#//And the longer ones; that he ran into trouble and needed to deal with it. And lost track of time

[cherrychilli]

18+ Eddie Munson x F! reader, best friend! Eddie, friends to lovers, dry humping, nipple play Summary: Eddie turns up at your house one night and in need of help so you show him how far you're willing to go to help out your closest friend. WC:4K

For the most part you were indifferent towards Jeff Parker. Neither of you ran in the same circles and he was usually the type to keep his head down but add a little alcohol to the equation and the guy turns into a regular Jay Gatsby — all over indulgent and the life of the party. You just wish that party wasn't taking place 15 feet away from your bedroom window.

It was all the drunken hollering and the thumping music that kept you up that night, bone-tired after pulling double shifts at work. It was the police sirens blaring an hour later that ripped you out of a dream just as you were finally able to doze off with your head buried beneath your pillow. And it was the tapping on your bedroom window that came ten minutes later that made you spring up and nearly shoot out of your own skin.

"Eddie! what the hell?", you whisper shout into the darkness of your bedroom, recognizing his shaggy haired silhouette crouched behind the glass and backlit by nearby streetlamps.

You figured he must have climbed up the lattice to get up onto your roof as he begins to point urgently at the lock on your window, mouthing at you to let him in.

Kicking off your covers, you quickly make your way over to the window and unlock it for him, pulling it open and stepping aside to allow him to barrel roll into your room and heave a heavy sigh of relief.

Sprawled out on your carpeted bedroom floor, Eddie pants the exertion away and you leave him there to rest, connecting the dots yourself.

"I told you to stop dealing at parties", you deadpan, shaking your head in that world weary way you often slip into when it comes to Eddie but all that seems to do is trigger a grin that makes him look suspiciously chipper.

"Got to make a living don't I?", he replies from the floor, his hair all wild and fanned out in an unruly halo of frizz and curls.

It's far too late at night for you to be bothered enough to get into it with Eddie so you simply roll your eyes at him instead, making sure to shut your window to keep the chilly night air from seeping into your warm, cozy room.

The music that'd been playing next door has finally been silenced, you're pleased to notice but as you look out the window you see that the patrol car responsible for making Eddie and several other partygoers disperse and hightail it out of there remains parked in front of Jeff's house.

"I'll make a move once the fuzz's gone. I'm parked a couple blocks away so it should be fine", Eddie explains casually, able to anticipate your concern but you keep your eyes fixed on the car and its flashing lights for a moment longer, chewing on your bottom lip.

The thing was, in a town where almost everyone had it out for your best friend, you weren't too fond of the idea of him driving home at this time of night with his pockets stuffed with illicit party favours. Hell, Eddie often gets pulled over in the middle of the day by asshole officers hoping to book him on a possession charge. And since the trailer park isn't exactly closeby, the likelihood of him running into another cop and getting pulled over seems way too high for your liking.

The thought of it alone makes your stomach plummet. You just didn't want to see your closest friend getting into any kind of trouble. Especially if you could do something to help prevent it.

Turning away from your window, you eye Eddie intently while he glances up at you from where he's still laid out on his back, his breathing even now that he's managed to catch his breath.

"I think you should stay the night. It'll be safer that way", you tell him plainly.

Though most of your room is draped in darkness, Eddie's lit up in a column of orange light that pours in through your window so it's easy for you to make out the way his eyebrows rise up and disappear behind his bangs, his eyes growing wider too as he props himself up on his elbows to look at you.

"Y' sure?", he asks and you can feel him studying your face closely, looking for any signs of doubt or hesitation.

You know he'll find none though. Sure, this is all very spur of the moment stuff but you have no reservations about having Eddie stay over. Exactly the opposite.

"Yeah. But be quiet, okay? My whole family's asleep", you tell him as he begins to pick himself up off the floor, face beaming as he grins at you and steps closer to where you're standing.

"Ya big softie. All worried about me, huh?", he posits, tipping his head to the side in a way that at any other time, you might have considered cute. Right now however, all he's managed to conjure is annoyance given how little sleep you've had tonight.

So you narrow your eyes at him, the rest of your expression flat as he makes the mistake of bringing his face closer to yours, giving you the opportunity to reach out and pinch his earlobe between your thumb and forefinger, twisting the soft skin until his teasing grin deflates and he throws up his hands in surrender.

"Fuck, uncle, uncle!", he calls out while keeping his voice as low as possible, face pinched in pain and looking all kinds of helpless before you decide to let go with a pleased scoff, a small smirk playing on your lips too.

Eddie rubs a hand over his newly freed ear, his gaze wandering away from your eyes, seemingly sizing you up before he takes a step back, no longer within your reach.

"By the way...", he utters cautiously, his gaze returning to your face when another smile curves his lips.

"Nice get up".

Confused, you take a look at yourself, your face turning warm as you tug down on the hem of your oversized t-shirt, hoping in vain that Eddie hadn't caught a glimpse of the panties you've got on underneath when he was down on the floor.

Though he doesn't confirm it, the look on his face says it all — that overly pleased smirk and that telltale glint lighting up his deep brown eyes. It irks you for just a moment before you surrender with a sigh.

"Eddie, I'm too exhausted for this. Please, can we skip the teasing and just go to sleep?"

A look of vague disappointment flashes over Eddie's face when you're able to quickly brush aside your momentary embarrassment, padding over to your side of the bed, no longer concerned with how much of your bare thighs might be on display before you pull back the covers and get in.

"C'mon, get in already", you urge him to join you as you motion to the vacant space on the left side of your bed, fighting off a yawn in the process because your eyelids are starting to feel heavy again.

It's Eddie who looks a little rattled now as he eyes your bed, his fingers fidgeting with the zipper on his jacket with restless uncertainty before he rids himself of it, setting it on your desk chair before he bends down to begin unlacing his shoes in the dark.

You hear him struggle while he's crouched down, whispers of 'shit', 'fuck' and 'god fucking damnit' said loud enough for you to hear while you giggle at him, feeling a bit more at ease now that you're reminded of the kind of dork Eddie is at his core — sharing a bed should be no problem.

You've already turned over, your back to Eddie and your cheek resting on your pillow by the time you feel him slide in under the covers next to you, mattress dipping under his weight.

"I'll take off before your folks get up, I promise", he says to you and you hum back a sleepy 'okay' in reply, nuzzling into your pillow.

With that out of the way and both of you settled in bed, you thought that would be the end of it until next morning but sleep doesn't come as quickly as you would like.

For the next couple of minutes you can feel him readjusting beside you, tossing and turning and you already know why. In the interest of getting back to sleep you interrupt him. "Eds, just take them off already", you mumble over your shoulder at him, causing him to freeze.

"You want me down to my underwear?", he whispers back at you and though your back's still to him you can feel the incredulous expression he's got on his face as his eyes bore into the back of your head.

"It's fine. I'm in mine too", you tell him with a seemingly unbothered huff though if he'd had his palm pressed to your chest and just above your heart he'd know you're nowhere near as calm as you make yourself out to be.

A moment of silence elapses before he finally answers.

"Mkay"

You feel him move around, catching the sound of his zipper being pulled down before he's shucking his tight jeans off, relief apparent in his tone when he settles back in bed now that he's shed the tight denim.

"Night then", he whispers to you as you do your best to stifle the warmth swirling in your belly.

"Night", you answer, eventually drifting off to sleep at last.

~

"Shit shit shit shit shit"

It's the first thing you hear when you begin to wake up, blinking several times to clear your blurry vision before you can take a look at your alarm clock.

6.30AM. The sun's just beginning to rise and you grumble under your breath as you turn over to face Eddie, figuring now's the best time for him to make his way home.

"What the hell?"

You squint at the boy who appears several shades paler than usual, his eyes all large, looking like some kind of cornered animal with a pillow shoved over his lap.

"Um, are you okay?", you sit up in bed, your back against the headboard just like Eddie's.

His eyes dart nervously all over the room, seemingly preferring to focus them anywhere else besides on you and that only leaves you feeling even more confused.

"Okay so- the thing is...I can't exactly leave right now", he mumbles sheepishly to you, the corner of his left eye pinching into a slight twitch.

"Why? are you okay?", you ask, yet to catch on as to what seems to be troubling him.

He looks positively torn with his teeth worrying his bottom lip and a light sweat forming at his temple. "Fuck. Okay. Please don't hate me. It's just that— I have no control over it, okay? it just happens sometimes in the mornings, you know? and- and I...oh god you think I'm some kind of perv don't you?"

You can only blink at Eddie as he brings both hands up to cover his eyes, his neck stretched taught as he leans his head back until it thuds softly against your wall, letting out a defeated sigh.

Looking down at the pillow placed over his lap, you're finally able to guess what the problem is, your belly swirling with a familiar flash of warmth again, same as when you listened to him taking his jeans off last night.

"Oh...well, I don't think you're a perv. It's uh, natural? you can't help it", you tell him as calmly as you can manage, wanting him to feel better by lightening the weight of shame and guilt he's currently shouldering.

Hands still on his face, he parts his fingers enough for him to peek at you from between them. "So you're not mad?", he whispers, watching you closely to gauge your reaction.

You shake your head softly, trying your best not to let your eyes drop back to the pillow in his lap like you might be able to see right through it. You want to see right through it. Badly.

"I'm not mad Eds. I promise".

With another deep sigh, he seems to be more at ease now that he knows that he hasn't upset you, letting his arms flop down at his sides.

"I don't know what to do" he whispers and you can hear how torn he is over the whole situation as you catch the helpless little quaver to his tone.

"What do you usually do?, you ask, your thoughts all frazzled and crowding your head way too quickly than you can manage to comprehend them.

Eddie says nothing, turning to face you with a pointed look, quirking an eyebrow up high at you.

"Right.. dumb question. sorry", you admit.

A few beats of silence commence as both of your minds work, passing over bad idea after bad idea before you turn to back to Eddie again.

"I mean, you could just use my—"

"I can't just jerk off in your bathroom with you sitting here", he stops you quickly and firmly though not unkindly, making you realize that no matter what you try to come up with, he's probably already thought of it first.

"Eddie we have to do something about it", you maintain, sparing a glance at your alarm clock as it reminds you that he's only got a limited amount of time left to leave before he risks getting caught by your family or a neighbor seeing him clamber out your window.

You think about it long and hard, one particular thought echoing louder than the rest in your mind. You try to will it away but it only takes up more space in your head until it's all you can think about, taking in a big breath before you decide to share it with Eddie.

"If you want, I could help you", you tell him, nervously picking at your fingers in your lap.

"...What do you mean?", he asks, looking at you suspiciously.

You shrug. "Y' could grind on me".

There's a pause that seems to drag on much longer than you would have liked, both of you staring into each others eyes, unblinking.

"I can't do that — feels like I'd be taking advantage of you or something", he finally breaks the silence, making you feel somewhat wounded that he'd turned your offer down even though you know he's only trying to be a decent friend. You wish he'd give it a rest.

"Would it help if I took over?", you offer next, steeling yourself in the case of him turning you down once more.

"Sweetheart...please don't tell me you're just fucking with me."

"I'm not I promise", you answer firmly.

"I...are you sure? I mean really 100% sure?", he asks again.

You can't help but roll your eyes at him, slipping your legs out from under the covers to straddle Eddie's thighs all while his jaw falls slack at the sight and feeling of you on top of him, your fingers curling around the pillow still resting on his lap.

"I'm sure. Are you?", you ask him before proceeding though if you were to guess, you could read the answer off his face with ease.

"I...yeah", he squeaks, eyes all big and round like he's in awe of the way you've taken the lead.

"Okay then. Let me get rid of this."

You toss the pillow aside to the spot you'd formerly occupied, gulping down the lump in your throat with some difficulty when you set your eyes on the tent in his striped boxers. The way it strains against his underwear, it's easy to guess he's both thick and lengthy under that thin veil of cotton and the more you look at it the more it feels like the room is starting to tilt and spin.

It's the kind of thing you've thought about in secret a fair amount, you and your best friend doing things that you wouldn't ordinarily do with someone who was just your friend. You pull yourself closer to him, laying your hands on his shoulders as you balance your core over his bulge, carefully lowering yourself until you're pressed up right against his clothed cock. Both of you release a shaky breath at the feeling, him, because you feel so warm and soft and you, because he feels so warm and firm.

"Put your hands on my hips", you tell him next, liking the way his cheeks pink up in response as he places them on you gently, sending a wave of goosebumps all along your body.

You start slow, grinding yourself on the ridge of his cock, unable to help the way your pussy flutters as you drag it up near Eddie's tip and back down close to his balls, working your way up to a simple rhythm.

"How's that? is it good?" you ask, making sure to check in with him.

"Shit yeah that's...that's good. Keep going", Eddie starts to firm up his grasp on you, guiding you, encouraging you to pick up the pace, all the while you try to keep secret the way your stomach tightens up with so much heat, your pussy dripping plenty with slick.

"Eddie..."

"Yeah?"

"What are you thinking about?", you ask him as you notice the the way his brows have begun to knit together, the same way they get when he's concentrating on nailing a solo on stage.

"I don't think I should uh answer that", he answers cautiously, disappointment making your lips push out into a little pout.

"Please. I wanna know", you ask gently, melting his resolve with your pleading eyes

"...M' thinking about your tits", he grits out, looking like he ought to be ashamed about it. You figure you have a way to fix that.

"Do you want to see them? would that um, help?"

Your offer hangs in the air for a few seconds as you finally manage to catch your clit the right way along Eddie's clothed cock, your toes curling while pleasure blooms inside your bones.

You no longer make a strong effort to hide the way that humping his cock is making you feel either, that it's not just him who's getting off here and maybe that's why Eddie manages to convince himself that it's okay to take this next step with you.

"I want to see them — yeah", he manages to croak out, his fingers twitching with so much excitement around your hips. He's thought about it too — the two of you like this. How could he not? when you're the only one who's ever cared. When you look the way you do. When you're soaking through your underwear and his with your nipples already hard as they show through your shirt.

How could he not want you?

With Eddie giving you the green light, you take your hands off of his shoulders and pick up the hem of your shirt, pulling it up and off as you toss it behind you, uncaring of where it might land.

"Oh my god."

To you it might have felt like a quick undressing but for Eddie the world slows down to a crawl. He sees it all; the subtle way your breasts bounce and shift with your movements, the way they slope and rest on your chest, rising and falling with every breath and the way your perky nipples react to the cold air in your room, pebbling before his eyes.

"You can touch them if you want", you notice the way he's looking at them, feeling his cock jump under you.

"Christ, you're trying to kill me", he answers all hoarse.

To you, there's no greater compliment, your smile widening into a grin. Carefully, you guide him this time, prying his hands away from your hips and encourage him to cup his hands over your tits instead, moaning when he begins to press into the soft flesh, squeezing and massaging them.

"That feels good", you whisper, hips still working as you drag your drenched clit along his cock. "God, Eddie I've— I've wanted this for so long", you sigh dreamily, the truth spilling out much faster than you can try to swallow it all back down, all because you're so weak for the way those big, wide cinnamon eyes of his are staring back at you.

Your core's all sticky now, panties practically pasted to your skin in that messy way that usually has you eager to peel them off. Though as much as you'd like for the both of you to rid yourselves of all the tacky cotton between you, to be completely bare with each other, you don't want to mess up the rhythm you've fallen into, your clit pulsing and throbbing as you ride Eddie's lap.

"Honey... are you telling me that we could have been doing this from the start?", he asks, slightly anguished. He continues to gently pulling and pinching at your nipples while he keeps his eyes locked on yours, hushed grunts and groans falling from his parted lips.

Your hips are moving faster now, bed squeaking beneath you both, not that you care about your family hearing it — not right now — not when you're so close.

"I— I guess. Yeah", you gasp out when he pinches your right nipple, his left hand falling back down to your hip to guide you.

"You know how many times I've thought of you like this? how many times I've had to picture you on top of me just to get me through the day?, he asks, pulling and pushing you along his length with fervor.

"Why didn't you say anything?", you whine back.

"C'mon. We both kno— know you can do better than—"

Despite almost reaching the peak of your climbing orgasm, you dig your nails into the hand Eddie's got fixed on your hip, forcing your knees into your mattress to bring you both to a halt.

"Don't ever say that. Don't ever say that because it's not true", you place your hands on his cheeks, caressing his face gently. "I only kept my mouth shut incase you didn't feel the same about me...I didn't want to spoil what we already had. I couldn't stand it if you didn't want to be friends anymore..."

"Baby—", it's his turn to cradle your face, thumb making gentle circles on your cheek. "You could never lose me", he tells you, soft but firm and then you feel a pull and you suppose he must feel it too because you're both leaning in, faces closer than they've ever been before, lips grazing each other before you're sharing a kiss with your best friend for the very first time

It's gentle at first, both of your fingers weaving into each others' hair, a soft nip here and there before growing more hungry when Eddie's tongue meets yours. Both of you moan and whimper into each other's mouths, sloppy and messy, your heartbeats turning rapid when you eventually have to break for air, Eddie in need of the same when your lips part with a sticky click and he leans back to rest against the headboard again, panting. Any longer and he'd have cum from the kiss alone.

You catch your breath first, the corner of your mouth picking up into a lopsided smile. "Now are we going to make up for lost time or what?", you challenge him, both of you beaming with bright eyes and brighter smiles.

You pick up where you'd both left off, your hands on Eddie's shoulders and him, one hand on your hip, the other on your right breast, squeezing your soft skin, flicking your nipple because it makes you gasp and he loves hearing the sound of it.

"Please tell me you're close" Eddie grunts, sure to leave marks behind on your hip in the shape of his fingers. You were looking forward to admiring them in the mirror later.

"G-getting there. Wanna go faster— is that okay?", you make sure to ask, his answer coming through when his left hand slips down to find space on your other hip, pulling and pushing you along his length quick enough to make you squirm on his lap as your clit drags on him just right.

"Eddie— feels perfect...I think I'm gonna-"

"Please—" he cuts you off quickly with a ragged huff, his eyes wandering away from the wet, sticky stains that'd developed on both your underwear and his, pausing on the way your breast bounce and jiggle before fixing on your your eyes. "Please cum. I wanna watch you."

Your body begins to move on instinct as it chases your climax, eager to reach it this time than let it slip through your fingers twice. You're closer than before because it feels even better when you begin to lean back, your hands coming to rest on Eddie's thighs behind you. Your chest puffs out while you start to bounce yourself on Eddie's clothed cock, your puffy clit grazing against the stiff underside of his shaft, dragging dragging dragging until your eyes squeeze shut and it happens. The force of it wracks your body, overcome as your whole body quivers, and shakes, your pelvis twitching and jerking — and Eddie watches it all closely and unblinking.

In all his years of settling for quick glances and sly peeks at your body like those times your cleavage showed above your neckline or your bare legs and thighs were displayed whenever the weather called for a pair or shorts or a skirt, Eddie's never seen a more beautiful sight than the one he's taking in now — The way a light sheen glistens on your face, neck and chest, your swollen lips parting, releasing whimper after moan, your hair a little wild and beautiful and your panties drenched and ruined.

Eddie reaches out and brings you close, wrapping his arms around you as your chests meet and you fold into him, burying your face in his neck, whimpering and whining as your clit aches with oversensitivity though not enough to ask him to stop.

He's close by the sound and feel of it, so you grit your teeth and let him buck up against your poor soaked cunt, over and over as you drink in every grunt and groan. You want him to feel good too, unable to resist helping him tip over the edge. You let your tongue slip out from between your lips, licking the salt by his pulse point and letting out a little whisper to unravel him completely.

"Go on, cum for me, Eddie."

