he spoke to you, "i know you try not to but i see the way you look at me, you've missed me too. i'll leave her, like actually this time i promise. i wanna be with you." the intensity of his eye contact made you struggle to keep holding eye contact with him, but you persisted anyway.
you swallowed before speaking, "forever?"
"i'm yours, forever."
and after that night, you two were back together. you hadn't heard anything about mary after dennis promised that they would break up. you thought it was kind of shitty to break up with someone who just got into a car crash but deep down you didn't care too much. you had dennis and that was all you needed.
you had him day and night. you two continued to walk in parks, eat in restaurants, walk around farmer's markets in the area. you two also cuddled at night, every night. you never had to wonder where he was or who he was with because he was by your side constantly.
talking yourself to sleep with him became a daily occurrence. and whenever you weren't talking yourselves to sleep, he was usually eating you out until you couldn't take it anymore. the amount of times he made you cum was enough to knock you.
you were happy in your relationship, satisfied. and so was dennis.
he was happy in the way he knew you wouldn't leave again. he knew you wouldn't let him go again, i mean you love him so much why would you want to leave again? he was sure that you two were going to be together forever. no matter how childish that sounded.
he always liked you more than mary anyway, you were easier to control considering how badly you wanted him. he wasn't sure what it was that had you so drawn to him, but whatever it was he hoped it wouldn't go away anytime soon.
dennis wasn't sure why he was so drawn to you either besides your pliant nature.
and one day, after he somehow managed to convince you of giving up your lifelong dream to be a doctor by retiring way earlier than anyone in your profession. he wasted no time trying to knock you up. even though his multiple attempts of baby trapping didnât work until you actually decided to go back to medicine after the year you were away from it made you realize what you actually liked to do.
staying in medicine for another 5 years, you were beyond satisfied having dennis by your side.
even when he was cold, even when he was lying to you about the littlest things. you were still happy.
through the days of him trying to be intimidating to any man who talked to you. or controlling what you wore, you were still happy.
and youâd remain happy for a very long time as long as dennis was by your side.
he chose you, there was nothing he could do wrong in your eyes because he picked you.
you were wanted, you fit in. you were acceptable to society.
you were acceptable to him, and what could be better than that?
the first and only princess of prince rhaegel targaryen and his first lady wife, laena velaryon, was magnificent, not only for her looks, but also for her stunningly quick mind.
almost identical to her mother, she favored her velaryon heritage more than the targaryen one: dark purple eyes that most mistook for deep blue, curlier hair than anyone who shared her last name, in a striking silver shade.
her skin seemed to shine even brighter whenever the occasion required her most adorned self, covered in bracelets and golden jewelry... so much so that it fueled the rumor that you could hear music whenever you were lucky enough to have her pass nearby.
dunk can confirm the rumors are true; the music of heaven plays every time she is in your vicinity.
princess!reader who feels lonely after her mother passed away with her only full sister, leaving her behind with her father, who quickly remarried and started a new family.
alys arryn is not a bad woman, not truly, she is almost like a mother, even and her newborn siblings are very cute, but she still misses her first family.
princess!reader who went to the ashford tourney because her maternal grandsire kept bothering her about marriage, and even driftmark, once her safe place, became just another too-big castle that made her feel small and alone.
so the opportunity to go on an adventure with her favorite uncles, her best cousin, and his very kind wife seemed too perfect to be true.
and too perfect it was, until aerion had to fuck things up, as always.
now princess!reader had to listen to how her paternal family was bad luck and full of horrible people, while her dumb cousin talked about family and honor with such a punchable face, and she could do nothing, because someone had already beaten her to it and given him a proper hit.
when she finally sees the one responsible for making her deepest wishes come true, she is completely enamored.
a giant of a man stands before them, trying to earn a chance to save his life from imminent death, and all she can think about is putting that big back of his to work, having his hands repair and maintain some of her personal fleet ships...
and donât even get her started on his voice. she could hear it as clearly as the wind, growing louder and deeper as he shouted orders to a crew.
dunk was just as delusional as she was. he was there trying to escape visit of the strange. so he had to stay focused, but every time his eyes found hers, heat climbed up his neck to the tips of his ears.
in his mind, panic mixed with thoughts of a beautiful life with a goddess-level pretty princess... and a bunch of fat babies.
meanwhile, princess!reader was torn between asking her uncle to give him to her as a sworn shield so she could later make him her husband, or asking for him as a sworn shield and finding some sword-swallower husband so she could have dunkâs giant babies in peace.
