#(immediate big headache) and then i got to the meeting room only to discover that the kids i was there to read to had not yet arrived

[fingertipsmp3]

No because my sense of direction is so bad I got lost in a small village school today

[clarisse0o]

Camp Wiegman-Part 39

Lucy Bronze x Ona Batlle

Alternative Universe : Military School

Words : 5k

Masterlist

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Saturday, January 16th; 1:00 PM - Lucy's Room

I've been awake for a good ten minutes, but I don't dare move. I'm so comfortably settled, but more importantly, I'm afraid of waking Lucy, who is holding me firmly against her. The only thing that could make me move is my incessant headache. And yet, I'm still lying here... I'm savoring this rare moment that I might never experience again. I take in the perfection of her face and her relaxed features, which make her look so innocent. It's as if I'm her big teddy bear. The only regret I have is not being able to admire her stunning emerald eyes. Mine start to close when I feel her stir. The last thing I want is for her to catch me watching her. Her hand, which I realize is under my t-shirt, slowly withdraws after gently caressing my spine. My body betrays me, sending a thousand shivers through me. I pretend to wake up, burrowing into her chest to hide my face. I blink my eyes before lifting my head to meet the gaze of the eyes I've longed for. Their piercing effect makes me melt even more. She immediately lets go of me, as if holding me like that would break some forbidden rule. I make sure to hide my disappointed expression.

"Good morning..."

"Hi," she replies.

"Can you free my leg, please? I’d like to get up."

I tighten my legs slightly around hers when I realize I'm actually holding her back without meaning to.

"Can’t we stay like this a little longer?" I ask, burying my face in her neck.

"No," she sighs.

"Please," I groan.

"I said no," she says firmly, pulling her foot out of my grasp with a sharp movement.

"What's wrong?" I mumble.

"The problem is you're getting used to things I don't want," she says, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I need to get up. You probably have a headache to deal with."

I groan, letting my body, which had been resting on hers, fall onto the warm mattress. My headache is far from my biggest concern at the moment. At least I got to enjoy her arms until she woke up. She gets up, leaving me behind without a hint of regret.

"You didn’t seem to mind sharing your bed last night..."

The reaction I wanted has its effect. She freezes just as she’s about to leave the room. I bite my lip to stifle a smile. I'm glad the alcohol didn't take away that memory. She seems to know exactly what I'm talking about, judging by her response.

"Sorry. It was inappropriate of me. I wouldn’t have done anything like that if I were sober."

"The easy excuse..."

"A valid excuse. I can't handle alcohol at all," she retorts.

"If you say so..." I mumble. "Good Lord, it’s one o’clock," I laugh, changing the subject.

"Really?" she says, surprised. "The last time I woke up at this hour, I was your age."

"Yep, you’re old now."

I tease her as I slide my hands under her pillow to hug it. I recognize Lucy's scent on it. It's almost a substitute for her absence. Almost.

"If you say so," she shrugs. "Are you hungry?"

"A little," I admit.

"I'll make us something and see if the girls are already awake. Don't take too long, please."

"Mm-hmm."

I bury my head in her pillow right after. My response must not have pleased her because she turns around to open the shutters. I groan as daylight floods the room. Even with gray clouds, it's hard for me to adjust to so much light all at once.

"At least now I'm sure you won't fall back asleep."

I watch her leave the room with a proud smile on her lips. I wait for the door to close before groaning into the pillow. I'll never tire of waking up next to her, but this morning feels different. She seemed to be distancing herself. I hope it was just my imagination. For now, the most important thing is that she doesn't discover my feelings for her. I risk losing her for good. A perfect woman like her could never be interested in someone like me. I'm a magnet for trouble. After a moment of reflection, I decide to get out of bed. I immediately miss the warmth, and I understand why when I see my bare thighs. Damn. This outfit shouldn’t bother me since I often sleep this way, but knowing I spent the night like this with Lucy makes my cheeks heat up.

"Damn... What kind of mess am I getting myself into again..."

I rummage through her closet to find something to cover my legs. The first thing I find is a pair of sweatpants that will do just fine. As I turn around, I stop for a moment, noticing my suitcase at the foot of the bed. I thought I had left it on the other side. I shrug and head to the living room.

"The girls aren’t awake yet?" I ask when I see Lucy alone.

"They’re already gone."

I raise an eyebrow at the sticky note she hands me. I can't believe it. They're both out in the city. My best friend, who came to spend the weekend with me, is out with a girl she’s only seen twice... I can hardly believe it.

"Nice sweatpants," she snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Oh, um... I helped myself. I didn't see my suitcase."

"No worries," she chuckles. "They suit you well. Here, I made this for you."

"Thanks."

I down the glass of orange juice in one go to swallow the pill she had prepared for me. Lucy watches me with amusement. She pours me another glass at my request before returning to the stove.

"What are you cooking?" I ask, looking over her shoulder.

"Pancakes. Can you make your hot chocolate and my coffee?"

"Sure. How do you take your coffee? Black?"

"Yeah, no sugar, no milk."

"You drink it straight? Yuck," I grimace.

"Indeed. It's better that way."

"Gross."

Lucy laughs at me. I get to work, making our hot drinks one by one.

"Luce?"

"Yeah?"

"Where's the cocoa?"

"In the cupboard," she says, pointing it out to me.

"Thanks."

I grab the box to scoop two spoonfuls of cocoa into my mug, then bring everything to the table where our plates are already set. I sit down since I have nothing else to do.

"Do you want to do something this afternoon?" she asks me.

"I don't know," I shrug. "What if the girls come back before we do?"

"I doubt it," she chuckles. "Do you want to go out?"

"For what?"

"I might have an idea," she smiles mischievously.

"Okay. It can only be good."

She joins me with a plate full of pancakes, which she sets in the middle of the table. I grab one before she even sits down.

"Are you that hungry?" she giggles.

"Don't tease me. Everyone has their own post-party effects. Mine is eating a lot. Anyway," I say, clearing my throat. "So, I was wondering if you knew that Mapi and Ingrid have been texting?"

"I found out yesterday," she shrugs. "Does it bother you?"

"No, no... Well... Never mind."

"Tell me."

"There's nothing to say... Just that it's surprising."

"I don't think so. They're made to get along."

"Hmm... Do you know if... I mean, is Ingrid a lesbian? Or maybe bi?"

« She's only had relationships with girls before," she replies simply.

I nod as I spread Nutella on my pancake. Maybe Mapi does have a chance with Ingrid after all. I hope so. She deserves to be happy, even if it means getting involved with my school instructor.

- Are you jealous that she might be seeing someone else?

I look up to see Lucy with an unusually serious expression. I shake my head. No, I don't feel jealousy. It's something else, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Mostly, I feel concerned for her. What I want more than anything is for her to find the happiness she deserves.

- No. Mapi told me she likes Ingrid. I'm just checking, that's all.

- They're both adults; they can handle their relationship, she says with a shrug.

- Did Ingrid talk to you about it too?

- Yeah, and it seems the feeling is mutual.

- Oh my God, I laugh. What is all this going to turn into?

- A total disaster.

We laugh heartily. I'm relieved to know I'm not the only one who thinks so. Maybe she planned to see Ingrid instead of coming to spend the weekend with me. I'll definitely have to ask her about that.

- Want to taste?

I look up to see her offering me her cup of coffee.

- No, thanks.

- Come on, do it for me, taste it, she insists. You promised you'd try it once. You can even add milk or sugar if you want.

- Fine. Just this once, then.

I take the cup and breathe in the scent, which isn't as unpleasant as I expected. I take a deep breath before sipping. The effect is immediate. I spit out the second sip onto the table as Lucy bursts out laughing. She immediately gets up to grab some paper towels.

- Disgusting!

- You're overreacting, she laughs.

She wipes up the mess on the table before I can help.

- Let me see.

I obey, feeling my cheeks heat up as she dabs at my chin where the coffee must have dripped. Her smile widens, clearly amused by my obvious embarrassment.

- First coffee experience: memorable, she comments. I'll make you try a different one next time.

- No thanks, I grimace. This time was already too much.

- I promise it'll be better than this one.

- We'll see.

- It's already decided. I know you'll do it.

I stick my tongue out at her in response. It's certain that I'll give in if she pushes a little, but she doesn't need to know that. She ruffles my hair and retrieves her cup, finishing it in one gulp. She heads off to dispose of the used paper towels. I finish my own cup and glance over at Lucy. She's just opened the sliding door, letting a blast of cold air into the room. I'm glad I put on sweatpants. She steps out onto the terrace for a few seconds before coming back inside. She smiles when she notices me watching her.

- Are you done?

- Um, yeah… I reply, eyeing her curiously. What are you planning to do?

- I want to clean up after last night's party. You can go take your shower.

- I'd like to help, I insist.

- It's not necessary. I'm just going to mop and everything.

- At least let me clear the table, I negotiate, already starting to do so.

She shrugs, conceding defeat. I load the dishwasher while she clears the toppings. Once everything is put away, I leave to get ready. The only hint she gave me was to dress warmly. I'm tempted to wear the sweater she lent me last time. I never bothered to return it, and she never asked for it back. After some thought, I choose one of my own, then lock myself in the bathroom to take a shower.

Saturday, January 16th; 3:00 PM - Lucy's Building.

- Where are we going? I ask impatiently, like a child.

- You'll find out soon enough. Calm down, will you? she teases.

I bite my lip to keep from smiling. The elevator doors open to the basement. She noticed I only had sneakers or city boots, so she lent me a good pair of shoes. I deduced we’ll be walking and it’ll probably be cold. I feel like a little girl waiting for a surprise. I start to head toward her car, but she stops me.

- This way, Ona.

- We're not taking the car?

- Not today. The roads are pretty clear.

I furrow my brow as I follow her to a garage. My jaw drops when she opens it. If I expected that… She wants me to get on *that*?

- What's the matter, Batlle, getting cold feet?

- Do you even have a license for this thing?!

- Do you think I keep it in my garage just for fun? she mocks. If you're scared, we can take my car.

- Is that a challenge?

- Maybe. You tell me.

Her smile makes me give in. A freaking motorcycle. If I expected that! She’s made me experience everything I’ve ever wanted to do in life so far. This surprise is definitely worth it! It’s a sporty bike, metallic blue. It’s as impressive as her car. The silver rims stand out perfectly. I love this girl. She's completely nuts! She hands me a pair of gloves, which I gratefully take. I put them on without even thinking about the helmet she's bringing over.

- Damn, I groan.

- It’s okay, I’ll help, she laughs.

Without asking, she places the helmet on my head, slowly pulling on each side. I thank her when she pushes aside a few strands of hair that decided to stay in front of my eyes.

- Lift your chin. I need to adjust the strap underneath.

I comply, letting her fasten the helmet. She closes the visor with an amused smile when I lower my head. She gears up as well before looking at me. I move my head to get used to the feel of the helmet. I feel like my head is being squeezed with this thing.

- Have you ever been on a motorcycle?

- No, but I’ve always wanted to try, I admit.

- Alright. In that case, you'll hold onto me. But make sure you stay upright. Don’t lean with me when we turn, okay?

- I get it, yeah…

- If you don’t feel comfortable, just let me know.

I nod with a smile that she returns. She rolls the bike out and closes the garage. She climbs on, leaving me stunned for a moment. She looks so badass on it. She totally has the biker look with her black outfit. She motions for me to come closer. I snap out of it and move towards her. I brace my hands on her shoulders to climb on behind her. I lift my leg, but it gets stuck on the seat because I didn’t raise it high enough.

- Great start, she giggles.

- Sorry, it’s my first time, I defend myself.

- Hold onto me, alright? she warns playfully.

I blush and manage to get on the bike on my second try. My first instinct is to hold onto her waist. She doesn’t seem to mind, as she turns the key. The bike purrs with a sound as pleasing as her Audi. She must have a passion for big cars and bikes. She starts moving the bike without warning, and I instinctively press against her, wrapping my arms around her. I hear her laugh, and the vibrations coming from her body against mine make me blush again. She stops when we reach the outside.

- Ona, you’re suffocating me.

- Sorry, I say, immediately loosening my grip.

- I’m not asking you to let go, just don’t squeeze so tight, okay? Here, give me your arms.

She grabs my wrists and wraps them around her the way they should be. She starts the bike after waiting for my go-ahead. At first, I tighten my grip, but I loosen it shortly after. I stay in that position for a while until I get used to it. I notice she’s making sure to keep a reasonable speed. Despite her instructions, I still managed to lean with her during a turn. I got scolded, which reminded me of my mistake. I never imagined it would be so hard for my brain not to follow her movements. After that incident, I made sure to be more careful. I smile stupidly as we pass all the cars stopped at a red light to reach the front. I’ve always dreamed of doing that one day, and now it’s happened. She supports us with the tips of her toes when we’re stopped. I’d like to help, but I can’t touch the ground from behind. So I leave my feet on the footrests.

- We’ve got a bit of a drive ahead. Do you mind if I take the highway to get there faster? she asks.

- No, go ahead. I trust you.

- You sure? You’re not just saying that to make me happy?

- No, no. Please, go ahead. You probably haven’t ridden in a while.

- "Yes, it's true," she admits to me. "Thank you."

I hold on to her as she takes off at full speed. I'm so surprised that I press myself against her. From her laugh, I think she did it on purpose. We stop after half an hour of driving. I'm almost certain she didn't obey the speed limit, given the number of cars we passed. My smile doesn't fade when I see where we are. She never fails to surprise me. The landscape is still magnificent. She parks her motorcycle in front of a chalet that must be a small café in the middle of a small forest. I mimic Lucy, taking off my helmet and placing my gloves between my legs.

"Wow..."

"It's beautiful, isn't it? Are you getting off?"

I listen to her as I clumsily dismount, accidentally bumping into her. She doesn't say anything, just smiles. She must have picked up on my awkwardness by now. She engages the kickstand and gets off as well. She stretches to loosen up her legs while I take in the vast forest in front of us.

"Did I drive well? You weren't too scared?"

"When can we do it again?"

She laughs, telling me that there's still the return trip. We enter the small chalet, where she seems to know the owners since she introduces me and entrusts them with our helmets. The owner wishes us a good afternoon before we step outside, where I take a deep breath of fresh air.

"So, what's next on the agenda, Commander?"

"Walking," she smiles. "Let's not waste time, I just received a message. We need to be back home by six o'clock."

"Why?"

"We need to meet up with the girls to eat in town, then we'll go to the same bar as last time with my friends. Does that work for you?"

"I don't really have a choice. You've planned everything behind my back."

I puff out my cheeks to show my displeasure. She pinches them, deflating them instantly.

"I just found out myself, so don't pout at me, okay? It's not my fault!"

"Uh-huh, sure," I say, crossing my arms nonetheless.

She surprises me by wrapping her arm around my shoulders. I relax, resting my head on her shoulder. I don't stay there long as she pulls away after kissing my forehead.

"Come on, you little grouch."

I smile softly at the unexpected gesture. I realize she's becoming more and more affectionate with me. I feel the need for more, but I doubt that's what she wants. I only realize she's moved ahead of me when she calls out to me from a distance. I quickly catch up to her, and we head into the beautiful forest stripped of its foliage. Everything is white with snow. I shove my hands into my pockets to keep them warm.

"How do you feel about joining a new class on Monday?" she starts the conversation.

"I have to admit, I haven't had a second to think about it. I'd say I'm curious and a little stressed at the same time. I'm not alone, so everything should go well."

"You don't need to worry."

We continue talking about the subject until we reach the end of the path. We've arrived at a small lake with a stone waterfall. I haven't even finished drawing the landscapes she showed me last week, and now she's already showing me new ones. Lucy suggests we walk around before heading back. It's the perfect thing to relax. We continue moving forward, taking the path on the right. The silence is peaceful, but it's pleasant. I feel good. I don't think I've ever felt this good before. I feel happy and surrounded, like never before. I doubt I'll ever experience this moment as intensely again. I turn around to see Lucy lagging behind me for the first time. She's the reason for my happiness, I know it. She's going to make me burst with a thousand feelings if she keeps acting the way she does with me. She makes me feel like a different person. It's as if I can do anything by her side. Yet, I've always been told that I'm an incapable child who will never succeed in life.

" Lucy?" I call out to her, walking backward.

"Hmm?" she responds, finally looking at me.

"Thank you for everything... Thank you for being you and for transforming me into who I am right now."

"I'm not doing anything special."

"Oh yes, you are," I chuckle. "You don't even realize it."

"Don't you want to walk normally? You're going to hurt yourself again," she teases.

"No way, look, I've got this under control!"

I try to prove it by speeding up. Lucy's amused smile warms my heart in a way I can't control. This day is just too perfect to be real. I was about to say something, but my feet decided to get tangled up.

"Be careful!" she nearly shouts.

Too late... I land on my butt. I hear Lucy's laughter ringing in my ears. I groan and look at the ground to see the damn branch responsible for my stumble. I've just made a fool of myself. I let my head drop and find myself staring into Lucy's green eyes.

"Poor fool! It's not like I didn't warn you!"

"You'll see who's the fool!"

I knock her off balance as her legs straddle mine. I pull her hands, which she instinctively put forward, and gently bring her down with me. I groan as she ends up completely on top of me, but I can't help bursting into laughter when I hear Lucy groan.

"That'll teach you to make fun of me!"

Without warning, her fingers start tickling me, inflicting a torture I hate more than anything. I beg her to stop, but she continues. She only stops when I start running out of breath.

"Apologize."

I can't say a word, mesmerized by the sight in front of me. Her smile, showing all her teeth, captivates me so much. I only realize I've placed my hands on her thighs when her smile suddenly disappears.

"Ona..."

I still can't say anything. Her tousled hair gives her an incredible charm. My heart is about to explode... But everything fades when she moves away to sit on top of me.

"Ona, we can't. I can't. You're my student."

"I'm far from being just your student..."

"I know, Ona," she sighs, running a hand through her hair.

"You feel the same way I do," I murmur in shock.

"No," she shakes her head. "There's no way our relationship can go any further than it already has. I'm risking my job and... I can't. I thought you couldn't either, with your relationship with Feli."

I laugh bitterly. She has no right to use that excuse when I was ready. She feels something too. Otherwise, she wouldn't have reacted the way she has these past few days. Her behavior has changed. She's become more attentive, worried, and... And she was jealous yesterday. She can deny it all she wants, but she was irritated that guy was checking me out.

"That's the best excuse you could come up with?" I ask coldly.

"Ona..." she sighs.

"If you didn't feel anything like you claim, you wouldn't have reacted so excessively with the salesman. You also wouldn't have let me cuddle you when we got back from the mall, or sleep with you last night, or kiss my neck. We like each other. What's wrong with that?"

"There's nothing wrong with it. I-I just can't. It's beyond my strength, and I thought it was the same for you. I've just crossed the line these past few weeks. I shouldn't have opened up to you so much. It just complicated things. I should have stayed professional until the end."

I think I would have preferred if she had no feelings rather than reject me for some unknown reason. My world of happiness just collapsed in a fraction of a second. What else was I expecting anyway? I knew she wouldn't want me. Who would, anyway? I just didn't expect it to hurt this much. It makes me realize how attached I've become to her and the extent of my feelings.

"We should head back," I murmur.

"Ona..." she says sadly.

I stop her from saying anything else by pushing her off me, a gesture that feels far too easy. She doesn't even resist. I clumsily get up, too disturbed by what just happened. I retrace our steps without bothering to wait for her or even glance at her.

Saturday, January 16th; 10:00 PM - The United.

We've been at the bar for a good hour. The same people as last time are here. I'm impressed by how Mapi has managed to fit in. She's always had an easier time with social situations than I have. Everyone's having fun around the pool table while I stay back with my glass of iced tea. Mapi and Ingrid are crushing Jenni and Mary. It seems like this afternoon strengthened their relationship, as they're now teasing each other. I glance over at the other girls who are mocking them, then end on Lucy, who has stayed at our table. It seems she's met an old acquaintance, but I doubt it's just anyone, given how the girl is eyeing her up. No one seems bothered that she's off on her own. She doesn't seem bothered by it either. The girl keeps touching her arm and laughing at whatever she's saying. I feel desperate watching them like this, boiling inside. I'm incapable of doing anything. Lucy shut me down. She doesn't want me, and she's continuing to make that clear right now. And to think I had just acknowledged my feelings for her. Maybe it's not so bad that I know now. Maybe I can pull back my feelings, but I doubt it. Not long ago, I wasn't even ready to have a new relationship, and now, it's the first time I’ve felt this much jealousy. I sigh and look away, taking a sip of my drink. The only thing left for me to do is to put up barriers. That's what I did this afternoon. We haven't spoken since our confessions. I have to suppress my emotions. It's for the best for everyone. I smile at Mapi as she approaches me with a huge grin.

- "Did you see my crushing victory?!"

- "Oh... Yeah, I saw it," I replied. "Crushing, as always!"

I try to appear normal, but given the scrutinizing look she's giving me, I guess I failed miserably. She tilts her head slightly before sighing.

- "I'm going out for a smoke. You coming with me?"

- "Uh, yeah, if you want. I thought you quit?"

- "I did, but one every now and then never hurt anyone. Come on, hermana, it'll do you good to get some fresh air."

I smile weakly as she drapes her arm over my shoulders. Unfortunately, we have to pass by our table to grab our jackets. I try not to meet the eyes of the two people there, but it's really difficult. Especially when I end up locking eyes with Lucy's furrowed brow. Or should I say, my supervisor's.

- "Where are you going?"

- "Getting some air," Mapi replies. "We'll be back."

I quickly turn on my heels to follow Mapi outside. We sit on one of the benches against the bar's facade. I fix my gaze on a spot on the road where a few cars are passing while Mapi lights her cigarette. I catch a glimpse of the smoke escaping her mouth before she offers me the cigarette. I hesitate for a moment. I used to smoke, but I quit at the same time as I stopped doing drugs. She rolls her eyes and insists, bringing the cigarette directly to my lips.

- "Tonight you can. I think you need it."

The temptation is too strong. I take the cigarette between my fingers and take a deep drag, closing my eyes. It's like riding a bike, you never forget. I exhale the smoke, savoring it as much as possible. When I open my eyes, I see my best friend smiling broadly. I take another drag before handing it back to her and resting my head on her shoulder.

- "Is it Lucy?" she asks, getting straight to the point. "I noticed you haven't spoken since you got here."

- "She shut me down, Maps. She figured out how I felt, and she shut me down."

- "Oh..."

- "I felt ready, damn it. Why does she feel the need to ruin everything?"

- "Do you think she feels the same?"

- "I thought so, but with her rejection, I don't know anymore. Why would she want me anyway? I'm just a troubled girl. I've never understood why she was so interested in me. Maybe it's just because I remind her of her ex, and she thought she could save me, unlike her."

- "Her ex?" she frowns.

I sigh heavily, taking another drag from the cigarette she offers me again. I haven't talked about this story to Mapi or anyone else, for that matter. Lucy's past is none of their business, but now that I remember, it's totally understandable.

- "Forget it," I mumble. "I just don't know what to believe anymore..."

- "What are you going to do...?"

- "Pull away, I guess."

- "Ona..."

- "What?" I reply coldly. "What else do you want me to do? Huh?! She doesn't want me. I'm not going to force her! One thing is for sure, I'm not going to feel bad for nothing."

- "Fight for her... I'm sure she's worth it. She cares about you, it's obvious. You finally admitted you like her, and I've never seen you so attached to someone. When you used to go back to Barcelona, you barely talked to me about the friends you made here. You talked about her..."

- "No, that's out of the question. If she wanted me, she wouldn't have shut me down the first time. It was too good to be true anyway. I trusted the wrong person again. The only thing to do to minimize the damage is to pull away before I get too hurt."

- "You're so stubborn..." she sighs. "There has to be an explanation for all this."

- "There isn't always, Mapi. Even if there is one, I don't want to know it."

I take the cigarette from her again. The nicotine's calming effect settles into my system. I had forgotten how good it could feel. I frown when the cigarette is abruptly taken away before I can take a second drag.

- "Hey, what are you doing?"

My first reflex is to look at Mapi, but I quickly realize it's not her. I look up to see Lucy standing in front of us, with a stern look that would have definitely affected me in other circumstances.

- "Give it back."

- "No way."

- "What does it matter to you if I smoke?" I growl. "Give me back that cigarette!"

- "I said no."

She's daring me to take it back, but I'm not going to play her game over a stupid cigarette. I hold her gaze for a moment before closing my eyes and shaking my head. So she doesn't want me, but she keeps bothering me about what I do. It doesn't make any sense. I stand up and deliberately bump her shoulder as I head back into the bar. Her sigh behind me doesn't stop me. I'm going to handle this my way, whether she likes it or not. She's not going to be pleased with how I change my behavior towards her. I drop my jacket at the table and join Lucy's friends who are still gathered around the pool table. They invite me right away to start a new game, which I accept without hesitation. I team up with Aitana against Jenni and Ingrid. I don't know if it's a fair match, but Aitana seems confident. We start the game as Mapi and Lucy return. I ignore them and focus only on the game we've started. Time flies by with one, two, then a third game to break the tie. I try to laugh at Aitana's jokes, but I admit I'm forcing it a bit. She tried to get closer to help me with my shots. I wasn't thrilled by the contact at first, but I eventually let her do it. It's finally midnight when Lucy suggests we head home. She invited Ingrid to stay over again. This doesn't sit well with me, as I imagine she'll be sleeping with Mapi. Mapi also abandons me for the ride home. She whispered that I should take the opportunity to talk to Lucy, advice I didn't follow. Our drive back was silent. Lucy tried to start a conversation once or twice, but I didn't respond. We arrive at her apartment in a tense atmosphere. The girls quickly retreat to their room, sensing the tension between us. I sigh in frustration, fully understanding what Mapi is trying to do. She wants me to change my mind, but it's not going to happen!

- "Do you have a blanket?" I finally ask.

- "A blanket?" Lucy repeats, puzzled. "Why?"

- "I'm sleeping on the couch."

- "Ona..." she tries, tilting her head slightly.

- "Yes or no?" I question her more coldly. "Either way, I'm staying here."

She looks at me for a moment before sighing. No, sweetheart, I'm not changing my mind. I watch as she lifts the couch cushion to pull out a duvet and two pillows. She hands them to me while I turn the couch into a bed. Well, at least I won't have to worry about a bad night's sleep.

- "Thank you."

- "Good night..."

She murmurs the words so softly I barely hear them before she disappears down the hallway. She returns a moment later with my pajamas. I head to the bathroom to change and brush my teeth before returning to the living room. I close the doors behind me for some privacy and make sure the curtains are drawn so I can sleep in tomorrow morning. Once I'm ready, I place both pillows on one side and wrap myself in the thick duvet with a sigh of relief. It's definitely not as good as being in Lucy's arms, but I'll have to get used to it.

Sunday, January 17th; 2:50 AM - Lucy's Living Room.

I clutch the duvet as tightly as I can to muffle my sobs. I try to calm down, but it's no use. At least I haven't been loud enough to wake up the whole apartment. No one has come to check on me, even though I've been like this for about ten minutes. I don't even dare get up to grab a tissue or a glass of water. I'm too afraid of waking someone. I freeze and hold my breath when I hear the double doors open. I slowly lower my head, clutching the duvet as tightly as possible to make it look like I'm still asleep.

- "I know you're not asleep."

I tense up at the sound of Lucy's voice. She slips under the blanket I haven't let go of. I try to push myself further against the backrest when I feel her behind me. I don't want to feel her against me, but her arm pulls me back while taking hold of my hand. I instinctively pull it away.

- "Take it."

I bite my lip, opening my eyes to see she's brought me a pack of tissues. I take it timidly, thanking her in a voice even I can barely hear. I immediately use a tissue. Meanwhile, she firmly keeps her arm wrapped around my waist. I'd be lying if I said it didn't have an effect on me... I hate her so much for making me feel this way.

- "This is the last time we're sleeping together," I murmur.

- "Go back to sleep," she whispers in response.

She won't be able to change my mind on this. I fully intend to keep this promise. I'll even go to Jaha and ask to move back into my dorm on Monday if I have to. In the meantime, I take advantage of her arms and warmth one last time to calm down from the nightmare. My breathing returns to a regular rhythm, and fatigue finally gets the better of me.

[unfortunatelysage]

“I love my wife” but make it g/t

-I have pretty much never written from a giant pov because it’s not my thing but I just gotta this time so here’s a mix of g/t and wife-loving himbos-

-slight nsfw warning, just a p/rn mention at the very end. welcome to adulthood-

I was warned about the honeymoon phase ending, but never believed them. My wife and I were different. We got along like best friends and soulmates, and almost never fought. Everyone cites “the straw that broke the camel’s back” being the start of a tumultuous marriage, but I’d say our hay bale was in tact after a good five years.

The couch creaks slightly as she nuzzles into the crook of my arm. I subconsciously wrap my arm around her in response, embracing her warmth.

“This one reminds me of Sniffles,” Gabby tells me, and I look up from my phone to see the cat’s ears perked in our direction. Looking back at the screen, the TikTok of a cat jumping toward a table only to miss strikes an uncanny resemblance to the misguided confidence of our cat. I chuckle in agreement.

Deciding we wouldn’t give her sufficient attention, Sniffles relaxes her ears again and turns her head away from us, sneezing. She sure likes to live up to her name.

“Bless you, Sniffles~” we say in slow unison, not unlike elementary school children thanking a presenter after an assembly.

I swipe up to view the next video, as Gabby hoists herself up from her position against me. “I’m getting water, you want any?”

“Yeah, if you would. Love you,” I coo, knowing she’ll be back in under a minute.

“Love you too,” she replies, walking into the kitchen.

I turn off my phone and rest it on my chest with a hand over it, closing my eyes and smiling. I must be the luckiest man in the world. She’s beautiful, she’s intelligent, she’s funnier than I could ever hope to be, and-

A shrill screech and a crash sound from the next room. Jumping with a start, I bolt into the kitchen, darting my eyes around in hopes of meeting my wife’s. She’s nowhere to be found.

“Gabby?” I ask the empty room, waiting for the walls to give me an answer. I pace around the table, looking up and down. “Babe?” I call louder. She couldn’t have left, the only door in the room leads to the living room- I would’ve seen her.

My thoughts are interrupted by a cold and uncomfortable sensation from below. Looking down to my socks, I discover they’re soaking up water from the floor. The liquid pools around the shattered black porcelain of the “Mr.” mug we got as a wedding gift. My eyes drift up again. The matching “Mrs.” mug sits empty on the counter.

“Oh, no…” I mutter, squatting down to the floor to carefully pick up the pieces. As my hand extends toward a large shard, a quiet shriek catches me off guard from about a foot away, underneath the lower cabinets. I freeze, channeling all my attention to the source of the noise. Not letting my eyes leave the area, I slowly place the broken mug pieces on the counter and lower myself back down to the floor. First fingertips, then elbows, then shoulders and head.

Sat cross-legged underneath the cabinets is my beautiful, intelligent, funnier-than-me wife, no bigger than a golfball in her curled up state. Her hands are clamped over her mouth as she sobs, wide eyes glued on mine. My heart sinks.

“Babe, what happened?” I murmur, assuming my voice could hurt her ears. A twinge of guilt immediately hits me, knowing that stomping around and calling out her name must’ve scared her half to death.

Her hands lower from her face, but she continues to hyperventilate. “Holden… I was get… getting us water, and, and-“ a staggered inhale interrupts her. “And I… I sud-dudenly had this ki… killer headache,” she tries to explain through sobs and hiccups. “Then everything was big and you came in and you’re big and I got scared and you’re still scaring me and I don’t know what happened but I broke the cup and-“

“Gabby, take deep breaths,” I stop her, and she begins taking shaky breaths, letting sobs escape here and there. “I’m sorry this happened and I’m sorry I’m still scary, I’ll do whatever you need to make this easier but right now we need to calm you down.”

She pauses, trying to calm down before giving her first request.

“Back up,” she chokes out. “Please.” The request shoots right into my heart, but I comply. I have to remind myself that she still loves me and we’re okay, she’s only scared because I’m much bigger than her now.

“Is this okay?” I ask softly.

“It’s better,” she replies half-heartedly, her breathing starting to slow as she calms down. “I’m so sorry.”

“For what?” I ask.

“I broke the cup and now you have to deal with me being tiny and you never got your water and oh my god I’m so small,” she cuts herself off from her half-sensical rant.

“Babe,” I smile, doing my best to swallow my own worries. “The water and the cup don’t matter. What matters is you’re okay. You know I still love you, even if you’re two inches tall or two meters tall.”

“You don’t know how tall a meter is,” she laughs weakly.

“It’s like a mile, right?”

“I’d call you a dumbass if you couldn’t kill me right now,” a smile creeps up on her face, but she’s still shaking.

“I’m six-one and you’re what, five-three?” I ask, cocking my head. “Well, right now you’re like zero-three, but even when you were a normal height I had a lot on you and still didn’t kill you. Why would I change my mind now?”

She doesn’t reply.

