#and darlin definitely wouldn’t want to be buddy buddy with her

[kitheking]

i’m literally having the fattest most juiciest alexis brain rot rn

so i know a lot of ppl paint her as a villain bc in Sam’s pov she is w/ the whole turning him without his consent thing, and because of this people want some kind of bloody brawl between her and darlin which i was ALL FOR in the beginning but what if WHAT IF she wants zero problems and is nice to darlin instead? like Sam said she avoids him as much as he avoids her so does she really want smoke? like c’mon just imagine darlin goes to a clan meeting and alexis has to walk past them and she just smiles and is like “i like ur shoes :)” OR SOMETHING IDK SHEJJD

[ladykailitha]

The Magic of Christmas Part 7/8

Here we get to the secret relationship as I wanted it to be surprise. Claudia is awesome as usual and Eddie and Steve are too cute for words.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

***

Eddie was feeling a tad grumpy. He was going to be alone for Thanksgiving. Chrissy was going back to her brother’s family for the holiday since both of them weren’t speaking to their parents anymore and even Uncle Wayne betrayed him by accepting dinner with his girlfriend’s family.

“That can’t be allowed,” Steve said when he heard. “Why don’t you join us for Thanksgiving? Dustin would flip if you came.”

Eddie chewed his lip nervously. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to intrude. I could hit up the local buffet if I had to.”

“And risk the long lines, the sick servers, and the risk of food poisoning because they can’t get the food out fast enough?” Steve asked with a raised eyebrow as he counted off the reasons on his fingers.

“You drive a hard bargain, Stevie.”

He laughed. “Plus Claudia is bring her new boyfriend and I need you to distract Dustin so he doesn’t freak out.”

Eddie rolled his eyes. “Yeah, all right. You win. I’ll come to your Thanksgiving. Who’s making dinner? Do I need to bring anything? I’ve got a killer roll recipe.”

“Me and Claudia share the cooking duties most years but because her boyfriend is coming I offered to do the whole thing.” Steve shrugged. “But sure take over the rolls. That’s one less thing I have worry about finding space in the over for.”

“Sweet!” Eddie said jumping up with a whoop. “I’ll even come a little early to be your cooking buddy so that you aren’t slaving away in the kitchen by yourself.”

Steve blushed. “You don’t have to that, Eds.”

“Steve,” Eddie said seriously. “I love your best friends. Robin and Dustin are amazing people that should in no way be allowed anywhere near the kitchen. They would burn it down and you know it.”

He opened his mouth to protest, but he knew it was futile. “Yeah, okay. Dinner is a three so maybe come around one?”

Eddie grinned. “Sounds good, darlin’.”

Steve blushed.

*

Eddie was greet at the door by Claudia with a kiss on his cheek. His own mother had passed away and this amazing woman had decided she was going to adopt any motherless person she found. Robin and Steve didn’t speak to theirs and Eddie had lost his when he was six to cancer. So she had four children as far as she was concerned.

“I’m so glad you’re here, dear,” she muttered. “Steve keeps kicking me out of kitchen. It’s not that I worry he’ll do it wrong, of course!” She waved her hands. “No, I’m worried that he’ll take too much on and wear himself out so he can’t enjoy the meal after.”

Well that was something that Dustin definitely inherited from his mother. The sheer speed at which they spoke. They could get out as much information in five minutes then most people could get in fifty.

“Let me grab those rolls for you,” she continued sweetly. “I’ll just put on the on the side bar.”

Eddie let her take his dish and wandered off in the direction of the kitchen. He found Steve in the cutest pink, frilly apron, hair slicked back with sweat and looking like he had just gotten off of a red-eye flight.

The first thing Eddie did was get Steve a cold beer out of the fridge and pop the cap. He handed it to him.

“Chef gets the booze,” he said with a grin. “Munson family tradition.”

Steve downed half of the bottle in one gulp. “Thanks. I think I like your tradition.”

Eddie chuckled. “As long as you don’t down the entire bottle of red wine used for the gravy, I think booze is the perfect aid for cooking.” He clapped his hands together. “Right, where do you need me?”

Steve started rattling off things that needed to be done and Eddie jumped right in.

Soon they were moving in tandem, just working in perfect rhythm.

Eddie burst out laughing when he heard Dustin tell Robin not go into the kitchen.

“It’s like fucking Swan Lake in there,” he whisper shouted. “I’m afraid if you go in their you’ll break the spell.”

They saw Robin peek in and then squeaked when she them looking back her. She vanished.

Steve shook his head fondly. “You can start stacking things up on the sideboard, Eds. We just have to give this bird time to rest and I’ll carve it up.”

“Sounds good, Stevie!” Eddie said and grabbed the stuffing. Homemade, not that box stuff. It was Claudia’s grandmother’s recipe and she refused to eat anything else.

Eddie was coming out with the candied yams when Dustin came up to him.

“Ma’s boyfriend’s got a nephew that does art, too,” he said. “Maybe you know him!”

Eddie shook his head. “Look, there are some many artists in just Indy alone, there is no wa–”

Just then Claudia ushered in her boyfriend and Eddie’s jaw slammed shut. He patted Dustin on the shoulder and said, “Actually, I take that back, I do know his nephew.”

The boyfriend stopped cold in his tracks when he saw Eddie coming toward him.

“When were you going to tell me, Uncle Wayne,” Eddie said with a low growl, “that you were dating Claudia Henderson?”

Wayne Munson blinked at his nephew a moment, working his jaw as he tried to find the words. Any word would have done in that moment, but Wayne was stunned to silence for the first time in his life since learning that he was now the legal guardian of a very disgruntled eleven year old.

“Hi, Ed,” he managed to say, his voice high and unnatural. “Glad to see you found a place to go for Thanksgiving?”

Eddie folded his arms and tapped his foot. “I know you know who Steve Harrington is and if you’ve been dating Claudia long enough to have her stay at your place while Steve was in London, then you know I knew who they were after Halloween.”

Wayne looked over at Claudia who was staring at him with wide eyes as was Dustin.

“I’ll explain after dinner,” he promised them. Then he grabbed Eddie by the arm and dragged him off to a side room.

“How the hell did you even know this room existed?!” Eddie groused. “I didn’t know this room existed!”

“Look, son,” Wayne said. “I should have said something and it was wrong of me. Especially when I figured it out pretty quick that your Steve was Claudia’s Steve.”

Eddie sighed. “So why didn’t you?”

Wayne scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. “Because it’s been so long since we didn’t share something. Something that unique to both of us that wasn’t your art. I had a wonderful woman as my girlfriend and you had this sweet mother figure. And it was separate from the other.”

“Only it was the same person,” Eddie said dryly, shoving his hands in his back pocket. Were you never going to introduce us and hope we never found out?”

“No!” Wayne said. “Of course not! I going to tell you at Christmas.”

Eddie glared at him. “When it would be fucking unavoidable as we would both be invited to the Christmas party.”

Wayne ducked his head in shame. “I’m sorry, son. You have to believe that.”

Eddie rolled his eyes and then stomped over to his uncle. He wrapped his arms around Wayne’s shoulders with a heavy sigh.

“You didn’t want to feel obligated to keep dating her because I felt a motherly connection to her, huh?”

Wayne let out a shuddering sigh. “That was a big part of it, too.”

“I’ll go tell them what’s going on and give you a minute to compose yourself,” Eddie said and kissed the top of his head.

He nodded and watched as Eddie slipped back out into the hallway.

Sure enough all of the members of the household were waiting for him.

“Sorry about that,” he told them. “He was just being a little selfish and wanted to keep you guys to himself for a while.”

“That silly man,” Claudia huffed. “I’ll go talk some sense into him, shall I?”

Eddie huffed out a laugh. “Go for it.”

Claudia went into the side room, leaving Eddie with the remaining three.

“We should go eat before all that lovely food gets cold,” Steve said with a smile.

Robin and Dustin went off on a tear, pushing and trying to trip each other so that they were the first in line.

Steve opened up his arms and Eddie fell into them with sigh.

Steve rubbed his back soothingly. “I know you feel a little betrayed right now, and you should. But pretty soon this will just be blip in your relationship and you’ll be able to tease him about insistently.”

Eddie raised his head. “That does sound nice.”

Steve kissed his cheek. “Come on, we better get out there before Robin eats all the stuffing and Dustin eats all the candied yams.”

Eddie gasped and then took off in a dead heat for the dinning room. Steve looked back at the room Wayne and Claudia were in and shook his head fondly.

He was sure everything was going to be just fine.

*

Dinner passed with little fuss and no drama. There was always going to be a little fuss about Dustin taking too much and Steve taking too little, but it worked out fine in the end.

That night they settled in for board games and pie.

“Pie is the one thing I leave to the professionals,” Steve said. “I don’t know where the saying ‘easy as pie’ comes from but they were a damn liar.”

Claudia laughed. “The crust is easy enough, but it’s the baking it so the rim doesn’t burn before the rest of the pie is done that gets me every time.”

“It’s the filling for me,” Steve said. “It’s either dead cold in the center or a goopy melted mess.”

Eddie put his head on the palms of his hands and batted his eyelashes at Wayne. “Uncle, would you like to tell me why you didn’t offer to make your world famous apple pie? As in the one you have won literal awards for?”

Wayne froze. “What pie?”

Eddie continued to bat his eyelashes.

“Snitch,” he groused. “Because I wanted someone else to do the work for a change.”

“I brought gramma’s rolls,” Eddie countered. “You could have made one pie.”

Wayne sighed. He knew he had been defeated. “I’ll bring it for Christmas.” He glared at Eddie. “I can’t believe you sold me out like that.”

Eddie got up and kissed his uncle on the cheek. “Payback’s a bitch,” he whispered in his ear.

Wayne flushed, but didn’t say anything else. He knew Eddie was right.

Dustin turned to Eddie. “You come to Christmas too!”

Eddie and Steve shared a glance.

“Sure thing, bud,” was all Eddie said.

*

Chrissy came up behind Eddie having just gotten back from her brother’s house.

“You’re painting?” she asked. “I thought you had finished the piece for Steve.”

Eddie hummed in agreement. “I tried to get him to stop paying our bills when I told him I finished it, but he said the contract was for six months and while I had completed my side of the bargain, he hadn’t yet. He told me to just have fun until the end of the year. Goof off or work on my own passion projects.”

“That was sweet of him,” she said, wrapping her arms around him. “What are you painting?”

“Steve’s Christmas from me,” he answered. “His favorite dragon is a yellow chromatic dragon.”

“Aren’t they all evil?” she asked.

Eddie set down his paint brush and turned in his stool. “Did you ever see that Disney cartoon where knight and the dragon are having tea?”

Chrissy shrugged. “I vaguely remember that.”

“It’s going to be like that,” he said. “Instead of fighting the knight and the dragon are sitting down and having tea.”

“That’s cute!” she said. “He’ll love it.”

He blushed. “That’s the hope.”

***

Part 8

Don't be too hard on Uncle Wayne, it's hard being a single parent even if they've already moved out. He was stupid, but it wasn't malicious.

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[dearabby1990]

Chapter 41:The start of something new

The sound of gravel crunching beneath the limo tires as you all get closer to the lake. See Eddie thinks you’ve rented out a space for this special day when in all reality it’s being held on your very own new property when you purchased the property before breaking ground to build you made sure to buy enough space so that you & Eddie could literally do anything your hearts desire with the extra space. To the left of your new home is 20 acres that’s all yours loads of trees & hoping the pond & gazebo came out just as the contractor said it would on top of worrying that everything is decorated accordingly & that all is set. “Oh fuck!” Everyone looks at you “uh we gotta hide me somewhere or Eddie’s definitely gonna see me when the limo pulls up maybe someone can distract him while the rest of you huddle around?” Nancy puts her hand on your shoulder “Jamie don’t worry we got this it’s gonna go perfect” with a reassuring smile you nod you head in response as you pull into the driveway you see the boys and Eddie on the side lawn chatting before robin bolts out of the vehicle to be an obvious distraction “wow munson you clean up nice but I need you to follow me for a minute” “damn Buckley check you out hot stuff haha you look fkn great” she laughs slapping his arm “yeah right if you think I look good you’re gonna goto cardiac arrest seeing you’re bride because she looks smokin & if she wasn’t yours & she wasn’t my best friend you’d be a shit heap of trouble buddy” chuckling at each other deep in conversation the girls huddle around you as you all shuffle towards your new front door quickly getting inside before anyone could see. As you turn you hear a gasp you’re too afraid to turn “fuck please don’t tell me that’s Eddie” “no you’re in the clear it’s just gareth & dustin you turn & smile taking in how absolutely handsome they both look & knowing they’re doing it out of the pure love they have for both you & Eddie. Gareth gives you the most soft expression before stepping forward to engulf you into a hug “I told myself I wouldn’t cry but I can’t help it jame you’re like my sister… (hiccups) you look so beautiful” “thanks gare bear thank you for being here for us” he pulls back and smiles eyes tear stained & red as dustin approaches & you see that he’s crying too “aw dustin don’t cry bud” you wrap your arms around him “thank you” he looks at you confused “for?” “For always being there when it matters & for listening to Eddie & always staying true to yourself I love you like a little brother & I want the best for you too” he squeezes you before letting go “okay gare let’s go keep the dungeon master busy so we can get this thing started” you smile as they exit through the sliding back door. You peek out the window & it’s everything you could’ve wished for. Fairy lights covering every tree mason jars with candles inside surrounded by an array of lilies lantern lights & the 2 special lanterns you see burning beside two chairs there for a purpose it’s in memory of both of your mothers a way of having them there in spirit even making sure they had reserved seats out of love & respect. You feel a hand on your shoulder & hear a sniffle from behind you “well darlin I do believe your are the most beautiful bride I’ve ever laid eyes on you look like a pure angel” turning to see Wayne his blue eyes like sea glass brimming with tears “thank you Wayne & thank you for giving me away I really do appreciate it more then you’ll ever know” squeezing him “oh I know darlin that boy tells me everything about you because he loves you so much it’s how I knew you two were meant to be. There was never a woman to get that boy to settle down before you but when you showed up I seen change in him a beautiful one, one that reminds me of his mother more then ever & Elizabeth would’ve loved you I just know it but let’s get you married pretty lady I do believe it’s time to officially make you a Munson” you beam with pride linking arms heading towards everyone lining up at the back door.

The sounds of “I’ve seen all good people” by Yes softly plays as everyone starts slowly heading down the aisle of rose petals. In the front is Nancy & Gareth behind them is Rachel & Steve then Robin & Dustin they all end the aisle & step on their sides of the altar. You finally come into Eddie’s view the look of pure adoration on his face as a smile begins to grow across his features & yours too because his smile is so infectious. Halfway through walking you go to throw him a wink & see that he’s indeed crying & now you are thank goodness for waterproof makeup Wayne gets to the end with you before hopper speaks as your officiant “who hear gives this girl to Mr Edward Munson” Wayne smiles at you both “I do & you better not mess this up boy or I’ll whoop ya” he chuckles before taking a seat you & Eddie taking each others hands intertwining fingers he whispers “you look so beautiful sweetheart” you blush “speak for yourself munson you look like a dream love you handsome” “love you too” you smile at him scrunching your nose one of his favorites of your nervous habits. “We’re gathered here today to celebrate Eddie & Jamie & their holy union. Love is one of life’s most precious gifts & to find that in someone & want to have that with them for all eternity is something worth celebrating. Now they’ve gone ahead & written their own vows so with that being said Eddie take it away”. He pulls a folded up piece of paper from his suit jacket & clears his throat “before I met you I wasn’t even sure if Love was real let alone possible but the first time I laid eyes on you I could just feel that I’d be able to know what that was like if I could just get close to you your smile & laugh melting the thick layer of ice that was around my heart. It wasn’t easy by any means you definitely played hard to get but that’s the thing half the battle getting there I realized I wanted nothing else more in life then to be in your presence. From the moment I was able to feel what love from you was like I knew in my whole being I wouldn’t want that feeling with anyone else. You’re literally my reason you’re my rock I love you more then life itself & I’d give my life for you. I can’t wait to see what adventures we go on together make a home with you & grow old together I love you Jamie yesterday today tomorrow & for always” you squeeze his hand as Nancy hands you yours to read aloud “where do I begin…my beautiful Eddie before I met you I never knew what it was like to feel wanted truly wanted & loved & cared for. Losing my mom I had nothing left I felt like I was endlessly running to nowhere & then I met you & you gave me something to live for a reason for being & not only that but I’ve never in my life felt as safe as I do when I’m wrapped up in you. You Edward munson are an absolute angel & anyone who thinks otherwise it’s their loss not yours because they’re missing out on a once in a lifetime person. There’s nothing that makes me happier then seeing you smile, making you happy & loving you infinitely. I’d go through hell & high water to make sure you always feel that way & im so ready to take on life with you that’s my promise I give all of myself to you infinitely” hopper steps forward “does anyone here think that these two shouldn’t be wed speak now or forever hold your peace.. do you Edward Munson take Jamie Baker to be your lawfully wedded wife in sickness & in health for richer for poorer until death do you part?” “Fuck yeah I do!” Everyone laughs “Do you Jamie Baker take Edward Munson to be your lawfully wedded husband in sickness & in health for richer or poorer til death do you part?” “I do” “by the power invested in me by the state of Indiana I now pronounce you husband & wife you may now kiss the bride” & with that Eddie cups your face so gently like your gods most precious fragile gift softly pressing his lips to yours before really going for it & tilting you holding the small of your back tongues invited not needing an invitation as the crowd screams & whistles & dustin & Mike yell “GET A ROOM!”

[almightyellie]

butterflies

in which jake is annoying, but mostly, he's endearing.

author says kari look away, top gun content incoming :/ been a while since i wrote anything so who's to say if this is anything but it definitely exists! everyone say thank u mo for making sure this isn't the worst thing ever published <3

word count is 2.5k

title song is butterflies // kacey musgraves

jake seresin loves a challenge.

he always had; he was a competitive kid who had grown into a cutthroat man. once he set his sights on something, he didn’t know how to stop. it was an undeniable urge, an inward propulsion. he was a winner. he got what he wanted.

until you. you, so entirely unimpressed with him. he’s never met someone so unabashedly disinterested in his accomplishments; with such little experience in rejection, of course he takes it as a challenge.

you stand behind the bar, pushing out drinks and handling cash and listening to the rowdy conversation of the patrons. you’re almost busy enough to miss him making his way over to you. 

every time jake seresin steps up to your bar, you know you’re in for it. 

whether it’s a pickup line so bad that it makes you gag or a remark so smart that you might not even feel bad about cleaning his teeth off the bar, hangman has an amazing power to bring out the most visceral reactions in you. sometimes he infuriates you, but usually he’s just a slight nuisance. some nights, you even look forward jake’s teasing, not that you’d ever tell him. he certainly doesn’t need the ego boost. 

penny, for one, finds a great deal of entertainment watching seresin try and fail at flirting with you. such an accusation is silly, you always think. it was clear to anyone who watched that jake enjoyed getting under your skin, but it wasn’t flirting. no, he was just doing as he knew best: being annoying. 

even now, as he sidles up to the bar, you’re preparing yourself for whatever ridiculous thing jake was going to say next. “hi, beautiful.”

you don’t bother rolling your eyes anymore. with a quiet chuckle, you ask, “what can i get you, lieutenant?” 

“do i have my pick?”

brow arched, you put a hand on the bar. “don’t annoy me tonight, seresin.”

he beams. “darlin’, how else am i supposed to entertain myself?”

you begin grabbing his usual. he had been frequenting the bar long enough that you had his order (and all his pickup lines) memorized. “go annoy rooster,” you suggest.

“he’s not nearly as cute as you,” he drawls. 

sliding the bottle toward him on the bar, you lean in close. “go. away.”

jake throws his head back in a good-natured laugh, standing from the bar and turning around toward his buddies. you watch his retreating form, watching as he claps rooster on the shoulder and begins teasing him about his pool skills. he’s always such a charmer, whether he’s talking to you or his team. penny leans against the bar with you, nudging you with her elbow.

“he’s so cute.”

you bark out a laugh, entirely aware of the look jake sends over his shoulder, curious, and maybe a little jealous that someone else has made you laugh. “he’s a total cretin,” you respond. “but yeah, i guess he’s a little cute.”

penny giggles, shaking her head. he could get a little unbearable sometimes, but it was entirely obvious why. he was head over heels for you. penny had seen this over and over again working in the bar—and in her own relationships. there’s always some poor sap who’s too eager, too infatuated, that they’re willing to make a fool of themselves for someone else. hangman, as it it turned out, was not immune to making a fool of himself, all his charm aside. 

as much as you liked to complain, she wondered if maybe you kind of liked having his attention on you. she wouldn’t blame you if that were the case. she had enjoyed the attention of a few aviators herself. 

with a soft sigh, you stand straight. “he wearing you down yet?” penny smirks.

you reach for an empty bottle on the bar top, hiding your smile when you turn away from her. “you’d never hear the end of it from him if he had.”

there’s something in him that’s impossible to turn away from. maybe it’s the tiniest hint of southern charm, or the little glimpse at some actual humanity every once in a while, but for some reason, you can’t seem to find it in yourself to actually get annoyed with him. it doesn’t hurt that he’s not entirely unpleasant to look at. if you thought there was any weight to his advances, you might even accept, but you know hangman’s type. especially after starting at the hard deck, you’d met your fair share of charmers. 

jake watches you, ignoring the conversation happening between his friends. it was clear to everyone—including him—that he might have a little more luck with you if he weren’t so abrasive, so smug, so cocky. for now, though, he liked the game that you played. he liked the way you rolled your eyes, but sometimes couldn’t contain a tiny smile. he liked the rare laugh he managed to get out of you, and he liked that you always acted surprised at the tips he gave you. and, self-assured as he is, maybe he likes the safety of the game. if he was playing around, there was no need for you to reject him. there was no need to make it real.

it’s a truly perfect summer night. the bar is just empty enough that you and penny enjoy conversation, but the time doesn’t drag. in fact, it feels as though the night disappears through your fingers, between grabbing drinks and cleaning up after penny leaves. as the crowd begins to disperse, you glance over at the tables overrun by jake and his friends gathering their glasses and wallets.

hangman has looked better, you must admit, but he still musters a half-charming smile when he and rooster approach the bar. “have fun, boys?” you ask, hiding your smirk at jake’s normally slicked hair looking disheveled and messy.

he sits with a decisive nod. rooster claps a hand on his shoulder, sharing a knowing look with you. “keep him out of trouble for a minute, will you?”

you mock salute him. “yessir.” when rooster heads back to the table, you smile at jake. “you ready to close out your tab?”

“please,” he answers easily, voice thick. “thank you.”

“how very polite, lieutenant,” you chuckle, turning to the till.

while you’re closing out his tab, jake watches you silently. he spends a great deal of time watching you, but he’s just drunk enough to not bother to hide it. he heaves a quiet sigh, resting his chin on his folded arms, listening to your quiet humming, barely audible above the music still playing lowly.

the sight of him softens you slightly, your shoulders falling. you hate the bloom of affection in your chest, the unbearable weight of adoration that crushes you when he gives you the tiniest little smile you’ve ever seen. mindlessly, almost without realizing, you smile back.

“you’re so pretty,” he whispers, eyes heavy, and you grin with a shake of your head.

“thanks, charmer. you’re pretty, too.”

you plant your hands on the bar and he stares up at you. you’ve seen him truly drunk only a few times since the two of you met and he’s always so…pleasant. when sober, jake seresin is brash, arrogant, and more than a little obnoxious. he’s known to fan the flames of every mild annoyance until everyone around him is burning, but right now he looks like a little boy, and he’s frank like one too. it makes you wonder how he can even be the same person.