A guttural groan rumbles out of his throat just seconds later. it's instantaneous the way pleasure flares white hot at the pit of his stomach, shooting all the way up and raining down on the rest of his body like fireworks.

Though you're yet to feel Eddie inside you, yet to have your walls stretch to accommodate his shape and length so that you don't miss every little jerk, twitch and throb before he spills hot into you, you're still able to feel the effect of Eddie's orgasm. His body shudders and twitches underneath your weight, your pussy feeling warmer and wetter where just under it, Eddie's cum spurts rope after messy rope into his underwear, the cotton becoming saturated with his spend and transferring to your panties.

In the moments following your intense mutual pleasure, the both of you remain entangled in each others arms, sitting in the damp mess you've made of yourselves while you fight to catch your breath. It's Eddie who manages to break the silence first.

"...Do I have to go?, he whispers to you, one warm hand stroking your back gently.

"Do you want to go?, you ask softly against his neck, nuzzling against his skin.

"Not if I can stay and be with you"

You smile hard, chuckling against his skin. "Then stay. I want you to stay too. Y' can hide out in here"

"Yeah? I'm your little secret, huh?", he teases, his lips kissing your temple

"Only for today", you reply.

"Oh?"

You gently unstick yourself from Eddie so you can look him in the eyes, brushing his sweaty bangs away from his bright eyes before you cradle his cheek with one hand.

"Tomorrow I'm telling everyone we know that you're mine"

[gallusrostromegalus]

Basically. I got screwed.

I am very sorry for how relatively quiet this blog has been but I've been dealing with a very unpleasant situation the last few months, and now I need help.

Essentially, I tried to help someone out, and she took advantage of me, and I have no way to recoup my losses.

Earlier this year, I moved into a new house. Before we sold the old house, a Now-Former friend ran into some trouble and was about to become homeless with pets and a small child. Not wanting them to be on the street, we offered to hold off selling the old house so she could stay there for a little while, if she could pay the cost of the mortgage on that house (because I could afford one mortgage but not two) while we helped her find somewhere more permanent.

I was not making money from this- since I was still paying the utilities and property taxes, I was actually losing money, but willing to soak that in order to help her save up and get her on her feet.

Instead, she:

Never Paid a Dime towards covering the mortgage costs like she agreed ($12,000 for the nine months she was there)

Trashed the house ($500 dump fees for the trash alone)

Let her pets piss and shit all over the house ($1,500 bio hazard cleanup, $4000 to replace the carpet and other damaged flooring)

Caused an electrical issue in the garage ($900 to repair)

Broke the washer, dryer and refrigerator ($2500 to replace)

Broke the fence ($1000 to repair)

When I told her I could no longer financially support her and that I needed to sell the old house, she illegally squatted there for a solid three months and I had to hire a lawyer and actually take her to court to get her to leave ($2,500)

The resulting stress has been, as you can imagine, stressful.

So stressful, in fact, that it aggravated a the medical conditions my husband had and made him extremely sick. He had to go to the hospital and take time off work to recover. Now the health insurance is trying to weasel out of paying his short-term disability claim.

So net, this woman has managed to cost me around $25,000 and that's not taking into account the missed paychecks and medical expenses. I do not have $25,000, and until at least $13,000 of that is spent to repair the damage she did, I legally cannot sell the house to even begin to recoup my losses.

Theoretically, I could sue this woman, but she doesn't have any money and it would be me paying even more money I don't have to get... Nothing. So I'm asking for help to cover the costs of getting the old house ready to sell, my husband's medical expenses, and other expenses incurred by this debacle:

If you can help out in any way-share, donate spare change, anything- I'd be extremely grateful.

Thank you.

[cherriegyuu]

slow motion | ljh

pairing: jihoon x f!reader genre: smut, fluff, friends to lovers word count: 3.4k summary: when you offer to cut jihoon's hair, he has a hard time holding himself back from touching you warnings: minors do not interact, swearing, petnames, fingering, multiple orgasm, penetrative sex a/n: against all odds, my current dream is to cut jihoon's hair

Jihoon did his best to control himself, to keep his breathing even despite his heart racing inside his chest. He knew he shouldn't be behaving that way, he was sure it was wrong on so many levels that he didn't even want to think about it. But he couldn't just get his mind to stop for even a second.

All he could focus on was the feeling of your fingers in his hair, your breath gently touching the back of his neck. Keeping his hands to himself was proving to be a more difficult task than expected.

He should have known when he accepted your offer to cut his hair that he would be up to his neck in trouble. Jihoon was sure he shouldn't have accepted it, but when you offered he simply found himself saying yes, like he was agreeing to a movie or a pizza.

Maybe he shouldn't even have a crush on his best friend in the first place. Maybe that was a point to think about. But it was simply stronger than him. Even though Jihoon told his brain that it was wrong, that he shouldn't feel that way, it was simply impossible to ignore what he felt.

And he had tried, with all his might. He swore he did.

That's why he had pulled away from you a little. The old “out of sight, out of mind”. And for a while, you let the whole situation just move along how he wanted. You knew that if Jihoon walked away without saying anything it was because he had problems that he still didn't know how to deal with very well. And you knew him well enough to know when he needed time to himself.

But enough was enough and a month of absolute silence was all you were willing to give him. Thirty days was more than enough for him to understand what was happening. Thirty days was much longer than you wanted to be away from him.

So, without a heads up, to Jihoon or his friends, you simply showed up at his door.

You laughed at his sleepy face, his hair scattered everywhere and how he seemed completely lost while looking at you.

"Hi!" you said excitedly, walking through the door  without being invited in.

Jihoon was a very private guy, who liked having control over the situations he got himself into, but in that moment, he had no idea what was going on.

It wasn't like you to show up unannounced.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, rubbing his eyes, doing his best to shake off sleep.

You sat on the couch and looked around, dangling your feet. Jihoon's place was organized and very few things were out of place, just enough to show signs that someone lived there.

You had missed it there. As strange as it may seem, Jihoon's apartment was the place where you felt most comfortable, even more than in your own apartment. Maybe the fact that you shared an apartment with someone you didn't like very much had a big influence in how you felt. Or maybe it was just because of him.

"I should ask that, you were the one who disappeared," you said smiling.

That was a smile Jihoon knew well, one that said you were insecure, and weren't sure how to proceed. He hated that he was responsible for this.

Jihoon liked to be the person you felt most comfortable with, the one you ran to when you had problems. He didn’t want to be the one you felt like walking on eggshells around.

“I’m sorry,” he said, wishing you could feel his sincerity.

"Have you been out of the apartment?" you asked, knowing the answer would be no.

"Define out" he narrowed his eyes and sat on the other end of the couch. It didn't go unnoticed by you that he sat as far away as possible "I went to the gym"

It was your turn to narrow your eyes, focusing solely on him, analyzing every part of his face and slowly moving down to his shoulders. You weren’t sure that was how it worked at the gym, but you could have sworn his shoulders had gotten wider, his arms bigger too.

A gym rat you had called him once. At the time Jihoon had laughed, but you knew that the expression applied very well to him. If it were up to him all he would do was go to the gym and work

"Did you see people, interact with them?"

"There were people in the gym"

You rolled your eyes. That conversation wasn't going anywhere, you knew that. Jihoon wasn't the type of person to leave the house unless he had a good excuse and usually, his excuse came in the form of a text message from you.

You were the only person, perhaps followed by Soonyoung, who was able to get Jihoon out of the house to do anything other than go to the gym and maybe a few trips to the convenience store. It was a constant joke that he didn't even know what the streets around his building were like. A real joke, because he really didn't know.

Jihoon would only leave the house if he really needed to.

"You didn't even get a haircut"

You pointed to the mess on top of his head. Jihoon laughed and tried, without much success, to make his appearance a little more presentable.

The last time you saw each other, Jihoon's hair was a little longer than he usually wore it. And you liked it back then. Every time he showed up in front of you you felt your heart skip a beat and your breathing hitch. But it had grown too much, was blunt, and spread in all directions.

"I didn’t have time"

You laughed, nodding. You knew it was a lie, he was just too lazy, but you were willing to let it go.

"Want me to cut it for you?" you offered.

At that point, you would do anything to be close to Jihoon, even if it was for a short period of time and the excuse was terrible.

During the month you spent away from him, you felt as if an integral part of your life had simply disappeared. Jihoon was, you realized, a big part of your life. The truth was that you could live without him, yes. You could and you knew it, you just didn't want to.

Whenever you had the choice to be by his side or be far away, the choice would always be to stay with him.

Yes, he was, without a doubt, your best friend, but he was also much more. You actually wanted him to be more, but you weren’t sure how you could tell him that. You were afraid of opening up and losing what you had. So you decided that a bit little of him was better than nothing at all.

"Do you really think this is a good idea?"

You laughed and scooted closer to him, sitting right next to him, your thigh next to his. Jihoon swallowed hard, it wasn't what he expected, but he didn't have the strength to run away, not again.

"Soonyoung didn’t complaining"

"Soonyoung? You guys been talking?"

That fucking bastard, Jihoon mentally cursed his friend. Soonyoung had only mentioned you once and when Jihoon didn't pay much attention he didn't say anything else. Even if he hadn't said anything, even if he hadn't given any signs, he hoped his friend would still keep him informed about you and what you were up to. Apparently, he would have to "talk" to Soonyoung later.

"Yes, he came by last week. He got drunk after I cut his hair, I tried calling you, but when you didn't answer he ended up staying over"

You analyzed Jihoon's expressions, waiting for a change, and smiled discreetly when you saw what you wanted. He didn’t like what he was hearing.

Jihoon wanted to hit himself. He remembered the call, but it had been made from Soonyoung's phone, so he purposely ignored it. His friend had a habit of calling him just to test his patience, so sometimes Jihoon chose to simply ignore him.

He was sure he would answer all of his friend's calls and regret most of them.

"If you promise you won't make matters worse," he said running his fingers through his hair "you can cut it"

And that's how he ended up in that situation, trying to control himself to keep his hands away from you

Jihoon cursed under his breath when you turned around, standing in front of him. He was sitting on the edge of his bathtub. He swore he almost fainted when you positioned yourself in between his legs

You were too close, your scent invading every single one of his senses. Before he could even realize what he was doing, he was running the tip of his fingers on the back of your exposed knees. 

His faint touch was enough to make your legs tremble. You put your hand on his shoulder, whether it was to stop him or steady yourself was unknown. However, it wasn't enough to detain him, if anything it only pushed him to run his fingers up your thigh.

You did your best to ignore him and just kept on cutting his hair. If there was one thing you always loved about Jihoon was his hair, how he always let you play with it, how he would often fall asleep while you did so. 

"I'm almost done," you told him. 

Jihoon hummed, now both of his hands on your legs. He couldn't help but wonder if your skin was so hot because of him or because it was the middle of summer. 

Finally, you put the scissors over the sink. You tilted Jihoon's head back so he would look at you. You didn't expect to see his eyes so cloudy, almost as if he was sort of lost in his own mind, maybe the mind of their own that his hands created. 

"Okay" was all he offered.

You ran your hands over his hair one more time, making sure that it looked fine and even on both sides. You smiled, pleased with yourself. It had been a lie that you cut Soonyoung's hair. The last time you cut someone's hair was in the previous year when you cut Jihoon's for the second time because he, again, was too lazy to go to the barber and get it cut by a professional. You were about to move away from him so he could look at himself in the mirror when Jihoon held onto you, not letting you get away from him. 

He ran his hands up and down your tights, pulling you closer to him, his forehead resting on your stomach. 

"Don't do this" you begged him when you felt him push your shirt up, placing a kiss on your exposed skin "If you don't mean it, please don't do this"

"What if I do?" he asked, voice barely a whisper "What if I have meant it for a very long time?"

You always took pride in the fact that you knew how to read Jihoon when others couldn't tell the difference in his actions. He was known for his cold exterior but you knew just how warm and loving he could be. You had been on the receiving end of his love and affection so many times. But looking at him in that moment you didn't know if what you were seeing in his eyes was the truth or if it was what you wanted to see. 

"This could ruin everything," you said. 

He knew that. Oh, just how well he knew that. But in that moment he decided to throw all caution through the window and do the one thing he had been wanting for the past ten years.

"Yeah, it could"

Jihoon rose to his feet, his hands that previously were around your waist cradled your face. He looked at you once again, to make sure that he wasn't imagining it, that you wanted it too. 

You couldn't take your eyes away from his plump lips, from the way he wet them with the tip of his tongue. You held the shirt around his waist, steading yourself when he finally placed his lips on yours. 

His touch was tentative at first, still unsure, but when you sighed into the kiss, hand going to his neck, he deepened the kiss, urging your lips open. 

You wrapped your arm around his shoulder, pulling him as close to you as you possibly could.

You had been kissed before, many times, by many different people, and not once had it felt like that. There was this magnetic pull towards Jihoon, which had always been there, but neither of you had ever acted on it. Everything else seemed to disappear while he was around. It was like tunnel vision and he was all that you could see and, in that moment, feel.  You were sure that if a meteor suddenly fell in the next room neither of you would care, too lost into each other to even notice.

Jihoon kissed you like he was sharing his deepest secrets, one that was only for you to know. His touch was tender, enough to leave you like a fool, melting under him, but also passionate enough to make you dig your nails into his shoulder. 

He pulled away from you, just enough to look at you. He watched as you slowly opened your eyes, lips slightly red.

"Yeah, this changes everything," he said.

Jihoon kissed you again, taking slow steps back, one of his arms outstretched to make sure that you wouldn't hit your back on anything, while he guided you to his room. 

That night was going to change everything and he could only hope that it was for the better, that he finally would be one you looked to. 

You felt the back of your knees hit the side of his bed, his perfume taking over you. 

You kissed his jaw, then his neck, your fingers pushing his shirt up. Jihoon helped you pull his shirt over his head. Lightly, you ran your nails over his skin. You smiled when you saw the goosebumps on his skin. 

"There's no going back now," you said to him "If we do this..."

Jihoon didn't want to hear it. All doubts and worries could be processed later. The only thing he cared about was that you were in his arms, the one you place he wanted to have in you for years. He wasn't about to let go,  not when he was sure that you were just as into it as he was.

He looked at you while unbuttoning your shorts. His eyes were so intense that you almost wanted to look away. It was almost too much. But it was also not nearly enough, you realized. You wanted Jihoon all over, all at once. 

You felt your cheeks heat up when he slid his hand into your shorts, past your panties. His fingers touched you as if they knew you, like he had done the same things many times before. 

A soft moan left your lips when you felt his middle finger on your clit, rubbing it in small, slow, circles. You held onto him, gripping his arms to steady yourself. 

Slowly Jihoon pulled away from you, pushing you down on the bed while you did your best to get rid of your shorts and underwear,  suddenly hating how tight it was on your sweaty skin. 

"I've been waiting for this for a long time, darling," he said, biting your neck, his hands finding their way back into your folds "Take this off"

You pulled your shirt over your head and laughed when Jihoon made a sound on the back of his throat. You looked down at your bra, suddenly remembering that it was matching your discarded panties.

"You were not the only one waiting for this," you said, pulling him to you again. 

His fingers worked your clit harder, faster, more demanding than before. The thought of having you always wearing matching underwear, just in case he took his head out of his ass long enough, was enough to drive him crazy. He wanted it all and it wanted fast. 

Jihoon watched as you closed your eyes, back arching from the bed.

"I think I can make you cum like this" he said and you knew wore that cocky that always made your head spin "Look at me"

You opened your eyes as he dipped his finger into you, curling it. 

"Jihoon" you moaned when you felt the pressure of climax building up.

Your flushed cheeks, fresh out of an orgasm, was his favorite sight, Jihoon decided. 

He reached for his bedside table, pulling out a condom out of the first drawer. You watched in complete trance as he finally pushed his boxers out, your mouth suddenly watering at the thought of having him fill you. 

"You're too slow," you complained, pushing yourself up on your elbows, adjusting one of his pillows under your head.

He laughed, climbing back on the bed, on top of you. 

"I'm enjoying the moment"

"You know, you could enjoy it a lot more if you just fucked me"

Jihoon laughed again, pushing your legs back against your stomach and over his shoulders. 

He dragged his cock over your slit a few times, his tip getting caught on your sensitive clit every single time.

"Don't tease me"

Slowly he sank into you. Every tiny piece of him filled you, stretching you up. His name left your mouth as you got used to him.

"I'm ruined, baby" he caressed your tigh "Fucking ruined"

He took his time, each of his strokes languid. He pulled all the way out before pushing himself in again. He pressed your legs down, his weight over you in the most delicious way. 

His eyes rolled back as you walls kept sucking him in, a groan escaped his mouth. 

Jihoon's pace was torturously slow so when he applied the slightest bit of pressure on your clit you came apart under him. His name and incoherent sounds all you could manage. It didn't take long for him to follow. 

He stayed still for a few seconds, both of you trying to catch your breaths. You let your legs fall to the sides, the position awkward, but Jihoon didn't move, he only leaned forward and pressed his lips to your in a tender kiss. 

"You're staying, right?" he asked. 

You had never seen him look like that before, unsure. 

You ran your hand over his hair, a small smile tugging at the corner of your lips. 

"I'm not going anywhere"

Jihoon was the first one to wake up. Not once in his life did he wake up feeling like that, happy. He wished that he could freeze that moment, or at least imprint it on his mind. You looked beautiful like that, just sleeping with your hair a mess. You looked peaceful. The frown you had the night before when you first walked inside his apartment completely gone. 

He wasn't sure how the dynamics would be with the two of you but didn't care. You had stayed the night with him and he was sure that it meant something. Jihoon knew that you wouldn't have allowed him to touch you if you weren't certain of it. Of course both of you were worried about how your friendship would move on from that and he could only hope that you could become more. 

So he held you tighter against his body, no room between the two of you. Jihoon felt your body tense for a second as you stretched your arms and legs. When you turned around in his arms, Jihoon closed his eyes, pretending to still be asleep. He did his best to keep his smile at bay when he felt your fingers running across his face, tracing his eyebrows, nose, cheeks and lingered on his lips.

As he opened his eyes, the only words that Jihoon could think of were I love you. You were the only person he ever thought of saying those words to, the only person he ever said them to. When he thought about his life you were always there by his side, not just as his best friend but also as the woman he loved.

That moment, Jihoon decided, was one that he was going to hold for dear life. 

"I have to pee" you said when you felt his arms tighten around you.

"Just a little longer like this" he said "A few more minutes"

"Okay" you whispered, pressing a kiss to his jaw before settling into his arms, falling asleep once again.

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[lila-lou]

✨A good one - 3/4✨

Summary: Beau Arlen moved in with a smile and Southern charm, but you had no interest in either. But after one quiet act of kindness, you're not so sure he's easy to ignore.

Pairing: Beau x Reader

Warnings: Language

Word Count: 4934

DISCLAIMER: Everything is purely fiction. I do not intend to attack or hurt anyone. The story is, of course, entirely made up and meant for entertainment purposes.

Two weeks passed.

You ignored the knot in your stomach every time you saw his name pop up on your phone.

Beau: You good?

Beau: Just checkin’ in.

Beau: You don’t gotta talk to me, but just let me know you’re alright, yeah?

Each message sat unanswered longer than the last, though you always caved eventually. Just a short, curt response.

You: I’m fine.

Nothing more. Nothing less. Because the truth was, you weren’t fine.

The fear, the waiting, the overthinking—it was too much. You weren’t sleeping right. You were counting days, checking calendars, second-guessing everything.

And Beau? He didn’t give you one damn reason to be mad at him, but you still avoided him like he was the problem.

