#(i mean apart from the fact it took me until my third time seeing them for them to play pompeii properly

[quarterprioritymidnight]

do u think i should tell this man this is literally a thing he can do. like pretty easily

[witchofhimring]

Under the shadow of the Crown

Synopsis: Your life as Princess Baela's lady-in-waiting is ripped apart. Queen Rhaenyra decrees that you marry her younger half brother Aemond. Terrified, you are in no position to object. Such are the lives of those in the shadow of the crown.

Pairings: Aemond x Y/n

Part of my Dynasty of Blood AU series, built of this concept.

You had never payed attention to the second sulky son of Alicent Hightower. If fact you had not even come to mainland Westeros to marry him in the first place. Of course marriage had always been in the cards. As heir to Blackhalt, your families ancestral seat just off of The Reach. A great match had always been in store for you. Lord Cregan Stark and Jeoffrey Velaryon had both been put forth. Only Lord Stark's had been seriously considered as the third born son of Queen Rhaenyra was not yet ten. It was only a pity the eldest two of her boys were to be wed. Well, Lucerys and Rhaena had not been wed at the time you arrived at Kings Landing. Crowned Prince Jaecerys had already taken Baela Targaryen to wife by then. Your role, until it was time to take up the mantel of ladyship, was to serve the royal family and cultivate whatever ties you could.

You were placed in the service of Princess Baela. She was around your age, born within the same year. Admittedly you were more than a bit intimidated. Use to being the second highest ranking lady in the room it was strange to be standing in front of the third greatest lady in the land. Not only that but Baela rode a dragon. Her beauty was intimidating as well, with thick silver hair and wide violet eyes. Her skin was dark and smooth, the scars she obtained in battle only giving highlighting her features. Normally scars could not be considered pretty, but Baela seemed to wear them as one would their jewels. Clad in black and red the princess looked almost like one of those Valyrian gods. Not that you had ever met one before. But perhaps this was how they were depicted.

The two of you would forge a friendship. A combination of personal liking and ambition. However it was with Rhaena that you first became friends with. The younger of the two, Rhaena was less assuming compared to Baela. That did not mean, as many mistakened her for, a wilting flower. She simply preferred to be more guarded and taken to court etiquette more easily. The two of you had much in common, a love of fine dresses, music, poetry and an ability to connive when the situation so called for it. When you were free of duties the two of you would hide under the Weirwood and read poetry.

Two years passed and a new year was upon everyone. A New Years ball was to be arranged and it was up to a team of ladies (including yourself) to organize who was wearing what. It was already agreed upon that Baela would be wearing a high collared red gown with rubies sewn into it. Not that she knew it yet. The rest of you would wear colours representing your houses to show a symbol of unity. "I think everyone should wear a red ribbon to symbolize the princess." Rhaena pulled out a silver box from underneath a tall tower of various items. Let it not be said this was an easy job. A new years celebration was nothing to scoff at. Especially as this one would be a pre-celebration to the marriage of Rhaena to Lucerys. Rhaenyra's second son had been off to learn what it mean to be a lord. This had been to the great distress of Rhaenyra. But she finally relented, unusually, and allowed Daemon to teach her son everything there was to know about being Prince of Dragonstone. Now that he had experience and was a man it was high time Lucerys married.

"Oh dear." Lady Cassandra stifled a laugh as she held up a pair of ludicrously high heels. Lady Cerelle of Casterly Rock paled and looked to Rhaena. She would find no security in her look as Rhaena sighed. "Let me see." You took the pair from her hand and examined them. They were exquisite in design and any woman would be thrilled to have them. Except this was Baela who would likely be as friendly as Vhargar when it came to overly constraining dresses.

Rhaena sighed and slumped in her seat. She looked up at the ceiling, exasperated. "Baela is going to kill me." You looked up at her. "Why you?" Rhaena sat up and stooped down to gather loose fabric. "Because I was the one who commissioned Panella to make the dress. And I swear I told her to make the dress to Baela's tastes. But the Queen ordered her to make it luxurious as possible." Queen Rhaenyra was well known for her expensive tastes. Just a glance at her dresses was enough for anyone to know. This had worked in your favour when the Queen gifted you a dress of pink silk and pearls. You had yet to wear it but the dress was truly magnificent. However, at this moment, was it worth it if Baela ripped your head off?

Deliverance came in the form a knock. One of Dowager Queen Alicents handmaidens entered. She first curtsied to Rhaena and then turned to you. "Lady Y/n, the Queen Dowager has requested your presence." Getting up you bid the ladies farewell before leaving. Hopefully you would be kept away long enough to avoid Baela's terror.

Lady Alicent had settled in the Hands Tower, much to the annoyance of the actual hand Ser Corlys Velaryon. The moment you entered green clouded your vision. On the steps of a dais sat the women serving Alicent. They mostly hailed from the Reach and Westerlands. Sitting on a throne like chair was Alicent. She looked older than her thirty and four years, a statue of regality and sternness. Had you done something to incur her ire? There was nothing you could think of. So you curtsied, hoping that if she was upset a show of supplication (even if it irked you) might mollify her. To your surprise she smiled, or at least it looked like a smile. This unsettled you to a degree.

"Lady Y/n, the Queen, your father and myself have chosen a husband for you." Several things went through your mind, excitement, anxiety and hope. You had been endlessly curious as to who would become your husband and the future lord consort to Blackhalt. "You will be marrying my son Prince Aemond. Everything dropped out from beneath you. Not literally, but it felt like someone had just hurled you down a dark tunnel. Out of everyone why him!? You could not say Aemond was well known to you. Only the stories and the looks he gave anyone attached to his elder sisters house. As you were a member of Baela's household his dislike over spilled into you as well.

Was this your fathers idea? Or your mother, who despite not being the ruling lady held great sway. Always you had known you'd marry, such was the duty of every lord and lady. Never had you though as you did now, that this was all some great mistake.

You curtsied to the third most powerful woman in Westeros and said how honoured you were. An honour it may be, but not one you cherished.

"Absolutely not!" If one though Baela had been angry beforehand it was nothing to her tirade over Aemond taking one of her handmaidens. "My Princess, I can still serve you, surely." You held her hand in your own. In the greatest state of anxiety Baela hardly seemed to notice. Suddenly she bounded to her feet. Cerelle leapt back in fright and Cassandra rose to her feet. Baela seized your hand and headed out the door. She strode forward with such a great fury you nearly tripped. You could hear the other two following, also having difficulty in catching up. It was only when you entered a staircase lined with red tapestries did you realize where it was Baela was taking you. Before there was even time to protest Baela waved the guards aside and burst through the door. Queen Rhaenyra lounged on a plush chair, surrounded by her three youngest sons, little Princess Visenya and four ladies. As usual she was bedecked in the finest robes imaginable. Jeoffrey came to his feet and rushed towards Baela. Despite the animosity between Baela and her good-mother she was fond of her husbands siblings. Once they broke apart Jeoffrey rushed back to his mother. Tention filled the room was two Targaryen Princesses stared each other down. Baela may not be Queen yet, but she had enough spirit to outdo almost any other. Rhaenyra may have been older, but the fire dwelling within her blood was no less furious. Despite their differences they both had something starkly similar. They were the very blood of Old Valyria.

"Princess Baela. Please take a seat." Baela simply stood there, not budging. Nervously you stood there. While Baela might get away with this you may suffer the brunt of Rhaenyra's anger. She was quick to anger and slow to forgive. So you hung your head in hopes that she might consider you unworthy of her anger. "He who bends may rise again", it was a Greyjoy saying, yet your mother mentioned it had a great deal of merit.

Lady Cassandra quietly entered, paid her respects to the Queen, then stood there. "Lady Velaryon, please take my daughter to her room." Lasfy Velaryon, a cousin of Baela, rose and took the hand of little Visenya who had only recently celebrated her third name day. With some fussing the princess was spirited away. Rhaenyra waited until her daughters little footsteps disappeared. When Rhaenyra focused her attention back onto Baela she looked as gentle as a dragon. They said the Queen was quick to anger, slow to forgive. You prayed her anger did not fall on you.

"Your impertinence is noted, Baela. Remember I am Queen so watch your tongue." The subject of Queenship had always been a tense, provocative one. When King Laenor died the crown passed to his wife. At the time Prince Jacaerys was only ten and considered too young to rule. Fearing a war over regency as had happened in the time of King Jaehaerys they had the boys mother become Queen. It was all wrapped up in a neat little bow. No boy kings and the succession going down the natural path. Or it would be so if it were not for the face Rhaenyra's sons were not Laenor's. Whispers floated down the halls that it was the former Captain of the City Guard Ser Harwin Strong who had fathered the boy. If the succession had gone down the true legitimate line then it would have passed to Laena's line. Baela was Laena's eldest child. But Rhaenyra was quick. She married Laena's widower Daemon Targaryen and married their children together.

Baela, who should have been Queen, stood in front of her stepmother who was Queen. Veryone else shrunk back. Even little Jeoffrey. "I hear you mean to marry Y/n Blackhalt to Aemond." She practically spat out the last words. All these years later Baela was still smarting over the injustice of Aemond taking Vhaegar from her sister. The feeling was mutual. Aemond had hated the Velaryon girls ever since that terrible fight on Driftmark. After the funeral of Princess Laena Aemond had stuck out and claimed Vhaegar which had once belonged to Aegon, consort of Queen Visenya. Words were said and Baela punched Aemond. A brawl ensued and Aemond lost an eye. The relationship between the families of Viserys Targaryen's first and second wives had never been smooth. Rhaenyra was left imbittered after her lady-in-waiting Alicent married her father. The two had never reconciled. Or so you heard.

"I am aware. Myself, Lady Alicent and your father have all agreed to it." Baela puffed up. "As a lady in my service Y/n is under my care and therefore I should have been informed." "My brother is a prince of the realm. Lady Y/n should feel honoured." Rhaenyra's amethyst eyes then settled on you. Oh Gods no.

"Lady Y/n, what do you say?" This was possibly the worst situation you could be placed in. Either way you would offend someone. Your best friend and future Queen, or the current Queen. Your mothers lessons went through your head. What would she do in this situation? Feigning calm, you spoke. "My opinion hardly counts. I will do what is best for the realm." You prayed this appeased both Targaryens. Rhaenyra had a look of satisfaction on her face. Baela's you could not see.

"There we have it. Is there anything else you would like to add?" It was not because Baela had been calmed that she turned and left. You could see the tension in her shoulders and knew Baela only left to stop herself from doing something truly rash. She had let go of you and both you and Cassandra were forced to race behind. All the way to her room the three of you ran. Rhaena and Cerelle were still in Baela's room. Rhaena opened her mouth but Baela spoke first. Once inside she immediately rounded on you. "So you want to marry him!" The fury in her voice made you cower. Unable to speak, it took everything in you not to cry. "You betray me in front of the Queen! You! Are you truly my friend or will you open your legs to any many who will have you!" Everyone gasped. Cassandra dropped the pearls, Rhaena clasped a hand to her mouth and Cerelle had silently fled.

You could not even cry. Your fear was so intense you remained rooted to the spot, stuck dumb. By no means were you a coward. Under any other situation you would have defended your honour. But not only was Baela your friend, but a Princess and future Queen. Baela's furious person glowered at you. Trembling, you only just begun to think of anything to say when Baela turned on her feet and stormed out.

There was no air in your lungs. Or at least that was what it felt like. Everything seemed to be falling away leaving you in a deep sea of despair. One by one you imagined everything being taken away, leaving only burned friendships and a disgraced name. Baela shot you one last disgusted before turning on her heel and leaving. With a bang the door shut.

Everything swam before you. Darkness began to rise and suddenly you were swallowed by it. Fading voiced echoed and drifted further and further away. A dull pain echoed in your head.

Then everything was black.

Pain was the first to greet you. The sun nearly blinded you and the world came into blurry focus. Every movement was slow and it ached. The bed dipped slightly as a face hovered above yours. "Y/n?" You recognized Rhaena through her voice. Then another joined your view. With vision clearing you realized it was a Septa. A cold hand pressed against your burning forehead and she spoke. "Can you see?" The words that came out of you sounded strange, like someone was yelling across the great hall. "Yes. But faintly, I think?" Wincing you held up a hand. Your vision was clearing and almost perfect again. "Sit up if you can." A hand behind your back helped you up. Propped against pillows a cup was placed by your lips. Cold water wetted your parched throat. It made a world of difference. Your senses were clearing and the remains of grogginess disappeared. Unfortunately it also brought pain into sharper focus. Reaching behind you felt a bump.

"Thank the Gods that is all. It could have been so much worse." Cerelle was nervously chewing her fingernails. You noticed that Cassandra and Baela were missing. "Cassandra was summoned by Baela. But she is very worried." Said Rhaena noticing your mood. "Does the Princess know what happened?" "I don't know. Not unless Cassandra told her." Defeated, you laid back. Still coming out of a haze your thoughts darted here and there. All this information, Baela's anger, the betrothal and Queen Rhaenyra's animosity made you want to faint all over again.

Cerelle and Rhaena said nothing else as you lay back down. The three of you stayed in that room, the sun setting. All the while you wondered if this was the right decision.

You should have been happy at the choice of husband. Aemond was young, handsome and a prince. But on the morning of your wedding all you felt was dread. During the early hours of the morning you lay awake, Rhaena snoring a few inches away. As a princess-to-be you got new rooms in the Red Keep. These ones opened out onto the garden, a combination of roses and salt lingering on every surface. You would rather have been in the old rooms. At least Baela had been your friend back then, and Aemond had not been your betrothed. You missed those days were you were just Lady Blackhalt. After the wedding you would be sent back with Aemond to Blackhalt island. Away from the place which had been your home since childhood.

Everyone but you seemed happy. Only Rhaena seemed aware of your mood. Cassandra and Cerelle were with Baela, they would no longer be with you. And Baela...who knew. They washed you within an inch of your flesh. Scrubbed till it hurt they finally pulled you out and lathered on a sweet smelling cream. Every inch of you were fussed over by an army of women. When that was done they dressed you, a whole new ordeal. For the first time you wore the Targaryen black and red. The three headed dragon was sewn onto your bodice with rubies glittering on silk strings. For a moment you forgot every worry when looking in the mirror. Every move sent sparkles dancing around you, and as princess you would always have such gowns. At least that was one comfort.

The dress became a burden when it was time for the procession through King's Landing. They placed you on a chariot for all of the smallfolk to see. They called out to you, blessing you with good fortune and many children. You smiled and waved, ignoring the heat and painful corset. Yet to have so much adoration gave you a warm feeling. You tried to focus on that. White petals were thrown into the air. Several getting caught in your hair. Finally you arrived back at the Red Keep. The remaining court which had not come with you was waiting. Helped off, you were delivered into the arms of your father. Lord Blackhalt was a stranger to his daughter. Having barely seen him in years it felt strange to have him hand you off. Baela might as well have done the honours. Speaking of Baela she was there. It hurt when she barely looked at you. And after this you would likely hardly see her again.

They were now closing in from all sides. Walking into the Great Hall you felt all their eyes on you. 'From now on I will always be watched.' You thought. You would go from lady to princess. A member of the royal family. Waiting for you at the end was the High Septon and Queen Rhaenyra, looking on in satisfaction. You hated the queen, her satisfied look making you want to throw up down the stairs. How dare she act all pleased! And then you saw your betrothed. Aemond stood inches from his sister. His black leather made you want to shrink away. 'Don't you it.' The warning spurred you on.

Aemond's hand was calloused and cold. It was a shock compared to the heat of this morning. For the first time you looked Aempnd in the face. As a body you feared him, as a man you nearly ran. And now you would spend the rest of your life with him. His purple eye was hard to read. No expression passed his face. It was worse than showing anger, at least you would know what to expect. Right now you knew nothing. In truth despite the proximity for so many years you knew nothing about him. Always it had been the words of Baela and Rhaena which painted a picture. Now on your own there was a blank canvas.

'With this kiss I pledge my love.' Empty words. His lips were cold against your own ones. Your black and white cloak was whipped off, replaced by the Targaryen sigil. No longer Lady Y/n. Y/n Blackhalt, Princess of Westeros. You felt naked, unprotected. And now your girlhood was ended.