summary Clark Kent is super white and like, literally an alienâand meeting your loud, fiercely loving immigrant family is way harder than saving the world.
wc 5.2k words
warnings established relationship, fluff, heavy middle eastern implications/arabic used at points - just self insert ur culture here lol!, family pressure, immigrant family dynamics, POC family experience, lighthearted, mostly light on race and politics, m+f parents - both are nice + mention of loads of big (slightly unhealthy but loving) family
parings clark kent/superman x WOC!fem!reader
Clark Kent is super white.
note b4: Reader is explicitly a person of colour but without specific mention of hair, eye, or skin colour. If you identify with these experiences, youâll likely relate. For context, Iâm Lebanese (Middle Eastern/Arab), so expect some strong Middle Eastern vibes and implied American immigrant background. would v recommend projecting ur own culture onto this, i find there's always overlap :3
Thatâs the first thing you tell your parents.
âWhat kind of white?â your mother asks, suspicious. âIrish white? We like those ones.â
You pause. How do you explain that technically heâs not just whiteâheâs not even from this planet? Now probably isnât the time to get into the ontological weeds of Kryptonian ethnicity.
â...I think so?â you offer, weakly.
âYou think so?â your father scoffs over the speakerphone. âYou donât know?â
âHe was adopted, okay?â you scramble. âItâs... kind of messy. But his familyâs from Kansas. Small town. Corn-fed. Beef-and-potatoes Kansas.â
âMashallah,â your mother mutters. âSo, heâs white-white.â
She sighs. Long. Dramatic. You hear her bargaining before it begins.
âWhy not date a nice Middle Eastern boy? What about that dentist from church? The one with the Hyundai?â
You groan. âBecause I didnât fall in love with the dentist, Mom. I fell for Clark. Heâs very polite, very tall, very nice.â
âOoh,â she begins, a new thought interrupting your spiel. âYou could always try a Vietnamese boy. They are very hard-working, you know.â
âHim being white doesnât mean anything,â you say, voice tightening. âItâs just⊠different. Okay? Please donât scare him.â
Another sigh. âWhite people donât eat right, they donât season their food, and they always walk around with wet hair. Why is your hair wet in public? Do you not own a towel?â
You bury your face in your hands. âPlease, please donât bring that up.â
âAnd whatâs his name again?â
âClark.â
âClark? Like the shoes?â
âClark Kent.â
âOh, Mashallah. Two first names.â
You met Clarkâs parents early in the relationshipâtotally by accident. They showed up at his apartment one Sunday while you were there for dinner, catching you barefoot, barefaced, and mid-chew. You nearly died of embarrassment, totally unprepared for the surprise visit.
Meeting your partnerâs parents is always a big deal, but these two? They almost adopted you on the spot.
The Kents were hands-down the kindest people youâd ever metâhumble, earnest, and emotionally available in that wholesome Midwestern way. Youâd never had anyoneâs dad insist on doing the dishes before.
And that was it. His whole family. No loud cousins, no competitive aunties, no endless family friends whoâve somehow known you since forever. Clarkâs idea of family ended with two people and an occasional pie.
You, on the other hand, were a one-person nation-state. It was something you were never sure how to introduce people to. It can be overwhelming, and maybe shamefully, embarrassing - that still left you feeling protective over the loud, big family you've got.
So, you were never sure when or how to bring it up with someone like Clark, someone who seemed so conventional when you first met him, always had and craved the simple life, so the speak.
But Clark wasnât traditionalânot in the ways that mattered. Sure, he certaintly looked all-American with the jawline, the politeness, and the crisp button-downs, but in practice, he was more open-minded than some people of colour youâd grown up with.Â
He never flinched at trying new food, never called anything âexotic,â and didnât blink twice at eating with your hands or using bread instead of cutlery. To him, it was an invitation to learn - something exciting, like a new book or a planet he hadnât visited yet.
Despite your messy, mismatched schedules and drifting between apartments without officially moving in, Clark did have one old-school streak that never wavered: he wanted to meet your parents properly.
Not in passing. Not by accident. But like a gentleman.
He brought it up one night, entirely unprompted, after handing you a cup of tea the exact way you liked it. âI think Iâd like to meet your family,â he said, casual, but with that soft nervousness in his voice that he rarely showed. âLike, really meet them.â
You blinked at him. âWhy?â
He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. âFeels right. I mean⊠youâre important to me. I figure they should know that.â
And maybe that was the most traditional thing about him: not the door-holding or the ties or an old pickup truck. But the way he wanted to do things rightânot by some rulebook, but because it mattered to you. Because he respected your roots enough to ask for a place in them.
