#(And now I have special gel to rub into her ears to make her hungry enough to eat whenever she's anxious)

[altocat]

Charlie was legit on death's door last year and now she is not only still here to ruthlessly snuggle against me all night long, but she has also taken to parkouring off the side of the mattress and physically jump-kicking the bed out of place. Just for fun.

.........This stupid cat is the only thing keeping me alive I stg

[mamabearcat]

Hungry Ghosts

I didn’t get a chance to write anything for Halloween this year like I planned. But here’s a spooky excerpt from The Importance of Ramen, parts of chapters 7 and 8. If you haven’t read it, I think there’s enough context there for you to work out what’s going on. Hope everyone’s Halloween is going as well as it can this year!

Inuyasha went back inside the hut. The others were still asleep, but he cleaned out the firepit, replacing the slightly damp logs from last night with fresh kindling. He had the fire going and Kagome's kettle filled with water for tea by the time she returned. One look at her face had him realising that something was wrong.

She was leaning against the doorframe, sweat beading on her forehead and upper lip. "Sorry… I'm… okay. I'm okay. Squatting down just hurt my leg a little more than I thought it would."

Without a word, he walked over to her and picked her up, carrying her back to the small nest made by her empty sleeping bag. After seating her carefully on the softly padded surface, he placed his hand on her forehead again.

Kagome tried to weakly bat his hand away. "Stop fussing Inuyasha. I told you I'm fine. It's the first time I've walked on this leg since yesterday; it was bound to hurt a bit." She plastered a smile on her face. "Look, I'll even drink more of that disgusting tea if it will stop you making a big deal out of nothing."

Inuyasha, ignored her hand, taking in her sweaty face and pale complexion. "You're not fine, wench. You had a slight fever when you woke up this morning, and it's already a little worse. Let me look at those wounds of yours to make sure they're not infected."

The commotion had woken Miroku and Sango. Miroku brought the first aid kit over, while Sango mixed more of the herbal tea that Kagome had drunk last night. Kagome rolled her eyes and sighed but decided it would be less trouble to let everyone fuss.

Inuyasha carefully unwrapped the bandages on Kagome's upper left arm, being cautious of the still healing bruise below her elbow. He gently slid his clawed forefinger underneath the tape and gauze on one side of the wound and then the other, cutting through so he could lift the gauze off her wound. The skin around the deep cut was pink, but he could see that the wound was healing nicely, beginning to knit the muscle back together. He gave it a good sniff, just to make sure.

"This one's okay", he said. He moved aside so Sango could rub some of the healing cream from Kagome's first aid kit around the wound and redress it.

He moved towards Kagome's thigh on the other side and was surprised when she placed a defensive hand in front of it. "Kagome, I need to check."

"Sorry", she flushed, moving her hand out of the way. "I'm being a big wuss. This one just hurts a little more".

He placed his hand on the bandage and immediately knew the news wasn't good. "Kagome, this one's infected", he sighed. "I can feel the heat coming through the bandage without even looking at it."

"Dammit", muttered Kagome. "I was sure the saline would combat that."

Inuyasha removed the bandage even more gently than he had the previous one. Kagome kept herself as still as possible, making no sound, but her lowered brows and tight expression told the story of how much pain she was actually in. She whimpered a little as Inuyasha lifted the gauze away from the wound and drew in a deep breath.

"Fuck Kagome, no wonder it was hurting". The skin around the deeper puncture wound was bright red and shiny, the swelling spreading outwards around her thigh, pulling against the edges of the weeping gash. Red lines at the edge of the swelling streaked upwards on her leg. Inuyasha barely had to sniff to scent the smell of infection in her leg.

Sango peered over Inuyasha's shoulder at Kagome's thigh, and her face grew grim. "Take her back through the well, Inuyasha. She needs to get to a healer in her time as soon as possible." She gestured towards the red streaks travelling up Kagome's thigh. "These marks are a sign of a deep infection. I've seen them on other Taijiya who have been injured. Some of them recovered, but most …" She took a deep breath. "The infection grew rapidly worse no matter what our healers did. All they could do was ease their pain. Once they became confused and lost consciousness, we knew that they would never recover."

Kagome looked at them both, wide-eyed. "Don't you think you're being a little overly dramatic, Sango?", she chuckled weakly. "I mean, I just got back, and we need to get back on the jewel shard hunt. I'm sure if I just rest for today, then tomorrow, I'll be fine." She took in Inuyasha and Sango's serious expressions and looked towards Miroku. "Miroku, tell them that I just need some rest, and then we can all get going again."

Miroku squatted down next to Kagome, holding the mug of herbal tea that Sango had prepared a few minutes ago. "Now, Kagome", he said, his usual calm smile a contrast to the anxious grimace on Kagome's face, "what sort of elder brother would I be if I counselled against a course of action that would have you healing faster?"

He pushed the tea into her unwilling hands, smiling encouragingly as she forced herself to sip the bitter liquid. "If it's just simple rest that you need, surely a rest in your own time in a comfortable bed under your mother's loving care will speed your recovery. And, if as Sango suggests, a trip to a healer is required, that should not trouble you if you know it will bring your family here peace of mind. I'm sure if Inuyasha puts his mind to it, he could have you home before dark."

He looked questioningly at Inuyasha, who nodded brusquely. Miroku leaned closer to Sango, who was still leaning over Inuyasha's shoulder. "Do not trouble yourself about the rest of us while you're gone, we will muddle along together just fine." A sudden resounding slap, as Sango backhanded Miroku across the cheek, startled Kagome then had her giggling. Obviously, his wandering hand had been unable to resist the temptation of Sango's pert derriere as she leant forward.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes at the pair's familiar antics, but didn't move from his spot beside Kagome, as Sango knelt to begin the process of rewrapping the wound in Kagome's thigh. He removed the tea from Kagome's tense hands and placed the mug on the floor, so it would not be spilt, and held her hands in his own instead. His ears drooped and laid flat on his head at the quiet whimpers escaping through Kagome's clenched teeth as Sango cleaned and packed the wound with fresh gauze.

"Looks like we're goin' on another run, wench", he said quietly. He cleared his throat, trying to force a cheery note into his voice. "Maybe if I get ya home early enough, your mother will have time to make that crunchy chicken stuff. The one Souta likes so much. What's it called again?"