Notes: I just want to reiterate that this is not a story in the sense I will organize it into chapters. It will be a collection of one shots based off of scenarios. If anyone wants to further discuss these characters I am happy to do so!

About the characters: Cassandra is much nicer in this version. I suspect that the reason she was so bitter in Fire and Blood was because she went from a possible heiress to House Baratheon and promised to a prince, then promised to a King. Only she ended up married to a man well below her station. Personally I think she was definitely ambitious, but is less malicious in this version due to being Lady Baratheon by right. So she certainly has less to be bitter about.

Now, about the readers wedding. Because this is a world were women inherit the reader will keep her last name. But because she is marrying into the royal family she wears their colours. So that is why she wears the Targaryen cloak.

Rhaenyra does come off as cruel in this one-shot however she will get more development. Her actions are a combination of spite against Baela and to show her place as Queen. Baela resents Rhaenyra for taking the place she thinks is hers. I will at some point write a one-shot from Baela's point of view.

The other ideas I have in mind:

-Rhaenyra and the reader talking about their dead ancestors

-Baela and Daenerys (reader's daughter) talks about queenship

-Reader's friendship with Baela and Rhaena

-"Monarchs of Westeros" (part 1) Covering every monarch of Westeros in this AU from Visenya the First to Rhaenyra the Second.

[yikesmary]

Is it alright to request a scenario with Wonu? Like imagine him having a cat before the two of you are together then one day you stayed at his house/apartment then you sit somewhere on the couch or floor making yourself comfortable then you felt a small weight from your side or lower back and saw his cat sitting or sleeping comfortably next to you.

I have a kitten and then he has been acting up like that since he stayed in my room 🥹

CAT DAD — jeon wonwoo x reader

summary: whenever you go to your boyfriend, wonwoo's, house, his cat mimi. and he's totally not jealous because of this.

notes: ahhh i love this request so much!!! i added the last part where wonwoo's jealous because i think it'd be cute for him to be jealous. this was kind of short by my standards, however i hope i did this request justice!

join my taglist!

"I'm starting to think there's another reason you come to my house other than to see me,"

"Don't be silly!" you said, and Wonwoo wished he could believe you if you weren't faced away from him, cooing at his cat, Mimi, while you were holding a cat toy and playing with her.

Somehow, Wonwoo felt like he was the third wheel in his own house. Ever since you had visited his house for the first time, Mimi always seemed to forget his existence. It was cute the first couple of times you visited, but now that you were coming over every other day, it seemed like Mimi couldn't care less about him.

It was to the point where he wondered if he was getting jealous of you or the cat.

"How about we watch a movie?" He suggested, which made your attention to the cat turn to him.

"Sure, what should we watch?" you asked.

You both had ended up deciding on a movie that both of you seemed to have watched a million times, but you always seemed to like it each time.

The both of you settled on the couch, while Mimi walked away into the hallway to do whatever it is a cat such as herself did in order to entertain herself.

As the movie went on, you found yourself resting your head on Wonwoo's shoulder while he wrapped his arm around you. You were about to fall asleep until you felt a weight on your chest. Opening your eyes, you were faced with Mimi, who was looking at you and meowed softly.

"Hello, pretty girl," you cooed, not minding at all at the cat's weight.

From beside you, Wonwoo scoffed and lightly glared at his cat, who he swore was looking smug at the fact that she was interrupting his time with his girlfriend.

"Okay, you can eat my food and steal my spot on the bed, but stealing my girlfriend is where we cross the line," Wonwoo told Mimi, picked her up, and faced her to him so she can know he was being serious.

"Wonu!" you gasped, but you couldn't seem to hide your amusement at your boyfriend's jealousy.

"It's her fault!" Wonwoo sulked.

You giggled at him but then kissed his cheek in order to make him feel better, loving the fact that you saw a hint of pink on his cheeks in both embarrassment and adoration.

"You don't need to be nervous, baby," you reassured him.

"I'm not jealous, she just seems to be forgetting who's her owner," he said, giving the cat a look.

"How about we put Mimi in between us so she has no choice but to interact with the two of us?" You suggested.

Both Wonwoo and Mimi were doing a stare off and secretly, you took a picture of the two of them doing it and sent it to Mingyu, who you had no doubt he was going to laugh at the picture.

Finally, Wonwoo looked away from Mimi's stare and looked at you. "The minute she starts moving towards you more, I get another cat and I'll spoil that cat better," he lightly threatened.

Gasping, you looked betrayed and covered Mimi's ears as if she could hear what he said.

"You wouldn't!"

"I wonder if I can ask Cheol where he got his accessories for Kkuma,"

taglist (if your name is crossed off, it means I couldn't tag you): @belladaises @winterpaos @wonhuiful @minhui896 @baekhyunimochibbh @x-alightinthedark @whywontyousetfree @minghaossv @coffeesandrains @slaveofmydreams @bmkgemz @dandycharmer @outrologist @stagefrjghts @dahliatopia @exo-saranghajaaa @uhlatcha @watermelon-sugars-things @miniminimingi @venzline @kokorit0 @withloveyjh @mikopikotobiko @lockburn-castle @mrs-kamisato @userjunhuii @mypsychicpizzaworld @smileyneos @xuenihao @itsrachelsplace @yoonzinoooo @pepperonidk @jw-0717 @swinterr @blobfishbumblebee @againwithwonu @jeonride @violetvoo @maevadobreva

[ladykailitha]

Sweet Home Indiana Part 6

@anne-bennett-cosplayer I hope this is enough time to recover from that last line. It's technically been 3 business days.

That last line was mean, and I'm sorry. So for being so mean, here's Claudia Henderson with some very tough love for Eddie.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

****

Eddie had done some serious groveling that night. He didn’t know how he could make up for all the hell he’d put Steve through. How does one even begin to make up for a decade worth of shitty behavior?

Especially since it was clear that the one thing that would make it all worth it was if Eddie came back to Steve and he couldn’t do that. Not to Chrissy. Not when she needed him the most.

He did the only thing he could think of and talk to the people who still cared about Steve. He started with Claudia Henderson. Even though she wasn’t Steve’s birth mother, she was more his mom then that shrew ever was.

She gathered him into a hug when he showed up on her doorstep.

“I was wondering when your shadow would darken my doorway,” Claudia said, as she lead the way to the kitchen.

Eddie winced at the harsh words even if they gently given. He looked around the small house, Dustin’s mark stamped on every corner even though he had moved out long ago. But more surprisingly was Steve’s touch had found its way into the decor. And not just his photos on the wall either.

It was in the Pacers blanket on the loveseat, the baseball bat by the front door, the bright yellow pillows on the sofa. Steve was loved here and god did that make Eddie’s heart ache.

He sat down at his usual spot at the counter and watched as she bustled around the kitchen getting him cookies and glass of milk.

“Why are you even here, Eddie?” she asked in that tough but loving way she always had. “You broke his heart and then threw it away.”

Eddie took bite of the cookie to give him time to formulate an answer. “Because I know I fucked up, okay? But the only way I can see to fix it is to come back to him and I can’t do that. I can’t tell you why, just know she’s in trouble and this is the only option we have.”

Claudia let out a long sigh and leaned on the counter. “You always did know the right things to say.”

“Not when it comes to him,” he scoffed, staring down at his milk like it would give him the answers. “I keep making it worse.”

She hummed her agreement. “That’s certainly true. But I think that was more about you trying to protect your heart from getting hurt, only you ended up hurting his instead.”

Eddie just dunked his cookie without comment, because he knew she was right. It was never about Steve. It was about all the people who hated him, who strung him along until they had their fun, about his mom dying and his dad leaving, about the band deciding they just didn’t want to do it anymore.

He loved being a tattoo artist, but that wasn’t the dream.

“What would you do or tell Dusty if it was him you’d come to see after a decade apart?” Claudia asked, looking up at him.

Eddie sat back in the stool and sighed. “How much I missed him and then I would try to spend as much time with him as possible.”

“There you have it,” she said. She straightened up and knocked on the counter twice. “The bakery is closed Fridays and the carnival is in town. Why don’t you take him and get to know who he is now, all right?”

He rubbed his face and sighed again. “Yeah, if he’ll even go with me. He probably already has a hot date lined up, though.”

Claudia shook her head. “At least not that he’s told me, anyway. In fact he was lamenting that he was thinking about not going because Robin had a date, but he didn’t and he didn’t want to third wheel it.”

That was so like Steve. Instead of finding someone to go with him, like a friend or something, he would just not go. Tell them to have fun without him.

“I guess the worse that could happen is have him curse me out and hang up,” Eddie said with wry smile. “And considering I’ve already had the pleasure once, a second time isn’t going to change much.”

She lifted her chin. “Well go on, then. If you think he’s going to cuss you out, call him. I want to see this.”

Eddie stuck his tongue out at her like a petulant child. But did as he was told.

“Hey, Eds,” Steve greeted, picking up the phone almost immediately.

His heart stuttered in his chest at the old nickname. “Hey, Stevie. I hear the carnival was in town this week and wanted to see if you want to go.”

“With you? Or with a group or whatever?” Steve asked, his voice pitching a little higher than normal.

“Just me,” Eddie confirmed. “When would be good for you?” He looked up at Claudia who had the smuggest grin on her face. He stuck his tongue out at her again.

“Oh, I–um...” he stammered. “Well, I was thinking of opening the shop on Friday even though I don’t usually because I was closed on Sunday.”

Eddie winced. He had a pretty good idea why Steve’s shop was closed on Sunday. Steve had called to bitch him out on Saturday evening when the special courier delivered the annulment papers. Something the law firm had paid for so they wouldn’t lose their best legal assistant.

“But sure, I could use a proper day off for a change,” Steve was saying when Eddie’s brain finally came back on. “How about two o’clock?”

“That’d be great,” he said a small, fond smile on his face. “I can’t wait. I haven’t been to a proper carnival in years.”

“Perks of living in a small town, I guess,” Steve replied.

Eddie started playing with his hair. “One of the few. Can’t say I’m a fan of the homophobia.”

Steve laughed, bright and sweet. “Yeah, okay. You got me there. Look I’ve got to go, Robin’s giving me the stink eye and I really should get back to work.”

“Yeah,” Eddie said. “I talk to you later.” He hung up and refused to look Claudia in the eye. He knew what he was going to see anyway. Her arms crossed over her chest and a triumphant smile on her face.

“I don’t believe I heard any cursing on that call,” she said dryly. He looked up at her and he as right about everything about how she was looking at him, only with the addition of a raised eyebrow.

“Yeah well,” Eddie said, rolling his eyes. “He always was a stubborn bastard and having to prove me wrong.”

Claudia’s face crumpled a bit. Because yes, Eddie had done a lot of harm to their relationship, Steve wasn’t exactly blameless in the whole ordeal. Because Max’s situation aside, Eddie was right that ‘the kids’ had families and parents of their own. That they had people who would look out for them. And if Steve hadn’t stepped up in Max’s case, she sure as hell would have. The awkwardness between Max and Dustin be damned.

If Steve had loved Eddie as much as he claimed, he wouldn’t have tried to force the metalhead to chose between his friends and his husband.

“He is that,” she admitted gently. “I’m sorry things didn’t work out between you two. You were always a better person when you were together, than when you were apart. And yes, he’s struggled a lot since you left, but looking at you now, I can see that the years haven’t been kind to you either.”

Eddie huffed. “That’s what Uncle Wayne said. That I lost my sparkle or whatever.”

Claudia came around the corner and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her back tight.

“Your uncle is right, sweetie,” she murmured into his hair. “We only want you to be happy and it doesn’t feel like you are. You say you’re getting married, but where’s the bounce in your step and the smile that won’t stop? Like when you and Steve had come back from a week vacation married if only in the state of Massachusetts.”

He let out a shuddering breath and then another. Soon he was just sobbing. Crying like he couldn’t stop.

Eddie had never wanted to hurt Steve and he was sure Steve felt the same about him.

She soothed him with whispered assurances and stroking his hair. Soon enough he had slowed to a hiccuping sniffle and Claudia stepped back so she could look him in the eyes.

“I have a pretty good idea what’s really going on,” she said firmly. “And you’re being really sweet, but before you do something you regret, spend time in town. Take a look at the things that have changed and all the ones that haven’t. Then decide if it’s still the right thing to do.”

He gulped. He had no doubt that she had figured it out. She was Claudia Fucking Henderson, of course she did.

“You won’t tell anyone,” Eddie asked, tears threatening to spill again, “will you?”

She shook her head. “No, your secret is safe with me. I won’t make things harder on you then they need to be.”

She hugged him again and Eddie felt like he was home for the first time in over five years.

****

“Just where are you taking me, old man?” Eddie teased. He had met his uncle for lunch after being emotionally rung out at the Henderson place.

“You need a pick me up,” Wayne said, “and I need my afternoon brownie. Come along.”

Eddie came to an abrupt stop. “Um...I’ll wait out here, then.”

Wayne looked up at the shop’s sign and then back at him. “Look, son, you’re going to have to face him eventually. Especially with you going to carnival together and all.”

Eddie dug his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket and followed Wayne dutifully into the bakery.

“Hey Mr. Munson!” Steve greeted cheerfully. “You here for your usual?”

“How many times do I have to tell you to call me ‘Wayne’?” he asked with a chuckle, walking up the to counter.

Steve blushed and hung his head. “I guess I’m just old fashioned.” He cleared his throat and straightened up. “So what can I get you and your shadow today?”

Wayne reared his head back and then looked over his shoulder to see Eddie hanging back, but sticking as close to him as possible.

“That’ll be two monsters, one of your apple fritters, and a half dozen of your snickerdoodles,” he said shaking his head. Then he turned to Eddie. “And what do you want?”

Eddie’s eyes nearly burst out of his head. Steve and Wayne laughed.

“I suppose I should have said ‘what else do you want?’” Wayne clarified.

Eddie blushed and peered around Wayne’s shoulder to look into the case. “A peanut butter madness, please.”

Steve’s face lit up with delight. “These are the ones Jeff’s mom was slandering with having them stale. They are so much better warm out of the oven. In fact, here!” He grabbed it out of the case and wandered to the back.

He came out a few moments later. Eddie nearly melted from the tantalizing scent of warm brownie filled the air.

“What did you do?” Eddie cried as he reached out with grabby hands.

Steve handed it to him. “Careful, it’s hot. I microwaved it for thirty seconds. Should be perfect now.”

Eddie cautious bite and moaned as soon as the peanut butter hit his mouth. He savored every bit of that first bite. “Fuck, Stevie. These should be a sin.”

Steve smiled and then got to work on the rest of Wayne’s order as Eddie devoured every inch of that brownie.

“How long are you in town for, Eds?” he asked as he handed over the boxes to Wayne.

Eddie grabbed a paper napkin from the dispenser by the register and wiped off his hands and mouth of the gooey remains.

“I’ve got to back by Monday,” he said, a tad mournfully. He never thought he’d miss this place after spending so long running from it. The town. Not the bakery. Though he had spent a lot of his time running from its owner, too.

Steve’s own smile faltered a bit too. “Not even a whole week, huh? I guess there really is no rest for the wicked.”

They chatted for a bit before more customers came in and Steve had to get back to work. Eddie and Wayne walked out of the shop laden with goodies. Steve had divided them up for Eddie and Wayne separately. Wayne handed Eddie his box.

“Now was that so terrible?” he asked with big grin.

“No.”

Because it really wasn’t. In fact it was kinda nice just chatting with Steve.

Leaving was looking more and more bleak with each passing moment.