“Exactly, I wouldn’t,” I answer for her. “This is extremely weird, but this isn’t the first quirk of yours I’ve learned to live with. We can work through this together. Can’t we, Gab?”

“My sudoku phase and rock collection were quirks. Is this really a “quirk” you can handle?” she asks, barely audible. “I don’t know if I can handle it.”

“Well, we both have to learn to handle it. There could be positives to this!”

She looks unconvinced at first, but smirks and meets my eyes again. “I’m definitely cuter now,” she says smugly, stepping out from under the cabinet.

“You were always cute but sure, and we’ll spend less on water and food,” I raise my brows.

“This is great for the economy.” She reveals her full self to me, the whole finger-length of her. Gorgeous as ever.

“What are you gonna tell your boss?” I ask, feeling anxiety creep up on me again.

“Fuck that job,” she replies, walking toward me. “This size difference would make excellent porn.” She giggles at my bewildered look. “I’m kidding~”

“That makes one of us,” I smirk, getting my head down to her level and pursing my lips out for a kiss. She responds the best she can, with a small peck to my bottom lip.

“I guess we have no issues then?” My lovely, tiny-little wife asks me, but before I can answer, we both hear a sneeze from the room over.

“… one issue. We’ll keep you above ground,” I remark.

[amive2567]

Snowy sneezes

Class 1a x GN! Reader

Quirk: Snowman ~ can produce snowmen with everything that includes water. They can't melt (only by other quirks, not through natural causes), and they do whatever the host wants. If the host doesn't give any tasks immediately, the snowman becomes a body of its own forever. Unfortunately, they can't speak :( The more water there is in the air, (or any other source of water), the bigger the snowman gets. 

Warning: Crack, Fluff, mention of sexual content (because Mineta), swearing (because Bakugou), a bit OOC Midoriya

Summary: Y/n is sick, and every time they sneeze, little snowmen appear in their dorm. They are listening to music and study. Because of that, they didn't even notice that the snowmen disappeared and caused trouble. 

Disclaimer: My hero academia and the characters belong to Kohei Horikoshi.

Words: about 2.489

Masterlist

Inspiration by Frozen Fever

Your head pouted, and you barely could keep your eyes open. You had a quirk about snow, so why did you get sick from a snowball fight. "L/N-san, could you please lift your head from the desk and focus on the lesson." admonished you Cementos. "I am sorry, Ishiyama-sensei." you apologized. He continued to teach, but you couldn't focus on a word he said. The lesson dragged on like forever. 

After the day ended, you went straight to your dorm room to replicate the knowledge you got taught today. 

After some time, the headache disappeared, and you could finally focus on your unfinished notes. Your nose started to tingle, and with a loud achoo, you sneezed.  A cold shiver went down your spine, but you didn't think much of it. You were so caught up in the work that you didn't notice how a small snowman waddled quietly around the room. Since listening to music helped you while studying, you didn't hear the rustling steps on your carpet.  The cute snowman watched your back and looked around your room. He investigated your plant in front of your bed. His tiny form tried to stroke the plant, but his short snowy arm couldn't reach the plant. The small snowman was determined to stroke the plant, so he tried to climb up at the plant pot. Since he didn't think about the consequences, the plant pot fell over and covered him with the potting soil. Anxiously he watched if you had seen his plight. You didn't seem to notice it. So he tried to clean himself with his tiny arms. 

Another sneeze shook your body, and another tiny snowman appeared. He looked around the room and found his buddy. The two jumped happily around, and the new snowman helped to clean up his pal. The two snowmen happily discovered your room, as quiet as they could. After they were done, your room looked like you had a fight in it.  They also tried to open the door, but they were too tiny. Exhausted, the two snowmen settled in front of the door. 

A sneezing fit hit you, and about five snowmen developed in your room. The two snowmen got right up and wobbled to the new snowmen. They hugged each other like they were old friends. Silently the two older snowmen convinced the younger ones to open the door together. They built a ladder out of snowmen by stacking themself on their shoulders. With a soft click, the door opened, and they left your messy room.

Your classmates were occupied with their interests and tasks. Some were reading, training, baking, showering, or learning. So they were either outside, in their rooms, or in the common room area. This meant that the hallway in front of your room was empty. The snowmen waddled quietly around the enormous building. 

Since they discovered their new skill, they opened another door. In the room was a blond boy, who laid on his back with a manga in his hand, called Snow white with the Red Hair. He was completely caught up in the book, so he didn't even notice that someone entered his room. The snowmen inspected his room. It has the theme of yellow and blue, and on his shelf were tons of All Might figures. One snowman got his snowy hand on a manga and tried to read it. He failed because snowmen can't read, but the pictures were interesting. He wanted to read it later, so he took it with him. 

The gang of snowmen went downstairs to explore the other parts of the dorms. Loud singing caught their attention. They followed the singing and landed in a steaming environment or, to call it something more simple, the bathroom. It was hot in there, and the snowmen were happy that they couldn't melt by natural causes. Since the bathroom was really a boring place to be, they climbed on the shelves and searched through the products. After the other snowmen had left the room, the last one of them was mesmerized by a big red bottle with the label: red hair dye. He took the bottle with him and followed the other snowmen fast. 

The next stop of the seven snowy figures was another room. They used their secret method again and opened the door. The room was cramped with bookshelves that reached the ceiling. Another weird thing was that there was a shelf only for tons of glasses. No one was there. The snowmen wandered around the room like it was an old museum. The two snowmen that stole something hid in the corners of the room, so their misbehavior wasn't noticed. The smallest of the snowmen looked around and climbed up on the shelf with the glasses. Unfortunately, one of the spectacles fell on the ground and broke. No one seemed to witness it, so the tiny snowman grabbed them and hid them behind his back from the others to see. After they discovered every inch of the room, they made their way to the next one. 

The room wasn't much different from the first one, but it had a more pleasant atmosphere. It was bright and happy. Some snowmen were bored because of the All Might figures they had already seen, but one of them got interested by the rarest of all time. The bronze age All Might figure. Only fifty got produced, and the owner of the room had one. The snowman needed this figure, so when no one watched him, he took the opportunity and stole it. 

They went into two other rooms before they finally got to the common-room kitchen. There stood a tall brown-haired boy with a tart pan. He studied a recipe and was so caught up in his own thoughts that he didn't even notice how a snowman stole his eggs. After the boy wanted to reach for them, they were gone, and he questioned himself if he forgot to lay the eggs on the kitchen counter. He opened the fridge and saw no eggs. But he was sure that he bought them with Koda yesterday. They couldn't be gone, only if someone used them. And he was sure who it was. With angry steps, he walked to the room of a certain angry pomeranian. 

In the meantime, the snowmen discovered that everyone had stolen something. They laid their stolen objects in the middle of their circle. The items they had stolen were a romance manga, red hair dye, a pair of glasses, a rare All Might figure, eggs, lipstick, and a book. All of the snowmen had a panicked expression on their snowy faces. The humans aren't dumb they would soon find out, so they have to hide their items somewhere. Fearfully they collected the things and quickly set about hiding with the stuff in a nearby room. 

It was a dark room, and it got lit by a small source of light. Unearthly sounds could be heard from the computer screen in front of a short, purple boy. The older snowmen tried to cover the eyes of the younger ones. So they couldn't see the horrific show that played on the screen. It was dangerous to be in such a gross environment with young snowmen, but it was better than getting caught. 

"I didn't steal your lame eggs. Now leave me alone fat lips." cursed Bakugou as Sato confronted him. "But I am sure you know where my manga is, don't you?" Bakugou questioned harshly with a raised eyebrow. "Why would I want a manga from you?" Sato asked him. The blond one scoffed and pushed Sato out of the way. "I bet shitty Deku got it," he grumbled and stamped in the direction of his room. Without knocking, he kicked the door open. "Oi, shitty nerd. Give it back," he yelled. But what he didn't notice that the room was messy as hell. "Ah, Bakugou, I wanted to talk to you," Midoriya spoke slowly. His expression was horrifying. Even when Bakugou wouldn't admit it, he was scared of the shorter green-haired boy. "Now, where do you have it?" Bakugou asked, unimpressed. "What should I have? I wouldn't even give it to you. You stole my All Might bronze age figure." Midoriya yelled. He activated his quirk, and before he could Detroit Smash Bakugou into nirvana, Kirishima intervened. "Wait, that's not really manly of you, bro. My hair dye also went missing. I think someone is stealing from us." Sato followed the red-haired. "I think he's right," he said. "Let's meet up with the other ones and think about it before we hurt each other." mediated Kirishima. Still, with rage in his eyes, Midoriya let got of his powerful quirk and noded. "Alright, but I am not done with you, Kacchan." proposed Midoriya. "Whatever you say, shitty nerd." scoffed Bakugou.

As they got everyone except two persons in the common room area, the yelling began. "My lipstick went missing. How can I be able to rock my hero costume." Mina cried and hugged Uraraka desperately. The short brunette patted her back, comforting. "A book of mine also went missing," noted Momo. "Did someone saw my pair of glasses? I need to find Marry the third. Without her, my collection is incomplete." Iida yelled and made his typical hand gesture. At his comment, more than half of class 1a had to suppress a burst of laughter.  "My hair product also went missing," said Kirishima. "My limited All Might figure in his bronze age is missing," said Midoriya grumpily. "You look a bit scary, Midoriya. Is everything ok?" Todoroki asked. "Yeah, of course. I didn't need my All Might figure anyway." he sarcastically answered. "It's just a figure," Todoroki mentioned, and every chatter died down. "Dude, does he have a death wish?" asked Kaminari quietly. "Maybe," answered Sero noiselessly. "A figure... A figure..." Midoriya yelled and wanted to charge for a punch, but a frustrated screech interrupted the argument. 

You finished the last sentence of your work. So you turned around and stretched yourself with closed eyes, but as soon as you opened them, you were met with a tremendous mess. "The sneezes and the...oh shit," you yelled out in frustration. You were so occupied with work that you didn't even notice that you let go of a bunch of snowmen. Your steps stormed to the common-room to start the search for the tiny, snowy trouble makers. The yells in the common-room got louder and louder as you got nearer. "Guys," you yelled over the screeches of Midoriya. "I let go of my quirk, and some snowmen are probably starting some trouble. We need to find them." you got straight to the point. Everyone looked at you with expressionless faces. "Why is even every one of you here?" you asked now, confused. "Your tiny snow fuckers stole our stuff," Bakugou grumbled. "What was actually stolen from you, Kacchan ?" Kaminari asked.  "A manga," answered Bukugou grouchily. "Uh, which genre?" questioned Kaminary. "Shut it, dunce face," Bakugou yelled. "Just asking." waved Kaminari away. 

"Do you know where they possibly went, or how we can get rid of them?" asked Momo calmly. "I don't know where they could be," you answered, a bit disappointed. "If we find them and want to get rid of them, we need to destroy them with fire quirks. They don't melt of natural causes," you explained. "Alright, I think we build two teams. One team goes with Bakugou and the other one with Todoroki," suggested Momo. "Why do I need to be in one team. I can do this on my own." Bakugou protested. "Do you want your manga back asap?" Momo asked after that the ash-blond boy was quiet but still grumpy. "I am not going with Kacchan." Midoriya angrily said. "I don't want to go with you either," shouted Bakugou. "Just like an old married couple." laughed Kaminari. "Shut it, dunce face." yelled the blond boy. 

After you build up the teams, you started to search for the cold troublemakers. The team of yours consisted of Todoroki, Aoyama, Tsuyu, Iida, Uraraka, Yaoyorozu, a grumpy Midoriya, Tokoyami, Shoji, Ojiro, and you, of course. The other ones had fewer patient people in their team. Bakugou got Sero, Kirishima, Kaminari, Ashido, Jiro, Sato, Koda and Hagakure in his team. Your team searched on the second and third floor for the stolen things and your snowmen. 

The third floor was clear now you searched on the second floor. "Waa, how did snowmen came into my room?" a high-pitched yell caught the attention of your team. You neared the room and opened the door. Mineta was standing in front of a bunch of tiny snowmen. Everyone in the room turned, slowly their hats to the door. "Yeah, gotcha," you shouted happily. The snowmen suddenly let go of the stuff they hoarded and ran in different directions. "We need to catch them. Todoroki, Tsuyu, Iida, Momo, and I are catching them, and the rest of you secure the missing stuff," you ordered. During this time, Momo produced earpieces for communication. The people named ran with you to catch the snowmen.

Since the snowmen were fast and not as dumb as you wished they were, you had to separate. The snowman in front of you ran fast, and you yelled after him. As the snowman had to take the elevator, you could easily catch him. "I got one. Does someone else has one?" you asked in your earpiece. "I've got one too." answered Iida "Me too," said Tsuyu. "I have already burned two," said Todoroki in his calm demeanor.  "I am currently trying to catch one," yelled Momo hectically. "Thanks, guys, that means only one is missing," you said. A loud explosion roared through the dorm-building. "Now, I think only one is left." you corrected yourself. "I got the penultimate snowman," said Momo proudly. "Great." you cheered. As the elevator stopped at the ground floor, the snowman in your arms tried to wiggle himself free. "We need to met up in the common room, so we can get rid of the captured snowmen," you said to the others. 

After you got rid of the captured snowmen. Bakugou stormed into the common room area. "We found only one, are all gone?" he asked grumpily. "Only one is missing," you answered as you watched the penultimate snowman melt. "I got the last one he was hiding in the fridge," said Sato and brought you the last one. 

"Thanks, guys, for helping. I am so sorry that my quirk got out of hand and caused such trouble," you apologized to your classmates. "No problem, that could happen to every one of us. You don't need to apologize." Midoriya said reassuringly. A small smile spread across your face, and you were relieved that everyone agreed and wasn't angry with you. Except for Bakugou, but that was to be foreseen. 

[rainbowserenity]

royal!AU tag

*shows up a year and a half late with Starbucks* uhhhhh 8D

a lot of people that talk to me regularly know that I’ve been having a hard time with life lately. I started this next part of the royal AU shortly after the last one and just a few days ago finished it because of all the aforementioned life stuff. I really appreciate everyone’s patience and anyone who inquired to whether I would continue this or anything like that. you’re all the best :D

I really should have made this a multi-chaptered fic, but oh well! I would highly recommend reading at least the previous two parts, which you can find in the tag above or in the AO3 collection here. I’ll be posting this one on AO3 soon as well!

Back when she’d been in the Guardian Corps, struggling to survive in Eden��s slums, Lightning’s unofficial nickname had been “Captain Dangerous.” Once she’d completed her training, everyone on the force soon figured out she was, well, a force to be reckoned with. Few people could move as fast as she had, and she was able to push herself through just about anything. She’d done flips on twisted ankles, attacked enemies when she had wounds bad enough to need stitches, and never missed a day at all. She’d been unstoppable.

So when Lightning woke up with a raging headache and her limbs feeling as heavy as stone, it was honestly a new sensation for her...one she could have done without, to be honest.

“She’s awake!” a shrill voice cried, which made Lightning close her eyes again and rub her forehead with a groan. “Mr. Katzroy, the princess is awake!”

Oh, right. Princess. Which meant her. As insane as it still felt, even after quite some time now, Lightning was the recently discovered princess of Eden.

And apparently princesses got people to watch them at their bedside, only to yell for their annoying advisers once they woke up.

Honestly, Lightning wouldn’t have mind hitting the snooze button on whoever had called for Sazh. She had no idea how long she’d been out, but she felt like she’d been hit by a truck.

What the heck had happened, anyway? Her mind was fuzzy and bleary from sleep or unconsciousness or whatever the heck had happened, although she figured that if it’d been really serious, she’d been in a hospital and not her luxurious bedroom in the palace.

A flash of heat on her chest served as a reminder. She pressed at the spot, knowing the brand for the fal’cie Phoenix was scorched on her skin. She’d had a ceremony with it so that she could officially be accepted as the new future ruler of Eden – which was kind of a big deal, considering that the fal’cie Phoenix was the sun that provided for all the other kingdoms in the world. While fal’cie didn’t really care about human affairs, a ruler that could connect with it was extremely important.

Apparently she’d passed the test.

The memories were slowly coming back in her fuzzy mind. Ugh, her tongue felt fuzzy, too. How long had she been out?

Let’s see...

There was all the preparation for the ceremony, Sazh’s last minute advice, the actual meeting where Phoenix accepted her, and...

Lightning abruptly sat up, immediately regretting the action and clamped a hand over her mouth. It wasn’t exactly the motion that sent a wave of nausea through her, though...well, that was probably a good sixty percent.

But the rest...

Her eyes darted around the room, but she wasn’t surprised that her personal bodyguard was nowhere to be found.

Maybe because, as Phoenix had shown her before she’d blacked out, Hope was no bodyguard.

He’d certainly acted as much, though. Or she assumed, anyway, never having had a bodyguard before. Hope saved her from poisoned food, kept her from harm’s way, gave her a moment of peace during her introduction ball and…

Ugh, why did that kiss always come into her memory at the worst times?!

Focus, she told herself. For now, she was in her ridiculously huge bed, dressed in some silk pajamas – though she hated to think of who’d put her in them – and blessedly alone, although she assumed that someone would come in right about...now.

“You’re awake!”

Lightning slowly lowered her hand as the nausea ebbed. Luckily, Sazh’s appearance only filled her with the usual annoyance instead. “So it seems.”

“You, uh - ” Sazh glanced over his shoulder, where a couple of maids were visible through the open door in her bedroom, tidying up the sitting room. Her suite was obnoxiously large. He glanced at her and then jerked his head to the door, to which she nodded, feeling oddly relieved when he closed it and it was just the two of them. Sure, there was always a chance a maid could eavesdrop, but this still felt more secure, somehow.

She sighed heavily once they were alone and rubbed her forehead again. “What happened?”

“You’re askin’ me that?!” Sazh said in that weird sort of whisper-yell that defeated its own purpose. “You came back from the ceremony and passed out! It’s been two days!”

“Two days?!” This was bad. Very bad. A lot could happen in two days, especially involving a certain not-bodyguard…but she couldn’t make Sazh aware of that. Not yet. “Does Serah know?”

“I just told her you were sick and highly contagious. Figured that saying you were on a vacation or something would be a hard sell.”

“You got that right.” Lightning honestly couldn’t remember the last time she’d taken any sort of vacation, unless she counted the days she lazed around the palace when Sazh wasn’t around to tell her to stop slouching. “Does everyone think that?”

“Yep.” Before she could argue, Sazh barreled on, “You completed the ceremony, right? I mean, I guess you’d be, you know, dead if you hadn’t, but a little confirmation’s a good thing.”

“Right.” Lightning pulled down the collar of her sleep shirt a bit. There, on the left, right above her heart, was the intricate brand of Phoenix. She’d seen the brand dozes of times in designs on her gowns, some jewels, coats of arms, but to see it on her own skin was incredibly strange. At least it would vanish once she was officially crowned.

Sazh let out a sigh of relief. “Good. One less thing for me to worry about.”

“For you to worry about?!” Lightning barely remembered to keep her voice down and hissed out, “Don’t play games. Where is Hope?!”

“I - ”

“And don’t lie to me! He was there when I came back from meeting Phoenix, so why the hell isn’t he here now?!”

She knew even as she said it that it was a stupid question. While she was basically positive that Hope hadn’t given Sazh any explanation, she knew that Hope knew that she knew...more or less.

And she honestly wasn’t sure he’d stick around, knowing that she knew.

...Ugh, her head was spinning.

“He managed to sneak you back in here, in your room,” Sazh replied after a pause. “Which, y’know, quite a feat when there’s always someone nosing around. But he hightailed it on outta here once he knew you were safe and I haven’t seen hide or hair of him since.” He raised an eyebrow. “Not that I’ve been lookin’ for him. Gotta keep you outta trouble even when you’re passed out, right? Some bodyguard he turned out to be.”

Lightning just shook her head a little, her fingers gripping the sheets so tightly it was a wonder they didn’t rip. It might have been no big deal to Sazh if Hope had vanished – after all, they could just hire a new bodyguard.

But none of them were Hope.

And none of them...

“Hey hey hey! Just where do you think you’re going?!”

“I have to find him,” Lightning said as she scrambled to get out of bed. Even before she was fully on her feet, she could tell that standing up was just about the worst idea ever. Everything started to spin and her head bloomed with pain. “You don’t understand - ”

“All I understand is that you’re gonna be flat on your face if you go anywhere, and that ain’t a way for a princess to conduct herself.” He forced her back into the bed. “You’re gonna lay there and rest, damnit.”

“Fine,” she muttered, though she knew she wasn’t in any condition to argue. It’d already been two days – what difference would a few more make?

Maybe she’d never see Hope again and this would all resolve by itself. Not exactly the sort of thoughts a royal should have, but what else could she do?

And why did the thought of never seeing Hope again cause pain in her heart that was worse than her headache?

“I’m gonna get a doctor to look you over,” Sazh said once he was convinced that Lightning wasn’t going to try and get up again. “Better safe than sorry.”

“What will you tell them?”

He waved a hand as he headed to the door, his communicator already out. “I’ll think of something. You just stay put, damnit, all right?”

“...Sure.”

She waited until Sazh had left before she sank back against the pillows and closed her eyes. Rest was impossible, though.

Everything was going to feel impossible until she saw Hope again.

–

Most people probably would have enjoyed a week of being pampered and having all their meals in bed, but Lightning had never been most people. Sazh had continued the charade that she was contagious. Not that anyone would think to directly question the princess and her adviser.

The one silver lining was getting to see Serah in a largely uninterrupted visit, once it was 'safe.' Of course, she spent a lot of the time gushing over the Patron of Yusnaan – an idiotic guy Lightning had met at her introduction ball and had been extremely unimpressed with – but it was still nice to feel sort of normal again for awhile, even just a little.

She wondered what Serah would do in her predicament...yell at Hope and throw something at him, most likely.

But Lightning said nothing about Phoenix or Hope or anything, just listened to her sister’s lovesick rambles and asked questions about her schoolwork. It was almost like being at home in the slums, except the slums didn’t have king-sized beds and silk pajamas and sheets as soft as butter.

And when she was finally well enough to get out of bed and act normal, Sazh had to go and drop a bomb on her.

“We’re hosting a ball tomorrow night to commemorate the anniversary of Eden’s establishment.”

“Excuse me?!” Lightning had been puttering around her sitting room, just basking in the marvel of being able to walk without the room spinning. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“You haven’t heard the hustle and bustle, even from your room?”

“I can’t hear anything in there and you know it. Those walls are like cement.” She shook her head. “Why would you tell me this now?! I can’t go to a damn ball!”

“So sue a guy for not knowing if you’d be well enough.” Sazh rolled his eyes. “You don’t really have an excuse. People know you’re getting well, not to mention that it’s, you know, being held in your own palace.”

Lightning rolled her eyes right back. “It doesn’t feel like mine. But whatever.” She shook her head, hands on her hips. “This is ridiculous. I can’t go.”

“Look.” Sazh sighed and his shoulders drooped a bit. “This ball’s not just for other kingdoms and all them important people. It’s one of the few events that’s open for the whole kingdom. This thing’s only held every twenty-five years and it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a lot of people. Some spend their life savings on tickets. It’s the first chance a lotta citizens in Eden will have to see you, as well.”

As Sazh talked, Lightning felt her anger slowly dwindle. She’d assumed that every ball would just be for all the other royalty and whatnot, but now that she wracked her memory, some faded whispers of conversations tugged at her mind, from when she’d been a child and lived comfortably with her parents. Had her mother gone to this ball twenty-five years ago? She had no idea, considering that would’ve been before she was born, but it was a possibility. Where else would she have heard of such a thing? Not the slums, that was for sure.

“...The tickets cost money?” Lightning asked, and continued after Sazh’s nod, “What’s done with it?”

“Usually spread amongst several charities. Some’s kept in the royal treasury, y’know, for upkeep and salaries and the like.”

She frowned a bit and stared out one of her large windows. The side her suite was on faced the more well-off side of Eden – not a coincidence, she knew. But she knew what was on the other side.

You’ve seen both sides. You’re the one who can make a difference.

“...All the charity money is to be given to the slums,” she said. “It can be spread out according to need, but I’d rather focus on the schools and housing.” When she finally looked at Sazh again, he was raising his eyebrows in surprise, which was how she knew that this was not usually how royal ball profits were spent. “That’s my condition for going to this ball.”

Sazh opened and closed his mouth a couple of times, looking like he wanted to argue, but something changed in his expression as Lightning stared him down. She and Sazh usually got along well – except when he was annoying her – and she usually deferred to his decisions since she still didn’t know much about being a princess.

But clearly she’d picked up a thing or two somewhere. Or maybe it was because of Phoenix’s confirmation that she was, indeed, royalty.

Whatever it was, eventually Sazh bowed his head slightly. “You got it. Want me to send a maid up here to help you with a gown and all that?”

“Sure, I guess.”

He nodded and left the room, and she could’ve sworn he was smiling in approval.

–

Even though this was an event to celebrate the kingdom more than just herself, Lightning still had to be announced. Apparently it was some etiquette rule she was quite sure Sazh had just randomly made up.

Luckily, unlike at her introduction ball, there was way less fanfare and she didn’t have to give a speech. In fact, other royalty was getting announced from different entrances, so not everyone even paid attention to her.

Still, hearing someone call out, “Presenting Her Royal Highness, the future regent of the kingdom of Eden, Princess Lightning,” was weird.

Serah seemed to enjoy being announced much more, although her introduction lacked the ‘future regent’ bit. Lucky her. Lightning wondered how her sister would fare during her own introduction ball...probably way better.

No matter. She let out a breath as she descended down the ballroom stairs into the crowd, knowing the hard part was over, at least. Her dress swished as she walked, which was a fairly pleasant feeling. It helped that she liked the gown quite a bit – it was a gorgeous silvery-gray color that set off her hair beautifully. The bodice was a bit darker, with off-shoulder sleeves and intricate embroidery of flowers and Phoenix’s brand all over that was studded with tiny jewels. Her hair was loose and curled – largely on purpose because it helped hide her Phoenix brand, which she’d covered with makeup besides – but she still wore a tiara that had flower-like designs, all covered in diamonds. She also wore some diamond studs and a bracelet, not because the outfit really needed them, but because it was just sort of expected of her. After all, she was Eden’s princess and needed to look the part in front of the public.

Surprisingly, it was fairly easy to get into the persona of ‘princess.’ Maybe it was because there was a little less pressure this time around, or perhaps because this was the first time since being discovered that she would interact with ‘normal’ people.

It was clear that a lot of them were simply in awe at being in the palace, surrounded by real royalty and such finery. It made Lightning feel strange that she’d been like that not too long ago – someone who would have hardly believed that things could be so grand. Not that she ever daydreamed about stuff like this. Hers were more along the lines being Captain in the Corps someday.

Everyone who spotted her immediately bowed or curtsied or some combination of the two. Weirdly, none of them came very close or even attempted to talk to her. It wasn’t until several minutes later that she noticed two men in tuxedos basically creating a bubble around her, so that people could look, not touch.

Not that she wanted people to touch her, but that was beside the point.

“Excuse me,” she said, moving a bit away from the crowds. “Who are you, again?”

“We’re here for your protection, your highness,” one of them said.

“Protection?”

“Everyone who comes to the anniversary ball is thoroughly background checked and vetted,” the other explained. “But better safe than sorry, your highness. You never know who can slip through the cracks.”

“...I see.” Lightning closed her eyes for a minute, trying to contain her aggravation. She had no doubt Sazh had set this up, but seriously? This was a ball – a glorified, overly expensive dance, and one that he’d basically forced her to attend, at that. What the hell did he think was going to happen? And sure, it wasn’t like she could hide a gunblade in her gown, but she was used to doing the protecting. If something did happen, she could totally hold her own.

“Your highness?”

“I won’t be requiring your services,” she said.

“But your highness - ”

“I’ll talk to Sazh. Don’t worry about it.” She sighed heavily. “Instead, go find my sister. If she doesn’t have anyone guarding her, you can have the job.” She had no idea if the Patron was here, but if he was...no sense in letting him get too close to Serah.

The two men glanced at each other, and after they exchanged tiny shrugs, bowed their heads at Lightning. “Yes, your highness.”

When they walked off, she took a moment to kind of gather herself. This gathering wasn’t like her introduction ball, where she’d been specifically told to schmooze with the other royals and basically get on their good side. No, this one was more like a celebration – celebrating Eden, she supposed. There were many eyes on her – too many – but it seemed to all be out of curiosity than anything.

Which made sense, because it suddenly occurred to her that she’d never held any kind of press conference or something. Everyone knew who she was and they’d showed a picture of her on practically every news station in the world when Sazh had discovered her.

But no one really knew about her thoughts. Her desires. Her ideas.

The only one who had an inkling was probably long gone by now.

People were inching in a little more closely now, probably just for a look at her, although no one attempted to make conversation. Oddly, it didn’t feel as intrusive as she thought it might. Maybe it was because her mind was a million miles away, or maybe a part of her had actually accepted that this was her life now. Nope, no more struggling to survive – from here on out, it was whirlwind balls and parties with gowns and jewels worth more than an entire year’s salary from the Corps.

Ugh, she was getting nowhere with these thoughts. Maybe she needed to find Serah. Pretending that everything was fine was easier when her sister was right next to her.

Lightning walked through the crowds, wanting to just run, but of course that was impossible in her gown and heels. She really needed to insist on wearing more practical footwear next time she wore a gown. Who the heck was going to look at her feet, anyway?

Her gaze idly darted over the crowds milling about, half-listening to the conversations as she passed them. A lot of people seemed to be business owners trying to get loans or investments from the wealthy – which she supposed made sense. On their turf was the best way to approach them, like a soldier scouting an enemy. Then you had to lure them to your side.

It was at the moment she thought this that she saw achingly familiar silver hair out of the corner of her eye.

Of course, it was also at this moment that someone tried to approach her for conversation, but she couldn’t think about etiquette and abruptly lifted her gown so that she had the space to run away...or run as best as she could in her heels, anyway.

She ignored the crowds, though they didn’t seem to pay her much attention anyway. It didn’t matter! None of it did! Hadn’t he just been right here - ?!

Lightning heard a door open as she looked down an empty corridor. Before she could turn her head to investigate, someone grabbed her arm and yanked her into another room.

Naturally, she reacted on instinct by punching the offender in the face.

“Damnit!”

That voice...

“Hope?!”

Instead of answering, Hope – it was definitely him! - kicked the door shut and staggered so that he was leaning against a wall, one hand clutching his nose. There was no light in the room except a dim bulb that illuminated his face.

“I know you were trained in the Corps,” he said, his voice muffled by his hand, “but I wasn’t expecting that.”

All of a sudden, her anger and confusion since the ceremony with Phoenix bubbled to the surface and she let go of any sense of decorum. “Are you serious right now?! You took off and then grabbed me out of nowhere! What the hell did you think any sane person would do?!”

“...Point taken.” He finally lowered his hand and winced. His nose did look a bit worse for wear, but she highly doubted she’d put enough strength in her punch to actually break it. He’d probably just have a huge bruise tomorrow.

Served him right.

“What the hell is going on?” she demanded when he didn’t say anything else. “I know you’re - ”

“Shhh,” he murmured, holding up his hand. His eyes darted around the room like he was looking for something, and his arm flopped back to his side after a minute. “Sorry. You never know if someone’s listening.” He finally turned to face her. “And I wanted to talk to you in private.”

Lightning ignored the way butterflies immediately fluttered in her stomach when their eyes met. This was not the time for that! It would never be the time for that!

“...Phoenix showed me. It showed me everything.”

Hope’s hands clenched into fists, but he relaxed them a second later. “I doubt it showed you everything.”

“You told me when we first met that you built Academia’s fal’cie,” she said, basically ignoring him. She sort of paced a little, thought it was difficult because of her gown and the small size of the room, which she’d just noticed was some kind of abandoned pantry or closet, judging from all the dust she could see on the shelves in the dim light. “I didn’t know what that meant. I knew it was a big deal, but I was barely used to the idea of being a princess. It didn’t mean anything to me.”

“Your highness, I - ”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped. “Why the hell would you call me that now, when you know I know everything?!”

“Not everything.”

“I told you, Phoenix showed me!” Only the darkness of the room kept Lightning from shouting, like it required her to speak quietly. “You’re not a bodyguard at all! You’re the damn President of Academia!”

Hope opened his mouth a little, then sort of sank back against the wall some more with a groan. “...Yes. I am.”

Even though she already knew that, hearing Hope actually say it out loud caused her butterflies to turn to lead. Because of that was true, then everything else...

“The fal’cie branded you. Right?”

He was quiet before a minute before he lifted an arm and slid back the yellow wristband he always wore. It was hard to see in the dimness, but she could just make out the black arrows – just like Sazh’s – etched across his pale skin.

She stared at his wrist for a long time before looking him in the eye. “Why?”

“Phoenix didn’t show you?” he asked, somewhat sarcastically.

“No, I mean why the hell would you become a l’cie?! They’re stories. Legends. Did you think you were going to be some war hero?”

“I was forced into the branding.”