“when’re you gonna let me take you out?” he asks, and you scoff out a laugh. 

but his eyes are so serious—lit with a tiny smile, but still earnest, and you tilt you head. “seresin…”

and then rooster is right there, flanking the aviator at your bar, and you smile shakily at him. “c’mon, man. let’s get you home.”

jake turns to rooster with smug smile. “y/n and i are speaking, bradley.”

you chuckle and hand jake his card. rooster gives you a mischievous smile and then suggests, “maybe if you ask y/n really nicely, she’ll walk us out the car.”

“thanks, rooster,” you murmur, rolling your eyes jovially. you know now that jake has heard the idea, he won’t let it go, so you wipe your hands on your jeans before making your way out from behind the bar. jake leans his weight against rooster, and you fold your arms across your chest, walking steadily beside them.

rooster looks over jake’s head to sneak a peek at you. “you two were getting a little cozy at the bar.”

“oh, were we?” you asked, looking over at him. “standing five feet apart?”

he laughs. the coastal night air washes over the three of you when you open the door. “close enough for me, gorgeous,” jake butts in, and you huff out an indignant chuckle.

“i’m sure it is, big guy.”

“okay, charmer,” rooster rolls his eyes, fishing his keys out of his pocket. “get in the car.”

he opens the door for jake, who turns to look at you, his eye dropping in a slow wink, and you tamp down a smile; it’s so typical of jake to still be flirting when he can’t keep his eyes straight, and even still, it’s near impossible to resist. “get in the car, seresin.”

“i’ll see you soon.”

rooster barks out a laugh and forces jake in the car himself, closing the door on him after a stern insistence to put on his seatbelt. “you’ve got to get sick of him.”

you watch jake fumble with his seatbelt through the window, and you smirk softly. “it’s kind of cute.” rooster gapes at you, and you feel your ears heat, pushing his chest gently. “shut up.”

“i’m just…surprised,” he responds, affable. “good surprised. i think you two would be great together.”

your eyes dance with mirth at rooster and you offer a shake of your head. “really?”

he shrugs. “you know how he is when it comes to you.”

did you? you thought you had, but you’ve begun to second-guess your first judgment on hangman. the idea of all of jake’s teasing coming from a place of honesty makes your heart beat just a touch faster, makes you look at him a little softer. makes you feel a little sweeter. “yeah,” you whisper, staring past rooster to look into the bronco. you don’t know, but you think you’re beginning to.

the case of smirnoff is too heavy for you to carry on your own, and penny knows this; every shipment day is free entertainment for her, watching you struggle to carry cases inside until she finally grants you with her help. you hear the back door swing open behind you and you huff, the summer air making the back of your neck sticky. “uncle, penny, uncle. i’m giving up.”

“so easy?”

you shriek in surprise, spinning around to look at jake. he laughs, tucking a free hand in his pocket. “jesus, jake.”

your eyes zero in on the small bouquet of flowers in his hand when he says, “i’m sorry, sweetheart. i really didn’t mean to startle you.”

“s’okay,” you exhale sharply, squinting under the sun. 

he nods at the case. “y’want some help with that?”

you grunt, kicking the case gently. “no, but it’s sweet of you to offer.” his pleased little smile makes your physical struggle and embarrassment worth it. “what’re you doing here? you’re about—” you facetiously look at your watch and jake smirks, raising a brow. “six hours early.”

flowers rustle in his hand as he takes a few tentative steps toward you. “rooster told me i was a little unbearable last night,” he admits, smiling softly at you. “i wanted to apologize if i came on too strong. or made you uncomfortable in any way.”

you smile at him, unable to tear your eyes from his. “i think we both know that you’re in the business of coming on too strong.” you accept the flowers when he holds them out to you, your stomach flipping when he gives you a grin so pretty that you have to look away. “but thank you. i really appreciate the gesture.”

jake nods once, sticking his other hand in his pocket, and all of a sudden you’re feeling shy. you know now that this, whatever he’s doing, is real. if teasing was all it was, there wouldn’t be flowers in your hand. jake wouldn’t be standing in front of you, clean-cut despite his almost guaranteed hangover. you feel a rush of adoration, a feeling you’re becoming increasingly familiar with.

“well, i guess i’ll let you—“

“hey, can i ask you something?” you ask, cutting him off. he raises a brow, urging you to continue, and you purse your lips for a moment. “why do you do that? flirt with me like that?”

he stares at you in surprise for a moment, his mouth opening and closing before he finally settles on, “you really don’t know?”

and you suspect you already know the answer, but it’s easier—and less dangerous—to play coy, so you return, “know what?”

jake says your name so softly, like it’s sacred. “because—because i like you.” 

and it’s juvenile. it’s so silly, how such simple words make your entire body burn, but you can’t find it in yourself to care. you can’t even find it in yourself to suppress the smile that splits your face. “oh.”

he chuckles, tilting his head just slightly in surprise. “you really didn’t know?”

“i thought you were just…like that,” you admit, shoulder lifting in a tiny shrug. he throws his head back in a loud laugh, hand pressing against his abdomen. 

“sweetheart, you are so clueless.”

yes, you are. you really are, but you don’t mind one bit, because the way he looks at you, a soft mixture of wonder and pure affection. that look is going to be burned into your subconscious for the rest of your life. in fifty years, you’ll pull this memory out on a cold day and you’ll remember how the sun beating down on you still wasn’t as warm as the look he gave you. you’ll remember it perfectly.

“if you like me so much, why haven’t you asked me out?” you ask quietly, and he purses his lips.

“do you want me to?”

you hadn’t, not before. not really. but now it seems like a foolish question for him to ask. can’t he see you? the way you look at him?

“do you want to?”

jake rolls his eyes and wraps an arm around your waist. “clueless, sugar.” and then he’s kissing you, one hand on your waist and the other cupping your cheek. you melt into him, entirely consumed by jake seresin. it’s so perfectly natural, the way you lean into him, the way he smiles against your mouth, the way you wrap an arm around his shoulders. 

and the rest is history, he always says, but you think that’s too clean. too brief. 

you like the long version better.

[fernweh-writes]

Hey hi hello!! I am in love with all of your slasher content!! (I may or may not have been stalking your page all day 😂)

Could I request the slashers (especially Michael 😘) with an s/o who is constantly cold?

Thank you!!! 🎉

I live in Georgia where it’s hotter than Hades and still freeze to death. Probably cause my family keeps the thermostat set on 65… but regardless my hands and feet are always freezing and that’s on poor circulation

-Fern🌿

S/O Who Stays Cold

Michael Myers

He produces plenty of heat but is very stingy with his warmth.

Michael is not big on cuddling, or touch of any kind for that matter. So it’s very rare that he actually let’s you cuddle up to him and steal some of his warmth. Usually he only allows it when you begin to shiver because when you’re that cold you get upset easily and he doesn’t like that.

He will make you a fire in the fireplace though in an attempt to keep you warm. Sadly since he is a human space heater this does also mean the fire makes the house to hot for him to stick around. But don’t worry he’ll just go about his murder things and let you keep warm.

Seeing you asleep on the ground by the fireplace with blankets wrapped around you is enough to make him cave in. You’re asleep anyways so it’s not like you’re going to notice him carrying you upstairs and tucking you in while he wraps himself around you to keep you warm…

Bo Sinclair

“We’re in Louisiana darlin’ there ain’t no such thing as cold”

Bo doesn’t understand how you can be cold in Ambrose. The place is so hot and humid and the air in the old house ain’t all that great. Not to mention, the summers are absolutely brutal. Seeing you walk around bundled up confuses the fuck out of him.

He likes to act like you’re just playing it up for attention. “Now darlin’ if you want me to hold ya all you gotta do is ask.” But he knows that you can’t fake shivering.

At night he pulls you so close to him you’d think he was trying to keep you from escaping. As much as he enjoys holding you close it’s best to keep your cold feet off of him or else he’ll get grumpy.

Vincent Sinclair

If you stay cold then Vincent will be your favorite person ever. Living with him you will not know what cold is!

With all the candles and the fire, Vincent’s workshop is always very warm and cozy. Plus he’s more than okay with letting you bundle up in the blankets on his bed if you want to be warmer.

He’s also more than happy to lend you on of his sweaters! After all he has plenty of them, hope you don’t mind some little spots of wax on them though. Plus he thinks the way they engulf you is adorable.

Need a cuddle buddy in order to keep warm? No problem! Cuddling with Vincent is a great way to stay warm seeing as he loves having you close. If he is busy then you can always coax Jonesy onto the bed with you. Of course you have to give her attention to make her stay, but the same can be said for Vincent.

Thomas Hewitt

This man is a human heater and no one can change my mind. He is large, warm, perfect for cuddling. 100% husband material right there.

Unlike some of the other slashers he is not stingy with his warmth. Thomas adores being able to spend time with you and just hold you close to him. Keeping you warm by cuddling you is so intimate and innocent and he loves it.

Would probably enjoy the fact you stay cold. Your cold hands and feet are very appreciated by him actually. The Texas heat is atrocious and your cold skin offers him some temporary relief from the inescapable heat. Plus you get to be warm so really it’s a win win situation here.

Will also smother you with blankets when you get cold in the winter. The old house doesn’t stay heated very easily, the only source of warmth being the fire place. Luckily Thomas has less work to do in the winter, which means you can cling to him for warmth all that you want!

Brahms Heelshire

Oh you’re cold? Here take his sweater! He won’t admit that he stole yours and cuddled with it within the walls and he’s not going to give it back so you can just borrow his.

Brahms is very clingy. Like needs to be attached to your hip 24/7 clingy. So of course he’s always down to cuddle in order to keep you warm.

Might even start turning the thermostat down to get you to seek him out and hold him. That or he will start claiming that he’s cold and he always keeps you warm so it’s only fair that you do the same for him. In other words, he takes advantage of your inability to stay warm.

Brahms also likes to wrap you up in blankets and cuddle with you by the fireplace on rainy days. The rain can make the old mansion even colder than usual. Luckily for Brahms, it rains pretty often!

Billy Loomis

If you put your cold ass feet on him he’s going to be very upset. Billy will 100% make a scene if you try it, don’t test him. Especially on movie night, he can’t focus on his horror movies when your cold limbs are trying to steal his warmth.

Will lend you his comfortable warm clothes though. He may have a bunch of the same white shirts but he has some hoodies and sweatpants buried somewhere in his room. Good luck finding them though because he’s not helping.

Good luck trying to get him to cuddle with you after putting your cold hands on him. You lost that privilege when you wouldn’t keep your hands and feet to yourself. He’ll still get up and get you blankets but he complains about it the whole time.

We all know this boy loves to sneak in windows so you can expect some surprise visits at night. If you complain about being cold, he will tuck you in before he leaves so the warmth can’t escape. Billy can be sweet sometimes.

Stu Macher

Oh you’re cold? Here take his sweater! Stu loves seeing you wear his clothes, it just does something for him. He thinks they look better on you and encourages you to raid his closet whenever you please. He thinks it’s cute seeing you walk around in his clothes that pretty much swallow you whole.

This boy will buy you so many blankets! Stu likes to make forts out of them with you so to him they’re a worthy investment. Plus he knows you’ll pile multiple blankets on top of you, so they all get used.

Stu is very physically affectionate. I think it’s safe to say that touch is his love language. So you already know that he’s always down to cuddle with you to help you keep warm. Unlike Billy, he doesn’t mind your cold hands. Let him hold them to warm them up for you!

Asa Emory

He has plenty of warm clothes for you to steal. Surprisingly, he doesn’t mind if you borrow his clothes, as long as you give them back. Also just try not to take anything he plans on wearing either or he’ll get a little upset. Likes the way his clothes smell like you when you give them back.

Asa is away most of the time which means you have free reign over the thermostat in the house. Just know that as soon as Asa gets home he’s turning it back down though. It’s not like you need to keep the house 100° when he’s around.

Once Asa is comfortable with you I believe that he likes for you to be affectionate with him. He may not reciprocate the touch much, but he definitely enjoys it. So when you wrap yourself around him to steal his warmth he’s not going to complain!

Jesse Cromeans

Buys you only the highest quality of blankets to keep you warm. This includes only the best heated and weighted blankets as well. However he refuses to put a thick comforter on the bed. Why would you need one anyways, you have him?

Jesse hates that he can’t always be there. His business trips can keep him away anywhere from weeks to months at a time. But when he returns he always makes up for it and makes sure to keep you warm at night.

There isn’t any reason for you to raid his closet. After all, he buys you more clothes than you could ever want anyways. But still, he thinks it’s cute when you do and loves the way you insist his clothes are just warmer and comfier as an excuse to keep them.

[rebelwrites]

You Don’t Know Her Like I Did

Jax Teller x Reader 

Text in bold is present day and the rest is memories

Warnings Death

That day would stay with Jax until the day he died. The day his world finally crumbled, the day his life changed forever. The boisterous, loud mouth biker everyone knew had gone and had been replaced with a quiet, lost biker. He remembered the day like it was only yesterday, the one call that broke the untouchable Jackson Teller.

Leaning against his bike, he felt his phone ring for a millionth time. Pulling it out of his pocket he saw all the missed calls from his mom. Hitting call he pulled the phone to his ear whilst he lit a cigarette.

“Mom you know I’m on a run” he sighed.

“I know I’m sorry son but this is important” she sighed, by the tone in his moms voice he knew something was wrong, something had happened.

“What’s wrong?”

“There’s been an accident” Gemma said shakily. “It’s Y/N”

Instantly he felt sick, panic ran through his veins at the thought of his old lady hurt.

“I’m on my way”

Shoving the phone back in his pocket and tossing the half smoked cigarette in the mud he squeezed the throttle, racing home to his baby girl. He was at least two hours away from home yet he managed to get home within the hour, not caring about breaking the speed limits.

His feet pounded the floors of the hospital as he made his way to you. His heart shattered into a million pieces when he saw you laying in the hospital bed, cuts and bruises littering your soft skin. Tubes and wires keeping you breathing.

“What happened” he breathed sitting by your side taking your hand in his.

“A lorry ran a red light” Gemma said her voice barley a whisper. “Jax the doctors are saying it’s not good. We could, she might” she was unable to say the words but he knew what she was saying.

Brushing his fingers over your cheeks, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Come on princess” he sobbed “just open then beautiful eyes for me. Please”

The only sound in the room was the steady beep of the heart rate monitor that was until the door opened, making Jax glance up to see who was entering the room.

“Sorry Jackie Boy” Chibs sighed “This one wants their daddy”

“Daddy” Harry said squirming in Chib’s arms before he place him on his feet and he ran into Jax’s arms.

Picking his son up, holding him tight in his arms he placed a long kiss on the crown of his head.

“Is mommy going to be okay” He asked as he played with the bullet hanging round Jax’s neck.

“I don’t know buddy” Jax sighed not wanting to lie to the 4 year old. “Mommy isn’t well baby, but no matter what happens I need to remember that she loves you so much”

A couple of hours had passed and nothing had changed.

“Okay Mr Teller, we are going to bring Y/N out of the coma and the rest will be up to her, unfortunately there isn’t much we can do at this stage” The doctor said softly as he did whatever he needed to do to wake you.

Jax watched intently as your eyes fluttered open, one look in them he knew things wasn’t good, the twinkle you normally had, was gone. He knew it was only a matter of time.

“My prince charming” You said, voice horse and not much more than a whisper.

“Mommy” Harry grinned trying to clamber into your arms.

“Buddy be careful with mommy okay” Jax whispered placing your son on the bed, watching as he snuggled into your side.

“Where does it hurt momma” Harry said placing his tiny hand on top of yours “You say kisses make everything better”

Jax thought he had no more tears to shed until Harry spoke.

“I don’t think kisses are going to work this time baby” You whispered using all your strength to hold your son tight, taking in his scent.

You and Jax knew this was the end, your body was shutting down and there wasn’t a thing anyone could do to stop it.

“Jax” You whispered looking at your husband who was trying to squeeze himself onto the tiny hospital bed.

“I know baby I know” He sighed kissing your lips softly, like you was made of glass.

“Look after our baby” You whispered tears streaming down your face as you felt yourself getting weaker. “Look after yourself, raise our son to be an amazing man like you”

“Baby I don’t want to let go” He sobbed into your hair.

“I know but you have to” You sobbed “Just remember I will always love you, you will always be my outlaw prince” Leaning down you placed a kiss on your sons head “my baby boy, I will always love you even when I am not here”

“Momma I love you too” Harry said looking up at your with his big blue eyes full of innocence.

“I love you” You said, your voice getting weaker.

Jax knew what was coming, he knew it was time.

“I love you to baby girl” He sobbed placing one last kiss on your lips, resting his forehead on yours, he watched your eyes close, a smile on your face as the monitor beside you stopped beating constantly and was now just one long beep.

Leaning against the bar, nursing the bottle of Jack, Jax felt a hand on his back. It had been 6 months since the worst day of his life, he had hardly been home, hardly seen his son. Just spent his days at the club.

“Maybe talking to someone will help Jax” Chibs said lowly.

“Don’t really feel like talking” Jax grunted “She’s gone and I feel it might just be too much to bear if I spoke about that day”

After a moment of silence Jax spoke again.

“You’ll never understand, no one will, you don’t know what we’ve been through. That girl’s my best friend and there’s no way you or anyone else is gonna be able to help me. She’s the only one who can and she’s gone” Jax said as hot tears rolled down his cheeks as he held onto his chain that now contained your wedding and engagement ring alongside the bullet. “Chibs, I can’t forget that day, no matter what I do and I feel like I’m drowning in all these memories. Our whole life together is replaying in my head”

The day you walked into the lot of Teller-Morrow, Jax knew his life was gonna change.

“Isn’t that Y/N Y/L/N?” Opie asked making Jax look up. “Yeah man, Jheeze not seen her since we dropped out of school” Jax said wiping his hands on the rag before sauntering over your you.

Jax had the biggest crush on you during his school years yet for some reason never had the balls to ask you out.

“Well I didn’t think I’d see you back in charming darlin’” Jax smirked.

“Fuck me, if it isn’t the famous Jax Teller” you laughed as he gave you a hug.

“But seriously what you doing in charming” Jax nodded offering a cigarette which you accepted, he noticed straight away you wore no wedding band “thought you’d be married to some pompous prick”

“I guess you are half right on that” you laughed pushing smoke out your nose “I dated a pompous prick but all the money in the world wouldn’t make me to go back to that life style. The bastard had an issue with me riding and how I dress so I left his sorry ass”

“Jheeze, guess you can take the girl out of charming but can’t take charming out the girl” Jax smirked “What can we do for ya”

“New tyres for the beast” you laughed nodding your head to the bike parked at your side.

Jax couldn’t help but smile as he watched you catch up with Opie, you had changed a lot since school, and definitely more women now, you wasn’t the skinniest person with your well defined hourglass figure, he couldn’t help himself as his eyes trailed your body, the ripped jeans hugging your curves, the vest stop revealing the perfect amount of cleavage, the battered leather bomber jacket was like a second skin, your hair pulled into a simple pony tail, cigarette hanging out your mouth. Jax was infatuated.

As he walked closer he overheard your conversation with Opie as you sat on top of the bench.

“He just couldn’t handle the fact I’m not who I was in school” you laughed.

Back in the day you were a straight A student Daddy’s little girl" Jax smirked making you roll your eyes.

“Maybe I just want a bad boy” you shrugged smirking as you saw Jax’s breathing hitch.

There was only one person that knew you had always crushed on Jax and that was Opie.

“I’m gonna sort your bike out” he nodded leaving you and Jax alone.

“If you want a bad boy then baby you got it” Jax winked “I’ll take you to the wrong side of the tracks”

After about half an hour Opie tossed your keys to you.

“So what do I owe you” you said pulling a wad of cash out your leather jacket.

“Put you cash away women” Jax laughed putting his arm around your shoulders “I think letting me take you on a date will be enough payment”

“And I can’t cope, it’s another death inside the family. It’s like she stole my way to breathe” Jax said playing with his wedding band. He could tell by the look on Tig’s face what he was going to say so Jax held his hand out stopping the words escaping his lips “Don’t try to tell me it stops hurting, don’t try to tell me she ain’t worth it”

The sound of little feet running along the hard wood floor of the club made Jax look up from the bottle. Reaching down he pulled Harry onto his knee.

“Daddy please don’t cry” Harry said standing on Jax’s knee wiping the tears from his eyes. “Momma wouldn’t want you crying”

“I know baby” Jax sighed kissing Harry’s head

“Are you coming home tonight?” Harry asked as he sat on the bar resting his feet on Jax’s stomach.

“I don’t know buddy” Jax said ruffling his sons hair.

“Pwease daddy” Harry said looking up through his eyelashes at him, tears filling his eyes “I miss momma too but you are never home anymore”

“I’m proud to be in the bad news crowd. The one my mama warned me about. The closest thing to hell she’s ever raised” you winked at Jax as you threw you leg over your bike “you coming baby”

“I’d go anywhere with you” Jax smirked placing his hand on your upper thigh, eyes full of lust.

“Come on then big boy let go bend the law and break some laws” you giggled placing a cigarette between your lips.

“Mmmm there’s other things we could do” Jax smirked running his finger across the top of your boobs.

“Maybe I’d let you do me on your bike” you whispered in his ear biting your lip causing him to growl.

“Grandma said we can order pizza tonight daddy” Harry grinned.

“That’s great” Jax nodded no emotion in his voice.

“Come on Harry” Chibs said picking him up and placing him on the floor. “Go find uncle Hap and annoy him”

As soon as Harry had ran off to find Happy, Chibs places a firm hand on Jax’s shoulder. Squeezing him tight.

“Right you listen here Jackie boy” Chibs said, his tone firm “you have a gorgeous son that’s trying so fucking hard to get his daddy’s attention and you are shutting him out, just like everyone else”

“Come back to me when you lose a wife” Jax scoffed.

“That shit don’t wash with me and you know it” Chibs snapped. Someone needed to be firm with him. “You aren’t the only one that is hurting. Everyday I find Harry just sat on the swing crying. The little lad is trying to be strong for his daddy”

“I swear you two was baptized in dirty water, by the hands of the devil himself, between the banks of a Whiskey River, beside the Highway to Hell” Opie laughed as he passed you and Jax a beer. “You are like the perfect match for each other”

Tonight was a massive celebration for your and Jax engagement, you was currently sat on Jax’s knee, his arm round your waist whilst your arms was tangled in his hair.

“Girl you got an outlaw. Ready to lay down all my guns. A dirty old hound dog. Learning new tricks like cuddlin’ up. You’ve got a hellcat purrin’ like a kitten. You’ve got a sinner down on his knees. It had to be hell on an angel. Lovin’ the devil outta me” Jax’s whispered as he kissed on along your jaw.

“Jax baby, we can’t dip out just yet” you giggled feeling full affect of the weed and whiskey.

“I will be quick” he smirked “promise”

“Fine” you giggled “show me a good time Teller”

“With pleasure princess” he said placing his hands under your ass as he carried you to his dorm room.

“I don’t have to sit here and take this shit” Jax snapped storming out of the club.

He threw his leg over his bike and sped off to the cemetery. The one place his brother wouldn’t nag him, the one place he could think.

Soon enough he was now sat in front of your grave.

“I’ve got too many I care about in this fucking place” jax sighed as he lit a smoke. “Babygirl I’m struggling, I really am. I don’t know what to do”

“It still amazes me even to this day how you got my every flaw, my rebel heart, every tattoo, every scar and still loved the outlaw in me” Jax whispered as a tear rolled down his cheek. “I know everyone is probably thinking I should be moving on with my life right now but right now I can’t, they didn’t know you like it did baby girl, they don’t really know how I’m struggling to live without you, I’ve hardly spent time with Harry and I know if you was here you be kicking my ass right now”

“Thought I’d find you here baby” Gemma said sitting on the grass next to Jax placing a soft kiss on his head.

“How did you do it Ma?” Jax asked tears clouding his vision “how did you carry on after JT died and continued to raise me?”