****

Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Tag List:

1- @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @ravenfrog @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @goodolefashionedloverboi

3- @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog @vecnuthy @irregular-child

4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1

5- @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt

6- @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95

7- @blackpanzy @amazing-spiderkeys @oldpinghai @raisedbylibrarians @kultiras

8- @swimmingbirdrunningrock @steddie-as-they-go @captain--low @micheledawn1975 @thespaceantwhowrites

9- @mac-attack19 @blondie1006

[abreathingrock]

Hi it's me, the third (?) of three rtc fans with any knowledge of Irish hahah

I'm so interested in ur rtc oc so would u drop the lore?? I love seeing Irish people involved in the same fandoms as me bc let's face it most of us are bastards so it's kind of unusual

WOWOWOW HIII!! It so cool to see rtc fans with Irish knowledge, especially when they take interest in my oc (I love her so much)

Strap in, I have a lot

Grew up in a gaeltacht region in galway (like Connemara type) so shes fluent(ish) in irish (i literally wish so bad)

Her parents were STINKY and were super mean, like, abusive and shit, it wasnt great for my girl

Went to a #catholicallgirlschool so naturally was bullied asf so she REALLY wasnt having fun

Had one friend who is yet to be named and they hung out together all the time, did a bunch of stuff like pierced eachothers ears, got

tatoos, burned shit, mostly illegal stuff (this is how she got arrested)

Sam and her friend would always talk about running away to Canada, it was their dream, but before they could her friend had to move away to a bording school in Dublin

This affected Sam BAD and caused her to go into a horrible space mental health wise and ultimately caused her to run away

When she got to Canada, she had stolen and exchanged a bunch of her parents money (cus she doesnt care about them and hates them) and bought the absolute cheapest place she could. A two room (kitchen/living/bedroom + sperate bathroom) apartment in Uranium City

She enrolled herself in the local school in a very illegal and fake fashion and took a uniform from lost and found cus ofc she did

She stayed low mostly in school until she met a certain Ukrainian "bad boy", Mischa Bachinski and they became the besties ever

They did most of the stuff she did with her old friend, but this time she was having more fun and felt more free due to not living with her parents and not being in that stupid ass school

Her and Mischa bonded over missing their countries (despite the horribleness Sam faced there, she still misses Ireland a whole heap) and she is the only person who believed Talia is real

Sam ends up in choir because she helped Mischa steal the wine and they sit in the back on Mischa's phone playing games, texting Talia (when they could, yk, timezones), taking dumbass selfies, etc

Mischa helped her become herself a lot more and she loves him like a brother and will kill anyone who speaks against him or hurts him. They both agreed if they ever met eachothers parents it would be on fucking sight

Ocean fucking hates Sam. Cant stand her. She thinks its insane how little she cares about school and is dumbfounded by her punk ideologies (she cant wrap her around head it, shes a little silly <3) She rants to Constance about how she needs to care more and Constance just nods and pretends to listen meanwhile she's in awe of her bravery to be herself and get away from her home.

Noel ends up taking a liking to her because he talks to Mischa sometimes but they dont really interact.

Mischa thinks shes "madwickedawesome" and "the dopest person ever, yo!!" He is the only person who knows about her old friend and the fact she had bad parents, but barely knows the half of it. He encourages her to be who she is and Sam loves him so much, theyre so bestie I cant

Ricky wishes he could talk to her because he also thinks shes pretty cool, but obvously he cant :(( She talks to him sometimes, which he appreciates, but its mostly just complaining about Ocean being annoying in choir when she tells her to get off Mischa's phone

On the day of the accident, her and mischa wander off most of the time, going on some of the rides, but staying off somewhere else most of the time. They come back to ride the cyclone because everyone else is and they both agree rollercoasters are fun.

In the afterlife, she stays talking to Mischa mostly, but begins to talk to Noel and Ricky too.

Her and Ricky end up bonding over cats cus theh both love them, and she hypes him up like crazy after SABM with Mischa

She is infatuated with Jane Doe and thinks shes cool as fuck, even if shes also pretty creepy, and tries to talk to her sometimes

Her song is...something. it starts off with her refusing to sing and Karnak being like "you have to" and begins to force a song onto her. Its chaotic and not at all how Sam wants, being a bit like TSIA.

Sam eventually is like "fine, I'll sing, but Im doing it my way you fucking bitchass machine" and her song is about being conflicted with herself, loving being open about being punk and doing all her illegal stuff, but she loves writing and poetry, something shes never told anyone even Mischa. She sings about feeling like she's always been doomed to be unhappy, always be unsatisfied with her life and missing Ireland despite her horrible life there.

She opens up about her shit parents and her old friend and after her song Mischa gives her a big hug and its cute asf :c

She, after the song, becomes more like her true self and the other choir members are all like "dam shes fucking deep" which she enjoys quite a bit

She bullies tf outta Ocean the whole time, but during its not a game she holds her hand and smiles at her for like the first time ever

Sam also talks to Connie in the afterlife and tells her to drop Ocean etc

Her and Ocean are like siblings, Sam fucking hates Ocean but if someone is rude to her the next day that person shows up with a mysterious black eye

sorry I went on a bit lol

[starlitangels]

Hi Star! Could you do like an micro fic with Guy and Honey talking about lasko and his date?

This is like the third time someone has brought up Guy telling Honey about that 😆

Let's go for it, shall we?

—

The door to the apartment burst open. "Honey!" Guy exclaimed.

I jolted and looked up from my work laptop. "What is it? Who died?" I demanded.

"What? Nobody. I just had the funniest night!" He beamed and fell onto the couch next to me. "I mean, it's definitely only funny because it didn't happen directly to me but you know what I mean."

I closed my laptop. "What happened?"

Guy slapped his knees. "Okay. So. This couple comes in, right? And I've seen one of them before. He's come in with friends before. Tall, gangly—a bit of a klutz but well-meaning. Kinda cute. Professor-core type aesthetic. I've seen him and his friends swing by a lot, but this time he came with someone new and the two came alone. And the professor-lookin' one is way more nervous than usual. So, obviously a date, right?"

"Sure," I said.

Guy nodded. "So, Riley is on seating hostess duty and she shows them to a table and Tim is their waiter. I'm on kitchen and checkout counter duty, but I can see the whole dining room floor from my spot, right? And this guy is so nervous his hands are absolutely shaking.

"And his date, at one point, said something that I couldn't hear over all the other noise but the blond dude jumps halfway to the ceiling and ends up spilling his whole soda right into his date's lap.

"Right as Tim is walking over with their pizza.

"And this poor dude. This poor—dude. He's so flustered by the fact that he spilled the drink that he stands up—and slams right into Tim. And—and Tim—" Guy had to stop to laugh for a bit there. Rocking on the couch until he could get a hold of himself. I waited until he caught his breath before giving him a look. "Tim, of course, drops the pizza. I mean, Tim is, what, five-eight? And this guy is like six-one. Like, I don't think his brain has caught up with his body on how long his limbs are. So this six-foot-something dude hits into Tim and the pizza does a full one-eighty and lands facedown on their table. And this poor guy is just standing there—trying to apologize, I assume, but he's stammering so hard he can barely get a single real word out. I mean—" Guy took a deep breath. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I feel bad for the guy. What a way to screw up a date, right? But from my distance, just watching the pizza sauce and soda get everywhere—" He shook his head while he laughed. "What more can you do but laugh, right?"

"Right," I said. "Anything else interesting happen or can I get back to work?"

"You get back to work. I'll get started on dinner."

"Dinner's already in the oven," I said.

Guy scrunched his eyebrows at me. "Since when do you start dinner?"

"Since I knew you were going to be home late. Surprising as this may sound, but I do actually know how to use the kitchen. You just usually get to it before I do."

He chuckled. "Well. Thank you, honey," he said, kissing my temple. "Shall we eat? Because I'm f—"

"Starving. Yeah. You say that all the time." I got up and hauled him to his feet. "Let's eat, you goof."

[theresa-of-liechtenstein]

astute followers of the Wild and Wacky Adventures of Em the Jumped-Up Busker will note that i did not have anything unhinged to share yesterday. however this was not due to a lack of Moments. au contraire, there were simply so many Moments that i collapsed directly into bed and knocked out as soon as i returned to my apartment

ACT 1: the practice room

curtain opens. i am taking a break in a practice room about an hour before rehearsal (read: scrolling through tumblr) with the third movement of the bach concerto in a minor on the piano

am just about to give up on practicing and go eat my snack (makeshift charcuterie board comprised of prosciutto and cheese) somewhere on the ground floor when someone raps on the door.

i whip around, hastily burying the evidence (closed tumblr), to find my favorite honors professor/newest section member squinting in at me through the tiny window in the door

i open the door for her and tell her i was just about to leave to have a snack. she then goes ‘you can eat in here. i wanted to see what you were working on’, takes out her violin, and starts playing my solo rep better than i’ll ever play it

‘last time i played this was thirty years ago,’ she says to me, matter of fact

also mentions to me: ‘i saw the assistant principal viola in my class. got startled! they never talk to me…’

me: ‘i’m not really sure you realize that you’re kind of intimidating to people.’

ate honorsprofessor: ‘me? really?’

me: ‘yes! (somehow received some boldness in the moment) you even intimidate me, sometimes’

ate honorsprofessor, shooting me an affectionately exasperated look: ‘em, you would be intimidated by a mouse.’

I MEAN????????? WHAJAHWJWHAKAHAKWIWOAIOW?????????????? READ FOR FILTH???????

tl;dr 1: apparently got harana-d by ate honorsprofessor

ACT 2: rehearsal

tita conductor begins rehearsal by advertising the choirs’ concert the following week (she also directs them on top of the 1937017292820281 other things she’s been doing in the department for god knows how long)

pointedly finishes off with ‘and if any of you are ever interested in singing, let me know; i find that my instrumentalists who also sing bring a lot of knowledge with them, and it can do nothing but good for you here. i treasure my instrumentalist singers with my heart’

[harp noises to signal a flashback to the past][echoing voiceover from f1 journalist asking a question at the 2014 abu dhabi grand prix: ‘gentlemen, a short view back to the past…’]

in the google form for audition sign-ups we were asked to name any previous ensemble experience. not knowing that tita conductor also was in charge of the choirs, i put down my single year of high school choir as an alto 2

my (zoom) audition was. interesting. tita conductor thought i took my slow movement of the handel sonata in d major too slow. i tried to justify my tempo. until i realized i was contradicting an Authority Figure, immediately felt a wave of Asian Shame, shut my mouth, and instantly thought i had fucked my chances of getting a spot

at that point i just remember something clicking inside me, a feeling of serenity like nothing i had ever experienced before, and a voice telling me, ‘you’re not going to get it. just play.’

i was so dead set thinking that i’d screwed up that i was genuinely surprised that she offered me a spot—even more so when she immediately followed it up by beaming at me and saying ‘great! now would you like to sing for me?’

i spluttered at her for what felt like several hours before saying what i thought was ‘sorry, come again?’ but came out as ‘uh huh whuh?’

tita conductor: i have here that you’ve done choir :)

me: umm. i’m not really prepared for that… and i can only fit one ensemble into my schedule

tita conductor: oh. well, okay :(

[harp noises to signal a return to the present]

i very assiduously avoid eye contact.

other tita conductor rehearsal moments:

‘i am a very good human metronome’

[misjudges how much podium she has left and accidentally totters off of it while trying to cue] ‘oops, gone overboard!’

[screws up a few things in rapid succession] ‘ooh, i could have been much better at conducting that, sorry! (adds, sotto voce) it is very important for your conductor to admit when they’re wrong.’

‘Seconds!’ [we play a thing] ‘YES, seconds!’

ACT 3: rehearsal, the aftermath

as everyone clears up, principal viola approaches me to discuss a bowing for the brahms. assistant principal viola (one of my friends in orchestra) is also hanging around to watch

principal viola has discussed bowing with me once before, for the mendelssohn; their ideas are usually sensible and they seem more experienced than me (master’s student)

they propose that at rehearsal tempo (excessively slow) we take two bows in a phrase that usually takes one (i have been doing it on one bow even at the rehearsal tempo. because i slow down my bow.)

they also tell me that i have been cuing in with the first violins on a spot where we, in fact, do not come in with the first violins (i.e. a beat early). the latter of which i immediately write in, embarrassed.

ate honorsprofessor wanders up behind me as i discuss with principal viola, and as we continue to talk, tita conductor comes over, looks at what we’re doing, hurries off to grab her score, and puts herself between me and my stand, effectively putting me in a middle-aged woman sandwich

tita conductor: ‘i see my predecessor—and this is probably thirty years ago—has put bow markings in parentheticals breaking that into two, so i’m not sure…’

me: ‘oh, no that was me. i just wrote that in now.’

tita conductor: ‘oh. well… why?’

she hears out principal viola and says ‘could you not just… bow slower?’ LANWJWKWHWJS HELP???? but also yeah. i would just bow slower. it’s harder to unlearn bowings later on

ate honorsprofessor pipes up: ‘i like putting that whole phrase on an up bow instead of a down, so the next phrase comes lighter’ and demonstrates

i make a note of it (i still have not yet decided anything about that btw.)

principal viola: and also i was just saying that they come in with the firsts when they don’t

tita conductor: [silently points to the note i made in the margins that says ‘NOT with V.1’

me, panicking: ‘oh i wrote that in. just now.’

tita conductor: [turns back to look at me, smiling gently] ‘no, i’m saying it’s very good. it’s good to make a note of that.’

we wrap up our discussion and i begin heading back to my stuff

ate honorsprofessor is still fucking around with the third movement of the bach in a minor and teases as i approach ‘look what you did, em 🙄🙄🙄’

i get the distinct feeling i should play along and protest ‘excuse me!! what did i do!!’

ate honorsprofessor, playing right back: ‘oh you Know what you did!’

me: ‘i absolutely do not! i don’t know anything i’ve done since… october 2!’ (when i got offered the position)

ate honorsprofessor: ‘well, what about what you did january 11, huh?’

me, now genuinely confused: ‘wait, what happened january 11?’

ate honorsprofessor: ‘are you serious? honors 150. first day of class. when i met you.’

atehonorsprofessor then tells assistant principal viola about us playing the bach double together earlier this year

now you may be wondering, where is tita conductor throughout all this?

well, she was very interestedly examining the wall near the door to the early keyboards room, which opens off the rehearsal hall.

so, eavesdropping. as usual.

tl;dr 2: too many things had happened in the space of three hours and i was in no state to go to my last class of the day so i instead fed the assistant principal viola some of my beef stew and skipped class

if you managed to get to the bottom of this you deserve a prize idk.

i served yesterday btw.

[luckyduck0]

🜸ultra comet fire🜸

“So, you mean to tell me that in the span of one hour,” A voice says, holding up their pointer finger. “You served a guy named Nyxx, coffee, and then got saved by him from a giant mutant lizard-scorpion-whatever, and then he took you to the hospital?”

Nodding, Xen stared sheepishly at the person in front of her. “Yup, that about sums it up.”

The person in question was Xen’s friend, Sandy, who was treating her to a fast-food dinner after hearing about her hospital visit.

“Jeez, how’s that work? Did he just leave ya there?” Sandy asks, stuffing a fry into her mouth.

“No, no!” Xen denies, shaking her head. “He stayed until the doctor said I was good to go. Then he actually…drove me home?”

“What?!” Sandy exclaimed, slapping her hands on the table. “You let some random guy drive you to your house?!”

“He’s not random! And he was just doing it cause he was nice!”

Sitting back down barely containing herself, Sandy breathed deeply. Now, Xen was going to get an earful, as well as a long parental lecture about boys.

“Alright, alright. So, he saved you?”

Arching a brow, Xen answers hesitantly. “Yes?”

“And you sensed no ulterior motives?” Sandy questioned, looking Xen in the eyes.

“Of course not.” Xen replied, stern.

She may have only know him for a short while, but Xen could tell Nyxx was different. A good different. He saved her, went of his to get her help and make sure she got home. He was mysterious and a little standoffish, but he still did so much for her.

“Then��I guess there’s really nothing to worry about.” Sandy said, slumping back against the booth seat. “Just, call me next time you get into danger, alright? This city’s got a shit ton of problems, I don’t need you getting kidnapped by a league of evil-doers as one of them, got it?”

Sighing with relief, Xen nodded happily. “Will do, San! Anyway, wanna go see a movie? There’s this new one that just came out, it’s about like, aliens or something!”

“Yeah, sure.” Sandy agreed, pushing up from the table with Xen.

—

(Fifteen minutes earlier)

Smoke fills the air as a fire raged inside a burning building. Police and firefighters had rushed to the scene, conveniently not noticing a tall figure jump out of a third-story window.