That actually shut her up for a moment. Every bedtime story she’d ever heard about l’cie painted them as people who’d willingly taken the risk in exchange for power. Even in Sazh’s case, it’d been done willingly. The thought of someone being forced to become a l’cie went against everything she’d ever known about them.

Then again, she wondered, had the same thing not happened to her? She unconsciously touched the spot where Phoenix’s brand burned, still hidden under makeup. Though it was nowhere near the same thing – after all, the brand would disappear once she was formally crowned – she’d more or less been forced into it. Get branded in exchange for royal power that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.

But with an actual l’cie, they were given a focus.

“The old family had died out,” she said. “And your focus was to come and take ownership of Phoenix so that Academia would have the power. Its fal’cie wanted you to eventually conquer everything. Isn’t that right?”

Hope shook his head, but it was in that weird, slow way where the truth hurt and you just didn’t want to hear it. “It was Adam – the fal’cie – that sent the sickness to the old family.”

That gave her another pause. Phoenix hadn’t showed her that, but as Sazh had told her, fal’cie didn’t care about human affairs. “What?” Another pause. “Also, Adam? Seriously?”

“My colleague named it,” Hope muttered, then shook his head again. “But it sent a plague of sorts through Phoenix. I’m still not sure how it did that. When I began all the construction, I thought it would run on autopilot and provide, like any other fal’cie. I never dreamed it would get so power-hungry. And I have to fulfill this focus or it’ll just turn someone else into a l’cie and make them do it.”

“So what do you expect?!” she demanded. “Everybody knows now that I’m the princess of Eden, and even if something happened to me, I’m not letting anyone lay a hand on Serah. I survived Phoenix’s judgement. Adam is just going to have to deal with it.”

“It doesn’t work like that. If I fail, another person will just be selected.”

“So what exactly was your plan?” Lightning balled her fists up, all the anger that’d been brewing in her since the ceremony bubbling to the top. “Infiltrate the palace as my bodyguard and get rid of me? Is that it? You were going to find a way to kill me in my sleep before Phoenix passed its judgment?”

When Hope didn’t respond, she knew what the answer was.

Once again, her body moved instinctively, but this time it felt like it was in slow motion. Punching him wouldn’t do much good, but what else was she doing to do with her anger?

“Then why?!” Her fist connected with his jaw, only there wasn’t nearly as much power in it as before, and he barely even stumbled. She wanted to knock his damn teeth out. “You were my personal bodyguard for ages. Why didn’t you do it?”

His gaze, which had sort of been staring off into the distance, met hers instantly. A gasp escaped her before he even spoke the words her heart already knew.

“Because I didn’t expect to fall in love with you.”

Lightning gasped again, which trailed off into a low, totally un-princesslike croaking noise. What on earth could she possibly say to that?

But it didn’t matter, because Hope suddenly cupped her face and brought their lips together with a desperate sound.

Her hands immediately flew to his chest, absolutely intent on pushing him away, but the strength left her faster than even her post-meeting with Phoenix. She instead curled her fingers into his shirt, gripping tightly as though that were the only thing keeping her upright.

And it probably was, because when Hope’s hands slid to her shoulders and one traced the bare skin on her back, everything flew out of her mind except kissing him.

The closest she’d ever come to feel like this was that night of her introduction ball, when he’d kissed her on the balcony. That should have been the knee-weakening kiss that made her go crazy, given that it’d been a much more romantic setting than some dusty old closet.

Maybe it was the relief that he hadn’t left. Maybe it was his confession. Maybe it was finally knowing his story, or perhaps all three.

But when she pushed him against the closest wall and deepened their kiss, neither of them resisted.

Lightning had never really been interested in romance or any of the physical aspects that came with it. There just hadn’t been enough time – survival was the utmost priority in the slums, after all. The most she’d ever experienced was a few innocent teenage kisses with the neighbor boy back before her mother had died.

Naturally, this was nothing like that and she honestly had no idea what to do with all of this...desire. She wanted to be close to Hope in a way she’d never felt about anyone. Gone were all of her princess lessons about restraint and poise and who knew what else. None of that mattered here.

Hope clearly didn’t mind any of this a bit. In fact, she could somehow tell that he was holding back, but she still shivered under his touch and lips and tongue -

“Light,” he gasped out of the corner of his mouth, and as soon as she figured out how, she was going to pass a law forbidding him to say her name like that. If it wasn’t for her ridiculous ball gown, she might have actually jumped on him.

He’s supposed to kill you.

The intrusive thought was like a bucket of ice water.

Lightning abruptly broke the kiss and tried to scramble away from him, but his grip on her was too tight. She stared at his dazed expression, his eyes burning and his face flushed, and wondered if she looked the same way.

No! It didn’t matter! She’d already let this get too far!

Perhaps he knew what she was thinking, because he leaned down and gently pressed his forehead against hers, mindful of her tiara – not that it would’ve really mattered, considering all the hairpins keeping it on her head. Their shaky breaths mingled in the close proximity and all she wanted to do was close the distance between them again.

“I’m sorry,” he breathed out. “Ever since your introduction ball, I’ve been trying to find a way to tell you. And when I saw you go to Phoenix, I knew there was no way I could hide my focus from you for much longer. I wanted to go back to Academia and just accept my fate, but...”

I didn’t expect to fall in love with you.

Lightning shook her head a little and pulled back so she could look Hope in the eye. They’d both calmed down somewhat, but it was hard to think clearly when he was staring at her so intensely.

“Even besides...that,” she said, not quite wanting to address the confession. Sure, she was extremely attracted to him – it was ridiculous just how much – but anything more felt like too much at the moment. “How the hell could you possibly think I’d just want you to give up and die?!”

“You wouldn’t have known.”

“Bull!” She finally tore herself away from him at that. “This whole week that you’ve been gone, I’ve been terrified you were never coming back. The thought of never seeing you again, even after those visions from Phoenix, just...” She wanted to run her hands through her hair in frustration, but the tiara was in the way, so she settled for kind of slapping the wall. “It destroyed me. Or at least wanted to destroy me, but I just kept holding on to the hope that I would see you again. Even if I never got an explanation...” Her posture slumped, and she ignored Sazh’s voice in the back of her head telling her to stand up straight, “...All I wanted was to know that you were alive.”

Hope stared at her like he couldn’t quite believe his ears. “And now that you know,” he finally replied, “...what now?’

A princess was supposed to have all the answers, but from the second she’d stepped into the palace, Lightning had constantly been at a loss. Between dealing with her new reality, all of Sazh’s nagging, the importance of her position, the ceremony with Phoenix – there had only one constant (besides the nagging, which she was fairly sure was eternal at this point).

Him.

“All the storybooks say that a l’cie is bound by their fate,” she said. She clenched her fists and straightened her posture, looking him right in the eye. “We’ll just have to find a way to change it.”

“We can’t.” Hope sighed. “I told you, if I fail, Adam will just pick someone else – someone who wouldn’t hesitate to make a spectacle.” He reached out and gripped her shoulders. “I can’t let anything happen to you. Not just because you’re the princess, but because - ”

“ - Because you’re my personal bodyguard,” Lightning interrupted, and raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that right?”

Something in Hope seemed to relax a bit and he smiled at the corners of his mouth. “Right.”

“Therefore, it’s your fate to protect me.”

“If only it were that easy.” But he was still smiling as he slowly drifted his hands off her shoulders. “Although you don’t seem to care for any other bodyguards, that’s for sure.”

“You saw that?”

“Yes. I, uh, was actually following you for awhile after you sent them off.” He cleared his throat. “I may have used a shroud on you.”

She frowned. “A shroud?”

“It’s an invention of mine I perfected with magic,” he said. “It doesn’t make someone invisible, exactly, but they’ll be far less likely to notice you.”

“That’s why people weren’t crowding me out there,” she realized. “I thought that was odd.”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have, but I needed to talk to you alone and I knew that if you got caught up in conversation, I’d never get the chance.”

Though she knew she probably should’ve been mad about it, Lightning couldn’t help but be impressed at such an invention. “Maybe you should get some more I can use for when I need to avoid Sazh.”

He frowned a bit. “You wouldn’t use them to avoid me?”

“You’re not a constant annoyance,” she replied. “Not to mention that you disappeared out of nowhere and now you’re confessing everything to me in a dusty closet. What the hell about that gives off the impression that I want to avoid you?”

“Because of everything!” Hope blurted out, his voice much louder than she’d ever heard it. He snapped his mouth shut and glanced towards the door like someone was going to burst in, but when nothing happened, he let out a breath and closed his eyes for a moment. “I can’t do this. I can’t be around you knowing my focus.” He opened his eyes and stared right into hers. “I promise that I’ll find a way to stop Adam and keep it from branding someone else. You will be the next queen of Eden, I swear it. I’ll keep you safe even if it costs me my life.”

Anyone else probably would have swooned at such a speech, but Lightning knew she wasn’t just anyone.

And neither was Hope.

“Big words,” she finally said after a long pause, “but has it ever occurred to you that maybe that’s not what I want?”

“What?”

“I know that Phoenix accepted me and I’m going to have to rule whether I like it or not.” She gestured to the area where her brand was hidden on her skin. “But it has zero say in the rest of my life. What gives Adam the right to dictate how you’re going to live yours?”

“You don’t know what it’s like to have a focus.” Hope gripped his wrist and rubbed the yellow wristband, like the brand underneath physically pained him. “It’s like a noose slowly closing around your neck. I would never wish it on anyone else – especially if the only way to destroy it is to destroy you. I told you, if I don’t do it, it’ll just pick someone else. I need to stop all of this, and if I have to sacrifice myself to do so, I won’t hesitate.”

“You’re an idiot.”

“I know.”

“No,” Lightning said. “You don’t. Do you think I’d actually be happy if you went and got yourself killed for my sake?” She pointed, nearly poking him in the chest. “I just told you that it nearly destroyed me to think that you weren’t coming back. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?!”

Anyone else probably would have ignored such a declaration, but Hope, damn him, actually smiled. “It does.”

“It does?”

“Yes. And I’m honored. But...” His smile faded a bit. “There’s nothing I can do about it. There’s nothing either of us can do about. I’m bound to a focus, and if word got out about any of it, I’d never be allowed near Eden again, much less you.”

“So throw a shroud on yourself. Isn’t that how they work?”

“Not long term,” he replied, although the look on his face suggested he actually gave it consideration for a second. “Whatever...this is...” He gestured in the tiny space between their bodies, “...it can’t happen. If keeping away from you means that you get to survive, so be it.”

Lightning wanted to scream, even though this closet seemed way too small for all the noise she wanted to make. Plus, some guards would probably bust in and ruin the moment, as usual.

There was something way better she could do since they did have this moment.

She grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked him close, barely giving him a second to register what was going on before she crashed their lips together again. And it really was like a crash; she was totally off-center and he stumbled a bit from the force of her grabbing, so it was a wonder they didn’t actually tumble to the ground.

After the initial surprise, however, neither of them hesitated. Hope gripped her waist and she slid her hands up his chest and into his hair, a shiver going down her spine as he made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a moan. If she heard nothing else for the rest of her life, that would’ve been just fine.

Oh gods, what the hell was wrong with her?!

She was a fool, that was what. Lightning knew she wasn’t smart in every way of the world, but she never would have thought she’d fool enough to lose her heart and head to someone she, in all technicalities, barely knew. Oh sure, it was easy to see that he was smart and handsome and brave and caring and...and...

“Has it ever occurred to you,” she gasped when they paused for breath, only for him to immediately capture her lips again, like he knew what she was going to say. But she had to say it. “That maybe I didn’t expect to fall in love with you either?”

Their faces were way too close for her to see his expression, but she didn’t miss the way his breath hitched and his fingers tightened on her waist. It was enough to make her want to suggest that they just leave everything behind – damn her royal status, damn his presidency and l’cie brand. To hell with it all!

But Hope let out a long, low breath and pressed his forehead against hers. It was an achingly intimate gesture, especially after all of their frenzied kissing a minute ago, and it sent shivers down her spine in a completely different way.

“I don’t know why you did,” he murmured, “or how you possibly could have.”

“I could say the same to you.”

“True.” He huffed an amused breath and tilted his head so they could brush their lips together before he spoke again. “I meant what I said. I’ll do anything to make sure you survive.”

Lightning paused for a second. “What if I did the same?”

“What do you mean?”

“What good is having all this power if I don’t use it?” She shook her head a little. “I know that, for a lot of things, I’m basically a figurehead. But you’re the one who told me that I can inflict change, because I’ve seen both sides.”

“There’s a difference between bettering the lives of those living in poverty versus going up against a fal’cie,” Hope pointed out.

“Right. But even so...” She slid her hands back down to his chest, just kind of resting them there. “Giving in to a fate that was set by someone – or something – other than you is stupid. You decide your fate. And if there’s a way I can use my status to help you, then I’ll do it.”

He shook his head slowly, looking a bit dazed. “There’s really no need. You have far more important things to - ”

She cut him off with a hard kiss and looked him in the eye. “Have I not made myself clear?”

The dazed expression was still there, but now he smiled a bit, that tiny bit of cockiness she’d grown to...love apparent on his face. “Crystal.”

Her shoulders sagged a bit with relief. Maybe the situation was far from ideal – after all, there was always the chance he could change his mind and fulfill his focus – but she felt a little better knowing they were on the same page and he wasn’t going to disappear without a trace again. “I’ll see if I can sneak away from Sazh and look some stuff up in the library.”

“Perfect.” He chuckled. “I can’t believe I didn’t think of that.”

“You would have eventually,” she replied with a flick to his forehead. “Is there anything else I can do?”

“I’m not sure yet. I think - ” Hope paused when there was a suddenly flurry of footsteps outside the door. She noticed that he held her more tightly against him at the sound...not that she was at all complaining. Was it because of his guise as a bodyguard or because of his feelings for her?

But again, so not complaining.

When the footsteps disappeared, he let out a breath and let her go, just a little. “You probably shouldn’t keep away for too long,” he said with obvious regret in his voice. “Someone’s bound to notice that I kept the princess locked up and then it’ll be off with my head.”

“I feel like I’m the one who’d make those kind of decisions.”

“I hope so. I’m rather fond of my head.”

“I’m sure.” She stepped away a bit more, though still didn’t quite let go of him. There was a tinge of awkwardness in the air now that she didn’t quite know what to do with, but at least now they were more or less on the same page.

And she wasn’t going to lose him again.

“Are you still going to act as my bodyguard?”

“I’m...not sure,” he said after a moment of hesitation. “Everything’s been a mess so far and I don’t want to arouse more suspicion around here, especially since I’ve been gone for so long already. I may need to keep traveling between here and Academia.”

“I see.” Lightning tried to ignore the actual pain in her heart when he said that. This was honestly getting ridiculous – she’d survived much worse than being away from someone she lov – er, liked a whole lot. There was also the whole deal with a man-made fal’cie ordering said person to kill her.

Honestly, it was all kind of a lot for anyone to deal with.

For a moment, Hope merely brushed some of her bangs aside – mindful of the tiara – and gazed at her with a thoughtful expression until his eyes widened a bit. “Wait a sec...I think I might have...”

“What?”

Instead of answering, he let go of her completely to rummage around in his pockets. A few seconds later, he produced a small, round object with some buttons and a tiny screen on the front and handed it to her. “This.”

She took it gingerly, like it was going to blow up, which probably wasn’t the best train of thought. “What is this?”

“A communicator I invented,” he said. “I can make it so that it’s only attuned to your commands. It’ll allow us to talk in relative secrecy – as long as this button’s on,” he pressed the one at the top above the screen, “no one will be able to eavesdrop. If they’re in the same room with you, they’ll be able to hear, but as long as you can’t see them, they can’t hear you.”

“Wow,” Lightning replied, honestly impressed. Hope had invented this? She supposed it wasn’t a stretch to imagine, given that he’d built a fal’cie, but still. “This is...thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He reached for the communicator and pressed a couple of buttons. “Press your thumb on the screen and say your name.”

She did as he indicated, hesitating for a second before saying, “Lightning Farron.”

“Affirmed,” came a robotic, female-sounding voice. After that, the communicator lit up and there was a flash of light that showed what looked like a city. Cars flew around and there were moving walkways lit up and buildings that could touch the sky.

“Academia,” Hope said.

“It’s...it’s amazing.” She stared at the image. “This is a hologram, right?”

“Yes.”

She shook her head a little, still awed. Sure, they had video calls and phones and tons of ways to communicate, but something like this just seemed...more futuristic, somehow. Like progress.

Was this why Adam wanted her dead? In the name of progress?

While she, of course, didn’t really like the thought of being a person who impeded progress, no matter how unintentional, it was kind of sick that she could understand the reasoning of a fal’cie. In a way, it was just an extreme and horrible version of what humans wanted.

“A-Anyway,” Hope said, covering her hand with his and effectively turning off the communicator. “This will allow us to speak when I’m not in Eden. Or even if I am.”

“So that you don’t have to use a shroud and lure me into a closet?”

“Something like that.” He chuckled. “Keep that with you. If you ever find or hear anything that may benefit this situation, let me know right away.”

“Right.”

He nodded slowly, satisfied with the answer, but then continued to stare at her for a long moment. She knew what was coming before it happened and gripped the communicator tightly as he pulled her close for another kiss. This one was deep and slow, completely unlike their kisses from earlier, but still spine-tingling in the best way. It was the way everyone should be kissed at least once in their lifetime.

When he pulled away, he stared at her a bit more before letting go with a sigh. She stepped back a bit, not because she wanted to put space between them, but because she didn’t really trust herself not to just stay in this closet with him for the rest of the night.

Ugh, what the hell was wrong with her?! He was a l’cie! He was supposed to kill her and all she wanted to do was kiss him in a dusty old closet!

Maybe she should have read some of Serah’s romance novels when she’d had the chance. Surely some of the heroines had been in situations like this before.

It was too late for that now, of course. All she could do was watch as he opened the door a crack and peeked out, presumably to make sure no one was going to come rushing down the hall again. When the coast was clear, he gestured towards the hallway with his head.

“Go down and make left, then leave from the door right in front of you,” he said. “Anyone who sees you will just think you came from the powder room.”

“Powder, dust, what’s the difference?”

“Allergies.”

“Good point.” Lightning flicked her eyes towards him at the same moment he did, and there was an instant charge in the air. She couldn’t describe it any other way – it was like they’d been struck by, well, lightning.

This was getting insane. She needed to get out of here.

Hope cleared his throat and looked away with a visible swallow. “The coast is clear.”

“Okay.” When he opened the door so that her massive ball gown could get through, she turned back for just a minute more. “...Thank you. Seriously.”

He shook his head, looking both grateful and sad. “I’ve done nothing worth your thanks.”

“Don’t make me punch you again.”

He chuckled. “Go.”

It was only when she heard the creeeeak of the door closing that Lightning finally hustled down the hall, following his instructions on where to go. Truthfully, it was nice to be alone – actually alone – for a few minutes to catch her breath and let her thoughts settle.

Who the hell was she kidding? Going back to kiss him some more would’ve been way better.

Lightning let out a long, low sigh and smoothed out an invisible wrinkle on her gown, then fussed with her hair a bit even though there was no mirror. Surely Hope would have mentioned if her tiara was askew, although there were so many hairpins loaded in there that it was basically all but cemented to her head.

When she finally collected herself enough to rejoin the fray, to her relief, the crowd had thinned considerably. There were still enough people to make her itch, but it was bearable.

Thankfully, before she could figure out where to go and excuse herself, Serah spotted her and bounded up to her side. “There you are! Guess what?”

“Snow asked me out to dinner!” Serah clasped her hands and twirled in glee, her silvery-pink gown billowing around her.

“Snow?”

“The Patron of Yusnaan, remember?”

“Right.” Lightning touched her fingertips to her forehead. How could she forget about that big oaf? Maybe it was because of a man who was anything but an oaf who kissed her like it was going out of style and -

Wait a sec.

“Sis?”

“He asked you out?”

“Yes!” Serah grinned widely, happiness radiating from her. “He knows about a private restaurant here in Eden where we can go. It’s supposed to have the best steak in the kingdom.”

Later, she honestly wouldn’t have been able to pinpoint exactly what it was that set her off. The idea of some idiot dating her sister? That idiot being another ruler? The steak?

“You can’t go out with him,” she blurted out.

It was like night and day. Serah’s expression immediately darkened and she frowned. “What?”

“How do you know he’s not going to try something? He’s the Patron – he could be after something from Eden.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Serah cried, but then glanced around at some murmuring around them from everyone else still in the room and lowered her voice. “I’ve been talking to him on the phone since your introduction ball and he’s the sweetest guy. It’s just one date – in a private location, besides!”

All Lightning could think about was the reason her feelings for a certain personal bodyguard were all but forbidden. Logically, she knew that not everyone was a l’cie tasked with taking over Eden, but fear gripped her at the thought of someone coming after Serah.

“You can’t go,” she said again.

She knew immediately that it was the wrong thing to say. The dark expression on Serah’s face grew even more intense. “Just because you’re the princess doesn’t mean you can tell me what to do!”

“I’m not - ”

“You’re my sister, not my ruler! I’m going out with Snow whether you like it or not.” She huffed a little and gathered the skirts of her gown in her balled-up fists. “I’m going back to the dorms tonight.”

“Serah - !”

“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” With that, her sister spun around and all but stomped off, trying not to give away the fact that she was upset and angry. It was a walk Lightning knew all too well.

She also knew that going after her sister was useless – not because it would make people talk, but because she knew Serah wouldn’t listen. Not until after they’d both calmed down.

Lightning watched her disappear down the hall, hoping her expression was neutral enough. Some of the other guests were staring curiously, but most still looked to be in awe that they were in the presence of the real, live princess of Eden. Little did they know, she was marked for death by a man-made fal’cie and was supposed to be killed by the only person besides Serah who’d ever really made her feel like she mattered.

How the hell had things come to this?

She forced a smile on her face as she walked through the crowds. “Thank you for attending,” she occasionally said, in the ‘diplomatic’ voice that Sazh had drilled into her. After repeating variations of that several dozen times, the orchestra finally started to play a lively waltz, which actually took some attention off of her and she was able to escape.

Not that it mattered. Where was she going to go?

If she was going to do what Hope had always assured her she could and make changes to the kingdom, they needed to happen soon. She would show Eden she was more than a figurehead that wore shiny baubles.

Everything in her life depended on it.

---

((Lightning’s gown and tiara inspiration for this fic!))

[theres-an-impulstor-among-us]

Friday Night Stabby best quotes part 19 (23/04/21)

*the crew enter for the first game of the day* Etho: I forgot how to play.

...

Joker: Where was Skizz? Brody: Skizz is dead. Joker: Okay, and where was Skizz’s hair? Impulse: Oh gosh. Etho: Probably also dead somewhere. Evil: Maybe Skizz’s hair strangled him.

...

Etho: I found Mrs Tango in storage. Brody: Excuse me. WE found Mrs Tango. How DARE you. Etho: Okay. WE may have found Mrs Tango in storage.

...

Astro: Did you decide to kill [Skizz] because you didn’t want to see his hair anymore? Joker: Oh if I was gonna kill him because of his hair, I would’ve done that a long time ago. Impulse: First kill, yeah. Joker: Yup, that would definitely have been my first kill.

...

Astro: You’ve been quiet, Joker. And Skizz is dead again. Joker: Uh, yeah. He is. I’m busy celebrating because his hair is no longer visible. Tango: *votes* Joker: Tango, are you voting for me? Tango: I dunno. Joker: You’re a liar. Whatever.

...

Mrs Tango: I just realised I was muted. Brody: She was muted. We were just with her and she was muted. Mrs Tango: And I have a problem pushing buttons. Brody: That’s not true, you press my buttons all the time. Joker: That’s not hard to do, though.

...

Etho: Whatcha got, Skizzle? Skizz: Dude, I’m telling you. Joker was the speedy one and I’m gonna tell you loud and proud: I WISH I was the one who killed him but I-I didn’t. Lower engine, I saw nobody. Brody: That’s not really- That’s not really selling me. Skizz: I wanted so badly to be the one to kill him. I know you can hear me, Joker.

...

Brody: I was on the far right side of the map. Endless: I can confirm that Brody was over there cuz I was harassing him. Brody: Annoyingly, he was.

...

Evil: Not good, Brody. Not good. Brody: What? What’s not good? Evil: The fact that you were running away as I watched Tango’s body fall. Brody: You cannot confirm that. Evil: I- I can. Brody You sure can’t. Evil: I sure can.

...

*Astro, Joker, and Impulse are dead, Skizz is giant imposter* Etho, alive: -so the lovers must’ve been Astro and Impulse. Astro: Nope, we weren’t lovers. That slow, gigantic little jerk just killed all of us. Impulse: Who killed you, Joker? Joker: Uh, Endless did. Endless did and Skizz came right by me. Astro: I mean, Skizz was right there too. Skizz is the other killer. Impulse: Yeah, Endless killed me, then Skizz killed Astro, then Endless killed Joker, I got it. Astro: Okay. So I’m the only one who suffered the disgrace of being killed by the giant.

...

Etho: *reports a body* Tango, immediately: Whoa! I just saw Tango Tek run right by me! That was cool! Brody: Did you? Tango: I sure did! *pause* Etho: Hey everybody!

...

Astro: Skizz, I hate you. Skizz: *laughs* Astro: How DARE you kill me [as giant]. Impulse: Killed by a giant! Ouch! Astro: How DARE you. Skizz: I know! It was SO great, dude! I was SO slow! And the best part was Endless had just gotten a kill and you came in, I was all “I’ll take care of that”. Astro: I… I’m gonna go stand in a corner and feel bad about myself.

...

Skizz: Hey, buddy. Don’t kill me, please! Impulse: Why? Skizz: Cuz I don’t wanna die!? That’s a weird question!

...

Tango: OH is [Joker] a giant murderer? Etho: He’s a giant murderer. Joker: How DARE you, sir. Tango: Don’t vote him out! This is comical. I wanna enjoy this. Joker: How DARE you! Impulse: Let him suffer! Joker: WHAT DO YOU MEAN LET ME SUFFER?!

...

*Tango’s body is reported, Joker is giant* Joker, laughing: I don’t even care! It was worth it! Evil: I found Joker. Impulse: He got one. He got one, did he? Evil: He got Tango! Etho and Impulse: *laugh* Impulse: Tongo couldn’t run fast enough. Evil: So the question is do we leave Joker in or do we kick him out? Joker, still laughing: Tango ran into a corner! It was so funny! Impulse: I guess we gotta get him this time. Joker: Wait hold on, can I just say how funny it was that Tango was like “c’mon big boy, what are you gonna do?” and then ran and got trapped in a corner! Cuz the thing wasn’t there to take across! Impulse, laughing: Oh no! Joker: And the only other thing he could do was go down a ladder and get stuck! Oh, so worth it.

...

Astro: I can kinda vouch for Evil because I was up in the shower having a real hard time and he was- he was coaching me. Evil: Ah- Uh- I- Joker: *bursts out laughing* Evil: I- I was helping you in the shower, you are right. Brody: Uhhhhhh… Etho: No jokes. No jokes, please. Brody: No jokes?! What?! Etho: Nothing, nothing. Brody: Why do you hate fun?! ...

Endless: Whoever was responsible for sabotaging communications over and over again can- can do things. Astro: What would- What would- What would you like me to do, Endless? What- What would you like me to do? :) Endless: You know what you can do, sir.

...

Impulse: Keys or you’re sus! *Impulse and a few others run up to keys despite not having the task* Impulse, laughing: Look how many people did! Skizz: You’re a jerk! Impulse: Gottem!

...

Astro: I’d like to speak to the room here. Will everybody PLEASE stop killing my lovers! I’m tired of it!

...

Tango: Endless’s body is right at the bottom of the entry chute, right- in Happy Town. Mrs Tango: What? What’s Happy Town? Tango: Ohoho. If I was imposter, I’d show you >:)

...

Etho: Joker, where were you? Joker: I don’t know. Etho: Joker…! Why must you do this to me?

...

Impulse: I’m sorry Etho, I was a worthless imposter. Skizz: Impulse, you were a better imposter last round when you weren’t imposter.

...

Impulse: When I called out “keys or you’re sus” at the start, Joker didn’t go do keys. Etho: Gotta be honest, Impulse, sometimes I don’t do keys just to spite you. Impulse: ...fair enough. Tango: That makes me so happy in my core right now.

...

Impulse: The bones have gone bad, okay? The bones have gone bad. Brody: I still like your bone, Impulse. Impulse: Thank you, ‘ppreciate that. Evil: Wow… Brody: What? What?! Impulse: It’s not weird. Evil: No, not at all.

...

Joker: *calls a meeting* Joker: I’ve discovered something about Skizz. *pause* Etho: Voting Skizz! Skizz: Do you wanna elaborate, here?! Joker: No, I cannot. But we should vote for Skizz. *pause* Etho: Voting Skizz!

...

Skizz: So it’s Brody and Mrs Tango. Brody: How is it Mrs Tango? Skizz: I dunno, she voted for me. Brody: That’s not how that works.

...

*after Evil sheriffed imposter Tango in the first 10 seconds of the game* Impulse, getting voted out: I’m deleting this vod. It’s not getting uploaded to YouTube. Brody: Aww, sad. Evil: And- And now I’m gonna get yelled at- Tango, loud enough to wake the dead: EVIL YOU JERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

...

Brody: I’m gonna tell you why Evil’s the best right now. [Tango] just screamed at all levels and I didn’t get a headache from it so my life is complete. Tango: Thank you for my new compressor, yes. Evil: Because Tango has a compressor now. Brody: Yes, because he has a compressor. Tango: I NEED MY COMPRESSOR!!!! Brody: Yeah, see? It’s perfect. Etho: This is nice.

...

Etho: It’s usually not good to go to specimen first round cuz usually a body gets reported right away and you won’t finish your tasks. Endless: Oh, right. Cuz the imposter’s stupid. Got it.

...

Endless: So guys, remember that game when Joker didn’t get in and we had a great time without him? Tango: That was a good game. Joker: Oh my gosh! Impulse: That actually was the best round of the night, yeah. Joker: WOW.

[slythraco]

Hateful - D.M - Part 3

Summary:  Draco Malfoy falling for a Gryffindor, sounds mental right ? If only you knew.

Warnings: Swears

Words count: 3,1K

Masterlist

Tag list:  @fictionalhoomanofnowhere @lauren-100​

____________________________________________________________

"Wake up Y/N !" You're waking up by Hermione's voice. You suddenly jump on your bed, making your friend take a step back. You take a few seconds to open your eyes and once it's done you feel a horrible pain in your head. "Ouch !" You complain as you put your hand on your forehead. "Are you okay ?" Your friend asked, worried. "My head hurts...so bad." Hermione sigh and grab her bag to search for a potion she made to beat the headache. "Here, take this." She hands you the little vial, you take it between your fingers, and you drink the liquid. The pain suddenly disappear. "Thank you 'Mione !" You shouted before getting up. "You're welcome, now hurry up, or you'll be late for potion class !" No need to tell you twice, you gasp in panic and run to your bathroom to get changed and put on your uniform. You arrange your hair and make your face look less like a corpse and finally make your way with Hermione to the classroom.

You enter the classroom and quickly realize the professor is not there yet. You scan the room with your eyes and spot an empty place beside your friend, Harry. You walk to join him and sit next to him, the chosen one smiles at you as soon as you reach him. "Hey ! You survived last night from what I see." He teases, you tilt your head, confused. "What do you mean ?" You asked. "You don't remember ?" Potter frowns so do you. "No...what happened ?" You hear your other two friends sitting behind you, Hermione and Ronald immediately listen to your conversation. "The twins gave everyone a weird potion." Harry explained. "And...?" You ask for more explanation, but you're already scared of the answer. "Oh you were on another planet Y/N ! I've never seen you like that !" Ronald explain and start laughing but quickly stop when he sees nobody's laughing with him. Your eyes widen, you start to freak out, what happened at that party ? You didn't remember anything, and you can't help but be scared of what version of yourself you became. "What did I do exactly ?" You asked, still scared of the answer. "Um...Y/N ? Can I talk to you for a second ?" The second girl of the group proposes. You nod and Hermione gets up from her chair to go in the corner of the room, where nobody can hear you.

"Listen, yesterday at some point you disappear from the party..." You cut her before she even had the time to finish. "What ? Where was I ?" You shouted. "Let me talk !" She shouted and you let her speak. "The last time I saw you, you were going up the stairs...with." You tilt your head, waiting for her to give you a name. "With whom ?" You asked. "Malfoy." You stay shook for a second. You imagine the worst, a new question popped in your head. Did you sleep with Draco ? You take a step back and look at the floor, trying to remember what happened in your room but nothing came back. "That's not possible !" You shouted as you replace your gaze on your friend. "Y/N...You weren't in your normal state, and me both Malfoy is evil enough to take advantage of that. You should talk about that to Dumbledore !" Your friend, proposed. You were about to respond but your eyes wander to the entrance, like you felt him coming, Draco appears in it, making your heart skip a beat. Your gaze immediately meet his, and the Slytherin instantly understand that something's wrong. He frowns when he looks at you before sitting at his desk. He turns his head a few times to look at you, you look worried and scared when you saw him, and he hated to see you look at him like that.