Because maybe he was. Maybe he was proof that you should’ve stayed away. That you were right to keep your walls up. That men were nothing but trouble.

Because this? This was what happened when you let your guard down. When you let a man get too close.

You spent the first week convincing yourself it was a fluke, that you’d been paranoid for nothing. But when the second week passed with no sign of your period, the panic really set in.

By the fourteenth day, you had memorized every symptom, every possible what if running through your head. And you knew that you couldn’t put it off any longer.

You needed to take a test. And damn it, you hated that the first person you thought about telling… was him.

You sat in your bathroom, your knee bouncing anxiously, fingers gripping the edge of the sink as you stared at the little test sitting on the counter.

Five minutes. The longest five damn minutes of your life.

Your breath was shallow, your stomach twisted in knots so tight you thought you might be sick. Every possible scenario had run through your mind in the past two weeks, but this, actually waiting, felt worse than all of them combined.

You hadn’t even told Beau you were taking it. Hadn’t even thought about reaching out. Because what was the point? This was your mistake to deal with. Just then, your phone buzzed on the counter, and you glanced down, already knowing who it was.

Beau: Still breathin’, sweetheart?

You swallowed hard, your throat dry, ignoring the text as your eyes flickered back to the test. Then—finally—the timer on your phone went off.

Slowly, so damn slowly, you reached forward, hand trembling slightly as you picked it up and looked.

Negative.

You stared at it for a second too long, like your brain couldn’t quite process it. Like you were expecting it to change. But it didn’t.

Negative.

Your entire body sagged in relief, a shaky exhale leaving your lips as your grip on the test loosened. Shit. You could finally breathe. The weight, the fear, the what ifs—all of it lifted, and for the first time in two weeks, you felt like yourself again.

A weak laugh tumbled from your lips, part relief, part exhaustion. You ran a hand down your face, closing your eyes for a moment, just letting yourself be okay. And then your phone buzzed again.

Beau: Look, if you don’t wanna talk, that’s fine. But if you need me, I’m here. Always.

You swallowed, your fingers hovering over the screen, your heart still racing, just for a different reason now. Because now that the fear was gone, now that the worst had passed… you weren’t sure if you had any excuse left to keep running from him.

You sighed, running a hand through your hair before grabbing your keys. You knew you owed him. Two weeks of avoidance, of barely replying, of leaving him hanging when he had done nothing to deserve it… it wasn’t fair. And now that you could finally breathe again, the weight of your own actions sat heavy on your chest. So you did the one thing that felt right.

You grabbed a coffee and a donut—simple, easy, a peace offering that didn’t require words—and made your way over to the station.

Walking in, you felt a little out of place. You weren’t exactly someone who made casual visits to the sheriff’s department, and your nerves were already strung tight as you pushed through the doors. But you forced yourself forward, moving down the hallway toward Beau’s office, mentally preparing for the awkward conversation ahead.

And then you saw him. Through the glass window of his office, standing near his desk, his back partially turned to you. Not alone. A blonde woman stood close—way too close—smiling, her head tilted slightly as she chuckled at something he said. Her posture was relaxed, familiar, the kind of ease that only came with knowing someone.

And damn, if they didn’t look cozy together.

Your steps faltered. Something cold curled in your stomach, an unfamiliar, unwelcome feeling that made your fingers tighten around the coffee cup.

You shouldn’t care. You had spent two weeks pushing him away, hadn’t you? You had spent months convincing yourself that men weren’t worth your time, that getting involved, really involved, only led to heartache.

So why did this bother you? Why did the sight of her standing there, laughing at something he said, make something in your chest clench?

You swallowed hard, pushing down whatever stupid feeling had bubbled up in your chest, and knocked before stepping inside.

Both of them turned toward you. And then you realized, it was Jenny Hoyt. Recognition hit you instantly. She had been a few grades ahead of you in high school. You wouldn’t call her a friend, but you hadn’t hated her either. She was just there, existing in the same world as you but never really crossing paths in any meaningful way.

Jenny’s eyes widened slightly in surprise before she offered a small, knowing smile. “Oh”, she said, tilting her head. “Wow. It’s been a while”.

You forced a tight smile, nodding. “Yeah”.

And then, just as casually as anything, she said, “I’m so sorry about you and Miles”.

Fuck.

The second his name left her mouth, you stiffened.

Beau, on the other hand, straightened slightly, his brows furrowing as he turned to you. “Wait—who’s Miles?”.

Your jaw clenched. The last thing you wanted was to go down that road. Not now. Not ever.

So before he could press, you cleared your throat, stepping further inside and placing the coffee and donut on his desk. “Doesn’t matter”, you muttered quickly, brushing right past it. “You got a minute, Beau?”.

Beau’s eyes narrowed slightly, still watching you like he was trying to piece something together, but he didn’t push. Not yet, at least.

Jenny, however, caught on fast. She raised an eyebrow, glancing between the two of you before letting out a small chuckle, shaking her head. “I’ll let you two talk”. She patted Beau’s arm, her smirk far too knowing as she moved toward the door. And damn it, if that didn’t annoy you more.

The second the door shut behind her, you exhaled sharply, crossing your arms as you turned back to Beau. “Look, I just… I wanted to say sorry. For avoiding you. For the last two weeks”.

Beau didn’t say anything right away. He just looked at you. The way he always did when he was trying to figure you out. Then, his gaze flicked down to the coffee and donut, his lips twitching slightly. “You bringin’ me peace offerings now, sweetheart?”.

You rolled your eyes, but the tension in your chest eased just a little. “Shut up and take it”.

Beau chuckled, shaking his head as he reached for the coffee, lifting it in a small, mock toast before taking a sip.

You exhaled slowly, staring at the ground for a second before forcing yourself to look at him. Your fingers fidgeted at your sides, nerves still running a little too high for your liking. “And… I’m not pregnant, by the way”, you whispered, barely above a breath.

Beau took another sip of his coffee right as you said it. And immediately choked. He coughed, nearly dropping the cup as he thumped his fist against his chest, eyes going wide as he looked at you like you’d just blindsided him with a damn gunshot.

You winced. “Shit. Sorry—”.

He waved a hand, still coughing as he set the cup down, shaking his head before managing to get a breath in. “Damn, sweetheart, you can’t just—”. He coughed again, voice still rough. “—drop that on me like that”.

You bit your lip, trying really hard not to smirk. “I thought you’d wanna know”.

Beau let out a breath, running a hand over his jaw before finally looking back at you. His expression shifted, something softer, something unreadable. “Yeah”, he muttered. “Yeah, I wanted to know”.

Silence stretched for a beat.

And suddenly, it felt too much. Like the weight of everything, the past two weeks, the waiting, the mistake that wasn’t a mistake, was settling between you all over again.

So you cleared your throat, shifting your weight. “So, yeah. That’s, uh… that’s that”.

Beau huffed out a small laugh, shaking his head before sitting back in his chair, watching you with that same damn patient, steady look that made you feel way too exposed. “You gonna keep avoidin’ me now?”, he asked, raising an eyebrow.

You hesitated, while you didn´t know, that Beau had been ready to ask you something else.

Before you walked into his office, before you blindsided him with the news he hadn’t even realized he’d been holding his breath for, he had been talking to Jenny. Asking about a lake or something nearby. Somewhere quiet, peaceful. Somewhere he could bring a date. Somewhere he could bring you.

Because despite the two weeks of silence, despite you ignoring his texts, despite the fact that he knew you were probably still fighting every damn thing that had happened between you, he wasn’t. He wasn’t fighting it anymore. Because the second your lips had touched his, he fucking fell for you. Hard.

And maybe he’d known it even before that, before that day, before you climbed into that ridiculous inflatable pool, before you whispered his name like it meant something.

Maybe he’d known from the first time you glared at him like he was an inconvenience, from the first time you cut a conversation short, from the first time you rolled your eyes at his easy charm and made it clear you weren’t like every other woman who had flirted with him over the years.

But none of that mattered.

Because before he could even get the words out, before he could even try to ask you, you were already shaking your head, already setting the boundary that had his stomach dropping before he could stop it.

“I’m not gonna avoid you”, you said, sighing. “But… it was a one-time thing”.

His jaw tensed. You didn’t notice.

You kept going, like you were just ripping the bandage off before either of you could stop it.

“It was good—really good”, you admitted, lips twitching slightly, though there was something guarded in your voice. “I mean, I was sore for two days, so—”. You stopped, clearing your throat, suddenly looking anywhere but at him. “But it should stay that way”.

Beau barely heard the rest. Because all he caught—all that mattered—was one-time thing. And shit, he wasn’t prepared for how much that hit him.

It shouldn’t have surprised him. You’d made it damn clear from the start that you weren’t looking for anything. That you didn’t trust men, didn’t want to trust them.

But damn it, he had hoped. Hoped that maybe, after everything, after him not running, after waiting for you to come to him instead of pushing, maybe it meant something. Maybe you felt it too. But you weren’t even giving it a chance.

He swallowed, covering up the sting of it with a small, easy smirk, leaning back in his chair. “Alright”, he muttered, nodding, like it wasn’t a big deal. Like he wasn’t fucking reeling inside.

You expected him to argue. To push, to tease, to flash that cocky smirk and tell you that you were lying to him, to yourself. But instead, he just nodded, muttered alright, and leaned back. And somehow, that hurt more.

You swallowed, shifting awkwardly, feeling something unfamiliar settle in your chest. You had been so sure that drawing the line would make this easier, that setting the boundary would put things back where they needed to be. So why did it feel off? Why did it feel like something tightened in the air between you?

Beau lifted the coffee cup, taking another sip, his movements easy, practiced, like he’d already decided not to let you see how much that had landed.

You should have just walked out. Should have left it at that. But instead, you hesitated, your fingers fidgeting at your sides before you forced yourself to say, “I mean, we’re still good, right?”.

Beau’s lips twitched at that, just slightly, just enough to tell you he heard the hesitation in your voice. He tilted his head, eyes scanning your face like he was trying to figure out if you actually meant it.

And then he smiled. Not his usual grin, not the smug, easy charm, but something smaller. Something measured. “Yeah, sweetheart”, he said, voice steady. “We’re good”.

It should have been a relief. It should have. But something in your stomach twisted at how easily he said it.

Beau was already pushing back from his chair, stretching slightly before nodding toward the door. “You stickin’ around, or was this a drop-and-run kinda visit?”.

You hesitated. “I—”.

But before you could answer, his phone buzzed on the desk, and he reached for it without a second thought, eyes scanning the screen. His expression didn’t change, but the second he typed out a quick response, something inside you itched.

You took a slow breath, forcing yourself to shift back toward the door. “I should go”.

Beau just nodded. “Alright. Thanks for the coffee”.

You nodded back, gripping the strap of your bag a little too tightly. “See you around, Arlen”.

And then you left, before you could say anything else, before you could do something stupid.

And Beau? The second the door shut behind you, his easy smile faded, and he let out a slow, heavy exhale, rubbing a hand over his jaw. Because shit. He really thought he had you.

By the time the end of his shift rolled around, Beau was still in a mood. A fucking mood. And Jenny noticed.

It had started small—him being a little too short with people, a little too tense every time someone asked him something simple. Then, when a deputy fumbled a basic report, Beau snapped in a way that wasn’t him—wasn’t the usual laid-back, easygoing guy Jenny had known for the last few months.

And now Jenny was over it. She pushed into his office, arms crossed, brows raised. “Alright, what the hell is wrong with you today?”.

Beau didn’t look up from his desk, jaw tight as he scrawled his signature across a report. “Nothin’”, he muttered.

Jenny scoffed. “Bullshit”.

Still, he didn’t look up.

She narrowed her eyes, stepping closer. “You’ve been in a mood all day. Snapping at people, pushin’ me around..”.

Beau exhaled sharply, finally setting his pen down, leaning back in his chair. His fingers drummed against the desk, his lips pressing into a firm line.

Jenny waited, hands on her hips. “Well?”.

He sighed, shaking his head. “I’m fine, Jenny”.

Another scoff. “Yeah, sure. That’s why you’ve been acting like someone ran over your damn dog”.

Beau didn’t respond. Didn’t even argue. And that made her pause. Because she’d seen him in all kinds of moods before—cocky, charming, teasing—but never like this. Never… off.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. “What happened?”.

Beau exhaled through his nose, rubbing a hand over his face before muttering, “Nothin’ important”.

Jenny tilted her head, studying him. Then, like a light bulb going off, she grinned.

“Ohh”, she said, dragging the word out. “This is about her, isn’t it?”.

Beau’s jaw ticked.

Jenny laughed, shaking her head. “Damn, Arlen. You got it bad”. He shot her a look, but she just smirked, crossing her arms. “So, what? She finally let you in just to push you away again?”.

Silence.

Jenny’s smirk widened. “That’s it, isn’t it?”.

Beau sighed, leaning forward, elbows on his desk, fingers laced together as he stared at nothing in particular. Jenny took that as confirmation. And for a second, her expression softened. She sighed, shaking her head as she dropped into the chair across from him. “I told you, Beau. (Y/N) (Y/L/N) isn’t easy”.

Beau didn’t move, didn’t even react, just kept staring at the desk like it might give him some kind of answer.

Jenny leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. “Especially after what happened with Miles”.

At that, Beau’s head snapped up, his brows furrowing. “Who the hell is that guy?”.

Jenny blinked, surprised. “Wait—you really don’t know?”.

Beau scoffed, shaking his head, irritation flickering in his expression. “She shut that down the second you brought up his name. So, no. I don’t know”. His jaw tensed, frustration creeping into his voice. “And I ain’t the kinda guy to go diggin’ into someone’s past if they don’t wanna talk about it”.

Jenny exhaled, studying him for a beat before sitting back. “Yeah, well… maybe you should’ve asked”.

Beau’s jaw tightened. “Jenny”.

She sighed again, shaking her head. “I’m just saying, it might have given you a little insight into why she’s so damn stubborn”.

Beau ran a hand down his face, exhaling sharply. “So tell me”.

Jenny hesitated, tapping her fingers against the arm of the chair. “It’s not really my story to tell”.

Beau leveled her with a look. “Jenny”.

She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose before finally relenting. “Fine”, she muttered. “Miles was her fiancé”.

Beau’s entire body stiffened. Jenny nodded, watching the realization settle over him. “Yeah. And it didn’t end well”.

Beau swallowed, his mind racing. He knew you’d been through something, knew you didn’t trust easily, that you kept people at arm’s length for a reason. But this? A fiancé? That was something else entirely. “What happened?”, he asked, his voice lower now, careful.

Jenny tilted her head. “That? You’re gonna have to get her to tell you yourself”.

Beau let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah. Good luck with that”.

Jenny smirked, standing up and clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Hey, you’re the one dumb enough to catch feelings for her”.

Beau scoffed, shaking his head. “Didn’t mean to”.

Jenny just chuckled, heading for the door. “Yeah? Tell that to your face, cowboy”.

And then she was gone, leaving Beau alone in his office, the weight of her words sitting heavy in his chest.

A fiancé. Shit. No wonder you didn’t trust easily. No wonder you ran.

The next week, Beau was the one avoiding you. And damn it, that shouldn’t have bothered you. But it did.

At first, you barely noticed. He wasn’t texting, wasn’t checking in, but that was what you wanted, right? You had told him it was a one-time thing. You had drawn that line clear as day. So why the hell did it sting when you realized he was actually listening?

When you passed him on the street and he only offered a quick nod instead of some teasing remark? When you saw him at the station while running errands and he didn’t so much as glance your way?

You should’ve been relieved. Instead, all you felt was a gnawing frustration sitting heavy in your chest.

And tonight, when you were sitting in the diner, eating dinner alone, the universe decided to twist the knife a little more. Because of course Beau fucking Arlen walked in. Not alone. With Jenny.

You weren’t even sure why it made your stomach drop. Jenny was his colleague, his friend, but seeing the two of them walk through the door together, laughing at something as they slid into a booth… it bothered you.

You stabbed at your fries a little harder than necessary, keeping your eyes locked on your plate. Maybe if you ignored them, they’d leave before you had to. But no such luck.

Jenny spotted you first. “Oh, hey!”, she called out, grinning as she slid into the booth across from Beau. “Didn’t expect to see you here”.

Beau stilled. You saw it. The way his jaw tightened just slightly, the way his fingers flexed against the menu before he forced himself to relax. He was avoiding you. But now, he had nowhere to run.

You swallowed, lifting your gaze just enough to meet Jenny’s. “Yeah, well. Gotta eat”.

Jenny smirked, clearly amused by the tension already simmering in the air. “You alone?”.

Your grip on your fork tightened. “Obviously”.

Beau still hadn’t looked at you. Not once.

You forced yourself to keep your voice even. “Didn’t take you for a dinner date kinda guy, Arlen”.

Beau finally looked up, his expression unreadable. “Ain’t a date”, he said smoothly, flipping the menu open. “Just two coworkers gettin’ dinner”.

Jenny raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening as she glanced between the two of you. “Yeah. Totally not awkward”.

You exhaled sharply, shaking your head before grabbing your drink and taking a sip. “Well, don’t let me interrupt”.

Jenny sighed dramatically, rolling her eyes as she pushed up from the booth. “Oh shoot”, she said, not even trying to sound convincing. “I forgot something in the car”.

You narrowed your eyes. “Seriously?”.

Beau, on the other hand, didn’t even look up from his menu. “Uh-huh”, he muttered.

Jenny smirked, clearly entertained by the absolute mess between the two of you. “I’ll be right back”.

And just like that, she was gone. Leaving you and Beau alone. The silence settled heavy.

You forced yourself to focus on your food, pushing a fry around your plate, even though you weren’t hungry anymore. Across from you, Beau flipped a page in the menu, pretending like he actually gave a damn about what was on it.

Neither of you spoke. And that? That pissed you off.

You had spent months avoiding him, had spent weeks convincing yourself that pushing him away was the right thing to do. And now that he was actually listening? That he wasn’t pushing, wasn’t teasing, wasn’t fighting for you the way you expected him to? It felt wrong.

You set your fork down a little harder than necessary. “So, this is how it is now?”.

Beau didn’t even blink. “How what is?”.

Your jaw ticked. “You avoiding me”.

He laughed at that—just a short, dry chuckle—before finally closing the menu and leaning back in the booth. “That’s real funny, sweetheart. You been doin’ it for months, but now that I stop chasin’, it’s a problem?”.

Your stomach twisted. Because shit, he was right. You had spent so long keeping him at arm’s length, but the second he pulled away? You hated it.

You crossed your arms, leaning back in your seat. “I never said it was a problem”.

Beau scoffed. “Sure as hell seems like it”.

You exhaled sharply. “I just—”. You hesitated, struggling to find the words.

Beau shook his head, cutting you off before you could come up with something. “You made yourself real clear, darlin’”, he said, his voice calm, too calm. “It was a one-time thing, right?”.

Your throat tightened. “Beau—”.

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. “Nah, it’s fine”. His lips twitched like he was trying to smirk but couldn’t quite pull it off. “Just figured it’d be easier if I stopped makin’ things harder for you”.

Something twisted in your chest at that. Because he meant it. And for the first time, you realized—maybe you were the one who had been running. And now, you weren’t sure if he’d still be waiting when you finally stopped.

You didn’t even know why fucking tears gathered in your eyes. But they did. Before you could stop them, before you could shove the feelings down like you always did, there they were, blurring your vision, tightening your throat, making it impossible to breathe.

“I’m sorry”, you mumbled, barely loud enough for him to hear. You reached into your bag, pulled out a fifty, and dropped it on the table before standing up so fast your chair nearly tipped.

Beau barely had time to react before you were already walking away, already pushing through the door, already leaving.

