#‘I’m making spaghetti’ ‘can I have some?’ and the sounds of spaghetti hitting a computer

[burningivy]

Ives if I could I’d give you one of the leftover chicken thighs from my dinner last night they’re scrumptious

Oh I wish! I love chicken thighs! What kind are they?

[sirthisisa-wendys]

Promotion: Nanami Kento x Fem!Reader

synopsis: You don't ever make it to the convention. At all.

wc: 2.4k

tw: NSFW

masterlist

"Hey, y/n, are you coming out to lunch with us?" You turn your chair around to face your co-workers, all of them gathering their things to leave for the day. A half-day, right.

You'd completely forgotten about the half-day your boss offered as a reward for meeting every single editing deadline for a month straight. And now you were knee-deep in a manuscript, your mind completely focused on the task on the computer in front of you.

"I think I'll stay here and work on this for a little while. You all enjoy yourselves!" Your co-workers wave goodbye, chattering about their weekend plans as you turn back around, shifting the feedback sheet from your desk and onto the printer.

You dive back into your work - frowning as you come across a massive plot hole - the door to your boss's office flies open. You jump a little, startled by the sudden movement, and watch Nanami Kento adjust his clear frames before sliding them back on his handsome face.

"Y/n, could I speak to you for a moment? I'm sorry to interrupt your workflow, but this is urgent," he begins, and you stand from your desk, saving the work you've done before walking into his office. As you take a seat in the only other chair in the room, you cross your legs at the ankle, waiting for Nanami to take his place at his desk.

"Did you not want to take the half-day?" The blonde man wonders, sitting in his chair and unbuttoning his jacket.

"No, I really want to get as much work done as possible before the weekend."

"Big plans?" His brow lifts, and you inhale sharply, wondering what he's implying.

"No," you admit, looking down at your fingers and feeling your cheeks heat up. "I like to rest on my days off, is all."

"I won't keep you long, then. One of our managing editors - Hisoka - is leaving at the end of next week. You've been working very hard on making sure manuscripts are done right, clients are satisfied, and book deals go smoothly that I was wondering if you'd be willing to accept her position and her spot at the conference next week." A promotion? And a spot a the Editor's Conference?

"Sir, I'm flattered by your consideration--"

"Then it's done. I'll send over the paperwork on Monday morning, and I'll make sure you're settled in your new position by Friday." Nanami begins typing at his computer, and you stare at him, open-mouthed. "What's wrong?"

"I mean, this is all so sudden, I..." you trail off as Nanami frowns at you, his confusion evident. "Thank you, sir."

"You're the most qualified for the position, so I think you'll do just fine." He smiles as you stand to leave, giving him a slight bow.

"I'll do my best."

_____________________________________________________________

You shift nervously as the taxi takes both you and your boss from the train station to your hotel, where you hope the assistant booked you a decent room so you can get some rest before the big day tomorrow. Nanami is checking his phone, reading through emails before the taxi stops, letting you both out on the sidewalk in front of the ritzy hotel in the moonlight.

"I'll check-in for both of us," Nanami murmurs, and you go to sit in the lobby area while he speaks with the receptionist. Before long, you can hear a slight disagreement break out, and you turn your head to watch your boss approach you slowly, head bowed a little.

"What's wrong?" you wonder, clutching your bag close.

"Takada booked us only one room instead of two. I think she might have gotten the idea that since Hisoka left, that I would just be going."

"Well," you begin, standing. "Surely we can get another room."

"There isn't any room," he mutters, rubbing his eyes. "All of the hotels in the area are booked." You deflate, wondering what to do next. Nanami watches you carefully, picking up his briefcase before you reply,

"Well, I guess we have no choice, then."

He escorts you up to the elevator and swipes his keycard, pressing the highest floor before clearing his throat. You feel sweat pooling under your arms as you think about possibly sharing a bed with your boss. Yes, he's handsome as hell. But... sleeping in the same bed as a co-worker is... wrong. Right?

When the door to the suite opens, you look around at the lavish furnishings and beautiful view it affords you.

"I'll take the couch," Nanami announces, sighing as he drops his luggage beside the less than appealing couch.

"It looks uncomfortable," you state, and he takes off his glasses.

"I'm not going to assume you're comfortable with me sharing a bed with you, so I'm offering it to you by default."

"I'm sure we can both fit," you offer, and he glances up at you curiously. "Don't worry, it'll be fine." Nanami thinks for a moment, then moves his things into the bedroom, placing them on the other side of the king-sized bed. "And I promise I won't tell anyone," you tease, but he just gives you a blank look that makes you look away, cringing internally. Cool it with the jokes, you tell yourself.

As Nanami takes a shower, you pull out the various items you have to sleep in, groaning at your selection. There were only short, frilly things, instead of what you normally brought - baggy t-shirts and sweatpants. Why did you choose to bring these of all things?

Grumbling, you walk over to the mini-fridge and pull out a small bottle of Moët, tossing it back for courage. You feel the champagne hit your system moments later- and you wonder how you made it through college at this point.

The sound of the shower shutting off makes you squeak, and you throw on the silk slip before climbing into bed and facing away from the bathroom door. When Nanami emerges, you hear him shift around before climbing under the sheets, and muttering,

"Good night, y/n."

"Good night, sir."

_____________________________________________________________

Your arm is on someone's chest when you awake. You moan, lifting your head and coming face to face with your boss - who is already awake.

"Oh!" you shift off of Nanami, heart beating wildly. "I am so sorry, sir, I--"

"No, it's fine," Nanami chuckles. "It's not every morning that I wake up with a beautiful woman in my bed. Or have her talk about me in her sleep."

"Huh?" you stop, feeling your stomach drop.

"You said some... interesting things about me while you were asleep. If I had known you were a sleeptalker, I would have--"

"What did I say?" you whisper, frightened.

"Oh, nothing," Nanami chuckles, getting out of the bed and stretching. "Just something about how you found me good-looking and how you wanted to--"

You look away from him, rubbing your face in embarrassment. "I am so, so sorry, Mr. Nanami, it must have been the Moët I had before bed."

"Oh, I'm not upset. I just wish you would've said something sooner, y/n." You turn back to him, your eyes widening. "I find you attractive, too. But I had to be sure you weren't just dreaming before I said anything to you." He climbs back onto the bed, touching your face with a tender hand.

You instinctively lean into his palm, and he tilts your chin up, leaning forward. His lips ghost over yours before pressing against your cheek, and you moan. "Is this okay?" Nanami wonders, and you nod, feeling goosebumps run across your skin.

"Yes," you reply, and he leans forward again. This time, he kisses you gently, hands drifting from your face to your hips, where they play with the edges of your slip.

"Do you know how hard it was to sleep with you next to me?" he breathes, kissing down your neck. "Your beautiful hands fluttering from my face to my chest..." He cups your breasts over your slip and thumbs your nipples repeatedly, making you shudder.

"Nanami..." you exhale, and he removes one of the spaghetti straps of your slip slowly. "Sir, I--" He stops, replacing your strap quickly.

"I'm sorry, I'm not supposed to do this," The blonde man shakes his head, closing his eyes. Your breath hitches, but he doesn't move away from you, still. "I shouldn't--"

"Please," you interrupt him, grabbing his wrist. "Please." At your appeals, his lips crash into yours again and you tangle your fingers into his hair.

"Tell me when you want to stop," he urges you, hands running up your slip and gripping your bare thighs. But you allow him to lay you across the bed, tongues tangling as he undresses you with care.

"I need you," you breathe, and Nanami hums in response.

"We'll be late to the conference," he notes, but you shake your head. "We might not even make it the first day." But he makes no move to stop, again, rolling your nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. "You alright with that?" The only thing you can do is moan as your body writhes underneath his grip, his hands orchestrating the symphonic melodies coming from your throat.

Nanami blinks slowly, leaning down to capture one of the buds between his lips. He sucks and pulls with precision, and your mind goes blank, not even registering that the color of the ceiling. All you know are the sensations you're feeling right now.

"How do you feel?" Nanami wonders, a hand sliding down to your core. As his fingers slide between your folds, you whisper,

"It feels good." He presses a finger into you before adding another, hovering above you as he strokes your g-spot.

"You're so beautiful," Nanami moans, eyes roaming over your exposed body as he drives you to madness, adding his thumb on your clit. You want to let go, you want to cum, but the fear of your boss seeing you in this way is just-- "It's okay," Nanami whispers, pressing his lips to your ear. "I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Oh my god," you shudder, his fingers being coated with your slick and cum liberally. Nanami croons at the way your hips jerk into his palm while you squirt all over his hand. You pant heavily once it's over, and he removes his shirt, revealing a body you've only dreamed about. His muscles are just as defined as you thought, and as he removes his pants dutifully, you watch his thick cock spring free.

"Can I?" he wonders, pumping his cock with his slick covered hand. You spread your legs a little more, inviting him to fuck you just like you've wanted for so long.

All those days he walked by your desk with his sleeves pushed up around his arms... all those times he stopped to speak with you about your day... and all those times you watched him give a presentation, imaging his lips rolling across your skin during the meetings... You would faint if you knew just how close you could get to him in one morning.

As Nanami sinks into you, you exhale deeply, and he grips your leg, leaning down and pressing himself onto you carefully. Your arm winds around his back and he stares at you as he pumps into you, his warm breath caressing your face. "Is that good?"

"So good," you whine, curling your nails into his skin. "Nanami, I--"

"Kento," the man whispers against your skin. "Please, call me Kento."

"Kento," you instantly moan, and he presses a kiss to your throat, picking up his speed. His free hand snakes behind your back, lifting you up a little as he fucks you. His breathing becomes ragged as his cock strokes your insides, pulling sounds out of you that you never considered being in your lexicon.

The smacking sounds and wetness between your thighs are enough to bring you to the edge, but Nanami slows his strokes, making them long and deep. Your orgasm abates, but you don't mind. Being beholden to Nanami is heaven.

"I'm going to make you feel some things," he warns, and you open your mouth to reply, but he continues. "You might not like being edged, but I want you to feel this next orgasm in your soul." Edged? He picks up his speed once more, knocking the thought right out of your head as you're jostled back and forth on the sheets. You can't really think rationally, anyways. Why bother?

"Mmmm," you grunt, face scrunching together as you feel another orgasm building again. And you think maybe he'll let you cum, but he slows down again, sweat dripping from his face onto your chest. "Kento, I can't take it!" you pant, but your boss nods.

"Just one more, y/n." You oblige, toes curling painfully as he quickens his thrusts and pulls you up and leans back, pumping into you from below. The sensation is remarkably different, you note, and his dick curves into you perfectly as he continues thrusting. You gasp, fingers curling into his shoulders as you feel the same orgasm building. "Ken--"

He slows down again, and you cry out, thighs quivering with the need for release. "Hold on to me," Nanami breathes, smoothing his hands down your arms and taking your fingers in his. "I'm going to let you cum this time." You tuck your face in between the crook of his neck and shoulder, moaning obscenely as he fucks you back to the brink of insanity. But this time, when your thighs clench and your hips stiffen, he keeps going, squeezing your hands carefully.

"Kento, oh my fucking god," you shout, losing yourself in the intensity of the orgasm. You might have blacked out if it wasn't for Nanami holding you against him and his hips stuttering violently as he came inside of you.

"That's it," your boss moans loudly. "That's my girl..." You're so overwhelmed that you don't register where he stops and where you begin. Everything is hazy, and you wonder if this is what it's like to be fuck drunk. You feel something being pulled over you and the way Kento holds you close, whispering sweet nothings to you as you try to keep awake, but your whole body surrenders to the finality of the moment, to the peace, and you fall asleep in his arms.

[sambvcks]

crawl home to her, b.b. x reader

chapter four // three days on drunken sin

summary: bucky decides to rifle through those boxes and finds the will to make the first move.

warnings: food/eating, nothing too bad this time!

word count: 1.7k

author’s note: how are we feeling about this week’s episode?? we’re getting closer to the start of tfatws with this chapter!! hope i don’t break your heart too much with the boxes :)

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The boxes taunted him for three days.

Three stacks of two boxes each cluttered his entranceway, each with that familiar scrawl of Steve’s God-awful handwriting.

‘BUCKY’

All caps, in black Sharpie, underlined three times just for good measure. Steve was always good at getting his message across.

He didn’t want to know what was in them, he told himself. But Steve was gone, and this was all he had left. These, that stupid notebook he still hadn’t found the will to write in, and the shield that was kicking around Sam’s apartment somewhere.

He wanted to toss them in his building’s dumpster, to push these aside like he did with everything else in his life. Out of sight, out of mind. That week, he didn’t tell his therapist about the boxes, or Sam’s unexpected visit, or his neighbor that he was now avoiding like the plague. Thankfully, she chalked his silence up to Steve and tried to fill in the conversational lulls with suggestions of amends and lists and he just wanted to go back to sleep.

Like always, sleep never came.

He knew the single night in his bed was a fluke, but he kept trying at least. He’d untuck his flat sheet from under hit mattress, fluff his pillow, and tuck himself in. Within five minutes, he was back on the hardwood floor of his living room, the lamplights illuminating his window and casting a perfect shadow on those stupid boxes. Finally, on the third night, he huffed a sigh and sat up, his arm whirring at the sudden movement. He wasn’t accomplishing anything letting them sit and gather dust.

Bucky reached under the cushions of his couch, fishing for the knife he had stashed away and got to work slicing through the clear packing tape securing each one.

The first five boxes were files. Mission reports, everything Steve could get his hands on about The Winter Soldier. The translations were rough, the descriptions weren’t as vivid as he remembered them now, and it wasn’t even close to everything. Why Steve kept them when Bucky was working to erase every trace of this from the universe, he would never understand. Steve was sentimental, even with the bad stuff. Bucky glanced over the files scattered across his entranceway, which maybe amounted to a year of his missions. If Zemo had looked in some suburb in upstate New York, he would have found everything he needed.

The dumpster behind his building was starting to feel more and more enticing.

The last box felt different. Significantly lighter and smaller, the items rolling and clanking as he dragged it towards him. He braced himself for more files, more reminders of what he had done as though they didn’t exist in his mind every second of the day.

The first thing he recognized was his mother’s handwriting. ‘Recipes’, scrawled so perfectly on a yellowing label.

The tin box was tinted with age, dented after so many years. He laughed and could remember it tucked away on the top shelf of the cabinet by the fridge, just out of Rebecca’s reach, even when she’d stand on her tiptoes in search of it. His Ma rarely fished it out, other than to let his little sister read over the ingredients with sticky hands as she helped stir pots and peel potatoes. She had them memorized by the time she was a teenager, having transcribed her own mother’s recipes onto these little cards. He was sure Rebecca did, too.

Next was the worn fabric of his Ma’s favorite apron. Yellow embroidered flowers scattered the crimped edge, strings falling loose. He recognized some of the stains, from spaghetti night and cake batter that she let dry on the cloth for too long.

Finally, a worn silver chain was buried at the bottom of the box.

JAMES B BARNES 32557038 T42 A

Of course, Steve with all his connections and know-it-all attitude and ‘I can do this all day’ would find some way to find his dog tags, probably tucked away in some ancient Hydra file. His flesh fingers ran over the indentation of his name, pressed into metal like millions of other boys had, off to fight a war that had nothing to do with them. Everything to lose, nothing to gain.

When he was most alone, settled into muddy trenches with wet socks and a stiff military jacket, he would recite those numbers out into the night sky. He’d map constellations over his head, wondering if it would be his last night and all there would be left of him would be those stupid discs of metal clanking around his neck and the letter tucked away in his jacket breast pocket, addressed to his mother.

His mother was long gone, he knew that. But to a fully conscious James Buchanan Barnes – not the Winter Soldier - he had only seen her a few years ago when he shipped off.

After a moment, he pulled the chain of his dog tags over his head, settling them under his shirt. His ears rung with the sound of footsteps in the hallway. The sound of dragging feet and the jangle of your keychain signaled your return from class.

His family was gone, Steve included. The only people he has left are halfway across the world, or off on some death-defying mission wearing metal bird wings. Except you, who still leaves bags of cookies on his front door mat, despite the silent treatment from his end. His maybe too friendly neighbor who poured over lists of albums for him to find taped to his door in barely legible handwriting when you should have been studying.

His mother’s recipe box was calling his name.

-

The knock on your door startled you from your nap. Well, if you can call dozing off at your desk using a law book as a makeshift pillow a nap. You stalled in your desk chair, eyes bleary as you squinted at your front door, then at the top corner of your computer.

2:36 AM

You nuzzled back into your book, content to chalk it up to your sleep deprived brain making things up.

The second knock was much more insistent and was certainly coming from your door. You rushed out of your chair, sock-clad feet dragging the blanket draped across your shoulders as you shuffled over, the knocking never ceasing. You blinked the sleep from your eyes, peering out your peephole into the dark hallway.

Bucky, with slumped shoulders and a bowed head, trying with all of his might to make himself as small as possible still took up so much of the doorway with his broad shoulders.

You should be mad at him.

You should go to bed, ignore him like he’d been ignoring you for the past few weeks. Like you hadn’t shared late nights and he hadn’t sat in your kitchen, licking your spoons clean or tucked into your couch just to watch you study, a new record playing gently. Your forehead pressed to the door, vile building in your throat as seething words collected on your tongue.

“I know you’re there.” His voice was muffled through the wooden door, feeling so close but sounding so far away. “We should work on you dragging your feet, doll.”

If you had taken another peek, you would have seen him pressing his forehead to the other side.

“You ignored me, Bucky.”

“I know. I’m sorry.” He sounded sincere, even through the door. “Some family stuff came up. But it’s no excuse, I shouldn’t have pushed you away.”

It’s so stupid, letting yourself get so attached to the first guy to bat his eyelashes and read to you. It’s idiotic to want him to seep into your days and nights, to never leave like he had left you, after only knowing each other for a month.

It’s so foolish to open the door. But you do it anyways.

He swallows as he stands straight, and the widening of his eyes tells you that he wasn’t expecting you to give him a second chance.

“I, uh, here. Thought I’d finally return the favor.”” Bucky shoves forward a plate of cookies, misshapen and unevenly cooked. His eyes finally found yours. “My mom’s recipe.”

Family stuff, you remembered. The weight of the plate felt heavy in your hands, almost as heavy as his gaze on you as you lifted one of the lesser burnt cookies to your mouth and took a timid bite.

Bucky, you’ve come to learn, gives his love in silent acts of approval. He shines when you tell him his singing isn’t totally awful or that he makes a great sous chef, eyes crinkling when you approve of his music choice for the night or compliment the voices he picks when reading from his books. As he watched you, you felt that this cookie meant more to him then just flour and eggs.

He was reaching out, terrified of your rejection.

“You made these?”

“Alright, I’m not totally helpless.”

“They’re amazing, Bucky. Your mom should be proud.”

He returned your smile, knowing that she wouldn’t be. How could she, after all that his hands have done? Hands that should’ve been home, hoisting his sisters onto his shoulders. Hands that should have been helping set the table and at work so they had something to eat in the first place.

He looked so timid in your hallway, unsure of the next move. You rolled your eyes, moving to clear your doorway, despite his hesitation.

“Come on.” You spoke, like ushering in a stray cat with the promise of food and love.

He took the first step forward, shoulder to shoulder, head tilted down to catch your playful gaze with his serious one. Your mouth opened to make some sort of quip to ease the tension, but the words died in your throat as he pressed his forehead against yours for just a second.

His eyes closed as he drew in a single serene breath through his nose.

He was gone as quickly as he had come, moving further into your apartment and directly to your shelves of records, gloved fingers grazing over the sleeves in contemplation for his first choice of the night. As you finally collected yourself enough to close the door, you wondered how many people in the world had ever loved Bucky Barnes enough to give him a second chance.

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[whatifxwereyou]

Ashes Chapter 15: Same Old Story

Fandom: Mortal Kombat 2021

Pairing: Liu Kang x Reader

Summary: Some history for Y/N and some brotherly love from Cole.

A/N: when you so busy writing smut that you forget to update the story so you can get to the smut lmao. enjoy, fellow nerds.

First Chapter << Previous Chapter Next Chapter >> Chapter Index

You were uncomfortable talking about personal things, particularly your history, but Cole deserved answers and he was a patient listener. Being a father, you weren’t really surprised by that. “When I was a kid, like… nine I want to say? Honestly my childhood is pretty blurry. Feels like another life.” You cleared your throat. “Anyway, yeah, around then I fell ill. I had these… fits, for lack of a better word. I didn’t understand what they meant at the time because I was well, nine. No one else understood them either. As an adult I know that I was experiencing prophetic visions. Honestly, they weren’t really prophetic then, I guess. That’s a word Raiden uses a lot for them. Back then they were rarely of future events. It was more like gaining deep insight into the lives of others. I could touch someone or something that someone else had touched and I would disappear. I’d see a glimpse of their history or their present. I was too young to interpret it.”

“Like touch telepathy? I’ve seen television shows about that concept. This stuff is hard for me to wrap my mind around. Too much like fiction.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing to call it. When I saw things, I would also black out. And have a fit. Like a seizure, I suppose. And when that was happening, I would often say things about what I was seeing or hurt myself. It frightened people. My parents took me out of town and I stayed with my grandmother. I was homeschooled after that. My parents saw it as an embarrassment if I recall.” You laughed at the idea of that now. That life was so far behind you that it didn’t matter how stressful it had been. Back then it had felt like the end of the world but as an adult, it was a distant memory. Those experiences had made you different and strange but they had also made you unique and special. You had embraced the things that had separated you from normality since then.

“Well, that’s awful.”

“Oh, no, no pity. It’s fine, really. That was world’s ago.” You waved off his disapproval of a parent being embarrassed by their child for things they couldn’t control. Cole really was a good guy. “I stopped having the visions at around twelve and while I was weak from being so sick, I fought to be normal afterward. My dad ran a dojo and so I grew strong again. I focused on martial arts. It was something that helped me find strength and determination back then.” You smiled at the memory. You’d always had a fondness for it in your heart. That was one of the first things you and Kung Lao had bonded over. Your father had taught Wing Chun and that was what Kung Lao specialized in. “With time my father could no longer teach at the dojo so he moved in with my older sister. I took over the dojo and then opened a shop in the old storage space to make extra money. I had every intention of moving away. I would never be more than a weirdo or a witch there. It was too small a town.”