“Didn’t I tell you not to make a mess this time”

Ada’s voice pierced through the comm, making Nyxx wince from the sound.

“It was tougher than expected.” He replied, landing on the sidewalk and easing through the crowds.

“Clearly! You knocked down a building, Nyxx!” Ada yelled.

“I didn’t knock it down,” Nyxx stated, turning into an alley. “That stupid Flame Ghoul was stronger than I realized. A lot stronger than Intel told us. Not my fault he’s a lousy informant.”

With ease, he climbed up an apartment buildings’ fire escape and landed on a roof.

Ada groaned and Nyxx could practically hear the pinching of her nose. “Listen, we just got another report that says those damn Imps are out and about again, so get to these coordinates and I’ll meet you there. We’ll talk about your…screw-up with the Sergeant later.”

“Whatever.” Nyxx replied, cutting the comm off.

He glanced at his wrist, where a fancy, high-tech looking watch set. A hologram appeared as he jumped from roof to roof, coordinates showing what looked to be a location not far from where he was.

Great, he thought, now I’ll get a lecture in person too.

Ada was sort of his superior, in a way. She was a third year at EDEN and had lots of experience under her belt. She was the one recruited him in the first place, actually.

However, that didn’t make her mom-ing any less annoying.

—

Xen hadn’t thought about that night very much. In fact, she’d barely thought about it at all! She had much more important things to worry about…

…is what she would have said, if her near-death experience plus also getting save by a really hot guy hadn’t totally turned her brain into mush.

When he brought her to hospital, he insisted he could pay for any expenses. She wanted to object, but she was also a poor, fresh-out-of-college graduate and had eight dollars to her name. Then after that, he insisted to take her home himself, as she could still possibly be in danger.

“I’ll get ya home, least I can do after all this. Oh, and…hold on..” He mumbled, pulling out a piece of paper and writing on it. “Here ya go, it’s my number. In case anything happens, call me. I’m not sure how that monster behaves yet, so it’s possible it might come after ya, so keep it handy.”

Did she keep the note and memorize it and reread it a million times? Maybe.

But she also didn’t have a phone, as she lost it on the train. She was mainly hoping nothing bad would happen, cause she definitely did not have a device to call him on. At the same time, though, she really wanted to see him again.

And who could blame her?

Nyxx was kind and strong, and very, very attracted. And you don’t get saved by those kinds of people everyday.

“Uh, hello, Earth to Xeeeennn?” Sandy said, snapping her fingers in the other’s face.

Flinching, Xen flashed back to the present and turned to Sandy, who looked a bit put-off.

“Oh, sorry, what were you saying? Is the movie starting?”

“Uh, no, it just ended.” Sandy furrowed her eyebrows. “Jeez, you can be such an airhead sometimes. Were you sleeping with your eyes open or somethin’?”

Noticing everyone else is in the theatre leaving, Xen felt a little embarrassed. Could she really be that distracted by Nyxx?

“Ugh, whatever. Let’s just go, I already see the cleaners rollin’ in. Come on.” Sandy took Xen’s hand, leading her to the doors.

They threw away the trash and walked into the lobby. Sandy waved to one of her friends working at the counter, then stretched and yawned.

“That movie was pretty good, all things considered. Hey, wanna come over tonight? We could paint our nails and talk about our crushes!” Sandy said, posing dramatically.

Xen laughed, covering her mouth. “I’d love to, but I’ve got the opening shift tomorrow. Maybe next time.”

“Ughhhhh, why do you work so much? Try living a little, Xen. Maybe going to a few parties might loosen you up.” Sandy poked at her, smirking.

“I’m perfectly fine the way I am. Besides, the whole life of the party slash laidback misfit is way more your style.” Xen stated, nudging the taller girl.

Sandy chuckled, stuffing her hands into her pockets. “Yeah, guess you’re right. No one can compare to my utter brilliance.”

Xen just laughed, pushing past the front doors and into the parking lot.

Approaching Sandy’s beat up, Scooby-Doo-style van, the girl’s are stopped by a scream.

“Look at that! In the sky!”

“What the hell?”

“Run!”

“Holy shit!”

Both Xen and Sandy turned to the commotion, noticing a large green object heading straight toward them.

Launching many expletives out of her mouth, Sandy ran to the van, hopping in and starting the engine.

“Oh crap, we gotta go! Gotta go gotta go gotta— Xen? Xen?! What the hell are you doing?! Hurry up!” Sandy commanded, shouting from her place in the driver’s seat.

But Xen was frozen, staring up at, whatever it was. She couldn’t move. This wasn’t like the fear she got from the lizard-mutant, no, this was way different. Not even her fight or flight response was kicking in. She was utterly helpless, and there was a sick feeling that she wouldn’t be saved this time.

Xen probably wouldn’t have even had enough time to call Nyxx, let alone find some way to communicate with him.

Another shout from Sandy came from the van, but Xen didn’t hear it. A weird static was filling her head, like the buzzing when a TV stops working right. It was all she could do to keep staring, to keep calm, to accept it.

Before she can think, however, Xen is yanked away before the green thing hits the ground.

—

(All the way on the other side of the city)

Nyxx strolled alongside as Ada led him through a warehouse. He, unfortunately, had to listen to another one of his upperclassmen’s tirades.

“Oh, and don’t even get me started on your lack of discipline! You think because your so strong that you can just run around all half-cocked and then get sympathy when you fail! Like, obviously! Did you not see him prioritize getting soda over killing the damn Leech Ghouls?!” Ada complained, stomping down the poorly-lit hallway. “What’s even worse, literally nobody calls you out on it! Not even Red or Stein! And Stein is the nit-pick of the century!”

Nyxx just rolled his eyes, leaning his head back to look at the ceiling. The only reason they were in this place was because they got a report of the Imp Ghouls running around terrorizing the place. Pain and Panic, loyal servants to that damned Devil.

“Ya know, I think you’re over-thinking this. I’m pretty sure the reason nobody gets on my ass about stuff is cause I make the right calls. Ya told me to save people, Ada.” Nyxx said, pointedly looking at the woman.

“Ugh, I know what I said, but that doesn’t mean you can just abandon missions. That Scorpious mutant is still out there, probably running around in the sewers. And I’m the one that gets blamed for it, remember? Cause everyone thinks you’re my protege. Bullshit..”

Nyxx only shrugged, all he had to do was bring down Ghouls and bring their souls to be exorcised or judged. It wasn’t his place to decide their fate, all he had to do was capture them.

Sure, maybe he wasn’t doing too good a job of that recently, but people still understood why.

He just wished Ada could as well.

For all her hot-headedness, Ada was very smart and talented. She was one of the top students at EDEN, and her combat skills were incredible. She claimed she could do anything, and so far, she made good on that claim. Out of most people at the academy, Ada was definitely one of his favorites.

Except for her nagging. That was one quality he could live without.

“Ada! Ada, do you read me?” A voice from her watch questioned, urgently.

“Intel? Yes, what’s up?” Ada stopped, putting a hand on her hip.

“Listen, I need both you and Nyxx to go to downtown, quick. Something big just exploded in a theatre parking lot and we’re not entirely sure what it is. We need you to get a read on the situation, hurry.”

“Shit, okay, I got it. We’re on our way.” Ada closed the call and swiftly turned around. “Nyxx, let’s go.”

Nyxx only nodded, breaking out into a run to follow her.

—

When Xen came to, her ears were ringing. Everything around her was a dizzying haze. All she could see what a greenish smoke, and what looked to be rubble on the ground. Something warm drips down her face and before Xen can register it, she’s being dragged across the ground.

“Dammit, Xen! Wake up! We need to go!” A distant voice yells, one she slowly recognizes as Sandy.

“S-Sandy?” She coughed, pain wracking throughout her body.

What happened? The last thing she remembered was leaving the theatre.

“Oh my god, holy shit, are you okay?” Sandy stopped, kneeling down to hold Xen steady.

“I—” Another cough, this one feeling worse than the last. “I don’t know.”

Sandy was in utter distress at this point, looking around wildly, shouting for help. But Xen couldn’t concentrate, there was this buzzing under her skin. Her head felt like it was on fire and being beaten like a drum at the same time.

Suddenly, flashes of memories fly into her mind. They aren’t her memories, though, she’s awake enough to know that. There was a picture of a desert, then a stark-white room with medical supplies everywhere, and then fire. Green fire, all around, everywhere. It consumed everything it touched, including people who looked like doctors or scientists. A sharp pain enters her head, along with what sounded like high-pitched screaming.

“Gah!” Xen shrieked, squeezing her hands over her ears.

“What? What’s wrong?” Sandy panicked.

Xen couldn’t answer. The burning feeling was worse, it felt like it was through her entire body now. The screaming only became louder as her muscles seemed to ignite more and more. Almost to the point of an exploding sensation.

She doesn’t know when it happened, but quickly, her entire body became enveloped in flames. Green fire, just like the memories. Just like the thing in the sky.

Her screams were agonizing now, and they mixed well with the ones in her mind.

Xen knew Sandy was freaking out, but she couldn’t stop it. Her entire being was in complete pain overdrive.

She can’t tell when it stops, when the screams go silent and the fire goes out. What she can tell is, is a cold darkness covering her. Whispers of something she can’t quite grasp, until she’s completely enthralled in darkness.

—

On the outside, there was Nyxx and Ada. Nyxx was cocooning Xen inside of shadows, seemingly stopping the flames. Hopefully.

“Is she alright?” Ada asked, standing above the scene with a grimace.

“I don’t know, it looked really bad.” Nyxx replied, his tone uncertain.

He hadn’t expected to see Xen again, especially not under such horrible circumstances. It had only been a week since her last brush of death, and he was certain she was out of residual danger.

Nyxx would be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about her. His mind had wandered to the girl a few times, wondering if she was alright. He’d ordered one of the EDEN cadets to keep an eye on her, in case that mutant came looking for her before he could find it. The whole reason he even gave her his number was so he could help her out if need be, so why hadn’t she called?

Was he too late?

Had he failed to save someone again? Someone counting on him?

Nyxx hated that feeling, it scared him.

“Is she gonna be okay?” A girl asked, rubbing her nose as tears ran down her face.

She must be a friend of hers, Nyxx noted in his head.

“I’ll do everything I can to help her, I swear.” Nyxx assured.

He wanted to say everything would be alright, but he couldn’t say that. Empty promises were much worse than harsh truths. All he could do now was try his best to save Xen.

Nyxx didn’t get very far, though, because something exploded out of the crater in the middle of the parking lot.

Both he and Ada quickly turned, standing to attention at…whatever the hell was crawling out of that thing. They looked like a bunch oozy slime balls, but he could see their exoskeletons, which were clearly made of metal.

“Now what in the hell…” Ada faltered, gagging at the way they moved. “They look like worms, but worse!”

Nyxx glared at the scene. The weird neon-colored worms kept coming out of the iron rock thing that blasted into the concrete. And they were also, forming? Into each other. Honestly, Nyxx just wanted to wipe them from the Earth immediately.

Summoning shadows, he turned them into spikes and shot them like arrows at the slime worms. They just consumed them, though.

“Well, fuck.” He swore, running out of ideas.

“Great, now I can put, defeating a giant slime monster on my list of accomplishments to hold over your head.” Ada cackled, unlocking her bo-staff and running at the things with swiftness.

Her efforts are in futile though, every hit just slides through the worms. Nyxx, whose great at multitasking, tries to figure out both what it is and how it can die.

“Okay, seriously, can we please get out of here?!” The other girl pleaded, yanking her hair in frustration.

“I need to help Ada, but how. I can’t just leave Xen…” Nyxx mutters to himself.

Ada continues her struggle with the slime monster, occasionally throwing rocks and car pieces at it.

“God! Why isn’t anything working?!” She shouts, grinding her teeth.

Nyxx doesn’t get a chance to do anything though, because the slime monster finishes forming. A loud roar emanates from its mouth, and now it looks more like a four-legged snake with multiple heads.

“Fucking fantastic.” Nyxx rolls his eyes.

“Shit, what should we do?!” The girl asks, causing Nyxx to turn back to her.

“You shouldn’t do anything, just get out of here. I’ll take care of Xen.”

“What?! No! I’m not— wait, how’d you know her name was Xen…?” The girl asked, looking at him with suspicion. “Wait a second. Tall, white hair, white coat, and an attitude…holy shit! You’re him!”

Nyxx stares, puzzled. What……?

His confusion is short lived, as a loud blast comes from the other direction. Ada, having jumped out of the way, barely missed being crushed by a slimey hand. It retracted back into the mass of ooze, which totally wasn’t gonna haunt Nyxx’s dreams or anything, and slowly came toward them.

Ada sprints back to him, barely needing to catch her breath. “Okay, okay, Nyxx, call backup. I have no idea how to kill this thing and it doesn’t seem like a typical Ghoul.”

Screeching from the monster interrupted him, though, as his attention is drawn yet again to the monster. Knives stick out of its green slime skin, but they don’t fall away, and seem to be extracting some kind of poison into it.

But just from the make of the knives, Nyxx knew exactly who it was.

Turning around, he was greeted by the sight of Red. In full EDEN uniform attire, he stood on the top of car, holding a spectacularly sharp knife.

“Red?!” Ada exclaimed.

“Intel told me you two might need some help, so here I am.” He spoke, his voice flat and monotone as usual.

“Hey, Red.” Nyxx nodded at him. “I assume you’ve got a plan?”

“The makings of one, why?” Red questioned, walking toward the group.

“Cause I need to get her to Tsubaki and the other girls at the school so they can heal her.” Nyxx stated, looking from Red to Xen, who was still wrapped in shadows.

“Right. Well, hurry it up. Ada and I can handle things here.” Red dismisses, walking past and gesturing Ada to follow. “Do be quick about it though, I can almost smell all the blood she’s lost.”

Nyxx winced, but hurried to pick Xen up and find the quickest way out.

“We’re taking her to a hospital, right?” Xen’s friend implored.

“Something like that, but we need a ride.”

“Ah. I have a van.” She states, pointing to a an almost replica of that one van from the ghost cartoon.

“Great, let’s go.” He rushes over, using a shadow to tank the back doors open.

The other girl jumps into the front seat, starting the van and pulling speeding out quickly.

Nyxx looks down, unveiling some of his shadows to see the girl. She was trembling, and her face was scrunched up in discomfort. Vein-like lines trailed from her eyes to her neck, like an infection. Nyxx didn’t know much about human diseases, but green stuff on the face really shouldn’t be there.

His arms instinctually tighten around the girl, a feeling of both anger and worry settling over him.

“Don’t worry, Xen. You’ll be alright, I’ll make sure of it.”

—

ANOTHA ONE FOR MY GIRL @3xen ENJOY LOVELY

[unhealthycopingmech]

Fateful Encounter

Jake Lockley x Jewish!Reader blurb

a/n: spectorjewishboyswag posted which Jewish holiday would be the moon boys favorite and on Jake’s she wrote that Jake’s favorite is Shabbat. My goblin head took that and wrote this. Moonboys are Jewish and sometimes I just want to talk to them about it,,,

Reader is non-binary and can be read as gender neutral! There is religious talk sorta- beware. Inaccurate use of driving apps.

It was a Saturday and you were late. Oh so very late. It wasn’t the greatest idea to stay out as long as you did. But you had promised you’d go with your friends out into town.

Quickly grabbing your keys you rush out of your apartment, down the stairs and to your 2012 Honda pilot. It was a great car. It’s taken you on many adventures (of getting lost of course). The only problem being that- it. Wouldn’t. Start. “Please work with me here.” You mutter to yourself as the engine stutters for the third time this morning.

It’s not that you were one to give up early but it was a Saturday and on Saturdays you weren’t supposed to worry or stress about anything. At this rate you might as well not even try to make it to the synagogue.

No, no; you have one last resort. A cab. You try your darndest not to spend money on Saturdays but desperate times call for desperate measures.

You switch through apps, as a joke to yourself and the people you’ll tell, you select a car listed as a ‘limo’. The cab driver that is so graciously going to drive you to shul was a man named.. Jake Lockley. Shouldn’t be to bad.

Within five minutes of choosing, a limo did in fact pull up to your apartments. Nervously, you knock on the window. The man rolls it down. “Are you,, Jake Lockley?”