Jenny was stepping back inside at the exact moment you pushed past her. She barely caught a glimpse of your face before you were gone, but it was enough to make her stop short.

“Hey—wait—”, she started, but you didn’t turn around.

You couldn’t. Because you were crying. Not just a single tear, not just a lump in your throat—full-on crying. And you didn’t even know why. You just needed to go.

Jenny stood frozen in the doorway for a second before slowly turning back toward the booth. She glanced at the fifty on the table, then at Beau, who was still sitting there, still looking at the door, still looking completely stunned. And hurt.

Beau was never stunned. Never this lost, never this quiet. But right now? He looked like someone had just punched him in the chest.

Jenny’s brows pulled together, glancing between him and the door. “Okay… what the hell just happened?”.

Beau blinked. Once. Twice. Then he exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “Hell if I know”, he muttered, still staring at the door like you might come back.

Four days. Four days of Beau Arlen being a grumpy fuck, and Jenny had officially had enough.

He wasn’t just in a mood. He was a storm cloud walking through the station, snapping at people, barely speaking, and carrying himself like he was this close to losing it completely.

And maybe everyone else was willing to let him stew, but Jenny wasn’t.

So, without telling him, without asking, she made her way to your law firm. And when she got there? She let herself into your office.

You barely had time to look up before the door swung open and Jenny Hoyt strolled in like she owned the place.

You blinked, caught off guard. “Jenny?”.

She smirked, shutting the door behind her before dropping into the chair across from your desk. “Hey there”.

You exhaled sharply, setting down your pen. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”.

Jenny leaned back in the chair, crossing her arms. “I’m here about a mutual problem of ours”.

Your stomach dropped. You already knew where this was going. You sighed, rubbing your temples. “Jenny—”.

“Save it”, she cut in, shaking her head. “I’ve already heard all the excuses”.

You clenched your jaw. “Excuses for what, exactly?”.

Jenny gave you a look, tilting her head. “For why you’re doin’ the dumbest thing I’ve ever seen and pushing away a damn good man”.

Your stomach tightened.

You swallowed, keeping your expression even. “I don’t owe him anything, Jenny”.

Jenny scoffed. “No, you don’t. But let me tell you what you do owe—yourself the damn truth”.

You hated how much that landed.

Jenny leaned forward, resting her elbows on the desk. “I don’t know what the hell Miles did to you, and I don’t need to. But I do know Beau”. She narrowed her eyes. “And if you think for one second that he’s the same as your ex, then you’re not as smart as I thought you were”.

Your fingers curled against the desk, something hot burning behind your ribs. “Jenny, this isn’t your business”.

Jenny let out a dry chuckle, shaking her head. “Well, you made it my business when you left that diner lookin’ like your heart had just been ripped out while Beau sat there like a man losing his damn mind”.

You swallowed.

Jenny shrugged. “He’s not gonna beg for someone who doesn’t want him”. She paused, tilting her head. “But you do, don’t you?”.

Silence. You didn’t answer. You couldn’t.

Jenny smirked, standing up and smoothing out her jacket. “That’s what I thought”. And with that, she was gone. Leaving you alone in your office, staring at the door, your heart pounding in your chest.

———————————

A/N: Please let me know what you think.🥰 

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Part 4

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[mayullla]

Quest: Farmers need help at the barn

Character(s): Harpy (Unnamed character/original work) Summary: You are an adventurer, taking up missions and quests in the guild. And this you choose to help out a monster barn, unknown to you that a certain feathered monster thought of you as his mate. Tags/Warnings: Yandere!monster, fem!reader, general yandere themes, violence (murder, etc), monster slavery, mating/courting rituals, possessive behavior, blood, human x monster romance, misunderstandings, obsessive monster

"I am so sorry! We had opened the cop for the harpies so that we could go and collect their eggs but it seems that one was sneaky enough to get out of the cage and run away!!" 

Arriving at the farm you were immediately greeted with a farmer, tall and gruff, certainly strong enough to deal with monsters yet panicked as one had escaped the pen, and with barely enough staff currently he definitely needed help.

"I am really sorry, we will pay you more for the trouble." The farmer said asking you to search for the harpy that got away. It was a monster after all and with a human village near here, you could not help but become a little concerned. 

"We also have someone else looking for the harpy right now, if needed and the harpy had placed humans in danger the guy has a bow ready to shoot." He had told you that the monster ran away to the forest and could not have gone far away as they were able to land a shot on its wing. He gave you a map and guided you to the gate of the forest, leaving just as soon.

Except you were not sure if you were really going the right way!! 

You looked at the map and frowned. You have been walking around the forest for what felt like hours now and just could not find the harpy that escaped!

Sighing as you looked at the sun still up so high you wondered if you would be stuck here searching for this monster the whole day. Really you hoped that it would end as soon as possible so that you could finally go home or maybe get a quest that won't cost you to circle the forest tens of times...

"Grrr..." You looked behind you, ready to attack whatever creature that made that sound in the forest. Yet nothing showed themselves to you as you constantly hear the growls and somehow had a mix of pain with it. Heading towards the sound as cautiously as possible you found a hidden cave and cautiously went in.

You were surprised to find a harpy in the dark dreary place. And you also noticed that one of his wings was bleeding. An arrow wound you were sure was done by a hunter and another one on its thigh.

It was easy to connect the dots somewhat, the harpy met the hunter somewhere in the forest and managed to get away but the hunter still managed to get his thigh with an arrow. He hid himself, unable to fly back to his home and also started screeching at night to ward off any predators that could have found him.

He glared at you as he dragged himself deeper into the small cave to get away from you. Screeching in hopes that you would become afraid and run away. But instead, you slowly went over to him, with a soft voice trying to calm it down. "Hey, it is fine... You will be alright."

It didn't trust you at all but after offering it a bit of food and encouraging words and with time, still cautious of you he finally let you come closer. You tried to be careful when applying ointment and bandaging up his wing and then later his thigh, one wrong move can get you clawed by the monster. 

It seemed very used to humans, you were at first sure that it would take longer to calm the harpy down but that doesn't seem the case when it looked so innocently at you after you finished bandaging it.

You knew that this was a monster. But right now rather than a wild monster it was more tamed and rather than you fearing him it feared you even more. But work is work, and this was a job that you must do. Your kindness was till this point cause rather than sending the harpy back to the farm still bleeding you prefer that the bird got bandaged up.

Less mess.

"There you go.." you whispered to the male harpy as you slowly backed away from him. He looked at the bandaged wing in wonder, examining it. He then looked at you curiously as to why you would help him.

Harpy feathers, depending on the color and quality can go for a lot of money even more if it was the whole wing itself. A lot of humans search for such monsters wanting to capture them if they were wild creatures. You knew that yourself, when you were helping the creature you knew that this particular harpy has definitely been hunted young or bred and then sold by the farm for his beautiful feathers.

You shrugged at his actions. "You are hurt." You whispered at it wondering if it would actually understand what you said while some harpies from what you heard can speak human language; this one in particular didn't seem to be able to do so much. Moments like these you thought of those books where the main character would tell the monster to run away and that this was its chance to do so but that wasn't you. You needed him back at that farm.

"Th-thank you..."

You were taken back a little when you heard the monster's voice looking up at him. "Huh...?" "T-thank you."

...You weren't able to stand his genuine yet still mildly confused eyes, choosing to look away. As you headed out of the cave not looking back, sure that the harpy would not come back to attack you. For once you felt guilty. You took a moment to collect yourself ready to get him to the farm when you heard bushes rustle. Pulling out your dagger you were ready to attack when you saw the same farmer this morning along with someone else.

"You are here! Good that we found you! The hunter here was able to land a shot on the harpy's thigh again while it was escaping from him and we followed the blood." The farmer told you, also saying something about his part in the farm work being finished, that he was able to come here and help.

You told them that the harpy they were looking for was inside the cave and that there were no other exits other than here. You told them you bandaged up the monster but it still should not be able to move much. "Thanks a bunch! You are a lifesaver." The farmer continued, "You head back to the farm, we will take care of everything here."

Looking back as they entered the cave you wondered if this counted as betrayal. You weren't sure, but rather than mulling it over you left the place.

From what you have heard the farmer and hunter were able to successfully get the harpy back to the farm. After that trip to the forest, you had a few odd jobs here and there on the farm, not a lot of dealing with the monsters as you need to be specially trained for most of those kinds of work but more so packaging the raw materials and loading them up on the carts to be shipped.

You didn't know that something started to follow you ever since that day. Eyes watching you as you move cans of milk from one side to another, or move and clean the wool shaved off from the weresheeps. Maybe if you noticed those eyes you would have done something about it, but you didn't and by the time you realized it was far too late.

It was one of those small clearings, the bell rang signaling a break for lunch. Under the tree, it shaded you away from the sun you sat to eat your sandwich that the farm provided. The sun was so hot against your skin that it made you work quite a sweat.

"Care if I join you?" The gruff voice made you jump in surprise as you looked to your side to see the same man you saw who was together with the farmer in the forest. It was the hunter you thought to yourself as you gave him a place to sit. 

"Hey, thanks for the help last time. Because of you the harpy had his guard lowered and we were able to capture him without much of a problem. That guy is a little smart for its own good." The hunter introduced himself, stating that he was also an adventurer like you but would help this farm often when they needed some hands as he was friends with the owner.

You chatted for a while, and you found out that the hunter was a married man with a daughter and a wife who was pregnant with another child. "My daughter is a pretty girl. She also wants to become an adventurer like me. I should introduce the two of you when we have the chance" The hunter joked that it would be nice that his little daughter had a lady who she could look up to.

The hunter looked excited as he also had another daughter and told you how he could not help but spoil his daughter whenever he could. He was hoping that he will have another daughter but his wife wished it would be a boy instead. The hunter, while intimidating looking, was actually more easygoing and casual.

"Oop! That is the bell." You heard the rattle of the bell notifying everyone that you guys need to head back to work. "You have been working here for a bit. How long are you staying?" The hunter asked curiously. You told him that today was your last day, that everything here was under control now. "Ahh, then it is back to the quest for you I guess. Hahah! Well. It was nice to meet ya." The hunter also stated that you guys might see each other probably on another mission or at the guild.

Getting up first, he took his leave having something to do leaving you alone under the tree again. Before getting up you quickly checked your mouth for any crumbs or food that was stuck. Grabbing your mirror from your bag you also checked your teeth. When your name was called by one of the farmers, you hurried. Getting up you shoved your compact mirror into your bag but were unable to properly close your bag being in a hurry.

You didn't see your small compact mirror fall out from your bag, hitting the grass floor as you head inside with the farmer. 

When you came back later to look for the mirror after finding out that it was not in your bag you could not find it anywhere...

More precisely it has been swatted away by a certain harpy who was watching you. Keeping the thing close to their chest, with a flush look on their face hoping that he would not be caught yet at the same time hoping he would just so that you would look at him again. But he can't at least not yet.

You finally went back home, after the last long day of working at the barn. Your pay was a little more than the contract, as the owner was generous from the booming business right now. You were ready to hit the bed and after a shower and a lovely dinner, you flopped on your bed.

Your body was relaxed, as you slowly went to dreamland when you suddenly heard a noise outside your window. Opening your eyes you moved to get ready, but you were too slow when the window opened and a black feathered monster rushed in jumping on top of you.

You struggled, but claws caught your arms preventing you from hitting anyone or even getting your dagger from your table side. "Mate!" You heard a chirp and looked up to get a good look at the thing that had you on its hold.

Your eyes widen and your body froze.

You recognize him, the harpy that you bandaged up on the first day of work at the barn. The black feathers and the awkward voice still struggle to follow human speech. Yet unlike before rather than cautious and feral, he was more ecstatic and eager to see you. Impatiently moving your arms as he wrapped his wings around you as if it was trying to hug you.

"Accept.... shiny g-gift... from mate..." His words were hesitant and slow in between chirps. But he wasn't shy, not with how shamelessly he clung to you. Cuddling so tightly as if to get the scent of him on you, rubbing his face under your neck while looking at you with hearts in his eyes when you looked down at him in surprise. "Mate likes... me!"

"What!?" You yelled in confusion, as you tried to shove him away to no avail. There was something wet on his shoulders and chest, something that you could not see properly in the darkness till your eye finally got used to the night. You were terrified.

You could not help but squeak when you saw it. The scent that you smelled from the harpy when he suddenly showed up did you finally understand what that red liquid on his face actually meant. His claws held your wrist preventing you from pushing away. The more you tried to leave the more tight his claws around you became. The heart in his eyes dimmed as he didn't understand why you were trying to push away from him.

"Why...why are you... why are you avoiding me." His voice was angry, a growl-like chirp produced as he forced you back to the bed. You didn't answer yet he followed your eyes and noticed you were looking at the blood on his cheek.

"Hunter... want to kill... me." He glared at you causing you to flinch. Looking away from him to your room, your weapons were too far away for you to grab and swat the harpy away. Regret as you didn't keep at least your dagger close to you. "Hunter... want to kill you... I.... save... you."

Your body felt as if it was growing cold as the harpy chirped in delight. His love-filled eyes back as he thought that you now understand and that you would love him back for doing the same favor for you after you saved him. 

The hunter did not want to kill you. You knew at least that much. Yet that same man was killed by the very harpy that he hunted, the one that you have helped.

“I… save you. I love… you. You love me.”

[witchygagirlwrites]

Clover-Part 1

Jay Halstead x Reader (nicknamed Clover)

When all else fails run to Jay

Mentions of sex and crooked land deals?

“No no no no” you groaned as you paced out in front of Gaffney. You couldn’t believe this. Your freaking landlord had sold the building. Everyone was getting evicted and had seventy two hours to get out. What the hell were you supposed to do?

“Clover?” Will stopped on his way past you and raised an eyebrow “What’s wrong?” you shrugged “Oh nothing, I’m just effectively fucking homeless” “Huh?” he asked and you waved a hand “Oh you know, shady developers. Money, meaning more than human lives and it not mattering that I’m a freaking trauma nurse that barely has time to breathe let alone find a new place!” 

“How long do you have to get out?” he asked and you nearly teared up “Seventy two hours” he whistled low “Ok, well me and Nat have a storage unit you’re welcome to” you nodded “That helps with that sort of stuff but where the hell am I supposed to live?” he shrugged “Jay has a spare bedroom?” “And I’m supposed to what exactly? Say hey buddy? How’s it going? Can I move in?”

He crossed his arms “Well you can do that or see if the shelter has bed” you groaned and hit Jay’s number, glaring at Will as you did. Jay answered on the second ring. “Hey Clover, how’s my favorite nurse?”

“Wondering if there was anyway possible I could maybe buy you lunch?” you asked and he whistled low “Before I agree how bad is it?” “How bad is what?” you laughed. He scoffed “I just want to know if I’m cashing in little favors with Voight or huge favors” “No favors with Voight at all actually and thanks so much for the confidence in me” he laughed “In that case, meet you at one?” “Ok, see you then” you hung up and Will nodded “He’ll more than likely agree”

You and Jay had been friends for years. You met right after he graduated from the academy because you’d started at med around the same time. You’d patched him up more times than you cared to ever admit. He was your best friend. If there was anyone on the face of this earth that knew damn near everything about you? It was Jay Halstead. You just wished you didn’t have to ask this of him but everyone else you knew either was leasing themselves or only had one bedrooms.

____________________

You sat in the corner booth of the diner you and Jay always grabbed lunch at. When he walked in you waved at him and he smiled before walking over and sliding in across from you “Well I see no marks, I’m not killing anyone. I ran your name, you’ve gotten into no trouble the last few days and not told me so what’s up princess?” you rolled your eyes at the nickname “I need a huge favor” 

He nodded slowly “How huge?” you swallowed hard “Would you be willing to rent me your spare bedroom until I can find a new place or possibly longer if I can't find a new place? My entire building is getting evicted in seventy two hours”

“What? How did those bastards manage that?” he asked and you shrugged “Shady deals, shadier lawyers?” he shook his head, jaw tense “That’s bullshit but yeah..don’t worry about it. We’ll talk about splitting bills and all. I’ll grab Kev and Adam. We’ll help you get your stuff moved” 

“Thank you Jay. I can not thank you enough” you whispered and he grinned “Hey, we’ve been friends for years Clover, I’m not exactly gonna leave you out in the street” you laughed “I appreciate it either way”

“Is that everything?” Will asked as you stacked the last box into his storage unit. You nodded “Yeah, I mean I didn’t really have too much to begin with. Perks of not being a very materialistic person” he laughed “Guess it comes in handy”

You nodded “I’ve put in calls to a couple real estate companies. I don’t want to intrude on Jay any longer than necessary” “I don’t think he’d offer if he minded” he replied and you shrugged “I know but still. I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea and giving him a hard time you know? Plus I don’t want to fuck up his dating life. Hard as hell to take a woman home if you get there and I’m making coffee at two in the morning because I can’t sleep”

He laughed “Ok, you do have a point there” you grinned “See” then hugged him “Thank Nat for me too?” “Of course”

_____________________

You walked out of the storage unit and waved to Will before walking to your car. Jay had already given you a key to his place. It was a little weird but it wasn’t like you hadn’t slept at Jay’s before out of necessity and it wasn’t like now wasn’t out of MAJOR necessity.

You climbed in and turned the engine before heading back to Jay’s. He was at work but would be off in an hour or two. He’d be home about an hour before you’d have to go in, at least with your schedules it wasn’t like you’d be on top of each other.

“How’s my brother as a roommate?” Will asked as the two of you stood in line at the coffee kiosk. You shrugged “Actually? A pretty damn good one. He starts coffee for me, takes out the trash after dark. Calls me if he stops at the store to see if I need anything picked up. We split all the bills coming in fifty/fifty. It’s going pretty good. Which is good considering it looks like there are no places to lease within my budget in Chicago”

He nodded “Good to know. Any issues on the worried about messing up his dating life?” you shrugged “Guessing he goes to their place?” he laughed “Sounds like it’s working good and you’re not homeless. I call that a win for everyone involved”

Jay was nothing short of exhausted. The case had kicked everyone’s ass. He just wanted to crash for a while. He unlocked the door and walked into the apartment. The moment he stepped in a laugh fell from his lips. You were in the kitchen, making coffee. The laughter had come from the fact that you were wearing chucky pjs and rainbow socks. 

“Coffee?” you asked with a little smile. “Sure” he replied, dropping his keys on the table next to the door then stripping his jacket off and kicking his shoes off. You pulled down a second mug and poured him a cup. He walked over and took it from you. You turned and hopped up on the counter “You ok?”

“That case finally closed” you nodded slowly “That’s good. You’ve been having bad nightmares the last week” he raised an eyebrow “You can hear me?” you shrugged “Light sleeper. I’m just glad you haven’t brought anyone home. I would need ear plugs” 

He barked out a laugh “I promise I wouldn’t do that to you” you shrugged “Your place” he nodded “Your place too” you shrugged “True but that’s just weird bringing a man into my male best friend’s home” 

He shook his head and nodded to the couch “Want to watch that episode or did you cheat?” you gasped “I did no such of a thing” and hopped off the counter “Come on” he followed you with a smile. 

This whole roommate thing he honestly hadn’t been too sure of when he agreed to it but so far it was working out pretty well. You and him got along good. You shared quarters well. He didn't feel out of place sharing somewhere to live with you. It felt almost too natural. If you did find somewhere else to go, he would more than likely miss you like crazy by now and it hadn't been but a few weeks.

Part 2

[sephy-sephy]

(Yandere) Geto Suguru x reader

Your footsteps on the wet soil were audible even in the dense forest as you ran as fast as you could, your breathing was heavy and the night was cold and rainy, drenching you from head to toe... but you didn't care, not after what your eyes had seen before you started to run away...

