#'you could ride me' WE WERE TALKING ABOUT COWBOYS. I WANTED TO CONTINUE TALKING ABOUT COWBOYS. IM GOING TO⚡���⚡️⚡️💥💥💥💣��💣🧨🧨🧨

[lewmagoo]

A naughty Rhett request!

I am in the mood for angsty!Rhett who doesn’t place as high as he thinks he should’ve in a rodeo and thinks the ref screwed him over, so he comes home and takes out his frustration on Reader in bed and needs to hear her give him all the praise and reassurance 👉🏻👈🏻🥹

the ride home was silent.

he always got this way after a bad ride. withdrawn. lost in his head. plagued with feelings of terrible inadequacy. he tried not to let it get to him, but he struggled. and tonight, he was even more upset than usual. you could tell by the way he remained tense, even as he drove home. he didn’t even bother to turn the radio on, which was usually the first thing he did when he started up the truck. it wasn’t just that he’d had a bad ride. in fact, he rode just fine. but when he glanced up at the scoreboard afterwards, his score was one of the lowest on the board.

that score was bogus. you knew it. he knew it. but for whatever reason, it was what he was given. and it had him spiraling with thoughts of, am i not good enough? is this really worth it? you watched him grapple with it, his mind working a million miles a minute as he processed it all during the ride home. you let him have the quiet, not wanting to inundate him with questions or try to get him to speak when he wasn’t ready to. in the early days of your relationship, you might’ve worried about him, as he’d struggled with communicating. but he had gotten better about it since then. he’d talk when he was ready.

he remained silent as he pulled into your driveway, and continued even when you’d finally walked into the house together. you decided to speak then. “are you hungry? i can fix somethin’ for you,” you said. he stood in the entryway, looking defeated. then he mumbled something as he moved to kick off his boots. “what was that?” you asked. “said ‘m not hungry!” he snapped in exasperation. but directly after that, he lowered his head, his shoulders falling. tentatively, you approached him, and he managed to look at you, his features dejected. “i’m sorry darlin’. didn’t mean t’ be short with you. i’m just…” he trailed off.

you lovingly held his face in your hands. “i know,” you hummed, leaning in to kiss him. he relished in your touch, his eyes fluttering shut. “i…can we…” he couldn’t seem to get the words out. “what? it’s okay, say what you need,” you urged. he kissed you again, and there was an air of desperation to it. “i need y’ to…i…” you had a feeling what he was trying to ask about. but he couldn’t voice it, because there was part of him that felt wrong for it. dirty, and not in a good way. but you always encouraged him to speak his mind, to make his desires known. “you’re okay. it’s just me and you. talk to me, cowboy.” he had to know that he was safe with you. always.

his large hands came to rest on your hips, thumbs tracing circles over the fabric of your jeans. he let out a breath before he finally admitted what he wanted. “i need you. need to forget about this fuckin’ ride. wanna be inside you. god, i…i wanna have my way with you.” the weight of his words, so desperate, as if he was fighting the desire roiling within him, sent heat thrumming between your thighs. your fingers curled into the fabric of his button down. “yeah?” you breathed. “i’m right here. take what you want, rhett.” that was what he needed. that spoken consent to allow himself to give in to this urge. you trusted him. you wanted to give yourself to him.

one hand came up to rest against the back of your head, and he kissed you deeply, slotting his thigh between yours. something snapped within him. the invisible chains that held him back broke, and suddenly, you found yourself being guided toward the couch. it was one of those nights - you wouldn’t be making it to the bed for this encounter. rhett kissed you like a starving man, tongue and teeth, tasting you. you found yourself being maneuvered down to the floor, and you went eagerly. as soon as you were sprawled on the rug, he stopped to hover over you, and even in the low light, you could see a wildness in his eyes. narrow, like a cat’s. he’d just caught his prey, and he was going to devour it.

in a frenzy of hurried limbs, he had your jeans and panties off, and he unbuckled his belt with one hand, shoving his jeans down enough to free his cock. he at least had the decency to slide his hand between your legs, fingers searching, carefully prodding. he knew your cunt well, and he knew just how to get it soaked for him. your own arousal, mixed with his saliva that he spat upon his hand and used to lube up his cock, provided the right amount of slick for him to inch into you. at the thick intrusion, you gasped, and he swallowed the sound with his own mouth. “shhh, take it, take it,” he whispered, watching your face contort as your anatomy stretched around him.

when he bottomed out, you whined, and he gazed down at the place where your bodies met. “atta girl,” he gruffed. and then he started moving, and you saw stars. slow at first, but he wasted no time in building a rhythm. a hurried push and pull. but you knew what he needed. what he craved. so you gave it to him. “oh, rhett. you feel so fuckin’ good,” you sighed. you weren’t over exaggerating, either. he did make you feel good. he always did. but he needed extra reassurance tonight. and from the sound of the breathless moan he let out, you’d hit it right on the money. you searched for his mouth, leaving open mouthed kisses to his lips. “fuck, right there. nobody else makes me feel like this. n- oh! - nobody gets to be inside me this way. it’s all yours. only yours!” you cried.

he buried his face against your neck, groaning your name. “oh, god. say it again,” he pleaded. you clutched at his broad shoulders, fingers digging into the flesh. “nobody else loves me like you do! nobody else fucks me like you do!” but your second sentence faltered when he offered a particularly deep thrust, cock brushing against a spot that made you squeal, your eyes rolling back. “oh my—oh fuck.” he leaned back to kiss you again, whispering into your mouth. “uh-huh, that’s right. i’m the only one that gets t’ use th-this sweet fuckin’ pussy.” and you keened at his words. “only you!” you echoed. “yo-you’re everything, rhett. f-fuck, i…i love you! i love you, i love you, i love you!”

he growled like a wounded animal, chest heaving against yours. he was losing himself. “fuck, honey, i…i can’t…” his voice was pained. “i-it’s okay,” you assured him. he was so pent up, so needy and desperate for you, that he was already there, ready to topple over the edge. and you encouraged it, begged for it. “c’mon, fill me up. cum inside your pussy,” you pleaded. you knew calling your cunt his would send him over the edge. because it was his, after all. no one else was allowed access to it. only him. and then, with a growl that melted into a broken wail, he fell apart, body tensing above you before his cock swelled within you and soon spilled his release into the very core of your being. you moaned, gladly taking every last drop he had to give.

and when he was finished, it took every ounce of strength in him not to collapse on top of you. he caught his breath, silence hanging between you for a moment as you combed your fingers through his hair. but as the post orgasm haze began to clear, you could see insecurity settling in. “shit, i didn’t mean for that t’ happen so fast. feel like a damn teenager,” he muttered. but you shook your head, smiling up at him. “nope, don’t you dare apologize. i thought it was hot,” you said. he quirked a brow up. “really?” he asked. “uh-huh. seeing you lose control…god, it’s so fucking sexy, babe,” you continued on. he smiled, leaning in to kiss you. a beat. then two. “thank you for, uh, for…yeah.”

you giggled softly. “you’re welcome, cowboy. i love you. so much.” his face grew serious as he nodded, “i luh you too,” he answered. then, “but i ain’t finished. need to take you for a ride.” and before you could say anything else, he was slipping out of you, surging downward to bury his face between your legs to show you his gratitude.

[umeoniii]

aot men during sex

pt 1: armin, eren, jean here

pt 2: levi, bertholdt, reiner

!!: fem bodied reader, a tiny bit of angst in levi’s story only if u squint though.

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

levi: when i write these hcs here’s how i tend to think; issues and problems that one has, tends to show during one of their most vulnerable states (sex). that being said i feel levi’s not strict or hard or anything like that in bed. i feel he’s more of a softer person in bed. he’s only aggressive if that’s what you want. he also had many parental issues in the past; his father’s absence, his mother has alive for a short time of his life, and his hard uncle taking care of him then abandoning him. i also feel that he probably has a mommy kink, not like the way that most people think of it, but because of his maternal issues. he tries his hardest not to let it slip often though. he’s sorta clingy in bed, and his favorite position is missionary, so he can be as close as possible to his s/o. he also likes cowboy because he can see all of his s/o. he likes giving more than receiving, he loves giving because it makes him and his s/o vv happy.

☆〜

you were lying in bed with your newly wed husband. to think about it, you’ve never had sex with him in all of the years you two were together. sure you’ve seen him naked vice versa, but the two of you never actually engaged in sexual acts. maybe he was the type to wait until marriage? you were always too scared to ask him about it, you didn’t want to seem selfish.

tonight was the night you were going to ask him though. you turn your head to your lover and inquire about it.

“so what you’re asking for is to have sex?” he asks as you meet his gaze, the moonlight being the only thing illuminating the two of you.

“well no, i just wanted to know why we’ve never done it. if you’re not comfortable you know we don’t have to do it.” you say softly, rubbing his biceps.

“no i’ve just never done it because i’ve already wanted to find the right one, i’ve already found them.” he pauses

“im not the type who will just have sex with anyone. im different, im not like her” you look down, you had a feeling he was referring to his mother. you didn’t say anything about the comment not wanting to talk further about it for his sake. “well can we levi?” you look up at him, your eyes shimmering.

he looks away for a moment, then looks back at you and nods. you pull him in for a soft passionate kiss, working your way down to kiss neck and collar bones, leaving soft warm kisses all over him. you both remove your pajamas until you’re both exposed. you can see levi turn away from you, as if he were nervous.

you grab his cheeks and turn him back towards you and start kissing him even more working your way down to his dick, leaving soft kisses. you watch as his cock hardens and precum leaks from his tip as it twitches. from just one kiss? maybe he’s all the way a virgin, he’s probably never even touched himself… you thought to yourself. you get on top of him and start riding him at a slow place. he moves his hands up throughout your body, groping your breasts. they’re so soft, he thought to himself.

you continue riding your husband looking at his slightly humiliated face. he grabs your hips and flips you onto your back, then he gets in between your legs and inserts himself. he starts by rutting his hips into you. he holds you closer to him. “fuck vi’, ‘s feels so… good.” you moan into his ear. he continues thrusting into you, cream coating his dick. he looks at you.

“i love you so much y/n, truly, you’re the only person in the world i could ever trust to see me like this. i want to be with you forever” he whispers into your ear. the loving whisper in itself was enough to bring you to your climax. you grip him tightly, your nails tracing his back. you moan softly in his ear as you tighten around him and cum.

the tightening had made him reach his climax, he pulled out and came all over your tummy whimpering your name to himself. when he’s done he continues panting, as you grab his head and lie it down on your breasts. “i love you too, levi”

。

bertholdt: bert is actually a sweetie in bed. he treats his s/o like a princess and takes good care of her. i feel he’s very good at eating pussy. bertholdt gets flustered when his s/o asks about him. he’s literally a switch, he can be dominant at times but not often. just because he’s way taller than his s/o doesn’t mean he’s that way. he likes giving and receiving. his favorite positions are doggy style, butterfly, or when you’re sitting on his lap.

☆〜

“berthodlt stop!” you laugh as your roommate throws you on the bed and starts tickling you. you and bertholdt were very good friends, he was also your roomate in your dorm. neither of you had classes today, so you decided to just hang out instead. you grab hold of his long lanky arms and push him back, “let’s do something else, let’s watch a movie bert.” you say tired of him tickling you.

he nods his head and pulls out his laptop. you lie next to him your head on his shoulder. a couple of minutes later in the movie there was a kiss between the protagonist and their lover, you look at bertholdt who is blushing and smiling. he’s adorable.

“i wish i could do that to you.” you joke towards him. he obviously didn’t catch on to the fact it was a joke.

“no you wouldn’t, i’m not even all that.” he sputters covering his face, blushing profoundly. “i would, you know bert, i like you a whole lot, you’re such a great friend and i honestly want to take our relationship further.” you look up at him, he literally looks like he’s about to die.

“really? im glad you feel the same as me.” he’s breathing hard and blushing. you nod smiling. you lean in to kiss him, he places his hands awkwardly around your back. you didn’t want to ruin things but you had to make sure bert was yours.

“have you ever had sex?” you inquire. berthodlt was red as a tomato, choking on his words. “um, uh, y- no.” he couldn’t even look at you. poor bert. you look at him innocently. “i would like for you to eat me out.” you say to him with absolutely no emotion in your voice. he just stared with a horrified look on his face. “you okay?” you ask him, rubbing his thigh. “yeah im just nervous, i’ve never done anything like this.”

“don’t worry about it i’ll guide you bert.” you smile at him sweetly. you push him onto his back and pull off you shorts and panties. you hover yourself over his face then lower your pussy onto his face. he moves his hands and grips your thighs softy.

he starts lapping at your cunt shoving his tongue into your hole. you rub your clit against bert’s hooked nose and moan softly to yourself, ruffling his hair. “bertholdt you’re doing so great.” you hiccup. he continues to kitty lick at your wet cunt until you get off of him. “why’d you get up? did you finish.” he questions sadly. “you’re a virgin, i want you to at least feel it too.”

you turn around to where your face is right over his crotch, but your cunt’s still in his face. you pull down his sweatpants and boxers, and his dick springs up hitting you in the face. he gets even redder when you turn around.

“oh, you’re so cute” you purr turning back around. he was lightly trimmed and had a little happy trail leading up to his navel. and god was he long. you started by licking softly at his tip, precum already sticking on your fingers. you put a little in your mouth then work your way down. he starts licking at your pussy again, moaning into you.

you hollow out your cheeks and start swirling your tongue around his very sensitive tip. he continues stuffing his tongue into you as you still manage to ride his face. you use yours hands to pump his dick, still sucking on it. after a while you feel bertholdt’s hand gripping your ass.

your vision gets blurry as you cum into his mouth and face. just as you cum he twitches and cums. your mouth filled with his hot, slightly salty semen. you get off of bertholdt and lay next to him. his chest heaving up and down. he pulls you in closer holding you as the movie still plays in the back.

　　　　　　　　　。

reiner: reiner is probably exactly like his best friend. except hornier. reiner has a humiliation kink or at least likes to do it in the worst places possible. he loves his s/o’s ass (please tell me i’m not the only one who remebers what he said about annie’s titan in s1). that being said he likes doggy style and 69. reiner likes giving, he doesn’t care much if he receives or not as long as he can please his s/o that’s enough for him to receive. his s/o’s pleasure is his #1 priority during sex.

☆〜

reiner’s friends asked him to come out to the bar with them, he invited you as well. as you guys all sat at the stools talking about various funny stories and complaining about work reiner’s hand managed to slip up your skirt. you slap his hand and side eye him. “reiner stop, not right here.” you whisper.

he rolls his eyes as he continues to talk to his friends and you join in.

“hey did you know reiner asked out almost every girl in our class sophomore year?” his friend laughed. you look at him.

“and he got rejected every time.” his other friend buds in. you chuckle trying not to upset him.

“ ‘s not true!” he defends himself slurring his words. he puts his arms around you and whispers

“they’re lying, they’re just trying to make me look like a fool in front of you baby.” you roll your eyes still laughing to yourself. he notices your slight attitude.

“guys me and y/n have to go outside real quick, i think she’s still upset with me over something that happened earlier. save our seats.” he whispers to his friends making sure you didn’t hear. he gets up and beckons you to come out the front door with him. you follow his lead as he goes towards the alley in between the bar and the pawn shop next to it.

he releases his arm and looks at you, while you have crossed arms.

“baby you’re not still upset about earlier are you?” you glare at him, obviously still mad.

“yes im still mad about it”

he looks at you with pleading eyes, “but baby i apologized, i said i was gonna buy you more”

“reiner it was my favorite blush! i told you not to step on it so it wouldn’t break.” you yell whiny.

“just because it’s broken doesn’t mean that you still can’t use it.” he scoffs

you hit him on the chest upset.

“that’s it y/n i’ve had enough with you acting bratty and teasing me.”

you open your mouth shocked

“bratty? teasing?” you get upset with him accusing you of such foolish things.

“hell yeah, there’s no way you just decided to wear something like that to the bar. not that it’s bad but you definitely did it just to spite me.”

you roll your eyes. as soon as your glance met his he picked you up to where your legs were wrapped around his waist. he kisses you, alcohol still lingering on his tongue. you return the kiss. he pushes you against the building so he can keep his balance as he undoes his belt and pulls down his pants and underwear.

“reiner stop it! what if someone passes us.” you look at him worried

“no one should, tonight’s not really busy on this street. plus that trash can right there should cover us.” he points to the trash can right to the side of you both. you look at him agreeing it was alright. he pulls down your your panties your back still against the wall.

he pushes his fat, hard cock into you. instantly moaning you wrap your arms around him as he tries his hardest to hold you. he puts you down and turns you around to where your face is against the wall. he reinserts his dick into you and starts thrusting. he fondles your ass as he whispers into your ear.

“you know your my princess right? i love you oh so much y/n, i’d do anything for you. if you want me to buy a million of those blushes i will. because i love you that much.” brandy lingering from his breath.

you moan as your skin slaps into eachother, he puts his hand over your mouth in the hopes of keeping you quiet. he continues pushing himself into you rubbing his cheek against yours. you wanted to finish as quick as possible, you didn’t want anyone seeing this, you also didn’t want his friends to be suspicious. he moved his hand away from your mouth and started rubbing your clit.

“reiner oh my god.” you whimper softly

“i know, i know” he reassures you

he continues thrusting inside of you as your mascara starts to run down your cheeks, messing up your makeup you spent a while doing. “im about to cum reiner.” you whine softly.

as he continues to thrust into your cunt you tighten around him as the knot in your stomach snaps and you feel yourself release onto your lover. he puts his palm over your mouth in hopes no one here your moans. you won’t for a minute then stand up straight and pull up your panties. you pull out your compact mirror and see how ruined your makeup is. i’ll touch it up in the bar bathroom. you thought to yourself. reiner looks at you.

“after we’re done at the bar i’ll take you to that makeup place in the mall.”

。

‿︵‿︵ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ・❉・ ʚ˚̣̣̣͙ɞ‿︵‿︵

a/n: next part is gonna be women! also guys FEEL FREE TO REQUEST it’s not easy writing on my own :,(. anyways i hope you guys enjoy this one as well 💋 it took me all day bcs my drafts would keep deleting and i’d have to start all over （ ｉ _ ｉ ）

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

HIT ‘EM UP! (18+ Fic)

Pairing: Cowboy!Gojo Satoru x Cowboy!Geto Suguru x Black!Cowgirl!Reader (Slow Burn/Enemies to Lovers)

Synopsis: You get to meet Geto & Gojo the Gunslingers, the notorious outlaws that have every town and law enforcement in a twist, when your bum-ass BF offers you as payment to avoid going to prison. Little do they know that this is only a part of your plan to get what you desire. But when you realize that the infamous gun-slinging, smooth-talking cowboys could be everything you want and more when they offer you a deal to team up with them, will you successfully be able to go through with it? 

Warnings: Smutty Smut; 18+ (MINOS GTFO); poly!SatouSugu; Reader is Black & Fem; Mention of other JJK characters; Porn with Plot; Tragic Backstories; T/W for Childhood Trauma, Parental Death, Violence, Panic Attacks & Torture; Angst/Hurt/Comfort; Hand Kink; Masturbation; Voyeurism; Gay Sex; Polyamorous; Double Deepthroat; Mutual Oral; Fingering; CMNF; Spitroast; Riding; Unprotected PiV Sex; Creampies; Outside/Public Sex; Shotgunning; Multiple Positions; Spit Kink; Facials; MDom/fsub Undertones; Aftercare

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer's Note: This chapter is LONG AS FUCK, so y’all have been warned! -Jazz

Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen PT I & II. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-One. Twenty-Two. Twenty-Three. Twenty-Four. Epilogue + Soundtrack.

********

SEVENTEEN: MISDIRECTION.

Dear, Shoko,  Hello from Willow Springs! Yes, I’m here and yes, it was one hell of a journey as you can imagine. Let’s just say waking up in a soft bed and taking a hot shower in the morning is MUCH better than dodging bullets and fending off nature.  I can’t complain though. Gojo & Geto have been a big help to me. We’ve helped a lot of people on our way here and we’ll continue to do so once we leave Willow Springs. Right now, I’m staying with my parents. They moved out of the South some time ago and moved here, so they offered us a place on their farm.  I’m safe if that’s what you’ve been worried about. And I’m happy. Finally, I can live without looking over my shoulder or lying. Speaking of lying, I’m sorry I never told you who I really was or what my true intentions were. I hope you can forgive me.  I just hope you’re safe and happy too. How are the others? How is the saloon? Valentine is in prison again. I’m sure you’ve heard about his escape, but we took care of it. Still no Benji yet, but we’ll get him soon. You can count on that.  I hope you miss me just as much as I miss you. You don’t have to answer this letter. I just wanted to say hi. -Love, Y/N

After finishing your letter to Shoko, you lay back on the bed and stare up at the ceiling, the summer night breeze cascading over you from the open window. The letter lays on your chest, possibly never to be seen or sent off to your old “home”. Your old life.

Black Waters seems so much farther away now. Everything does at this point, including your snake bite. 

It’s been a couple days since you moved into your parents' home and things have been looking up for you. You’ve been following Nanami’s instructions down to the point and doing physical therapy––several minutes of walking and ankle stretches—which have helped you tremendously. Now, you're walking without the cane and you can even see the bite marks fading. 

You can hardly believe that the snake bite even happened. Days of simple living have made everything before seem like a dream…except one thing. Or rather, one person: Benji the Bandit. He is still out there somewhere, waiting for you, searching for you. You know that it’s only a matter of time until you fully heal and you’ll be back on the road to find him. 

So why not practice for it? 

In the dead of night while the house sleeps, you dress in a loose spaghetti-strap top, some riding pants, and boots before you tip-toe out of the house with your pistol. You go out of the kitchen to the backyard which is separated from the farm and the forest by two white picket fences. 

When you finally get outside, you breathe in the summer night air, staring up at the twinkling stars above. It is a clear, warm night with only the buzzing of insects and the hooting of a lone owl from the forest to comfort you. “Goin’ out?” a familiar voice asks behind you. 

You nearly shriek, whipping around with your pistol drawn and cocked. But then you see the Gunslingers lounging about on the wrap-around porch. “Shit!” you gasp, damn clear close to a heart attack. “Y’all scared me half to death.” 

Both of the cowboys sit in their neighboring chairs, both wearing jeans, riding boots, and their own tank tops that show off way too much muscle and skin to be appropriate…for you, anyway. They both pass a cigarette back and forth, reminding you of an indirect kiss when Gojo takes a puff of it after Geto gives it to him. 

The blue-eyed bandit gives you a humored smile. “I know,” he chuckles. “That was the cutest thing ever.” Geto rolls his eyes. “C’mon, Satoru, cut her a break,” he huffs. “She almost died a couple days ago.” 

You chuckle at his wry joke, loosening your grip on your pistol. Geto nods down at your boots. “Speakin’ of which, shouldn’t you be restin’ up like the doctor ordered?” 

“I’ve rested long enough,” you scoff. “Plus, I need to brush up on my skills for Benji while I’m here.” You twirl your gun around your thumb and position it straight again before aiming at a nearby tree. 

Behind you, Gojo gives an overly-dramatic sigh. “Benji this, Benji that,” he groans. “Christ, girl, don’t that bloodlust got an off switch? Besides, we can’t kill him, remember? Unless you want us all behind bars.” He gives you a smirk as he rises from his chair on his long legs, taking a stretch. 

“Well, I can still shoot and miss,” you hotly reply, placing a hand on your hip and cocking it to the side. The men watch your hips very intently, unbeknownst to you. “I’m not hellbent enough on revenge to let y’all get arrested, especially since y’all saved my life.” You flush warmly even though it’s true. The duo look happy from your words. 

For the next few seconds, silence descends on you. You take those shorts seconds to turn away from them and focus on drawing, moving your hand as fast as it can go until it cramps. Behind you, you hear the crunch of grass under some boots and turn to see Geto. The moonlight illuminates his hair, turning it silver. “How you been doin’ since we’ve been here anyhow?” He asks, giving you a warm smile. 

Gojo follows him, smoke billowing from his nostrils. He passes the cig to Geto, sticking it between his lips on his own. “Yeah, you’ve been avoidin’ us.” He pouts at you, his lush bottom lip poking out at you. 

Of course, you deny this because yes, you have been avoiding them. “I have not!” you protest, flushing with embarrassment. “I’ve just been helpin’ my parents who are up there in age, thank you very much.” You turn away, pointing at another tree that is much bigger and thicker. 

“Oh, we’ve noticed,” Geto chuckles, puffing on his cigarette. You don’t look at him, not wanting to see how hot he looks doing so. “Yet your dad is always out there in the trenches tendin’ to his farm and your mom seems overly excited to have us help her in the kitchen.” 

You groan at his words, inwardly cringing. You know Yuri has taken a shine to the duo as has Eren even though he doesn’t show it. You can tell they like the Gunslingers and though that makes you happy, it also makes you nervous. What if they start asking about marriage or pushing you to have something with them? 

Gojo shoved his hands in his pockets, looking over your small frame. “So about this ‘brushin’ up’ thing,” he begins. “Whatcha gonna do when you have no gun or knife? How are you in hand-to-hand combat?” You turn to him, frowning. “Gojo, I know how to fight.” 

He shares a look with Geto, both looking totally unsatisfied with your response. You scoff, putting away your pistol and crossing your arms. “Fine then. Teach me a few things.” Gojo raises a brow at you. “You sure?” he asks, looking unsure himself. “Not to toot my own horn or anythin’, but I’m a black belt in jujutsu.” Geto rolls his brown eyes, still smoking his cigarette. 

But instead of looking intimidated or second-guessing as you’re sure the duo thought you would, you put a good distance between you and Gojo, square your shoulders, and put your fists up to block your face. “I think I can handle it,” you whisper. 

The two look at each other and then at you, the moon illuminating their stunned expressions. Then they each break out into a smile, liking your willingness to try. “Alright, darlin’,” Gojo sniggers. “But don’t say we ain’t warn ya.” 

You never thought you needed much training or help when it came to fighting. You always thought you were pretty good after years of fighting outlaws which usually ended in you using your gun anyway. But while training with the Gunslingers, you realize just how much you need to learn when it comes to learning different combat styles and how to truly squabble. 