âYeah⊠yeah, okay,â You nodded, hesitant.Â
He picked up on it right away. âWhat is it?â
âI just⊠Clark, theyâre a lot,â You let out a light chuckle. âThereâs a reason why I donât talk about them a lot.â
âOh⊠are you not close?â He wondered, small frown on his face as he guided you by the curve of your back to sit down onto your couch.
âNo, itâs not that weâre not closeâwe are. Itâs just... theyâre a lot.â
He chuckled like he didnât quite get it. âSweetheart, respectfully, Iâve saved the world from alien invasions, time paradoxes, and the occasional god. I think I can handle a big family.â
ââBig family,ââ you scoffed. âClark, our weddings have more guests than some towns have people. And they're also just... have such big obligations and responsibilities, if that makes sense."
You rubbed your hands over your face, words tumbling out now.
âThey love hard, but itâs⊠loud. And nosy. And they will feed you until you burst and then ask why youâve gained weight. They will tell you whatâs wrong with your career, your clothes, your iron levels - sometimes all in one breath.â
Clark tilted his head, still smiling but a little more cautious now. âOkayâŠâ
âTheyâre not bad people, theyâre great," You quickly insist. "Just⊠they donât really do boundaries. Everyone knows everything about everyone. Thereâs a family group chat thatâs basically a surveillance network. My grandma knows I got a cold before I know I got a cold.â
âOh, God,â You let out a breathy laugh, hands flailing a little. âClark, you grew up on a farm with, what, two parents, a dog, and like three neighbours? You guys probably had a landline and privacy. You probably got told âjust be yourselfâ and believed it. I love you, but your idea of family is, like, a Norman Rockwell painting.â
Clark grinned, a bit sheepish. âWe did have a landline.â
âExactly! Meanwhile, my family treats me like Iâm in a constant job interview. Thereâs always some cousin setting the bar, and itâs always a competition I didnât enter. Someoneâs always winning a scholarship, or getting engaged, or starting a business while also curing a disease. Itâs exhausting.â
He reached over and gently squeezed your knee, like he knew you needed grounding. âBut they love you?â
You sighed. âOf course. Deeply. Loudly. In twelve different dialects. But they love intensely. And I just want you to be prepared. Because to them, meeting someoneâs boyfriend is a thing. Like, a thing-thing. Youâre basically one polite nod away from being considered part of the family and receiving your own roster of passive-aggressive updates.â
He blinked, but he was smiling now, like heâd been handed a challenge. âWell⊠guess Iâd better bring my A-game.â
You sighed, feeling your ramble escape you.
He smiles at that. âThey love you. So, that means Iâll love them. Itâs no sweat.â He said it like it was the most simple thing. He was quiet for a moment. Then:Â âDo you think theyâll like me?â
You snorted. Instantly. You couldn't help yourself, he asked so earnestly.
He looked wounded, caught off guard by your response.
âNo, noâI didnât mean it like that,â you said quickly. âOf course theyâll like you. Youâre a golden retriever in a Henley.â
Clark still looked unsure.
âTheyâll just⊠be surprised,â you explained. âThat Iâm datingââ
ââan alien?â
ââa white guy.â
He blinked, then nodded. "Right.â
âI mean, I know youâre technically both,â you said, laughing a little. âBut itâs the whiteness theyâll fixate on. The alien thingâs almost easier. At least thatâs rare.â
âHm⊠And that sort of thing matters to them?â
âKinda,â you shrugged. âDating within the culture is just easier. They get the jokes. They know the food. They know the unspoken shame, history, prejudice. If itâs not within, itâs adjacent. Or Irish, or something since theyâre basically honourable people of colour with all the colonising and whatnot.â
Clark hummed for a moment. âInteresting.â
Clark Kent was, for all intents and purposes, very white.
Clark says âgosh darnâ without a hint of irony, wears his shoes indoors (which sparked a minor domestic war early on), and has an unshakable love for Will Smithâas if memorising The Fresh Prince theme song is some secret white guy rite of passage.
He can two-step and square dance like it's nobody's business, and once took a film class he hated so much he still complains about how âpretentiousâ it was. He calls every dog he meets âbuddy,â says âoop, just gonna sneak past yaâ in crowded spaces, and treats the weather like itâs a conversation topic with national importance.
Clarkâs polite to a fault, awkward with slang, and has a habit of explaining obvious things like heâs narrating a nature documentary. The guy barely swearsâunless you really push him, and even then, heâll mutter it under his breath and immediately apologise to the nearest inanimate object.