You disobeyed him. You broke one of his most important rules, which applied specifically to you as his life partner. You secretly bonded with the "monkeys" for too long, keeping it a secret from him until he discovered it himself. And now they were all just corpses, torn to pieces. You felt an intense pain and guilt weighing you down, making it difficult to escape as quickly as possible. Tears streamed down your cheeks without stopping. You could feel his gaze on you from all sides, and you knew there was no point in running away.. You were just a human, and he was a powerful, special grade sorcerer. You knew he'd catch you sooner or later, but you kept going, running and running, even though you knew you'd never be able to escape him.

Suguru was taking it easy, stalking you with ease. He enjoyed your fear, terror, and desperate attempts to escape. He smiled in a crazy, almost sadistic way..

You could hear his laughter in your mind, and the images of your friends' bloody faces wouldn't leave your mind for even a second.

You kept running until you tripped over a tree branch, causing you to roll down a small hill several times until your leg got stuck between a tree and a branch. You tried desperately to free your leg at first, but quickly gave up, unable to fight any longer. Your whole body was shaking. You covered your face in your hands, crying into them, muttering the word "sorry" over and over again..

You couldn't help but wonder what he would do to you after you disobeyed him. You knew he would punish you, but how this time? You didn't even want to imagine. The memories of his last punishment were still fresh in your mind. His strong body pinning your smaller form to the ground with no chance of escape, and especially that mischievous smile on his lips..

You felt a large, strong hand grab your small shoulder, snapping you out of your thoughts, and not in a good way. Your whole body froze and your eyes widened. You knew you were in trouble… you knew it all along, but now… now he had you. No escape. No more running away.

"Oh, stuck? Poor thing, that looks painful… Let me help you~"

His voice was full of sarcasm and fake pity, he was literally mocking you. His hand on your shoulder tightened to the point of pain, but it wasn't a painful pain compared to what you felt when he grabbed your arm forcefully and pulled you without any care or kindness, pulling your leg out from between the tree branch causing severe pain in your now trembling and injured leg... and he didn't stop there, he pulled you away and threw you harshly on the ground on your back as you groaned in pain.

He let out a soft sigh of mock disappointment.

"As I expected, the previous lesson wasn't enough for a brat like you..."

Then he added, "But it's no big deal. I'll make sure it's enough this time..." He said with a small, even gentle, smile.

"P-please, I'm sorry.. I won't do it agai-!"

"Shh... no need to apologize, dear, it's already too late, why apologize now? Just accept your punishment.."

Your tearful eyes looked up at him pleadingly, but he wasn't going to show you an ounce of mercy...not now, not tonight. He was planning to wear you down to the bone..

[leighsartworks216]

In Your Silence (I Hear You)

Astarion x gn!Tav/Reader

Requested by @ghulehh666:

"Just had this idea for so long in my head, basically astarion x tav(gn). Tav is really antisocial, never visits tavern or such, and prefers to stay somewhere quiet and alone or with Astarion. When they have to talk, their ability to speak sometimes randomly locks out and doesn’t know what to say."

I know you said antisocial but I kinda went further and made it more social anxiety or autism-coded

Also I still have not played the game or seen much gameplay so some things may be inaccurate and stuff

Warnings: going through a busy crowd, brief mention of nails digging into skin, some sensory issues (touch, sound)

Word Count: 1,287

Masterlist

AO3

You were holding on for dear life. Your arms curled tightly around Astarion’s, eyes scanning every which-a-way. Unfortunately, this was a rather common occurrence.

Before all this, you kept to yourself. Perhaps to an extreme. You avoided going outside, you didn’t speak to anyone for as long as you could help it, and you were quite happy like this. Dealing with other people was always a headache, and never near worth it, but staying alone? The only person you could be irritated with was yourself.

And then you got kidnapped. And somehow, somehow everyone chose you as the one to save the world. You couldn’t stay alone anymore. Too much was at stake. But sometimes it was all too much. Too loud, too demanding, too… everything.

Astarion didn’t know what to make of you upon first meeting. He’d assumed you were working with the damn Illithid, but when he insisted you just kept shaking your head. Truly, he’d have thought you were mute, if he’d not seen you talking with the damned creatures. Now that it’s been weeks, he knew you better than the rest. After all, it was his tent you ran to when you needed quiet, and, even more than that, it was him you trusted to find your voice when you couldn’t.

That’s how you ended up in this bustling market street, clinging to him as he smoothly guided you through swaths of people. He was used to navigating crowds. His eyes sought out slightly-more-open gaps and he’d be able to slip through with no issues. Alone, that is. With you, the strategy was a little different. Not only did he have to get himself through, but you as well. He could only imagine what the weaving pattern he took to find even-more-open gaps in the sea of people looked like from above.

The street never seemed to end. More and more people entered from either end. Stall owners barked out calls to potential customers. Everyone was shoving to get where they needed to go. Astarion was tired of it. The only reason you’d turned down here was to find one specific stall for some spices Gale wanted. He’d stopped looking for the stall long ago, leaving that task to you.

Toward the end of the street, though still quite far from any freedom, you squeezed his arm and planted your feet. He stopped immediately. Your eyes were set on one of the stalls - a table filled with handfuls of herbs, small bundles of them tied together with string. He sighed through his nose. Gale better damn well be happy for all the trouble this is.

Astarion placed a hand over yours on his arm, searching for any opening in the river of people going around you both. He could feel the anxiety radiating from you the longer it took. As soon as there was even a hint of a gap, he pulled you through.

Trying to walk through the hoard rather than with it was a nightmare. You were jostled and bumped into by everyone. Astarion wanted to switch you to his other side to act as a human shield, but doing so risked losing you to the flood. And when you finally got through, finally standing in front of the one stall you came here for, you felt it. Like a switch, your throat felt leaden. Your vocal chords were heavy. It seems preserving your voice for this moment did not help at all.

“Hi! Welcome, welcome! What can I get for you today?” the stall-keeper beckoned. Astarion had to fight to keep his eyes from rolling. All traders were always too cheery, overacting as they tried to play nice to convince you to buy more.

The vampire turned his focus to you. You still held onto his arm, but it was a little more relaxed. Your nails weren’t digging into his arm, at least. (You always apologized profusely when your voice came back, even when he brushed off your concerns of hurting him or, worse, being a nuisance.) You searched the table, eyes roaming stacks of small spices and bundles of large herbs. Astarion had no idea exactly what Gale’d asked for. He trusted you remembered.

A moment passed, and then you were pointing at a small cloth bag, round and full. The attendant lit up. “That’s our special blend! It contains all you need for any meal! Just one pinch and your mouth will thank you for it!” When they said the price, Astarion saw you retreating in on yourself. It was a lot to ask for one small sachet, though it looked like it would last several weeks if conserved properly.

Before you could even formulate an apology to Gale for his damn herbs and spices being too gods damned expensive, Astarion was pulling out his coin purse and counting out the gold. “We’ll take one.”

The attendant picked up the sachet by its drawstrings and plopped it into your hesitant hand. You squeezed his arm - you didn’t like that he was paying for it. He handed over the money, and pulled you back into the throng of people.

It wasn’t long before you were at the end of the street and being tugged along to a quiet side-road as there was no longer a need to slow down to glance at each stall. As soon as the people thinned out to a manageable level, you let go of his arm and reached for your own coin purse.

“Please, love, you don’t need to pay me back.” He covered your hand holding the purse, preventing you from opening it. “Besides, I will be more than happy to discuss repayment with the Wizard.”

You gave him a disapproving look. He just rolled his eyes.

“Was acting quickly to get you out of that mess as soon as possible not what you wanted?”

You glared harder. “Don’t twist it,” you muttered. The weight was still there, but being out of the crowd had helped enough. Though, it seemed heavier now that you have spoken… Damn.

He chuckled airily. “Hate to admit I was working outside of my own self-interests for once?” You raised a brow at him. “Well, aside from having Gale in my pocket, until he compensates me for the loss.”

You huffed and put your coin purse away, tucking the sachet away in the process. Your hand found his arm immediately after. He didn’t even react as you gripped onto the fabric of his sleeve. At first, he’d been a bit scandalized, complaining that you’d wrinkle it or pull at the embroidery. He almost… enjoyed it. The simple act of keeping each other close, relying on him to act as an anchor. It felt nice to be needed.

He noticed before you that your feet were beginning to drag. The sole of your boots scraped on the street every couple steps, not to mention how you slowed down ever so slightly. He smiled knowingly, resting his hand over yours on his arm once more. It was reminiscent of nobles strolling along, prim and proper.

“Come on, dear,” he encouraged smoothly. “Once we return I can read that mystery novel to you.”

You grabbed onto his arm with your other hand, pulling yourself closer to rest your head against him. You had a tired little smile on your face. How unfortunate such outings were so much on their leader. He’d probably get two lines in before you passed out in his mess of pillows.

“Though, it is rather obvious who the culprit is.”

You pinched his arm.

“No, my being a magistrate has nothing to do with it,” he chastised. “It’s hardly my fault I’m more observant than you, dear.”

[vinylfoxbooks]

October 4 - Honour | @into-the-jeggyverse | wc: 840 There's now a part 2 to this! CW: Slight transphobia and mentions of gender dysphoria

This is the last place that Regulus wants to be. He could be out with his friends, reading in his room, drawing out in the garden, anything. But of course, his mother had to stuff him into a frilly dress that he doesn’t want to wear and fits him in the worst ways and scratches at his skin. And he has to have this stupid charm that makes his hair appear longer than it is, all in front of the same people that his parents have been posturing and making deals with for years. 

Of course, Barty and Evan were here, but both of them ran off and Regulus isn’t sure that he wants to seek them out, so he’s stuck here. In the corner, cradling a glass of wine, watching as all of the stuck up and stuffy people in the room play nice while trying to get what they want. 

Other than his friends, the only person that Regulus would have to entertain him would be his brother, though he isn’t sure where Sirius ran off to. That is, until someone comes up to him and leans against the wall, their shoulder nearly brushing with his. 

Regulus turns his head to give them a harsh glare, though it softens when he sees just who is standing next to him, breathing out, “James? What are you doing here?”

James shrugs, “Sirius told Remus and I that you guys were being forced to attend the party that your parents were throwing and so we hatched a plan for him to sneak us in. I don’t know exactly where Remus and Sirius went off to, but Sirius pointed me in your direction and dragged Remus away, probably to his room.”

“Didn’t need to know that much,” Regulus grimaces, “But you didn’t have to come. One of us could get in trouble if my parents notice that you’re hanging around with me.”

“What’s the fun in that, though?” James whines, putting on some dramatics, “I think it would be hilarious to see your parents on the edge of an aneurysm seeing you and me together.” They push themself from the wall and round him so they’re standing in front of Regulus, dipping down in a rather dramatic fashion and outreaching their hand towards him, “So, Regulus. Would you do me the honour of this dance?” 

Regulus rolls his eyes, but downs his wine and sets the glass aside to take James’ hand nonetheless, “You’re ridiculous.”

“You love me.” James smiles, standing up straight and guiding Regulus to the dance floor, “And I came to save you from a night of boredom, though I wish I could do more with the dress.”

Regulus sighs and looks down at his own attire before shaking his head and meeting their eyes, “You treating me the same is enough for now, James. Thank you for not being weird about it.” 

They shake their head and gently place their hand on his waist, their other hand still clasped, “You are still Regulus no matter what you wear, my love, no attire will change that in my eyes.”

“I love you.”

“And I love you.” James smiles, before beginning to guide them into a dance as the music changes. They get a couple glares, whether it’s because of James’s presence or because of a myriad of other reasons, but James doesn’t seem to mind them at all. At one point, James leads Regulus right in front of where Orion and Walburga are sitting and they bite their lip to force down laughter at the scoff that the woman lets out upon seeing James. 

“They’re going to kill me by the end of tonight.” Regulus groans.

“Not if you come back to my house with me, Sirius, and Remus tonight.”

Regulus shakes his head, “You know that I can’t. It’ll just be worse when I come back.”

“Then just don’t come back. We can go up to your room when you deem it appropriate, get you into more comfortable clothes, pack all of your things, and leave. For good.” They take a second to flit over Regulus’ face, taking a moment to change their pace with the change of the music around them, before humming, “I know that you say you can’t leave, but you can. You know that you’d be safe with us, you know that Sirius would be safe with us, and you know that you wouldn’t have to dress up in frilly dresses that make you hate your reflection. You know that there’s so much more to the world and to us than your parents’ iron grip.”

Regulus hums after a couple seconds, “I’ll think about it. Though I will take you up on your offer to sneak off to my room and get me into different clothes.” 

“That’s all that I ask, my love.” And with that, James glances around to make sure that nobody is watching them before dipping down and pressing a gentle kiss to Regulus’ lips, chaste and quick, but loving nonetheless.

[n0t-evenhere]

Back at it again at the Krispy Kreme, part three of the Star at night. Shout out to Shoya again for being my editor!

Before you read, this is a warning before the warning labels. This is legitimately considered dead dove according to the guidelines of DD. If there are ANY, and I mean ANY labels that you see that you know you CAN NOT handle. DO NOT READ! Take care of yourself. Seriously, heavy material is in this chapter. If you are still here, enjoy this chapter.

⚠️ warning ⚠️ dead dove 🕊️ , death, heavy themes of mental and physical abuse, use of unorthodox methods of punishment, attempted sexual assault (not Ray), manipulation, emotional unease, trauma, underage possession of alcoholic beverages, and alcohol in general.

If you personally need to take a break will reading, do so. The story will still be here. I promise, come back when ready if you need to. Enjoy the read.

“The Star At Night”

Part 3 “Loss”

The mask was held out for him to take. Its colors burned into his brain. FUCKING STEEL SHERIFF?! This had to be some kind of joke. Ray felt himself claw out past the Binary Star façade. Ray was supposed to be buried deep, wrapped up and lost in the light of Binary Star. This made Ray claw to the surface. Thoughts and feelings rushed to the surface like a dam that had broken and left damage as it went.

___________________________________________

14 years ago

Ray enjoyed the sun while he had it. Based on its position it was probably around three in the afternoon. The hottest part of the day but, hey, at least there was a cool breeze for a day in May like this. The brown sack of groceries held in his arm. He had to admit, having super strength was nice. Groceries felt like nothing. After exiting the store he even helped some old lady carry bags of groceries like it was nothing. Felt good. Ray looked down in the bag. The lady had much healthier stuff than he did. I mean, if Ray would choose he wouldn’t be one to drink beer in whiskey. Just an errand for his…dad. He practically gagged at the thought of that man being his father. He shouldn’t even have the title.

Ray was glad he walked instead of drove, that means he gets to be out of the house for longer. After all, he doesn’t hardly leave, he schools at home because the NAHA doesn’t want him out among other teens his age. Not sure if he’d get into trouble. Besides, the NAHA knew from a report given to them by the steel sheriff that Ray was still dealing with the repercussions of the southern war. He shivered at the thought. Thank goodness he was only a part time hero right now. He’d be stressed to the max. He liked it well enough. Being a hero. Then again, he was always nervous to do the wrong thing though. To mess up. What if he wasn’t the Hero the people wanted? What if he was a mess up? What if he wasn’t what the people needed.

Finally, Ray had made it to the little house that was a bit out of town. Away from prying eyes. He slow played it, walked at a slower pace, hey, the mail is probably here too. Might as well check that. The mail consisted of fan mail, bills, and other things that Ray didn’t really care about. With a sigh he moseyed on up the path to the door. That when a scream pierced through the air, muffled but for Ray, he heard it clear as day.

His blood ran cold, chest tightened painfully in his chest. Felt a little sweaty as his body grew hot. He knew what this meant, someone was inside fighting for themselves. Trying to get away from the hellish nightmare that was Steel Sheriff’s home. Ray felt stuck to that spot, he’s a hero. He’s done this before? Why did it feel so difficult? He knew the answer. Because when he played hero at home? There were consequences. He shook his head, that didn’t matter. Consequences or not…someone needed his help. The grocery bag dropped to the ground, glass breaking, the bag slowly soaking making the paper soggy. As Ray made bounding leaps to the door.

He burst through the door with fever, hurry. His eyes widened at the sight before him. He would think he’d be prepared for it but it’s still shocking every time. “I SAID ONLY ONE TIME! ONE!” The woman beneath Rick cried out as tears streamed down her face. She cringed as Rick kissed and prodded at her body. Her glossy eyes looked at Ray. Her face was bruised, left eye swollen shut. “H-help me. Please.” The woman whines making his heart drop to the floor. “SHE SAID GET OFF!” Ray screamed, rushing Rick, grabbing him by the shoulder tearing him off the woman. Rick flew through the air landing on the glass coffee table with a crash.

Ray knelt beside the woman. “Can you stand?” He inquired, taking the woman’s hand gently. The woman shook her head no. She was panicking, having a hard time trying to get her up. “YOU FUCKIN’ LITTLE BITCH!” Ticked yelled starting to get up. Making Ray panic a little. “It’s okay Ma’am. I’ll help you up but we have to be fast.” With that Ray stood up taking her hand with him pulling her up, before he pulled her along to the front door, making her stumble a little. The front door was still wide open. He pushed her gently out the door. “GO! GET SOMEWHERE SAFE!” Ray cried out, everything running on high alert. The woman stumbled down the walk way sobbing but still out of harm's way. A breath of relief was short-lived.

Rays felt his leg leave the ground as he felt himself being yanked back by his shirt collar. “Boy what did I fuckin’ say would happen when you get in my way?” Rick’s tone was dangerously low before he stopped eating Ray, throwing him against the ugly cream sofa. Before Ray could even get up Rick sat on him, straddling him, keeping Ray pinned to the floor. “What did I tell you? Say it.” Ray swallowed thickly. He hated this, hated him. He should just kill him. Wait…no. No, Ray shook the thought away. No, hero’s don't think like that right? They shouldn’t. A good hero doesn’t think like that. Ray couldn’t fight back, he had nowhere else to go, Rick had ingrained into Ray's mind that no one would take him either.

A tight grip on Ray’s hair snapped him from his thoughts, making him grimace. . “I’m talking to you. I expect a FUCKIN’ ANSWER!” Ray swallowed the lump in his throat as Rick released his hair and pulled a lighter and cigarette from his button up breast pocket. “You…you said that…if I…” this was humiliating. He didn’t want to do this. Even if he tried to keep his voice even, it didn’t work. “If I intervene I’ll take what’s left.” Rick nodded “Atta boy.” Rick took a inhale of smoke before pushing it back out in Ray’s face, making his nose wrinkle. “You ruin everything.” Rick said slowly. “Say it.”

Ray looked up at him, his eyes widening a little. Really? Why? Why was he like this? Rick suddenly pushed the hot cigarette to the skin on Ray’s upper arm. “SAY IT!” Ray cried out, “I RUIN EVERYTHING!” Rick smiles, “SAY IT AGAIN.” Ray shook his head, “Please I-“ his sentence replaced by a yelp. “I RUIN EVERYTHING!” Ray repeated. “SAY IT FOR ME AGAIN BOY! MAKE ME BELIEVE IT!” Ray yelled out in anger, his teeth gnashing, “I. RUIN. EVERYTHING!” Rick nodded, taking another drag. “That’s right. You do ruin everything. Now. Where is my whiskey?” Ray felt his heart sink. A numb feeling coursing through his body. “I…I dropped it.” He mumbled. “What was that boy?” Rick inquired credulously. “I dropped it.” Rick let out a humorless laugh. “Well, today isn’t your lucky day, is it Sun Ray.” Rick reared his fist back.