“Did you ever get to?”

“I mean, I’m here now. That’s a long story though. I’m trying to keep this brief.” You chuckled. “We can talk about that stuff another day.” That was a more casual and personal conversation. This was personal but definitely not casual. If you didn’t have to share these parts of your life then you never would have. Much of it was still too raw. But Cole Young was curious about your past and you were curious about his. It was nice having another friend who wasn’t Liu Kang. You really did get along with him and his family.

“Fair enough.”

“About five years ago I was still doing the same. There had been a robbery across the street and the thugs came into my shop afterward. And, well, I’m not the type to roll over and be robbed.”

“I’d say not.”

“It escalated. There was a man who came in to pick up herbs I had imported for him every month who came in after. He ended up helping me out. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, I killed one of those would-be robbers. He’d been trying to kill me so… I have come to terms with that. That’s how I got the dragon mark.” You pointed to your back. Yours was on your lower back on your left side. “The man who helped me was Liu Kang. I knew him then and he was kind enough to help me deal with the fallout at the time. It took ages for him to convince me to that there was any truth to any of this… Mortal Kombat and arcana nonsense. It’s kind of embarrassing looking back at it.” And the story was far more complicated too. You’d been attracted to Liu Kang from very early on. “I guess that’s why I’m so patient with Johnny. It’s easy for us to know what’s the truth but when you spend your whole life believing that fairytales are made with computers and science? It’s difficult to believe anything else.”

“Yeah, I get that. Not everyone had Sub Zero rushing them into the truth.” He joked. That was true enough. But Johnny Cage had had his come-to-jesus moment that afternoon you were pretty sure. You hadn’t had a moment like that in the beginning. Just Liu Kang’s word and his arcana.

“Liu showed me his arcana but I thought it was a trick. He was very persistent at the time. Tried to talk me into leaving everything I had ever known for what I thought was a trick. I was scared, I’m not too proud to admit that. The part of me that wanted to leave home and never look back had grown smaller over the years. I’d become complacent. I’d grown comfortable being known as a witch and honestly, the next generation of people in town hadn’t treated me so terribly. The kids even thought it was funny that everyone thought I was a witch. But then… I found my arcana.”

“The ink?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty and under control now but in the beginning, it was a nightmare. The first time I used it had been on accident. I nearly destroyed my store. Then I fell and had a fit and I was suddenly seeing things again. Those things I saw didn’t make any sense. None of it. I saw flashes of people and places I didn’t recognize. The best way that I can describe it is… nonsense. It didn’t mean anything.” You sighed heavily. Those moments had been terrifying. “The second time had been even worse. If Liu hadn’t been basically stalking me then someone would have gotten seriously hurt. I’d hurt him but he’d been tough enough to handle it. I felt terrible about it. By then I’d more than grown fond of him.” You didn’t want to get into the details but it hadn’t exactly been difficult to fall into Liu Kang’s arms and it hadn’t taken very long either.

“There’s a lot of history there, huh?”

“Yes. Focus.” You wanted to get this story over as quickly as you could. “After that I decided to go with him. It wasn’t worth the risk of hurting people in town with something I didn’t understand. I didn’t want to leave but I was glad that I did afterward. Raiden’s Temple was where I had needed to be for what came next. It was awful at first. The ink and the visions made me sick. I had little to no control over any of it. Raiden helped me. He could unravel what I saw even if it was just spaghetti to me. My visions helped him. At least he said that they did. Liu helped me get control over my arcana. There I met Kung Lao and I was happy. About a year later the visions stopped altogether and I was stronger than I’d ever been.”

“And now you’re having them again? Out of nowhere?” Cole didn’t sound terribly concerned. He had handled all of this very well. It was nice not to be taken too seriously or looked at like you were about to fracture. You didn’t think the visions were out of nowhere. In fact, you thought that the visions were likely triggered by Kung Lao’s death. Trauma did funny things to people. The things that happened to you were a little funnier than most.

“I confess that I didn’t realize I was having them at first.” You shrugged. It was difficult to explain but it seemed as though, at some point, Cole had abandoned his disbelief and had embraced chaos. “They were more like nightmares. It was difficult to decipher what was guilt and grief and what wasn’t. It wasn’t until the other night on the roof that I even considered they were visions. Well, that and I feel terrible. I haven’t felt this terrible since the last time I had them.” You were a little embarrassed to admit that. If you’d been honest about what you were feeling from the beginning then maybe you could have done things differently. You just hated being weak. It was a hot button for you.

“And that was when you saw what happened this afternoon?”

“Kind of? I saw the beach and a wave of corpses coming for us. Does that count?” You tried to joke. Cole tilted his head as if to consider if it counted or not.

“It does at least explain why you were extra creepy this morning.”

“Implying that I’m always a little creepy.”

“The ink is a little creepy, I decided.”

“I guess that’s fair.”

“But you’re okay? This morning was wild.”

Did you not seem okay? You supposed that you were feeling out of it after seeing Kung Lao’s death. You definitely weren’t feeling yourself but you thought that you’d hidden it pretty well. “Yeah, I’m fine.”

“You sound a little morose.” Cole looked to the door like he had somewhere else to be. He probably did. He had a family and all that. “I can’t say we know each other very well but whatever happened back there must have hit hard… and I mean… you were so different at the end of it.”

“I’m fine, Cole.” You reassured him with a forced smile. You were a little morose. That was a good word for what you were feeling. You wanted to sleep for the rest of the week until you had to go back to China.

“Ally, Emily, and I are going to go grab dinner. You’re welcome to join us. You could probably use some food.”

“No, no. Thank you but I think that I have encroached upon your family time enough this week.”

“We really don’t mind. You’re good company. Allison asked if you were joining us, even.”

“Really, Cole. I appreciate the offer but I’m not up to it. My social battery is completely drained.” You offered a weary smile. It was nice to be wanted. “I’m going to rest.”

“You’re just… so off. I feel bad leaving you alone.” Cole pulled his phone from his coat pocket. “I’m considering asking if Ally wants to grab food and then bring Emily here to watch a movie with you.”

“It’s okay, Cole. I need the time alone, I think. Besides, I’m allowed to be a little under the weather after that.” You smiled even so. You didn’t want him to pity you. You didn’t need that. You really would be okay. That morning had been difficult but you weren’t prepared to say the real reasons why. You were a mixture of angry and hurt but you’d trudge through it.

“Yeah…”

“Hey, look, you don’t need to feel responsible for me just because of what happened with Kung Lao.” You would happily absolve him of any guilt he felt in that regards. He was guilty of nothing but being a good man.

“What?” Cole was genuinely surprised and you internally winced at how you’d miscalculated. You’d read the whole situation wrong and instantly regretted your words.

“I thought you might be feeling some misplaced guilt about it. I don’t want that for you.”

“Oh. Maybe that was why I approached you on the street that day but I think we’re past that. We’re friends now. Am I wrong about that?”

“Not at all. It’s been lovely getting to know you and your family. I really mean that, I’m not just saying it. You’ve managed to get me a little out of my head which is nice. And you like my jokes which I appreciate. I’m sorry about the way that came off. I wasn’t trying to diminish our friendship. I just didn’t want you to carry around that guilt, either.”

“That goes for you too.”

“It’s been a hard day. I’m not coming across the way that I mean to. Let’s say lost in translation.”

“It’s okay, Y/N. Your English is pretty good so I’m not sure that excuse works, but I’ll let it slide.”

“I know, I know… I’m being cold without meaning to. Like you said, I’m a little morose right now. I do this thing when my feelings are difficult to process where I kind of shut off and… I can come off as cruel without meaning to. Honestly, even in Chinese it doesn’t sound much better.” You couldn’t help but laugh at yourself. “I’m sorry.”

“No need. Today was a reality check. It scared me too. And you’re clearly going through something. I wanted to help, is all. Sometimes when I get too far into my head things snowball and become an avalanche.”

“I appreciate that.” You kicked your shoes off next to the bed and laughed. You had no plans of going anywhere else for the rest of the day. “I used to have Kung Lao to keep that from happening. I appreciate you trying to help but you can go get food with your family and enjoy your afternoon. I’m exhausted. I’ll probably nap or meditate on what happened today.” What you really meant was that you would do whatever it took to get it out of your head. You were going to try and forget the awful things you’d seen today. You weren’t sure you could forget it. His death was burned into your mind’s eye. It would haunt you for the rest of your life.

“I will but before I go, I wanted to talk to you quickly about Liu.”

“I would very much prefer if you didn’t.” You scrunched up your face in distaste.

“I know that I’ve been teasing you about it.” He laughed and you rolled your eyes. “But is everything okay with that? I know, I know… it’s not my business, you’ve said it a dozen times now. It’s clearly complicated. You don’t owe me any details but if you need help with it then say the word. I’m happy to help.” Was Cole Young offering to be your wingman? Or was he offering to beat up Liu Kang? Either scenario was kind of hilarious.

“I’m obviously defensive about it. I’m sure that it’s hilarious from the outside looking in but Liu and I have more history than I care to explain. I’m not ready to get into it with anyone. Not you and definitely not with Liu, either.”

“But that’s okay?”

“Yeah, it will be. I’m a pretty tough lady.”

“On a scale of one to ten just how supportive do you need me to be?”

“No scale. Just be yourself, Cole. You’re doing fine.”

“Even teasing you?”

“I’ve had worse teasing, trust me. I dated Kung Lao for years. Besides, it kind of lessens the frustration of it. Sometimes I get too serious and scary in my head. The joking grounds me a little.”

“Good to know.” Cole patted you on the back. It was nice having a friend to talk to. A friend that wasn’t Liu Kang. Not that you didn’t enjoy Liu Kang, things were just too complex between you right now. There was so much hurt and grief that you weren’t sure how things would pan out or if they would ever be fixable. And Cole was a good man. You enjoyed talking to Allison too and Emily had taken a shine to you. You hadn’t had the opportunity to be around kids in years and you were good with them at most ages. That was part of why you’d enjoyed running the dojo.

There was a knock at your door. You made to get up to answer it.

“I’ll get it. I’m on my way out anyway.” Cole stood and so you sat back down. You wouldn’t argue with him. Cole opened the door and there was Liu Kang, which was no surprise to you. You’d been expecting him to show up at some point. Who else would it have been, anyway? You were pretty sure that you’d rubbed Sonya and Jax the wrong way with all your talk of kidnapping. Cole stared Liu Kang down instead of greeting him and you tried not to laugh.

“Hello Cole.” Liu bowed his head politely in greeting. “I was hoping that I could speak with Y/N for a few minutes. Is she here? Did I come to the wrong room?” Liu peered around him and made eye contact with you. You offered him a curt wave.

“That’s up to her.”

You tried very hard not to laugh at the look of confusion on Liu’s face. He was bewildered.

“Of course it is.”

“You can come in, Liu.” You stopped that conversation before it got any weirder. Cole meant well, but wow.

“I was just leaving.” Cole clasped Liu on the shoulder as if to wish him good luck and then left, closing the door behind him after Liu had stepped past him. Liu watched the door close and then turned back to you. His expression was priceless. You’d have to thank Cole for that later.

Next Chapter >>

[aceofspadegrass]

It's Raining

Characters: Aguni Morizono, Hatter, Tatta Koudai, Arisu Ryohei, Last Boss, Niragi Suguru, Chishiya Shuntaro

Genre: Fluff. Just a thunderstorm, some vibes, and uh.... Monopoly. Briefly.

1.6k words

Man, writing with absolute zero idea of where I was going with it is.... interesting. My only thought was rainstorm, and here's what happened.

Rain pattered against the window, Aguni watching the raindrops fall down the glass with a cup of steaming hot coffee in hand. Takeru was still in bed, sleeping off the spaghetti and red wine they shared last night, half a cookie hanging out of his mouth. Aguni takes a long, slow sip of his coffee, making sure to blow on it beforehand. He didn’t need to burn his mouth after all. He grunts lightly, going over today’s schedule over his head. The rain looked bad, so he couldn’t go out today, nor could anybody else. It might be bad enough for a power outage, Aguni notes internally.

He heads outside and through the halls. The rain was loud even here, but the sound of yelling was louder, cheers and screams coming from Arisu’s room. Aguni peeks inside just to see what was up, after knocking on the door to notify he was coming inside. He blinks as he stares at Niragi, Tatta, and Arisu all sitting in the dark in front of the television, playing some racing game, Arisu firmly in first place with Niragi and Tatta fighting for second just behind him. Niragi and Arisu were more absorbed in the game, Niragi the main source of all the yelling, using Arisu’s blanketed head as an arm rest, the tallest out of all of them sitting on the barren bed while the other two took space on the floor. Tatta seemed less focused at least, although he doesn’t stop playing even as he greets Aguni.

“ Hi! Did you need something?”

“ Uh… just checking up. It’s raining pretty badly. Just be aware there may be a power outage if it gets worse.”

Tatta nods, Niragi grumbling angrily as Tatta hits him with a red shell in the game. “ Okay!” Tatta chirps, Aguni nodding and shutting the door just as Arisu wins the race with an excited cheer, Niragi griping loudly and falling backwards on the bed. Aguni continues down the hall and goes to check up on Chishiya to tell him about the possible outage.

But he couldn’t, as Chishiya was still sleeping, curled up in his chair and a blanket thrown over him, likely from Tatta or Arisu actually caring. Aguni leaves him alone, shutting the door. Chishiya was smart enough to infer on his own when he wakes up. He continues through the house, occasionally taking a sip of coffee as he searches for the last member of the household.

Aguni knocks on Last Boss’ door, and receives absolutely zero response, but Aguni opens anyways. Last Boss was sitting there on the ground with his computer, looking up at Aguni blankly in the dark.

“ Hey. It’s raining pretty badly so be warned.” Aguni tells him, and looks at the ground, sighing at the mess. “ And clean up your room eventually, okay?” He looks back at Last Boss, who says absolutely nothing, continuing to stare blankly at him. Aguni stares back until Last Boss breaks eye contact, going back to typing on his computer without a hint of giving a fuck. He shut the door and makes his way down to the kitchen, drinking more coffee and listening to the rain patter against the windows louder than before. He settles himself with heating up some leftovers, watching the plate spin in the microwave as he sips at his coffee.

The microwave beeps, seconds before Aguni hears thunder pounding outside. Several, in fact. It nearly shakes the house with how loud it was, and Aguni swears he can hear Niragi cursing in Arisu’s room. Aguni pulls out his leftovers and takes a seat at the dining table, just as the lights begin to flicker. Aguni takes a long, slow sip of coffee and sets down his mug, poking at a piece of fish as the lights finally die on him.

Not long after, Aguni hears footsteps, and he look up through the dark as three figures approach, Niragi loudly grumbling and heading straight for the cabinets to look for a torch. Tatta and Arisu both stand there as Niragi rustles through the drawers, Aguni eating silently as Niragi slams open and close drawers. Arisu still had the blanket over his head, which he had wrapped around him so it was basically just a blanket with a face and legs.

“ Where’s the fucking flashlight-“ Niragi grumbles, even opening the medicine cabinet. It is followed by both Arisu and Tatta shrugging and offering nothing useful, Niragi continuing to search and yielding nothing. Aguni gets up only when Niragi tries the same drawer in the past five minutes, getting up and opening the fridge, which also lost its power. He digs inside, Niragi pausing to watch Aguni in pure and utter confusion as Aguni pulls out a flashlight and sets it on the counter by Niragi, shutting the fridge and going back to the table to continue eating. “ Wh-“ Niragi stammers, looking between the flashlight and the fridge. “ Why the hell was it in the fridge-“

Aguni wished he had a sane answer. But nothing was sane about the fridgelight. He finished his coffee and sets the mug down, looking to Niragi. “ Takeru thought it’d be funny.” He explains, Niragi looking at Aguni, eyes furrowed a little and frowning.

“ Why the fuck would-“ Niragi cuts himself off, picking up the flashlight and turning it on, nearly blinding Tatta. “ Whatever. This’ll do. What, do we not have a backup generator?”

“ We used to, but rats got to the wires so we were waiting on someone to come fix it!” Tatta explains, covering his eyes with his hand as Niragi turns the bright beam at his face.

“ Aren’t you a mechanic?”

“ For cars, mostly! Also I tried, but turns out the rats got a lot of the wires all messed up. And uhhhhh….. I might have forgotten to go buy new wires. Or a new generator.”

“ You’re useless.” Niragi mutters, Tatta frowning a little.

“ Rude…. But it’ll be fine until the storm passes by, right?” Tatta looks to Aguni for confirmation, Aguni giving him a brief nod. Tatta smiles, looking back at Niragi. “ See?” “ Fine. Would’ve been nice to have electricity. I’m gonna grab candles. It’s dark as shit in here.” Niragi grumbles, and he stalks away with the flashlight, Arisu and Tatta following behind to help. Aguni stays at the table to finish his meal, existing in his own time.

A few minutes later Niragi comes back and slaps a candle on the table in front of him, already lit. “ There. Have fun with your romantic dinner for one.” Niragi quips, then quickly walks away, Aguni thanking him under his breath and taking another bite of food.

Takeru comes outside as Aguni dumps his trash, holding his phone as a flashlight, heading straight for Aguni and draping himself over the man’s back.

“ Man, it’s so loud….. You doing okay?” Takeru mumbles into Aguni’s shoulder, apparently still very tired, Aguni nodding. Takeru hums, the two standing there in the candlelit kitchen as the rain battered against the house for a while. Takeru only lets go when Aguni starts to move away, arms dropping to the side as Aguni sits down at the table again, his face illuminated by the small faint candlelight. Takeru opens the lightless fridge, the sound of things moving around barely discernible from the loud patter. He pulls out something and shuts the door, coming over to sit across Aguni. In his hand seemed to be a glass bottle, Takeru twisting off the top and taking a sip.

Aguni watches him drink for a while, Takeru draining at least half of the bottle in one go before letting off, satisfyingly breathing out and wiping his mouth with the back off his hand. The house shakes as thunder rumbles outside, Takeru smiling and yawning. “ It’s rough outside, eh? I woke up to that first one but didn’t feel like getting out of bed.” Aguni grunts in response, Hatter nodding to himself. “ Yes, yes. Ah, is the generator still not working?” Aguni shakes his head, explaining the rat situation, Hatter slowly nodding. He finishes the rest of the bottle, letting it hit the table with a decent thunk, sighing and leaning back. “ No reason to sit around and do nothing. Wanna play Monopoly with the kids?”

“ And have to wrestle Chishiya away from stabbing Niragi in the knees again with a toothpick?”

Takeru only shrugs, getting up and walking away. “ What can go wrong this time? Monopoly night! Come on everyone!”

Aguni sighs, getting up and heading over to grab the Monopoly board. He wasn’t paying for the damages.

[AN HOUR LATER….]

Aguni keeps a hold of Niragi’s torso as he attempts (and fails) to reach Tatta, who was hiding behind the blanket blob that was Arisu, who somehow acquired everyone’s blanket in the timeframe he’s been by the board, Chishiya leaning against said blob and smirking at Niragi.

“ I’m gonna tear your fucking face off, you fucking whale shark!”

“ I’m sorry! It’s just a railroad!”

Aguni glances at Takeru, who just smiles and watches, with eyes that were void of any thought in his head. He wasn’t even feeling the slightest bit worried, was he. Aguni sighs, and forcefully pulls Niragi up and lifts him over his shoulder, Niragi trying (and still failing) to get free and attack Tatta.

Aguni much rather would have just sat around and do nothing. Maybe lay in bed with Takeru and talk about life and such.

But no, instead he gets this today, Niragi finally giving up as Aguni dumps him in the time out corner and walks away back to the scene, only to see Tatta having to pay the last of his money to a smug Chishiya. “ Aww, I’m bankrupt.”

“ Should’ve thought about that before having money.” Thunder clapped just as he finished that, Tatta yelping.

“ Ooh, that was a good one!” Takeru chirps, “ Real suspenseful!”

“ Thanks, it wasn’t my intention….. Or was it.”

[ketamineharry]

Mad - Harry Lewis

Requested: No

Trigger Warning: Death (sorry, had to go back to my routes loves xox)

Screaming and shouting had become the normality in your household, ever since you had given birth to your four year old son, Dylan. Which was a vast contrast to what you had expected and wanted for the family life you had envisioned. Your worst fear was that Dylan would grow up thinking that this was a normality that he could adapt to his own family; or worse, resent you both for it. The easiest solution was for you and Harry to go your separate ways, but, you couldn’t do that, in spite of all the arguments you still loved him with every ounce of your being.

You both chose to take the hard path every day. You refused to argue in front of Dylan, but sooner or later he would catch on to the hostile environment. Yes, he was only four, but he was still very intelligent and hyper aware of the things going on around him. The silly thing was, sometimes there’d be days, while he was at nursery where you and Harry didn’t utter a word to each other — because it just ended up in an argument. Even something as simple as asking for the television remote would end up in screaming matches, that neither of you would back down from. Whether that was due to pride, or something entirely different, you weren’t sure.

One such argument had ensued when you had asked Harry to go and pick Dylan up from nursery. You had thought it wasn’t much, considering you had been preparing dinner for the three of you.

“I picked him up yesterday, can’t you go?” He scoffed, eyes glued to his fifa game, not even daring to glance at you.

“Incase you haven’t noticed Harry, but while you sit there and you’re paid to play your computer games… the adults in this house have to cook, clean and look after our son. That’s without the hours I have to spend at work.”

“Yeah, you go to work. But I’m the one that brings the most money in. So it’s only fair that you go and pick up Dylan.” He responded, still not giving you the respect to look at you.

“You know what, you’re a selfish prick.” You commented, as you unplugged the PlayStation. “I don’t half fucking hate you sometimes… it would just be nice to bring up one child not two. Please can you just go and pick him up?” You asked, as the frustration of the situation hit you.