Geto is gentle with his approach at teaching you. He is the best kind of sensei–kind and nurturing but he isn’t afraid to point out your mistakes or things that need changing. He first teaches you about stance when facing off with an opponent. You square your feet, one behind the other to support your weight, and ball your fists up by your face while sizing up the oak tree in front of you as if it’s a gun-wielding outlaw. 

“Uh-uh.” Geto takes his cigarette out of his mouth and tosses it far into the forest, respecting your parents’ land enough to do so. You don’t know why that makes your stomach flip. “No, no, wrong stance,” he critically yet softly says. “Here, turn your hips so they angle with your feet.” 

You suddenly feel his big, warm hands on your hips, angling them so they are in line with your feet. You’re so focused on his hands that you barely notice Gojo slipping in front of the tree. He is now your opponent, a smirk on his face. 

You envision him to be Valentine or Benji and suddenly, you hear the blood pumping in your head. Geto is a soothing presence behind you, touching you without even getting near you. “Stop thinkin’ so hard,” he whispers, his lips near your ear. “I can hear those thoughts. Clear your head and watch your opponent.” 

You look at him, but turn back around when you hear a stick crunch beneath a shoe. You react just in time to Gojo’s sudden jab your way, ducking away from his blow. He smiles at you, nodding in approval. “Not bad, little lady,” he chuckles, grinning at Geto. “But I think I can teach ya better.”

Meanwhile, Gojo is all hands on and teases you every chance you get. When you practice punches, he puts his big hands up as punching bags and has you throw jabs at them, grinning annoyingly as you do. 

“C’moooon, little miss,” he cackles. “That’s all you’ve got? What, did your mama’s cooking make you soft?” Glaring at him, you give him a sharp jab in his side, earning a grunt. “Says the one who’s always beggin’ her to fix him sweets,” you retort, making Geto laugh. 

He, like Geto, likes to work closely and with his hands on you (with your consent, of course, and for the good of your fighting skills). He stands behind you, teaching you a new stance, and has his elongated fingers brushing against your belt. 

“You should have your hand at your gun if the opportunity presents itself,” he instructs. “Like so.” He takes your hand and places it on your upholstery, his hand covering yourself. “See?” he whispers, his icy mint breath fanning your ear. “You can slip your hand back here with no problem.” 

You feel his hand caress your hip and it’s like you’ve been dipped in a hot pot of liquid the way your body is in flames. “Gojo,” Geto critically growls, glaring at his friend. Gojo steps away from you, leaving you feeling cold. “What? I’m just anglin’ her hips right!” 

You then move onto more moves where Gojo acts as an actual opponent again. He stands a foot away from you while Geto watches leaning against a nearby tree. The white-haired outlaw towers over you, fists up and knees bent gingerly. “Try dodgin’ me again,” he instructs, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. 

You nod, thinking that this will be easy being that Gojo has been so playful so far. But to your shock, that playfulness fades and he’s all business as he tosses you multiple punches and jabs one after the other that you need to dodge. You gasp and let out little pants as you dodge each one, ducking beneath his fists and side stepping him when you need to. Your eyes lock with each other and you clear your head, helping you size him up the way Geto taught you. 

You almost feel as if you’re dancing with him with the way your legs burn and a slight smile appears on your lips. Finally, when your body is screaming for rest, he stops. “Not bad at all, rookie,” he praisingly says. 

Geto claps from the tree, but you ignore it, too focused on Gojo’s nickname. “Rookie?” you scoff, raising a brow. “Don’t insult me like that.” The gunslinger just laughs, making a fire bloom inside of you. 

Now you really want a challenge. So you step father away from Gojo and put your fists up. “Alright, cowboy,” you tease. “Let’s see what you got.” He smirks at you. “What I got?” he scoffs. “Don’t forget about him now, sugar.” 

He turns to Geto and so do you, expecting him to have a gun drawn or something. But to your surprise, the space by the tree where he once stood is empty. Suddenly, you feel a tug at your belt and look up to find Geto standing behind you with your pistol dangling from his hand. “Hey!” you shout. “How’d you–” 

“Misdirection,” he chuckles, his eyes filled with playfulness. “That’s your next lesson.” Your eyes tick up to your gun, already figuring out how to get it from him. “You want it back?” He raises a brow at you, putting the gun in his back pocket. “Then come get it, darlin’.” And smirk stretches across his lips, making heat pool in your legs. 

The fight is on. You make the first move, lunging at him to distract him before sending a jab at his lower stomach. It isn’t enough to hurt him, but it’s enough to make him double over and give you a good chance to grab your gun. Geto is quicker than you though, and uses one arm to take a chop at the inside of your knees. 

With a gasp, you buckle and go down, your knees hitting the ground. Luckily, it doesn’t slow you down. You immediately pop back up and glare up at Geto who looks down at you with a darkened gaze. “C’mon,” he says. You lunge at him, but he takes off before you can catch him. 

“Pass it!” Gojo calls, waving his hands from the fence. Geto tosses your pistol at his partner and he catches it before the two jump the fence and enter the woods. You quickly run after them in your boots, jumping the fence and scampering into the forest. You’re about five feet from the farm when you track down Gojo standing in a clearing of trees. 

He grins at you, standing alone. You don’t know where Geto has gotten to, but right now you don’t care. Wordlessly, you put your fists up, scowling at him. He smirks and pockets your gun, slipping it into his belt. You watch him, already planning on how to get it back. 

When you blink, Gojo is suddenly closer, wordlessly telling you to make a move. Instantly, you do so, tossing a punch his way. He dodges it effortlessly just as he does the other ones. You decide to leave his handsome face alone and shoot for his waist, grabbing at his belt to yank it off. 

Gojo counteracts this by grabbing your arm and spinning your body into him. Your back presses against his front and he locks your arms behind your back as he presses his face against your ear. “You should’ve been watchin’ the hands, sugar,” he chuckles. 

You begin to squirm and writhe in his iron grip, trying in vain to kick back to get his legs or groin. Nothing works. You whine, the sound coming out like a cry for help. It must work because Gojo  loosens his grip a bit. “You cryin’?” he teasingly laughs. “Ain’t no cryin’ on the battlefield, little miss. You’d better wipe them tears or—“ 

With a hard kick, you aim your foot at his thigh, causing him to grunt. His grip loosens farther, allowing you to free your right hand and deck him in the face. As soon as it happens, you regret it. Gojo covers his cheek, his blue eyes blown with shock. “Oh, shit!” you gasp. “I-I’m so sorry!” 

To your surprise, he begins to laugh, still holding his wounded cheek. “No, no!” he cackles. “That was priceless! Damn, girl, did those antibiotics give you super strength too?” He continues to laugh, even as he takes your pistol out of his belt. 

You think he’s about to hand it over, but he tosses it somewhere behind you instead. You turn, watching Geto catch the gun and slip it into his belt. “Nice right hook,” he praises with a smirk. “But ya still didn’t get this back.” 

You immediately toss yourself at him, grappling with his belt, but he laughs and skips backwards, making you chase him. When you manage to reach towards his holster where your pistol is, he takes your arm and twists you so your back is pressed against him. “Geto, come on!” you shout. Give it back!” 

He continues to laugh as you struggle, much to your dismay. And the fact that he’s so fucking massive doesn’t make it any better. With his one arm holding your arms down, you decide to use your feet again and kick at his knee. He grunts, causing his arm to loosen, allowing you to bend down onto your knees. 

“Hittin’ below the belt?” he laughs. “Why, darlin’, that isn’t very–” 

But he doesn’t get a chance to finish because you’re looping yourself between his legs and popping up behind him before unsheathing your gun from his holster and looping your arm around his neck. “Misdirection,” you breathlessly whisper. 

He long-haired outlaw looks down at you, shock in his brown eyes that quickly turns to pride illuminated by the moonlight. Your eyes flit down to his lips, parted and soft, soft pants escaping them. Maybe it’s the moonlight. Maybe it’s the adrenaline rush you feel from the fight session. Maybe it’s his scent of pine and something else spicy that attracts and intoxicates you as you keep his arm looped around his shoulder.

Or maybe it’s the way his arm comes back around your waist to hold you, but not forcefully like before, making you feel safe. Either way, you find yourself kissing him. It isn’t as long as Gojo’s, but it’s just as soft and just as exciting. Geto’s kiss makes you crave more like you would cold water on a hot day. You stand up on your tiptoes to reach him because he’s so tall, causing your neck to strain slightly.m

But just as it happens, it ends and you pull away. You stare up at him wordlessly, trying to make sense of what just happened. He looks like it too, his expression stunned. “Y/N,” he says. “I–” 

He’s interrupted by Gojo who saunters to you, applauding you. “Not bad, rookie,” he praises. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone leave Suguru shaken up like that before. We definitely made the right choice invitin’ you into our little family.” He is completely unaware of what just transpired between his partners.,

Quickly, you tear yourself away from Geto and pocket your gun. “Uh, thanks,” you awkwardly reply. “I-It’s kinda late, so I should be headin’ inside. Thanks for the lessons.” Before either of them can speak, you quickly hurry off back towards the farm, abruptly leaving them. “What is somethin’ I said?” Gojo asks, utterly confused. 

You don’t stop moving until you’re back in the house and finally in your bedroom. Once you are, you close the door behind you and lean against it for a moment to compose yourself. Your heart is hammering like a rabbit’s and it has less to do with your recent activity and everything to do with the lips you just kissed. 

You can’t believe it. You’ve kissed both Gojo and Geto. Your partners. The same men you tried to kill weeks ago. How is this possible? How did you get from despising the outlaws to loving them? 

You pause, your brain practically scratching a record, getting stuck on that one forbidden word. Wait…love? 

And then it hits you. Like a herd of horses or a freight train barrelling towards you, it hits you dead on: you’re in love with Geto and Gojo. “Shit,” you say into the dark. Now things will never be the same. 

**********

Just as you suspected, things are not at all the same. 

For the next week, you barely talk to the Gunslingers. You go about your business, helping your parents out around the house, and spending time on your own. You avoid Geto and Gojo as much as you can which, fortunately for you, isn’t hard because they have barely been talking to you too. 

And it’s horrible. You feel like you’re all ghosts orbiting and existing around each other, invisible but still there. You want so desperately to talk to them, to discuss what happened with Geto that night and even what occurred when you got bit by that snake, but something always stops you. 

Embarrassment? Humiliation? Fear? You don’t know, but whenever you walk by their room or hear their voices, you feel that urge to talk but also that twist in your gut that stops you short. It’s exhausting! 

But instead of being an adult and discussing it, you continue to avoid your friends and help your ailing parents with chores, such as helping Eren out on his farm. You stand in his vegetable garden in the warm sun, your bare feet in the soil and overalls over your undershirt. Eren stands beside you in his flannel and boots stained with mud, his cowboy hat low on his head to block out the sun. 

“Now just sprinkle in the seeds like so,” he instructs. “Then we can water ‘em and cover ‘em up with dirt.” He hands you a bunch of cabbage seeds and nods at the bed he dug earlier for them. 

You crouch down in the dirt and sprinkle in the seeds, making sure they have a good distance apart. Eren hoops proudly, ever the girl dad. “Perfect!” he says, applauding you. “You always did have a green thumb.” You stand up straight, stretching your arms high over your head to touch the blue sky above. “Hardly,” you snigger. “I was always the one for the kitchen.” 

Eren throws his head back and laughs, his green gardening hose wound around his hand like a python. “That you were!” he fondly laughs. “You were always your mama’s little assistant. I still remember that gumbo ya made that time for New Years Eve. Still the best one I’ve ever had.” 

You smile wistfully, thinking of those times. Those times when you weren’t hardened by so much grief and revenge. Those times when you didn’t have blood on your hands. You wonder briefly what would’ve happened if you hadn’t left your parents and became an outlaw. Would you have been a better person? Would your life have been okay?

One thing is for sure though: you would’ve never had met the Gunslingers. 

They suddenly appear yards down from the garden, walking out of the barn with axes and a wheelbarrow. As if to tease you, Gojo only wears a white tee that is tight on his toned muscles while Geto is shirtless, each muscle rippling enticingly. His long hair is pulled back into a ponytail to avoid strands sticking to his face, making him look like a damn wet dream. “Good mornin’, Mr. Tokiyami!” he calls, waving one big arm to him. 

Eren waves back, smiling at the young men. “Just Eren, son!” he calls back. “And good mornin’ to y’all!” He turns to you, oblivious to your mixed emotions. “They volunteered to help cut some extra wood for the upcomin’ winter. They’re quite the help, your friends. I’m sorry about what I said about ‘em bein’ outlaws and all.” 

You pat him on the back, smiling proudly at his change of heart. “I’m sure they wouldn’t be mad at you, Papa.” He returns your smile and begins to water his tomatoes and herbs, leaving you to watch the duo walk across the land to the woods. 

They catch your gaze, but don’t say anything, only offering a smile and a nod. You were kind of hoping they would say something. Eren notices and pulls a face, perplexed. “Huh,” he says. “That was a little awkward. They ain’t even tell you hi.” 

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” you laugh, waving it off. “They’re probably bein’ weary because I yelled at them for makin’ all this noise last night while I was tryna sleep.” You come up with the lie on the fly, having become an expert at it. Eren scowls in confusion, cocking his head to the side. “Funny, I ain’t hear nothin’.” 

You laugh, bumping his hip with yours. “Well, that’s because you were sleepin’ on two glasses of whiskey and a full plate,” you joke. Before Eren can say anything more, Yuri appears in the garden in her cotton blue dress and apron. “Oh, there you are!” she exclaims. “Dr. Nanami is here to see you. I told him I’d fetch ya and tell you to clean up.” 

She begins to dust the mud off of you while Eren laughs, telling her to leave you be. Afterwards, you leave the garden and enter back into the house through the kitchen door so Nanami doesn’t see you. You change out of your sweaty, muddy clothes and into a clean red sundress that stops at your knees. Something cute but respectable. 

You then go back downstairs to see Nanami standing in the foyer. He, too, is affected by the heat, his spits slightly staining his button-down and his blonde hair pushed back. “Kento!” you sweetly greet him. “What a surprise to see you.” 

He stands from the wicker chair and bows, clearing his throat. “Good afternoon, Y/N,” he politely says. “I hope I’m not interruptin’ you and your family. Your mother let me come by.” 

“No, just preparin’ for tonight’s big celebration in the town’s square,” you reply and then giggle. “A shindig, if ya will. A hoedown.” Nanami cracks a smile at your goofiness. “Yes, I forgot that was today,” he sighs. “That’s why everyone is leavin’ work early and I’ll have no assistance.” 

The people of Willow Springs always celebrate on the first day of every new month. “It’s a tradition of ours,” Yuri explained to you one night while out for a walk among the trails in the backwoods. “To us, it brings good luck and fortune.” Businesses close early, food is cooked, musicians bust out their instruments, and everyone gathers in the square to dance until midnight. 

It sounded like a perfect distraction to you. It’s been a while since you actually relaxed and let yourself go, so a night of drinking and dancing in a place where you feel safe sounds perfect to you. 

“Oh, yes, the party!” Yuri shouts, scaring you and Nanami half to death. She suddenly appears in the living room near the delicious-smelling kitchen. “You’ll have to excuse me, Dr. Nanami. I cook every month for this celebration.” 

A ding penetrates the air and Yuri jumps. “Oh, those are the hush puppies!” she gasps before scurrying off. You turn to Nanami, sighing. “You may wanna stay in case she has a heart attack,” you joke. 

The handsome doctor chuckles. “I just came to check up on you and make sure you’re doin’ alright.” He nods down at your foot which has begun to successfully heal. You no longer feel any pain and can finally walk without the cane. 

“How sweet,” you coo. “I’m right as rain thanks to you and that magic medicine ya gave me.”

The doctor appears happy with that answer and goes to say something more, but he is interrupted by the sound of the front door creaking open. You turn around, your heart leaping at the sight of Gojo and a shirtless Geto. The only difference is that he’s put a flannel on to hide his glistening abs, probably to show respect to your parents’ household. 

They look at you and then at Nanami who silently stares at them. The tension is so fresh and so thick that you’d have to cut it with a chainsaw. Quickly, you try to dispel it. “Uh, fellas, you remember Dr. Nanami?” 

Geto only offers a smile while Gojo, the certified yapper of the both of them, verbally acknowledges Nanami. “How could we forget?” he chuckles. “You saved our partner’s life. Pleasure to see you again, doctor.” 

He thrusts his hand out for a shake, a smile stretched across his pretty face (despite the blindfold). Nanami slowly takes Gojo’s hand and shakes it like he’s afraid it will bite him. “Pleasure’s all mine,” he replies though he sounds like he really doesn’t mean it. 

Geto’s eyes meet yours, but you quickly look away, seeing visions of his face illuminated by moonlight before you shared that kiss. 

You feel like you’re about to either bolt or throw up from the awkwardness. It’s bad enough you and the Gunslingers aren’t talking, but Nanami also doesn’t trust them as entirely as you do. You feel like the room is about five seconds away from exploding. 

Luckily, your mom comes through, ever your hero. “Oh, boys, are you goin’ to the party tonight?” Yuri yells from the kitchen. 

The Gunslingers share a confused look. “Party?” Geto asks. “What party?” 

Yuri sticks her head from out of the kitchen, her face slightly flushed from the hot oven. “The party in the town’s square that happens every first of the month. Y/N, did you not tell them?” All of them turn to you and you shrink under their gazes. “Was I supposed to?” you ask. Yuri gives you a motherly glare. 

While Gojo looks happy with the invitation, Geto seems put off by the idea of partying with strangers. You can’t blame him for it. As a fellow outlaw, you have to be wary even if danger isn’t at every corner. “Thank you for the invite, Yuri, but I don’t think it’d be wise.” 

Gojo side-eyes him, definitely not down with this plan. “Why the hell not?” he scoffs. “You may still wanna lay low, but I could use a night of drinkin’ and dancin’ to take the edge off.” 

Geto’ jaw tightens and you can tell that this is going to be a fight. “Uh…excuse us for a moment.” He silently walks upstairs to their bedroom and Gojo silently huffs to himself, following after. Yuri gives you a guilty look, but you wave it off, silently telling her to forget about it. 

When she disappears back into the kitchen again, you tend to Nanami, trying to make this situation as less awkward for him as possible. “You want some lemonade or somethin’?” 

He shakes his head, taking his hat from th couch. “No, thank you,” he replies. “I’ve overstayed my welcome already. I should be headin’ back before my next appointment at 1 PM.” You nod, walking him to the door. 

“You should come tonight, if ya want,” you casually say. “We’ll have good food, music, booze…” He turns you to and blinks, looking shocked at the suggestion. He takes a moment to think about it and you begin to think that he’ll say no. “Social gatherings aren’t entirely my thing,” he admits. “But I suppose I could stay for a minute or two.” 

You are relieved at this, happy to have a friend other than the Gunslingers there. You don’t know when you started thinking that Nanami is your friend, but somehow it feels right. He is kind and respectful, which are two things you need right now. You open the door for him, letting in the summer heat for a moment, and give him a smile. 

“I’ll see you then,” you softly say. 

Nanami’s green eyes lock with yours and you feel as if you are being plunged into a refreshing pool of forest water. “Until tonight, Ms. L/N.” He then puts his hat on and walks out of the house into the heat of the day towards his horse at the end of the road that waits patiently for him. 

You then stand there silently and watch him and his horse totter off down the road, not realizing that the Gunslingers are watching you from afar…and the way you look at the doctor.

[starfirewildheart]

Chapter 6

Scars and Souvenirs 

Summary: Sy and his lady both retire from the army but not before tragedy befalls Sy. He slowly tries to adjust to life again on their ranch.

Pairing: Sy / OFC

Word count: 3,109

Rating: smut, smut and smut. NO ONE UNDER 18, NSFW 

Sy stretched his back after throwing another bunch of wood in the back of their old farm truck. The storm had done a number on their farm but luckily none of it was structural. They lost trees, some fence, debris had been scattered to the heavens, he didn’t think they'd ever get it all cleaned up. 

Deb walked over to the truck and leaned against the side. "Hey there cowboy. Come here often?"

Sy grinned and tipped his hat to her. "Near everyday sugar, why? See something ya like "

She pushed away from the truck and circled around him looking him up and down. "Maybe," She shrugged. "Depends," She grabbed his ass and gave it a squeeze. "Humm," nodding as she continued to explore with her hands. She ran her hands over his abs up to his chest tweaking his nipples until they pebbled then nodded once more in approval. She started to circle him again and let her hand trail down his body until she was cupping him through his jeans. He was already getting hard but he finished filling in her hand. "Impressive sir," She whispered over his shoulder from behind him. "One of the best stallions I've ever seen." She saw his eyes following her every movement, his breathing picking up as well as his pulse. Stepping back in front of him she reached for his belt and unbuckled it undoing the button and zipper. "I think I'd like to take it for a ride." She reached in and gripped his cock stroking it."

"Fuck darlin," he rasped. "You can ride me anytime."

"There is one more thing I need to test before I saddle up," purred as she knelt down in front of him and tugged his jeans halfway down his hips. Pulling him out and stroking him from root to tip. Glancing up at his face nearly undid her. His eyes were heavy with lust, his face slightly tinged pink from the heat, bare chest was and tight abs showing through his unbuttoned shirt. She ran her thumb over the sensitive head smearing a pearl of precum around the tip and over the sensitive glands just below causing him to shiver with anticipation before finally giving it several small kitten licks until he reached down and grabbed a fist full of her hair. Taking the hint she sucked him down as deep as she could, fisting what wouldn't fit each was quite a bit.

Sy's eyes rolled back in his head as his jaw clenched and flexed as she engulfed him. "Fuck, baby. I don't know what brought this on b…but damn I love it."

Deb had a tough past and was very timid with intimacy when she met Sy. It took a long time but he'd managed to gain her trust and give her the self confidence to experiment with different things. He was so glad he had. Tugging on her hair, "enough, love. I'm gonna cum if you don't stop."

She continued until he gave another, harsher tug finally letting him slip from her mouth with one last lick. Looking up at him through her lashes, "But I want you to cum."

He pulled her to her feet and against his body. "I intend to cum sugar, just not in your mouth," he promised. "I have a different place I intend to fill." Sy kissed her as he let his hands explore her body eventually undoing her jeans and slipping his hands inside to squeeze and cup her ass as he ground against her. "Do you remember our talk about safe words?"

She was so lost in sensation she didn't answer at first earning a harsh pinch to her behind causing her to squeak and jerk forward. "Y..yes. Why?"

"We are going to continue to have a very playful day sugar," he grinned gleefully. Stepping away from her a bit he placed the t-shirt he'd removed earlier in the morning on the tailgate then turned back to push her jeans and panties down to her knees delighting in her gasp.

"Sy! What are you doing?" There was a very long driveway to their home but anyone could still drive up so she moved her hands to cover herself as he picked her up and sat her on the tailgate. Her pulled her boots off the finished taking off her jeans and panties tossing them in the bed of the truck before putting her boots back on her feet. She laughed, "Why?"

"Cowgirl's keep their boots on baby," he winked at her with a wicked grin.

"Maybe I should invest in some spurs," She teased as she wrapped her legs around him causing his cock to give a very appreciative twitch.

He removed her shirt and bra quickly before devouring her mouth as he ran his fingers through her dripping folds. He was happy she was just as turned on by this as he was. Placing her feet up on the tailgate spreading her open for him he dropped to his knees and dove in like he was dying of thrust and she was the last source of water in the world. He lapped at her until she was bucking against his face then latched his mouth over her clit suckling as he ran his tongue back and forth over her pearl. Placing his hands on her hips to hold her down as she bucked and convulsed through not one but two orgasams leaving her panting breathlessly as she fell back against one of the limbs in the back of the truck, eyes lidded heavily. He placed one more kiss on her mound before raising up, "I have to go inside and get some things. I'll be right back. Do not move. I want those legs apart and I want to see that pussy glistening in the sun when I get back. Do you understand?" 

"Yes, Sir."

"Good girl" he praised before sprinting in the house. When he comes back out he's wearing much more comfortable track pants and a pair of leather chaps carrying his saddle bags over his shoulder. He saw the twitch in Debbie's  muscles as she fought the urge to close her legs. "You did so good for me sugar. I'm proud of you." He rubbed her arms and sides before moving her legs, pulling her to sit up and kissing her. He took his blue plaid, button down farm shirt and put it on her pushing her hands away when she tried to button it. "No ma'am, it stays unbuttoned and open the rest of the day." 

She took the hand he extended and held it starting toward the house only to be jerked backwards when Sy started the other way. "We're going in, right?" She questioned. 

"There is farm work to be done darlin." He bit his lip to hide his grin when her eyes got huge at the idea.

"But...I," She looked down at her very naked and exposed body. All Sy's shirt was covering really was her back and ass.

"Sugar, you're going to stay this way or completely naked for the rest of the day, whichever I want." He felt her shiver against him but was proud when she didn’t fight it and started walking with him. She was hugging his arm close to her body making his hand brush against the soft flesh on her lower stomach causing his cock throb. He was glad he'd put the cock ring on when he went inside or he'd blow his load now. 

They went to the training pen where the fence had been damaged in the storm. He pulled on some work gloves then grabbed a hammer and some nails from his saddlebags and went to work making the repairs. Once he was done he called Deb closer. "Need to make sure this is sturdy enough."

 "Ok?" She was confused until he moved her next to the fence and bent her forward with her hands braced on the section he'd just fixed. Her face burned red as he shoved the shirt up to her shoulders and pressed his cock, which he'd covered in lube when she wasn't looking into, into her. Even though they'd been together for a long while his girth was still almost too much for her and the first few thrusts were painful. As always he took it slow until she adjusted but then he railed her.

Debbie held onto the fence for dear life as his hips slammed against her ass hard enough to drive her to her toes with each thrust making a slapping sound loud enough to echo. "Fuck Sy!"

"I am sugar," he panted as he released one of her hips to reach around and rub her clit. Within seconds she was shuttering and clamping down on him milking him through a dry orgasm. He carefully slid out of her and pushed her back down when she started to stand. "Stay just like that."

"Sy," She whined, "what if someone pulls up?" She jumped when he spoke, closer than she realized.

"Then they will get a good look at what's mine." He smiled when she whimpered and trembled. God he loved tapping into this particular kink. After cleaning up the broken lumber and putting his tools away he went back to Deb. "You can stand up now, sugar. Looks like the fence will hold nicely."