"Karaage" muttered Kagome through compressed lips. She really wanted to smile at Inuyasha's attempts to take her mind off what Sango was doing, but her leg hurt so badly, even worse than when the beetle had first gouged the hole in her leg. She tried her best, gasping a little. "It's a shame she doesn't know we're coming; she might have bought steak for you."

He grinned. "Now that would be worth runnin' back for." He tried not to wince as Kagome dug her blunt fingernails into his palms as Sango tightened the bandage on her thigh.

"All done", said Sango, using some of the special cleaning gel on her hands after she had rinsed them in the water pail as Kagome had taught her. She repacked the medical kit, as Miroku and the now awake Shippou bustled about making breakfast, cooking rice and making tea.

"Drink your tea Kagome", encouraged Inuyasha, letting go of her hands to pick up the mug.

She flapped her hand at him. "Gimme a minute", she panted. "I feel like I'm gonna… gonna…" Her eyes suddenly widened as her palm slapped over her mouth. Inuyasha had the good sense to let go of the mug and grab the almost empty water pail next to Kagome, tipping the water out and thrusting it in front of her face just in time. Sango padded back over to scoop Kagome's long hair out of the way into a tail over her shoulder, rubbing her back comfortingly as Kagome hurled what was left of last night's dinner into the pail in front of her.

"Hnn, that was so gross", moaned Kagome. "I'm so sorry." She spat one last time into the bucket, then wiped her mouth with a damp cloth offered by Sango. Embarrassment flooded her face, and she hung her head. Inuyasha dipped his head down sideways until it was almost perpendicular with the floor, so he could look see her expression.

"What's with that face, wench?" he questioned, looking at her narrowed eyes and downturned mouth.

Kagome looked up, her eyes blazing in her sweaty pale face. "Do you really have to ask?", she fired back. "I got targeted by a demon again, got myself injured, and now you're gonna have to babysit me and take me home. And to top it all off, I just ruined everyone's breakfast by chucking up in front of them while they were eating."

Inuyasha grunted. "First of all, the beetle was after the shard, not you, and the way it grabbed you took everyone by surprise, me included. Second, yes, I am takin' you home, but you ain't no baby and if you sit me on the way there, I will not be happy. And" he said, glancing over his shoulder and taking in Miroku calmly sipping tea while Sango served herself rice and Shippou and Kirara continued chewing, "breakfast don't look ruined to me."

Shippou's wide eyes took everything in as he continued munching on his rice ball. "Ish Kagmee gna ee mmk?", he asked Miroku, barely coherent behind the large mouthful of rice he was still chewing.

"She will be fine. Inuyasha will make sure of it by taking her back through the well and letting healers in her time assess her injury", replied Miroku comfortingly, patting the kit on the head as he continued to drink his tea.

Inuyasha sat down with them and began shovelling rice into his mouth, sculling hot tea as quickly as he could. Sango's assessment of Kagome's wound had him worried. Put an enemy in front of him that was threatening Kagome, and he would give his all to take it down, no sweat, but infection was a battle he couldn't fight for her. His mind went back to an image of long ago, his own hand tiny in the sweaty clasp of his mother's, her eyes closed as she struggled for every breath while the infection in her lungs fought to defeat her. Darkness and cold. She was so cold. He pushed the thought away.

"Miroku, Sango, you may as well go back to Kaede's while we're gone. That way I can come back through the well and let you know she's okay." Miroku and Sango nodded. "I'm gonna go over the mountain instead of around, that should take about two hours off my time."

"Over Mount Mitsumine?", asked Miroku. Inuyasha nodded, tapping his foot impatiently as Sango tied some extra rice balls and a flask of water into a cloth for him to carry in case Kagome grew hungry or thirsty later.

Miroku was puzzled – his mind was tickling him, trying to feed him information pertinent to the shrine on Mount Mitsumine, but he couldn't quite remember. He made an angry tsking noise; it was just out of reach, and he was sure it was something of importance.

Inuyasha squatted down in front of Kagome with his back facing her. She had done her best with the tea, taking a few more sips, but looked sweaty and tired, and Inuyasha felt his concern for her rising. He pushed it down again.

"Okay Kagome, the faster we leave, the faster you can be home sleepin' in that girly pink bed a yours" he teased, as she slowly eased herself forward, draping her arms over his shoulders. Instead of holding onto her thighs as he usually did, he created a seat under her bottom for her by interlocking his fingers behind his back. He straightened himself up slowly, bouncing her slightly, getting her into position. Kagome buried her face in his hair, whimpering in pain at the pressure his forearm put on her swollen thigh. "Shit, this ain't gonna work". He was going to have to carry her in front of him again, but it was hard on his arms, and would slow them down as they went over the mountain.

Shippou's worried face brightened, and he whispered in Sango's ear. "Wait, Inuyasha, Shippou's had a really good idea!" Sango spoke to Miroku and he dropped a few coins into her hand. She bolted out the door and came back a short time later with a long piece of thickly woven indigo fabric.

"What the fuck's that for?" Inuyasha grunted. Sango motioned for Inuyasha to bend down again, then motioned for Kagome to climb onto Inuyasha's back. She put the top centre of the piece of long cloth over Kagome, up near her neck, and tucked the rest of the width underneath Kagome's bottom, creating a pocket for her to sit in. She drew the long tails of fabric up over Inuyasha's shoulders, wrapping them under his arms, and then under and over Kagome's legs on each side, pulling the tails firmly back around to the front. She held onto the fabric and motioned for Inuyasha to stand. He did so cautiously, worried that Kagome would fall, but to his surprise, she was held in tightly to his back by the fabric and felt lighter than she usually did.

"You 'kay Kagome?", he asked, trying to look over his shoulder at her.

Kagome rested her head on his shoulder. The fabric had her snuggled in tight against his back and was supporting her leg without pushing on the wound too much.

"Yeah, I'm good", she murmured. Sango tied the long tails of fabric around Inuyasha's waist, being careful to make the knot above the Tessaiga so he would still be able to draw it if required.

"Now you have your arms free if you need them", she grinned. "It was Shippou's idea – he reminded me how busy mamas carry their children when they need to get stuff done. I used to… to carry Kohaku like this when he was little, when my mother and father were away on a raid and I needed to practice my drills". She smiled a little tearfully at the picture Inuyasha and Kagome made. "He always seemed very comfortable that way – he usually went to sleep when I wore him like this." Sango tucked the small tied cloth of food into the top of the wrap near Kagome's shoulder. "Now you're all set to go".