You were quite astonished at the man staring back at you. I mean like, he wasn’t what you imagined a cab driver to look like. He had one of those newsboys caps on, covering most of his forehead. Even from your distance you could tell the dress shirt he wore was tailored to his body. His hands were covered in leather black gloves. “You headin’ to the synagogue up off pelican way?” You forget that sometimes the cabbies are the ones that know people. Or maybe you just forgot you put your destination in the ‘extra info’ box and never removed it. “Y-yes” you lean down to look your cabbie in their eyes. And holy cow were his-

“Then yes, I’m Jake Lockley. Hop in.” Jake took his eyes away from yours, looking toward the road ahead. “Right.” You mutter, moving to the back door and settle in.

You catch his eyes in the rear view mirror and give a quick smile. “It would’ve been funny if you weren’t Jake Lockley and you just said that to get me in the limo.” You chuckle weakly. All he does is look at you with those piercing eyes. “No, it wouldn’t.” That’s the only thing he said to you on until you got to the Shul.

It was so quiet that when he got to the shul entrance you were surprised when he called out “have a good sabbos.” When you made your way out. You were too stunned to reply that Jake drove off.

Next week, less of a joke, you ordered a limo to take you to shul again hoping he would show up. So when the limo turned the corner, your heart skipped a beat. Did you like him…you’re not sure. But it was the way you didn’t feel bad or off while riding the back seat. The sleek black limo pulled up and rolled down the passenger side window. “Jake Lockley?” You ask and the same gruff man in the newsboys cap nodded. You noted the way his hands gripped the steering wheel as you said his name. Without a moments notice you opened the back passenger door and hopped in.

“Nice to see you again, do you have like a routine to drive around this area every morning?” You say half jokingly as you settle in. Jake looks at you with those piercing eyes. After a minute you look away, wishing you didn’t make the whole trip awkward. “Yes.” You feel his eyes leave the mirror. “And- you.” He starts, which peaks your interest. “The synagogue, right?” To this you nod, but then give a quick ‘yes’ realizing he needs a verbal cue. Jake starts the limo but uneasiness is eating at you. Maybe you should have just walked, or taken the bus instead. Why did you-. “I- My car has been the shop this entire week, they called this morning that it should be fixed by tomorrow.” You blurt out and lean forward with a worried expression. You have to remind yourself that you don’t owe an explanation but it feels needed. The car stops at a red light and Jake turns to you; for a moment you think you see concern in his face. The ever present crease in his forehead disappeared ever so slightly but like a lightning strike, it came back. “It’s alright.” He tells you, voice soft, softer than you thought he was capable of. You lean back into your seat and cover your eyes with your arm. You keep quiet the rest of the way watching the road and how calmly Jake goes through the morning traffic. This ride did not go how you planned. But that’s life you suppose.

You pull up to the synagogue, you climb out without saying a word. “Hey” you hear him say. You stop in your tracks and turn back to look at him. “You being a good jew…” Usually when people start off with a sentence like that it spells trouble, but something made you listen to him, like he was speaking from experience. “doesn’t diminish…because of the tools you use. You more than..make up for it.” He took pauses like he was trying to find the right words. You were shocked at his vulnerable statement. Did he notice your apprehension? You wanted to know more about him- needed to. Maybe that’s to much for a passing crush. You smile softly, “Shabbat Shalom, Jake Lockley.” You say his name just as softly as he spoke earlier. He just nods at you then drives off. In between the quiet moments of service, you think of him.

[be-the-glenn-to-my-maggie]

Hello ! Okay so this question really has no connection to any fandom in general (except, maybe, Avatar on the intelligent non-human species side?) but I just saw an article about orca intelligence and the fact that we now know they have very strong social bonds, even teach each other things and even have names they use between each other! Anyway, I just saw this and was also thinking about the fact that most people still think they're just big dumb fish and don't ask me why but it made me think again about your excellent posts on Avatar (I told him there was a link!), Quaritch and Jake's family in general.

So I was wondering what you think? About their intelligence and the fact that some people would like them to be considered as non-human (I admit I think that about cetaceans in general personally) as well as your opinion on the fact that individuals in captivity are often captured in the wild and find themselves in honestly pitiful conditions in the company of orcas they don't know and therefore can't communicate with (fun fact: each pod, or group, of orcas has its own language that doesn't correspond to that of other pods).

If you already knew this, I'd be delighted to know ey if you didn't, I might have raised your interest in this and that's just as well. What's more, it might also raise the interest of other people who see it...

What a fun question!! Honestly, no worries at all for any non fandom related question, it means so much that you guys care for my opinion on anything at all! I love the Avatar questions a ton, but it's super fun and special when a question branches out into another fandom or topic.

Yes, I do know about wales and orcas! I was always one of those dirty little mud kids who was obsessed with all animals and bugs and wildlife. I had bins and bins of plastic dinosaurs and book after book on wildlife. I was going to be a vet until senior year of high school, when I decided that taking algebra for the third time meant I wasn't cut out for a math or science career lol (I took it for a forth time for no credit in college 😬).

There is a ton to be said about captivity in general, and the ethics of zoos and wildlife centers. Thankfully most zoos follow much stricter laws now, and the majority of animals you see in care are unable to be released into the wild or are being rehabilitated until they can be. I don't know that there are these same standards yet for large aquariums, and places like SeaWorld that have orcas and whales and sharks. I am not an expert, and it's not something I've looked into in a long time. In general though, I think most of these places have improved, but these large animals, I don't see how they can ever be kept ethically in captivity,

There is also the matter of orcas, who have been a huge talking point as of late because of them sinking ships. They truly are the dickbag bullies of the sea lol, so it's funny to me to compare them to the tulkun. Actually, maybe all the dolphins are the dickbag bullies of the sea. But, orcas are dolphins so they are the same thing. But orcas (also dolphins do this with fish) play catch with seals dude, they slap them back and forth and don't even eat them. Sometimes they make waves too knock animals off of ice and then wait for them to get back on the ice so they can do it again. They are sociopaths. So I think they are smart, but also I'm scared. Dolphins (orcas are dolphins) are one of the few animals besides humans that hunt for fun as well as for food.

BUT ANYWAYS. I don't think orcas can be considered human, they are non-human. Humanity sets itself apart from other species with large scale cooperation, culture and tool use, and abstract thought and reasoning. These are things the tulkun possess in Avatar, and things that are not shared by any other creature on Earth that we know of.

[slightlyaboveaverageiq]

The Whisperer: Part 20 (Wally Clark Fic)

I felt a hot, wet kiss placed in between my neck and my shoulder. Looks like Wally was up. I peeked on eyes open and turned just enough to where I could see Wally looking up from my neck with hungry eyes. He stared at me as he played another and then another going down my arm and shoulder until I had no choice but to lie down so he could continue his light kisses.

“Good morning.” I whispered running my hands through his hair and pulling him down for a kiss. He smiled against my mouth and gently licked across my lower lip waiting for me to open to him. I opened my mouth and our tongues danced slowly around each other while his fingertips just barely touched my skin running across my hips, legs, stomach, anywhere really that he could reach.

“Good morning my sweet girl. I tried to let you sleep longer but I couldn’t quite help myself.” Ah there was the cheekiness. He nudged my legs apart with his knee and rubbed my pussy ever so softly spreading around the already insane amount of juices I had made just from him simply kissing me. “Always so wet for me Morrigan, always ready for me.” He said his eyes drifting between watching me and watching himself play with my pussy.

“Wally, fuck, please.”

“Shh…I’m going to take care of you sweetheart. Just have patience.” Wally and his damn patience, he doesn’t have patience when I want to tease him. I felt him slowly enter a finger in and I groaned at the feeling of being full but not filled enough I reached for his neck in an attempt to pull him down for a kiss but he took my hand and interlaced it was his before bringing it up beside me head. “Just relax Mori, it’s not always a race. Just enjoy it baby.” He bent down and started trailing kisses from my collarbone up my neck, sucking in a few places to make sure a mark stayed. “So beautiful like this.”

“I wanna touch too.” I didn’t mean to sound like a pouting toddler as much as I did but why did I have to have my hands tied up when he got to touch me however he wanted?

“I’m taking care of you this morning. I promise next time you can touch me however you want and I won’t touch you if that’s what you want. But just let me take care of you Mori.” He slid a second finger in and I couldn’t stop the moan that left my throat and he kissed me gently swallowing my moan with it. “That’s it Mori, such a good girl.” He looked back down and watched as his fingers went in and it out my pussy biting his lip as if he were at war with himself about something. I was about to ask him what could possibly require so much concentration when I felt him add a third finger.

“OH FUCK!” I swear I was trying to listen to what Wally said and not be a little shit but it felt too good and I just wanted to cum for him like a good girl. I tried moving faster but Wally stopped and I laid still. For whatever reason this was something that he was determined was going to be slow and I didn’t want to act like I didn’t care about something that seemed vitally important to him. He crooked his fingers at just the right angle and I screamed some mixture of letters and numbers as he hit that spot over and over again at an excruciatingly slow pace before cumming all over his fingers. He groaned low in his throat before pulling his fingers out and sucking them clean before gently cleaning up any mess left over on my pussy.

He kissed his way up my body before settling for my mouth, tucking a star and of hair behind my ear as he did so. He smiled down at me stroking me face. “I love you my sweet Morrigan.” Oh. OH. That’s why he had been so sweet and gentle, he thought I wouldn’t have believed him if he said it while he was taking me from the back. Which I admit would not be the most romantic thing ever but that would negate the fact I knew Wally loved me. He didn’t have to tell me, I could just tell from the way he spoke to me, the way he touch me. But this was important to him, he needed to say out loud that he loved me and he needed me to know he did.

“I love you too Wally.” Which means he probably needed to hear me say it out loud as well. And I would do whatever this boy needed me to do for him ten time over.

[sc0tters]

Like A King | Matthew Knies

summary: when matthew comes home too see you've decorated the place for christmas when things get hot, confessions are made.

kinkmas: day seven (size kink)

warnings: sexual themes, p in v, oral (m receiving!), swearing.

word count: 2.23k

authors note: I don't know what is more surprising, the fact that we have made it over half way through kinkmas or the fact that this is my first time writing for Matthew! Lowkey forgot that I was meant to be doing size kink for like half of this but it was kind of cute so I just went with it. If you want to read more from kinkmas you can find the masterlist here!

Matthew knew you were going to be decorating the apartment today. 

It was the first Christmas you two had together and even as your friends warned him about your love for the holidays. But he truly didn’t know what to expect as he arrived home to see you up on your step ladder with Christmas carols blared through your speaker. A laugh left his lips as he took in your stature in his t-shirt. You were small body in height and size and with Matthew as your boyfriend it made you look even smaller. 

So he smiled to himself as he watched you sway your hips as you hung your final candy cane on the tree “very good job baby.” Matthew leaned against the wall as you stepped down from the step ladder “shit!” You groaned clutching your chest as your eyes went wide seeing him home. 

He laughed as he walked over to you reaching for the speaker remote to pause the music “didn’t mean to scare you.” A smirk played on Matthew’s lips as he settled in front of you. 

It made you playfully roll your eyes “how was practice?” You were quick to change the topic as you pushed onto your tippy toes to kiss his lips “just did some drills for the game tomorrow.” The hockey player explained as his hands fiddled with your shirt. 

You nodded listening to him as you smiled “did you enjoy decorating?” There was a teasing tone evident in his voice as he saw how you had only decorated the bottom two thirds of the tree “okay I couldn’t reach that part!” You scoffed making him erupt in laughter. 

Matthew saw the box of decorations on the floor “tell me you want everything?” He offered squeezing your hand as you nodded. 

In all honesty you didn’t think you’d have this much fun watching him decorate the tree. Matthew listened to each of your directions with a smile on his face as you never nodded him around until now. He knew it was wrong to think of you in that moment sexually when your actions were nothing more than innocent. But as your socks hugged your legs and a smile painted your face as your nipples grazed against the fabric of his shirt. Matthew found it hard to keep himself from losing focus.

You remained clueless even as you were bent over rummaging through the container as you went to find the star for the top of the tree “baby I love you but if you’re trying to send me to an early grave it’s working.” Matthew groaned seeing your ass on display as it was complimented by your red panties. 

It made you blush as you turned to him pulling his shirt over your ass once more “sorry Matty.” You were quick to apologise as you handed him the star feeling your fingertips shiver as Matthew’s touched them. 

There you went again being all sweet and cute making him smile “you like it?” The hockey player asked stepping back on the ground as he looked at the completed tree “think I should be asking you that.” You teased seeing his boner that grazed against his sweatpants. 

Matthew groaned “Aus sent me the video of us on Halloween and I’ve been struggling since.” His confession brought up the reminder of when you two went to Mitch and Steph’s Halloween party as pirates and Matthew spent the entire night stuck to you as your short skirt brought on his boner. The hockey player ran his fingers over your hips bunching the fabric up to your waist “think you deserve a reward for your hard work.” You brushed your hand over his cock making him gasp as his jaw went slack. 

He felt his throat grow tight “you better not tease me.” The boy warned wrapping his hand around your wrist as his nostrils flared. For the last week you had been on your period and before that Matthew had been in Sweden so it was safe to say that he was sexually frustrated. 

You smiled pecking his lips savouring the moment as you nodded “want to make you feel good.” You cooed palming his dick turning him into putty within your fingers “fuck I need you.” His grunt made you drop to your knees as you looked up at him. 

In that moment Matthew swore he was in heaven as your hands rubbed up his thighs “you’ve got me.” You smiled tugged at the material of his sweatpants bringing them down to the ground. 

Your mouth watered at the sight of his swollen tip “please baby.” Matthew begged as he watched you swirl his precum around the head of his cock with your tongue “don’t tease me.” The hockey player groaned as you wrapped your lips around him taking as much of his cock as you could fit in his mouth. 

Matthew chewed at his cheek as he raked his fingers through your hair forcing it into a messy pony “there you go.” He gritted feeling your throat as he forced you to take even more of his cock “you’re so fucking good at this.” The hockey player encouraged you as your tongue lay flat against the underside of his cock. 

The gargling noises you made with each thrust he made had you feeling yourself grow wet with desire “been thinking about you like this all week.” Matthews words made you moan as you stared up at him with batted eyelashes. 

His body stuttered as he felt you begin to take control “my girl like it when I fuck her face huh?” The hockey player caught your chin with his fingers making yours eyes lock with his. 

You couldn’t help it as you nodded clenching your thighs together to relieve some of the tension as you gripped at his thighs trying to steady yourself “gonna take everything I give you today?” Matthew felt his desires cloud his mind as the Christmas carols began playing again “I’m gonna come.” He groaned feeling his hips begin to stammer as your cheeks hollowed. 

It felt like a game to you as you teased him letting a smirk form on your face as you did everything in your power to bring him to his orgasm. So what you didn’t expect was that he would slide his cock out of your mouth when he did. Wrapping his hand around his throbbing dick quickly replacing your movements that your mouth had “stick that pretty little tongue out f’me.” Matthew ordered making you sit on your calves as you did what he told you to. 

Your tongue was quickly coated with his sticky release “fuck baby.” The hockey player grunted seeing his end spurts miss your tongue and land on your face coating areas of your cheeks “dear god.” Matthew moaned watching your tongue roll back into your mouth as you swallowed his cum. 

The hockey player used his own thumb to wipe your cheeks “open up pretty girl.” His voice was soft as you listened sucking on his thumb just like you had with his cock a mere moments before. 

Matthew watched as he removed his thumb from your mouth with a pop resulting in a trail of saliva going with it as it broke landing in your chin “you did such a good job baby.” His words were honest as he helped you up rewarding you with a kiss. 

The taste of him on your tongue was enough to get Matthew hard again picking you up as he kicked his sweats off. His lips didn’t leave yours until you both found yourselves back in your bedroom where Matthew finally got to see what you had done to your bedroom too “really have been a busy girl.” He teased laughing at you as he took in the Christmas themed bedsheets you used. 

