#...as I said previously - I Will continue drawing these and I Am taking suggestions on who to draw next.

[chiropteracupola]

Patience and curiosity, as you learn about each other.

[stephen maturin, requested by @dxppercxdxver]

[holiday-in-eorzea]

Signing Up

Ul’dah was an imposing city, built to last. Not as defensible as Arashin, I noticed. The architecture reminded me more of the sprawling city of Ravnica, but designed to draw your eye in particular directions; chief of which being the centre spired building I would have to imagine was the Sultana’s palace. There’s a bit of Orzhov taste to it. As I took in the expansive surrounds, a man’s voice called out.

“Oi, ‘venturer! Over here!”

I turned to see a man dressed in dark shades, though the material looked light and thin; ideal for the heat of the day.

“Me?” I replied, pointing to myself.

“Aye, I mean you. Fresh off the carriage, by any chance?”

I was shocked that I could be so easily found out. I must have let something show in my expression though, as he continued heedless. “Name’s Wymond, an’ my business is knowin’ every bugger else’s! An' I ain’t seen you ‘round before. Therefore, you’re new!”

I was shocked at how easily I seemed to have already revealed my cover, but before I could respond, the man, Wymond, kept talking.

“What if I was to offer you some invaluable advice by way of welcome to our fair city? Free of charge even! Just this once though.” He said with a wry grin.

“It depends on the advice.” I replied carefully, my hand gesturing towards the hilt of the sword at my hip. I needed to watch myself until I found out more about my situation.

Wymond held up his hands defensively, suggesting he meant no harm. “Anyone with eyes can tell you don’t know your way ‘round here. An’ if I let you go on like that, you’re liable to get mugged in some dark alley or worse, an’ I don’t want that on my conscience.”

He turned and gestured with a nod towards a building with banners at the front. “You’d best be headin’ to The Quicksand, and speak with Momodi. She runs the Adventurer’s Guild, an’ can set you on the right path.”

I nodded. “That sounds fair. Thank you.”

“Nah, just doin’ the decent thing. But that’s all you’re gettin’ for free, mind.” He said with a wink that was hard to see behind his darkened lenses. “Quick word in your shell-like though;  that accent you have? I can’t place it, and I reckon I’ve heard most all of ‘em. So try as to stay out of trouble if it’s lookin’ for you. We don’t get a lot of unknown sorts all that often, and there may be other buggers ‘round who’d take that as a sign of an easy mark. So keep an eye.”

I hadn’t considered that; it rarely, if ever, had come up in my travels. “Thank you, I will.” I waved a quick goodbye and headed towards the building.

The Quicksand revealed itself to be a tavern with a common room, with upstairs areas for accommodation. Despite the hour, the common room was busy; I supposed people seeking to escape the heat. Behind the counter at the far side of the room, a young girl stood on a stool in order to see over the counter to survey the room, a heavy book placed in front of her. There were a couple of others behind the counter at other points around the room, but overhearing conversation indicated they were looking after the accommodations of patrons and taking orders for meals. As I approached, I quickly corrected my initial thought, as the “young girl” turned out to be a short, though otherwise adult-proportioned woman with similarly pointed ears to the carriage driver I had previously seen. They could be relatives of the Kithkin I had encountered on Lorwyn. The woman noticed my approach, and smiled.

“Why, hello there! Who might you be? If you’re lookin’ to join the Adventurer’s Guild, you’ve come to the right place.”

“Are you Momodi?” I asked.

“Sure am! And I own this fine establishment, if it pleases you. I also happen to manage the Adventurer’s Guild here in Ul’dah. So you might say that lookin’ after green adventurers like yourself is my vocation.” She swept her hand in a presentational fashion; a knowingly false modesty about her as she continued.

“And lucky for you that it is. Without someone like me to steer you right, you’d soon find yourself out in the middle of nowhere, caught up in business you don’t understand!”

I caught myself before protesting. While I technically had over a thousand years of traveling the multiverse and adventurous tales under my belt, she had a point; more often than not, I found myself drawn into situations without context and understanding. Mostly due to the nature of my being, of course, but not exclusively.

“You may be right about that, Madam Momodi.” I replied with a small, self-deprecating laugh.

“Just Momodi is fine, I’m not nearly old enough to be called ‘madam’ just yet!” Her mouth was smiling, but her eyes sharpened at the remark. “Between the Amal’jaa tousling with the Sultanate, the Garlean Empire plotting something, and all the regular folk just getting by, there’s a lingerin’ air of worry and loss.” She gave a small resigned laugh, shaking her head slightly before continuing. “And little wonder. It’s scarce been five years since the lesser moon cracked open like a giant egg, releasin’ an abomination intent on turnin’ the realm into an eighth hell....”

“Sorry, what?! The moon... broke?” I was shocked, but my exclamation didn’t stop Momodi from continuing, lost in a memory.

“So much was lost in the blink of an eye. ‘Twas like the end of the world had come at last. But then things begin to get foggy. Everyone’s got their own version of what happened next -- some of ‘em, two or three...” Momodi gave a start, as if remembering I was there.

“You’d think people would remember somethin’ like that -- but the fact is, they don’t. Nobody does.”

“How is that possible?”

“Don’t rightly know. But there is one thing the survivors agree on though: the part played by a band of adventurers who laid down their lives for a realm that wasn’t their own. They fought valiantly, and like so many others, they never returned. Deeds worth rememberin’, I’m sure you’ll agree. It’s just a shame our recollections of those brave heroes are as jumbled as those of the Calamity itself.” I could hear the emphasis placed on the word “calamity”, a signifier of importance, much like when I learned of the Mending that had affected the entire multiverse.

“Whenever we try to call their faces to mind, it's like they're standin’ between us and the midday sun, permanently silhouetted… I'll bet that sounds poetic to you doesn't it? Well it's not. It's bloody infuriatin’.” She gave a small grimace, almost as if the memory, or lack thereof hurt her.

“But even if we can't remember them, we’ll not let ‘em be forgotten, and so we call ‘em the Warriors of Light. And they’ll forever stand as a shinin’ example of what adventurers can achieve. That's why I welcome new arrivals like yourself to our fair city.” Momodi made a sweeping gesture with her hand. “All I ask is that you lend a helpin’ hand, and try to leave Ul’dah in a better state than you found her. If you can promise that, I’d be happy to let you join the guild.”

I nodded solemnly. “I think I can handle that.”

Momodi nodded along with me, as if she were expecting that answer.

“All right, then! A promise is a promise, now! I'm counting on your help to put the past behind us. We need people workin’ and spendin’ and bickerin’ like the old days! And a happy and prosperous Ul’dah means more business for the Quicksand, too! Anyroad, let's make this official.”

She placed an ink pen in the centre of the ledger then slid it towards me on the counter.

“Go ahead and write your name in the register – neat as you can.”

A brief moment of worry crossed my mind; would they even use the same script as I'd learnt? Nothing for it but to try, I thought. I took the ink pen in my hand and made my name out as best as I could. Momodi quickly took the book and pen back before looking at it.

“...Liya al-Amundi. Well that ain't that a charmin’ name. Just rolls off the tongue, it does. Though your handwritin’ isn't anythin’ I've seen before. Where did you say you came from again?”

“I didn't,” I said. “I just came into town.” I tried to swallow my nerves.

Momodi gave me a little wink; like she’d dealt with this type of business before, and knew better to ask too many questions.

“I suppose it's no business of mine. Alright, Miss al-Amundi! On behalf of the Adventurers’ Guild, I officially –”

She was cut off by a cry from behind. We both turned to look as a man was being pushed around by a group of people; two human-sized, one smaller.

“Please, sir, be merciful! Twelve as my witness, I swear to you, I'll bring you your money!” He was shoved to the ground before he could make it much for the protest. 

“In the East, it is said that even a merciful God might be driven to vengeance if thrice blasphemed. Be grateful you were given a fourth chance to offend. You two, attend to this scum.” The small man gestured to what I assumed were his bodyguards, or more likely, enforcers. 

The man lowered his head to the ground again.

“No, please! Mercy!” he cried.

Momodi shrugged. “Well, ain't that a sorry sight. Nor an uncommon one, if I'm honest. Don't worry, though - if you work hard, I doubt you'll end up like him. Just the same, if you ever need a bit of advice about one thing or another, pay me a visit. Just don't go botherin' me every time you stub your bloody toe, all right?”

She blushed and mocked fanning her face. “'Course I do enjoy hearing a lady muse on the many manhoods of her acquaintance from time to time...” “Anyroad, welcome to Ul'dah, Liya! Take a moment to catch your breath and I'll teach you a little about our fair city.”

“I might just take you up on that offer” I said, my cheeks reddening. “Though, maybe not that other one in particular.” Suddenly, I realised how dry my throat was from the conversation. “Actually, might I trouble you for a cup of water, or some other refreshment? I'm a little tired from the road.”

“Of course! Here, on the house.” Momodi pulled a pitcher from the bar behind her, and poured a clay mug of clear liquid before handing it over. “Just this once, mind. Ul'dah isn't a city where you can expect somethin' for nothin', you know.” The water was crisp and cool; I wondered how they managed to keep it in such a state, considering the environment. Momodi put a finger thoughtfully to her lips before continuing. “Before you go chargin' off to find your fortune, I've a few basic tasks I'd like you to perform so as to help you get to know the place.” She held up one finger. “First of all, I want you to visit the aetheryte plaza. To get there, head west from here 'til you reach Emerald Avenue, then look to the north. You should see a giant, floatin' crystal called an aetheryte. If it weren't for aetherytes, travellin' around Eorzea would be a damn sight more troublesome than it is. 'Course, you still need to attune with 'em before you can use 'em, so be sure to do that with the one in the plaza. You ever attune with an aetheryte before, Liya? If not, just lay your hand on the thing and you'll see what I mean.” So, this plane must be called Eorzea, I thought to myself. Momodi continued on with her instruction, holding up a second finger.

“When you've done that, I want you to pay a visit to the Gladiators' Guild over at the Coliseum.” She pointed at the blade at my hip. “Assumin' that sword ain't just for show, you might consider trainin' there.” Third finger in the air. “And finally, I want you to visit the Sapphire Avenue Exchange, over on the Steps of Thal. Goods from all over Eorzea and beyond turn up there every day. You'll have no trouble findin' armour, weapons, or anythin' else a fledglin' adventurer like yourself might need. You might say that everythin's is for sale here in Ul'dah - as long as you've got the gil. Just make sure as you don't pay more than you ought, Liya. There's plenty as won't scruple to swindle unsuspectin' foreigners like yourself, 'specially if they think no one's lookin' out for their best interests.” She pulled an envelope from her pocket “Which is why I'm givin' you this letter. When you visit the exchange, find a gentleman named Seseroga and give it to him. He'll be happy to tell you about the markets once he's read it.” Momodi ticked off the three fingers on her hand. “In short, then; visit the plaza, the Gladiators' Guild, and the Sapphire Avenue Exchange.” Momodi nodded at that. “Simple.”

She paused for a moment. “Oh, but before you go, a word of advice: while there're more than a few unsavoury characters out there who'll try to take advantage of you, there are also some there are also some with honest-to-goodness problems you should consider offerin' a helpin' hand to. A lot of folk are lured to this city by the promise of wealth and power. What many of them fail to realise that instead of chasin' after gil the moment they get here, they ought to be makin' friends.” I nodded. I had been all too familiar with the plight of the downtrodden across the Multiverse, and those in a similar situation.

“Let it be known that you're willin' to give as much as you get, and opportunities will come your way.” Momodi looked over to the right, leaning on the bar and straining to point across a comparatively vast expanse. She pointed out a gentleman dressed in a green tunic. “Speakin' of which, you should speak with the Smith over yonder - those lads always have some good advice for up-and-comin' adventurers. Otherwise, that's about it from me. It's past time you got goin'. Oh, and let me know when you've finished, will you? That way, I won't spend my days worryin' that you're down to your smallclothes without a gil to your name.”

The man in green, the Smith, I supposed, noticed we were looking at and talking about him, so he glanced in our direction and gave a small wave, acknowledging that he had been a subject of our conversation.

I turned to leave.

“Actually, hang on a second.” Momodi stopped me.

“What is it? I asked.

“Just quickly, for my own curiosity: what am I?”

I was confused. “Pardon?”

She repeated herself, staring a hole through me. “What am I?”

I was flustered; I couldn't think of what to say. Momodi nodded to herself.

“I thought as much. The way you reacted about hearin' about the Calamity indicated that you might not be from a place as was familiar with the local customs.”

I blushed, knowing the truth of the situation but unwilling to explain at the moment.

She reached under the counter. “Now, normally I wouldn't do this for just about anyone, but you seem to be a special case - so here.” She handed over a black slate about the size of a dinner plate. With a touch of her finger, it lit up.

“This here is called a tomestone. With that, you'll be able to see information about a great deal of many things, as long as you’re pointed at what you want to know about and have the time to do so. I wouldn't recommend just standin' out in the middle of a fight, tryin' to learn everythin', for example. So as you can get familiar with it, I'm givin' you permission, just this once - try it on me. Normal folk won’t take as kindly to you knowin’ their business so easily - if they know you’re doin’ it.”

I reached out and took the device. It was lighter than I had expected, and given the apparent fragility of it, I feared it might break the instant I touched it, but it lit up but my touch, like it did for her.

“So how do I...?”

She pointed out a small picture on the plate.

“This icon is your information scanner. Point the flat side towards me, and push this button.”

I did so and suddenly a stream of information appeared on the device. Words appeared: “Momodi Modi, Quickstand Proprietress – Lalafell, Dunesfolk”, as well as some other details that I had no context for, but nothing too compromising.

“Oh, is this what you mean?” I asked, turning the information towards her.

“Yep, that's right! Now you see this? The word Lalafell?”

“Yes?”

“That's me. My kin and I are called Lalafell, and you may be gettin' into trouble if you call us anything else,” she said with a bit of a dark glare, as if remembering something with a bad taste. “So make sure you remember it, an' try to learn more about the city and its populace before you go puttin' your foot in your mouth out of ignorance.”

I swallowed hard and nodded. “I will endeavour to do so. Thank you, M-” I stumbled, remembering that she didn't like to be called Madam. “Momodi.”

“You just make yourself worthy of this gift, and when you're rich and famous, make sure to come back and spend lots of money here!”

I turned once more to leave the relative cool temperatures and sanctuary of the Quicksand.

[frosinapopovskigrad701]

Prototype session and feedback session wk11.2

Today we had a prototype and feedback session in class. I got to present my work to 4 other students and get some feedback. I was also able to get some feedback from Fiona when she came to join in the group session. 

For the feedback we worked on doing SWOT analysis and looking at the strengths and the weaknesses. The opportunities and the threats that they had indicated while I was presenting my work. 

Reporting back from my feedback and the SWOT:

For my strength the group had said that there is a good style all the way through but that there is also 2 different style and that you can see that. There is some strong points and a very strong idea and concept. They loved the idea of the transparent paper and think that it works super well and it reflects back on the idea of being transparent. They also spoke on the idea of how they think it will be good to do two different publications but then have them still work together. So one being the options one that talks all about it and then the other one will be the back story and the history of it all. They also said to continue working on the option spreads and the girls said they would’ve loved this back in the day so they know what it is and what their options are. They also suggested on style you have going on with the option spreads with the informative historical style in there. Look at trying out the natural name that we all call it bigger and the scientific name smaller. Play around the the hierarchy of this and make sure you want their eye draw to the name that we typically know it by. And could play around more on the scientifically stamp idea more and more. They said that I needed to work on my aligned a bit more. Some of the headers are left aligned and some are right aligned make sure that there is some consistency here and it all works out good and looks cohesive. The informative are look a bit cooperate make sure that it fits with the vibe of the other this could be like adding the illustration, the little quirks, and the colour of the pink. There also seems to be a lot of vibes going on make sure it all fits and works well together. Make sure they speak to each other. Some ideas that i could that are opportunities that I can take are having THE GUIDE in normal text and then have WE in normal text but have WOMEN over the top of it in the red hand written the top of it and then have NEVER GOT in the normal font used previously. Could look at doing it like a scarp-book, diary vibe for it and could play around with the playfulness of this and could link back to the spread with the social media stuff and could keep this style going. And could bring this in for the informative/history spreads as well. This could be an opportunity to give to girls in high school. Maybe the contraceptive on the red card might not be broken up, could play around with this. Also add a section about abortions. Have it chaotic but clean vibe. Have the informative part like kinda powerful and angry. Could look at doing a similar typeface to the sex pistols style they have and could play on this option - could fit the social media part. And also has that playful style to it. A threat is that there could be things similar but if done well and right could be very powerful. 

Feedforward:

Now from this feedback I am going to work on make both of the ideas to work together and figure out a system and have them compliment and marry each-other. Rather than clash with one another and not work. And looking at my type and how it works make sure it’s works well as well as looking at playing around with front cover with the suggestion that Fiona gave. Making sure that there isn’t too many vibes and that they all work well and all fit well together. 

[neozmark]

remember me / mark (teaser)

pair: spiderman!mark x reader

genre: spiderman au, fluff, angst, suggestive

words: 0.5k (teaser) 

warnings (in the full fic): cursing, kissing, violence (might add more)

synopsis: after asking to doctor strange for everyone to forget that mark lee is spiderman in order to solve the problem in the multiverse, mark will continue to live his life quietly without even knowing he exists. not until he walked into the cafe where you work and saw you laughing with your friend, hoping to see you again as he promised. will he still be able to reach out to you?

note: HELLO !! this part is somehow really like from no way home but the other parts in the fic will not be really based on the MCU cause ofc idk what happens next LOL and let me remind u that you won’t understand this if u haven't watched no way home! but if u still want to read this, go on! btw the pic i used is from twitter. its not mine hehe. lmk if u want me to tag u in the full fic of this. thank you! <33

—

It was chaos. After Mark Lee's identity was discovered, he requested Doctor Strange's help in making everyone forget who he was. Even interrupting Strange's spell to exclude his family, friends, and, of course, his girlfriend. Strange decided to discontinue the spell and lock it away since it got unstable while he was doing it.