"Thanks Sango. Thanks runt – you did good." Inuyasha paused to ruffle the fox kit's fluffy red fringe and Shippou beamed under the rare praise. After a final nod to Miroku, Inuyasha ran out the door, slowly at first, until he grew to trust that Kagome wouldn't fall. He sped up and was soon out of sight.

Sango and Shippou finished up their breakfast and began tidying everything into Kagome's gigantic backpack. Sango looked sideways at Miroku, who was still muttering to himself. "What's up?", she asked.

"There was something about the shrine at Mount Mitsumine", muttered Miroku, "but I can't quite…" Suddenly he stopped, looking apprehensively at Sango. "Oh no. Hidarugami! I remember hearing from a traveller that they haunt the trail near the shrine!" Sango stared at him, open mouthed.

Overhearing the conversation, Shippou nodded, familiar with this particular entity. "Ah. Good thing they took some rice balls with them."

👻 👻 👻

Inuyasha ran like the wind, his feet pounding the ground as regular as a heartbeat. He could feel that Kagome had dozed off, the gentle sway of the fabric hammock she was supported in easing her pain a little. Inuyasha smiled. The runt did have some good ideas occasionally. He would just keep going until she woke, get as much ground covered as he could. They were already nearly up the mountain, the zig zagging trail no match for the sure footed hanyou.

The dappled light under the trees kept away the summer heat, and the splashing water from the little waterfall they were currently passing was refreshing. Brightly coloured finches flew overhead, flying through the spray in an effort to keep cool. He could keep going for a few more hours yet without needing to take a break. He could see the brightly coloured gate of Mitsumine Shrine up ahead. They just needed to get through this narrow-wooded part first and then the path down the other side of the mountain would open out, as more travellers from Edo used that road to make a pilgrimage to the mountain shrine.

Suddenly he felt like he'd hit a wall. Weakness caused his limbs to tremble and he dropped to one knee, staggering, trying to keep his balance with Kagome on his back. What the fuck was going on! His throat felt dry and cracked, his stomach clenched in on itself like hadn't eaten in weeks. He lurched to his feet and forced himself to keep moving, but each step dragged like something was siphoning off every ounce of energy he'd ever possessed.

Inuyasha growled in outrage. He would not let whatever this barrier was beat him. He would keep going. Kagome needed him to keep going. He heard her moan softly behind him, and it gave him the will to take a few more steps before his legs faltered and he slammed into the ground face first.

"Gome", he whispered, turning his face away from the sandy dirt of the mountain pass, his sandpaper dry throat cracking what was left of his voice, "you 'kay?" She moaned softly again, and against his will, Inuyasha's eyes rolled back in his head. The cheerful birds continued their twittering, splashing in the puddles left by the side of the waterfall, paying no heed to the pair collapsed on the path beside them.

👻 👻 👻

Kagome was jolted out of her doze as Inuyasha staggered beneath her, dropping to one knee. A sudden wash of fear prickled the back of her neck as the dappled sunlight around them was swallowed up; she could no longer see the path ahead, and the air was suffocatingly silent.

Turning towards the waterfall her panic grew as she realised that the previously tumbling water was still. The little finches hung motionless in mid-air, the droplets of mist they had been flying through only moments before hovering as if gravity had ceased to exist. They were caught in a bubble outside time, and she had no clue what had caused it. Kagome shivered, about to question Inuyasha about what had caused his stumble, when a slight movement in the trees caught her eye; she saw them.

She felt almost paralysed by bone deep terror as the shadowy forms approached from the darkened edges of her vision. There was movement on both sides of the path, they were surrounded, but it was difficult to see any details of what they were or to count how many as they shifted in and out of the darkness. Ten, twelve maybe? Whatever they were, they gave off an undeniably menacing aura.

This wasn't good. Her bow had been left with Miroku and Sango, not that she would be able to shoot with her injured arm, and she didn't have much experience channelling her miko abilities without the focus of an arrow. Her hands and arms were tucked in tightly to her chest; she could try to wriggle them free with an effort but was worried that would throw off Inuyasha's tottering balance.

Then Kagome realised that she wouldn't be able to bring her reiki to her hands anyway, not without injuring Inuyasha. She clenched her shaking fingers into fists tight against Inuyasha's back, unable to do anything but watch and wait as the pack of unknown foes came forward into the dim light and circled around them. Kagome felt bile burn its way into the back of her throat. She had already felt ill, but to see these things up close…

Empty sockets where eyes once where, skin stretched taut over bone they advanced, lipless mouths leering in delight at the fear of their prey. Ragged kimonos and wisps of hair fluttering in a ghostly breeze of their own making, they floated around Kagome and Inuyasha, no feet to tie them to the earth. Some appeared to have lost their kimonos entirely, clothed only in tattered fundoshi, bone white skin as tight as a drum over ribs, stomachs distended with malnutrition and split with decay.

As they approached in an ever-tightening circle, the ominous silence was replaced by sibilant whispers of hunger and death. Inuyasha staggered to his feet, moving forward on the path, but how could he, when the path was no longer there? She heard him growl in rage as he struggled forwards, and she couldn't help but let out a small moan of horror as she felt the slight brush of ragged cloth against her cheek as one of them glided towards her.

The spectre reached out a bony hand and caressed Kagome's dark hair, running her locks through its skeletal fingers almost as a lover would. The head sagged on an inhumanely long neck, and the eyeless creature licked where its lips once were, tongue blackened and swollen. "You will join usss", it whispered, bending its head close to her ear and she shuddered, recoiling at the unwanted touch. She almost screamed as the dry tongue curved along the rim of her ear. "Join usss, in hunger, join usss in death."

The spectre's head lolled forward as it turned its eyeless gaze towards Inuyasha. The realisation suddenly hit her that he couldn't see the spirits; had no idea of the threat they were facing. Before she could free her arm to try and knock the spectre's hand away, it reached out towards Inuyasha's face as he grimly struggled to keep moving forwards, a light touch sweeping across his mouth and nose. Kagome would have shrieked if she was not already breathless with horror as Inuyasha pitched forward suddenly, slamming them both into the damp sandy earth of the mountain path.