"We'll go to his office after this lesson." Hermione says before heading back to her seat, but you quickly stop her. "No ! I-I'll figure this out, I'll talk to Draco. We can't tell him without having proofs right ?" She was about to answer but the arrival of professor Snape stops her. She sighs and go back to her seat, followed by you.

•••

You were writing on your sheet what the professor was explaining to your class when you get distracted by a flying origami that falls directly on your desk. You look around you and you frown when you catch Draco's gaze, he shows the piece of paper by a head movement. You sigh and open it. "Meet me here tonight., for our course." You re-lay your eyes on him, and nod as a response. You think about for a second, it might not be a good idea, knowing you probably slept with him the night before. But it could be false too, so you needed to figure it out.

•••

"Are you sure this is a good idea ?" Hermione asked you while you were about to leave to rejoin Draco in the potion classroom for the second time of the day. "Yes, I don't want more problems Malfoy by falsely accusing him of a rape." You explain, grabbing your bag. Hermione doesn't seem reassured at all by it. "Listen, Malfoy is probably the biggest idiot we'll ever meet in our lives. But, I don't think he's so bad that he did something so horrible." You added, which makes her roll her eyes. "How could you know ?" Because you spent all your nights studying with him for the past week, and the Draco you discovered is not the Draco you knew for the past 5 years. He was indeed, completely different. He showed you some patience and kindness, something you never saw in him before. So you can't help but have a shade of hope about him. Obviously you couldn't just tell her that you spent this much time with him, you would've gone mad. "I just feel it 'Mione." Is the only excuse you can give her. "I should come with you." She shouted as she leans to grab her bag, you sigh and take her wrist between your fingers before she can reach it. "No, don't worry Hermione ! I'll be fine." Knowing she'll find something to say again. You don't let her the time to do so and quickly get out of your dorm.

After passing a few corridors, you finally arrive in the potion class. As you enter, you already meet Draco, who was already waiting for you. "Welcome Miss Y/L/N." You giggle as you walk toward him, he was sitting at the professor desk, feet on the table. "You can call me Professor Malfoy !" You frown. "Alright, Professor Malfoy, why do we have our course here today ?" You're playing his game as you slowly walk towards Snape's desk. "Well, I convinced the teacher to lend us his class, so we could practice making potions." Your eyes widen, it seems like a big joke, but then you remembered that Snape likes the Slytherin more than the other students from other houses. And on top of that, Draco is his favourite one, but still, it's surprising. The blondie finally gets up and walk across the room to reach the cauldron, ready to begin. You look at him while he makes his way, until you join him. He already prepared all the ingredients for the potion you were going to make. "What are we making today ?" You asked, as you look at the table. "Your best-friend, Amortentia." The Slytherin answered and you instantly sigh heavily. Amortentia is the potion you struggle the most this week, Draco was about to torture you by choosing this one. "Noooooo ! Please ! I never understood this one !" You complained. "Yes, it's the point Y/N, you need to practice !"

"But what if I set the castle on fire !" He rolls his eyes at your response. "Oh please, don't worry ! I'll be here to help !" He reassures you as he grabs his book potion and open it on the amortentia recipe. "Ready ?" He asked like your answer could change the outcome. "No" You dryly responded. "Awesome ! Let's go !" He cheers, completely ignoring you which makes you laugh a little.

•••

As you pour carefully the right amount of pearl dust in the cauldron, you feel the need to finally ask the question to Draco. Since you got here, he hasn't seemed weird or uncomfortable as he probably should after sleeping with you. His hasn't changed at all since your last lesson together. All the signs were telling that nothing happened, but you wanted to  settle this  once and for all. "Draco ?" You mumbled, feeling your heart beating faster when he turns his eyes on you. "Y/N ?" He asked back, waiting for you to continue. "About last night..." You started, the blondie already frown when en think about it again. He found a way to erase it from his head, but you had to talk about that night. "Yes ?" He says to push into explain yourself. "Did we...? Slept together ?" Draco's reaction says it all, his eyes widen and his pale cheeks seems to become a bit more red. "What ? You don't remember ?" He tilts his head, and his remark don't help you to understand what happened at this party. "No, that's why I'm asking you. Hermione told me she saw us going in my room..." The Slytherin prince sigh and rolls his eyes. Of course, it had to be that mudblood to make you believe such a thing. "No we didn't, you took that strange potion that made you crazy. You asked me to stay but I refused. You really though I could do something like that ?" He asked, disappointed to say the least, which break your heart for a second. "No, that's why I'm here. If I'd listened to her, i would be in Dumbledore's office right now. But I knew you're not that bad of a guy."

You could see if jaw clenching for a second. "How could you know ?" He asked, genuinely curious. You stay silent for a moment, searching the right word to answer this question. "Because the Malfoy i spent the past week with is not the same Malfoy surrounded by his friends that likes to bully everyone."

"What do you mean ?" He asked again. "Don't make me give you a statement." You say in a fake annoyed way, it makes him escape a giggle. "Come on, we have a potion to finish !" You shouted as you grab the next ingredient. Now ready to finally concentrate on the recipe.

•••

You open the little jar containing the rose thorns, you carefully take some between your fingers but one directly get her place into your thumb making you jump and overthrow the jar everywhere in the table as you let out a cry of pain. Draco jumps at your scream and turns to you. "Are you okay ?" He asks worried while you suck up the blood coming out of your finger. He gasps when he sees the mess you created. "I really can't let you alone for 2 seconds..." He complains as he starts to clean up. He put most of the rose thorns inside the jar they were supposed to be in, but he jumps when one of them stings the young man. "I really can't let you alone for 2 seconds." You tease when you see the scene. You can't help but laugh when you see his deadly eyes on you. "Shut up." He threat, jaw clenched, sexier than never. You bite your lip as you make a step towards him. "Haven't you understand yet ? I'm not going to until you make me." You say in a provocative way. Draco kept himself from kissing you right now to make you shut your pretty mouth. All he does is walking slowly towards you. You don't make a move, waiting for him to reach you. "You really want me to ?" He asked, like you had a choice.

"Maybe ?" You looked directly into his eyes, even if you knew the power they could hold on anyone. But destabilized when you realize his eyes are not looking at yours at all, like that day in the hallway, they're looking at your lips. This time you can't help but smile slightly before sliding your tongue on them on purpose to make him crazy. Without realizing it, you two were getting close and closer so that at one moment your lips are only a few millimetres away from each other. And just when they were about to touch, Draco pull quickly away, a devilish smirk on his face. "You wish Y/L/N." He spits before turning around to face the almost done potion. Leaving you panting behind him before you join him to finally finish it like nothing happened. At that exact moment, you realize you wanted to kiss him. You wanted to feel your lips against his into a rabid kiss. You felt your cheek become just at this idea while Draco didn't let anything appear on his face.

With time, he became the master of hiding his feelings because he wanted to kiss you so much too, he just didn't have the courage without being sure of your feelings for him. You could just be teasing. And getting a reject would be the death of him.

•••

"I think it's done !" Draco shouted. "Did I succeed ?" You ask, impatient. "Well, the only way to know it is by smelling it, women first." He explains before inviting you to do so, you roll your eyes and lean to smell the potion. You take a few 'Sniff' and you frown slightly, smelling something, but it needs a few seconds for your brain to actually understand what's going on. Mint, expensive cologne and green apples...it could only be him. You were smelling the exact same thing you were smelling when Draco was close enough to you. Your eyes widen at this revelation, out of everyone you had to smell someone who was still your biggest enemy last week. "So, what are you smelling ?" The Slytherin asked, way to curious of your answer. You didn't have the courage to tell him, how would he react ? It was just the beginning of a good relationship, revealing this could break everything. So you lied. "Um...I believe it's...parchment paper, vanilla and...quidditch equipment." Harry's scent, it's what seems the most credible to you. Draco, who was leaned above your shoulder take a sudden step back. "And you ?" You ask as you turn around to look at him. "Nothing." He lies, but how could he tell you what he smelled with the answered you gave him a second ago. "Isn't that impossible ?" You frown slightly, the Slytherin express a fake giggle as he starts to take his stuff. "Well, you should know I don't love anybody, everything is hateful to me." He spits in his beard, resulting in you frowning even more. His clenched said it all. Was he mad for not smelling anything ?

"Anyway, bye Y/L/N." He mumbles before disappearing in the hallway. Leaving you, confused of this reaction and a mountain of ingredients to clean up if you don't want to get killed by your professor.

•••

The next day, you reach the library to join Draco for your usual lesson after school. But after an hour of waiting, you understand that he will not show up today. Which could've been understandable if he gave you some explanation the next day. But nothing, you tried to send him a piece on paper during a mutual lesson, but he didn't even open it.

And two weeks later, it was still the same, he never showed up again  to your lessons and when you tried to reach out to him, he was completely ignoring you. It broke your heart, everything build up just disappeared in seconds, without no explanation. You had a potion test this morning, you didn't really have high hopes for the results, this whole situation kept you from studying lately.

Draco's attitude was really getting on your nerves so one day, you decided to follow him, and catch him when he'll be finally alone, free of his minions that he had as friends. And your moment came, one night after the dinner in the Great Hall, you followed him until he reached to the astronomy tower. A place he loved to go to watch the sky. "Draco ?" You say in almost a murmur. The Slytherin jumps and turn around, he frowns when he sees you. You were the last person he expected to be here. "What do you want ?" He asked dryly. "I want to understand why you're avoiding me so much lately." He rolls his eyes, and he turns around again to lean on the rail behind him. "I'm not avoiding you." He simply said, to convinced himself. "Yes you are Draco ! Every time I'm trying to get to you, I get no response !" You exclaim, slowly walking toward him. "What ? I gave your lessons that's it. What did you expect ?" He turns slightly to the side to look at you by the corner of his eye. "I-I don't know...he just though we wouldn't just come back to where we started before having these lessons. I thought we could be friends." Malfoy let out a fake giggle as he faces you again, the devilish smirk you knew too well as his face. "Oh please. You really though I cared about you ? Let me tell you the truth." He takes a step toward you, his clenched jaw didn't announce anything good. "I don't give a shit about you Y/L/N, just because I was nice to you for a week, doesn't mean I would be your friend. I hate you, like I always did for the past 5 years, and it's not going to change any time soon. Now, if you could get off my back, it'll be really nice of you." He spits before quickly leaving the tower, jostling you on the way. Leaving you in a state of shock, 50 meters above the ground. Draco was clear, all his kindness was just for the lesson, he crushed your hope of friendship, and it somehow broke your heart even more.

•••

[mrsalwayswrite]

Say You’ll Stay - Chapter 8

Fury/Band of Brothers Crossover Fic

Guys, I’m so sorry its taken me so long to get this chapter out. My muse abandoned me and my laptop was being weird. But here we are! Let me know what you think!

Tag List: @happyveday​ @alwaysindecemberfeels​ @god-of-dramatic-death-scenes​ @saritanotserena​

Series Masterlist // Next Chapter

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The sunrise lit up the morning sky with an array of beautiful, pastel colors. Anna could only hope it was a good sign for the day. She rubbed a hand over her tired eyes as she carefully walked over the rubble on the city's streets, dodging icy puddles and mud. Gene was going to be quite upset with her later, but she tried not to think about that now. 

 Quickly, she hurried up the creaky steps of the old two-story home. It looked similar to most of the other buildings but its door was dirty and faded red with a rickety looking porch only half standing. She made a mental note to thank Boyd for his surprisingly clear directions, otherwise she knew she would have been wandering for a while and on these streets, that was far from safe. As quietly as possible, she pushed open the door and stepped inside. She had been invited here, actually forced to come here if Boyd's look yesterday said anything, but she still felt like an invader. The idea of setting foot inside the men's barracks was something her mind fervently refused to acknowledge; it just was not even a possibility in her mind. Though this building was not technically an army barrack in the literal sense, she still felt like an intruder because it was sleeping/housing quarters for the men. 

 Her grandmother would be furious if she ever found out Anna entered the men's quarters…. especially letting herself in. The thought tampered down Anna's nerves slightly as she thought of the horrified look on the elderly woman's face, if she ever discovered this. It lightened her mood for a brief moment. 

 In the room to her left, a soldier sprawled on a mangy looking couch with an arm thrown over his eyes. If she had not been able to see his chest rising and falling, she would have gone to check his pulse for how still he was otherwise. In that same room another soldier sat in a high-backed chair with his head tipped back, eyes closed and snoring like a chainsaw. Not recognizing either man, she guessed they were from one of the other tank crews. The sounds of movement and soft talking to her right had her quietly turning in that direction, hoping to allow the soldiers their well-deserved sleep. 

 She startled when a head popped around the corner, covering her mouth quickly before a scream could escape. The man had a face that reminded her vaguely of a bulldog, thick jaw and deep-set eyes. He scanned her for a moment in a way that felt more like an assessment than any kind of leering. 

 He grunted then jerked his head back the way he had come. "This way." He muttered only to disappear just as quickly as he appeared. 

 Through her heart still hammered in her chest from the unexpected startle, she took a deep breath in an attempt to steel her nerves. Sudden, frightened screaming would most likely get her or someone else shot. It was too early to be shot in her opinion. Best she try to suppress any girly screams for now. Or at least until after she got some sleep. 

 She followed the man around the corner only to encounter what most likely used to be a kitchen but was missing some key utilities. The faded, peeling wallpaper only added to the desolate feel. Just off center and close to a window facing the river was a table with three men sitting around it. Two others leaned against a countertop, mugs in hand. What quiet conversation had been going before her arrival ceased as she came into view. 

 "Anna?"

 "Good morning." She attempted to smile but worried it came out more as a grimace. The need for sleep was beginning to claw at her mind. 

 "Sit down," Boyd immediately stood up, gesturing to his chair at the table. "You want some coffee? I reckon we got some left."

 "That would be lovely, thank you." Knowing she probably would lose the fight, she went ahead and took his seat. Something she had learned about Boyd Swan over the past almost two weeks she had known him, he was a gentleman but beyond that…. he was stubborn. 

 Don leaned back in the chair next to her, cigarette between his lips. "Morning." He stated in a gravelly voice, lingering traces of sleep apparent in the sound. He must not have been awake long. 

 "Good morning." She flashed him a quick smile, willing the warmth to dissipate from her cheeks, or at least hoping no one noticed the blush. This schoolgirl crush on him was ridiculous, and she knew it. A peek of those blue eyes and her heart beat a drumroll in her chest that rivaled any band. 

 Boyd set a tin cup in front of her, steam tantalizingly drifting out of it. "Didn't think you'd be here this early. Why ain't you sleepin'?" Boyd asked. 

 She took a sip, the warmth delightful even if the taste was less than desirable. "Um, well, I'm supposed to be but I wanted to see y’all before, or you might come busting down the door again." She directed the last part to Boyd with a mock glare. He was lucky none of the medics carried guns with how he burst into the aid station demanding to see her. 

 He shrugged unapologetically. "Just wanted to make sure you was alright. We didn't know where you disappeared to. I see you got some new clothes."

 "Yeah," she glanced down at the ODs she now wore. They were ill-fitting, clearly meant for a man, not a short nurse. She had to roll up the hems of the trousers and the sleeves multiple times and she swore she still looked like a child playing dress-up in their parent's clothes. On the other hand, they were far warmer than her nurse’s torn uniform and right now, that was more important. "Gene let me have one of their spare medic uniforms."

 "Mmm… explains the patch here." Don touched the screaming eagle patch over her upper arm. 

 It was an innocent, teasing gesture but it still shot sparks through her system. Her eyes jumped up to meet his lingering gaze. He gave her a quick wink before leaning his chair back. The warmth of a blush reappeared on her cheeks. Quickly, she took a sip of her watery coffee, well aware of the others sitting or standing around quietly in the room. 

 "Gene? That medic with the southern accent?" Boyd asked, leaning against the wall nearby. His question was innocent enough but the scrutinizing look on his face said otherwise. 

 "Boyd…"

 "He just seemed real protective of you, that's all."

 She groaned, setting her cup down on the table and dropping her face into her hands. A few chuckles drifted from around the room but she ignored them. Actually, now that she was sitting still with her eyes closed, she could feel a wave of sleep threatening to crash over her and pull her under, with or without her consent. The coffee should have been helping to keep her awake but at this point, the warmth in her belly only made her want to curl up like a cat and doze off.

 A conversation picked up around her, two of the men in the room speaking in a low drone. She recognized the sound of the man with the bulldog face, he made some kind of remark that had Don chuckle next to her before replying. Her mind refused to process the words though. The conversation became a background noise as she teetered on the edge of sleep and wakefulness. She should get back to the aid station. She needed to get back to the aid station to help Roe. Yet her body refused to comply. 

 "Anna."

 The soft whisper of her name caught her attention from the sleep-induced haze. She turned her head slightly to meet Don's concerned gaze. 

 "When did you last sleep?"

 "Mmm?"

 He huffed at her noncommittal answer. "Did you sleep at all last night?"

 "No…. I stayed up to cover so some of the other medics could sleep. I'm fine. I should probably head back."

 "Doll, I just watched you fall asleep sitting right there."

 "No… I was just… resting my eyes. I should get back."

 "Like hell you are." He raised his gaze to look over her head, his volume rising from the whisper they had been speaking in. "Boyd, take Anna upstairs and let her have one of the cots or bed. We'll take her back once she gets some sleep."

 "No, it's fine…." She weakly tried to argue but snapped her mouth shut when he turned his gaze back to her.

 "If you don't walk up those stairs right now, I'll throw you over my shoulder and carry you up them." Don stated, then took a hit of his cigarette. The statement should have sounded like a joke but with his matter-of-fact tone and the way he watched her, Anna knew he was serious. 

 "Come on," Boyd put a hand on her shoulder. "We was gonna ask you to check Norman anyway."

 That caught her attention. She whipped around to look up at Boyd. "Is he alright? What happened?"

 "He's fine. Think he's got a cold.... maybe a fever too."

 With that information, she more readily followed the gunner up towards the nearby stairs and up to the second floor. There were four doors in the hallway but he led her to the furthest one on the right. Inside was a bed big enough for two people, a large dresser, nightstand and a short couch off in the corner. What immediately caught her attention though was the figure lying in bed, curled up like a child and coughing with a dry and scratchy sound. Her own exhaustion was forgotten as she darted past Boyd to drop next to the figure under the thick quilt. 

 "Hey, Norman." 

 "Anna?" He blearily opened his red-rimmed, glassy eyes. He sniffled, wiping his nose on the edge of his sleeve. 

 "How are you feeling?"

 "Ok…"

 "Liar." She teased, running a hand through his hair gently after feeling his forehead. He felt mildly warm but nothing she was too concerned with yet. That cough had her more worried. "What all hurts, Norm?"

 "Boyd thinks it's just a cold."

 "I know. Running nose, scratchy throat, slight fever… anything else? Headache? Fatigue?"

 "Uh huh." He mumbled, eyes closing as he relaxed under her touch, sleep guiding him away from awareness. 

 He looked so painfully young, lying in the bed. It broke her heart to know this was someone who was forced to kill people on a regular basis. He should be back home and going to school or flirting with his crush or playing baseball with friends. He should not be here. None of them should be here. 

 Yet here they were. 

 She looked around her and found his canteen laying just underneath the bed. Picking it up she was pleased it was at least half full. 

 "Norm, I want you to drink some of this before you fall back asleep. Can you do that for me, please?"

 With a painful groan, he shifted enough to drink a couple of mouthfuls of the water before handing it back to her and slinking back down onto the bed. She stood up but was surprised when his hand darted out to grab hers. 

 "Don't go yet." He said just barely above a whisper. It was the pleading look in his eyes that convinced her. 

 "Ok, sweetie," she cooed, running her hand over his sweaty forehead again, "I'll stay a little longer."

 She looked back over at Boyd, hovering near the door with an expression on his face she could not distinguish. 

 "Can you fill this back up and get him some of those crackers from your rations?"

 Boyd nodded, moving to take the canteen from her hand. "Sure thing. Anythin' else you need?"

 "No, I'll stay just for a little bit. Can you come get me in an hour or two? I really need to head back to the aid station."

 "You also need to rest. Those bags under your eyes look like permanent bruises now."

 "I will." She snapped then immediately felt bad and sighed. "I'm sorry, I will. I promise."

 "S'alright. I'll come back in an hour."

 "Thank you." She smiled, even if it was only a twitch of her lips. As Boyd walked out, she knelt back down next to the young soldier. His eyes were already closed, breathing slowing as slumber took hold once again. She rested her head on the side of the bed, carding her fingers through his hair. A hacking cough overtook him, startling them both. Once he settled, she continued her ministrations, humming softly. She hoped it was just a cold. That it was nothing more severe. 

 She made a mental note that when Boyd came her in an hour, she would make sure to ask Gene if anyone had found tea or honey laying around. 

 *****

 Don watched Boyd and Anna go up the stairs. When he turned back, he saw a couple of the men's gaze lingering on the stairs. 

 "The nurse is off limits." He stated with such finality that had at least one of the men's heads snap towards him. As if his statement sealed an invisible decree, the men in the kitchen turned back to whatever they were doing prior. 

 Davis looked at him from his spot across the room, leaning against the kitchen counter. "She yours?"

 "I thought you don't participate in gossip?"

 The other tank commander shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee. 

 Don ignored the question, even if he could feel Davis' gaze frequently drifting to him. He focused on the map on the table before him. It was not necessary for him to study it but the action had become a habit of his whenever his crew moved to a new location. Knowing what other towns were nearby, rivers, roads, anything that could be of use later, he tried to memorize it. At this point, he figured by the time the war was over he would have most of Europe and North Africa geography permanently seared into his brain. 

 A couple minutes later, Boyd came back down and returned to his seat next to Don. He scrubbed his face with his hands and sighed deeply. "She's workin' herself too hard. Looks like she ain't slept in a week."

 Don kept his thoughts to himself but he was loathed to agree. Exhaustion hung off her like a heavy cape making her feet drag as she walked. Witnessing how easily she fell asleep just sitting at the table did not help her case. 

 "Told her I'd be back up in an hour to get 'er."

 Don raised an eyebrow, looking at his friend. "Are you going to?" 

 Boyd smirked. "I'll check on her but if she's sleepin', I'm gonna leave her be. Lord knows she needs it." He paused, glancing towards the stairs. "I'd bet my own Bible she's asleep right now."

 "Mmm… Norman alright?"

 "He's sleepin'. She's takin' care of him."

 He was not all surprised. Since they had arrived in Haguenau, Norman's health had plummeted. Don worried for his newest crew member. The poor kid looked miserable and these were certainly less than ideal conditions for someone sick. The kid had a bed and a roof over his bed…. he would pull through. He had too. Don would not even consider the alternative. Especially with Anna now looking after him. The small nurse would mother the hell out of whatever is wrong with the kid. With a smirk at the thought, Don went back to studying the map. 

 Several hours later, he headed up the stairs to the room he shared with Boyd and Norman. 

 A runner had come from Captain Winters requesting his presence at noon at HQ. Don agreed, sending the runner back on his way. Boyd met his annoyed gaze and they shared a mutual sigh. So much for them having a reprieve before being sent back out. 

 Up the stairs he went and down the short hallway. The floorboards creaked under his boots; a sudden memory of his childhood home crossed his mind. Whenever he tried to sneak out of this bedroom as a child, he never could get far because of the damn loud floorboards.  

 He opened the door slowly, not wanting to startle the room's occupants. As he registered what he saw, it brought a small smile to his lips and he paused at the sight. Norman was still curled up asleep on the bed, mouth open and breathing loud. On the other side of the bed, Anna lay on her side, hands tucked under her face, hair a wild mess around her. Boyd had mentioned when he came up to check on them, he had helped move Anna to the bed with her barely rousing. Clearly more tired than any of them assumed.  

 Instead of waking her up like he intended to, he found himself closing the door quietly and just watching the two sleep. Yes, he knew it was creepy and if Boyd knew, the gunner would rightly smack him in the back of the head. Would not be the first time after Don did something stupid. 

 War brings people together in the strangest of way. After the…. accident...he thought he would never have family again. That because of his stupid mistakes, he was destined to be alone forever. Which he rightly deserved. But then he went to war. He was thrown into a tank with four other men who quickly became brothers. 

 If he needed to be distracted from commands and his own inner demons, he knew sitting down with Gordo would distract him for a while with his crazy stories of home and the shenanigans he did as a teenager. Gordo always had a joke or story to share to lighten the mood. 

 Grady respected Don as a leader but never let him run him over; he could just as easily return Don's anger-fueled fire as follow his commands. It had taken some time for them to trust and respect one another, their tempers too similar. Now there was an underlying understanding between the two of them, that they took the worst of the jobs, that they would carry the most blood on their hands to spare the others. If Don had to get into a fist fight, there was no one else he would want more by his side. 

 Then there was the man who had become more than a blood brother, a confidante, a best friend, a moral compass. Even in the first week of tank school, Boyd had looked over at Don one day, said he was proud to be by his side and thought Don was a good man. Don had laughed in Boyd's face but somehow it sealed a pact between them. Boyd's calm demeanor helped keep Don's temper down and even when it did flare up like a roman candle firework, Boyd was always there to rein it in. Neither of them drank so while the others went off to drink away the night, Don and Boyd found themselves sitting together silently and both were more than alright with that. 

 Norman reminded Don of his little brother so much it physically hurt sometimes. He despised himself that it was HIS fault the boy was forced to lose that innocence he carried. It was HIM that made Norman kill. But this was war, and if they wanted to survive, they needed to be merciless. Don knew he overcompensated by making sure Norman ate and rested when they could. He showed the young soldier how to disassemble and reassemble his rifle, how to stab and slash, how to survive. He refused to let the boy die even through his own stupid mistakes. Somewhere in the recesses of his mind, the idea had been planted that making sure Norman survived this goddamn war would be his penance for his own failures.  

 Before two weeks ago, these were the four people that mattered most to him. Even more than what was left of his blood relations. Losing Red, Norman's predecessor, had felt like a knife to the heart, even if he masked it for all to see. He refused to let the others see him grieve, he had to be strong for them. 

 Now though, Anna had slipped past his heart's barriers and settled there in a place that he had not realized was empty until her presence filled the prior void spot. She remained in his thoughts more than he cared to admit. Her soft touch, her gentle spirit, those gemstone eyes, that faint scent… it all lingered with him like a summer's heat that no matter what you tried to do, day or night, you could not escape. He swore she was a siren, come to torment him. His life was proof enough he did not deserve someone like her, he never would deserve someone like her. She was gentleness and kindness wrapped up in a person. He was wrath and mistakes that cost people their lives. 

 Yet still her presence persisted. 

 Shaking his head, he pulled himself out of his thoughts and moved to her side. He hated to wake her. She looked so peaceful. 

 "Anna." He whispered. "Anna, wake up." 

 Overly aware of his actions, he squatted down to be eye level with her. He reached a hand over and brushed some loose strands of hair off her cheek. The sunlight coming through the dirty window made her red hair shine. "Come on, darling. Time to wake up."

 He was unsure where the pet name came from but once it left his lips, it felt right. Before he could think too long about it, she began to stir. 

 She sucked in a sharp breath. Her eyelids fluttered open but once the sunlight hit, they slammed closed once again. "No…" she whimpered, scrunching her nose up in dislike of either the sun or waking up. Either way, he was positive he had never seen anything as adorable before… and he never used the word adorable.  

 Oh, he was so fucked now. 

 He chuckled. "Come on, Anna."

 "What time is it?"

 "Almost noon."

 She peeked an eye open at him. "I told Boyd to wake me in an hour."

 "Yeah, well we thought you needed some sleep."

 Grumbling something under her breath that sounded suspiciously like "overprotective mother hen", she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes and sat up. 

 Movement drew Don's gaze over to Norman who was shifting around. His eyes blearily opened; it took a few seconds to come out of sleep. Once his mind seemed to realize Anna was still half laying in the bed less than a foot away from him, he sat up like he had been shocked with electricity. 

 "Don, I swear nothing happened. We just sleeping, I mean… I don't think…" a bout of coughing interrupted his frantic and hasty explanation. 

 At that, the tank commander laughed loudly. "I know, Norman." He shifted back towards the door, watching the two amused. Anna's cheeks were pink now but she gave no other indication of hearing Norman's sleepy mumbling. 

 "How are you feeling, Norm?" She asked, placing the back of her hand on his forehead. 

 "Alright, I guess."

 "Think you can come down and eat?"

 He nodded sluggishly. They both rolled out the bed, him moving a bit slower. The whole way out of the door and down the stairs, Anna walked next to him, occasionally putting a hand on his shoulder or giving a word of encouragement.  

 Don led the way back down, still smirking about Norman's hasty and confused comment. He would have to remember it to rib the kid later on when he was feeling better. Finally making it to the kitchen area, they deposited Norman at the table next to Gordo, who was nursing a cup of coffee. Boyd meandered over from reading on one of the couches in the common room, glasses still perched on his nose. 

 As soon as Anna saw him, she stomped over and punched him in the arm. "You were supposed to wake me up in an hour."

 Boyd winced and tried to shuffle out of range of another strike. "Well, you looked tired."

 "What every girl wants to hear, Boyd, thank you."

 Don was not the only one laughing at the interaction. 

 Anna blushed as she seemed to notice the others about the area but ignored them, walking back over to Norman. "You just rest. I'll come back and check on you tonight. I'll see if they have anything to help at the aid station."

 The kid nodded then started coughing again. 

 "Don't worry, we'll take care of him." Gordo said, wrapping an arm around him and giving her a quick wink. 

 She smiled back, cheeks still pink from her prior blush.  "Thanks, Gordo."

 Don figured it was time to speak up now. "Let's go, Anna. I'll walk you back." He was surprised when she followed him without hesitation after a quick goodbye to those from his crew.  

 Don and Davis were lucky to have found an unoccupied house on the western side of Haguenau for their crews, further away from the river and the Germans across it. Binkowski and Peterson and their crews occupied the building just behind them. Here they did not have to worry so much about the frequent mortars and snipers. Though some of the holes in the floorboards were concerning, but it was a roof over their heads. 

 The tank commander and nurse walked in silence past the other houses and buildings towards the aid station. The frost, hidden in the shadows, crunched under their boots. An unusual silence permeated the air, no shouting or sound of gunfire coming from the river. It made Don wary and he slowed down his typical purposeful stride to match hers, making sure to keep his body between hers and the direction of the river. He knew the action would be useless against a mortar but it helped alleviate some of his worry. 

 They stopped at the back door to the aid station, the couple brick steps still intact, leading up to a small stoop and the back, wooden door. Don remained on the muddy ground while Anna stepped up onto the first step then turned around to face him. 

 "Thank you for walking me back." 

 He hummed, glancing further down the road. "You make sure to eat something now. Can't have you wasting away."

 "Isn't that my job to take care of others?" She said cheekily. 

 "Yeah, doesn't hurt to have someone looking out for you too."

 It was a simple, truthful statement. If war taught anything, it was the need for others to watch your back both in dodging bullets and to share meals. War and death were malicious bastards, dragging down anyone into a black hole of melancholy before they could even realize they slipped in the first place. Yet as soon as the words left his mouth, the weight of them hit him firmly in the chest. Instead of meaning it as a comrade or friend, he realized he meant something more. Someone to look out for her in more than just the little things, but in everything. Shit. 

 Her head snapped up, her gaze meeting his in a way that sent a tingle down his spine. Neither one moved as they stared at one another. The world threatened to fade away around them. She was beautiful, it was a fact. Even in ODs that threatened to swallow her, she still managed to radiate warmth and kindness. He had caught more than one soldier eyeing her up. It burned him up on the inside but he had no right to fight them over their actions. She was not his…. even if he was beginning to wish she was. She was too good for him. Too pure. Too beautiful. His presence would only taint her. 

 He needed a distraction, something to break the hold they both seemed stuck in. He blurted the first thing that came to mind. "You still have the knife on you?" 

 She blinked rapidly as if awakening from a dream. "Yes." She stuttered then leaned over slightly to lift her right pants leg up. 

 He looked down and noticed it strapped to her lower leg, just above her boot. "Good."

 Even though the conversation halted, it seemed neither one wanted to move away. Her eyes held his once again as if waiting for something. A sign? A word? A fucking billboard with neon lights? Hell if he knew. The problem was, he could feel it too. There was something shifting between them and it both terrified and elated him. 

 Before he could stop himself, he reached out and slipped an erratic strand of hair behind her ear. His thumb trailing down her jawline after, her soft skin like velvet against his own roughness. Fuck he had been dying to touch her again. Instead of alleviating the need, now it seemed to burn stronger in him. 

 "Don…" she whispered as his thumb hinted at touching her lower lip. 