(Maybe that last is more of a Clark thing than a White thing.)
But then, thereâs Clarkâthe exception.
He can actually cook - and seasons his food well, which sealed the deal for you. It made sense since his mother was a beautiful cook herself. Heâs not religious, but will patiently correct anyone who assumes Jesus wasnât a brown Middle Easterner. He regularly eats falafel and can pronounce some words in your language better than you, just from how much time he spends chatting with street food vendors and exploring local markets.
Clarkâs, literally, not like other white guys.
Sure, on the surface he fits the Midwestern mould, but his experience as an alienâliterally from another planetâmakes him marketably different. Where most white partners might carry the baggage of colonialism or cluelessness, Clark carries something else: a deep-rooted sense of otherness thatâs familiar in a way most people canât grasp.
Heâs faced suspicion, fear, and outright hostility not just because of where heâs from, but who he is. That makes him more patient, more willing to learn, and surprisingly humble about what it means to belong.
Being âwhiteâ for Clark isnât just about skin tone - itâs complicated by the fact that heâs always been an outsider, even among those who look like him.
So when he steps into your familyâs world, itâs not ignorance or entitlement he brings, but curiosity, respect, and a quiet determination to fit in on his own terms. And that makes all the difference.
You and Clark landed in your hometown the next weekend. He insisted on taking a plane with you, despite his abilities. Something about âdoing this properly.â Something about âthe human experience.â
You thought youâd prepared him enough, just by warning him: Theyâre a lot. But every five minutes on the flight, he was whispering questions in that earnest, hopeful way of his.
âWill they be okay with me wearing socks to bed?â he asked, clutching the armrest like turbulence might be emotional, not atmospheric.
âYes, Clark,â you said, flipping through a half-crumpled magazine. âTheyâre not running a surveillance state. Yet.â
He nodded, serious. âOkay. Justâsome people think it's weird.â
âYeah, well, wait 'til you see what my uncle sleeps in. Youâll be the normal one.â
He exhaled like that helped. You watched him fiddle with the little plastic cup of water in his tray, shoulders tensed like he was bracing for turbulence that never came.
Another beat of silence.
âDo I take my shoes off when I enter the house?â
âOf course.â
âEven if I just ran out to the car?â
âEspecially if you ran out to the car.â
He nodded again.
And when the flight attendant came around, he turned to you, very serious again. âWould it be too much if I wore a button-up shirt and a sweater vest?â
You stared at him. âClark.â
He looked down. âToo much.â
âWay too much.â
When you finally landed, it hit you all at onceâyour cityâs humidity, the familiar chaos of your hometown airport, the dread and love that swirled whenever you came back. And Clark, despite being physically indestructible, looked like he was bracing to be body-checked by a culture.
You spotted your younger cousin already waiting near the baggage claim, waving excitedly. Behind her: your uncle. And your other cousin. And your other-other cousin. Oh God.
âThey came to the airport?â Clark murmured.
âThey always come to the airport,â you said.
âItâs like a parade.â
âItâs like the Olympics,â you muttered, adjusting your tote bag. âYouâre the foreign delegation.â
Clark straightened up. âOkay. Iâm ready.â
âYouâre not ready.â
And you were right.
Because the second they spotted you both, it beganâan avalanche of greetings, hugs, questions.Â
Clark barely had time to breathe before someone was putting a mango in his hand and telling him their immigration story.Â
Your cousin complimented his teeth (âAre they real?â). Your aunt whispered something about his calves in her language. Your uncle asked him if he watched cricket.
Clark smiled politely. âNot really, but Iâd love to learn.â
"I like you already," Your uncle smiled.
Your aunt folded her arms, talking at you with that knowing look. âSo, what exactly do you do again? Something with âcreativeâ in the title? You know, those jobs that donât really pay?â
You winced but tried to stay calm.
Another uncle frowned, voice low but sharp. âYour mother said he was white⊠didnât say he was this white.â
Someone else muttered, âBetter than the last boyfriend though. At least he doesnât look like he'll disappear every other week.â
Your cousin chimed in, âDoes he even speak your language? Did you know my boyfriend's a polyglot? Most Americans barely even speak two languages.â
"Oh, Shut up, Jen. Latin doesn't count," You roll your eyes.
"Don't talk like that to your cousin, you know she's had it rough since dropping out of Marketing school." Your aunt lightly smacks your shoulder, making you wince.
"Mom!" Your cousin groans. "I didn't drop out, I'm on academic leave."
"It's an embarrassment to the family."