“Fine.” He huffed, as he picked up his phone and his keys, leaving the house. Slamming the door shut behind him.

You decided to make a simple spaghetti bolognese for dinner, as it was Dylan’s favourite and wouldn’t take you long to prepare. You started off by boiling the pasta and chopping onions and the various other vegetables you wanted to include. Getting yourself in a routine so that hopefully dinner wouldn’t be too long after Dylan and Harry returned back home.

—

It had been around half an hour since Harry had left and he still hadn’t returned. Considering that the school was within walking distance, it was quite a worry for you. Not enough for you to call him and find out what was going on — but enough for you to notice it.

The sound of your ringtone though, with Harry’s name and picture displayed on the screen — was worrying. You quickly answered, pressing the phone to your ear.

“Hello.” You said, a slight annoyance to your voice.

“Mummy?” It was Dylan. The worry just increased even more. Especially considering the worry in his little voice. “It’s daddy, he got hurt by a car.” He explained, as he tried his best to stay calm.

His voice, although innocent, hit you like a slap in the face. You weren’t quite sure how to process what he was telling you.

“Ok baby, where are you?” You asked, as you tried to match the level of calmness that he had. Too young and innocent to really process what could be happening.

“We are near the park.”

The park was just at the end of your road. Idyllic you thought, for raising a family as your children would never be too far away from a slide or a swing.

“Darling, I need to call the people that are going to be able to help daddy. So mummy needs to go for a little while. Keep talking to daddy about your dinosaurs and I’ll be with you soon.” You said, as you hung up the phone.

Your hands shook as you dialled the emergency services. Hastily informing them of the situation, as you left the house. Running as fast as your legs would carry you, feet pounding on the tarmac as you raced to the end of the road.

The scene of devastation getting clearer the nearer that you got. You pushed through the crowd that had begun to form, desperate to get to your little family. You found Dylan perched on the edge of the pavement, still holding onto Harry’s hand. Talking to him about triceratops. Harry’s face was covered in blood, as was Dylan’s uniform.

“I’m here.” You said, bending down to both of them. You tried your best to hold back the tears for Dylan’s sake. But the more that you looked at what was going on around you, the harder that was becoming.

“You need to look after Dylan for me. Make sure he knows what a strapping young donny his dad was.” He mumbled, his voice weak.

“Don’t be so silly! We’re gonna stop all of the stupid shit and be a normal family again. You’re going to show him just how incredible you are, yourself.” You whispered, allowing a few tears to fall, but you made sure to wipe them away before Dylan could see.

Harry laughed, spluttering as he did. As he coughed up some blood.

“The impact was pretty big… the car was going to hit Dylan and I couldn’t face that. I knew my life wouldn’t be worth living, so I took the impact. Nothing is worth our boy.” He explained.

“You are the bravest, most selfless man I’ve ever met.” You said, leaning down to place a soft kiss on his lips.

You both exchanged I love you’s, before his eyes fluttered shut. You took Dylan’s hand and left the scene. Not wanting him to experience any more of this than he really needed to.

As you got back into your house, you heard the bleating sirens of the ambulance. They were far too late. By the time that they got there, the love of your life and the father of your child, had gone.

[be-ready-when-i-say-go]

Here’s a half formed thought about Calum going back to school at the same time as you during the crazy ass pandemic. Enjoy. 

Reader insert. No race or gender. 

********************

You were always going back to school. When you ran into Calum last year--though it really wasn’t you running into Calum; he was doing his grocery shopping and you checked him out--you knew being a clerk at the grocery store wasn’t the end all be all for you. 

What you had noticed over the couple of months is that whenever Calum seemed to be doing his grocery shopping, he always came through your line. It didn’t matter if you were the only line opened or on the weekends one of the several lines open, Calum was there. He started with small talk, asking you how your day was going. And you asked about his. He shocked you the first time he used your name. But you forgot that it was on your name tag. “Well if you know my name it’s only fair I know yours,” you teased. 

“Calum,” he returned easily, taking the brown paper bags after you carefully packed them. 

Sometimes you noticed his dog in the cart and asked about them. You learned his name is Duke and that he’s been affectionately dubbed Baby Grandpa by Calum. And eventually, though you hadn’t really meant to, you noticed things he bought frequently and whenever you happened across his path while walking to or from back break, you’d let him know if there was a sale going on. 

And thought it was only just friendly chat while you were on the clock, you were out pumping gas on your way to lunch with your friends when you heard your name. As you turned, there was Calum, walking out of the gas station, waving as he pushed his sunglasses back to cover his eyes. 

“Fancy meeting you here,” you laughed, waving in return. What you hadn’t expected as Calum walked across the lot to the pumps is that he would chat until the question of a date fell off from his lips. And sure Calum was attractive, and sure the conversation over the weeks while you checked out his items had turned a little flirty but you hadn’t expected that Calum felt anything remotely serious about you to ask you on a date. 

But you accepted. And there you were able to talk over a nice picnic that excluded Duke, but at your explicit disappointment at not seeing the old dog, Calum promised that next time, he would make sure to include Duke. That picnic lead to a movie, which lead to dinner, which lead to a date shopping for Duke because of the upcoming holidays, which lead to dinner at his place, and then hanging out with his friends for a quick drink one night, which lead to movie nights at each others place. 

And somewhere in all of it, you were dating Calum. He called when you had the closing shift at work to make sure you got home safely. Or if you spent the night, he’d make you breakfast, and he soothed your back as you hunched in front of your laptop to paid for applications for grad school. And he listened to the way you talked about knowing you couldn’t stay in this spot forever and he encouraged you go back to school. You could feel out that school was something that Calum was considering but he hadn’t been too serious about it. Not the band, the tours, the in the studio’s late--just never felt like he had the time.

Occasionally, you talked about some of the online courses you saw the schools had. But Calum hadn’t fully budged. By the time you got news about you going back to school, with funding, and sorting that news out with your job, Calum asked you if you thought he should give a crack at school. You told him the truth, that if he wanted to go for it, he should. And soon, things crumbled globally with the pandemic. And locked in the house most of the time, you dropped subtle and not so subtle hints that making those online classes might be closer and closer to coming true. 

Now you’re here, sitting at the dining room table, your printed out readings and books scattered in front of you. Calum’s on the couch. His notes on the coffee table. You’re in class, listening to the lecture headphones in and you look over to Calum, his class ended just as yours started. His fingers are working over the keys. 

He’s only in a couple of classes. And though you’re in one more class than him, there’s the added struggle of the work you do too. It’s administrative, but there’s meetings once a week and you still find yourself being offloaded onto with lots of small annoying data tracking tasks. It’s paying for school, so you do it with minimal complaints, but a few nonetheless. 

You’re so lost watching Calum working that you don’t even realize that the class you’re in is preparing for small breakout rooms until someone calls your name. You blink and turn back to the screen. “Sorry, zoned out. We’re discussing the reading, yeah?”

Your group nods and you manage to get back on track until the end of your class. Just as you’re closing down the Zoom app, at least for the half hour before your meeting for work, Calum calls out. “Class done?”

You nod, popping out the earbuds. “Yeah. Got that meeting for work soon though.”

He hums, glancing up from the screen. He seems tired. Most of your nights both of you are up kinda late. Though, you make sure to turn it in early and practically drag Calum to bed a couple hours later. He’ll get caught up, work way too late into the night and then have to be up early for band meetings too. “Want me to fix dinner tonight then?”

“It’s my night. I can still do it.” 

“You sure. I know you’ve got to fix that spreadsheet too and do your readings for the week.”

You shake your head. “I can still cook. Might even start during our meeting.”

Calum laughs, remembering the other times you turned off your camera and shuffled around the kitchen to cook in meetings or in classes too. “Nonsense. Almost done with this paper, so I’ll cook. But as an exchange, if you don’t mind, could you read over this? It’s only a response to a reading and it’s not super long or anything. But this instructor’s a fucking hardass.”

You nod. You’ve read over his papers before. Most of the times it’s just making sure he has correct citations and you might make a note about needing a thesis statement or needing more of his analysis between his evidence. But it’s not much that you ever feel like you need to mention on his papers. You’ve found, most often, what Calum needs is just someone to listen to his ideas so he can sort them out loud and then all you do is take down the notes of what he said. Listening to him talk about this philosophy class and Literature class is awe inspiring. He always has more questions than answers, but it’s those questions that always lead him to some pretty amazing places in his writing. 

“Is this the professor that got on you about the spacing on that first paper?”

Calum nods, pushing the laptop to the coffee table on top of his notes. “Yes! Even you couldn’t see what was wrong, so I still don’t understand what they got on me about. And I formatted the second outline in the exact same way and didn’t get any points taken off, so I really don’t understand.”

“Well, it could’ve been Google Docs. When you downloaded it into Pages, the formatting might’ve gotten wonky? But even the Pages document looked fine, so I really don’t know what happened there. But you’re doing it all in Pages now and then exporting to a PDF when you submit correct?”

“Yeah, I am. Thanks for that tip though. I didn’t realize Pages wouldn’t work in the submission center.” His shuffle into the kitchen is paired by the click of Duke’s paws on the floor. Calum presses a quick kiss to the top of your head. “Spaghetti?”

Holding onto his forearm draped around your chest, you nod. “Spaghetti sounds lovely.”

“I saw you staring at me while you were in class,” he whispers close to your ear. 

“What? You’re hot. Sue me.”

His chuckle is soft, a rumble in his chest that you feel through your back. “Most definitely can’t sue you over that. But don’t make me go in the office. I need you to pass these classes.”

“I appreciate the concern, dear. But I think I’m doing pretty good. Besides, I’m signed up for a random art history class. I can say you’re a piece of art I needed to analyze.”

The laughter’s not soft now, he full on giggles--a bit of it getting cut off as he inhales into the sound. “You’re ridiculous.” His lips are soft against your temple as he stands back up. “So spaghetti. Garlic bread is a must. Salad?”

“Ugh, I guess I do need veggies.”

“Yes, yes you do.” He continues into the kitchen, the clinking of pots hitting the isle’s of the stove and bowls, boxes, and jars setting onto the counter. 

“How’s the other class going? You guys starting your novels yet?”

“19th Century Lit is well, 19th Century Lit.” Calum seemed intrigued by the Evil Children’s class you told him you saw. But it had filled by the time Calum got his work schedule sorted out. He turned to 19th Century Lit as his backup, and so far, it appeared to be going well. “We’re spending the first part on poetry. And that’s the most interesting. The rest of the books sound a little boring.”

You hum, nodding even though he can’t see you. “Hopefully the class picks up. I took a look at the spring classes. If you want to focus more on poetry there’s a Modern Poetry post 1930′s class.”

The glance is quick, but his brows are pulled upwards, in a slight intrigue. “I’d consider it for sure.”

The alarm on your phone goes off, letting you know you have ten minutes until the meeting. You turn back to your computer and start logging into the meeting. “You haven’t had an assignment for that class yet have you?”

“No. The midterm’s coming up soon though and I don’t even know how to begin to study for it.”

You pop one earbud in making sure your mic is muted. “You know I got you, babe.”

“Yeah, but you’ve got your classes too. I-I might stop by the professors office hours and ask for help.”

“That’s always a good idea. Do you know when they are?”

“Tuesday’s and Wednesday’s.” You know he doubled checked them because he probably wouldn’t have that readily available from the first day of classes. “Gonna go tomorrow.”

Popping up from the chair, you press a kiss to his cheek, as the pan sizzles just a little and the pot of water not showing signs of bubbles just yet. “Love you.”

“Love you too,” Calum returns, pulling you fully into his chest for a swift kiss. “Now, go! You’ve got a meeting.”

“Meeting schmeeting. Would rather kiss you.” You kiss him one last time before ducking back into the chair and turning the camera on. You notice just faintly in the background Calum’s visible as he shuffles between pans and pots. Duke walks up to you, standing up to get attention. 

“Oh, you know I can’t say no,” you mutter, setting him in your lap.

“Is that Duke?” your supervisor asks. He’s crashed a couple meetings before. 

You unmute and hold him better for everyone to see. “Yeah. His pops is cooking us dinner and that lack of attention just won’t do.” 

“Hey, you say that like I don’t love him,” Calum retorts, threatening the back of your head with a spatula. You giggle before muting yourself and place Duke back into your lap, digging up the word document you’ve started for all the meeting notes. 

Your supervisor laughs. “Well I think he’s getting plenty of attention in the chat.” There are some more dings as people join the meeting. “Looks like we have everyone, so let’s begin.”

tagging @calumscalm because you might still be taking that exam, love. 

and @5-secondsofcolor bc sunday reads bubs. 

[aen-maggs]

Comfort Zone - Chapter 2

Eddie Kingston x ofc

I woke up to my phone ringing. I checked the time. It was 3am.

"Hello?" I said with sleep in my voice.

"Hey, doll, member me?" I heard a husky voice on the other end. I sat up in bed.

"Tall, dark and handsome stranger that kissed me out of no where." I said. I heard him laugh on the other end.

"Now, come on. You didn't see that kiss comin?" He said.

"Not at all." I said, and couldn't help but smile.

"I wanted to make sure you got home alright." He said.

"I did, thank you." I said.

"I couldn't sleep neither.  Kept thinkin' about you."  His voice was raspy and he cleared his throat. "You wanna talk for a bit?"

"Uhm sure."  I settled into my bed and yawned as quietly as I could.

"If I'm keepin' you awake, just say so." He said. 

"Well, you are, but I don't often get calls in the middle of the night. I'm curious." I said.

"What 'chu curious about, doll?" He said.

"You. You aren't from Dallas, let alone Texas."  I told him and he laughed.

"Nah, I'm from New York, but I live in Florida. I'm in town for work."  I heard him light a cigarette.

"What do you do?" I asked.

"That's kinda a long story. I'll tell you when we got more time.  What do you do?"  He asked.

"I'm a technician at a veterinary clinic." I told him.

"Oh like dogs and cats." He said sounded excited.

"Mostly. There are a few other animals we see sometimes, but mostly dogs and cats."  I told him.  

"What do you do for fun?" He asked.

"Mostly, I hang out with the guys. They like to hit the bars, so I usually off to drive."  I said.

"That's it?  Don't sound too much fun, doll."  I could almost hear him shake his head.

"What can I say, I'm boring." I mocked.

"Nah, you ain't boring. You just need a little push in the right direction." He said it so seductively, I felt my face redden slightly.

"Look, I'm in town for a few days. I wanna see you again though, if that's ok with you." He said. I could imagine him pacing to see what my answer was.

"I think I would like that." I said taking a leap.

"Yeah?  I can meet you somewhere." He sounded eager and I knew I was probably playing this all wrong.  I just met this guy, but I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and take a chance.

"I mean, it's supposed to rain all day. You could come here. I could make us lunch or something." I offered, but I know I didn't sound confident.

"Yeah? It's been a while since someone cooked for me. You sure you ok with that?" He asked.

"Yes, I am cool."  I said.

"You know, I can't promise I won't be the big bad wolf and all." I heard him grin and his voice sent shivers down my spine. I was feeling flush and I was excited and nervous at the same time.

"I guess we will have to see." I said with a grin of my own. He gave a chuckle.

"I like a challenge, Ronnie, don't tempt me." He said. Hearing him say my name made my stomach tighten and I let out a breath I knew he heard.

"If just us talking does that to you, we might be in trouble." He said with a slight growl and I closed my eyes to try to steady myself.

"Imma let you go get some sleep. Text me your address when you wake up."  Eddie said and my heart started racing.

"What about you?  Are you going to sleep?" I asked.

"No, doll, I'm awake and will be for a while. I'll see you soon though." He said. "Get some rest, night Ronnie."

"Night Eddie." I said and hung up the phone.

I tried to go back to sleep but there was no way. We had talked for enough time that I was wide awake. I decided to get up and check my kitchen.

Supplies were low, but I was able to make a white cake with white frosting somehow. With dessert ready, I was trying to decide on what to make for lunch.

I sat at my computer and started looking up recipes. My mind was moving wildly. I had no idea what this guy would like. I had no idea who the hell he was, and I invited him over to my house. I must be crazy!

I decided on a my grandmother's chicken spaghetti. It was filling and I didn't know anyone that didn't like it. Still, I worried it might be too weird. Cooking for a stranger, Ronnie?

I fell asleep at my computer after placing a pick up order. I was drooling on my laptop when I woke up. Quickly, I went and picked up my supplies. Running home I made the casserole and stuck it in the oven. I then grabbed a shower and got dressed.

Now I was ready to text my new friend.

Me: Is it too late in the day?

Eddie: No. was waiting to hear from you. Got nervous for a second.

Me: Here is my address.

I waited a few minutes before he responded.

Eddie: I'm closer to you than I realized. Map says only 10 minutes. Imma clean up then be over. Ok?

My heart flipped upside down. Play it cool, girl.

Me: Sure. I'll see you then.

My phone rang startling me. It was Jeremy

"Please tell me you didn't have Daniel over last night." He said when I answered.

"I did not." I told him proudly. I was so nervous and excited I couldn't see straight.

"What's up? You sound giddy." He asked suspiciously.

"Nothing really. Just a guy I met at the bar last night. He texted me. I'm going to meet up with him today." I told him.

"Whoa, that big fella outside the bar?" Jeremy asked.

"Yeah, him. His name is Eddie. He's in town on business." I said.

"Ronnie, this smells of a booty call." My friend said.

"So what? At least it isn't Daniel right? You guys always told me to break the cycle. Maybe this is how I do it." I said.

"Alright, sis, just be careful." He told me. Once we got off the phone I was counting the minutes.

[fandom-necromancer]

Don’t feel lonely

This was prompted by an amazing anon! Enjoy!

Fandom: Detroit become human | Ship: Reed900

‘Seep well, love‘, Nines whispered, kissing Gavin’s forehead, who looked up at him with a lopsided smirk. ‘Sappy bastard.’ Nines huffed and looked back at his human. He wished more than anything else to join him under the blanket, but until Officer Keith had recovered from surgery, he was covering the nightshifts. What meant he had to leave when Gavin went to bed and they had little time for each other. Nines hated it. But he couldn’t really complain when his only argument was wishing to spend more time with his husband. He threw him one last gentle smile, before pulling the door close until it was left ajar just right for the cats to enter. He petted them on his way out and took Gavin’s motorcycle to drive to work.

It was weird to see the precinct relatively empty. Of course, there were always people around, but less so than during the day. He sat down at his station and started up his own terminal, its hum sounding so differently now that Gavin’s computer wasn’t running. He looked up to the other desk, while the terminal built up the connection. When was the last time they hadn’t worked together? Nines supposed it was Fowlers doing synchronising their schedule. It was cruel to say the Detective had become more docile, but RK900 had to admit, Gavin did work better with him around. How much could change when a person felt appreciated…

Nines sighed thinking about how Gavin was at home, sleeping. Would he be able to sleep? He shook his head at the thought. Gavin was a grown man who could fend for himself, his independent lifestyle one of the qualities Nines appreciated greatly. But he remembered the nightmares. If anything, he didn’t want the man to feel lonely ever again. Gavin was his. His human, his partner, his love, his everything. He had given him so much and- That was when he had an idea for a solution. Maybe there was a way to let Gavin know that even if they didn’t see each other as much. With a grin, Nines allowed the terminal to establish the readied connection.

-

When Gavin woke up, the first thing he felt for was Nines. Only to realise that – right – Nines was at work. He sighed, turning back around and sitting up. He rubbed his eyes and chuckled to himself. ‘Well, that was fast. Not a day passed, and you already miss the damn tin-can.’ He stood up and got ready for work, making himself a sandwich and holding it in between his teeth as he hurried outside calling an automated Taxi and then texting Nines. >Hey >Leave the bike for me in the parking lot got you a taxi dipshit Of course, darling< The answer was immediate and Gavin smiled. Oh, that android was insufferable.

He met Nines in the hallway. He handed Gavin the keys for his bike and used the contact to pull him into a close hug. ‘A few new clues from forensics came in. I looked them over, some could be related to your hunch.’ ‘Noted, toaster’, Gavin laughed and freed himself. ‘See you in eight hours!’ ‘I’ll wait for you.’ ‘Alright.’

They parted ways and Gavin continued walking inside. He reached his desk after waving Tina goodbye too and sat down. On autopilot he hit the switch of his computer and frowned when his fingers scratched against paper. He bowed down and pulled off the sticky-note, reading it while his other hand completed the task. I love you. Underneath there was a little heart. ‘This goddamn toaster’, Gavin swore, but stuck the note to his pinboard nonetheless, only then returning to work.

-

Nines sat on the sofa when Gavin came home, waiting for him as promised. ‘Hey, you romantic idiot, I’m back home!’ ‘Oh, so you got my note?’, Nines asked. ‘Yeah. Thanks, I hate it.’ ‘Come on, you love it.’ ‘You’ll never get me to admit that’, Gavin smirked and stepped closer, letting himself fall down next to him. Nines laughed and just wordlessly snuggled closer.

‘Nines. What’s that?’, Gavin asked after a few minutes of them silently just sitting there. ‘Flowers’, the android answered without opening his eyes. ‘I see that. Why are there flowers on the coffee table?’ ‘They are decorative and a sign of affection.’ ‘They are blocking the view of the television.’ Nines laid a hand on his cheek and pulled his face to his own. ‘We are not watching television right now’, he just said and kissed him until Gavin’s stomach started to grumble for food.

-

That evening, Nines had been extremely cuddly, not that Gavin had complained. Well, he had, but he didn’t mean it, it was just out of habit and the android understood that. They had stayed in bed until it was time for him to leave for work again and Gavin tried to fall asleep.

The next morning, he didn’t leave the house before walking over to the flowers and admiring them. They were his favourite colours and smelled wonderful. Wherever Nines had found flowers that early in the morning, Gavin did appreciate the gesture. When he put on his jacket and searched in the pocket for his keys, he instead found a note again. Left you the bike today. Try to drive safely for once. Love you. Gavin resisted the urge to crumble it to a ball in his hand annoyedly. It was a small gesture that was so soft, so incredible Nines. And he wasn’t a moody brat anymore, he knew Nines really meant these things. So, he took the effort to neatly fold it and put the note in his wallet before opening the garage.