 The way she said it in that breathy tone, the light in her eyes and the blush on her cheeks, all of it combined sent a bolt of lightning through him that threatened any self-control he had. He wanted to pull her small frame against him, to taste her and see if her lips were as soft as they looked, if that heavenly scent that surrounded her came from her skin or hair. He wanted her. Fucking hell, he wanted her. And if the way her eyes were dilated and her breathing uneven, perhaps she wanted him too. 

 The door beside them suddenly opened, jolting them both back to reality. Whatever moment they had, dashed away as a paratrooper glared at them then pushed past them. 

 "I should…."

 "Yeah," he said, pulling out a cigarette.  He needed to keep his hands busy otherwise he would be tempted to pull her against him. "I'll send someone to come get you later."

 "That's not necessary."

 "Maybe, but I sure as hell don't like you walking around by yourself."

 "Fine." She stood up on her toes and brushed a quick kiss to his jawline, an innocent ode to the last time she kissed him. "Be safe, Sergeant." She whispered against his skin then quickly turned and ducked inside the aid station. 

 "Damn it." He muttered after his brain finally decided to restart. Such a simple touch should not make him lose all sense. He kicked a loose rock, sticking the cigarette between his lips and lighting it. The smoke curled in his lungs, helping solidify him into reality. He glanced back at the door, briefly wondering what it would be like to storm into the building and kiss her like he wanted too. But before he could do something stupid, he headed towards the regiment HQ, the lingering hint of lilacs danced in the corners of his mind. 

[cuddlepilefics]

could you pretty please with a cherry on top🥺🥺🥺 do a fic where felix from skz is a little and none of the others really know because he's really shy about it. While the group is out shopping they pass the baby section of the store and he sees a rattle he really likes. felix tries so hard not to slip in front of the members but when they get back home he like shuts himself in his room and closes off from the members. Bang chan or changbin (your choice cause i cant choose) notices how theyre acting and earlier saw him looking at the rattle so he buys it in secret for felix and then eventually felix has to come clean about being a little

i love your work but try to stay happy and healthy during these hard times in the world😊😊

Changbinnie-hyungie

 Fandom: Stray Kids

Little: Felix

Caregivers: Stray Kids

 No one’s POV.:

Stray Kids had just finished their dance practice for today and wanted to go for lunch together before splitting up for their individual schedules. They went to the food court of a close by mall, chattering while eating. When they were done eating, it turned out that they still had some time left before they’d have to be back at the company, so they decided to just visit some of the shops. Since they were quite many, they decided to split up as to not form a too large crowd. Felix wasn’t really looking for anything in particular, so he just trailed some random aisles to pass the time till the others were done or they had to get back to work. To his misfortune, the Aussie managed to end up in the baby section of the store. This was exactly what he had wanted to avoid. Felix was a little and being around toys and pacifiers often made him feel very young. It wouldn’t have been that much of a deal if his members knew about this. They could help him try to hide his secret from the public and get him home safely but they didn’t know. Not only needed the dancer keep up perfect appearances for the public, he also needed to hide his age regression from his friends, who knew him better than anyone and who would know something was up.

The Aussie turned on his heel, ready to make his escape when something caught his eyes. There on the middle shelf was a sky-blue baby rattle, decorated with a smiling sun. Not able to stop himself, he picked it up to get a better look, immediately smiling back at the sun. He gave the rattle a few light shakes and barely managed to suppress an excited squeal. Things like this always made him feel giddy. His exhaustion had vanished as he felt himself slowly slip into his headspace. He wasn’t fully little when a realization hit him and he quickly pulled himself together. He couldn’t be little now, people would find out, his friends would find out. If they couldn’t find out, that also meant Felix would have to walk out of this store without the pretty rattle he had discovered. Just the thought of it broke his heart but it couldn’t be helped and right when he put the rattle back onto the shelf, there was a loud voice a few steps away, startling him: “Hey, Lix! We’ve been looking everywhere for you. We really need to leave now or we’ll be late.” The Aussie nodded and walked stiffly towards Changbin, who ruffled his hair. Meeting up with their group, they went to the company building together before splitting up again into their units.

With one final smile, Changbin said good bye to Felix and followed Chan and Jisung to their production studio. As soon as the older was gone, the fake smile Felix had plastered on his face vanished. His anxiety was high after almost exposing himself at the store and to make matters worse, he still didn’t feel fully big. He was trapped somewhere in between, not fully big, not fully little. It was confusing and it made his head hurt. It usually wasn’t this bad when he felt like slipping because his little side was just a bouncy, giggly ball of cuteness and excitement, so nobody thought much of it. Today was different though. When he was little, Felix felt all emotions much stronger. That’s fine if he’s happy and excited but right now, his little side still mourned the rattle he couldn’t buy because he was too much of a coward to tell his friends. While Felix big self tried to be as professional as he somehow could, his little self was hurt and upset. Upset at himself for not being braver and getting himself what he wanted and scared that, should he ever find the courage to come out to his friends, the rattle would be sold out and he’d never see it again, never get to smile at the cute sun again and never get to hear the exciting sound it made.

The dance-line maknae felt his eyes burn and bit the inside of his cheeks to get his control back. He managed not to cry but his headache steadily got worse as the battle between little and big became more and more desperate. “Hey, you okay, Felix? You keep missing steps”, Hyunjin frowned. The younger nodded but the tears in his eyes betrayed him. Minho carefully guided him back to their bags and decided: “Let’s take five and have some water.” Felix slid down the wall next to his bag and buried his head in his hands. A futile attempt to hide the tears making their way down his freckled cheeks. His two hyungs had moved the bags around and now sat down on either side of him. “What’s wrong?”, Hyunjin tried again. Felix sniffled and rubbed at his face, admitting: “Head hurts.” Minho worriedly pressed his palm against the younger’s forehead to feel for a fever. Yeah, the Aussie was a bit warm but he had been dancing for a while. “You don’t have a fever. Did it just start to hurt or did you have a headache all day?”, the oldest dancer examined. “It started on the way back from lunch”, Felix replied, wiping his tears. The older two cringed in sympathy. During the short moment Felix had lifted his head, they had both seen the pain in his eyes and the slight furrow in his brows, indicating he was tense but trying not to show it.

Hyunjin pulled him into a comforting hug and Minho rubbed his back, asking: “Do you want to go back to the dorm to rest, Lixxie?” Being cared for by his hyungs, along with the use of his nickname made the Aussie feel incredibly soft. With that his little side won and he slipped, crying harder due to the increased sensibility. He nodded his head, if he didn’t speak, they’d hopefully not notice. Hyunjin pulled him to his feet and steadied him on their way back. Minho quickly threw everything into their bags and slung them over his shoulders, following the other two members. Felix remained quiet for the entirety of their walk. He let Hyunjin walk him to his bed, while he tried to pull himself out of littlespace. “Here, I got you some medicine and water. Do you need anything else?”, Minho smiled. Shaking his head, Felix managed to at least become big enough to talk to them properly. He thanked his hyung but assured them he’d just go to sleep and they could go back to the practice room. The older two were reluctant but they knew Felix would feel even worse if they stayed back from work for him. They said their good byes and told him to get some rest. With one final hair ruffle they were gone.

As soon as he heard the front door click, Felix slipped out of bed and locked the door to the room he shared with Chan and Changbin. Then he pulled out a box from his closet and retrieved cute yellow pacifier. Popping it into his mouth, he crawled back into bed and hugged his plushie. Not having to hold back anymore, he cried freely, sometimes rambling to his plushie explaining what a cute rattle he had seen and how happy he had been but that he’d never be able to get it. At some point, he had cried himself to sleep. When he woke up from his nap, he noticed a few missed calls and multiple texts from various members. He had still about two hours left till the others would come back, so he ignored the messages and huddled deeper into his fluffy blanket. Despite still being little, his thoughts had cleared up a bit, so he went on his phone and searched the internet. Maybe he could find the rattle online and get it delivered discreetly.

An hour later, that hope was also shattered and Felix threw his phone on his bed, tearing up again. It was almost another hour till his friends would get back and the little made a decision. He would tell the others about his littlespace and maybe he was lucky enough to be able to go buy himself that rattle that he yearned for so much tomorrow. Sitting down at his desk, he pulled out a blank paper and started writing with a purple crayon. He’d write down exactly what he was going to say, so he wouldn’t just forget everything and make it even more awkward. Covering the paper front and back, he included an explanation what littlespace was and his personal reasons why he needed to slip once in a while. When he was done, he was satisfied with the short speech but mostly he was nervous. Would they accept him? He heard the front door open and different voices chatter. Not to long after, there was a knock on his door before somebody tried to open it. “Lix, you okay?”, Chan asked, his voice muffled by the door. The younger pretended to be asleep, feeling a bit guilty for locking his hyung out of their shared room but he wasn’t ready to confront anyone yet.

Chan luckily bought it and decided to grant his dongsaeng some more sleep, if he was really feeling as poorly as Minho and Hyunjin had told him. The next time, he went to try the door was when he wanted to wake Felix for dinner. This time he wouldn’t just walk away again. If need be, he’d pick the lock but he needed to see with his own eyes that the younger was okay and just sleeping. That’s what he ended up doing and Felix barely managed to hide his pacifier under the pillow in time. Chan carefully sat down on the edge of the bed and when he saw the younger blinking up at him confused, he asked: “Hey, how are you doing mate?” Felix shrugged, not trusting his voice. “Dinner’s ready so I was going to wake you, plus if you sleep much more, you won’t be able to sleep tonight”, the leader explained. Felix cringed, he really didn’t want to face all his members and he was to nervous to stomach anything at the moment, so he asked: “Hyung, I really can’t eat right now. Can I stay here? I won’t go back to sleep, I promise.” He was almost fully big by now but that didn’t mean he’d want his members to see him. Chan sighed but nodded, not before settling that Felix would have to eat something later that evening and that he wouldn’t go to bed without dinner.

Felix listened closely and when he heard the table being cleared, he took a deep breath before exiting his room. If he didn’t jump over his shadow now, he’d never do it. “G-Guys, can – can I talk to you? All o-of you?”, he asked shakily. They nodded and gathered in the living room before Chan stopped him: “Changbin’s not here yet. He took a detour earlier and should be here soon. We should wait for him.” Felix nodded and bit his lip, growing more anxious as time passed. After what seemed like an eternity, the door swung open and Changbin gave them a confused look. He didn’t know there’d be a group meeting. He only kicked off his shoes before joining them and every step he took was accompanied by a weird noise. With trembling hands, Felix unfolded the note he had written and started to read it out. He was stuttering, stumbling over his words before pushing the paper into Chan’s hands, a silent plea for the older to continue. The leader complied and finished the short speech his dongsaeng had prepared. There was silence, except for Felix soft sniffles. Chan pulled him into a hug and assured him that it was fine and that he was grateful the younger had trusted them enough to open up about such a vulnerable thing. Seeing how much their silence scared the young Aussie, the others were quick to follow their leader’s example and tell their friend that they didn’t judge him for it.

When Felix had calmed down a bit, he was ready to answer their questions. “Yeah, when I try to suppress my need to slip, I get a really bad headache, which is what happened today. I didn’t think I could go on like this, so I needed to tell you”, he explained. Minho gave him a questioning look: “Are you little right now?” – “No, I’m not. Though I feel really close to slipping, just not yet. I was little earlier when you took me back home, that’s why for a while I wasn’t talking”, Felix replied. Hyunjin admitted: “I’m scared guys. He’s so cute already, I don’t think I could handle it if he was little.” That brought a smile to Felix face, happy that they had taken him the way he was. Changbin got up and made his way over to Felix. There was that weird noise again and when he reached for the pocket of his jacket, Felix could see it was bulging slightly. “I saw you looking at that rattle earlier at the store, you really liked it, right?”, the rapper asked, “Now I understand why you do. It makes you feel little.” Felix nodded, growing sad. He avoided the older’s eyes by looking at the floor. “Then it’s a good thing I went back and got it for you, hmm?”, Changbin smiled, pulling something from his pocket, “Your eyes were literally sparkling earlier but then you looked sad when we left, so I thought you must have really wanted it.”

Felix face lit up when Changbin handed him the toy he had been wishing for so badly. Looking at it again, he slipped in an instant. Beaming at the sun, painted on it, the little gave it a good shake and broke into giggles when it made the noise he liked so much. Changbin felt his heart beat faster and he smiled widely at the excited little in front of him. There were muffled squeals from the members around them, as they had to realize being little multiplied Felix cuteness. “Changbinnie-hyungie!!! TANK CHU!!!!”, the little squealed and threw himself into his hyung’s strong arms. Laughing, Changbin caught him and hugged back. The two stayed cuddled together, with Felix occasionally shaking his rattle, eyes wide and innocent, until Chan spoke up: “Cutie, can you let go of Binnie for a while?” – “Nuh! My Changbinnie-hyungie!” – “I’m not taking him away from you”, the oldest chuckled, “but I know that neither of you have eaten yet. You can cuddle again after.” Felix seemed to be thinking about it. “Come on, Lixxie. We saved you some fried chicken and Channie-hyungie is going to feed you. When Binnie is done eating and took that shower he has been looking forward to for hours, you can cuddle again.” – “Lixxie wan’ cuddle with Channgbinnie-hyungie and Channie-hyungie.” – “Okay baby. We will but first. Food?” – “Foowd”, Felix agreed before being picked up by his hyung.

[rae-is-typing]

kicked out

Description: You’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community, but your mother is a part of a religion that hates the LGBTQ+ community. You come out and she kicks you out. Tony helps. 

Characters: reader, reader’s mother, Tony Stark, mention of Peter Parker

Reader is gender neutral!

Warnings: homophobia, transphobia, general hate towards those in the LGBTQ+ community, intense bigotry, being kicked out, anxiety attack

Disclaimers: This one shot is not meant to be one about hating religion. This piece was loosely based on my own internal struggle with myself and the religion I was raised in. I’ve also never dealt with direct backlash because of my identity. I’m not out yet and I have no desire to be out yet. This is the worst case scenario I would be facing if I did come out.

I tried to make the religion and the identity as ambiguous as possible to make it a little more universal, but this one shot definitely points to the identity being gay, queer, bi, or pan, so I’m sorry I didn’t make it anymore neutral.

If you have a problem with this fic or the way it was written, I urge you to message me. We can have a conversation about where I went wrong and how I can learn from the experience and do better in the future.

Word count: 2k

The Avengers love you, plain and simple. How could they not grow to love the adorable teen they let into their unconventional family? (If Tony had his way, he would legally adopt you in a heartbeat.) Unfortunately for Tony, you had a mom. She was a pretty good one, she fed you, clothed you and supported you in most things you did. You moved to New York together when your father died. Your mother was also very religious. You were born and raised in the church your mother and father were raised in. You never had a problem with it; the people were amazing, the community was like a big family, you grew up with all the youth, and, most importantly, felt loved and safe. You rallied together against what they claimed to be of the devil. That included people in the LGBT+ community. When you grew up, you realized how you truly feel about people of your sex, and how you feel about people of the same sex. It started slowly. You began to accept that part of yourself when you met someone like you. He was nice, compassionate, accepting of others and helped everyone he could. He was one of the best people you’ve ever met. He was nothing like what you’re mother and religion told you LGBTQ+ people were like. What had really convinced you that the LGBTQ+ are real people was when one of your closest friends came out. You accepted them, they were not only in the same boat as you (not that you were ready to tell anyone), they were one of you. But not everyone thought so. You saw it whenever you went to church and they were at the meetings. It didn’t make sense to you. They were one of you, right? So they got a pass. Apparently not. You knew through the disappointed and judgemental eyes burning with disgust. It made you sick and only further solidified your resolve to stay in the closet. You soon learned it was easier said than done. Whenever you wanted to avoid the rallies, you chickened out and went, too afraid to disappoint your friends and mother. You always stuck to the standards and tried to be the perfect child your mother always wanted. It was exhausting. Admittedly, you saw the difference between your congregation, and the Avengers when you first met them. They were the first people you could truly be yourself with. As cheesy as it sounds, it was evident. They encouraged your individuality and loved you because of your personality and your abilities. 

You could talk to them, and you did. You told Peter first. He hugged you and told you that he’s bisexual and hasn’t come out to May yet. 

You told Tony about yourself a week later. He smiled at you, wrapped an arm around you and told you he was proud of you for discovering yourself and beginning to accept that part of you. It was something you didn’t expect, not that it wasn’t welcome. You were on top of the world for a couple weeks, thankful that some of the most important people in your life loved you still. But as of late, your thoughts about yourself have been killing your spirit. You were so tired of pretending. The toll it took on you was obvious to everyone that didn’t know you as the perfect sheep. The people that were worried the most were the Avengers. You were at the tower a lot more than usual, not that they were complaining. It was just odd. You hesitated when they asked you simple questions, spaced out a lot more, ate less and claimed you felt sick almost every other day. They’d share concerned glances and tried to talk with you, but you’d brush it off and used school, drama or headaches to excuse your strange behaviour. It worked- for a while. Then you stopped going to the tower completely. It wasn’t your fault. Your mother heard you say one positive thing about the LGBTQ+ community and freaked out. She went off saying that it was the Avengers corrupting you and that she never should have let you take the Stark internship in the first place, and so much more. You had never heard her yell so much in your life, it was terrifying. She stopped letting you go out, you were only allowed to go to School and Church, took away all forms of technology and outside communication. 

You were going crazy, there was no way you could keep living like this. So, you told her. You finally told her what you are, how you felt and why she shouldn’t make decisions for you when you were perfectly capable of making them yourself. You had waited a couple weeks, so you thought she’d be more level headed. But, you were wrong. She freaked out more than before. 

You knew for a fact that it was worse than before because she kicked you out.

You were shocked, confused and most of all hurt. You’re a part of the LGBTQ+ community, but she was still your mother. 

“What?” You asked, confusion lacing you voice. 

“You heard me, get out. Get out of my house.” Your mom stated firmly, disgust obvious in her voice. 

“You can’t do this, I’m your child!”

“Not anymore. You have until I get back, get you stuff and get out!” She shouted, walking out and slamming the door. 

You sat on the couch until her words sank in. Your mother is kicking you out.  

I’m homeless now. Where am I going to go? What am I going to tell my friends, what am I going to tell Peter? What am I going to tell Tony? What am I going to do? I can’t do it on my own. I can’t do it. I can’t… 

Your breathing sped up, your heart races, and waves of nausea hit you hard.

Nevertheless, you got up and searched for your phone. As soon as you found it, you eagerly dialled in his personal number and called. He didn’t answer. You wanted to cry, you tried again with no answer. You plugged in your phone, put your head in your hands and sobbed. 

Moments later, your phone rang. It was Tony. 

“Tony,” You breathed out. 

“Y/N! Where’ve you been, kid? It’s not as fun here without you.” His tone was light and relieved now that he could talk to you and make sure you’re okay.

“Tony, my mom, she- I- I wouldn’t have called if I had another option, I’m sorry, it’s just-”

“Whoa, hey, slow down and take a deep breath, Y/N.” His tone changed from fun to concerned in an instant. “What happened with your mom?”

“I-I told- I told her about me and that- that I- and she- Tony I can’t- she- I don’t-” You’re crying hard, unable to form coherent sentences and unable to breathe properly. 

“Y/N, where are you?” Tony asked.

“H-home.” 

“I’m coming over, stay on the line with me sweetheart, can you do that?”

“Ye-eah.”

As promised, you didn’t hang up until Tony was standing in front of you- Iron Man suit and all. He immediately pulled you in his arms when he got the suit off and began to calm you down.

“Can you tell me what happened now, kid?”

“She kicked me out.” You spoke into his chest. 

“She what?” Tony growled. How could a mother be so cruel? Anger flooded his veins, how could someone turn away from their child for simply being honest with themselves?

“I’m sorry, I wouldn’t have called you if I had any other option. Please don’t be mad, I’m so sorry.” You bury your face in his chest, wanting this day to be a bad dream. 

“It’s good you called me, Y/N. I’m not mad, not at you.” Tony held you in his arms, cradling your head against his chest and rubbing an arm up and down your back. There’s no hesitation, he knows that he needs to be there for you. “You’re staying with me.” 

“W-what?” 

“My dear, you are coming back to the tower. You will be sleeping, eating, doing your homework, socializing, and living with me and the rest of us at my tower. Okay?”

You can only nod, too overwhelmed to speak while clutching the back of Tony’s shirt like it was the only thing that was keeping you alive. He kept rubbing your back and letting you cry into his chest. Right now, his comfort doesn’t matter to him, not when his kid is crying in his arms.

It seems, though, that he’s the only one that heard the door begin to open. 

Tony grips your forearm and steps in front of you. Your mother opens the door with puffy red eyes and dried tears on her face. She looks genuinely sad for what she had to do, but that look of sadness dissipates when she sees Tony and you standing in her living room. 

“What are you doing here?” She hisses. “What is that doing here?" 

"Y/N, go to your room and pack what you want to take.” Tony’s voice is even and strong. You hesitate, tears still streaming down your face, fingers still clutching Tony’s clothes like you were a toddler hiding from another adult. “Y/N, now.”

You turn briskly, running down the small hallway and into your room. You lock the door, rip your suitcase from your closet and stuff all of your sentimental items first before your favorite clothes. 

Their voices are easily heard through the thin apartment walls. You hear Tony defending you and your mom berating you. 

“That thing is not my child. I did not raise a sinner!”

“Y/N is a human being with a name that you gave them. You are their mother, mothers are supposed to love their children, not throw them out like yesterday’s garbage.”

You’ve never heard Tony this angry. 

I shouldn’t have called him, he’s mad, she’s mad, I made her mad, she hates me she hates she hates me she hates me

You grabbed a pillow and cried in earnest into it, managing to cover your ears as well as your mouth to muffle your sobs and the voices coming through the walls.

A knock at your door makes you jump and hold your breath. 

“Y/N, it’s me. Are you ready to go?” Tony says. You can hear the anger that was in his voice, even if he’s trying to stay as calm as he can for you. 

“Yeah,” you croak, wiping your face. You grab the bag and open the door. Tony is shaking with fury, but he wraps an arm around you and walks you to the living room. Your mother says nothing to you as she sits on the couch with a prideful look on her face. “We’re flying back to the tower so I need you to hold on tightly and do not let go under any circumstances.” 

You nod at the instructions and Tony suits up. The quiet mechanical sounds are music to your ears. He places an arm on the middle of your back and hooks one under your knees. He hoists you up easily, the bag resting your chest and held tightly by you. 

Tony flies slower and lower than usual, keeping you in mind. You have one arm around his neck and the other holding the bag to your chest. He lands on a balcony to one of the top floors and carries you inside. Placing you on the ground with care, he holds your shoulders and assures himself you’re stable. He takes off the suit and walks you to a room. 

“You can stay here for now. I’ll talk with Pepper and the team about what happened. I’ll only tell them that you’re staying for awhile. You can tell them the other news when you’re ready.”

You nod. He closes the door and you sit on the bed, staring at the wall. 

A feeling of deep longing grows in your chest, along with feelings of rejection and pain. Your head drops to your hands and all you can do is cry.

[older-brother-kit]

TSMC ch. 2

Hi everyone, chapter two of The Sibling Matchmakers Club is up!

 If you need a reminder of what it’s about:  James, Lucie, and Mina meet at a summer camp and discover they're siblings. They each live in a different place with a different parent, but they don't want to stay separated any longer and become determined to get their parents back together. Soon enough Kit, Mina's adopted brother, gets in on it, but there's a major complication: Zara Dearborn with an engagement ring. (A Parent Trap AU for Herongraystairs!)

You can read it here on AO3 :)  You can also read chapter 1 here on tumblr or here on AO3. Thank you for reading, please leave a comment or reblog and let me know what you think!

Chapter 2: A Declaration of War

Camp Clover was a bit too rowdy for James’s liking.

The cabins were all painted with bright colors, the grass greener than James had ever seen, and the sky much clearer than the sky in New York City. None of that was particularly bad, but the noise? As James set foot onto Camp Clover for the first time, he desperately wished that he had somehow missed his flight to Kansas. There were so many activities that were going on at once, and all of them were so loud and distracting that James already felt a headache coming on. He longed to read a book in silence, but his mom had only allowed him to pack three and he planned to make them last.

His peppy cabin leader was leading him towards his new cabin, and James knew he should feel excited, but he was already exhausted just from the drive there. His mom had arranged a family friend to pick him up from the airport and drive him to the camp, and Magnus Bane had been a bit too social. Magnus had only been visiting the area with his family himself, and was the sole reason Tessa had allowed James to go to a summer camp that was out-of-state. Normally James would appreciate the effort, especially since he’d met Magnus before and knew he was a kind man, but he had been feeling too much dread to really talk much. James hoped that he hadn’t come across as rude. 

There was also something unusual in the way Magnus Bane had talked with him --like there was something about to happen, and he was excited for it. He had talked about driving two other kids to the camp too, so apparently he was family friends with more than just Tessa. Magnus had also been strangely confident that James would meet new, interesting people. James wouldn’t object to making new friends, especially in a place like this where he didn’t know anybody, but it wasn’t as easy as both his mom and Magnus seemed to believe. 

“Here we are,” his over-enthusiastic camp counselor said, walking James over to a cabin painted bright orange. “This is where you’ll be staying!” 

The cabin had been split in half into two rooms with connecting doors, both rooms having two sets of bunk beds. His counselor led him onto the left side, where two boys were already unpacking their things.

The boy with neat brown hair looked up, and he smiled shyly at James. James hesitantly smiled back. The boy next to him, with his wild, curly brown hair, was on top of the bottom bunk on the right and trying to put the sheets on his bed.

“Meet your roommates!” the counselor said, and James wondered if he was always this cheerful. “James, this is Thomas and Christopher Lightwood. Boys, this is James Gray.”

Thomas, the boy that had smiled at him, held up a hand in a sort of half-wave. Christopher, the boy who had been trying to put his sheets on, looked up in surprise. 

“Roommates?” Christopher asked, and the sheets slipped out of his hands. They scrunched up, undoing themselves, and immediately started to fall onto the floor.

Thomas looked at the sheets and sighed. “That was his third try.”

“Yes, roommates.” Their counselor was still smiling. “Normally there would be four people to a room, but your fourth roommate cancelled last minute so it looks like it’s just the three of you.” He stopped and checked his wristwatch. “Well, I have other campers to show around, so I’ll be off. Make sure to be at the dining hall by 12 for lunch!” With that he walked out, and James was alone with Thomas and Christopher. 

Christopher was still looking at James, and James noticed that Christopher’s glasses were a little too big for his face. They kept slipping down, but the boy didn’t even seem to notice. “Roommates?” Christopher asked again, before looking at Thomas. “We have roommates?”

Thomas pointed to the empty bunk bed on the left side of the room, and James took that chance to walk over there and set his things down on the bottom bunk. “What did you think the other bunk bed was for? There’s too many people at this camp for it to be just us here.”

Christopher looked at the other bunk bed like it had appeared out of thin air. “Oh, there’s another bed. How long has that been there?”

Thomas looked pained, and James decided changing the conversation would probably be best. “Are you two brothers?” he asked, genuinely curious.

Thomas laughed, smiling a little. “No, we’re cousins. But our parents were close, so we were kind of raised like brothers.” 

“That sounds nice,” James said, his mind wandering to his own family. “I don’t have any siblings, or any cousins. I don’t have any family at all, besides my mom.” He paused. It sounded depressing, now that he was saying it out loud, and he didn’t want that as their first impression of him. “Though my mom is the best.” 

That got them into a conversation about their family and what they were like, and James was actually enjoying himself. He learned about how Thomas had two older sisters, but Christopher’s cool older sister Anna was almost like a sister to him too. How Christopher loved science and experiments, but could get lost in his own head sometimes and Anna had always looked after him. James found himself sharing things too. He talked about his mom, and how she raised him by herself but never complained. 

By the time noon rolled around and they had to leave, James was feeling a bit optimistic. He had thought that camp would be horrible and that no one would like him, but Thomas and Christopher were both nice and they all got along well. It was possible that James had overreacted, and that Camp Clover wasn’t going to be a place that would make James miserable.

Though of course, it was only noon. 

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

Lucie had been admittedly a little nervous about meeting her new roommates, but it had gone well. The two girls on the bunk bed on the right weren’t really that friendly, and didn’t seem like they wanted to talk. Grace hadn’t even introduced herself, she had just given them a judging look and went back to putting her things away. Paige had outright glared at Lucie’s energetic introduction, and Lucie had immediately resolved to avoid her. But Mina? Mina had been a delight. 

Mina had introduced herself as Mina Carstairs, then brought up her hand to offer a handshake. There was something about it that made Lucie like her immediately, and she had shaken Mina’s hand with vigor. She didn’t know if shaking hands was a normal thing that kids did where Mina was from, but Lucie had been intrigued by the strange gesture. Mina and Lucie had hit it off instantly, even if Mina was a year younger than her. 

“What do you think will be for lunch?” Mina asked as they walked to the dining hall, side by side. Her black hair was in two pigtails, and they swayed a little as Mina walked. Lucie had her hair up in a bun.

“I have no idea,” Lucie admitted as the main door came into view, and she wondered how many people would be in there. “As long as it’s not as bad as the cafeteria food at my school, I’ll be happy.”

Mina laughed, and she and Lucie walked into the building. It was full of other campers, most already sitting down and eating. Mina and Lucie had gotten distracted as well as lost, so there were no empty tables left by the time they got inside and got their food. Luckily, it was pizza. 

“Over there,” Mina said, pointing to a table where three boys who looked their age sat. “We could sit there.”

Lucie shrugged and nodded, walking over to the table. The other tables with free seats were tables that older kids or younger kids were sitting at, and Lucie wanted to make friends with people her own age. 

“Hi,” Lucie said as she approached, and all three of the boys’ heads turned to face her. “Do you mind if we sit here?”

“Sure,” the one with black hair said after a moment, and Lucie and Mina sat down across from them. They introduced themselves to each other, and Lucie did a double take. 

Was it just her or did James look familiar? The first thing she noticed was that his eyes were a steely gray-brown, but in the light they looked almost golden. Lucie had never met anyone with that color eyes before, so she thought it was pretty cool. His hair, though, Lucie thought, is just like Papa’s hair. That must be it, why he seemed so familiar --he and her father had the same hair type. Though oddly enough, there had been something about Mina that made Lucie feel like she had met her before, too...

“Have I met you before?” James suddenly asked, and Lucie’s eyes widened. James had said it quietly, as if thinking to himself, but Lucie had heard it as clear as day.

“You too?” Lucie breathed, leaning excitedly into the table. “I could have sworn I’ve met you before!” 

Mina’s gaze went from James to Lucie, then back to James again. “Maybe you met each other once, a long time ago?” she suggested.

James nodded slowly. “That must be it.”

Lucie looked to Thomas and Christopher, who had been watching the exchange in confusion. She didn’t want to make them feel excluded. “What about you two? You kind of look like brothers.”

“We’re cousins,” Christopher explained earnestly, dumping an obscene amount of garlic on his pizza. 

“People make that mistake a lot,” Thomas said, taking the garlic from Christopher and setting it down on the table.

“I feel like you two could pass for twins, if you really wanted to.” Mina said, though Lucie had noticed that Thomas and Christopher had two very obviously different colored eyes.

Lucie sighed wistfully. “I want a twin. Imagine how cool that would be? We could totally swap places in school and prank everyone.”

“You could have a boy twin instead,” James pointed out. “Then you wouldn’t be able to do that because you wouldn’t look the same.”

Lucie thought it over. “I guess so, but I still think having a twin would be cool. You would never be lonely.” 

“James and Christopher are lucky,” James said, looking over to the two boys. “You guys both have siblings. I’m an only child.”

“Me too,” Lucie said, and couldn’t help but agree that James and Christopher were fortunate. She turned to Mina, who had been eating and watching them quietly. “What about you, do you have any siblings?”

Mina’s face lit up. “Yes! I have an older brother, Kit. He’s sixteen, and he’s fun to have around most of the time.” She paused. “Though we don’t look anything alike. He was adopted, and he has blond hair and blue eyes.” 

They continued conversing about siblings and family, then eventually moved onto pets and which ones they preferred. James liked dogs better, Mina liked cats better, and Lucie liked them both. The Lightwoods had said they liked both, though Thomas seemed like he would be more of a dog person. 

Then the topic moved to Lucie’s British accent, and why she had decided to go to Camp Clover in America. A family friend of Lucie’s was currently residing in the area, and if it wasn’t for him Lucie’s papa would never have let her travel so far away. Oddly enough, Mina had a family friend drive her to camp as well. 

Everything had been going well, until Lucie ruined it. 

“You know,” she had started, finally finished with her pizza. “I’m so happy they had pizza for lunch. I was imagining something really bad, like school food.”

“I know,” Thomas agreed. “Even if it is plain. My parents usually get it with pepperoni.” 

“I like it best with pineapple,” Lucie said. “That’s usually what my papa and I get.”

Everyone else at the table stopped in their tracks. “Pineapple...?” Christopher said slowly, looking up from where he was fiddling with the parmesan cheese. “Why?”

Thomas and James shared baffled glances. “Pineapple?” James asked, his voice tinged with disgust. 