“I didn’t shut family out baby” she whispered taking his hand on hers “I leant on the club, I know you are hurting baby but you actions are hurting that gorgeous little boy of yours. He asked me today if you always be this sad”

“I don’t know what to do Ma” Jax sighed.

“Take some time off, let Chibs lead the club for a bit and spend some time with your son” she smiled softly “he lost his momma too and needs his daddy so much. I know things may seem dark right now and like there is no way up but the one thing that got me through my grief was you. You was the strength I needed to carry on every day”

“Daddy” a little voice shouted.

“Sorry Gem” Rat sighed panting slightly.

“It’s okay” she nodded.

Harry climbed into Jax’s lap, snuggling into his chest.

“I’m sorry son” he sighed burrying in face into his sons blonde hair “I know I’ve not been a good daddy recently, in fact I’m sorry for a lot of things”

“Daddy I don’t want you to be sad” Harry said placing his tiny hand against Jax’s cheek.

“I know buddy” Jax whispered wrapping his arms around him.

The two of them just sat there not saying anything, Gemma was right, the only way he would start to try and mean his heart was from the love from the 4 year old snuggled into his chest.

[electronicgrowth]

Can’t Get Enough Part 8

The two most stubborn people in Knockemstiff, Ohio have eyes for only each other. Lee Bodecker is determined to become the town’s next sheriff. He knows that image is everything. Billie Dechswaan doesn’t care about her image at all. All she wants is to leave Knockemstiff and never come back. But Lee has other plans for her. Both are far too stubborn to give up their own plans. What happens when they can’t get enough of each other? 

A/N: So, this is a long one. If I’m honest, I’ve lost a lot of my vigor for this story. I still have quite a bit of story written, so maybe I’ll find the inspiration again. But if I’m totally honest.... I’m wildly depressed. Like barely functioning. I’m going to keep posting what I already have written, but I’m not sure if I’ll finish what I had initially planned out. 

That day started like any other for Lee Bodecker. He awoke with a headache. A consequence of drinking too much the night before. He peeled himself out of his bed, before stumbling to the bathroom for a shower. He was disappointed. Nearly a week since John passed and Billie had yet to show her face. Maybe she didn’t care. Maybe she really had cut off all contact with her family. Maybe she even found a new guy and had already given him a whole bunch of babies. 

The last thought made Lee feel nauseous. And not in the hangover kind of way. 

After the shower, Lee shaved. He may feel like a mess but he couldn’t show it. Then he proceeded to pick up the beer bottles from the counter and dispose of them. He liked the house clean when he got home. Even if he just proceeded to make the same mess all over again. 

He made his way to work. Nobody at the station greeted him. It was a well-known fact that Sheriff Bodecker was not a morning person. Lee was able to enjoy two cups of coffee while he did some paperwork. The morning passed without incident. Miss Edna, the receptionist came in at exactly noon with more paperwork for Lee, a fresh cup of coffee and a sandwich. She’d worked at the station for 30 years. And no matter who the sheriff was, she always made him a sandwich for lunch. Edna was the glue that kept the station running. No one dared talk back to her, not even Lee.

After lunch, Tim Mitchell rushed into Lee’s office. Not even stopping at his desk. 

“You alright, Mitchell?” Lee asked the deputy. 

“Yes sir,” he responded, “Thought you’d wanna know I dropped Sylvie and the baby off at her mama’s house this morning.”

“Why would I need to know that?” Lee hissed. 

“Joy had a vistor. One I think you would be very interested in seeing.” 

“Billie?” Could it be? Lee didn’t dare let himself hope.

“Yes, but I think the person with her might be of more interest to you.” 

A husband? A boyfriend?

“Just spit it out,” Lee groaned in annoyance. 

“Billie had a little girl with her,” Tim answered, “She’s probably about four. Thought you’d wanna know.” 

Lee was shocked. So, that letter Billie had sent him about losing the baby wasn’t true after all. A four-year-old. She had to be Lee’s. That meant that Lee was a father. Of a child. Not a baby. He was utterly gobsmacked. 

“Thank you, Mitchell,” he dismissed. Mitchell nodded before exiting the office. Lee took a moment, not to collect his thoughts, no. A moment to collect his jacket and run out the door to tell the undersheriff that he was leaving and not to disturb him. Lee sped to the Dechswaan farm. He broke every traffic law. It was a good thing that he was sheriff. 

He practically ran from his car to the door. Lee proceeded to pound on the door with his fist four times. Not caring if he was rude. He was here for something that belonged to him. 

She opened the door as Lee resumed his pounding. He looked shocked that she’d open the door. Almost like he didn’t believe she was really here. He was dressed in his sheriff’s uniform. He’d gained a bit of weight since she last saw him, he was still handsome though. And Lee surveyed how much curvier Billie was too. She really looked like a woman.

“Let’s go for a walk, Lee,” she said before he could speak. She closed the door and walked down the porch. She marched through the yard, arms crossed. He followed silently, he was fuming. And yet, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. The way she swayed as she walked. Lee let her lead him all the way to the barn before saying anything. 

“Okay, talk,” he commanded. 

“What do you want me to say?” Billie asked, turning to him but keeping her distance from him.

“Tim said you had a little girl with ya,” Lee accused. 

“I do. My daughter.”

“How old is she?”

“Four.” 

Lee nodded and tenses his jaw, “So, she’s mine then?” 

“Yeah,” Billie conceded, no emotion on her beautiful face. 

“Why? Why didn’t you tell me? You said you miscarried,” Lee muttered, feeling betrayed. 

“Because you are a steamroller. And heaven help anyone who gets in your way, Lee. I wasn’t about to let you take away all my options. I owed it to myself to try my hand in New York.” Her face was scrunching up in angry. 

“And you owed it to me to tell me about my kid!” 

“You think I don’t know that? I regret it everyday, but I can’t take back the past now!” She shouted. 

“That’s it? That’s all you regret?” Lee countered, stepping closer to her.

“Of course not,” Billie scoffs, rolling her eyes and turning away from Lee. But he was quick to grab her, pull her back towards him. 

“What then? What do you regret,” he growls, his face just inches from hers. Her eyes flicked down to his lips. She swayed closer. Lee thought, for just a moment, that she might try to kiss him. But she regained her composure and met his eyes once again.

“Alright, you listen here Lee Bodecker. I’m only gonna say this once,” she begins quietly, “I was wrong. And you were right. I should never have left. And I’m sorry.” 

“Oh, sugar,” Lee laughs bitterly, releasing his grip on her arm, “I’m definitely gonna make you say that all again.” 

Billie crosses her arms, and smirks at him. 

“I knew you’d say that,” she says, “Good thing I’m prepared to beg.” He’s shocked at her tone, she’s toying with him. She knows just what buttons to push to get him right where she wants him. He knows he’ll be putty in her hands soon enough, he’ll give her anything she asks for. But she deserves a little punishment for all the years he was forced to live without her.

“And why was it a mistake, sugar?” He coaxes. 

“There are a lot of reasons it was a mistake,” she counters, looking at her hands, picking at her cuticles. 

“Tell me,” Lee demands. 

“Well, no one in New York wants some hick with an accent teaching their kids. I got a useless degree. And I surely know how to pick my men. The first boy I ever went on a date with tried to rape me months later with his buddies. You got me pregnant on purpose. And the one I dated to try and forget you used me as his personal punching bag.”

“He hit you?” 

“It’s been awful, Lee. I-I can’t do anything right. I always think I’m making the right decision, but it’s always the wrong one. And if you want me to say it then I will. I’m at rock bottom. And I shouldn’t have left you,” she murmurs. 

“Why?” Lee challenges. 

“You know why.” 

“No, tell me.”

“The biggest mistake was thinking I could stay away from you. But don’t think for one minute that it’s because I need you.”

“Then why can’t you stay away if you don’t need me,” Lee narrows his eyes. 

“B-because I love you,” she mutters the sentence so quietly Lee almost couldn’t hear her. 

“You love me?” He smirks. 

“Yeah,” she shakes her head. 

“Alright darlin’. I’m gonna tell you how this will go.”

“Alright.” 

“We’re going to the courthouse tonight and making this official. I don’t care if I have to haul the judge in myself. When people ask, we’ll say we reconnected recently and decided to keep it small given the circumstances.” 

“Just like I said, you’re a steamroller,” Billie chuckled, “You think you have all the power. But I know what you’ve been doing here.”

“Oh yeah,” Lee challenged, “What have I been doing?”

“I heard all about Sandy and Carl, and you killing Leroy Brown and you taking bribes,” Billie spat. 

“Well, we’ve both made mistakes. I’ve only done what I’ve done for you. To provide for you. I take those bribes because it makes me more money,” Lee yelled. 

“And you got yourself in some hot water in the process. I heard you even fucking got shot. Do you know what that was like for me? I nearly came home when I heard that, I thought you were going to die. You need to be more careful Lee,” Billie shot back.

Billie realized that she had Lee right where she wanted him. He was her ticket away from Larry. He was more than capable of protecting her from that bastard. And she’d be lying if she said she didn’t want him. Billie walked forward to Lee and pushed him up against the side of the barn. She looked up at him with her big doe eyes. 

“Do you love me, Lee?” She asked, pressing her body against his. 

“Do you love me?” He countered, suspicious of her. 

“I do. I really love you,” she whispered, her hands rubbing down his chest and stomach until she cupped his cock through his pants, “So, let me tell you how this is gonna go. We’ll go to the courthouse when I’m ready. You’re not going to punish me for leaving even though I know you really want to.” She undoes his belt and pants, her hand slips into his underwear and she grips his cock, slowly jacking him off. His head lolls back to hit the barn wall. “You are going to be more careful going forward. No fights that involve guns. You are not getting shot again. Because you’re gonna have a wife and a baby that need you.” Lee groans, eyes shut, enjoying her hands on him for the first time in five years. “I’ll let you fuck me raw. Let you get me pregnant again. I’ll give you all the babies you want. I bet you would like that wouldn’t you, honey?” Lee nods pathetically. Her hand is moving up and down his length at a brutal pace, Lee jerks his hips, chasing the pleasure. “But you have to protect me. And you’re going to give me anything I want.” Billie leans up and licks Lee’s neck. “You’ll give me a nice house and pretty dresses. And I’ll just be at home all day, dripping for you. Waiting for you to come home and fuck me so good. Keep me full of you. Don’t you wanna be inside me, Lee?” Lee groans loudly. Billie sucks a hickey into Lee’s neck, and forces his lips down to meet hers. “I’m gonna help you become mayor one day, so just tell me you love me. And I can make all that happen for ya.” 

“Shit, baby. I love you so fucking much,” Lee grunts, his arms locking Billie against him, “Don’t leave me again.” 

“I promise I won’t,” she gasped, as she started to get down on her knees, but Lee grabbed her elbow and kept her upright. He grabbed her and slammed her against the barn. He caged her in and caught her lips. He holds onto her waist like he may never let her go. Her tongue is everywhere. It’s becomes clear to Lee that Billie is just as desperate for him as he is for her. Billie pulls away, panting for air and stares into Lee’s eyes. All he can see is how much she loves him, and he wonders if she sees the same thing in his eyes. He bends down to pick her up, her legs wrap around him. With one arm he holds her up, with the other he moves her panties to the side and grips his cock, preparing to plunge inside her. He rubs his length against her slit for a moment. Then rapidly shoves himself inside. He’s brutally fucking into her and she’s a mess. Desperate for anything he’ll give her. 

“Lee,” she whined. He smirked. 

“You like that baby?” he teased. She nodded. 

“You feel so good,” she cried, her head lolled back to hit the wall of the barn. Lee can see in her eyes that she’s totally lost in pleasure. Her eyes are unfocused and glazed over. He continues to pummel in and out of her.

“Did he fuck you like this?” He growled into her neck.

“He never fucked me,” she moaned, “I wouldn’t let him.”

“Why?” He teased.

“B-because….” 

“Because why?” He was just being cruel trying to get coherent answers at of her at this moment.

“Because I only ever wanted you.” If there was one sentence that ever made Lee’s cock so hard and warmed his heart so much it was that sentence. 

“Honey,” he murmured forcing her to pay attention to him, slowing his thrusts, “tell me that you love me.” 

“I love you so much, Lee,” she sobbed. 

“You gonna cum, honey?” He asked. 

“Yes.” 

“Play with your clit,” he demands. Billie is quick to comply. Her fingers skate down between them to find her clit and she rubs circles against herself. Lee speeds up again. 

“What do you want, baby?” 

“I want your cum, Lee. Please give it to me.” Lee wasn’t about to leave his girl hanging, as soon as she begins to tighten around him, he lets himself go. He comes inside her with a grunt of her name. She’s quick to follow, letting out a high pitched shriek. 

He pants against her lips, before taking out a handkerchief from his back pocket. He wipes off his cock and cleans between her legs and shoves the handkerchief into his back pocket. Billie leaned up against the side of the barn, desperately trying to catch her breath. 

“You want to meet your daughter?” Billie asked, as Lee tucked himself back into his pants. 

“Really?” Lee looked shocked at the offer. 

“Yeah, of course,” Billie scoffed. 

“What if she doesn’t like me?” 

“She will. She likes most people,” Billie promised. 

“Most people?” He questioned. 

“She only ever dislikes people that give her a reason,” Billie answered. She grabbed Lee’s hand and pulled him back to the house. His thumb dragged across her knuckles. He didn’t know if he’d ever let go of her hand. 

“Just grab a seat,” Billie said, gesturing towards the couch in the living room, “She’s just napping.” Billie sat down next to Lee. She kicked her shoes off, and draped her legs across his lap. 

“So, what’s it like to be sheriff?” she smirked, the way her eyes lit up was the same as when she was eighteen. When she used to tease him in the front seat of his car. 

“It’d be better if I had less idiot deputies,” Lee chuckles. 

“Well, you better get on that Sheriff,” Billie teased, “But you like it?”

“I do. It’s nice to be in charge,” Lee responded. Billie hummed. She knew that he liked to be in charge. 

“Sheriff Bodecker,” Joy sighed, as she entered the front sitting room, “How are you doing?” 

“I’m good. How are you holding up, Joy?” Lee asked. He allowed concern to flash across his face. Even though he knew of his role in her grief. 

“Much better now that my Billie is home,” she answered, petting Billie’s hair. 

“I feel the same way,” Lee smiled dreamily. 

“You gonna make an honest woman outta my daughter then?” Joy joked. 

“I think I will,” Lee laughed. 

“Good, good. We could use the happiness of a wedding around here. Or more babies,” Joy beamed as she went back to the kitchen. 

Lee smirked down at Billie after the baby comment from her mother. Billie toyed with Lee’s hands, avoiding his gaze, and intense blush colored her cheeks, despite the fact that Lee had been balls deep inside her ten minutes ago, coaxing her to promise him more babies.

“Mama,” called a small voice. 

“I’m right here, baby,” Billie answered getting up from the couch and going to the stairs. Beth took each step down slowly. Her hair and dress were rumpled. When Beth reached Billie, she attempted to smooth her daughters hair and clothes. 

“I have someone I want you to meet,” Billie cooed. Picking her daughter up. Billie went back to the couch and sat down with Beth in her lap. 

“Lee, this is Beth,” Billie said. Lee smiles down at the little girl. Beth decides to take the opportunity to lean as far forward as she can to see Lee. He’s surprised that she’s not shy. He’s a stranger after all. She reaches out to touch his badge. Seemingly intrigued by the star-like plaque. 

“Are you a policeman?” She asks him. 

“Yeah, I’m a sheriff,” he tells her. 

“What’s that?” She asks. 

“That means he’s in charge of all the other policemen around here. Uncle Tim is a policeman and this is his boss,” Billie says patiently. 

“Do you catch the bad guys?” Beth quizzes, looking up from his badge to his eyes.

“Yeah, I guess you could say that,” Lee chuckles. Beth wriggles out of Billie’s lap and closes the very small distance between her and Lee. She climbs onto his lap and continues to play with the edges of his badge. 

“I have a bad guy for you to get,” she tried to whisper, it comes out less quiet and more like a stage whisper. 

“Sure thing, peanut,” he said affectionately. He’s expecting her to tell him about the monster under her bed. Or a criminal in a story. 

“It’s mama’s boyfriend. He’s mean and he hurts her,” the little girl told him. Lee attempted to keep his features schooled. He doesn’t want to scare the little girl. For a moment he considers hunting down the bastard and strangling him with his bare hands. He wants to make him suffer, and be the reason that asshole would never see the light of day again. But he needs to take care of the little girl in his arms for the moment.

“Well, I want nothing more than to keep your mama safe,” he placates the small child. He looks at Billie and she looks guilty. 

“Baby,” Billie scolds, “You know that we’re here because mama isn’t with Mr. Larry anymore, because he’s a bad man. We’re moving back where all of our family is.” Beth slowly nods, but continues to play with Lee’s badge, small fingers skating over the edges.

“Beth,” he says as he directs his attention back to the little girl on his lap, “do you want to color?” Beth looked up excitedly at Lee. She hurried Billie out to the car to get her favorite coloring books. Billie, Lee and Beth sit at the mismatched dining room table and color together. Beth talks Lee’s ear off. She spends that time telling him everything about herself. Her favorite book, her favorite animal, her favorite color, all the information she deems the most important. Lee just soaks in everything she tells him. He’s ecstatic to be learning about his daughter.

That evening, Billie digs out her old apron. She and Sylvie make dinner while Lee and Joy occupy Beth and Rose. After having dinner and cleaning the kitchen Beth looks almost dead on her feet. But she returned to the table with after dinner coffee. She sat down next to Lee. He was quick to rest his hand on her thigh. 

“You look exhausted, honey,” he observed. 

“I am,” she sighed, “I should probably get Bethie ready for bed.” 

Upon hearing this Beth shrieks, “Noooo. I want to stay up and keep coloring with him!” Crocodile tears began welling up in Beth’s eyes. 

“Baby it’s okay,” Billie tried to placate. But Beth was not having it, she looked like she was about to start wailing. Lee stood up and picked Beth up from her chair and then sat right back down with Beth in his lap, she was far more content there.

“Beth,” he began, hesitantly, “How do you feel about you and mama living with me? And me being your daddy?” 

Beth’s tears dry up quickly and her eyes light up, “Really?” She asks excitedly, “Can we mama?” Lee catches Billie in a dreamy daze. He only ever saw that look every once in a while. 

“Of course, sweetpea,” she smiles. 

“Can we go now?” Beth begs.

“We probably should be getting this one home,” Lee said, petting Beth’s hair soothingly. 

“Home?” Billie questioned. 

“What? You thought that I wouldn’t have you two come home with me tonight?” Lee chuckled. 

“Isn’t that inappropriate for the sheriff to let an unmarried woman stay at his house?”

“I was just re-elected. So, I’m not too worried about what people say. As someone in law enforcement, only I can speak to where is safe for a young woman to stay at night.” 

“Alright,” she says, amused, “You still live in the same place?”

“I do.”

“I’ll drive my car over there then,” she smiles, standing from her seat, “Beth, it’s time to go. Hug Grandma goodbye.” Beth slowly gets up and hugs Joy. Billie kisses her sister and mother on the cheek. 

“Do you need anything before Wednesday, mom?” She asked Joy quietly. 

“No, the funeral home did want us to come early. They said 2:00, I believe,” Joy sighed. 

“Alright, well if you think of anything just call me at Lee’s, okay?” Billie commanded. 

“I will, honey,” Joy promised. Beth is standing close to her mom, while Lee waits for them at the door. 

“Mama, up,” Beth demands making grabby hands. 

“Baby, you’re getting too big for mama to carry,” Billie tries to reason. Beth’s bottom lip quivers and Lee can see that she’s about to cry again. 

“Beth, why don’t you let daddy carry you,” he offers. Beth beams up at him, rushing over so he can pick her up. Billie mouths “Thank you” to him. Lee grabbed Billie’s hand and led her out of the house with his daughter in his arms. He’s on top of the world. 

Billie follows Lee to his house. He lives in a simple ranch style house. It looks the same as the last time Billie saw it. Lee always said that this was just a first home. That he wanted to live there until he’d had a couple of kids. Then when the third baby was on its way, he would buy a bigger house. 

Lee is quick to help Billie with the bags. She doesn’t have many. And she’d sold her furniture to a young couple down the hall. They enter into the living room and it’s just the same. Same furniture, just a little more worn down. Lee locked the door and led them towards the bedrooms. He set the suitcases down in the hall, between the master room and one of the spare rooms. Lee had furnished both the spare rooms with items he’d inherited when his mother died. 

“Beth can sleep in this room,” he said pointing to the room next door to the master, “I’ve got some sheets for that bed in the closet. I don’t keep them on the bed unless I have company.” Billie nodded. 

“It’s getting close to her bedtime. Do you mind getting her bed ready, while I give her a bath?” She asks, gesturing towards Beth, who is tiredly leaning against the doorway. 

“Of course,” Lee says eagerly. Billie takes one case and begins digging through it. He can see that it’s Beth’s clothes. Billie is quick to find a small little night dress for Beth, before picking up another bag and finding Beth’s shampoo and toothbrush. She leads Beth to the bathroom where she fills the tub and starts directing Beth into the tub. Lee smiles to himself at how right this feels.

After her bath, Beth demands a bedtime story. Billie sits in the rocking chair in the corner, Beth in her lap, gently rocking as she reads the story. Lee watches from the doorway. He’s not paying attention to what she’s saying. He’s enthralled by how maternal she looks. She looks like she was made to be a mother. She happily makes a new voice for each character, Beth fights to keep her eyes open. She, too, is captivated by her mother. But the exhaustion of the day wins, and her breathing evens out as she falls asleep. Billie carefully tucks Beth in with a gentle kiss of her forehead. She turns to Lee, shooing him from the room. She quietly closes the bedroom door. 

Lee stares at Billie. Her baby blue dress brings out the blue in her eyes. Her hair is starting to fall from its perfect style. She looks as beautiful as always, but Lee knows her well enough to see that she’s completely exhausted.

“Let’s wash up and get to bed,” he coaxed. She nodded in agreement. Lee went to the bathroom first, quickly splashing water onto his face and washing up. Billie went next. She removed her makeup and brushed out her hair. She hated the way she looked without makeup. She knew she wasn’t nearly as pretty. But she also knew it was just better for her to take it off. She changed into a nightie, as well, before she exited the bathroom and went back to the bedroom. Lee was already in bed, and Billie was quick to crawl in next to him. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into him. 

“I have something for you,” he hummed. 

“Lee, I swear to God if you pull out your cock—“ Billie threatened. Lee laughed heartily and as quietly as he could with Beth in the next room. 

“No, something else that I think you’ll like,” he smirked. Billie rolled her eyes playfully and shook her head. Lee got out of bed and went to the closet. Billie could see that he was looking for something. She saw him pull a shoebox from the top shelf, he quickly took what he needed from the box and put it back where he had found it. Whatever it was that he got from the box, he hid it behind his back. His eyes glinted mischievously as he approached the bed. 

“So, I got this for you a while ago. And I kept it because I always hoped you would come back and I could give it to you,” Lee murmured as he kneeled down next to the bed. Finally, he revealed a small box. Billie had a feeling she knew what this was. 

He opened the box, and revealed a beautiful ring. It was set on a thick gold band. In the center was a diamond that sparkled impossibly, an asscher cut. It wasn’t as large as the diamonds all the women in Hollywood got, but it was far larger than anything in this region of Ohio.

“Lee,” Billie gasped, “How long have you had this?” 

“I got it a couple of weeks before you told me that you were pregnant,” he answered, smiling bashfully. 

“I can’t let you give me this. It’s so extravagant,” she protested. 

“Sugar, I’ve been dying to give you this ring for five years. So, marry me, let me give you this ring, and make me the happiest man alive,” Lee smiled, “Please.” 