Arriving at work, it was Gavin’s turn to hand over the keys and on top of it, he tiptoed to kiss Nines, who hadn’t anticipated that at all. Before he could comment on that though, Gavin had already skipped on, waving and calling back: ‘Greet the cats for me!’ At his desk, another sticky-note was waiting for him already. Can’t wait till you get home. And a little comic cat underneath. One for the pinboard he immediately decided. Only then he started up his computer and opened a drawer to get out his pen and a bit of paper to take more messy notes of how the newest evidence might be connected to their case. If he’d come that far. On top of his notebook, a chocolate bar was lying. His favourite sort on top of that. Gavin sighed and took it out, looking over to Nines’ desk. This goddamn lovelorn… dork. How he managed to have someone like him fall in love with someone like him… Well, it was a prove miracles did happen.

Gavin didn’t know whether Nines had left these gifts because he felt lonely, or because he didn’t want him to feel lonely. Either way, he decided he would have to do his part. Nines had made the effort, it was only fair to give something back. So, he spent his day figuring out how to while scanning pictures and comparing them with others.

-

Nines once again was waiting for Gavin at home. Only that now he was waiting with food and he could keep it warm only for so long. Had something happened at work? A call to a new crime scene maybe? But Gavin would have texted him if he knew he would be coming late. Maybe he was stuck in traffic? The moment his pre-constructions started to drift off to more serious possibilities, the doorbell rang. He left the stove alone for a while and opened only to see Gavin holding a package of blue cookies out to him.

Nines frowned but took it while Gavin squeezed himself through the gap to get out of his jacket and shoes. ‘Gavin, what’s this about?’ ‘Got your messages, toaster.’ Nines turned around and closed the door. ‘Are you bribing me to stop?’ Gavin laughed and again dove in for a kiss. ‘Idiot. I love you. I love this. Would love it far more if you were by my side again, but if it has to be this way…’ ‘Yes?’ ‘If it has to be this way, then I’m returning the gesture. Love your goddamn overly romantic heart. Still don’t know how you fell for me, but I’m keeping you now you oversized calculator!’ He hugged the machine close and Nines grinned holding him. ‘Your spaghetti will get cold.’ ‘Then let it get cold, I’m not moving.’

[cutesycadaver]

Pellets

And now my creepypasta parody of Cupcakes (Mlp)

Content warning/violence, torture, Cannibalism, death, twists

After their plan had blown up in their faces, Brain was ready to collapse. He was lying on their sponge bed while Pinky was messing around on a lab computer. “Brain, come look!” He called, He begrudgingly got up from their bed, feeling quite sore. “What is it Pinky?” Brain grumbled “I found this video Reading Cupcakes (creepypasta) it’s about Pinkie Pie! Though cupcakes and haunted spaghetti sounds strange.” Brain looked at the screen, the video showed a cupcake with rainbow frosting “How do you know it’s about Ms. Pie?” Brain already knew Pinky was amazed by the horse he shared a name with but the video didn’t seem to directly state anything regarding her. “Oh, She was on the front but her mane was really straight and flat and her eyes were so small, poit.” Brain was growing suspicious “Pinky don’t you believe this seems...sketchy.” “Maybe but it’s Pinkie, It’s gotta be fun fun silly willy! Let’s watch it together!” Brain was hesitant “Alright” he mainly wanted to be there to turn off if (more like when) it turned sour.

At first it seemed like Pinkie Pie came seeking Rainbow Dash wanting some help making cupcakes, but took a gruesome turn. The problem being both mice were entranced and couldn’t get themselves to stop the video before it was too late. When the video finally ended there was a minute of absolutely nothing. They had wrapped themselves tightly together, both shaking. “B-Brain?” Pinky stuttered, shattering the deafening silence. “Yes, Pinky” Both mice sounded rather dreary “I-I’m s-scared” “I know you are.” Brain couldn’t get himself to admit he was too. “We should get to bed regardless.” The smaller mouse trying to regain his typical demeanor. He broke away from the embrace quickly, standing up. “O-ok, I mean ok, narf” Pinky attempted the same though his narf was far less enthusiastic than it typically was.

The two curled up next to each other, far closer than normal. “Pinkie isn’t really like that is she?” Pinky asked genuinely “Of course not, Pinky, it was just a story. You know Ms. Pie is just like you.” Brain rubbed his companion’s arm in an attempt to comfort him. “Just like me?” “Yes.” Suddenly the fatigue he felt earlier hit him like a truck. “We should sleep Pinky” he yawned “Ok Brain” he sheepishly grinned. Brain’s eyes slipped shut, his last sight was his still quite awake cagemate, seemingly content though.

Brain awoke with a start, though the cage was still quite dark. Now that he thought about it, was he in the cage? He seemed to be suspended upright in the air by ropes tied to his wrists and ankles. His heart began to race, What was happening? Where was he? “Pinky?” He called out, concern flooding his tone. “Oh, you’re awake sleepy head!” A familiar cockney accent giggled calmly “Pinky, you’re ok! Where are we? What’s happening?” Brain couldn’t see anything but Pinky was near, that was good “This is my workshop you silly goose. And your number came up, you get to join the party!” Workshop? Number? Party? Before Brain could voice any of his inquiries the lights flickered on. His eyes couldn’t believe it. There were tables with various painted mouse skulls as centerpieces. Balloons made of livers and kidneys and stomachs were all around . Streamers of intestines lined the top of the walls of the gritty basement Brain was in. “Welcome to the Party, isn’t it fun fun silly willy that I finally get to work with a friend!” Pinky appeared in front of him, donning a fur coat made of squares of, all too familiar, whites, grays and browns. “P-Pinky cease this foolishness at once.” Because that’s all it was, an elaborate prank, a stupid joke. “But I can’t Brain, it’s my job. And a job is a job is a job and I gotta do it, troz.” “What job?” “To turn you into food pellets, Brain.” He paused “Pinky this isn’t funny!” Brain shouted struggling against the restraints. “Well cause it’s not a joke Brain.” Pinky giggled. As Brain moved trying to free himself, he caught eye of a table with various tools typically used by the surgical scientists. It wasn’t a joke.

“Pinky, I-I’m sorry. I-I’ll be better, no more bad names, we’ll play the games that you like...every other night. We’re friends, Pinky, you can’t do this.” He pleaded, whatever would make him change his mind, anything “Brain, I already told you it’s my job” no no he needed more “Pinky I...I” he needed to force the words out, his life did depend on it “Pinky I love you! I always have, please, let me go, I’ll keep quiet, I’ll love you forever. No one will know I promise.” Pinky stood in shock for a moment, then lovingly looked at him “Oh, Brain!” He swooned, he came closer. Brain crashed their lips together in a hopeful deep kiss. “Zounds, Brain! I’ve never gotten a goodbye kiss before. Oh, Thank you it was so sweet. This batch is sure to be good.” Pinky pulled away seeming giddy but Brain’s hope died as his friend spoke. “Pinky...but…” “Aren’t you a smarty Brain, I told you it’s my job, zort.” His gleefully expression drooped. “I don’t make the rules, Brain. I really wish I did but your number came up and those are the rules.” Pinky shrugged “Pinky…” Brain started not entirely sure what he would say “Wait Brain, I just remembered something.” Pinky ran off to another part of the room. Brain’s immediate thought was to think to escape but then if he did what would he do, to hide from Pinky, with the knowledge of this, to cope, with his life.

Pinky was back as soon as he left, hiding his hands behind his back. “Brain guess who’s here to see you?” Pinky asked gleefully, Brain stayed in silent confusion raising an eyebrow “Hey Brain, it’s me Snowball, let’s ditch the dummy and take over the world together.” Pinky said in a poor impression of the hamster. He waved around a skull reminiscent of Brain’s own head. Brain gasped, he and Snowball were enemies but the knowledge he was dead made him sick. “I know he didn’t have a number like everyone else” blue eyes stared into the empty sockets “but when would I be able to try hamster meat again. I remember you liked them, said they were slightly more salty. Troz” Brain remembered the taste so vividly now in utter disgust. At the time the fact that the food pellets seemed to change two days after he defeated Snowball didn’t mean anything. Now it meant everything. This dawned the revelation that he was eating mice on the regular. Nausea took over his senses, Brain wanted to pass out.

Pinky studied the look on Brain’s face, then seemed to snap his attention to the table of tools. “Oh, Brain, We’re getting behind, we should get started.” Brain swallowed hard, he wanted to voice more pleas for escape but couldn’t force the words out. Pinky picked up a scalpel “I should get your fur patch first so it does get all icky and red, narf!” The tick that usually gave Brain mild irritation or silent bliss now sent puncturing fear and disbelief through his veins. Pinky went to his back and, with the scalpel, lightly cut a heart. When he got to be about the full size of his back, he placed the scalpel where he started, pressing further into the flesh. “Nyaaaaaa!” Brain writhed, the cold blade sliced through his back. Pinky traced the heart carefully, cleanly cutting the skin. Blood started to run down from the bottom of the heart. Brain instinctively struggled against the searing pain. “Brain, stop moving, I’ll mess up the cut.” Pinky complained, Brain forced his body to comply, with the hope Pinky might spare him with mild injuries if he behaved. Taking deep breaths to try to slow his heart, even though he knew it wouldn’t do much. Pinky had completely traced his work, setting the scalpel down, he placed a hand at the top of the heart and slowly peeled the flesh from his friend’s back. Brain stiffened, eyes widened, he let out a small squeaky cry, a single tear rolling slowly down his cheek. He forced his eyes closed to prevent more tears. Pinky eyed his work, satisfied with how it came out. He walked around to face Brain and show him the pelt. “Oh Brain it’s perfect! I made yours special, it’s heart shaped. I usually make them squares.” As Brain tried to open his eyes a wave of agony washed over him as the air pushed against the open wound.

Pinky went to place the pelt somewhere else in the room. Brain steadied his breaths trying to ignore the pain. He realized just how out of control of the situation he really was. He pondered the irony of his demise. It was almost funny. Almost. “ I’m back, zort” Pinky greeted, his usual cheery tone felt foreign in Brain’s ears. The lanky mouse went over to the tools, grabbing a simple kitchen knife. “Now for your ziggy-zaggy tail.” Pinky went behind Brain, wrapping a hand directly under the first bend. The contact would be sensual if not for what Brain knew what was coming. Pinky slammed the blade down, creating a red slit at the base of his friend’s tail. Brain writhed as the agony jolted through him. Pinky took a couple more strikes. Lingering on a third to slide the knife through the cut, as he wasn’t making progress. Brain let his tears flow freely, he quite literally had nothing left to lose. Pinky struck the tail again, it did nothing. “Guess I forget to sharpen it.” Pinky dropped the knife on the table. He picked up a hack-saw “Brain, why do they call it a hack-saw, it doesn’t hack, that’s what I was doing with the knife, it’s a saw poit.” Pinky giggled, Brain quietly sobbed. Pinky grabbed the tail again “Pinky?” Brain sniffled “Yes Brain” “I want to go home.” This was pathetic, he was pathetic and he wanted to be alone. “I feel like that sometimes too but I gotta finish a job zort.” He placed the saw in the cut “Oh, Like how we do with your plans, we never really finish but we get as far as we can before we fail.” Pinky pushed the saw, cutting through the flesh. “You know, Brain, I don’t usually keep the tails, but yours is just so special I had to!” Pinky giggled but soon the sound of grinding flesh and bone was the only sound that filled Brain’s ears. Pinky sawed through the appendage until it was only attached by a bit of flesh “Hey Brain, think fast poit!” He didn’t have time to register what Pinky said before his tail was ripped away from his body peeling a long strip of skin from his back with it. Brain couldn’t handle the pain slowly passing out as it surged through him.

Brain felt a small pinch before awareness filled his head. “It’s very rude to fall asleep when your friend is hanging out with you, you know.” Pinky reprimanded “I mean what I fell asleep in the middle of a plan, ‘Sorry Brain, you’re just sooooooooooo boring.’” Brain looked up about to make his own snarky remark before noticing Pinky was chewing on something, flashing a curious look. The lanky mouse took notice. “I needed to try some so I took a sample from your leg. Want some?” Pinky shoved a small piece of meat into the shorter mouse’s mouth. Brain spit out the chunk of his own flesh. He shuddered at the fact it tasted good. “You could have just said no, it’s not like you haven’t eaten the food pellets before.” Pinky said surprisingly curtly. “Ahhhhhh!” Brain finally felt the wound on his thigh, for where the “sample” had been taken. He started to sob as he fully remembered the earlier events. Pinky started to laugh “You really should have seen this coming Brain, it says I’m insane in the intro.” Brain’s expression twisted into a scowl. “Oh you’re cute when you’re angry but for falling asleep, I’ve got a surprise.” Pinky walked away leaving Brain very confused.

He came back with a nail gun. “Pinky...what are you doing?” Brain said, faking his sternness and attempting to swallow his fear. “You’ll see!” Pinky giggled, turning on the power tool. He knelt down to be eye level with Brain feet. He struggled against the restraints once again. “Pinky!” He reprimanded, he was ignored,  the nail gun pressed against his left foot. Brain’s heart sped up, his breath hitched, his fear became known once more. “Please...don’t…” he whimpered weakly, he was ignored again, a nail shot through his foot. “Ahhhhhhhhhh!” The immediate pain of the puncture registered first but it was soon realized that the nail was burning the flesh surrounding it. He was using heated nails. Boiling blood ran off his foot and onto the rope that held it in place. Pinky went to the other foot as Brain writhed. The second nail went in, cauterizing the wound it formed. Fresh tears spilled fast and freely as another scream could be heard, Pinky giggled. He walked away, probably to go get something. Brain heard Pinky’s sadistic laughs, wondering if this really was the adorable goofball he fell in love with.

Pinky walked back towards him, heading towards something behind his tool table, a bundle of wires in hand. Brain couldn’t quite see what he was doing but Pinky appeared to be attaching the wires to something. He walked back in front of him, holding the ends of two wires. “Oh Brain I think you’ll find this next one quite shocking, narf!” he laughed “Pinky please, I’m sorry you...you don’t have to do this.” He pleaded softly, the nails still deliriously painful “You shouldn’t have been such a sleepy head Brain.” Pinky’s tone was casual “Don’t you bop me when I do something stupid?” “I-I thought you liked the bops?” “Oh I do Brain! They feel funny and make me get all…gooshy!” Pinky giggled, his eyes going half lidded and a bit of drool dripping from his mouth. “Don’t you love me, Pinky?” The mouse in question blinked out of his lovesicktrance “Well of course Brain, you’re my best friend!” Pinky hugged him, making all his wounds sting, including the one in his heart “Than why…” “Because! It’s! My! Job! And these are the rules. I know you don’t always get it when I say silly things but this isn’t silly. You tell me I gotta do my job and do it right all the time!” Pinky seemed to grow very angry on a dime, tying the wires to the nails “If you really loved me you wouldn’t do this!” Brain shouted, more pain than actual anger. Pinky walked over to where he before “You need to calm down Brain this might help.” A mischievous gleam in his eyes, he pulled a lever. Suddenly a strong electrical current coursed through Brain’s entire body. His muscles tensed, the pain unbearable and unchanging, the screaming uncontrollable and straining. Brain finally felt his body lost consciousness even though he tried to force himself through theare pain.

Another needle pinch in his abdomen before the awareness and trepidation came flooding back. “I’M SORRY! Pinky, I’m sorry.” Tears filled his eyes, wishing for mercy “Hush, It’s time for the harvest, this part’s my favorite, narf!” Pinky took a scalpel and pressed it deep into Brain’s sternum. The blood trailing down either side of his chest. He pulled the scalpel down his stomach. Pinky giggled at Brain’s screams. Peeling open the flesh to reveal the organs underneath. “Now to separate the good stuff from the bad stuff this is so fun fun silly willy! Like your plans, oh your plans. I’m sorry Brain you never got your world, didn’t you?” The sentiment sounded sincere yet demeaning “Pinky…” teary eyes looked into a sea of horrible sadistic beauty “Pinky you are my world.” Brain said in true defeat. He supposed it made sense that his world would end him. “Oh Brain, you stole my heart.” Pinky looked at his surgical work. He recklessly shoved his arm into his lover's ribs and pulled the aforementioned organ from Brain’s writhing body. “Now I stole yours ha ha ha narf!” With one last breath Brain’s eyes slipped shut.

Brain awoke a start, in bed, he was in bed. Brain was back in the cage, it was morning. He looked beside him, Pinky wasn’t there. “Pinky? PINKY!” panic filled his voice. “You’re awake! Brain? Are you ok?” “Y-you strapped me to a table! I-in a basement with dead mice everywhere! A-and you turned me into food pellets!” He spoke frantically “Brain that’s Rocket to Insanity silly.” “Huh?” “Rocket to Insanity, that’s the one where Rainbow Dash dreamed up Cupcakes and then goes to Pinkie and stabby-stabs her. Wait, you’re

not gonna stab me are you, Brain?” The smaller mouse looked at his friend in relief then processed his question. Without another moment his lips were locked with Pinky’s. “So that’s a no?” “I would never stab you, Pinky.” He stated gently “And you’re an idiot for ever thinking I would.” Brain quipped “There’s my Brain!” Pinky hugged him “I love you Pinky.” If that dream made anything clear it’s that those words needed to be said. “Really Brain?” Blue eyes gleamed hopeful “Yes, Pinky, really.” Pinky pressed their lips together. “I love you too.”

[thatsbucknasty]

she used to be mine (iv) waitress au

pairing: Y/N x Bucky

summary: Inspired by the broadway musical. Y/N Beck is a pie baking force to be reckoned with. She’s pregnant with her lazy ass husband, Quentin Beck’s baby. As everything around her turns upside down, Doctor James Buchanan Barnes charms his way into her life.

tags are open c:

chapter 4: it only takes a taste

Time goes by so fast and I swear my uniform shrunk in the washing machine. I’ll have to ask doctor Barnes when I’m gonna start showing cause the girls say I still look normal but my clothes disagree.

Thank god Quentin’s still clueless about the baby and I’m happy about it. I just wish he’d find a job, that way maybe I could tell him and we could save money together instead of me doing all the work while he’s out having all the fun. I don’t mind that he spends a lot of time at the bar with his friends, it actually gives me a breather from time to time. I wouldn’t complain at all if he was buying his six packs with his own money. I’m worried about him though. He comes so late every night and he’s always in a bad mood, always complaining. Let’s just hope tonight his football team wins or I won’t hear the end of it.

“Y/N, did you bring me leftovers again? You bake god knows how many pies every day for the diner but you can’t bring your husband a single one that’s actually still warm and, oh I don’t know, whole?” He puts the plate aside and moves around the table to where I’m standind. God, the nerve of this man!

“You know I’m in a bad situation right now. Being unemployed ain’t easy sugar. I stay here alone all day browsing the tv, it’s taking a toll on me mentally. The least you can do is try and cheer me up a little but you’re always so tired when you come home!”

“Well, Quentin, if I didn’t have to pick up all those extra shifts to be able to pay the bills every month, then I wouldn’t be so tired. But if I don’t do that we’d be out in the street! Just go apologize to Tony, he might give you your job back!”

“Don’t you dare even mention that son of a bitch. He’s the one who should apologize to me! He took me for granted. I gave his construction company the best years of my life. I even quit my dreams for that asshole and this is how he pays me? Hell no! I’m not going back there ever”. I’ve never seen his face so red with anger before, it was a mistake mentioning Tony Stark, he simply hates the man. I’ll just manage things myself, like I’ve been doing, I guess.

“Okay then, but don’t expect me to come home to you all giddy and excited, when I work my ass off while you watch football all day and drink beer all night with god knows who. Whatever differences you two had at work ain’t my fault, Quentin. I’m gonna go to bed now, I don’t wanna keep fighting with you”. I’ll sleep on the couch tonight, I can’t even stand to be in the same room as him.

-

It’s been four weeks since my first visit to the doctor and my next appointment’s this evening after work. Wanda really hit it off with Steve and since that day, they’ve been on several more dates. He even comes to the diner once or twice a week and he’s the perfect gentleman to her, both me and Nat are really happy for them. Right now he’s stuffing his mouth with my famous Spaghetti pie while listening to Wanda talk about the differences between disinfectant and bleach.

Nat’s acting strange though. I don’t know what’s up with her but she hasn’t been late to work this whole past month! Sometimes she’s even earlier than me, already helping Sam in the kitchen. Those two don’t seem to hate each other that much anymore, which is odd but appreciated.

-

Maria’s reception desk has sugarless lollipops in a vase and they look disgusting but I’ve been craving them since the last time I was here. This is my second appointment. I know the basics. I’ve met my doctor and nurse now. Then why does this feel like it’s the first time I’m here all over again? I even shaved my legs this morning and wore my hair down, but why? I open the camera app on my phone to use as a mirror. Is my face too plain? Should I have put some lipstick on? Jesus, it’s just a doctor’s appointment. I can’t help but hear Nat’s voice in my head say “yeah, but he’s a really cute doctor”.

“Doctor Barnes will see you now, Mrs. Beck, you know the drill. The robe’s in the chair”. Maria breaks me out of my trance and I follow her, change and wait for him.

“Hi, Y/N, it’s good to see you back, how have you been feeling?” He has a little more stubble on his face today. Good for him. Gives him an edge.

“Not too shabby. I still get morning sickness, thank god it only happens when I’m at work and not home, heh”.

“Oh, most women would want it to be the other way around”.

“Right. Um, Doctor Barnes?”

“Please call me Bucky, what is it?” He types on his computer and I bite my nails before asking.

“When do you think I’ll start showing?”

“Well, you’re only 6 weeks along, so maybe not for another three months or so. But in my opinion, women look beautiful when they show, motherhood really brings-” And here he goes. Nope. No more talk about that.