Clark, unshaken, extended his hand smoothly. âClark Kent. Lovely to meet you all.â
Your aunt cut in quickly, âHave you eaten yet? Yallah, we have all of Rahmidâs Butcher waiting at home. Youâre not vegetarian, right?â
âNo, maâam,â Clark said, clearing his throat.
That aunt gave a small approving nod toward you. âThen heâll survive dinner.â
You took a deep breath, rubbing your temple as the familyâs questions and commentary kept coming in waves.
And ClarkâClark just smiled, nodded, said thank you in his thick American accent, and charmed them all like he was born to it. Like heâd been training for this his whole life.
Later, on the ride back to your parentsâ place, you leaned over and whispered, âYou good?â
He nodded, a little stunned. âTheyâre⊠intense.â
âYup.â
âAnd that mango was warm. Does he carry them all the time?â
âYup.â
"And the whole... academic leave thing?"
"Her mom's the one that told her to go on it, she's just being a hard-ass. It's... nobody means it, if that makes sense."
A beat goes by. Youâre afraid youâre about to feel a wave of embarrassment as you watch his eyes flicker with something unrecognisable. He then says; âThey were very sweet.â
âThey are.â
â...Are they always like this?â
You sigh and nod. âMhm."
âMustâve been nice,â Clark says softly.
You just smile a bit at that and squeeze his hand.
This was supposed to be a small family barbecue.
You were naive to believe that.
By the time you and Clark arrived, it was already in full swingâless backyard hangout, more intergenerational summit. A pan-ethnic, tupperware fuelled diplomatic incident. Everyone was there. Grandparents. Aunts. Uncles. Cousins you hadnât seen since they were in diapers. A neighbour. Possibly a judge. Your Uncleâs lawyer from thirty years ago.
The moment Clark stepped into the backyard, he was hit with a wall of sound, smoke, and unsolicited hospitality.
Your dad was manning the grill like it was a battlefieldâsweating, scowling, tongs in hand. Kids were running barefoot between folding chairs. Aunties were gathered in tight circles, speaking low and fast with surgical gossip precision. Every table was covered in a patterned tablecloth that could cause optical illusions, and some kind of salad that had not seen refrigeration in hours.
Clark looked like heâd just stepped into another universe.
âYou okay?â you asked under your breath.
âI donât know where to stand,â he said, quiet and wide-eyed. âIs there⊠like, a designated boyfriend zone?â
You handed him a soda. âJust keep moving. Standing still is how they catch you and hug you forever.â
âI love hugs,â He remarked.
âI know, sweetie, but these people donât just hug, they hug, tell you a little passive aggressive thing for not visiting enough, then pat you on the back twice and make you rethink your life,â You said.
You went through the standard routine: greeting everyone with a kiss on the cheek, carefully introducing Clark to each person. The familiar flood of âwhite boyâ and âtall manâ comments followed him wherever he went, and he made sure to crouch a little when meeting some of your shorter relativesâalways accommodating, always trying to fit in. Clark was good at reading the room.
As you wandered through your childhood home, a comforting chaos surrounded you. In the kitchen, aunts bustled around, chopping vegetables and tossing salads, while the lounge was filled with the sound of cousins yelling at each other over video games blaring from the TV.
Clark couldnât help but pause and stare at the walls plastered with every relative youâd ever had. And their kids. And their kidsâ kids. Photos spanning back to when your great-grandfather looked like a serious gentleman posing with a massive mustache and a fez. This was something a lot bigger than what he had in Metropolis or Kansas.
âAunty, this is my boyfriend, Clark,â you said, kissing her cheek. âClark, meet Aunty.â
Clark leaned in, kissing her cheek with careful precision. âHow many aunties do you have, exactly?â
Your aunt laughed, eyes twinkling. âDonât start counting or youâll get dizzy. Some of us are cousins, some are family friends. Weâre basically a village spread across six different countries.â
Before you could respond, another relative piped up, âSo whenâs the wedding? And kids? You know, grandchildren?â
You and Clark exchanged slightly panicked glances, your voices stumbling out, âUh, well, weâre, um⊠taking things slow.â You say.
Your aunt gave a knowing look. âThatâs what they all say. You know, if you're having fertility issues you should talk to your cousin who got IVF last year.â
"It smelt really good in there," Clark mumbled to you as he looked back behind him.
"You'll have containers of that when we go, promise," You told.
As you step into the yard, the long table groans under the weight of food. Your father stands rigid by the grill, flipping meat with precise attention. Your mother is nearby, arms crossed, eyes sharp, making sure nothing burns.
âOh, great. My dadâs right there. Come on,â you say, nodding toward the barbecue.
