#4 to drop out myself and move to LA

[gazebo-components]

UGHHHHHH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO guys the next few days might be full of lowkey vent posting from me because unfortunately this semester is starting to Kind Of Suck in a couple major ways

[snowysosturn]

Fire & Desire - Matt Sturniolo Part 26

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Finale

Pairing: Y/n x Matt Sturniolo

Summary: Y/n has always clashed with Matt. Despite working for Chris’s clothing brand and being close with Nick, her relationship with Matt has always been tense at best. While being forced to be around each other more, their animosity turns into something deeper. Can they overcome their differences, or will their fiery emotions tear them apart?

Warnings: Angst, tension, arguments, mention of loss of appetite

Y/n’s POV

I sit on the edge of the bed, my suitcase beside me, my hands shaking slightly as I unlock my phone. The sinking feeling in my chest hasn’t lifted since I stepped back into this house, and I know now, it’s not going to. I can’t stay here. Every corner of this place reminds me of him, and I need to be somewhere else before I break all over again.

My phone vibrates in my hand, pulling me back to reality.

“Of course.”

I exhale, relieved. At least one thing is working out. I type back quickly, my thumbs moving without hesitation.

“Can you sort me out a hotel?”

A response comes almost instantly.

“Yeah, I’ll sort it now. I’ll send you the booking details in a bit.”

"Thank you, can we keep this to ourselves please?"

I stare at the screen, a part of me feeling guilty for asking, for needing help. But there’s no other choice. I can’t go home because I don’t have one. And I can’t go back to how things were before this trip. 

A notification pops up on my phone, the hotel address and booking confirmation.

The Four Seasons.

My stomach twists as I open the message, scanning the details. A two week stay, completely paid for. 

Two weeks.

It’s generous, more than I expected, but I already know I can’t stay that long. Hopefully, I’ll find somewhere permanent before then.

I let out a breath and open the Uber app, booking a ride to take me straight there. The sooner I leave, the better.

Grabbing my suitcase, I carry it down the stairs and roll it toward the front door, pausing for just a second. 

This is it.

The last time I’ll walk out of this house.

Maybe forever.

I shake the thought off and pull the door open, stepping outside. The complex is quiet, the only sound coming from the occasional car passing in the distance. I pull my phone from my pocket, my screen lighting up.

8:05 pm.

I swallow hard and tighten my grip on my suitcase.

Time to go.

The Uber ride is silent and when we finally pull up in front of the Four Seasons, my stomach is in knots. This is real now.

I check in at the front desk, avoiding eye contact as the concierge hands me the key. The elevator ride feels endless, but when I finally step into the room, I can breathe for what feels like the first time all night.

It’s huge, bigger than I anticipated. A large bed sits in the center, crisp white sheets untouched. Large windows that show off the LA skyline, but I don’t even take it in. I drop my suitcase near the closet and immediately crawl onto the bed, exhaustion wiping me out.

I don’t leave the room for three days.

I don’t order room service. I don’t even turn on the TV. My days blur together, waking up, checking my phone, ignoring texts from Matt and only replying to the ones that aret from Nick.

Nick checks in every day. He doesn’t push, just asks if I’m eating, if I’m okay, if I need anything. It’s the bare minimum, but it’s more than what I can do for myself right now.

Tomorrow, we’re meeting for brunch. It’ll be nice to catch up, to hear how the rest of Hawaii went for him. Wondering if anything more happened with George.

Then, as if the universe is reminding me I can’t just hide forever, my phone pings again.

Calendar reminder: Work meeting – Tuesday 3pm. RE: Surprise Party Tour

I blink at it, realizing what that means. I’ll also be seeing Chris face to face sooner than I thought.

The next morning, I take my time getting ready. It’s the first time I’m stepping out of the hotel since I arrived, and even though it’s just brunch with Nick, it feels like something bigger. Like I’m crossing some invisible line between hiding and facing reality. 

I stare at myself in the mirror, adjusting my jumper, trying to look like I have everything together. But the dark circles under my eyes and the dullness in my expression tell another story.

The Uber ride to the restaurant is short, but it feels longer with how much I’m overthinking everything. I scroll through my phone aimlessly, trying to distract myself, but my thoughts keep circling back to the same place.

What happens after this? How long can I avoid everything before it catches up with me?

When I step into the restaurant, I spot Nick immediately. He’s already seated at a small table by the window, scrolling through his phone. As soon as he sees me, he puts it down and stands up, a relieved smile crossing his face. He pulls me into a hug, holding on just a second longer than usual, like he’s trying to check if I’m really okay without asking outright.

We sit down, and the waiter comes by to take our order. I go for an iced coffee and some avocado toast, mostly out of habit, not because I actually have much of an appetite. The first few minutes of our conversation are light, Nick fills me in on random things, making jokes, telling me about the rest of their time in Hawaii, how hes planning to meet with George when he's back. He talks like he’s trying to keep things normal, but I can tell he’s holding something back.

After taking a sip of his coffee, he leans back in his chair and looks at me with a more serious expression. "So.. how are you actually doing?"

I stir my iced coffee with my straw, watching the ice swirl in the glass. "I'm.. managing." It’s not a complete lie, but it’s not the whole truth either.

Nick nods slowly, like he’s debating something. Then he exhales and says, "And Matt.."

I freeze for a second before shaking my head. "What about him?"

"He’s not doing great.." Nick sighs, setting his cup down. "Hasn’t left his room since he got back. Barely talks to anyone. It’s like he’s just.. shut down. I’ve never seen him like this before."

I press my lips together, looking out the window instead of at him. I don’t know how to respond to that, because I don’t even know how I feel about it. I exhale slowly, fingers tightening around my glass.

Nick watches me for a moment, then leans forward slightly. "Do you want to talk to him?"

The question lingers between us, heavier than I expected. I feel my heart start to race, but I force myself to stay composed.

"I don’t know.." I admit, and it’s the truth. Because I really don’t. “Maybe not at the minute..”

Nick nods in understanding, not pushing me for an answer I’m not ready to give. Instead, he offers a small smile, his voice softer when he speaks again. "I miss you in the house, you know. It’s different without you there."

I glance up at him, and for a second, I see the sincerity in his expression. "I liked living there too" I admit. Because even though I left, there were parts of it that felt like home.

Nick leans back in his chair, tapping his fingers against the table. "Where are you staying now?"

I hesitate for a second, but I know I can trust him. "Four Seasons.." I say, keeping my voice low. "But please, don’t tell Matt."

Nick raises his hands in surrender. "I won’t" he promises. "You don’t have to worry about that."

I nod, letting out a small breath of relief. At least I have that.

We wrap up brunch, settling the bill before stepping outside. Nick shoves his hands into his pockets as he looks at me. "You know" he starts, "when you’re ready, you should come over to the house.."

I swallow, shifting my weight. The idea of going back feels impossible right now, like reopening a wound that hasn't even started to heal. But I nod anyway, because I know he means well. "Yeah.." I say, even though I don’t know if I mean it.

He nods at my reply, understanding that everything is still fresh. We make plans to meet up during the week and go our separate ways.

As I step into my hotel room, I try to shake off the conversation with Nick. It’s not that I don’t miss the house, I do. But going back feels like stepping onto unsteady ground, like I might fall through if I’m not careful.

I plop myself onto the bed, running a hand through my hair as I try to mentally prepare myself for work tomorrow. Avoiding Matt has been hard enough, but now I have to face Chris.

Our conversations have been brief since everything went down. Just the bare minimum. I do miss my friendship with him. He hasn’t pushed for details, hasn’t asked me to explain, but I know he wants to. I know he’s holding back.

And I don’t know what I’ll do if tomorrow is the day he finally decides to ask.

I Uber to the warehouse the next day, my stomach twisting with nerves the entire ride. I stare out the window, trying to convince myself that this is just another work meeting, like all the others I’ve had before. 

But it’s not. 

Because before, I wasn’t avoiding Matt. Before, I didn’t have to worry about Chris asking questions I don’t want to answer.

As the car pulls up outside the warehouse, I take a deep breath, gathering myself. The last thing I need is to look like a mess walking in. I grab my bag, thank the driver, and step out onto the pavement. I adjust my jacket and head inside, hoping that Chris has some sense and didn’t bring Matt along.

The second I step through the doors, I scan the space. A few of the guys are already here, setting up for the meeting, but there’s no sign of Matt. 

Thank god.

I walk further in, acting as if nothing is wrong, as if my whole life hasn’t just been flipped upside down.

Chris is standing near the table, flipping through a folder, but when he sees me, he straightens up. His expression is unreadable, but I catch the way his eyes scan over me, like he’s trying to figure out if I’m okay.

I ignore it. I’m here for work. Nothing else.

Everyone gathers into the meeting room and we get straight into business. No small talk, no lingering stares, just work.

Chris pulls out a schedule, laying it flat on the table as I take a seat across from him. The boys are heading on tour in two weeks, and we need to figure out how much Fresh Love stock we need to be available at each location. Logistics, shipment schedules, venue capacities, it all needs to be finalised before they hit the road.

I flip open my notebook, running through the numbers I calculated last night. “Based on the last tour’s sales and the fact we’ve larger venues this time, we’re estimating a 30% increase in demand, especially in Boston and LA. With the new drop, we might see a spike in other locations like Toronto. so we need to get ahead of that.”

Chris nods, tapping his pen against the table. “I was thinking the same thing. We’re adding pop ups along the way this time too, so we’ll need extra stock for those.” He glances at the list in front of him, then looks back up. “We’re not overproducing, though. Last thing we need is leftover inventory sitting in storage.”

“Exactly.” I jot down a few adjustments. “I’ll check with the manufacturers to see how quickly they can push out additional units if we need to restock mid tour.”

He leans back slightly, watching me for a second. “You sure you’re good handling this?” His tone is casual, but there’s an underlying concern to his words.

“I wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.” I say, giving him a smirk.

There’s a pause, but he doesn’t push it. Instead, he nods and keeps going, moving onto the next city on the list. Business as usual.

As the meeting wraps up, everyone starts gathering their things, chairs scraping against the floor as people head for the door. I organise my notes, trying to keep my focus on work rather than the tension that’s been hanging over me since I walked in.

I hear Chris’s voice over the low murmurs of conversation. “Hey, Y/n, can you stay back for a sec?”

I pause, gripping my pen a little tighter before nodding. “Yeah, sure.”

The last few people file out, leaving just the two of us in the now empty warehouse office. The silence settles between us, heavier than it should be. I don’t look at him right away, instead pretending to double check my notes, but I can feel his eyes on me.

"You okay?" I ask, breaking the silence.

Chris exhales, running a hand through his hair. "I just wanted to talk.." he says. "I-I’m sorry for everything that happened."

I shake my head immediately. "Chris, you don’t need to apologize. It’s not your fault-"

But he cuts me off. "Nah, it is. Or at least, I feel like it is." His voice is lower now, tinted with tones of regret. "If I had any idea what kind of mess this would turn into, I never would’ve brought them out” he says again, like he needs to convince himself. "I thought it was gonna be a good time, just us all hanging out. I didn’t think-" He stops himself, exhaling sharply. "I didn’t think it’d end with you leaving."