“Of course,” she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes. Lee slid the ring up her finger. It fit perfectly. Lee got up from the floor and got back onto the bed. He crawled over Billie before kissing her deeply. When she cupped his cheek he could feel the extra weight of the ring. It spurred him on, his bit down on her bottom lip before kissing down to her neck. Her hands raked through his short hair. His fingers went to the apex of her thighs, he slid her panties to the side and plunged two fingers into her. He was shocked that she was already quite wet. He kissed her neck, as the room filled with obscene noise from her pussy. 

“Lee, please. I need you inside me,” she begged. 

“I am inside you, baby,” he teased. 

“Your cock. I need your cock,” she mewled, “I need to feel you inside me.” Lee wasn’t about to argue with a beautiful woman in his bed. He helped her out of her nightdress and underwear. She yanked on his boxers until he helped her get them off. He settled himself between her thighs. He lazily rubbed his cock over her slit, wetting his length. He pushed just the head of his cock in before removing it again. Billie pouted up at him. 

“I think you may owe me a little something, darlin’,” he teased. 

“Please, please,” she pled, clawing her fingers into his ass. 

“Aww, look at my little baby. So desperate for my cock,” he mocked, he continued to rub himself against her pussy lips. “What would you do for my cock right now?” 

“Lee,” she groaned. Billie was not interested in this game at the moment. Maybe a different night, but she just needed him to fuck her into the mattress. “Just tell me what you want and I’ll do it.” 

“I wanna make another baby with you, right now,” Lee growled in her ear. 

Seriously? That was all he wanted. From how he was playing it, she thought he might want anal. 

“Well,” she began as she moved her hips up and down, forcing him to take more friction, “then you better get to work, daddy.” She whispered the last word directly into his ear, before licking the shell of it. That was all it took for Lee to push into her abruptly. He stilled and looked down at her. 

“Tell me you want me to get you pregnant,” he demanded. 

“I want you to get me pregnant,” she whimpered. 

“What?” He goaded. 

“I want you to get me pregnant, daddy.” Lee began pumping in and out of Billie brutally, hitting that sweet place inside her that made her gush all over him. 

“Fuck, did you get tighter?” He groaned. His hands palmed her breasts. Lee was sure it wasn’t just the five years of separation, but he was enthralled by how beautiful she was. She was perfect. His hands couldn’t grip all of her breasts, her hips flared out in delicious curves. Her tummy was soft, softer than before, it was an aftereffect of having his baby, Lee was sure. Her thighs were thick, he couldn’t help but imagine those wrapped around his face as he fucked her with his tongue. But that was a task for another day, or maybe just later. 

His hands skated down her figure to grabs her hips. He held onto her so tight, he knew it would leave bruises but he used his grip as leverage to fuck her harder. Her legs locked around him, as he thrust in so hard it pushed her farther up the bed, until her head hit the headboard. Billie threw one hand up to stop her head from slamming harder into the headboard, but that action just forced the headboard to slam into the wall. 

“Lee,” she moaned, “We have to be quiet.” They had a little one to worry about now. Lee slowed, but the headboard kept hitting the wall. He pulled out and stood next to the bed. Billie immediately pouted at the loss of him inside her. 

“Come here,” he cooed. She crawled over to him and began to lay back before he stopped her. 

“No, back to me, feet on the floor,” he commanded. She followed his directions and stood so her back was pressed to his front. He held her tightly to him. Kissing her neck, as one hand held her hip and the other ran over her belly. 

“Can’t wait til you’re all swollen with me,” he hummed in her ear. He pushed her forward onto the bed, before pushing back inside her. Billie turned her face so she could moan into the bedspread. Lee used this new position to fuck her deeper. And as hard as he could. His hands held her hips tightly, and he bent over her, kissing her neck and back. She got wetter and wetter the more attention he paid to her back. That was something he’d never discovered and he loved it. He started sucking bruises between her shoulder blades and the curve where her neck met her shoulder. 

“Oh, fuck,” she gasped. Her juices were starting to trickle down her thighs. 

“So wet,” he smirked, one hand curving around her body to rub her clit. Lee could feel her legs starting to shake. 

“You gonna come for me, baby?” He teased. She nodded desperately, not able to speak. Her hands went to the bedspread and gripped it tightly. Lee kissed the back of her neck, and felt her clench a bit tighter around him. He laved his tongue over the same area, before sucking a bruise in the same section. Billie’s eyes rolled back and she came with a shout. It took all of Lee’s self control not to follow her. He slowed his thrusts as she came down. He pulled out, very pleased to see her dripping as he did. 

He rolled Billie onto her back. He wanted to look at her when he came. He cupped her face, she was still in a daze, but she looked up at him dreamily. He pushed back into her, and she moaned, quietly. 

“I love you,” she whimpered. 

“I love you, baby,” he told her. Tears sprang to her eyes, as he rolled his hips slowly against her. 

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, “I wish I never left.” 

“Shh, it’s okay,” he reassured. She reached up to touch his face. 

“You need to know, I missed you everyday. I regretted it everyday,” she sobbed, “I was so stupid. You are the only man I ever could’ve loved and I left you.” Lee stopped moving, but stayed inside her. 

“Honey,” he said, “It’s okay. I promise. I’m never gonna stop loving you. Not even you leaving could change that. Just be with me now. We don’t have to worry about anything else but the future, okay?”

“Okay,” she whispered. He kissed her forehead. 

“Do you want to stop? We can just go to sleep if you want.”

“No, I want to keep going.” 

“You sure?” He asked. 

“Yeah, please,” she begged, “I want you to feel good.” She leaned up to kiss him. Her hands lightly scratched over his back, encouraging him to keep going. Lee hesitated but picked his movements back up, he was going slow. Slower than Billie wanted. 

“Faster,” she commanded. Lee complied, slamming into her. 

“Say my name,” he growled. 

“Lee,” she breathed in a high pitch voice. 

“Tell me what you want, honey,” he grunted. 

“I want you. I want you to cum inside me,” she gasped. 

“Are you mine?”

“Yes, yours. All yours.” Lee was pummeling into her now, chasing his orgasm. 

“I love you, Lee,” she whimpered. And those words sent Lee careening over the edge of the cliff. His hips stuttered into her, as he came. Rope after rope of hot cum painted her walls. Billie fluttered around him. Lee panted above her, but leaned down to capture her mouth all the same. His tongue tangled with hers. 

When they broke apart, Lee pulled out. Billie started to sit up, but Lee pushed her back down. 

“Stay on your back,” he ordered, “I want it to take.”

“Honey, we have all the time in the world to try again,” she laughed. Lee didn’t care. He picked her up from the edge of the bed, and set her down, so she could lay against the pillows. He helped her get under the sheets before joining her. He thought about pushing inside her again so none of his cum could leak out. Billie turned onto her side so she could lay across his chest. He scowled at her for ignoring his directions. 

“Don’t worry. I’ll let you fuck your cum back into me in the morning,” she sighed, burrowing her face into the crook of his neck. Lee chuckled, and wrapped one arm around her. He was dragging his hand up and down her back when he felt it. He wasn’t sure what it was, but it was a bumpy spot on her back. It didn’t feel like the rest of her soft skin. He peered down and saw several dots. They were in clusters all over her back. He hadn’t noticed them before, he’d been too preoccupied.

“What are these?” He asked her. Billie stiffened. She was like a board in his arms. 

“It’s nothing Lee. Let’s just get to sleep,” she hummed. 

“Tell me,” Lee said sternly. 

“Just… just don’t freak out, okay?” She murmured, pulling away to look at his face. “They’re healed cigarette burns. Larry was an angry drunk.” Lee felt a murderous rage race through his blood. He had half a mind to get dressed and go find that bastard that very instant. “Honey, please just stay calm.” 

“Stay calm? How do you expect me to stay fucking calm?” Lee hissed through gritted teeth, trying to stay quiet for Beth’s sake. 

“It’s okay. It’s over. I’m here and he’s back in New York,” she soothed. 

“I could just kill him,” Lee growled. 

“I’m okay,” she promised, “Let’s just go to sleep. Please.” Lee nodded begrudgingly. He pulled Billie back into him. She quickly fell asleep, but Lee was content to just hold Billie for a moment. Happy that after so long she was back in his arms. 

@greeneyedblondie44 @bxnnywriting @kitty4860

[lets-go-steal-a-hardison]

Good Days and Bad Ones

New Leverage ot3 fic! Warning for gun violence and gun wounds. Fluff then angst then fluff again. ~2.9k words | Teen

Can read below or on my ao3 account here.

It had been a good day.  Eliot should have known not to trust that, but lately, he had been having a lot of good days.  The worst part was that what happened wasn’t even on a job.  They didn’t even see it coming.

Eliot had woken up surrounded by his partners.  The fact that he couldn’t move from being so entangled in their arms and legs should have felt suffocating, but instead, it just felt safe.  He started to move around, wanting to get up and go start his morning routine, and Hardison nuzzled into his neck.

“C’mon man, I gotta get up,” Eliot whispered to him.

Hardison grunted, still mostly asleep, then kissed where he had just nuzzled.  He did relax his arms though.

Okay.  One down.  One more to go.

Eliot turned to look at Parker and saw she was awake, already looking at him.

“I gotta get up, sweetheart, you gonna let me?” he said with a small smile.

Parker was wrapped around his arm with a leg thrown over him.  She pouted a bit, then kissed his shoulder before letting him go.

“Thanks, darlin’.  I’ll make pancakes later, kay?”  

Parker grinned at him.  “With whipped cream?”

“Only if I can add blueberries,” Eliot bargained as he got up and pulled on a shirt.  He had to get her to eat fruit somehow.

“Fiiiiiine,” Parker said, moving into the warmed spot Eliot had just vacated and wrapping around Hardison, who octopused onto her the moment she was in arm’s reach.

Eliot took a moment to stare at them.  Sometimes, he still couldn’t believe that they chose to love him.  Change with him.  It was humbling, their love for him.

He was one lucky bastard.

Eliot did his morning workout, then showered.  By the time that he was going into the bedroom to get clothes, towel around his waist, Parker was up.  She took off Hardison’s old shirt, which she had been using as a pajama shirt, and kissed Eliot one more time before taking the next shift in the shower.  Hardison was still passed out on the bed, but as Eliot walked in, he started to stir.

Letting the towel slip off, Eliot bent over to pull on underwear and heard an appreciative rumble from Hardison.  It took a while for him to be coherent in the morning, unless he had stayed up all night.  That caused a different kind of incoherence.  

Eliot grinned at him from over his shoulder as he continued to get dressed.  “You snooze, you lose,” he teased.  

Hardison let out a sleepy groan, then made grabby hands towards Eliot.

“Hell nah, I’ve got to get started on Parker’s pancakes,” Eliot said, already walking forward anyway.

“Mmmmm… pancakes,” Hardison hummed as he pulled Eliot in.  Eliot could feel his boyfriend’s smile against his lips.  He pulled back and kissed him once more, on the forehead this time, and moved away.

“They’ll be ready in a bit, you just gotta be up for them!” Eliot called as he walked out of the bedroom.

It was a good morning.

It didn’t last.

___________________________________

The first gunshot rang out at 1:12 pm.  Eliot knew because in the moment, everything froze and he took in everything in the kitchen of the brewpub, including the time.

The screams came next.

Eliot immediately put himself in between the doors to the kitchen and the waitstaff and cooks.  “Run.  If you can’t run, hide.  If you can’t hide, fight.  GO!” he said, jerking his head to the back entrance, hoping he wasn’t sending them into a trap.

“ALEC HARDISON!” a voice roared.  “COME OUT, YOU PIECE OF SHIT.”

Eliot felt himself move before he had really thought about it.  He cut across the kitchen and made his way quickly but effectively towards the living part of the brewpub, where he had left Hardison and Parker at their dining room table.

Too late.

Hardison came out of the back room with his hands up and Eliot redirected his attention to the rest of the room, immediately assessing the three men with guns in the middle of the room.  The patrons of the brewpub were cowering in their seats and on the floor.  There was one man by the door too, covering the exit.

It didn’t look good.

“Sinclair,” Hardison drawled.  If Eliot didn’t know Hardison as well as he did, he wouldn’t be able to tell how tense he was.  He kept it hidden in the flex of his back muscles and his hands.

It was a very distinctive flex.

“Haven’t seen you in years.  How you been, man?” Hardison continued, arms still raised.

“Well, prison is a bitch and those anger management classes just didn’t take.  So, here we are,” the man in the front, Sinclair, said as he waved the hand not holding his gun to take in the scene.

“What do you want?” Hardison asked, his face and voice becoming serious.

“Need your help with a job.”

“And you thought coming in guns blazing into my day job was the best way to ask?” Hardison asked derisively.

Sinclair smiled grimly.  “This isn’t asking.  Either you will help me or I will shoot you where you stand.”

Hardison shrugged.  “I’ve got my own crew and while they don’t mind me working freelance, I think they would object to the job conditions.”

“You’re damn right,” Eliot growled, moving into the room.

“Oh hell no,” the guy who was guarding the door said.  “You didn’t say Eliot fucking Spencer was part of the target’s crew.  I’m out.”

He threw open the door and ran out the brewpub.

One down, three to go.

The other two men shifted nervously as Eliot stared them down, looking between them and the man Hardison had called Sinclair.  Eliot didn’t like how steady Sinclair’s aim was at Hardison.

“Fellas.  Now we can either have y’all walk out of here alive, or there’s gonna be a need for body bags.  Which is it gonna be?” Eliot said.

The two men glanced at each other.  One shook his head, but the other one started sliding towards the door.

“Don’t you dare, Clancy, don’t you dare!” Sinclair shouted.

“Man, I got a baby at home.  I just needed the payout, but she needs me more,” the man, Clancy, said.  He turned and was out the door.

Two on two.

Eliot liked those odds.

“You sure you won’t help?” Sinclair asked, and Eliot started edging towards Hardison, ready to move if he needed.  

Suddenly, Sinclair’s gun was pointed at Eliot.

“Not even if I threaten to shoot your buddy here?”

“Whoa.  Now, hey man, you didn’t have to go there.  We had our moment, I said no, and you just had to keep pressing.  They always keep pressing, don’t they, Eliot?”

“Hardison…” Eliot cautioned, cause he knew what Hardison was doing.  He was trying to get himself back in Sinclair’s crosshairs, even though Eliot was much more comfortable being the one with the gun pointed at him.

“Nah, man, I know you’re doing your macho shit right now, and I for one do not appreciate it.  You are trying to kill him just with your glarey eyes and guess what, man?  Doesn’t work.  I know, cause otherwise I would be at least slightly damaged by now.”

“Oh my God, shut UP!” Sinclair said.

He turned.

Eliot jumped.

And Hardison gasped as the bullet hit his shoulder.

Sinclair watched as Hardison stared disbelievingly down at the bloom of blood on his shoulder.  He took a gasping breath of air, then his knees went out.

Eliot caught him before he could hit the ground.

“Put pressure on it, Alec.  Come on, you know the deal,” Eliot encouraged, pressing down himself.  He could sense Sinclair in his peripheral vision, but Hardison was his priority.

“It’s d-d-different wh-when it’s you,” Hardison stuttered.

He was going into shock.  Eliot needed to finish this so that they could get Chicken Parm down here, get him to help Hardison.

Eliot forced himself to take his attention off of Hardison and place it firmly on Sinclair.

He looked disconcerted at the look on Eliot’s face.

Good.

“You lost your chance to walk away when you pulled that trigger,” he said to Sinclair.  He turned to the last man standing, who flinched when their eyes met.  “Last chance for you.”

The man nodded.  Dropped his gun.  Walked out.

“You fucker!” Sinclair said, sighting his gun on Eliot.

Only for Parker to drop down from the ceiling, right on top of him.

The gun still went off, but Eliot was unscathed.  He rushed forward, diving on top of Sinclair who fought tooth and nail to keep his gun in his hands.  Eliot saw Parker crawl across the floor towards the gun the last man had dropped out of the corner of his eyes.

In the moment of distraction, Sinclair’s finger found the trigger and pulled.

Eliot felt the bright burn of the bullet going into his hip, but he just grunted and pulled back a fist, bringing it crashing down onto Sinclair’s temple.

He went limp.

Eliot forced himself to stand.  He turned and Parker nodded to him from where she was standing, gun pointed at Sinclair. 

“I’ve got him, you get Alec,” she said.

Eliot nodded.  He pulled out his phone as he went over to Hardison and put pressure on his wound, making Alec whine, high and full of pain.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, gotta keep pressure on it.  Help’s coming, Alec, just hang on, kay?” he murmured as the phone rang.

“P-parker okay?” Hardison whispered.

“Yeah, she’s-” Eliot glanced over to Parker and froze.  “Parker.”

She looked at him from keeping an eye on Sinclair.  “What?”

“Your leg.”

She followed Eliot's gaze and looked down to her thigh.  The right leg of her sweatpants - actually Eliot was pretty sure those had been his as some point - was soaked with blood.

She looked back at Eliot.  “Huh.”

Then she collapsed.

“SHIT!” Eliot shouted.

“Hello?”

Eliot remembered the phone in his hand.  His head was swimming and he blinked repeatedly to clear it.  “Parm, altercation at the brewpub.  Three GSW’s, Hardison n’ Parker are down.  You need to- to… aw, hell,” he slurred.

Then he fell forward onto Hardison’s chest and the world went black.

_________________________________

Dragging himself out of inky black unconsciousness was one of Eliot’s least favorite things in the world.  It didn’t happen often, but when it did, it sucked.

He was definitely on drugs, cause his brain took way too long to connect to his body.  He was floating a bit even when he realized who he was and started registering his body and surroundings.

He was definitely in a hospital.  The smell, the sounds of the intercom, and the feeling of an IV in his hand were too distinct for him to be anywhere else.

Eliot wasn’t as bad as Nate, but he still wasn’t a fan of hospitals.  The catheter alone was enough to make him wanna punch someone.

Forcing his eyes open, he looked around the room.  There was an empty bed next to him and no one else in the room.  He wanted to jump up and find Hardison and Parker, find out if they were alright, but the ache in his hip made him grimace as he sat up.

He settled for hitting the call button.

“Hello, Mr. Dubois, how are you feeling?” the nurse who came in asked.

“Sore and floaty.  Can we reduce the meds?  I hate this feeling.  Rather have the pain,” Eliot said.

The woman pursed her lips.  “We can, though I will ask you to start taking tylenol in its place, so you still have something in your system.”

Eliot nodded.  “The others at the brewery,” he started, not sure what cover he should be working with, how he should be referring to his partners, “are they alright?”

“The gunman has been taken into custody after getting treatment for his concussion.  The man and woman who were also injured are stable.  I’m sorry, that’s all I can say,” she said, working with the machine next to Eliot. 

He hoped that the floating feeling would leave soon.  He needed to come back to his body, pain or no pain.

“Alright, call if you need to get back on the morphine or if you need assistance with anything else.”

“When can I get up?” Eliot asked.

“We can do a walk around this evening, but we’re leery of moving before in case the stitches are disturbed.  We can take out the catheter at that time as well, as you will be able to get up for bathroom needs at that point.  Sounds okay?”

It didn’t, but Eliot forced himself to nod again.

The nurse had been out of the room for about a minute when Eliot heard something overhead.  He grinned at the ceiling, then frowned.

“Parker, should you be up yet?” he asked.

“The doc said that I could get up to see to my needs, and I needed to check on you,” she said through the vent.

“They meant the bathroom, Parker, not my sorry ass,” Eliot said.

“Yeah, yeah.  How you feeling?” she asked.

“They reduced my meds, but still disconnected a bit.”  He knew she would get what he meant, so he didn’t elaborate.  “Alec okay?”

“Yeah.  He was still sleeping, but his vitals looked good.  He lost the most blood of us, so he’ll probably be in here the longest,” Parker said.

“He’ll love that,” Eliot grumbled, already imagining the havoc that Hardison could produce if left in a hospital bed for any extended period of time.

Of course, he would have to be awake to cause havoc…

Eliot shrugged away the thought, reminded himself that Parker said he was doing well.

“How long you gonna be here?” Eliot asked.

He heard a rustle and imagined that Parker had shrugged.  “Bullet went through and through, just bled a lot.  Once they are sure that it’s closed and healing, I’ll be good to go.  They had to dig the bullet out of your hip,” she said, her voice getting quieter.  “So it might be longer for you.”

“I figured that, darlin’.  It’ll be alright.”  He glared at the grate without any real heat.  “Now get back to your bed and to healing.”

“I’d rather be here with you,” she said, her voice soft.

“That ain’t fair,” Eliot said, staring at the grate.  He felt the ache in his hip and now he had one in his heart.  “You gotta go back, Parker, cause if you’re here, you aren’t getting your meds.  I’m being good and taking mine, you gotta too.”

“Fiiiiine,” Parker said.  “I’ll be back though.”

“I would be worried if you didn’t,” Eliot said.

He didn’t hear her go, but felt when she was gone.

It was going to be a long stay in the hospital.

___________________________________

Hardison had woken up later that evening and Eliot had been able to see him when he was doing his walk around.  Alec was still pretty out of it, but he smiled up at Eliot.

“Knew you would take care of it,” he said, only slurring a bit.

“Get some sleep,” Eliot said, resisting the urge to touch him.  Their cover stories weren’t partners.  

Parker got out of the hospital first.  Eliot missed her voice coming out of the ceiling, but was checked out the next day anyways.  

The brewpub wasn’t the same without Alec around.  Eliot ended up stocking a bunch of the meals that Alec liked in the fridge for when he came home and Parker installed a new security system.  They cleaned the whole back area of the pub they called their home, working in tandem as they washed sheets and clothes, scrubbed down the kitchen and bathroom, and tidied the rest of it.  They didn’t sleep much.

By the time Alec got home, the place was spotless and stocked with orange soda and Eliot’s food.

Hardison eased onto the couch and looked around.  He turned to his partners and grinned.  “You missed me.”

Parker rolled her eyes.  “Course we did, dummy.”

Eliot inclined his head, conceding.  “Maybe.”

“You hungry?” Eliot continued.

“Eliot made all your favorites,” Parker said.  Eliot narrowed his eyes at her, cause he wanted that to be a surprise.

“Did he?” Hardison said, smile turning toward Eliot.  “You know I’d never say no to Eliot’s cooking.  Mind bringing it here?  Have y’all eaten?  Let’s just all eat here, pull up some movie.”

Eliot nodded.  Parker jumped up from where she had been sitting next to Alec, kissing him on the top of his head before she followed Eliot into the kitchen.

They settled in, food and movie at the ready.  They finished eating long before the end of the movie, but their plates lay forgotten on the coffee table as they cuddled as close as their wounds would allow them to.  

Eliot felt sleep come slowly towards him, but didn’t do anything to fight it.  He trusted Parker, and by extension, her security system.  He knew that both Parker and Hardison were safe and healing.  More bad days may come, but they would face them together.

In the arms of his two best friends and loves of his life, he let himself rest.

[obwjam]

The mike x borrower meeting sounds interesting, you should definitely write it!

not the exact same thing but this is a direct copy-paste from something i wrote a year ago lmao i’m putting it under the cut, in which mike makes a new borrower friend breakfast

“G’morning, little buddy,” a soft yet cheery voice rang out above me. My eyes snapped open to see Mike looming over me. I shot up and tried to scuttle back, but not only was my leg wrapped up nicely, but I was, too. I merely fell back into the mountainous folds of the cloth.

“How’d ya sleep?” he asked, pulling a chair up and seemingly glossing over my flinch.

“O-okay,” I stammered. I was sleeping well until I was rudely awakened.

“Was it too hot? Too cold?”

I shrugged. “Too big.”

Mike let out a small laugh. “Funny. Lemme getcha somethin’ to drink. Y’ever had coffee?”

“What do you think?” I asked, trying to be funny but instead coming across as rude. Mike raised his eyebrow at me, but amusingly smirked.

“You care to try it?”

“I--I guess I could… I’ve always smelled it. Never been able to sneak around and grab any.”