She turned to him and instantly buried her face in his neck taking deep breaths of his scent as she wrapped her arms around him.

"Hey, hey sugar, are you ok?" He felt her nod against his shoulder. Hooking his saddlebags over her shoulder Sy stepped back just enough to lift her in his arms and carry her to the air conditioned office in the nearby barn. He sat down in the big leather desk chair with her in his lap tenderly rubbing her back and legs. "I need you to use your words for me darlin. Tell me what's going on." He waited a moment but when he got no response he pushed her into a sitting position so that she was looking at him and she whined, a real whine. "Debbie, did I hurt you?" He worried.

"N..no," her voice was so soft it startled even her. She had no idea what was happening but she felt, funny? Needy? Desperate? Like she needed Sy to be so close you couldn't even fit air between the two of you? She tried to explain it all to him but was struggling and when he smiled like he was trying not to laugh she felt embarrassed and ashamed so she closed the shirt tight around herself and tried to leave but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down with a growl. 

"Stop. You do not get to run away, Debbie. I smiled because I know exactly what you're trying to explain and I'm so excited that I was able to take you there because I never tried with anyone before, ever. You are the only one I ever wanted to try with but I was afraid to push you too much."

"Tried what?"

"You're experiencing sub space darlin."

Her eyes darted to him searching his eyes to see if he was telling the truth.  "So it's normal?" He nodded and she relaxed a bit. "What am I supposed to do?"

"You do nothing but trust me and let me take care of you sugar. I promise I'll make you feel good."

She curled against him again. "But you're not enjoying this."

"Why in the world would you think that?" His eyebrows shot up to his hairline. 

"You haven't cum."

"That’s intentional sugar. I have big plans, trust me."

"I do," she pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Do you want to continue? " He wanted to be sure she was enjoying it. 

"Yes please!"

Sy chuckled as he stood and sat her on her feet then went and saddled his personal horse finishing off by securing his saddlebags. He removed a soft towel from one of them and laid it over the saddle. "Up ya go, sugar," motioning for her to mount the horse. He thought for a moment that she would back out but instead she lifted herself into the saddle and he climbed up behind her. Wrapping one arm around her waist then lifting her up he slipped his finger between her folds, "Mmmm still wet for me. Good girl." He pulled himself free of his pants and sat her down on his rod making them both moan. "Let's ride sugar." He pulled her shirt back open and urged the horse forward.

Blue, Sy's mare started off at a simple walk, the sway of the horse rocking them back and forth. Deb lolled her head back against his shoulder pressing kisses and nips at the juncture of his jaw and neck while she circled her hips. 

He urged blue to a canter as he ran his hand over her breast teasing one nipple then the other while she worked her muscles clamping down on him as she bounced. "Fuck, you feel so good!" His breathing picked up and he pushed Blue to a full gallop causing them both to bounce and sway to the rhythm of the pounding hooves. It didn't take much for Sy to crash through another dry orgasm; the pain in his heavy, swollen balls nearly out weighed the pleasure. He grabbed her, lifting her free of him.

"Need, please," She didn't  know what she was pleading for but she needed more. She was so close her body was bowstring tight "Sy!"

He handed her the reins then reached between her legs pulling them up, hooking her knees over his thick thighs. Trailing his fingers back up until he reached her mound where he shoved three fingers into her fucking her hard and fast while rubbing circles and flicking her clit with his other hand until she came with a roar bucking against him and back down on his hands as she rode it out collapsing in a puddle against Sy lost in a haze of numbness and happy bliss.

Sy rode back past the barn up to the house and wasted no time jumping down and putting Deb over his shoulder making her squeal. Using his free hand he tied Blue's lead around the corner pillar and climbed up on the porch setting Deb on her feet. He kissed her desperately. "I need you one more time, sugar. Can you do that for me?"

Her entire body was sore and exhausted and she knew she was going to ache for days but she needed to feel him cum inside her. "Cum in me?" Pleading as she reached out to stroke him. His cock was purple now; the veins were sticking up as it throbbed in her hand. When she reached down and rolled his heavy balls in her hand his hips bucked and he hissed.

He spun her around and bent her over the porch rail gently kicking her legs apart. Slipping the cock ring off and tossed it on the porch then grabbed her hips slamming in and started chasing his release. "I'm gonna fill you so full of my cum it's gonna run down your fuckin thighs and I'm gonna leave you bent over right here so I can watch it. Watch that pretty pussy twitch and tremble as it starts to tighten up again and gape it right back open over and over again until you are so fucked out you can't even move any more."

Sy was hitting the spot and her body was already starting to quake but something else was happening.  Something building that she'd never felt and it erupted as she let out a strangled cry. Liquid squirted out of her covering her thighs, the front of Sy's thighs and left a puddle on the porch giving her the most mind blowing orgasm she'd ever experienced. 

Sy heard her cry and felt her body ripple around him and it was beautiful but when he realized she squirted his cock swelled impossibly bigger, his balls drew up tight to his body while he rutted into her cumming so hard it actually ached then he collapsed over her back. Once his vision cleared he pressed kisses between her shoulders. "I love you so fuckin much."

"Love you too," She panted, breathlessly. 

Sy collapsed into the rocker that was behind them and admired the view of his lovely girl and their mixed release indeed running down her trembling thighs. Reaching out and rubbing his hands up and down over her ass and legs he could feel her body twitching still. Leaning in he pressed kisses and nips to her cheeks, rubbing his scruff along her skin especially along the bottom curve of her ass leaving beard burn until she was mewling at the sensation trying to squirm away. Rubbing over the skin to sooth it he used his thumbs to gently spread her open so he could check her. His cock twitched and if he could have he would have been rock hard at what he saw. Her folds were swollen and red, twitching as the muscles were starting to tighten back to their normal size. His seed was still filling her even as some was running down her legs and he was so glad he'd chosen to hold it all back until the last because it made for a massive amount of cum that he preened proudly at. He couldn't resist taking three of his fingers and pushing it back in deep. 

Debbie squealed at the sudden stretch to her sore, swollen hole and stood straight up. "Sy! Noooo it's sore," She whined and tried to move but the fingers inside her held her still.

He stood up and gave her a deep, sensual kiss as he rubbed her inner walls. "I know baby girl but I need to to give me one more ok? Can you do that for me?" She gave him a questioning look but didn't want to disappoint him and gave a soft nod l. He lowered her down on the porch until she was laying on her back with her ass resting on his thighs and her knees bent to her chest never removing his fingers so his seed couldn't escape. "Beautiful," he was so enamored and in love with her he felt like his heart was going to explode. "You are my world Deb. Never knew I could love anyone this much til I met you." He leaned down and captured her lips in a searing kiss before she could speak, not stopping until she screamed his name when she came clinching desperately around his fingers as tears of happiness and exhaustion slid from her eyes as she lay boneless and unable to move.

Tag List

@shellyshellshell

@enchantedbytomandhenry

@mrsevans90

@summersong69

@mollymal

@warriormirkwood

@bloodyinspiredme

@kneelforloki

[bruhhhh-huhhhhh]

HEYYYYY

Guess who got permission from @colemorrison to write a continuation of a request I did

ME!

And that's what I'm gonna do. Get ready for the silly fellas cause it's coming

I love him so much guys

I'm mentally unwell

When Junkrat and Roadhog left you, you were practically dead. Hell, you thought you were dead.

Especially when a certain angel came to save you.

Overwatch wasn't even supposed to be there, but Cassidy heard rumors of two certain people being there and he wanted to try his hand at stopping them. Much to Mercy's dismay. She wanted to have her time off and not have any extra side projects. But she couldn't let Cole, Tracer, and D.va go without a healer.

Damn them and their need to be heros.

Which is what leads to now. The gaurds that were previously beating the shit out of you were long gone, being questioned by Cassidy. They pointed him over to you, bleeding on the ground with your life practically oozing away from you. He rushed to get Angela the moment he saw the blood.

"Don't bother! They're practically dead anyway. And besides, the world'll be better without 'em. Filthy criminal," one of the guards called out.

That didn't stop Cole, though. He ran to get Angela, and she ran with him over to you.

When the angel came into your view, you were sure that you were dead. "Huh. Didn't think I'd get into Heaven," you said. Your voice was hoarse and damaged, which shocked you. "Oh. Guess I don't get magically fixed when I die."

"Well, you ain't dead yet, kid," Cole said.

"Roll them over, Cole. I need to see the damage," Mercy commanded.

You couldn't help but laugh slightly, which had pain wracking through your body.

While the doctor, who's name you learned was Mercy through the shouting of a British woman, fixed you up, all you could think of was Junkrat.

Jamison.

He asked you to call him Jamison.

You couldn't help but wonder if he got out. He had to have. Or else your distraction would have been for nothing.

"-with me?"

"What?"

"I asked if you were with me, kid. Look like we lost you for a sec," the cowboy said.

"Oh. No, I'm alive. Just thinking," you responded vaguely.

Mercy shook her head and continued healing you. "Well, try not to look dead while doing so."

The rest of the time spent healing you was in silence. Well, silence from the three of you. D.va and Tracer were busy lecturing the guards for beating you within an inch of your life and then insisting that you didn't deserve medical attention.

For such small women, they were horribly scary.

When Mercy was done, Hana insisted on taking you back to Gibraltar with them. "We can't just leave them here, Angela. Not when these guards might just try and kill them again. We have room on the ship, we might as well take them back. It'll give you time to check on them, too!"

The older woman sighed and looked to Cassidy. "Do we have room on the hovercraft?'

"We always have room, Angela."

Mercy sighed and looked back to Hana. "Fine. But you're going to be the one to change their bandages on the flight back."

The streamer jumped up and down with joy and helped you onto the hovercraft. You didn't understand what made her so excited. Maybe she was just on that post rescue high and would realize that dragging you along wasn't the best idea.

The hovercraft ride was boring. The cowboy slept, Mercy did paperwork, and Hana just played games the whole ride. Until you needed your bandages changed. Then she changed them for you and went right back to her games.

Gibraltar was pretty empty for how big it was. But there was still plenty of people there to talk to you. They were all waiting at the landing pad, greeting Cassidy as he got off. Before too many people could ask him things, Cole spoke up to get everyone's attention. "Listen up, y'all. We got a new person coming through with us. They aren't officially a member yet, so please don't question them about stuff like that. Just give 'em space since they'll be recovering from some pretty nasty injuries."

Everyone nodded and murmured in agreement. When you came out of the hovercraft, partially leaning on Mercy for support, a murmur rippled through the crowd.

Still, they let you go through to the medical bay without issue. You got plently of weird looks, though. Mercy set you up in a private room, connecting fluids to you and changing your bandages one more time before leaving you for the rest of the day.

Your time in that bed was spent thinking of Jamison. Had he gotten back to the safehouse okay? Was he thinking of you? Had the cops caught him and Roadhog?

The last thought made you near hysterical. You didn't want to think about that.

Sometimes Mercy came and checked on you. She would take you to the bathroom and leave you meals to eat. She even let you take a walk around the base.

Lots of people looked at you while you took that walk. It was well known who you were, and why you were there, at that point. D.va and Tracer smiled at you and waved.

You didn't wave back.

All you could think was if Jamison and Roadhog were breathing this same air. If they had the opportunity to do that of their own free will.

The endless amounts of tears that you shed after that thought is what made Mercy take you back to your room.

Even after your injuries healed, you didn't leave your room in the medical bay. You couldn't find the will to.

"Y/N, you need to go and socialize with everyone else," Mercy said from the door of your room.

"No."

"Yes. It isn't healthy for you to stay in here all the time."

"And it's healthy for everyone to look at me weird and question me?"

"They won't do that!"

"Yes they will. That's what they did last time I left."

"They were concerned because you suddenly burst out crying. We still need to talk about that, by the way."

You just turned your back to the door and started ignoring her.

Angela sighed and sat down on the chair next to your bed. "Y/N, I understand that you don't want to. I don't know what's making you act like this, what you went through before we found you, but you need to talk to us. We just want to help."

The two of you stayed silent for a while before you spoke up. "Please leave."

Angela sighed and got up, walking over to the door. Before she could leave, though, you called out to her. "I'll be out for dinner. Could I sit with you and Cole?"

A smile graced her lips and she nodded before leaving and closing the door behind her.

Angela was starting to worry when you didn't immediately show for dinner. Everyone was eating in the cafeteria, having already gotten their food. You were late.

"Calm down, Angie. They'll come when they're ready. Might not be today and that'd be fine," Tracer said as she ate her soup. Mercy sighed as Cassidy agreed.

But then you walked through the door, your hospital gown hanging loosely over your clothes. Everyone stared at you as you sheepishly walked up to the table and sat down next to Cassidy.

The rest of dinner went fine. You ate with other people for the first time in just under a year and things were going smoothly. Until you thought about Jamison.

Was he able to eat like this? Was he even still alive?

Tears started to well in your eyes and you could feel the sob lodging itself in your throat. It was about to escape before Cassidy put a hand on your shoulder and quietly said, "Come take a walk with me."

You obliged and stood up, Cassidy's arm wrapped around your shoulder as he guided you out of the room. Everyone's eyes on you made you want to shrivel up and die like you should have back in that heist.

You hadn't even realized that Cole had led you outside until you felt the breeze against your face. "What's going on, kid?"

"I-" you cut yourself off quickly. Did you really want to talk about it? To tell him about something that could risk Junkrat and Roadhog?

"You can tell me anythin' you need, I promise. Everything will stay between us."

With that, you told him everything. Everything from how you met Junkrat and Roadhog to how you risked your life to save them.

When you were done, Cole pulled you into a long hug. No words were spoken as you walked back to the cafeteria. You ate peacefully, not having the weight of everything that happened finally off your chest.

It took another couple of months for anything else to happen. You slowly started to work your way into regular life, eating in the cafeteria and watch practices and trainings.

Everything was fine. You even started sitting with Hanzo and Genji instead of Mercy, Cole, and Tracer. Until two certain someones came into the base.

Junkrat and Roadhog had been recruited. Somehow.

You didn't even realize it was them. You just thought it was two other suckers who didn't have anywhere else to go. You'd be damned if they were going to be taking your room, though.

Tracer was giving them a tour when he came up to your room. You were the only one who hadn't met them, opting to stay in your room, so Lena brought them to you.

Lena knocked on your door, and you reluctantly got out of bed to answer. When you opened the door, you were greeted by the sight of someone you never thought you'd see again.

"Jamison?"

"Y/N?"

You stared for a second, not knowing what to do. Before you could act, though, the bomber jumped onto you and started babbling apologies.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I wanted to go back for you, I really did. But I didn't and I'm sorry and oh my god I can't believe your alive. I was so scared that they had killed you and when the overwatch agents got there I was so convinced that you were an undercover agent and they had come to collect your body. I'm sorry, Y/N. I'm so sorry." Jamison babbled and babbled, not giving you the chance to say anything.

"Does he always do this?" Tracer asked.

Rodhog sighed and nodded before picking Junkrat up off of you. It gave you the chance to get back up and look at Junkrat. "It's okay, Jamie. I gave myself up for a reason. I love you and was willin to die to let you go. Now, why don't you continue your tour with the big guy and we'll talk later?" You pressed a small kiss to his cheek, getting soot on your lips in the process, before shooing him off.

"That's the most I've ever heard them talk," Tracer admitted as they walked back to the main room.

[allaroundjejje]

Couple of Fruits and Space Cowboy

Part 3

You lounged on your couch with a bag of stale chips, watching some mind numbing reality tv show. It was a no shoot day for you, which meant you were bored. You loved the thrill of your job and the movie you were currently working on had some great stunts in it. Your phone rang and Tom Ryders name flashed across the screen along with a photo of him at a party pulling a silly face. He hated the picture, thought it made him look unattractive.

A smile spread across your face as you answered your phone with a "Yello!". As if he had read your mind Tom asked "What you doing? Wanna come for a ride with me?". "Hell, yes! I'm bored out of my mind." you exclaimed. "Good. I'm already outside your apartment." he replied. "Okay, let me just get changed first." you said as you got up from the couch. "You want a hand with that?" he asked and you practically heard the smile on his face. "I think I can handle it" you smiled in response. "Have it your way, but make it quick" he said as he hung up with a laugh.

Quickly you changed out of your pyjama shorts and the t-shirt you borrowed from Tom and into a pair of jeans, a black tank top and your leather jacket. You made your way down and as you entered Toms car you asked "When are you gonna let me drive this thing?". "Hey, I've seen your driving sooo... never? Besides only I drive my car." he replied with a chuckle.

You hadn't had the best of luck when it came to relationships. Some of them were straight up assholes and thought your job somehow emasculated them. So you had put relationships on the backburner and made the decision to rely on your vibrator. Which is why, even though your relationship with tom was enticing, nothing had happened between the two of you. Actually, Tom had kissed you once. And you'd be lying if you said the kiss hadn't crossed your mind when you pleasured yourself.

Though he was high when he kissed you and he kissed everyone when he was high. You had even seen him try to make out with his own reflection in that obnoxiously large mirror in his dressing room. So you sized it up to nothing. You on the other hand didn't like drugs, you never touched the stuff, you didn't even really drink alcohol. Didn't like the feeling of losing control, an occupational hazard you presumed. If you lost control in your line of work it could result in life threatening injuries.

You arrive at a big warehouse. The wind blows the dust up from the ground as you step out of Toms car. "What's that?" you enquire as Tom says something you can't quite hear over the sound of you shutting the car door. "Oh, nothing babe. Don't worry about it" Tom answer you. "Tom, you've brought me to a warehouse in the middle of nowhere and I shouldn't worry?" you question with a laugh. "What are we doing here anyway?" you continue. He places his hands on your upper arms and looks you in the eyes as he proceeds to explain about some deal involving his latest favourite party essential.

You take off your sunglasses and your ponytail scrapes against the back of your leather jacket as you look around the warehouse. A couple of guys giving off a creepy vibe greet you and Tom and proceeds to make small talk. "Let's cut the pleasantries and get this over with" you say just wanting to get out of there.

Hope you guys like part three! 🧡

Part one

Part two

Part four

Part five

Part six

Part seven

Part eight

[coffeeandcalligraphy]

24-Karat Harrison | BODY BACK Update #3

THE WRITING UPDATE WE'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR (I’M WE)!

Let's chat chapter 3 of my literary fiction novella, BODY BACK! Harrison stares at himself in so many bathroom mirrors, gets down to Don't Cha (Pussycat Dolls), tries to forget the man he once was, reclaims himself through excess, & more! Post under the cut!

Logline: After an argument with his mother draws him much too close to the past, Harrison turns to Jeremiah to help him develop a gilded persona.

Update 1 | Update 2

BODY BACK taglist (please ask to be added or removed :))

@thelivingdeceased @writinglittlebeastss @cuntylittlesalmon @obssesedwithscandaledits @jaydewritesfiction @keira-is-writing @onomatopiya @dustyplotbunnies @euphoniouspandemonium @rowansghost @strangerays @rodentwrites @wildswrites @saltwaterbells

Random thoughts turn into...

A couple weeks ago, I was oversharing in my tags and in the process of doing so, came up with the phrase "24-karat harrison."

#I don't drink but I can positively say drunk rachel would 100% be just harrison like 24 karat harrison #actually going to get him to describe himself as 24 karat harrison in the next bb chapter fantastic this was a productive random thought

AND SO 24K HARRISON WAS BORN!

What does it mean to split yourself into two facets, one polished, one unpolished? What could you do if YOU were "24-karat" for a day? This phrase instantly shaped the entire direction of this chapter.

Also, as a poet, I cannot overlook how wonderfully "24-karat" and "Harrison" match each other. VISUAL congruency?? Syllabic harmony??? THE ASSONANCE?? He was built for this.

The plot

CW: this is the most *mature content* chapter I've written in BB so there are mentions of sex, drugs, and suicidal ideation.

"24-Karat Harrison" jumps right off the last chapter of BB where Harrison's stormed away from his mother after she drives him to Lonan's apartment (lol). He arrives at Jeremiah's place tired of who he is and in desperate need of a major change.

The chapter is split into two simple halves: scenes in Jeremiah's apartment, and scenes in a Las Vegas nightclub. How Harrison manages to get into so many shenanigans in these two locations alone astounds me! :)

Scene A:

Harrison turns up on Jeremiah's doorstep soaking wet from the rain. He's looking for a distraction :) & Jeremiah provides :)

Scene B:

A Haremiah pillow talk moment that ends abruptly when Harrison asks Jeremiah if he has Tylenol???? (romantic king /s)

In scene A, Harrison noticed Jeremiah hosted a party. Here, he asks him why he wasn't invited, and Jeremiah suggests it's because he seems too quiet to party

Scene C:

In an attempt to manufacture a more confident personality, Jeremiah helps style Harrison, complete with a fur coat and cowboy hat (horrifying).

Scene D:

Harrison retreats to the bathroom while he and Jeremiah wait for their ride to the club. He's not confident despite the new outfit and goes feral on Jeremiah's hair products, makeup, cologne etc. He finally sees 24-Karat Harrison in the mirror and is pleased.

Scene E:

At the club, Harrison and Jeremiah run into Biyu, Jeremiah's friend from Chapter 6 of Moth Work. His confidence is shot when she suggests he's quiet despite his new persona.

Scene F:

Harrison dances with Jeremiah, but is unable to shake Biyu's comments. He presses Jeremiah for validation, but Jeremiah wants to have a good night, not therapize the man he's seeing.

As Harrison continues to pester, Jeremiah reunites with his friends and is drawn into a (potential) group make out session. Harrison gets overstimulated.

Harrison flees to the club bathroom for reprieve when he again catches his reflection and doesn't recognize himself. His lack of recognition angers him--he's tired of seeing everyone in his face but himself.

A man--Perry--who is one of Jeremiah's friends, interrupts Harrison at the mirror to flirt. Harrison is agitated but drawn to him nonetheless.

Writing process & themes

I talked about how I structure chapters for BODY BACK in THIS post, but essentially, I orbit each scene around a particular theme.

I didn't really know what the theme of this chapter was until yesterday. I'd noticed I kept "repeating beats" throughout this chapter--particularly, Harrison analyzing himself in bathroom mirrors, which happens THREE times. At first, I thought I'd done something wrong because Harrison seemed to keep "backtracking" in narrative which made his psychology seem inconsistent.

By the time I got to the final reflection analyzation though, I realized THAT was the theme--bobbing between extremes when you're in the middle of an identity crisis.

What Harrison doesn't admit to himself in this chapter is that he's lost himself since he broke up with Lonan. The only Harrison he knows is the Harrison who chased Lonan across the country, put his needs above his own, etc. Now that Lonan's gone, Harrison doesn't know himself at all. This is why he reaches toward 24k Harrison, a caricature of himself painted in broad, unsubtle strokes--at the very least, he won't forget himself if he looks ridiculous.

But it doesn't work! This is because versions of who he "was" keep popping up. He can't help but feel like the vulnerable person he was when he was with Lonan.

Therefore, we really explore extremes in 24kH. Extreme pleasure VS extreme hollowness (Jeremiah kissing him in the doorway and then immediately walking away in scene A). In scene C he’s hot but he’s not. He wants to sleep with himself but he’s not desirable at all. He's alright with begging but wants to be begged. He wants to live a very specific life where he buys cowboy hats for livestock and eats ice cream with his hands but he also wants to die. He’s Jesus but he’s discarded bits of gold (THANK YOU for pointing that out @jaydewritesfiction!). He’s twinkling but he’s the dullest person in the room.

It took me a while to actually see I'd been doing that--purposefully creating contradictions in narrative--the ENTIRE chapter. Smh Rachel, good job with all those literary devices you didn't realize you were using.

This chapter took me a lot longer to write than I wanted it to (about a month), but it's also because it's SO long (7k, which is currently half the manuscript). I'm so happy with how it turned out though because its creation represents EVERYTHING I love about it: impulsivity, chasing highs, uncovering darker folds of you the longer you sit inside manufactured gold.

Music

Music was SOOO important in the conception and understanding of 24kH for me, more than usual! In fact, I've made a very specific playlist that is a track-by-track breakdown of the chapter (in order).

Here's a quick breakdown of each song & where they go in the chapter!

1. Nobody by Greyson Chance (studio version) - Backbone of the ENTIRE chapter!!!! Chapter starts with this song.

2. Hands by Greyson Chance - Haremiah make out ANTHEM <3. Also in scene A.

3. Hellboy by Greyson Chance - End of scene A where Haremiah gets... intense lol love <3

4. Fade Into You by Mazzy Star - This is on the radio while Haremiah gets DOWN. Start of scene B.

5. Aloe Vera by Greyson Chance - Haremiah sharing a joint & pillow talk song. Middle of scene B.

6. I Got So High That I Saw Jesus by Noah Cyrus - Haremiah sharing a joint & pillow talk song but it's getting sadder & more internal. End of scene B.

7. Nobody by Greyson Chance (live version) - CRITICAL song for this chapter so it appears twice!!! Live version is Harrison at the start of scene C.

8. Black Mascara by Greyson Chance - Harrison analyzing himself in the mirror ANTHEM (this song is also the backbone of this chapter). Harrison goes feral in the bathroom because he thinks he's better off when he does what he fucking wants etc.

9. I'm Too Sexy by Right Said Fred - Actually this is supposed to be the Shrek version :) so :) anyway self-explanatory. Rest of C.

10. Welcome to the DCC by Nothing But Thieves - Walking into the club anthem (scene E).

11. SexyBack by Justin Timberlake - Dancing and feeling real good about it (beginning of scene F).

12. Don't Cha by The Pussycat Dolls - SELF-EXPLANATORY don't you wish your girlfriend was hot like 24-karat Harrison (middle of scene F).

13. Sex & Other Drugs by Greyson Chance - Fleeing to the bathroom anthem (for sex & other drugs??? maybe; rest of scene F).