While Strange did not completely cast the spell, instead of making people forget who Mark Lee was, it began to draw others from parallel realities who knew Spiderman's identity. Mark recognized that the only way to rectify this was to keep casting the magic and made everyone forget who he was.

Before casting the spell, Doctor Strange says farewell to his closest friend, Haechan, and his love, you, saying, “I’m going to come find you and I’ll explain everything. I’ll make you remember me,” Mark says, and those are the words he recalls. After all of that, he promises to find them both.

Mark remembers what you last said to him. “I love you,” you said as Mark grinned, tears in his eyes, and flew away with the web-shooters. Doctor Strange's spell has come to an end.

Mark finds himself in front of the cafe where you work. He noticed you laughing and working joyfully. You waved as he walked inside the cafe. Mark noticed you waving at Haechan, who was standing behind him. Haechan approached you while passing Mark, who is currently watching you two converse.

“Haechan, wait,” you murmured as you approached Mark.

“May I help you?” you inquired, smiling at him.

“Uh, my name is Mark Lee—” Mark paused, unsure whether he should say anything further, “and may I have a coffee?”

“Oh, sure, Mark Lee,” you said, smiling as you often do with your customers. You went to chat to Haechan again while making Mark's coffee. You're both talking about finally going to MIT, a well-known institute.

“Mark Lee? Mark Lee,” you said after you delivered him his ordered coffee. “Your coffee,” you said as he looked on from a distance. 

“Right, thank you.”

“Are you excited for MIT?” Mark abruptly spoke, which perplexes you. He must have overheard you and Haechan talking.

“Uh, yeah, right,” you paused, “Yeah, actually, I am excited which is weird ‘cause I don't really get excited about things. I kind of expect disappointment —"

“‘Cause then you'll never actually be disappointed. Right?” Mark broke in.

You had a flicker of deja vu. This seems to have occurred to you previously. But you already told Mark that, and he'll never forget it.

“Is there anything else?” you asked.

“No,” Mark said, smiling. “Thank you,” he says as he takes his coffee in his hand.

“No problem,” you said.

“I’ll see you around,” Mark says as he looks at you and Haechan.

Mark left delighted that he had chatted to you, but his heart aches to embrace and kiss you. He can't do it this time since he still needs to figure out how to recover their memories.

—

[lostinthewiind]

Piss Off Your Parents - Part 4

Ukai Keishin - Haikyuu

Synopsis: freshly turned 18, you want to prove to your parents that you aren’t a child for them to push around anymore. First, get a job at the local corner store. Second, use the store owner’s 26-year-old son with piercings and a cigarette addiction to piss your parents off. Third, accidentally fall in love.

Rating: Mature

Warnings: mentions sexual experiences of reader before she was of age, discussion about sex lives, flirting, touching 

Song → 18 by Anarbor

Previous →Part 3

Next →Part 5

Head resting in your hand and elbow resting on the counter, you huffed, still not used to the heat that accumulated in the store throughout the day and praying for just one customer to walk through the door so you could experience a refreshing blast of evening air. You supposed you could go outside yourself to cool off a little, like Keishin had previously suggested in lieu of sticking your head in one of the fridges, but being the only person at the store currently, you felt a little bad about leaving the building, even if it was just to step out front.

You were still trying your best to put on a good impression for Mrs. Sakanoshita—despite the rough first impression you had made on her son—and you knew the family store was precious, so you decided to suck it up for the remainder of your shift.

Without much to do, since you had completed your chores early, you remained seated at the front counter, bored out of your mind. That was, until your prayers were answered and you heard the front doors slide open.

“Hello!” you greeted happily, ready to welcome a customer. Your radiant excitement faded when you noticed it was just Keishin, however, and went back to slumping on the counter. “Oh, it’s just you.”

“Wow, those rapid mood changes must be why we’ve been so busy lately,” Keishin shot back at you, a cigarette hanging from his mouth like usual. “Will the girl behind the counter smile or frown at you? Maybe it’ll be both. Oh, how exciting!”

“Can it, dye job,” you grumbled.

Keishin feigned hurt, his hand resting over his chest dramatically as he pretended to have been shot. “Words hurt, you know. You’ve hurt me.”

“That doesn’t matter,” you told him, lazily gesturing around the empty store. “What does matter is that we’ve been dead for hours and I’m bored.”

Keishin poked his bottom lip out and faked a pout. “Awh, poor baby. Is getting paid to sit there and do nothing hard work? You must be exhausted. Poor thing.”

“I don’t get paid nearly enough to put up with you.” You reached across the counter to lightly smack his shoulder but he jumped out of the way just in time. “Seriously though, stay and entertain me for a while.”

“If you’re that bored, why don’t you dust the vents or something?”

You laid your head down on the counter and exhaled slowly for effect. “You know I aim to please but that sounds like hell. Can’t you just talk to me for like ten minutes? Tell me about your day or something.”

Keishin threw his head back and groaned loudly. “But I’m too hungry to think about anything other than food right now.”

“I’m hungry too but you don’t see me complaining about it.”

“No, you’re just complaining about everything else.” He leaned against the other side of the counter, his tongue flicking against the tip of his cigarette as he thought. “Actually, I’ve got a better idea.”

You glanced up at him, waiting for him to elaborate. “I doubt it but proceed.”

Done with your constant back talk, which was extremely common between the two of you ever since you had worked out your differences and agreed to the deal he had suggested, he took a drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke directly into your face. “Just shut up and listen, will you?”

You coughed when you accidentally inhaled the second-hand smoke. “If I get cancer and die, I’m haunting you.”

“Go ahead.” He didn’t pay any attention to the words leaving your mouth as he headed into the back room and shut off the store lights. Then, with his own set of keys in hand, he headed back toward the front of the store. “Come on.” He looked back at you expectantly when you didn’t immediately follow.

Confused, you slowly stepped around from the back of the counter. “Where are we going?”

“We’re closing up early and going to get something to eat.”

You narrowed your eyes at him, half of you wondering if this was some sort of employee test to see how responsible you were. “Are we allowed to do that?”

“I am, you aren’t,” Keishin said, beckoning you over to him. “But let’s just keep this between you and I, yeah? What my mom doesn’t know won’t hurt her. Besides, it’s slow anyway.”

Taking off your white apron and grabbing your things, you reluctantly followed the older man out of the store and watched as he locked up behind the two of you. Anxiously, you shifted your weight from foot to foot. “Are you sure I won’t get in trouble for this?”

“I promise I won’t tell on you,” Keishin assured you as he stuffed the keys back into his pocket and dropped his cigarette bud to the ground before crushing it with his foot. “Let’s go. I’m starving.”

Falling into pace beside Keishin as the two of you set off down the sidewalk, you following his lead, you weren’t sure exactly sure what to say or even if you should say something. Never before had you and Keishin existed outside of the store together and it felt a little awkward. 

“So . . . is this like a date or something?” You regretted the words as soon as they left your mouth. What you had meant to come across as a casual inquiry ended up sounding more like a desperate girl clarifying what she meant to the boy she liked. You sounded like a child.

The corners of Keishin’s mouth curled upward and he shrugged. “Call it whatever you want.” He really didn’t seem to care one way or another. “Although, I’d be a horrible boyfriend if I didn’t take you out at least once . . . fake or not.”

You nearly choked on your spit at the use of the word ‘boyfriend’. Even though you had been pretending to date him for the purposes of changing your parents’ ideals for the past few weeks, you were still caught off guard every time Keishin referred to himself as your boyfriend—even though he was usually doing it to mock you. 

“Yeah, just awful,” you agreed halfheartedly. “Where are we going anyway?”

“This little place that I like,” he said, his answer extremely vague until he continued. “Best ramen I’ve ever had.”

After a few more minutes of walking, the two of you arrived at the place Keishin was talking about and he ordered two take-out bowls and paid for them both, insisting that you should try his regular order since you had never been there before. Not wanting to disagree because he was footing the bill, you let him do what he wanted and tailed him out to a picnic table outside like an obedient puppy. 

“It’s much too hot to eat inside,” Keishin reasoned as he plopped down on the opposite side of the picnic table from you. “Plus, it’s nice outside. Might as well enjoy the weather while it lasts, right?”

“Right.” You nodded.

While Keishin dug right into his meal, you sat still, hands in your lap, and watched him. One thing you had quickly come to realize was that Keishin was the perfect specimen for people watching, and not just because he was relatively easy on the eyes. He was an interesting person; for example, how he tucked half-smoked cigarettes behind his ear to smoke later or how he always wore a headband to keep his hair out of his face but vehemently refused to just cut his damn hair. 

Even though you bugged him about cutting his hair all the time, you secretly hoped he would continue to stand his ground and refuse because you wanted to see what he looked like with his hair down. You also wanted to run your hands through his hair—it looked soft and fluffy—but that was besides the point.

“Hey, it’s gonna get cold,” Keishin snapped you out of your thoughts, his mouth half full of ramen as he jabbed his chopsticks in your direction. “Don’t tell me you don’t like ramen. You should have said something before I ordered for both of us.”

Snapping out of your daze, you picked up your chopsticks and shook your head. “No, I like ramen.” You took a bite to prove your point. “Sorry, I was just lost in thought.”

Keishin waited for you to eat a little more before digging for your consensus. “Good, right?”

“Yeah, really good,” you agreed. “I always walk past this place but I’ve never gone inside.”

“I was the same way. It doesn’t really catch your eye, so unless you’re looking for it, it’s easy to miss,” he said. “Then one day my grandpa took me here for my birthday and I’ve been coming ever since.”

You snickered. “Popular date spot then?”

Keishin cocked a brow. “What?”

“I mean, if you come here a lot, I’m sure it’s a go-to for dates,” you continued. “It even comes with a wholesome story about how your grandpa introduced you to it. Ultimate chick magnet.”

Keishin just rolled his eyes at you. “You know, contrary to popular belief, most girls don’t like it when you take them out to eat cheap ramen on a picnic table that’s falling apart.”

You chuckled. “I wasn’t going to say anything about the table, but I’m pretty sure I have at least ten splinters in my ass by now.”

“Yeah, this thing is torture. So eat fast and then we’ll move to the park across the street or something.”

Shoveling the rest of your food into your mouth, you ate fast while Keishin stared you down, every second that passed introducing your butt to a new world of pain. As soon as you were done, Keishin took both of your take-out bowls and tossed them into a nearby trashcan.

“Well, sucks for all those other girls then, because that ramen really is amazing,” you said when Keishin returned, the two of you crossing the street and heading into the park. 

“Told you.” Keishin smiled. “I’m glad you liked it.”

Once in the park, which was empty considering it was dark out and most kids were in bed by then, the two of you picked a nearby bench that wasn’t splintering and took a seat. 

Drawing your knees up to your chest, you wrapped your arms around your legs and sighed. “Thanks for dinner.”

“Yeah, no problem.” He let his head fall back and looked up at the night sky. “Damn, I could really go for an ice cold beer right now.”

“Well, we could start heading back now if you want,” you suggested. “The beers at the store are extra chilly since I didn’t stick my head in the fridges to cool off today, despite how sweltering it was.”

Keishin laughed. “Well, thank you for that,” he drew in a deep breath and relaxed into the bench, deciding whether to get up or not. “Let’s stay here for a while longer though.”

“Okay.”

Silence fell over the two of you as you stared up at the sky and listened to the sounds of Miyagi in the evening. You tried to remember the last time you had gone out like this—just going wherever you wanted and doing whatever you wanted. You couldn’t recall the last time . . . or even if there was a last time.

Tilting your head to look at Keishin, you smiled at the sight of him sitting with his eyes closed, arms crossed behind his head and head lolled back. He looked happy, almost as peaceful as he did when he was sleeping.

“Hey,” you whispered.

Keishin cracked an eye open to look at you. “Hmm?”

“Thanks for tonight.” You breathed in the scent of the night air and a feeling of content washed over you. “As you’ve probably already figured out, I don’t really have any friends. I don’t get to go out like this very often . . . or ever, really.”

“You don’t need to thank me. It’s what boyfriends are for, right?”

You giggled. “Well, considering you’re not my real boyfriend, I think a ‘thank you’ is in order.”

“Well, you’re welcome,” he caved. “Speaking of fake boyfriends, how’s it going with your parents?”

You let out a frustrated moan. “Oh, about as well as expected. When I mentioned I was seeing someone they bombarded me with a million questions, none of which were answered to their satisfaction.”

Keishin cringed. “So I’m that bad, huh?”

You scoffed. “If you think that’s bad, you should have seen their faces when I showed them a photo of you.”

Keishin let out a laugh. “Don’t tell me they weren’t fans of the piercings?”

“Oh, they weren’t fans of anything,” you said. “I think the only positive thing they could say about you was that you had a pulse . . . no offense.”

“Eh, no worries. At least they didn’t call me a burnout . . . then I would have started crying.”

“Hey!” You smacked at his shoulder again, managing to hit your target this time. “I said I was sorry.”

“Sorry doesn’t pay for my therapy.”

“Yeah, well, if you need therapy I doubt I’m the biggest reason.”

“You really are so cruel to me. Do your parents know you facilitate abusive relationships?”

You closed your eyes and shook your head. “That insinuates I’ve had past relationships, or any real ones.”

Keishin craned his neck to look at you, eyes wide. “Wait, you’ve never been in a relationship before? Like never?”

“Nope. I don’t even have any friends, so what makes you think anyone wants to date the boring girl with the crazy parents?”

Keishin looked at you like you were some wounded animal he had just found on the side of the road. You could see in his eyes he was slowly coming to terms with just how isolating your life was. You could tell he felt bad, but the last thing you wanted was his sympathy.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that,” you told him. “I’m not completely pathetic, okay? I still went through my experimental phase like most teenagers do. I just had to be very sneaky about it.”

“Sneaky?”

“You know, back of a car, other people’s houses when their parents were gone. As far as my parents know, I’m untainted . . . a precious, naive virgin. I’m just not very experienced.”

“I can imagine.” Keishin was a little thrown by the direction the conversation had taken, but you were both adults and he would be lying if he said he wasn’t a little curious, so he just rolled with it. “High school boys aren’t exactly known for being great in bed.”

The two of you let out a shared laugh at that. “You got that right,” you agreed. 

“So, wait, no relationships but you’ve had sex? So you’ve never been with someone you have a genuine connection with?”

You eyed Keishin, perplexed by the sudden sincerity in his words. “You didn’t peg me as someone who cares about that kind of stuff.”

“I mean, I’ve had my fair share of one night stands, sure, but I’m not completely heartless,” he said, the eye contact he was using while he spoke sending a chill down your spine. “It’s completely different when it’s someone you care about. The experience is something everyone should have at least once in their lives.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a genuine connection with anyone before,” you confessed, unsure why you were spilling some of your deepest secrets in public, on a park bench, to a man you had only known for a couple of months. “It’s kind of hard when everyone is held at an arm’s length away.”

Without warning, Keishin shifted closer to you and placed his hand on your face, the pad of his thumb ghosting over your bottom lip. “I . . . I don’t know what to say,” he breathed.

“It’s not sad, not for me at least. You can’t miss something you’ve never had,” you spoke softly, worried you might scare him away if your voice was too loud or if you made any sudden movements. “No best friends, no boyfriends. Just me, my parents, and everyone else.”

Keishin looked like he wanted to say something; in fact, he looked like he wanted to say a lot of things, but despite this, he remained silent. Maybe he was worried about offending you, or maybe he was finally understanding just how different you were from other people. Maybe he didn’t like different. 

“But now there’s you.” You flashed a small smile, hoping to draw him out of whatever mess was going on inside of his head. “I’ve never met someone like you before.”

“Someone like me?” he finally spoke.

You nodded as you placed your hand over the one he was resting on your cheek and held it. “I’m not your responsibility and yet you’re going out of your way to help me. Not to mention I don’t even deserve your help. You are the first truly selflessly kind person I’ve ever met. Thank you.”

“What if I’m not as kind as you think I am?” His hands found their way to your waist and he pulled you into his lap so you were straddling him. “What will you do then?”

“That depends on what you’re planning on doing.”

Hands running up your sides, Keishin dug his finger tips into your skin as you lowered your head toward his, mouths inches apart. “What if I took you home, laid you down, and took care of you like a boyfriend should?” You could feel his hot breath on your face as he spoke. “What if I took advantage of your lack of experience?”

“I would say thank you,” you said, inching closer. Before your lips met, however, you stopped yourself. “But I promised not to fall in love, and I think it would be awfully hard to keep my promise if you did that.” With that, you planted your hands on his shoulders and pushed yourself away from him before he could make a decision he would later regret. 

Standing up, you collected yourself and drew in a deep breath. As soon as you had detached yourself from Keishin, you could see the fog that had been clouding his judgement dissipating as he came back to his senses. 

“I should probably head home now.” You decided, not wanting to ruin the first actual friendship you had by doing something stupid and selfish. 

“Yeah.” Keishin nodded, slowly standing up as well. It was clear he was slightly embarrassed by his actions, but you also noticed the glint in his eyes that gave away the part of him that still wanted to take you home with him. 

Trying to immediately leave what had just happened in the past, you smiled and turned to start heading home, opting to take the longer way so you wouldn’t have to take the same route as Keishin. “Good night, Keishin.”

“Good night, Y/N.” You heard him call after you, but you didn’t look back at him. Instead, you kept walking, hoping the time apart would serve as a reset on your relationship and put things back to how they had been before that night.

A few weeks ago, you would have jumped at the chance Keishin had dangled in front of your face just now. But since then, you had realized he was more important to you than someone you could just throw away with a one night stand. And since there was no way the two of you could actually be together, this was the only option if you didn’t want to lose him.

If only someone had warned you that genuine connections were this complicated. 

[rinstars]

red wine

pairing: oikawa x reader

genre: smut

word count: 2.3k+

tags: cheating/infidelity, fingering, penetration, public sex, a little of size kink, degradation/humiliation, bathroom sex, wine play (lol not really they just drank from each other's mouth), one paragraph of oral sex, squirting, belly bulge, use of sir

note: thank u so much for 600 :( i'll do an event if i wasn't so preoccupied with other work but since i am here's an oikawa smut instead! enjoy ;)

Yellowish-gold lights give a soft glow and hue to the dancing bodies on the dance floor -- slow but sensual moving of the bodies, perfectly matching the atmosphere the place gives. Moving liquid coats the surface of the cut crystal, staining the glass counter as the rounded ice melts and condenses.