______________________________________

Present moment

The memory stopped, the horrid movie in his mind halted. This is it. Sure he lied, he wasn’t going to let these people go. However, he doesn’t remember one thing. Hershel’s special request. Crime rate was going up again. There was an example needed. To be made. He knew he could use Red Diamond to cut them down like he wanted to. After all, there will need to be a cover story so…needs to make sure to leave as little recognition of him as possible. Maybe killing them slowly won’t be too bad. A good release. Binary Star is put up for the next little bit of time. Leaving Ray, and ONLY Ray. He killed the man in his grip gruesomely before the group's very eyes. Just so they can see what’s coming to them. Ray smiled, “I’ll give you a head start. Fair enough? 10…9…get running, 8…” The countdown of the beginning of his hunt.

The countdown felt like a threat, no, worse than that. A promise of impending suffering. Carol and Sam ran at your side down the hall, the countdown of Binary Star feeling as if it was racing with you. “We have to get out of here somehow!” Sam cried out, breath ragged. “The front door is a no go.” Carol commented. That’s when the image of the map flashes into your mind. That’s right, that's it! “I got it! There is an employee exit in the locker room that leads outside! That’s our way out!” You say to the women running beside you. “Perfect, we’ll head-“ Carol stopped talking, only leaving labored breath and the ending of the countdown. “Zero. Countdown is up.” Binary Star called in a teasing tone down the hall.

“We need to hide, we have to separate. We’ll meet in the locker room.” That sounded like a terrible idea. Carol continued on, “One of us has to make it to the locker room.” The way Carol said it left a pit in your stomach. What? One? But what about everyone else? We can- no, I can’t leave anyone behind. You think to yourself. You love these people, they have been here for you for the longest time. You couldn't leave them. They were your family. “Hide!” Carol called.

You push forward, turning down the hall into the Greek exhibit. The room's lights were dim, white marble statues stood tall, historic gods and goddesses stood tall, some of the walls were lined with shields and weapons of all kinds, and stands with vases intercity designed. Footsteps scared you out of your short admiration, practically making you dive for cover behind the large “Venus De Milo” statue. That’s when he started talking. “You know. When I was younger, in my teen years. I used to imagine that people would make statues of me. Would treat me like a god.”

You peek your head around The corner of the statue, there he stood looking up at a statue you went familiar with. He wiped some dust off of it. “And they do. They just don’t tell you how…difficult it really is to be treated as such. The more you are seen. The less you are heard. Well, the fact is that, no one truly sees me. Not really anyways.” Binary Star chuckled a little. “Enough about me. I’d rather talk about you. You and your little “family” as you put it. I have to admit, you have an interesting family trade you have going on.” What? Family, how did he even know that? You never said anything about it? “I can read minds. Just how out of the loop are you?” He jests. That made this so much worse.

Binary Star took a deep breath. “Do you want to know something else? I have great hearing too. I can hear the sound of your heart. The fear. It is funny, two hearts almost beating at the same pace.” What did that even mean?! His words only made your heart beat faster, sweat forming on your brow. He knew you were there, so why did you keep hidden? Your thoughts suddenly were interrupted by the sound of a case breaking. That…wasn’t you. “Ah, someone made the first move. I was waiting for that.” He cooed.

Looking around the statue there stood Sam. Frozen in place, the vase broke to bits on the floor. She looked at you. Her eyes were not even trained on the figure stepping towards her. In a flash he ate up the distance snatching her up by her throat. “What to do with you hm?” He inquired to himself. “What do you think, (you)?” He was calling you out. He must have read her mind or something to get your name. “Ah, creative-“ he looks back at you. Who was now standing away from the statue, Afraid.

He looks back at sam. “Your friend here has quite the wild imagination. She’s thinking of all the possible things I could do to her. Only thing she didn’t account for is that I would use her imagination to think of something. Worse.” In that time of talking you panicked, you could just let Sam die like this. Not if you were there. Your eyes scanned the wall, there wasn’t much but you saw it. The metal throwing disk on the wall. With a tug it came off, you swung it around to throw it at him, hoping he’d drop Sam giving her time to escape. He caught it just before it reached his head. His head slowly turned to face you, a huge unsettling smile on it. “I like the way you think. (You).”

Those words made your heart drop to the floor. “NO!” You screamed as he took the disk and slammed it right into her face once. Just one hit and teeth fell to the floor, drop falling in droplets. She moaned in pain, eyes wide in shock. “SAM! STOP! PUT HER DOWN YOU BASTARD!” You scream, grabbing another weapon, a spear. It’s what you got. You’d use it. Just as you turned around to face him. It was as if he was waiting just for you to look. Sam was gagging, the disk set in her jaw. “Don’t be angry with me, you picked how she dies. Gave me the weapon with your own hands sweetheart.” With a sharp jerk of his gloved hand, Sam’s has fell to the floor with a sickening splatter. Making you drop your spear.

Another scream of horror escaped your lips. Binary star set her down gently, Adam took two wobbling steps toward you, reaching out. Her tongue hung from the absence of her lower jaw. Blood soaking her dark clothing and skin. Sam gurgled and choked before dropping to the floor with a thud. You could stop the tears that began to fall, that quickly turned into sobbing, the sobbing turned into throwing up. “Awww, don’t feel too bad. Her death was decently quick. Besides, kudos to you, you gave me some good entertainment so far.” You couldn’t stay. You couldn’t, you’d be next.

As fast as your legs could carry you, you ran down the hall with fever. Sobs are still wracking your body. The locker room was just up ahead. Not too far. Just as you passed the dinosaur exhibit, Carol came barreling out at the same time. Slamming into you. Her eyes widened. “(you)? Hey, it’s alright. Come here.” Carol grabbed you, pulling you back into the Dino exhibit, cradling you close. “No it’s not alright,” you cried. “I tired to save Sam and he fucking killed her with the disk I threw at him.” Carol attempted to sooth you. “Shhh, you did what you could. We can’t stay here though. We have to leave. Come on. Get yourself together.” With a nod. You follow her out your hand in hers.

Just as you two left the dinosaur exhibit, Binary Star was waiting right there for you with a smile. “Ah, funny running into you here.” Carol and you paused, before she shoved you right into his arms before making a mad dash down the hall. Leaving you in his arms in shock. She just…she just left you. She actually left you! “Mmm, maybe you aren’t really family.” You try to move from his grip, only for his grip to tighten on you. His head turning from Carol's disappearing figure to you. “How does that make you feel? (You)?”

It honestly made you feel disgusted. She was like your mother when you separated from yours. You trusted her. “Say it.” He said giving you a tight squeeze making you yelp. “DISGUSTED! IT MAKES ME FEEL ANGRY!” You cry out. “That’s what I thought. Let’s go pay her a little visit shall we? Maybe even have a little, heart warming chat.” His tone was anything but warm as he dragged you down the hall with him after Carol. Your fighting means nothing against him.

[storiesbyjes2g]

3.228 Get in the game

The ladies settled in the living room, so Dub and I went upstairs with the girls who settled in front of the dollhouse. In hindsight, we should have just sat in the kitchen to give the girls some privacy. Oh well. At least we'll be able to keep them out of the ladies' hair for a while. I'm sure Maia really needs that right now. I know all too well what she's going through. Caring for Desiree helped me get through it, but not everyone is like me. I'll have to ask Sophia how she's doing later.

"That's a nice dollhouse, Desi," Dub said. "Are you two playing pretty girls?"

"Daddy, this is a barn," Tambara shouted in full pre-teen sass. "We're playing horse ranch!"

Dub raised his hands and backed away.

"Oh, excuse me! My bad!"

She turned back to Desi.

"I know how to ride a horse! Have you ridden a horse before?"

"No," Desiree said.

"I'm going to have my own horse soon! Father Winter didn't get one for me, but I don't need him. My Daddy will get me one! Won't you, Daddy?"

He froze as if he got caught stealing something. It was so funny to watch. Desi will definitely have some competition for world domination.

"Ehhhh...maybe Uncle Luca will consider it with all the money he has now. He makes me look poor!"

"OH! So it's Uncle Luca now? Don't drag me into this!"

"But don't you just love Tami?"

"Don't you get me in trouble."

"Ha! But for real though, congrats! We were on our way back from the funeral when I saw. It couldn't have happened to a better family."

"Thank you so much. I'm still kind of in shock. OH! I almost forgot..." I lowered my voice in case the girls were listening. "Next time you see me, I'll be younger than you."

"What the... You met a spellcaster or something?"

Ironically, I did know a spellcaster, if Yasmine's daughter counts. Her story is still so wild to me. I must be a magnet for all the wild things because, between the stuff I hear about, and the stuff that happens to me, someone should write a story about my life.

"No, but we lost so much time dealing with the fertility stuff, and we want it back. We're taking the Potion of Youth."

"What in the world is that?? And how young are you talking? Maybe I need to get in on this."

"It resets your current life stage, so we'll be just a few days younger than you."

"Oh, okay. I don't need that. Wow! That's handy. Never heard of it, but that sounds great for you guys. I'm sure Desi will love having you around longer."

"She's the whole reason we're doing it, so..."

"I know it. Man, you guys are winning right now! You won the lottery, your child is killing it in school, you're getting some time back...what else is going on in your life?"

"I got electrocuted yesterday!"

"WHAT?!"

"Twice!!"

"WHAT??? How are you here right now?? Wait, are you a ghost??? Have you been dead this whole time?!"

I almost fell over laughing.

"I am very much alive, man."

"So...what?? How??"

"I don't know! You know how crazy those storms have been lately. I just ran out to harvest the money tree, and BAM! Then, just as I was entering the house, ZAP! It got me again!"

"Bro, that's crazy!! Were you alright? Did it hurt?"

"It wasn't not painful, but it was weird. The electricity stayed in my body for HOURS! I could feel it running up and down my body, and sparks kept popping off me. And my eyes! There was electricity shooting out of my eyes!! I was so scared I was gonna zap my child or light the house on fire!"

"That is WILD! What did Sophia say?"

"She wasn't here, and by the time she got back, it was over. She laughed and called me Electro Man."

"Electro Man! That sounds like-" he glanced at the girls and lowered his voice, "that sounds like play time to me!"

"Listen! Knowing my wife's appetite and imagination, we have definitely not heard the last of Electro Man."

"OKAY! That's what I'm talking about! Gotta keep things spicy!"

Footsteps were coming our way, so we quickly ended that conversation. It was Sophia.

"Hey, guys. I was just putting away the food. Can I get you anything?"

"Oh, don't worry about us," I said. "You relax and have fun with Maia. We'll keep the girls away for as long as you need."

Dub looked at his phone.

"Actually, it's getting late, so we should probably head out, anyway."

"Oh, wow, yeah. Time flies when we're having fun," I said.

"Thanks for the invite, Luc. Things have been... We really needed this. And your house is NICE!"

"I appreciate that."

He snorted.

"You have more money and more houses than me. Let me get out of here before I decide I don't like you."

"Don't hate the player. Get in the game, man."

"What? BYE," he shouted from the stairwell. "I can't with you! Let's go, Tami!"

The girls got up, and Tami started to walk away. She stopped and turned back to Desi before descending the stairs.

"Your hair is nice, and I like your outfit. You can ride my horse when I get it."

She disappeared before Desi could say goodbye. Sophia saw them out, then came back upstairs and planted a sweet kiss on my cheek.

"Did you have fun today?" she asked.

"Of course. Did you?"

"I did. It was nice talking to someone who's in my shoes, you know?"

"Oh, I thought you enjoyed talkative Nosy Nellies getting all up in your woohoo life."

She punched me playfully.

"Okay, funny man."

I wrapped my arms around her.

"I love you. Thanks for...just being you."

"I heard you talking about Electro Man..."

"Say less. Desi, time for bed!"

"But it's 8:00!"

[lostsyren]

⟢ scrupulosity

{summary: with fishing season coming to an end, barry starts to work at the pawn shop again, when one day he sees sofia, a girl he knows in passing, trying to sell a shiny, diamond ring…}

{a/n: wrote the barry x sofia fic that 12 of you were intrigued by! hope you enjoy! it’s long– 6k words}

{warnings: mentions of sex, drugs,}

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　

After the gold ran out, Barry had enough money saved up to get out of his shitty, little trailer.

He honestly wanted out of Kildare– out of the endless bouts of dead-end jobs, the crackheads that came knocking down his door in the night and the clinging sense of hopelessness that pervaded every street corner of The Cut. But life had a way of keeping him stuck.

The money trickled in and once he and Rafe sold all the gold, they once again drifted apart. It wasn't sudden and stinging, like being doused in ice water or pricked with a needle. But slow– like a numbness that grows when you’ve been sitting on your feet for too long.

Rafe went all real estate mogul on him and Barry had neither the time or patience to entertain that kook bullshit. So he picked up a job at the docks: Cap’n Barry at your service, and all that.

So if a fisherman and a businessman walked into a bar what would happen? One unfunny joke– that’s what. And both Rafe and Barry knew that. So they spent less and less time together, both making money elsewhere. Stick to their zones. Figure 8 and The Cut. Luxury yacht and fishing trawler. They didn’t need each other anymore.

But as one last gesture of goodwill, Rafe helped him find a house. Maybe having a real estate friend had its perks, Barry thought with a snicker, when Rafe handed him the keys to his new place. It was near the docks, hidden away next to the marshes and it was everything the trailer wasn’t. Spacious, clean, more windows than he could count on one hand.

Barry Riva had finally made it out of that fucking trailer park.

Days were simple and easy. He no longer had to sell drugs to survive; he could just use them like a normal person. His favourite thing to do was to light a blunt when the sun was setting, sitting outside on his porch (cause he had one of those now) and watch the light sink into the horizon as he blew smoke rings up into the clear air.

When fishing season was coming to an end, Barry picked up his job at the Curio Pawn Shop. Alice gladly welcomed him back– his partner in crime she’d nicknamed him. Barry enjoyed it. The old woman told dirty jokes which he smirked at and let him swig some of her brandy that she kept under the counter.

He liked fixing up trinkets and gadgets and gizmos, whether it be the engine of his motorbike or the gears of a pocket watch. And that’s what Barry was doing the day Alice called him over from the front counter.

“Barry! Come over here and check this out!”

Barry slipped off his glasses, putting down his tools, before shuffling past the blue curtain to the shop floor.

The place was usually very quiet– save for a couple regulars coming in to hock a bunch of shit and the occasional customer who was looking to find a good deal on some vintage furniture. And most of the clientele were old. What person past the age of forty went to a pawn shop?

So when Barry saw the girl standing at the counter he was mildly shocked– he was expecting a pensioner, stirring up some trouble for Alice.

“Come check this rock here– see if it’s legit.”

The girl at the counter turned her head towards him. Mild shock transitioned to regular old shock– Barry was also not expecting to recognise her.

“Oh I didn’t know you worked here,” said the girl, who had her arms wrapped around herself as if she was cold. Or uncomfortable. And considering they were stuck in a sweltering, North Carolina summer, Barry wondered why she was so uneasy.

He nodded his head playfully to her statement, “I’m multifaceted y’know?” He tried to put a name to the face. It was Sophie– no, it was Sofia. Her name was Sofia. That’s right, Rafe’s girl.

“Take her round back and check it out.” Alice handed him a silver ring, a big fat diamond sticking out of it. Barry raised his eyebrows in interest.

“Come with me,” he said, leading the way to his ‘office’– a small space equipped with a decrepit TV box connected to the CCTV, a desk strewn with receipts, and cabinets of stock they still needed to sort through.

Alice stayed on counter-duty, so it was just him and Sofia in the room. Barry still held on to the ring. He noticed Sofia’s eyes flit from the floor to the diamond, her teeth sunk into her bottom lip, gnawing until the flesh turned pink.

“Sofia right?” Barry said, taking a seat. He pulled out the diamond tester whist Sofia just hovered awkwardly beside him.

“Yep.”

“You remember my name?” He probed with a smirk, flashing her his gold tooth. Sofia let out a soft laugh.

“Yeah. You’re Barry.”

“Good memory.” He held the tester on the rock, until it emitted a shrill beep.

“100% real.”

Sofia just nodded, as if she was already expecting it. Barry looked between her and the ring. Her pallid face and taut jaw. The way she dug her nails into her sides.

“Why are you so nervous? You pawning off Rafe's engagement ring or somethin’?” He chucked, half-joking. But Sofia didn’t find it funny: her brows cinching together, eyes flashing with an undeniable sheen of guilt.

Barry’s interest in her suddenly piqued. He roved over her regretful demeanour, glancing down at the diamond straight from Figure 8 in his hands.

“Oh shit– you are, aren’t you?”

Sofia shook her head with a vehement scoff, “just give it back. I’ve changed my mind.” She lunged forward, but Barry pushed back in his seat.

“I’m not judging you– just calm down a’ight?” But Sofia didn’t calm down. Her big, shiny eyes suddenly glossed over with tears.

“Shit, you don’t need to cry– here, have it.”

Sofia grabbed the ring unceremoniously, about to leave.

“Look– if Rafe did somethin’ you can tell me, yeah?”

Sofia paused. Barry heard her take a shuddering breath.

“I thought you and Rafe were friends?”

Barry laughed at that, watching Sofia turn to face him, distrust evident in her features.

“I wouldn’t call us friends.”

The two shared a look. Barry couldn’t decipher her– and he was usually good at reading people. She was upset, clearly– but why? And who was in the wrong here– her or Rafe? If Barry was a betting man (which he was) he had his money on Rafe.

He stood up, but Sofia slid past the curtain as if she was a skittish deer, jumping at the first sight of movement. He heard the rattle of the bell and the click of the door shutting, leaving Barry with a head full of questions and a corroding interest in the girl with dark hair and a diamond ring she never slipped on to her finger.

***

She came back to the pawn shop a couple days later. He saw her in the security feed first, meandering about the shop floor aimlessly, eyes wandering over the shelves of knick knacks.

Barry watched the staticy screen, waiting for her to make the first move.

“Can I help you?” He heard Alice ask, in that usual, crude way of hers.

“I’m just looking for Barry– is he in?”

He tensed up wondering why she returned. Did she want to finally sell that diamond of hers– or Rafe’s diamond, he should say. Then why was she asking specifically for him?

Alice came in a moment later, shutting the curtain behind her. “Got the same girl from a couple days ago asking for you.”

“You can send her in,” Barry instructed, curiosity getting the better of him.

Alice raised her brows in a provoking flash, “ok then boss.”

He tapped his foot against the faded carpet. Sofia came in as Alice left.

“Back so soon huh?” Barry pulled out a stool for her to sit on, which she gingerly accepted. Barry thought back to when he saw her last. She hung around the house a lot when he’d come over while Rafe and him were still selling the gold. She was different from then. He always thought she looked too happy– a sweet smile paired with even sweeter words. But now dark bags marred her under eyes and it was as if her lips were stuck in a perpetual frown.

“You mentioned I could tell you– if Rafe did something.” She began, wringing her hands in her lap.

The initial amusement stirring in Barry was quickly replaced with a sobering concern. What the fuck did Rafe do this time?

He nodded in what he hoped was a reassuring way.

Sofia’s breath hitched, her eyes darting upwards, her mouth opened in a little ‘o’. “It was an engagement ring. You were right– Rafe proposed.”

Barry nodded again, leaning forward in his chair. Country club getting married? The thought was laughable. But seeing the distraught girl in front of him snuffed out the humour of the notion real fast.