Lucie raised her eyebrows. “Yes, pineapple. Haven’t you ever had it before?”

“We’re not criminals,” Thomas said, then quickly shut his mouth as if he’d regretted saying it immediately. 

“Hey,” Mina jumped in. “I like pineapple pizza too, though my dad doesn’t. It’s really not that bad.”

“Not that bad?” James looked at both Lucie and Mina as if he’d never seen them before. “Not that bad?”

“Listen, it tastes good-”

“Pineapple does not belong on pizza!”

“Have you ever even tried it?”

“I don’t need to try it to know that a fruit doesn’t belong on pizza.”

“Well a tomato is a fruit, and-”

Lucie couldn’t understand where she had gone wrong. Didn’t everybody like pineapple on pizza? Lucie had thought it was a safe thing to talk about, but she and James were on the verge of getting into an actual fight at this point.

“Ok,” James finally said, standing up. Lunchtime was ending, and a lot of campers had already left the dining hall. “I’m going to leave, and then maybe while we’re gone you two will get a better sense of taste.”

“Hey!” Mina looked as offended as Lucie felt. “I have good taste.”

James gave her a look. “We’ll see.” he said, and with that he and the Lightwoods gathered up their things and left.

Lucie sat there in shock for a full minute, then turned to Mina. “We’re not the crazy ones, right?”

“Pineapple on pizza is good,” Mina said simply. “They just think that they’re right, even though they’re wrong.”

Lucie sighed. She still had Mina, but so much for making a lot of friends.

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

Mina wasn’t really the type to be mean, but Lucie had looked sad the entire walk back to their cabin, and Mina wasn’t going to let it slide. Mina had been overjoyed when she met Lucie --there was just something about her energy that Mina had connected with, and for some reason she had seemed familiar. Lucie had been down since the pineapple pizza debate, and it was making Mina worried. Mina had thought they were all just joking and not actually fighting, but maybe Lucie was really passionate about pizza?

Either way, Mina had an idea on how to cheer Lucie up. 

“Do you think we should get back at them?” Mina asked, once they were both alone in their cabin room. Grace and Paige were out playing a game with some of the others, so they didn’t have to worry about being overheard. 

“What do you mean?” Lucie sat down on the bottom bunk next to Mina. When they had first met, Lucie had really wanted the top bunk. Mina had been perfectly fine with it, especially since Lucie was really happy when Mina had agreed.

“My brother will sometimes prank people for fun,” Mina told her. “We could prank the boys, to get back at them. Kit’s been telling me about some simple ones.”

Lucie’s eyes widened. “Pranks?” she asked excitedly. “Oh, I’ve always wanted to prank someone!”

Mina nodded enthusiastically. “Right?! It’ll be fun, and we’ll make sure it won’t actually hurt them.”

Lucie was very into the idea, and Mina couldn’t be happier. She had explained her idea, and once it got dark out they had snuck out of the cabin.

Mina approached an orange cabin. “This is theirs, right? The orange one on the left side?” she whispered to Lucie. There had been counselors walking around to make sure none of the campers were up and about, but Mina and Lucie were able to avoid them easily. 

“I think so,” Lucie whispered back. “The room on the left.”

The two girls slowly crept up to the cabin, and carefully opened the door. Mina breathed a sigh of relief that the door didn’t creak. They made their way to the left side, and were happy to see that the boys all seemed to be asleep. 

Mina turned to Lucie. “Ready?” she mouthed. Lucie nodded.

Together they took their cans of shaving cream and each went to a bunk bed. Lucie had called dibs on James, while Mina had taken the Lightwoods. Mina sprayed shaving cream all over Thomas’s chest and hands, making sure to put some on his legs and feet for good measure. She climbed up a bit to reach Christopher and nearly slipped, but luckily neither of them woke up.

She chanced a glance to Lucie, and was glad to see that James wasn’t waking up either. She and Lucie took their time, grinning to each other as they finished the job. The two of them crept out of the cabin as carefully as they had crept in, and the second they were outside the girls made a run for it. 

Mina got back to their cabin first, feeling high on adrenaline. She had officially done her first prank! She couldn’t wait to tell Kit when she talked to him next. 

“We did it!” Lucie whisper-yelled as they got settled in bed, trying to be quiet so they wouldn’t wake up Grace and Paige. “I can’t believe we actually did it!”

Mina couldn’t stop smiling, happy that they hadn’t gotten caught. “I bet they’ll be impressed.” she voiced. She was thankful that she was able to cheer Lucie up, which had been the main goal, but she was also kind of proud of herself for coming up with the plan in the first place.

“Do you think they’ll be mad?” Lucie asked from the top bunk.

“No, I don’t think so. I bet they’ll think it’s funny.” Mina said.

Lucie laughed quietly. “I hope so,” she said, and her voice softened. “I was hoping that we could all be friends.”

Mina paused before answering. “I don’t think they were mad, Lucie. I think James was just joking around. They won’t be mad.”

“They might prank us back,” Lucie pointed out.

Mina snorted. “No way! They don’t have the guts.”

The next day, Mina noticed James and Thomas at the arts and crafts area. The two boys seemed to be watching Christopher put something together, but she decided to get Lucie first before going over to say hi to them.

“Lucie,” Mina yelled, running to the kickball area where Lucie was waiting in line to play. “I found James, Thomas, and Christopher. Do you want to go talk to them?”

Lucie grinned, bouncing on the tips of her feet. “Of course I do!” she said, leaving her place in line to follow Mina back to the arts and crafts area.

James saw them come in this time. “Hi,” he said as he approached them. There was something about it that seemed odd, but Mina couldn’t put a name to it. Maybe it was the tone of his voice, or the awkward way he was standing? “We wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

Mina blinked, and glanced at Lucie who was doing the same. “Apologize?” Lucie asked hesitantly.

James smiled, and motioned Thomas and Christopher forward. Thomas was making an effort to not look either of them in eye, while Christopher held a basket then handed it to James.

James offered the basket over to them. “For you,” he said, still smiling. Out of everything, Mina found the constant smiling the most suspicious. The basket clearly had something in it, but it was hard to tell what it was with the cloth that was draped over the top. 

Lucie reached over to grab it, seemingly delighted with the gift. “Oh, thank you!” she said happily.

James and the Lightwoods took a step back. Mina’s eyes widened in realization. “Hey Lucie, wait-”

Lucie took the cloth off, and it all exploded in a ball of white. Flour stuck all over Mina’s clothes, as well as covered her hair. Lucie didn’t look any better. Her face was covered with as much flour as her clothes, her expression horrified. The boys had stepped far enough to be just out of range, and James looked like he was holding in a laugh. 

“You,” Mina said, pointing a finger directly at him. “You all did this on purpose-”

“Oh, like how you two visited our cabin last night?” James asked innocently. 

Lucie was frozen in shock, her hand still gripping the basket that had held the flour bomb.

“We’ll get you for this!” Mina fumed, patting some of the flour off of her hair.

“Do it.” James challenged confidently. Mina couldn’t believe that she had thought James was shy. “I dare you.”

Mina gasped. They couldn’t back down from a dare.

“Fine,” Lucie’s voice rang out, and Mina turned to look at her in surprise. Lucie threw the basket to the ground next to Thomas and glared at James. “If it’s war you want, it’s war you’ll get. Come on, Mina!” 

Lucie turned on her heel and stormed out, Mina following closely behind her and ignoring the strange looks at their flour-covered appearance. “I guess they did have the guts.” Lucie said bitterly, and Mina was regretting ever bringing up the prank idea. When Kit did them it was mostly good fun, but now Lucie was angry. “We’ll get them good.”

“Right,” Mina agreed, because even if they seemed to be actually fighting the boys now, she was never one to back down from a prank. 

She couldn’t help but have the feeling that she had no idea what she was getting into.

--------

Thank for reading, and please let me know if you enjoyed and would like to be added to the tag list!

Tag List: @idontgetit-whydoihavetosaymyname @ineedadrinkorsleep @lily-chen-deserves-better @zafirafox4636 @ghostjessesgirl @girlwhohatesstuff @anxiousbookenthusiast @lucieblckthorn @themostawesomehuman @hands-dripping-ink @panicatwallmaria @immortal-enemies @booklovingelephants @bookishgeekygirl @thenameskarr-parkerkarr @livia-dovehallow @cortqnq @christophers-lemon-tarts I also tagged some people that seemed to like it in the tags or comments, I hope you don’t mind!

[thethoughtsfromthreeam]

Monument Woman

Pairing: Marcus Pike x OC (Rosemary Carter)

Warnings: None

A/N:  Enter Marcus Pike, stage right

Reminder: I ain’t ever seen Pedro Pascal in FUCK ALL, I’m just coming up with this as I go along, using imdb.com, wiki, and 84,000 tabs I got open to plan out this shit.  I also write soft versions of his characters so if you’re craving asshole vibes, I ain’t got any but my own to offer.

Tag List:

@zeldasayer​ , @beskars​ , @coolmaybelateruniverse​ , @the-feckless-wonder​ , @pascalisthepunkest​ , @mandoandyodito​ , @randomness501​ , @fioccodineveautunnale​  , @ahopelessromanticwritersworld​ , @lilkermit14​ , @tortles   [please message me to be added or subtracted]

[PART 1]  [PART 2]  [PART 3]  [PART 4]  [PART 5]

Part 6 – Step Forward, Step Back, Find Your Partner Quick

Helen tried her best to console a distraught Rosemary as Officer Garcia spoke to several of his colleagues in the hallway.  Her screams had startled the director, who was already on edge due to the break-in and if the circumstances had been different, the look of surprise and horror on the officer’s face would have reduced Helen to peals of laughter.  But all the situation did was add worry to her shoulders.

For nearly two hours, the officers questioned Rosemary about the break-in, about the missing piece, and they kept asking if the museum had any enemies. As much as she wanted to say Fred Breyers out of pure spite, Rosemary kept her mouth shut – sure some people weren’t always pleased with some of their program or exhibit topics, but nothing that would result in the theft of an artifact or the physical beating of a staff member.  The two women were exhausted by the time the three cops left the building.  Rosemary laid on the couch in her office, a wet cloth over her eyes as the lingering headache from the attack ramped up under this new stress.

“Rose, are you going to be okay?”  Helen’s voice was soft, but unable to keep the worried tone at bay.

“I honestly don’t know.  That statue was the only thing missing.  I don’t know if I’m upset because I promised Robert we’d care for it or mad as hell that accepting that ugly ass hunk of bronze led to all of this and possibly hurt the museum’s reputation.”  She sighed heavily, the now cool cloth doing little to help her.  She slowly sat up, swinging her legs over the sofa’s edge.

“I wouldn’t worry about our reputation.  I’m already working with Marquetta on a press release to get ahead of the game.  Louis over at the Caller always does right by us, I’ll give him the scoop first and he’ll spin it in our favor.”  Helen leaned back.  “I’ll also call major donors today to inform them of the situation.”

“I’m sorry, Helen.  I never thought this would have happened!”  The younger woman groaned heavily as she tried to stand, but the director held out her hand to keep her from getting up.  The body stilled.

“Did Francois’ report show anything differently than what Robert had given you?”  Before Robert’s health worsened, Rosemary contacted an old friend of hers to appraise the piece as Helen wanted a second opinion for the insurance company.  The in-depth discussion about the findings with Helen was moved back first by Robert’s death and then the attack.  “Are we still looking at the same value?”

“I reread it the day before the attack to prep for the meeting that never obviously happened, and he seems to agree with the assessment Robert gave us. The statue was processed into the collections several months ago and I put in Robert’s information, but never got around to putting in Francois’ report.”

“Well, so long as the original value was imputed into the report, it’ll give us something for the insurance company.”

“Are we going to report it lost?  What if they recover it?”

“Rose, I don’t mean to sound mean, but I doubt these officers are going to find the piece.  Whoever has it is probably long gone by now.”  Helen glanced over at her.  “Unless a miracle happens.”

“Well good thing I believe in manifestation and miracles.”  For the first time in what seemed like a long while, Rosemary smiled as her old humor began to shine through.  The director smiled back, unable to let the infectious comment not affect her.

“We’ll see.”

---***---

Two Weeks Later

“Pike!  Get in here!” Carmichael’s voice carried through the small cluster of offices their department occupied.  “Pike!”

“I’m coming!  Damn, give me a second!”  Pike grumbled as he scurried from his office and across to hers.  She wasn’t a loud person, so the excited shout she gave had everyone around her curious.  As Pike entered the room, he could see his partner standing behind her desk, doing a little hop-dance.  He raised an eyebrow.

“You need to look at this!”  She pointed at the computer, her smile so big it nearly took over her face. He stopped because she was giggling, Carmichael never giggled.  Whatever this was, it had to been good.  Pike came around the desk and bent down to see what she was looking at and when his eyes landed on the screen, his eyes bugged out and his jaw dropped.

“This is one of them, isn’t it?”  Carmichael asked, her voice quivering in excitement.  He ran out of the office to the command center for the cold cases, his presence startling his crew.  He looked over at the evidence board and ripped off a picture hanging in the middle before rifling through one of the boxes to find the corresponding file. He ran back to the office.

The picture in his hand was faded with time, that grainy look of age that pictures older pictures were taking on, but despite those flaws, the sculpture in the photo matched the one in the new alert in the NSAF database.  The Cornucopia had always been breathtaking.

And it’s been missing since 1993.

The agents glanced over the dossier, reviewing the piece to try and discover how this priceless Russian artifact made its way to what looks like a small museum in Western Michigan.  Neither had reviewed the original case file closely and both felt their jaws dropping as they read further and further into its history:

A rare example of the early Ukrainian Avant Garde art movement, The Cornucopia was created by Artem Chumak, a well-known artist from Odessa. Commissioned by the then-governor of the country as a gift to Czar Nicolas II in 1907, the piece was designed to showcase the entirety of the Ukraine in a single moment.  Because the country was known for its agriculture, Chumak chose to use the image of the cornucopia as his inspiration.

The piece is made of bronze and inlaid with the following precious gemstones:

               Siberian diamond

               Ural sapphire

               Ural ruby

               Ural jade

               Russian emerald

               Russian opal

               Ukrainian pearl

Upon the fall of the Russian empire in 1917, Dowager Empress Maria Feodorovna Romanov took the piece along with several others from the royal art collection when she fled Russia.  She remained owner of the piece until 1920, when she sold it to the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

In turn, the Grand Duke loaned the piece to the National Museum of History and Art and it remained with the museum until the outbreak of World War II. The ducal family took the piece back, along with several others to protect the collection from the advancement of the Nazis.

Unfortunately, the move did little good and much of the museum’s collection, including the pieces stored in the ducal family home, were taken by the Nazis, with intention of destroying them as part of the Germanization of the annexed country.

The pieces remained missing until 1949, when a team from the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program (a.k.a. the Monument Men), recovered the stolen collections in a cellar in Hamburg and returned them to their respective homes.  The Cornucopia was returned to the museum and was on display until the ducal family attempted to sell the piece in 1965.  The sale failed and the family remained owners until the piece was loaned to the Luxembourg-American Cultural Museum in the U.S. in 1992.

In 1993, the piece was stolen from the museum and reported to the FBI’s Art Theft Squad days later.  The piece has yet to be recovered despite the best attempts of the team.

Pike looked at Carmichael and they grinned at each other.  While it being reported as missing didn’t mean that they had found it, it did mean that this cold case was heating up.

“Do you think we found our key?”  He didn’t want to sound hopeful, but he had to admit he was optimistic that they were much closer to solving this case.  The evidence they had been sifting through meticulously was painting a picture, but like a jigsaw puzzle, they were still missing pieces that brought it all together.

“I think we have.”  Carmichael replied.  They grinned at each other.

“Whose turn is it to go and do the interview?”  

“Mine, but could you do it?  Marty is out of town on business this week and I can’t leave Dinah alone.”  She rarely asked to trade like this, but Pike held up his hands in understanding.  They smiled, grateful they were partnered up, their work relationship had always been a smooth one.

“Sure, what could possibly happen in Michigan?”

They laughed as they started to walk to the command center.

---***---

Rosemary and Banana walked into the house, both exhausted from the day, the museum’s annual fall field trip event a cacophony of noise and excitement. The program had been exactly what Rosemary needed – something that distracted her from everything that had happened over the last month.  Her stomach hurt all day from her laughter as young kids swarmed the museum in their Halloween costumes.

As she hung up her coat, she caught something out of the corner of her eye on the kitchen table.  Walking over, Rosemary immediately recognized Fern’s loopy handwriting.

Hey sweetie, probate hasn’t cleared yet, but I heard word it should within the month.  Not to jinx it, but welcome to Saugatuck – its’ about time!  I’m also including some keys to Robert’s safety deposit boxes for safekeeping.  You can’t open them until the probate has cleared, so don’t get ahead of yourself! Love you, ae-in.  Always.  -F

“Oh, thank god.”  She huffed as she opened the bulky envelope, dumping out various keys and paperwork, including the deed to the house and the store.  She had an underlying fear that something would happen, and Robert’s wishes would have been overturned and she would get nothing.  “Looks like we’re here for the time being, Baba!”

Rosemary read through the papers and picked up her phone to call Fern. For the next hour, the two women chatted about the changes, what she needed to do to register ownership with the state, and more.  After they said their good-byes, Rosemary pulled her jacket on and patted Banana on the head as she left the house.  It was dark now, but she knew the path through the cemetery and trudged up the hill towards Robert’s grave with no problem.

“You know, I’m certain you chose this spot for some reason or another, but I think it’s to punish me for not getting enough exercise.”  She groused at the polished granite, wondering how she made this walk as often as she did, and it still robbed her of her breath. She was out of shape.  

Robert’s cheeky grin beamed from the porcelain cameo embedded into the stone.  She had never seen anything like it, but he had told her it was common among Eastern European communities.  He described how they used this horribly unflattering photo for his aunt Ionna’s cameo and that he vowed he’d choose his own rather than leave it to his relatives to decide.

She sat down on the damp ground and settle in.  She was still visiting the cemetery daily and while she didn’t cry as much as she had in the beginning, her throat always felt painful after she left.  Wrapping the coat around her tightly she sighed.

“You missed our field trip day.  I know you loved volunteering for it and the kids who remembered you from last year asked where you were.”  She smiled. “I told them you were attending as a ghost and that they couldn’t see you.  I think they believed me.

“I don’t know what strings you pulled up on that cloud of yours, but Fern thinks the probate will clear next month.  I’m glad, this whole process has been a pain and thank you for not making me go through it.  I’d give up and just die if Fern weren’t in charge.  My landlord was mad I’m breaking my lease, but I know you’re excited, you always hated that place.”  She sighed as a wave of sadness washed over her.

“I miss you.”  Her voice crackled with tears.  “I miss you so much, Robert!  I hate that you’re gone.  I hate that! I hate this!  And I failed you!  They still haven’t found the statue and I contacted the FBI and I haven’t heard anything, and I don’t know what to do!”

She cried harder, her ribs hurting as if the pain she experienced weeks ago was still fresh.  She gripped her sides as she continued to sob.   She was tired and everything that had happen in the month and a half since Robert died was catching up with her.  Rosemary sat in the cold evening for hours and let her sadness out.  When she finally left, the exhaustion she felt forced her straight to bed when she arrived at the house.  In a bit of mercy, she slept a dreamless sleep for once.

---***---

“Good morning.”  The deep voice caused Marquetta to turn from the display case she was working on.  A tall man with brown hair and a kind smile stood at the front desk.  She watched as Bob ambled over to welcome him.  She couldn’t hear their conversation after that, but she kept a subtle watch on the interaction as the two men talked.  The stranger smiled again and walked past her towards the stairs and she watched up trudge up each step until he was out of sight.

“You aren’t being very subtle.”  Bob’s voice sounded behind her and Marquetta jumped at the noise.  She felt herself grow hot, grateful her dark skin hid the blush rushing across her cheeks.  She turned to look at Bob, who was grinning at her.

“Who was that?”  She tried to keep her voice steady.

“Some FBI agent wanting to talk to Rosemary.”

“FBI?”  Marquette frowned before her eyebrows shot up.  “FBI!  Oh my god! They’re here!”

“Don’t shout.  It’s rude.”

“No, Bob!  Rosemary reported that statue that got stolen to the FBI!  That means they know about it!  They’re here for that!”

“Does that mean they’ll find the men who hurt her?”  He sounded hopeful at the idea.  Even if he thought her manners were lacking, Bob was deeply upset that Rosemary had been hurt the way she had been.  If this young agent can help find her attackers, he was all for it.

“I bet they do if they find the statue.”  The two stopped talking when Rosemary and Banana entered the building. She looked up and felt awkward when she realized they were staring at her.

“Um, is something wrong?”  She sounded unsure of herself and Bob got angry, realizing that these men didn’t just rob the museum of this ugly statue, it robbed Rosemary of her self-assurance.

“Never, Rose.  There is an agent from the FBI in your office.  Marquetta says you contacted them.”  She startled, not believing that her reporting the stolen item would bring them to her front door.  They were just a small history museum in Michigan, not the Detroit Institute of Art or the Smithsonian.  She figured she’d get an email or a call, but never a real agent.

“They’re here?  Really?” Her eyes lit up when Bob nodded. She started to laugh because she didn’t know what else to do.  Marquetta walked over to hug her and the physical contact help to ground her.

“He’s good looking, too.”  Marquetta whispered in her ear.  Rosemary pulled back at the comment. “Like really good looking.  His butt is cute.”

The two women giggled at the comment and hugged again.  Picking up the leash she dropped, the curator and her furry companion went towards the stairs, hope beginning to bubble in her chest. Maybe she hadn’t failed Robert after all, she thought.  When she reached the third floor, she stopped to catch her breath before walking down to her office.

When she stepped into the doorway, she saw him standing there, looking at her walls.  She couldn’t see his face, but everything about his presence radiated kindness – something she hadn’t expected from an FBI agent.  When he turned to look at her as she cleared her throat, his face lit up in a smile and she couldn’t help but smile back.  For the first time in weeks, she felt safe.

“I’m Special Agent Marcus Pike.”  He held out his hand to her.  She took it with her customary firm grip.

“I’m Rosemary Carter.  Welcome to Fort Jamison.”

[vln-vibes]

Watchtower Woes

Week 1 Day 4 of Maribat March

Special thanks to @little-kitty-kanny , @ethelphantom and @the-navistar-carol  for beta-ing for me

It was a normal day at the Watchtower, well as normal as a space station for superheroes could be. The Watchtower looked down upon their home planet, making it seem so big yet so small amongst the sea of stars surrounding them. Today it was just Wonder Woman, Black Bat and Ladybug on monitor duty.

“Sister.” 

Ladybug, otherwise known as Marinette Drake nee Dupain-Cheng (the 23-year old designer behind the Lady Luck designs by MDC company), turned to see Wonder Woman looking at her with concern. She and Diana were rather close as the Amazonian princess had practically taken her as blood sisters when she learned of a new Ladybug; seeing as her mother had once worn the mantle as well.  Diana had also been her business partner when her company first began to take off.

“Are you feeling alright? You seem to be under the weather”

“She’s right,” Cassandra Cain-Wayne added in “Your center is off, you seem uncomfortable.”

“I’m fine. It's been a little stressful with the upcoming line with Wayne Enterprises,” Ladybug sighed, finding herself massaging her temple, feeling a headache already developing. “That and the team has been acting strange lately, I’ve been trying to investigate the cause, but the Miracle Book isn’t saying much, and I can’t exactly ask Master Fu anymore”

“How so, Ladybug?” Diana asked, taking a seat next to her while Cass took charge of looking through the security footage for them, still focused on the conversation.

“Well, most of them have gotten dangerously overprotective of me. Just yesterday Roi Singe took a hit for me against Hawkmoth 2.0’s latest creation. I asked him about it afterwards, and he just said that nothing could harm me? It was rather strange, especially seeing as Ryuuko and Abeille got more ruthless afterward. Chat was also hissing at people who approached me,” she explained with a troubled look.

“Even as civilians, Viperion, Monarch, and Paon were coddling me: Mari are you warm enough? Have you eaten today? No, Mari, let me get you a natural juice instead of coffee. It’s been so frustrating having to deal with their constant  babying.”

“It’s honorable for your team to care for your well being” Diana commented, heavens knew  how the JL got  whenever one of their members was  ill or was unable to perform their duties. Ladybug’s eyes just seemed to water at the implication, wiping the tears before they even fell.

“B-But that could just mean they don’t trust my abilities… what if they think I’m not worthy of being leader or even worse… of being Ladybug?” 

Diana did her best to console the younger woman while Cass looked at her skeptically.

She had seen the sudden change in emotion Ladybug had gone through like whiplash, from tired to content to worried to saddened. As Diana combed through Marinette’s pixie cut, Cass continued to think of the things happening these past few weeks.

Tim had once asked Barbara if there was anything that could help with back pains, stating that Marinette had been experiencing some rather hard period symptoms.

She recalled Adrien purring along with Alfred the Cat when they had gone to Wayne Manor last week along with Tim and Conner. Even Ace and Titus were acting like her personal bodyguards, not too different from normal, though Damian admitted that it was a bit more overkill.

Just last month for the Wayne Charity Gala, during the ladies’ final fitting, she had complained to Steph that her own dress felt a little tighter than she expected... though not unbearably so, so she had just decided to leave her own dress as is.

Had it really been so obvious?

She needed to recheck whether Tim deserved the title of Detective after this. Cass stepped out of the room momentarily to make what was potentially a life changing call.

“Robin and Superboy, do you read?” she knew her baby brother, almost eighteen years old, would be hanging out at the Titans Tower in the east coast with Superboy, now sixteen, but seeing as it was a quiet day and the other Titans: Green Lantern (Milagro Reyes), Nightstar (Mar’i Grayson), Scarlet Flash and Kid Speed (Dawn and Don Allen), and Speedy(Lian Harper) would be on standby.

“Is something the matter Black Bat?” Damian responded almost immediately.

All Bats were rather keen on making sure their comms were on in case of emergencies, even when silenced, they’d have the notifications on to see who was trying to contact them.

“Do you mind coming to the Watchtower with Superboy, there’s something concerning Ladybug𑁋”

“Is she alright?” she almost giggled at how concerned her brother was before keeping her cool and responding.

“I believe she’s alright but perhaps not aware of her condition”

“We’ll be there in a minute”

Not even a full minute after stepping back in with a much calmer Ladybug, did she hear the announcement of Robin and Superboy’s arrival before the two skid into the communications room with the three heroines.

“Robin and Superboy? I wasn’t aware you boys would be passing by today,” Diana asked curiously as Damian just puffed up.

“Black Bat called about checking Ladybug’s condition” he said eyeing the scarlet hero to see if anything was amiss; other than her red rimmed eyes and flushed cheeks he found nothing unusual.

“My condition? Cass what are you talking about?” Ladybug asked confused and a bit protective.

“Superboy,” Jon perked at his name before turning to Cass “Can you hear the heartbeats in this room?”

“Uh sure…” to say he was confused was an understatement. He was rather familiar with their heartbeats, having known them for years at this point. He could hear Diana and Damian’s rather war drum like beat, Cass’ steady and rhythmic beats, Marinette’s calm and slightly faster than usual heart and then there was𑁋

Wait, what?

“That’s weird” he whispered to himself before focusing again. Sure enough it was still there a soft echoe of duhn-duhn… duhn-dun as the fifth heartbeat. But he had never heard it before… and it was coming from…

Oh duh!

“Holy schmoly! Congrats Ladybug.” He flew up to her and gave her a huge hug, conscious of his strength now more than ever. Ladybug seemed confused while Cass smiled at her.

“You’re expecting!”

Suddenly everything made more sense, Marinette thought in that moment of realization, as she felt Diana give her her own congratulations along with Damian, who wished to both brag and inform the rest of the family.

This was really happening.

“Can— can we see Doctor Mid-Nite or Doctor Thompkins, please?” she heard herself whisper. The group looked at each other, Diana contacting the Watchtower’s doctor while Damian called for Tim and the rest of the Bat Family to come as soon as they could; was that overkill? Perhaps, but no one that was even associated with the Bats could be anything less than dramatic. Jon was the one who called Conner who called Adrien to go meet them at the Watchtower as well.

Half an hour passed and Ladybug found herself lying on one of the Med Bay beds with Doctor Thompkins, the woman having to be pulled until they mentioned Marinette requesting her assistance, making the last few configurations to the ultrasound machine.

“Are you ready, dear?” the kind doctor asked.

 Ladybug lifted her uniform, which she learned she could do at that moment, nearly squirming at the cold gel spreading at her softening abdomen.

“As ready as I’ll ever be” she laughed nervously before taking a deep breath. She couldn’t help but close her eyes, unsure if she wanted it to be true or not, before hearing the curtain open. Tim looked disheveled, most likely having come out of a W.E business meeting he had mentioned yesterday evening.

“Mari, what’s wrong!?”

Duhn-duhn…. Duhn-duhn… duhn-duhn

Marinette had never heard such a life-altering sound, feeling the tears swell in her eyes as her husband looked dumbfounded.

“Is— is that?” Marinette could only nod before being enveloped in a hug by him. He whispered sweet nothings and reassurances to her as the beautiful sound echoed in their heads.

“God, we’re going to be parents, sunshine”

“So it would seem, moonlight”

“M’Lady what’s—!” Chat Noir had sprinted from the zeta entrance having heard the far too soft heartbeat coming from the monitor, the Bats not far behind him. Suffice to say that the Watchtowers usual quiet was interrupted for the rest of that evening as cheers and congratulations went around the Med-Bay.

They would later learn that she had been nearly three months pregnant by the time they found out, explaining her team’s odd behavior due to the animal characteristics of the Miraculous. However, the worst news was to come a week later on one faithful morning.

“Oh kwami, get that away from me!” Marinette exclaimed as soon as she came out of their room in their studio apartment in Gotham. The scarlet hero having to rely on Pegasus for travel to and from Paris for the time being. Not that her team even wanted her on the field in the first place at the time but she was anything if not stubborn, a necessity for the Wayne family.

That was how the coffee obsessed duo discovered that Marinette and baby were disgusted by the mere smell of coffee. Truly, it was the hardest part of the pregnancy.

Six months later, when Thomas Louis Drake-D.C was born, his aunts and uncle would continuously call him the ‘Second Coming of Christ’ for doing the impossible and getting his parents to cut off their caffeine addiction, much to their annoyance. 

For now they were just a family of three, looking at the infinite stars of their baby’s eyes.

My AO3

Ko-Fi

[horansqueen]

You & Me : chapter 28

A Niall Horan fanfiction ; rated MA

Sequel to AM CONVERSATIONS

CHAPTER 1 || CHAPTER 2 || CHAPTER 3 || CHAPTER 4 || CHAPTER 5 || CHAPTER 6 || CHAPTER 7 || CHAPTER 8 || CHAPTER 9 || CHAPTER 10 || CHAPTER 11 || CHAPTER 12 || CHAPTER 13 || CHAPTER 14 || CHAPTER 15 || CHAPTER 16 || CHAPTER 17 || CHAPTER 18 || CHAPTER 19 || CHAPTER 20 || CHAPTER 21 || CHAPTER 22 || CHAPTER 23 || CHAPTER 24 || CHAPTER 25 || CHAPTER 26 || CHAPTER 27

NOTES:

-one chapter is her pov, the next is his. -4.2k - 4.3k -im sorry, i never proofread, i hate it. -there WILL be smut. but not only smut. -this is a romance, comedy, smut story. -for the summary, check my MASTERLIST.

- notes: filler chapter again sorry! but i tried to make it cute! i didnt plan a sex scene but its there sooo yea haha lol

if you want to be on the list of blogs i notify when this is updated, just message me :)

requests! : 2 requests! i hope i wrote them right! love them btw! please keep sending them!!!

Chapter 28 : Her chapter

OLIVIA

I thought we would have sex before we went to bed but I must have fallen asleep faster than I wanted to. Niall also probably undressed me because when I woke up in the middle of the night, I was wearing his shirt and nothing else. I smiled, keeping my eyes closed, and brought my shoulder closer to my nose. It smelled like him even if he probably didn't wear it for too long since he had a buttoned shirt at the wedding. I turned around in bed, trying to reach him with my arm but he wasn't there and I let out a short whimper before forcing myself to open my eyes.

The room was dark and quiet and it made a shiver run in my back. I got up and realized his shirt was a bit short. I searched through my stuff for a clean pair of panties and put it on before quietly getting out of the room. Everything was dark except for a very low and warm light in the living room. I walked slowly closer and leaned against the wall when I saw Niall sitting on the couch. He was writing very quickly in his notebook and he was so concentrated that he didn't even notice me. It was always special for me to see him when he seemed to be so deep in his thoughts that no one could get in his bubble. His hair was a mess and once in a while, he ran his hand in it, making the mess even worse. I stared at him for a while as he kept his focus on the paper, wearing only his boxers and making me realize he probably woke up in the middle of the night with an idea that he couldn't let go of. Something that he knew he wouldn’t remember in the morning but that he just had to write about.