I swallow, suddenly feeling the reality of it all again. He’s not wrong. If things had gone differently that night, maybe I wouldn’t be having this conversation right now, or living in a hotel, avoiding everyone. Maybe I’d be at home. Maybe Matt and I would still be a thing.

But that’s not what happened.

"It’s not on you, Chris" I say, finally. "You couldn’t have known."

"But I should have, I should’ve been more aware of what was going on around me." His eyes meet mine, and there’s something raw there, something that makes my chest tighten.

"For what it’s worth" he continues, "I broke things off with Rachel that night after dinner. I didn’t invite either of them there..they just showed up. And honestly? It felt intentional, like they were trying to get to you. I don’t know if Rachel was in on it, but Christina.. she knew what she was doing."

I stare at him, trying to process it. 

He ended things with Rachel? 

Because of me?

I had assumed Chris didn’t care, that he had just let it slide, but he actually broke things off with Rachel over it. And not only that, he saw through Christina’s act too.

"I would never want to be with someone who tries to hurt my close friends" he adds, his voice firm.

Something about hearing him say that hits home. I had always thought Chris gave people too many chances, but this? This was different.

"You really ended it with her?" I ask, still trying to wrap my head around it.

Chris nods. "Yeah. That night. I wasn’t gonna be with someone who plays games like that. It was all way too intentional"

I look away, exhaling slowly. "Yeah it seems like everything Christina does is intentional. Chris, if you could’ve heard the things she was saying that night in the club.."

He frowns, his brows furrowing. "What did she say?"

I sigh, shaking my head as I recall Christina’s smug expression that night.

"She was saying that connections like theirs never really go away, and that “what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas”. So.. you know what she was insinuating."

Chris narrows his eyes slightly, confused. "What is she insinuating?"

I hesitate, not sure if I really want to say it out loud. But there’s no point in hiding it now.

"That her and Matt slept together in Vegas, just before Hawaii." I finally say, watching his reaction carefully.

Chris’s eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and then his expression shifts, part confusion, part irritation. "No they didn’t?" he says immediately, shaking his head. "That’s bullshit."

I stare at him, waiting for him to say more, waiting for some kind of explanation.

"Matt slept on the couch when she stayed in the room" Chris continues. "I might have been drunk, but I remember that well."

I search his face for any sign of dishonesty, but there’s nothing, just certainty. And suddenly, everything makes even more sense. 

Christina had been lying. 

Trying to get under my skin.

Trying to twist the situation into something worse than it already was.

Chris watches me, his expression softer now. "You really thought they did that?"

I exhale, feeling a mix of relief and frustration. "I didn’t know what to think, Chris. She made it sound like..like it was obvious."

His jaw tightens, and I can tell he’s pissed now, but not at me. "I should’ve known she’d pull something like this."

I exhale slowly, letting Chris’s words sink in. It’s a relief, at least I know now that nothing happened between them in Vegas. That part of the situation isn't as messy as I thought. But it doesn’t make the rest of it any better. It doesn’t erase the fact that Matt still brought her back, still entertained her, still let her linger around long enough to stir everything up. If anything, it just confuses me more.

Because now, I’m left wondering why Matt did it.

Did he really not see what she was doing? Did he not care? Or was there some part of him that still wanted her around?

Chris watches me carefully, probably noticing the way my thoughts are spiraling. "I know this doesn’t fix everything" he says. "But you should at least know that information, can’t have you believing something that wasn’t true."

I nod, but I don’t say anything right away. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about this one lie. It’s about everything that’s happened since. The trust that’s been shaken. The way I left without saying another word to Matt.

"Thank you for telling me" I finally say, even though my mind is still a mess.

Chris sighs. "Yeah. I just..I feel like I should’ve done more. Should’ve realized what she was trying to do before it got this bad."

I shake my head. "It’s not on you, Chris. Honestly."

We sit in silence for a moment, I know Chris means it, but it doesn’t change the fact that this is the situation we’re in now. And I still don’t know what I’m supposed to do next.

Chris breaks his silence to apologise again, "Anything else I can do to help, just say the word."

I nod, appreciating the sentiment, but before I can respond, he steps forward and pulls me into a hug. It catches me off guard at first, but I don’t hesitate to hug him back. After everything, it feels good to know that at least this, our friendship, hasn’t changed.

"You want a ride?" he asks as he pulls away.

I hesitate for a second but then nod. "Yeah, that’d be great."

We head out to his car, and as soon as we slide in, Chris gestures toward the screen. "Put the address in the GPS."

I type in the address, and as we pull onto the road, I glance over at him. "Thanks, Chris. For everything."

He shrugs, eyes focused on the road ahead. "That’s what friends are for, right?"

I nod, a small smile pulling at my lips. Despite everything that’s happened, at least I know my friendship with Chris hasn’t been ruined. That means more than I realized.

Matt’s POV

I never got a chance to talk to Nick after he met up with Y/n yesterday, and with Chris in a meeting right now, one that Y/n is also in, I figure now is as good a time as any.

I hear movement in the kitchen, the sound of a cabinet closing, followed by the faint clink of a glass. I assume it’s Nick, so I head out, finding him leaning against the counter.

"Hey" I say, stepping in.

He looks up. "Whats up?"

I waste no time getting to the point. "How was yesterday?"

Nick nods, setting his glass down on the counter. "It was good. It was nice to spend time with Y/n."

I hesitate for a second before asking, "How’s she doing?"

He exhales lightly, crossing his arms. "She’s holding it together pretty well."

I nod slowly, absorbing that information, before asking the real question that’s been nagging at me. "Did you find out where she’s staying?"

Nick pauses, just for a second, then, he shakes his head. "No."

I study him for a moment, trying to gauge if he’s telling the truth. I don’t push it, though. Instead, I just nod again, glancing down at the floor before looking back up at him.

"Alright.." I say, even though it’s not alright.

I wish Chris was home. I could really do with a drive right now to clear my head.

He took the car earlier to drop Nate off at the airport, then went straight to his meeting. I don’t know why, but something about driving aimlessly around, music playing, and just watching life pass by always helps me think. Clears out the noise in my head, even if only for a little while.

Nick and I are still standing in the kitchen, making small talk, but my mind isn’t really in it. My thoughts are circling back to Y/n, to what Nick said, or maybe more to what he didn’t say.

Before I can dwell on it any further, we both hear the garage door open. A moment later, the sound of footsteps echoes up the stairs.

Chris.

I glance toward the stairway as he comes into view, looking slightly worn out but otherwise the same as always. He pulls his keys from his pocket and tosses them onto the counter, running a hand through his hair.

"Yo" he greets us, voice a little rough from the long day.

"Hey, how was your meeting?" Nick says, and I just nod in acknowledgement.

Chris glances between the two of us. "Yeah it was good, just finalised a few things. What’s up with you?" He says in my direction.

I exhale, shaking my head slightly. "Nothing. Just.. thinking."

Chris raises an eyebrow at that, but doesn’t say anything more. And for a second, I wonder if now’s the time to bring up Y/n.

Nick mutters something about grabbing something from his room and heads upstairs, leaving just me and Chris in the kitchen. The room feels quieter now, like there’s something hanging in the air that neither of us are addressing.

I lean against the counter, watching as Chris pulls a can of Pepsi from the fridge and takes a sip. "What was your meeting about?" I ask, trying to sound casual.

He nods, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Just figuring out how much Fresh Love stock we need for each location on tour."

Tour.

The word lingers in my head longer than it should. I can’t believe we’re leaving in two weeks. It crept in so fast, and now, everything feels unfinished.

I really hope I get the opportunity to speak to Y/n before then.

Chris doesn’t say anything else, just leans back against the counter, drinking his soda. I want to ask him if he spoke to her, if she stayed behind after the meeting, anything..but I hesitate.

Instead, I just exhale and run a hand through my hair. "Two weeks.." I mumble, more to myself than to him.

Chris glances at me. "Yeah. Gonna be a long one."

I nod, but my mind isn’t on the tour. It’s on Y/n. On whether or not she’ll even want to speak to me before we go. I need to ask him about Y/n now before I explode.

“How was Y/n?”

“She seemed fine, but I think she’s just on autopilot. You know how she is, she can handle anything.”

I nod, but that doesn’t sit right with me. Y/n might be strong, but that doesn’t mean she’s okay. She shuts down when she’s hurt, and if she’s really just going through the motions, it means she’s not dealing with it, just burying it. And that’s worse.

Chris rubs the back of his neck, then looks at me. “You heard from her at all?”

I shake my head, exhaling sharply. “No.”

The silence stretches between us, thick with the weight of everything that’s happened. I hesitate before asking, “Do you know where she’s staying?”

Chris exhales, shaking his head. “Nah, man.”

I let out a frustrated sigh, gripping the edge of the counter. It’s been days, and I still have no idea where she is. Both of my brothers have seen her, talked to her, spent time with her, and neither of them has managed to find out a single fucking thing about where she’s staying. Not an address, not a neighborhood, not even a hint.

“She really doesn’t want to be found” I mutter under my breath.

Chris doesn’t say anything for a moment, just studies me. Then, with a sigh, he claps a hand on my shoulder. “Give her time, man.”

I don’t want to give her time. I want to fix this. I want to see her, to explain, to do whatever it takes to make this right. But if she doesn’t want to be found, what the hell am I supposed to do?

Now that the car is back, I can finally clear my head. I grab my set of keys and make my way down to the garage, slipping into the driver’s seat and turning on the engine. 

As the screen on the dash lights up, a notification pops up from the GPS - "Suggesting Last Route."

I glance at it, expecting it to be Nate’s airport drop off or something random. But then, my eyes lock onto the text.

"Last Route: The Four Seasons."

My chest tightens. 

The Four Seasons?

I stare at the screen, my grip tightening around the steering wheel. That’s not where Nate was staying, he wasn’t even staying in a hotel. That’s not a place any of us usually go. There’s only one person it could be.

Y/n.

She’s staying there. 

That has to be it.

Wait? Last GPS location?

Chris drove her there.

The realization slams into me like a bus. I feel it in my chest, heavy and suffocating. 

He knew.

The whole damn time, he knew where she was. He drove her there, watched her walk away, and didn’t say a single fucking word to me. Not even a hint. Not even when I was practically begging for answers.

I grip the wheel so tight my fingers ache. My pulse is pounding in my ears, drowning out every other thought except one.

Chris fucking knew.

I turn off the car and bolt into the house, barging my way into Chris' room, where he's laying on the bed.

"The Four Seasons?!" I yell at him. He sits up,looking shocked, but he doesn’t say anything.

"That’s where she’s staying? You just brought her there?" I demand, my voice sharp.

"Look, man, I didn’t-" Chris starts, but I cut him off before he can even try to explain.

"You knew and didn’t tell me?" I’m furious, my hands clenched into fists at my sides.