A well-ventilated place, cool air blowing a light breeze around you. The slit in your red dress didn’t help, though -- you thought you were right to hesitate when picking it out. But what choice do you have? Red dress compliments your lip, cherry blood thick-coated lips, enhancing the pearly shine of your teeth, reflecting the silky texture of your dress. Hair flowing around you, shining beneath the dancing bulbs and scent intoxicating anyone who walks by.

You were no fool. You knew every man in the place had eyes on you the moment you opened the doors, they all think it’s a pity that you came alone yet at the same time filled with delight to the brim at the thought of possibly being the one you came with next. The invisible line only grows every single time a man would enter, the rest of those existing already branding them as enemies -- as if you’re a prey to be caught. The owner of the bar thanks you every day, sends you gifts and jewels in appreciation, “You have blessed our business.” they once said. Glory to you who keeps the customers coming, cause they know you’ll always be here. Friday night as you drink away.

Not one of these lust-driven men has any idea -- you were a taken woman. Wife to one of the richest nobility in the country. A room in your house has been dedicated for your portraits for he is someone who adores getting your portrait painted. Every dress and lipstick, he buys for you. He wants everybody to know you’re his, make sure every single man in social gatherings crave for you. It sure did give him the satisfactions knowing a woman as beautiful and full of grace as you is within his hands. 

Not one of the men in the bars has any idea. 

After all, what’s a woman of your standing and class doing in a place littered with commoners -- the very same kind of people who serve you and your house? The ones who look at you in respect and inferiority. It’s amusing they think they have a chance. 

The chance would never come, no matter what kinds of traps they’ve laid out to catch you. Your eyes are trained on one, only one. What pulled you to him, you wonder. Maybe the fact that he’s of the same status as you, a well-respected noble hiding amongst those below you? Maybe the black suit he always wears, a perfect combination with your fiery red? The smile he gives a few seats away? 

Or maybe the thrill of both parties being married and lusting after each other like in a dirty little affair?

The chocolate of his eyes turn two different colors in a place like this -- glistening amber beneath the strobe lights or obsidian black when he stares at you in an animalistic glare, lips turning in a devilish glare. Perhaps that's part of the reason why none of your predators ever tried to go further with you. You give off the aura of a taken woman, both your body and heart, your name and title. 

The gloss on your lips is coming off, a result of your fourth glass of whiskey for the night. Sliding down the smooth base of the stool, one of your legs exposed itself, the material bunching up above your thighs. Gliding your way to the dim bathroom nobody really uses much, you pull out a tube of gloss, gliding it all around your lips. The clicking sound of the door not going unnoticed.

"Is he not supposed to come home tonight?" A voice asks you, the owner striding closer to you until the bulge in his pants is rubbing against your hip. 

With a turn of your head, you face the intruder by your left, pressing a flat palm on his chest. "Would I be here if he is?"

"I hate that color on you." He placed a hand on the small of your back, guiding you closer to him so your fronts are touching each other. 

Your brows rise in question at the statement. Red has always been your color, everyone has always associated it with you. "It's your favorite." 

"Not since that night," He whispered in your ear, breath tickling your neck as it blows away the stray hairs resting on your jaw. "A night of elegance and opulence, you showed up in the very same color, enveloped in his arms."

His free hand reached your shoulder, finger fiddling with the tied ribbon straps before pulling one of the ends. Lips latched on to the juncture between your shoulders and neck, open-mouthed wet kisses littering your heavily-scented skin. He always makes a comment about how bitter and sweet you tasted but tonight he doesn't. 

"What do you suggest I wear?" You speak with a restrained throat, like the air was cut from your lungs as he reaches for the other strap of your dress. 

He doesn't speak for a moment, continuing his silent torture on your neck, now with the inclusion of teeth as nibbles on the tender skin. With a pull on the thin straps holding the dress together, your breasts spill out in front of you, his calloused hands catching them in a perfect momentum as he chuckles on your skin, "Nothing."

Occupied by the application of your lip gloss a few moments ago, the fact that he went with a glass of wine went unnoticed by you. Not until he was pressing the cool glass on your protruding nipples, making goosebumps rise along the circle as you draw a soft gasp. Your weak hands reached to grip his wrist, trying to get him to slow down as your knees shake from pleasure.

He wasn't having any of your disobedience tonight.

By the time the next beat comes, his hands are on your throat, squeezing it as he pushes you over to the tile of the room. All you could do was whimper his name as pleasure spikes in your stomach, the arousal in your middle dripping down your inner thighs. "T-tooru."

"What kind of master taught you in your childhood?" He clicked his tongue in disapproval, hand on your throat gripping a little tighter than previously. "Did you not know you refer to your fellow nobility with formality? Take for example.. sir."

The glass lost contact with your nipples, the man before you dragging it slowly to your lips as the thumb from the hand on your neck reaches up to pull your mouth open. He tilts the glass to you, "Now, aren't you thirsty? I noticed you were much too preoccupied with the whiskeys, I believe you haven't gotten the luxury of tasting their wine yet."

"I am thirsty." You croak out, every single trace of composure leaving your body as you succumb to his humiliation. "Please let me taste it, good sir."

"Of course." He smiles at you, a devilish aura hidden behind as he lets the liquid touch your tongue, red liquid dripping down your chin as he purposely misses the target. "Don't swallow."

Mouth ajar and wetness dripping down your chin and hand-covered neck, he inches closer to you, connecting your lips to his as he forces you to share the bitter drink. Tongue dancing with yours as you create a mess, a pool of red. 

Enchanted by the kiss, you don't notice the fingers bunching up your dress, nimble fingers slowly discarding your underwear as they part your folds open, air blowing through you dripping, little cunt. His thumb toys with your throbbing bud, two other fingers collecting wetness and spreading it around. 

"Disgusting," He spits in your mouth, hand leaving your neck as he grasps your breast instead. "So wet. So slippery. So filthy."

In another place, another setting, another situation, you would have been offended being talked to in such a manner. How dare anybody at all humiliate one of the most powerful women in the country? But in the presence of Oikawa Tooru, whose power is next only to your husband, you would gladly get on your knees. Let him call you all kinds of names, treat you like a dirty whore.

"Sir," You whine out seductive, hands reaching the pants restraining his throbbing member inside and palming him, making him let out a hiss. "Please."

"Please, what, hmm?" He pushes a finger inside, pumping in and out of you with ferocity making you burn and scream. Your white, sticky cream clinging into his fingers and down to his wrist as you clench over and over around him.

"Fuck me like a filthy little slut, sir." You beg him as you claw on his shoulders, gripping it for support so your knees don't end up giving out. "Use me."

He didn't need to be told twice. With a growl, he yanks his fingers out of you, tears staining your eyes in both emptiness and pain as he forcefully turns you around, pressing you cheeks on the cold tile. He pushes the slippery material of dress up higher, exposing you to him as he licks a bold stripe from your clit to the opening, pushing his tongue in slightly and wiggling it inside. The wet muscle presses on the spongy spot inside of you, making you tremble in pleasure.

The assault of his tongue didn't last long. Not when his thick length rips you apart with every sinking inch, the stretch painful but welcomed. 

He is just as you remember him to be, long, think, fat, hard and everything else you could possibly dream of. He rams his cock into yours, heavy balls slapping your clit over and over. The squelching sound every thrust is making, thanks to your slick and juices, is humiliating. The wetness echoing everywhere in the room.

"You're practically squeezing the release out of me, I can't even --- fuck, you're so tiny and wet and tight… can't even move properly." He groaned into your shoulder, palms reaching down your belly to press down slightly, making you gasp out at the new feeling. "Do you feel that? I'm going to fucking break you if I go harder than this."

"Y-yes.. Ah, yes, sir. You make me f-feel so, so full." You cry out, quivering with pleasure as you reach between where your bodies connected, flicking the bud quickly – adding on to the already overwhelming amount of unbelievable pleasure. 

"Squirt." He orders out of nowhere, startling you before you shake your head slowly, trying to form coherent sentences in the midst of being fucked stupid.

"I can't. I have never done that." 

"Oh, I'll make you, baby. Make sure this little cunt sprays all over me." With that, he angles a bit deeper, swollen fat tip kissing your cervix as he rubs your spot over and over. 

Your vision whitens as you feel a different kind of climax build up inside you, your stomach tingling as you feel yourself get closer and closer. Unable to quiet down your moans and whimpers, you scream out his name, walls clamping down on him as he pounds into you for the last time.

Liquid shoots out of your hole, spraying all over his already opened dress shirt and onto his firm abs and down your thighs. He continues moving against you, the juices coming out of you, creating an even wider mess. 

"What a good girl." He coos as he pulls you back up, his own thick strings of cum dripping out of you in a sticky pool. He softly presses his lip into yours, fingers combing your hair back before hugging you to him.

"I love you." You whisper against his neck, tightening your hold around him.

"I love you too, pretty girl." He pulls out of the embrace, dragging you to the sink to clean you up. 

"You got my dress all wet and dirty." He only chuckles at that.

As you strut outside the bathroom, having the chance to fix your hair and make up inside, the only thing unusual about your appearance is the wet patches on your silk red dress. You didn't care about the stare of other men or what they have to say in their heads. 

But you definitely did care about what the uninvited man in front of you will.

Your husband.

"I got home earlier than expected." He jogs over to you, hair gelled and styled to perfection. The elegance spilling all around him. "The guards said you'd be here."

"Honey," You manage to choke out, hands reaching up to cup his face lovingly. "I missed you."

You didn't miss the twinkle in his eyes, neither the questioning look as he takes in your appearance. "Why is your dress so wet? How improper."

Eyes glancing backwards to where Oikawa stood, you compose yourself for a response. 

"I had the pleasure of being in the presence of the great Lord of the West, Oikawa Tooru. However due to clumsiness and lack of etiquette, circumstances led to a messy spill of drinks. No worries, my husband.. We took care of everything in the washroom."

[x-lipstickstain-x]

Comfort in the Dark

Daniel/Lando Fluff

Daniel squinted at the bright screen of his phone when heard a noise, the time displayed was 1:03am and he was now certain someone was at the door as the knocking continued. It was evidently the sound that had brought his peaceful sleep to a pause. Although he was slightly annoyed by being woken, he knew no one would be at his door at this time without a good reason, which made him a little uneasy. 

With a bathrobe now hugging over his half naked body, he pulled the door open. The frustration built up when he couldn’t locate the culprit, he leaned out of the door, spotting a familiar mop of curls heading away down the corridor. 

“What the fuck man?” Daniel huffed, startling his teammate who clearly hadn’t heard the door opening, his eyes wide at the sound of Daniel’s voice. “Playing knock and run at 1am?” 

Lando winced, strolling back to where he was just a few seconds before, disturbing the Aussie’s sleep. “Sorry I just thought you might be awake, but then you weren’t opening so I just-,”. He continued rambling on an explanation, avoiding eye contact.

“Well I am awake now cause you’re fucking around, mate go to bed we have a race tomorrow.” 

“I wasn’t-,” Lando began, but let out an exhausted sigh, his head shaking. “Nevermind, see you tomorrow Danny.” His tone was so fragile, as if his voice threatened to crack any moment which didn’t go unnoticed by Daniel, just like the way Lando’s fingers were almost pulling apart the sleeves of the Quadrant hoodie he was wearing. 

He had already turned back to walk away again when Daniel softened, his anger replaced by concern and suddenly feeling wide awake. “Wait, are you okay?” At his question, Lando stopped in his tracks with his shoulders slumping even further than before. Slowly turning to face Dan, his head gently shook from side to side in a silent response. That’s all Daniel needed before pushing the door to his room open further and stepping to the side to let Lando in. 

It actually wasn’t the first time Lando had come to him looking as if he was a hug away from bursting into tears. They got on well as friends and teammates, perhaps they weren’t that close off track, though this didn’t stop them from comforting one another when it was necessary. 

It started when Daniel was missing out on Q3 and then not finishing in points for a few races in a row, he felt awful, unable to pinpoint what was going on with him. Lando came to see him that time and instead of the usual ‘I’ll help you with more data if you need it’, he suggested they could hang out, what he didn’t quite expect was for Daniel to just hug him tightly. Lando felt a little awkward, he playfully commented how he could have just asked for cuddles if he needed them. He took him up on that offer the same evening. They didn’t speak about it after. 

The second time it happened, it was after Lando had crashed during qualifying, whenever he closed his eyes to sleep that night it felt like he was about to be thrown around in the car again and he wanted nothing more than to be held. Dan’s room was right beside his, he didn’t know Daniel had stayed up that night, wanting to check up on Lando himself though not quite building the courage to do so, he was relieved when Lando came to him. Once again, they didn’t speak about it after.

The difference between the situations was that both of these were clearly the other needing comfort after a bad experience during the sessions. Though, today Lando had qualified on pole position, his first one in formula 1, so why the hell was he sulking in Dan’s room at this time?

He sat down on his bed, patiently waiting for Lando to tell him what was on his mind. He watched him as he stood in the middle of the room, clearly not sure what to do with himself, tugging the sleeves of his hoodie over his nervous hands then placing them over his face before blurting out. “I’m scared.”

Daniel frowned. “Of?” 

“Of fucking up in the race, fucking up the start, making a mistake, crashing, disappointing the whole team.” He paused to take a breath, his teammate mentally begging him not to continue the list. “What if this is my only chance to win and I fuck it up. It’s all I can think about, Danny.” 

The way he said his name sounded like a beg, a cry to help him stop the thoughts from spiraling. Daniel raised to his feet, stepping closer and using the pocket of his hoodie to draw his smaller frame into his embrace, Lando immediately responded by wrapping his arms around Dan’s waist, his face nuzzling into his chest. Daniel softly massaged out the tension built up in the muscle between his neck and shoulder, a low hum escaping his lips in response to the touch. 

Daniel pulled back once Lando’s breathing had returned to a somewhat calmer pace. “Come on, let’s get you to bed.” He helped him get out of his hoodie before slipping out of the robe himself and both of them settling into the bed comfortably. Surprisingly, Lando didn’t turn away with his back to Daniel like he had done the previous nights they met. Dan figured it was because he felt a little embarrassed about being vulnerable and being cuddled by him, but this time he was facing Dan with his sparkly eyes on him. 

Lando’s eyes closed for a brief moment as Dan’s arm wrapped around him, his fingers brushing through the curls on the back of his head, when his eyes opened their gaze met, sending shivers down Lando’s back. Knowing he had about half a second before Lando would begin to overthink the way his body just reacted, Daniel spoke up. “You know you’ve been amazing all season, you’re capable of getting this win.” Lando winced - even Daniel had high expectations of him, he almost rolled away from him, but Daniel held him still. “But even if you don’t, it’s okay because this is just one opportunity out of many… You’re getting better and better with experience, I’m sure one day getting on pole’s will be a normal thing for you.” 

Lando still seemed unconvinced, a sigh leaving his lips. “You really think I can do this?”

Daniel chuckled, “Of course you can.” There wasn’t the slightest hint of hesitation. “If not tomorrow, then many times in the near future.”

The reassurance was met with a small upwards tug of Lando’s lips, but not quite yet forming a smile. He leaned into Daniel’s fingers which were currently massaging his scalp. He allowed himself to close his eyes and focus on the soothing sensation mixed with Dan’s further whispers of comfort. 

At one point Daniel believed Lando was asleep as he hadn’t spoken or moved a lot, he noticed how long he had been staring at him so he forced himself to reach for the lamp and switch off the light. He absentmindedly moved closer to Lando, his lips pressing to his forehead and he became very aware of what he’s done when Lando stiffened beside him, his eyes now open and very much showing he hadn’t been asleep just yet. Daniel felt his own breath get caught in his chest, he didn’t mean to scare him, now he’s fucked it completely and clearly overstepped some sort of boundary. He moved back, ready to apologise when he saw a sleepy smile slowly form on Lando’s face, the light coming through the gaps in the window curtains allowing him to thankfully distinguish it in the dark. Lando, no longer tense, pressed himself further into Daniel, the Aussie relieved and left with a flutter in his stomach when Lando found his hand and entwined their fingers, whispering a goodnight.

A slam of the door made Daniel’s eyes snap open, letting out a string of curse words when he realised it was Lando who was no longer in the room and apparently wasn’t able to close the door quietly like a normal human being. It was already bright outside so he reached out for his phone to check how long he had left before his alarm would ring. When grabbing the device his hand bumped into something warm on the nightstand that he knew previously wasn’t there, making him slowly sit up to see what it was.

He found a takeaway cup standing on the side, when lifting it closer, the smell of coffee finally reached him, already filling his chest with warmth and switching his mood when he realised how it got there. ‘Thank you.’ Was written on the cardboard with a little love heart underneath, when he turned the cup the other side displayed ‘Let’s get ‘em’ written with the same black marker. 

He stared at the closed door with a fond smile on his face.

In the paddock Daniel couldn’t help but steal glances at Lando to make sure he was doing okay, he was evidently still nervous and Daniel had the urge to walk over to him and hug him. That's why when he had a few minutes spare with still some time before the race due to start and he spotted Lando being left alone in his drivers room, he went over to him. As soon as the door closed behind him and Lando realised who had entered, he walked right over to him, his arms wrapping around his older teammate instantly. Dan whispered a small “hi” before his hand found its way into his hair, massaging his scalp the same way he did last night. 

Lando pulled back to look into his eyes, “Can you do it again?” Daniel frowned at his request, confused if he was referring to him massaging his scalp which he was still doing anyway. 

“Kiss my forehead.” Lando whispered. “You know, like for good luck.” He nervously added, waiting for Dan’s reaction. 

Meanwhile Daniel felt his heart almost leap out his chest with affection. He smiled, pressing his lips to Lando’s forehead and letting them linger for a moment before moving to peck the tip of his nose and carrying on down to his lips. Daniel’s lips hovered over Lando’s letting him pull back if he wanted to, but instead Lando leaned in, capturing his lips in a kiss. 

Maybe this time they’ll speak about it.