“But he ended it, before I could even tell anyone. I’ve just had to pretend like everything is ok when it’s not. So when you said I could talk with you…” Sofia trailed off, looking Barry in the eye. “I’m sorry this is stupid– I should go.” She got up to leave, her hair falling into her eyes, dark curls matching his own.

Barry instinctively reached out to grab her wrist, “nah it’s not stupid. You can tell me, yeah?”

Sofia gazed down at him, then down at his hands encircling his wrists. Barry let her go.

Sofia bit her lip. “You sure?”

He didn’t know why he was saying yes. There was something about Sofia that drew her to him– he knew she was from the Cut like himself, he knew she’d dealt with Rafe’s bitch-ass too. There was an affinity between them and he could sense it. Even if she couldn’t.

At that moment, Alice poked her head around the curtain, “time to close up Barry.”

“Shit,” he muttered, glancing at the clock. It was nearing 8 PM.

“I can come back another time.”

“No no, you’re good. We can talk after. Just give me five minutes to close.”

Sofia scrunched her face watching as Barry unhooked the keys from their perch. Her arms found themselves wrapping around herself again. “And where will we talk?”

“My place? If that’s ok with you.”

Sofia simply nodded, that same vacant look floating back in her eyes.

***

He drove her to his house, picking up some food and beers on the way. They made small talk–

What was his job at the pawn shop like?

Were they hiring?

Didn’t you work at the country club?

You quit? Why?

Barry led her inside, the sun beginning to set.

They were sitting in front of the coffee table in the living room. He’d bought burgers. She took a couple bites out of hers before pushing it to the side, sipping regularly at her beer instead.

“So– tell me. What happened?” Barry began, mid-bite.

Sofia sniffed, shifting uncomfortably on the couch.

“Well you know he proposed. I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t think he saw us as anything serious, you know?” Her eyes flickered up to Barry, who understood too well. Rafe had a penchant for duality– saying one thing then doing the other.

“He told me to move into his house and quit my job– he painted this picture-perfect future for us. I can’t believe I fell for it,” she chuckled sardonically, sipping some more of her drink.

“He can be a real sweet talker.” Barry wiped his mouth clean with a napkin.

“But then he called me, a couple days ago. Told me to– and I quote– pack my shit and get out of his house.”

Barry let out a hiss of air, face creasing in a sympathetic wince as he leaned back into the couch.

“I didn’t even have any time to tell my family or friends about the engagement– so I’ve just been miserable, fending off questions about why I look like crap.”

“Is that why you were askin’ if we were hirin’? You actually went ahead and quit your job?”

Sofia nodded, cheeks burning red in what Barry assumed to be shame– God did Rafe Cameron know how to make someone feel ashamed.

She finished her beer, opening up another can and taking a big gulp. Barry eyed the girl sitting across from him. Her unassuming manner, her angelic features, her small frame. Barry already knew she did something– Rafe wouldn’t have just kicked her out like that. The boy may have been dangerous but he was never cruel. Well, at least not cruel without reason. But the question now was: what the fuck did Sofia do? She was conveniently leaving that bit of the story out.

Sofia gazed across at him, with waterlogged eyes and a trembling Cupid’s bow. “When I saw you that day, in the pawn shop I got scared. I thought you’d tell Rafe I was selling his mother’s ring.”

“Shittt– his mama’s ring? Wouldn’t take you for a bad girl Sofia.”

“I’m not– I’m not bad. He just– he’s never been so horrible to me before. And I was angry. I was angry that I listened to him and quit. I was angry that he broke up with me over a phone call. I was angry that he didn’t even hear me out.” Her voice rose to an impassioned outcry, before abruptly cutting off. She paused. Looked down. And then, her voice softer, “I was angry at myself too.”

“What did you do huh?” Barry probed, with an eager interest. He told himself he was doing a good, decent thing– helping out a poor girl. She clearly didn’t have anyone else to talk to. And that was somewhat true; Barry wasn’t heartless. But there was a masticating intrigue inside him. Barry wondered if Rafe also felt that way about Sofia– the need to find out what was behind the cheery smiles and pretty eyes. What darkness lay in her that made her attracted to someone as depraved as Rafe Cameron?

“I betrayed his trust.” She admitted meekly, her body almost folding in on herself.

Barry furrowed his eyebrows wondering how she managed that. “And how did you betray his trust exactly?”

“You know Hollis Robinson?”

It took a while for him to recall why that name sounded familiar– Hollis Robinson. The biggest realtor on the island. She had her face plastered to every park bench and notice board: Call Hollis today! Next to the picture of her smiling– all teeth, no sugar. Her death had been big news on the island– her murder, Barry should say.

Fuck. Did Sofia have something to do with that? Nah. She couldn’t have.

“Yeah– the realtor who was murdered.”

Sofia nodded, her face blanching at the mention of murder, “yeah her. She asked me to convince Rafe to do business with her. It was obviously a scam– 400k for Goat Island? The promise of millions in ROI? My dad always taught me if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. But Rafe’s always been unsure of himself. Hollis knew he was malleable. And I stupidly agreed to push him for it.”

“But why? Why would you agree if you cared about him?” Barry wondered, listening to Sofia’s panicked stringing together of sentences.

“I overheard Rafe say some things about me. He called me a pogue he was just hooking up with saying how he wouldn’t ever live with one. And instead of talking to him about it, I turned around and took Hollis’ money.”

Barry nodded his head, listening solemnly to her story, which was more like a confession. “How much?”

“25 thousand.”

“You use any of it?”

Sofia shook her head, gaze flickering onto the carpet.

“Feel bad?”

She nodded, taking another sip of her beer.

“How did he find out? You tell him?”

Sofia shook her head again, “no. I should’ve but I didn’t. Groff told him. Him and Hollis were business partners, but Groff took off with the money– Rafe’s money. And he went off to go get it back.”

“Where?”

Sofia simply just shrugged.

“Well damn– looks like you scammed him fair and square Sofia. You can add another 10 to the 25k from the ring.”

“I’m not selling the ring– that was a moment of bad judgment. I was bitter.

“And you’re not bitter anymore?”

Sofia‘s face creased into a frown, her eyes once again tearing up.

Barry’s heart dropped at how despondent she was. Rafe really sunk his teeth into her, sucking all the light straight from her marrow, didn’t he?

Barry neared her on the couch, placing a consoling hand on her forearm. The action felt alien to him. He was unused to this level of vulnerability. The last time he remembered consoling someone was actually Rafe– back when he had a prepubescent face and wore solely pastel. He’d tried to knock some sense into him; he needed that then– a bit of roughness. But with Sofia? He didn’t think he could be that coarse with her.

“I thought he loved me,” she whispered, looking up at Barry. The tears overflowed, spilling down her ruddy cheeks in heavy streaks.

Barry didn’t know what to do– a predicament he wasn’t faced with often.

Sofia suddenly snapped out of it, probably spurred on by Barry's blank expression, “I’m sorry,” she wiped her tears away in a frantic rush, Barry’s hand falling from her arm, “this must be so weird for you.”

He just laughed, relieved he no longer had to comfort her. Retracting his hand from hers, he let out a soft inhale, “nah you’re good– weirder things have happened if you can believe.”

Sofia giggled, Barry finding himself mirroring her smile. He wanted to eke the sound of laughter from her again.

“I should probably go,” Sofia suddenly stood up, smoothening the wrinkles in her jeans.

Barry found himself wanting her to stay longer. With a bigger house came a lot more empty space. He’d grown to feel lonely.

“Ok, you good to get home or do you need me to drop you off?”

Sofia gave him a polite smile, “thank you, but I’ll just catch the bus.”

He quirked his brows up at her “you sure? You don’t think I’m a creep do’ya? Like you didn’t jus’ spend the past hour or so in my house.”

Sofia laughed softly, shaking her head. There it was again– that pretty, little sound. The thought of how much Rafe made her laugh passed through his brain. His jokes used to always grate on Barry; he wondered if Sofia found them funny.

“No you’re not creepy at all. A little intimidating but that’s ok,” she teased. “And besides, I’m grateful that you let me talk– you don’t understand how horrible it was pretending like everything was ok. So thank you.”

Barry nodded at her sincerity. Being an ex-drug dealer (for the most part) meant he’d heard a ton of sob stories, dealt with a whole horde of whinging customers– Rafe used to be one of them. But not once did he feel some sort of pride for lending them an ear for their troubles. It was always just business to him– the customer service bit of it. And none of them were ever grateful. Like him listening to all their bullshit was part of the transaction. But Sofia had a way of making him feel good. Barry could understand why Rafe used to want to be around her so much.

“No problem. And if you’re still up for it, Alice was gonna hire someone to help sort through all the stock and deal with customers– come down tomorrow and I’ll put in a good word with her.”

“Oh my gosh, really!? Thank you so much Barry.” She bubbled up, her hands instinctively reaching up to grab his shoulders.

He swayed on his feet, “it’s nothin’ don’t worry about it. It’ll be nice to have someone else to talk to.”

They shared a look, no longer than a second, but Sofia withdrew her hands from his skin instantly.

“I appreciate it– truly.”

And with that, she left, leaving Barry with a half-eaten burger and the feeling of being a little more whole.

***

The next morning, Barry found himself anticipating Sofia’s arrival. His ears perked up whenever the bell at the entrance rang.

He’d told Alice about her. She’d given him a scalding look that he brushed off. How could he explain that it wasn’t a stupid, school boy crush. He understood her. And he felt bad for her. He knew what Rafe was like– more than anyone else. And that just increased his pity for the girl even more.

She arrived at 10 AM. Not too late, not too early. Dressed in the same jeans as yesterday and a simple T-shirt, her hair bundled up on her head, she approached Alice first who talked her through the job and the pay in a mini-interview. Barry watched on the CCTV feed, smirking at how polite and attentive Sofia was– kiss ass.

Alice eventually led Sofia round back, where she introduced him to Barry.

“Yall already know each other I presume– that means no fucking around. In more ways than one alright?”

Sofia’s cheeks reddened, her gaze avoiding Barry’s, who just rolled his eyes. “Thank you Alice for that warm welcome.”

The old woman let out a gruff mumble, before slipping behind the curtain once again.

“You get used to her.”

Sofia nodded, giving him a small smile.

Barry stood up, with a ceremonial nod. “So then, let’s get to work.”

***

Work ended, Sofia and Barry leaving the shop after closing. Her first day had been great– her customer service from the country club really came in handy when dealing with the cranky old folk who’d try and sell plasticky, fake shit. Alice would usually get into a shouting match with them and Barry would just kick them out, but Sofia managed to deal with it smoothly and fuss-free.

“So how did you find it?” Barry asked, pulling down the shop shutters and locking up. The sky began to darken, twilight fast approaching.

“Good, it was a nice change of scenery from the the country club. Serving kooks all day really takes a toll on you.”

“The pay is probably not as good though is it?”

Sofia shook her head, Barry turning round face her after he clasped the padlock.

“No– but it’s ok. It’s nice to have something to do. And I guess I should pick off where Rafe left me.”

Her tone took a dismal shift, but Sofia quickly brushed past it, looking at Barry with shiny eyes, “thank you again.”

***

They ended up back at his place again– “your first day deserves some sorta commemoration ain’t it?” And Sofia happily agreed.

Barry supposed she was quite lonely too. The times where he and Rafe discussed business at Tannyhill, where she’d inevitably linger about– cooking something in the kitchen, stealing kisses when Rafe left the room– Barry always wondered if she had any friends? Did they not miss her when she was holed up on Figure 8 with Rafe? She was either working in the country club or shacking it up with country club.

And the fact she told no one about the engagement? How fucking isolated did Rafe keep her?

“To your first day,” Barry toasted, holding up his can of beer to her can of White Claw they’d picked up at the convenience store.

“Thanks to you,” she clicked their drinks of choice together.

Eventually they became tipsy, exchanging stories on the couch, bodies sprawled like water and laughter bubbling from their chests.

“She was my 6th grade teacher too!” Sofia exclaimed.

Barry scoffed, taking another swig. “I thought she’d for sure be fired– she couldn't even teach math properly.”

“Nope, she’s still there. Now my siblings are coming to me and asking for help on their algebra.”

Their laughter faded into chitters.

“It’s nice talking about the Cut– Rafe always hated it. Even when he picked me up, I could tell he didn’t like to drive all the way down here.” Sofia glanced down, irises darkening.

Barry rolled his eyes, “he used to always be down here. It probably just brings back bad memories or somethin’.”

“Like what?” Sofia probed, meeting his gaze.

“Nothin’…” he quickly shut up. Barry was many things but he was for sure no snitch.

Sofia closed her mouth, questions dying on her tongue. She respected his boundary. The first one he’d placed.

“Look– I don't know what he’s told you.” He began, turning to face her on the couch.

“No, I know. It’s ok. I knew he was keeping things from me. I just feel stupid that I let him.” Her demeanour again shifted, her hands wrapping around herself, teeth sinking into her bottom lip.

“Sofia…c’mon.”

“I let him take so much you know? I thought that getting at least 25k was my right? Shit–“ she’d began to cry again, pushed by her inebriation and heady mess of emotions. Her voice dropped an octave– barely a rasping whisper. “I feel so guilty, all the time Barry.”

They were centimetres apart, Barry hyper aware of the tears beading her lashes, each tremor that befell her lips. Another whimper left her throat before he felt her head fall on to his chest, her hands clutching at his shirt.

He froze, stuck still not knowing what to do. Slowly his hand lowered, one resting on the back of her head, atop her soft, dark curls, and the other on her knee, careful not to inch up to her thigh.

She stayed like that for maybe half a minute, before pulling herself off of him, “I’m so sorry. I just– ” she paused for a moment, catching her hitching breath, “I should go.”

“No. Stay.” He said quickly. His hand shot onto her leg.

He watched as Sofia’s teary eyes fell onto his vein-strewn hands back on to his darkened stare.

They remained like that, suspended in a moment, Barry’s thoughts blurring with the consecutive beers (more so with how fucking beautiful she looked in front of him). He’d noticed her before, sure. But she was always ‘Rafe’s girl’. It was only now did Barry see her as her own person and not just an extension of Rafe– the hot girl who always lounged by the pool, or pattered around in her tiny pyjamas, Rafe’s side chick who’s name was barely worth remembering.

Now she was Sofia. And she was in front of him.

He wasn’t going to do anything. He was sober enough for that. He reminded himself she was upset, she was drunk.

But it wasn’t him who made the first move.

Sofia suddenly bridged the gap, pressing her brine coated lips against his, kissing him until she was out of breath– that’s when she parted from him, shaking her head and covering her mouth.

“I’m so sorry–“

Barry was quick to shut her up, “don’t be,” he drawled, before hooking his lips with hers yet again, but this time on his terms.

His coarse fingertips, weathered by years of manual labour and lighter burns, gripped her silky roots. He groaned into her mouth, revelling in the sensation of her warm hands travelling up his shirt, pressing firm on the planes of his abdomen.

His arms travelled around her waist, hoisting her up as he stood on his feet, carrying her body weight easily.

Sofia gasped against his mouth, her soft, pliant lips brushing against his stubble, “you ok?” He murmured, holding her tighter.

She nodded, looking down at him with a hazy stare.

“Use your words darlin’.”

Sofia pressed a soft kiss against his lips, “yes.”

They eventually ended up in his room, Sofia sprawled underneath him, her jeans discarded on the floor, her shirt pulled up revealing her milky ribs.

“You sure about this Sofia?” He forewarned, holding himself up on his elbow, that caged her small and lithe body in between his.

She nodded, Barry tilting his head to the side, eyebrows cinching at her silence.

Sofia giggled, pulling him down closer, “yes I’m sure Barry– there, that enough words for you?”

“Perfect,” he mused, capturing her in yet another kiss, letting his hands slip further down her feather-soft skin, feeling himself melt at all the sounds he drew out of her plush, pink lips.

***

They lay on either side of the bed after they fucked, the sheets messily sprawled over their naked bodies.

Barry reached over to the bedside table, pulling out a pre-rolled joint and a lighter, before sitting up against the headboard. Sofia turned her head up at him, her hair crowing her face like streaks of ebony.

“You mind?” He mumbled, joint between his lips, already about to light it.

She shook her head softly. “Go ahead.”

“You ever smoked before?”

“Once– I hated it. It made me all paranoid.”

Barry let out a little laugh, inhaling and exhaling a cloud of white smoke, “more than you already are?”

Sofia scoffed, shoving him playfull from across the bed.

They settled into a comfortable silence.

Barry glanced over at her, seeing the glint of gold on her bare décolleté. He recalled the necklace swing between them like a pendulum as she writhed atop of him. Seeing it more clearly now, Barry realised it was a cross.

“You religious?”

Sofia followed his gaze to her chest, “My mom told me to wear it– she said it’ll keep the bad spirits away since I wasn't acting like myself apparently. What about you?”

Barry blew another hazy sheet of smoke, “I’m Italian– whole family’s Catholic, so I know my stuff.”

“Same– Mexican mom’s don’t play when it comes to brujería.”

Barry recalled the Cross of Santo Domingo. There had always been a festering guilt inside him about that, seeing it desecrated. He wondered how Sofia would feel knowing Rafe destroyed a religious relic– how faithless that boy really was, how much bad juju he had brought unto himself.

“What has Rafe told you then?” Barry asked abruptly. He could tell Sofia was taken aback with the way she broke eye contact with him and shuffled about in the sheets.

Barry kept up his stare. “You can tell me.”

“He told me about the drugs.” She mentioned quietly, her fingers reaching to the golden cross between her breasts. “And how you used to sell them to him.”

“And what d’you make of that?”

Sofia shrugged, “he said he was clean.”

“No. What d’you make of me– not him.”

Sofia licked her lips, inhaling slightly, “I kinda already knew. I had a couple older friends when I was in high school who used to buy weed from you.”

“Not very Catholic of me, is it?”

Sofia breathed out a laugh, ”no– but we're all human. We all make mistakes.”

“So then why are you beatin’ yourself up about your mistake.”

Sofia was quiet at that. He saw that she began to gnaw at her bottom lip again, turning her head slightly from his unwavering stare that she could surely feel.

“What you’ve done is nothing. Rafe’s done worse– hell, I’ve done worse. You gotta give yourself grace.”

“I don’t–” her words caught in her throat, a single tear running down the side of her face, “I was the one who ruined it all.”

Barry inhaled, deep and slow, white smoke billowing from his pursed lips up into the dusky room, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. Forgive yourself Sofia. That’s what we all do.”

How was he supposed to divulge all of his sins, all of Rafe’s sins too? The dark, sordid stains in her ex-fiancés life that she had no fucking idea about. Barry found himself wanting to confess them all, his and Rafe’s, at the prospect it would make Sofia absolve herself from hers– seeing her impiety thwarted in the face of their misdemeanours.

She didn’t answer him, her teeth clasped viciously on the soft flesh of her lips and her fingers rubbing the metal crucifix across her collarbone. Barry put out the joint on the ashtray beside him, gently turning her face towards his with an extended hand. He brushed his weed-stained fingers over her red, abraded lips.

“Stop that.” He slunk his body down, his arm reaching over her recumbent body. “If you miss him so much, I’m tellin’ you, he’ll come crawlin’ to you soon enough. He’s like a kicked dog– he’ll always come back, tail between his legs and all.”

“How do you know that?” She simpered, gazing up at him as he hovered over her. Barry shamelessly took her in– her wide, honey eyes, her pouting lips, her freckled skin.

“I’ve hurt him too. Sold him out for money. Then he asked me to be his business partner so it worked out in the end I’d say.”

Sofia sniffed, her bottom lip grazing his thumb.

“Ok,” she simply murmured, her fingers slipping from the cross to his face, smiling sadly as she leaned up and brushed a chaste kiss atop his lips.