Chris exhales, rubbing his face like he’s frustrated when I’m the one who should be pissed. "Look.. She text me and asked me if I could do her a favour as soon as she landed back from Hawaii.. I felt guilty for how everything went down, like I was the cause of it all and felt like I owed her one, so I booked her the hotel. Plus she is an employee, I had to help." He meets my eyes, his voice steady but firm. "But Matt, she didn’t want you to know, and I had to respect that.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head. “You had to respect that?” My voice is laced with disbelief. “What about me, Chris? What about the fact that I’ve been losing my fucking mind, not knowing where she is, not knowing if she’s okay? You let me sit here, tearing myself apart, and you knew this whole fucking time?”

Chris sighs, swinging his legs off the bed so he’s sitting up straighter, his hands clasped together like he’s preparing for a fight. "Matt, I get that you’re pissed-"

I cut him off again. "Pissed? Pissed doesn’t even cover it, man! I asked you! Multiple times! And you stood there and lied to my face."

He exhales through his nose, shaking his head. "It wasn’t my place to tell you."

I step forward, pointing at him. "Bullshit. You just didn’t wanna feel like the bad guy again. You didn’t wanna deal with me being mad, so you kept your mouth shut and let me go crazy over this while you and Nick played the good guys."

Chris finally pushes himself off the bed, standing up to face me. "I was trying to help her, Matt. She needed space. What the hell was I supposed to do? Force her to talk to you?"

"Yes!" I snap. "Because I deserve that! I deserved a fucking conversation, Chris!"

His jaw tightens, and for a second, we just stand there, staring each other down, breathing heavily. The air between us is filled with tension, neither of us backing down.

Chris runs a hand down his face, muttering under his breath before looking back at me. "She wasn’t ready, man."

I shake my head. "Yeah? And what about when she is? You just gonna keep lying for her until then?"

Chris doesn’t answer. He finally looks guilty, like my words actually hit him. But I don’t wait for a response. I turn and walk out, slamming the door behind me.

a/n : we're coming to the end of the series im gonna cryyyyy

taglist : @mattybearnard @sturn-33 @ncm9696 @yourfavsturniologirl @crazy4jewel @sodakid1234 @stupendoustreewinner @lovealwayssturniolos @matthewsturniolosss @m4ttsmunch @loveexxx @ilusa @starkeyszn @wonnieeluvvr @dylnblue @valxrieq @maggot3647 @cigarettecemetary @ribread03 @chrisstvrns @bandasaruswrx @noplaceissafeanymore @amexiass @witchofthehour @mattssgf @jetaimevous @v33angel  @ivysturnss @urmom69lol @ashlishes @watercolorskyy @sturnioloshottiekay @amelia-sturniolo3 @imjusthereforthesturniolosmut @pvssychicken @alizestvrnss @chrisstxrnsaxe @sophand4n4 @vickytaa @marrykisskilled @bxtchboy69 @yourfavsturniologirl @julisturn @sydneyylainn @sophia-77n @trevorsgodmother @sturnslutz @yourmother29 @girl24cherry @astronea @pinkdyit

[hamburgerhelpersotherhand]

Infatuation - Chapter 4

Joe Goldberg x Reader (ft. Love Quinn)

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Summary: Love's longtime friend moves back to LA. Fortunately, Joe's never had too much trouble adapting.

Warnings: Alcohol consumption.

After some time to myself, being unemployed and all, I thought... hey... what if I finally go through my draft? It seems to be a common occurrence, to be unburdened by this story until I have no other things to do. But it is the unfortunate way that I function. As for the story itself, things are beginning to pick up and I can't help but wonder what our dearest Reader could possibly be thinking.

It's been a few days since I found you crying over the dining table. I press the buzzer easily now, and wait for you to let me in. At the sound of the lock sliding back, I open the door and make my way up the stairs, pretending I don’t see the water damage spreading around the building.

You open the door for me with a smile, all teeth, and it meets your eyes. You sigh, dreamy, and I smile back, satisfied. There’s comfort in our little ritual.

“Hey,” I greet.

“Hey – thanks for coming by,” You return to your little place at the kitchen island, tapping away at your laptop. A paper coffee cup from the local place down the road sits beside it, a notepad too. By your feet I see two boxes overflowing with documents. I glance down to the gift bag in my hand before setting it down by the door and shedding my boots.

“Didn’t see you at Anavrin today,” I state, making my way to the seat by your side. You were very consistent up until recently, arriving early to see Love on her lunch breaks – sharing food. Snacks. Treats. Lemon cookies. But everyone has their moments, and you’re allowed some space from Love. She’s been overbearing since you’ve arrived in LA, hasn’t she? “Thought maybe you’d be there for lunch.”

“No, not today.” You mumble, frowning. You tab out of the document on your computer as I sit down. It looked like a tax form. You grab your pen and fiddle with it. I think back on the messages you’d exchanged with Love this morning.

‘Can’t come by this afternoon,’ you’d tried to be nice as you cancelled plans. At least, this time, you hadn’t gone through most of the day without a warning. ‘Going through paperwork.’

You know, Love looked pretty upset. I watched her face fall when the message came in – but you were being truthful. Still, she was optimistic. The bag I left by the door says it all. As you sat there, I looked down at your notepad. A task list.

“So,” You begin, twisting your chair to look at me. “Today, a few things. I have somebody coming to pick up the sofa and coffee table set, and we’re working on emptying the bedroom. I already threw out all her underwear. You know, stuff that can’t be sold or donated.”

I nod.

“We’re gonna fold and bag the other clothes,” You sniff, shutting the screen of your laptop and tossing your pen atop the notepad. “But I think we should work on putting the baubles in boxes first.”

“Before we start,” I raise my hands in a pausing motion, I lift off my seat and make my way back to the bag I left behind. “I actually have something for you.”

“Oh, you got me something?”

“Hey, before you say anything - !” I lifted the bag and brought it to you. You reach for it hesitantly, and I set it on your lap. “Open it.”

You glance up at me, my face betraying nothing as I smile and motion toward the bag. You sigh, a dumb smile stretching across your face. You’re happy. You’re not admitting it out loud, but gifts do please you. You reach past the coloured tissue paper and gently grasp the neck of the bottle, lifting it with care. When you set your eyes on the label, your jaw nearly drops.

“Oh my god,” You mumble, cradling the bottle with both hands, reading the label anew. “Oh my god – this is, like… ridiculous.”

I laugh, and you hop off your chair, gently placing the bottle on the counter before jumping onto me. You wrap your arms around me tight, and I’m taken by surprise. An instant after the action sinks in, my hands slide up your waist and around your back. My fingers feel numb at the contact, and I gulp when you squeeze me.

“Thank you so much,” You sigh and I feel that familiar tingle ride up my back. You let go a moment later, my arms turning to mush as you push away. You look back at the bottle, observing it fondly. “This is so wonderful, I don’t even know what to say.”

The praise lights something in me as I grin. A part of me feels content not telling you the bottle was from Love, just for the time being. I’ll correct you later.

“You don’t have to say anything,” I chuckle. “We can just get right back to work.”

You try to hold back your smile, admiring the bottle for another moment before glancing my way. You nod your head, and place the Artisanal Vodka by the sink.

Passing the doorway into the bedroom, nothing looks particularly different. The boxes that were earlier folded and tucked behind the door now sit open around the room, still empty.

“We can just start putting things in boxes,” you say, stepping into the bathroom.

“Sounds good.”

I pick up some familiar framed pictures above the dresser and observe them closely. Now that I know what I’m looking at, I’m taking in the details. I recognize which one could be your mom. You’re far from a perfect replica, but you two share some physical similarities. I can hear you rummaging through drawers. I look over and you’re shoving old makeup into a trash bag.

“Did you want to keep the pictures?” I ask.

“Uh,” You straighten your posture and look at me through the doorway. “No. I think her friends have their own copies. We can throw out the pictures and keep the frames.”

I nod my head and turn a frame over. I pry the tabs away and slide out the backing board. I ungraciously take the picture out of the frame and place it on the dresser. I close the back of the frame anew and place it in a box. I do the same with the others, stacking the pictures on the dresser and placing the frames in the box. On my third picture, as I’m prying the tabs away, I draw my hand away with a hiss.

“You okay?” You ask from the bathroom.

“Yeah, I just…” I shake my hand, huffing. “I cut myself.”

“Well,” you exclaim loudly. “You’re in luck.”

I place the frame back down and watch you walk into the bedroom with a white box.

“I hadn’t yet boxed the first aid kit,” You laugh. “Let me see the damage.”

I sit on the bed and you approach. You sit by my side and place the kit between us.

“I’m not a doctor, but if you need an amputation,” You pull out a band aid. “I just got some pretty good vodka to disinfect it.”

We laugh together and I shake my head.

“You’d waste the good stuff just like that?”

“Waste! You’d call saving your finger a waste! I heard you need your hands to bind books.” After a thorough observation. You wrap the band aid around my finger and shut the box.

“You got me there,” I sigh. “How on Earth would I ever stock bookshelves again?”

“Your luck hasn’t yet run out – stitches are not in your future as of today,” You pick up the kit and shake your head with a huff. “Now – let’s get back to work.”

There’s an ease to the placement of items in these boxes, especially once you finally finish with the bathroom and join me in their organization. I watch your hands fold the clothing you’d told me would be donated, and a question pops into my mind.

“You’ve decided where everything here goes, but what about you?”

You look at me quizzically for a moment, so I ask again.

“What are you going to do when this is all over?”

You drop the folded dress into a garbage bag and hum. I reach for a stone figurine which still sat on the dresser, and cradle it in my hand.

“You know,” you begin, stopping short to no doubt choose your words carefully. “I thought maybe I’d go back home.”

I nod, listening. You’re pensive for another moment before continuing.

“I don’t think there's a place for me in LA anymore. I’ve outgrown the noise, and I want to live quietly.”

“Sounds poetic,” I tease. You roll your eyes, finding my statement amusing. I’m quick to temper the humour with a douse of reality as another thought creeps through. “What about Love?”

“What about Love?” You repeat, scoffing. Your smile falters as you grab another garment to fold. “She asked me the same question. I told her I’d have to think about it.”

“Why wo–”

“I just don’t –” You cut through my question, waving your free hand to halt me. “I’ve… Can we just…” You shut your eyes then, embarrassed by your abrasive reaction. Your hands return to the garment, your eyes drifting to your task. “Please, don’t make me explain myself.”

I turn my attention back down to the stone figurine in my hand, brushing my thumb across it. I nod my head, but I don’t understand. I smile reassuringly, and you nod back in approval with your own wavering smile. If you had planned to leave, then why make her believe the decision hadn’t been made?

It's quiet now. We continue to unpack the bedroom in a pregnant silence. I think about your words, and the meaning behind them. You, in-turn, look kicked. You think about me, what I might think of you. What Love thinks of you.

Despite the tension, you invited me back the next day, pretending as though the question had never invaded the space between us.

The apartment is finally empty after less than a week of stacking baubles in boxes and laundry in plastic bags. The majority of the usable furniture is sold while the harder to rid items are donated. And when you’d told me you had a surprise for me, I knew what to expect. I can see your texts, and I knew Love was on the way. She had come by with lunch for three and, after a nice meal shared on the carpet, she helped with deep cleaning the wooden floors and patching up the drywall. Does Love know that you plan to leave?