It made you roll your eyes “shut up.” You grumbled bringing his lips back to your as your back lay against the duvet. Matthew took the opportunity to grasp at your panties as he toyed with them trying to pull them off of your legs “fuck these are pretty.” The hockey player shoved them into his hoodie pocket as he knew he’d have to fight you to keep these. 

You propped yourself up by your elbows as you smiled “prettier than me?” You asked with a smirk catching your lip between your teeth “never prettier than you.” He shook his head making you blush. 

Matthew pumped his cock a few times in his hand as he stood over you taking in the view of your tiny stature “gonna let me have my way with you?” It was painful how slow he was as it even made you rub your fingers over your clit making you moan. 

Your head repeatedly bobbed “please Mat.” You begged bringing your other hand up to your breast “like it when you beg.” Matthew confessed not giving you a lot of time to respond before his cock cut your off plunging into your cunt not giving you enough time to adjust to him. 

He made quick movements bringing your legs over his shoulders “god!” You moaned screwing your eyes shut as you chewed at your lip “it’s just me baby.” Matthew laughed pressing his nose against yours as you desperately tried to kiss his lips.

It made you pout only making his smirk grow larger “shut it.” Your teeth were gritted as his hands ran over your waist “you wanna take my cock like a good girl?” His question came with his thrusts as he pulled all the way out until just his tip was still in your cunt before he bottomed you out once more. 

Silence covered the room as you nodded “want to hear you say it.” Matthew pinching your cheeks making your eyes shoot open “fuck Matty.” You begged driving your hips against his “please move.” You whined feeling tears well in your eyes. 

Not wanting to fully push you today Matthew listened to you finally doing what you hoped for as his hips began to pick up a smoother pace “fucking missed this cunt.” Matthew groaned feeling the warm walls of your cunt hug his cock “made for me.” You two met when he was in Toronto last summer for training camp and at the end of his time there he ended up in your apartment. Now over a year later the girl his teammates teased him about was now his girlfriend. 

You nodded biting at your lip “I’m all yours Matty.” You confessed not noticing how his cock throbbed at your words. 

The thrusts resulted in a squelching noise due to how wet you were as those combined with your moans painted the walls of your bedroom “don’t fucking stop.” You pleaded bringing your hands up to his face as you brought him into a kiss. 

Your cunt clenched around him as your body grew needy feeling your nipples grow hard as they bounced with each time your hips came together “keep squeezing this little cunt of yours and I’m gonna come.” Matthew warned as he nipped at your neck fanning his breath over your skin.

It sent goosebumps over you making you groan “want that.” You blurted out bringing your hands up to your cunt swiping them over your clit. 

You both grew warm as the tension could have been pricked with a knife “fuck you’re gorgeous.” Matthew groaned as he stared at you “would put a fucking ring on you.” He added making you wonder if it was a heat of the moment thing. 

Matthew watched your body begin to shake “come on my cock baby.” He smiled as you nodded writhing against your sheets “Christ.” You cried as your jaw went slack letting your cunt clamp around his cock. 

Moans fell from your lips as you came bringing on his own orgasm “there you go baby.” Matthew groaned as you came. It brought on his own orgasm making him coat your walls for the second time tonight. 

His head pressed against yours as your chests heaved “that was hot.” Your words made him nod as he slid his cock out of your soaked cunt making you squirm in the process. 

Matthew helped you up as he scooped your legs up “I’m gonna run us a bath.” He mumbled seeing you let out a yawn as you snuggled into his chest nodded. 

The snowflake bath bomb and the peppermint bubble bath made Matthew smile as the Christmassy scents invaded his nostrils as you lay against his chest dragging your fingers through the bubbles “Matty?” Your voice was soft as you looked up at him. 

Your eyes were full as you stared up at his “what’s on your mind?” He responded as he nodded “you mean it when you said you’d marry me?” There was almost a level of fear as you were weary of his answer. 

Instead of answering you with words Matthew instead kissed you “would die happy if I got to call you my wife.” His words made you smile as you nodded. 

Sure you swore Christmas was your favorite holiday to begin with but what you didn’t know was that memories of a proposal, your wedding, and the birth of your first child would all become reasons why you loved December so much.

[alllexxx3]

it's beyond 100% clear u won't get to read that but i kinda think this ain't really relevant.

the other day i ran into this video, it's a woman i follow on ig. rachel something, an american jew who lives in tel aviv for about 4 yrs. and i suddenly could hear u in her words, so i took it as a personal message from the Big Boss, as u used to call Him.

so u see, on the one hand, it's really between Him and i. everything's between Him and i, ain't it?

and on the other, u r my Tutor. my personal Rabbi. u brought me where i stand today. u made me what i am. u brought me home. for all that, no matter how disconnected we might've grown, u'll always have a part of my soul in u. it's inevitable. and i hope u could maybe hear it whisper. idrk.

anyway. about the video, i thought i'd note that i'm not apathetic. i'm aware ofc there's no evidence of this statement. not here. but i posted on fb bc i thought it'd have more impact. i kinda worked on a strategy for my posts on the war. i'm not very sure that's a relevant thing to keep u busy with. to resume, tumblr remains my secret garden. it's the place where i'll post the most personal texts. like this one now. apart from it, i'll b posting on fb and ig. each platform has a different language, different audience and different purpose. damn, got carried away with nonsense.

my only point was i'm not apathetic. in fact, since the beginning of the war, very few things remained that matter at all. i realized i'd become indifferent to many things that used to seem engaging.

i'm drifting away. as always.

truth is, i didn't consider posting on tumblr. bc the only imaginary person who'd read my tumblr is u. and it's been a while since we aren't… one. i mean, i'm aware ofc that at the core we always will b. it's just bigger than any of us. we've just been made this way. but this core exists in the current reality. and here our realities have split. not in 2015. it happened recently. so, i didn't think it was necessary to stir either of our realities.

then, among all the terror news, i read news about u. i don't want to go into details but i think u understand. first one, then another. then i went back to all the news i'd read before - and i started putting fragments together. and then i started praying for u. for all ur loved ones. not just the ones i knew about. but everyone u love. everyone.

i started praying for talya's family. her kids and her husband, he won't hear about me and i've deserved it on many levels. still, i prayed for them. mickey, too.

and then, just this third week of hell, while i was pleading to G-d for ur life and the life of all ur loved ones, i realized i didn't feel resentment toward u anymore. until that day, my feelings for u had always been conflictive. every time i'd bless u for teaching me G-d, for bringing me home, i'd always also spit "screw u!" for lying to me. for denying me the right to know the truth as if i weren't worthy of it. or not strong enough to bear with it. i thought i'd never forgive u such a contemptuous attitude toward me. even though i'm aware ofc i had to if i wanted G-d to forgive my own uncountable misdoings. still, i've been unable to come to terms with it.

that morning i realized all my resentment toward u had vanished into thin air. along with many other things in the face of the atrocity it had lost meaning completely. all i felt was pure sympathy for u and all urs. and i was shocked. and grateful to G-d for gracing my soul with such utter forgiveness.

idk if i should bother u with more even though u ain't reading it. still, for my soul's sake and for G-d's sake, i'll keep "talking" to u as long as the war continues. after that u won't need it. i wrote this bc writing's me. the way that i exist at all. still, i'll make more audios. and likely videos, too. bc even though u won't get to them, i know they'll make ur soul smile. i hope they will. i scheduled Shabbat and sunday to post them.

a hug, tristen! strongest, tightest, longest! with all of me! blessing u and all urs with all my light and all G-d's light!

[forabeatofadrum]

Ljubim te (14/24)

Notes: Hello folks, it’s me again! I am almost done with my thesis, which gave me some time to write and boy am I glad I did. To celebrate, I have two chapters for you. I actually wrote the majority of chapter 15 over 6 months ago and I’ve been sitting on it ever since, so I am glad we reached this point.

After all, I also started on chapter 14 around the same time, but I only just wrapped it up. I got stuck on it a lot. My thesis took a lot of time, and when I was done writing each day, I didn’t feel like staring at another Word document. That, and the news that some people are feeding unfinished WIPs to bullshit like ChatGPT demotivated me to write. I am not aware of anyone using my fic for this, and if it happens, please don’t tell me because it would devastate me, but it should go without saying that people do not have permission to use my work for AI crap.

And lastly, Eurovision 2023 put Slovenia on the map and in Europeans’ minds, but look, Capre Diem slaps.

AO3 | S&C  

–  

DISPOSE

Kurt gives up after three days of phone calls and text messages. He’s even considered stopping by Blaine’s apartment or office, but that feels a bit too much. After five days, he’s certain that he’s not going to see Blaine anymore and he tries to accept that.

Although Kurt thinks he deserves answers, because what the fuck just happened? How could Blaine just dispose Kurt like that, like he’s trash?

Okay, okay, that is too harsh, Kurt thinks to himself, Blaine did not treat you like trash.

Still, that doesn’t make this current treatment less painful.

He does find comfort in the fact that Sunil cannot reach Blaine either, so it’s not just Kurt he’s ignoring. Kurt and Sunil miss their third Boni buddy. Now, they just need to get Boni with the two of them.

“What the hell happened between you two?” Sunil asks.

Kurt lets out a sigh.

“I’ll let you know once I figure it out myself,” he answers, “He’s been ghosting me as well.”

“Have you asked Tadeja?”

Kurt shakes his head.

“Not sure if I should. I don’t know her well enough and I also don’t know if Blaine knows her well enough.”

“They are friends, I think.”

“Are they?” Kurt asks. He doesn’t mean to sound rude. Tadeja is very kind and Kurt also likes hanging out with her. But from what Kurt’s gotten, Tadeja is a work friend and a mentor of sorts. He doesn’t know if she’s someone Blaine would confide in.

Kurt does not want to call Tadeja and raise questions. Kurt’s pretty sure that Blaine does not want people to know that they’ve kissed and yes, that stings, but the closet is the closet and Kurt would rather set himself on fire than potentially kicking someone out of it.

“I think Tadeja is cool,” Sunil says with a shrug, “Might even ask her out.”

“Really?” Kurt asks. He did not see that one coming.

“Yeah,” Sunil says and Kurt’s glad to have a subject they can talk about that doesn’t involve him or Blaine.

“Tell me everything!”

--

Kurt realises that he misses Blaine. It’s weird, because he didn’t see Blaine every day, since they’re both busy, but they would at least text occasionally. Kurt didn’t realise that Blaine had become such a big part of his life in Ljubljana until now.

Kurt isn’t angry. He was never angry. But he does want answers, because right now, Blaine is leaving him in the dark and Kurt doesn’t even know how he’s supposed to feel about it.

Is he supposed to be angry?

Is he supposed to be sad?

Or maybe, is he supposed to be sympathetic?

Kurt remembers the look on Blaine’s face when he realised what was happening and a part of him recognises the shock and despair. A part of Kurt remembers it.

--

The temperatures can rise a lot in Ljubljana, and it isn’t even summer yet.

After classes, Kurt crosses the Three Bridges to go to VIGÒ, an ice cream shop. He and Blaine passed another VIGÒ in Koper, but it was too cold back then.

Koper.

That feels like ages ago.

Honestly, the moment Blaine kissed him already feels like ages ago, although it’s only been a week. Kurt still doesn’t know how to feel.

He’s thought a lot about it in the past week. Kurt and Blaine became friends, but Kurt’s realised that he does not know Blaine. He thought he did, but he was wrong. He had no idea that Blaine was potentially struggling with something.

Of course, Kurt knows for sure, but he just remembers how upset Blaine looked when he ran off. Kurt remembers the first time he realised he liked a guy and it felt wrong. He now knows that it isn’t wrong, but back when he was a kid, it became clear that in order to be normal, he couldn’t be gay.

Kurt’s trying to accept that Blaine is dealing with something. He tries to tell himself that there is nothing he can do. Blaine’s made it very clear that he has no interest in talking to Kurt about what has happened in his room. But Kurt also wishes that Blaine would reach out, so that Kurt can help him.

And again, maybe this is all in Kurt’s head.

Maybe Blaine isn’t struggling at all. Maybe he doesn’t want to speak to Kurt for other reasons.

But Kurt doesn’t know.

Damn, maybe he shouldn’t go to VIGÒ. If the fact that he and Blaine walked past another store can trigger such a reaction, then maybe Kurt should just turn around and go to the Cacao. He turns around and he’s about to forget this whole VIGÒ thing when someone calls his name.

“Kurt?” he hears.

Kurt looks over his shoulder and he sees that Sunil and Tadeja have left VIGÒ.

Right, he knows that Sunil’s asked Tadeja out.

Kurt hadn’t really thought about Tadeja a lot. He’s certain that Tadeja cannot help him, although he does wonder if Sunil’s said anything to her.

“Hey guys,” Kurt says cheerfully.

“Are you also looking for a way to cool down?” Tadeja nods towards the entrance of VIGÒ.

“Yeah, I didn’t expect this hot weather, especially after a cold winter.”

“Eh, you got here in February. It was a lot colder in January,” Tadeja says with a shrug. Then she shoots a quick glance towards Sunil.

“Oh, am I interrupting your date…” Kurt trails off.

“We’re about to go to Tivoli Park, but we can chat for a moment,” Sunil says.

Tadeja nods.

“How’ve you been?” she asks.

Kurt searches Tadeja’s face for a hint of an ulterior motive. Is she asking this because she knows something has happened between him and Blaine, or is she asking this because she is a lovely person? Probably the second, because Tadeja is lovely, but she is also on friendly terms with Blaine.

Kurt decides to give some generic answers about classes and the weather. Tadeja asks how the preparation for the play is going and Kurt’s glad to tell her. Sunil also chips in every now and then, because he’s heard Kurt rehearse in his room, to Kurt’s embarrassment.

“No, no, man, you sound amazing. You can monologue like crazy,” Sunil says excitedly, “Take the compliment!”

“Ah, okay,” Kurt laughs. He doesn’t want to come off as vain, because that won’t help him in this industry, but Sunil is right and he should be able to celebrate small moments. He needs it, especially in this weird time.

“I was so happy when Blaine told me that you wanted me to see it,” Tadeja says, and Kurt tries to keep smiling.

Of course, they cannot ignore Blaine. Kurt once again tries to figure out if Tadeja has a particular reason for bringing him up.

“I’d love for you to be there,” Kurt says earnestly. After all, no one back home can see it, so he’s happy that he’s found some people here.

And then he thinks: fuck it. He’s dancing around the topic he wants to discuss, and Tadeja is right here. This is his moment.

“How is Blaine?” he asks innocently. Sunil gives him a knowing look over Tadeja’s shoulder.

“Good, good,” Tadeja answers, “Busy. We both are. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but there was an issue with sexism on the work floor, but I am currently combatting it, and he has my back.”

Kurt does know of the issue. It’s why Blaine came to visit him.

“So we’re working on that, and of course, the workflow doesn’t end there. We’ve decided to not partner with those sexist pigs, which is a big change in our business plan and…”

Tadeja continues to talk about her work and Kurt nods attentively, although he doesn’t really follow. He never quite understood what Blaine’s company actually does and Blaine never felt the need to explain it.

“… so that is why we’re kind of stressed. It’s a good thing Blaine has a break coming up.”

“He does?”

Tadeja gives him a weird look.

“Yeah. Quinn’s coming, remember?”

“She is?” Kurt is unable to hide his surprise. Quinn is still coming?

“Yeah?” Tadeja says as if it’s obvious, “They’ve been planning this visit ever since he left America. I can imagine he’s nervous. It’s finally happening! I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Of course.”

Kurt and Sunil look at each other and Sunil sees that as his cue to cut in. He tells Kurt that it was a lot of fun running into him, but that they have to go and continue their date. He makes it look like he’s the one who wants to get out of the conversation, not Kurt, and Kurt appreciates it.

They say their goodbyes. When they’re out of sight, Kurt looks at VIGÒ before sighing and walking away.

--

End notes: Damn, you know Kurt’s really going through it when he skips VIGÒ. VIGÒ is also my favourite ice cream shop in the city. There were other ice cream places, but VIGÒ had a lot of interesting flavours. I particulary liked the VIGÒ flavour and the lavender flavour. They also switch it up every now and then.

While sparsely researching for this chapter, I actually found out that VIGÒ opened a second store in Ljubljana. And guess where? Kongresni trg! The place to be!