[sparkbeast20]

You're my Treasure (Mammon X MC) Pt3

The Blue Lotus petals (series)

As a fan of Beauty X Beast pairing, Showing your “true self” to Lover or (Monster Love) Tropes. I figure to make a (More Demonic Forms AU/head canon) story for each brothers. heads up each brother’s Story is long as fuck. So, I’ll be posting them as parts and finishing one brother before moving on to the rest of them.

(spoiler for lesson 1-55)

Pt1 Pt2

Warning: Swearing, Demonic nature, Harassment, mention of Violence, Sexually Suggestive, Tension, and Implies, before sex

but no actually sex/smut/NSFW. (I can't write smut/NSFW I'm not good at it and I like more teasing and suggestive/tension before sex)

Previously

While you two are showing affection, Simeon covered Luke’s eyes and Solomon laughs at the two of you. As the lunch continue on.

“G-good evening, Lord Diavolo” Mammon pokes his head through the opened door of the student council room.

“Ah! Mammon, please coming in” Diavolo gesture him to come inside, Mammon nodded came in an shut the door behind him. He took a deep breath and start walking over to Diavolo, who is sitting at his desk looking over some paper work, and Barbatos who is standing beside the young prince.

Mammon stops right before reaching the desk, and stiffly bow to Diavolo.

“I came to say I’m sorry for putting y/n endanger last night” He held his bow, waiting for Diavolo to speak, but every passing second, he could hear his heart beat fast, then he hears someone walking away. Barbatos, because he didn’t hear the chair move. Then Diavolo finally broke the silent with not too stern voice

“Mammon, I am disappointed at you, both Lucifer and I place y/n under your protection because we trust you. What if y/n gets hurt again~”

“I will never let that happen again!” Diavolo eyes widen at Mammon’s serious statement. He a stood up straight and looks up to Diavolo. With both seriousness, determination, and something feral in his eyes.

Still have his composure, Diavolo is taken a back with Mammon changed in demeanor, he doesn’t why but he’ll let Mammon action speak itself.

Diavolo let out a sigh and look at Mammon with his signature cheerful smile. “Very well Mammon, but this is your last chances. Do not let this happen again”

Mammon thanks Diavolo, and start heading out when Barbatos walk up to him.

“Mammon before you go, I want you to take this” Barbatos hands over a jar filled with blue lotus petals.

“Huh? I still have plenty at home, I don’t need more petals Barbatos” he said it while shoving his hand in his pocket.

“You can be too careful now, beside I want to give it~” Mammon eyes widen causing Barbatos push himself.

Mammon turns to the door, rushing over and push open the door hastily. He snarls at what he sees.

You sitting on the bench across the Hall, look at you D.D.D not trying to look at the Demon towering over, who seem to try annoy you. Suddenly Mammon can hear what the demon is saying.

“Come on, you have to admit that you, humans break so easily. Then why not you your pact with the brothers and call them for help~”

“I have Mammon with me, why would I call one of his brothers for help?”

“He didn’t do anything to Basto, all he did was a couple of scratches. So much for being second of the lords”

“If your just here to provoke me, then just leave I don’t have time for this I’m just wait for- HEY!” the demon swipe your D.D.D out of your hand and start dangling it above up.

“Oh, now you’re looking at me, I’m flattered”

“Give it back!” you try to reach it, but he was too quick and start toying with you.

“Or what! You can’t do anything with a broken arm~” someone grab the back of his neck and pulling him away, causing the D.D.D to fall out of his hand, you manage to catch it.

Mammon is dragging the demon like a misbehaving child, then he throws the demon to the nearby lockers.

The demon tries to get up, but stopped by Mammon stomp his foot close to the demon’s face. He looks up to Mammon who is looking at the demon with a threating look on his face and his iris is glowing.

“Pretty cocky of ya to threating my mate like that, why? ya thought that I would be too weak and a puss to do anything! Well guess what” he grabs the demon by the jacket with one hand, pull him up and slam he back at the lockers making the metal bended. Then move closer to the demon’s ear. “The next time I see you anywhere near my mate again…. I’ll kill ya” in a deeper voice and chilling happy tone.

With one last slam to the locker, Mammon let go and let the demon slide down on the floor shaken with a terrified look on his face.

Mammon turns around walk back to you.

“Mammon are you~”

“I’m fine come on, lets get to purgatory hall we don’t Luke waiting” he places one arm over your shoulder, and you two starts walking out of RAD and heading to Purgatory Hall.

“It’s so sweet for Luke to make us cupcakes” you said it with a cheerful smile on your face, you have your arm wrapped around Mammon's, who’s carry two boxes of cupcakes. As you two head back home.

“Maybe my lucky is coming around, that little pup made cakes on right time” Mammon back to his usual self.

“Mmm…. Nah, I think he made them for you specifically since you were having a bad day, he does see you like an older brother” you said calmly. Causing him to blush.

“Of course, The Great Mammon is his Mentor after all” and there it is, the old Mammon resurfaces. All you can do is chuckle and shake your head at his full of his self-attituded. “Hey what so funny?”

“Oh nothing….” You look at him with a playful grin plastered on your face.

“Hmm…. laugh all ya want now, once we get back home~” but someone screaming something cuts him off, grabbing both of your attention.

“Oh, maybe is a weird sales man, try to sell something fake…. Like a certain demon” you said it in your teasing voice.

“yer, pushing your luck babe. Alright let see what that nut job is blabbing about.” You two start heading to the screaming.

Once you got there, a demon is ranting, scream, or warning about the creatures depicted in an old tapestry.

“The original sins are coming back, and they will bring back the true Absolut hell”

“Oh great, is those kind of demon” Mammon groans in annoyance.

“I could see what you mean, but I like what’s on the tapestry, their kinda cute”

“Ha? You find them Cute?” you exaltedly nodded at him, and look that the tapestry.

He followed your sight and took a longer look at the things you’re talking about. his eyes widen to the realization on what are on the old dust cloth.

It��s him and his brothers in their demonic form within each section of the tapestry. Most are unrecognizable due to how damaged the cloth was, the only ones that he can clearly see was Lucifer, Levi, Asmo, Belphie and himself. The latter which he can’t take his eyes off.

Seeing his demonic form again, made him to remember his time being that form. How he can fly so fast a thunderous sound can be heard, or how he can easily maneuver through cramp spaces like in the woods, or how his more limbered than his brothers he is, and how so much of that thing can be threatening.

“Mammon?” your voice snaps him out of his trances, he looks back to you with melancholy look on his face. “Are you okay?” with a worry tone in your voice.

He blinks a couple, shook his head and smile with his eyes close. “Yeah, I’m good it’s just I remember something, come on let back before Lucifer thinks we when somewhere we shouldn’t” you nod in respond, and you two starts walking.

As you walk, Mammon kisses the top of your head, causing you to hum in complete bliss, as farther you two walks. Mammon glaze over his shoulder, and look back at the tapestry wondering if that thing can ever come back.

“Yo! Were back” Mammon said it while walking in the common room, with the boxes of cupcakes in his hands.

“Oh…is that for us” Asmo perk up when he saw the box. Levi turns to see Mammon and take off his headset, and Beel is already drooling in the mouth knowing what’s inside the boxes. The three are the only ones there.

“One box is for Beel, and the other one is for us to share. So, be nice” Mammon sat down on the couch and place the box of cupcakes on the table, and slide one box to Beel, who grab it and start eating a cupcake.

“Where’s y/n are they supposed to be~”

“Before you say anymore, yes y/n was with me, they just head up to our room to changes so, no worry, Levi” Mammon interrupts Levi’s questioning.

Levi just pouts and go grab a cupcake, and went back on watching an anime on his D.D.D.

Asmo with a cheeky look on his face, flattering his eye leashes at Mammon. Cleary have something to share.

“Alright Asmo, spill it”

“Wow… bold today aren’t we, well I couldn’t blame you”

“What are you talking about?” Mammon raises a brow at Asmo. He grabs his D.D.D and show it to Mammon.

“Someone took this photo of you” On the screen is a picture of Mammon dragging the demon by the scruff of his neck. “I do say, I never thought you have it in you, Mammon. Is this compensation for what happen last night” Asmo taunt Mammon, who lean forward, grab hold of the device and turning it off? And lean back on the couch now with one leg place at top his lap.

A stun Asmo looks at Mammon, he blinks and set the D.D.D on the table, then fixes himself with his legs cross, his elbow resting on his lap with the back of his hands supporting his chin. And with a smug look on his face. “Oh Mammon, acting like that never happen won’t stop me from teasing you about it. But never imagine that was the one that actually made you more of a badass, I like what you turning into”

“I didn’t do it because of the of the casino thing. I did because that piece of shit was harassing y/n while I was at the student council room, I sense y/n was in distress so, I walk out saw the dip shit and deal with him. And making sure he never came near me or my mate” the last part sounded different from the rest. Drawing the attention of Levi and Beel.

“Ah…. Mammon are you okay?” Beel voice his concern to his older brother, who just give him a widen smile. “I am, after lunch I never felt this great in years. Like something just woke up inside me after I told Solomon off, for being a dick…... and don’t worry Asmo were all cool now.” Asmo soft his face after hearing that, Mammon smile and reach out to grab a cupcake.

He was about to eat it, when something pops up in his mind. He stares at the cupcake and glaze over to his brothers.

“So, me and y/n pass by a crazy old demon on are way back home. He was yelling about something about us”

“Oh! What was it about? Was they talking about how handsome I am?” but Mammon shook his head at Asmo.

“Nah…. You wouldn’t like it. He was talking about us in are demonic form and calling us the original sins” Asmo groan at Mammon’s remark. “Ugh…just hearing demonic makes my skin crawl and also the “original sins” makes us seem old”

“I don’t know I kinda like it, it kinda makes us more epic and cooler like were some sort of legendary beings. It’s like “My classmate was the god of beast and man” Now I want to hear what that old man said” Levi chime in.

“I hear “original sins” before are you sure he was talking about us?” Beel asks Mammon.

“Yeah! He has an old ass cloth thing that had me, Lucifer, Levi, Asmo and Belphie on it. While you and Satan are torn out of it”

“Huh? Now I want to see it” Levi perks up when he hears his name and that there’s something other than word vomit.

“Eh! Why is my form in tack? It should be removed immediately; my fan can see me like that.” Asmo is being dramatic as usual.

“Don’t even bother, I was standing right Infront of the old coot didn’t know I was the thing that his yelling at people about, it’s kinda funny……... so, if you’re worry that your fans see that side of you, you’re wasting your time worry. If the old coot didn’t know, then so are your fans.” Mammon laughs, and Asmo pouts and grabs his D.D.D and start typing at it.

However, Mammon can shake this feeling, and want to know something.

“Hey, do you guys wonder what’s is like if we stayed like that?” only met with both Levi and Asmo shake their head no, not even looking at Mammon and looking at their devices. Only Beel look over to Mammon with a cornered look.

“Why asks that?”

“Seeing those drawing, made me think and look back~” Mammon was cut off, by Asmo groaning.

“Ugh! You sound like Satan right now; you know when he when into a “I want to changes back” phase. I’m so glad that he drops that and move on to annoying Lucifer”

“Yeah” Levi interjects “If I was still in my demonic form, I couldn’t enjoy the things I like right now. Not watching anime because you can’t watch it underwater and I need a really big body of water, and I can’t read manga because it’ll get wet and I have no arms or hands to hold, and I can’t……….”

Eventually the other three tune him out, and Beel asks.

“And beside aren’t we dangerous when we are in those forms. I couldn’t remember anything when I was that!”

Before Mammon could asks again, he heard your foot step getting louder.

“Oi no demonic talk Infront of y/n got it” Mammon aggressively whispers to his brothers.

“But you’re the one…... Ah forget it” Levi just gave up.

“What you guys talking about?” you came in the room, and walk over to the couch and sat next to Mammon, who immediately place his arm on your shoulders.

“Oh nothing, just give my little bros some life advice” Mammon smile at you, then Asmo let out a fake cough.

“Really what kind of life advice?” Mammon bites his mouth to your unexpected question, while Levi and Asmo sneaker in the background.

“Uh…… well” he looks away and rubs the back of his neck with the arm on you, trying to an answer. While you look at him with such innocent look on you face.

he glazes over to you and ha an idea, look back and smile to you and gave you the cupcake that he was supposed to eat and took a bite. “Advice on pleasing their significant other” both Levi and Asmo stop laughing and straight their back after hearing that.

After swallowing, you look back at Mammon “Oh and those are?”

“Making sure their well feed” Beel nodded to that. “Grooming them” he fixes you hair and shirt and “accentually” unbutton one. Then he cups you face and lean towards you, and playfully lick the frosting on the corner of your mouth. “And always make them flustered” he pulled away. Leaving you stunned and your face turns red.

Levi drops his D.D.D., Asmo quickly covered his mouth, and Beel almost choke to what they just witness right Infront of them.

Your heart beating fast and you don’t why. For what ever reason you started to feel warm and fuzzy inside. Asmo can sense it, your started be lustful right now. Your eyes show it and Mammon notices it, he took the cupcake out of you hands and place it on the table.

Then he slowly looks over to you with a smirk, he’s teasing you and you can’t take it anymore. You pounce and wrap your arms around his neck and start kissing him relentlessly. And he didn’t pull away in fact he places one hand on your waist and the other vigorously rub against your back.

All the while the other three demon in the room with you two are shock, stunned and/or mortified.

“I want you to destroy me right now Mammon” you said it seductively, causing Mammon to growl.

“Good thing we don’t have classes tomorrow otherwise I have to carry ya all around campus”

“Why what will you gonna do to me?” you teasing by playing innocent.

“you’ll see” he quickly bites you on the neck causing you to yelp, and you felt him laughing. He quickly hooks your legs and stood up and leap over the couch and run out the room with you holding on to him tightly.

As Mammon foot steps start to faint, Belphie peaking his head through the doorway of the common room and look over to frozen demons inside. Then a door slam shut snaping them out of it.

“W-what was that!” Levi screams

“Asmo what did you do to them?” Belphie asks in a shock manner

“You think I want to see Mammon like that. As if” Asmo hugging himself “that was my worst nightmare”

Levi straight out faint in his chair and Asmo start rubbing his hands all over his body, like his taking a shower, and Belphie stare at his pillow. However, Beel is more corner about his older brother sudden changed and that was the one that planting the seed of worried and fear in his mind.

[askthebeasttamers]

[Eve and aid]

" I can't believe we're actually doing this! Are you excited? Are you nervous? Because I definitely am! I wonder who we will meet there? Will they be nice? Will they be mean? Will they-"before Aid could continue any further eve has put her hand over his mouth, muffling the sound"... You really making me reconsider if this was a good decision to make "she says in her usual neutral tone as she looks at the building before her, eyes focused as her gaze travels all over ueno academy" there's a window opened on the second floor, if I get enough momentum going-" that's when aid decided to cut her off, using his paws to pull her hand off before speaking" we can also just enter thro the front door "he suggested as he glanced at it" not like it's locked or anything " eve paused for a moment, slowly looking at the door before reluctantly admitting"...I suppose it would a method that draws the least suspicion to us "she says as she begins to approach it, deciding to ignore the how weird it felt to enter the building the 'correct way' for once.

Upon gaining access inside the woman and her companion immediately started looking around, eve carefully moving thro the hallway, her eyes sharp as she looked at each detail on the inner structure, aid on the other hand cheerfully floated thro the air, humming under their breath as they looked around with wonder, they went on like this for few minutes before stopping suddenly as they caught someone in their line of sight "eve look! A lab coat! They must be working here!" eve only nodded at aid words as she started to approach the bear they spotted "... Could you put me thru some tests?" Eve said almost immediately when they stopped next to him, Aid only looked at her exasperated before making himself visible to others" eve you can't just jump straight to the point without introducing yourself first! " after saying this the construct turns to the bear, a smile appearing on his black screen as he looks into his blue eyes" hello there! I apologize for my friend forwardnes… she doesn't get out much "Aid decided to ignore the empty stare that eve was no doubt giving him" my name is aid and this is eve, you see we came here looking for some help. We wished for eve to go thro a bit of a check up, now i know normally this would be done by standard doctors but eve is… um… a bit "

seeing her ally struggling to find the right words she decides to make this easier for him" I have unique biology"she says as she raises her hand, her eyes falling on it as she focuses, within seconds her previously normal fingernail elongate and sharpen, becoming more like sharp claws " my DNA was spliced and altered so many times… I'm not quite sure I could be classified as human anymore" she says as she traces a finger against her black claws before letting them return to their previous state "I was wondering if you could check on my condition, I want to insure that my body isn't going thru some unexpected and possibly dangerous mutations" she pauses slightly as she considers the second reason and if she should reveal it "additional… I would highly appreciate if you could help me discover who those spliced genetic codes belong to… who was the donor or donors for all those transient DNA fragment fused into my DNA"

"Intriguing."

"Sure, I'll take a look at you."

"As for finding out where your DNA came from, unless we have DNA from those people ourselves (and we don't keep anyone's DNA period), we wouldn't be able to match it with anything."

[perfectpaperbluebirds]

Prompt # 19: Addiction  

@sicktember Alternate prompt #4: Stay

Title: Unexpected Developments Part 2

Fandom: Pride and Prejudice

Find Part 1 under prompt # 8. Mr. Darcy is sick in bed and miserable. Elizabeth is trying to look after him, but his bad mood gets the better of him and tempers flare. Will sweetness or stubbornness win out in the end?

Elizabeth Bennett was the only guest at Netherfield who wasn't in bed with a cold. The virus Jane had caught riding to attend luncheon with Caroline had spread around the whole house, but it seemed Eliza was immune. Mr. Darcy had been the last to fall ill, and Lizzie had discovered him sneezing in a corner over a day ago while she remained perfectly healthy. It was fortunate she had discovered him though, for the servants were rushing hither and yon at the beck and call of their ill master and his sister, and poor Mr. Darcy would have been overlooked completely if Lizzie hadn't taken him under her care. 