I didn't know how long I stayed there but I didn't want to interrupt him or distract him. I just walked back to the room after a while and lied down in bed, looking at the ceiling. I couldn't stop thinking about everything that had happened to me in the past few months and somehow, I felt like everything was going for the better. The more time passed, the more It seemed like I was discovering who I was and what I wanted.

It was so obvious that what I wanted was Niall but more than that, what I really wanted was a healthy relationship with Niall. I wanted us to be the kind of couple that would drip with sweetness but that also could spend time without each other without going crazy. I wanted him to be my best friend but not my only friend and I didn't want either of us to be afraid, insecure, jealous or unhappy. I knew I was asking a lot, and I knew not everything could be perfect all the time, but I knew Niall and I together could come very fucking close to perfection.

I tried to stay awake until he came back to sleep but once again, I probably had fallen asleep despite myself because when I woke up again, the sun was already up and I had a small headache. I groaned and this time, I knew he was still in bed. I could feel the warmth of his body close to mine and I turned in the sheets, wrapping my arm around his back. His cheek was flat against the mattress just like his chest and I watched him sleep, his lips parted and slightly twisted as he let out a low snore. Fuck, he was so hot and I just stared at him with my eyes half-open for a few minutes, or maybe 15? 20? Who knew?

When I realized how bad I needed to pee, I finally got up very slowly, making sure I wouldn't wake him up. He was always up before me but I knew he had been up a big part of the night to write something and I wanted him to get the rest he needed and clearly deserved.

I made coffee and stayed next to the coffee machine as I watched it fall down, yawning a few times before adding cream and sugar in my cup. I couldn't stop thinking about him going on tour and being separated from him for weeks and it made something twist in my chest. Of course, I didn't want to be the girl who would follow him everywhere. I was not that girl anymore. I was not dependent of the man I loved, and I had stuff to do and commitments, too. We were about to start filming the new season of my tv show and although I dreaded playing with Dylan I knew it was something we had to do. It would be awkward at first, for sure, but in the end, I knew he was professional and I promised myself I would be, too.

I finished my coffee but left the cup in the sink before walking to the living room. It was supposed to be a lazy day and I was surprised my head didn't hurt as much as I thought it would, or that I wasn't nauseous at all despite all the champagne I had drank the night before.

I sat on the couch and pushed the stuff on it to find the remote. It showed that I was spending time at Niall's : his place had never been so messy and I suddenly felt guilty. I finally found the remote but looked at it before sighing, putting it back on the coffee table as I took the decision to clean a bit while he was still asleep. Something caught my attention and even if I knew I shouldn't, I grabbed hos notebook to the page it was opened and started reading. Niall rarely shared his writing with random people until it was a final product and all the songs I had heard was because I had crept on him somehow. I was not proud of it but at the same time, he never really seemed angry about it. I remembered that time when we were all at his place and I had followed the sound of his guitar until I practically fell in the room like a loser as he was playing a song. At that time, I had thought it was about Heidi but now that I knew it was about me, I wished I could remember what the lyrics were. All I could remember was that I had deeply hoped that it was for me. That thought made something twist in my chest and I licked my lips before letting my eyes roam on the words I was probably not supposed to see.

"I want the world to witness When we finally say I do It's the way you love I gotta give it back to you I can't promise picket fences Or sunny afternoons But, at night when I close my eyes"

A lot of words seemed to be scratched a few times and then I could read something that seemed like a chorus.

"Yeah, I see us in black and white Crystal clear on a star lit night In all your gorgeous colors I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life See you standing in your dress Swear in front of all our friends There'll never be another I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life"

I swallowed and ran my fingers on the ink, feeling the tiny rifts and bumps in the paper and feeling my heart beating so fast in my chest that I had a hard time to breathe.

"Now, we're sitting here in your living room Telling stories while we share a drink or two And there's a vision I've been holding in my mind We're 65 and you ask "When did I first know?" I always knew."

And just when I thought it was probably not about me, I saw a word that was also scratched at the end of the lyrics and I could swear it started with a capital O. I grabbed the notebook, moving it up and putting the simple sheet where the song was written in the light. It appeared clearly. My name at the bottom. I didn't know why it was crossed out and I was not sure I wanted to know. but as I re-read the lyrics for the tenth time, I couldn't lie to myself anymore. It was a wedding song.

After a few minutes, I finally started moving again. I cleaned the living room, washed the dishes, started laundry and even started cleaning the windows. All while thinking about the song, the lyrics hitting inside my brain and doing something incredible to my heart : something I hadn't felt ever before. I would never tell him but if Niall asked me to marry him at this exact moment, I would say yes. Was it because of the great time we had the night before? Or maybe because we were so happy together these days? I had no idea. But I knew I'd say yes in a heartbeat. Tomorrow, I couldn't tell you what my answer would be but today? It would be a million times yes.

I saw him walk behind me in the reflection of the now extra clean windows and my lips immediately curled. He placed himself behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and leaning his chin on my shoulder, and suddenly, I felt so much better than I did only a few minutes ago, even if I was still happy before.

"You should have waken me up." he whispered in my ear. "I would have helped you. Especially that you're cleaning wearing only a shirt and panties. I'd love to see you on all four as you clean the floor."

I laughed and raised my nose up as he kissed a spot near my ear. It was not only my love for him that made my heart jump when he was near, it was more than that. It was who he was, who I hoped he would always be.

"Tell me you'll always do that, that you'll always say things like that."

He pulled away slightly and turned his head more to look at me. I waited for his answer but he was waiting for me to look at him and I gave in, my eyes finally meeting his.

"Hold you? Kiss you? Tell you that I love and lust you?" he asked low, raising his eyebrows. I bit my bottom lip and nodded. "I promise. I swear. You have my words. And my heart. And my body, soul and mind."

My traits softened and I turned in his arms to face him, wrapping mine around his neck, moving my chin up to kiss him. He pushed me gently against the window as we kissed and I felt my butt press against it, making me chuckle.

"I'm gonna have to clean that window again." I let out with a smile as he chuckled against my lips.

"Or, you know, we can leave it like that." he proposed, shrugging a shoulder. "Your butt print seems like a nice decoration."

I'm the one who laughed this time. "You? Leaving a dirty window without touching it? Who are you trying to fool, Horan?"

"Don't call me that." he just said in a serious tone, raising his eyebrows.

"Or what?"I asked, teasing him with a sassy voice.

"Or I'm gonna tickle you." he pointed out, making my heart skip a beat. "I'm gonna tickle you until you beg me to stop."

"Sure, Horan." I tried to provoke him, putting emphasis on his last name.

He stared at me for a few seconds but suddenly and quickly, he picked me up and brought me to the couch. I was surprised that he could actually support my weight and he finally let me fall on the couch as I bounced on the cushions but he quickly straddled me, grabbing my wrists and pulling them over my head. When was the last time we played like that? It had been so long I couldn't remember.

"Apologize now." he ordered, looking down at me.

I could feel his grip tighten on my wrists and I licked my lips. "Never."

"Last chance." he let out, making me smirk.

"Bite me, Horan."

Quickly, he brought his free hand to my waist and started tickling me. Immediately, I started squirming, trying to get out of his grip as I let out a few high pitched yells. It made him laugh and it made me remember how much I hated to be tickled. After a while, he stopped and my lips parted as I started panting.

"You looking like that? God. Makes me want to tie you up and have my way with you."

I let out a short laughter and he started tickling me again until I started screaming his name.

"Niall! Niall stop! I c-can't!"

He did as I asked and smirked. "Beg me." he let out, shaking his eyebrows. "Apologize and beg me."

"Mm, I'm so sorry, Niall." I whispered with puppy eyes. "Please I'm begging you, stop tickling me?"

"Don't you fucking pout like that, it makes me want to fuck your mouth."

I laughed louder this time, tilting my head back slightly and closing my eyes as I felt his hand run up my breasts.

"And you say I'm the horny one!"

"Heyyy!" he argued with a frown. "I fingered you last night and I didn't cum at all, remember?"

My smirk disappeared and I just smiled at him. "You want to cum now?"

He groaned and raised his nose up. "I feel like all we do is fuck."

I shrugged and he finally let go of my wrists. I brought my hands to his pants and slid one in them, raising my eyebrows again but in surprise this time.

"You went commando?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he reached for my shirt and moved it up to expose my breasts as I took his cock out of his pants, stroking him slowly with both my hands. He breathed in and then out, letting out a very short whimper and one of his hands moved back to reach between my legs. He moved two of his fingertips on my panties, brushing against my clit and I pressed my lips together. I tried to focus on what my hands were doing and spit on his cock before running my fingers right under his tip. He groaned and brought his hand back to grab one of my breasts hard and I started stroking him harder.

"That feels so fucking good." he admitted, running his thumb on my nipple. "I tried doing that to myself and it just doesn't work. It has to be your hands."

I didn't tell him but it probably could have been anyone's hands except his and even if he probably knew it, I didn't want to point it out just in case. He took his cock in his hands, making me hold my breath and take my hands away and quickly, he tapped his cock on my tits before rubbing his tip on my nipples.

"Please, petal, push your tits together."

My heart jumped so high in my chest that I had to swallow it back.

"Niall, I don't think my boobs are big enough to-"

"Do it." he cut me.

I bit my bottom lip and did as he asked, just watching him spit in his hand and rub his cock again. My lips parted when he put his cock between my breasts and he was so focused on what he was doing that he didn't even look at me again. I could pretend otherwise but watching him using me to cum was actually exciting and when he groaned, I pressed my thighs together as I felt my pussy throb. I loved the feeling of his cock sliding quickly between my breasts and the thought in itself was driving me insane. After a while, he took his dick back in his hand and started jerking off harder until his lips parted.

"Jesus Christ." he whispered as I held my breath.

He shook slightly over me, moaning low as his cum spurted on my chest and breasts. I just remained motionless as he came down from his high, letting out a low 'fuck" and rubbing his tip on my nipples again, spreading his cum on me.

He sighed and sat on me, putting his cock back in his pants as I stared at him and he shook his head.

"I'm so.. so sorry. I was just so..."

"Horny? Yea I noticed." I chuckled, letting my lips curl as he finally looked back at me.

"I didn't really give you much attention, did I?" he asked, raising his nose up. I could read guilt on his face and my lips curled. "I'm sorry, pet."

"I'm just... I'm glad I made you cum. Didn't think that would be so exciting, but it was." I admitted, pulling my shirt back over my breasts as he laughed. "Also didn't think it was possible with my boobs."

"Your boobs are perfect." he pointed out before getting up and holding his hand out for me.

I put my hand in his and his fingers gripped mine as he helped me get up, letting his eyes roam on my face. He bent down to kiss me and I closed my eyes at the way it made my heart jump in my chest.

"Lazy day yea?" he proposed in a breath, his mouth still pressed against mine. "You go take a shower and I'll close all the curtains, find a good tv show to binge on netflix, and order something, chinese maybe?"

I nodded quickly and smiled. "That sounds perfect."

I took a quick shower and put on a pair of his sweatpants and one of his shirts and when I got back in the living room, he had brought pillows and blankets, a few beers and was waiting for me with the remote in hands. I stared at him for a while, just trying to live the moment and realize how lucky I was, before finally sitting next to him. He looked up at me with a smile and I pushed the pillows away to lean against his chest as his back was against the side of the couch. His legs were spread but they moved a bit close to both my sides, kind of to trap me close to him. He tried to put the blanket over us and I helped him before squirming slightly to be more comfortable.

"Hey, watch the goods, yea?"

I laughed but still took care of where I was moving and he wrapped one of his arms around me.

"Remember this spot because food will be there in half an hour and we're gonna have to do it all over again." he said, making me groan and making him laugh. "Seriously though, it feels good to have you here with me just to have a lazy day."

I felt my heart swell and smiled more, turning to kiss his jaw gently. He looked down and his lips met mine and he deepened the kiss just as the first episode of a series we both wanted to watch started.

"How will I be able to focus on anything but you today, mm?" I let out, half-joking.

He rolled his eyes with a low chuckle and we both focused on the tv for a while. I groaned when the doorbell rang and he laughed again. I sat up to let him get up and when he came back with the food, I realized how hungry I was. we ate again in silence but I couldn't stop glancing at him. There was something endearing in the way he used his chopsticks to push the noddles in his mouth and I only realized I was staring when he turned his gaze to me and chuckled. I blinked a few times and looked away as he swallowed his food.

"It's okay, you can stare. I stare at you too, you know. You just don't notice."

I felt my heart jump in my chest and put my food away.

"Just like I stared at you for about twenty minutes in the middle of the night." I confessed, making him frown. "You were sitting here, in only your boxers, and you were writing. You were so focused on what you were doing that you never noticed me."

I couldn't add that I had found him gorgeous with his messy hair and his tired eyes. I couldn't say that I had felt a wave of love so strong that I almost started crying. I couldn't tell him that because it still embarrassed me to be so in love with him. Not because I didn't want to be, but because I was scared I would end up losing him again.

His lips curled into a smile and he pushed the air out of his lungs. "I was writing a song. For you. About you."

My lips crashed against his and he replied to the kiss quickly, pushing his tongue deep in my mouth as I whimpered. He didn't know that I had read it and I suddenly felt guilty but he literally confirmed that his lyrics were about me and somehow, it made me ecstatic. So ecstatic that I surprised myself wishing he'd ask me to marry him as soon as our lips would part.

"I didn't know if I should tell you but, Olivia, I'm so happy we're both single right now. I know it's wrong to say that but fuck, I'm happy with you. Just you and I. No guilt, no stress, no question. You and me, living this moment."

I kissed him again, not knowing what to answer. I was happy too. I was happier than I had ever been, even before we broke up, and I didn't want anything to change. I didn't want to jinx this by claiming my happiness out loud. I didn't want to risk this happiness with an official relationship because last time didn't end well. It was ridiculous. All my fears made no sense, but it didn't make them vanish to know that.

"I love you, Niall." I whispered, leaving small kisses slowly on his mouth, jaw and cheeks. "I love you more than anything. No one is you."

He finally let go of his chopsticks to cup my face and he breathed in before his mouth found mine again.

"I promise that I'll love you for the rest of my life." he murmured quickly before kissing me again.

My heart jumped when I recognized the lyrics and it made me wonder how often he talked to me with his own lyrics. I wanted to hear all of them. One time, twice, three times... a hundred fucking times. I wanted him to play me all the songs that were for me, to sing them, to whisper them, to yell them. I wanted him to make love to me while he'd do it, to hold my hand as we walked outside as he'd sing, to fucking marry me as he'd yell. I wanted him to claim his love for me until I'd be tired to hear it. And deep down, I knew I'd never be.

"I have a weekend left before I leave for tour." he just said sadly, breaking my heart. "I thought we could leave. Pack a bag, take the road, only you and me, for a few days."

My lips curled so much that my cheeks started hurting and I quickly nodded. I really wanted to spend quality time with him while it was still possible and I kissed his lips again.

"That's a yes?" he made sure as I nodded. "Okay then, we're leaving in 3 days. So cancel all the plans you had."

I laughed and licked my lips, licking his at the same time because of the proximity of our mouths.

"Niall? I'm sorry, I had planned to spend all my days with you but this super hot guy just asked me on a road trip so I'm gonna have to rain check."

He laughed and shook his head slightly. "Dork."

He pulled away slightly to stare at me as we completely forgot the show playing. I grabbed the remote and put it on pause before looking back at him and tilting my head. I needed him more than I ever needed him before and it was scaring me so bad I could feel my heart trying to escape my rib cage in intense thumps.

"Tell me you love me." I whispered as I bit my bottom lip nervously. "Please, Niall."

His face changed and he moved closer. I thought he'd kiss me again but instead, he got serious and I felt him grab my hands.

"I love you, Olivia. I'm in love with you. I never stopped, not one second. And I never will. Do you want me to repeat it every day? At which frequency? Every 6 hours? 4 hours? Two? I'll put a damn alarm on my phone to tell you in the middle of the night if I have to." he said in a soft tone. "I know it was different when we dated, but I will never let you believe that you are not perfect the way you are, that you are not everything I want and need, or that you are not loved. Never again. I swear, Olivia. I fucking love you."

[hecohansen31]

Fire Of My Loins

Trevor KIrchner+Younger Margaret’s Sister! Reader:

(A/N): Hello, lovelies!

Before you extract your knives to fight me… just know that I am working on “More Than You Bargained For” (2), which will be named “More Than You Can Give Me” (these shits are getting longer than Fall Out Boy’s titles).

But while I was working on it, I ended up not being truly able to focus on it (I still can’t), and this fic low key helped me a bit!

I STILL HATE TREVOR WITH ALL MY GUTS (and haven’t seen 9x07, when I wrote this) but hey… he low key inspired me to write this, so I honestly couldn’t help but write this down, and I hope it won’t be too much!

(Alongside the fact that “Lolita”, “Off The Races”, “Put Me In A Movie” by Lana del Rey have been on my youtube playlist since for-freaking-ever...).

Also the title is inspired by “Lolita” and it is nothing more than a quotation of a book that a truly appreciate for his writing style, which if you have read doesn’t glamorize any kind of relationship between an older man and a child, so please don’t make a shitstorm for that.

Reader in this case is an adult, since she is completely legal, being 22.

This was just a little disclaimer, because I know it might be controversial, and if anybody feels even slightly offended by it, just let me know!

Much love!

SUMMARY: It was supposed to be a  “bright new start”, but apaprently it is much easier than it seems to go back to your previous life, mostly when your sister’s husband seems so attractive...

WORDS: 9 K.

WARNINGS:

Older! Man+Younger! Girl (Trevor according to me is either 36-40, meanwhile Reader is 22), Mention of Child Neglect and Domestic Abuse (alongside attempts of Sexual Assault), General Violence and Use of Drugs, Daddy Issues, Seducing an Older! Man, Mention of Reader’s past as a sex worker, Fingering and Oral Sex (Male-Female Receiving), PTSD, Nudity.Vulgarities.

Being Margaret Booth’s sister wasn’t an easy thing.

The big age gape had made you always take a deep distance from the other, but honestly the more they went on, the more she didn’t want to be associated with that psycho.

After Margaret’s traumatic experience at Camp Redwood, the first one, their parents’ attention had been all on her, not matter how much she cried or asked for it, as a small child in need of her parents’ help.

She remembered perfectly the night when her stomach had hurt terribly and she had cried till it had given her an headache, meanwhile her parents comforted her older sister from a nightmare, completely ignoring her, she had had to call the ambulance herself and at the hospital she had discovered her appendix had busted open.

When the social services had asked her why her parents hadn’t taken her themselves to the hospital, she had lied, not wanting to be separated by them and the silent abuse had perpetuated but the more she grew up the more she found herself to search the lacking attention, everywhere outside home.

Older men were her favorites: she had once fucked one and he had left her a good grand on the bedside table of the dirty motel they had met at, and she had felt that rush of adrenaline that got her to become an escort for older men.

They doted on her desperately and she was good at fucking and listening to them.

It might have seemed an ideal paradise, but it hadn’t lasted: any of the man she “doted” upon seemed to have a flaw.

Jack had gambling debts and whenever he would be with her, he would steal some of her money and she was unable to say anything.

Bill liked to snort coke off her body, and he had tried desperately to get her hooked up on it, no matter how many times she told him she wouldn’t ruin her pretty head for it.

Kent was the worst: he was the reason why she was going back to her sister’s house.

He was violent, but he was the lover she had loved the most, desperately letting him control every single aspect of her life, alongside quitting her escort career, to move with him and the first days were idyllic.

She had had the best 21st birthday party ever and the following day she was in hospital, avoiding brain damage just because the police had been alerted by the hosts of the party promptly.

Kent had tried to smash her head against the wall, after he had seen her “drunkenly flirting” with one of the guests.

She hadn’t been able to press charges but somehow Kent had never talked to her, and she was pretty sure it was all due to Margaret, who had chosen to take care of her, as the good Samaritan.

She didn’t understand this change of heart, so suddenly made by Margaret.

They had always had this cold distance and she knew perfectly that her Jesus-fearing sister didn’t approve of her life, promiscuous and disgusting as she thought it was.

But she had been there once she had woken up from the hospital and had helped her through the rehabilitation eventually asking her to move in with her.

“… I just feel so guilty for stealing your childhood, sweetie” she had commented, as if she knew half of the things she had gone through “… come home with me, little sister”.

She hadn’t been able to say no, since she usually relied totally on the met she met with and fucked, and without Kent she had no home and money, hence… she would have been homeless.

It was better to stay in her psycho-sister’s house than the open air.

She had come home with Margaret on the day they had dismissed her, although she hadn’t completely healed, since headaches and nightmares plagued her mind.

“Welcome home” uttered Margaret, opening the door for her and showing her an extremely elegant sitting room, extremely modern and distasteful, but what could she have expected?

“Thank you, Margaret, I would like to sleep a bit, so if you don’t mind, can you show me my room?” she honestly just wanted to move in her room, settle the few things she had owned in her small suitcase and then sleep a bit, but Margaret promptly grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks-

“Listen to me, little tramp” oh here comes the Jesus-fearing bitch, hadn’t she missed her “… if you want to live under my house, there are some few rules: you don’t bring your “dates” here, I won’t let you desecrate my temple!”.

It took all her strength not to laugh in her face, but she just smirked a bit, nodding softly.

“… you stick to your room and don’t go out unless I tell you to” and then Margaret grabbed her chin in her hands, tightening the grip enough that she found herself panicking a bit, making her remember Kent’s bruising hands “… don’t embarrass me more than you have already done… “.

And she immediately left her chin, pushing her slightly, after she brushed away imaginary dirt from her elegant clothes fixing them and her own smile, gently leaning down to kiss her sister’s cheek, before she moved away, calling over a maid to show her the way.

She had been able to take a quick shower, at least her room had a bath linked to it, since it seemed to be the smallest one, something that she honestly didn’t like, but she knew better than to ask her sister for more, mostly after the little “discourse” they had had.

She honestly needed to get a grip on her life, in order for her to move away as soon as she could.

She had worked through her teen years before her “career” took over, but she hadn’t been able to attend college, since not only it made her anxious and nervous, but also, she was addicted to those men’s attention and when she “fell” for them, she devoted herself to them.

What a shitty life, had she chosen?

She was brushing her hair to dry them, simply dressed in a cotton nightgown she had found on her bed, definitely more modest than the ones she had owned, but the color gave her some kind of innocent allure.

When she moved to drop the towel in the bathroom, she found the door opening, without knocking.

She immediately turned around, as a deer in the headlights, scared that it might have been Margaret, and annoyed by the thought that somebody wouldn’t respect her privacy.

But it wasn’t Margaret.

It was a man.

Even worse.

Her heart started beating roughly and she found herself holding her hand out towards the handle of the door of the bathroom thinking that if she rushed she might hide behind it, but the man, almost as if sensing her nervousness immediately, raised his hands, trying to show that he wasn’t a threat.

“You must be (Y/N)” he commented, his tone was nice and sweet, clearly trying to calm down “… Margaret’s sister”.

“You surprised me” she simply mumbled, not knowing who this stranger was and keeping her hand onto the handle onto the bathroom door.

“I should have knocked” he muttered, clearly seeing her trembling “… I am Trevor Kirchner, Margaret’s husband”.

Margaret had never mentioned a second husband, in her visits.

So, she was a bit suspicious, but with the way he moved and acted he seemed not to want to scare her, and she relaxed a bit.

“… Margaret never talked about you” she simply uttered, and pushed herself to sit onto the bed, moving towards the little bottle of lotion she had managed to sneak away from Kent’s house, the smell of honey and roses intoxicating and comforting for her.

She tried to act nonchalantly, calming softly her nerves with the usual gestures, and immediately Trevor’s gaze shifted onto her legs, where she was smearing the lotion, and this didn’t go unnoticed from her, who took this time to analyze him better.

He was certainly charming, although some of his charm seemed ruined, shadowed by life and with the way his arms and legs moved spasmodically she knew it was drugs, and she couldn’t help but pout a little.

She would have gladly fucked him, before Kent.

Maybe just to spite Margaret.

“… she never talked about you either, till a week ago” he replied sassily, moving his eyes way from your shiny legs, as you pushed your arms up, as with them slightly your breast showcasing them more, in an act of subtle seduction that got Trevor quite engrossed, although he tried not show it “… just wanted to meet you and say that you are welcome to stay as long as you like”.

“I am staying here till I get a grip on my life” she stated, but Trevor just smirked at you, as if he didn’t believe you, as if he had said something like that to himself “… can you leave me alone? I prefer to do my beauty routine all alone, without creepy men staring at me”.

Most of her first week at the Booth Manor had been passed in her room, joining Margaret and Trevor only for dinner, when she felt like it.

When she didn’t, she just didn’t eat.

But at the start of the second week she felt bit better and most importantly due to the warmth of that summer day and the sunny weather she had thought about a little dive in Margaret’s tacky pool, although she didn’t own a bikini.

She hadn’t wanted to ask her sister, mostly due to the fact that Margaret had treated her like she was invisible and because she knew what kind of bikini her sister owned: matronly to say the least.

In the end, she had dipped into the water in her nightgown, a cotton white, very simple in details and puffy on the “sensitive zones”, such as her stomach and  her breasts, but as the water drenched her body, the fabric immediately attached itself to her body, revealing her skin.

She was enjoying a few breaststrokes in the water, when she heard a low whistle and realized that Trevor was leaning onto the swimming pool’s side, lounging onto it in a costume that showcased his “best attribute”.

She didn’t mind him any attention doing a few more laps around the pool, till she had enough, and another migraine hit her, making her quickly exit the pool, and reach out for her towel.

Which had been brought around herself with much care and when she opened her eyes, a bit comforted by the warm hug, she found Trevor gently helping her, and not looking at her almost naked body.

“Is everything alright, (Y/N)?” he asked, seriously worried and she promptly pushed away from him, quickly sitting on one of the sunbathing chair on the side of the pool, trying to regain a bit of composure.

“It’s just a headache, I strained myself today” she mumbled, meanwhile she adjusted her drenched hair and tried to stop her legs from trembling.

“Margaret said that you tend to have some headaches… can I do something about it?” he asked softly, and gently moving closer and she couldn’t help but wonder why he was like this.

He was certainly attracted to her: she had seen the way his stare lingered onto her, but he never dared, and she was sure it wasn’t out of respect or faithfulness to her sister.

She had heard them fight, and during those times her head would be hidden under the pillow, memory of Kent in her mind flashing and her tears rushing down.

“… just stop talking…” she uttered sharply, seeing Trevor’s mouth move onto a straight line, clearly displeased, before he moved away and entered the swimming pool, effectively leaving her alone.

An hour later she was back inside, but she was unable to stop watching Trevor from her window, the way he brushed his hair away wet and drenched and the way little drops of water caught fire in his skin as light hit them.

This would end badly.

By her third week with her sister, she understood perfectly why Margaret had brought her there.

She had thrown a party to celebrate some kind of business milestone and had paraded her sister as a rescue case, constantly getting praised for her good heart and kindness.

“Oh Margaret, you truly are a saint” they muttered, meanwhile she simply smiled behind her glass of champagne, hoping they could serve something heavier, just as Trevor did, whenever he would excuse himself to snort some coke, in his office.

Already, after only an hour since the charity event had started, she was damnably bored.

And wasn’t the only one.

The man she picked out was dressed elegantly, jeweled cufflinks, linking a sober attire that seemed the incarnation of purity and bigotry.

He wasn’t so chaste as she went down her knees and bobbed her head up and down around his length till his release stained her pretty red lips.

It was the little pick up she had needed, and she quickly turned towards the elegant marble sink to clean her face, but he quickly got ahold of her arm and pushed her to face him again.

She honestly didn’t find him in the slightest attractive anymore: his red face had a terrific smile and she felt dirty and used.

“Don’t expect me to let you go after you blew me as a pro, I bet that you fuck even better”.

Everything that Kent had done to her, before almost killing suddenly came back and her fought as the man tried to drag her back in the little bathroom cubicle, but he quickly shut her up, with one hand, meanwhile the other went between her legs, under her gown, hastily pushing down her panties.

He pumped himself a few times, but before he could penetrate her, some force rammed into him and he was pushed onto the ground and when her eyes finally focused, she realized it had been Trevor.

Almost ashamed, she rushed to push her panties back in place and adjust her dress, meanwhile the man screamed against Trevor.

She knew he would fucking judge her an whore.

“What the fuck, man?!”.

“She didn’t want you, Carl, you were fucking forcing yourself on her” he shot back, before picking up the little shit from the floor, and pushing him towards the exit, his pants still undone and his face red “… and if you so much as try to utter something, remember about that pre-nup with your wife… she’ll fucking ruin you, for having cheated on her”.

The man went immediately from red to white and before she knew it, he pushed himself back in control and exited hastily the bathroom, muttering something about “whores being fucking bitches”.

She rushed again to the sink, this time it wasn’t to check her lipstick, but she threw up into it, although she hadn’t eaten much, so nothing but liquid came out of her mouth, a truly disgusting show, but Trevor gently rubbed her back, holding back her hair, and uttering gentle encouragement.

He was nice enough to collect a bit of hygienic paper to clean her mouth, totally smearing her red lipstick, the only exception to Margaret’s modesty rule on her outfit, but effectively cleaning her up.

It was such a gentle gesture that it broke her.

“Get the fuck away from me” she ushered, slurring it as soon as she felt like she could walk away without her legs shaking “… leave me the fuck alone”.

Trevor sent her a bewildered look, one that told her that he didn’t understand her.

Well, he wasn’t the only one.

She had spent the following night, not sleeping just staring at the roof and crying.

Why was she like this?

Why did she feel this morbid need to screw somebody to feel better?

… and to push away anybody who was remotely gentle to her…

She didn’t join Margaret for breakfast, but she eventually went down the stairs to collect something to eat since her troubled stomach was grumbling loudly and she knew that death by starving was a bad look on her.

Not to talk about the fact that it would just take too long.

No, she needed something quick.

She caught Margaret on the threshold, with too many suitcases for a single person, and she immediately smirked as she saw her.

She was low key grateful that Trevor hadn’t uttered anything about catching her blowing some of their friends and then having a mental breakdown.

“.. this week I’ll be on a trip” she commented, cheerily “… the newest haunted house just ready for Halloween!”.

She faked being happy for her sister, before she turned to her mission, collecting something easy to eat, thinking about how she was stuck there with Trevor.

Had he ever cheated on her sister?

She hadn’t noticed any maid sneaking in and out of his “office” or any pretty young thing looking at him with malice.

Meanwhile she was thinking this, she heard knocking onto the kitchen’s walls, and when she turned around she saw Trevor looking at her as if he had found her a wounded animal, not knowing how to approach it.

But she was thankful he had knocked.

And pushed one of the sandwiches she had been doing towards him, a peace-offering.

“Oh no, sweetheart” he commented pushing it back to her “… you need to eat, you look like a scarecrow”.

This got him a playful fist to the side, which he faked had hurt him.

It was such a light moment that she honestly let out a laugh.

This seemed to take aback Trevor, as if he had heard the angelic voice of God.

“… by the way, since Margaret is not here I thought we could go out shopping” he mumbled, a bit shy, as if he was sure she would shoot down his idea “… you can’t go around with those nightgowns, and certainly can’t swim in them”.

She didn’t know why but the shyness in his voice intensified as he muttered the “nightgown” part gaining a smirk from her, and her hands gently traced the light patterns of her nightgown, indeed.

The cotton of it had brushed against her nipples enough to make them bloom in pebbles and she knew that he could see them, although he avoided to look straight up at her body.

“What is wrong with my nightgown?” she asked, feigning innocent, meanwhile he released a light laugh to hide his embarrassment.

“Just think about the heart-attack that we’ll give Margaret once she receives the notice of how much we spent”.

He didn’t have to say anymore.

She was used to men showing off her body, whenever she tried on clothes for them.

They didn’t want anything more than a quickie in the changing room and a pretty girl who smiled for them and wore pretty things.

But strangely with Trevor it was somehow fun: he constantly commented and made her wear the most absurd dresses, muttering about how much she looked ridiculous, just for her to do the same till the shopping clerks had enough of them and threw them out… kindly…

She hadn’t had this much fun… since ever.

They went to lunch to some fast-food place, something that got her to utter:

“Aren’t we supposed to be rich? We can do better than McDonald’s”.

Just for him to shot back as he stole some her fries:

“Is that sarcasm? Because I thought it was your usual tone”.

She just pouted a bit, kicking him under the table but he smirked, eating up his hamburger meanwhile she picked around her food, knowing she needed to speak up.

“… I am sorry for last night” she thought about ripping the band-aid immediately “… I don’t know what came onto me…”.

He stopped holding up a hand, to calm her rushing tone.

“It was the trauma, and I know about it…” he spoke as if it pained him to talk about this “…I was a survivor at Camp Redwood, one of the three alongside Margaret and Brooke”.

She knew that story all too well since Margaret didn’t lose any occasion to remind everybody about the fact that she had survived a camp murder spree not once but twice.

But Trevor, unlike her, seemed like he wanted to forget.

Hence the need for coke.