[httpknjoon]

(re)starting over again | kth; 6.5

plot | Your four-year relationship with Taehyung was going well and strong. Until he was involved in a car accident, resulting to him losing some memories. By some, it means everything that happened five years ago. Things he remember? His friends, his bakeshop, and his ex girlfriend from the past. With that, you tried to keep up, restarting over again.

words | 3.8k+

genres | fluff, angst, amnesia au

pairing | taehyung x reader

warning/s | flashbacks ahead (you might get confused)

note | Hello! MC doesn't have many appearances in this one but I promise she will have more in the next one. I just want to say THANK YOU for your comments and asks from the last one! I really loved reading them! I hope you'll enjoy reading this one too. Let me know your thoughts!

main masterlist | series masterlist  |  previous |

FIVE YEARS AGO, Taehyung briefly moved out of his shared apartment with Jimin. He had constructed a plan in his head just a couple of weeks after the bakery opened. Since the said opening was a total success, Taehyung decided to find an apartment of his own, one that is near their business location. Luckily, he found one that he thinks is perfect. 

“Move in with me?”

One and a half months later, after living in his own place alone, he asked Lily the question. They just finished watching a movie and just spooning on his couch. He tried to calm his heavy-beating heart as silence took over. The fact that he could not see Lily’s face didn’t help. She remained quiet and he tried to wait patiently. But then, Taehyung felt Lily’s hand moving his arm on her waist, heightening his emotion. But she moved, turning around just to meet his eyes.

“I would love to.” she smiled.

There, it felt like a new chapter had opened in Taehyung’s life. Lily doesn’t have many things, so within that same week, she moved into his one-bedroom apartment. Admittedly, they were both excited. The thought of living in the same house and doing something domestic with his special someone fed Taehyung’s romantic views of things.

But they were dating for only six months at that time and that was also the same time they had known each other. Living together, in the beginning, was all about rainbows and butterflies. But once they went past that phased, they began learning more and more things about each other that can be a more significant issue in their relationship soon.

“Babe, have you seen my eyeliner?” Lily asked as she rummages through the perfectly set throw pillows on their couch.

“No, I haven’t, darling.”

Taehyung watched, still wearing his apron since he just finished trying some new pastry in the kitchen. Lily hurriedly looked for that eye makeup, even looking under the surface of their carpet and other furniture in the living room. 

Somewhere in their first four weeks of living together, Taehyung learned how his girlfriend often misplaces her things. Every time she would come back home, she would just drop her stuff everywhere. One time, he even found Lily’s makeup purse in the freezer. He would trip on the neon pink high heels lying around the living room or accidentally sit on her favorite shade of lipstick on their couch. Taehyung is very much aware that he is not the neatest person in the world. But at least he cleans up every time he makes a mess in their kitchen.

“Can we watch other things?”

Another thing he learned, they have different tastes in both music and series. Taehyung was fine at first since he knows everyone has different interests. Every time he puts on a Marvel movie on their TV, Lily would ask to play another thing. He would give way and watch reality shows with her. But that’s what happens every single time. Lily always gets what she wants. Taehyung tried making her watch one of his favorite films with him but she ended up sulking. They did not even get to finish it.

Then somewhere sometime during their third month of living in one home, Lily dropped hints about her thoughts on his career path.

“What’s that smell?” 

Lily walked out of their shared bedroom. She was ready to leave for an advertisement photoshoot her mom booked her. It’s early in the morning, the clock just ticked to six. Taehyung was trying out another recipe before he gets to the bakery later.

“Oh, I was baking this–”

Lily cuts him off before he can finish his sentence, “I don’t like it.”

“What?” His head tilted in her direction. His confused eyes met her empty ones.

“I don’t like it,” she repeated.

He chuckled, thinking that she was kidding, “Darling, it’s cookies.”

“Yeah, but I don’t like the smell of it. Plus, I think the smell of everything you bake sticks to every fabric in this apartment,” she explained.

Taehyung stopped from what he was doing and crosses his arms over his apron-wearing chest, “So what are you trying to say?”

“I am trying to say don’t bring your baking stuff here in our unit. You and Jimin have your own shop to do all that.”

Picking up her changing tone, Taehyung just sighed, “Okay. Let me just finish this single batch.”

“Great. I appreciate that.” she smiled. “Anyways, I got to go, babe. Mom will tear my ear off if I show up past her scheduled time.”

It began with that: Lily complaining about the smell. Later, the ‘mess’ he makes when baking in the kitchen. Then suddenly she hates the clicking sound of the oven when he is using it. She said that it distracts her. Suddenly, there is a list of a hundred things she does not like about baking in general. Jimin even noticed it when he visited there one time.

“I’m just saying, why do it here? Why do baking in this kitchen?!” Lily hissed as she drops her purse on the couch. “I hate that my house has to smell like a bakery all the time–”

“For your information, this is my house too.”

“Yet I was the only one who paid the bills for last month.”

“It was one time and I already paid my share, Lily! The bakery is just starting out and–” Taehyung tried to explain but she interrupted him once again.

“I should have told you this. I knew that bakery will never work.”

Taehyung paused, trying not to display his confusion and little shock with that, “What?”

But Lily remained angry as she lets wordy come out of her lips, “If I am being honest, I don’t see any potential from it, Taehyung. I think both you and your friend are just wasting your money and time on starting your own business! You should have just accepted that contract offer from my–”

Two months into their relationship, Taehyung met Lily’s mom when he decided to accompany her on going to her photoshoot for that day. He would drive her to her shoots every time that he can.  Lily would complain that the road traffic would make her late and Taehyung would try to ease her up with a lighthearted joke. Sometimes, it would work. Sometimes, it would not. 

Anyways, Lily’s manager is her mom ever since she was a kid. When he met her, Taehyung was waiting for Lily somewhere in the studio during her photoshoot. Her mom was late but simply sat on the vacant monobloc beside him. They don’t know each other but her mom kept on saying things like: “Isn’t she pretty?” or “She should have posed this way.”. When she asked him if he was one of the staff members, Taehyung chuckled respectfully and introduced himself as the model’s boyfriend.

“I don’t remember my daughter telling me she is dating someone,” she uttered with a strict tone.

For some reason, Taehyung felt a little terrified hearing that since she seems like a very stern person. Also, it was his first time meeting the parent of someone he dates. Lily later introduced them to each other formally after the whole shoot. Gladly, her mom invited him to an unexpected lunch. Lily said he doesn't have to say yes if he doesn’t want to. But Taehyung accepted the invite. In the middle of that same lunch, her mom complimented him on his looks, asking if he also works in the same industry. Taehyung shyly denied it and proudly replied about starting a bakery with his best friend, sharing that they have been dreaming of it since they were little kids. He remembered seeing her mom’s face grimace upon learning that. Lily looked away. Taehyung tried not to think much of it.

“So you’re saying you never believed in me?” Taehyung interjected, voice a bit weak. But he wants her to deny it. He wants her to say that he was wrong, that he was just overthinking things, and that she is just using the wrong words to express herself.

But Lily paused and chewed her lower lip, crossing her arms over her chest, “It’s not that I don’t believe in you. It’s that I think baking is not for you. More opportunities are made for you than playing with flour every day.”

Taehyung’s shoulder slumped as his breath shook, “It’s my dream. It’s my passion, Lily.”

“And not every dream or passion can get you far. And when things don’t go well with your bakery, it’s like you pour all your money in the drain, and it–”

“It would be gone.” he sadly finished her statement. ”But at least I tried.”

There was a moment of silence after that. Lily remained standing in the middle of their small living room while Taehyung slowly sat on the sofa. After hearing her say those things, he cannot stop himself from questioning everything. Not just their relationship, but also his own being. He hated the feeling, it reminded him of his mom.

“I thought you were going to support me in this, Lily. I supported you with yours,” he mumbled.

“Babe, I’m just saying this because I care for you. Please don’t take offense from it. I– Where are you going?” Lily asked when she noticed him picking up his phone and keys as he stood up.

Taehyung frowned and simply shook his head, “I need some fresh air.”

“When you said that, I felt like I already knew where our relationship was heading,” Lily spoke.

It’s been almost an hour since Lily came to the bakery to meet him. Jimin left a while ago too, so they can have some private time. The moment they sat on one of the empty chairs in the shop, Lily already requested to please don’t bombard her with questions. She was delicate and sympathetic talking to him.

“Okay, Taehyung. I know that you are confused and have thousands of questions in your head. But I will give you two options. A, you will ask me all of your questions– one by one— and I’ll answer them. Or B, we will pick up where was your last memory and I’ll tell what happens later on.” Lily placed her clasped hands on the table.

Taehyung pursed his lips, staring back at her. It took him some seconds before forming a response.

“Are you going, to be honest?”

“Of course,” Lily replied, followed with a small smile of assurance.

So he chose the second option with the trust that she would be truthful in telling their story. Here they are, almost an hour later, Taehyung tried to digest everything he just heard. Yes, Lily shared her side of the story but he could also imagine what he could have felt at that time. 

“I was already feeling guilt all over me by the time you got back. It was only an hour. I was planning to apologize to you but you said you wanted to end everything between us.” 

“I think, you were only out for less than an hour. And the longer you were not there with me, all these heavy, negative emotions started to weigh over me. I hated it. I was like a ticking bomb.” Lily sighed in regret for her own actions before. “The emotions were all mixed up. I was growing mad and sad at the same time. I was starting to question myself about what I said. So when you got back, I was overwhelmed with emotions. When you tried to have a proper conversation with me, it just emerged into this another argument. Then you said that if we will not meet halfway by settling our differences, we should just break up. And I, being a prideful person, immediately agreed and packed up my things the same night.”

Lily rolled her eyes at her own description of her past self. That is how she sees herself from that event of five years ago.

“Prideful?” Taehyung repeated, evidently confused with her use of words.

She looks at him, “Looking at it now, I had so many realizations. Prideful because I was too proud before. I thought I was right with what I said and expected about your career and business. So when you said the thing about of break up, I felt like ‘Oh, okay. It will be your loss. I won’t be the one who will be a failure.’. Then before I left, you told me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“You hoped that I feel the same happiness in modeling in the same satisfaction you get from doing your passion.” she smiled softly. “I think you said that because you want me to understand back then why you went with baking and having a co-owned bakeshop even though it was a very risky move to do.”

Taehyung nodded wordlessly. He knew he needed some time to fully process everything. But for now, he felt pleased with what he heard. Everything somehow made sense. 

“The truth is I was never into modeling. My mom was always the one who pushed me to it ever since I was four.” Lily revealed and Taehyung’s mouth gaped. “So after us and some realizations, I finally decided to leave her management. I began working on the career I really wanted, the one I went to study for.”

“Cosmetology,” Taehyung mumbled with a tone of understanding. “You told me before that you only went for that course since it will contribute to your modeling.”

Lily chuckled, “Well, I also used that as an excuse to my mom so she will let me take that course. But I have been dreaming to be a stylist ever since I was eight. I tried telling my mother about it before but she always rebuked it... One thing I learned is I did the same thing to you and I am always sorry for doing it. I just never say it to you after we broke up.”

“Why? Did we never meet each other again?” he asked, shifting on his seat.

“Nope. I saw you many times near the salon before since there is a bakeshop supply store there. But I was always ashamed to approach you. I am always ashamed of how and why I left. I felt like approaching you would be just a disturbance to your peace and you seemed happier after us.” Lily’s lips formed into a smile. “I’m glad that my poor expectations before were proven wrong. You and Jimin have one of the best bakeries in the city. Although I never walked in here again, people around me always have your products. Even my son loves your cheesecake.”

Taehyung blinked as he tried not to look surprised, “You have a son?!”

“I do! Wait…” Lily excitedly reached for her phone and showed him her current lock screen. It’s an image of a toddler messily holding a chocolate ice cream cone. “His name is Leehyun. He turned two three months ago.”

Taehyung can feel the happiness and love radiating from her as she talks about her son. Her eyes sparkles while she stared at Leehyun’s picture, all while telling a short story about him. It simply showed how time has already gone by and she is doing better than before.

“He looks cute.” he complimented. “Actually, I made some cheesecake. You should take it home as a gift.”

“Oh, no. I will pay for it!” Lily uttered.

“Yeah, you should. You literally said that my business is going to fail before!” 

Taehyung joked and luckily, Lily quickly picked that up. She first looked at him with a dramatic shocked expression before they shared a good laugh. After that, they glanced at one another with more relaxed smiles on their faces.

“I’m really sorry, Taehyung. What I did and said before is all wrong and hurtful. You deserve someone who can give an equal amount of attention, care, and love you deliver to everyone, including to me when we were together. I am sorry for ever doubting you and your passion five years ago. It was all my fault for projecting my insecurities and other issues to you. I really, really hoped that you are having greater people and things around you now.” 

Her voice quivers towards the last sentence. Taehyung stared at her for a minute, studying her face. Her eyes were glistening like she is about to cry. She was biting her inner cheeks. He knew she is sincere. Sincere but nervous. So he gently reached out for her hand that was on the table. It’s frozen cold.

“We’re good.” he simply said, followed by a nod and smile.

Hearing that, Lily sighed shakily. Her shoulders visibly slumped like weights have been lifted off them. It made Taehyung wonder if she have been feeling that heavy before they met here today. Taehyung rarely hears such a genuine apology so he decided to forgive her. He always hoped to hear one from someone for a long time now anyway.

“Thank you. It means a lot.” Lily stated. She exhaled again before asking, “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“How are you now? Like do you place out of place here in the bakeshop after waking up?”

Taehyung leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest, “I… I’ve been confused a lot of times. Many customers come in here talking to me like I know them when I really do. But Jimin helps me to explain to everyone what happened. Also, adjusting to the new house, he helped me.”

“That’s great! I cannot imagine how hard would it be if you were dating someone before the accident.” Lily shared, unaware of your existence.

The thought of you quickly popped into his head as he felt his stomach drop. Taehyung gulped, “What? Why?”

“I mean, you forgot about– Wait, you are not dating anyone, are you?” Lily noticed how his demeanor changed so she asked.

“... I am. She’s a nurse.”

“Oh my god.” she covered her mouth. “How long have you been dating each other?”

“Four years. We’re also living together.” Taehyung replied so stiffly, more nervous because of Lily’s reactions.

“Oh my god,” she repeated, sadder this time. “Please tell me she knows that you are talking with me right now, Taehyung.”

His heart beats faster as he wordlessly shook his head as an answer. The guilt was all coming back to his body when Lily called his name with a disappointed tone.

“Tae… You should have told her about this. Does she hate me?”

“No… I don’t know,” he replied, pursing his lips.

“Does she even know about me?” 

“I don’t know.”

Lines formed between her eyebrows before she asked a question again, “Do you even talk to her?!”

“Of course!” Taehyung quickly replied. He hated how he sounded defensive.

Lily looked concerned. But she just said, “Okay, can you promise me that you will tell her about this when you got home?”

Taehyung nods, “Yes, I promise.”

Maybe he really just wants to be left alone.

You stared outside the van’s window, leaning your head against it. It’s been a couple of hours since you and Jisoo saw Jimin at the mall. You tried not to think much about it but you failed. You were thinking of why Taehyung told you they are busy at that hour. Why Jimin is in the mall? Or is any of them lying?

Your head remained occupied throughout your preparation for Jisoo’s bachelorette party. Luckily, you managed to still make your glittery makeup great and amazing. You even styled your hair to a sleek high bun in favor of the black mini blazer dress you’re wearing. You also wore dark high pumps for it. 

Currently, Jisoo’s cousins, the bridesmaids, picked you up. As soon as you got in the van, they made you take a shot of alcohol. You were the last one to fetch before you all go to the place they planned to go to. The maid of honor is with Jisoo, she will be the one to take her there. Julia was supposed to come too but her shift schedule got in the way. Nonetheless, you never felt out of place with Jisoo’s family.

“Here, take another shot.” Yoonji handed you a shot glass filled with tequila once again.

You turned your head to her and giggled, “I already took one.”

“Yeah, but you seemed to be thinking a lot of things. This one will help you forget it for the meantime,” she replied with a smirk.