Lizzie, for her part, was glad Jane's cold was much improved from the days prior. Since Jane needed little tending now, she had given Lizzie her blessing to give most of her attention to Mr. Darcy. Mr. Darcy, for his part, was very accustomed to having a houseful of servants to do his bidding, and was little accustomed to being ill, strong and virile as he was. Because of these things, he was not the easiest patient, though he truly tried to make an effort to curb his frustration and not take his misery out on Elizabeth. Her lack of symptoms clearly perturbed him, however.

"How is it you are still in perfect health while I and everyone else are laid up with this beastly chest cold?" he griped that afternoon while Lizzie fussed around, tidying up dishes and rags from his bedside. If Lizzie wasn't accustomed to his voice by now, she would have had trouble understanding him, for his nose was stopped tight with congestion, and his voice raw and weak from coughing, rendering him nigh unintelligible. 

She giggled to herself. "Well you see, I believe I've already had this cold, for in the week prior to Jane's arrival here, my father, some of my other sisters and myself caught cold. We were envious of Jane's good luck in not falling ill at the time, but it seems it caught up with her in the end."

"Indeed," Mr. Darcy muttered sourly with a slushy sniffle.

"Oh don't be cross. It isn't so terrible lounging in bed all day, being waited on hand and foot is it?" 

"Yet when I find myself miserable in body, I find my mood tends to follow," he groused.

"Hmm." Elizabeth moved to his side, caressing his flushed face gently with the pad of her thumb. "It's just as I thought. You're only irritable like this when your fever is up, and indeed you are overwarm again. Jane's fever wasn't nearly so persistent."

"How fortunate for me," he mumbled to himself. Elizabeth tried to ignore his bad temper as she fetched her basin and rag. She wasn't fond of sarcasm, and his attitude was irking her more than she cared to let on. Tenderly as ever though, she began bathing his face and neck to try to bring down his miserable fever.

The cold water on his face made him gasp slightly, which became a cough, and the coughing only seemed to agitate him more. He usually enjoyed his face being bathed, but today he drew away from the rag. 

“Perhaps we should try another method for treating fever, since this does not seem to be effective,” said the sick man. His speech was curt and tense with foul temper.

Elizabeth gave him a long look, trying to keep her own temper under control. “What would you suggest, sir? We have tried willow bark, which made you feel more ill, and you will not have any other poultices,” she said in a measured, warning way.

“There must be something we haven't done yet. I would do anything to rid myself of this beastly cold, that came from *your* sister, I might add! You just said you already had  this cold. Think of something else to try!”

Elizabeth flew to her feet, tossing down the rag. “Perhaps you should go plunge yourself into an ice bath! That will surely help the fever, and I’m sure it will do wonders for your coughing and sneezing as well! But you can draw it yourself, and you can see to your own meals and entertainment too. You clearly feel my efforts are inadequate, so you can tend to yourself from now on. I am through with smoothing your insufferable pride and being a target for your bad mood. Good day, sir!”

With a whirl of skirts, she was out the door without a glance behind her. Elizabeth went straight to her room and lay down in the cool and quiet, for she was exhausted and careworn from nursing for a week straight. She fell asleep immediately and didn’t wake for several hours. 

She felt much refreshed when she did finally emerge. She first went to look in on Jane, who was overall back to normal, but was getting bored sitting around and eager to go home. On questioning the staff, they learned that Caroline had mostly recovered as well. Mr. Bingley was recovering slower, but getting better all the time. The sisters wished him a speedy recovery by way of the servants, for as soon as he was recovered, they would be able to return home.

After visiting with Jane for some time, Elizabeth desired to find a quiet corner and read. To her chagrin, she realized she had left her book in Mr. Darcy’s room. She did not relish seeing him again so soon after they parted so badly, but she had no choice if she wanted her book back. With a sigh, she made her way to his room with hesitant steps. She knocked softly before entering, which felt odd since she had been coming and going freely for two days prior. His hoarse, weak voice bid her come in.

He was in quite a different state than he had been a few hours before. Where he had previously been fitful and agitated, now he seemed weak and lethargic. Even in the dim light she could see how sweat-matted his hair was, and the dark ring on his pillow. He lifted his head up to see who had entered, and his sleepy eyes flickered with confusion upon seeing her. 

“I only came to get my book. I apologize for disturbing you,” she said stiffly, hardly looking at him. She snatched up the volume from the table where it lay and turned to go back out, intending to say nothing else.

“Wait.” 

She paused, and turned slightly, her good breeding winning over. “Yes?”

He sat up a bit straighter, coughing weakly as he did so. “I am deeply sorry for how I behaved earlier. My treatment of you was inexcusable after all you’ve done for me these past days--” Here he had to pause to press his handkerchief to his dripping nose before he could continue. Elizabeth waited silently. “I was a beast and feel very much like a fool. Please forgive me,” he managed, mumbling through the damp fabric. His eyes shone earnestly above the hand holding the linen in place.

Her face softened. “I accept your apology, and thank you for it. No one acts quite themself when they’re ill, so I gladly forgive you. I’m sorry too for my part in all of it.”

They shared a tiny smile as he tended to his nose with a thick, gurgling blow, and she knew she was forgiven also. Immediately the tension between them was cleared.

Now that they had made up though, she was reluctant to leave him alone again, for he looked so weak and forlorn and in need of care. However, she was a woman of her word. She spoke as she moved to the door, putting her hand on the knob. “You must rest, Mr. Darcy, so I'll leave you be. I truly apologize for waking you.”

“Miss Elizabeth?” 

Once more she turned to meet his eyes.

He held out a shaking hand. “Please… stay.”

She slowly returned to his side. “For what purpose, sir?”

“I… I desire your company… and your aid. You are… a far better caregiver than I, and I was a fool to imply otherwise. It… it won't happen again,” he croaked thickly. 

Seeing the effort he was making to be overly polite softened Eliza's heart further. She let him take her hand in his warm grasp, a smile playing around her lips. “If you insist. I will stay.”

He smiled also as he drew her hand toward himself. "Here, let me show you something," he snuffled. He placed her wrist against his neck, just as she had done many times over the past few days. He sighed softly as their skin made contact.

“Your fever has broken,” she murmured happily. “You are cool at last.”

“Yes.”

“How did you do it?” she asked, withdrawing her hand. “Did you plunge yourself into an ice bath after all?”

He stifled a cough before he could speak. “I… tried willow bark again, as you recommended. I felt worse… at first, but I fell asleep to ease the symptoms. When I woke, the fever had left me, and I felt… much clearer in mind. The fever was causing my foul mood, as you insightfully noted.” Yet another long speech, and now his voice was barely audible as he sniffled furiously and trembled with fatigue. 

“Yet you seem somewhat worse for wear, for you’re completely exhausted, poor man.”

“This illness has left me weary to my bones, it is true. Yet I could not have slept soundly tonight knowing I had offended you. It would be an understatement to say I was very glad when you returned, though I did not expect or deserve a second chance.” His eyes were getting heavier by the moment, and he yawned almost before he finished speaking, reclining back against his pillows once more.

Elizabeth brushed the sweaty curls from his forehead as his eyes drifted closed, then let her hand rest on his cheek for a moment, reassuring herself that his fever was truly gone. He lazily covered her hand with his, a content smile flickering across his face. 

She couldn’t help but smile in response, though he couldn’t see it. “Take some rest, Mr. Darcy. All is forgiven, and I will be here when you wake.” She gently tried to pull her hand away from his face. He quickly interlaced his fingers with hers to prevent this.

“You’ll truly stay?” he murmured sleepily, sniffling.

Leaving her hand on his cheek, she perched on the edge of his bed, so close their hips were almost touching. She saw him smile again as she did so. 

“Of course I will,” she murmured back, her eyes never leaving his face as he peacefully drifted to sleep.

[elfwoodfae]

“Nightcall” Harrison Eo Wells x reader

Chapter 3

Summary: As you taunt the devil another criminal may be ready to strike.

Gif credits go to the owner, I found this one on google.

Author’s note: let me know what you all think, if you have any suggestions, I hope you like it!

Once again, you were all brainstorming ideas about the man in yellow, nothing concrete, but the team had been stuck for a few days without making any progress.

“I just don’t believe that he doesn’t go somewhere after,” Barry commented.

You were sitting on Cisco’s desk and as you saw Wells roll into the cortex you decided to chip on your own ideas. Even tho he had specifically told you not to.

“You know I bet he has a day job too,” you said while noticing from the corner of your eye how Dr. Wells moved his head to look at you and rub two fingers over his lips, how he tended to do when he was thinking, probably how to get rid of you without attracting heat to himself.

“He seems smart, I bet he is some kind of doctor,” you spurred on. “I mean his suit seems pretty legit so he probably is very smart.” Now you were sassing him up. Oh boy were you sassing him up. You knew this risky comment had the potential to blow up on your face, but honestly it was a risk you were willing to take just by the look of Wells’ eyes.

“Very interesting idea y/n.” Wells said looking at you with that fake smile he gave people. God how you wanted to whip it off his face.

“Actually Dr. Wells I was wondering if I could talk to you about something” you asked him as you hopped off the desk.

He only nodded and signaled you to follow him. This plan could very much make you or break you. You were hoping for the first one.

“Those two seem to be talking a lot lately” Cisco commented once you were out of earshot.

Once in Wells’ office you reclined yourself against his desk and looked at him.

“So I have been thinking about your proposition.” You began to speak.

“My proposition? I don’t believe I have proposed anything to you” he said, the look on his face was unbelievable, you had some nerve to be sassing him up so much, and the worst part was that he couldn’t kill you or get rid of you just yet without making it obvious and drawing attention to himself.

“Yes, your proposition about me not speaking and you not killing me” you continued.

“I have thought about it, and I’m willing to accept with one condition.”

He couldn’t believe you. He just couldn’t believe that you were either stupid enough or brave enough to face him.

“I don’t believe I gave you a choice or that you have one, what part of dying was not clear to you?” He added.

“Trust me it was very clear to me since you literally stuck a hand in me, but killing aside, I will keep your secret on a condition, so please at least humor me, we both know you can’t kill me, for what reason is unclear to me but if you really wanted me dead I would be by now.”

You would be the fault in his plan if he didn’t do something about you fast. You were too smart and too fearless of him to be scare that easy. Or too stupid as he had previously thought.

“What is that condition?” He would humor you, play your game and let you think you had the upper hand until he could get rid of you.

“I will play along with you and keep your secret safe, going as far as making sure no one else suspects of you, only if you promise me that once this is all over, and you get whatever it is you are trying to achieve that you will leave a confession freeing Barry’s father of the murder of Nora.”

Now that wasn’t that hard, he would be gone, it wouldn’t affect him in any way, and if that’s what it took to keep you quite then he would oblige.

“Fine, I give you my word.” He said.

“And you won’t hurt Barry badly, or anyone else in the team” you added, feeling a wave of bravery.

“Don’t push your luck little one or you will find out what happens when you taunt me.” he said through gritted teeth, he was a very patient man, but you had a way of pushing his buttons like no one that he had encountered in a long time.

After your little conversation with Wells you felt more confident than ever, you had managed to at least get something out of it and the enjoyment of messing with him, it made you feel powerful.

“Well someone is in a good mood” Cisco said as you entered the cortex smiling and more relaxed than they had seen you in a long time.

“What happened back there?” Cisco insinuated as he looked at you suspiciously.

“Gross Cisco! Gross!” You screamed at him with a fake look of disgust.

“I’m just saying!” He added raising his hands in the air in an apologetic manner.

“Alright you guys,” you called everyone’s attention.

“I’m going to get some coffee, anyone wants anything?”Everyone made their orders and you left to Jitters.

It was getting dark by the time you were getting out of Jitters, walking to your car with your hands full, you struggled to get the key out of your pocket, and as you placed the coffees on the roof of your car and looked at your window to open the car you screamed in fear as a hand covered your mouth with some kind of clothe and the other one grabbed your neck beginning to drag you away.

Back at Star labs, the team had began to wonder what was taking you so long. It was normal to take some time since Jitters wasn’t exactly a street away, but you had been gone for almost two hours.

Just as Barry was about to tell Cisco to try and call you for the twentieth time, a message was being broadcasted on the tv.

“Cisco!”Caitlin urged him as she pointed to the monitor. “Put the volume up!”

“Flash!” The knowing voice of Captain Cold came through the speakers. “I have a friend of yours. If you don’t come and surrender yourself, she will die.” He added in his typical singsong way of speaking.

“Flash don’t come for me!” You could be heard screaming in the background, the focus changed to you as the image showed another man putting a gag in your mouth while you were tied to a chair.

“We need to do something fast” Barry said as he raised his hands to his hair in desperation. In that moment doctor Wells who had seen the whole ordeal from the entrance to the cortex spoke.

“We need to be careful Mister Allen, we don’t know where they are keeping her or if Captain Cold still have the cold gun.”

“Dr. Wells is right, we need to be careful, acting on impulse may not be the best call right now.” Caitlin added.

“I know but we can’t just stay and do nothing! He has y/n” he desperately added.

“I’m aware but I do caution restrain.” He added.

They planned a strategy, as Barry made it to the meeting point, Cisco and Joe would go to see the location where they suspected you were being kept.

As Barry struggled to defeat Cold and Heat Wave. Dr. Wells and Caitlin stayed behind guiding them through the operation. When Barry finally manage to neutralize Cold and Rory a bigger problem arose.

“Guys!” Came Cisco desperate voice through the comms. “She isn’t here, this was a decoy” he added.

Barry looked down on Cold, and as he grabbed him by his shirt collar he shook him.

“Where is she!?” Desperation could be heard in his voice.

“Flash, you really thought it would be that easy to find her? I hope you said your goodbyes earlier since in a matter of around two minutes your little friend will blow into the air.”

Dread came over Barry as he realized that no matter how fast he managed to search the city it wasn’t enough time to find you.

“I will give you a hint, why don’t you start in the East side?” Cold added as he smiled sarcastically at Barry.

Back the labs Wells excused himself from Caitlin and went to his time vault. He needed to find you fast. It was true that this was the perfect chance to finally get rid of you, but he just couldn’t bring himself to let you die by the hands of Cold.

You were seated in some kind of abandoned warehouse. In what part of town you had no idea, but you were painfully aware of the ticking bomb at the bottom of your chair. And as you heard the ticking get faster you were sure that was it, this is how you were going to die. If Barry hadn’t found you yet, you doubted he would on time.

As the seconds came to cero time seemed to stop all together, and in flash of red you were whisked away as the bomb went off and the explosion resonated all around you.

Your eyes watered as your mouth opened to let a sigh of relief come out. You squeezed Barry’s neck and placed your forehead on his shoulder as you breathed him in only for a second later to recognize this particular smell. This wasn’t Barry. As you opened your eyes you were met with a yellow suit and a pair of red glowing eyes. Still in his arms you hugged him again, adrenaline controlling your actions.

“I have never been happier to see you” you said, he only nodded and put you down on the floor.

As he speeded away you saw Barry coming to you fast. Relief could be read all over him the moment his eyes landed on you.

“She is safe” is all he said through the comms to the team.

“How, how did you managed to escape?” He questioned you once you were all back at Star labs as Caitlin checked you over.

“ I am not sure, I managed to free myself from the ropes but the bomb may have glitched as I had enough time to run as far as I could” you explained, trying to sound convincing.

“I mean but you don’t even have a scratch on you” Barry kept questioning you.

“I think I just had a lucky star tonight.” You said as you looked over at Harrison, who had just entered the med bay area.

“I think we should let Miss y/n rest for tonight Mister Allen.” Dr. Wells added.

“Yeah, I am just glad you are okay.”Barry added as they all walked out to let you rest for the night.

Wells was the last to leave and as he was about to roll out the door you stopped him. You had so many questions to ask him. He could have easily let you die and get rid of you without being suspicious, but he hadn’t.

“Why did you save me?” You asked when you were sure no one was close by. He only smiled at you and turned around, leaving as you sat there with now more questions about the man than ever before.