I also wanted to talk about the significance of the track Nobody because... it's this WHOLE chapter! I wrote this tag essay about it a couple weeks ago when I shared an excerpt where Harrison sees himself as a trophy while in the 24kH getup (excerpted later in the post):

#also there are many greyson chance easter eggs here #the trophy bit i've already mentioned is a reference to the live version of “nobody” #where he goes 'i'm not the trophy you think i am' #which is actually not in the studio version #ANYWAY the LIVE VERSION is a sad piano ballad of THAT #so anyway I love that the trophy line #was cut from the studio version but is in the sad piano version lol #don't know how to more articulately describe harrison's psychology in BB except for... that

The idea of "I'm not the trophy you think I am" really is the thematic crux of this chapter. Harrison KNOWS he's not good enough for Jeremiah. He also knows he wasn't good enough for Lonan. Everyone's looking at him like he's a saint somehow--to Lonan he was, only mattering when he was long martyred. Jeremiah sees too much good in Harrison, good that Harrison doesn't see in himself. At moments, Harrison IS confident. He IS the trophy. But then there are those sobering moments when reality hits him and he knows he just isn't (SAD). It's why he creates 24kH because HE could be good enough (and the truth is, he still isn't).

Excerpts

Jeremiah greets Harrison at the door lol:

Jeremiah might be the only man alive who’d open the door for someone as soggy as Harrison.

He’s shirtless and damp from the shower, a green toothbrush lodged against his gums. His heathered sweats drape low on his waist, bronze skin varnished with moisturizer. And Harrison likes this—a man mid nighttime routine—but what he likes more is how unstartled Jeremiah is when he grabs him by the hips and kisses him so hard, bristles jolt against his tongue. What’s he looking for in another man’s mouth—heavens, gods, a prayer? Fuck if he knows. What matters are Jeremiah’s chiclet teeth, Jeremiah’s healthy gums, the way in one gulp, they all become Harrison’s. And this is what normal is, yeah—Jeremiah a minty man ensconced by a bare tungsten bulb, Harrison his midnight lover, both of them in need of the other simply because they are here, alive, men.

Jeremiah gives Harrison whiplash lmao show him king!!!:

But in one dizzy breath, they’re separated, and the thought is gone as quickly as Jeremiah who slinks through his apartment like an unbothered shorthair, telling Harrison to lock the front door, to follow him to the bathroom.

Harrison’s ears buzz. He stares at the living room, wipes his mouth of foam, his lips tingling with menthol. Jeremiah hosted a party earlier. A game of parcheesi scattered on the coffee table, the kitchen sink teetering with mismatched cups, saucers. Cigarette butts pock a strawberry-shaped ashtray like seeds. Harrison salivates, tempted for a moment to filch around for one salvageable enough to relight. It’s only when Jeremiah calls his name that he shakes out of his stupor. But still, by the time he reaches the beaded bathroom door, he has to distract his mouth by digging his lips into the scalloped moulding.

Jeremiah crooks a brow at him in the mirror, then turns to the sink, spits. He’s gargling with mouthwash when he asks a question.

“What?” Harrison asks. His head hurts. Jeremiah would have a bottle of acetaminophen in his medicine cabinet, wouldn’t he?

Jeremiah holds up a hand as he swishes, rubbing at spats of toothpaste on the mirror with his wrist. He spits again. “You go swimming or something?”

Jeremiah is an ANGEL in the bathroom:

Jeremiah leans against the counter, haloed by one of three lightbulbs that isn’t blown out over the vanity. Harrison offered to replace them a week ago and still hasn’t done it, perhaps because the low light is more inviting, the way it cups Jeremiah like mist. Though maybe any lighting would be inviting to Harrison when he’s like this—in such high need of ravaging something.

Jeremiah wets his lips, glancing away with a mute smile before he looks right back. “Or is the rain really bad?” Harrison takes a step forward, and then another, another. Suzanna could be looking for him, calling everyone she knows in this city to help bring her son home. She won’t sleep tonight, and Harrison won’t either but for different reasons. In front of him, Jeremiah is as sunny as he is unaware, his curls plump around his ears, a man Harrison would like to undo with one look—to make beg, like gods make their believers do.

Lonan Clark behaviour:

“You’re like a wet dog,” says Jeremiah. A breath wheezes in his chest.

Harrison looks up at him. From this angle, bowed against another man’s body, he could look like a believer in supplication. Please go gently. Please spare my life. “Thank you.”

CUTE Haremiah interrupted by Harrison's terrible timing:

Now Jeremiah nuzzles into his ribs. He smells like soap and orange rinds, his tattooed skin downy under Harrison’s callused fingertips. He traces an empty fishbowl on Jeremiah’s arm with his pinkie, a half-finished anatomical heart with his thumb, a wobbly dandelion with his ring finger, the cherub guarding his elbow with his index. I love you, he could say. They’ve known each other for two weeks, hung out less than ten times, spent most of their time examining each other’s hands. But this could be love, right? Jeremiah’s made him breakfast every night he’s stayed over—peach French toast, hot muesli, black coffee. Every time they watch film noir on Jeremiah’s two-seater, they simply find each other’s hair and twirl, sometimes meet each other’s mouths and hover there, these clement weekend lovers.

“You got any painkillers?” Harrison asks.

Jeremiah jerks against his skin, his nose knocking into Harrison’s shoulder blade. He hikes onto his elbow, brows furrowed like he’s about to say something when his eyes narrow on Harrison’s finger.

“You’re wearing my ring,” he says, leaning toward Harrison’s hand for a better look.

“Am I?”

If I were Harrison I would simply just forget about Lonan because JEREMIAH???

Jeremiah should paint his room sage. The cherrywood picture frames warrant it. In the corner, a gold mirror flares like Jesus’ spoked halo. Two crinkled issues of the New York Times on the vanity, an ivory sheepskin throw collapsed in the corner. Jeremiah exists here mid-motion—the condom wrappers on the hardwood leading to the mattress like Hansel’s pebbles, sunglasses spoked in a magazine rack, a used cotton ball stained with black nail polish on the windowsill. Harrison absorbs it all on his back like rapidly flattening dough. He could be part of this room, too. Last Monday, Jeremiah suggested he move in. “You can sleep in the bathtub,” he joked, but kissed the back of Harrison’s neck. He’d smelled bright like the leather polish he’d buffed onto his bomber jacket. “Or elsewhere.”

Jeremiah as a trophy & LMFAO tYLeNoL???

Now, Harrison weakly reaches for Jeremiah’s hair, winds a curl around his finger. Jeremiah is soft like brioche and as dazzling as a mirror ball. And what’s the difference between worshipping him and Jesus if they are both men? At least Jeremiah is here, a trophy in front of him.

“Tylenol?” he whispers.

Cont'd:

Jeremiah places a hand on Harrison’s face. In his eyes, Harrison is insufficient, an edge of a man. Perhaps it’s the headache or Jeremiah’s gentle concern, but after a moment, the feeling is so unbearable that he pulls away and buries his face in the pillow. The mattress springs when Jeremiah rises, and for a moment, Harrison feels suspended in air like a crucified Jesus above the altar. He doesn’t have a face, a body, a heart. He is just dust.

Harrison wants to be a spider so he can finally be a homeowner?? ok same:

He slumps back onto the bed, analyzing the popcorn ceiling when Jeremiah climbs in next to him. He slings an arm around Harrison’s bare shoulders, and they pass the joint back and forth, its scent rich like oregano. The smoke is delicate as a dissipating spider’s web, pale and gauzy like a curtain in morning light. As Harrison smokes, he imagines what it might be like to be an arachnid—the many homes he could make.

Harrison really knows how to ruin a moment pt. 5 bajillion:

There’s a damp spot on the ceiling that’s only visible when car headlights skirt past the building. Harrison’s meant to ask about it, but what would be the point now? It’s not like he could fix it—and if Jeremiah doesn’t look at the right time, he’ll never notice. “You didn’t invite me,” Harrison says.

Jeremiah jumps. From here, he’s a mere lump under the covers, the only physical evidence of him his warm breaths on Harrison’s stomach. “What?” he asks.

Harrison twists the joint, puffs. His tongue feels bloated like his jacket. “To your party.”

A pause. When Jeremiah next speaks, his voice is muffled by the sheets. “I didn’t think that was your scene.” He rests his cheek on Harrison’s sternum, and he’s heavy like the jacket too. “You know. Crowds.”

“What made you think that?”

Jeremiah burrows out from the duvet. Harrison knows he’s trying to look at him, but he’s caught up in the ceiling again, the way that patch ebbs like a candle’s flame. “You’re…”

“What?”

“I don’t know,” Jeremiah says, crossing his legs. “Meek.”

Harrison wants to laugh—meek like a lamb, a poplar, a monotonous prairie, a man’s whispered okay, a frail river, a piano’s high C played over and over and over and over and over again—but what comes out instead is a whimper. Jeremiah cups his face again, says something about good things, compliments, the power in mildness. He smells like baby powder now, plumeria—and why is that? He’s a man forever in change even in the simplest of ways, thriving in his evolution. Harrison’s favourite colour has been the same since he was four.

He holds Jeremiah’s jaw to shut him up. His eyes are flecked with topaz today, sienna tomorrow. If Harrison could touch God tonight. If Harrison could believe in something for just a minute.

“Make me feral,” he whispers.

COWBOY HAT??

Jeremiah starts with a new jacket. He’s made it clear that Harrison can’t go clubbing soaking wet, so they rifle through his closet and land on a fur coat that was last dry-cleaned months ago. It’s knee-length, the sleeves wide catacombs, the taupe fur brindled like Eliza’s tortoise-shell ring. Lonan’s ring, technically. In front of his standing mirror, Jeremiah unearths it from the garment bag like it’s a body, holds the hanger in front of Harrison so the fabric drapes off his chest.

“You like it?” asks Jeremiah, cheek pressed to Harrison’s shoulder blade. He’s laid out a tasseled button-up for himself that glitters like hematite in the light, and he’ll dazzle in it, of course—Jeremiah is built for this, the sharpened eyeliners on the bathroom counter, the dented cans of hair mousse, the nail file on the dresser, the ridged perfume atomizer he’ll mist himself with a moment before they leave the apartment. He is sleek beauty, a marbleized man ready to be polished, adored.

And what is Harrison, then? With the fur coat cinched against his body, he could be polished, too, couldn’t he? Sure, he isn’t a gilded icon, but maybe he sees Jesus in his face right now because he has the potential to be, or because at their cores, they’re both sad men. His hair doesn’t have to look like Suzanna’s, but instead like the young bark of cinnamon. And his eyes—they’re not his father’s but his own, an unmarred pool of teal. Maybe he’s a little rough where he should be suave, but that’s hot nowadays, isn’t it? Besides, if Jeremiah sees something angelic in that mirror, then yeah, Harrison could see it too. Forget his cryptic mouth, his hair that’s too long as Suzanna pointed out, his eyes and the way they’re wounded, not like a deer’s in headlights but like a deer’s in death. Forget the scar across his forehead, the way another man’s hands used to touch it not like it was lightning but a pathway to some better place. Sure, Harrison’s no Christ, no Jacob, no God—but why should he be? He’s here under the tungsten bite of Jeremiah’s chandelier, a man in shameless excess, eyes more spangled than this country’s flag. And he could stay here, couldn’t he? He could enjoy staring at himself, not like he’s bronze but like he’s pure gold.

Cont'd (this is so sad LOL):

He straightens, adjusts the fur on his shoulder. In truth, he looks too much like his mother, stands too much like his father, stares too much like Lonan. His hands aren’t soft. He’s got split ends. At best he smells like cigarette smoke, car exhaust, chlorine. But what does Jeremiah see? Maybe someone loveable yeah, maybe someone to cry over. For a moment, Harrison worries the answer is nothing at all.

And then a nose nudges against the back of his neck, Jeremiah muttering about Madonna’s new album, buying new razors, growing his own marijuana. In minutes, they’ll be dancing until the room spirals or until they’re extensions of the other, whichever comes first. And Harrison will love it all because he loves everything about his life—this new jacket, this new man, this face that isn’t a reminder of who used to look at it, this muggy room, this mirror like a portal he could almost step through, this breakthrough because he’s gold. He’s gold.

Harrison steps away from the mirror, presses a hand against his eyeball. He’s going to need another Tylenol. An Ibuprofen for the hell of it. What if Jacob never dreamt of God, made the whole story up? What if Jacob just wanted to run away with his livestock? Harrison could use livestock.

He turns to Jeremiah. “You got a cowboy hat?” he asks.

Harrison making out with himself because that's a normal thing to do:

Funnily, Jeremiah does have a cowboy hat. It’s aptly doused in cow-print, smells like plastic and mulch. In the bathroom, Harrison adjusts its stampede strings around his chin.

He leans against the counter, pressing his thumbs to his cheeks. He pulls at his eye sockets, his skin giving like a tablecloth twisted under the heave of roasted turkey. His eyes are rimmed in scarlet—how many times has he seen Suzanna with these eyes, and do her eyes look like this now? She’s probably looking for him, calling his name out in the night like it’s a prayer she knows won’t be answered. Would he take himself to bed like this? In thirty more minutes when he guzzles a vodka soda, his answer will be absolutely.

Harrison, he mouths to himself in the mirror. The bathroom is filmy or maybe it’s him—he’s in chrysalis, bloated in his own becoming or suffocation or whatever the fuck. The thing is, he doesn’t need a god and might be a king, but he’s also a man with a pounding headache. He tries again, his mouth shifty like cornmeal, like ash: Harrison. What do kings do when they get migraines? Buy a donut? Eat a saint? His eye sockets are vacant, his cuticles spinning into one another, hair sentient from the pool. Harrison. The walls smell like Jeremiah’s hair gel, Jeremiah’s fingerprints, Jeremiah’s latest cologne. In a minute, the paint could start peeling and Harrison could pick up the chips, tack them to his jaw like they’re gold stars or little HELLO my name is stickers. HELLO my name is, HELLO my name is, HELLO my name is. Harrison. Harrison. Harrison. He kneads his cheeks like he’s sourdough, pinches his eyebrows, goes: Harrison, sticks his fist in his mouth tries again—Harrison. Jeremiah knocks on the door, says something about leaving soon, a friend waiting on them.

Harrison sinks onto his elbows, hovering closer to his reflection. If he were another man, he’d kiss himself, right? Without a thought, he does, mouth glugging against the mirror. He doesn’t need any touch but his own—not Jeremiah’s, not Lonan’s. He’s a man in love with himself, right? He’s a good dancer, never burns pancakes, isn’t afraid of spiders. What’s not to like? When he pulls back, panting, his eyes are watery and he needs a drink now, a god to abandon, a lake to drown in, a coastline to paint, a mother to cry into, a Bible to burn, a guitar string to snap, a dragon tree to kill, a father to remember, a prayer to scream, a place to close his eyes and sleep forever.

He grabs Jeremiah’s eyelash curler off the counter, crimps his lashes so hard he pinches his skin. He doesn’t care. He’s yanking open cupboards and pulling out an eyeshadow palette, smearing silver pigment onto his eyelids, under them. He’s raking a wand of black mascara through his lashes like he’s the grass buried under leaves—like this is the only way to reveal himself. And maybe this is the way, spritzing himself in Jeremiah’s vetiver or orange rinds or baby powder. Harrison. He wants to punch his nose until he bleeds. He wants to kiss himself again.

0 to 100 all the way back to 0 babe:

Harrison meets his eyes in the mirror. Is he an animal? He must be something feral, starved of something and ravaged by that hunger. He could touch himself right here. Or not. He’s barely a man, staring at his face not like it’s his, but like it’s someone else’s. And how tired he is of that. Being a shadow.

He is the MOMENT:

Before he exits the bathroom, he studies his sterling reflection. He’s not who he once was. No Christ, no Jacob, no Jeremiah. And he shouldn’t be. Because he’s twenty-four karat, twinkling, not just otherworldly, unforgiving, untouchable, not just a god or a man—but a trophy at last.

Biyu puts Harrison in his place lmaoo:

By the time they cab to the club, Harrison’s so high he can nearly taste the neon lights. As they slot through the front door with other partygoers like flocking geese, he blinks at the rush of it all—the women comparing press-on nails by the coat-check, the men wearing vinyl and leather and glitter, drenched in cologne and sweat.

“You’re late,” comes a voice which should be familiar to Harrison, but under the thump of bodies, sounds as generic as a bag of baby carrots.

“Fashionably late,” says Jeremiah, his arm slung around Harrison’s furred shoulders. He pulls him close, toward the person, the woman, smells like sea salt, iron, a new set of rings flaring in the blue spotlights. “You remember Harrison?”

As if on cue, Harrison lifts his eyes to Biyu’s, Jeremiah’s friend from the restaurant. Tonight, she wears a gold cowlneck dress, her lipstick the colour of rust. And something’s different about her hair—the sides of her bob shaved, which is more of a relief than he’d like to admit. She’d looked alarmingly like Reeve when they’d met, moved like her, sounded like her. Maybe he’s too high to see it now, but what does it matter—a win is a win.

Harrison tips his hat, already searching for the bar.

“The quiet one,” Biyu says.

His eyes snap back to her. Her pupils are large disks, and if he squints, almost look like they’re pulsating. “What?”

“You were quiet,” she repeats.

Don't Cha!! ft. this:

Harrison dances because he knows exactly how to. To thready vocals, he lulls his arms through the air, drags his palm down Jeremiah’s chest when an electro version of Like a Virgin comes on. On the lighted dance floor he’s nothing but rattling limbs, inelegant turns, raunchy dips. Shifting atop his head: the cowboy hat. In his hand: a vodka soda topped with a maraschino cherry. Through half of Don’t Cha, he holds the red cocktail sword between his teeth like it’s a rose, nudges it against Jeremiah’s lip as they kiss, break apart, kiss again.

“Do you think I’m quiet?” he asks between a spin, his head unspooling like a cylinder of thread. The clang of drums spikes up his throat—soon, he’ll need a refill on the drink. More weed. A crucifix to snap.

Jeremiah twirls under Harrison’s arm, a magnetic man in his tourmaline glister. He could follow any man in this club home tonight with his silver nails, his exposed collarbone. “Kiss me again,” he says, sweating, his fingers hard around Harrison’s shoulders—half from his grip, half from his rings.

Jeremiah is really too patient:

This is what he needs, a consideration of fruit and the man in front of him, all svelte limbs, acidic mouth, sharp eyeliner. As he ducks to In Da Club and shimmies to Waiting for Tonight, he digs a palm into Jeremiah’s cheek—he’s solid like limestone, burnished as bronze, his eyes amber portals like a patch of quicksand.

“Did you tell Biyu about me?” Harrison asks. His head pounds, the music too loud, swelling in his ears like an inflating airbag. He should go back to the bar now. They’ve got whiskey sours, gibsons, margaritas. If he flutters his eyelashes long enough at the bartender, maybe he’ll get a little more than a free drink—that’s fine too. Kelly Clarkson sings about praying, breaking, and he could do both in the hands of someone who smells like blood oranges, tastes like Bible paper, stares like Jesus the moment before he performs a miracle, couldn’t he?

“Focus on me,” Jeremiah says, guiding Harrison closer by the hips, so confident as his wooden Mary bracelet jolts with the movement because he’s here in this blinking room, dancing because he’s twenty-one just like Harrison, because he’s electric, alive, because he’s blinding like noonday sun, steady as a fountain cycling the same water over and over, because he’s unashamed in this brisk light, shocking like the zip of battery acid on a tongue. He doesn’t need to try, melds into the bleating crowd like he’s part of it, and he is. He smells like pomegranates, tastes like cherries the next time Harrison kisses him—Chapstick? Cocktail?—and tomorrow, he’ll rise early for a shift at Greta, slip on his navy uniform polo, his makeup untouched despite everything Harrison will do to him tonight because he’s faultless, not quiet, hair precariously puffed, nails buffed to a glassy sheen. He and Biyu might catch breakfast at dawn, bond over their glittery eyelids, their intrinsic closeness, wonder over poached eggs if he’s worth it—graceless Harrison in this cowboy hat and smudged makeup, his jacket cuffs soaked with vodka soda, his head lolling to the insistent voice of Justin Timberlake.

“Biyu thinks I’m quiet,” Harrison says, knocking back the rest of his drink, his neck cracking. He wants to scratch off his face, replace it with someone else’s. “You think I’m meek. So what is it? Do I need to get a tattoo or something?”

Jeremiah glances around the club, his irises starred by a spotlight. What does he see when he looks out at the crowd? Perhaps he recognizes half of these people—from the way he ordered at the bar to the way he slunk so easily onto the dance floor, Harrison assumes he’s been here before. And maybe it’s not just that he recognizes everyone else on the floor, but that they recognize him in return.

Cont'd but with a lot more mouths:

“Did you hear what I said?” Harrison asks.

Jeremiah’s eyes snap back to his, except there’s something hazy there, something tired. “What would a tattoo do for you?”

“I don’t know. Edge? I just think I could—”

And then Jeremiah’s turned away again, right into the arms of someone else—a tanned man with a dense mustache and olive eyes, the man going, “It’s been too long,” and Jeremiah going “It’s been too long,” their grins calcium white, flashing in Harrison’s face. He throws a hand up to his eyes, squints when a second later, the man pulls a woman toward Jeremiah, her hair cropped low and cotton candy pink. She kisses his cheek, says he looks ravishing, he looks like a comet on its way to ignite planet earth, and they’re all holding each other now, friends bopping to Gwen Stefani, admiring each other’s bracelets, thumbs, friends curving toward each other’s ears, kissing each other’s cheeks, each other’s mouths.

Harrison blinks because how many hands do they have now? Every second they seem to multiply—pink hair girl with four, Jeremiah with six. One’s tongue the other’s. Their fingertips fusing. The club fritzes around them like it’s confetti, the lights rippling into a Christmas bow and now there’s a redheaded man running his nose along Jeremiah’s neck, down Jeremiah’s shoulder, wrist, hand. Harrison had just done that back in his apartment, pinned chest-to-chest against him like a monarch fastened to a spreading board, and here Jeremiah is now, enmeshed in touch, in adoration because he should be adored—the men congregating around him now have their priorities straight. If they all got on their knees at Jeremiah’s feet, Harrison would understand. They aren’t exclusive, don’t even know each other’s last names, and besides, how can Jeremiah help how everyone magnetizes around him? Harrison can’t blame them. Jeremiah is illusory under the disco ball’s speckled light, his throat long, biteable, his eyes syrupy in his high. A woman takes him by the shoulder, but not just any woman—Biyu, and her eyes are pinched, analyzing, because she’s looking at Harrison, her glossy crimson nails on Jeremiah’s cheek, and she’s kissing him too now, her body joining the cluster, and it’s good, the way they all roll limbs to synth, the way they turn into each other’s faces and kiss, kiss, kiss. The music clangs, their mouths full of spit. The DJ says to hold your partners close, and they don’t have to. They are not simply together, not simply in chrysalis, but osmosed in their becoming.

Cont'd (GIANT sentence - CW: self harm)

A hand on Harrison’s elbow. He flinches and is surprised to see it’s Jeremiah who’s touched him. How did he get here so fast? Harrison expects a trail of blurry bodies to follow him, but where did everyone go? They’ve dashed from the club like embers scattering from a dulled fire, nowhere to be seen but dangerous anyway and weren’t they all just over there, under there, and are they lonely on the ceiling and how do they plan to get down and is it too loud in here and why is no one using their indoor voices and should he cover his ears and where is his mother now and how did Mary say I love you and did she ever dream of fleeing to Hollywood or speeding down the I-40 or telling Gabriel no and why does everyone worship a god who demands and calls it creation and what’s his name again—Harrison?—and when did his hands sprout from child to whatever he is now and should he dye his hair red, cut his wrists again and is it possible to be young and happy about it and is he still dancing, he’s still dancing, dancing, dancing, dancing, and someone’s complimenting his silver eyelids and would he like them to touch him gently and is it hot in here to anyone else and does he taste blood or the ocean and is this what it feels like to die in holy light and Jeremiah’s right in front of him, unkissed, still as dark water, as Lonan in the night, and now he’s holding Harrison’s face, his rings cool against his skin, and he’s kissing him too, tastes like spearmint and chocolate lip gloss, rum and Coke, rusted metal—the mouths of everyone in this room and this isn’t so bad, how their bodies net into each other, how in one breath, Harrison’s teeth clack against Jeremiah’s, and in the next, clack against another man’s and then another’s, his stubble rough, mouth sour, a chandelier earring flailing against his cheek, and then through his ear, his hands wound into cinnamon hair and he could be kissing himself and maybe he is and doesn’t he want that, the floor gelid, the music like cotton wool, their pelvises threaded, the walls caving, their mouths locked, the floor lava, the room too bright, his headache like an earthquake, two pairs of hands rattling to the beat of this bursting room one moment, then clutched together as they follow each other to a dim bathroom.

This section was inspired by @dallonwrites' lyrics in narrative post!!! also soft Felix cameo <3

The room is electric purple, smells like grapes, sweat, flexes under Harrison’s shoes like a sandcastle collapsing, like a sinkhole swallowing a house. Bodies weave across the floor, someone lighting a joint in the corner, someone reciting Sylvia Plath into a paper bag, going, the happening of this happening, going, the earth turns now.

Harrison’s head pounds—he should’ve brought a blister pack of acetaminophen because at least then he’d have something to punch, or he should’ve punched out his own eye by now, disappeared with another man who isn’t Jeremiah and didn’t he try, and where is the man with cinnamon hair now? Harrison turns to look for him, but the room ripples with his movement, shirring in staccato clacks around him like a shaken rice maraca. He’d hoped he’d write his number on a man’s wrist tonight even though he doesn’t have a cell phone—he’d hoped he’d go home with someone who shouts the lyrics to Madonna’s Everybody in twilight’s stillness, a man who’d let the DJ shake him, a man who’d let the music take him. And he could do all of that with Jeremiah—Jeremiah who probably did those things at the party Harrison wasn’t invited to, Jeremiah who knows how to pass off frozen spanakopita as homemade because he’s a good host, Jeremiah who knows how to kick people out of his apartment with kindness, Jeremiah who’s built to be kissed, to be loved. And where is he now? In the artificial light, Harrison hunts for him too—but he’s not in the unhinging bathroom stalls, not in the teal grout, the running sinks, and maybe he never existed at all, missing like Jesus in the tomb—body gone, body gone, body gone.