“Mmm, alright,” he said, standing back up. I marveled up at him as he moved around, almost not able to believe that I was watching him like always, but I was close. I didn’t have to hide, or worry that he might see me.

“Hmm…” Mike mused, filling his mug to the top. “Didn’t really think how I’d pour ya a cup.”

“I’ve got a cup back in--” I started, but stopped. It probably wasn’t a good idea to tell him about the nook.

But of course, he heard me. “Back where?”

My eyes darted to the table. “N-nothing. Nowhere. I--I wouldn’t be able to make it there, anyway, with my leg.”

“Are you talkin’ about where you live?” Mike asked, leaning back against the counter and casually sipping his coffee. As if this was a casual conversation.

I nodded. “It’s called -- well, I call it my nook. Just where I sleep and keep all my things.”

“Sounds very cozy,” he said, taking another sip. “Y’know, I could always bring you wherever you--”

I laughed, shaking off the thought of one of them holding me. “You wouldn’t be able to bring me to the nook, Mike. You’re too big.”

A smirk grew across Mike’s face. “Too big, huh? Can’t just stick my arm in a hole or somethin’?”

“No,” I said with a chuckle. “Still much too big.”

Mike shrugged. “That’s a shame. I would’ve liked to see it.”

He paused, deliberating over something. He eventually let out a sigh and flopped back down into a chair.

“I, uh, look, I--” he paused for a breath. “I know this is all, uh, less than ideal,” he stammered, glancing down at my leg. I bit my lip. “But, well, y’see, we want to help. So if you need anything, want anything… just, just tell one of us. We’ll be happy to getcha what you need.”

Before I could speak, he started again.

“A-and, well… I-I know it’s prob’ly pretty scary, f-for you, but, uh, we can bring ya anywhere too.”

There it was. I knew he was going to address that. And it wasn’t entirely crazy -- I certainly didn’t want to be stuck on this table forever. But the thought of trusting one of them with my life in their hands and having the others give me stares? I didn’t want to deal with that. Not right now.

“I bet you don’t wanna be sittin’ on this table forever,” Mike echoed my thoughts. I gave him a nod.

“It’s just…” I started, freezing up when I looked up at Mike. Eye contact was still a work in progress. “I dunno.”

“You can tell me, darlin’, it’s alright,” Mike said softly. “I’m not gonna get mad.”

I took a breath. “This is all pretty… new to me. A-as you can imagine. I’ve never… I--I don’t want to…” Inhale. Exhale. “I don’t want to be a bother. I’ve already caused too much trouble.”

“Aw, darlin’, you haven’t caused a lick of trouble,” Mike said.

“You understand that I can’t go back, right? I can’t go back on my own with a broken leg. I--I can’t climb, I can’t even walk. If--if I want to survive, at least— at least until my leg is better… I’m gonna need your help to do it. That’s an awful lot of attention you’ll need to dedicate to me. And I… I don’t want to ask that of you.”

“Oh, it’s not as big a deal as you think it’ll be,” Mike said, leaning down. “Sure, you’re pretty small, and we’ll have to be extra careful. But makin’ sure you have somethin’ to eat or drink or that ya have a place to sleep at night is no trouble at all.” He paused to rub the back of his neck, desperately trying to think of what to say next. “Are you… how are you feelin’? ‘Bout all this.”

I shrugged, allowing myself to laugh. I guess there was no way any of them would ever understand unless I explained it to them.

“I think… more than anything… I’m, uh, anxious,” I said, furiously twiddling my thumbs. “A-and scared. I-it’s hard not to look at everything and everyone towering above me and not get overwhelmed, you know?”

Mike nodded, suddenly acutely aware of how big he must seem to her. “I can leave ya alone, if you need time to… relax.” That was not the right word to use.

***change of perspective for no reason just go with it***

To his surprise, she vigorously shook her head. “No. Well. I dunno. I’m just… I-I’m already here. You already know about me.” In truth, she wanted to be left alone. All she wanted to do was crawl into her nook and never come back out. But knowing that she couldn’t go anywhere, the last thing she wanted was to be lounging around on the table, exposed and alone, without someone to accompany her and take some of the attention away. Mike was taking the lead on taking care of her and was the least invasive of the four, so this was the best she was going to get right now. “You… you’re not going to…” she stopped. Mike inched forward, eyes urging her to press on.

“Not goin’ to what?”

She sighed. “Not… do anything to me.” Her voice was so soft, Mike was surprised he could hear her.

“Do anything? Like what?”

She shook her head, lower lip quivering. “N-nothing. Forget I said anything.”

Mike’s eyes widened with sorrow, but he knew it wouldn’t be good to push her. He could piece together that the “anything” she was referring to wasn’t a good thing, anyway.

“You hungry?” Mike asked, desperate to change the subject. She slowly nodded, still looking away. Mike tried to ignore the fact that this whole thing stemmed from his inability to give her coffee and he had yet to come up with a solution. For the first time ever, he found himself wishing that Micky was awake early. He would know how to make something for her.

Mike stood up and looked into the ice box, his heart leaping when he saw actual food in there.

“Y’ever had eggs and bacon?”

She laughed. It was a genuine laugh, one of those laughs you give when you’re delightfully amused. Mike hadn’t even seen her smile, so hearing her laugh float up from the table surprised him. He found the corners of his lips turning up at the sound.

“It’s safe to assume I’ve never tried anything,” she called out, clearly trying to make sure Mike could hear her. Mike fished out the carton of eggs and half-eaten package of bacon from the back of the ice box, swiftly placing the ingredients on the counter. He reached for a pan and clicked the stove on.

“Think about it,” she forced herself to continue. She didn’t want Mike to be the only one talking. “How could I have possibly borrowed eggs and bacon while you weren’t looking?”

Mike bit his lip. He never really thought hard about the fact that she had basically been stealing things in secret for years. Anything she’s ever taken was done without their knowledge. He couldn’t even remember noticing things going missing until the recent bread incident.

“Fair point,” Mike said, cracking an egg over a now-heated pan.

“Plus, it’s hard to borrow a meal you only make twice a year.”

Mike turned around quickly, a comically amused look on his face. “Was that a joke?” he said with a teasing tone. She winced and sunk back into her towel a little bit, but recovered quickly when she realized Mike wasn’t being harsh.

She shrugged, trying to hide a smile. “It’s just the truth.”

Mike found himself trying to hide his own grin.

“Yer funny,” he said, letting the sizzle of the other side of the egg try to hide his comment. It was the second time calling her funny this morning. He called Micky funny maybe once a month.

She had heard his comment, of course, and definitely registered that it was a repeat compliment. She knew Mike was going to get all weird if she mentioned it, so she stayed quiet, marveling at his cooking. This wasn’t the first time she’s ever watched one of them perform a mundane daily task, but it was different than all the other times. She was present in this. Though the nagging thought in the back of her mind telling her to hide was still there, she knew it was just instinct. Mike was making this for her. She didn’t have to watch him cook and smell the food and wonder what it tastes like and wish she could find out for herself. She was going to find out. Despite the fear and uncomfortability she felt, she was willing to let her guard down for this one thing. This was a primal instinct letting itself through. She was going to enjoy this meal, and enjoy the company. Maybe it would help her feel more normal.

Once the egg was done frying, Mike plopped two strips of bacon in its place, transferring the egg to a small plate. The smell of eggs was good, yeah, but the smell of bacon was overwhelming. So overwhelming, in fact, it got Micky to get out of bed. He bounded down the stairs, excited that they had enough food for Mike to be cooking for everyone. He was so excited that he completely forgot about their little house guest.

“You’re making breakfast? Groovy!” Micky said, riding up right on Mike’s tail, making him jump.

“Don’t do that,” Mike muttered harshly, flipping the bacon over. “It ain’t for you.”

“What!” Micky cried. “You’re just making breakfast for yourself? C’mon, man, that’s--”

“Are you stupid?” Mike hissed, jerking his head toward the table. Micky looked back, down, then gasped. Yeah, I am stupid.

He chuckled nervously, locking gazes with her for just a bit too long. Her cheeks were bright red, and she looked nervous.

“S-sorry,” he said suddenly, breaking eye contact with her. “I’ll, uh.” He reached up to the cabinet and pulled out the almost-empty box of corn flakes. “I’ll just go back upstairs.”

Before Mike could protest, Micky was already halfway gone. The Texan sighed, peeling the bacon from the pan and placing it next to the eggs.

“Sorry about him,” Mike said, placing the plate in front of him as he took a seat. “That boy don’t know how to control himself.”

She shrugged, looking down to her cast. “He did a good job with this.”

Mike looked to her leg. “How’s it feel, by the way?”

“It’s… it hurts. Kinda throbbing,” she said. “But I can feel it getting better.”

“Already?” Mike asked, almost absentmindedly, as he took his fork and began cutting off a little piece of egg.

She nodded. “Borrowers, we… we tend to heal faster than humans do.” Mike cringed again at the distinction. “I’ll probably be good to walk around again in like, two weeks.”

“Two weeks? Are ya sure? Have you ever broke your leg before?”

She laughed that amused laugh again, and Mike found himself getting embarrassed every time she did that. It was a laugh that said Oh boy, this idiot doesn’t get it.

“I’ve broken more bones than I can count.” She fiddled with her thumbs. “Elbow, legs. Both of ‘em. Arms, shoulders, fingers. I’ve rolled my ankle so many times I don’t know how it’s still attached to my body.” She stuck her good leg up and rolled her ankle around. “Yeah, it’s still there!”

“Jeez, that’s awful,” Mike said, suddenly losing all interest in the food. “How did you…” He didn’t know if asking this was a good idea, but he wanted to know everything about her that he could possibly find out. “How d’you, get all those… supplies you need, if you’re all banged up?”

She went quiet for a moment. “Wh-when I take food, I usually keep a weeks’ supply going. To prevent running out. Water is… more difficult. I’ll go a few days without drinking any.”

“That could kill you!”

She shrugged. “I’ve gone weeks without water before. It’s so hard to transport, I end up spilling half the stuff I take.”

Mike tried to picture carrying a bucket of water through an obstacle course with a broken leg. He couldn’t even fathom the possibility.

“It’s… amazing you even get any,” he said carefully, not wanting to sound patronizing.

“Yeah, you’re telling me,” she smirked, eyes cast downward. She wasn’t very hungry anymore.

“I…” Mike tried, but stopped himself. Everything he asked led to her being sad, and that was the last thing Mike wanted right now. “…why don’t ya try some of that food I made ya?” he tried. “It’s gonna go cold soon.”

That seemed to catch her attention rather quickly. She finally had a hot meal in front of her, and she was really about to squander it. She stared at the scraps in front of her, studying the textures of the egg. Luckily, the bacon smelled delicious, because the smell of the egg was not doing her appetite any favors. She began to wonder how disgusting this thing might taste.

“Everythin’ alright?” Mike asked with a mouthful of egg. He figured she would be all over this. She finally looked up at him, and his face was soft; sympathetic. He was simply waiting for her to try the food, eager for her reaction to his cooking. She gave a small nod before picking up the small piece of egg with her hands. It was still warm, though not fresh-out-of-the-pan hot. It was still warmer than anything she’s ever had before, and it felt wonderful in her hands. It wasn’t often that she experienced warmth; though, in California, she fared better than most. But the nights got cold and the heater was much too loud to sleep next to. Huddling up in her blankets and getting some hot water was the closest she ever got to the feeling of warmth. And when she was able to treat herself to hot water, the feeling of it traveling through her body and down to her stomach, ironically enough, always gave her chills. Maybe this egg could do the same.

With a renewed sense of energy, she bit into the egg and was instantly surprised—it was squishy. It almost sloshed around in her mouth, but it was fluffy at the same time. A little wet, too. There was some weird yellow liquid on it, which she could only assume was part of the egg. She chewed carefully, wanting to savor and remember the first egg she’d ever eaten. She couldn’t quite place the taste, but it was cooked enough that it was stained with the taste of old foods cooked in that same pan. It gave it an extra depth she didn’t realize food could have. It was unlike anything she had ever tasted and she loved it.

“This… this is incredible,” she said, looking at the egg like it was a newborn baby. Mike couldn’t help but smile at her infatuation.

“Aw, well. My cookin’ ain’t that good,” he joked. Inside, he was just happy she seemed to find pleasure in something.

Before she could even respond, she abandoned her notion of savoring the taste and scarfed down the rest of the egg. She ravenously turned to the bacon and ate it up before Mike could even blink.

“Jeez, you’re hungry, aren’t’cha?” he mumbled affectionately, not realizing he had slipped into pet-talk mode. She, however, did notice. She shot him a glare, which took Mike a few moments to understand.

“If you only ever ate stale crackers, you’d eat like this too,” she said, wiping her mouth. “Well, I’m actually a little surprised you aren’t eating like this is the first hot meal you’ve ever had!” She said cheekily with a nervous chuckle.

Mike smiled, once again amused at her joke, before realizing there was a layer to this.

“…is this your first hot meal? Ever?”

She shrugged, which Mike was beginning to realize was an ashamed “yes”.

“…It’s not even that hot,” she mumbled, only half-joking.

“Jeez, bud, I—I could have heated it back up for ya.” She didn’t respond. “Well, there’s plenty more where that came from. Do you want some more?” He gestured to his plate, which was still full of food, but she took intrigue with something he had just said.

“Plenty more?”

“Well, yeah. I-I’m not gonna let you starve,” he said, sniffing a laugh.

“You… you don’t need to do that,” she said, more ashamed than anything. No matter how wonderful real cooking was, she didn’t need to be treated like she was totally helpless.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Mike asked, genuinely surprised by her reaction. “Based off everythin’ you told me, well, you don’t need to hunt for scraps anymore. We can take care of stuff for ya—”

“—I don’t need to be taken care of,” she snapped, surprising herself. “I’ve been managing for 22 years,” she mumbled lowly. “I’ll be alright.”

Mike raised his eyebrows. He understood this kind of stubbornness because it was the same exact kind of pride he carried around himself. He didn’t expect her to be proud of the way she lived, but he understood the knee-jerk reaction. It was a lot easier to see how silly it was on the outside, though, and he suddenly started to wonder how many times his pride made him seem foolish instead of independent.

“I’m not sayin’ you can’t take care of yourself. Clearly, you’ve been going for this long. I don’t think you’re helpless. You seem to be anything but.” She meekly met Mike’s gaze, which was sincere yet firm. “But I get it, y’know? The stubbornness. Refusin’ help because you think acceptin’ it makes you weak.”

there is more but this is already way too long lmao

[avengerscompound]

Catch and Release - 13

Catch and Release: A Captain America Fanfic

Masterlist PREVIOUS //

Buy me a ☕ Character Pairing:  Bucky Barnes x Steve Rogers x F!Reader

Word Count:  2785

Rating:  E

Square filled: @star-spangled-bingo​ - "It's probably too late to go to the bathroom right?”

Warnings:  Smut (MMF bisexual threesome.  Oral sex, Anal fingering, Double penetration - vaginal and anal)

Synopsis: When you overexert yourself on a mission with Steve and Bucky, the boys admit to having fantasies that involve you.  Fantasies that you share.  But with one Super Soldier needs intimacy and the other is still dealing with being touch starved, exploring those desires without anyone catching feelings is a little tricky.

Chapter 13: Return to the Wild

The two weeks you had between accepting the new job in LA and actually going out there to do it, were intense.  It felt that the only free time you had was when you were asleep and that had been lacking really.  Hill was a hardass about you learning what you needed to know before you left, and there was a lot to learn.  Even with the fact you understood the paperwork and there would be your very own AI named Jocasta there was a mountain of procedures and protocols to learn.  Not to mention you were now being let into Hill’s secret underground world of moles and networks.  Every workday was two to three hours more than average.  Then you’d spend a couple of hours on the internet or phone organizing your things being moved into your new home and office or talking to Clint about leads that would need following when you go there.

Then when you were finally done with all that, you’d go spend time with Bucky and Steve.  You’d had sex with them almost every day since talking over whether you should take the job or not.  Partially the three of you were making the most of the last time you have available to you.  They were your best friends and you wanted to make the last days you had together count.  Even outside the sex you were eating and watching movies and playing board games.  Steve sketched a picture of the three of you together to take with you while you and Bucky played Mario Kart against each other.  There was the sex though, it was stupid to pretend you weren’t going up there to squeeze every last ridiculously fun drop out of the arrangement you had.  This was it.  Maybe when you visited New York again you might hook up, but more than like you wouldn’t.  Who knew what things would be different by then anyway.  They might decide to adopt a child.  You might have met someone finally.  It was best to act like this was the last hurrah.

Not to mention, they’d been patiently preparing you for your request.  Each night there had been some anal play.  First getting you used to the sensation to make sure that was definitely something you wanted, and then training you with thicker and thicker devices so when you did take one of them you’d be ready.  It was something they each had experience with given how well endowed they both were and the fact until each other neither had ever been had anal sex before.

You were grateful for it.  Up until now, you had led the show.  It was nice seeing them being the smug ones.  Well, Steve more than Bucky.  Bucky was cocky whether he earned it or not.

By the time the going away party was being held on the party deck, you were exhausted.  You’d attended a few parties hosted by Tony Stark, but this was the best attended you’d seen.  Clint was one of the originals and everyone old and new wanted to see him off.  There were people there that weren’t officially Avengers who had just worked with Clint or the team from time to time and Tony and Pepper had shown up.  The room was noisy and alcohol flowed freely.

You sat at the bar watching Clint absolutely destroy anyone who came near him at darts while you nursed a drink.  You didn't want to get drunk tonight.  You wanted to go away tomorrow remembering absolutely everything.

“You keep an eye on my bird for me, won't you?” Natasha said coming over and stepping behind the bar.  She started fixing herself a drink as she kept her eyes on Clint.

“Can I ask why you didn't take the job yourself?” You asked, turning your attention to Natasha.  “I know he must have had you at the top of the list.”

Natasha gave a small shrug and dropped a cherry into her martini glass.  “I'm not sure I could take orders from Clint and I would hate to undermine him,” she said.  “And I know what Hill’s job entails and it's not for me.  Don't get me wrong, I'd be amazing at it, but I have enough pokers in a whole slew of fires as it is, I don't want to juggle that level of responsibility too.”

“Aren't you going to miss him though?” You asked.

“Yeah, of course, I am.  I'll probably end up visiting all the time anyway.  And who knows?  Maybe I am more codependent than I'd like to admit and I end up just joining the team,” she said swirling a stick in the shimmering pink liquid.  “I did once follow a man to California.  It didn't work out so well.  But what about you?  You're leaving your super-soldiers behind.”

You looked over to where Steve was playing a game of pool with Sam.  “They aren't mine,” you said.  “But yes, I'll miss them.  I'm gonna miss all of you.  But them especially.  Steve told me you gave them the shovel talk too.”

Nat took a sip of her drink and nodded.  “You all did better than I thought.  I was sure by now there would have been some drama or you'd be living together.”

“They’re good people.  They weren't going to hurt me.  They'd have stopped it before it got that far,” you explained as you turned back to her.  “And they're not mine.  I've known that all along.  They're my friends and they were safe but it's time to join the real world.”

Natasha smiled and raised her glass.  “To losing our fuck buddies,” she said playfully.

You laughed and clinked your glass against hers.

When the party started to wrap up Natasha collected up Clint and dragged him off (though far from reluctantly) to do what you assumed was in the ballpark of what your plans were for tonight.  You took it as a queue to go seek out Bucky and Steve.

They were cuddled up on a recliner looking out over the city.  It was rare seeing them with their guards down so low in public, but then a lot of people had left and most of the people left were friends rather than acquaintances.

Bucky held out his hand to you when you reached them and pulled you down on top of them.  “Did you have fun?”  Bucky asked.

“Yeah, it’s been good seeing everyone,” you agreed.  “Could have done without the ‘moving forward’ speech.”

Bucky started laughing while Steve swatted your thigh.  “Too bad, I’m the boss, and I’ll do as many boring speeches as I like,” Steve teased.

“You gotta get one last one before you go anyway or you’ll start missing them,” Bucky added.

You chuckled and curled in against them both.  “Yeah, I’m gonna miss them.  I bet Clint will give completely different speeches.”

“They’ll include puns and mentions of getting pizza after,” Bucky joked.

Bucky’s hand slid up your thigh and he nosed at your neck.

“You want to head down to bed?”  Steve asked you.

“Mm… you make that sound so innocent, Stevie,” Bucky rumbled.  “What she wants is to have us fuck her so hard it takes her through until next year.  Isn’t that right, darlin’?”

“I wouldn’t not like that,” you said, stifling a laugh.

“Don’t be modest now,”  Bucky growled against your ear.  “You want to be pinned between us as we both rail into you, don’t you?”

“Mm-hmm…” you hummed, wriggling on top of them.

“Alright, enough flirting,” Steve said, getting up.  “We’re all sure things and we know it.”

You and Bucky followed him to the elevator.  Bucky pulled you against him as you rode it down, and he kissed your neck from behind as his hands slid up under your shirt and massaged your breasts.

You moaned softly and Steve turned to you and leaned down, kissing you deeply.  It was annoyingly brief though, as the elevator stopped on Steve and Bucky’s floor and the doors opened.

As soon as you got into their apartment the three of you started shedding your clothes, leaving them in a trail from the door to the bedroom.

Steve spun you to face him when you were down to just your underwear and he kissed you hungrily Bucky moved up behind you and as Steve unhooked your bra Bucky slid your panties down to the ground.  Steve’s hands ran down your back to your ass and he lifted you.  You wrapped your legs around his waist and rolled your hips against him.  He was still in his boxers and his cock pressed against you through the thin fabric.

Bucky picked up the lube from the bedside table and squeezed it on his fingers.  He came up behind you and as you ground your hips against Steve as he massaged the lube on your asshole.  You moaned loudly and tried to relax, popping your ass out toward him.  Steve held you in place, kissing your neck and sucking at your earlobe as Bucky slowly eased first one finger into your ass and then another.  You tensed and rocked against him, rubbing your aching cunt against Steve’s clothed cock as Bucky slowly and gently fucked your ass with his fingers, stretching you in readiness for what was to come.

When Bucky took his hand away you mewled needily and rocked your hips against Steve.  Steve responded by lifting you.  You shrieked as he raised you up above his head and guided your legs over his shoulders.   You grabbed fistfuls of his hair and linked your ankles at the back of his shoulders.  “Steve!” You squealed as you tried to steady yourself.

Steve didn’t answer, he just buried his face into your cunt and began to eat you out like a starving man.  His tongue swirled around and wide, lapping at your folds and dipping inside of you.  You moaned and held on, your legs trembling and your heart hammering in your chest.

Bucky moved up behind you, putting his hand on your back.  “Relax,” he soothed.  “We’ve got you.  You’re not gonna fall.”

You relaxed as best you could and Steve began to focus on your clit.  His fingers dug into your thighs as he held you in place.  Bucky’s hand stayed on your back and your let yourself lean against him a little, though your hands stayed firmly tangled in Steve’s hair.  With each jolt that ran through you, you’d moan and pull on Steve’s hair and he would, in turn, moan into your cunt.

Adrenaline coursed through you, heightening your senses and making everything more intense.  Your clit twitched with every flick of Steve’s tongue and your muscles clenched and spasmed.  Your orgasm built and when it broke, it crashed down on you making your legs kick out and your hips buck against Steve’s face.  “Fuck!” You screamed arching back.

Bucky caught you and helped lower you down, taking you in his arms and moving to the bed with you.  You felt high on a mix of adrenaline and endorphins and you were still panting when Steve and Bucky rolled on condoms and got into position on the bed.  You straddled Bucky’s waist and with shaky legs, you lowered yourself down on his cock.  He watched on as you rolled your hips in a figure of eight while seated firmly on him.  Steve moved up behind you and kissed your neck you leaned back against him and captured your lips.  He moaned into your lips and rutted against your ass, his hands sliding up your stomach to cup your breasts.  When you broke the kiss you lay down over Bucky, pressing your body against his.