@mintchipcupcake

@nellethiel-aranel

@saltykidcreation

@twilightlover2007

[jaeminzie]

ignorance is bliss | h.rj

↳ huang renjun x gender neutral!reader

synopsis: staying true to the courageous gryffindor persona, you secretly admire renjun using unusual tactics, forgetting that the fellow ravenclaw is fairly quick witted.

genre: fluff

word count: 2,339

part of ‘the dreamies in hogwarts’ series

huang renjun, the ravenclaw wallflower who you’ve been stalking according to your best friends. indeed, it is odd to stay in the library until ungodly hours solely for the breathtaking view from a few tables in front of the prettiest boy you’ve ever seen. though every view and every angle of huang renjun is breathtaking, it doesn’t take much work when you look like that. being as stubborn as ever, you would never admit to stalking the poor boy. you believed that that was an exaggeration, that your friends don’t understand how it feels to be so blinded by him and you are utterly confused on how they aren’t blinded by him. instead, you claim it as a way to get an understanding of the boy’s, who you do plan to interact with sometime in the future, mannerism — which you mentally admit sounds just as creepy as stalking, not helping your case at all.

so there you are, sitting alone in a table a bit further than usual from renjun using a book to cover your lower face to avoid any suspicion. not only are you stubborn, you are also unbelievably oblivious. so oblivious, in fact, that you aren’t aware that the boy who you’ve been “observing” has already noticed you staring at him the second week of your trips to the library. in your defense, you visit the library no more than four times a week as you loathed the smell of rotting book paper and dusty wooden furniture. unknowing of the boy’s acknowledgment of you, you continued to admire from a far. loving the way his plump lips pouted naturally while reading, his circular silver glasses sat perfectly on the bridge of his god-shaped nose, how careful his eyes scanned through the pages and the way his fingers absentmindedly tapped on the table as a way to keep himself sane from the amount of studying he chooses to do willingly which appalled you. but once in a while, he’d give himself a break by sketching on his notebook causing all the lines on his forehead and the pout on his lips to disappear. this is your favorite part. seeing him find his peace in drawing made you feel the same sense of warmth and tranquility that you suppose he feels when creating art, completely unaware of a gryffindor staring him down — or so you thought. ignorance really is bliss, or else, you wouldn’t be so shameless right now.

renjun means to speak to you one day as his confusion progresses each time he sees you walk through the ginormous library doors and choose a spot where you both have clear views of one another. when you look away, pretending to read the book in your hands, renjun looks your way with furrowed eyebrows trying to figure out what exactly do you want from him. why you still manage to fail your classes despite spending many hours “studying.” yes, you can say that he observes you as well since your houses share a couple classes with each other. from his observations, he’s learned that you’re quite the helper. renjun wonders how you weren’t sorted in hufflepuff. perhaps, a hufflepuff isn’t bold enough to stare at a stranger in a nearly empty library for many consecutive weeks. though, a gryffindor should have the courage to at least speak a single word to that person, a simple ‘hello’ would be a nice place to start.

it took him some time to admit it, but he found pleasure in staring at you as well. his slytherin friends practically had to force it out of him once they kept noticing that his gaze was almost always set on you since his group sat in the back of your classes, it was easy to admire without being caught unlike your questionable tactics. renjun admires how you keep trying and trying to answer a question correctly even when your raised hand is being blatantly ignored by the professor after getting a handful of questions incorrect. and don’t even get him started when he catches a glimpse of you laughing with your peers, then he can’t keep his eyes of off you. there’s been countless nights of him unintentionally going on about you and your character to his peers relaxing in their ravenclaw common room. at this point, the whole house of ravenclaw has heard your name come out of his mouth at least once.

from your clear view, you notice how focused renjun is with his hands seeming to move themselves while his mind continued to run on you. renjun straightened his back after finishing the last few strokes on his sketch. a sketch of you sitting on top of a table identical to the one you seated at right now with your legs swinging and your red robe nearly hitting the floor, eyes crinkled as your smile that he loves to look at reached up to your ears. his first drawing of you, he was proud of it and was sure it wouldn’t be the last drawing of you he’ll make.

you were taken back when you had noticed renjun was already gathering his belongings. he usually goes back to reading after finishing a drawing, you recalled back to the mental schedule you created in your mind. wow you really are a creep. you thought. too caught up with being offended by your inner self insulting your actions, you were completely unaware of the boy dressed in blue standing next to you.

renjun gaped as he thought you were ignoring him. having enough, he finally spoke, “can i help you?”

freezing in your seat when you heard his smooth voice laced with confusion, refusing to face the boy since you are definitely not prepared for this moment. fixing your posture and clearing your throat, you mustered your left over confidence as you chose to not further embarrass yourself in front huang renjun.

completely changing your body language to a more laid back manner and facing the boy, trying not to evidently show your breath being taken away from seeing him up close. his left eyebrow raised with his lips pursed slightly, fingers fiddling with the books by his side. he looked even better close in front of you, you had previously thought that was impossible. but you were so wrong, making you slightly mad at how perfect he seemed to be.

“nope” popping your ‘p.’ “do you?”

renjun’s facial expressions relaxed slightly. “no, i don’t.”

“why’d you come here then?” you mentally cursed and slapped and pinched and kicked yourself for accidentally not sounding the friendliest, your nervousness acting for you. “you sure you don’t need my help?”

renjun was taken back from your tone, oblivious to your feelings. there’s the gryffindor. they always have to be boasting. renjun huffed at his thoughts. he had not expected your first talk to be like this. your tone lightly hit his pride, so he automatically had to retaliate, “you’re the one to talk. you have an explanation for not being able to keep your eyes off me?” renjun laughed mockingly but not at you, at himself for being such a hypocrite.

defeated, you couldn’t keep up your relaxed attitude, “i. . . i just. . .” the eye contact you both shared was so intense you couldn’t even think straight, and neither could he. “s-sorry for bothering you. i’ll. . . leave you alone.”

before you could stand up from the chair, renjun pulled out the one beside you and sat facing your body. he sighed, “i’m sorry too. that didn’t come out as intended. but i need to know if i’m being too hopeful or not?”

hopeful? you remind yourself to pinch yourself later in case this a dream or some sort of spell. you hoped that your friends didn’t do anything without telling you since they’ve been suggesting that you use a love potion to “make everything easier,” but you profusely refused their incredibly stupid proposition each time they had brought it up to discuss.

“do you need tutoring, is that why?” he continued. his arms sat on his knees.

each and every one of his words entered one ear and went out the other as you wondered on what he was feeling hopeful for. “hopeful?”

his lifted his elbows off his knees and placed them on the table slowly, looking as if he was thinking. “i just thought that maybe you had reasons other than academic ones for coming here when i do.” he spoke very, very slowly that it was torturing. “am i right?”

you hated every second of this for the awful awkward tension, but this is the moment that you’ve been daydreaming of for weeks. though, you were shocked at how renjun noticed you despite trying to be as sneaky as possible — but your friends and renjun would say otherwise. “if i say yes. . .” your eyes wondered around his figure seated in front of you.

“i would be correct then.” he finished the sentence for you, not baring to wait longer. he moved his head towards your gaze on the floor behind him to try and get your eyes to focus on him.

and when you did, you saw the sparkle and hint of joy in his eyes making you feel truly confident. “then yes.”

—

it’s been nearly a month since your first interaction with one another, and renjun never misses a day of making fun of your past actions that you now admit were creepy. though after his friend, lee donghyuck, informed you in his own sneaky actions that you weren’t able to notice before, you have not let him live peacefully. renjun’s friend group was ecstatic when he told them about finally speaking to you and being with you. but renjun’s fully aware that they were more excited over the fact he can finally stop moping over not knowing how to approach you, achieving their peace since he can finally stop talking. though, he has a new topic to gush over — your relationship.

being together side by side and actually conversing with one another allowed renjun to see you in a deeper level, giving him more reasons to appreciate the special being that you are. he loved every second he spent with you. hearing you laugh at something that he had said or done makes renjun feel like he had reached the top of the highest mountain. holding your delicate hands while walking through the hallways made him feel like the most successful man on earth, and he proudly bragged over it. renjun loved how he felt so at ease and encouraged whenever he felt your presence around him. you don’t even need to be right by him to make him feel reassured. your presence alone was enough.

and you especially loved how he still chooses to love all those things despite your questionable actions in the past.

you loved being with him so much that you tolerate being in the library and actually reading beside him, or at least try to read. though, he has to hold your hand in order for you to fully commit yourself into studying with him. but both of you don’t complain.

you sat in a vacant table in the library, but this time, you sat next to the boy who you used to admire from a far. bouncing your leg out of boredom, “can we take a break?” you whispered in his ear.

renjun let out a small breathy laugh. “we just got here.” he whispered back, his gaze not leaving the thick book in front of you both.

your mouth slightly hanged open and you tightened your grip on his hand, “lies.” renjun squeezed your hand back playfully, still not looking at you. “please, jun, we’ve been here for an hour and you need to give yourself a break.”

silence.

you let go of his hand and puffed when he still didn’t spare a glance at you. defeated once again, you slid his notebook toward you and flipped through the pages, trying to entertain yourself by reading his notes. how fun.

widening your eyes in awe when you came across a page that showed a sketch of a person who looked exactly like you, with small hearts and tiny sparkles surrounding the figure sat on a table. your fingers lightly brushed the page, admiring how talented your boyfriend is.

“i drew that the day i came up to you.”

still strucked, you faced him and you were finally met with his beautiful eyes. “i think you need to update it. i look a bit different now.” you suggested with a smile that he cannot let down.

he hummed, “yeah, a tad bit huh?” you nodded eagerly which he laughed at. “i suppose i should work on it right now.” he reached for his notebook and flipped to an empty page, fixing his position so he can get a proper view of your face.

renjun did not hesitate to start drawing. he knew every detail of yours by heart, he honestly could draw a portrait of you relying solely on his memory. renjun has got every line, dot, and scar on your divine profile engraved in his mind since he thinks about you every second, literally. though, he still chooses to look up from his notebook to get a view of your face. not because he had forgotten a detail, but because he can’t refuse an opportunity to admire that face of yours. returning back to sketching with the most genuine smile you’ve ever seen on a person, with his pupils dilated. you definitely didn’t mind going to the library more often if you get to see renjun like this each time. you speak for both of you as renjun seems to be enjoying this moment just as much as you are. renjun’s hand that isn’t occupied reached for yours, with a grip that made it seemed like he’d never let go.

[athenadione]

"Kissing on sofa, foreheads pressed together, breathy, soft tender" with damirae please <3<3<3

‘you are good’ 

This one was a bit more challenging, and definitely mushy. Thank you Vi for being my beta, and giving me some super helpful suggestions to wrap up this one-shot. 

Hope you enjoy :) -AD

Pairing: DamiRae Words: 1,360 Rated: G with implied mature scenes

At first glance, one would think he’s gazing mindlessly at the television ahead, pondering just how stupid Shaggy can be to open that closet door. And he is, for a moment. 

Of course the perpetrator is behind it, ax poised to strike. His brow twitches, distaste tugging at the corners of his mouth. 

He must have hit a new low, resorting to watching Cartoon Network— though that was her show of choice and there’s nothing he will deny her; But how she’s able to watch this show and enjoy it is beyond him. 

She’s not even watching it. It’s more background noise than anything else, but if she’s happy, then what else can he ask for? And he is too… for the most part.

By the time the whimsical chasing scene ensues his eyes are already glossing over again, hands fisting ever so lightly in his lap as persistent, deprecating thoughts swarm his mind.

Of all the things to obsess over, he wouldn’t have had the slightest notion it’d be over a flippant comment, but now he can’t stop. 

“Are you kidding me? Almost everyone we fight has an identity crisis! How too far gone do you gotta be to not know killing people is wrong? Psychos.”

Ever since their debriefing this morning after Gar’s mindless jab, one ever-pressing question has been consuming him the entirety of the afternoon. 

And even though Gar couldn’t have known how his words would have affected him, Damian had been surprised to feel the short pang in his chest that spoke of a deeper level of pain and insecurity. One that he realized just then that he hadn’t quite healed from. 

Is he still in the midst of an identity crisis, after all this time? After all of his growth? 

Logically, it makes sense that he would continue to… question himself. After all, he'd been groomed for successorship of the League from birth until he was ten years old, then tossed into a world of vigilantes with strict moral codes that went against everything he had previously learned. 

He had thought he’d come to terms with it all. Especially after living at the monastery. 

It’s true that he still finds himself withholding that final decapitating strike, and maybe more than once he’s considered how much more effective it would be if he didn’t. Justice, not vengeance. He doesn’t know how many times he’s held onto that mantra like a lifeline, especially after he nearly killed Dollmaker. 

Is he really second guessing his rectitude? Surely I’ve established a clear sense of morality by now. I’m not too far gone, no matter what Gar says.

Something pokes at his thigh, pulling him from his thoughts, and he looks down to see a dainty barefoot pressed into his leg, toes wiggling enticingly. Despite his inner calamity, he can’t help the light smirk that plays at his lips. Cute isn’t a word anyone would hear spilling from his mouth, but if he ever had to describe her feet, that’s the word he’d choose. 

His gaze flicks up a pale, slender leg, hovering there a moment, before moving on to the novel that’s now slack in her hands. Jane Eyre— of course. She’s always loved the classics. Continuing his quest up, he reaches pools of lavender— and to his chagrin he finds that they’re filled with mirth. 

“You’re thinking up a literal storm cloud, habibi. You’re supposed to be relaxing.”

He gives her an affronted glare, though they both know he doesn’t really mean the anger behind it. Grasping the arch of her foot, he arches a brow while he begins to massage it absentmindedly, taking mental note of the soft moan that escapes her lips. “I’d never call watching that ridiculous show relaxing,” he cocks his head, gesturing towards the t.v., “It’s more infuriating than anything— and poor detective work if you ask me.” 

Her lips quirk upwards. “It’s a cartoon, Damian. It’s not meant to be realistic, it’s meant to be funny. Relaxing.”

“Tt.”

She nudges him again. “So what’s wrong?” 

He presses his lips together, taking care to keep his face emotionless. “Nothing.”

When she gives him an inscrutable look he scowls. Of course I had to fall in love with an empath. 

He sighs when she doesn’t relent. Resisting the urge to fidget his leg, he tenses and finds a spot at the floor between his feet. Just ask her. 

“Habibti, am I still… good?” he asks, too tentatively for his taste. 

Raven’s brows draw together and she gives him a reflective, silent stare. He knows that she’s trying to get a read on his emotions, to string together the reason why he would ask such an aimless question. 

It doesn’t take her long to figure it out, and her face softens only a few moments later. “Oh. This is about what Gar said earlier, isn’t it?” 

He frowns and nods once, then turns back to the t.v. The next episode has begun to play, and the music of the theme song does nothing to deter him from the rolling wave of disparate emotions swelling up in his throat. 

Arguably, he had a more traumatic upbringing than many of the villains they fought on a daily basis. What if he is still that person?? He can hear the voice. What if his carefully constructed restraint slips during a battle? 

What if one day I don’t stop that final blow? What if I’ve just been pretending this whole time?

“Habibi.” Raven calls out to him and he turns his head once more as she moves, folding her book and placing it aside. “Come here,” she murmurs. 

Her hand reaches out to him and he leans forward just as she shifts one foot underneath her to sit up comfortably on the couch. With a wave of her hand the volume on the t.v. turns to a mere whisper, and the other hand that’s reaching out to him finds the back of his neck, tugging him even closer to her. Then she rests her forehead directly against his, and his eyes flutter shut as his nose brushes against hers. 

All of a sudden he’s enveloped in solace. 

“You are good.” She whispers, lips ghosting over his own. “I would know. I can feel you, remember?”

He breathes in deep, catching the peppermint shampoo of her hair. Her thumb strokes the back of his neck soothingly and he relishes in the feeling, allowing her calming empathy to sweep through him. 

It’s almost funny how quickly she grounds me, in just a few short words. She had said so much more though, in the way that she held him.  

“I love you,” he whispers, smiling into the kiss that she presses against his lips. She responds in kind, humming into his mouth, “I love you too.” 

This concern won’t ever go away completely, but at least I have her by my side to help me through it. Watch over me, habibti.

“I know of something else that we can do to help put your mind at ease.” Raven’s voice drops to a low, husky sound that sends his heart racing.

“Oh?” he asks, mildly amused when she pulls away from him to push at his chest, and the back of his head hits the arm of the couch with a light thud when he falls. She follows. The sight of her, hovering over him with parted lips and hooded eyes is nothing short of divine beauty. And she’s all mine. “As long as it has nothing to do with that halfwitted cartoon,” he says as an added quip. 

“I’m thinking of a more… hands on approach.” The smirk she throws him makes him chuckle. That is, until she straddles his waist and rocks into him languidly. Then it dissolves into a groan of pleasure.

“Whatever you think is best habibti.” 

She draws closer to him with a smile, and he reaches up to thread a hand through soft, silky locks. 

His last coherent thought before she takes precedence over all his senses is that if this is his reward for being good, then he’ll do whatever it takes to never be bad again.

[lhaewiel]

So.

Previously on my "The Untamed/MDZS Ice Skating AU".

Unfortunately for y'all I have not finished talking about it. as always, a big thank you to @galaxy-darkmoon for giving me rope, and also @the-nonchalance-blogs for giving me the idea in the first place.

We left things at the double divorce JFM/YZY and JGS/Madam Jin.

At this point in time the other players step in. I will start with the WangXian and continue on with the SangCheng part.

I will do the XiYao drama in the next post cos this is already way too long and I need to think.

Anyway, enjoy. Under the cut

THE WANGXIAN DRAMA

Now, WWX is still competing and training under freshly divorced JFM as a solo - and possibly the star of the Jiang rink. A lot of people and journalists have a lot of things to say about the Choices™(C) made by JFM, but WWX's skills and prowess and several silver and gold medals on his rack, plus several trophies won jot all of that down.

Enter the Lans. The Lans are an extremely traditionalist family of ice skaters, who only skate with classical/traditional music and that has become through the years their trademark.

LQR, the coach and also LXC and LWJ's uncle, after the untimely disappearance of the parents, and the two brothers have trained a lot - LXC is already in the seniors category, whilst LWJ is still in the juniors category.

It's time for regional championship and WWX is also competing.

And it's clichè, but it is love at first ina bauer and toe loop for both WWX and LWJ. They both score first and whilst JFM and LQR are already down to throw hands for the gold medal, WWX blurts out a "why don't we share? we are both really good, so why don't we share the podium." This all whilst being the usual feral gremlin. LWJ is like, "no, it's not in the rules", but LXC is like "uncle, that's a really good suggestion" and LQR is at an inch from losing it, JFM deals the final blow like "you heard WWX, come on! let's praise them both!" and LQR concedes.

JC has seen the thing and he is at the "this might as well happen" point and just leaves the rink where he was watching WWX without a word. I will come back on this in just a moment.

LQR anyway invites WWX at the Gusu rink to train, stuff that happens once every blue moon, and JFM is like "yes, that is my son" "Uncle Jiang I am not your son" "Details, just go." "Ok, let me say goodbye to people."

And by "people" he means JC and Yanli, who were there to watch him compete.

Yanli congratulates him and says that JC is outside.

WWX goes to JC, who has had A Day™ and is just like "congrats, if it had been me at your place my father would have preferred to give up the position rather than have me share the podium" "Aw you know he doesn't mean that. I know you are as good as me and one day he will see that." "well, good luck then, I have stopped competing, say that to Father™"

More drama.

More misunderstanding.

JC goes back home, packs up and rents a flat near the Nie rink. He takes the position as ice skating teacher for kids over there and tries finding some sort of peace, whilst still aching over the above mentioned drama.

WWX goes to Gusu with the ache of having lost a brother completely and yes, being close to LWJ does make him feel better, but he still misses greatly his family.

Anyway the national championships approach and eventually WWX and LWJ change into a pair, become an item and end up skating into the sunset over wangxian.mp3, break several rules, get disqualified and then LQR and JFM, pressed by LXC, make an appeal and get the commission to accept them.

WWX and LWJ skating off into the sunset inspired by this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpp5XKiQqBE

THE SANGCHENG DRAMA

I said that JC stops competing, goes away from YZY's rink, rents a flat and goes teaching ice skating to kids at the Nie rink.

Now, the Nie have a team of hockey players. NMJ is the coach, NZH is the captain and NHS should technically be on the team as well, but he'd rather pull out paper and pencil and sketch out the things that interest him the most, birds most notably. NHS has an extensive collection of fans as well.