Cont'd BODY BACK BODY BACK BODY BACK:

Harrison rubs his eyes. His ears still ring from the clatter outside, and he stands at the bathroom’s entrance like a child who’s lost his mother in the mall. Should he sit down? A group of girls form a ring on the floor, chant about Leos, Britney, men. Someone shuffles in past him, knocks into his shoulder by accident, apologizes over and over, their hands clutched against his face—I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry.

He yanks away. Don’t touch me, he wants to say, I don’t want to be touched ever again, but by the time he’s located his mouth, his eyes pulsing to a hi-hat, his nose burning on a cloud of cherry smoke, the person’s gone too. He presses his fingers to his eyes, wishes for a soft bed, a place to land, but then he’s rocking forward, right into someone else.

At first, they just stare at each other. The man’s got the same look in his eye—something gilt, something feral, an identical fear in his mouth. Harrison blinks hard, and the man does too—not a man, actually, but his own reflection.

He approaches the mirror, jolts at the way he touches himself—more carefully than he’s ever been touched before. Who are you? he wants to say. He’d like to leave this place now, the club, Las Vegas, the earth. He’d like to buy himself a pet tarantula, run off a cliffside, eat a tub of ice cream with his bare hands. Why did he come here again? His mind is so quiet. This could be peace. But who is he? In Jeremiah’s bathroom he knew, but now there’s this stranger ahead of him, the person who must be him—someone’s chandelier earring grazing his jaw, the cowboy hat lopsided, mascara running down his cheeks even though he hasn’t cried. Where did you go? he mouths, but he knows. He’s disappeared also like Jesus in the tomb, his limbs vanishing one by one, his skin melting off his hands—body gone, body gone, body gone. He grabs his cheeks, panicked because he’s on fire, gold tossed into the crucible. He’s going to burn to ash. He’s going to need a burial soon. His face has been stolen, his breastbone and knuckles too. A month ago, someone spat him into a basket like his body was ripe for the offertory—body gone, body gone, body gone.

“Back,” Harrison says, nose grazing the spattered mirror. His chest swells, and maybe he is burning, and maybe he’s right here, hidden somewhere in the pinprick of his reflection. “Back,” he repeats. He isn’t thoughtful. He isn’t profound. Maybe that’s fine. He squeezes his tear-duct, sticks out his tongue. He’ll die eventually, let his body disappear, but not right now. “Body back, body back, body back.”

Cont'd ft. Harry-something (CW: mild violence):

“I know you.”

Harrison whips around. In front of him stands a redheaded man—the same redhead who’d held Jeremiah close on the dance floor, trailed his oily nose along his neck. He wears a pair of browline sunglasses, a black vinyl vest draped with silver chains. He holds a clove, its smoke clouding the ruby pinging off his ring finger, his mouth ghosted with what looks like red lipstick.

“What?” Harrison says, jumping when the bathroom door clangs open and in come two more women. He lifts his fingers to his mouth, pulls up a hangnail until it stings.

“I saw you out there,” says the man, taking a puff of his cigarette. “Harry-something?” He looks like a scarlet ibis, strangely translucent. “JJ’s friend.”

Harrison digs his fingertips into his eye socket. His head feels like it’s been cleaved with an axe. “Harrison.”

Redhead smiles, blows smoke into Harrison’s face. “What’d you say?”

“My name is Harrison.”

“I’m Perry,” he says, and Harrison wouldn’t give a fuck if his name was Matt Dillon or Rob Lowe or Nash Baker because he’s blowing smoke into his face again, his clove flailing like a dislocated finger. He gestures to Harrison’s outfit, nodding. “You’re like a one man show.”

Harrison covers his eyes. Maybe he can find a dark hole in this club to dive into, somewhere no one will find him again. “What does that mean?”

Perry’s smile falters momentarily, but then it’s back, all teeth, no lips. “You’ve got this flair. You ever been told that? Weird, but good, it’s—”

The second he purses his lips to blow out more smoke, Harrison grabs him by the throat, pulls him so close he can see a constellation of blackheads on his chin, feel his heart hammering.

Perry yelps, nearly losing his hold on the clove altogether.

Harrison arcs his jaw around his ear. He smells like orchids, freshwater. “Don’t ever do that again.”

Cont'd - Harrison is weird :)

Perry laughs, the sound strangled beneath Harrison’s grip. Smoke fumbles out of his mouth like worms. He really does look like a bird, which in this case, isn’t a good thing. “Noted.”

“Do you want to kiss me?”

“You have a hand around my throat.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Well, I'll leave it there lmao!!! Sorry I subjected you to this man, but hope you enjoyed this gigantic update!

FIN. MAGNUM OPUS COMPLETE!

See you soon!

Rachel

[sparkedblaze]

My favorite 92sies things 2: Electric Boogaloo

Part 1

Same T/W: violence, cursing, etc

Sarah stop hiding behind that curtain it's see through and also ur gay

Jack fighting the socks

"I'm just not used to whether I stay or whether I go matter to nobody." He says, with an army of children marching at his heels because he wanted to start a strike

"Got no legal cause" "Legal cause!" *point*

"The a l i a s o f J a a c k K e l l l y"

Pulitzer totally not blackmailing the mayor into doing what he wants

Flapflapflapflapflap

CCKCK Hurst

Spot being a hype man for no reason

"My pAl David"

"Whatarewespostadotothabumskissem"

"They're gonna be playin' with my hands alright"

"Nobodyain'tgonlistentousunlesswemakem!"

"TELLEM JACK!"

"I say that what you say is what I say"

Blink hanging off the balcony like a heathen

"Hello newsies! What's new!" *assorted simp noises*

HIGH TIMES HARD TIMES IDK HOW PEOPLE DON'T LOVE THIS SONG IT'S A FUCKING BANGER

Every single newsie sticking their chest out when they sing 'and I stick out my chest!'

Blink and Racer dancing with Medda

Jack dancing with Medda

Snitch's continuity errors

"That's Snider, as in 'snide'? Smile sir"

*Pulls Jack in by his jacket* IT'S SNYDER

"HE'S JUST A CHILD CAN'T YOU SEE THAT RACET R A C K"

David picking up the swing and then several newsies coming up to protect him bc they think of him as a friend now

"JACK you alright?!"

ALL OF THEM PROTECTING JACK WITH EVERYTHING THEY HAVE BC THEY KNOW THAT IF HE'S ARRESTED THE STRIKE COULD VERY WELL END BC THEY AREN'T SURE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT HIM

KID BLINK TACKLING A FUCKING COP

ACAB BABYYY

Davey fighting to try and help Jack

"On the grounds of Brooklyn, your Honor."

Everyone dying laughing at that

Racer's 'old man trying to read a fast food menu look'

"We ain't got five bucks We don't even got five cents"

"How bout I roll ya for it? Double or nothin'?"

Dying laughing again

"HEY COWBOY NICE SHINA" ckckckckcckl

David's look when Denton tells Jack that the papers didn't print the story

David's utter disappointment when he finds out the truth about Jack and his family

"Remember Snyder? Remember me and Teddy Roosevelt and the carriage? Remember Roosevelt and the carriage?!"

"So ordered" "NO"

"Whaddya mean it never happened you were there?!"

Denton looking crushed when David finds out he's being transferred

Les stuffing his face, not giving a single fuck about what Denton is talking about. This kid has 0 chill and I love him

David crumbling the story before Denton's even gone

Les: *sees David throw a paper on the table* Les: Perfect I needed something to wrap my mf sandwich in

No one noticing the very visible David riding on the back of the carriage

"Sometimes I read 'em"

"I tell this city how to vote" *thinks to livesies 'And guess what he got elected.'* U sure bout that buddy?

Poke Pokepokepoke

"I must have you scared pretty bad old man."

The guy who gets thrown from the carriage

The very intimate moment they have when Jack presses David against the wall

"You don't know nothin' about jail"

"Guess what I done to his sauerkraut"

Stop the World! No more papes!

That redhead who I always think of as Albert

"Hey-heyhey Race C'mere Tell me I'm just seein' things Just tell me I'm seein' things-"

Every. Single. Reaction. To. Jack. Scabbing.

Blink's anger. Mush's desperation. Race's indignation.

SPOT'S ANGER. HAVING TO LITERALLY BE PULLED AWAY BECAUSE HE PUT HIMSELF AND HIS BOYS ON THE LINE FOR HIM AND HE FUCKING SCABBED.

"YOU'RE A LIAR." and the entire following statement

David Moscow's curls He's such a cutie

"WE DON'T NEED YOU"

DAVID ALMOST GETTING VIOLENT FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUT IT'S ONLY AFTER HE LOOKS AT THE OTHERS. HE'S TRYING TO GET VIOLENT ON THEIR BEHALF. BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DO IT THEMSELVES. IT'S TERRIFYING AND I LOVE IT

"Seize the day huh Jack?!" "He's foolin' em!" the desperation in Les's voice to believe this breaks my heart every time 😭

David: *climbs through window* David: *slams it closed* David: *walks in front of open window*

YOU'RE GAY AND DRAMATIC WE GET IT DAVID

"Are you gonna be requiring anything else this evening? No? Ah... tsk tsk."

"We're gonna go fix your pal Davey Fix him so he can't walk" *Morris disappointed head shakes* "Shut up"

Les swordfighting behind Sarah without a care in the world

Les taking roughly eight years to realize what's happening with Sarah

SARAH PUNCHING MORRIS

David throwing his hat off before trying to beat up the Delanceys

Morris's dumb little laugh😭

"Remember Crutchy?" *bonk*

"I can't be somethin' I ain't" "A scab?" "No, smart"

At least he knows

"I don't write anything I don't mean."

"But our man Denton-" "But I think our man Denton. Has something more important to do. I mean, he's gonna be an ace war correspondent. Right Denton?"

THE SASS

I LOVE DAVID JACOBS

WHOEVER DECIDED TO LEAVE LES ALONE WITH THE CAMERA WITHOUT SUPERVISION

Denton teaching David how to typeset

Once and For All

The entire thing

Can anyone explain to me how the printing press works?

Mush coming to the window twice. My mans is dedicated.

"Awfully nice of Mr. Pulitzer to let us use his press"

Boots throwing the papers from the roof into a square with like four kids

THERE'S MY LIL RAT BOY AGAIN HIIIII

"Hey kid. Can you read?"

The newsies (Skittery, Pie Eater, and someone else) taking their hats off when a lady opens the door

DIS-GRACE-FUL DENTY (read: Roosevelt and Denton have absolutely.... *clears throat* and that's his nickname for him)

"C'mon Jack" "Have hope Jack"

"When the circulation bell starts ringin', will we hear it?" "Nah"

Max Casella

Pap (this time with hat)

"B R O O K L Y N"

We aynt slavs

Not-Albert standing on the statue

Jack carrying Les on his shoulders

Bumlets carrying Boots on theirs

"It's like the end of the world- OhdearIdidn'tsaythat"

"Extrey extrey Joe Read all about it"

"Whatdoesthatmakeyou?"

"The walkin mouth" David: 😒

*Jack opens windows* Pulitzer: lalalalalalalala I can't hear you

DAVID MOSCOW'S EYES

"Well, we only used the best, Joe."

"We beat 'em" "We beat 'em!!"

Gio and Skittery spit-shaking

Skittery: Hiya Weas 😜

The newsies death glaring Denton when he tries to stop them from hiding Jack

"Make friends with the rats Share whatcha got in common" ^^

WHY DOES ROOSEVELT LOOK LIKE AN ANIMATRONIC?!

Race looks like he calls Roosevelt daddy and I can't stop seeing it someone help

Everyone pretending to be okay with Jack leaving, further proving that the newsies are not okay emotionally

The Jacobs crying

Blush leaning against the streetlight together

Them using the same sound byte of the little redhead from the beginning while David is buying his papes

"Attaboy Davey"

Jack's return

"HE'S BACK!"

Jack putting his hat on Les

"How's the headline today?" "Headlines don't sell papes, newsies sell papes"

David's first spit-shake

Our little boy is all grown up

[anniesocsandgeneralstore]

I loved it! I will absolutely read a part 2 of the lumen au if you write it! I wish I was half as talented as you!

Ah! I'm so glad you liked it!! (and also thank you you are seriously so sweet always 💕) Yeah he....he's stupid and 16 lol but let's see if he can redeem himself shall we?

Part 1

Rhett stares at the spot that Tess just ran from until Mrs. Cooper takes him by the shoulder and leads him back to class

and he goes with and continues on with his day cause the hell else is he supposed to do?

He knows immediately that he fucked up and that he fucked up pretty bad. He just really likes Maria, or liked he supposed - he really wasn't sure anymore - and has for a long time. He could have sworn she was gonna be it.

He knows Tess. They're on the rodeo team together where he rides bulls with a helmet that he hates and she barrel races with her horse Peaches.

He's never paid attention to her much. Other than the fact that she was a good racer and won countless ribbons and medals. Their circles intersect sometimes, but she's very shy. Doesn't say much. Especially when he and his friends were around.

But she's his soulmate. Shit she's his soulmate. The other half of him. The soul that Sunshine belonged to - whose shine seemed to be dulled since their interaction in the hallway.

He doesn't know how he's gonna make this better. If he even can. The look on her face...he thinks about it for the rest of the day. For several days actually.

Cause what if that wasn't a reaction to the expression he KNOWS he betrayed but a reaction to HIM being her soulmate? What if she doesn't want him at all?

Tess walks the 20 miles home until her dad picks her up halfway there. He doesn't take her back to school (the principal called and told her parents what happened...and he knows his little girl. she needs some time) he brings her home and lets her go straight to the horse barn to let off some steam.

Peaches whinnies softly as Tess throws open her stable door with her saddle in hand. She can barely see through the tears blurring her vision, but she knows the motions like the back of her hand. Peaches is saddled in a matter of minutes and Tess is ready to ride.

But then she catches sight of Cowboy floating off in the corner, like it knows she's sad because of him, and she breaks. She's sobbing again with her face pressed into the leather of the saddle.

Of course Rhett didn't want it to be her. Everyone knows he's been crushing on Maria since forever. Even Maria knows that (and uses it to her advantage). She just thought...she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up.

She always knew her crush on him was futile, a fool's hope, her just being a stupid teenage girl doomed for heartbreak.

But what was she supposed to do now? Go back to school tomorrow and pass him in the halls like nothing happened? Pretend like their Lumens weren't fighting to get to one another??

Was she just supposed to go about her life knowing her soulmate was right there but didn't want her?

Eventually, her tears dried enough for her to lead Peaches out of the barn and for the two of them to take off into the north pasture together - Cowboy trying to keep up. They stayed out there for hours. Tess too horrified and embarrassed to go back and talk to her parents and Peaches just happy to be getting in a run when she usually didn't.

It's the grumbling in her stomach that eventually makes her come back around midafternoon

And after setting Peaches up with some oats in her stable, she turns to head inside and is face to face with Cowboy. The blue of that little ball of light seemed darker.

But at this point, Tess is just mad. And who better to take it out on than that little piece of Rhett Abbott that's been following her around all day like a kicked puppy?

"Will you just leave me alone? He doesn't want me, alright! So stop trying to act like some part of him does!"

Poor girl. She's had a Lumen for not even 24 hours.

Inside, her parents are sitting at the kitchen table with their own lumens dancing overhead - swirling around each other happily. it makes more tears spring to her eyes that she didn't know she could make. she wanted that with her soulmate. she wanted what her parents have. but now she doesn't know if that's going to happen, even KNOWING that she has a soulmate and who they are. and that just fucking hurts.

Her parents try to sympathize, try to tell her that he's a teenage boy. he's bound to be a little stupid. he'll come around. that he didn't mean it. that she should give him another chance. but their reasoning doesn't work. she's too hurt and honestly too embarrassed to even think about ever seeing him again.

That night, Cowboy sits on her pillow again and even though she doesn't want it to - it's comforting.

Tomorrow is Friday, and her parents are going to let her stay home.

Sunshine spends the rest of the day nestled in Rhett's hoodie. Won't come out for anything. It's always been shy, and now he understands why, but this was something else. When he would look inside, it was like the light was nearly put out. And it scared him.

And when Rhett FINALLY gets home, royal and cece ask him how his day was, and he just says it was fine.

Cause they won't understand. Neither of them ever got a lumen, neither of them have soulmates.

But Perry, Rhett's older brother with a bubblegum pink lumen and a two-year-old daughter that means the world to him, can immediately see that something is wrong.

After dinner, when Rhett runs up to his room just to be alone, when he takes off his hoodie and Sunshine just sinks down onto the floor and he starts whispering desperately that he's sorry - Perry comes up to talk.

"What happened?" and that's really all it takes to make Rhett spill his guts. About meeting his soulmate and their lumens exploding when they met and how for a SPLIT SECOND he was disappointed it wasn't someone else and Tess ran off crying

"Yeah, you messed up pretty good. But you can't give up. She's your soulmate for a reason, so maybe she'll find a way to forgive you...And actually love your ugly mug."

He literally has to scoop Sunshine off the floor and carry it around. But he does snuggle up with it that night, trying to figure out what he's gonna say to Tess.

Rhett has no idea what he's gonna say, but he goes into school the next day determined to talk to her. Only she's not there. And when he asks her friends about it, who all look at him like he's the devil incarnate, they tell her she stayed home cause of what he did.

So on Saturday, he asks to borrow Perry's truck and he drives over to the Abernathy Horse Ranch. He....still doesn't really know what he's gonna say. But he's hoping when he sees her the words will just come. He's been practicing with Sunshine, whose glow has slightly returned, if only a little.

While he's driving he sees some wildflowers on the side of the road, black-eyed suzannes, and for some reason they remind him of Tess. Of Sunshine. So he pulls over and picks a few.

When he knocks on their front door, his hands are shaking and he's sweating through his t-shirt but he knows he has to do this. at least to apologize.

Her dad answers the door and Rhett swears he's never come so close to pissing his pants

But her dad just nods out into the yard, and when Rhett turns, he sees Tess walking along the fence line with a little ball of blue light that nearly blended in with the sky trailing behind her.

Taking a deep breath, and nodding at her father in thanks, he sets off in her direction. And as he watches her, trailing her hand over the top of the wooden fence, kicking her booted feet into the dirt, he wonders why he's never really taken notice of her before.

She's cute. With the long light brown hair, big blue eyes - and she's tiny. Barely comes up to his shoulder and he wants to squish her. He doesn't. know where that thought comes from, but it makes him smile.

She sees him coming. Of course she does. It stops her in her tracks and snatches the air out of her lungs to see him walking up to her with that shy little smile and a bunch of flowers in his hand.

As he gets closer, Sunshine comes flying out from behind him and Captain zips past Tess' shoulder. They meet in the middle in another mini-explosion that makes them both flinch.

Rhett still doesn't know what he's gonna say, but he has to admit, being near her feels like coming home.

[gardenofshadcws]

Dracula Daily Day 100

Under the cut for length

Dr. Seward’s Diary

Getting closer!

Cattle low?  Oh crap Dracula made it to land.  Or he’s really close to it.

Mina Harker’s Journal

Quincey not speaking a language other than English is such an American thing smh Texas

Jonathan Harker’s Journal

Stoker, I hope you’re aware it is impossible to read this dialect

Huh weird it’s almost like some external force wanted you to get the voyage overwith as quick as possible

Oh yeah it’s absolutely ridiculous to be suspicious around that particular strange old man just silly superstition nothing else

OOof the description of Hildesheim

I’m still not over Dracula’s alias being Mr. de Ville.  Could you be a little more obviously evil dude

RIP Skinsky we hardly knew ye

Mina Harker’s Journal

I completely relate to Mina preferring to write her journal by typewriter than with a pen. 

Poor Jonathan :( 

Mina doing some research while the boys rest from their disastrous recon and actually coming to a conclusion is a power move.  We stan a queen

Mina Harker’s Memorandum

They should have kicked the box into the ocean

This woman is a genius and they should hve left the detective work to her in the first place

But noooo gotta keep her in the dark for her own safety even though she made more progress in a few minutes than the rest of the squad made all day

Mina Harker’s Journal - continued

“Jonathan took me in his arms and kissed me” I can’t believe the Harkers invented love

“Her eyes have been where we were blinded” almost like you should have asked her for help in the first place

Quincey would follow on horseback ride ‘em cowboy

“We shall not rest until the Count’s head and body have been separated” WOOHOO WE’RE HEADED TOWARDS THE ENDGAME

I’m with Jonathan, this is a terrible plan, Van Helsing

Also he’s the sweetest bean

“Work to be done there that her eyes may not see” have we seriously still not learned this lesson stop talking about her like she’s not here

“The wonderful power of money” eeeuggh

AWW YEAH MINA GOT A GUN IT’S ALL OVER FOR YOU BITCHES

“We may never meet again” I want them to kill Dracula just so Mina and Jonathan get their happy ending and if they don’t imma lose it

Jonathan Harker’s Journal

Since when has Arthur owned a boat launch

Jonathan and Mina calling each other “my darling” your OTP could never

That last paragraph is so ominous, it’s such a great lead-in to the final few letters.  I’m so excited.

[quinntanaeg]

Wrong Turn

It's alright to be a redneck

It's alright to ride around in a dirty old truck

Catch a bunch of fish and shoot a bunch of duck

It's alright to be a redneck

Chase around the girls on Friday night

You want to make them feel alright

Three brothers drove in a beat up, old truck on winding country roads. The two oldest, and closer in age, sing along to the radio. Both have sandy blonde hair and green eyes. One had shaggy, curly hair. They're not built large but it's obvious they work out. They wore similar plaid shirts with jeans, steal toe boots, and cowboy hats.

The younger brother sat in the middle. He just recently turned eighteen and his older brothers had a surprise for him. Unlike his brothers, he was wearing a cameo hunting jumpsuit. His hair was dark but it too was shaggy, though straight, unlike his brother.

"You're going to love our surprise, little bro." The brother not driving said then ruffled the eighteen year old's hair.

The teen pushed his brother's hand away and fixed his hair. "It's not much of a surprise. I already know we're going hunting. You guys go every weekend during the season."

"Ha!" The driver laughed. "This isn't a normal hunting trip."

"We got something special planned for all of us to celebrate you becoming a man."

The teen had no clue what his brother was talking about. What could they possibly do on this hunting trip that was so special, and why were they shouting like animals?

Whilst most students spent their fall break at the mall or partying, the glee club were going on a camping trip. According to the faculty advisor, Will Schuester, the trip would be good for bonding, something they apparently needed if they are going to win the regionals singing competition.

A Latina teenager struggled to free her luggage from the very full trunk of her vehicle. She grumbled and cursed in Spanish.

"Babe, if you cleaned your car more often you wouldn't be struggling right now." Said a hazel eyed blonde.

"I don't need a lecture, Quinn, I need help."

Quinn took the Latina's place, planted her feet, held the luggage, and pulled as hard as she could. It took three tries to get it free.

"Thanks, baby." The brunette smiled then lovingly kissed Quinn.

"Now I'm baby?"

The Latina nodded and presses their lips together again.

"Quinn, Santana, enough PDA! We're all waiting on you!" The glee club faculty advisor Will Schuester shouted. He stood by the door of the bus as he counted each student as they got on, making sure no one was left behind.

Santana pulled away with a huff. "Why did our parents have to give us permission to go on this stupid trip? It's too cold for this shit. Who goes camping during the fall?"

Quinn shrugged. "Just remember it's only for two days. Then we can have a glee free fall break. Just the two of us."

Santana smiled. "I can't wait."

Again, she closed the gap between them, kissing the blonde.

"Santana, Quinn, let's go!" Will shouted again.

Santana groaned. "Two days." She whispered to herself, although, Quinn could hear the brunette. "Just two days and it'll just be me and my girl, glee free." She continued as the girls gave Will their luggage and finally got on the bus.

The couple sat in the back with Brittany, Mercedes, Tina, and Kurt. Brittany sat with Kurt, and Mercedes and Tina sat together. The boys, and Rachel, sat in the middle of the bus, while Will and the co-faculty advisor, Sue Sylvester, sat at the front.

"How did you score the backseats?" Santana asked no one in particular.

"It didn't take us almost twenty minutes to get our bags out of our cars." Mercedes joked. "Our cars don't look like an episode of Hoarders."

"Your car was on an episode of Hoarders?" Brittany asked Santana. "I love that show."

Santana rolled her eyes. "Okay, okay. Everyone is a comedian. We get it."

At the front of the bus, Will stood and clapped to get the glee club's attention. "It's going to be about a two or three hour drive to the campsite. So, I suggest that everyone get comfortable. When we arrive at the campsite, all of us are pitching in to put the tents together. There are two. One for the girls and one for the boys."

"You never said anything about tents?!" Mercedes shouted.

"I thought we were staying in cabins?!" Shouted Rachel. "We're going to freeze to death!"

"I'm not sleeping on the ground!" Said Santana.

"Relax." Said Will. "The tents are big enough so we won't be cramped together, and no one will be sleeping on the ground." He assured Santana. "Coach Sylvester managed to get everyone their own cot, and no one is going to freeze to death. I've been keeping an eye on the weather, it'll be cloudy with some chilly air. We'll be fine."

The girls seemed to relax, however, Santana still didn't like the idea of sleeping in a tent with Rachel Berry, and wasn't shy about sharing her feelings on the matter. Surprisingly, the usual defensive Rachel did not react.

"What else are we doing on this camping trip, Mr. Schue?" Finn asked.

"We have a lot of bonding activities planned. Hiking, don't worry, Artie, the trails will be accessible to you, there's a lake to do some fishing, we got ingredients for s'mores, I brought my guitar, we can do some singing around the fire. It'll be fun."

Santana rolled her eyes. "I'm so over this and it hasn't even started yet."

Quinn smiled at how dramatic her girlfriend was being. She kissed Santana's cheek. "In just two days you'll have me to yourself."

The brunette took a deep, calming breath. "Right, you're right. I just have to get through this stupid camping trip first."

Want to read more? Click the link.