She watched as Inuyasha dragged his face sideways in the dirt, his beautiful amber eyes clouded in pain. "Gome, you 'kay?" he asked, his voice raspy. She wanted to answer, to give him some reassurance, but could only produce a small sound of fear.

What should she do? How could she fight back? She didn't want to accidentally purify Inuyasha with her reiki; she didn't even know what these things were, just that they spoke of hunger and death and that she was terrified of them. Inuyasha's eyes suddenly rolled back in his head, and with horror she felt his breathing become shallow, his heartbeat slowing with every beat. She was frantic. He was going to die, here on this path, and she was powerless.

A small thought swelled in her mind, bright as a bead. 'You are not powerless. You are a shrine maiden, a miko.' Pulling together her last vestiges of courage, Kagome closed her eyes, and imagined a thin beam of reiki that rose up into the air then spread outwards like an umbrella, forming a bubble of protection around herself and Inuyasha. She had no idea if her effort was affecting these things, and her mind churned, searching every memory for an inkling of what these creatures might be, trying not to weep at the sound of Inuyasha's rattling breath. She didn't think they were demons. Not demons, but dead things. Dead things on a deserted path, that wanted them to join them in death. Hungry dead things. Hungry ghosts. A long-forgotten memory suddenly unfolded.

Her father was whistling cheerfully, preparing for a weekend hike with his friends. She was sitting on the kitchen counter nearby, swinging her little legs. One by one, she handed him his first aid supplies to be packed into his backpack, and she grinned in excitement at being considered old enough to help Daddy while Mama went outside to hang out the washing. Grandpa had come into the kitchen to make tea. He rifled through the pantry and grabbed a package of mochi, pushing them into her father's hands.

"Don't forget my son, you should take these with you. It's always better to be safe than sorry when walking on a mountain path." Her father had rolled his eyes and then winked at her, but willingly packed the mochi into his backpack.

"Don't worry father, I'll be sure to be on the lookout for hungry ghosts."

Hungry ghosts. She vaguely remembered legends about those that died far from home during famine times. Their lack of proper burial caused them to wander in continued pain and hunger, and they lingered on deserted paths to force others to join them in death. That had to be what these things were! But how did you get rid of them? Was she meant to recite a prayer?

She gritted her teeth at her lack of knowledge; she was sure that Miroku would know this. Why had her grandfather suggested that her father carry mochi? Maybe it was something to do with food. Did you feed them, or yourself?

Using her last reserves of energy, Kagome wiggled her arms that were pinned by the tight wrap against Inuyasha's back, panting with the effort of maintaining the barrier. Managing to free them enough to reach the cloth that Sango had tied the rice balls and bottled water in, she frantically scrabbled to untie the knot with numb fingers, her terror rising as Inuyasha's laboured breaths stilled - then began again, now so shallow that they were almost a sigh.

'Gotta hurry, gotta hurry!' She was gasping in her haste, hoping against hope that the barrier that she'd tried to erect was keeping the ghosts at bay. There were two rice balls. She broke one in half and stuffed a chunk into Inuyasha's lax mouth and the other half in her own, then hurled the remaining rice through the paper-thin barrier at the spectres looming over them. After gulping down her own rice, she stroked Inuyasha's face and neck with shaking fingers. His usually tan skin was paper white, a bluish tinge spreading around his mouth and nose.

"Inuyasha, swallow. You have to swallow the rice." Hysterical tears rolled down Kagome's panic-stricken face, dripping onto his hair and cheeks as her voice grew more shrill. "Inuyasha! Please, please wake up. Stay here with me, don't go with them!" She tried tilting his head back by pushing on his chin, hoping it would cause a swallowing reflex, but terrified that in his unresponsive state she would force him to choke. Her panicked voice and stroking must have reached him on some level; his throat moved slightly as he swallowed a small morsel of rice without opening his eyes.

As if a switch had been flicked, the horror was gone.

It was a beautiful summer's day. Birds chirped cheerfully, flying through the rainbow hued spray thrown up by the gurgling waterfall, splashing noisily in the puddles, twittering their enjoyment. Noticing the cooked rice now scattered on the path, they swooped, squabbling and pecking, eager to take advantage of an easy meal. The dappled sunlight patterned the ground around them, leaves swaying in the breeze, and the delicate green of the forest framed the colourful gate of the shrine clearly visible up ahead.

Kagome dropped her head to Inuyasha's shoulder and sobbed quietly, releasing the barrier as the intense fear gradually ebbed away. She felt utterly drained. She took comfort in Inuyasha's heart beating steady and true beneath her, his back muscles moving rhythmically with each firm inhale and exhale of air. Her sobs suddenly turned to giggles when Inuyasha popped open an eye and spat the remaining rice out of his mouth, coughing and spluttering a little, wiping at his face. Rising on his elbow, he turned to look over his shoulder at her, growling his annoyance. "Kagome, why is there fucking rice up my nose?!"

[otonymous]

Kinktober - Oct 5th  (Swallowing/Collaring): Milk (MLQC Kiro - NSFW)

Description: Get frisky with Kiro this Halloween Warnings:  NSFW/18+:  Explicit/graphic language — reader discretion is advised. Trigger warnings: swallowing, collaring, costumes, semi-public sex, mild jealousy Word Count: 1355 words (~7 mins of dirty, filthy, Halloween-themed smut) AO3: read here Author’s Notes: My first entry for @alloveroliver’s amazing Kinktober challenge!  Many thanks to this incredible person for taking the time out of her undoubtedly busy schedule to organize this event.  YOU ROCK! 🤩 

Please note the potential trigger warnings listed above, and hope you all enjoy this dirty story! 😂 Happy reading, lovelies!

All characters & Mr Love: Queen’s Choice owned by Elex

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃

“Wow!  You look…absolutely amazing.  Gorgeous.  I-I can’t even take my eyes off you, haha…”

Savin tries to run his hand through his hair, but the attempt is just as awkward as the way he ogled you in your cat costume — the high collar of his black cape leaving practically no room for movement past the top of his gel-slicked head.

Keeping a polite smile on your face, you discreetly scan the room for the soft flaxen locks you loved to run your fingers through, hoping for a swift conclusion to the uncomfortable conversation.