NMJ is fuming bc NHS has the capability and the potential to be the perfect ice hockey player, but he'd rather just NOT participate in that. NMJ has unfortunately a chronical illness and knows he can't be forever there, he would LOVE for his brother to inherit the team, but he has not said anything about his chronical illness to NHS thinking that if he did maybe NHS would feel too much pressured. He does not know that NHS knows about the chronical illness and is the one making sure that NMJ takes his medications.

In any case, when JC starts teaching, NHS is fascinated. He watches JC gracefully glide on the ice and be generally the Ice Price Of His Dreams, If Not For The Aggressiveness, but considering that also NMJ Tends To Be That Way Too, NHS assumes that there is some turmoil going on and makes it his mission to uncover All Of That™.

THat and also NHS really enjoys drawing JC gliding gracefully on the ice - too bad JC discovers this and also NMJ is VERY perceptive, but NOT subtle at all, so when NMJ says "HUAISANG COME AND PLAY!" "One sec bro, I have to finish something" "STOP LOOKING AT THE TEACHER'S ASS AND COME HERE NOW OR I WILL BURN YOUR FANS." "... Thank you bro for destroying any chance I had."

Awkwardness ensues.

JC is unfortunately very direct and does not beat around the bush. NHS confesses. JC is in a mystic crisis bc "OMG someone likes ME, the CRANKIEST and ANGRIEST man on earth." NHS takes a step back and notes, in his 35 steps plan on how to court and conquer JC that he needs to make him understand that "the greatest thing you'll ever learn is to love and be loved in return".

It takes NHS to step in to win a game, whilst NMJ is in the hospital bc the chronic illness is too much to bear, JC taking NHS to the hospital to see NMJ alive and slightly better, NMJ's blessing to NHS and JC and NHS throwing himself onto JC after NMJ is asleep bc THE PRESSURE, THE WORRY, THE CONCERN, and JC says that he will be there and NHS wanted to be the conquering one, but he ends up conquered by the heart of gold of JC.

JC reveals all about his family and NHS convinces him to reconcile, if not with his parents, with WWX and Yanli. Things work out bc HS is great at mediating and JC is genuinely touched by him.

WWX and Yanli tell JC to go for it, bc it is clear that there is some sort of sentiment, thus forcing JC to sort himself out.

JC sorts his feelings out and declares his love to NHS by performing a choreography on "Nature Boy" by David Bowie.

See you next time with the XiYao and Xuanli part.

[mymelodyheart]

Miles Between Us Chapter 4 ~Reunited~

Picture Source

 Previously in Twists and Turns

Although it was a cold, dreich and cloudy day, it didn't stop the strains of Pharell William's song, "Happy" playing in his head. He was having one of those days where he had the world on a string, and it felt like nothing could thwart his good mood. His Sassenach was coming tomorrow, and she'd be staying with him for at least a week. She already warned him not to make too many plans as she had work to do, but he didn't care. He would be waking up every morning for the next few days with Claire in his arms, and they'd eat dinner together when their day was done. That was all that mattered.

He was about to turn around and make his way into the living room when he saw Jenny leaning against the far end counter, her arms across her chest. It only took Jamie a second to deduce his sister had been standing there a while, her grin saying it all. 

"Jenny!"

"I called out to ye when I came in, but ye didnae hear me. Looks like someone is happy," Jenny observed, smirking. "What's up with ye?"

"Claire ...ye ken Claire. Ye met her over two weeks ago. She's coming over to stay for a few days. With me." 

  If you wish to read this on AO3, here is the link.

If you wish to read this from the beginning:

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Jamie eased his car into the parking lot, focusing on his breathing when his heart began to pummel against his chest. He'd known this might happen, and he'd come prepared ...or at least he hoped so. Taking his key out of the ignition, he reassured himself Claire would be with him soon enough, so he tried to remain calm. 

He leaned back against his seat and shut his eyes for a moment. Breathe in, breathe out, repeat. C'mon Fraser lad, ye got this.

Claire had initially planned on making her own way to Broch Mordha, too worried for him, in case he had another one of his panic attacks. But Jamie had vehemently insisted on picking her up despite her protestations. There was no way he was going to sit around in his cottage, waiting for her to arrive when he could be with her sooner. Every second spent in her presence was precious, and he wasn't about to give up any opportunity to be with her.

When he finally gathered himself together, he noticed his knuckles had gone white from gripping the steering wheel and a dull throb slowly working its way up to the back of his head. Every noise, every reflection of sunlight bouncing off the windshield was a torment. Ah, shite! Please, not now! His jaw already ached from its constant clenching and unclenching and his molars grinding during the drive, an attempt to smother the anxiety threatening to bubble up. He'd just arrived, and already he felt like he was going to suffocate. 

All the way from Broch Mordha, he'd centred his thoughts on Claire, afraid that if he allowed his mind to wander, the panic attacks would get out of hand. In his head, he'd pictured her laughing, full of life and excitement, and the way she made him feel. And he'd thought, if he could hold on to those images, he might just be able to keep the anxiety at bay, long enough until Claire was by his side.

Taking a deep fortifying breath, he exited his car, the noise around him giving off a static buzz, rivalling the one crackling in his head. On cue, an onrush of whirring sound intensified and just when he thought he was going to pass out, he caught a familiar scent as a blur in beige walked past him. Surprisingly, the din between his ears subsided into a distant hum, and his head shot up in time to see a man in an old fashion trenchcoat and a flat cap, hurriedly zig-zagging past oncoming and ongoing crowds. What the ...?

He felt drawn to the man like it was pertinent to get hold of him right this instant, not quite comprehending why. "Hey ye!" Jamie shouted after the bustling figure. "Wait up!"

The man stopped as if he'd heard he was being called, long enough for Jamie to see his profile. Harry? Harry ...as in Claire's father? Surely not! It cannae be. 

Before Jamie could make sense of what he was seeing, the figure began moving again, and so he picked up the pace. "Harry?!? Hey! Stop! It's me, Jamie," he shouted.

Jamie began to walk quicker, straining his neck so he wouldn't lose sight of Harry, but the man was fleet, occasionally stopping, looking for someone or something before rushing off again. Although Jamie was agile himself on his feet, he couldn't seem to catch up, and it wasn't long before Harry disappeared through the glassed entrance. Bummer!

He ran this time. When he eventually made it inside the airport, all he could see was Harry's head, bobbing up and down among a moving group of bodies heading in the direction of the arrivals' waiting area. He continued to follow, wondering what the hell Harry was doing here. The last time he'd seen the man was before Christmas, and after that, on an old photograph, Claire had shown him. Ah, fuck! Jamie thought he must be losing his mind. Is Harry alive, or is he a ghost? Claire did tell him that Harry or Henry, or whatever he was called, died in a car accident. So what the hell is happening? Is his condition making him see the deceased or is Harry a figment of his imagination? 

His eyes scanned the crowd, but Harry's head was replaced by an image of a bouncing oversized red beanie. Jamie continued to walk forward, dipping and diving, not wanting to lose him, but red beanie head was waving an arm, and it kept getting in the way. Ah hell, where did he disappear to?

Irritation coasted down his back, and his eyes landed once again on the red beanie head, walking towards him, just a few feet away. Underneath the brightly coloured headgear was a mass of dark curls that framed a rosy cheek face with crystal clear amber orbs and a smile that tugged at his heart. Gradually, as if coming out of a trance, everything came into focus, and the backdrop and the noises dissolved. His heart stopped as realisation kicked in. It's Claire!

"Sassenach," he whispered. His lungs dislodged every iota of oxygen in his body, the world seeming to suspend around them expectantly.

Before his brain could compute what was happening, Claire dropped her bags and launched herself into his arms. Her warmth, scent and breath enveloped him, soothing his soul. In that instant, everything in the world felt right again as she buried her face against his neck. 

"Oh, God Jamie, I missed you," she whispered, her grasp tight around his neck. "You came, even when I told you not to. Stubborn, stubborn man!"

The tension in his muscles loosened, and the feel of her body was worth the stress he'd put himself through coming to the airport. He drew away slightly and gazed down at her beautiful face. "I had to come so I could do this," Jamie murmured, ensnaring Claire's mouth with his own. 

Her lips parted on a breath, and his tongue delved in, claiming her. Reminding them both and anyone in the vicinity who was watching, to whom she belonged. She must have sensed the psychological toll on him being in a busy place and what it took out of him to drive here, and his need to be grounded and centred. She clasped his face in her hands, forcing him to withdraw the kiss on a groan. She glanced up at him and searched his face, and when she was satisfied that he was alright, she gave him a smile that caused his throat to tighten with emotion. His heart pounded so hard, she placed her hands on his chest as though to keep it from bursting free. Wanting to feel more of her, he hoisted her up and pressed her closer against him. When he lowered his head to reclaim her lips a second time, she playfully nipped at his lip, before taking control of the kiss, reminding him he belonged to her too. She tunnelled her fingers in his hair and tilted her mouth over his, kissing him fervently until they broke away, gasping for breath.

She giggled, sliding away from his grasp, only for her arms to encircle his waist. "That was some welcome. I'm tempted to come more often now if I get to receive a kiss like that every time I arrive."

A harsh sound escaped his mouth. "Ah, Christ. What universe am I on that I get to keep ye for mysel', huh?" he breathed, running a thumb across her lower lip.

"A universe tucked away in a Highlands, one that I'm so chuffed to have found because you're in it," she replied, smiling, her breath ghosting on his chin as she looked up to meet his gaze. "Though I must admit, I wasn't too thrilled when you insisted on picking me up. I have faith you'll get over your anxiety one day, but you shouldn't push yourself too hard. Healing takes time, Jamie."

He tipped her chin and smiled, oblivious to the hustle and bustle of their surroundings, finding his calm in her presence. "I ken ye still worry, but I'm getting better every day. I promise. The meditation playlist ye sent me helps a lot, and it works even if I get leg cramps out of it as a result. Next, ye'll be suggesting yoga, but I'm warning ye, that's where I draw the line, Sassenach. My limbs are fine as it is."

She scrunched up her nose at his attempt to downplay his condition. "So, no more anxiety attacks? How about nightmares?"

"No nightmares," he reassured her, picking up loose curls resting on her shoulder and letting them slide between his fingers. "Though I still wake up sometimes in a cold sweat and occasionally, I have wee attacks when I'm under stress. But they're manageable as long as I remember the breathing exercises."

"That's good, Jamie," she said, sliding her hands up and down his back. "For a minute there, when I came out, and first saw you, I thought you seemed rather pale. You looked past me like there was no recognition in your eyes, but your colour returned when I got closer. I have been worried about you coming ...so I must have imagined the whole thing."

Ah hell, Harry! He'd forgotten about him. He looked beyond her head, even though he knew Harry was long gone. Knowing it was a futile endeavour to even contemplate Harry's whereabouts, let alone start looking for him, Jamie cleared his throat and brought his attention back to Claire. He didn't want to lie to her, but there was a time and place to talk about Harry. He knew he'd delayed it for too long, but it had to wait just a wee bit longer. "Ye didnae imagine anything, Sassenach. I felt the beginnings of the panic attack, but when I saw my mate and started to call after him and follow him, I realised the distraction helped suppress it. He was going in the direction where ye came from. And then right after I lost him, I saw ye."

She cocked her head and looked at him curiously, amber eyes inquisitive, always reading between the lines. Even though he knew she appreciated that piece of information, there was still something niggling at her. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"Aye, I'm certain now that ye're here."

Claire studied him. "Well, the distraction from your mate helped for sure. Or at the very least, it took the edge out of the anxiety."

Jamie gave her a reassuring smile. "Indeed, it has. Shall we go?" he proposed, eager to get going.

She visibly shook herself and nodded as he stepped away from her embrace and made a move to collect her bags. Once they got going, he twined their fingers together, powerless to stop himself from kissing her knuckles and brushing them with his thumb. The noises in his head had already ceased, and with Claire by his side, not even the drone of a busy airport could yank him back into the grips of immobilising anxiety bouts.

Although seeing Harry earlier had helped quell down the panic attacks, he knew it wasn't a permanent fix. As Claire had once told him over the phone, part of his recovery included finding a healthy way to let go of the past and forgive himself. It was taking time for sure, but the more he acknowledged his demons, instead of burying it deep down into his subconsciousness, the easier it got. The more he talked about the death of his best mate, Simon MacKimmie, the lighter the load on his shoulders became. There might still be lingering guilt and the image of Simon's death deeply embedded in his memory, but as Claire often had, and time and time again said, real progress took time. Jamie understood the fix needed to be on a mental level, and that was on him. 

Despite it all, he felt incredibly blessed to have a lass who was willing to walk with him through it and not for him, something perhaps his sister should take note of. He'd shared with Claire his living hell, and still, she found something beautiful in the midst of so much ugly. He was convinced more than ever, with Claire everything was possible and he was looking forward to their future.

As they made their way out of the airport and into the parking lot, Jamie squeezed Claire's hand and smiled. "So what are yer plans today, Sassenach? Do ye have to work?"

She beamed up at him. "No. Work can wait until tomorrow. I think these past few weeks I've worked enough ...not to mention missing out on a lot of weekends. I think I deserve a break."

"Aye, that ye do. So, lunch perhaps, then?" Jamie suggested, releasing her hand and clicking the key fob as his car came to view. "Ye must be hungry."

"Did you make something?"

He swiftly deposited her bags into the boot and shut the door before kissing her on the forehead. "No. But I can always whip us up something, or we can stop somewhere on the way to grab a bite ...if ye wish."

Claire shied away, for once looking reluctant. "I'm not really hungry, to be honest."

"So do ye have anything particular in mind ye want to do?" he asked, his curiosity spiking when he noticed a bright shade of red rising from her neck to her face, causing her face to flush prettily. 

She chewed her lower lip. "Are you working today?" 

He grinned. "No. I took a day off." And he'd arranged with Willie he wouldn't be starting work until ten tomorrow morning.

"Well, ..."

"Weel what?"

"I think I'd like to go to bed."

To bed? He searched her face looking for any evidence indicating she was unwell or fatigued. After all, she'd been working a lot these past few days. But he found none. Instead, her eyes betrayed what she had in mind. Still, he could be mistaken and wanted to be sure. "To bed or to sleep?" he asked slowly and cautiously.

She stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his, making his stomach flipped. "What do you think?" she whispered against his mouth.

There was an awareness on Claire's face that revealed she felt the wild rapping against his rib cage. Both of their breathing changed, and in an instant, the closeness of their bodies was no longer means to keep anxiety at bay.

His heart rate suddenly became an equivalent of a man running from a bull in Pamplona. "Ach, Sassenach, couldnae ye wait until we were nearer to home to tell me that?" 

Her shoulders lifted. "Well, you did ask ..."

He walked her backwards against the car and pressed their forehead together. "Ah, damn it! Here I am trying to block images of what I want to do to ye the moment we're alone and be a decent boyfriend and treat ye like the sweetheart ye are. Now all I can think of is ..."

"What?" she asked innocently, her lids fluttering, her pupils obstructing out some of the gold of her irises. "What are you thinking of?"

Ah, bloody hell! He certainly didn't want to answer that. Not here at the airport's parking lot anyway. He blew out a shaky breath and adjusted his jeans. "Get in a car." The growl that broke from his throat sounded foreign to his ears, but it couldn't be helped when the sudden urgency to have Claire was thrumming in his veins. "And not another word, until we reach home."

She smiled and made a motion of zipping her lips as she got into the passenger side. He groaned inwardly, hoping and praying for another distraction. But this time for an entirely different condition that was tormenting him. 

  Dear Readers,

Well, I did try my hardest to finish this chapter in time for Valentine's day, but I was having too much of a good time with hubby that I thought surely you guys wouldn't mind. We had takeaways, a bottle of wine and cuddles on sofa rewatching Hunger Games. I know it's hardly a romantic film befitting Valentines, but we both loved it. My thoughts are, every day should be Valentine's day, so I hope you felt Jamie's love (and lust) for Claire in this chapter.😁

Before I sign off, I'd like to thank you for your continued readership and feedback, and I am so looking forward to what you think in my latest update. Take care of yourself and keep the love vibes rolling. Until my next instalment ...X

[yuzukult]

effortlessly pt. 5 (m) || jungkook & reader

title: effortlessly pairing: jungkook x reader genre: fluff, romance, school!au, smut (watch out bitches!! jk i tried) words: ~4.2k (... after i edit it multiple times lol) note: this fic is turning out longer than intended.......... yep oh well warnings: this chapter contains smut.

series: part one || part two || part three || part four || part five || part six || part seven || part eight || part nine || part ten || epilogue 

It’s a series of letters.

As I sit alone along the shoreline of the beach here in the States, the only sounds are the waves crashing on the rocks that sit by the water; it’s a reminder of how isolated I am. Out of all the people I could be thinking of, you’re still occupying my mind. Maybe it’s how supportive of a friend you are or possibly just how effortlessly convivial you can be amongst a group of people, regardless of the familiarity but I long for that comforting feeling you bestow on those lucky enough to receive. 

--

I met a girl today.

She’s sweet, and also Korean. Communication can be rough here, and if I’m being completely honest, I thought that these emotions I had harbored for you were just something I kept out of the loneliness. But meeting this girl was almost solidifying what I felt for you, and how much I regret coming here, away from it all. Dreams are dreams, they’re aspirations that you hoped to aim for, but as humans, we are selfish, desiring for more. I wanted more. I wanted you.

--

Reminiscing to the time we first met, I thought of you as just Jungkook’s little friend who stuck by his side like glue. Someone who followed him around because she crushed on him and he didn’t reciprocate. Boy, I was wrong. I never realized how much Jungkook enjoyed your support, wanting you to be there, how motivating it was for you to cheer in the sidelines until I was one of the people you were encouraging. 

I never felt so driven to my goals in my entire life. It’s probably how I’ve gotten so far. At this rate, Jungkook is going to be an olympian because of you.

Alarmed by Jungkook’s presence, you jolt in your seat on the bleachers, holding the letter against your chest. “Fuck, you scared me.”