The only things left to sort through were the boxes of documents still sitting by the kitchen island, which you’d assured us you’d find your own time to get through.

—

I watch Love now, as she prepares dinner, and I brush my hands along her hips. We’re celebrating tonight. For the hard work you– we had put in.

“Nice bandaid,” Love teased me. I huffed. My hands continued up her hips and around her stomach.

“Will…” Love warns me, but I feel too content to move away. She sighs. “She’ll be here soon. Is the cutlery set?”

“No… not yet,” I responded.

“Could you set it for me?”

I kiss the back of Love’s head and reluctantly pry my hands away. I open the drawer and fish out forks and knives. In the dining room, I place the three sets carefully. As an odd number, Love and you are seated on one side of the table while I sit across. Love joins me in the dining room a minute later with a lighter.

“Can you believe how empty the apartment looks now? God, her mom left it a mess.” She says.

“The building isn’t doing too good either,” I add. Love leans over the table and brings the lighter to the single candle sitting between our seats.

“Yeah, it’s just… a pretty old building. They should probably think about renovating it soon, there are better options on the market for about the same price. Maybe better.” She observes the candle’s new flame flicker. “Like, I have no idea how you found your place. It’s a pretty good deal for what it is.”

“Well, it has its issues. Things you don’t really notice until you live there.”

“Like what? The location is pretty nice, and I like the outdoor decor.”

“The walls are pretty soft. You end up with a hole or two from just hanging pictures.”

“I never noticed a hole in any of your walls before,”

“Uh,” I hesitate for a second and sniff. “I patched them up.”

The doorbell rings and we’re torn from the conversation. Love follows behind me as I go answer.

When I open the door, your face lights up with a smile.

“Hey, you…”

“Hey,” You wave, and I take a step back to let you in.

Love is on you in less than a second, arms wide as she scoops you into a hug.

“Oh my goooood,” She exclaims as you hug her in return, back bent at an awkward angle. You laugh, but it’s uncomfortable. “I’m so proud of you.”

“What! Why?” You laugh. “Will did most of the work.” Love rolls her eyes.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You told me you had no clue how you’d get through this. You got through it. In like just about a week, mind you.”

You swat her away with a chuckle, and she catches your hands with a grin.

“You did great, babe.”

You’re reluctant to accept the praise when you share the work, but you’re just as deserving of it as anyone else. And, besides, Love knows how to lay it on thick.

As you begin shrugging off your coat, Love jumps into action. “Let me get that for you,”

You laugh as she slides the sleeves off your arms and hangs the coat on the rack haphazardly. I quietly fix it as it threatens to slip off.

“I made your favourite,” Love hums to you, locking her arm around yours before directing you straight to the dining room. I follow behind, hands in my pockets. I’m an idle observer.

Love pulls out your designated seat and sits you down at the table. You drop your purse by your feet, it jingles with that familiar bell. Love flies back to the kitchen not a moment longer, eager to bring out the plates. I pull my own seat out from under the table and sit. I adjust myself in the chair, leaning back. My eyes lock onto yours. The candle between us flickers pleasantly.

“How’s the paperwork going?” I ask.

“It’s going well,” You assure. “Lots of shredding.”

“Sounds like a great way to spend your day,” I laugh.

“Oh of course,” You laugh along. “I wouldn’t want to be doing aaanything else. But I think I’ll be absolutely elated when it's over.”

I fight back a sneer at your frank statement, instead returning a tight smile. Love returns, holding a dark pristine bottle.

She turns over my glass and pours me a cup. When she flutters over to you, she does the same. Her hand finds your face, brushing your cheek, and she smiles warmly at you. You smile back, but it doesn’t quite meet your eyes then. She sits down after filling her own glass of wine, setting the bottle off to the side.

When Love lifts her cup, we follow suit.

“I just wanted to tell you again how proud I am of you,” She sings. “And how happy I am that you’re back here in LA. I just – I still can’t believe it some days.”

You nod, with that smile I’m catching onto. My eyes watch you and Love eagerly. When she clinks your cup to hers, the fabricated joy falters. Love turns to clink cups with me, and she looks at me strangely then. I think she noticed it too. I clink my cup with you, and you don’t even spare me a glance. You quickly bring the cup to your lips and drink down the red wine in heavy gulps, face scrunching as it burns its way down.

Love sips hers as she eyes you, and I don’t even touch mine. I set it back down.

Love rises from her seat, picks up the bottle and unexpectedly places it in your reach. She says nothing but smiles with a knowing look on her face. You glance up through your lashes at her, unsure. You take the bottle by the neck, cradling its bottom with your free hand, and pour yourself another glass.

Her hand touches your shoulder gently, rubbing a circle into it.

“Dinner should be ready now,” She assures you before making her way back to the kitchen. You set the bottle back down with a thud.

You drink more than you eat. Your face is flushed, your speech slurs. I look at Love like she’s to blame. Despite having poured yourself those cups, she supplied the bottle.

Somewhere between finishing our plates and now, you softened. You visibly relax in your seat, and you look at me with hazy, drunken eyes. Your foot nudges mine under the table and I glance behind me – toward the kitchen. Love is bringing out dessert. You do it again, and I look back to your eyes.

I see something then, in those sleepy depths. You’re fighting back an urge, something that threatens to fall off of your tongue. You want to tell me something. I lean forward expectantly, my seat creaking, and you part your lips ever so slightly.

Love hums a key as she waltzes back into the dining room, holding a plate of something sweet. You break your eyes away from me slowly, fluttering your lashes tiredly as you look at Love. I clear my throat and readjust, not quite leaning back as I was before. She sets down the cheesecake between us, the forks and glass dessert plates already accounted for.

“You want the first slice?”

“Sure.” You respond, voice small in the quietness of the room.

She hums, but cuts your slice still. She places it on the plate, grabbing an extra berry to garnish the slice, and serves you. You pick at your piece.

When love sets down my plate, I lunge in with my fork. I take it between my teeth and I savour the dessert. It’s sour like a lemon, a little bitter too. The berry syrup atop helps to sweeten it. When you finally take a bite, you pull the fork away to chew slowly. Your eyes are to the table, not quite observing anything. Your face betrays nothing, and I wonder what you’re thinking.

“Careful –” Love swipes her thumb under your lower lip, quickly picking up the red dribbling syrup. She brings it to her mouth and laughs. “You’re going to make a mess,” She exclaims, sucking her thumb.

“I’m sorry,” You apologize, huffing. You set your fork down. “I think I had too much to drink. I don’t think I can finish this,” Given the way the night has been going, I could laugh at that statement.

Love’s hand disappears below the table, out of sight. You look at me. I lean forward in my seat and take another bite.

“I’ll pack you another slice to take back with you. It’s getting late anyway,” She says. Love’s hands come up and pull your attention to her, she cradles your face, steadying you. She looks into your eyes. You smile at her, warm but insincere, and she smiles back.

“Will’s going to drive you home,” Love tells you.

Without another choice in the world, you nod your head.

[blouisparadise]

We recently received a request for a new non-Larry rec list. If you missed our first two, you can find them here and here. We hope you enjoy this list and show all of these fics some love. If you want us to continue making rec lists, please be sure to show support by liking and reblogging this post to help spread the word. Happy reading!

1) Far From Reality | Louis/Henry Cavill | Explicit | 1,138 words

Henry and Melissa looked like the perfect couple. Nothing could be further from the truth. Because the most famous relationship of the moment couldn't be more fake, a simple trick to pretend. A strategy to hide the fact that the great tycoon, Henry Cavill, was fucking the rock star of the moment, Louis Tomlinson.

2) On The Borderline Tonight | Louis/Ethan Hawke | Mature | 1,470 words

Louis is an artist in need of inspiration. He finds it one sunny afternoon in a Brooklyn coffee shop.

3) Partition | Louis/Liam Payne | Explicit | 1,553 words

Harry, Zayn, and Niall took one limo to the premier and Louis and Liam took the other. What Liam didn't know was that Louis had just been listening to Beyoncé...lets say, he was feeling inspired...

4) In Your Arms Tonight | Louis/Henry Cavill | Explicit | 1,692 words

Louis closed his eyes and let the music move him where it wanted him to go. He was feeling relaxed, almost peaceful when an arm snaked around his torso. He gasped as he was rocked back into a man’s larger body. “You’re gorgeous” the man’s voice whispered in his ear, gravelly and low.

5) Say Yes To Heaven | Louis/Ethan Hawke | Mature | 2,818 words

Later when he’s back at the apartment with Oli, as Louis is somewhat dreamily waxing poetic about Ethan, Oli interrupts.- “Does he quote Shakespeare when you fuck?” he asks, poking at the sizzling eggs on the stove. Louis’ cheeks turn suspiciously pink. Oli peers at his face. “Oh my god, he DOES. I KNEW IT.” He triumphantly brandishes his spatula in the air.

6) A Sudden Desire | Louis/Agent Whiskey Explicit | 2,558 words

Save a horse, ride a cowboy.

7) Sweeter By The Day | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Explicit | 2,673 words

"Never felt this sensation, a kiss to every scar, eclipse my expectations, shock to my heart" - Hayley Williams A one shot about domesticity, coffee, and love.

8) I Miss You, I'm Sorry | Louis/Zayn Malik | Explicit | 2,871 words

Louis spends some time with Zayn in his hotel room after his LA show. they smoke. they fuck.

9) Bet On It | Louis/OMC | Explicit | 2,945 words

“We should make a bet,” Louis says out loud, waiting for Dante to look up from his tablet and see Louis’ pouty lips. “Not a fucking chance.”

10) Give Me Life, Give Me Pain, Give Me Myself Again | Louis/Joel Miller | Explicit | 2,951 words

Joel can’t give Louis everything he needs, but it’s enough for the night.

11) Heaven Beneath His Skin | Louis/Henry Cavill | Mature | 3,251 words

Louis is a petite farmboy who fell in love for the first time.

12) Yours Is The Only Ocean | Louis/Tom Hardy | Explicit | 3,390 words

In which Louis finds out the man he pulled at a club turns out to be famous UK wrestler and boxer, Tom Hardy.

13) Take Me Somewhere, With A World Less Silent | Louis/Dev Patel | Explicit | 3,429 words

Louis' boyfriend comes home earlier than expected from a trip. Domesticity and fluffiness ensue.

14) To Reach A Port We Must Set Sail | Louis/Henry Cavill | Explicit | 3,907 words

On holiday in Southern Italy, Louis and Henry go on a special outing.

15) Flame Colored Paradise | Louis/Mads Mikkelsen | Explicit | 3,282 words

A side smirk widened Mads’ lips. He looked like a sight straight from heaven in his dark three-piece suit, hair in perfect place, a relaxed look on his face, as if he hasn’t had a hard-on for the last half an hour. Louis loved how Mads was always perfectly composed, never a single strand of hair out of place. He could have his whole cock buried in Louis, with the boy falling to pieces in front of him, but not a single drop of sweat would dampen his face.

