ADHD obsessions galore

Okay so I just think these two would be a smash hit and this little idea has been bugging me. Hope you like it.

Setting: The Brooks’ auto shop on a slow afternoon. Pen is under a car (cause I totally think she could help out, I mean for the love of god her dad owns the shop, she must have skills), Nate is wiping grease off his hands, and Marco (now 4 years old) is “helping” by handing tools to absolutely no one [I imagine Lazar and Milo, who are actually in charge of Marco are in the back]. Gasket, the scrappy shop cat, watches from atop a toolbox with calculated mischief.

Gasket (tail flicking): Notices Marco’s abandoned snack bag of keks (cookies) on the workbench. Marco (to Nate): “Zašto ti smrdiš po benzinu?” (Why do you smell like gasoline?) Nate (distracted): “Uh… because I’m cool?” (Fails to notice Gasket slinking toward the cookies.)

Gasket: Knocks the bag to the floor with one paw. Cookies scatter. Marco (gasps): “GATKO! NE!” (CAT! NO!) Gasket: Grabs a cookie in her mouth and bolts under a shelving unit, crumbs flying.

Marco: Dives after her, belly-sliding like a tiny superhero. Pen (emerging from under car): “What’s the zvuk (noise)— MARCO, DON’T LICK THE FLOOR!” Nate: Too late. Marco licks a cookie crumb off the concrete.

Marco (pointing under shelf): “Gatko je lupiga!” (Cat is a thief!) Gasket: Chews smugly, tail wrapping around her paws. Pen (deadpan): “Gasket, that’s za sramotu.” (For shame.) Gasket: Blinks slowly, unrepentant.

Nate: Offers Gasket a piece of jerky as a trade. Gasket: Drops the cookie, steals the jerky and Nate’s shoelace. Marco: Demands justice. “Mora da plati!” (She must pay!) Pen: “Her payment is your leftover lunch.” Hands Marco a burek to share.

Epilogue

Gasket curls up in Marco’s lap, purring. Forgiveness granted. Marco feeds her crumbs while whispering Montenegrin secrets. Nate takes a photo for the group chat titled “Naši kriminalci” (Our criminals). Lazar’s reply: “Dobro je. Bar nisu poput Milo.” (Good. At least they’re not like Milo.)

Okay, okay… I know, I know—I’ve been gone for way too long. 🙈 Life got chaotic, but guess who’s ready to dive back into some Walsh Warrior content?

I still need to get into the flow of things again, but soon I'll be armed with headcanons, and maybe even a fic or two. Stay tuned, because the rosarambles are officially restarting!

Okay so I just think these two would be a smash hit and this little idea has been bugging me. Hope you like it.

Setting: The Brooks’ auto shop on a slow afternoon. Pen is under a car (cause I totally think she could help out, I mean for the love of god her dad owns the shop, she must have skills), Nate is wiping grease off his hands, and Marco (now 4 years old) is “helping” by handing tools to absolutely no one [I imagine Lazar and Milo, who are actually in charge of Marco are in the back]. Gasket, the scrappy shop cat, watches from atop a toolbox with calculated mischief.

Gasket (tail flicking): Notices Marco’s abandoned snack bag of keks (cookies) on the workbench. Marco (to Nate): “Zašto ti smrdiš po benzinu?” (Why do you smell like gasoline?) Nate (distracted): “Uh… because I’m cool?” (Fails to notice Gasket slinking toward the cookies.)

Gasket: Knocks the bag to the floor with one paw. Cookies scatter. Marco (gasps): “GATKO! NE!” (CAT! NO!) Gasket: Grabs a cookie in her mouth and bolts under a shelving unit, crumbs flying.

Marco: Dives after her, belly-sliding like a tiny superhero. Pen (emerging from under car): “What’s the zvuk (noise)— MARCO, DON’T LICK THE FLOOR!” Nate: Too late. Marco licks a cookie crumb off the concrete.

Marco (pointing under shelf): “Gatko je lupiga!” (Cat is a thief!) Gasket: Chews smugly, tail wrapping around her paws. Pen (deadpan): “Gasket, that’s za sramotu.” (For shame.) Gasket: Blinks slowly, unrepentant.

Nate: Offers Gasket a piece of jerky as a trade. Gasket: Drops the cookie, steals the jerky and Nate’s shoelace. Marco: Demands justice. “Mora da plati!” (She must pay!) Pen: “Her payment is your leftover lunch.” Hands Marco a burek to share.

Epilogue

Gasket curls up in Marco’s lap, purring. Forgiveness granted. Marco feeds her crumbs while whispering Montenegrin secrets. Nate takes a photo for the group chat titled “Naši kriminalci” (Our criminals). Lazar’s reply: “Dobro je. Bar nisu poput Milo.” (Good. At least they’re not like Milo.)

(I love them so freaking much - I honestly can't get enough of them)

The family lives by the Montenegrin motto "Nema problema" (No problem but don't @ me on this). Car broke down? Nema problema. Lazar stressing over college scouts? Nema problema. They face hardships with stubborn optimism. Except Gjyshja, who says "Problem je!" (It IS a problem!) and then solves it herself. (Cause she's a QUEEN like that).

When Pen finally brings Gasket home, Nate helps her set up a cozy corner in her room. The cat immediately takes to Nate, much to Pen’s mock outrage. “Traitor,” she says, but Gasket just purrs louder.