“Okay.” you laughed and drank it. “I just hope I don’t forget too much!”

Lily did stay for another hour after making him promise. They, mostly Lily, talked about the last five years. She shared how she already cut her mom off, how she met Leehyun’s father and many more. Before she left, Taehyung tried to give her the whole cheesecake in a cute box. But she urged on taking only the half as she don’t want her son having too much dessert. 

“You should take the other half to your girlfriend. She’ll love it,” she advised as she insisted on paying him full price for it.

In the end, she left the money on their counter and hastily exits the bakeshop. Taehyung laughed as he watched her leave since Lily knows that was the only way he will accept her payment. When Taehyung was already closing down the shop minutes later, he received a text message from Lily.

It was nice seeing you again, Tae! Thank you for today and the cheesecake. Take the money and put it in your cash register! LOL! Anyways, keep that promise, okay? Let me know if she hates me, just kidding! Good luck, Taehyung! :)

He smiled reading that one. Then, he messaged Jimin, updating him, and texting that he will be closing the shop. Although alone, he managed to do it fast. Taehyung went home with a box of half cheesecake in his hands. He already made a plan to tell you about everything tonight. He’s hoping that he can wait for you to come home.

SOMETIME AROUND 2AM, Taehyung woke up to knocks on the front door. By then, he found himself sleeping on the couch in the living room with the television playing some random movie. He was waiting for you to come home. It took him half a minute to get up and realize that it was already late.

“Kim Taehyung, are you in there?!”

Someone outside the door continued knocking– slamming on the door. He figured that maybe it was you. So, he opened the door. He did not expect what he sees.

There is a short-haired woman in front of him. You were at the back being supported by another woman since you seemed like you cannot balance yourself. Your hair looked a little disheveled as your head kept on nodding down like you are falling asleep. Then slowly, you looked up at him. He can already tell you had too many drinks. From a blank stare, your expression changed to a happy and surprised look when you recognized who he is.

“Helloooo, looove!”

additional note: wasted mc coming up soon. let me know your thoughts! thank you for reading.

RESTARTING OVER AGAIN TAGLIST [closed for now] @halesandy @telepathytae @boohoobabe @hopeonysus @taffyteffy @jkismyasmr @pnlpbnl @arusio @rpkth @cinnamonruts @xyahrinx @betysotelo18 @linours @sugaslittlekookies @doublebunv @dahliasbouqet @jeontier @lust-kth @aria-grace-scott @milkteallday @hoodalmighty @kiwuki @seolaquotes @daydreamiies @starlight-night0 @chaoticbisous @hoodalmighty @mageprincess7 @byunniebaekhyunnie @yady24 @hiimnothing @koreanaestheticc @prlan @hautae @shin-ie @blancflms @jeonkoookiee @satorinnie @rjsmochii @yoonglesdoll @somewhereinthestarss @dxestars @hoonicookies @turnthepageandbeburnt @heyjiminnie @bri-mal @teddybeartaetae @kaal-ee @vanntaesworld ​​

  PERMANENT TAGLIST @dunixxd @cixrosie @moonchild1 @jksjx @embrace-themagic @buttvi @starbtslove @missseoulite @alpacaseoks

[sergeantxrogers]

| sanctified |

Summary: Bucky Barnes’ holy grail and safe haven are your body and soul, and after getting a taste of them, he finally knows what it means to be a sinner. 

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x f!reader

Word count: 2.7k

Warnings: Smut!! (switch!Bucky, choking, light spanking, orgasm control, slight exhibitionism), some crying, confessions of love baby

____________________

Bucky Barnes never had a serious girlfriend. Sure, there were girls he’d go out with, press a little smooch to their lips just out of principle, girls he’d walk home after a trip to the fair, girls that would follow him around Brooklyn watching his every move in the hopes that they would catch his eye and that he would give them more than just a polite smile. 

Bucky Barnes used to be a ladies’ man, girls batting their lashes at him when he and Steve passed by on their way to Bucky’s place for dinner, throwing themselves at his feet any chance they’d get because they wanted to be something special to him, they wanted to mean something to him, and Bucky always rejected anything serious with grace. 

And then he fell from the train. And he hadn’t seen a girl his age for almost 50 years after that. He had forgotten what it was like to be smiled at, to be searched for in a crowd, for someone to call out his name - his real name, not Soldat. 

He had gotten used to the harsh orders and cruel insults, the flirty, boyish Bucky that winked at the ladies and guided them during dances hidden and stashed away somewhere deep inside him, dormant and asleep. He was fine with being ignored after everything that happened with Steve, and the fall of HYDRA, and Shuri “fixing” his brain. Fine with staying in the shadows when he didn’t need to be out of them, fine with avoiding people and missing their eye, slipping through the streets of New York like a cat, his only goal to get from point A to point B.

Until he met you. 

You, the part-time waitress that worked at the restaurant he frequented with Mr. Nakajima. Bucky took a liking to you the second he saw you. The do no harm, take no shit attitude that every fiber of your being seemed to be dipped in intrigued him. He liked watching you work, multitasking between orders and receipts and drinks and money and all things in between. It was fascinating to him, especially the side-eyed glances you’d give him with an accompanying little smirk whenever he sat down at the counter with his older friend. Intriguing you were, so much so that he quickly learned what days you came in, and what days you didn’t: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. 

Yori kept pushing him to ask out the “pretty waitress” at the restaurant, and though she was pretty, she wasn’t the one he had his eye on. 

“You should go out with her, she’s a nice girl,” Yori’s soft voice would mutter into his ear, and Bucky would give him a smile and a shake of his head.

If only you knew, Yori. If only you knew, he thought. 

The flirting started simple enough: a sly smile as you greeted him when he walked in. An “accidental” brush of the hand when you’d hand him his third beer. Biting your lip whenever he called your name out to pay. It was simple enough that Bucky’s elderly friend stayed oblivious on the Wednesdays they’d go out for lunch together. 

And truly, Bucky had no reason to come to the restaurant three times a week, twice without the company of Mr. Nakajima. No reason but the sight of you, and it was enough to keep him drawn in, keep him coming and throwing his money on food he never ate and beers he downed without a second thought because he was so enamored by the way your eyes glimmered whenever you gave him a smile. 

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays went by and by until he started dropping his gaze below your neck, pants growing uncomfortably tight at the way you’d bend over to get a new roll of receipts under the counter, or the small sliver of stomach he would notice beneath your shirt whenever you’d reach up for a glass. 

And it wasn’t like you were oblivious either; on the contrary, you stared at the door on the days you knew he’d come in, waiting anxiously for him to come and sit down just so you could feel his presence. It wasn’t that long before you were asking your coworkers to cover you for a few minutes just so you could lean against the counter by him to chat (and give him a peak of something special, but that was besides the point). 

Chats soon turned into jokes and full-blown conversations, with Bucky staying behind long after closing time just to talk to you about anything and everything, from his past to the way you wore your hair on that particular day. 

Which is how you found yourself in your current little predicament. 

“Fuck, Bucky,” you hissed, slapping your hand against the counter beneath you. 

Bucky’s hand travelled up your back, entangling in your hair and pulling your head back, your back arching against him. 

“What happened, baby?” he cooed into your ear, thrusts relentless and never faltering. You whined in response, swallowing back a heavy breath as his lips trailed against your shoulder.

“So... so good,” you managed, and you felt him smirk against your skin. 

His hand left your hair, snaking around to the front to wrap around your neck loosely, and a chill ran down your spine. 

11:47 p.m. and an hour and a half past closing time, shades only half shut on the glass door of the entrance, the only light in the room coming from the streetlight outside and the digital clock on the wall behind you. 

Heavy lidded eyes traveled to watch the door, only a few feet away from where Bucky was pounding persistently into you, your skirt flipped up and panties around your ankles. The fact that anybody walking by would just have to look through the blinds to see you getting railed made you breathless.

Bucky’s low hum floated into your ears, hot breath fanning against your cheek as he rolled his hips to hit that spot that made you clench around him. 

“I’m- I’m gonna-”

Your stuttering made him slow his hips, and in return you whimpered.

“Gonna what? Gonna cum? Hm?”

You huffed at his condescending tone, and he slowed down even more, to the point where you could feel him dragging along your walls, hot and heavy. 

“What if I just-”

Bucky stopped moving his hips completely, and tears pricked at the back of your eyes as your chest heaved, his grip tightening only slightly around your throat.

“- don’t let you?” he finished, pulling out almost completely then, and you groaned in frustration. You felt the knot that had been forming in your stomach loosen, the tingling in your legs fading, and you furrowed your brows in a desperate plea for release.

“P-please,” you mewled. “Please, please, I need to, I have to-”

Bucky seemed to be satisfied with your begging, because he thrusted himself into you again, bottoming out with the slap of skin on skin and your quiet, breathy moans being the only sounds in the restaurant. Each thrust brought out a moan from your lips, a layer of sweat covering your skin. The first tear left your waterline and rolled down your cheek as he pressed down harder against you, the edge of the counter digging into your hip bones deliciously. 

“More,” you whispered, eyes clenched shut as your head went dizzy with pleasure. 

Bucky obliged, nipping at your neck as his hand that wasn’t wrapped around your throat travelled downwards to lay a slap to your ass, and you hissed at the sting. Your orgasm washed over you quickly, eyes rolling to the back of your head and legs going weak. If it wasn’t for Bucky’s body holding you upright against the counter, you were certain you would’ve collapsed. Warmth took over your belly as Bucky groaned in your ear, cumming inside you, and he let go of your neck, allowing you to drop your head down in an attempt to catch your breath. 

After he had pulled out of you carefully, helping you pull your panties back up, you turned around, a lazy smile on your lips as you leaned back against the counter on your elbows. Bucky gave you a skeptical look, smirk crawling onto his face as he narrowed his eyes at you.

“What is it?”

You shrugged, tugging at the hem of his shirt to straighten it out a bit. 

“Nothing,” you said mindlessly, smile only growing larger.

He chuckled in amusement, grabbing your hand in his. 

“What is it?”, he repeated, and you sighed dramatically.

“Well, I mean...,” you started, eyes travelling around behind him in false apprehension. “I hope you know this means you gotta take me out now, Barnes.”

Bucky stared at you for a moment, the grin on his face only brightening. 

“Alright, I promise I will.”

____________________

And Bucky kept his promise. 

Five days after your initial hook-up, Bucky came buzzing at your apartment building entrance, bouquet of flowers in his hands, smile on his face. 

“Wow, Barnes, I didn’t know you were into romantic gestures,” you teased, taking the flowers from his hands. He shrugged, shoving them into his pockets as he walked alongside you. 

“I wasn’t. Not really, never used to be.”

He glanced at you as he finished his sentence, but you were too preoccupied with the smell of fresh blossoms to notice the smile playing on his lips. 

“Things change, I guess,” he muttered, and you grinned at him. 

“So, where are we going?”

“I told you already,” he said with a teasing shake of his head. 

“It’s a surprise.”

____________________

Three official dates later and Bucky finally came up to your apartment. 

Albeit, a bit hesitant, because it was well past midnight and “I don’t wanna wake up your neighbors with my huge footsteps, doll.”

It took some convincing but he finally agreed to come up and sit with you a while. You said you would show him your favorite books, introduce him to some new literature he could catch up on. And you definitely planned on doing that, but things with Bucky have a funny way of playing out differently than you expect. 

“Jesus fucking Christ, doll-”

Humming in amusement, you smiled down at him, straddled around his thighs.

Your fingers gripping his hair, you held his head so his eyes were level with yours, and you saw the struggle in them as your other hand teased his cock through his boxers with gentle fingers. 

“What is it, baby?” you pouted, tugging harder on his hair, and he winced at the feeling. 

“Stop teasing,” he hissed through clenched teeth, and you feigned a disappointed frown. 

“Now that’s not very nice of you.”

Bucky shut his eyes quickly in a split second of frustration, and when he opened them again, you noticed his pupils were blown wide, staring into yours.

After a deep sigh, his demeanor changed, lids heavy and lips swollen from the bites and kisses you attacked them with previously. 

“Please...,” he said in a whisper. “Please don’t tease me.”

His words brought a smile to your face, and you pretended to think about it, tilting your head to the side slightly. 

“Alright, pretty boy, since you asked so nicely.”

You punctuated your sentence with a roll of your hips against his, and a soft whimper left his lips when your bare pussy rolled over his dick. 

Your fingers found the hem of his boxers, and you pulled them down, teasingly slow, Bucky lifting his hips a bit to make it easier for you. He breathed a sigh of relief at the feeling of release, and you felt your breath quicken at the sight of his cock, heavy and hard and begging to be touched. 

“Please.”

It came out quietly, desperately, as he stared into your eyes, and you almost smirked at the way he looked near tears. You hummed in adoration, leaning your head down somewhat to press a kiss to his lips. 

“So needy...,” you muttered into his mouth as you rolled your hips upwards, the tip of his cock gliding through your wet slit, and his hips bucked up involuntarily. 

He whined against your lips, nipping at the bottom one when you sank down onto his cock without warning. A sigh left your body when you felt him stretch you out, filling you out completely. You clenched around him, trying to adjust, and he groaned, forehead dropping against your chest. 

No matter how many times he’d been inside you, you always need time to adjust, and you would wait. Oh, you would wait hours if you needed to, because once you got a taste of him, that was it. You were ruined for other men. 

And Bucky could spend hours inside you, warm and wet and perfectly made for him, your body wrapped around his. All you had to do was ask him, and he would fall to his knees in worship. 

You sat on him, just like that, for... seconds? Minutes? An hour, maybe? Bucky couldn’t tell because it didn’t really matter to him. His mind was clouded with the feeling of you tight around his throbbing cock, and your lips on his neck and jaw, and your fingers in his hair. 

Bucky looked up at you, almost glowing with sex and gratification, and he swore to himself he would pray to you, pray for you, pray with you, every single day for the rest of his life. How he went a century without the absolution of your touch was entirely beyond him, but he knew he wouldn’t let you go now that he had you in his grasp. 

You started moving, slowly, teasingly, and Bucky’s breath caught in his throat. Sighs and pants left your lips at the feeling of being full, stuffed to the brim, and it took everything Bucky had in himself not to grab your hips and absolutely destroy you himself. 

“Oh, God,” you panted into his ear, rolling your hips, chasing your pleasure as Bucky’s chest heaved with labored breaths. 

It was pure torture, in the best way. His eyes watched the way your brows furrowed slightly in concentration, your lips slightly parted. Watched your hands search for purchase on his body, anywhere they could find, as you clenched tighter around him. 

If there was a place he had to choose to stay for the rest of eternity, it was here. 

“I love you,” he mumbled, almost subconsciously, and your movements faltered only slightly. 

Biting your lip, your eyes searched his face, and found only honesty. Bucky’s hands came up to rest on your thighs, fingers digging into them, the contrast of one warm hand and one cold hand sending shockwaves down your spine. 

“I love you more,” you whispered, pulling him in by his cheeks for a short kiss. 

Your pushes and pulls, ups and downs, gasps and moans grew quicker, more incessant, and Bucky could tell by the way your walls fluttered quickly around his cock that you were about to cum. 

____________________

He laid there, next to you. 

He laid there a long time, fingers tracing shapeless patters along your arm as you slept, and his eyes studied your face.

No, Bucky Barnes never had a serious girlfriend. There were girls he’d go out with, girls he would smooch. Girls he would walk home and girls he would smile at. None of them ever gave him the feeling he was running after, always thinking it was right there but always just out of reach. The feeling you gave him, like he was underwater but could still breathe. Like he was on fire but cold as ice, like he never breathed properly before he met you and now, after getting a taste of you, he would never be able to breathe properly without you again. 

He laid there, body heavy and mind satisfied, and he understood. He understood why Adam ate the apple, why Orpheus turned around. He understood why Sparta started a war for Helen, and he understood why Romeo drank the poison. 

He would do it all, sin and be punished a million times over if it meant he would get a glimpse of you every day. 

____________________

TAGLIST:

@dreamsley​ @a-ngeli-que​ @mindyoshiii​ @agirlinherhead​ @s-katergorl​ @ace-27749​ @leyannrae​ @tailsoflightning​