16) Sun And Summer Wind | Louis/Oscar Isaac | Explicit | 3,934 words

Louis and Oscar, Guatemala, archaeology, and (something like) dancing.

17) Softer Than Satin | Louis/Joel Miller | Explicit | 4,077 words

“Wanna go back to bed,” Louis whispered languidly, voice partly muffled by his boyfriend’s lips on his. “Mm, but we just got up, baby,” Joel murmured. Lips touching softly with each syllable. Hands groping the soft flesh around Louis’ hips, kneading at the skin there and feeling his curves.

18) Not To Be Disturbed | Louis/Zayn Malik | Mature | 4,078 words

Zayn Malik is on tour in Frankfurt in 2018 and by chance runs into Louis at a coffee shop. An innocent time of reconnecting and escaping the pressures of stardom finds both opening up to long held feelings the latter strongly harbors but is shy to submit to.

19) I Had No Doubt In My Mind | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Explicit | 4,165 words

“She could’ve just talked to me, we could’ve found a way. I don’t understand why it has to be like this,” Oscar looked up at Louis, eyes shining with unshed tears. Louis felt for him, he didn’t know what he’d do with himself if Pedro just left one day. He couldn’t even imagine a life without him by his side after so many years together. “There’s nothing you can do right at this moment, love, so the best thing is to relax and rest, try to take your mind off of it for a little bit,” Louis said, hoping his tone and smile came off as sympathetic.

20) P Is For | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Explicit | 4,394 words | Sequel

Louis and Pedro, winter in New York, a coffee machine, and bilingualism.

21) I Want Yesterdays Love | Louis/Dev Patel | Explicit | 4,789 words

“We’re going on holiday before the term starts again,” Oli announces in their kitchen the day after the art opening. Louis looks up from his cereal bowl. “Who is we?” “I’ve rented us a cottage near the beach. Me, you, Calvin, Rick, and Dev.” Louis makes a noncommittal noise but can’t deny his heartbeat racing at the mention of Dev.

22) Depth Of Oceanic Gunfire | Louis/Henry Cavill | Not Rated | 5,138 words

After she left, Henry finds Louis crumpled amongst the white linen sheet like a wilted lily, nose red and lips trembling as he reaches up to kiss Henry. In the corner of the room, he saw his father raise his hand at the cowering figure of a blue-eyed ten-year-old. He kisses Henry and as the field somewhere blooms in blood and smoke and gunpowder, he thinks this is how much I love you. They come to escort Henry a week later. The world lets out a pained scream somewhere.

23) Where Art Thou? Why Not Uponeth Me? | Louis/Jacob Elordi | Explicit | 5,408 words

"Did you need anything in particular?" Jacob asked again, eyes not quite meeting hers. Louis then decided to tease. "Particularly, yes. A question perhaps.” This is going to be fun. Louis thought. "So how did this," she rattled the handcuffs for emphasis, "get in the possession of your belongings, hm?" Louis asked sultrily.

24) Sweet Dreams Turn Into Coffee In The Morning | Louis/Henry Cavill | Explicit | 5,675 words

Louis has spent most of his early adult life taking care of his adopted niece, Avery. When she goes away to boarding school, he starts to realize what he's been missing has been right in front of him.

25) Down Comes The Night | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Explicit | 5,974 words |

A love story set in the 18th century. Pedro is a painter, commissioned to create a wedding portrait of Louis, a young man who has just left the convent. Louis is a reluctant spouse to be and Pedro must paint him without his knowledge.

26) Wicked Games | Louis/Liam Payne | Explicit | 6,541 words

Liam is a very high end prostitute and Louis lives across the hall from him.

27) Take A Ride Into The Danger Zone | Louis/Jensen Ackles | Explicit | 7,561 words

“You’re so tiny and weak, you could never be anything other than the submissive little pillow princess you are.” Jensen teased, moving Louis’ wrists to hold them with one hand only as he used his now free hand to grab and knead at Louis’ meaty bum, he brought the boy closer so he was sat on top of his bulge. “I would never know if I’d be good at domming because you never let me try!” The boy whined, squirming in Jensen’s lap, trying to set himself free from his boyfriend’s large hands.

28) Cold Spring | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Explicit | 8,260 words

Louis is a coffee shop owner and Pedro is his newest customer.

29) Maybe. | Louis/Zayn Malik | Mature | 8,963 words

“Here again to start fights with your petty insults, Tomlinson?” Zayn seethed and Louis raised his eyebrows. “Mate, chill,” he said, his insides charged up as he felt Luke’s arm wrap around his waist from behind, “Who said I was talking about you?”

30) Running Is Different Than Going | Louis/OMC | Explicit | 9,018 words

On the run, the last thing Michael expects from a stranger is help. Louis offers him everything he needs so he can keep running, but makes it harder than ever to continue doing so.

31) Let's Break The Internet | Louis/OMC | Explicit | 9,505 words

“I’ll tell you what,” Sam leans forward in his chair and steeples his fingers in front of his face, “If you actually make an account and sell nudie pics and porn for more than three months, I’ll believe you.” Louis purses his lips, ignoring the returning blush on his cheeks at the thought of having to film himself in compromising positions or taking photos of himself without any clothes on. Raising his chin defiantly, Louis accepts the challenge. “Fine,” he agrees, “But when I win, you have to make one too.” Lips quirked, Sam nods and holds out a hand, “Deal.”

32) The Devil's Backbone | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Mature | 9,735 words

1925. Louis has escaped an abusive relationship and seeks to lay low in Montana. When a hit is put out on him by his ex lover, he makes an unlikely alliance and finds more than he ever dared hope for.

33) Lights Go Down | Louis/Zayn Malik | Explicit | 10,449 words

Louis is in need of the perfect dom, and the best dom in the club has just parted ways with his regular sub. Can Louis be the sub Zayn wants?

34) Over My Shoulder | Louis/Sebastian Stan | Explicit | 10,960 words

The media thinks omega singer Louis Tomlinson is dating alpha actor Sebastian Stan because they bump into each other all the time. Everything changes when they accidentally bond.

35) My Home Is Your Body | Louis/Henry Cavill | Explicit | 15,341 words

He had seen who had made his senses go haywire. His ex was in the front row, five feet in front of him. He felt his eyes on him even as he mechanically made his way to the end of the runway, hoping to God he didn’t look like a maniac. Everything was a blur. He somehow managed to walk the rest of the way without falling or emoting anything. Why was he HERE? Of all places.

36) House Of Stone, Your Ivy Grows | Louis/Mads Mikkelsen | Explicit | 16,391 words

Louis is a lonely queen married to an odious and imopotent king. Everything changes when he meets the new royal physician.

37) After Hours | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Explicit | 16,704 words

Louis Tomlinson is many things. A dancer, a barista, a one time con man. He's rarely experienced a good romantic relationship with a man but that's all about to change when he starts working at a nightclub in Texas.

38) At Some Distant Star | Louis/Pedro Pascal | Explicit | 17,999 words

Louis Tomlinson was hired to harvest gems on a planet he'd never been to. When his pod crashes and strands him on the planet, he meets a fellow explorer with an agenda of his own.

39) Let Me In | Louis/Zayn Malik | Explicit | 24,069 words

Louis and Zayn begin messing around on tour in 2014, but Zayn's getting ready to make a decision that he knows is going to change everything, possibly for good. They just have to believe that they can make it.

40) All Tumults And Feelings | Louis/Carlos Sainz J | Explicit | 24,458 words

The search for euphoria in a world that seems to be spinning out of control is perhaps what drove Louis to visit the heart of a city as vibrant as Barcelona. Everything is warm and bright on his holidays, even at night, where he finds solace in desperate lips and comfort in beautiful brown eyes that break his heart by making him realize that he has always been more fond of emerald tones covering the irises of his lovers.

41) Gave Me No Compasses, Gave Me No Signs | Louis/OMC | Explicit | 24,862 words

Beautiful, smart and wealthy, Louis Tomlinson navigates his way through misguided matches, romantic missteps and the challenges of inner truth -- all to finally realize the love that has been there all along.

42) By Such Slight Ligaments | Louis/Henry Cavill | Explicit | 26,764 words

A late night visit to a patient sets off a series of events that will turn Louis' world upside down.

43) Under Thorn And Bramble | Louis/OMC | Explicit | 31,931 words

Prompt 445: A historical AU where Louis is working as a servant on a farm. The family that owns the farm is exceedingly cruel to him and he is often exhausted and in pain from his work. A mysterious stranger boards at the farm and is very intrigued by Louis, but Louis doubts his interest in genuine. Any pairing fine.

44) Inside Your Bones | Louis/OMC | Explicit | 43,550 words

Louis keeps trying to make peace with his past, but it’s hard when the past is all too present.

Check out our other fic rec lists by category here and by title here.

[saturnville]

the man in the suit.

pairing: miguel galindo x afro latina fem oc (eliana)

prompt: miguel becomes infatuated with eliana, the owner of a popular coffee shop in town.

an: I was asked to bring back the Miguel Galindo fics by an anon. it's been over two years since I've written anything Mayans, but I'm always willing to revisit old fandoms, so, here we go, I hope you enjoy.

Her coffee shop was a staple in the town. Known for the rich Colombian coffee beans ground with intentionality, brewed with love, and served in mugs crafted by her own hands. The aura was always calm. Busy, but never so much that guests couldn't enjoy their time. They, just like she often, would get lost in the melodies of indie music that played from the speakers and drunk off caffeine and oat milk. The Tranquil Lounge was a blessing to Santo Padre.

Saturdays were the busiest days in the Lounge. College students stopped by to grind out assignments due the following day at midnight, entrepreneurs chugged coffee like water to finalize funding proposals, and others snuggled by the window with a good book. They were lively and invigorating; her favorite days in the shop.

She danced around her employees, humming a Marc Anthony tune as she topped off a cup with cold foam. Vivir mi vida, la, la, la, la, she hummed to herself.

"I'm very impressed. Most people don't know the lyrics passed the chorus," said an unfamiliar voice. Her teeth gleamed as she smiled softly. Her head still down, she placed a lid on the cup and slid it to the other side of the counter.

"I consider myself determined when it comes to learning song lyrics," she replied. "What can I get you?" Finally, she lifted her head, and she struggled to fight the instinct to gasp. How had he found her little coffee shop in town?

Miguel Galindo was notorious in Santo Padre. A businessman with illegal practices. The government hated him, men envied him, and women wanted him. Everyone in Santo Padre knew who he was and they knew better than to cross him. Their families could end up missing within hours if they upset him. It should have struck fear in her heart, but his presence did the opposite.

Her eyes scanned his attire. Bold of him to wear a white suit to drink coffee. But, it looked beautiful against his olive complexion. It was perfectly tailored to hug his broad shoulders. Her eyes followed its outline.

His brown eyes scanned the beautifully curated menu behind her. Bright colors against the blackboard. Sunflowers, rainbows, and bees decorated the menu. Creative, he noted. "I'll do a hot caramel macchiato. Medium, please." He handed her a twenty-dollar bill. She halted. The drink was $4.