Bucky’s arms wrapped around you and held you close.  “You sure this is what you want?”  He whispered against your ear.

“Yes, please,” you begged.  “Give it to me.”

Steve pressed his palm to the middle of your back and squeezed more lube on your ass.  The head of his cock pressed against your tight hole and he eased it in.

You keened and curved your back at the burn in your ring muscle as his cock stretched you.  Bucky began to thrust his hips up into you, distracting you from the pain that was blossoming and changing it too.  Steve was patient, he took his time to let you adjust.  When you began to relax he began to thrust.

You were full to breaking and it felt like a wildfire was running through your veins as your two best friends thrust into you, giving you the thing you had asked for and brought you apart doing it.  They held you between them and kissed your neck and back and caressed your skin.  Your second orgasm of the night hit you hard, you screamed out with it and shuddered between them.  Bucky grunted but he kept thrusting, fucking you through it.  That high feeling you had deepened.  Your head felt floaty and soft while your body crackled and buzzed.

“Oh god,” you mewled.  “You feel so good.”

“So do you, darlin’,” Bucky soothed, stroking your hair.

With another cry, you came again, your core clenching and squeezing them tight.  Bucky jerked up hard into you and groaned loudly as your orgasm dragged his over too.  You could feel the pulse of his cock as he emptied into you.

Steve kept thrusting into your ass, but he wasn’t too far behind, he leaned forward and his thrusts shallowed.  “Steve,” you whimpered.  “Steve, come on my back.”

Steve groaned and got up on his knees.  He pulled out and pulled off the condom, tossing it hastily into the wastebasket by the bed as he jerked himself off.  He made a soft grunt sound and released, painting your back in hot ribbons.

You collapsed down on Bucky, breathing heavily and he gently ran his fingers through your hair.   “Good?”  He whispered.

“So good,” you hummed.

The following day you had breakfast with Steve and Bucky before going to your apartment to shower and pack up the last of your things.  When you went down to meet Clint at the Quin Steve, Bucky, Sam, Natasha, Rhodey, Wanda, Vision, and Bruce were all there to see you off.  You and Clint hugged them each in turn and when you got to Steve and Bucky they both engulfed you in their arms at the same time.  “I’ll be coming to check things out in a month,” Steve said. “But you’ll hear from me before then.”

“Yeah, I know,” you said with your face pressed against his chest.

“Did we ever thank you for … you know… everything?  What we did together… I think for most people, that stays as a fantasy.  I’m so grateful that we got to explore that with you.”  Steve said.

You pulled back and looked up at him.  “We did it together, Steve,” you said. “I got just as much out of it as you.”

He smiled and pressed a kiss on your forehead.  “Still.  Thank you.”

You kissed his cheek and turned and kissed Bucky.  “Take care of yourself, darlin’.  And call us tonight.”

“Will do,” you agreed. “Talk soon.”

“Come on slowpoke, we have air currents to catch!” Clint called.

“Shit, alright!”  You called back.

“Fly safe,” Steve said and hugged you one last time.  You waved to everyone as you followed Clint onto the jet.

He got into the cockpit and began the take-off procedure and you took the seat beside him.   “I thought we’d be flying with the kids,” you said as you went through the procedure with him.

“They went via America Chavez express.  They’ll have completely trashed the place by the time we get there.  Unfortunately, the jet needs to come too, so we have to do it the old fashioned way,” Clint explained.

“This is old fashioned?”  You teased.

“In comparison to teleporting it is,” Clint laughed.  “You ready?”

You looked at him and smirked.  "It's probably too late to go to the bathroom, right?”

“Not to worry,” he said as the jet took off.  “There’s a really horrible one back there if you need it.”

“Oh good,” you said, laughing with him.

“Oh and,” Clint said, looking at you through the side of his eye.  “If you’re looking for another fuck buddy.  My card is now open.”

You snorted and nudged him.  “Gee, thanks, Clint,” you said.  “I’ll keep that in mind.”

He patted your leg.  “We’ll be alright.  Besides, there’s In and Out.  Get a few of them in you and you won’t even remember what you were missing.”

You broke down into laughter and relaxed back in your chair.  It was time to look forward and start your new life.

~ END ~

[violetnotez]

HC: Working at a restaurant with them

So I work at a restaurant and let me just say- it kinda sucks. Its either super busy or super dead and *cough cough we are totally understaffed. But anyways, I’d thought it’d be fun to write HC for what it would be like to work with the BNHA boys at a food joint! 

MIDORIYA

Where You Two Work: 

Definitely a coffee shop, and a super aesthetic one at that

The type that doesn’t actually have the greatest coffee, but one that people come just because of how adorable and peaceful it is

The whole inside is made up of rich browns, creamy whites, and refreshing greens, with knick knacks of all shapes and sizes littering the walls and cabinets (and even from the ceiling)

You had first began working with Uraraka, but she gave her 2 weeks notice to your boss after a month of you working there

But she had also recommended a friend to take her place- and he got hired

On the first day, Midoriya was already pretty nervous- a new job! A new place! What if he couldnt do everything that was asked of him? What if everyone was super mean? What if he just downright hated it?

When he walked in, and saw this beautiful girl at the counter, he couldn't BrEaThE

He seriously thought you were an angel

When you greeted him as you usuallye became a Huge WRECK- stuttering, sweating, the works

And then he said you were going to train HIM

ONE ON ONE

Izuku didn't know whether to be terrified or ecstatic, because he 1) wanted to never be away from you now and 2) he had NO IDEA how he was going to survive being alone with you and having your undivided attention on him for a couple of hours 

What makes him Angry:

Hates how people become so rude to you and show you no respect as a person

It also pains him that you just have to sit there and take it

He has literally seen people point in your face, accuse you of outlandish accusations, and call you rude names

Once witnessed an adult woman call you “stupid” and asked you “if you even went to school” because you accidentally put 2 pumps of caramel syrup instead of 3

This has literally happened to me-just not in the same context :\

Another time, this man was screaming in your face on how he hated his coffee and wanted his money back

Midoriya could tell you were extremely stressed even though you were smiling and being cheerful towards the man

The man mistakenly took your positive demeanor as an insult, because he decided to try and throw his half drinken ice coffee at you

Midoriya instantly saw this, and as if as a reflex, caught it right before it splashed all over your apron

“I think it’s time for you to leave now sir”, he said calmly, but his face didn’t match- it was furious

The man tried to yell at you some more, but he saw Izuku’s face and decided it was best to leave

After that incident, Midoriya didnt leave your side and kept checking up on you throughout the shift

How You Usually Work Together:

Midoriya is always the most helpful one 

He’s extra helpful with you because of the MASSIVE work crush he has

But if you ever need help cleaning tables? He’s on it

Need to do the dishes? No worries, he’s got it

Just need a 10 minute break? You sure as heck know he’s dropping everything to make sure you rest

He’s not the best at making drinks, but his adorable personality makes him the best cashier

Mingled with your quick drink time, you two are always getting crazy good tips, especially since your both scheduled in the morning, which is typically the biggest rush of the day

Which you both share of course

When it becomes super dead after a big rush, and you two had cleaned up, you’ll make each other’s favorite drinks as you wait for your shifts to end

You two both worked hard, you deserve a free coffee!

Midoriya always asks for green tea boba, and you make whatever your feel like drinking at that moment

You’ll sit on the counter, smiling and laughing at Midoriya’s crazy stories about his friends over at UA, and just relish the feeling of being with him

Because he’s turned into your work crush too

TODOROKI

Where You Two Work:

I imagine Todoroki working at the most BOUJEE-IEST PLACE EVERRR

Like some super expensive sushi place that takes literally 3 months to get a reservation and you need to pay a down payment to eat there

Like tthe Boujee of the boujee

Is that even how you spell boujee oh well ACK

You had quit your last job because you hated it, and were now desperately job searching

One of the job sites you had joined sent you a message that this place was paying $15/hour

I WiSh

You of course instantly applied, and went to an interview a week later, completely nervous because of how rich this place looked

After the interview, you kind of assumed you wouldn’t get hired because you didnt feel you had enough experience, but to your surprised, you got a phone call a few weeks later asking you to come in for Training

You met your boss, and your manager, who showed you the ropes of the place- it was amazing seeing all these high class chefs at work and all the guests you recognized

Everyone was a high figure of society: social media stars, political figures, even heroes!

You began to sweat a little, realizing you’d have to be around this people every night

As you were looking around the room, trying to calm your nerves, you saw him-Literally the prettiest boy you had ever seen 

He was wearing a white dress shirt and black bottoms that looked just as expensive as the restaurant, his hair was perfectly split between red and white, and he had a red patch over his blue eye, his expression calm as he filled an empty water cup at a small table

Your manager noticed you staring at Todoroki, your mouth slightly agape

“Ah, I guess you noticed Todoroki!” she cried happily, “Todoroki, when your done helping our wonderful guests, come and say ‘hi’!”

Todoroki looked up, his expression unreadable as he looked at his overly happy manager and your blushing face

He nodded solemnly at the woman thanking him for his water, and came walking over, the pitcher of water still in his hand

“Todoroki, I’d like you to meet our newest hostess, y/n!” she smiled brightly as Todoroki stared at you with so much attention you felt he was staring at your soul

He reached out his hand, his expression blank

“Welcome,” he stated matter of factly

His palm was warm, his calloused skin rubbing against your skin gently

“If you’ll excuse me,” he spoke to you and your manager, “I have to work to do.”

 And just as quickly as he came, he was gone, his shoulder inches from brushing yours

“Well, he’s very ...mysterious,” you sighed, wondering if you’d be working with him more- the more you looked at him, the more you wanted to learn more about him

“Yes, yes, that Todoroki sure is a quiet one,” you manager agreed, “But, surprisingly, he’s one of our best servers! Ever since he started working here, we’ve been having TONS of regulars!”

“It’s probably that pretty face of his,” your manager winked, laughing as you blushed

“Or it might be because he’s the son of Endeavor,” she added casually

“WAIT-” you gasped, “He’S ThE sOn oF-

What Makes Him Angry:

The creepsters that try and get with you make him furious

He hasn’t told you he likes you, or even given you a reason to think he has emotions for you because he is terrible at showing any type of feelings, but he is HIGHLY observant of you

Because hes a starer not gonna lie its borderline creepy

He knows your mannerisms  for when your happy and having a good day, or when you feel down in the dumps

You could look like the most cheerful person going into work, but Todoroki will know instantly that that happy smile of yours is being strained, and he’ll ask if you’re okay and if you want to talk

So when creepy idiots are trying to give you pick up lines or ask for your number, he knows right when you feel uncomfortable

And it also pisses him off because… he’s got FEELS for you

“Hey uh uhm…” the man yelled with an huge grin, snapping his fingers as if he remembered something he had been straining so hard to recover from his memory, “Y/N! Some more wine sweetheart!”

You turned around, putting on your fakest smile and fighting the urge to roll your eyes.

“Coming right over, sir!” you stated, carrying the very expensive bottle of wine this man had practically drunken half of by himself 

“Thanks darlin’,” he smiled, giving you a wink that made you want to laugh in disgust- did this dude really think he had a shot with you? Gross!

“While your at it, why dont you stay for awhile, talk some with me- I’d bet we have alot in common,” he drawled, trying to be suave and smooth-talk you in front of his equally creepy-looking friends

“Sorry to break it to you sir, but if you look around, there’s no room for me to sit. And besides, I have to get back to work-,” you replied slightly less cheerfully, trying to move away,

The man grabbed your wrist, making your blood run cold. 

“Aww c’mon darlin’, dont play hard to get,” he said breathily, wrecking of wine, “you can sit right here!” He then patted his lap, giving you a wink as his buddies laughed

You began to turn red form embarrassment, ready to do something irrational to teach this creep a well deserved lesson

“She won’t be sitting anywhere near you sir,” you heard Todoroki’s  steady and confident voice near you, feeling his powerful presence that instantly made you feel safe

“And if you keep using vulgar suggestions like that towards our staff, I’ll be forced to tell security-and then I’d be able to teach you a well deserved lesson about manners towards women outside.”

You stared at Todoroki in shock- you had never seen Todoroki this mad, he was always so calm and collected. His face was so dark, it didn't even look like him.

“Are you trying to threaten me kid?” the man asked lowly, his tone dangerous as he began to stand up.

“Wait Nijagke- I think that’s Endeavor’s kid- look at the hair,” one of his buddy’s friend whispered to the man fearfully, “You dont want to mess with Endeavor.”

The man gave Todoroki a hard stare, slowly sitting back down.

“Your lucky you got Daddy’s name to protect you, boy,” the man hissed, “or I’d be the one taking you outside.”

“I sincerely doubt that,” Todoroki spat back, gingerly taking your hand in his and leading you into the break room to make sure you were okay.

How You Usually Work Together:

Todoroki is the definition of mysterious work hawtie

Like he barely talks to you but somehow talks just enough to know him as a person, but you’re always craving more information about him

Like you know he’s full name is Shouto Todoroki, he goes to UA, he’s Endeavor’s kid, he hates his dad, and that he only got this job so he wouldn’t have to be home more than he had to

Todoroki, let me give you a hug ^--^

But he also has the biggest crush on you and doesn’t know how to communicate it, so he does the wierdest crap

Like you once mentioned to your coworkers how you think chivalry is dead because men never give roses anymore, and the next day at work there was this huge rose bouquet in the work room sent to you

Your manager sees all this and totally tries to set you two up ALLL the time

Like she’s always dropping little hints like “Oh really, thats so funny y/n, because TODOROKI’S SINGLE TOO!”

Leaves you always as a stuttering mess while Todoroki blushes softly

Is always offering to do things for you and buy you lunch

And even if you refuse, he still buys you lunch

ALL THE TIME

Because he got that money to spend$$$

BAKUGO

Where You Two Work:

You two work at the most generic food chain, like McDonald’s or Taco Bell

You at first worked with Kirishima, you two only really working there for some extra summer cash

Kirishima was the most positive person ever and you loved working with him because of his optimistic attitude

He was always talking about his buddies at UA, and there was three that always came in asking for free food

*cough cough Pikachu, Tape Boy, and Best Girl Mina

But the one he ALWAYS talked about was his best friend

How Kirishima talked about him, he was a little rough around the edges but was super cool to be around, and you actually wanted to meet him- if he hanged out with such a fun group, he must be as chill, right?

WRONG

You came in one day to see Kirishima in the back room talking to your boss, a spiky blonde next to him that had his hands stuffed in his pockets

You didn’t think really anything of it, until the very next day

Kirishima waltzed in, his buddy from yesterday at his side, looking like he wanted to murder somebody, the hat he was supposed to wear balled up in his hand

“Im not wearing this stupid hat Kirishima,” he spat at his friend with so much force you couldnt help but be a little curious by him- he was pretty hot.

“C’mon Bakugo, its just a hat!” Kkirishima said nonchalantly with his usual smile, waving at you.

“Hey Kirishima, I thought you weren’t working today,” you asked, eyeing his friend from the corner of your eye

Even though he was sulking like a child, it was kinda….cute?

“Yeah, I am,” he sighed, “I was just coming over to introduce you to Bakugo! I got him hired!”

He smiled so happily, you couldnt help but smile with him, his friend still brooding

“Im only doing this because you forced me to, you idiot, and I got hired without your help,” he grunted out, stomping his way behind the counter.

Kirishima looked at your concerned face, giving you a reassuring smile.

“I promise,” he oathed, “he’s a little rough around the edges, but he’ll warm up to you!”

“Good luck training him!” he yelled happily as he walked out the door, leaving you with the fuming blonde behind you

Oh great

What Makes Them Angry

People

Just people in general

He HATES talking to people

He is always cooking because hes quick and makes the food really good, but being even close to customers- NO

He will YELL at a child who drops food on the ground

And has done it

But his biggest pet peeve is people who feel entitled enough to say crap about how to food isnt up to their ‘standards”

Because 1) 9 times out of 10, he made the goddamn food

And 2) They always yell at you for all their insignificant little problems, and you take it

Like what the hell you’re actually nice to them after the yelled in your face?!

He hates seeing you cry

Like if somebody makes you cry- they’re dying

One time a lady screamed at you from the register that she shouldn’t have to pay for cheese on her burger, calling you really rude names

You politely excused yourself to get your manager, and as you walked by Bakugo in the back, he saw you trying not to cry

Angry Pomeranian activated

As you’re explaining the situation to your manager as he hands you some water to calm down, you both hear Bakugo screaming in the front

“-THE HELL YOU YELLING AT MY COWORKER?! YOURE EATING AT MCDONALDS YOU IDIOT HOW CHEAPER DO YOU WANT IT TO BE?!”

You literally had to fight for your boss to not fire Bakugo after that

How you usually work together:

Bakugo acts like he always hates being there

Only talk in grunts and eye rolls

When he does talk, he’s always whining or yelling

Its kinda scary

He always acts indifferent to you-but- he actually likes you

Like ALOT

When he clocks in, he is always angry, until he sees you, and he seems to melt a little bit

He thinks, for some odd reason, you look adorable in the uniform

Which was a real What the Hell moment for him because HE IS HaRdCoRe

He doesnt do CRUSHES

Kirishima catches on real quick though

He doesn’t really say anything about it- he just kinda watches it

When he drops hints though to Bakugo, Bakugo intatantly gets MAD

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN I GOTTA CRUSH ON HER?! ON THAT TWERP?! HELL NO!”

Thats when Kirishima KNOWS his buddy definitely has a crush

One time you were slightly late to work, still not even in dressed in your work clothes

You were wearing a cute off the shoulder top with a skirt

“Sorry! I was at a family event! I didnt think I’d be late!” you huffed out, hastily clocking in

BAKUGO COULDNT STOP STARING

When you walked, he literally was just MESMERIZED by your LEGS

Kirishima noticed his friend practically drooling

“Really?” he laughed, elbowing his friend, “No crush?”

“SHUT UP YOU BAKA,” Bakugo stuttered, trying to hide his blush

AHHHHH

-----------------------

Requests open!

[tyranttortoise]

@sierraseas submitted: The soul before you is definitely human. Purple Perseverance is the main trait, clearly. Though the edges of the soul look scuffed in dimmed Kindness Green.

“Hardened in Kindness.” A voice drifts around you in the ask void.

“I had to re-learn how to be kind. I wouldn’t couldn’t let them take that away from me too.” Three gray fingertips brush, just barely, against a topmost curve of the soul. Then retreat back into the void.

“It shines the brightest in the dark.” The voice says next to you.

“Might just be a Perseverance thing?” The soul spins like a top. “Or maybe all souls do better with nothing else to outshine them.” The soul slows back to it’s idling state.

“I can’t say for sure. I’ve never seen another soul. Truth be told I’ve never even seen my own until now. You’d know better than me.” You clear your throat.

“Right,” The voice says. It sounds they had stepped closer to the soul.

“I’m here to tell you about it. Strange isn’t that? I’ve never seen it before and yet I know what each color means; how every crack happened.” The voice is further away. Gray fingers of one hand appear in the purple glow of the soul hovering over each mark tracing their patterns.

“ It wasn’t the trait I was born with.” The voice whispers.

“Perseverance I mean. I wasn’t born with it.”

There’s a child under the soul. Chubby cheeked with mousey brown hair sticking every which way, smiling show casing every tooth kind of smile, with hands pressed over their eyes. 2 or 3 years old if you had to guess by the height.

“I remember an overall dress and the last step on the porch. A gravel road and a sea of yellow. Stinging pain, red palms, the taste of salt.” The voice seems faint.

“Sierra, get up. Come on now; You’re a big girl.”

“I wanted help. It hurt. I just wanted to see where he was going. I tripped in the driveway.”

“Get up. You can do it. What happens when we fall down?”

“We get up.” The voice says back to the memory.

“Seas Never Give Up. We Keep Going.

Keep Going.

Keep Going!

Keep Going!!

Keep Going!!!

Keep Going!!!!”

You Can’t Give Up!“ The voice is screaming.

“Not Yet, Not Now, Not Ever!” The soul flashes bright brilliant purple.

“ Adapt and Over Come. Wait them out. You will outlast them. That’s what Perseverance is like. Looking at the obstacle and knowing come hell or high water you Will Make It.”

The child is gone. You can hear the voice panting. The soul is still shining so bright you can see the outline of its owner. Gray hands cupped around the bottom.

“ That day was the start of years of having to hold on. My Perseverance is a learned trait. I made it into a dangerous trait. I’d need it in the years to come. Otherwise, I’d never have survived the first crack.”

The soul comes back to it’s dim glow.

“She was an Okay Mom,” The voice continues.

“But a terrible person.” Their fingers trace a crack.

“ A cheater, manipulater…abuser.” They whisper.

“She was preferable to what came next.

On her 3rd marriage and 4 boyfriend she lost us for the drugs.

Grandpa was old fashioned; that’s putting it nicely. An alcoholic to boot.

We were nothing but a drain on their retirement fund. They never let us forget it 

The only good thing I can say is at least they don’t carry any physical scars.I made sure of that.” The voice sighs softly. Fingers tracing a different branch of dark cracks.

“In those 3 years I lost more pieces of myself then I’ll ever admit to. It should have breed hate. I should hate them for what they did. My siblings do.” The voice gets watery.

“But I couldn’t, I can’t.” The fingers brush back over the green edges of the soul.

“I promised someone a long time ago that I wouldn’t let them take away what made me reach out to lost souls.” The voice laughs.

“They told me Kindness was a choice. The ability to see pain, loss, loneliness even in those hiding it and reach out.” The fingers pull back and you can feel pressure against your shoulder as if someone was leaning into you.

“He died; trying to give me a life where I could make my own choices. He asked that I keep going. Never stop helping people. To find someone who will make me smile and dance again, who wants to see my dreams come true just as much as I do.” A hand wraps around yours.

“So who do you think?” The voice asks.

________________________________

the tortoise’s two cents:  I’ve been waiting to get to this one because the way it was written literally gave me chills and made me feel like I was standing in the Void, staring at the SOUL, listening to happened to bring it to this point.   

So, I hope you won’t mind if I answer this one a little differently than the others.

—————–

———–

—–

“Who do I think?” the tortoise echos, staring mesmerized at the brilliant purple of the SOUL.  Her chest clenched; there was so much pain there, so many cracks that were held together by a need to survive, that acquired trait that screamed to just keep going no matter what.  

Her hand squeezes yours back, offering you reassurance, as a small smile curves her lips.   “I think… he’s the one.”

And suddenly, the tortoise is gone, leaving you with the fading warmth in your palm.  Footsteps approach in the darkness, the sounds of someone with a casual, meandering stride, and when the person reaches the edge of the light radiating from your SOUL –

– Swapfell Papyrus’s features come into view.

Rus is smoking a dog treat, vermilion eyelights scanning your SOUL with nonchalance, as if this isn’t one of the most intimate moments you’ll ever have – bearing your very SOUL to another.  Wisps of smoke curl around his face, framing it with the very color that shines so bright from you.  

“welp, it’s damaged.”  His gaze shifts toward you, and you feel as if he can make out your features in the darkness; he seems to be looking you directly in the eye.  “anyone weaker, an’ their very soul would’ve shattered, but yours’s still in one piece.  they healed?”  A skeletal digit reaches out and barely skims the surface of your SOUL, causing it to flinch and pull back, closer to you.  He shrugs ever-so-slightly.  “guess not.  an’ yet it’s still glowin’ that bright?  darlin’, you’re a hell of a fighter.”

His expression shifts, a smirk curving his fangs, and he takes one final drag of the dog treat.  He can relate to that – to having his own SOUL cracked and nearly broken, to almost falling down, to clinging to that need to keep going.  Monsters couldn’t have Determination, but they could have plenty of Perseverance.  

He’s not looking at you or your SOUL anymore; no, it feels like he’s looking through you, like he’s seeing something or hearing something within your SOUL.  He shakes his head once, to clear it, and then offers his hand.