“Yeah, yeah, sure. I just, I haven’t told a lot of people and I’m not sure I want to yet. That’s all”.

“Okay, well, let’s check that tiny baby of yours, hop onto the table please”.

I do as he says and he smears some cold gel on my still normal belly, and then starts moving the scanner around.

“There’s the little peanut! You ready to listen to their heartbeat?” Bucky smiles at me softly and I nod.

I find myself feeling excited for the first time. And then I hear it. Steady and strong. And doctor Barnes disappears from my mind. For an instant I just hear that sound and I can’t wait to hold this baby in my arms. Everything feels connected and right.

“I’ll print you some pictures to keep and I made a recording of the heartbeat so you can have it too”.

“Thank you, I have another question though”.

“Shoot!”

“Did you like the pie?”

He’s blushing again. The rosy tone in his cheeks makes the blue of his eyes even brighter.

“Did I like- Oh my god! I can’t even begin to tell you how much I LOVED that pie! It only takes a taste, doesnt it?”

“What?”

“Y/N, I don’t think I’ve ever had anything as biblically good as that pie. I think I ascended into another dimension the moment I had that first taste. Did you really make it? Cause if you didn’t I need to know the store so I can get some more, now be honest!”

Wow. No one’s ever described my pies with such enthusiasm. I know they’re good but biblically good?

“I really made it”. I smile and tuck my hair behind my ear. Goodness, I’m the one who’s blushing now, but he is complimenting my work! 

“That’s amazing! You know you could win contests with those skills? I am not lying when I say I was transported to heaven”. I’ve never seen a man be so adorably excited over pie. It’s my new favorite thing.

“You know, I can bring you some more if you want? That is if you don’t mind eating more sugar, but don’t worry, I won’t tell your doctor”. His lopsided smile made my insides do a funny thing I hadn’t felt in a long time. This needs to stop.

“Ha, that’s funny. My doctor is my wife, she’s a dietician actually. But we’re getting a divorce, so maybe I’m divorcing the diet as well.”

And I made things awkward.

“I’m sorry”.

“It’s okay, hey, your pies are worth the few extra pounds”.

Sure, act like you don’t know how attractive you are.

“Well doctor, I’m glad you liked my pie. I gotta go now”.

“Oh, great, well um, here’s the recording and pictures. Tell Maria I’ll see you in three weeks. Have a nice weekend, Y/N. And please, call me Bucky”.

“Thank you, Bucky. Goodbye”.

 Something shifts when I say his name and he smiles in a way that makes his eyes light up. He opens the door for me and my stomach does a funny thing when I get a whiff of his scent again, it makes me want to stay there and smell it one more time just to keep it in my mind for later. Those pregnancy hormones must be all over the place.

-

chapter 5: you will still be mine

pls reblog if you liked it c:

[poorboypictures]

Major America: Ch. 1

Jordon Wilkinson was seven years old when he first learned of Captain America; he and his siblings were told by their grandfather of the time he fought beside Captain America and Bucky in World War II. All were enthralled, but none more than Jordon himself. Jordon began reading all he could about the Captain’s escapades before and during the war, learning his origin, his identity, and his disappearance; taking the hero to heart, Jordon stood up for those who couldn’t stand for themselves throughout his life, even joining the military after the Twin Towers fell, serving seven years before a hip injury took him out of action permanently. In 2012, Captain America resurfaced and Jordon was thrilled to have him as a moral standard in the country again, only to notice a change in the hero over the years.

***

2021, nine years after Captain America was freed from the ice; Major Jordon Wilkinson sits in a security office picking at his spaghetti and meatball lunch, staring intently in thought. Wally Gertz, his partner, is fidgeting with a Rubik’s Cube keychain with his feet up.

“Something wrong?” Wally asks.

Jordon blinks a few times and looks over at Wally. “Hmm?”

“Lunch ended ten minutes ago and usually you finish in five minutes just to keep watch on the feed.”

“No, I just have a lot on my mind.” Jordon takes a bite of his lunch as Wally puts away the cube.

“We’ve been working the same shift together for three years, Jordon; I would think I can read you well enough.”

Jordon sighs and pushes his lunch away before leaning back in his chair.

“You know the phrase ‘never meet your heroes’?”

Wally takes his feet off of the desk and leans forward. “You met him? You met Captain America?” He asks, eyes wide.

Jordon slowly nods. “The saying is true. At least, it wouldn’t have been if I met him when he came out of the ice. He’s changed and I think society was what did it; a man out of time, trying to keep up with the seventy years he missed, and I believe it corrupted him.”

“Sounds plausible; society is a bit of a mess these days.” He straightens his hat. “It’s a shame someone can’t just grab the shield and say ‘I’m the Captain now’.”

Jordon stops completely, an idea forming.

***

Later that day; Jordon is in his apartment on his computer, looking for a shield.

“The shield is the easy part.” He says to himself. “It’s the costume that will be hard to get; how am I going to get an extra thousand dollars for an accurate costume?”

He pauses as something dawns on him.

“Hang on…”

He gets up, grabs his phone, and calls someone as he sits back down at the computer.

“Hello?” Georgie Berke answers the phone.

“Georgie, it’s me, Jordon.”

“Hey, Jordy! How are you doing? How was your nephew’s birthday?”

“Loud, and disruptive, but I love him, so I didn’t leave. So, hey, I have a question.”

“Shoot.”

“How does one get an accurate costume?”

“Jordy.” She says teasingly. “Are you getting into cosplay?”

“Georgie, I’m 43 years old, I don’t do cosplay.”

“I’m 37, Jordy, what’s your point?”

“My point is-.” He says with a tad of frustration. “I want an accurate costume and I would like to know how to get one for a good price.”

“Weeelll… if you had an extra small fortune to spend on one you could do that.”

“Nope.” Jordon shakes his head. “I have bills to pay.”

“Then you could make a costume with your own twist, I’ve seen plenty of cosplayers use this method to save a buck without having to get a cheaply made costume.”

“That sounds doable. Thanks.”

“May I ask what exactly this is for?”

“… No. Bye.”

He hangs up, opens a new tab, and begins searching for his costume-with-a-twist.

***

One week later; Jordon is in his apartment listening to a police scanner app on his phone as he peals masking tape off of the recently painted heater shield; just as Jordon finishes taking the tape off, dispatch warns of an attempted robbery at a nearby bank.

“That’s a mile from here…” Jordon says to himself as he looks at his partly assembled costume on the couch; he looks at the shield and back to the couch, wondering whether he should go without a complete costume.

Jordon sighs and quickly puts the costume on, wearing the shield on his back like a backpack; he jumps down the fire escape and onto a red 2013 Harley-Davidson Breakout, tearing out of the alley way and down the street.

Literally a minute later, Jordon pulls into the alley next to the bank and walks into the rear entrance to hear two men trying to break into the safety deposit boxes; he sneaks up behind them, pulls out his gun, pistol-whips one crook, knocking him out, and knocks out the other with his shield, only for the resounding “clang!” to catch the attention of the crook standing guard at the other side of the room.

The crook shouts at Jordon. “HEY!”

Before Jordon can turn around and shield himself, the gunman shoots him in the thigh and side; Jordon holds in a scream of pain as the gunman empties his magazine into the shield; as the gunman tries to quickly reload, Jordon sprints forward at full speed and punches the man out cold only to find himself in front of the remaining three robbers ready to fire on him.

“Oh, crap…”

Jordon ducks behind the shield as the three men fire at him, emptying their magazines; they stop to taunt him as they reload.

“You supposed to be Captain America or something, man?” One asks.

“He’s got a round shield, you imbecile!” Another taunts.

Jordon takes a deep breath, blocking out the pain from being shot, and pulls out his gun.

“Come on, just like in the military.” He whispers to himself

He stands up and hits the first two gunmen in the shoulder without effort, but he and the third gunman fire at the same time; Jordon hits the gunman in the shoulder same as before, and the gunman hits Jordon in the bicep. The gunman goes down and Jordon holsters his gun, his breathing shaky; he looks around at the employees and citizens getting up from the floor.

“Is everyone okay?” He asks, trying to keep his voice from shaking.

A man in a suit nods. “Yes, we’re fine, but you need a doctor.”

“I’ve suffered worse, trust me.” Jordon says as he turns to go back the way he came in.

“Wait!” A woman calls. “What do we call you?”

Jordon stops and looks back. “I’m… Major America.”

He heads to the back of the bank to leave.

***

Soon, in Georgie’s apartment, Georgie is watching the news as she sips from a cup of tea; the news anchor is reporting on the bank robbery when the footage of the fight is played on screen. Georgia spews her tea out, coughing.

“JORDY!?”

***

In Jordon’s apartment, Jordon is sitting at his dining table stitching up the wound on his side when his front door bursts open, causing Jordon to jump as Georgie bolts in.

“Why didn’t you tell me!?”

Jordon grabs some gauze and puts pressure on his wound that has begun bleeding again.

“I really need to lock my door more often.” Jordon says, wincing. “Can you pass me that whiskey?”

He points to the bottle on the kitchen counter and Georgie hands it to him, watching as he takes a swig.

“Why are you drinking while stitching yourself up?” Georgie asks. “How do you even know how to stitch a wound?”

Jordon continues stitching.

“Back in Iraq our field medic got hit by a frag grenade along with a couple others; the anesthetic was apparently hit and drained out so we raided the basement of a bombed bar and the medic taught me how to stitch a wound because I had the steadiest hands.” He takes another swig of whiskey. “Sometimes the old ways are the best.”

He finishes stitching the wound and places some gauze over it.

“Can you hold that while I wrap the wound?”

“Fine.” Georgie huffs as she holds the gauze in place. “Just tell me what you were thinking when you decided to do this?”

“What are you? My mother?” Jordon quips as he finishes wrapping his wound. “I’m a grown man who can make his own decisions.”

“Not when they get you nearly killed!”

Jordon stands up and puts his shirt back on.

“I fought for seven years in a country that hated my guts, I can stand to fight a few more in another country that hates my guts. Doesn’t matter what you say, Georgie, I won’t stop what I’ve started.”

Georgie sighs and crosses her arms in a huff.

“No, you’re right; you’re an adult.”

She notices his bloodied costume and picks up the sweater.

“Also, what kind of costume is this? A baby could do better!”

“The gloves and jacket hadn’t arrived yet, they’ll be here in a couple of days.”

Georgie looks at him, cocking an eyebrow.

“Are you… Are you cropping a jacket?”

“… Noooo…” Jordon answers reluctantly.

“What color is the jacket?”

“Blue…”

“The only way you’re going to get the look you want is by cropping the jacket.”

“Fine! Yes, I’m going to crop the jacket!” Jordon winces and holds his side after the defeated outburst bothers his wound. “Okay, back to small talk.” He says, pained.

Georgie picks up Jordon’s helmet and mask and gives it a once over.

“Where did you get this?” She asks.

“The helmet was my grandfathers; quick coat of paint and it was perfect.” He takes a swig of whiskey once again. “The mask I found at an antique shop; the tag said it was an aviator’s mask used in the war, but I’ve never seen one like this before.”

“And the shield?”

“Got that online, bought three and tested two of them on my uncles range to see what guns they could handle; surprisingly a lot. I’m going to have to buy more after a while though, I’ll need to make a budget for that.”

“You really are serious about this, aren’t you?” Georgie asks, pulling a chair up next to Jordon.

“I am.”

“Why, though? What on God’s green Earth would get you to do this?” She asks, genuinely concerned.

“America needs a hero who will truly fight for them, a hero who understands what it means to be the little guy, America needs an underdog; do you think Ironman understands what it’s like to live paycheck-to-paycheck, or if Thor understands what it’s like to get mugged and you can’t pay your rent by the end of the week?”

“Probably not…” Georgie says.

“We rely too much on them; yeah, they’ve saved the world, but we don’t need Black Widow to find a stolen car. I’m going to try to be like that spider guy in Manhattan; he sticks to one area and does it well.”

Georgie stands up and stretches.

“If you’re going to do something stupid, I may as well help: if you find any information you can’t track just call me and I’ll see if I can find anything for you; I’m pretty good with computers, you know.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ll see you Monday.”

Georgie smiles and leaves the apartment.

***

A couple days later; a young man is being mugged by two men in an alley way, getting beaten; someone clears their throat and the muggers stop and turn to look down the alley to see Major America wearing a complete costume.

“Alright, boys, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.” He says.

The muggers look at each other and pull their knives.

“Hard way it is.”

He raises his shield and jumps into the fray.

End.

The Incomplete costume.

The Complete Costume.

Don't judge the art too harshly, I know what I have to work on I don't need people pointing it out.

Also, I suck at writing origins, I'm better at writing stories where the reader is assumed to know exactly who the characters are.

[temilyrights]

the case of us (chapter eleven)

Jack Sloane x Reader

A/N: Okay, we’re finally here. The last chapter. It's been a wild ride! Thank you all for joining me on this journey. I’m linking the dresses Jack and Reader wear later on in this chapter. My description doesn’t do Jack’s dress nearly enough justice. (Thank you for all your suggestions and this isn’t really what any of the colours you suggested but I saw it and fell in love). Also @x-multifandom-trash-x​ I may have added an adaptation of the text thing you tagged me in....Also, gotta thank @sassystrongsexysloane​ for being my sounding bored and motivating me to write aha. Wow, so this really is the end. Really thank you guys for reading/commenting/liking. I'm honestly kind of sad it's over. I hope you're happy with how I decided to end it. It took me forever to decide how to do it because I just kept adding more ahah. Anyway, I’ll shut up now and as always, feedback is welcome and very much appreciated :)

Jack | Reader (just pretend there’s a slit in reader’s dress)

Read on AO3

Chapter Ten

You sat on the cold autopsy table watching Jimmy pace back and forth, hair sticking up in different directions due to how many times he’d run his hands through it. “This was going to be the celebration we never had! But if I can’t make it or you guys can’t-” 

Jumping off the table you grab Jimmy’s arms halting his steps. “There’s no way you won’t be there and it’s still two days away Jimmy, I’m sure the case will be wrapped up by then.” 

Jimmy and Breena were throwing an anniversary party, they’d sent out invitations months ago but this was your third day working the case for SecNav and it didn’t seem like it would be wrapping up anytime soon so Jimmy was beginning to freak out. He wanted you all there and you wanted to be there. It was just the reality of that happening was lowering by the day. 

“You think so?” 

“I do. I don’t care if we wrap the case 10 minutes before the party begins, I’ll make sure everyone is there.” At your earnest expression, Jimmy relaxes slightly, and you drop your arms from him. 

“Thank you.” 

“Not a problem.” You smirk. “Now, I need to go get a book from Jack. I’ll see you later.” You exchange goodbye’s before you quickly make your way to the elevator, probably too giddy at the thought of seeing her. 

Since the evening at her house, you hadn’t really seen her even during office hours. This case was a hard one. Gibbs had you all working pretty much constantly. The only free time you got consisted of you heading home to catch a few hours of sleep, shower and maybe eat before you’d be heading back to the office. So, apart from one coffee break that you’d managed to catch together and a couple of times over the last few days she’d appear to drop off evals or watch an interrogation you hadn’t seen her. 

And it sounded pathetic, but you missed her. 

Jack’s sitting at her desk when you enter, a bright smile lights up her face when she sees you and it has you relaxing for the first time in days. “Hey.” 

“And to what do I owe this honour?” She grins, dropping her pen and turning her chair to face you. 

“Do you happen to own a copy of Hollin’s Criminal Behaviour?” 

“Yeah, on the bookshelf. For the case?” 

You hum, making your way over and start to scan the shelves for your target. “I remember reading it in college, it had a reference to a case that could help with this.” You shrug frowning. “Thought it was worth a look, that’s if I can find it-”

You suck in a sharp breath as Jack comes up behind you, fingers brushing your waist as the whole of her front pushes into your back and she leans over grabbing the book from the shelf. “This the one you looking for?” Her voice tickles your skin and you have to resist the urge to squeeze your thighs together, her voice sounding like pure sex. You swallow, nodding your head wordlessly as you take the book from her and try to control the blush rising up your cheeks. 

Jack steps back, a devilish smirk on her face as she makes her way back towards her desk as if she wasn’t aware of the effect she was having on you. “You’re a cruel woman, Jacqueline Sloane.” Jack laughs as she leans over her desk with a wiggle to her hips that has your eyes zeroing in on her ass before trailing down her legs to her heeled feet. She’s wearing a tight black pencil skirt with a zip down the back that was demanding your attention along with a champagne satin blouse. “Very cruel.”

Jack turns around humming, as you approach. “Is this where I’m supposed to pretend to be sorry?” Rolling your eyes, you drop the book onto the coffee table and then pull Jack into you. She wraps an arm around your waist pulling you in closer and arches a brow. You cup her cheek, a smile spreading across your face as you just take her in. 

“Hi.” 

“Hi” Jack’s expression softens. “Shouldn’t you be getting back to work?” 

“Yeah, probably but I’m really quite happy here at the moment.”

“Oh, well, I can’t argue with that.” 

You hum, your eyes moving to focus on Jack’s lips which are smirking devilishly and god, you really wanted to kiss her. “I think we should pick up where we left off the other night.” 

Jack’s nose scrunches up. “Really? In my office?” 

You shrug, stepping forward, prompting Jack backwards until her bottom hits the desk. “Why not? Plenty of fantasies involving this place.” 

Jack pushes your shoulder, as she huffs a laugh. “Behave.”

“Where’s the fun in that, Jacqueline?” 

Jack’s eyes darken, her gaze flicking to your lips and then back to your eyes.  “I like when you call me Jacqueline.”

“That’s good to know.” You brush your thumb over Jack’s lip, a smirk blossoming on your face when you hear her suck in a sharp breath. “...Jacqueline.” 

“Y/N,” Jack warns. 

“Yes?” 

“Step. Back.” You pout but don’t move, and Jack rolls her eyes playfully. “I don’t want the first, well second, time I kiss you to be in my office when we’re both tired and also half concentrated on a case where someone could interrupt us at any second.” Good to know you weren’t the only one thinking about that kiss still...it’d been the main contender in your dreams (day and night) since it happened. How Jack felt in your arms, the feeling of her lips and the way she’d gripped your hair. You swallow roughly. 

“One, I didn’t know you were such a romantic,” You get a jab in your side for that, causing you to release a yelp and step back. “and two, you bringing up that kiss isn’t exactly motivating me not to kiss you.” 

“Pick the book up and get the hell out of my office.” 

“Bossy.” You mutter and then immediately duck seconds before a lollipop flies over your head. “Hey!”

Jack walks around her desk, falling into her chair with a smug smile on her face that has you rolling your eyes. 

“Fine. I get the message. I’m going.” Smiling you make your way to her office door. You pause before opening it though, turning back to see Jack shamelessly checking you out, you arch a brow. “Enjoying yourself?” 

“Immensely.”

You chuckle. “Oh, hey, you’re still coming to Jimmy’s anniversary party, right?” 

Jack nods. “If the case is wrapped up.”

“Ok, cool.” You swing on your heels, chewing your lip as you wonder if you should ask the question you’ve been toying around in your head for the last day. Jack’s watching you closely and it makes your chicken out. “I’ll meet you there I guess.” 

Jack smirks. “Or you could pick me up?”

Your cheeks flush pink as a smile takes over your face “Or yeah, I could do that.”

“Good, now go do your job.” 

“Yes, boss.” You were pretty sure if you hadn’t moved and shut the door behind you another lollipop would have been flung at you. 

----

The case is finally wrapped up Saturday afternoon and you’re practically dead on your feet by the time you finish your report and hand it into Gibbs. He takes one look at you and the rest of the team, all in similar states of drowsiness and huffs. “Alright, go home and get some shut-eye.” 

“Oh, thank god.” Nick sighs from his desk, perking up for the first time that day. You quickly grab your bag and switch off your computer.

“See you all at six!” You shout back to the team as you make your way to the elevator receiving a variety of groans and grins in response. 

You manage a couple of hours of sleep when you get home and wake up feeling semi-human and start to get ready for the evening. Your dress for the night was gorgeous. It was a midnight blue colour and you may have picked it out with Jack in mind. It was a silk midi halter neck dress that flatters your figure. The criss-cross spaghetti straps held the back of your dress together, showing off your back all the way down to your waist but your favourite part of the dress was the slit that went up above your knee. You paired the dress with a pale gold clutch and strappy heels, you keep your hair down styling it nicely and applied your makeup, spending way too much time trying to get the perfect wing with your eyeliner.  

Your heart’s thumping in your chest when you pull up outside Jack’s house. You shoot her a text informing her you were here and then get out the car and lean against it as you wait for her. 

Your jaw nearly hits the floor when she exits. She looked like a literal goddess in her dress. It was a black chiffon material that was covered in metallic purple leaves and golden birds. It was a wrap dress with a flowy skirt and billowy sleeves with a deep plunging v neck that showed you ample cleavage while still looking completely sophisticated. She’d paired it with a simple pair of nude heels and a matching bag. Her hair was straight for a change and you could feel yourself heating up at the sight, her smirk devilish as she approached. 

“You look...gorgeous.” You swallow roughly and the second she steps in reach you pull her flush against you. Jack wraps her arms around your neck, clutch still in her hands as she laughs softly. 

“I’m glad you like it, cost me an arm and a leg.” 

“Definitely worth it.” You hum, your eyes dropping to her cleavage then up to her mouth and then back to her eyes which are filled with amusement. 

“You look stunning too. I like you in blue.” Your cheeks heat up as one of Jack’s hands moves from your neck to trail down your back, stopping and teasing at the waist of your dress. 

“Jack.” You warn, fingers digging into the soft material on her hips. Jack smiles smugly and you move to cup her cheek pulling her in closer to you.

“Nuh-uh.” Jack stops you, pulling her head back as you pout. “You’ll ruin my lipstick.” 

“Seriously?!” You moan, mouth hanging open as Jack steps back and with a smug smirk walks around you opens the passenger’s side of the car and slips in. You tip your head back groaning. She was actually going to kill you. 