Miguel looked unamused when she parted her lips to object, so she simply took the bill from his hand and thanked him with a smile. "Enjoy, hope to see you back soon."

He nodded. His eyes dropped to her nametag. Eliana, Founder. "Thank you, Eliana. You have a good day, quierda."

She smiled bashfully, "Gracias. You too."

-

Miguel Galindo was enamored by her. He saw the silhouette of her figure when he closed his eyes to rest at night. He heard the southern twang of her accent as he listened to music on the radio, and he saw the richness of her eyes in the mounds of chocolate chips scattered in Christopher's pancakes.

He made frequent appearances at the shop after that. Catching her friendly grin and gentle hands as she passed his cup to him was one of the few highlights of his day. He cherished it, craved it, and adored it.

He felt lucky when he waltzed into the shop one Saturday morning to find it empty. He thought it was a slow day, but she'd closed it for cleaning. And rather than turning him away, she welcomed him in.

"Your usual?" Eliana questioned. She propped her broom against a stable surface and turned to move behind the counter. "On the house."

"Oh no," Miguel waved. "You're not even open, I see." It was Eliana's turn to force an object into his hands. His usual--hot caramel macchiato; medium with a smiley face drawn on the side of the cup.

"You keep me in business, Mr. Galindo," Eliana replied teasingly with a smile. She was so pretty to him. The woman with a mahogany complexion and soft eyes with an unexplainably gentle aura.

Miguel's eyes dropped to the floor as he chuckled bashfully. He had a tendency to pay more than was due, but he credited it as paying in advance for future visits. "I just like to support where I can." Eliana picked up her broom and hummed, instructing him to get comfortable in the cushioned chairs near the window.

His eyes scanned the marvelous artwork that decorated the dark walls. Murals of people parading in fields of palm trees with drums, colorful skirts, and baskets of fruits, vegetables, and grains. They were all of deep complexion. His eyebrow rose.

"Where are you from?" He found himself asking.

"Costa Chica of Guerrero. Mexico." The area where Black Mexicans were the most populated.

"Tu familia?" Your family?

Eliana shrugged a shoulder and bent over to sweep the dirt unto the dustpan. "En México. Conseguí una beca para estudiar aquí. Se graduó con un título en negocios y decidió quedarse. It's a long story." In Mexico. I got a scholarship to study here. I graduated with my business degree and decided to stay.

Miguel mimicked her actions and gestured to the empty seat across from him. "I've got the time if you do."

-

They were polar opposites. She was an extrovert, he was introverted. She loved the fall, yet he found it one of the sadder seasons. Tea was her favorite, though she owned a coffee shop, but coffee was his holy grail. He grew up without his father present, but hers was her rock. So many new discoveries that he basked in like warm comforters on a winter day.

“I enjoyed today,” Miguel said as he walked her to her car. Hours had passed, the sun had set, and their day had come to a close. “I’d like to see you again.”

Eliana hummed as she tapped her key fob. Her vehicle chirped excitedly. She reached for the door handle, but Miguel beat her to it. She thanked him gently and slid into the seat. “Well, you’ll know where to find me, Miguel.”

He chuckled and nodded. She wasn’t going to make it easy for him, but. he liked that. Effort was required. He liked a challenge.

“I do,” he replied. “Be ready tomorrow evening. Be safe tonight, Eliana.”

Her brown eyes are twinkled with curiosity. She stretched up and pressed a kiss on his cheek. “Wear a white suit.” And with that, she started her car and sped off into the night, leaving Miguel to bask in the eagerness of seeing her again.

[fronzie]

Bésame Mucho - Alfonso x Guest

as much as I would love to write fanfiction about them post MG, I can’t write for the life of me. so take this silly idea. Be aware that I CAN’T SPEAK/WRITE SPANISH SO THERE WILL BE MISSPELLINGS

INSPIRATION; Bésame Mucho - Cover by Rafscrap

tagging person i think might like this @solzticesoulz

Guest never thought this would happen. Hell, she never thought it COULD happen. In the beautiful year of 2010 she would get married to the man who saved her life almost 4 years ago, Alfonso Villalba. It sounds weird but if you knew the shit they went through, it would be understandable. Sort of. But who cares! Love is in the venue and Fall Out Boy is a good band.

As the newlyweds enjoyed the end of their reception party, Guest, now Mrs. Villalba, smiles lovingly as she watches Alfonso dance to 27 for the first time. Clearly even without having a drop of alcohol he was having the night of his life. It's honestly hilarious to see him have fun with a jagged cut tie from 'Cortar la Corbata del Novio'. His hips and arms move in a giddy joyous dance, swaying to the rhythm. He laughs, singing along.

" And it's kind of funny The way we're wearing anchors on our shirts When being anchored aboard just feels like a curse! "

While dancing, he glances at the bride with a smile on his face.

" Mi amor! Come on, come dance with me! "

He moves closer, holding his hands out for her to take. Guest shakes her head no laughing.

" no- no I can't dance- "

" yes you can! Now get up and dance! "

As if living a sanguine dream, he pulls her to her feet and they both start dancing. Guest's moves are awkward at first, more stiff and confusing unlike Alfonso's smooth dance moves. He lays his hands on her waist to guide and 'smoothen out' her boogie. It's a wholesome moment for the lingering few folks.

Once the last of the people leave and the party ends, the couple sits in the empty venue. The sun dips below the window sills letting rich reds and oranges hide under violets and blues hues. Alfonso laughs, taking his tie off.

" My dad would've liked you.. overseeing all of the rules I've broken to marry you-- but he really would like you if we had met before- y'know what? we're not going to talk about the sad stuff. it's our day! "

He leans back while sitting. Guest sits up, black veil cascading down her back. Some thought hits her and she jumps slightly.

" speaking of... " She trails on, walking to grab her iPod. The hunter tilts his head confusedly as she turns on an instrumental of a certain song. She chuckles, turning the volume up, and walks back over to her husband. " I took a few lessons and I think I have this down. I know it isn't from Spain, but I want to show you. "

His brow perked confused but curious, " and what is it? "

Guest hums quietly along with the music before singing

" Bésame, bésame mucho, como si fuera esta noche la última vez... " Kiss me, kiss me more, like this is our last night

Her Spanish is good, like it's understandable but it isn't like speaking with a fluent, native speaker. But she continues

" Bésame, bésame mucho. Que tengo miedo a perderte, perderte después " Kiss me, kiss me more. I’m afraid I’ll lose you, I’ll lose you afterwards

Alfonso stares in shock and awe. Not because she's speaking Spanish, but because she quite literally learned to speak it just for him. To sing this on their wedding day. Guest continues, swaying slightly to the slow song.

" Quiero tenerte muy cerca, mirarme en tus ojos, verte junto a mí. Piensa que tal vez mañana, yo ya estaré lejos, muy lejos de ti. " I want to hold you close to me, to see myself in your eyes, to see you beside me. I think that maybe tomorrow, I’ll be far away, far away from you

" ¿Tu hablas Espanol? ¿Donde? ¿Cuándo? ¿Lo guardaste hasta ahora para mostrármelo? " You speak spanish? Where? When? You saved it till now to show me?

The words slipped swiftly from his throat as the song finally ended. She chuckles, not understanding a lick of what he just said.

" Que?- "

" Dios Mios... " Alfonso shakes his head with a solemn tone. He pulls his wife close and kisses at her neck. " you're so cheesy, love. "

~ FIN ~

[stonedporcupine]

Past Due

💚 First Lin Beifong x reader fic y'all !!! 🧡

Slow burn! ❤️‍🔥

All reviews and comments are appreciated;

Will eventually add on Ao3;

Warnings: Violence, little blood.

Chapter 1 Ch 2 - p.1 Ch 2 - p.2 Ch 2 - p. 3 Ch 2 - Part 4 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

Y/N´s PoV

Ahhh, Republic City, first time I moved in here about 1 year ago I had a blast. I felt it was about time I got myself away from that hell hole I was supposed to call home…but we don’t talk about that. “Bills are catching up to me…and I´ve got nowhere to run.” I mumble beneath my breath, as I hold a bunch of letters on my hand. The large, thick, red letters with a prominent “Past Due” and “Final Demand” written on each one of them. I feel the unpleasant weight on the pit of my stomach and swallow dryly, shoving the letters aside with a loud exhale. Who knew it cost so much to make it to detective?! I mean, sure hands down it’s the fucking capital city of the United Republic Nations AND one of the largest and most modern cities in the world but Tui and La…ease on the prices!

I look up at the old clock, on the small entry hall of my apartment. “Fuck fuck, shit shit shit!!” I gasp, I am so going to be late to practice. I grab my black jacket, with the fire nation insignia on its back, and my dark matte helmet as I run out the door, down the old elevator, towards the garage. The loud and stressful squeaking of the elevator only heightens my already high cortisol levels. I swear to Raava, one day this shit is going to break down and take the building down with it! Once the old, loud, rusty metal doors of the elevator open I barge right out heading for my perfectly parked satocycle on its assigned place. A gift from Asami and Mr Sato for my hard work for the company. Shoving the helmet in my head, part of my dark messy curled hair hangs out on the bottom. I speed out of the garage, the bike taking off the ground slightly as I go over the bump on the entrance of the parking space, joining the satomobiles on the road with a loud squeak from the wheels of the bike, as I drift to the right.

I can´t be late again! Officer Wang will kill me and probably pull me out of the program, which is a big ass no no. I haven’t come this far just to fuck things up all over again.

Chief Beifong´s PoV

“Officer Song, didn´t I JUST tell you to take the route to Northern Avenue?!” I grumble between gritted teeth at the officer who´s driving. Guess I know who´s driving next time. I mean how much of an imbecile do you have to be to not follow simple orders?! Orders I JUST GAVE!!?? I look at the terrified officer, gripping the wheel of the satomobile as he mumbles and gags on his words. “I- uh- Ch-Chief I just I- I´m sorry I wasn´t paying attention.” He swallows. I remain unimpressed with the attempt of a shitty excuse that was made. “Well focus and listen. You´re not getting paid to sit around, mouth agape listening to the spirits.” I groan loudly at him.

Fear in his eyes officer Song nods his head up and down quickly and practically yells “Yes Chief!”. Just as I was about to tell him to tone it down the loud screech of wheels catches me off guard. Just as I look to my side, a black satocycle with a few red highlights speeds right past us. What the flame-o was that?! Swiftly making its way past traffic the motorcycle speeds away. “Officer Song, catch up to that satocycle, now!!” I practically scream at the officer as he presses the clutch, changes to 4th and speeds up.

Y/N´s PoV

Did I just fucking see what my eyes saw. Did I just speed through a police patrol satomobile?! The loud sirens catching up behind me answer my fears. Well, that´s it. I´m officially fucked. I´m done for life. I´m left with two choices, obey, pull over, pray it´s not the fucking Chief of Police, flirt my way out of this and definitely arrive late for class…or drop it, speed off like a demon, hopefully not get caught or die on the way and…still arrive a little late to class. I groan as my head drops in defeat.