âWh- What?â Clark stammers, clearly caught off guard.
âMy dad. Dad!â you call out firmly.
Your father looks up, his expression unreadable for a moment. He opens his arms and hugs you tightly. You pull him close, the familiar warmth grounding you. When you step back, Clark steps forward, extending his hand.
âItâs nice to meet you, sir,â Clark says, voice steady but respectful.
Your father eyes him carefully, then shakes his hand firmly.
Your mother watches silently. As Clark turns toward her, she doesnât say a word but allows him to lean in and kiss her cheek. Her eyes narrow slightly as she studies him.
Clark meets her gaze, nodding before stepping back.
The moment stretches, then your father breaks the silence, eyes glinting with mischief.
âSo⊠Clark, huh? Named after shoes?â he asks, deadpan.
âSorry?â Clark blinks.
âClark shoes. The brand?â Your dad repeats.
âI⊠I'm not sure, actually, you know. I think they just liked the name,â Clark says, unsure how to respond.
Your father hums with a proud smile. âHm. Well, you know, Iâm named after my ancestorâa great warrior.â
You raise an eyebrow. âWerenât you named after great-grandfather who sold wheat?â
âOkay, well⊠he definitely fought fights and won. Wheat was in very high demand. Warrior to me,â He replies, unfazed.
Your mother turns her gaze to Clark. âSo, journalist, yes?â
âYes, maâam,â Clark nods.
âDoes it pay well?â She asks, folding her arms.
Clark clears his throat, âUh⊠it keeps the lights on.â
Your father grins, eyes twinkling. âGood. Because we donât want any freeloaders at this table.â
You chuckle nervously, stepping in. âAlright, alright, letâs eat before everything gets cold.â
Clark glances at you, a little overwhelmed but still holding it together, while your parents exchange a look that says, Weâll be watching you both closely.
Before he could begin to unpack that with you, someone shoved a paper plate into his hand and began loading it with food. So much food. Things he didnât recognise. Things wrapped in leaves. Things that shimmered with oil, generations of love and barely restrained judgement.
âEat, white boy,â your great-aunt commanded, like a threat.
He looked to you. You nodded. âEat, white boy.â You repeated.
Clark ate a lot that evening.
He tried everything. Even when you knew heâd reached his limitâthere was that familiar, slightly drowsy look in his eyes, the same one youâd seen after your whirlwind fly-around-the-world food tourâhe didnât seem to know how to say no.
When people asked if he wanted more, or just started piling food onto his plate without asking, he accepted it all with a grateful smile.
âJesus, the guyâs got a stomach on him,â your cousin, around your age, whispered to you, half-amazed.
By sunset, Clark had been grilled by three aunties with the classic question: âWhat are your intentions?â Heâd been pulled into selfies by two unclesââSmile, habibi, youâre family nowââand offered a beer by someone definitely not of legal age but who swore it was âjust one.â
He passed every test. Especially the kid one.
A swarm of cousins, ranging from about four to ten, had taken to orbiting him like tiny sharks. One asked if he could pick them up. Then two. Then three. You watched from across the yard as Clarkâformer farm boy, literal demigodâlifted all three at once. One on each arm, one clinging to his back. It was basically air to him, but he made a show of effort, grunting theatrically.
A cheer erupted. Someone filmed it. It was in the family group chat before the hour was out.
After the kids were done, one of the aunts stepped up and asked if he could lift her. Without hesitation, he hoisted her onto his shoulder like a feather.
âAre you sure youâre okay with being used as a carnival ride now?â you teased, watching a line form behind her.
âYeah, absolutely,â he said quietly, grinning as your grandmother approached. âIsnât this what being a superhero is all about?â
You chuckled and slipped away toward your father at the barbecue, where he was flipping skewers with a practiced eye. You pressed a quick kiss to your fatherâs cheek.
âI know you mentioned he was adopted,â your father said, nodding toward Clark, âbut Iâd put money on him being Irish. Strong people.â
âSoo⊠you like him?â you hummed, watching Clark carefully lift your grandmother onto his broad shoulders. She wore her usual unimpressed expressionâuntil he spun her gently around, and her face broke into a wide, genuine laugh.