----

Because of how busy the case had been, you’d spent the whole week in professional work mode, meaning people (well, Ellie) didn’t have the opportunity to question what had happened between you and Jack. No one could really work out how the two of you were either because whenever Jack appeared she was in work mode as well. She’d shoot you a few smirks or smiles and you think Ellie noticed a couple of times, but it wasn’t enough to form a conclusion of what had happened. 

Jack and you had never clarified what the two of you were and to be honest, you weren’t in any rush to have that conversation. You knew you liked Jack and that she liked you too so that was enough, however that didn’t help you with tonight. Part of you wanted to scream from the rooftops that the woman of your dreams was into you but a bigger part of you wanted to keep this between the two of you, at least for now. 

“Jack?” You ask, switching off the engine of the car as you look from the venue and towards her. She hums, as she sorts through her clutch. You don’t respond and Jack looks over to you with a frown. 

“Everything okay?” 

“Yeah. I just...Tonight. Can we keep us on the down-low, it’s not that I don’t want-” 

Jack reaches out and squeezes your hand, halting your words. “I’d like that. I could really do with at least a few weeks without Torres’ comments and the looks from the rest of the team. Plus, it makes it more fun if people don’t know.” 

You breathe a sigh of relief, squeezing Jack’s hand with a soft smile. “Thank you.” 

Jimmy’s outdone himself. The venue is beautiful. A decent sized room filled with round tables, a dance floor and a bar already surrounded by guests. You spot Ellie and Nick standing at the bar and wave at them. Ellie waves back and signals her head to the side of the room where the rest of the team were. Gibbs, Ducky, Vance, Kasie, and Tim and Delilah. 

Jack laughs from beside you when she sees Gibbs. He looks widely uncomfortable and you know this is his literal idea of hell. A room full of people, half of who he doesn’t know but who he’ll probably end up having to socialise with while also wearing a suit, which looked brand new so probably wasn’t that comfortable. “Enjoying yourself, cowboy?” Jack teases when you reach the group. 

Gibbs grunts causing the rest of the group to start laughing. Everyone falls into conversation. Jack and Vance walk away from the group, presumingly to get drinks and you talk with Delilah. This was her first night away from the twins for a while and you could tell she was enjoying it. You want to say hello to Jimmy but every time you see him he’s already talking to someone while looking a little frazzled, so you decide to wait for later. 

It’s not long before it’s time for food. You make your way over to the table the team had claimed as their own. Jack’s sitting down already, a free seat on one side of her that she signals to. You grin and make your way over but before you get close enough Ducky takes the chair. 

“Sorry.” Jack mouths, disappointment clear and you shrug, trying to hide your pout. There’s a seat free in between Nick and Kasie so you take that one. Jack was basically opposite you, so it wasn’t too bad. 

Food is served, conversation is had and after dessert plates are cleared away Jimmy rises from his chair. He’s sitting a few tables away from you all, he clinks his glasses a little hard causing it to smash in his hands. Nick sniggers from next to you and both you and Ellie elbow him in the side at exactly the same time. “Hey!” Nick whines as the rest of the table laugh, Jack looking at you with a playful roll of the eyes and smirk.

Jimmy clears his throat. “Okay, let’s try that again. Breena and I want to thank you all for coming. This party has been a long time coming, and I’d like to thank Y/N for keeping me calm throughout the week as I freaked out on more than one occasion that this was going to be a repeat of what happened with our wedding all those years ago.” Jimmy nods towards you with a smile, and you lift a glass up at him and smile, your cheeks heat up as everyone turns to look at you. You see Tim and Gibbs exchange a look as they remember the day years before. It’s weird to think that the team was completely different now and that there was an ocean of people you’d never had the opportunity to meet. It makes you sad on occasion but then you look at Jack, as you do now, and you decide it doesn’t matter. 

“So, I asked you all here today to celebrate Breena and I. We met around this time 10 years ago and she brought a light into my life I didn’t even realise I was missing. It hasn’t always been easy, sometimes it’s been damn right difficult, but I wouldn’t ever change any of it. Getting to love you, Breena has been one of the greatest honours of my life, along with being Victoria’s father.” Your eyes flick from Jimmy and towards Jack. She’s watching Jimmy with a soft smile on her face and your heartbeat begins to pick up. “With the job I do, it gets difficult to see the good in the world, sometimes the bad just seems like too much, that no matter what I do there’s always going to be something evil lurking around the corner. And maybe that’s true, but it’s also true that coming home to you, no matter my day, will never fail to lift my mood because just being near you or hearing your voice fills me with a sense of calm and belonging. Our love isn’t perfect because we aren’t perfect but it’s real. It makes me a better man and a better father. It has kept me strong and helped me to grow into the person I am today, and every day I come home and see you I’m reminded of how lucky I am that you walked into my life and decided I was worthy of your love. So, I want to thank you Brenna, and Victoria, for being my home, for being my world.” 

“Wow, Jimmy’s got skills,” Nick mutters from next to you but you don’t acknowledge it, can’t. Your eyes remain fixed on the side of Jack’s head as you think about how the thing between the two of you could easily become love...You wonder if it already is because you look at her and you feel that sense of calm and belonging. You’d had feelings for Jack long before you admitted them to yourself and yes, she could set your body on fire with just a look but she could also make your chest swell with something words couldn’t describe, and that’s what love is right? Indescribable. 

Jack turns her head and looks at you, her eyes are misty, and your emotions must be all over your face because Jack sucks in a breath. Her eyes soften with a smile just for you, and yep, you’re a goner. 

----

Jack disappears once people start to make their way to the dance floor. You search the whole room for her and eventually find her standing outside on the patio. Her arms are wrapped around her waist as she looks up at the sky. You can still hear the music sounding from the hall as you make your way to stand beside her, pausing only to place your drinks on a table. Jack doesn’t move but you know she knows you’re here. “Everything okay?” You ask quietly, lightly bumping your shoulder against hers as you look up to the sky. It’s a clear night and the stars shine brightly down on you. 

“Yeah, just…” Jack blows out a breath and she doesn’t need to use any more words because you get it. 

“Yeah, me too.” Jack smiles and lightly bumps her shoulder back against yours. A song you recognise starts sounding from the hall, and you grin. “Come with me.” 

You tug at her arm, prompting her to drop her arms from her waist and you tangle one of your hands with hers and drag her down the side of the building. “Y/N, where are we-” 

“Ssh.” You whisper and know Jack has rolled her eyes without even turning to look at her. You look around the space, stopping when you reach a slightly secluded area. It’s dark enough that people wouldn’t immediately notice the two of you if they came outside, but still close enough that you can hear the music, even if it’s slightly muffled. You turn back to look at Jack, who’s watching you with an amused smile. “Dance with me?”

Jack grins and tugs you close. Your hands remain clasped together as she holds you against her and you both move to the song. You move your free hand to fiddle with the ends of Jack’s hair. You loved her beachy waves but her with straight hair just did something to you. “You look beautiful tonight.” You say as Jack spins you out. 

“I know,” Jack smirks, and you roll your eyes and spin yourself back into her. She grasps your other hand and you sway, your back pushed into her front as she holds you close. Jack sighs as she rests her head on your shoulder. Your eyes fall shut as you bask in the moment. It still felt a little surreal, that this was your new reality. That you could touch and hold her like this without fear of rejection.

“Thank you.” The words escape your lips in a breathy whisper. 

Jack hums, “For what?” 

“For everything. For being you.” Jack smiles into your shoulder, placing a soft kiss against the exposed skin. She drops one of your hands and you turn back around to face her, cupping her cheek and lightly brushing a thumb over her open lips before meeting her eyes. “Can I kiss you yet?” It’s not a whine but it’s almost one and Jack smirks but instead of answering moves her hand to the back of your neck and pulls you in. 

And oh, god, it’s better than the first time. The kiss is tantalizingly soft and slow and full of things that it was way too early to say. She pulls away all too quickly with a light nip to your lip that has you wanting to pull her right back to you. “Was it worth the wait?” Jack’s face is full of smug satisfaction so you assume your eyes are slightly glazed. 

“You’re the romantic, you tell me.” 

“You think you're cute, huh?” Jack rolls her eyes, lightly poking you in the side causing you to laugh. 

“Oh, I’m damn right adorable.” 

Jack snorts. “You wish.” Laughter sounds from the hall drawing both of your attention, Jack sighs and steps away. “We should go back inside.” 

You pout. As much as it was the right thing to do no part of you wanted to return to a hall full of people and not stay right here in Jack’s arms. “5 more minutes.” 

Jack tugs your hand. “Come on, It’s Jim-”

“Make me.” Jack freezes, swallowing roughly as her eyes darken in the moonlight. You bite your lip, preening at Jack and that’s all it takes for her to pull you back in flush against her. She leans in, her mouth coming to hover by your ear. 

“Fine, but you might moan a little.” and oh. That definitely wasn’t fair. Jack captures your lips in a kiss that has your toe’s curling. Your hand cups her jaw, the other wrapped around her waist to keep her close while Jack’s hand finds its way to your hair. She walks you backwards until you hit the wall. 

“Not motivating me to go inside.” You say in between kisses. Jack makes a noise of frustration every time you pull your mouth away from hers. 

“Shut up.” Her lips slam back into yours and your tongues fight for dominance. Jack pushes you further into the wall, her hand moving to tease at the slit of your dress and you moan, thighs squeezing together. Jack smirks against your mouth and takes control of the kiss. You don’t try to fight it, your hand skims down her back and palms her ass causing Jack to groan into your mouth. In retaliation, Jack’s hand sneaks further up the slit in your dress, shifting it upwards as her fingers tease the top of your thigh and you wiggle against her, your body already aching for her touch. You nibble her lip when she just smirks. 

“Really?” You say breathlessly. “You made me wait to kiss you but your fine with basically fucking me against a wall?” 

Jack laughs. “No, just getting you worked up as punishment.” 

Your eyes close and your head tips back when Jack runs her nails down from where they rest on your thigh. “It’s working.” Jack kisses up your neck, making her way to your earlobe which she roughly tugs before instantly soothing it with a swipe of her tongue. 

“Good.” 

“Jacqueline.” You whine, bringing her mouth back to meet yours as Jack’s hand squeezes your thigh and she releases a breathy moan. 

Someone loudly clears their throat and you jump in Jack’s arms, yanking your mouth away from her and looking towards none other than Leon Vance. Your face turns scarlet as you quickly fix your dress while Jack just steps back with a smug smile and turns to look at her friend. 

“Can I help you, Leon?” You know she’s friends with the director, but you have no idea how she’s not at least slightly embarrassed. Vance rolls his eyes, shaking his head as he chuckles and looks between the two of you.

“Really, Jack?” Jack’s entire body tenses up, her face morphing into a scowl. Leon’s eyes widen as Jack’s body shifts to stand slightly in front of you, protecting you. 

“Yes. What’s the problem?” 

“That’s not what I meant. I meant that if you’re going to” Vance’s face scrunches up slightly “do that...at least do it somewhere private.” 

“It was private until you turned up.” You mutter but obviously not quietly enough as Vance releases an unimpressed snort as Jack laughs. Your face heats up all over again and you groan, dropping your head onto Jack’s shoulder as you die from embarrassment. 

“Anyway, I’ll leave you to it. Just go somewhere private before Victoria, or even Jimmy, comes across you and you scar them for life.” You smother a laugh into Jack’s shoulder as you imagine the look of horror on Jimmy’s face. Jack must do the same as she chuckles. With one last shake of the head, Vance turns around. “Nice to know some office gossip does ring true though.” 

Your head snaps up from Jack’s shoulder. “What office gossip?” Both of you shout at the same time but Vance doesn’t answer just continues walking and makes his way back into the hall. Jack and you turn to each other and break out into laughter.

“Do you think it’s late enough that we can leave?” 

Jack arches a brow “Got somewhere to be?” You grin but don’t respond so Jack looks at her watch and shrugs. “Kind of early but if we’re apologetic we’d probably be fine.”

Pulling Jack in by the fabric of her dress as your hand comes up to swipe at the underside of her breast and you breathe against her lips “Take me home Jack.” She growls, capturing your mouth in a searing kiss that has you whimpering. You slow it down into soft kisses, both of you eventually separating as you take ragged breaths. 

The lipstick Jack had been trying to protect at the beginning of the night was now basically non-existent, most of what is left is smudged around her lips and with a chuckle, you reach out and wipe it away. “You need to get a kiss-proof lipstick.” 

Jack smirks. “It looks better on you anyway.” Your eyes widen as you wipe a thumb over your own lips surprised to see the muted pink of Jack’s lipstick covering your thumb. “Here, let me.” Jack wipes at your mouth, getting rid of the rest before placing a soft peck against your lips. “Ready to go?” 

“More than.” 

You drop each other’s hands, keeping a suitable distance between you as you make your way back into the hall. You feign tiredness as an excuse, and no one really questions it especially after the case this week. You pull Jimmy and Breena into hugs, congratulating them and apologising for ducking out early. Vance gives you both a pointed look but doesn’t say anything, although his smirk says enough if Gibbs’ eye roll is anything to go by. Delilah looks absolutely gleeful and it prompts you to check your dress is in place and run a hand through your hair to check you were presentable as there wasn’t a reason she should be this knowing. You watch as she leans over and whispers in Tim’s ear. Tim splutters on his drink head flying up to look between you and Jack, his ears turning bright pink. 

You look to Jack, who’s watching you with an affectionate smile and you feel your chest warm as you breathe deeply. She tilts her head towards the door and you nod, both of you saying one final goodnight to the team before making your way out of the hall. 

“Do you think anyone doesn’t know about us?” You ask, looking at Jack over the top of your car. 

She huffs. “Not with the way you were making goo-goo eyes at me the whole night.” 

Your jaw drops open, as you make a noise in outrage trying to dampen the blush rising up your cheeks. “It’s not like you were any better!” 

Jack shrugs as she fails to suppress her smile. “Probably not.” 

Life isn’t perfect. You’d accepted that a long time ago, but as you drive to your apartment listening to Jack hum along to the music playing from the radio as she flicks through her phone, it felt pretty damn close. It didn’t matter that you had a mountain of chores waiting for you at home, or that both of you were a little jaded, or that at any moment you could be called into work. All that mattered was that she was next to you.

“Will you stop looking at me and focus on the road? I don’t really fancy ending our evening with a trip to Bethesda.” 

And even if she didn’t know it, she already had your heart. 

[duskowithapen]

Day Two: Quarantine

Writer’s Month 2020

Fandom: Merlin

Pairing: Merlin x Arthur

Cramped Quarters

Tensions and tempers rise when Arthur and Merlin are quarantined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Writer’s Month 2020 Day Two: Quarantine. Modern AU

Read on AO3

Read on Fanfiction

Arthur didn’t know how they’d gotten to this point – standing over each other, seconds away from resorting to blows, without the possibility from walking away from the confrontation. Merlin was staring up at him with angry eyes, hurt eyes, and Lord knows what Arthur looked like. They both breathed out.

The evening had been so calm. The ending credits of Supernatural played on the screen – Arthur had taken advantage of the enforced isolation after he tested positive for COVID to catch up on his favourite tv show. Dinner had been a simple but delicious spaghetti – he had taken Merlin his plate, his partner still doing his course work. After a can of bourbon cola to wash it all down, he’d suggested to Merlin that they go to bed – maybe sleep in a little, have some breakfast in bed and watch some Doctor Who. He had been hogging the tv a little over the past week and a half, so Merlin should get a chance to watch his nerdy show (that Arthur refused to admit to enjoying, if only because Merlin could get so animated and engrossed in the twisted storylines).

It had just been a suggestion.

Merlin had said no. “I can’t go to bed yet Arthur, I’ve still got work to do.”

Arthur should have let it go. But as Merlin likes to constantly remind him, a dollop head can never take no for an answer. “C’mon Merlin, nothing can be so important that it needs to be down right now.” Alright, so maybe he was feeling a little neglected. They’d been home together for days yet had barely exchanged a handful of words. He had wanted to go to sleep with Merlin wrapped in his arms, wake up with a bony elbow digging into his stomach, or back, or wherever the impossible idiot managed to catch him.

“I can’t Arthur. I need to finish this assignment.” The lack of a nickname should have clued him in. No prat. No dollop head. No pompous arse.  

But Arthur had to be a complete bonehead and push on. “Surely you can’t take a break for one night Merlin. Don’t you have an extension anyway, because of COVID?”

The glare Merlin had sent him – finally looking up from his laptop – was a horrid mix of exhaustion and fury. “The extension was for my other class Arthur. This essay is for my class on differential diagnosis in the neurosciences, that they had to expand from a normal reflective analysis due to COVID. It’s due next week. So no, I’m not going to take a break.”

Some concern had broken through Arthur’s exasperation here. “You need to take a break anyway Merlin. I don’t think I’ve seen you move away from your computer since…” Since I don’t know when, he thought. He’d been so caught up in his tv show, so concerned with his own mini holiday that he hadn’t even…

“I can’t sleep!” Merlin had shot to his feet. Away from the glare of the computer screen, Arthur could see the deep circles under his eyes.

“It’s easy Merlin. You just lay down and close your eyes. Maybe try to relax if you’re not too uptight.” That was where everything went wrong, Arthur thought. This is where I screwed up.

Merlin had thrown his hands up. “Oh, you’d know all about relaxing Arthur. You haven’t done anything but since this quarantine started! If you’d actually pull your weight around here, maybe I would have the time to sleep!”

“Pull my weight?” He’d spluttered. “Who do you think cooked you dinner tonight!?” A dinner that had long since gone cold, untouched, on Merlin’s desk.

“Who do you think made dinner every other night this week?” Merlin had shot back. “Certainly not you! You’ve been attached to the tv the second you came home!”

“That’s rich, coming from someone who’s been attached to his computer for months!” Alright, so maybe this had been building for longer than just these few days.

“I. Have. Been. Studying! Trying to become a doctor! You know, that endeavour you said you’d support me in? Haven’t seen you doing much supporting!”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have supported it if I knew it would take you away from me!”

Silence.

That is where they were now. Two men, standing across from each other in a cramped room, in a cramped apartment they couldn’t leave.

“Arthur…” Merlin’s voice was so quiet.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.” Arthur immediately felt guilt like a rock in his stomach. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Then how did you mean it?” That fire was back in his eyes now. “C’mon, don’t hold back now.”

“Merlin, I…” How do can he put into words the way an empty bed feels, an empty couch or empty kitchen bench, the feeling of air at your side that’s meant to be filled with a person. How can he describe the loneliness of having someone there but so far away? Of having Merlin so close but never talking to him. “I miss you Merlin.”

“Arthur, you know how much this degree means to me.” He did, he really did. Arthur was the one to hold Merlin, barely eighteen, when he broke down at his mother’s bedside after she lost her battle with cancer. Arthur was the one to push Merlin into going to university when he was directionless. Arthur was at every open day. Arthur was there when Merlin chose which degree, which courses, which days. He knew.

“I know, I know, I just… you might be here, Merlin, but you’re not here.”

“This – this quarantine has been hard on both of us,” Merlin hedged as he looked away. “Maybe it’s just cabin fever.”

“Maybe,” Arthur suggested as he took a step forward, “It’s you overworking and overstressing yourself. I know you don’t want to sleep, but you have to. You’re going to collapse at this rate.”

“I can’t sleep Arthur!”

This was more than just a deadline, Arthur thought with sudden clarity. He didn’t know how long Merlin had been spiralling, but now it was obvious.

“You can’t or won’t?”

Merlin’s eyes gained a wild quality. There was a shine to them, like he was holding back tears. “It’s… I can’t…” He shivered. Took a step forward. Collapsed into Arthur’s arms. Shaking hands grabbed at Arthurs shirt even as his shoulder became damp. Despite this, Merlin didn’t make a sound.

Arthur squeezed Merlin tightly, arms wrapped around shoulder and waist. “It’s okay Merlin. It’s gonna be okay.”

“Not it’s not!” Merlin’s voice was muffled but the desperation in it wasn’t. “He’s not gonna be okay!”

“Who’s not going to be okay?” His mind whirled. Was it Gwaine? His police partner (or as Gwaine liked to call it, his work wife) had been spat on by the same COVID positive bastard and was safely quarantined with his roommate Percy. Lance was still working, trying to stay safe despite his job as a paramedic. Maybe something had happened to him? Arthur hadn’t heard anything… Maybe it was one of the others – Elyan, or Leon, or Kay, or –

“Gaius!”

Arthur closed his eyes. “Shit…” He murmured. Gaius. The closest thing Merlin had to a father, and part of the inspiration for Merlin’s choice of degree. He was a diagnostician after decades of experience in the emergency room. Despite his age putting him at risk, the ornery doctor refused to stay home, and instead used every precaution he could to not get sick and still do his job. “Has something happened?”

Merlin shook his head silently, and Arthur breathed out a sigh of relief. At least there was that. “So… have you just been worrying?”

Pushing away with a scowl, Merlin growled out, “Don’t say that like I’m an idiot. I know he’s being careful; I know he’s not going to stay home, but I’m not going to stop worrying!”

“I know Merlin.” Arthur pulled him back in. “I just mean that you haven’t heard any bad news. Of course you’re going to worry – you should have told me instead of bottling it all up. I can’t help you if I don’t know you need help.”

Merlin rolled his eyes. “Maybe you should take your own advice, dollop head.”

That pulled a laugh from Arthur. “Oh don’t be such a girls’ blouse, Merlin. Don’t you know that real men don’t talk about their feelings?”

“Hmmm…” Merlin looked around for a moment before snuggling deeper into Arthur’s embrace. “I don’t see Lance around, so I’m not sure what ‘real man’ you’re talking about.”

“Alright! For that, I’m making you sleep!” Arthur lifted Merlin over his shoulder, ignoring his startled cries and bony elbows, and carried him to their bedroom. When Merlin hit the bed, he didn’t look impressed.

“I don’t like being manhandled prat. And I still have work to do!”