I´m so done with my life.

I signal to the right as I slow down, pulling over. The blaring sirens emitting a last Woop before silencing, as the satomobile pulls right behind me. I turn the motor of the bike off, getting off and standing up, as I hear the doors of the car shutting behind me before a deep female voice sends a shiver down my spine. No, it can´t be. You can´t be serious right now. My eyes wide in fear as I slowly turn around to be met with the most beautiful yet lethal jade eyes I´d ever seen my entire life. Damn, hearing her voice back in headquarters from far away was already…something, but seeing her up close?! Not even The Avatar ,wherever they're at, can save me from this one. It´s the first time I get to see the Chief of Police personally. Sure I´m in the Detective´s Program but we rarely stay in the headquarters where she seemingly lives at. I am snapped back from my thoughts when her striking voice booms through my eardrums. Wait, was she talking? Shit I didn’t hear anything…

“I am talking to you. Take off your helmet, now! I asked you a question, better start speaking.” she says. I didn’t even realise my helmet was still on. I carefully take it off, still in shock at seeing THE Chief Lin Beifong in front of me. My messy, dark hair falls to my shoulders. The, once bright, blood red highlights shining on the sun. “I- uh” I try to speak but nothing comes out. My mouth feels dry, as I lick my lips. I look at the other officer behind her, he seems to be putting a strong façade, but I can see the nervousness behind his eyes. “Don’t stare at my officer! I asked you a question.”

Chief Beifong´s PoV

Oh for fuck sake, she´s slow��is she go- why is her hair painted? It´s not exactly unlikable. I think I´ve seen her, but I can´t recall where from. Why am I staring? WHY IS SHE STARING? “Don’t stare at my officer! I asked you a question.” Her mouth agape, my already visible frown deepens. She has three seconds to answer. 1…2..- “I- uh I´m sorry ma´am- uh Chief. Sorry, could you repeat the question? The uh…helmet was- I don’t think I heard.” I groan rather loudly as I exhale. I clench my jaw, as I breath in. “I asked. Do. You. Know how fast you were going?” I speak slowly and clearly as I cross my arms.

Y/N´s PoV

Spirits…and I thought I was stressed, this woman is going to explode! “I asked. Do. You. Know how fast you were going?” I hear her say loud and clear. So that´s the Beifong scowl people talk about. It´s cute. A little unnerving for those who can´t handle it. “Uh…not fast enough clearly!” I joke to get some tension off the air, but as I look at the Officer behind her, I only see his eyes widen beyond possible. I look back at the Chief and if looks could kill… “Is this a joke to you?! Is endangering other citizens lives a hobby for your entertainment? Clearly you seem to be asking for your license to be revoked.” Her stern voice makes straighten my back. It´s not that I´m afraid of her, but if I want my way out of this I might as well show some class. I clear my throat as I say “I apologize Chief, that was never my intention. I am pretty secure on my driving skills, and I am fully aware of the dangerous action I was doing. In my defence I am in a huge hurry. I´m in the Detective´s Program and I´m just trying to not get kicked out of there, this is my last chance…” I mumble that last part as I rub the back of my neck. Fuck it´s weird to be so verbally polite. I look back up at her to see what kind of reaction I got off of her only to be met with the exact same Beifong scowl as before. Well, that was worth shit. Her gaze is penetrating mine, almost as if she´s analysing me.

Chief Beifong´s PoV

That´s where I know her from. She´s in the Detective´s Program and sometimes wonders in the headquarters, she must be the firebender that Officer Wang told me. What was her name? Just as I am about to ask her, I am interrupted by the blaring sound coming off my radio. “Chief, come in. Over.” I groan in annoyance. Spirits, when do I ever catch a break? “I´m busy, what is it?” my stern and strong voice talks back to the radio. “Chief, we´ve got a Triple Threat Triad attack going on, over at the Eastern Market. We need your assistance. Over.” I look back at the young cadet with a scowl as she smiles back at me. Ugh, why is she smiling?

Y/N´s PoV

I just might make it out of here. I look at the Chief with a smile on my face as she stares back at me, the same Beifong scowl on her face but this time thicker, more prominent. I hear her exhale. “I catch you driving that thing over the speed one more time and I revoke your license and you better not drive it on my watch if you ever make it to detective, which hopefully, you won´t!” I hear her yell at me. Before I can even say anything back, she turns back around heading for the police satomobile. Well, isn´t she charming? Hot…and charming. “Song, move it! I drive.” I hear her yell at the officer. Poor guy, spirits. Though he is lucky he gets to be by her side. Hm, maybe I´ll be lucky enough for that once I´m a detective, which I want more than anything now that she seemed so annoyed by it. I smirk to myself as I think how it would be like to be next to this very angry yet stunning woman all day. Pushing her buttons does seem fun.

I put my helmet back on as I drive away towards the officers’ training site. I do my best to keep the speed on limit but as I look at the time on the satocycle I almost pass out. I am already 10 minutes late. FUCK. I groan loudly as I check my surroundings for any secret police satomobiles as I speed away. The faster I get there, the faster this is all over.

.- Later during practice -.

Y/N´s PoV

Fuck, I´m beat. Wang sure is getting his revenge for my late arrival. We are not many in the Detective´s Training Program and we´ll be even less given there are only two spots available. The majority of the class is all earthbenders, me being the only firebender. Which should make me feel perhaps uneasy or maybe a little scared, but honestly it just makes me feel like a total badass. I mean, hear me out, the only firebender in the troop and I get one of the Detective spots?! How crazy would that be? I´m quickly pulled from my thoughts when I hear that annoying voice once again. “So, Y/L/N, seems like you can give up already and give me my position as Detective.” The man says with a pleased smug on his face. “Why don’t you go bother someone else, Kang?” I groan annoyed as I take a sip from my water. “I´m just saying, as the only firebender you should at least make an effort to arrive in time don’t you think?” He scoffs loudly. I ignore his little stunts as I smirk to myself. “And you should make an effort on brushing your teeth. You got a little something there.” I scoff as I point to my own teeth with a disgusted face. I can visibly see him get red as a smirk makes its way on my lips.

“What´s going on over here? Y/L/N, Kang break is over. Get over here you two.” I hear Officer Wang´s voice yell from the other side of the field. Over? Spirits, I didn’t even have time to piss! I groan as I look at Kang´s smug little face. “Quit your whining and come prove your worth, princess.” I hear him chuckle. Did this cunt just call me, princess?! Now he better pray to Raava I won´t kill him. My blood boiling at the nickname I groan angrily. I have nothing to prove to you, cunt.

“Alright cadets, Y/L/N and Kang you two seemed to be having a nice chat back there. Get sparring, the others watch.” Wang´s voice echoes through the dusty field as I walk towards the centre, Kang right in front of me with that smug still plastered on his face. I scoff to myself.

I am going to wipe the fucking floor with you.

Once I see Officer Wang´s hand signal us to begin Kang wastes no time and throws a large piece of boulder at me, I swiftly avoid it, turning my body sideways and leaning slightly backwards. Just as quick as that boulder came at me I 360º my body, lowering myself to the dusty floor my right leg pushes forwards as a small wave of fire strikes all the dust away and forces Kang backwards. Before he can react, I get back up and briskly uppercut him in the jaw getting a loud grunt from him. How ´ s that for a princess? I don’t let my guard down knowing this isn´t over until Officer Wang decides. My arms close to my ribs and fists closed tightly near my face I watch Kang´s movements attentively, guessing his next move as he cracks his neck and smugly says “That all you got?” I roll my eyes as I stare at him through my eyebrows. Kang´s right leg rises and hits the ground, making it shake in an attempt to shake me off my feet. I use my fire propulsion to elevate myself from the ground slightly to lower the impact, flying over him and landing on the ground behind him. Before he has even time to acknowledge where I went, I lower kick his leg, spinning my body after the hit to gain power and land a higher kick to his arm which was protecting his ribs. I hear him grunt and groan in discomfort and anger as he throws a punch to my face. I quickly dodge downwards, pulling the same first move by pushing my leg outwards and kicking Kang´s body to the ground. He hits the ground with a loud thud, dust setting in the air around us, I look over at Office Wang to know if it was over yet, but Kang takes my short distraction as a chance. His body still on the floor, he raises his arm and the piece of boulder I was standing on goes flying with me in it. Throwing me through the air and across the field as I land on the ground, rolling over due to the speed I was thrown, getting a few scratches and dirt all over me. I breath loudly as the dust covers my sight, relying on my hearing I hear the rumbling sound of the earth beneath me as I look ahead and see a wave coming from the ground. I barely have time to react, my eyes widening, as I dodge to the right but not fast enough. My left shoulder caught on the edge of the rock-wave as I stumble backwards. I don’t fall, my feet sliding backwards with the dust as I grip my shoulder and wince in pain. Fuck! This bastard almost dislocated my shoulder. I sway my arms in the air and push them outwards as a thin wave of flames pushes the dust away, finally allowing me to see Kang. Does he ever stop smirking? I run towards him as he sends two fat boulders my way, I lower myself, dragging my body through the ground as I avoid the boulders. I get back up quickly and jump, using my fire propulsion to help me gain height. I see Kang´s eyes widen as I stretch my leg down, my foot coming at high speed in contact with his face. He barely has time to register what happened before his body jerks downwards with the force of the hit. Faceplanting on the floor with a loud thud and grunt he stays there, the dust on the ground escaping sideways from us. “Who´s the princess now Kang?” I whisper smugly on his ear as I stand up and hear Officer Wang´s annoyed voice “Alright that´s enough of it. Get here you two.” Is he mad that Kang didn’t beat my ass? Why is it that nobody wants me to succeed?! “You fucking bitch…” I hear Kang grunt between gritted teeth as he gets up. I smirk proudly to myself, “What´s wrong? Hurts much?”. I hear Kang scoff loudly, “Barely feel it.”, pfff yeah right.

We walk backwards towards Officer Wang and the rest of the trainees. “Alright, as you know our program is coming to an end. We have two detective positions open and there are ten of you. Being Detective is no easy job, that is why there is a final exam in five days. Me and Chief Beifong will be deciding on who gets the job positions and who goes out.” No. Fucking. Way. Now I know for sure I won´t make it to Detective! Beifong and I were already off to a bad start this morning! She said it herself; she doesn’t want me to make it to Detective! “…Final Exam will be set in two parts. In the morning you will have the written exam, to make sure you actually listened to what was taught these past few months, and, in the afternoon, it will be a competitive sparring. Just like Kang and Y/L/N did, except the first one to fall is automatically disqualified.” Written exam? What is this, fucking high school?! Ugh, I better not be paired with Kang. “That´s it for today cadets, see you tomorrow at 9am sharp.” Officer Wang glances at me sideways as I mouth a ´sorry` silently. “Y/L/N, hit the showers in the headquarters, your shoulder is bleeding.” Officer Wang says with a hint of despise on his tone. Spirits, sorry I´m not made of fucking metal. I didn’t even notice I was bleeding. I look at my shoulder and notice the few reddened scratches and a small trickle of blood coming out. I hear Kang snicker next to me. The fuck are you smirking about? “Your nose also looks like shit Kang, but I guess a shower can´t fix that for you.” I smirk as I grab my towel, shoving it over my shoulder and heading back inside the headquarters before he can say anything.