[diaryofageminivenus]

No. 10 - cowboy

my most recent body was a one-night stand, we met at the end of a party that got shut down. I was walking towards the exit and I saw him and his homeboys together, he stared at me and I looked around. as I'm looking around, he says "I'm staring at you beautiful", idk, when my coochie heard that it was on agua. one thing that threw me off, was the fact that the man was literally wearing cowboy attire to a college party. folks throwing ass and he is catching it in a cowboy outfit which is throwing me off. he looked good asf tho, he did look a lil old and to my surprise, he told me he was in his mid-20s. when I went up to him we started talking, the cliche "you stay on campus? you single? wyd after this?" at first he was trying to come to my dorm, but I have roommates, so we ended up going to his house. on the way to his house, we were just touching each other (not inappropriately, I have etiquette), and talking to each other.

when we got to his house, we continued talking. goodness, i could listen to that man talk for hours. a countryman with a thick ass accent could have his way with me, I was already wanting to fuck him but when we started talking more and more, that just made me want him in the worst way. he started rolling up after I asked him how he rolls his woods, the wood felt loose af but it was still some good weed. we started watching Last Holiday and he fell asleep (it was late y'all), when the movie was about to end I got up and got some blankets because it was cold, I then woke him up cause I wanted to have sex. I woke him up and told him "go change, you know you're uncomfortable in those jeans". he changed and then we started cuddling again.

when he came back, he was also on the timing I was on too. he couldn't keep his hands off of me at all, he was feeling every single part of my body then he got to my shorts. i took my shorts off cause I know what I want, man oh man, that mouth is for more than talking because wheewwww #munch. he was eating it for a minute, and he was positioning my legs every which way, he is a very messy eater, but everything was cleared off the plate. I then told him "come here", the man uses hella tongue when he kisses, but I enjoyed it actually. when he pulled it out it wasn't what I was personally expecting, but it was still pretty big. he slipped it in and it felt bigger; maybe it was because it was my first time having sex in 5 months, but he was going slow and talking to me while he was in it. it felt so passionate like it was his last time having sex, putting my legs above my head, caressing my face and neck, telling me sweet words, I was in his hands. when we went into backshots it was sooooo amazing, he went at his tempo for a minute, then I started fucking him back, then he took control and started pulling on my hair and grabbed my neck. tell me why as soon as his hand touched my neck, I immediately squirted. still kept going until I pushed him off, then we resumed, then I pushed him back, then he stood up and I gave him head.

when I was giving him head, he was moaning super loud, I felt accomplished lmaooo. then I kinda led him to the couch so he could sit, after like 8 seconds, he pulled me up so that I could ride. everyone hypes up riding on the couch like it's just so amazing but I could not get my rhythm or my footing correct and that was making it weird for me. I'm riding and he's just grabbing and slapping my ass, all of a sudden this man picks me up and takes me to his room. when we got to his room I was over with, I just felt it. this man put his all into missionary, and then he flipped me over and did collapsed doggy. I love collapsed doggy, brooo that man was putting in work and then he was whispering in my ear????? I literally turned into putty, I should've taken a pic of the bed it was messy. after I came, he went to the restroom and washed up, he brought me a hot rag to wipe off and as he was handing me the rag he pulled me in for a kiss. I thought that man was just soooooo sweet for that.

that same morning, he woke me up to dick. we were fckn from the side, his sleepy moans kinda turned me on and just made me wetter. he then went into missionary and was so slow and passionate, the sun beams were peeking in thru the curtain and it just made the experience better. the man nutted in me, took me home and we just haven't talked since then.

*this seems lke a long one, but just wait... they're going to be longer.*

[bucketofdrugs]

Hope. Hope had sailed for him a long time ago. Hope was not a commodity he had in spades, nor one that he felt need to have any stake in these days. Lucy was chock full of it. Hope brimmed up to her ears, and even his soured attitude for centuries of living in the slums of it, getting shot at, nearly eaten, and irradiated beyond something human, couldn't put a damper in it. She was the moonlight in his darkness, and he didn't have it in him to dim that light. Not today. Not even after she nearly got them killed.

"If you say so, Vaultie. Just make sure it's a good world, I'm gettin' real sick of the 'no ghouls' signs." Even if he didn't believe it, even if he didn't think it was remotely possible, he could see she did. He'd let her have this one. She could believe that she could save the world from people like her father, like his ex wife, who at some point may have had good intentions, but followed through with something evil. Who made him into something monsterous. If she could get the ball rolling, even, in her little lifetime, that would be a marvel. Though, he'd always have at least one thing to remember her by.

A soft smirk rose up his lips again, a little shake of his head. "You know, if them Govmint boys hadn't found me, I'd have that whole damn stockpile from the Super Duper Mart. 'Course, I had to be sentimental, a mistake I don't think I'll make again." The holotape had thrown him for a moment, and he considered watching it a moment of weakness.

This was not a conversation he thought he'd ever be entertaining with her, not once. Sex had been off the table for a long time. Not that he was lacking propositions; there were plenty of people in the settlements that had a fetish for what he had become, and plenty more willing to pay. He hadn't even considered, not once, accepting those offers, let alone had anyone to talk to about it. This was brand new territory for Cooper, even since before the war, to talk about with a woman he wasn't sleeping with. "Oh, I like to be in charge, sure, but when a pretty little thing decides she wants to ride a cowboy, I have a hard time saying no."

He should be stopping the conversation, changing the topic, something, anything, other than letting it continue. And yet...

And yet, he couldn't. He was actually listening, engaging, in a conversation about sex with a very young albeit pretty woman like it was nothing. Like it wasn't affecting him in the slightest. Which, considering the alternative would make a very long trip into a very awkward trip, was probably for the best. His wandering mind, however, would also likely make it a quiet trip, at least until he could get the thoughts to leave. And they would, eventually, because that was so far from an option he possessed.

Until that small little comment about being tied up. His head fell back, hat knocked askew as he stared up at the sky above them from his seat beneath the tree. "Listen, darlin', unless you got some Rad-x and can find you a very quiet place where you can be very loud for the next hour, I suggest we talk about something else." It had been literal centuries, that was the story he was going with. Centuries since he'd knocked boots with anyone, and that was enough to make this kind of conversation something that he wouldn't normally suggest. Hell, tell him he'd have said that very sentence not even fifteen minutes ago, and he'd die laughing.

"Ah, uh, yeah.. it's stag, you'll survive." At least the dog didn't seem to care one way or the other. Then again, she ate radroach raw. His mind is still a fog when she asks her question, one he's only half listened to when he replied. "I reckon I could talk them up to two, if they were really that desperate."

This time it was easier to take seriously his dark view of the world, because there was undertone of judgment in his words, or at least she didn't feel he was giving her his grim version of how things worked just to tell her how stupid she was for trying to do better. No, this time he was just a man talking about a world he had actually known before the war.

"Vault Tec will keep doing this. They are not done. Look at my father, what he did to Shady Sands..." she paused, looking at the horizon before returning her eyes on him, "But that's all the more reason to fight them, isn't it? People doing good make the world better, it's... hope, it's... a reason for other people to not give up. I will not have much of a chance against the entire company, but I will do my best to leave a dent. Who's to say that I won't inspire others to do the same thing?" She had already learned more than any Vault occupant should, between her going from a Vault to the other and, most importantly, speaking to Moldaver and hearing things that non-Vault Tec people would not know unless they were also there before the war. She had to make it worth it. "The world is never going to be the same... but it can be better. You'll see." She didn't care if he thought she was naive, there had to be a reason if she had gotten so far.

It wasn't fair that no one had worked on a cure, especially if doctors like Wilzig still existed, but there wasn't much Lucy could do about that. "We'll make sure you never run out," she promised, thinking of Roger and Martha. And then her mother. "We are in this together now, right?"

She was sure that he hated the very idea of them sticking together longer than necessary, he had clearly perfected the art of being alone and fine with it.

The conversation took an unexpected, but at least pleasant, turn when he agreed with her. That made her curious, but it wasn't about wanting to know about ghouls in general this time around. "Really? I would have thought..." well, now she couldn't just not finish the sentence. "You'd be the type who must be in charge in every possible way..." Maybe she shouldn't have sounded so fascinated by the idea of him having a more open-minded view than she had expected, but it went completely against any guess she could have made. He even said little blood, like he wouldn't go past that. She wouldn't either, but she had assumed he would do a lot more than that.

Since he had decided to sit down, she came closer, busying herself with petting the dog while he took her biting comment very seriously, it seemed, and had it be anyone else, any other men, Lucy would have thought he was actually into the idea of figuring out what it would be like to have sex with her. But since it was him, Cooper, and he was talking to her, a woman he hadn't taken seriously for a second, he had to be speaking in general. Still, the tongue comment was very interesting. She should not think about it with him in mind, though. "I know!" she agreed with a wide smile, nodding because of course, plenty great things to do with tongues, and now she also had the answer whether he was selfish or generous, "See, that's even better if you are tied up. Thank you," she added, taking the piece of jerky from him. She almost bit it before lowering her hand, "Wait, what is it? It's not... it's not... ghoul, is it?"

Lucy didn't think the dog would care one bit if she died, and almost pointed out that she was certainly going to die trying to fight the Vault system, but instead sat down on the ground, still one hand on the dog, and asked: "What if someone offers you a thousand cap for my head now?"

[opie-nixx]

Flirting In Horseshoe Overlook (Filler CHAP)

Karen: "You know, you make yourself pretty useful, around here." She says scrubbing laundry as I wring it out and hang it to dry.

Y/n: "I try." I chuckle. Arthur took out the O'Driscoll to find Colm and hopefully settle any type of disagreements.

Charles: "Want any help?" I hear Charles say behind me, I turn around to greet him but I have a hard time actually make eye contact with him. His shirt was off and his chest was glistening with sweat. I feel my face begin to heat up as I begin to stutter; my eyes glancing between him and his chest. Karen interrupted my silly attempt to answer by howling with laughter, only making my face turn the color of a tomato.

Y/n: "If you want, Charles you can wring out the clothes...My arms are getting tired." I say as I pin up a shirt to dry, he nods and begin's to do the part I was tired of.

'Fuck me, dude.' I think to myself relieving a breath I felt was holding forever. That's when I hear trotting footsteps that catch everyone's attention. John, Bill and Kieran. Kieran only quick to dismount as to prove his innocence. Dutch pays him no mind and waits for an explanation from Bill and John, who were a bit reluctant to tell him how Kieran saved Arthur. I smile to myself as Charles and I continue with our task. We then hear John and Abigail begin to argue over his parental responsibilities. Karen and I snap our heads to there direction as there arguing intensifies, Charles takes over doing all 3 without a fuss, a smile adorning his features as we watch the drama unfold.

Abigail: "John! Hey, could I speak to you for a minute?"

John: "What do you want?" John snaps, Abigail retracts a bit and Karen and I exchange looks.

Abigail: "Is that how you speak to me?"

John: "Yeah, I guess it is." He scoffs.

Y/n: "Nooooo." I whisper as Karen slaps her hand over my mouth. Abigail furrows her brows.

Abigail: "You miserable Scotch sack of shit!" She spews as she smacks him across the face and then storms off to her tent.

John: "You got a nice tongue there, lady." As he storms off to the whiskey crate. Karen removes her hand and walks off to find Mary-Beth and Charles finished a while ago. I make my way over to the cliff side of camp to sit and admire the view. My ears perk up to Arthur's voice as he gives good praises to him. I pause and give him a small wave and continue on my path.

Arthur: "Hey Y/n! Wait up!" He says as he dismounts and jogs over to me, I pause and wait for him.

Y/n: "You okay?"

Arthur: "Yeah, just wanted to talk is all." I nod as my eyes catch the glimpse of his jacket that was a bit dampened by blood.

Y/n: "Are you sure?" I say extending my hand out to touch it. He retracts a bit as he tries to brush me off.

Arthur: "Just a scratch." I grab his jacket and drag him to his tent, Arthur puts up no fuss but just gives glares to the camp members who were eyeing our interaction. I push open his tent flaps and down on his cot.

Y/n: "Take it off. Let me see." I say as I grab a health cure and a clean rag, Arthur sighs and does so despite what he thinks.

Arthur: "This is stupid." I turn to see his upper half completely nude and my face turns a bright red as my eyes flick between his own eyes and his exposed torso.

'I see why people say save a horse, ride a cowboy...'

Y/n: "Oh, shut up." I say placing the cloth against his arm.

Arthur: "People will talk.. Weren't you worried about that?" He says cocking his head to the side.

Y/n: "You gonna pull any funny business with your tent flap wide open?" Arthur does a quick take to the exposed outdoors before looking back to me.

Arthur: "They were eyein us as we came in here."

Y/n: "I only said I didn't want them to talk because I don't want to put you in a situation where people think we're together." I say as I grab the gauze.

Arthur: "Why wouldn't I want people to think we're together?" He asks raising an eyebrow.

Y/n: "Why would you want people to think we're together?" I ask raising the same eyebrow with a smirk.

Arthur: "Uh..er?" We both hear footsteps coming closer and see Micah approach the tent, I scoff as Arthur sighs with an eyeroll.

Micah: "Y/n...Ya know I have a scratch on my arm as well..Can you tend to me?"

Y/n: "Mmm. I don't know you seem more capable to tend to a scratch to yourself."

Micah: "Why does cowpoke get special treatment? You fancy him more?" He says glaring between Arthur and I. I tie the gauze wrap.

Y/n: "Cowpoke does more around camp to deserve special treatment." I say as I grip Arthur's face and squish it before placing a kiss on his cheek and taking my leave. As I exit the tent I see Tilly, Mary-Beth and Karen scatter from the side of Arthur's tent.

Y/n: "Vultures." I say chuckling as I walk back to the cliff side, passing by John drinking away his misery.

John: "Y//n!" He slurs and I sigh.

Y/n: "I just wanna go sit and admire the view." I complain.

John: "Come here."

Y/n: "Is it important?" Placing my hands on my hips.

John: "Kinda." I begin to take a few steps over to where he was sitting, when he suddenly grabs my by my waist and drags me to sit on his lap.

Y/n: "John, for the love of fuck let go of me." I demand as I try to stand out of his grasp.

John: "You're very pretty."

Y/n: "Thank you, now please let go." His grasp getting tighter.

John: "Let's go back to your tent." He slurs, leaning closer to my neck to leave kisses as his hands grope around my body. My face flushes as I stomp on his foot causing him to let go. I stand up and turn on my heel before storming off and slap him across the face. 

Y/n: "Fuckhead!" I scoff and stomp back to my destination. I plop on the edge and light up a cigarette trying to think of anything else but sex with John. 

Soon, Arthur joins me.

Arthur: "It's a pretty view." I flinch a bit.

Y/n: "Oh shit. Yeah. It is." I say, giggling trying to calm myself from being startled.

Arthur: "Sorry."

Y/n: "You're fine. Just was lost in my own mind."

Arthur: "Can I ask what about?"

Y/n: "Eugh, just John." Arthur cocks his head to the side.

Arthur: "Whatchu mean?"

Y/n: "He grabbed me and wanted to go back to my tent and then tried to kiss my neck." I light up another cigarette. Arthur balled his fist before he himself lights up a smoke.

Arthur: "He's a miserable sack of shit."

Y/n: "I feel bad for Abigail.." I say taking a puff.

Arthur: "Yeah?"

Y/n: "She had to be both the mother and father to Jack and John got to run away from his problems...He needs to pull his head out of his ass. Abigail is a very beautiful woman and Jack is such a sweet kid." I glance at Arthur who seemed to be staring at me.

Arthur: "Yeah.."

Y/n: "Nevermind."

Arthur: "Did you mean to do that in front of Micah?"

Y/n: "Hell yeah. Micah is the last person I wanna tend too." Artur and I share a laugh. I push myself up off the ledge and go to make my way to my tent.

Arthur: "Uhh, you can hangout in my tent if you wanna..Er if you just need a lace to hide. No one goes in there." Nervous lacing his voice as he stands himself.

Y/n: "Yeah? I think I'll take you up on that, Arthur. Thank you." I say smiling at him. We both make our way to camp. I make my way to where Javier was, who was making poisoned knives.

Javier: "Mi amor, what do I owe the pleasure?" He smiles glancing at me.

Y/n: "I'm just a bit bored, figured I'd bother you a bit." I say grinning at him.

Javier: "You couldn't bother me, amor."

Y/n: "What are you doin?"

Javier: "Making some poisoned knives. Or just lacing them really, just trying to stay prepared."

Y/n: "Can I do 1?"

Javier: "Sure." He hands me a blade, cloth and moves the bowl filled with poison up onto the table between us.

Y/n: "The whole blade or just the tips?"

Javier: "Whole blade and be careful not to nick yourself with the poison." I nod and begin to help him finish his knives.

Javier: "So, you haven't really told anyone where you're from. May I ask why?" I shrug my shoulders.

Y/n: "I am not really sure how to answer it."

 Javier: "Do you have any family or someone close that could be looking for you?"

Y/n: "None that would find me. My parents didn't do too much for me and my old lover treated me just as bad as Micah treats women... I don't wanna go back to that and I'm not too sure how I really got here but I'm not looking to go back." I say wiping the last blade.

Javier: "Well, I can't imagine what it would be like to date someone like Micah, but I think you'll be a lot safer here." We both turn our heads to a commotion between Arthur and John.

Arthur: "Stop bein a god damn fool!" He says shoving John who stumbles back a bit.

John: "What are you talkin about?" He slurs.

Arthur: "You got your own damn woman! Figure out what you wanna do before you mess up anyone else's life." He argues before socking him in the face, John falls flat on his back and Javier and I jump up from the table and rush to the commotion.

Y/n: "Let's take a ride, yeah?" I say placing my hands on Arthur's chest which was heaving heavily. Javier was tending to John who was slurring his words. I glance around the whole camp and see that everyone was watching.

Y/n: "Come on." I say dragging him by his wrist to the horses.

Arthur: "Yeah, let's go." He pulls his wrist out of my grasp and speed walks to his horse, not even waiting for me to catch up. He mounts up and trots off down towards the lake below, I quickly follow after him.

Y/n: "Wait up, Arthur!" I say trotting after him. He sighs before reluctantly pulling up on his reins. 

Y/n: "Thank you. What was that back there?"

Arthur: "Nothin."

Y/n: "Don't pull that shit with me."

Arthur: "Watch your tone with me woman." He begins to keep walking down to the lake.

Y/n: "Don't call me woman, Arthur." I snap back at him.

Arthur: "Go back to camp, it don't concern you." He stops at the water front and dismounts.

Y/n: "Just let me be your friend and please talk to me." I say following his lead, he stops in his tracks before turning to me.

Arthur: "If you wanna be my friend, you would take yourself back up to camp." He says in a demeaning tone before stomping off down the river. I scoff and pick up a pebble in frustration, I throw it at his back. He pauses in his tracks before stomping back over to me. Taking off his hat and dropping it to the ground. My eyes widen in fear with the look on his face as he takes threatening steps towards me. I yipe before running off in another direction with Arthur hot on my tail.

Arthur: "You're dead woman!"

Y/n: "I'm sorry!" I laugh in fear the closer he gets. I soon feel his hands grab my waist and he yanks me back, lifting me onto his shoulder. I try and thrash around to try and lessen his grip which doesn't work in fact it just tightens. A sharp smack to my ass stops my thrashing and my face heats up. I hear water whooshing and realize he's walking into the water.

Y/n: "Arthur! Arthur! Please!" I laugh uncontrollably.

Arthur: "Can you swim?"

Y/n: "Yes! NO! I mean NO!" He laughs before trying to shrug me off, I hold on for dear life on his clothes.

Arthur: "You should've went back to camp." He says as he dunks us both into the ice cold water. I let go of him and surface back up and begin to take deep breaths from the ice cold water.

Y/n: "You fucking bastard." I breathe and Arthur just laughs as he tries to swim closer to me. I splash his face and swim away from him, but he only grabs me by my foot and drags me back to him.

Arthur: "You should've seen your face!" He laughs as he drags us back to shore.

Y/n: "I don't have any other clothes, Arthur!" I laugh.

Arthur: "I got some spare clothes in my tent." I scoff as I begin to wring my hair and clothes as he sits on the rocks and watches me.

Arthur: "I hit him because what you said he did earlier." I stop and move to sit next to him as I return his gaze.

Y/n: "It's not your job to fight my battles." He nods.

Arthur: "I know, I just know your situation isn't the best and I guess I don't want you takin off just yet."

Y/n: "I'm not gonna let John's drunken advances run me off. I'm not interested in him."

Arthur: "Yeah?"

Y/n: "Mmhmm."

Arthur: "Got your eye on someone else?" He swallows thickly never breaking eye contact.

Y/n: "Maybe.." I say averting his gaze, he clears his throat.

Arthur: "Oh? Can I ask who?"

Y/n: "Maybe. He's really kind and handsome..." I say, my lips curling into a smile while slowly meeting his gaze.

Arthur: "..." I giggle as I stand up and take my horse''s reigns and make my way back to camp. Arthur stands up and does the same, water sloshing in our boots.

Arthur: "You never told me who it was."

Y/n: "I thought I made it clear earlier based off my actions." I say glancing at him.

Arthur: "Javier?"

Y/n: "You are dense." I say shaking my head.

[helpimhyperfixating]

Photos and Crushes - Cowboy AU Jotaro x Reader P2

Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3

Word Count: 11488

“I’m not coming here again, that is clear.” Jotaro grumbled as he dusted his jacket off. You were standing beside him, giggling a little as you watched his disgruntled look.

The sun was setting and all the children had just left, finally giving Jotaro some respite.

“Ahw.” You pouted playfully, helping him dust off his back a bit. Jotaro sighed and rolled his eyes at your fake sadness, just grabbing your wrist and starting to drag you away from the church with him as you waved back at the nun, darkness slowly starting to set in.

Jotaro soon released your wrist and the two of you were now walking side by side.

“Thank you for today.”

“Hm?” Jotaro hummed, pretending to not know what you were talking about.

“For everything you did. Putting up with the children, helping cheer them up. And especially... with those riders, of course.” You bashfully glanced at him through your eyelashes, only looking at him from the corner of your eyes.

“It’s fine.” Jotaro grunted and you almost couldn’t understand him with how heavy the grumble in his voice was.

“No, really. You saved me again.” You stopped him with a hand on his arm and Jotaro turned around to look at you with a questioning look. “How can I make it up to you? I feel like merely a drink isn’t good enough this time.” You chuckled sweetly at your own callback and Jotaro felt his throat close up a bit, wanting to clear it but not wanting to come across as awkward.

“Come riding with me tomorrow.”

It was a simple sentence but neither of you knew how flustered the other was with those mere words hanging in the air.

“Alright. I’d love to.” You spoke after a bit, finally having found your courage to answer while holding a mini panic attack and celebration inside your head and chest.

Jotaro on the other hand was having a small existential crisis.

Both of you were lost in your own heads as you continued walking and quickly, the fork in the road where you split up came. You cleared your throat and turned to him. “I’ll, uh, see you tomorrow then?” You questioned and Jotaro nodded.

“I’ll come by at nine.” He spoke, oozing his usual calm and stoic confidant look. You nodded a little shyly and quickly stood on your tiptoes, pressing a kiss to his cheek before taking off in the direction of your home, not looking back even once.

Jotaro swallowed heavily as he watched you run away, still feeling the phantom feeling of your lips on his cheek. And then he nearly clocked a dude right in the face when they swung an arm around his shoulder, surprising him.

Joseph screamed like a little girl as he ducked out of the way of the fist.

“Gramps!” Jotaro called out, exasperated.

“Honestly, Joseph, you need to learn how to read someone’s body language.” Caesar sighed. Seemingly appearing out of nowhere as he now stood to Jotaro’s right, Joseph righting himself and putting his arm back around his grandson from the left.

“You two are back in town?” Jotaro questioned, mostly aimed at Caesar as he pulled his grandfather’s arm off of himself and actively ignored him.

“We never left.”

“Yes we’re back.”

Caesar was quick to shut down Joseph’s attempt at a prank and the man pouted.

“How have you put up with him for all these years?” Jotaro questioned, pointing his thumb back to his grandfather.

“It honestly is a mystery to me as well.” Caesar spoke as Joseph let out an offended noise.

“Well screw you too! Here I was, just trying to be happy for my grandson for finding the love of his life, and I get this thrown at me!”

Jotaro actively tried to ignore that statement as he left the two behind and started walking the last leg to his house.

“Joseph, let me talk to your grandson for a bit.” Caesar patted Joseph’s shoulder and - while the man was pouting - he nodded and motioned Caesar to go.

Jotaro immediately noticed the Italian man walking up beside him and pulled his hat down over his eyes a bit. “You haven’t told her yet, have you?” The silence was answer enough and Caesar hummed a bit. “You know what I said before. And, if what we just saw was any indication, she returns your feelings.”

Jotaro once again didn’t say a thing and instead sped up a bit. But Caesar knew he was thinking about his words.

“Oi, Caesar! It’s my turn to talk to my grandson now!” Joseph called out from behind but Caesar was quick to shush him, pushing the older Joestar into another street to take a different route to the Kujo household and give the young man some peace of mind to think.

Tomorrow was a big day after all.

- - - -

A knocking on your door made you jump up from where you had anxiously been sitting. Nearly tripping on your way to the door, you managed to catch yourself in time and just opened the door.

There stood Jotaro, looking the same as ever and you sent him a quick smile.

“Good morning.”

“Morning.” Jotaro greeted back and he could see you excitedly bouncing, making him chuckle softly as he took a step to the side, giving you a good view of the pitch black horse that was hitched right outside your door.

“Jojo!” You exclaimed happily, running over to the gigantic animal. It was one of the biggest and strongest horses you had seen, an almost blue sheen to its black coat when the sun hit it right.

Upon hearing his name, the horse’s ears turned towards you and you walked up to stand beside it, gently petting its neck.

“Sometimes I think you like him more than me.” Jotaro joked as he walked up behind you after having closed your door that you stupidly left open in your excitement.

“I mean, he is a strong competition but no, I think you still win.” You tilted your head back to look at him and grinned, making Jotaro flick your forehead.

“Let’s go.” He spoke and placed his hands on your waist. The action surprised you and you quickly turned your head away from Jotaro so he couldn’t see your blush at the sudden close contact.

He lifted you without trouble, holding you high enough so that you could swing a leg over the large horse and sit down on the saddle.

“Scoot forward.” Jotaro instructed and you did as he asked while he untied the reins, throwing them back over the neck of the horse before taking hold of the saddle horn and back of the saddle while putting his foot in the stirrup, pulling himself up and swinging his leg over the horse’s back with grace.

Jotaro eased into the saddle, his hand that he used to grab the saddle horn now holding onto the reins, running under your arm and slightly pressed into your side.