Pen steals Nate’s hoodies so often that he starts hiding them. One day, he finds her wearing one of his jerseys instead. “You’re impossible,” he says, but he can’t stop smiling. They continue with the hoodie wars throughout college, it's become a bit of competition. Who wins? Will it be Nate or Pen?

Pen and Nate argue over what songs to add to their shared playlist. Nate insists on adding “Livin’ on a Prayer,” while Pen vetoes it in favor of “Landslide.” They compromise by adding both.

Nate creates a playlist for their first road trip together. It's a mix of his favorite workout songs and Pen's indie picks. They argue over the volume but still end up singing along to every single song together (AHHHH)

Pen and Nate (in marvel fashion; think Peter and Ned) create a secret handshake that's way too complicated. They practice it every time they see each other, but they always mess it up and end up laughing.

So I'm thinking this one is before Gasket the Cat is finally brought home. I don't remember if I already did this one. Gasket the Cat becomes a regular at the auto shop, and even Scott starts feeding it (and so does Elia, love that girl to pieces but that's another story). One day, Nate find Pen asleep on the couch with Gasket curled up on her chest. He takes a picture and sets it as his phone background.

Another one I think just fits Pen so much (again before Gasket is official). Pen has a way with animals, especially the stray cat that hangs around the auto shop that she quickly named Gasket. Nate jokes that she's a Disney princess, but he's secretly in awe of how gentle she is with it.

Pen has a sketchbook filled with drawings of people and places that mean something to her. She never shows it to anyone, but Nate accidentally finds it one day and is blown away by her talent. He secretly frames one of her sketches of the auto shop and hangs it in his room.

Pen has been feeding a scrappy little cat that hangs around the auto shop for months. She’s named it “Gasket” and is trying to work up the courage to ask her dad if she can bring it home. Nate surprises her one day by showing up with a cat carrier and saying, “Let’s do this.”

Pen hums when she’s focused, usually old rock songs or whatever’s stuck in her head. Nate loves it because it’s the only time she seems completely at ease. He’s started recognizing the songs and will sometimes hum along just to make her smile.

Pen’s favorite place in town is an old, abandoned drive-in theater. She goes there to think and sometimes drags Nate along to stargaze. One night, they sneak in with blankets and snacks, and Nate accidentally spills popcorn all over her. She laughs so hard she cries.

Pen the Hoodie Thief: Pen has a habit of stealing Nate’s hoodies, especially the ones that smell like his cologne. He pretends to be annoyed but secretly loves it. One time, he catches her wearing his favorite hoodie and says, “You know, if you wanted it, you could’ve just asked.” She replies, “Where’s the fun in that?”

Pen loves comics and has a small collection tucked away in her room. Nate finds out and starts buying her rare issues as gifts. They spend hours debating which superhero would win in a fight. (Pen always argues for Spider-Man; Nate is Team Batman.)

The basketball team starts a prank war, and Pen gets dragged into it. Nate is the first victim, finding his locker filled with balloons. But when he retaliates by covering her car in sticky notes, Pen knows she has to step up her game.

Pen and Nate spend hours debating which superhero would win in a fight. Pen always argues for Spider-Man, while Nate is Team Batman. They eventually agree to disagree, but the debate resurfaces every time a new movie comes out.

Nate tries to bake Pen a birthday cake but ends up setting off the smoke alarm. Pen takes over, and the cake turns out perfectly. Nate insists it’s because of his “foundation,” but Pen just rolls her eyes.

Pen and Nate sneak into the abandoned drive-in theater with blankets and snacks. They watch an old rom-com on Nate’s laptop, and Pen falls asleep halfway through. Nate carries her to the car and tucks her in, smiling at how peaceful she looks.

Pen has a sketchbook filled with drawings of people and places that mean something to her. She never shows it to anyone, but Nate accidentally finds it one day and is blown away by her talent. He secretly frames one of her sketches of the auto shop and hangs it in his room.

Pen has been feeding a scrappy little cat that hangs around the auto shop for months. She’s named it “Gasket” and is trying to work up the courage to ask her dad if she can bring it home. Nate surprises her one day by showing up with a cat carrier and saying, “Let’s do this.”

Pen hums when she’s focused, usually old rock songs or whatever’s stuck in her head. Nate loves it because it’s the only time she seems completely at ease. He’s started recognizing the songs and will sometimes hum along just to make her smile.

Pen’s favorite place in town is an old, abandoned drive-in theater. She goes there to think and sometimes drags Nate along to stargaze. One night, they sneak in with blankets and snacks, and Nate accidentally spills popcorn all over her. She laughs so hard she cries.

Pen the Hoodie Thief: Pen has a habit of stealing Nate’s hoodies, especially the ones that smell like his cologne. He pretends to be annoyed but secretly loves it. One time, he catches her wearing his favorite hoodie and says, “You know, if you wanted it, you could’ve just asked.” She replies, “Where’s the fun in that?”

Pen loves comics and has a small collection tucked away in her room. Nate finds out and starts buying her rare issues as gifts. They spend hours debating which superhero would win in a fight. (Pen always argues for Spider-Man; Nate is Team Batman.)

📖 The one who reads for the mystery

🔥 The one who reads for the angst

💔 The one who gets too attached to fictional characters

👀 The one who writes 3am theories