Arthur didn’t give him a chance to escape, laying on the bed and pulling Merlin down with him. Both arms were wrapped around Merlin’s chest now, and a leg was tossed over his thigh, so that Merlin was pinned to Arthur’s chest. Glancing down, he grinned. Merlin was doing his best to try and glare him into submission, but it was ruined by the jaw-cracking yawn and exhausted fluttering of his eyes.

“Work can wait till tomorrow. Cuddle now.”

“Humph, what a man…” Merlin drawled, rubbing his face against Arthur’s shirt. “Were you missing your cuddle time Arthur?”

“Very much so,” he whispered.

They still needed to talk about everything. Arthur would have to give Gaius a call, maybe convince him to take some time off if only for his pseudo-son’s health. Merlin still had classes to complete. There were new episodes of Doctor Who to watch.

But for now, there were two men, in a cramped bedroom, in an even more cramped apartment, completely dead to the world, and comfortable in each other’s arms.

[liquor-and-intellect]

Clouded- Part 8

In which Jules might or might not have feelings for her best friend, Harry, who is getting engaged to another girl and everything just becomes… more complicated.

or

friends to lovers to enemies to lovers- it’s complicated

previous parts

In which Jules might or might not have feelings for her best friend, Harry, who is getting engaged to another girl and everything just becomes… more complicated.

or

friends to lovers to enemies to lovers- it’s complicated

previous parts

PART EIGHT

I had sat on my computer all morning googling presents to get Harry.

It was stupid- I know- I should be able to conjure up some romantic thing out of my ass that would make Harry smile and tell me he loved me and we would get on with our lives.

But things were different this year.

I was seeing him in a whole new light and I knew he felt the same way. Some things were now just too simple for us. Nothing would be able to compare to the way I needed him or would simply represent how much he was to me. The search was relentless and exhausting.

I was out roaming the strip malls in London when a couple of items caught my eye, sparking an idea in my mind. Christmas was next week and Harry and I would both be going back to Holmes Chapel. This weekend he filmed in New York for a holiday special where he would then be flying back to meet me and his family at our homes.

I smiled to myself as I bought a couple of items, knowing that I found what I wanted to get him for Christmas. He deserved so much more, but I knew this little thing would be perfect for the both of us.

I caught a taxi that night on my way to Harry's, watching the dreary rain drizzle down the window as the car slowed for evening traffic. Even though we have had dinner plenty of times, I found myself getting a few butterflies in my stomach at the thought of him just asking me to dinner. It's like we were finally a couple- and that warmed my heart to no end.

Raising my fist, I gave a single knock before the door flew open.

“Hey,” he breathed, smiling down at me as if he had just been waiting by the door.

I bit my lower lip, hiding back my own grin. “Hi, yourself,” I chuckled as he moved out of the way to invite me in. I pulled off my wool coat, draping it on the coat rack when I smelled something heavenly.

“Are you cooking?” I asked, my eyes wide.

He laughed as I followed him down the corridor and into the wide kitchen that he rarely used. The stove was sizzling with meat and I saw the oven light on beneath it.

“I'm attempting,” he corrected me, walking to the stove and stirring a red sauce. “You know,” he called over his shoulder as I leaned against the opposite counter watching him intently. “We are going to be parents soon, so one of us needs to learn how to cook.”

I hoisted myself up on top of the sleek black marble top, pressing my hands in between my knees. “So, in other words, you called your mum?”

He shot me a glare before turning his back to me again. “Unless you want to take over this complex dish, I'd suggest you shut it.” I heard the playful undertone to his voice and it made me giggle uncontrollably.

“No, please,” I laughed. “feel free to do what you have to do.”

“Anything that I have to do?” he asked, his voice noticeably lower.

I pursed my lips. “Anything,” I repeated and pressed my mouth together to hide my smile when he turned around and watched me intently.

I was being observed carefully under his gaze and I saw the darkening of his eyes as they took me in fully. He stalked forward and pressed his palms to my knees. “Anything?” he whispered huskily, his eyes, that were burning holes into me, never leaving my own.

I nodded, unable to speak.

He smirked, and with his hands on my legs, pushed my knees apart so he could step in between them and pull me closer. He leaned forward and began kissing up the nape of my neck, following the valley of my collarbone. His hands left my legs to lay flat against the counter on either side of me as mine wandered up to his broad shoulders. I loved his shoulder muscles.

He released a sigh as his nose skimmed my skin until we were face to face, breathing each other in. I met his eyes before glancing down to his mouth, waiting for him to close the distance between us. I parted my lips, letting my tongue dart out to wet them in expectation.

This pulled him under, a groan rumbling in his chest as he pushed forward and pressed his mouth against mine, pulling my bottom lip between his as he pulled it playfully before reconnecting our mouths. It was so sensual that every time he found my lips again, my hands would find a new piece of his skin to explore. They danced down the edges of his back, through the curves of his spine to his inked arms and around again to his stomach. When my fingers skimmed underneath his shirt, he pressed closer to me, kissing me deeper as his tongue made its way into my mouth, causing a moan to slip from my throat.

Then an abrupt beeping sounded, piercing my eardrums with its high pitched shrill.

Harry cursed very colorfully as he pulled away, rushing to open the oven where smoke began to billow out. He grabbed a towel and waved it in front of the smoke alarm until eventually it went off.

He clenched his jaw, releasing a long sigh and I thought it was possibly the most adorable thing I had ever been privileged to witness: his hair easily disheveled, shirt rumpled and a look of pure frustration on his gorgeous features.

I hopped down from the counter, walking around him to grab the oven mitten before I reached into the smoke to pull out the tray of bread sticks. The ones around the edges were burnt to a crisp but the lucky pieces that sat in the middle looked perfectly fine.

I set them on the counter before turning to look at Harry who watched me. Reaching up I placed my hand on his cheek to pull him down to me so I could press a small kiss to the other. “Looks like dinner is ready,” I stated as he let out an uneasy laugh.

We sat at the end of his big dining table- that was never used- and ate the spaghetti and bread that he had made. It was his mother's recipe that I recognized and I ended up eating three servings of it, laying down on his couch with my hand on my stomach after.

Harry was in the kitchen putting our plates in the sink, the clinking of the glass the only thing filling his large apartment. The glass window across from the couch showed the busy streets of London still alive with the night, the moon bright in the ebony sky.

“What did you do today?” I asked Harry when I heard his footsteps sound in the doorway.

He walked into the living room, leaning over the back of the couch to look down over me. His lips twitched as he glanced away, avoiding eye contact.

I poked him in the chin, pushing his eyes back to mine. “Harry,” I groaned.

He shook his head. “A bit of Christmas shopping is all,” he said, his eyes shining with something that I didn't know.

I cocked an eyebrow. “Jeff said you're getting a serious present for me this year?”

Harry's eyes narrowed as he walked around the couch and lifted up my legs to sit beneath them. “What else did Jeff say?”

I shrugged, playing with the hem of my shirt. “He didn't say anything else about it…why? What is it?”

He rolled his eyes. “You know I won't tell you,” he said.

I smiled. “I know. I just thought I'd try.”

Harry grabbed the remote from the foot table and switched the TV on. “Move over,” he mumbled, grabbing a blanket and laying down behind me.

I rolled on my side for him to slide in behind me as the blanket draped over my legs, his arm following as it wrapped around my abdomen.

I yawned.

“Do you want to stay the night?” he whispered, his mouth by my ear and his chest hitting my back.

I snuggled deeper into him. “Is that okay?” I asked.

I felt his lips press to the back of my neck. “Why wouldn't it be?” he replied. “I'd rather you stay here so you aren't alone at your apartment.”

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

I sighed as his lips roamed the back of my neck. “Okay, I'll stay the night.”

He chuckled, his leg pushing between my own so we were tangled in every way possible. I felt his hand that was wrapped around me, traveling up the edge of my shirt to the skin of my hip.

“Thank you for dinner,” I murmured, the hum of laughter on the television being the only noise filling the room.

His fingers combed through my hair. “I want to provide for you, Jules,” he said. “You and the baby.”

I smiled.

“And you can,” I told him, savoring the feeling of his fingers dancing up my side. “when I finish college, I want to help out, though.”

“You're still going to go through with the year? Even while pregnant?” he asked. I didn't blame him for asking, I knew a lot of things we hadn't talked about yet. He wasn't reprimanding me, though, like I knew a lot of people would continue to do. He was just curious in the way people who cared about each other tended to be, always longing to know each other more.

I nodded. “Yeah, I'm going to finish it out and when I have the baby I can just do classes online. If it becomes too much, then… I guess I’ll take a semester off.” My heart ached at that though. I had pushed and studied so hard to be where I’m at now. Seeing the finish line of my degree was such a tangible thing now— that I swear I could taste it.

“Where will we be when you have the baby?” he asked abruptly, removing me from my thoughts of a not-so-distant graduation.

This caused me to still, my thoughts halting at the single question. Where would we be?

“Where do you want to be?” I ended up asking back.

He took a deep breath, his chest filling with air behind me and I could tell he was thinking. He swallowed, mulling over his words. “I want us to be living together by then...” he said.

My breath hitched in my throat.

“And to be in a steady relationship,” he murmured, continuing on with the fantasy that had my heart in quick beats like rain on a pavement. “I want us to be secure with each other when the baby comes so we can be the best parents we can be.”

I couldn't help the smile that found its way onto my lips. “I want to be where you are,” I told him back, knowing that I meant every single word with every cell in my body—including the bundle of cells that now had a heartbeat of its own.

He pressed a lingering kiss to my shoulder, his arm pulling me tight against him. “You always have been, Jules,” he whispered. “and you always will be.”

…

I'd never slept in Harry's bed before.

If it would have been up to me, I would have stayed cocooned into his chest on the couch, but Harry- unsurprisingly- being Harry, insisted until he forcefully carried me back to his bed.

It's not that I didn't want to sleep next to him. Obviously we've already had sex so it wasn't as if I was shy.

But it was difficult to think that less than two weeks ago, Elaine had occupied this space. Her body had dipped into the mattress and she fell asleep feeling the warmth of his body.

I shuddered.

Although I didn't say anything of the such, it was immediately obvious that her things had been moved out of his apartment. There was an empty space on the bathroom counter and plenty of blank picture frames around the walls. I meant to ask him about it- even if it was the last thing I wanted to hear, because he was still my best friend and I wanted to continue to be there for him like he was for me.

I let out a sigh, finally opening my eyes to the morning sunshine streaming through the open curtains, bathing the silk sheets of the bed in a warm glow. I turned to my left, rolling over my shoulder to catch eyes with an awake Harry.

My breath caught in my throat.

His spring green eyes were dancing with amusement, his hair ruffled and standing up messily and I could immediately tell he had been watching me for some time.

“G’morning,” I whispered, my vocal chords groggy from not being used in a few hours.

He laid on his side as well, his palm tucked beneath his cheek. “How did I get so lucky?” he murmured, his hand reaching out to skim a finger down my cheekbone, the shiver I felt echoing down to my toes.

I looked at him in question.

His hand found its way into my hair, brushing it back from my face. “How did I get so lucky? After everything that I have done of hurting people and... hurting you” He swallowed. “How come I can wake up in the morning to your beautiful face? To the person that I've dreamed about my entire life.”

I was speechless. What was I supposed to say? I had fucked up my own fair share in this bumpy road of the past few months and I didn't deserve this man lying in front of me—telling me how beautiful I was.

“Harry-” I started in an attempt to brush off his compliment and shed some light on the reality of it.

“No,” he cut me off, shaking his head and laying his hand flat against my cheek to keep my eyes on him. “Don't try to prove me wrong, I can see it in your face. Just let me have this moment of thinking I don't deserve you.”

My eyes widened. “I don't deserve you.” I couldn't help thinking of how compassionate he was, the pureness of his heart inside of almond green eyes. Here I was, his faithful sidekick after all these years, because I knew that I could never be better than him. I could never be as naturally good as him. I had been the one sentenced to detention in school for punching someone in the face for making fun of Harry- when he would never in his existence lay a hand on someone.

A smile pulled at the corners of his mouth, his flawlessly heart-shaped lips stretching into a small smile. “We deserve each other,” he compromised and even though I could argue against that for an entire lifetime, I felt the truth behind his words. It was clear that we were two pieces of a puzzle fitting together side by side and eventually it was fate that we would have ended up here- baby or not. I could feel it in my bones that somehow, some way along the road, we would've ended up awaking to each other’s smiles and wandering eyes.

“I love you,” I breathed, because I had no words to express this bubbling feeling of warm adoration I felt all the way through my blood.

His hand traveled down the side of my face, skimming my neck until it reached my shoulder and eventually my hand, holding it into his and intertwining our fingers. “And I love you,” he said with a grin. “And no matter how we got here… I'm glad we made it.”

…

Eventually, we both got out of the warm sheets, getting dressed for my ultrasound appointment that was around noon. Harry was beyond excited, running around the apartment, constantly asking me what he should bring.

Eventually we had to leave the warmth of the sheets—a little to premature if you asked me. Harry was sick with worry that we would be late to the ultrasound appointment that was only a short drive from his luscious apartment building. Currently, I struggled to keep up as he bounced around the flat excitedly, asking every question imaginable.

“Are you sure I don't need to bring anything?” he asked again, his head poking into the bathroom where I was brushing my teeth.

“I'm sure,” I said for the hundredth time.

“Do you think there will be any press there? Should I call security or somebody to come with us?” He searched my eyes.

I rinsed my toothbrush in the sink, placing it in the holder next to Harry's. “We'll be fine, Harry.” I told him, while pulling my hair into a high ponytail. “Stop worrying.”

He released a long breath, his shoulders slumping. “Sorry... I've just- I've never done this, you know? I want to get this right.” His eyes looked up to me under their eyelashes in that way that he knew tied me in knots.

“And you will,” I assured him. “You can hardly get an ultrasound appointment wrong. Just sit there and look pretty.” I laughed and noticed his steady gaze still resting on me. I bit the inside of my cheek, trying to stop myself, but failing, as I walked over to him and ran my thumb along his lower lip. “And stop looking at me like that,” I murmured. “it drives me mad.”

He smirked. “I know.”

I pulled his chin to me, placing a chaste kiss to his plump lips before walking out of the bathroom. After buttoning up my jacket, I followed Harry out to his car that had been brought around to the front door. We rode to the office in silence, listening to the radio playing softly through the speakers.

“This weekend,” he finally said. “when we are in New York… I'm going to tell the band about us and the baby.”

I turned to him pursing my lips. I could tell he had been itching to tell them for a while now, not wanting a secret this big between them. I nodded.

“And I also want to have a meeting with Jeff,” he continued. “He's going to be in the city as well and I want to get his opinion on how to protect you from the media the best we can through these next months.”

It was unspoken, but we were aware of how much the fans had loved Elaine. They had been wanting this wedding for years and now that it's been given, it would be hard for him to break the news of their separation. Surprisingly, Elaine had been keeping silent as she had moved back to America to continue her dancing tour-- but the speculations of the oceans between them didn’t cease.

“I understand.” And I did.

We sat a while in the waiting room, Harry's leg nervously bobbing up and down, that is until I quickly reached out and pressed my hand to it to stop the shaking, causing him to mumble a “sorry”. A few eyes strayed to us in the back corner, Harry had kept his sunglasses on—a gesture that he would normally be mortified for because of the rudeness—but he didn’t want any recognition. I could tell in the way he sunk in between the collar of his jacket whenever a new person walked in.

“Julia Lovewick.”

I glanced towards the nurse who patiently waited in the doorway.

Harry stood up immediately, looking back at me for approval. I chuckled lightly and moved to my feet, following the nurse through the door.

“I’m Amanda,” the nurse greeted us and lead us down a hallway. “I'll be your ultrasound technician today.” She gestured for us to enter the open room.

Harry pushed his sunglasses into his hair and extended his hand. “Harry,” he greeted. “Nice to meet you.” After shaking her hand, he nervously tapped his fingers against the leg of his pants, shifting his weight in an attempt to hide his anxiousness.

“Don't be nervous!” she assured, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder and ushering him to take a seat in the chair beside mine. “I'm sure you have nothing to worry about.” She looked at me. “Let's take a look, shall we?”

I took off my jacket, handing it to Harry who held it tightly in his grip.

Amanda gently lifted up my shirt. The bump wouldn't be recognizable if someone didn't know that I was pregnant, only looking like a minute amount of chubbiness at the bottom of my stomach. She placed her hands around my abdomen, giving it a small amount of pressure before reaching over to a bottle of blue gel.

“This is going to be a little warm,” she warned me as she applied it to my belly. “If we aren't able to get a clear view of the baby and the organs, would you like to do a transvaginal ultrasound as well?”

Harry coughed behind me.

I nodded. “Yes, please.” I distinctively remember my mother telling me to take the offer of the alternative ultrasound. I've tried not to give it much thought due to what it exactly entails, but it was apparently safer for the doctor to get a clear view of the baby.

When the microphone shaped instrument was placed over my belly, I glanced up at the screen to see black and gray images of my insides. It was fuzzy and hard to decipher, causing Amanda to squint and move the instrument around a bit more.

“Okay...” she mumbled and pointed to the screen. “if you look right here that's where the baby is… but due to the early stages of your pregnancy it's quite difficult to read a clear picture of it. That's why I would recommend the transvaginal ultrasound this early—just to make sure everything is progressing properly.”

I glanced over at Harry who was sitting forward in his chair, elbows resting on his knees and his eyebrows furrowed as he stared at the screen. “Are you sure you're okay with that?” he asked me.

I nodded, giving the doctor the clear as she handed me a couple of wipes. “Here,” she said. “use these to get the gel off yourself and I'll leave the room for a minute while you change into the gown. Have you drank anything at all today?”

I proceeded to wipe my stomach clean as I nodded. “I've been drinking water all morning.”

She reached into a cabinet and handed me a blue gown. “Alright, then, that's great. I'll let you change and I'll be right back.” She gave me a smile before walking out of the room.

Harry cursed.

“What?” I asked as I unfolded the plastic gown.

He looked pale. “What the-” he cleared his throat. “What the fuck is a transvaginal ultrasound?”

I chuckled lightly as I peeled my shirt over my head, looking up to see Harry's eyes on me. He stood up and helped me pull it over my ponytail. “Here,” he murmured, taking it from me and folding it lightly.

“It's an ultrasound,” I began, stifling my chuckle as I unbuttoned my jeans. “that— get this— goes up your... vagina.” I watched him squirm in front of me, knowing he hated that word. Slowly, I slid my jeans down my legs, keeping my eyes on him.

“I'm not into that kind of thing,” he murmured, watching my legs intently as I chuckled.

I smiled as I folded my jeans, standing in my underwear in front of him. “Not into what?” I asked innocently.

“Into other things going up your-” He stopped talking, his eyes widened as I slid my underwear off.

“Jules,” his voice cracked. “what are you doing?”

I pulled the gown over my head, silently laughing at my teasing banter. He was too easy to mess with. “Changing my clothes, Harry, what does it look like?” I turned around, giving him a clear view of my back side. “Will you tie this for me?”

He cleared his throat. “Yeah.” Harry's voice sounded high pitched as if pulled taut. He gently tied the strings along the back of the dress, his fingers brushing my bare skin. I could tell he was finished knotting it, but he still stood behind me, his hand skimming my spine. “You- uh. Are you nervous?” he asked and I could tell he was trying to distract himself.

I spun on my heel, not realizing he had been this close to me because we were now chest to chest. I shrugged, reaching up to run a hand along his chest. “A little bit. I guess I just want to see if everything's okay with the baby and all.”

He nodded, about to say something but there was a short knock on the door.

“Everyone decent?” Amanda's voice called.

I kept my eyes on Harry, willing him to not be nervous. “Yes!” I answered as the door opened. I reached up on my toes to place a kiss to his cheek and giving his hand a reassuring squeeze.

Amanda strolled back into the room, a man following shortly behind her. “Shane, this is Julia and Harry.” She gestured to the two of us.

I could feel Harry easing himself in front of me to hide my half naked body.

“Nice to meet you,” I replied, trying to cover for Harry's rude behavior as I stepped out from behind him to shake Shane's hand.

He was younger than I expected, sandy blonde hair and tanned skin. His smile looked genuine, though, his white teeth sparkling at me as he shook my hand.

“The pleasure is mine,” he told me. “I'm Shane Copperfield, I'm going to be assisting Amanda today in the ultrasound, I hope that's alright.”

“It's not,” Harry immediately muttered from behind me, but by the looks on their faces I knew they hadn't heard him

“It's fine,” I said sternly, casting Harry a wary look.

He clenched his jaw and looked away.

“Alright!” Amanda clapped. “If you'll just have a seat in this chair and place your feet up on these blue rests...” I pushed myself back into the chair, hesitating for a moment before place my ankles in the holders. I’ve had gynecologists appointments before, so this wasn’t a new concept for me, but there was always the uncomfortableness of the sudden vulnerability.

Harry glanced at me, sensing my discomfort, and causing a muscle in his jaw to twitch again. “Do you have anything to cover her with?” he asked rudely, crossing his arms and looking strictly at Shane, as if he was the sole perpetrator of my bare thighs being exposed.

“Yes! Here's a towel, love,” Amanda said at the same that I chastised him with a, “Harry.”

As the towel was placed over my lap, Amanda grabbed my ankles and steadied them on the designated platforms before pushing my legs apart.

“Dad,” Amanda addressed Harry, causing him to stiffen immediately. “you can have a seat and get comfortable. I'm sure Julia is as nervous as you and I know the support is always helpful.” She gave him another one of her famous grins and gestured to the seat next to mine.

With a huff, Harry dropped next to me, placing his hand over my arm.

“So how has the pregnancy been so far, Julia?” she asked me as Shane walked around hooking up the machine. “Any pains or discomforts?”

I shook my head. “No, besides a bit of morning sickness it's like I'm not even pregnant.”

She nodded as Shane handed her the wand. “That's completely normal, although you start feeling a difference very soon. Weight gain, hunger cravings, sickness... you know the likes.”