“Thanks, Savin.  I like your costume too!  You make a great Dracula, very Bela Lugosi.  And I appreciate you extending me an invitation to B.S. Entertainment’s Halloween party.”

Before Kiro’s agent can reply, a firm yet gentle hand snakes about your waist, pulling you close to the side of a warm body — lithe yet strong, lean muscle encased in black leather; buckles and straps criss-crossing the physique that gyrated so well on stage to incite the madness of fans the world over.  And beneath a black hood: strands of golden hair.

“Miss Chips!  You made it!”

In his eyes, the vast blue of a cloudless sky.  And a smile just as luminous to match.  But the flex of his arm around you hinted at tension, and before you knew it, you were spun around and escorted off before Savin even had the chance to sputter - Kiro chucking under his breath as he says goodbye on both your behalves.

“What was that?  And what are you supposed to be dressed as?”  You finally ask when Kiro ushers you into an empty VIP room at the club booked out by his agency, the pounding beat outside falling several decibels lower when the door closes.

“I’m a ninja assassin!”  He spreads his arms wide, presenting himself in full glory.  Drawing back his cape, Kiro brings his exposed biceps closer, muscles bulging as he flexed to show off the intricate designs drawn in black ink on his skin, smiling in satisfaction to see the awe etched on your face.

“You look like you could totally KO the final boss in a video game!”

“Of course!” Kiro beams.  But then, the brightness of his smile dims.  “Hmph.  Maybe it’s my own bossy agent I need to take out.  Can’t leave that guy alone with you for even a second, I swear.”

“Who, Savin?”

“He looked like he was about to swallow you whole.  But, I guess I can’t say I blame him…”

The corners of those cerulean eyes crinkle in an impish expression as he scans you from head to toe, humming appreciatively at the cat ears on your head, the combination of your sleek black bodysuit and skirt…and the tail that hung near the base of your spine.

“That’s, um…quite the costume.  You look very, very nice, Miss Chips.”

“You like it?!  It’s actually the third year in a row that I’ve worn it — I really got my money’s worth!  Anna always complains and says I should switch it up for our company’s Halloween party—“

“So, you’re saying that people other than Savin have already seen you in this costume?!  Tch, man…” Kiro frowns, rubbing the back of his neck, and you can’t help but smile at the sight of the pouty superstar.  Bringing a hand to his face, you force him to look you in the eye.

“Could it be that our superstar ninja is jealous?”

“Yes!  Miss Chips is special, for my eyes only.” Placing his hands on his neck, nimble digits in fingerless gloves loosen the silver buckle on a black leather choker. “And I do believe your costume is missing this.”

Looking at the choker lying flat on his palm, the corners of your lips tug into a knowing smile; you had wondered how soft the pliable leather would feel wrapped around your neck.

Circling behind you, the subtle notes of Kiro’s cologne — spicy and sweet — suffuse your senses.  “Kittens need collars, don’t they?  To show the world who their rightful owners are?”  

Then, dropping to a whisper, “Let bad men know that even though they can look, they can never touch…”

His voice is sultry, dripping with sensuality as he breathes against the shell of your ear.  And when you sweep your hair aside to bare your neck to your lover, you are rewarded with the sound of his breath hitching in his throat.

“…Unlike the way I can.  Isn’t that right, Miss Chips?”

Still carrying the heat of Kiro’s skin, the choker lay warm against your throat — gentle and secure, as if the superstar himself had wrapped his hand around the delicate column of your neck.

But of course, those hands that coaxed beautiful music from his guitar were currently preoccupied with drawing all types of lascivious sounds from your mouth as two fingers, then three, explored between your legs from behind; relentless even as your knees shook, bent over on all fours on the plush sectional as you were.

“Kitty’s more excited than usual today.  You’re completely soaked, baby.” 

Kiro sweeps your tail to the side as he palms a slow circle over your pussy, and you gasp at the touch of leather from those fingerless gloves, making it harder to come down from your second orgasm around his hand.

Biting your lip in anticipation to hear his fly unzipping behind you, you hike your skirt up even more, further exposing yourself to his hungry, blue eyes.

“Hmm.  You’re so well-behaved, Miss Chips.  I say a reward is in order, what do you think?”

Slowly stroking your collar with one hand, Kiro gently guided his cock into your entrance with the other.  And all you could manage in response to his question is a desperate nod, the furry tips of your prosthetic ears tickling his skin as he bent over you.

Then, with one enthusiastic thrust, the superstar is buried to the hilt, leaving you clawing at the seat beneath you, desperate to suppress a scream of pleasure that surely would’ve given you away despite the noise in the club.

“Mmm, you feel good, Miss Chips.  So good, ah…especially when you tighten like that.”  

His fingers graze the sensitive skin at the small of your back before wrapping around your tail, pulling soft but insistent as his breath leaves him in shudders — the rhythm of his hips building faster and faster until your throat became uncomfortably dry from panting in response to his onslaught.

And when those long fingers gathered the arousal that dripped down your thigh to draw smooth, tight circles about your clit, the act has you convulsing as the tension broke in your body, clamping down on Kiro’s cock even as he pulled out — hand pumping hard to chase his own release outside the warmth of your body until he spilled hot over the small of your back.

Still shaking even when you sense Kiro’s finger tracing a haphazard pattern across the skin on which he came, you gradually open your eyes when you feel his lips pressing affectionately upon each lid.

“You must be parched, kitty…screaming the way you did.  Here.  Your reward.”

Collar snug as you craned your neck in Kiro’s direction, you stick your tongue out, obediently lapping up the liquid that coated his index finger — pink on white.  Blue eyes are transfixed to see your tongue sweeping from corner to corner of those perfect lips, dutifully licking up any and all remnants of Kiro’s release until that, too, is swallowed.