Jotaro’s other arm suddenly snuck around your waist, pulling you back just a tiny bit so that your back was pressed into Jotaro’s chest. “Is this more comfortable?” He leaned forward a bit, softly saying that in your ear and making a shudder rack through your body, feeling his breath hit the shell of your ear. God, it was too early to get like this already.

“Y-Yeah.” You let out, clearing your throat as inconspicuously as possible afterwards.

Jotaro just hummed a bit, silently appreciating the cute little stutter in your voice while he let go of your waist, instead moving his hand so that he could hold the reins with both hands now.

Letting out two short clicking noises as he pulled the reins to the left side, Jotaro made Jojo turn, followed up by a small kick into the horse’s belly, urging the beast to start walking.

He almost immediately started up, a steady and confident stride in his steps yet perfectly in tune to the rider on his back.

You knew that Jotaro and Jojo had a good connection, the man having taken care of the animal ever since it was a foal. It still surprised you every day you saw the horse however, of how well trained he was. With its size, it could most likely trample everything in its path, yet he was the definition of a gentle giant.

It was your personal belief that the reason for that was because Jotaro had always doted on the animal. He had never admitted to it but you knew that despite the hardass, asshole attitude he had, he loved this horse.

“Relax a bit, you’re completely stiff.” Jotaro suddenly spoke up from behind you and you realised you had been lost in thought.

“Oh, sorry.” You quietly spoke, shuffling your butt a tiny bit to get a little more comfortable in the saddle. You might be a bit cramped and pushed to the front, but it was a lot better than sitting behind the saddle on the rump of the horse. Not only was there not a comfortable saddle back there, Jotaro’s massive frame also made it so that you could never properly look around. The two of you had tried that once the very first time, but after that it was always ‘you in front, Jotaro behind you’. Not that you rode with Jotaro too often. In fact, in the two years you knew him, it had only happened a handful of times. And yet, here you now sat.

“I thought I said relax.” Jotaro suddenly grumbled from behind, wrapping his arm back around your waist and pulling you back so that you were fully leaning against his chest. Instantly, you could feel yourself start to blush heavily as you began to properly sway with the movements of the horse, your back pressed against Jotaro.

“Sorry, uh, I was a bit lost in thought.” You tried to excuse yourself, the awkward smile on your face that he couldn’t see turning into surprise when Jotaro put his chin on the top of your head. In response to you he said nothing, only humming a bit, which you felt vibrate a little on your head.

You could feel Jotaro turn his head left and right as he looked both ways before crossing the street, lifting his head from yours once you reached the other side and spurring the horse into a light trot.

Jojo’s hooves pounded satisfyingly on the dirt road, the horse’s trot a comfortable ride despite his large size.

At the end of the street, Jotaro went right and you both passed the small church.

The sister just so happened to be outside, cleaning the steps and now looking up to see the two young people ride by. You noticed her as well, sending a smile and a wave while Jotaro subtly nodded, almost impossible to see for the nun who stood so far away. Yet still she smiled warmly and waved back, her look turning a bit more knowing as the horse passed by. She could almost smell what was blooming between those two from where she stood.

After a few minutes of a relaxed trot, you two were almost out of town when,

“JOTARO!”

The loud yet faraway shout made you lift your head up and look around while Jotaro gritted his teeth and pointedly refused to look anywhere but right in front of himself.

“Hey! Jotaro!”

At that, the man sitting behind you spurred his horse into a canter, holding you up against himself as he stood up in the stirrups slightly so that the animal beneath you could properly move.

Jotaro just noped the fuck out the moment he heard his grandfather’s voice. Whatever he wanted, it could wait. He had let his mother know he would most likely be gone most of the day if not all day with his horse and he was sure his mother would have told the old man as well. Right now, he was fairly certain that Joseph had seen you sitting in front and if he was allowed to talk to you, he’d definitely do everything he could to embarrass Jotaro. And no way was he letting that happen.

Running away when you were on horse and the pursuer on foot made it almost too easy and Jotaro looked back briefly, seeing the old man stand in the middle of the road, looking defeated as he became smaller and smaller while the pair on horseback left the town.

As soon as he thought you were far enough away, Jotaro slowed Jojo back into a trot and then back into a step, settling back into the saddle with you and unwrapping his left arm from your waist.

Or at least, that was the plan until his hand got snagged in your belt loop. Confused at first, he tugged just a little firmer, accidentally tugging at you while he felt something digging into the side of his hand, piercing through his skin.

“Oh!” You exclaimed in a bit of surprise when Jotaro nearly tugged you forward into the saddle.

Jotaro swallowed before he looked down over your shoulder as to what had happened, having no choice but to rest his wrist against your hipbone.

Somehow, he had trapped two of his fingers in your belt, and now the prong of your belt buckle had just straight up embedded itself into the side of the palm of his hand.

“Shit, sorry.” Jotaro quickly apologised as he tried to twist his hand out, but the prong punctured into his hand refrained him from moving without it digging painfully into his hand.

“No, it’s okay, just- here-“ Your delicate fingers wrapped around his, stopping him from squirming as you then pressed his hand flat into your stomach, using the clearer view to see how you could untangle him. “Who was that anyway?”

“My grandfather.” Jotaro answered as he felt himself blush, feeling the soft expanse of your stomach beneath his hand - even if it still was covered up with your shirt - was enough to make the boy flustered.

When you untangled his fingers, the prong still inside his hand, Jotaro couldn’t keep himself from softly squeezing your stomach. Just a small twitch of his fingers, digging the pads down just a little bit. It felt wrong to do morally but... god, he wanted to be able to keep doing that. Maybe Caesar was right. He had been doubting whether or not he should use today to confess but-

Unknowingly, in his thoughts, Jotaro squeezed again. While you hadn’t noticed the first time, you did now.

The man stopped breathing for a second, afraid he had overstepped and that you’d be mad, but you merely quietly apologised for hurting him, slowly and carefully sliding his hand off the prong, some blood dripping from the small puncture wound in his hand.

Jotaro moved his hand to the side so he wouldn’t bleed on either your clothes or his saddle, simultaneously looking away to the right to hide his raging blush as he gently pulled on the reins to make Jojo stop walking.

He got himself stuck and then impulsively touched you when you pressed his hand into your stomach, yet you were too oblivious to notice. Granted, you were the one to place his hand there, but still. Your mind was just so focused on helping him that you didn’t even notice the world around you. You were so sweet and selfless.

Of course Jotaro couldn’t have helped but fall head over heels for you.

Procuring a handkerchief from somewhere within your pocket, you grasped Jotaro’s hand again and gently wrapped it up.

The man shifted a little in the saddle behind you as you tied the knot and he cleared his throat. “Thanks.”

“No problem, uhm- oh! We stopped.” You only just now noticed and Jotaro turned his head back forward so he could look down on you. God, you really were oblivious, making his heart tighten fondly in his chest. “Anyways, why’d you run away from your grandpa?”

“Because I know him and if I stopped, we would have never left town.” Jotaro explained, and, in a way, he was not lying. For, if his grandfather had teased him and you, Jotaro might have just gotten cold feet and turned around with a ruined mood.

With a small sigh to shake that thought off, Jotaro spurred Jojo back into walking, the horse’s firm steps easily and quickly bringing them up and down the uneven terrain of the planes.

“So, where are we going?” You spoke up after a bit.

“The forest right outside the planes.”

You gasped at that and twisted your body around to look at Jotaro with a massive smile. “Really?!” He merely hummed in affirmation and an excited laugh burst from your throat, with you slinging your arms around Jotaro in a giddy hug.

“Hey, don’t be reckless, I have to ride.” Jotaro chastised you, but really it was just because he could feel his cheeks flame up, his heart beating sporadically at feeling your chest pressed against his and your arms around him.

At that you pulled back (Jotaro managing just in time to steel his expression), a sly look on your face. “Jojo is a competent enough horse, he can steer himself.”

“Tch.”

“That is a subtle way of me saying you raised him well, mister.” Your voice turned a little softer, an almost proud undertone shining through that made a small blush appear on the brooding man’s cheeks at your compliment.

“S-Shut up.”

“Make me.”

Ohhh, that was the wrong thing to say for Jotaro. His breathing became a bit laboured as he immediately thought of all the ways he could in fact shut you up while you turned to sit straight again. His hands holding the reigns squeezed hard and to make sure you wouldn’t notice, he released his left hand and instead placed it on his thigh, bunching the fabric there and squeezing tightly while his right hand that was still in your view was completely lax, just nonchalantly holding the reigns.

“If I want to compliment you I will, there’s nothing you can do about it.” You finished your statement after a second or two and Jotaro released his thigh. Of course, this was you he was talking about. Little old oblivious and innocent you who had no idea what effects simple words from you had on him.

“Compliment those who want it.” Was his gruff response but inside he wanted to kick himself. He did want your compliments, he was just shit at accepting them.

“I sure will.” You smiled slyly and suddenly leaned forward, leaving the warmth of Jotaro’s chest as you hovered your upper body over the neck of the horse you were sat on. “Jojo, you’re such a good boy! So strong and pretty! Yes you are! Yes!” You cooed at the animal, now affectionately patting and slapping the horse’s neck, getting a snort and happy turning of the ears in return.

“Don’t praise him so much, he’ll get spoiled.” Jotaro’s voice piped up from behind you, sounding a little disgruntled.

“You said to compliment those who want it. And besides, what can I say, I got a lot of love to give.” You shrugged with a small smile as you sat back up, twisting backwards in the saddle just a little so you could look at Jotaro.

“Well, put it elsewhere.”

“Like with you?” You teased and Jotaro turned his head to the side, tilting it down a little so his hat would obstruct your view of his face, though you saw the slight pout he sported.

“If it keeps you from turning my horse into a brat.” He responded, making you laugh lightly.

Now he had to accept your compliments, whether he wanted to or not.

- - - -

It took about an hour and a half of riding to cross the planes, switching between a step and a trot every now and then to speed the process up just a little bit.

The view was beautiful of course, some wild animals roaming around through nature. At one point a herd of wild horses had ran past, much to your awe and delight.

But still you were more than excited to get to the forest. You hadn’t been there in so long due to how far away it was, even on horseback, and now couldn’t wait.

Right now, Jojo was slowly climbing a small hill, huffing and snorting a bit as Jotaro needed to keep the reigns taut. It was steep and one of the few things the horse was still fussy about doing, especially now that he had two people on his back. Jotaro had to keep a firm and steady hand to keep him in check, making his arms tightly sit against your sides to do so, even squeezing a bit in order to keep the reigns steady.

You knew that was the reason for it of course, but still, you couldn’t help but blush at feeling his arms so tightly against you, caging you in and keeping you steady while his chin leaned on your shoulder, his hot breath fanning past your cheek as he looked down over you at what he was doing.

Finally, you reached the top of the hill. Jotaro let up on the tight squeeze of his arms at your sides and only now you suddenly noticed how his thighs had been squeezing as well, his knees pressed against your legs. “Sorry.” He mumbled and you cleared your throat.

“No it’s okay, you needed to.”

Jotaro hummed a bit at that and suddenly leaned forward, pressing his chest into your back and pushing you down as he gave the side of Jojo’s neck a few approving slaps for climbing the hill.

He had attempted to lean a bit around you but that proved futile as he pushed you down with him all the same.

Sitting back up together, you opened and closed your mouth like a fish, not knowing what to say, but all of those thoughts were thrown out the window when you saw the forest, the landscape having been hidden behind the hill before.

Your sudden gasp slightly scared Jotaro, afraid it was because of him pushing you down and that he fucked up, but when he saw you turn around to look at him with that giant smile and sparkle in your eye, he knew it was fine.

“Do you want to take us there?” He asked all of a sudden and you furrowed your brow in confusion.

When you didn’t get the hint because you were looking back at him, Jotaro playfully rolled his eyes and grabbed your right hand, making you snap your head forward to see his large hand enveloping yours, leading it over to the reigns he was still loosely holding in his left before wrapping your hand around the leather.

“R-Really?” You asked back at him, genuinely taken aback. You didn’t expect Jotaro to so easily give you the reigns to the horse he cared so much about. He was completely calm and relaxed, a small hint of a smile playing on his lips as he urged you to take it with your other hand as well, as if it was no big deal. He just handed you the control and trusted you with barely a word. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. Just use both hands, he’s a strong horse.” Jotaro answered from behind, his voice a little more soft than you were used to and you felt yourself start to blush again.

Bringing your other hand up, you gripped the reigns with both hands, making Jotaro let go with his left as well, completely leaving you in control.

Jotaro gently nudged his heels and Jojo started stepping again.

Almost immediately after getting moving, a pair of hands landed on your waist and you looked down to see Jotaro was holding onto you like that, his hands on your waist so he wouldn’t fall.

In all honesty, you highly doubted he would fall at all, ever. But you couldn’t fault him for just wanting to hang on, so you didn’t say anything, instead just silently musing about how nice and warm and big his hands were.

Jotaro, at the same time, was musing about how small and soft you felt while he was holding you, trying to calm down his beating heart from making the bold move to hold you like this.

A curve in the road was coming up and you pulled the reigns to the right softly, only for Jojo to keep going forward, seemingly not heeding your signal at all.

You tried again, a little firmer this time, but still nothing. “He- He’s not turning.” You spoke with a small voice, feeling embarrassment wash over you. All you had been given were reigns and you couldn’t even make a simple turn to the right correctly?

Jotaro, hearing you and sensing your distress, gave your waist a small squeeze. “It’s alright.” He spoke but you felt disappointed in yourself. “Jojo’s not an easy horse.”

“Somehow I don’t believe that.” Your lips were curved down a bit and when you pulled on the reigns to try and get him to stop, Jojo wouldn’t even do that. A small noise left you and Jotaro was quick to grab hold of the reigns as well, pulling firmly with one hand and getting the horse to stop.

You let go of the reigns and buried your face in your hands while Jotaro let go as well, bringing his hand back to his side and leaning it on his leg as he looked at the back of your neck, his other hand still on your waist. “I’m sorry.” Your apology was a bit muffled but a soft look chased away the usual frown that Jotaro wore at your words.

“There’s no need to be. Jojo is stubborn and it takes practice to ride him.”

“I have not ever seen him be stubborn. He is literally the sweetest horse I know.” You said, lifting your head from your hands and looking back at Jotaro. For the first time you noticed the uncharacteristically soft look on his face and you suddenly felt a lot better already.

“That’s because you’ve only ever seen him with me.” At that you raised an eyebrow, a faint smile returning to your lips, much to Jotaro’s delight.

“Oh so he is only so sweet when you’re around, huh?” You remarked, getting a soft snort from Jotaro. “See, I told you you trained him well.” You then said softly and a warm feeling spread through the man’s chest.

“Want to try again? I’ll help.”

Nodding, you turned back around in the saddle and grabbed hold of the reins a little hesitantly.

“With Jojo it is important to keep your elbows pressed into your sides at all times.” He gently cupped your elbows and pushed them into your sides. Jojo, who had hung his head low to graze a bit at a small patch of grass, was forced to raise his head now that the reins went a little taut.

With your elbows in place, Jotaro shuffled a little bit more back before sliding you back up against him, his chest pressing against you and allowing you to feel the muscle even through the clothing in between.

Bringing his arms around yours, Jotaro grasped hold of your hands, enveloping them with his own and holding onto the reins that way. His head was leaned forward and his cheek almost pressed against yours as he looked over your shoulder.

“Be confident but don’t suddenly tug.” He explained as he showed exactly what he meant, pulling his - and by extension your - hand outward to the right, gentle but firm.

Almost immediately, Jojo started turning on his axis, Jotaro giving a small nudge in the stallion’s belly to get him to start moving again when he was pointed in the right direction.

“He knows you’re the one doing it, he just has a soft spot for you.” You remarked, but Jotaro happily noted the sweet lilt in your voice, showing you were no longer that hung up about the whole thing.

Still, he couldn’t help but want to cheer you up even more. “If we are being honest, I think he has a soft spot for you too. Not many can approach him like you do. Not even my grandfather can.”

“Really?”

“Mhm.” Jotaro hummed affirmatively. “He gets huffy when they do. But not with you.” He leaned sideways to the right a little bit as he said that last sentence, allowing him to turn his head left to properly look at you and bring his point home.

Your eyes were a bit wide as you looked at him before a smile split your face. Jotaro had the sudden urge to press a kiss to your temple but refrained himself, sitting straight in the saddle again and focusing back on the reins and how his hands sat over yours.

Suddenly kicking into the belly of the beast, Jotaro spurred his horse into a trot when you reached the bottom of the large hill, much to your surprise. “Try turning.” Jotaro spoke over the sound of the hooves.

His hands were still over yours, giving you some confidence but still, you tried pulling the reins left, Jotaro guiding you a bit as he helped pull firmer, showing you exactly how hard you needed to work the reins to get Jojo to turn.

In a steady trot, you started to zig-zag on the road. After the fifth turn, Jotaro was no longer helping with pulling the reins and he let go, returning his hands to holding onto your waist.

Jojo was powerfully trotting to the left and you now tried to steer him back to the middle of the path, without even the semblance of Jotaro helping doing it. And, without a fuss or huff, Jojo turned - just as smoothly as he did when Jotaro was the one in control.

A wave of pride flushed through your chest and Jotaro watched as you guided Jojo the rest of the way to the forest.

Once you were about fifteen meters away, you pulled the reins and Jojo slowed down to a step.

“Well done.” Jotaro praised you before looking around a bit. “Stop here.” He said after a few meters and you pulled the reins, bringing the horse to a stop.

Reaching his hand around you again, Jotaro grabbed hold of the saddle horn before swinging his left leg over the animal and dismounting, holding his arms up for you moments after.

You put the reins behind the horn before scooting back in the saddle and swinging your left leg over Jojo as well, only, different from Jotaro, you swung it over his neck so that you were sitting sideways in the saddle. This allowed Jotaro to grab you by the waist and lift you off, gently placing you on the ground.

Once he was sure you were steady, he stepped up to the side of Jojo and patted his neck a few times before swinging the reins over the animal’s head so that he could lead him.

Taking hold of the leather reins in his left hand, Jotaro expectantly turned back to face you and you smiled, realising what he meant.

You skipped up to beside him and stood next to him, ready to enter the forest for the first time in like three years.

Jojo had a different plan however as he suddenly stepped sideways, walking from Jotaro’s left side, over to the right, where you stood - forcing Jotaro to switch the reins behind his back from his left hand to his right - and nudging your shoulder with his head.

“Oh!” You called out in surprise as you were thrown forward a bit by the powerful nudge before turning around. Placing your hand on the nose of the animal, you gently scratched his forehead and neck, Jotaro smirking at you from the side.

“I told you he likes you.”

- - - -

Jotaro watched as you ran around the forest in awe.

Months ago, he had heard you talk about the last time you went to the forest. The sparkle and longing in your eyes as you did showed him how much you loved the collection of trees and he vowed back then to take you to one one day.

And he had to admit you were right, it was really pretty. Though, his eyes were mainly focused on you, not the forest.

With his left hand still holding onto Jojo’s lead, Jotaro followed with his horse as you frolicked through the trees, looking at every bush and plant as if it was your first time seeing green.

“Y/N, don’t stray too far!” He called out when he had to lead his horse around a closer cluster of trees that the large animal he was leading couldn’t fit through.

Walking around, Jotaro looked to where you had been, only to see you nowhere in sight. “Y/N?”

Walking forward, he looked around with furrowed brows, slight worry eating away at him in the pit of his stomach. Where did you go? He called your name once more, once again with no answer.

Suddenly, a pinecone hit him right on the nose, making him curse loudly.

“Oh no! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to, I-!” Jotaro slowly raised his head up, following the sound of your voice to see you sitting in between the branches of a tree, your hand guiltily slapped in front of your mouth. Quietly muttering, “I didn’t meant to.”

“Ouch.” He pointedly spoke, holding direct eye contact with you and you quickly climbed out of the tree, jumping down the last bit by hanging off a branch and dropping a way too large drop for Jotaro’s liking before rushing over.

“I didn’t mean to hit you in the face, I just wanted to get you by surprise.” You apologised as you took his face into your hands, checking him over and gently running your thumb over the bridge of his nose where a very tiny chafe now marred the side.

“You’re shit at throwing things, you should know that by now.” Jotaro said and raised his eyebrow.

“Yeah...” You admitted with your head hung low before looking up at him through your lashes, looking a little bit like a kicked puppy. “Are you okay?”

“Y/N, I’ve been hit with a lot worse than a pinecone, especially with your weak throw.” He grabbed both your wrists, though he did not pull your hands away from his face, just simply holding you; Jojo’s leash now just hanging on his arm.

“Oi, now you’re just being mean.” You pouted and the corner of Jotaro’s mouth quirked up.

“I think I am allowed to. You assaulted me.”

“I said I was sorry!”

“But are you?”

“Yes!” You nearly shrieked out, Jotaro cocking his head a little to the side as he looked at you.

All of a sudden, you realised how close to each other you were standing, your nose mere centimeters from touching his.

Jotaro saw you visibly start as you pulled back a bit, an awkward smile on your face as you cleared your throat.

You took a step back, letting go of his face and bringing your arms down, though Jotaro was still holding your wrists.

“Well, at least you’re okay.” You smiled a bit while Jotaro looked at you, closing his eyes a second later as he released your wrists.

“You are a real problem sometimes, you know that?”

“Yeah, I think I do.” You giggled softly and Jotaro huffed in amusement.

“I’ll just have to keep an eye on you.”

With that, he grabbed hold of your left hand, pulling you to his side before starting to walk forward, having re-gripped the reins in his left so he could lead Jojo along.

Your eyes were slightly wide, a light blush on your face as you were dragged along with him.

Walking in step with the man next to you, your eyes were stuck between looking around and constantly honing back in on him. You couldn’t help it.

His hand was so confidently holding yours, a firm grip while he led you along through the forest.

Opting to just take it as it is, you went to look around again, a small blush on your cheeks while your eyes trailed up to the canopy of the trees, seeing two birds sitting side by side.

Suddenly, you tripped over a branch that got stuck between your feet, saved only by Jotaro’s hold on you as he quickly reacted and pulled your arm up, keeping you from face planting on the forest floor.

“T-Thanks.” You breathed out as you used his hand and arm to clumsily get yourself back on your feet.

Jotaro merely grunted in response but suddenly interlaced his fingers with yours, giving your hand a small squeeze. “Try not to trip again.”

You looked up at him in surprise but he was looking forward, his ears a slight red hue while most of his face was shadowed by his hat.

Opting to just stay silent, you looked around at the forest, simultaneously relishing inside your head as to how nicely Jotaro’s hand fit around yours, his fingers tightening and re-gripping your hand once.

Coming from all around, the sounds of the forest calmed your beating heart. Jojo’s hooves softly stomping on the forest floor - paired with your and Jotaro’s footsteps - birds chirping and singing to each other, the wind rushing through the canopies, rustling the leaves of the trees.

You thought that maybe you’d be disappointed when you came back here after years. That the memories you made as a younger you would have overblown and made things way more fantasised and pretty than it actually was; that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Silently, Jotaro watched you as you looked around. Your face was stuck in a constant state of awe, a happy glint in your eye that would not leave as you took in the forest around you, amazed and perplexed.

His heart was absolutely hammering in his chest as he couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. He didn’t know if it was a conscious action on your part, but whenever you would see something that caught your attention, your fingers would twitch in excitement, giving his hand the gentlest of squeezes that made him way more flustered than he’d like to admit.

God, Jotaro had it down bad for you, and he didn’t know if he could keep his feelings in for much longer.

He had a hunch that you liked him back, but he wasn’t sure. And on the off chance that you didn’t like him back, was it worth the risk losing your friendship as it was now?

As he let his eyes drift to the side and away from you, he suddenly spotted something.

“Y/N.” He uttered your name as a mere whisper, making you turn your head with a questioning look as he brought his left hand to his lips, making a shushing motion.

Turning to his left, he quickly wrapped Jojo’s reins around a thick tree branch sticking out, leaving his horse tied down as he then quietly walked forward, taking you with him by the hand he was still holding you with. You got the hint to remain quiet and followed him as stealthily as possible.

Sneaking around trees, Jotaro made you crouch down low as he continued to lead you with him. Right up until you both sat down behind a fallen over log.

Once more motioning you to keep quiet, Jotaro lifted his hand and pointed a little bit to the right. You followed his arm to where he was pointing, only to see a cluster of wild deer standing there, grazing.

A small quiet gasp left you as you saw them and you turned to look at Jotaro, a giant smile on your face that made his heart skip a beat. He squeezed your hand in response and you tightly gripped his’ back while you looked at the animals again.

Just feeling you so tightly hold on, your shoulder touching his as you were crouched behind the fallen over log, there was nowhere else that Jotaro would rather be.

“Did you know fawns do not have a detectable smell? That way predators cannot smell and find them.” Jotaro quietly spoke up, having leaned a bit more into you to whisper that into your ear so that the deer would not get alerted by your presences.

“Really?” You questioned, almost with childlike wonder, and Jotaro nodded, the corners of his mouth quirking up ever so slightly, showing how content he was. “What else?” You questioned, hoping he knew more.

“Well, some deer have been seen eating infant birds, which is uncanny since deer are primarily herbivores.” Jotaro said that with a little hesitancy. He just said the first thing that came to mind, realising only once he said it how gruesome what he actually said was. But you were quick to put him at ease.

“Oh that’s nasty. I thought they were the nice animals.” You joked a bit as you turned back to watching the deer.

Reassured by your words, Jotaro continued. “Some mothers digest their foetuses if times are hard and she is malnourished.” By now, he was not looking at the deer at all anymore. Just watching your expressions as you looked at the animals and your reactions to the information he gave you. Wanting to see you react to his words, to him.

“How hard would surviving have to be if you need to resort to... that.” Jotaro watched as your brows furrowed a bit, your lips turning downwards some as you showed compassion for those deer that you most likely would never even cross paths with. “What else?” Your whisper was barely audible but Jotaro did hear and swallowed a bit nervously. Oh god, why was he nervous?

“Well, deer practice both polygamy as well as monogamy.” His eyes drifted down to your hands still entwined together, drifting back up after to see your reaction.

“Huh, I thought the bucks would just... get whatever female they can have.” You spoke, still looking entranced by the animals further ahead.