I nodded, trying to compartmentalize every small detail.

“We’re going to apply the lubricant on the wand before using it,” she said, nodding to Shane as he began the process. “You’re going to feel a slight discomfort but just remember to stay as relaxed as possible—when you tense up its harder for us to move around in there and will cause more pain for you.”

I fought against the urge to clamp my thighs together at the unfamiliar breeze drifting between my legs. Amanda and Shane both looked underneath my towel as she placed the wand where it was supposed to be, Harry's hand squeezing mine tightly.

Yeah, I'll admit that it was quite uncomfortable, but I didn't want to say anything to upset Harry further- he was still seething that a man was literally looking up my dress. The monitor showed another abundance of blurry images as Amanda then went to tell me of the few things she was looking for.

“Shane, please hold this while I show them the baby,” she said without a second thought, standing up for Shane to take her spot, his hand very close to my down under.

Harry's hand tightened even more as he watched Shane very closely to confirm that his eyes weren't straying further than acceptable.

“Right here, that pea-like thing, is your baby,” Amanda said, pointing to an area of the screen.

Harry's hand loosened in mine as his eyes left Shane to look at the monitor, I was watching him in wonder as his eyes grew wide.

I smiled.

“Jules,” he whispered, his eyes locked on the little lump that was barely the size of my finger. “look... it's our baby.”

My heart warmed in the most unimaginable way possible. “I know,” I replied, giving his hand another squeeze and moving my gaze back to pea. I couldn’t believe it was underneath the skin of my tummy

The rest of the appointment Amanda continued to tell us loads amounts of information involving the baby and my own body that I was unaware of. I watched as Harry's eyes refused to leave the screen the whole time she talked to us- except for when Amanda told Shane to pull the wand camera out gently, thus causing Harry to stand up.

I grabbed his arm. “Harry, sit,” I demanded, giving him the sharpest glare I could conjure, knowing that it would cause him to listen to me.

Shane watched us carefully, waiting until Harry was sitting- quite rigidly- before he extracted the camera.

I inhaled sharply and sat up straighter from the sudden pull of it.

“We'll let you two get cleaned up and changed and you can just meet us at the front desk,” Amanda announced, pulling Shane with her as she sensed the huffing Harry beside me. The door closed briefly after her exit.

I turned to Harry. “Could you seriously act more childish?” I scolded.

He sighed hanging his head and running his fingers through his hair. “I'm sorry, Jules.” He closed his eyes. “It's just- he was really close to you and- you know how I can get. I just hate someone else getting to see you that way.”

I pursed my lips at his confession, it was understandable. But he still didn't have to act so immature.

“And-” he swallowed. “you were undressing earlier... in front of me. I just got... frustrated.” He groaned, looking away from me as pink tinted his cheeks.

I sighed, walking over to him so I could wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head against his chest. “You're forgiven for being a jerk,” I murmured into the warmth of his sweater.

He mimicked my sigh, his arms encircling my body as his chin rested on the top of my head. “Thanks,” he muttered.

I looked up to him, pushing my lips against his in a soft kiss, trying to prove the extent of how much he really did mean to me- even if he was being immature.

Harry's finger tilted my head up further to deepen the kiss, his tongue greedily pushing into my own mouth. With my hands flat against his back I pushed him closer to me with all the strength I could manage. I wanted him as near as my body would allow.

As if sensing my thoughts, Harry groaned, his hands reaching down to the gap in the back of my gown, his fingers covetously pressing to every inch of skin he could find.

“I have to admit,” he breathed huskily as his lips moved from mine to press against my neck. “that seeing you in this gown- knowing you don't have underwear on- drives me insane.” His kisses contagiously moved across the muscles in my neck as I inhaled sharply at the effect his words had on me.

“Harry,” I moaned, trying to stop my eyes from closing. “we can't do this here.” I shook my head for emphasis, trying to convince myself more than anything.

I felt his smirk against my collarbone. “Give me ten minutes,” he said, before bending me over the arm of the chair and unzipping his pants.

…

“I want you to take my car.”

I glanced up from my spot on Harry's bed. I had been casually laying across the mattress as he packed a suitcase for New York, his clothes being thrown out of his closet to land in a messy heap on the floor.

“No way,” I answered immediately and sat up.

He poked his head around the doorway of the closet. “Why not?” he asked. “It beats paying for a cab or riding a bus up to Wolverhampton. I don't see what the big deal, that way I could have my car there when we leave after the holidays.”

I thought of his sleek sports car. And then I thought of my driving.

I shook my head, standing up to grab his clothes off of the floor in an attempt to fold them. “Harry, I don't mind taking a cab.”

He sighed, walking next to me to lay a pair of black skinny jeans on the bed. He placed a hand on each of my arms from behind, landing a kiss on my cheek. “I know, baby, but for my sake just take my car?”

My heart leaped in midair at the simple word. I couldn't fight the smile. “Did you just call me baby?”

He rubbed his hands up and down my arms as I continued to fold his shirts. “Maybe.” I could tell he way wary about the idea of it, not knowing whether I would like it. “Good or bad?” he asked.

My smile widened. “Good.”

Harry chuckled in relief from behind me. “Good enough for you to take my car?”

Rolling my eyes, I nodded. “Yeah, I guess.”

I helped Harry fold the rest of his clothes, placing them in his suitcase as he retrieved his toothbrush from the bathroom. Harry and the band were leaving tonight to arrive in New York tomorrow, Jeff and Adam were supposed to meet him here at his flat so they could drive to the airport together.

“Are you leaving first thing tomorrow morning for Holmes Chapel?” Harry asked, walking back into the bedroom.

“Probably,” I replied, busying myself with another shirt.

Harry sat down beside the suitcase, looking up to face me. “Will you go ahead and take all of my Christmas gifts with you? That way I don't have to take them all the way to the States and then back.”

“Sure, if you'll tell me what it is you got me for Christmas.”

He rolled his eyes as the ringing of a doorbell sounded through the hallways. “No chance,” he smirked and stood up to answer to the door.

I followed him down the hallway, smiling when I saw Glenne and Jeff walk through the entrance, suitcases in tow.

“Julia!” Glenne greeted, dropping her purse and dancing over to grab me into a gentle hug. She pulled back, a black beanie over her soft chestnut hair and her eyes alight with questions. She held my shoulders. “You and Harry official now?” She cocked an eyebrow in a way that suggested she knew the answer to her own question.

I shot a glance towards Jeff who was setting his suitcase down and talking to Harry. I assume he would have told Glenne—they were together after all.

I smiled, catching a glimpse of Harry's cheesy grin out of the corner of my eye, the beautiful man who was now mine. “Yeah,” I sighed. “I guess we are. Kind of have to be at this point.” I chuckled.

Her grin became wider. “Okay,” she let out a huge breath. “I'm glad you brought the pregnancy up first because I didn't know if you would have wanted me to know about it or not,” she laughed easily, her sharp accent making me feel at home.

I shrugged. “Harry was planning on telling the band this weekend- and it actually feels quite good to have someone else to talk about it with.”

She slung an arm around my shoulder. “Don't you worry,” she said. “you can tell me anything. I actually really adore this drama you lot have going on.”

“Glenne!” Jeff scolded, catching her sentence as he was walking over to us.

I laughed and shook it off. “No, it's really not a big deal. It's entertaining, I know.”

“Glad you guys find my life entertaining,” Harry grumbled.

I walked over to him, wrapping an arm around his waist and pressing a kiss to his cheek. “At least you're not the pregnant one.”

Glenne was biting back a smile, her pink lips pulled into her mouth as her eyes lit up.

“What?” I asked.

She just shook her head, looking to Jeff and saying, “Haven't we just waited for these two to end up together?”

There was another knock on the door as Harry rolled his eyes and moved away from the conversation. “I'm done with you guys!” he shouted, but there was playfulness residing in his voice.

“Is he going to tell Adam right now?” Perrie asked me, still smiling from Harry's attitude.

I shook my head. “I hope not, I really don't want to be here when he tells anyone else.” I thought of the awkward experience with our families and hoped I could be spared of a few more.

“The boys know Elaine and Harry are over,” Jeff said. “he already told all of us the other day. They weren't upset so don’t be nervous.”

That was news to me.

“Hello, lovely ladies!” Adam greeted, walking over to the little circle we had formed and throwing a hand on Jeff and mine's shoulder.

“Hi, Adam,” Perrie laughed as Jeff rolled his eyes. “Where's Emi?”

“She's on her way to the in-laws with the kids for Christmas,” he replied, looking over his shoulder at Harry who was walking into the kitchen.

“Want anything to drink?” he called.

“Can you get me a water, Harry?” I asked.

His response was immediate, his protective nature kicking in. “Yeah, sure, love.”

Adam pursed his lips just barely and I wondered if he was oblivious unlike Glenne and Jeff.

“How's everything been going, Julia?” he asked, something glinting in his eye.

I narrowed my eyes slightly at him. “Lovely, actually.”

Before he could say anything else, Harry came up from behind me, holding out a glass of water. “Here, Jules,” he murmured, rubbing his hand down my arm.

Adam’s eyes were on us, watching every move we made.

Jeff cleared his throat. “Do you know what song you’re going to be performing?” he asked Harry, walking over to the couch and taking a seat.

The boys jumped into a discussion over their Christmas special on NBC, what they were doing, talking about and the such. Harry sat down in the leather chair, causing me to glance around and realize that the rest of the spots were taken. I eased down on the armrest, leaning against his shoulder.

“So ready for Christmas, lads, you don't even understand,” Adam groaned, throwing his head back in exhaustion. “when you have kids it’s like you get more excited.”

I gulped.

Harry poked his head up. “Glenne, are you coming with us to New York?”

She nodded, giving Jeff a smirk. “Yep.” She popped the p. “Can't get rid of me.”

“And she's going to finish Christmas shopping in NY while we are doing the shows,” Jeff smiled.

It felt good to be surrounded by their friendliness and not have the threat of Elaine around. She had been so clingy- always wanting to be around Harry whenever he just wanted some time with his friends. I knew the boys hadn't been so keen of her either.

“So...,” Adam said, eyeing Harry and I when the room had gotten a bit quieter.

I took a sip of my water, trying not to meet his eyes.

“So?” Harry asked, oblivious.

“Are you two together now or something?” he demanded, his eyes on the space between us. I guess Adam had never been one for subtlety.

Harry pursed his lips as I started laughing.

“Go ahead,” I told Harry, nudging him in the shoulder as I continued to laugh. “tell him.”

He sighed, looking at Adam who had a cheeky smirk on his face. “Remember that time we agreed that we would never judge each other?”

Adam gave a single nod. “'Course I do, lad. I've done a few questionable things myself,” he said.

Jeff nodded in agreement.

Harry sighed and I could tell he was trying to his best to form the sentence in his head that could sum up the last few months for us.

Adam threw his hand out laughing at his hesitation. “Come on!” he shouted. “Spill! It's not like she's pregnant or anything.”

I cackled and Harry shot me a glare as if to say “it's not funny”.

Adam head circled to look at every one individually, each one of us looking down or to the wall.

“Harry?” he asked, his voice smaller and now remotely calmer.

Harry licked his lips. “She's pregnant,” he confirmed with a nod. Wow. We were getting better at this every day.

Adam let out a long breath, his cheeks puffing. “Well, damn,” he muttered.

I chuckled. “Things are getting better, don't worry,” I assured him.

He raised his eyebrows. “I can't believe you lot have been dealing with that all this time.” Then he shook his head, laughing. “Can't wait to see what Nialler is going to say.”

Jeff laughed along as Harry grumbled.

“Ah cheer up, mate,” Lou said. “it's not like he's going to steal her from ya or anything.”

I weighed my head from side to side. “Nothing's impossible.”

Harry immediately grabbed me from around my waist, pulling me down off the arm rest into his lap.

I squeaked as I fell backwards, hitting my head on the opposite armrest as Harry squeezed my sides.

“Stop,” I yelped with laughter, pushing his hands off me until he resigned from tickling me.

He smiled, popping a kiss onto my temple.

Adam made a gagging sound causing yet another eye roll from me.

After another hour of laying on Harry's lap and the occasional banter between Glenne and Adam, the boys all were ready to leave, gathering around the door as Jeff called the car to bring them to the airport. Harry handed me the keys to his car, telling me he had brought the presents down this morning before we had woken up and I could drive it to my apartment after they left.

“I'll meet you guys in the car!” Harry shouted to them down the hallway, grabbing my wrist to stop me from walking with them. When they for sure rounded the corner, he grabbed my face in between his hands, pulling my mouth to his to give me a long kiss.

I sighed at the contact, knowing that three days without Harry was too long and would be too long no matter how many times he would have to leave me. I deepened the kiss, winding my hand up to his muscled shoulder that I had memorized a plethora of times before.

“I love you,” I told him, feeling his grin across my lips.

He pressed another sweet kiss against my top lip. “And I love you,” he murmured, the words becoming so colorfully familiar to my ears. “Please be careful. I know I'll be far, but call me if you need anything or if anything happens-”

“Harry, I'm pregnant, not dying,” I laughed.

He blushed, looking sheepish. “You know what I mean, Jules.”

I nodded, wrapping my arms around his waist in a tight hug. “Just give me a hug,” I grumbled.

A/N: Long time no see! I had a tragic accident involving a full canteen of water and a very vulnerable laptop. Everything is fine now. The laptop is fixed and the water bottle is no longer trusted. I hope this chapter brings  a little distraction to your social isolation. Talk to me! I miss you guys!

taglist:  @harryspirate @hope-its-worth-it @ednaofearth @whipthemcurls @1d-tommo5 @mellamolayla @lmk12310 @nhhsltlpzm @juliassgem @backoftheroomandnotbelonging

[solastia]

Feels So Right  | 1

Pairing: Min Yoongi x Reader

Word Count: 1,804

Summary: Yoongi’s falling in love with his neighbor. She’s beautiful, talented, has the same sense of humor, great taste in music - and she’s married. 

Warnings: Emotional manipulation, domestic violence(all from the male OC, not our main characters). Infidelity. Eventual smut. 

Notes: Commissioned by @ehn-ee-elle (I probably made it angstier than you wanted and I’m sorry. I’m unable to stop myself) 

I was originally going to try to make this just one long one shot, but the ideas I had for it and the pacing I needed for their relationship would have made it way too long. So here we go with another series! It won’t be a very long one, as I’m hoping to be able to keep it between three and four chapters. I also really wanted to get this first chapter finished and published since I’m still working on Break My Stride and Tuqburni as well. P.S. Potato the pug is my dog irl. That’s right, I did a dog insert. Behold his awesomeness. 

“A curse upon all people that decide to move in the middle of the night like psychos,” Yoongi groans, cracking his neck as he forces himself out of bed. He could have sworn that he’d even heard screaming and crying, and not the good kind. Just the type of neighbors everyone dreams about.  

He grabs the worn black hoodie draped across his computer chair and pulls it on. A quick glance down to make sure he even has pants on is good enough. It’s too early for him to care about anyone seeing his Iron Man lounge pants. 

Yoongi yawns loudly, ruffling his hair as he walks towards the front door. His little brown poodle is running circles around him, yapping and hopping around in excitement over getting to go outside. He shoves his feet into his slippers and hooks Holly onto his leash, cracking open the door and hissing at the too bright sunlight. 

Sneaking a peek at the door next to his, he notes that all the shades were drawn and the apartment seemed silent now. Probably because they’d stayed up all night moving in, thereby keeping him awake too. Too bad he didn’t get the luxury of catching up on his sleep today since he had to work. 

With an annoyed sigh, he leads Holly down the stairs to his favorite patch of grass, watching in fond amusement as the poodle takes his usual sweet time to find just the perfect spot. Usually, this was one of his favorite times of the day, since it was often just him and Holly in the silence of the early morning. Just them and the birds, with Yoongi working on some melody in his head while Holly spends five minutes eating grass he’s just going to puke up later. 

Of course, as per his luck during the past twenty-four hours, this was ruined too.

“POTATO! Get back here, mister!”

A woman was coming out of the newly moved into apartment, chasing after a chubby pug that was staring right at Holly as he ran. She had the leash in her hands as she stumbled after him, still shoving what looked like Bulbasaur slippers onto her feet in her rush to catch the little escapee. 

The pug went right for the startled Holly, trying his best to entice him into playing with his fat wiggling butt and snorts. Holly has never been the most social of dogs, much like his owner, but he wasn’t attacking the thing so that was good at least. Yoongi grinned when Holly looked up at him like he was asking for help. 

“I am so sorry. He’s sneakier than he looks sometimes,” the owner apologized breathily as she glared at the dog. 

“It’s all good. He seems friendly enough, and Holly’s just not used to other dogs being here.” 

“Well, I can certainly see why he was in such a rush. She’s a cutie.” 

“Holly’s a boy, actually.” 

She smiled politely, but he could see the unasked question behind her eyes. 

“My brother named him,” he shrugged. “Also, I don’t think someone who named their dog Potato has any right to judge.” 

“Oh come on, look at him. He’s literally a breathing potato,” she gestures to the pug that was now rolling in the grass in another attempt to engage Holly, only he couldn’t really make it all the way around. 

“I call him Tae for short most of the time if that makes it any better,” she shrugs with a grin, and Yoongi had to contain his snort. Wait until his friend Taehyung learned a fat pug shared his name. 

They lapsed into a comfortable silence as they watched their dogs. Holly was reluctantly letting the pug follow him around, not reacting when Potato tried to convince him to play but not stopping him from pouncing or nipping at him.  Yoongi thought Holly might be a little in shock that someone wanted to be his friend. 

“So we’ve established that’s Potato and Holly. I’m Y/N,” the woman said with a shy smile. 

“Uh, yeah. Min Yoongi.” 

Her grin widened, “Nice to meet you, Yoongi.” 

He wasn’t sure what it was, but something about the way that she said his name made him finally take a good look at her. She was pretty cute, actually, something he’d failed to notice over the shock of her dog’s entrance. He couldn’t help the flicker of interest as he subtly looked her over, the black tank and yoga pants flattering enough on her that he could excuse the ridiculous slippers. She was sporting a few bruises that she must have gotten during the move, making him wonder why she didn’t have help. 

“Which apartment are you guys in?” 

“207,” Yoongi drawls with a quirked eyebrow. 

“Oh, we’re in 208! That’s so...oh no! We probably kept you up last night, didn’t we? I’m so sorry. That was the last time I was going to have help for the next couple of days,” she holds a hand to her chest as her eyes implore him to understand and he just melts. 

“It’s no biggie. We’re night owls, anyway,” he shrugs, preening as her smile lights back up. 

“Well, most of the big stuff is put away already, so I hopefully won’t be too annoying to listen to. I do play my acoustic guitar a lot, but if you let me know what your usual schedule is, I’ll wait until you’re gone so I don’t bother you.” 

He was about to ask more about that when Holly decides to make his desire to leave known, walking straight to the stairs that led to their floor and pulling on the leash as he turned to stare at Yoongi. 

“Looks like his highness is ready to go home,” he sent her a crooked grin as he reluctantly turns to leave. 

Y/N giggles cutely and waves at him. “Yeah, we’ll still be a few minutes. Tae will want to check out all the new bushes. It was nice to meet you.” 

Yoongi nods and obediently follows his dog, letting Holly lead him all the way home. Once inside he kicks off his slippers and releases Holly, snorting as the dog goes right to his bed to sleep. Apparently, only a few minutes of interaction with the hyper pug tired him out. 

He stared at his blinds and decided to ignore his creepy desire to peek out of them and watch her. He shook his head and went about his day instead, totally not thinking of bright smiles and or the fact that her socks were different colors. 

He came home from work around four and found a little gift bag hanging from his door handle. He grabbed it and peeked inside, the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies hitting him instantly. A little slip of paper was tucked inside, so he pulled it out and scanned it. 

Going to be hanging some stuff on the walls. Here’s an apology treat! It shouldn’t take me too long, but if you need me to stop at any time let me know! 

-Your totally awesome not annoying on purpose neighbor

Yoongi snorts and goes inside, munching on one of the cookies as he does. He’s not usually one for sweets, but they aren’t bad. Holly is anxiously circling his ankles waiting for him to drop something, but he was going to be disappointed today. As he pictured her cooking these and wrapping them up all nice just for him, he knew he was going to be eating every single one.  

Sure enough, a light banging sounds against their connected wall, although he thought it seemed like she was trying to do it quietly with little taps instead of outright hammering. It was going to take her forever doing it like that. 

He also heard some music playing, but couldn’t quite make it out. Letting his curiosity take over, he pressed his ear against the wall. He figured if he heard something like Justin Beiber or Nickleback that would cure the strange curiosity he had about this woman. 

Instead, the familiar rap-heavy collab track of Epik High, Born Hater,  flowed through the room. His lips quirked as he heard her attempting to rap like Bobby. She sounded cute, even if she was failing horribly. 

Suddenly, the door slammed next door, hard enough to make his own apartment shake a little. 

“What’s for dinner?”

That was a male voice. Of fucking course. Why wouldn’t he be interested in someone that was fucking taken. 

“I could throw together some spaghetti if you want? I wasn’t sure when to cook since you were supposed to be home three hours ago.” 

She sounded so timid, and it just seemed off. It was nothing like the beaming voice he’d heard earlier. 

“I had stuff to do.” 

“Were you with her?” 

“For fucks sake, Y/N. I told you I ended it. Isn’t that why we moved? To start over? A little hard to do when you keep bringing up old stuff.” 

“You’re right. I’m sorry.” 

“I’ll be in the bedroom. Let me know when dinners ready.” 

Yoongi was kicking himself for being a creep and listening in like that, but holy shit that guy was an asshole. That was some textbook manipulation and she just fell right into it. And to stay with someone that had obviously cheated? Why? 

Part of him wanted to go over there and break the guy's nose, but he shook his head and walked away from the wall instead. He didn’t know the whole story, he told himself. It was none of his business. ‘

None of his business, he reminded himself over the next few days, even as he could hear her crying through their walls at night only to be met with her beaming smile as they met up every morning.