Then, drawing even closer, Kiro whispers, “Good girl.  You've earned your milk, Miss Chips,” before his lips close the gap completely.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Kiro, where have you been?!  Several producers wanted to meet you and—“

Savin stops short when he spots the leather choker, looking back and forth between you and Kiro, eyes narrowed to see it adorning your neck instead of the blonde with twinkling blue eyes, who says, with a hint of challenge in his voice:

“Now her costume is complete!  Don’t you agree, Savin?”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks for reading!�� Check out more of my work here! 📚

[stripper-patrick]

Here for you📴 Erik Killmonger

Lil Mama 🍷

Oh shit♋️

Here for you📴

Bitch⚔️

Always be my baby💛

Song: pillowtalk- Zayn

Warnings: language, n-word use, verbal abuse, small physical abuse, smut

Relationship: Erik Killmonger x black plus sized reader

It’s been about a month since the doctors appointment. I finally got a little bump. I just look like I gained a little bit of weight not too much. Lately I’ve been thinking about Erik a lot more and how supportive he’s been and how amazing he’s been.

“You haven’t given me an answer” Dionte says taking a bite of his sandwich

“For what”

“Me proposing”

“Where’s the ring? Did you get on one knee? What’s the real reason you marrying me? Once you answer these questions then we’ll talk” I roll my eyes and Dionte leans forward

“If you ever talk to me that way again ima fuck you up”

“Don’t get popped” I say

“Check please”

...

“I don’t know who you thought you were talking to but it wasn’t me”

“Bitch I’m the man of the house”

“Nigga you came and lived with me cause yo dumbass got evicted” he backhands me and I feel a stinging pain across my face.

“Y/N I’m warning you now stop treating me like I’m a child” I grab the car keys. I get in the car and drive off. I don’t know where I’m going but I’m going away from here.

I wind up at Erik’s house and I ponder whether or not I even wanna go in. I take out the key and walk up to the door knocking on it. I wait for a bit then hear the door open and reveal Erik. No shirt no shoes and wild hair out of its braids.

“Hey mama wassup”

“Hey can I come in” he steps to the side and I walk past him.

“You ok?” We walk to the kitchen and I nod slowly “why is your face red?”

I keep quiet and fix my eyes to the painting next to him. “Y/N”

“E I-“

“Did he do this to you?” I can tell he’s getting angrier by the second.

“Er-“

“Just answer my Gotdamn question”

“Yes it there’s nothing to worry about I’ll handle it”

“I shouldn’t even be saying this cause there shouldn’t be a next time but” he pauses taking a deep breath to calm himself “the next time he touches you I’ll kill him and I put that on my life”

“E I’m fine” He sighs shaking his head

“Can you braid my hair?” I nod. I follow Erik up to his room where I grab the gel a rat tail comb and sit down on his bed. He sits in my lap but him being taller than me he has to slouch a little.

“Can I ask you something” I part his hair and pull the rest of it out of the way

“Yea” he answers

“What are these scars for?” I ask running my hands over his broad shoulders and chest.

“If I tell you, you gotta promise me you won’t look at me any different”

“Erik you’re my best friend-“

“I got that but we haven’t seen each other in years so you don’t know what I’ve done”

“What are they”

“Promise me Y/N”

“I promise”

“Each scar is for someone I’ve killed” he says.

I don’t know what to think “why”

“Sometimes in Wakanda we’ll have a ritual where you test your strength and that other person or yourself pays the price”

“And other times?” I keep braiding his hair

“When people cross me or bring up my past in a negative way”

“So if I bring up your past like your father in the heat of the moment-“ he turns around fully to me and grabs my chin softly

“I would never hurt you” he looks me directly in my eyes “you or my baby you need to understand that”

I look at him nodding. “Baby girl tell me you understand”

“I understand” he turns around and I go back to braiding his hair.

....

I’m in the kitchen making Erik some of my famous pancakes. He comes over and wraps his arms around my waist and rubs my growing stomach.

“Stay the night I don’t feel comfortable with you staying with that bitch”

“E he’ll probably blow my phone up and look for me”

“Cool if he come here and try to start some shit I’ll have another scar on me” I shake my head at his craziness. I know he’d really kill him without hesitation “did you say yes to his proposal”

“No I didn’t give him an answer” I flip the pancakes and set them on the plate

“Do you want to marry him”

“Of course not” I say

“Then tell him that mama” he kisses my cheek and grabs the stack of about 8 pancakes.

“Don’t tell me your eating all of those”

“Ok I won’t tell you”

“Erik leave 2”

“Make more”

“Please daddy” I bat my lashes at him “me and your child are hungry”

“That daddy thing will have you bent over and me slangin dick in a hot second” he puts 2 pancakes on a plate for me and I smile. Erik sits in the living room with his pancakes and I cut mine up putting syrup on them. I sit next to him and eat my pancakes while we watch American Horror Story.

Once I’m finished my food a gory scene comes on where they’re all fighting to be the Supreme and Zoe disappears and ends up on the fence dead. Blood spews from her mouth and I feel nauseous.

“I don’t feel well”

“You gon throw up?” As soon he asks that I get and walk to the bathroom throwing up my pancakes.

Again I feel Erik’s hand rub my back. I hear the water run then a cold wrap be placed on the back of my neck. I finish up and flush the toilet. I rinse my mouth and throw water on my face wiping it.

“Let’s go lay down it’s late” he says. He takes my hand in his and we go to his room.

“Do you want water?” I shake my head and undress. I go in his drawer grabbing a big t-shirt. My phone rings and Erik looks at it.

“It’s the devil himself” I grab the phone putting it on speaker. I lay down and Erik kisses my stomach rubbing it.

“Baby please come back I’m sorry I’m so sorry”

“Nah I’m spending the night at a friends”

“Y/N I’m warning you” Erik’s head pops up and his nose flares

“That’s cute” I hang up and sigh rubbing my face.

“I wanna do a drive by”

“You know what I want?”

“What’s that?”

“Some dick” I smirk rubbing his leg higher and higher. I can see he’s getting harder.

“That won’t hurt lil one?”

“It won’t even reach it. It’s small the baby I mean” he rolls his eyes kissing me and lays on top of me.

“Fuck me up daddy” I moan taking off my panties. Erik’s large fingers rub me while sucking on my neck. I dip my hand in his shorts jerking him a little watching him tense then relax.

I pull his shorts down and he pushes himself into me. My jaw drops as I pull him into myself. My nails are digging into his back. He’s slow and deep with it but still kinda rough.

My back arches off the bed and he places his hand under it holding me closer. This is different than all the other times. I can feel his love and his desperation.

“Erik” He moans by my ear egging me on. I hold him closer actually feeling him. Somehow he goes even deeper making my toes curl and my head fall back against the pillow.