He’s drying his soaked hair with a towel, shirtless with only his swim trunks on, eyeing you prudently. You had been reading the letters that Taehyung had left in the envelope, all written on thin pieces of parchment paper as if he didn’t own any actual stationary. They’d been so flimsy yet folded in such a way that when it had fallen out previously, it almost seemed like just one sheet of paper. 

“What did those letters say?”

“Uh, nothing worthwhile.” You respond abruptly. 

Jungkook pauses in the midst of his actions, bewilderment written on his face. “Are you alright? You... are acting a bit suspicious.”

Ambiguously, you hunch over, slipping everything back into the bag. Jungkook and your relationship was fresh, so fresh that it had only been a couple days of being together and you were already hit with an obstacle. Do you tell Jungkook things Taehyung said? Do you let him read the letters? They felt personal, something between just the two of you, but Jungkook was your boyfriend now.

“Let’s... talk about this later,” You conclude, ascending from the seat while grabbing your personal items. “Will you be ready soon? I kind of want to go right now.” Taking your wrist, his hand warmly tightens in the grip but loosens up promptly. “Hey, are you alright? You seem a bit off.”

From behind Jungkook, you detect Taehyung walking in your direction with Hoseok by his side, exchanging laughter during their route. His eyes meet yours for a moment before you quickly avert your attention, fixating it back on Jungkook as your cheeks flush pink. “I just want to go home. Can we go home?”

He nods, unzipping his duffel bag and pulls out a T-shirt. “We can go. I need to go change my pants in the bathroom—“

Taehyung and Hoseok are getting closer.

“OK— let’s go,” Snatching his bag, you tug on his arm and rush to the locker room, Jungkook trailing behind with his shirt barely on. “Oh— what—“

Finally reaching the changing room, you look around for any potential athletes. Sighing after realizing everyone has left, you rummage through his belongings for his shorts. “Don’t be mad if I tell you this.”

“Why would I ever be mad at you?”

Your eyes look through your curled lashes, Jungkook watches your expression with a tightened heart. Jesus, even when you’ve got him so anxious that he feels like he’s sitting at the edge of his seat, he can’t help but think how pretty you look.

“I think Taehyung was trying to confess to me.”

Immediately, his face washes over with anger. “What? Taehyung tried to confess to you? Is that what those letters were about?” Nodding in response, you fist the hem of your shirt restlessly. The last thing you wanted was for Jungkook to view his role model in a different light. “Well, they were just letters he wrote with how he felt about me while away. I’m not sure how to react. I’m sure it’s nothing serious though—”

“You don’t, that’s what you do. Why would you do anything? Other than reject him, you tell him you have a boyfriend now and that what he’s doing is wrong.”

“But he’s a friend, Jeon.”

“A friend who just told you he likes you despite the fact that he knows you’re dating someone.”

“He didn’t know before that.”

Thwarted, he leans over and pulls the waistband of his shorts down, exposing more of his skin than intended. He’s too annoyed and frustrated to even care that his swim trunks are down to his ankles, completely revealing himself in his all naked glory before taking his shorts out of your hands. Blood rushes into your cheeks at the sight, turning your head away. 

“Why do you keep defending him? Do you still like him?”

Your face snaps back to his direction, forgetting about his current state before reversing your head away again. “Of course not, why would you ask that?”

“Because you’re acting awfully uncomfortable with him around and defending him like you have something to hide.”

“Jeon, I don’t. You know that I like you.”

“If I’m being honest,” He’s in the midst of dressing himself as he speaks before running his fingers through his hair. “We’ve only been dating a couple days and before that, I assumed you still had a crush on Taehyung.”

Standing up, you scowl at his response. “That was just an observation you had, not the truth. Jeon, are you jealous?” You find yourself drawing closer to Jungkook, arms draping over his shoulders before caressing the nape of his neck gingerly. He exhales out a deep breath, giving into your touch and resting his hands on your waist, lids falling shut. “A bit, yeah. How could I not? You used to tell me all these things about him— how kind and sweet he is, how he gives you snacks during our practices, how he does these little things for you that shows he cares... how am I supposed to compete with that?”

“You don’t,” You reiterate his words from earlier. “You don’t try to compete, you don’t think about him or what he has done. You’re just you, that’s more than enough for me.”

“Okay, okay. I know. It’s just... I’ve always looked up to Taehyung, and you know this. He has everything I could only dream of having, including you—”

“Jungkook, he doesn’t have me. You have me.”

His eyes soften. After being friends with you for so long, he couldn’t believe that he’d been lucky enough to have you in his arms. His anger diminishes from the tone of your assuring words as he presses his forehead against yours. It had been a haunting thought in his mind throughout the decade, how you could ever possibly be his. And with you in his embrace now, he’s not sure if he deserves having you here or how to keep you.

“Okay, I... alright. Maybe you can have a civil conversation with him about this and let him down easy.” He suggests, lifting his solemn gaze to meet with yours. Jungkook felt uneasy at the idea of you being alone with Taehyung, but he’d come to understand that it was the right thing to do. “I just don’t want to be dropped because Hyung suddenly realizes what he’s missing.”

“Well,” You shrug nonchalantly as you continue. “He’s super late. You’ve always had me, it just... took awhile for me to realize it too. Thankfully, I wasn’t late.”

“You would’ve never been late,” Jungkook admits, feeling as though all the pieces have fallen into place after hearing your confession on that very night. To him, it was the start of something new, despite always having been by your side. You were finally his. “I couldn’t even notice any other girls, look how many had confessed to me yet I was so blinded by you!”

Clicking your tongue, you slap his chest in unison with a light laugh. “Oh, shut up. Guess it’s my turn to let someone down.”

A week later is when you’re confident enough to confront Taehyung.

“You wanted to talk?” Taehyung asks, approaching you on the sidelines of the football field that’s occupied by the players during their daily practice. The sound of the coach’s whistle rings in your ears, interrupting your thoughts as well as Taehyung’s voice. You wanted to talk to him alone, not entirely alone, but enough to not cause any discomfort.

“Yeah,” You say softly, the bag of gifts and letters in one of your hands. “This... thank you, Taehyung, for this. But I can’t accept your gift if it means I have to accept your feelings.”

His expression is sullen. “I’m not asking you to accept them, I just wanted to let you know that they exist, and that they always have.” Taehyung lets out a sigh, glancing over at the field. “Keep the gifts, they were things I bought because I thought of you when I laid my eyes on it.” Arms dropping along with your body, you plop onto the bench. “Why did you decide to tell me now?”

“I’ve wanted to tell you since the moment I realized it when I was in the States. I was waiting for my next trip here to finally let you know,” He declares, sitting beside you. “Didn’t think Jungkook had the balls to actually confess to you. It was about time.”

“I was the one who confessed.”

Taehyung turns to you with widened eyes, startled. “Really? You’re the one who confessed? Turns out Jungkook really doesn’t have the balls.”

You frown. “Don’t say that, I did it discreetly and he overheard. He didn’t think I felt anything back for him.”

“Regardless, I can’t believe he actually made a move. He’s been crushing on you forever. What friend talks about his best friend that frequently without having feelings for her? He even had me falling for you with how he describes you.”

“You fell for me?” Appalled, you turn to meet his gaze. “You’re in love with me? I thought you just... liked me.”

“Are you kidding?” He exasperates, shaking his head in disbelief. “Look at yourself, you’re gorgeous. Understanding of others, kind, selfless— who wouldn’t fall for you? Your only flaw is how oblivious you are to these things. You know how you thought Jungkook was an idiot when it came to girls having feelings for him? You’re the same way but with men! Hoseok even liked you for a bit before realizing that Jungkook had already been smitten by you.”

“What?” Was the only word you managed to choke out, astonished by all the information being thrown at you at once. “Did Jungkook never tell you? Hoseok said he liked you but Jungkook mentioned something about loving you for so long... but don’t get me wrong, Kook would never tell his friend not to go for it.”

“Then what?”

“Hoseok... waited. Wanted to see how legitimate Jungkook’s feelings were for you. Figured out that Jungkook couldn’t even get himself a girlfriend because he was so caught up with you so Hoseok gave up so Kook could... chase.”

“And you?” You’ve got your bottom lip between your teeth, biting anxiously that it would be swollen by the time you let it go. “What about you?”

He chuckles at your reaction, pushing his hair back, away from his face. “Probably around the same time as Hoseok, I got caught too. Difference is that I knew Jungkook liked you, just wasn’t sure if it was worth ruining a friendship for.” Taehyung shakes his leg apprehensively, eyes warding from you and focused on the players running amuck. “It wasn’t. Jungkook looked up to me, despite the fact that we are friends. He wanted to be me— with this scholarship and opportunity overseas. But I hope he realizes what he’s giving up if he gains all of that.”

You raise a brow questioningly. “And what’s that?”

“What I said in the letter,” His stare trails down the field as the members of the school’s football team begin another set of drills, yelling and hollering at each other. “You’re away from the people you love. You’re away from the girl you’re in love with. Your friends aren’t near anymore, not a phone call away. You start to miss your mom nagging your ear off and the way your dad chews his food so obnoxiously.”

“Is... that how you feel?” Pulling your legs to your chest, you rest your chin on knees, lips pressed into a straight line. “Are you lonely over there, Tae?”

“All the time,” He confesses, gathering enough courage to finally turn and watch you. “I miss everything about here, that’s why I grabbed the first flight I could to come back. I missed my friends, I missed my family. It wasn’t the same without Jungkook’s personal cheerleader sitting in the crowd, hollering out everyone’s name. You were just as a motivation to me as to him.”

“I’m sorry, Taehyung. I’m with Jungkook now.”

“I’m not asking you to date me,” He concedes, and your brows fall inwardly in complexity. “I just want your support. I don’t have that over there. It’s like I’m chasing this dream but there’s nobody to share the success with. What’s a dream when you don’t have the people you love around you to share it with?”

Unconsciously, the conversation between you and Taehyung flooded your thoughts throughout the rest of the day.

It had become a personal concern, something that disregarded Taehyung’s feelings for you and your relationship with Jungkook.

What did this mean for you, someone who was close to graduating high school? Would you go to University? And even if you did, what would your field of expertise be? Your major? What were you even good at? It had become clear that the length of time spent at Jungkook’s games were for supporting him, yet he couldn’t come to anything of yours because well... you didn’t have a passion.

“You’re awfully quiet.”

“Huh?” Your train of thoughts are interrupted by Jungkook who glances over at you while driving in his signature beat up car with the windows down and the breeze running through his chocolate brown locks. He looks angelic like this— in his happy place (which is his car), on the way home from school after waiting for you in the parking lot after talking to Taehyung.

“You’ve been silent for the whole time. Since you came into the car and the entire ride. Something Taehyung said?”

“Possibly,” You’re short, but you don’t mean to be. “Where are we going?” Jungkook makes an unfamiliar turn, changing his route away from the direction of home.

“Somewhere special so we can talk.”

Momentarily, you reach somewhere in the suburbs with mostly trees and grasslands. You’re parking under an overpass, it seems, but out of use. There aren’t many cars nearby, but the view of the sunset is clear and the air is clean and crisp as you inhale the freshness of nature deeply with your eyes closed, embracing the feeling. Jungkook twists his keys as the engine stops it’s ruckus noise, and the car comes to a halt as his body is now facing you in his seat. “Talk to me.”

“Jeon, it’s nothing.”

“Just because I’m your boyfriend now doesn’t make me less of your friend than before. It just means I’m more.”

You roll your eyes. But regardless, he’s right. You’re insecure about your career path, your choices and what you’ll do in the future, but sitting beside a guy who seems to know everything he wants is intimidating. Especially when he’s someone you want to be deserving of.

“I...” Hesitant, you know that it’s something you have to do anyway. Jungkook has been with you— thick and thin— so what makes this time different from the rest? “Taehyung kept talking about his dream. How, although he’s over there chasing this aspiration, it doesn’t feel fulfilling because he’s not around the people he loves to share it with.”

Jungkook scoffs before letting you finish. “Sounds selfish—“

“No,” you interject. “That’s not where I was going with this.”

“Then where’s your head at, love?”

You pause. There’s a lot to uncover here, and if you’re completely unfiltered, Jungkook will realize how absolutely lost you are. Admitting you’re lost might make Jungkook’s feelings ambivalent, but nonetheless, you take in a deep breath of fortitude and continue. It was either now or never.

“I don’t have those aspirations. I don’t know what I’m going to do or what I’m going to be, and you’re here with the biggest dreams. You have so much motivation and will to get there— but what about me? I don’t have anything. I don’t have a passion, a hobby... nothing. What am I supposed to be? Jungkook’s cheerleader for life?”

He sighs at your words, leaning over to brush a strand of hair away from your face. His lips purse in thought for a moment, causing doubtful ideas popping into your head before he bursts the bubble by shattering the glass of quietude. “You are and will always be, Jungkook’s personal cheerleader. But that’s not your title and entirety, it’s just something you are because I love your support and beliefs in me. However, love, I don’t want you to think that’s all you are and all you’re made for.”

“And what’s that?”

“Well,” he begins, leaning back in his seat. “That’s for you to decide. I don’t want you to feel like all you are is my support team. You’re more than that, you’re capable of anything. Everyone is lost at our age, only some of us know what we truly want to do. And I’ll help you find your way— I’m also your personal cheerleader.”

“Isn’t it tiring?”

“What’s tiring?”

“Trying to be a personal cheerleader of someone who doesn’t have anything to cheer for.”

Jungkook takes a moment to organize his thoughts, peeling off a bit of the leather on his steering wheel. “No. Everything I do for you feels effortless. Everything I feel for you is effortless. I don’t have to try in order to want to do things for you, and I don’t have to try to love you. I just do, it comes naturally. But... I also don’t want you to feel this way, and I want to help you find what makes you happy.”

Just listening to the way he speaks about you and the expression on his face is full of worry warms your heart. You feel stupid— how could you have waited that long to tell Jungkook your feelings for him, and thinking about other guys when you had one right in your face all along?

In the spur of the moment, you’re not sure where you get all this assertiveness from, but you cup his cheeks, pulling him into a kiss. It’s heated— the way his tongue fights its way into your mouth, slipping between your lips as you climb over the center console to straddle his hips while he pulls his seat back for more space. His hands barely hover your waist, so innocently and gentlemen-like, and you take notice of this, placing your own on top of his then guiding him to wrap it around your frame as he complies. Pressing your hips down against his, he lets out a groan from both your boldness and the feeling of your weight against his jeans.

This was different compared to the first time— back then, you knew you wanted Jungkook, but you weren’t sure how to show it. You held back, both from inexperience and uncertainty that he’d find out about your love for him, but this time, he knew, and he reciprocated those emotions back.

Your fingertips played with the fabric of his shirt on his shoulders as his own traveled their way up the hem of your skirt, rubbing the skin of your thigh that it made you shiver. Pulling away from his lips, your foreheads pressed against each other, watching with hooded eyes and heavy uneven breaths. 

“Well,” He says between breaths. “This isn’t like the first time.”

“No, it’s the second. We’re more experienced now. And stop counting, it’s weird.” With that, you push yourself down against his crotch, earning another moan emitting between his swollen pink and plump lips, his hands accompanying your hips to maneuver and gain more friction. You watch his euphoric expression as his head drops back onto the seat, lips agape and brows furrowed, focusing on the movements. His neck exposed, you can’t help but attach your mouth on the skin, so soft and smooth, licking and tugging it between your teeth before he pushes you away slightly, your brows crinkling in confusion.

“Something wrong?”

“I might actually cum in my pants if we keep doing it like this.”

Seconds later, his pants were hung low just enough to free his cock. The tip is leaking with pre-cum, and he’s pulsing against his stomach from the brief humping session. He has a hand wrapped around his cock, smearing his arousal and giving himself a couple pumps. You weren’t going to lie—but seeing him unraveled like this beneath your grasp sparked confidence in your blood, wanting more. “Should I take off my panties?”

“No,” He responds, fingers toying with the fabric underneath your skirt. “We’re in public, if we get caught, at least we can have some dignity and get dressed quickly.” You roll your eyes at his response, but nonetheless, he tugs your underwear aside, sufficient enough for access. He keeps his eyes locked onto yours, hand trailing down to meet with your center, thumb swiping across your slit. Gently, he slips a finger in, waiting for the nod of approval from you before letting in another until you felt ready enough for him.

“Fuck— I forgot a condom.”

“Don’t... I’m on the pill. And... I trust you.” He twitches at your words, a husky grunt leaving his lips as he positions himself under you, watching your contorted expression while he lifts his hips upwards as yours does the opposite, head rolling back at the feeling of fullness. “Fuck, you’re so tight.” Compared to the first time, you were so bare, so wet for him. He thought that losing your virginity to each other was when he felt close to you, but this was a whole other meaning to close.

Never in your life you would’ve thought you’d be dating your best friend, let alone fucking Jungkook in the driver seat of his beat up car. You also never saw yourself having enough courage to be riding him either, hands now on either side of his head, resting on the seat for more control and leverage as he angles his hips up to hit yours, the sudden new change of position causing a whimper to leave you.

“Deep?” He asks, his eyes barely open from the intense pleasure. You nod dumbly, loss for words, the car rocking and creaking underneath the rough thrusting. His fingers are digging into your ass, guiding your hips to move at a quicker pace, erupting noises from you that you never thought you’d make. You were filled with this new movement, unable to hold back any longer.

Suddenly, his hand slides down between where your bodies meet, pressing and rubbing against your clit that you feel the coil in your stomach tightening, letting out loud gasps and moans that are music to Jungkook’s ears, jerking up sharply into you messily. Head spinning relentlessly at the pleasure, you feel yourself hitting your peak, and Jungkook knows this from you clenching around his cock. “Close?”

“S-so close,” You whisper, too fucked out to even respond properly. Moments later, you’re coming, body shivering at the overwhelming amount of pleasure, long and hard with a hand clenching and nails digging into his shoulder. He gives you a second to regain yourself, riding out your climax before he snaps up into you sloppily, reaching his own high. In an instant, his crotch stills in you, body trembling underneath you as his cum paints your walls.

You drop your body tirelessly on his, panting from exhaustion as he grows limp inside you, arms wrapping around your waist. 

Although he was out of breath, chest heaving densely, he still managed to speak. “Did I make it up to you this time?”