“c’mon, darlin’.  let’s go somewhere that isn’t here.”  He waits, patiently, keeping his hand out as you regard it.  After another beat, a boney brow raises. “are you waitin’ for me to crack a joke, buddy?”

There’s so much hidden beneath the smirk he puts on; you can see the pain, the loss, the role he’s been forced into to Persevere and endure.  Beneath all of that, you can see a faint green glow, that Kindness and sacrifice that he reserves for those closest to him. 

You reach out. 

As soon as you take his hand, the color returns to your skin.  Your SOUL merges back with your body, the bright light dissipating at the same time that the darkness recedes.  You can see him clearly now, his laid-back smirk surprisingly gentle, and as he guides you away, you hear a new voice speak from somewhere – one with a low, baritone murmur.  

“you’re safe now, darlin’.”

—————–

———-

While you’re with Rus, the cracks in your SOUL are likely to begin to fill with Integrity and possibly Justice if you spend a significant amount of time with his brother.  The shell of Kindness is only going to become even brighter; it’s an aspect Rus needs – and something you deserve.

*I’m no longer accepting SOUL submissions.

[winchester-with-wings]

I Saw You First

“An Angel & Her Assassin” sequel

Patron Benefit Fanfic for @softdudebro​!

Pairing:  College AU - Bucky Barnes x Reader

Author's Notes:  People have asked for sequels to this fic and I gave it a shot. I thought I'd dedicate this to Tomorrow since they like Bucky :) hopefully this is a good continuation and elicits some college feels cuz it definitely did for me! Hope ya'll like it!

Summary/Request:   The story of the first time you and Bucky saw each other but didn't actually meet. Then a flash forward to the present. smut.

**inspired by that one video of Seb working out** gif post

Word Count: 1700ish

Wanna get previews, early access and make exclusive requests? Become a Patron! You can follow my Patreon for free too as some stuff becomes public after a while. I’ll be adding a discord server benefit soon too!

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Mobile Masterlist  /  Patreon & Commissions Masterlist

---------------------------------------------------

Bucky noticed you before he ever encountered you in the laundry room or the elevator of your dorm building. It figures that it would be at the gym, likely one of the regular places he frequented. Of course, you never knew this until after that fateful night at the Halloween party when you finally, truly connected.

When you asked him to tell you the story, he was playfully vague. But you know. You were there. You’d checked him out too.

Here’s how it really happened.

-----

The summer after your freshman year, you created another reading list to focus on. One of your methods to read these had been to take a book with you to the gym. You figured getting a little exercise at the same time would only help you develop better habits.

It worked, at first. The beginning of the new semester, you went to the gym for maybe two weeks? You enjoyed the ellipticals and recumbent bikes--the things that kept your legs busy but your hands and eyes free to read. It also distracted you from feeling self-conscious about the fact that you didn’t look like the other girls that came to the gym to socialize and work on their already-perfect bodies.

With the addition of classes, going to the gym became a harder habit to keep. You could just stay in your dorm room and read all you want, right? But by now, Rachel, your roommate needed a work-out buddy. Someone to motivate her to continue to go to the gym, as well. She claimed she wanted to get in shape for all the boys she’d scoped out at the floor meeting for the dorm during the first week of the semester.

“Let’s try the classes!” she suggested, pointing at the schedule on the wall. Step Aerobics, Yoga, Zumba, etc. They sounded alright, and maybe a change to your routine would be good.

So you started with the step aerobics class. You didn’t last long. You were breathing hard, face flushed and dripping with sweat. The blood was pounding in your ears, harder than the beats of music and every step on the hardwood floor and plastic steps.

You took a break, heading to the back of the class to get your water bottle. The back of the room was floor to ceiling windows and doors that faced the main area of the gym where all other equipment was. It took you only a second to realize why you disliked this set up. Everyone in the class, mostly other female students were in a fishbowl, on display for all the guys passing by or just blatantly standing at the windows. One guy winked at you and you scowled at him, effectively directing his eyes elsewhere.

What was so sexy about a sweaty step aerobics class? You thought to yourself as you turned to look at Rachel, killing it on the routine.

Oh, the butts, getting toned by the steps...Ugh!

You left after that, picking a leg press machine instead.

“Hey! Why you’d you leave?” Rachel asked after the class was over.

“Did you not see all the guys window shopping?”

“Uh, yeah, I got a number or two,” Rachel giggled, swinging her ponytail over her shoulder. You laughed as you got off the machine, offering it to your friend. She sat down and lowered the weight, significantly.

“I don’t come here to pick up guys.”

“You could if you wanted to,” she said, exhaling on the release. You just rolled your eyes. You told yourself it was because you didn’t have time for a man but really, how could you possibly expect to attract the interest of some jock? The guy that winked at you doesn’t count. He was disqualified the moment he decided to drool over a step aerobics class rather than work out. Your standards weren’t that low, seriously…

You and Rachel tried out a few more machines in the circuit, trying your own hands at strength training. But you realized quickly that you’d left the quieter space of the cardio equipment, too close to the weight lifting benches. Young men of all sizes were pushing themselves to the brink, breathing hard, grunting, exhaling, chanting, and egging each other on.

“Come on, Sam, you can do it! Just two more!” You knew that voice. Everyone on your floor knew Steve Rogers, quarterback, certified hunk and sweetheart. Or at least that’s what you had heard.

“He can’t do it.”

“Shut up, Buck!” a football player shouted as he pushed himself.

Too much testosterone. Intense. Stressful. Intimidating. That’s not what you wanted out of going to the gym. Quite the opposite really.

As you two left the gym, you made a mental note to avoid that area again.

-

The next class you attended was Zumba and not only did you keep up with it but you enjoyed it! The music was awesome and the choreography wasn’t too difficult. You could totally see yourself doing this again. But of course, boys… not men… boys…they ruin all the fun.

If step aerobics could catch the attention of onlookers, then zumba was like blood in the water for sharks.

Then again, you did feel sexy, swaying your hips, waving your hands, rolling your body. You decided to put the spectators out of your mind, losing yourself to a Shakira song.

When you left the class, having stayed for the entire thing and deciding to return tomorrow, you felt so good, so confident, that you didn’t care about who was looking. You were just in Nike leggings and a tie-dye shirt, hair up in a messy bun, nothing special, but you felt great.

“Hey, Rach!” someone called out for your friend, inviting her back over to the weight lifting area. The guy who called out for her looked familiar, someone that was likely found hanging out with Steve Rogers.

“Hey Sam,” she greeted him. You stayed by her side, holding onto that Zumba confidence with a steely grip.

You didn’t really listen to what happened between your friend and the football player. You saw Steve a few feet away with another friend. The man was on his back, legs bent and giant dumbbell weights in each hand. Your eyes went wide as you watched him push them up and hold them there. The way his arms were bulging in that gray t-shirt, he was straining himself and you were tempted to tell him to be careful.

“Give me one more!” Steve encouraged him. His friend winced as that last push was almost too much for him.

“Ah, fuck,” he hissed, exhaling and grinding his teeth. He pushed those dumbbells into the air once more and even a second time, then put them down with a loud thud as rubber met the concrete floor.

You didn’t have the best view of his face from his position on the ground and your standing position over 6 feet away, but that sound...like a growl, and his bared white teeth against that strong jaw covered in stubble…it’s a sound that stirred something deep in your belly.

He jumped to his feet and did a few quick squats in those black basketball shorts. You averted your eyes from his perfect ass just as he turned around.

You wouldn’t mind if he’d been watching you dance.

-------

“Ah, fuck.”

It’s the same sound that he made now as you sit on top of him, his hips thrusting up. His fingers were digging into your hips and would likely leave a bruise, but you didn’t mind. You were Bucky’s and he was yours. You’d staked your claim with that hickey on his chest just the other night.

“Mmph, fuck, damn it. I love it when you move like that,” he grunted. You rolled your hips, earning another moan from his lips before you leaned forward and pressed your chest to his, kissing him. He wrapped his arms around you and pinned you to him as he sat up and rolled over. The grunts and squeaks coming from the two of you as Bucky repositioned himself on top were ridiculous.

“Quit giggling,” he half-laughed. “M’gonna pull a muscle in this bed, I swear.” Your head hit the pillow with a ‘oof’ and another giggle. “Dammit, babe, you make it hard to fuck you when you sound that cute.”

“Then don’t fuck me…” Bucky’s hips froze, his cock buried deep inside you. His sharp features softened with outright confusion and a slight insecurity. You reached up to caress the side of his face, the stubble on his cheek itching your palm. “Make love to me.” Bucky released a heavy sigh, rolled his eyes and collapsed on top of you.

“Don’t mess with me like that, Doll,” he whispered into your hair, using your new favorite pet name. His slow thrusts picked up again while he kept his face next to yours. You held onto him for dear life as the tension inside you continued to build until your arched back signaled your release. Bucky kept pumping until the lasting effects of your orgasm sent him over the edge. Rather than stopping completely, he slowed down until the only movement was a twitch of pleasure every now and then. “Oh my god,” he whispered, peppering kisses on your shoulder. “I’m taking you to dinner.”

“Why?” you laughed.

“I’m sorry, darlin, are you turning down a free meal? Is it the company? Do you just use me for my body?” Bucky climbed off of you but you reached out for him; He stumbled as he fully ejected himself from the bed.

“Nonono, that’s not what I said!” you said, as you continued to laugh. “I’m just wondering...if that’s your way of paying me for my services,” you wiggled your eyebrows, a hint at your teasing. Bucky snapped a finger and pointed at you, putting on his own mock serious face.

“Hooker, I’m taking you to dinner because I want to.” Having cleaned himself up, Bucky tugged on his basketball shorts and a t-shirt he’d left in your dorm room the other day. The boy considered your floor his own personal closet. “We’ve stayed in, ordered food and watched movies and you’ve even helped me with my papers. You deserve to go out to an actual restaurant.”

“Okay, well, we should probably shower before we go out.”

“Oh, I agree but I can’t share that shower with you. It was too dangerous the first time. Never again.”

You picked up your towel and toiletries as Bucky sat in a bean bag chair on your floor. You tapped him on the nose.

“Never say never, Buck,” you said with a wink.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tagging: @abbessolute​ @book-loving--anime-chick​ @faithtrustandpixiedust95​ @fabinapercabeth4179​ @thinkwritexpress-official​ @autoblocked​ @therealcap​ @mathle0matle​ @whoopxd​ @bookworm4ever99​ @geeksareunique​ @bucky-plums-barnes​ @pottxrwolff​ @ravenhaviland​ @melaninspice11​ @feelmyroarrrr​ @fvckingavengers​ @officialcaptain-marvel​ @sebbytrash​

[221bshrlocked]

I Put a Spell on You

Pairing: Bucky x Reader

Word Count: 2256

Warnings: fluffff. So much freaking fluff.

A/N: this was supposed to be a short drabble but things got outta hand quite literally and now I have this. I couldn’t not write something for Halloween so I hope you enjoy this :)

You assumed Wanda understood that you felt uncomfortable by her invitation to the small halloween party she was having when you continued to say no but then she barged into the coffee shop a few hours ago and demanded you get off your shift a little early and grab your costume. 

“For the last time, I really don’t think that’s a good idea Wanda. I’m like an outlier and it’ll be very obvious and I’d rather not have anyone think I’m there because-”

“Y/N shut up, you’re coming. Literally everyone knows you by now and I’d highly doubt anyone will think that way. As a matter of fact, someone was super excited when I said I invited you.” Wanda grabbed her coffee from your hand before you even placed a cover on it.

“You’re lying...who was it?” You tried not to sound too excited, hoping she’d tell you it was a certain introvert who spent most of his afternoons in your little cafe writing and doodling. When she didn’t respond, you turned around and saw her already smiling at you.

“Y/N, go sign out.” You heard your boss yell out from across the shop and you knew Wanda had already spoken to her. 

“Fine, but know that I don’t like any bit of this.” You took your apron off and walked past your boss, shaking your head at her when she told you she couldn’t deny any request by any of the Avengers. Quickly grabbing your things, you walked towards your place with Wanda and refused to wear the costume she brought for you.

“Why not? You’ll look really cute in this.” 

“You mean I’ll look desperate. No thank you I already have one.” Throwing your things on the couch, you walked into your room to freshen up and grabbed the home-made costume before putting on some light make up and walking out.

“Are you kidding me Y/N? That could barely pass as a home-made costume.” She complained about the shirt and your lack of ideas to which you ignored before exiting your apartment

“I’ll have you know, I wore this to class yesterday and pretty much everyone was triggered. That shit is terrifying Wanda. I’m serious.” You attempted to convince her that your sense of humor was spot on but she ignored you all the way to the tower. Once you got there, Wanda handed you a special tag to wear so no one would stop you when you try to go anywhere.

“This will get you anywhere you want...actually, no. Anywhere you’re allowed to be in.” She sipped her coffee before pushing you towards the elevator, already hoping that everyone was on time so you wouldn’t feel awkward. 

When the elevator rang, Wanda walked out and turned around, only to see the nervousness seeping through your clothes. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s just us Y/N. Pretend we’re at the coffee shop.” She smiled at you and you wished her assuring words would work but your nerves got the best of you. 

As soon as you stepped out, you heard screaming and yelling from the opposite end of the room. Walking behind Wanda, you watched a bunch of middle aged men and women screaming at each other while carving pumpkins, laughing to yourself when you saw how invested Steve was in his own pumpkin. You didn’t announce your arrival right away, wanting to watch them in their “natural habitat” before things got awkward.

You were doing a fairly good job standing on the side and sipping some of the green juice from the large cauldron when you felt something pull on your shirt. Looking down, you saw a young boy staring at you with chocolate all over his face and his hands, which were now on your jeans. You laughed at his carelessness before kneeling down and smiling at him.

“Hi, I’m Y/N, what’s your name?” 

“I’m Nathaniel. Why aren’t you wearing a costume?” He asked in all seriousness and you had to stop the laugh from erupting so he doesn’t think you were laughing at him. “I am actually wearing a costume. This is what some grown-ups are afraid of.” 

“You’re afraid of a chocolate bar?” He asked again and this time, you couldn’t help but laugh at his innocence.

“Oh no sweetheart, this is the Bar Exam. It’s a little different from a chocolate bar. It’s like a test, a really very hard test that I have to take.”

“Well, if you study for it, won’t you pass?” He tilted his head to the side and you pouted at how cute he was

“I wish it were that easy buddy.” You ruffled his hair and watched as he smiled up at you before taking a chunk out of the chocolate frog in his hand.

“Hey little guy, didn’t I tell you to make sure you wipe your hands before grabbing anyone?” You knew who it was instantly, and wished you tried a little harder with how you looked. Looking up, you saw the one and only Bucky Barnes smiling down at you, the expression growing wider when he saw the way you reacted to him. 

As much as you tried, you couldn’t hold back the starstruck expression you held. This was Bucky for god’s sake but his costume made it worse; his long hair was slicked back in a ponytail and not covering his face anymore. And my god, those eyes were such a vibrant blue, especially with the glasses adorning his sharp features. Then there was the cardigan and jeans that were both at least one size smaller. You didn’t know what he was supposed to be and you honestly didn’t care. All you paid attention to was how absolutely breathtaking he looked

“Wanda didn’t tell me you were coming.” Bucky asked as he grabbed the chocolate out of Nathaniel’s hand so he could clean his hands. 

“I- umm, well, I initially said no but you know Wanda. She doesn’t take no for an answer.” You stood up and didn’t know what else to say, watching as Bucky grabbed a wet wipe and rub the melted chocolate from the little boy’s hand before telling him he couldn’t have any more chocolate.

“Hey hey this is your sixth chocolate frog and I’d rather not have Laura come after me. Now, go and see if Steve finished your pumpkin or not.” You watched as the kid ran to Steve and jumped on his lap to see his pumpkin, almost yelping when you felt something rub at your upper thighs.

“Hold still, there’s some chocolate here.” Bucky said as he knelt behind you and rubbed your jeans with a wet towel. “Damn, this kid really went for it huh?” 

“Haha uhh yeah, yup. That- ahuha.” You didn’t know what to say, torn between wanting to focus on the hand holding onto your hips while pretending Bucky touching you wasn’t a huge deal.

“There, I got most of it out. Nice costume by the way, really funny.” 

“That’s what I’ve been trying to tell Wanda.” You turned away when you saw how intense holding his gaze was and pretended you were getting more juice.

“Wanna carve a pumpkin with us?” Bucky was already walking towards the corner table where Clint’s other kids were sitting. 

“I’m not really that talented to be honest, I’d just end up ruining your pumpkins.”

“Nonsense, we have a lot. And no one here is talented...except maybe Steve and I. And I’m definitely not biased.” Bucky smiled at you before motioning for you to follow him. You did silently and ignored Wanda and Natasha’s stares.

Sitting down, you introduced yourself to Lila and Cooper before turning to watch Bucky work his magic. 

Within minutes, you were so focused on watching him carve the pumpkin that you didn’t notice when he stole glances at you. He was so talented with the knife and a part of you, the slightly inappropriate one, wished he was using those skills in a different way but you brushed the thought aside. Almost fifteen minutes later, Bucky was giving Lila her pumpkin and smiling when she screamed from how perfect it was.

“My god how did you do that?” You asked, holding the pumpkin up for Lila to take a picture before setting it down to look at it. In the middle of the pumpkin was a flying Tinkerbell with fairy dust all around her. It was both beautiful and on point that you couldn’t help but praise him.

“What can I say doll? I’m talented with my hands,” he watched as you flushed at his comment, knowing fully well you caught onto what he meant. Bucky winked at you before getting up and walking over to Steve to see his pumpkin.

“Now, how about Y/N judges which is the better pumpkin?” Steve asked Bucky and you immediately said no, not wanting to have any kids crying because you favored one super soldier over the other.

“We trust your unbiased opinion Y/N!” Clint said and laughed along with Sam when they saw your semi-angry expression. You honestly couldn’t tell which was better because as precise and beautiful as Bucky’s was, Steve’s was straight up art. He managed to carve out Van Gogh’s Starry Night and use correct shading on a pumpkin and you couldn’t tell which was better.

“Guys I honestly cannot decide. They’re both so unbelievable.” You turned and saw Lila telling you to choose the other one so her brother doesn’t cry and you ended up doing just that. “But I think Steve’s wins because nothing beats Van Gogh.” As soon as you said that, Nathaniel started jumping up and down and stuck his tongue out at Bucky before grabbing another chocolate frog and running to you.

“Here, the winner was supposed to take this one but I’ll give it to you because you’re not a meanie head like Bucky.” You hugged the little kid before taking the chocolate and walking out to the balcony to get some fresh air.

Seconds later, you heard someone clear their throat and asking if they could join you.

“Of course.” You motioned for Bucky to come and didn’t bother to look at him because you knew you’d look away immediately. 

“Not gonna lie, I thought you were going to pick me doll.” When you said nothing, Bucky took a deep breath before stepping closer to you, his shoulder brushing your own and causing you to stop chewing on the candy.

“Hurt a man’s feelings darlin’, first you refuse my invitation then you choose Steve’s pumpkin over mine.”

“What invitation? I didn’t refuse your invitation!” You turned to face him and were surprised by how close he was.

“Yeah you did. I asked you weeks ago if you’d wanna come to this party but you said no. Then I asked Wanda to tell you and you still said no. Thank god she’s annoying when it comes to these things.” Bucky watched as realization dawned on your face, smiling when you shyly looked away from him.

“Y/N, look at me.” Bucky whispered, turning around to rest his elbow on the railing while trying to turn your chin towards him.

“N-no.” 

“Please.” His request was so quiet you almost didn’t hear him.

“You make me nervous Bucky.” You didn’t mean for those words to come out but once they did, you felt embarrassment wash over you.

“I don’t mean to. I swear I don’t.” He managed to turn you towards him, smiling down at you when he saw the little pout aimed at him.

“I really like you darlin’, and ‘ve been trying to talk to you for weeks but you just get so busy at work and I don’t mean to bother you when your shift is over. But...is this okay?” He leaned down and whispered those words against your cheek, making you shiver from the close proximity and his cologne.

“This- is m-more than okay.” You responded and Bucky didn’t give you a chance to say anything else, slowly capturing your lips with his and pulling you closer to him until you only felt him. His hands rested on your waist and when he saw you responding to his touches, he dared to grab your neck and push you aggressively to him.

“Goddamn, what’re you doing to me doll? It’s like you put a spell on me and I- shit, I can’t stop thinkin’ ‘bout you baby.” 

“I c-could ask you the same thing, especially with those glasses.” You laughed at his boyish grin, noticing the way his neck started to blush at your comment. “Well, you have to thank Wanda for that. She told me you liked men with glasses and I don’t need to wear them on a daily basis. But I could during halloween.”

It was your turn to blush, knowing you needed to both thank and kill Wanda when you saw her.

“Wanna have dinner with me?” Bucky asked, refusing to put any space between the two of you. 

“I would love that.” Almost immediately, you heard loud screams and swears coming from the door, looking past BUcky and watching as Steve took money from Tony while Natasha aggressively grabbed the fifty dollar bills from Clint and Sam.

“You just couldn’t wait till Christmas could you?” Sam yelled at Bucky before heading back inside and you couldn’t help but laugh at the happy and annoyed expression on everyone’s face.

“Good thing I listened to Wanda.”

[xxgoblin-dumplingxx]

The Matchmaker: Eight

Bucky watched you put away Rebecca’s groceries and pills, smiling a little. You’re keeping up a running stream of commentary for her about this and that. It’s cute. If he didn’t know better he’d say you weren’t working. 

Of course, for you, you weren’t. Not really. You’d talked to Rebecca about resigning from the Agency and just keeping her company without being paid for it. She wouldn’t hear of it. Not for any reason. It had been a running conversation. Rebecca usually responded by guilting you into staying for dinner and doing some homework at her Kitchen table. 

“Hey,” you say, kissing him hello softly. “Hello, beautiful,” he murmurs, wrapping his arms around your waist and sticking his hands in your hoodie pocket. You lean back against him and sigh. He knew you were getting a little down. You couldn’t actually get home for Christmas this year. It was three days away and you were just shy of the money you needed.

He hated it. He kissed the hide of your head tenderly and cuddled you for a moment. “Baby,” he murmured, “You say the word. We can leave to see your ma tomorrow.” You sigh, “I can’t let you do that.”

“If he doesn’t do that,” Rebecca called, “I’m not ever speaking to him again.” You sigh, “Becca,” you start.

“No,” she said, “There are people coming in tomorrow, Sweetheart. I’m not going to be alone for the rest of the holidays.” Bucky gave her a grateful look and smiled, “Please?” he said, “I should probably meet the woman that’s trying to name our kids.”

“Kids we don’t have yet,” Bucky added quickly when Rebecca looked like she was about to start fussing at him for getting you in a family way without marrying you. You snort and half turn to look up at him, “You’re sure you don’t mind? I mean you’ll miss seeing everyone when they get here.”

He smiles and kisses you softly, “Darlin’ it’ll be okay... Aside from that your ma has been sending me pictures of the candy she’s been making. I might literally die if I don’t get to try it.” You giggle, “Well, anything for your sweet tooth,” you murmur. 

“It’s settled then!” Rebecca said clapping her hands, “Go on. Get going! You need to pack.”

____________

You kiss Bucky softly and smile up at him as he closes the trunk. “You sure you want to drive, Doll?” he asks, “It’s snowing.” You smile, “I learned how to drive in it a long time ago, Bucky. I’ll be fine. Also, Stark Tech has a massive fucking dead spot anywhere near town. You’ll wind up getting us lost.”

You take the keys out of his hand and kiss his cheek, jumping into the passenger seat. “You know,” he drawled fondly, “I’m a pilot. Pretty sure I could handle getting us to your ma’s house.”

He doesn’t mind though. He likes having the opportunity to watch you. To admire the curve of your lips. You’re singing along with the radio and pointing things out to him on the way. 