Your fatherâs smile tightened. âLook, Iâm not going to lie. Heâs a good kid, no doubt. Polite, strong, steady. But heâs still an outsider. White. From who-knows-where, really.â
âDad, come on. Outsider? You sound like some talk radio guy. What if someone told you that before you came here?â
âItâs different,â he said, voice low. âHe doesnât know what weâve been through. What it means to be us. To survive all that crap.â
âMaybe not, but heâs just as human. And heâs reallyâŠâ You lower your voice when you catch Clarkâs glance in your direction, his smile briefly faltering as he goes to lift a babyâthis time making a show of how big and heavy the little one is. âHeâs someone I love,â you add quietly. âHeâs one of the good ones, okay?â
âDonât get me wrong,â your dad said, voice lowering a bit. âIâm all for you being happy. But you have to understand - itâs not just about liking someone. Itâs about fitting in. With us. Our culture, our family, our expectations.â
He glanced toward the yard where your relatives were still bustling around. âHeâs got a lot to learn. About respect. About how things work here. About what it means to be part of this. This family.â
You met his eyes. âClark wants to learn.â
âGood,â your dad nodded, voice firm. âBecause love isnât enough if the rest of it isnât there. This isnât Kansas. Itâs not some quiet farm. Itâs family. Tradition. Responsibility. We donât just hand out⊠khara memberships to anyone who shows up in a button-up and a smile.â
You sighed. âHe knows that. Heâs good, Dad, I⊠wouldnât have brought him here if I didnât know he loved me enough to try.â
Your father gave you a hard look but softened just a bit. âJust make sure he doesnât wear his shoes inside, okay? Not like your cousinâs last boyfriend.â
Some time passes, as desert is handed out. From the same local bakery, with the same not-great cake, but youâve all had birthday cakes there - it has the same cheap taste to it, that only THAT bakery could make. Clark, obviously, eats all of it. He even goes back for seconds. That definitely scores him points.
âYouâre kind of killing it,â you said later, lounging beside him on a sun-warmed lawn chair dragged into the shade.
Clark looked at you, dazed but smiling. There was barbecue sauce on his sleeve and a turmeric smear near his collarbone. He held a juice box in one hand, a skewer in the other.
âI think your grandma called me baba ghanoush?â
âShe likes you.â
âShe also asked if I have a 401k.â
âThat means she really likes you.â
He looked aroundâyour dad still grilling while giving a lecture on interest rates, someone dancing barefoot, three cousins playing tag near a folding table, the sound of music coming from someoneâs phone speaker. Itâs quieter than it was earlier. These are the moments you remember most vividly.
âItâs a lot,â he admitted.
âToo much?â
âNo,â he said, softly, and looked at you in that way he always did when he was saying something important. âItâs exactly right.â
You leaned back, your heart doing something quiet and glowing.
âYouâre not even overwhelmed?â
âOh, Iâm deeply overwhelmed,â he said with a little laugh. âBut itâs good. I love home, I love my parents, and the family Iâve made at Metropolis and all. But itâs⊠I donât know, nice to be part of something so big.â
A beat goes by.
âYou know⊠Iââ Clark starts, then pauses. âI know what itâs like to be on the outside. I know, people see me - or they see⊠you know, Superman, and all they see is where Iâm from. Not who I am. Iâve had that kind of hate thrown at me⊠for being different.. So I-I get the hesitance to let someone like me come here.â
You realise he overheard your conversation with your dad. âLook, what my dad said, it doesnâtââ
â-Itâs okay,â Clark insists. âHonestly. Iâm just⊠I want you to know that I get it. And that people fear what they donât understand, whether thatâs a different culture or a different planet. But⊠you know, being hereâwith you, with your familyâI want to be part of it. Iâm gonna try so hard and be the best white boyfriend anyoneâs ever known. Okay?â
You look at him, eyes tracing over his features, so earnest, so sincere. He may not realise it yet, but this is the moment you decide you might just have to marry him.
âOkay,â You murmur softly, smiling.
âOkay,â He hums.Â
As if cue, your mother appeared out of nowhere holding a sealed Tupperware container like she was delivering state secrets.
âFor Clark,â she said, ignoring you completely. âYou take this. Youâre too skinny.â
âToo skinny?â You express, confused. "Mom, he's over 200 pounds."
He accepted it with both hands like it was treasure. âThank you, maâam.â
She patted his cheek once, approving. Then turned to you with a brow raise as if to say ânot bad.â
Later that night, your cousinâs kid fell asleep on Clarkâs chest.
You watched him look down at her with quiet awe, like he couldnât believe something so small could trust him that easily.
Youâd seen him save lives. Stop a flood. Carry a collapsing bridge. But thatâhim gently rubbing a toddlerâs back while watching reruns with your uncleâmade your heart fall through the floor.
You turned to your mum, watching them from the kitchen as you set down a tea towel, finishing drying dishes as she packed away leftovers into containers.