“No. Some- some mate for life.”

His words were accompanied by a soft squeeze of your hand and with that, you finally turned back to look at Jotaro. And right then and there he decided that; yes, it was worth it.

“Y/N.” He started as he turned to his right, now fully facing you, making you turn your body slightly toward him as well while he had his head tilted down, burning holes into the log to his left as he questioned himself. Was he really just gonna do it?

“Jotaro?” You questioned after a minute of silence.

Jotaro looked at the forest floor for a second longer before abruptly raising his head. “I’m in love with you.”

Blinking twice, it took a second before you recoiled a bit in shock, Jotaro looking right into your eyes as he said that, looking the most serious he could and only then did the words he spoke actually sink in. “...What?” You questioned with a breathless voice, your eyes wide.

“You heard me. I don’t want to say it again.” Jotaro leaned forward and grabbed your other hand as well, his eyes darting down to it and back up to your eyes.

He gently tugged you towards himself, placing your hand on his side before letting go and putting his left hand on the side of your face, his right still entwined with yours. Slowly, he started leaning in, searching your eyes to see what you were thinking.

“Jotaro?” You whispered softly, an unsure tone in your voice.

“Stop me if you don’t want it.” He quietly said back before leaning in fully, softly connecting his lips with yours as he closed his eyes.

Your eyes were wide as your brain tried to catch up with what was happening. But then, your eyes just fluttered closed and tentatively, you leaned into him, kissing back.

Feeling you kiss back, a massive weight got lifted from Jotaro’s shoulders and he wasted no time, eagerly sliding his hand from your jaw to the back of your head so he could pull you closer, deepening the kiss sweetly as he tilted his head a bit.

He had waited so long for this, and it was everything he had imagined it would be so many times. It was addicting. You were addicting. But this was one addiction he did not want to stop.

Your lips were just so soft and warm and the feeling of kissing you after all this time made that nervous flutter in his chest into a fire. With his hand still holding yours he squeezed softly, his lips continuing to move with yours before you squeezed back, making Jotaro hum a bit.

Slowly, the two of you broke apart, Jotaro returning his hand back to cupping your cheek, very gently running his thumb over your cheekbone as he took in your flushed face.

For the first time ever, a deep red blush was visible to you on his face as well, and just the thought of him blushing so much over you caused your own blush to burn even brighter.

The two of you just looked at each other in silence for a bit, stunned and letting sink in what actually just happened.

“Did you ever realise I was sweet on you?” Jotaro questioned after a bit and you shook your head, though your heart skipped a beat at his words. “You really are oblivious then.” He spoke but there was a small smile on his face, his thumb still rubbing back and forth. “Everyone else seemed to see it, even the brats you teach. But I guess it worked out for the best.” With that he lifted his right hand, turning it so that the back of your hand was facing him as he brought it up to his mouth. He didn’t outright press a kiss to it, just simply holding it there against his lips, but you felt butterflies crashing around in your stomach at the action.

“I-I’m sorry then.” You apologised but Jotaro clicked his tongue, bringing your hands down and finally untangling them as he instead brought it up to cradle your head, his eyes piercing into yours.

“Don’t ever apologise. I don’t want you to change, you don’t have to. Understood?”

You nodded a small nod, lost in his eyes as he wouldn’t look away.

“Good.” He fell into a small silence as his face shifted to appear a little warmer again. “Can- I kiss you again?”

“Yeah.” You smiled shyly and Jotaro’s gaze drifted down to your lips, slowly leaning forward-

Several thumps echoed through the forest and both your heads shot up to see the entire herd of deer suddenly springing and running away, rapidly moving in the direction of you and Jotaro before rushing past to the right, huffing and grunting slightly as they ran.

“W-Why did they do that?” You asked, having a hunch you did not like as the both of you quickly got up onto your feet properly.

“Something must have spooked them.” Jotaro remarked, scanning the tree line and you looked up at him with worry. “Let’s go, come on.”

You were about to start moving when harsh barks and growls echoed from behind you two, further into the forest.

Your eyes widened in fear but Jotaro wasted no time in grabbing your hand as he started running through the forest, back to where he left Jojo.

More barks sounded, getting louder as you ran and Jotaro whistled loudly, warning Jojo to get ready as the two of you ran towards the horse.

As soon as you reached the large animal, a howl sounded behind yourself and you gasped, starting to look behind you but not getting the chance to as Jotaro picked you up by your hips and lifted you onto the saddle.

Having a good view and vantage point now, you easily saw the pack of wolves running through the trees towards you while Jotaro quickly untangled the reins, throwing them over his horse’s neck before putting his foot into the stirrup.

“Jojo, go!” Jotaro shouted out, his left leg barely over the animal’s back as he pulled the reins to the right, the horse immediately reacting as all his muscles - that had been tensed in preparation - were now being utilised, the animal shooting forward as if an arrow out of a bow while Jotaro only still hung on the side.

And right on time, as the wolves reached you the moment Jojo began running, leaving them going in pursuit while Jotaro finished slinging his leg over the saddle, jamming his other foot into the stirrup.

The man behind you immediately stood up in the stirrups as Jojo accelerated into a gallop in just a few seconds. With his right arm around your waist, Jotaro lifted you up with him as well, holding you pressed firmly against his chest since you didn’t have the stirrups to stand in.

Leaning forward over the neck of the horse, you could feel Jotaro’s breath against your ear, the man’s warm chest pressed firmly against your back as he held you up and simultaneously tilted forward, providing as little air resistance as possible to run.

Horse hooves galloped over the dirt, the sounds heavy and thundering as Jojo ran at full speed through the forest, dodging trees left and right, branches breaking as the horse barrelled through underbrush.

The wolves growled and barked hard, nipping at the larger animal’s side when they could. “Come on, Jojo!” Jotaro shouted, the horse pushing just a bit harder and gaining on the canines.

Bursting through even more bushes, a thick fallen over tree suddenly blocked the way. Without missing a beat, Jojo vaulted over it, all the noise momentarily seemed to cease as you flew through the air, right up until the stallion crashed back onto the forest floor. Immediately, Jojo rushed on, sprinting ahead while the wolves jumped over the log as well, still in pursuit.

Wind rushed past, trees still being dodged left and right by the horse right up until he reached the edge of the forest, breaking through brush and running out, back onto the plains, the loud barks and growls of the wolves going in pursuit slowly dwindling and decreasing the farther away from the forest you got - the canines no longer finding it worth it to waste their energy by going in pursuit.

Jotaro chanced a glance behind as you continued to gallop away, seeing the wolves slow down and stop, just watching as you all ran away, becoming smaller and smaller with each second.

- - - -

After what felt like forever, Jotaro finally pulled on the reins, slowing Jojo into a canter before going into a trot and then a step, sitting back down in the saddle, bringing you down with him as well and finally letting go of his arm around your waist.

His breathing was slightly heavy as he pulled once more, coming to a complete stop.

Slightly turning around in the saddle and looking behind himself once more, there was no sign of the wolves and Jotaro let out a deep sigh, turning forward again and lifting his hat from his head to run a hand through his hair before putting it back on.

Putting one hand on your waist, Jotaro leaned forward and patted Jojo’s neck, calming the animal down as he praised it.

“That was, uh- that was- yeah, that was.” You concluded, just shortly laughing at the end, more to get rid of the nerves and adrenalin that had been shooting through your body than anything else.

“It was.” Jotaro chuckled softly as you looked back at him, just huffing a laugh of your own as you turned to look forward again, instead slumping back into Jotaro, leaning against him as you let out a deep sigh; Jotaro automatically placing his hands on your hips to hold you.

“It could’ve gone quite wrong had you and Jojo not been as fast as you were.” You took in a deep breath before sitting up straight again, figuring to not put all your weight on the man behind you. “I forgot that was the reason why my dad always carried a massive rifle when we used to go there.” You said but heard Jotaro ‘tch’ behind you as he let you go.

A disagreeing rumble sounded from in his chest. “There’s no need to shoot innocent animals just because they are hungry or feel threatened.”

“Thinking like that will easily get you into trouble, partner.” A new voice said, making you and Jotaro snap to attention, seeing a man with another rider behind him - both of them carrying rifles - walking up from behind, putting you both on high alert.

A snarl developed on Jotaro’s face as he crossed eyes with the man up front. “You. What do you want?”

Your eyes were slightly wide as you recognised him. He was the leader of the group of riders who had come to rob the church yesterday...

The man’s eyes glided from Jotaro, down to you, and back up while he circled around, and Jotaro didn’t like it one bit, snaking his right arm around your waist and discreetly yet protectively pulling you closer.

Looking behind himself from the corner of his eye, Jotaro took note of the other rider - he had hung back and was now walking his horse to stand behind Jojo - though his main focus remained on the man from yesterday.

“Well what kind of greeting is that? I see you still haven’t learnt some manners, boy. But then again, why would you?” The man from before grinned and Jotaro narrowed his eyes. While his friend was just a few meters behind, this outlaw was standing about seven meters away in front. “Do you have any guesses as to why we’re here?”

“...”

Jotaro didn’t say anything as he sized the other man up, a dangerous glare on his face, borderline scowl.

Seeing as Jotaro wasn’t answering, the man took it upon himself to do so, a suddenly dangerous aura around him, masked by mock politeness. “Let me get straight to the point then. You know what you did with your little stunt yesterday?” He cocked his head, trying to incite a physical response though he got none. “You humiliated me. Hurt my pride.” He placed his hand on his chest as if in hurt, looking down for a second before snapping his eyes open and staring into Jotaro’s eyes with an almost deranged look. “And I care about my pride. So I think I’ll hurt something you care about.”

Your eyes widened as the world seemed to slow down, the man pulling his revolver up and pointing it at straight you, the sound of a gun cocking behind yourselves as well.

Yet Jotaro was faster, signaling Jojo and making the horse spring into action on the command.

The giant black stallion bucked backward and slammed his hind legs into the rider standing behind himself, causing the man to be roughly kicked out of the saddle, instantly taken out of the fight by the harsh impact of the giant animal’s hooves on his temple and torso, his horse scaring and sprinting away simultaneously.

A gunshot sounded at the same time, a bullet whizzing just over your and Jotaro’s heads.

The leader had aimed for your head but due to Jojo bucking, you and Jotaro had leaned down, the bullet shooting past where your heads had just been.

Jojo landed back on all four of his legs and Jotaro kicked his belly, urging him to go, but the outlaw was quicker than Jotaro expected, him having already reloaded before the horse could even start to run.

You felt Jotaro’s hand on your waist tighten as he yanked you aside to the right just when a gunshot sounded.

Attempting to shield himself with his left arm, Jotaro let out a short shout in pain as the bullet seared through his flesh, shooting straight through the middle of his forearm and embedding itself right underneath his left clavicle.

“Jotaro!!” You called out in fear and Jotaro gritted his teeth, growling slightly as he let go of your waist after pulling you back up, yanking the reins to the left to make Jojo turn while he grabbed his gun from behind his back, aiming it at the man.

Said man had his gun pointed at Jotaro in a similar fashion, once more resulting in a stand off between the two.

“What’re you gonna do now that there ain’t no sheriff to come to your aid?” The outlaw smirked but Jotaro calmly stared down the barrel of the gun.

“Don’t need one.”

With that, he fired his gun while simultaneously making Jojo prance up, confusing the gang member enough to make his bullet go wide, only for the man to yelp as Jotaro’s bullet shot into his gun, making him drop the thing.

You fell back into Jotaro when the stallion suddenly got up on his hind legs, the young man letting out a pained grunt as you did, right before Jojo fell back down on all fours.

Jotaro wasted no time in slinging his right arm around your waist again to hold you, kicking his heels to make Jojo storm forward where Jotaro gave a signal for his horse to turn left with his foot, yanking his right leg out of the stirrup to instead harshly kick the outlaw out of his saddle.

Yelling in anger and pain as he fell, he was abruptly silenced as he got the wind knocked out of him by landing on the ground, his horse panicking and running away quick and fast.

With a groan he tilted his head up, seeing his gun lay on the ground not far from him and he quickly made a lunge for it, grabbing it with both hands yet freezing as he heard the heavy hoof-falls behind him step once, twice, before stopping. Looking over his shoulder, he saw Jotaro high atop his horse, a threatening image with the man’s only reassurance being the iron in his hands.

Jotaro, calm as could be, just simply drifted his eyes to the gun, acknowledging it before looking back into the eyes of the outlaw with a cold look.

“Try it. Let’s see who’s the fastest gun.”

The man’s breath hitched. There was no doubt or hesitation in Jotaro, his threatening glare pointed down as he challenged him

Everything seemed to quiet down and freeze for a second, the stare off between the two feeling like an eternity yet lasting no more than two seconds. But with nothing to lose, the outlaw suddenly hardened his stare and abruptly rolled onto his back, providing a dodging movement as he simultaneously brought his gun up, ready to fire haphazardly.

Yet Jotaro was two steps ahead of him, his gun already brought up, aimed, and the trigger pulled before the outlaw had even the chance to put his finger on it.

Jotaro’s bullet immediately shot through both of the man’s hands at the same time, since he was still holding his gun with both hands. His scream of pain echoed over the plains as he dropped his gun, unable to hold it any longer. Blood started bubbling from the wounds and he shakily brought his hands up to his face, stifled yells and pained noises leaving him as he snapped his head up with a venomous glare.

The glare dissipated into eyes widened in fear the moment Jotaro walked Jojo up next to the outlaw and stared directly down at him. There was a cold rage in his eyes that made the man’s breath hitch. “Never threaten her again.”

With that, Jotaro pointed his gun down and shot twice, one in each foot, not a single speck of remorse in him as the man screamed in pain before passing out from it.

- - - -

Jotaro was sitting on the ground with you in front of him.

“You’re so stupid.” You choked out, tears in your eyes as you slammed the bloodied cloth in your hand onto the dried grass.

“Y/N-“

“No!”

Jotaro shut up at that. He couldn’t recall if you had ever raised your voice at him, and now he just stared into your eyes, the tears you were holding back making them glassy while his eyebrows creased in worry, feeling as if he had to say at least something.

“...I can’t see you getting hurt.” He softly said, attempting to grab your hand, but that set you off.

“Oh, so that means I have to see you getting hurt?!” You called out and Jotaro stopped himself.

You were starting to get more and more upset and he needed to calm you down. Doing just that, Jotaro - not thinking clearly due to the pain and not knowing what else to do - just grabbed you by the back of your head with his right hand and pulled you towards himself, slamming his lips against yours, shutting you up.

Tears were now streaming down your face as he kissed you, a small sob leaving you and muffled by his mouth as you placed your left hand on his neck, feeling his warm skin under your palm as you just gave in.

Feeling you do that, Jotaro tentatively broke the kiss, pulling back only slightly before he placed his forehead to yours, you now trying to stifle your crying.

“Hey.” He softly spoke to try and get your attention and you opened your eyes, looking up to look into his. “I’m alright. The bullet didn’t even fully go into my chest, you know that, you pulled it out.”

“I-It was only halfway in.” You sniffled out with a nasally voice, Jotaro petting the back of your hair as he nodded briefly, the feeling a bit strange as he still held his forehead to yours.

“Exactly. So you don’t have to worry.”

“But your arm-!”

“-Will heal.” Jotaro finished for you, finally leaning back. “Right now let’s just get home.”

You sniffled once more and wiped the tears from your face with the fabric of your sleeve, your hands and wrists too stained with blood to use for that. “Once we’re back in town you’re going to a doctor.” You spoke out with a bit of a hoarse voice and Jotaro snorted softly in amusement, a slight smile on his face as he used his thumb to wipe away a last tear that you missed.

“I figured.”

You took a deep breath to reign in and steel your emotions, releasing it again as you focused back on his arm. His trenchcoat was partly off and you had rolled up his sleeve of the shirt he wore underneath it, still unnerved by the see-through hole that you knew sat underneath the improvised bandage, blood staining it from the profusely bleeding wound in his arm. “Don’t ever get into a fight on my behalf again.” You spoke as you picked up the cloth you had thrown into the grass earlier, starting to try and wipe away the blood you had accidentally got onto his neck.

‘It’s one of the only reasons I ever get into a fight.’ He thought to himself but instead shook his head slightly. “No promises.”

- - - -

With only slight effort Jotaro had gotten back into the saddle, you climbing into it yourself for the first time ever now that Jotaro wasn’t there to lift you before you could. He managed to get on behind you with one arm, grabbing hold of your hip afterwards given how you had already taken the reins.

Neither of you spoke much the entire ride back, yet every now and then, Jotaro would softly squeeze the hand on your hip. Comforting you even in silence.

Riding back into town, you immediately made way for the doctor’s, Jotaro rolling his eyes behind you at your stubbornness. If you had your eyes set on helping people, there really was no changing your mind.

“Y/N, you go to the sheriff’s and report what happened like we discussed.” Jotaro said to you as he carefully dismounted, making sure not to use his left side too much.

“What? No, I wanna go in with you.” You protested, looking a little hurt and Jotaro reached his good hand up to grab yours still on the reins.

“I’ll be fine. Those guys won’t stay there knocked out forever and you know it. You can come back after you’ve gone and reported it.” He said before slapping his horse’s neck twice. “C’mon, Jojo, go.”

With that, the horse started gently trotting and you looked back at Jotaro as you went further down the street. Concerned for the man as his figure got smaller and smaller before you saw it enter the doctor’s office.

Unfortunately, the sheriff’s was almost on the other side of town, so it might take a lot longer to come back than you would have liked.

- - - -

“Hello sheriff Miller.” You smiled a small awkward smile while the sheriff shot up from his seat, his eyebrows raised.

“What happened, darling? You’re covered in blood!” He walked forward, taking hold of your upper arm as he looked you over.

“Uhm, well you see, me and Jotaro- uh, Kujo, Jotaro Kujo, I mean - we were out riding when that gang from yesterday approached us. Two of them at least. And, well- let’s just say things got ugly...”

“Are you both alright?” The sheriff immediately asked and you swallowed.

“Sort of. Jotaro got shot.” You teared up a bit but shook your head when the sheriff placed his hand on your shoulder. “But he’s at the doctor now and I came here to say that the two men who attacked us are knocked out on the road to the forest to the north of here. Almost directly next to the forest.”

“They’re knocked out?” At that the sheriff raised his eyebrows and you nodded.

“One got kicked by a horse, the other got shot.” You said but quickly held your hand up when the sheriff furrowed his eyebrows. “U-Uh, but only in his hands and feet! Jotaro didn’t kill him! It was all in self defence! Really!” You frantically called out while sheriff Miller straightened up, looking down at you with a stern expression.

- - - -

“The guy and the gang he was a part of apparently have a bounty on their heads, so you won’t see any consequences for shooting a man.”

You were walking side by side with Jotaro, you on his left, and Jojo having to be on his right so he could lead his horse with his good hand.

Jotaro hummed in response to you as you walked the road back to your home, Jotaro insisting that he escort you there.

His arm was now in a sling, the wounds nicely and cleanly stitched and wrapped up and you felt a lot better seeing that - even though he lost quite some blood - he was walking as if totally fine.

You just wished things could have gone differently. This day took a nosedive from being one of the best in your life, over to one of the worst, with someone you care deeply about being shot. Oh god, you confessed to Jotaro. And he confessed to you. You totally forgot in all the chaos. What if-

“What are you thinking about?”

“Eh?” You snapped out of your thoughts, looking to your right to see Jotaro looking down at you curiously. “Oh, just... today.”

“Mhm.” He hummed, looking forward again, as if contemplating it.

“I just... I’m sorry.” You whispered and Jotaro turned to you with a raised eyebrow.

“Why are you apologising?”

“Because you got hurt and-“

“Is it your fault I got shot?”

“W-Well, no, not exactly I guess-“

Jotaro stopped walking and instead turned to you, taking hold of your chin and turning your head towards himself. “Exactly.” Your eyes were so innocent and you looked like you felt so guilty despite what he said, making Jotaro slowly blink and sigh as he closed his eyes briefly.

A quick glance into the street showed it was rather empty, and Jotaro snaked his good arm around your waist, pulling you into himself.

“Y/N-“

Just deciding ‘fuck it’, Jotaro wasted no more time with idle talk and slotted his lips over yours.

Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

@stingray-sins

[darcyxpalmer]

Darcy waited eagerly for Lokni to see if his phone could get any message through. Maybe it was just her smartphone that was the problem. She read an article once that praised the older models before the smartphone came and claimed they still worked better than all of these new, flashier phones. Maybe that was the key?

But they didn't have any luck - Lokni showed his phone being unable to send his own message either. "We really do gotta get to higher ground, maybe it really is the key to making contact with anyone," Darcy said again, more trying to convince herself that it would be true than anything else.

Darcy looked down at her phone, tried to send the message one more time and then with a long sigh she slipped the device back into her back pocket and headed into the kitchen to help pack up what they could find. She also contemplated packing a knife for herself, but eventually decided against it - if it came down to fighting, a knife would not be too big of a help for her. She never had any training in how to use it, she'd be more prone to injuring herself.

The two of them then set out while Darcy listened to Lokni explain his job, what his day looked like. He called himself a cowboy, and she couldn't help but ask, "I know this is going to be a stupid question, but is it similar to how the job is depicted in movies? Like, do you wear the hat and the boots and are riding horses for most of it?" Clearly, the most important question to ask about one's job. "Do you like it? Your job, I mean?"

His good and bad days were described, and Darcy frowned at the last bit, tilting her head to the side. "Not quite sure what that really means, I'm sorry. Did some snakes actually show up and cause trouble? Or is it more of a farm expression?"

A moment's pause and then a thought popped into her head. "Horses don't like snakes, right? Is that an actual thing or my mind just failing on me due to-- well, everything? I always wanted to learn how to ride horses, but it never really happened." She was probably saying too much, jumping in between topics, but they were trying to find their way up and she didn't want to do it in silence. And she was curious about him, if she was being honest. "Wanna talk about what kind of things went wrong before you got here? Just if you'd like, of course."

He asked her what she did, too. "Oh, I was a waitress. Nothing fancy, in a small town. Half of the people were people who came in every day and half was just people passing through and stopping for a moment. The regulars were okay for the most part, some of them grumpy but you could find a voice with them - or at least I could I guess -, but some of the people who were passing through were just flat out rude.

"So I'd say those were the worst days for me - when a whole bus of people decided to stop and come into the diner I worked in and they were rushing and pushing each other and rude about everything cause they were just too tired from travel." She paused and let out a small chuckle. "Sorry, probably way too much detail."

Eventually they reached their first conondrum - in a short distance, there were two ladders heading up, one higher but into complete darkness, while the other one was a smaller one, but she could see lights and a hallway where they could continue further. "Do you have any preferences? I know the one with the lights probably goes to a lower floor, but I am not sure heading into complete darkness would be the smartest. What do you think?"

"Overexerted" was one way to put it. The memory of the prior events burned freshly into his memory, quite literally. Lokni offered a smile in response to this, not really sure how to react to it.

Miss Palmer also mentioned that she had no medical experience, following it up with a vague joke of sorts. It was strange, she spoke kindly and appeared to be no threat, but at the same time, she spoke as if he... was very two-dimensional. Perhaps she was comfortable because she didn't see him as a threat either. He couldn't quite put a finger on it, but it was as if she didn't really think that she, herself, was there. Maybe she hit her head a little too hard, but then again he also had woken up in the engine room of the ship with no recollection of how he had gotten there. Maybe there had been a mass outbreak of blunt-force traumas to the head? Hell, not like he had any answers. After that Covid business, he was convinced that anything could happen. Humans, despite their advances in modern society, couldn't escape their own herd mentality.

Miss Palmer looked at his current belongings contemplatively, as if she was taking mental stock of what he had. Not that he cared, as far as he was really concerned, sticking together served more benefits than trying to lone-wolf it out of the gate. There was a part of him that had grown weary of that anyway. It wasn't that he wanted to be on his own so often, he just never really drew people in. Oftentimes, he felt transparent, like people would look right through him while searching for what they really wanted. Maybe this time would be different? 'Don't hold your breath.' Lokni mentally warned himself.

After asking Miss Palmer about her phone connection and if she could send any messages, she nodded in agreement and began to unlock her phone and try to message someone. He watched as she seemed to hesitate when opening her chat. He averted his gaze, not wanting to pry into her personal business. A few tense moments of silence passed before Miss Palmer turned her screen to face Lokni, showing that her message hadn't gone through, "Any luck with yours?"

"I'll see if it works," he used the keys to open up the contacts on his phone, his mother was of course at the top of recent contacts. There was still the most recent message from her that read, "I just got the news from Big Jim, I'm on my way. I love you." His chest tightened, he had left his mother all alone and worried.

He pressed the numbers to input a simple message;

"I'm alive. I'm coming home."

He hit send and waited. The ship groaned eerily in the silence as he waited before the "message undelivered" error notification popped up below the message. "No luck." He sighed, shutting the flip phone and sliding it back into his pocket. At the very least he was able to rummage through the kitchen cabinets and storage to find what food was sealed and not water-logged. He had found a backpack from the bridge of the ship that he unceremoniously shoved all of his findings into.

Miss Palmer gave one last look around the ship's kitchen, "we should find our way further up - I both don't want the ship to start tilting more and end up getting stuck here when everything is rushed with water, but also, maybe if we get to the deck, or just somewhere higher, service might appear." Lokni nodded in agreement, taking a moment to tie his hair back so that it was out of his face for the rest of the climb. He was already slick with sweat from his earlier exertions, he didn't need to be lookin' like the girl from The Ring on top of that. Miss Palmer watched him before asking, "what kind of work do you do, by the way? What does a hard day at work look like for you?"

"I was just a ranchhand- cityfolk call us 'cowboys-' but I don't know if what I do is the same as all of that. I herd the cattle that may end up on your plate someday, fix broken fences, and look after my horse. Well, at least I did before this sudden forced vacation." Lokni groaned as he hefted the backpack onto his shoulder, still sore from waking up on the metal floor earlier. "A good day looks like me keeping everything from falling apart on my end. A bad day is when every little thing seems to go wrong, and that's kinda' just what happened. All was fine until mother nature decided to wake snakes- if you know what I'm saying. What about you? What did you do for work before all of-" he gestured to their surroundings, "this?"