Erik pulls my leg over his shoulder and starts to pound me out until we both scream each other’s name.

...

“I love you” he admits. This is rare. That’s a very special meaning to him.

“Are you sure?”

“I wouldn’t say it if I weren’t sweetheart”

“I love you too” I actually mean it and I haven’t meant that in a minute. Even saying it to Dionte I don’t mean it. Why am I still with him?

[noreasonjustbored]

Perception Is Reality

Charlotte didn’t think that her relationship with Henry was out of the ordinary until people started commenting on it. Constantly.

It all started with a nonchalant remark from a stranger.

After midterms were over Henry, Jasper and Charlotte decided to reward themselves on a job probably well done with breakfast from Denny’s. Pancakes could soothe the soul.

As usual, Charlotte sat with Henry on one side of the booth while Jasper sat on the other side alone. After giving their drink orders, Jasper told them that he had to go to the restroom.

When he was gone the waiter brought out their drinks and set down their straws. Charlotte immediately stole Henry’s straw so that she could put it in his drink.

If she didn’t, he would definitely peel off the bottom and blow the wrapper directly at her face. He had been doing it since they were little kids and he once hit her right in the eye. Over the years, Charlotte started taking his straw to prevent it from happening again. It was habit. She didn’t really think about how others would perceive it.

Noticing the interesting quirk between the two of them the waiter said breezily, “Wow, you guys are a gorgeous couple.” To determine why this comment was made so confidently, Char took inventory of their circumstances.

They were sitting closely, pressed together from shoulder to knee, on the same side of the booth. Henry had his left arm draped on the cushion above her shoulder. AND she had just unwrapped a straw and placed it in his cup. That was kind of a weirdly intimate action.

Okay. I see how this looks. Charlotte thought. But before she could tell them that they were just friends, Henry beat her to the punch.

He stammered out an awkward “Thanks, but we’re not- she and I aren’t- uuhhhh” while taking the hand that was previously behind her and using it to rub the back of his neck.

Jasper had been approaching the table when the comment was made and reached them during Henry’s rambled fumbling. “Wait, you guys are together again?” Jasper inquired with a hint of an excitement.

Trying to prevent the moment from dragging on any further, Charlotte spoke up “Not dating. Best friends.” Not her most eloquent, but it got the point across to their server and to their nosy best friend.

The waiter simply let out a quiet, “My mistake” and asked what everyone was having to eat. Jasper grumbled under his breath about them. “Aw man, I thought my ship was sailing again.”

Henry and Charlotte were on the couch in his living room. They had taken a break from studying and were just talking while munching on roasted almonds.

Somehow he had maneuvered so that his head was resting atop Charlotte’s thighs. She absentmindedly carded her fingers through his hair as they discussed any and every thing.

As Charlotte expertly twisted and twirled her fingers through his blond locks Henry closed his eyes and groaned lowly in pleasure.

This is the position they were discovered in an hour later when Siren walked through the front door with groceries. Henry was snoring lightly and Charlotte was now holding a book with one hand and playing in his hair with the other.

“That is so cute!” Henry’s mother whisper-yelled while taking her phone out to snap a photo of the pair.

This caused Charlotte to whip her head in Siren’s direction and then adamantly shake her head in protest. We are not dating! She screamed in her mind. She didn’t want to talk in fear of waking Henry up. He especially needed the rest lately.

Ignoring Charlotte’s fervent head movement, Siren traipsed by them on her way to the kitchen. “Ah, to be young and in love again” she sighed out.

The next time it happened was when they were sitting in the Man Cave one Saturday afternoon binge watching Dog Judge.

Charlotte had gotten her nails professionally manicured because she was going to her aunt’s wedding the next day.

Since it was a special occasion, Charlotte decided to get holographic gel nail polish. It was sort of an iridescent chrome that changed colors when you moved them around.

Henry was fascinated by her nails. Charlotte usually did her own and rarely painted them any other color besides clear. So when he saw her shiny appendages, he just took one of her hands and didn’t give it back.

He first turned her hand this way and that way to see the different hues present. He rubbed his fingers on the digits’ smooth exterior.

Somehow this devolved into him caressing the whole front of her hand, which was super soft by the way, and then flipping her hand over to see if her palm was just as soft. It was. Softer even.

Charlotte let him do this without protest. She didn’t need that hand to eat the popcorn on the table anyway. That’s what her other hand was for. Plus, his touch was very gentle and super relaxing. She didn’t mind his ministrations at all.

Henry took her hand and placed it on top of his to compare sizes. He was intrigued by how much bigger his hand was. He could curl the tops of his fingers over hers, they were so small and dainty.

Then he smoothed their palms together back and forth several times, spearing his fingers between hers a little more on every pass.

Charlotte instinctually completed the interlocking of their fingers when he stopped moving his hand.

Schwoz walked into the ManCave some time later and witnessed the two teens. 

“Oh my gosh! You guys are dating!” He declared in his funny accent.

Looking away from the TV monitor, Charlotte and Henry stared at him in confusion.

“What?!” Charlotte asked.

“What are you talking about bro?” Henry wondered.

Instead of responding Schowz just walked closer and gestured at their still clasped palms.

Looking down at what he was referring to, they both jerked their heads back up to glance at each other and then disconnected their digits abruptly. They had forgotten all about that.

“We’re just close.” “This means nothing.” The friends exclaim simultaneously.

He scoffed and then gave them an incredulous look while nodding his head as if to say, Sure I believe you. Not.

The following occurrence where someone mentions their nonexistent relationship is during the weekly movie marathon at Henry’s house.

This week was Henry’s turn to pick the genre and he decided that it was a horror/suspense kind of night. Charlotte was not amused.

She was fine during Us and Get Out because she had seen them both before. Now came time for the truly scary stuff. They had just finished Halloween, which wasn’t too bad and now they were starting Annabelle: Creation.

Henry was sitting next to her on the couch in his room, seemingly unaffected, while she peeked through her hands and shrieked a little at every jump scare.

At one particularly horrifying part, Charlotte turned to hide her face into Henry’s shoulder while he just chuckled and smoothly placed his arm around her lower back.

Char was becoming increasingly jumpy as the night wore on. At one point, she gripped Henry’s arm so hard that it left little red indentations that took a few minutes to fade.