Barry’s face scrunched in a confused smile. “Ok– what?”

“Ok I’ll listen to you.”

“And stop worrying so much?”

Sofia nodded, her eyes fluttering shut, “yes. Make my peace with it.”

“Good girl.”

She hummed in amusement, eyes still shut.

“You tired?” He whispered, fingers carding through her hair. She let out an airy, “yeah.”

Barry hated how intimate this had become. How open and raw. Their breaths intermingling, their chests pressed against each other, the thuds of their hearts nearly synchronised. When they fucked it was all heady pleasure, carnal distraction. And now he was studying the planes of her face, wondering if Rafe just fucked her or made love to her? And how it felt to have someone as pure as Sofia pour all her affection into you?

He moved off her quickly, swinging his legs off the bed.

“Where are you going?” She asked, half sitting up in bed. Her hair was tousled around her flushed face, the bedsheet barely slipping over her curves.

Barry pulled on his jeans, grabbing the lighter from the bedside. “To smoke outside.”

“You can smoke here, I told you I don’t mind.” It's like she didn’t want him to leave and that made Barry even more eager to go.

“I thought weed made you paranoid? Wouldn’t want that now– just after you’ve mellowed out, do we?” He teased, flashing her his gold tooth in the semi-darkness.

She laughed softly, “ok. Be back soon.”

He left for a while, wanting to make sure she was knocked out and when he returned, Sofia was curled up in bed, fast asleep.

Barry sat down, the bed dipping with his weight, but she didn’t stir. He sighed deeply, running a hand down his wearied face.

He slept on the couch that night, trying to wean himself off her presence that seemed to quickly consume him.

He understood Rafe a bit better now– understood why he became obsessed with Sofia so quickly.

She had a way of making you feel light and untethered. You only exist in the now, and the shitty mistakes of your past ceased to exist.

Fuck.

Barry did what he always did when he got too close to someone. He pretended like nothing happened.

He made her breakfast in the morning, but he shied away from her touch, sitting across from her on the kitchen table.

They worked together at the pawn shop. The first couple times Sofia tried to initiate the same level of intimacy from that night, Barry chuckled lowly, redirecting her kisses to his stubbled cheek. She pulled back with a frown, arms still anchored around his neck.

He’d shrugged off her caress, ruffling a hand through her hair and looking down at her short frame. “You heard what Alice said– no fuckin’ around, kid.”

Sofia’s face ruptured in confusion at his sudden change up. She’d avoided him after that for a while, swinging from anger to sadness, from hateful glares to contemplative frowns. But soon enough she came round to it and accepted a friendship–rather than a messy in-between thing of hookups and the undefined.

It was for the better.

She’d already fucked things up with Rafe. Barry wasn’t going to hurt her. Or get hurt by her too.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　

[genshinwomenontop]

"Princess Kamisato"

☆Prompt: Nothing too intense. Just a random drabble about Ayaka and her wife, you.

☆Warnings: None

The radiant sun shone through the thin curtains of the room. Ayaka slept peacefully on your chest, her hand interiwined with yours as a gentle smile made its way onto your face. Its not everyday you get to see such a beautiful sight; actually, it's not everyday you get to see Ayaka when you wake up because she's always up early and started her duties. Since Ayato is away, it made her automatically in charge of everything until he returned and the work that the head of the clan does is not to be taken lightly which is why in times like these you try to offer the best support you can as you know how difficult her job would be.

When you checked the time, it was nearly 6, the time Ayaka would have to wake up and though it hurt to wake her up, you knew she needed to get ready since she's meeting with some other clan heads today. You brought her hand up to your face and kissed it gently. Her hair was sprawled out and little snores left her mouth. She couldn't have been more beautiful than in that moment. "Hey, beautiful, its time to wake up." With a gentle shake, she stirred awake, her eyes immediately searching for yours.

"Hmmm good morning y/n." Her words came out like a mumble due to her now waking up. Her beautiful sky blue eyes met yours and with a simple smile, she managed to make your heart fluttered.

"Good morning to you lovely. You have a busy day ahead." Ayaka sighed and laid her head back down on your chest.

"Can I cancel the meeting? Or even postpone it to a later date?"

You let out a hearty laugh and brought her face up to yours. "No my love you cannot. The meeting was already postponed two weeks ago when Ayato had left the same day the meeting was scheduled for." Ayaka closed the gap between you and her. Her lips fitting perfectly with yours like a puzzle. She pulled away with air became a problem and smiled at you.

"Well then, I guess it's time we get up. Will you accompany me today?" Ayaka had a bright smile and you knew the news you'd deliver will definitely break her smile.

"I'm afraid I cannot. There's some things I need to buy and I have alot of errands to run. I'm taking half of the list of duties Ayato left for you so it can be done in time for his arrival." A frown etched onto Ayaka's face before she nodded and sighed.

"Hmm okay. I guess I'll go alone today then." You nodded and she got up and got dressed. Of course you helped her dress, the two of you having playful bicker back and forth. You left home as soon as you prepared breakfast for the both of you. Alot had to be done today, and since the vision hunt decree had been abolished, and many travelers from different nations visited Inazuma, it became one heck of a busy nation but the atmosphere was livelier, much more livelier and you couldn't help but be glad. It was definitely better than living in isolation that's for sure.

Your tasks took longer than you had intended and eventually you ran into some trouble along the way. You made it back safely, but of course, you had bruises. You had assumed that Ayaka was already back at the estate since it was late and you hurriedly went in. Breathing heavily, you were greeted with a concerned Ayaka who was just about to have her tea which was poured by Thoma. "Dear... are you okay?!" She quickly went to your side.

"I'm fine love. It's just minor injuries that's all there is." Ayaka didn't want to believe you but she knew you wouldn't lie. Thoma offered to prepare a bath for you and Ayaka instructed you to sit down with her and drink tea. "How did the meeting go?"

"It was fairly well. Though the heads didn't looked too pleased to know that I was the one seeing them." You can clearly see how how face fell.

"It's alright dear. There just upset that they have to deal with someone who's much more beautiful and talented than them." Even though that had nothing to do with what Ayaka just said, the best way to comfort her was the give her compliments or reassurances.

Ayaka blushed and whined. "Stopp ittt..."

Thoma came back and informed you that the bath is ready and in a quick motion you pulled Ayaka up to her feet and dragged her to the bathroom. "Let's take a bath together." She was slightly flustered yet she started taking off her clothes quickly, a bit more excited than you for the bath.

When you sat down in the water, it felt like all your stress melted away and adding to that, when Ayaka's head rested on your chest, you felt like you were in heaven. Just having her so close to you felt like having a cure to your pain. You didn't realised you were spacing out until you felt two hands gently cupped your cheeks. "A penny for your thoughts, my dear?" Her sweet voice resounded by your ears.

You leaned into her touch and smiled. "The thoughts I have in my mind is worth more than a penny and you should know that." She titled her head with a smile.

"May I ask what is this expensive thought of yours?"

"My wife. You should know she's priceless."

"Y/nnnnnn"

"Oh you know I love to make you blush~"

"I-I know..."

"Ayaka?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too."

[laciefuyu]

The growth of Artemrosa partnerships always have me in choke.

Artem was so used to dealing with things alone that even when Rosa pointed out that he has her in Day and Night, Artem got surprised as if it had just occurred to him. Then during Belle Nuit d'Amour, Rosa wanted to help but he had decided to handle it alone.

Later both his mother and Rosa showed that they want to help, and he could receive their help because they, people who love him, also want to help him as he wants to protect them.

Then as we move to Per Aspera Ad Astra, Artem actually this time around the one who decided to reach out to Rosa who was hesitating because of her worries that she might be unable give him the best help, and convinced her otherwise as he said that even if he doesn't like uncertainty, if it's her, he is willing to put a wager which later in the card, she is grateful that hoping that they would continue this in the future too, even though it won't be easy to be frank with each other.

And by A Thousand Mountains, she can firmly say this because Artem no longer resisted her help or to rely on her when he got into troubled water, but he needed that reminder and most obvious bit that he is no longer saying stuff he said in Day and Night or Belle Nuit d'Amour where he still resisted that being with him in his path will be difficult or he could handle it on his own.

Rosa, too, has grown. Back in Eternal Yearning She has been worried about the gap between them but now has solidly secure as a partner and is equal with Artem.

In the end, the girl who vowed under the sunset to stand on par with him to protect the city is here, and for both Artem and Rosa, they have become an even better version of themselves to become each other's best partner.

when I first posted this randomly on twitter after rereading ZR 4th Birthday Card in GLB, my conclusion was more simple but after the 5th Birthday card.... I need to say a bit more.

I am not going to elaborate much (maybe in a separate post but depend), but yes, the growth will keep coming because by this point in GLB, even though Artem and Rosa definitely walked side by side, and he reached her when he was in trouble. It is all still something that won't directly harm her or even give her a chance to leave with minimal damage (Case in point: Per Aspera Ad Astra, even though he reaches out to her, he is still the best way for her to come out of it safely).

I think I would say..... while she has found him, he has yet to fully "burden" her yet, and the core of his tendency "self-sacrifice" has yet fully delved into it in the GLB server and a concept how he treated the existence called Artem, and how rational and logical he could be about himself or he reacted toward the idea of someone dear to him harmed simply because who he is or what it means to be his partner and his worries about it would eventually explored.

4th Anniv is when he truly breaks off from the path that was walked by his parents, but from 2nd Solo SSS to 5th Birthday Card, you will find things I mentioned in the previous paragraph (There still lighthearted card too tho no worries). I will say, I consider the 5th Birthday card to be the 2nd Solo SSS (Yes, a quarrel card but all come from the place of love and cares) spiritual continuation like how I consider Per Aspera Ad Astra as Belle Nuit d'Amour spiritual successor.

Well, that's all. All I am saying is, please look forward to more Artemrosa's growth. Also, please never forget that Zuo Ran is a realistic idealist. He is able to see the world as it is, but that's exactly why he can't give up the pursuit of a better world, because it's not impossible, even though there is a price to pay.

[eventinelysplayground]

It's day seven of the advent calendar event hosted by @candied-boys and @queengiuliettafirstlady and today's prompt was wrap and unwrap. This is one of the few fics were I didn't use a prompt from the other event lol. Just some spicy fluff, minor spoiler for Comtes route if you haven't read it. WC approx 830.

A Bit Naughty

You absently brushed out the last of your hair as you waited for Abel to return. You'd barely gotten back to the mansion when your two youngest children came barreling down the staircase at the two of you declaring there was an emergency of the monster type. You'd exchanged smiles and Abel kissed your cheek before going off to handle it.

You'd taken off your jewelry and let your hair down but were still in the dress he'd had to help you into earlier. At the time you weren't thinking and were just annoyed at all the laces and needing his help but when you went to remove it it very quickly dawned on you this was his plan all along and you couldn't help but shake your head. It wasn't much longer before you heard the sound of the door opening then being shut and locked.

“I'm sorry for the wait, cherie. This particular monster was quite headstrong.”

You laughed as you reached your hand up behind you and Abel caught it with his planting a kiss to the back of it.

“Probably thanks to Arthur and Dazais' very theatrical reading of a Christmas Carol.”

“Yes, that was my thought as well.”

Abel began kissing your neck and you let your eyes fall shut.

“I will be having a talk with them in the morning but for tonight I made sure that they knew they were to get one of their Uncles after this.”

“Oh, and how did you manage that?”

You felt Abel's warm breath on your ear and a shudder went through you.

“Simple, I told them that their uncles knew a special spell to deal with this particular type of monster.”

“That is very simple.”

A light kiss landed on your ear as Abel's hands ran along your exposed shoulders.

“I have to say cherie I expected to come back and find you already firmly snuggled under the covers.”

There was a hint of mischief in his voice and you smiled while pretending to look surprised.

“I had planned to do that but this dress proved as difficult to remove as it did to get on.”

“My apologies, but it does look lovely on you.”

“Thank you Abel but, do you think you could help me?”

Now it was Abel who smiled as he pretended to look surprised but you knew he knew you'd caught on to him. Not that you were complaining, it actually made things easier as getting him to undress you tonight had been part of your plan all along.

“If it would be too much trouble you could think of it as unwrapping an early Christmas present.”

You got up from your seat at the vanity holding his gaze as you did and you could see the barely contained desire in them. You then turned around slowly and lifted your hair out of the way of the laces and waited for him. You heard a soft chuckle behind you as Abel came closer and took your hair from you sweeping it over your shoulder.

“I suppose it's only fitting seeing as how I wrapped this particular present. Seems a bit greedy though, to have gotten some of the best wrapping and wrapped a present for myself in it.”

Abel's deft fingers made quick work of the laces, and his lips made even quicker work of building your desire for him as he planted sporadic kisses along your neck and shoulders. It took all the willpower you had to move away from him when he had loosened them enough that the dress was ready to fall off once you let it go. Once you'd pulled yourself away you moved to the center of the room and his eyes followed you in confusion.

“Cherie?”

“I agree it would be greedy to wrap and unwrap your own present.”

You moved your hands letting the dress fall to the floor revealing the secret you had been wearing underneath. The corset was made of red silk with white lace trim and scandalously low cut. The panties were similarly made of red silk with a white lace applique and quite high cut.

“So I suppose it's a good thing I hid my own in it.”

Abel's eyes roamed over you taking it all in. He began removing his coat and tie so quickly you barely saw it before he was wrapping his arms tightly around your waist.

“Tricking me into wrapping my own present, such a naughty girl you are. Especially at this time of year.”

Abel had a devilish smile on his face and you wrapped your arms around his neck.

“I think Pere Noel will forgive me any naughtiness, especially with how pleased you look.”

You stood on your toes and captured his lips in a deep lustful kiss.

“Pere Noel may forgive you…”

Abel growled out the words as he lifted you in his arms and walked towards the bed.

“But I'm not as generous as he is.”

Tag list: @floydsteeth, @nani-nani-nani, @nightghoul381. Special tag @valkyyriia, come get your man.

[satureja13]

New Chapter!

Home cr happy home! As soon as they jumped out of the TukTuk, the Boys ran down to their Underground Police Station to look after Tiny Can. How had he been able to repair himself after being blown up? And where did he get all that money from to pay for their school fees? ö.Ö'

But Tiny Can wasn't at the place they left him. This little brat! Of course he was hiding somewhere, fearing Saiwa's wrath. Saiwa: "Spread out and find him! Dead or alive - I don't care. As long as his memory is still intact so we can track where that money came from and give it back. Gods, we are going to jail if this comes out!" Jack tried to defend his (t)rusty friend: "Sai, we don't know what happened to him. I'm sure it isn't as bad as it seems and ..." But Sai didn't listen and kept spitting: "Damn - I knew he was trouble!We should have left him at the temple to rot for the next thousand years! It's all your fault, Jack! You took him with us!" It hurt Kioyshi that his mate got scolded, but he knew that it was useless argueing with Sai when he was in his rage state. And so he hushed the others up and out to search for the lawless tin can... Kiyoshi sighed, he knows that Jack doesn't care much to be Sai's punching bag. More than that, it's a labor of love for his oldest friend.

Jeb and Ji Ho started to search their home lot. Since Tiny Can can even fly short distances, he could be anywhere! Jeb winced internally. Again, Sai is so, so furious. Jeb really needs to find ways how to deal with Sai when he's like that. Or better, ways to take this self-destructive anger off of Sai. And the blame he mortifies himself with. They are all to blame. Not only Sai. This has to stop.

Even though Ji Ho was travelsick and drained again from teleporting, he kept on searching. He even tried to suppress his feelings to not upset Vlad and keep him from their task. Vlad would come back to him immediately if he knew how exhausted he really is and how much he craves Vlad's healing and comforting touch. But this has to wait. Finding Tiny Can is more important than their 'indispositions'... Who knows what has happened to him? Ji Ho doesn't believe Tiny Can broke the law. Tiny Can helped him get his feelings back so Vlad and him can finally be together. Only - Tiny Can also put the influence his grandfather had over him with that spell into the Therapy Game. Ji Ho thought it was to make him so angry to finally open the Pandora's Box with his hidden feelings - to protect his friends. But what if the Council was behind all that? And they called Tiny Can back to extract the evidence he gathered - to use it against them? Ji Ho ran faster - despite his body's hammering ache and desperate pleads for some rest - and Vlad.

Kiyoshi, Vlad and Jack called the horses to search the surroundings. Vlad was torn. Of course he knows how negatively teleporting affects Ji Ho's (and his own) well being and it must be even worse now that he has his feelings back. Vlad would skip the search in an instant to care for Ji Ho but he also knows that Ji Ho would never accept his ministrations at the moment. In fact, rather the opposite. Ji Ho would be embarrassed to cause a fuss and make it even harder for his friends in need. So he kept on raking Tomarang. Ji Ho would send him away anyway.

Not many creatures are able to reach the Otherworld. And no one can stay for longer, so it was pretty pointless to ask the few people who are currently lingering here if they'd seen Tiny Can. But hope is the last to die. As Ji Ho, Jack can't believe either his tinny friend did something illegal to get them into trouble. Tiny Can's actions weren't always clear to them - but Jack is sure he always had good intentions. When Tiny Can let Jack getting killed or set Lou up with Caleb in the Therapy Game, Jack was upset and felt betrayed - of course he was. But in the end, all that Tiny Can did was to help him. He helped all of them. And they owe him. Without Tiny Can, he never would have been able to be mates, just mates with Kiyoshi and he never would have found ways to deal with his (many) disorders.

Kiyoshi rode over to the temples to talk to Arturo, but he also had no luck. One would think that Tiny Can would have ran for shelter to Arturo, who offered the Boys the circuit board with Tiny Can's AI 'to help them through this'. But Arturo didn't see him. Nor had he heard any gossip about a stray Astromech in the Otherworld from the visitor's of the temples he cares for. Surely someone would have noticed him.

And while the others turned every stone in Otherworld's Tomarang, Sai tried to catch a signal from Tiny Can to track him down. But it was as if he was wiped from the planet. They have no internet or phone reception here in the Otherworld, so Sai even connected his computer with their 'Post Office Device' to find a trace of him in the Muggle World - to no avail. And how could Tiny Can even reach the Muggle World without them teleporting him there? No, he must still be here in Tomarang. This little piece of junk must have supressed his signals! Ach, Sai distrusted this rusty tin can from the beginning! And he knew there was something foul about him. Even months ago, he already suspected the Council behind! But they all had been too excited about the Therapy Game and finally getting some help... And Sai had been too confident in his abilities to make it secure for them. But he utterly failed. The blame is on him and him alone. He never should have allowed Jack to bring Tiny Can among them. And he should never have installed that circuit board with the AI into Tiny Can. He created a monster that was bound to destroy them in the end. If the Council now has evidence they stole that much money, no one would be able help them anymore. They would get sentenced and sent to jail and that would incite even more hatred against creatures! All the creatures, in all the worlds... The creatures they are supposed to help. They are a shame and a threat for their community.

... to be continued

'Boom boom, ready to use my body Using the entire city of Seoul as my stage Nod, nod, your head I don’t want to be locked up Gather the crowds, let’s break the taboo We need to spread out Or else we might become scarecrows We can make empty lots into royal spaces This is the peak, don’t exit out now To the left, to the right, rock all night'

Block B - Shall we dance (Real Ji Ho's (and my favourite) group)

From the Beginning 🔱 Underwater Love 🔱 Latest

Current Chapter: starts here with this post :3 Last Chapter: 'Here comes the Sun' from the beginning ▶️ here

📚 Previous Chapters: Chapters: 1-6 ~ 7-12 ~ 13-16 ~ 23-28