It looks like an alien terrain. It’s America but worlds away from where he usually spends time. You pull into town and it looks... It looks like an episode of an old TV show he watched with Becca. Tree lined, brick streets. Kids roaming in massive kids packs. It’s sweet. He smiles to himself, thinking that he wouldn’t mind raising kids in a little town like this. “Did you tell your ma we were coming?” he asked.

You shake your head, “I thought I’d surprise her,” you tell him. He grins, “And give her less time to start coming up with reasons you should have a baby with me.” 

“That too,” you added, snorting. You pull up to the bakery and stop the car, getting out and pausing to hug your boyfriend, “Thank you,” you tell him quietly. 

“Anything for you, darlin’,” he says, cupping your jaw and kissing you softly. You looked at him like he’d given you the world and he felt 10 ft tall. It had just taken a few phone calls. His cheeks colored and you smiled. “You’re such a dork,” you tell him, giggling. 

You take his hand and start to lead him across the street and he stops, “Your ma isn’t going to be mad that I’m here, is she?” he says uncertainly. You smile and tug him after you, “Are you kidding? She’s convinced that you’re going to be the father of her grandkids... She’d be furious if I didn’t bring you with me.” He smiles and follows after, happy to be with you. 

Even if he feels a little awkward, it’s nice to be with you. 

You let yourself in through the front door and duck under the counter easily. The whole place smells like Bucky’s personal definition of heaven. All sugar and pastry. It makes his mouth water and you smile at him, pressing a finger to your lips, “Mama?” you call softly.

There’s a clatter and a gasp and then before you have time to say anything else, your mom has you wrapped in a hug and is simultaneously kissing your cheeks and calling you an asshole for not telling her you were coming. You laugh and hug her hard. You missed her. This smell. The way it felt to have her hug the stuffing out of you.

Bucky watched, smiling to himself. Worth it. He thought, totally worth it. It didn’t take long for him to wind up in her crosshairs. He got the same bone-crunching hug and she pulled him down to kiss his cheeks, “You’re an asshole too,” he said, “But I’ll keep you since you brought my baby home.” He chuckles and she grins up at him, “I’m glad to meet you finally,” he said. 

“I know, I thought Y/N was never gonna bring you home,” she said. “I’d never let that happen, ma’am,” he assured her. 

He liked her. He could see where your warmth came from. The sweetness. He found himself settled with hot chocolate and a piece of cake out of the case as you got pressed into service. Apparently, there was a wedding cake, candy orders, and about 12 pies that still needed to be made. So you tied your hair up, put an apron on and got to work. 

It was nice. The comfortable ebb and flow of conversation. “Where are Ty and Jack?” you ask stretching your shoulders. “They took the van up to Napanee to drop off the last loads of peanut brittle and what not for the Maple Lane people,” Penny answers.

You nod, “So the kids,” you start. “Are at the house with your dad... Mari and Collette are up in the city doing the last of their shopping.” You nod, “How’s Booger doing?” you ask. Penny smiles a little, “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,” she said. 

You look at her curiously and she smiles, “Give Dan a few minutes to get the kids loaded into the truck... You can see for yourself.” 

__________

Bucky didn’t have time to ask any questions. He knew who Booger was, your youngest nephew. The baby. The quiet one. It had taken him forever to start talking and when he did it was hard to understand. 

The cacophony of kid voices out front made you stop what you were doing. You bolted out of the kitchen and into the front lobby, engulfed in squealing, giggling little boys. They accepted hugs and kisses and told you all about legos and Minecraft.  It didn’t take long for Bucky to see the youngest, hiding behind your dad’s legs and peeking out uncertainly. 

Your mom deftly distracted the other boys and you held your arms out, “Hey Booger!” you say smiling. The little boy needs no more encouragement. He bolts into your arms and koala hugs your torso. You hug him tight and kiss the side of his head. Bucky glances at Penny and she smiles, “That’s his person,” she says shrugging, “they understand each other.” He’s started talking to you at full speed, telling you all about Harry Potter and his wand and Voldemort, and Quidditch. 

Penny pauses for a second watching tears well up and she smiles, “Last time she saw him he didn’t talk that much.” He watches you hug him harder and smile, “That’s really cool, buddy,” you tell him, blinking back tears. Eventually, the lure of a cookie from Grandma and some cocoa and meeting a real-life superhero is enough to make him wiggle out of your arms. 

Bucky gets an introduction to your dad. The man is massive. Nearly 7ft tall and quietly terrifying without being outright menacing. He takes Bucky’s hand and shakes it, “Nice to meet you, Son,” he drawled. Bucky nods, “Same here, sir,” he said trying not to be nervous. “You be good to my girl,” he said, “You hear?” Bucky nods again and swallowed hard. 

He’d murdered people. He’d fought battled with Aliens. This was the most terrified he could actually remember being. “I wouldn’t want it any other way, Sir. She’s... I love her.” That earns him a look of tacit approval and the massive man smiled a little, “Good,” he said. The Brunette let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding and looked back towards you. 

You’d managed to extricate yourself from the kids and made your way over to your day, throwing your arms around his neck when he stooped down.

He scooped you up off your feet easily and hugged you hard enough that Bucky heard the distinct sound of your back popping. “Hey, dad” you groan. He chuckles and kisses the side of your head, “Hey, Sunflower,” he says. He sets you down on your feet carefully and brushes hair out of your eyes. “Glad you made it home,” he said, “Your mama was thinkin’ you’d never make it back for a minute.” 

“Bucky made sure I made it back,” you say, wrapping one arm around the former assassin’s waist and looking up at him adoringly.

“I’m just in it for the candy,” Bucky said kissing your forehead. You snort and smack his chest lightly. The big man’s rumbling laugh takes him by surprise for a moment but it doesn’t take long for him to join in. He liked this. He felt welcome and warm and it felt like... home. He couldn’t wait to tell Becky all about it.

Tags:  @lancsnerd​ @stevieang​ @golddaggers​ @blameitonthecauseway @qxeen-of-hearts​ @process-pending​ @xmarveled​ @beautybyfire, @etherealwaifgoddess, @mschellehitt, @mistressoftorture @thorfanficwriter, @ctinadiva, @innerpaperexpertcloud @amalthea9  @cdwmtjb8

[complicatedandstained]

Rules of Engagement: Smushing Faces

A bell chimes beside them as the front door creaks open, dragging Axel and Roxas’ clouded minds back to a different feverish kiss at the top of a clock tower. For a moment they can feel the deafening clanging of a much larger bell vibrating through them, shaking their strong bodies like leaves in a rainstorm. 

They slowly separate at the thump of heavy footsteps a few feet away and the neutral, slightly weary grunt that follows as Aeleus catches sight of them lip-locked. Aeleus does an about face and clomps away, toward the designated shelf where Axel and Roxas set aside materials made for the scientists and guards of the Radiant Garden castle.

Roxas carefully shifts himself into a more socially appropriate position on Axel’s lap, and after a minute watching Aeleus loading items into his arms to heft out to his cart parked out front, Roxas pipes up, “Do you need help with those, man?”

Aeleus glances back to them warily, his lip lifting slightly upward at the more tender sight of Axel gently kissing the top of Roxas’ head as Roxas tangles their fingers together in an unnecessarily intricate knot. 

“Not just yet, Master Roxas,” Aeleus rumbles in his deep bass, brushing his gloves together to release ashy residue from the crate he’s just shifted. “Go about your business. I’ll let you know.” 

“Go about your business,” Axel echoes, as Aeleus returns to his. He turns his own attention back to Roxas, and chuckles, shaking his head. “Aeleus cracks me up.” 

Roxas blinks, miffed. “I don’t think he was trying to be funny…”    

“You haven’t known him as long as I have,” Axel argues airily. He shrugs when Roxas looks unconvinced and reaches for the bag of jalapeño poppers as Roxas sweeps it away, amusement and exasperation narrowing his eyes. 

“Dude, your hands are filthy.”

“Ordinarily, I’d take that as a compliment,” Axel replies and offers an insinuating smirk which sinks into a pout, “but I’m starving.” Roxas snorts, but continues to hold the bag out of reach, as if this could actually stop Axel, who has nearly twice his wingspan.   

“Hm.” Axel contemplates his palms, blackened with ash and metal, until he catches hold of a better idea. “Well, then, Roxas, I guess you’re just going to have to feed me or get up.” He pats Roxas’ thigh, all deceptively heavy, compact muscle, and Roxas groans in reply, clearly unwilling to move after his long morning skateboarding through half the kingdom running errands. 

“Mine aren’t much better.” Roxas frowns, glancing at his own skin, sooty and damp from Axel’s palms, clothes, sweat. After thinking for a second, he stretches them out over the floor and mumbles, “Water.” A light spray appears from the ether to rinse them clean.

Axel hums, head cocking. “Now do the spell for soap.”

Roxas makes a strangled sound in the back of his throat and then shakes the bag again emphatically. “Shut up, or I won’t feed you.”

It’s Axel’s turn to sound strangled, but then he pantomimes zipping his trap until Roxas nods, unloading a pair of bottles from a tote bag Aerith had helped him hand-sew in one of their classes, and handing them off to Axel to open, before lifting one of the heavenly smelling crescent wrapped rolls from the bag and brushing off the flaky, buttery crumbs. 

Axel’s brows rise as he twists the metal caps off the bottles and leans in to sniff them. “You didn’t manage to get…?”

Roxas twists his head in the negative, smile wistful. “Cream soda. But Elrena made it herself.” 

“Ah,” Axel nods seriously, as he pockets the bottle caps, “so it’s probably poisoned cream soda.”     

“C’mon,” Roxas chides, with that blink and you miss it smile, nudging him with his shoulder, “Elrena’s so nice now.” 

“I know. Maybe I’m a hypocrite, but it creeps me out.” Axel smiles back, conspiratorial, gesturing with both hands despite the bottles. “Keep waiting for her to snap.” He watches Roxas steal the first bite of the jalapeño popper and his tongue fumbles, volume rising, “Babe, you might not want to take that big a bite of—”

Roxas meets Axel’s gaze in a steady, playful challenge, starts to chew, and then his face contorts. “Aw, fug! Ax’l—!” His hands start flailing, eyes beginning to water. “My mouff’s on fyre!” 

Axel’s brows furrow with concern, as he lifts his hand to Roxas’ mouth, though he can’t quite subdue his smirk. “You’ve never eaten a jalapeño before, have you, darlin’?” 

Roxas spits the food into Axel’s outstretched palm without hesitation, and then Axel lifts one of the bottles to Roxas’ mouth, and tips it back. 

Roxas’ pink cheeks fade, the tension pinching his nose lessening as he chugs it down. Axel finds himself distracted by the muscles in Roxas’ neck working, swallowing, and the dribbles of frothy white foam spilling slowly out the sides of his mouth. As Roxas starts to cough, Axel scolds his mind for going somewhere indecent, and fumbles to help him right the bottle without dropping his own.

Axel sticks the unchewed half a jalapeño popper that had been in his boyfriend’s mouth into his own to free his ash-stained hand, and uses it to better support Roxas, who is leaning forward, cringing in disapproval through a minor coughing spasm. 

Which, Axel thinks, is a bit unfair, considering Roxas is the one with liquid sugar dripping tantalizingly down his face.   

“Ugh.” Roxas rubs at the liquid dripping down his jawline, as Axel chews, and the spices set his own mouth pleasantly ablaze. “How can you eat that?”

“If I was afraid of your germs, Roxas,” Axel leans in, tone dropping into an intimate hiss, before his tongue stretches to lap at a drip Roxas missed. “I wouldn’t have had my tongue down your throat two minutes ago.” 

Roxas shuts his eyes, works his jaw, and presses his fingertips to Axel’s cheek, hand twitching as if unsure whether to pull him closer or push him off, as the sting of spice from Axel’s tongue hits his skin. “I me’n’ the jalapeños,” he mumbles, too breathy to quite pull off indignant, neck arching just a bit as Axel’s tongue traces cream soda further down his jawline. “They’re definitely poisoned.” 

There’s a bang of metal on metal as Aeleus works across the room, and Axel snickers, kissing Roxas’ cheek one last time before pulling away. “They’re an acquired taste. And, speaking of poison, there’s definitely booze in this.” He lifts the remaining bottle of cream soda to his lips, and Roxas watches, head shaking. 

“I knew they’d be spicy. I like spicy, but,” Roxas winces, his own tongue sticking out, “blegh. They’re like if Firaga was a pastry. Yeah,” he glances at the cream soda bottle, remembering the way Elrena had winked at him and told him to have fun when she handed them over, “I don’t know how she got away with it, but,” he tilts the bottle and watches the amber content slosh, “this has to be, like, half rum.” 

“You didn’t think we were the only ones opening dark corridors when we’re not supposed to, did you, Roxas? Where there’s a will—” Axel’s nose crinkles, laughing as Roxas takes another swig. “Whoa, you just chugged half a bottle. Slow down there, buddy.”

“Trying to get the taste out of my mouff…”

Roxas has downed the entire bottle of soda before Axel finally persuades him it’s not a form of manslaughter to feed him the other half of the first jalapeño popper. Axel chews with exaggerated relish, Roxas watching with a mix of awe, disgust, and apprehension.    

“So, you got stuck talking to Xemnas earlier, huh?” Axel asks around another bite. “Yeah.” Roxas brushes crumbs from the back of his hand and the collar of Axel’s tunic. “I think I accidentally agreed to Org family brunch next week.” He pulls another pained face. “You have to help me get out of it. Isa will ask me if I’ve been applying myself.” 

Axel chuckles. “You have been applying yourself. Ansem said our science project showed ‘great promise.’ That’s scientist speak for ‘fucking awesome.’” He rubs Roxas’ lower back in attempt to ease his concerns. “And Xemnas gave you full marks for your book report comparing The Lord of the Flies to current events in Neverland.”

“I know,” Roxas frowns and sets his bottle on the bench beside him with a clink, “but when Isa asks, I go brain-dead.” 

“He has that effect on people,” Axel jabs fondly. “But don’t forget, he’s taking a few classes too. Xemnas didn’t teach his employee of the month everything.” Roxas scowls, though it seems directed inward. “Talking about my education makes him so serious. He’s easier to talk to over frisbee or construction work or guitar lessons with Demy.” He shrugs. “I know he means well.” 

“Hm.” Axel glances to the blur of the fire in the hearth in thought, swishing his palm to bring the blazes down as the heat of the jalapeños spreads through his throat. He swallows. “I’ll see what I can do. We did just have them over for dinner. Speaking of,” he fixes his eyes on Roxas again, “what the hell did you talk about? Xemnas just talked our ears off two days ago.” Roxas rolls his eyes. “You know Xemnas. Everything.” He shifts his hand over the bottle at his side, murmurs again, and it starts to fill with water. “First, he talked about Isa and what a good job he’s doing with HR and Staffing for the Restoration Committee and managing our community service hours, which, by the way, we’re Thursday…” 

“Yeah, yeah, I know. I pissed Leon off at the market yesterday when I got the last avocado, so I hope you’re ready for some hard labor.”

Roxas gives an exaggerated sigh and tries to cuff Axel’s shoulder. Axel dodges, catching Roxas’ hand in his wrist, and leaning to press his lips to Roxas’ temple. 

“So, we talked about Isa, for, like, fifteen minutes straight,” Roxas continues, as if uninterrupted, twining their fingers together with one hand and sipping his rum and sugar flavored water with the other. 

“Well,” Axel considers evenly, “he and Isa are smushing face.”

Water spurts from Roxas’ nose and it takes him a moment to collect himself. He knows Isa and Xemnas are definitely and officially together, but out in public, they seem convinced that anything more than wrapping their arms around each other or standing with their shoulders touching is reprehensible PDA. Xemnas had pecked Isa on the cheek during dinner and Roxas’ jaw had about dropped open.  

When Roxas has collected himself, he continues again, “Then I made the mistake of asking what he’s got planned for the next issue of The Radiant Garden Gazette.” “Oh, Roxas,” Axel cringes sympathetically, “you didn’t.” Roxas sets down his drink and begins ticking articles off on his fingers, “He’s doing a review of Elrena’s tavern, updates on Xigbar’s appeal, a feature with Jiminy about some of the therapy techniques he’s using with us former Org members, an ‘illuminating’ critique of Leon’s work on the street lamps, or lack thereof… Oh! And he wants us to help with the tavern food reviews as our ELA assignment for the week. ‘Dishing on the dishes,’ I think he called it. Anyway, he’ll text us the details.”

“Gees,” Axel whistles, “he didn’t spare any of the details.”

“I think he’s just excited.” Roxas shrugs. They can talk trash, but they both read Xemnas’ paper together the day it comes out and revel in the drama for weeks after. “We all know how much work he puts into it.” 

“He makes sure of that,” Axel bemoans, grin betraying his amusement. “He let you get a word in edgewise?” “Oh. Yeah.” Roxas winces, pushes back his bangs. He likes people, but making lengthy conversation is not his cup of tea, and Xemnas doesn’t accept one-word answers without a fight. 

“About?”

“He asked how we’re settling into the apartment and how our other classes are going. Then he asked if we’d heard about Aeleus and Dilan’s engagement. Then he asked if business has picked up, and if I like having Ven as my sponsor. Then,” Roxas leans in, growing more animated, “he asked if it’s true that your Sponsor of Light, Riku, thinks you and I should break up, and if I really told him he should go fuck himse—” 

To Roxas’ disappointment, Axel cuts off his blood-thirsty grin with a swipe of his hand, “Whoa there, Rox, back it up. Aeleus and Dilan got engaged?” 

“Oh.” Roxas blinks a couple times. “Yeah! He told me I should tell you about that, but then he said, never mind, you were probably the first to know, because something about a ring.” They pass a couple seconds in steady silence, each waiting for the other to offer some kind of explanation. “Honestly, he kind of lost me, but he sounded pretty excited, so…” Roxas shrugs, open handed, earnest, “I think it’s probably a good thing.”  

Axel mouths something wordlessly, his brows nearing his hairline, and then glances around the shop for Aeleus, who is no longer in it. 

Roxas makes an agitated sound, and Axel finds his voice. 

“The ring was—the ring was an engagement ring?”

“I mean,” Roxas tilts his head, wondering what he’s missing, “that’s what Xemnas called it. Why? What’s...” 

Axel starts fumbling to put down the bottle and paper bag in his hands, so Roxas scooches off of his lap, starts to tuck the lunch items into his tote, and watches his slightly frantic, but grinning boyfriend with a growing frown. “Are you... okay?”

“Aeleus?” Axel calls, leaning half his frame out the window until he spots the man, loading armfuls of enormous iron hammers into his cart with ease. At the commotion, Aeleus brushes off his palms and steps their way. “Aeleus?” Axel calls more emphatically, yelling and waving for the man a few yards off. “That ring I made for Dilan, that was your engagement ring?” 

Axel continues repeating his question as Aeleus walks up. By the time he arrives, and Roxas has joined Axel in leaning most of his body out the window to observe, Axel is a little breathless. 

“I think,” Aeleus’ boots stop with a heavy thud, and his arms cross, contemplating them, “perhaps what you’re trying to say to me is ‘congratulations’?” 

“Yeah,” Axel pantomimes tossing confetti, flickering white sparks rising from his fingertips, and sweeps them away in quick succession. “I mean congratulations, obviously, but…” Aeleus offers a rare quirk of his mouth that’s as close to a smile as Axel has ever seen him get, and then nods. “Thank you, Lea.” Both Aeleus and Axel turn to Roxas, Aeleus’ expression blank and expectant, Axel with one brow quirked, as if he’s surprised Roxas hasn’t done something, though Roxas can’t think what. 

“Congratulations?” Roxas echoes carefully. “Xemnas says this is very big and exciting news.” 

“Er,” Aeleus’ eyes narrow, another glimmer of an almost-smile appearing, as his chin juts in a nod, “yes. Quite.” He waits another beat and when Roxas doesn’t continue, glances to Axel and back. “Thank you, Master Roxas.”

Axel frowns, his jade eyes shifting, raking over Roxas’ face. Unsure what to think, he swiftly tucks his boyfriend under his arm, ruffling his hair to stifle his objections as he turns back to Aeleus, “He’s so surprised he doesn’t know what to say! He’s just found out. We’re over the moon for you both. Really.”

With a huff, Roxas pushes his way out from Axel’s solid grip and hoists himself up to sit on the window frame and glare at him. 

Axel is oblivious, his frantic smile spreading into something more mocking. “So, have you lovebirds started making plans yet? Dates, colors, locales, flowers… bachelor parties?” Axel winks, and Roxas’ intestines attempt to turn themselves inside out.

Aeleus’ frown starts to slip into more of a glower, and Axel leans back, hands up in self-defense, expression softening. “Kidding… I’m kidding. You do you. No rush, obviously. It’s just been a decade since I’ve seen a real Radiant Garden wedding… I mean. Fuck.” He glances up to the faint puffs of clouds, and crosses his ankles, lost in a memory. “Gods,” he mutters, shaking it off, and catching sight of Roxas, before turning back to the groom-to-be. “And Roxas, here, he’s never seen one… I mean, I can’t believe you didn’t tell us! Look at Roxas, he’s speechless.” Axel gestures to him.

“Uh… yeah.” Roxas crosses his arms, nose wrinkling like he can still taste the jalapeño in the corners of his mouth. “I’m speechless.” 

Aeleus offers his tiny, wry smile again. “I imagine Dilan thought you might read between the lines when he made such a specific request.”

Axel nods, arms crossing as he considers this. “I did think it was odd that he wanted to start accessorizing at his age…”

Axel ignores Aeleus’ displeased harrumph, and continues, “This does make more sense. I just wish he had told me.” Axel gestures toward Aeleus’ left hand, and he lifts his trunk-like arm to reveal a simple gold band on one of his beefy digits with a single twist in the metal. “I could have made something with, ya know, a little more pizzazz.” Axel’s fingertips release another round of sparks. 

Aeleus nods, thoughtful as well, considering Axel’s erratic, spiked hair and the smudge on his cheek like his old tattoo, and recalling a distant memory of a child sitting in the sunny town square of Radiant Garden painting grinning flames on his frisbees and flicking paint at his friends when they offered critique. “Perhaps ‘pizzazz’ was what he was trying to avoid? I rather appreciate it as is.”

Axel, who is in the process of hoisting himself up to sit in the window frame beside Roxas finds his foot slipping as he tries to process these words, and he sits harder than he means to, landing on his ass with a thud. “Ah…” Axel blinks as the cloud of ash around him fades off, and frowns at the waiting Aeleus, who’s chuckling at his missteps, a strange, deep, melodic sound. 

 “Maybe,” Axel offers generously. “Whatever floats your boat, I guess.” He rotates his wrist, making sure his hard landing didn’t do any real damage. “Oh!” he glances up abruptly, as Aeleus’ laughter tapers off. “Uh, but congratulations, all the same!” Again, he spares Roxas a side glance, but he remains silent, brow furrowed, watching them carefully.  

“Thank you…” Aeleus nods, sparing Roxas a curious look as well, before glancing over his shoulder to the cart he was loading to take to the castle. “Although, I’d rather you both had heard it from us than from Xemnas… Perhaps I ought to go and tell some of the others… before the news hits publication, so to speak.” He motions back the way he had come and takes a step back toward the road. 

“Yeah, of course, man. Leave your cart here, we’ll take care of it. This is a big deal! I’m sure the scientists will understand if the equipment’s a day late.” Axel nods enthusiastically until his neck feels a little sore. 

 Aeleus nods once in reply and then bids them a final farewell and starts off in the direction of the central town square. As he steps off, Axel calling well wishes to his back, he swears he sees the man’s lips stretch into a full, genuine, toothy smile, and in the distance, he thinks he hears the large man begin to whistle a jaunty tune.

Roxas, silent and still, watches from beside him, the breeze pulling at his bangs, but Roxas does not smile.   

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