 âHeâs⊠good with people,â you offered, nervous.
She shrugged. âHeâs calm. And polite. And doesnât talk too much. Thatâs a rare combo.â
You smiled. âSo you like him?â
 She didnât look up. âHeâs good. And not just for a white boy,â She remarks
Your mother pauses for a moment, clicking the tupperware closed and raising her eyebrows. âBut donât let it go to your head. We still donât know if he can dance.â
You nearly choke on your drink. âMomââ
âIâm serious!â she says. âWe canât have another wedding where the groom just does that side-to-side shuffle like heâs in a toothpaste commercial.â
You glance back into the living room where ClarkâClark Kent, the most powerful being on Earthâis gently rocking a snoring toddler, her sticky hand latched onto his collar. Your uncle just offered him a second helping of something fiery and fluorescent. He took it without blinking. Again.
âHeâs⊠really trying,â you murmur, almost to yourself.
Your mother hears you anyway. She looks over, suddenly quiet. Then, as if trying not to sound too sentimental: âHe makes you less sharp around the edges. Like youâre not always bracing.â
That one lands. Right in the chest.
You nod, blinking quickly. âYeah. He does that.â
She stirs once more, thoughtful. âAlright. Weâll keep him.â
And just like that, itâs decided. Not with a big declaration. Not with a formal welcome. But with a spoon and a shrug and that matter-of-fact tone only mothers and monarchs have.
You lean against the counter and watch Clark from across the room. Heâs still letting the kid drool on him. Still smiling through a third game of Uno with children who cheat shamelessly. Still politely answering questions about interest rates and fibre intake like he wasnât bulletproof.
And somehow, impossibly, like he belonged.
note: yeah so this is for me and me alone have fun with this! i know it might be kind of annoying that the reader is just.... vaguely ethnic, i just thought it'd be more fun for it to be generally relatable and all . if ur looking for more specific experiences, than i'm sure other people are definitely writing it, or maybe write it urself! i watched this movie second time around with my tayta (who barely goes 2 hours without a cigarette, my idol!), and even though she didn't understand a lot of it (she doesn't speak a lot of english), she liked it. and i just thought of like, oh if i ever had a 6'4 alien white dude, my family would pummel me and him for it. wouldnt that be fun! anyway. even if u dont really relate, or ur family isnt super close or etc, i hope this is a bit comforting and fun to read :3
hi idk if you remember this (if you donât iâm literally so sorry) but i was just wondering if you got my ask from a little bit ago asking for recs for authors of color?
hi babe, im so sorry! i did not forget, i just had a fun format idea for it but never got around to making it all pretty so i'll just drop the list of my fav black/poc authors. i will always make sure to try and keep this updated and other peopleâplease feel free to reblog with additions as well <3
@heavenbarnes @ovaryacted @oldermenfucker @mcondance @stargirlfics @clubsoft @cinewhore @flofaiiry @sugaredfawn @starliis @pyraomen @gazlocked @tojisteddy @missduval @szatears @princessphilly @miss-vanta-likes-to-write @missduval @lxvvie @murdrdocs @megamindsecretlair @emjayewrites @dulcebloodhnd @letsgobarbs @gardenof-venus @joeloverture @kedsandtubesocks @moonlight-prose @joelsdagger @thatcorporategirlie @gothcsz @sweeethearts @hashtagsupershitt @joannasteez @sceletaflores @jackrrabbot (IF I WE INTERACT REGULARLY, YOU'RE A BLACK/POC AUTHOR, AND I DIDN'T TAG YOU, PLEASE PLEASE FORGIVE ME. IT EITHER JUST LEGIT SLIPPED MY MIND OR I WASN'T SURE AND DIDN'T WANT TO ASSUME!!)
-Maekar goes away for business to some kingdom one day. (Maybe heâs sent instead of Baelor)
-Heâs gone for DAYS(HES basically pulled an Egg). Passed time that the business shouldâve been dealt with. He sends very vague letters about how heâs just enjoying the land and taking time for himself (heâs a widowed father of six give him a damn break)
-After a while the fam is getting very worried and is ready to storm the other kingdom when Maekar come back all of a sudden.
-but waitâŠ.theres another ship coming with him???
-basically the man comes back with a whole new wife-to-be.
- sheâs a ray of sunshine(22-28 and preferably WOC) and they are soooo in love. All the Maekarlings are so confused cause why did their father not inform them of their new step mother???
-King Daeron been knew cause Maekar sent him a secret letter to talk about how happy this new lady made him and how she could be a good influence on the children.