“… there are some things that make us feel that way and I am not going to judge you for that” he explained as if he got her and the way his eyes were shadowed, as if he was worried about something on his mind “… but if you ever need to talk…”.

“Margaret will pay me a good psychoanalyst” she replied, trying to shift the tense area that was created, although she shot a thankful smile on Trevor’s way, who moved onto slurping his drink.

“… that is the spirit” he commented but his tone was too serious “… if you have money, you can have anything”.

After lunch they were supposed to move away back home, mostly because she was again getting a migraine, but she was unable to stop herself from wanting to visit a bookstore again.

She hadn’t visited many, during her life with Kent, mostly segregated in the “trophy wife” role, so she couldn’t help but brush eagerly her hand through the papers, meanwhile Trevor had gone to the bathroom, asking her not to run away, in the meanwhile.

But she couldn’t help but move through the shelves checking out the newest releases and choosing a few to read meanwhile she looked out to the glasses outside the shop to check on Trevor, but she quickly become too engrossed on an illustrated version of “Little Women” by Louisa May Alcott, one of her favorite books.

She related to Jo on a personal level, remembering her all about the possible dreams she had had about becoming a journalist and a novelist, when she still thought that there was hope in the world.

She was so interested in the re-reading that she didn’t realize that Trevor who hadn’t found her outside. had gone in the bookshop and was gently shaking her, trying not to scare her.

“Hey, found anything interesting?” he asked, eyeing the book and she pushed it closed, immediately rushing to push it back on its original shelf, but Trevor stopped her, collecting the book and moving towards the cash desk, extracting his wallet “… you want to get only this one…”.

Clothes were one thing: she needed them, mostly if Margaret wanted to parade her as her personal corgi.

But books… books were something that made her almost nervous to be gifted, it was a window on her soul she couldn’t accept, and couldn’t let Trevor stare into, but he hadn’t seemed to mind, instead pushing Margaret’s card to the clerk, smirking gently at him.

When they walked away, she was holding a few more packages, Trevor carrying the rest, almost as if they were some kind of happy couple, finally coming back home.

It had been a truly good day, one of the first since she had opened eyes, and she made sure to say so to Trevor: she might still think that he was hiding her something, but she definitely couldn’t help but feel a bit soft around him.

“Thank you, it was a nice day” she thanked him, taking the little bag of books in her hands to try to hide her secret from him, and he smirked, gently caressing her face, and strangely she leaned herself into that simple touch.

“Don’t mention it, I have to say you are the funny sister” he giggled, and she found herself blushing.

“… you are the first one who ever thought this”.

The night she and Trevor had decided to treat themselves to a nice dinner outside in an expensive restaurant, mostly for her to try out the newest outfit she had bought big shoulder-pads with sequins and a tiny waist, giving the perfect hourglass figure, in a very fashionable style.

She almost looked like when she hanged onto older men’s arms, who showed her as if she was  their newest Rolex.

She was almost expensive as one.

“… don’t you think that they will talk about this?” she asked, almost worried: she didn’t want her sister to kick her out because she was standing too close to her boytoy.

“Not if we leave the waiters a huge tip” he replied, making her smirk, meanwhile he helped her out of the car, gentlemanly giving her his arm to hold her close to him, meanwhile they strutted inside.

Dinner was nice, and she was used to this kind of elegant setting, falling back in her charming persona, after a good chalice of wine, which Trevor continued on pouring, insisting on the fact that it made her almost funny.

“… well it almost makes you handsome, so…”.

“Aren’t you supposed to be nice with family?” he retorted, meanwhile he played around with the food in his plate, almost as if he couldn’t focus on it, as she, instead, tried to cut perfectly what she had chosen, into tiny bites.

“Are you my family, Trevor Kirchner?” she replied, sending him a slight glance, under her eyes, almost teasing him.

“I married your sister, or did the wine already get to your head?” but his retort was stopped short, as her legs brushed against his, the silkiness of the stockings she wore against his elegant dress pants, making her laugh loudly at his stunned surprise “… yeah the wine got to your head”.

“Did Margaret tell you what I did before I come to you” she didn’t know if it was the wine talking or the fact that strangely she felt nice, almost comfortable with Trevor.

Alongside the fact that she wanted to fuck him desperately.

Before dinner she had spent a good hour igniting a soft fire in her most private parts, gently touching them and caressing her skin till she reached a lazy and aching orgasm, thinking about him doing it to her.

She couldn’t deny that no matter how much she tried she was attracted by him.

And without no inhibitions she just couldn’t stop her blabbering mouth.

“I got paid to sleep with men…” she linked their eyes together, and pushed her legs apart under the table “… but I had a type you see, I liked old men, older than boys, and they would pay me with nice things”.

“I didn’t know, (Y/N)” his voice was dark, definitely lower and aggressive, asking for more, almost desperately.

“… I liked it, I liked the attention, the gifts, the lavish lifestyle…” she continued, meanwhile she adjusted herself onto the chair, unable to sit straight “… but nobody fucking loved me, isn’t it such a horrible thing”.

“Sweetheart, you are…” Trevor seemed almost confused about what to do, she could feel that he was aroused, but also, he somehow had reigned himself back in control from the state he had gone in, after her confession, as if he pitied her.

“I don’t need your pity” she replied, harshly hissing through her teeth and quitting all her movements, instead reaching out for the wine glass, which Trevor took from her hands.

“I think it is enough” his tone was stern, and before she knew it, he was by her side, helping her up, although she protested, attracting quite the attention.

She seriously hoped the thing about tipping the waiters to keep them quiet was true.

He pushed her into the car, definitely with much more force than when he had helped her out, saying to the driver to rush them home and she immediately pushed herself away from him, almost burned from his sudden reaction.

“(Y/N)…” he tried to call her, but she kept on facing the window, looking out at the cold night, since it started raining and she pushed herself to look at the way the little droplets moved down the window of the car, letting it all lull you in a comfortable nap.

She was awoken by soft arms, pushing her into them, and when she opened her eyes, she found Trevor looking down at her, he seemed worried, but this time there was no pity, which made her wonder if there ever had been.

“… is your head hurting you?” he asked, treating her as if she hadn’t just confessed to him that she was a prostitute and that she had a thing for older men.

She shook her head, lightly pushing herself to bring him closer to her, tightening the grip onto his shoulder, finding comfort in that gentle contact and letting him lead her inside, cradling her closer to his chest and once they were inside he let her gently and softly down, holding her close, till he felt like she was steady again.

He then moved to leave her, but she tightened the grip onto his hand, bringing him back towards her and before she knew it her lips were onto his.

Her hand gently but steadily shifted onto his shirt, already opening the buttons she could slip an hand inside, meanwhile the other slung onto his neck, to bring him closer.

His hand shot up to her thin waist, caressing softly her hips, almost to gently reassure her to keep going.

A thunder shook them apart and realization shone in Trevor’s eyes and as she pushed him closer, he pushed her away.

“Babygirl, we can’t…” she didn’t even stay enough for him to finish.

It was always the same.

For the rest of the entire week she had avoided Trevor, as much as she could in a house in which they were all alone, except for the service maids, with whom she had developed some kind of strange friendship, to spite Trevor.

She spent most days off in her room reading and writing, mostly keeping a diary, but starting again with poetry, writing a few lines.

Even the silliest helped the confusion in her mind.

And they helped her mind going off the swift rejection she had received from Trevor still fresh and hurting.

She was low key glad when Margaret came back, although their first dinner was tense and she was more than happy to get away to the swimming pool, this time with a proper bikini, a red one, which fit her physique and as she dipped back in the water she finally felt like she was breathing freely, away from anything.

She emerged and found two brown eyes following her: Trevor.

She took her sweet time, with a few more laps, hoping he would be annoyed by the time she exited the pool, but suddenly she felt cold and to avoid getting a flu she immediately exited the pool, trying to avoid Trevor, but he quickly moved towards her.

“Can we talk, (Y/N)” he pleaded, but you simply covered yourself with your robe “… or are you going to continue to avoid me?”.

She turned around with violence, suddenly a frenzy anger taking over her.

“I am not the one who pushed away, firstly” she replied spitefully, pushing him away, with a shove of her shoulder, seeing his eyes brighten with surprise “…  I am not the one who refused, I am only doing what you asked me to”.

“Would you let me explain?” he screamed, almost as if he was tired of this argument.

Oh, she had just started.

She surprised him again, gently pushing herself closer to him, their faces so close that their lips brushed again and her hateful eyes became slightly honey, in a deer-eyed expression of purity and want for him, her legs pushed themselves between his pants, completely touching his screaming manhood, wetting it even.

“… I don’t want you to explain” she replied, her voice pointing out each word “… I just want you to fuck me”.

And as she had moved closer to him, she moved away, quickly grabbing the towel she had brought with her, and moving lightly her hips to a non-existent music.

And like this she ran away from him.

It was a week later, when Margaret was away on her trips, that Trevor did the first move, knocking on her door, meanwhile she was finishing her latest poem, which she hid quickly under her pillows, worried that it might be Margaret who had come home earlier.

But again, it was just Trevor.

She didn’t want to say that their relationship had changed, although they had been both civil with each other more for Margaret’s pleasure than because they had worked their issues.

Closer They were cold to each other, if Margaret wasn’t around.

Or better she would be as cold as ice with Trevor, although it didn’t stop her from teasing him, bending a little when she was stretching herself out in her red bikini or bringing her cleavage to be shown more through her new nightgown, a scrap of dark blue lace, much more provocative than her cotton ones.

And Trevor would just look at her as a kicked puppy.

“Caught you off guard, sweetie?” he asked with a poisonous edge to the “sweetie” part, which got her to huff, and adjust herself more comfortably onto her bed, showing off her legs.

“Stop using petnames” she mumbled instead, giving him zero attention, picking up the magazine the maid had left in her room “… it’s annoying”.

“… you just don’t look very like a (Y/N)” he replied, settling beside her and she still gave him no attention, but he grabbed her chin, raising it so their eyes would meet “… you look more like a little girl to me”.

“Ah ah, very funny” she mumbled drily, trying to get out of the grip, but it didn’t work, mostly because Trevor silenced her sarcasm, kissing her.

She immediately tried to rush the kiss, licking his upper lip, and opening her mouth, but Trevor seemed to like taking his time, gently brushing his lips against her own, at first against her upper lip, and then the lower one, before his lips separated themselves from hers.

But they stayed near her, wanting her to beg for more.

But after Kent, she didn’t beg anyone.

Her kiss was more aggressive, but she tried to keep it teasing, nibbling onto his upper lip, and pulling it between her teeth, releasing it with a pop, and pushing herself away.

“… what made you change your mind?” she asked, meanwhile Trevor moved closer to her, pushing himself onto her bed and cornering her gently against the wall “… aren’t you afraid of my sister finding out about us?”.

“As if I would ever give a fuck about that bitch” he replied, and sincerely showed up in his eyes, but if it wasn’t enough, he gently pushed an hand between her hair, bringing her close and gently kissing her cheek “… it’s just, things are going to be complicated with me”.

“I don’t give a fuck about all that, I just want a nice fuck” she retorted, her legs opening beneath him and bringing herself closer so that she could whisper in her ear “… can you do that?”.

Trevor just smirked and before she knew it she was laid onto the bed, with him gently pushing up her nightgown to reveal her baby blue underwear, matching with a lighter tone her nightgown.

“… you just have to say, please, sweetheart” he simply mumbled, meanwhile his voice was muffled by soft nibbling at her exposed thighs, brushing his moustache against it “… you have driven me crazy”.

Her fingers immediately tangled itself in the sheets underneath her, meanwhile she tried to buckle herself up to be more close to him, but Trevor quickly pushed her back, plunging his fingers into her hips, to keep her steady on the mattress against him.

But they shifted their position quickly: one finger started prodding over her panties, as if he was making sure that she was wet enough, as if he wanted to learn the ways of her body.

“… were you already this wet, before I came in the room?” he asked, his voice appearing closer to her head and as she opened her eyes, she found him staring at her as if he was worshipping a goddess, looking at her with intensity and decision, meanwhile his finger didn’t stop his attentive ministrations “… or was this because of me?”.

“Don’t flatter yourself too much, old man” she replied, refusing to surrender herself to him so easily and he simply smirked, before he laid a soft kiss onto her forehead, something that her previous lovers had never done and it low key…

… it low key made her feel almost cherished.

Trevor’s finger dipped under her panties, simply playing with the hair he found underneath there, them moving back to teasing her over her panties.

And then back in them.

And then back outside of them.

In a teasing torture that brought her to whine pathetically.

“Is this too much for you, sweetie?” he taunted her, but she didn’t give up, spreading even more her legs, and letting him do her bidding, meanwhile her head turned to face the pillow, her hair a total mess around her “… don’t you want some relief, pretty girl?”.

She did desperately and Trevor knew it, gently dragging her panties down thighs, something that surprised her extremely: he wasn’t treating her as fine china, with his constant teasing, but the soft little attentions he gave her, made her feel damnably alive.

Almost as if he cared about her.

As if it was more than just sex.

He finally gave up to her desire and pushed a finger inside her.

The intrusion, although not unwelcome, was slightly unpleasant, since it had been quite some time since she had last taken something inside of her, but she tried her best to avoid showing anything on her face.

But still Trevor caught on her discomfort, and stilled his movement, backing up a bit, so that he wouldn’t be overwhelming her.

“… is everything alright, little one? I didn’t hurt you, did I?” he asked, again… strangely caringly.

“No no….” she tried not to blush, like a virgin “… it’s just been a long time since I last have done this”.

She almost thought that Trevor would make fun of her, but he just grabbed her hand and softly brought it to his lips.

“We are going to take it slow, lovely… don’t worry” he calmed her down softly, treating her with the most kindness she had ever been reserved, and she was just able to nod speechless “… just give me a minute and I’ll make it all better”.

He then lowered himself till he was between her legs, and before she knew it, his lips were onto her clit, suckling it softly at first, wanting to get her used to sensation, although she was unable to stop a soft moan from leaving her mouth, and then with more force sucking the delicate pearl in his mouth, till he engulfed it completely.

And as he felt her shiver pleasantly under him, he started moving his fingers, wetness oozing onto it, and collecting in the little pathway between her ass and cunt, in a creamy liquid, that Trevor licked clean with a quick play of his tongue, once his finger exited her, collecting all her wetness.

And then he re-entered her again, pushing two fingers inside her, and although it was again so sudden, she adjusted more quickly, buckling up and down onto them and onto Trevor’s rough face, his moustache leaving traces onto her thighs and folds, and she could have sworn he was smirking proudly at her.

He moved his fingers inside of her, at first without too much force, and then scissoring them inside her to spread her more, since he, himself, felt the tightness of her walls, slowly crumbling apart due to his attentive ministration.

And when he curled his finger into her, she basically found herself losing herself completely to him and her fingers quickly grappled his wrist, pushing it to stay inside of her, and he just smirked at her, again kissing her forehead and holding her, meanwhile trembles went through her.

“Just let go, lovely, I am here for you” and she did, watching him in the eyes, meanwhile he brought her over the edge with his mouth a breath away from her womanhood, and his fingers in her, letting her ride the orgasm till she had enough.

Sensitive and shaking she pushed him slightly away and Trevor quickly understood her need, and moved away a bit, but he kept watching her, analyzing whether she wanted his help or not.

But as soon as her orgasm finished, and pleasure didn’t obscure her brain anymore, she moved closer to him, searching lazily his lips, mostly to distract him from the hand that went into his pants pushing itself onto his belt, wanting to unlatch it.

But he stopped her.

“What do you want to do, babygirl?” he asked, almost surprised as if he didn’t understand what you had in mind “… you don’t have to”.

“Well the fact is… “ she unlatched her belt, and then pushed it away, lowering his pants, without a single look at anything, finding herself with a very evident bulge in her face, barely contained in his red boxers “… I want to”.

And then her hand came onto his dick, teasing him over his pants as he had done with her, feeling him whine pathetically against her, who simply smirked, meanwhile she continued her teasing, slipping him outside of the boxers just as he started begging her, a constant plead of mercy, that made her feel strong and in power.

And in control.

She smirked as she lowered onto his dick, a majestic one, definitely the biggest she had ever had and the thought of trying to envelop it all, made her nervous, but she didn’t waste time, at first teasing him with kittenish lick, and then gently plopping her lips around the tip, gently teasing it, meanwhile Trevor shifted forward, his hand going up to her hair, but immediately he retreated them, almost scared.

She pushed his cock out of her mouth, with a slick “pop”, gently letting him tangle his fingers in her hair.

“You don’t have to be gentle” she mumbled, meanwhile he softly huffed slightly annoyed “… I am a big girl, I can take it”.

“Can you” he retorted back, but was shut up as she gripped him tighter in her hand, literally holding him by his dick, before she ended again enveloping him, pushing herself even more through her limits and swallowing more, till it hit the back of her throat and she had to grip the ground, trying to calm herself and relax.

In the meanwhile, Trevor had pushed his hands in her hair again, but putting it softly, mostly pushing it away from her mouth and face, in a soft ponytail, loose enough not to hurt her, but steady enough that he helped her taking the rhythm, till she found one on her own, comfortable enough that the sensation almost soothed her.

And so did to Trevor, and she had to remind him, gently bruising her teeth against his cock, making him startle, meanwhile her eyes sparkled maliciously.

“Beauty, let me come” he mumbled, because she had kept him on the edge quite a bit, with a gentle stimulation, but she knew he had had enough and she moved herself to do that trick with her tongue, pushing her tongue under the underside of his dick, probing it till she found the right spot and a salty taste invaded her mouth.

It was so sudden that she had to retreat quickly and some of his seed stained her nightgown and her mouth, which she quickly tried to clean up with the back of her hand, but Trevor was quickly and cleaned up with a little tissue, attentively not to leave any stains.

She couldn’t help but feel a bit like a child.

Then Trevor pushed himself gently against her, kissing her forehead, before he gently pushed himself even closer to her, raising her nightgown, and although some alarms went off in her, she let him take her nightgown off, her body not tampered anymore by any livid.

He kissed her tasting himself deeply, his taste still lingering in his mind, and he then pushed his hand to gentle caress her pebbling nipple and her swollen breasts.

“… you made me feel so good, babe” he mumbled softly, nosing her neck and then whispering in her ear, meanwhile he shifted her in his laps, and there everything went off.

She pushed him off, sweat dripping down her back meanwhile Trevor collided with the ground, achingly moaning out of pain and she swiftly moved off the bed to check up on him.

“Shit, babe, I would have preferred you just said stop” he mumbled as she helped him up.

“I am so so sorry, Trevor” she tried to apologize, helping him back onto his feet “I swear I don’t know what overcame me”.

“Sweetheart, don’t worry” he sighed gently, trying to push her a bit closer, checking with her whether she felt like being held or not “… I just hope that I wasn’t the one who hurt you”.

“No no you didn’t” she mumbled , meanwhile she gently adjusted herself, allowing him to bring her onto his laps, as she decked herself up in an elegant robe in order to shelter her modesty, meanwhile Trevor gently held her in his arms “… you don’t know you why I am here, do you?”.

“Just that you were in hospital, before” he replied innocently, but suddenly his face became more worried, and she honestly felt like he was caring desperately for her, and that this would hurt double if not triple when she final realized it was all so fake.

“… I was put in the hospital, actually” she corrected him and found a sudden anger being harbored in his eyes, but she kept herself from thinking about it “… a year ago, I decided to quit the escort life, because I thought I had found someone who would love me, Kent… but, oh boy was I wrong”-

Trevor didn’t even smirk at her poor attempt to humor, but brought her close, since she had started slowly trembling.

“Little one, you don’t have to continue…” he tried to calm her, but she just smirked sadly at him.

“… no no I want to” she replied, gently hugging herself “…I ditched my life to live with Kent, he said he loved me, and I actually did love him, but… then he started being more violent”.

“At first, he was just possessive, which wasn’t so bad to me, didn’t it mean that he cared for me?”.

“He had never been truly violent, he would grip me tighter and have me have sex with me, although I wasn’t in the mood, but… I owed it to him, he took care of me and I never gave him anything, back”.

“Sweetie, you don’t owe people anything, nor sex, nor your body, nor your time” stopped her discourse Trevor, moving her to look at him in the eyes “… do you understand me?”

He waited for her to nod, before he let her continue.

“On my 21st birthday, he thought I had flirted with this dude, I actually didn’t, I was just being gentle with him, but for him… I was cheating in front of his eyes, making fun of him in front of all his friends, and this wouldn’t just do” she couldn’t help but move back at that night: the way her dress had shifted meanwhile she had tried to move around the room to avoid being hit by the objects thrown to her by Kent “… he slapped me, and I started crying, telling him I wanted out, he didn’t love me anymore…”.

“… he just smirked back at me and told me that he had never loved a fucking shit about me, ‘I was just a fucking good fuck’ and he then proceeded to undress me, to…” her voice broke and she felt Trevor trembling around her, rage coursing through him, but it was in no way directed to her, whom he continued to caress softly, as if petting a scared bird “… he couldn’t, he had drunk too much and I was able to fight him off, but just when I was trying to get my back, he got me from behind, and he started choking me”.

“He almost smashed my head against the wall” her body was suddenly shaken by sobs and Trevor cooed her softly “… I thought I was going to die, but then I heard the ambulance, the guests had been alerted by the screams and they had called the police…”.

Margaret had been alerted by the hospital and she had woken up to her sister’s blonde halo and this constant pain in her head.

The migraine a long-lost sign of anything she had gone through and survived.

She gently leaned onto Trevor’s naked chest, there listening to his soft heartbeat, meanwhile she was lulled to sleep, by that and the soft caress he kept donning to her head.

Truly sleeping peacefully.

The following day, she woke up before Trevor, and although she didn’t regret what had happened the previous night and she didn’t have to worry about Margaret catching them.

Still she didn’t want the maid to worry about the entire thing, since she might end up referring everything to her sister.

That wouldn’t just do.

She had breakfast alone, although she found herself pleasantly enjoying the soft pain between her legs, and the pleasurable ache that went through her as she shifted, taking her time, to choose what she wanted to have, peeling the apple she had chosen and gently waiting for her tea to cool down.

Every attempt to keep her body calm was brought down by a soft hand gently touching her shoulder, not wanting to startle her, showing a smirking Trevor, dressed in that horridly ridiculous pink robe which made her raise her eyebrows, annoyed.

“…started without me, lovely?” his voice dripped with a sexual undertone, she didn’t give too much thought, sending him an annoyed smirk, before he brought her lips to meet his, in a soft “goodmorning kiss” that made her ache for more, wanting to throw away everything that was in the table and let him lay her down on it…

Alongside that she couldn’t just discard the feeling of warmth in her chest.

She had had anything she had wanted and some more…

… it was that “more” that worried her.

“We have to be careful, Trevor” she had to remind him, once their lips parted, but he kept them close to his “… the maids and personal staff might see”.

He giggled, softly setting beside her, his hand gently setting onto her thigh, barely exposed by the new nightgown she had changed in that morning: a beautiful light pink silky thing that complimented her complexion.

“C’mon, babe, I know all the timetables of the people working here, and I know that we could have a quickie on this table and still have some time for something more” she blushed at his bold mention, pushing him lightly away with her shoulder “… you are so cute when you blush”.

She tried not to blush even more, but she didn’t think it as physical possible, mostly when Trevor Kirchner looked at her as if he wanted nothing else but you.

Although he knew how broken she was.

“… and about last night” could he read in other people’s mind “… I’ll fucking kill this Kent, if you want to”.

A strange source of power went through her body and her center started aching for attention again.

The previous night, she had been scared with him, and right now she wanted just to be bend over and given some relief: how the hell did her body work?

Her mind was too far gone that rabbit hole.

“… and you don’t have any fault, sweetie, in case your pretty mind tells you it does, it wasn’t your fault, and I am sorry that you had to undergo everything, most importantly alone, you are not alone anymore”.

“You think that a hook-up means that much for me?” she didn’t want to sound so harsh, but there was no way in hell that they would end up living happily ever after together.

First of all, she was a mess.

Secondly, he was married to her sister.

“I just know that I am glad that we had that talk and that I really like you, (Y/N)”.

Again, with the blushing: she was used to hearing man say that they loved her, but it was never “her”, truly.

It was her body, her cunt, her legs…

Instead Trevor truly meant her.

“Let’s just make no expectation on the other” she simply mumbled, and Trevor nodded, brushing his hand against her thigh, before slowly raising up and finding her wet and aching for him.

“We are going to take things slow” he traced lazy and slow patterns, onto your barely covered core “… take all the time you need”.

And with this he was off: up and running for the swimming pool.

“I think that such a nice day should be celebrated” he mumbled, meanwhile he ran discarding all his clothes around, and she followed him smirking silly.

Meanwhile he jumped in the water, she quickly pushed herself onto the board of it, before she discarded her nightgown, as bare as him.

Offering him a chance to turn away.

He didn’t, he softly grabbed her by the waist and brought her in the water, much to her protests.

But she was happy for once.

---

Lately my fics have done extremely shittily so if you end up coming across this, and feel like it... PLEASE LEAVE AN HEART, A REBLOG, OR A COMMENT... I would truly apprecciate it!

@lovelylangdonx​ @blakewaterxx​ @ bonnieangelface @bish-ima-clown​ @ vrezra

[darkmindsotome]

Obey me! Oc + HC

Thanks to @lxvescramble​ for their post HERE and their fun suggestion I ended up playing around as well and this is what I came up with. Dollmaker link here

Darkmindsotome Masterlist

Obey Me OC : Andromeda (Andi) Mundi plus HC of how the brothers react / interact with them.

Andi actually quite likes her name but it was a little bit of a mouthful when people were trying to call her so it became shorter by necessity. You might ask why such a good little girl would require such consideration and be given a nickname as a requirement. Well, that is because naturally curious Andi also gets bored easily. Not really an issue until she decides to get up to mischief. You see a good girl, in this case, is just someone who hasn’t been caught yet. Andi is a master of avoiding reprimands in the human world but in Devildom? She is a child who adores chaos and you can bet if Lucifer finds his hands full keeping Mammon in check, then Andi is simply going to add to that headache. That being said she never actually does anything intentionally terrible; it is all small pranks to break up the peaceful boredom. She enjoys reading and playing games.

Reactions and Interactions with the new Human:

Mammon: First thought of her as a big pain in the ass. I mean this whole exchange thing seemed like a great idea and everything (Plus no one was going to say no to Diavolo). Spent the first few days avoiding her like she was infectious until he was ordered by Lucifer to figure out who had broken into her locker at RAD and put a bunch of snapdragons in it. (Snapdragons are a weed in Devildom and not only snap they bite and leave nasty burns). He figured out who had done it and beat them up. Now he thinks of her as another sibling and she is basically his cute and adorable Lil Sis. He melts when she gives him puppy eyes and begs him for things. She gave him a scarf as a gift looking adorable when she did because it suddenly occurred to her it wasn’t like Devildom is cold or anything. It is not his most prized possession. (Asmo tried to borrow it once and nearly lost his manicures). Mammon went from running away from, to running to the human quickly and gets hellishly protective.

Leviathan: This shut-in hardly noticed her, that was his story and he stuck to it for a whole week. She was quiet and such a normie, he actually couldn’t stop checking her out in a very awkward way. She looked completely lost in the library in RAD. She was trying to carry a stack of books that was nearly as big as she was. He couldn’t stop thinking it was so cute like something from an anime or manga. He caught the pile as it began to tip before she could even cry out and he blushed the minute they made eye contact. Finds out as much as he is a super fan she is actually really into some manga’s and things from the human world he hadn’t even heard of and agrees to swap copies of them with him. (This is definitely a trope right? Yeah, it’s a trope and the boy is living his dream right now). He overhears Lucifer offering to help her with studies and immediately goes to her room later that night to ask if he can help her instead. He finds out that she finds it hard to focus when there isn’t noise around her so he drags in some games and things into her room. If Andi wants noise and distractions in the background in order to work he can do that, in a very Levi way. He now plays all of his RPG 1st player shooters in her room while she studies. (Not that he is worried about what will happen if her grades slip or anything).

Asmodeus: Was overjoyed they got a girl living with them, even if it had meant a lecture from Lucifer about inappropriate behaviour and respectful distancing. He finally had someone to go on dates in town with that wasn’t going to complain about the 4hrs in Majolish where he was picking out dresses that all looked exactly the same. (There were differences in fabric, cut, stitching and each one accentuated a different part of his already perfect body, how could you not want to try them all?). From day one realised she hardly did anything with her own hair after washing and brushing. He felt it his duty to inform her of all the beauty rituals he could which was met with about as much enthusiasm from Andi as red-hot needles in the eyes. She relented seeing how happy it made him promising to at least let him do her hair and nails for her sometimes. When it’s the weekends he tracks her down and sits behind her playing with her hair. It really was such fun having a girl in the house.

Beelzebub: You know this boy loves family and takes to her in a heartbeat. He listens to Andi talk about life in the human world, her life in foster care and finds it all amazing. (There are humans who take in other humans children to provide care and shelter for them until they are old enough to survive alone?) She's so small though he is worried he'll crush her, and he has to stop himself from hugging her several times when she makes him very happy handing him snacks in class. He really wants to show her he appreciates her thoughtfulness and never finds the chance to repay her kindness. After she screamed at a spider on their walk home from RAD Andi threw herself so hard into his arms they both landed on the floor in a heap. Yes she was small and a human but dammit this was now his human and he would protect her from every creepy crawly in Devildom (There is a lot of them).

Belphegor: So these two didn’t have the warmest of first encounters. During one of his searches for a good place to nap, he wandered into Andi’s room and caught her changing clothes. There was a lot of screaming and he was hit in the face with several plushies and a shoe. (Andi wrapped a towel around herself and came out into the hallway to retrieve her shoe just as the rest of the brothers appeared. That was one hell of a day). His uncertainty of her faded a little after she apologised for attacking him. She had spoken to the others and heard about his sleep habits and prepared a few sleep aid gifts from the human world. (The wheat bag cow cuddle buddy is his fave). One night after dinner she grabbed his blanket and did a disappearing trick on him. It took him half an hour to find her and when he did she was curled up in his bed. He now curls up near her, not because he wants to always nap with her but because he is now afraid she will vanish on him.

Satan: Nose in a book always. Humans don't interest him that much as a whole but when this one arrived; she had several big thick novels he had never seen before. For a while, he had forgotten them as Andi was more focused on settling in than reading but he noticed her one night in the library in the house of lamentation and remembered them. He thought he would be sneaky and tried to position himself near her so he could read his book and attempt to sneak a peek over her shoulder at her books. Andi noticed and as much as Satan tried to deny his actions he was happy when she offered to share with him. They now have their own book club where they swap books and then meet up to have tea and cake and talk about them. (It’s a peaceful time he wouldn’t miss for the world).

Lucifer: Finds her to be a pain at times or more precisely an annoying distraction. When they first met, he made the assumption that she was simply a very sweet little human girl, a good girl. So when he found someone had put itching powder in his dress shirts and wet sponges in the toes of his slippers there was no way he thought it was her. (Not that punishing Mammon was something that was never a requirement but he did feel a little bad for doing it without reason). He has taken to watching her more closely as he clearly cannot take his eyes off her for more than a few hours before discovering she has found a way to convert her boredom into chaos. Nothing that she has ever done has been more than a minor inconvenience, to be honest, if this was the best the human world could offer then he could take it easily in stride. She has a cute apologetic look on her face that turns him to jelly, so it actually makes harsh punishments difficult to issue. (He simply cannot allow the others to see that sinfully adorable face). He has to work hard not to reveal the smile on his face as something other than sadistic when he hands her the mop and broom so she can scrub all the floors in the house as punishment.

"How come the human gets that and I get strung up from the ceiling upside down?" - Mammon "

"She's human they are delicate. Besides if he hung her upside down her skirt was fall over her ears and even Lucifer isn't that crude." - Levi

Diavolo: Let’s face it this Lord of Mischief adores the unpredictability of her. He has heard all the pranks she has pulled with the brothers and was only sad he was unable to get a front-row seat to the events. Of all the exchange students he is over the moon she was chosen as one of them, he now had another partner in crime. He laughed his crown off during an official dinner when one of the attending demons asked her a question that clearly made her feel very uncomfortable. Her wordplay was one of the things that had interested him from the start. When she is uneasy she deals with it by making sure the situation is as difficult for everyone else as possible too. (It's rather amusing to see the unflappable Barb and Lucifer getting flustered).

Barbatos: Found her one day during grocery shopping and took pity on her as she tried to figure out the difference between dried petrified hellshrooms and fresh. Devildom had a wide range of food available to purchase, it was one of the things Lord Diavolo insisted on before the exchange. So he found it strange that she should be trying to use ingredients that weren’t human. When she explained she was in charge of cooking dinner but she was a terrible cook he smiled and offered to help. (How bad could she really be?) He quickly discovered the girl can turn any food into a weapon and after nearly destroying the castle kitchen decided to tell her he would personally deliver food to the house on the days she was meant to cook. All she had to do was put it on plates and serve it.