Henry kept pulling her closer and closer every time she got scared until she was practically in his lap. Scratch that, he observed, she was ACTUALLY in his lap.

When did that happen? Henry pondered as Charlotte buried her face in his neck. She was slightly trembling and taking harsh breaths that tickled against his clavicle.

He could feel his heartbeat pick up speed from the close contact, the scary movie playing a few feet away not eliciting the same response.

“Henry! I am NOT okay!” Piper yelled while bursting into his room without knocking and cutting off his train of thought.

Frightened by the noise, Henry pushed Charlotte’s body off of his suddenly which caused her to fall onto the ledge of his stairs.

“Dude! What the heck!?!” Charlotte angrily questions.

“Sorry! It was a reflex!” Henry responds while reaching out a hand to help her up.

Piper watched their interaction curiously. “Why are you so spastic bro? No one cares if you make out with your girlfriend.”

Sighing, Henry and Charlotte sit back down next to each other on the couch.

“Would you believe me if I said we were just friends?”

“After what I just saw? No, I would not.” Piper says.

“Figures.” Charlotte mumbles.

One day they were in the Man Cave researching their latest Big Bad. Charlotte was at the monitors diligently looking through their database for clues while Henry got food from the Auto Snacker.

Sitting down with his meal, Henry called her to join him and told her to go back to the evidence later. She had been at it for hours.

“Just a sec. I’m onto something here.”

“Okay but you’re missing out on these cheesy, delicious nachos.”

“I can order my own when I’m done.”

Not finding any flaws in that logic, Henry scarfed down his food. Man was I hungry.

Pushing the empty plate aside, he looked up and realized that Charlotte had not moved from her spot the whole time he was eating.

Letting out a tiny groan of frustration that she was still working, he stood up and walked over.

“Charlotte!”

“Hm?”

“You’re supposed to be having dinner right now.”

“I will. In a minute.”

Henry leaned over the back of her chair and reached over her shoulders to pry her hands from the touchpad. He clasped their hands together to prevent her from going back to it.

“You said that twenty minutes ago.”

“Yeah ok. Just another moment” she said while struggling to release her hands from his grip.

Henry spoke directly into her ear. “Nope. Your time is up. Don’t make me throw you over my shoulder.”

A tingle went down Charlotte’s spine at his words and their proximity. “You wouldn’t.”

“Try me” he whispered.

Charlotte gave him a defiant look out of the corner of her eye, freed her hands and crossed her arms over her chest tightly.

Before she knew it, he had spun her chair around and swiftly picked her up into his arms bridal style.

Wrapping her arms around his neck for more support, Charlotte looked up at his face to see him smirking down at her.

“I hate you” she said with no malice in her voice.

“I love you too” Henry replied while taking her to the auto-snacker.

Ray came out of the elevator to see Charlotte in Henry’s arms with her hand on the auto-snacker screen demanding chocolate ice cream.

“Food. I said food Char.”

“Ice Cream is food. The best kind of food at that.”

“Whatever” he conceded. “As long as you eat something.”

“Eh-hem” someone cleared his throat.

Henry looked over his shoulder while Charlotte grabbed her treat and dug in.

“Sweets for the sweethearts?”

She lifted her gaze from her bowl at the statement and saw Ray standing there with an extremely wide, knowing smile.

Henry walked to the table and sat down, causing her to be relocated onto his legs.

Quickly scooting off of his lap with her dessert, Charlotte says in a flat tone “We are not sweethearts.”

“What she said.”

“Well you could’ve fooled me.” Ray airily answers while walking through the sprocket door.

More and more instances popped up where people gave their unsolicited commentary on the friend’s interactions. Everyone thought that they were a couple and the two hardly lasted a day without someone saying something.

Another occasion was when the teens were at school. They were both tired because they had snuck out late the night before to handle a crime alert at the ManCave.

Ray and Henry ended up losing the criminals due to a stroke of bad luck. Someone had left marbles in an alleyway that the heroes were cutting through to catch up to the thieves.

Ray slipped on the marbles and cracked his head against the pavement. Henry tripped over him. The bad guys escaped.

It was 3 AM when they made it back. After they returned, Henry transformed and then promptly knocked out on the circle couch.

Char stayed up later than everyone trying to get a lead on a possible next target that the villains would hit. She didn’t fall asleep until after the sun rose in the sky. It was safe to say that she was exhausted.

Standing at her locker, Charlotte gathered her materials slowly, yawning near constantly. They still had 15 minutes before class started.

When Henry got all the stuff he needed, he journeyed over to his best friend.

“Hey. How are you holding up?”

“Terribly” she moaned out while rubbing the back of neck.

“Got a kink from sleeping at the console?”

“Yep. Several. Plus I have a test first period. Today is not my day.”

Moving her hand out of the way, Henry places his hands on her neck and gently massages away the tension there.

She lets out a long, shuddering breath and gives a soft moan when he hits a particularly tense area. He grins in satisfaction.

“Thank you Hen.” Charlotte says after a few minutes, cueing him to stop.

“No problem” he replies while stepping closer and wrapping his arms around her waist. He pulls her back flush against his body.

Closing the still ajar locker door, she rotates her head to meet his gaze. “What are you doing?”

“Letting you relax” came the simple reply as he flipped around and leaned them both against her locker. Charlotte using his body as a cushion.

Instead of resisting, she just melted more heavily into him, her head dropping back to rest on his chest.

They stayed like this for the remaining ten minutes before homeroom. Eyes closed and Henry’s arms still surrounding her, providing a blanket of comfort and warmth that she didn’t want to leave.

Reluctantly extracting herself from his grip when the bell rang, Charlotte turned to face Henry.

“Better?” he asked.

“Better” she nodded.

He studied her face for a few lingering seconds and thought about everything they had been through together. All the things they had done. All things they would do.

She thought about how comfortable they were with each other, how tactile. How a simple touch from Henry could calm her entire nervous system like nothing else could.

How she knew the same was true for him.

She concluded that they were practically dating already, just without the label.

Taking a deep breath, they continued to stare at each other.

Do you want to go out with me?”

“Yes.”

Ms. Shapen broke the spell, walking past them and screaming at their fellow students.

“Come on Lovebirds!” she called out to them specifically.

“We’re coming!” they reply at the same time.

“Jinx.” they say together again and smile.

This time, the assumption was correct.