My body is covered in dust and sweat; my defined muscular arms filled with small little scratches from rolling on the ground. My once black tank top also covered in a light brownish dusty substance. Gosh do I need a shower…My body is killing me. I pass through the Officer I saw with the Chief in the morning. Shit, she´s probably close by. I rush my way to the showers as to avoid her. It´s not that I don’t want to see her. Spirits know how much I´d pay to see those penetrating jade eyes of hers. But I don’t want her to see me while I look like shit…and probably smell like one too.

Chief Beifong´s PoV

As I am filing down some more reports and going over them, I hear grunts and noises from outside. Annoyed at the disturbance I get up from my chair with a sigh as I look over the window. Must be Wang training the cadets. Seeing the training field, I stare at one of the male cadets throwing boulders and another one dodging them out. Trying to figure who the other one is, I squint my eyes. The amount of dust surrounding them makes it hard, but the worn-out red highlights and the distinctive fire coming from the body allows me to figure out who it is already. It´s that speeding satocycle cadet I caught this morning. I observe them as I see the male cadet shake the ground, a wave heading towards her. But there´s too much dust for her to see anything at all. Fuck even I am struggling to keep up with what is going on. She dodges it but seemingly not totally. “That’s a nasty hit…” I mumble to myself. But she does seem to handle it…quite nicely I must say. Spirits, I´m staring again. I shake my head and groan in annoyance but am quickly distracted by the fire coming off her feet. Fire propulsion, that’s useful. I stare as she lands a powerful hit on the male cadets’ face. That´s going to leave a mark. I guess…she´s not that…bad. Whatever. If she´s to make it to Detective she´s supposed to be, at least, useful. I turn away and decide to head downstairs to check how Song is getting along with the other files. He´s not in the Detective´s Program, but he has some…potential, I cannot deny that.

“Officer Song, how are those files coming along?” I see him tremble underneath his armour. “Uh- well, Chief. It seems that the Triple Threat Triads crimes are lowering in amount…” I scoff. Sure, but they are not getting any easier to deal with. Song continues talking but I barely catch what he is saying as I look over his shoulder and notice the firebender cadet. She´s all dirty. Bunch of scratches in her shoulder too…bummer. She can deal with it. I think to myself, but yet, I can´t seem to find an explanation as to why I feel so drawn towards her. I shake these thoughts away and refocus on Officer Song. “…So, I guess that is pretty good right, Chief?” What´s pretty good? Shit, I didn’t hear. “Uhm yes, yes, it is. Now, get back to work Officer.” I clear my throat as I make my way back to my office. Sitting down on my chair I exhale, looking up at the pile of files and papers to read and fill in. Spirits I´m exhausted. I get started against my will. It´s going to be a long night, I might as well get it over with. After some time of insufferable writing, scribbling, and scratching I hear a knock on the door. I look up from the papers as I catch a glimpse of the clock and then stare at the door. It´s 10pm who the fuck is still in here?

“Uh, Chief, can I come in?" Is that- What is she doing here?

[exclusivecolette]

it’s never over.

PT.1

(This is very short. ONLY because it’s the intro to the story) If your confused, just ask and i’ll explain

Summary: A girl forced to move to massachusetts, meets a boy across the lake. As they spend their days with each other, they all fall in love. When one decides to end the relationship, the other one is left feeling abandoned. After a few years, they find each other again. But was the love strong enough?

TW: none in this chapter

———————————————————————

“Stop!” a giggle leaves my throat as i swat away is hand from my face. His fit of laughter starts to slow. Our heads both turn toward each other. My eyes follow the droplets on his face drop to the raft when he turned his body to face mine.

When we calm I watch Chris’s mouth open to speak and shut like he didn’t know whether he should say something or not. I nervously tuck a strand of my overgrown bangs behind my ear.

“You do that a lot” he stated. My eyebrows furrow in confusion. “touch you hair…” his hand reached up to the piece i just tucked, and untucks the wet strand. I turn my body to completely face him. “You grew your bangs out.” he states again. My eyes nervously search his face.

“Yeah” i stutter. I think he realized how nervous i’d became because he opened his mouth to speak again “I like it.”

I watch him laugh from a distance. He runs his fingers through his thick, dark hair. Suddenly he starts looking around like he was looking for something. Or i should say someone because the second his eyes met mine, his face showed he found what he was looking for.

The familiar pair of eyes he once felt on him over 4 years ago. His eyebrows furrow, like he can’t believe who he’s seeing, or doesn’t know if he’s seeing the right person. I quickly turn around and walk away, slightly shoving whoever slowed me down. Four years should’ve been enough. Enough time to get my shit together. I thought as i quickly stepped into my car. Harsh breaths leaving and entering my throat at an abnormal pace.

Finally, when my breath came to a passable pace I start my car. The bottle of vodka tilting to his mouth repeatedly flashed in my head as i drove. I should’ve thought again before throwing myself at the first job opening.

La is far.

This is a great opportunity.

La seems like a great place.

So why is my stomach turning at the thought of going?

…

Chris.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

i’m working on pt.2 right now. SORRY for how short.

[iamthelamp]

uhhhh I have been mostly off social media for like, five or six years, and i dunno if there are any mutuals left who will still read my personal shit but here's a life dump.

So I just moved across the country. It's hard to say I uprooted because I don't know if there were any roots really left in LA, but I uhhh did just pack my entire life into my car and do that. It wasn't on impulse or anything, I'd been considering how to get away (I've been living with my abuser for the past 4 years after pandemic economy drove me back into my parents' place) and was considering Pittsburgh already because cost of living is way lower and I have family here. Then the school program I worked at was being gutted, and my grandma had a health scare (she's fine), and she cares for my grandpa with dementia so we figured they needed someone in... less delicate condition around. I'm hardly well, but I'm nowhere near death.

Anyway things that happened in my absence from tumblr, so I can just get them out there and make myself feel less insane:

best friend of five years did a crazy 180 and abused me for a year before ghosting me and i lost all of our mutual friends as a support group

moved out of my parents place for an apartment by the uni i transferred to and away from my remaining local support system which i never really managed to replace in person

school went bad, pandemic lockdown happened, income dropped, roommate situation sucked and i had zero money so i moved back in with my parents

i was basically not allowed to have significant presence or store belongings outside my 9x12 bedroom for four years

new friend group online turned south not long after we got really close and i had to leave a large community i cared a lot about because of it

got friend engaged and then unengaged

my boss started to lose her shit and be like, evil or whatever but i still cared about the kids i was working with so i got another job and tried to do both but it almost killed me so I left the martial arts job and haven't trained since

my body started to ??? fall apart. I now have a fibromyalgia diagnosis but honestly I don't think that covers all of it. maybe long covid is a factor, who knows

revived an old friend group. some of those people were bad.

pretty sure i have ocd it's been ROUGH OUT HERE

I hope that I can like. exist here. I wanna exist here, I think.

[forabeatofadrum]

Happy Out of Touch Thursday. I finally watched the 4 hour long plagiarism video. How y'all doing? No one tagged me yesterday, but I had something to share and I also have some musings.

I am a huge Brittana girlie. I'm a big Gay Squad lover.

But man, I am excited to throw in some Dantana for my December Fanworks fic, just to throw myself out of the loop, or whatever it's called.

“How’s Brittany?” An uncomfortable silence follows. What is it with uncomfortable silences this day? “Kurt, Brittany and I broke up,” Santana says solemnly and Kurt’s eyes widen, “And I got a new girlfriend.” “… Woah. What happened?” “So, the person who subleased your room?” Santana starts and Kurt nods. “Dani?” Yes, he’s met her briefly before he moved to Ljubljana. “Yeah, she’s my new girlfriend.”

Anyway, musings! My December Fanworks fic is a direct sequel to last year's Advent Ljubim te and I have dropped some hints that I have thought about this sequel for a while, but it wasn't going well. This is kind of why. Ljubim te wasn't written with a sequel in mind, and I notice it. I suddenly have to think about things I didn't have to care about in the first fic. I completely let out Kurt's friends, for example. They were mentioned, but that was it. Same goes for Blaine's family. They existed off-screen and now I am confronted by the fact that I never had Kurt and Blaine speak to their friends and family (except for Burt) in Ljubim te.

So yeah, that's just sort of on my mind. I suddenly have to think about all these other things. I got away with it in the first fic, because Kurt and Blaine were in Ljubljana, far away from their friends and family. Literally, all connection to America they had was Quinn and Kurt didn't even speak to her for most of the story. But now they're in LA and New York and they have family, friends, classmates, colleagues, etc. Oh my God. I don't want shit to become too messy by adding a lot of more people to the story, but I also feel like I cannot ignore it like I could with Ljubim te.

Especially since I don't want to fall into the same pitfall with Ljubim te, in my eyes, which was "what the FUCK is Kurt doing???"

Because what the FUCK is Kurt doing??? So I actually was quite excited when I got the idea that his friends moved on to other things (or people, like Santana) while he was gone and he feels a bit left out (totallynotwhathappenedtomewhenicamebackfromljubljanawhatdoyoumean), but that entails adding Kurt's friends to an already packed idea, since Blaine and Quinn's whole thing with them coming out etc. is also a huge chunk of the fic. Or at least, that's the plan.

Anyway... that's my musing.

And now, the weather: @quizasvivamos @jinglejavey @coffeegleek @otherworldsivelivedin @caramelcoffeeaddict @sillyunicorn @dragoneggos @raenestee @tectonicduck @nightimedreamersworld @urban-sith @thnxforknowingme @captain-aralias @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @justgleekout @cerriddwenluna @tea-brigade @ivelovedhimthroughworse @bookish-bogwitch @confused-bi-queer @aroace-genderfluid-sheep @1908jmd @special-bc-ur-part-of-it @larkral @cutestkilla ​ @wellbelesbian ​ @artsyunderstudy ​ @martsonmars ​ @facewithoutheart ​ @shrekgogurt @rockitmans @bitbybitwrites @blackberrysummerblog @whatevertheweather ​ @theotherhufflepuff ​

[scoops404]

I might have missed it, but you mentioned wanting to show how an older version of chapter 2 ended and asked us to remind you to show us once the chapter had gone out. Soooo I guess consider this a reminder haha 😅 No pressure ofc

Okay this is going to get long, so definitely under a cut. But here is a snapshot I took (cool took you can use on Scrivener in case you want to try out an edit and if you hate it, you can see how it used to look when you took the snapshot and change it back) from 3/27/2024:

“Hey,” Dream says, nonchalant. He takes a deep gulp of his sugar free Gatorade and then puts it back in the refrigerator.

“Hey,” George responds because what else can he say? He doesn’t take off immediately, but he feels an awkwardness around Dream that isn’t normal for them.

No, he can’t—he can’t have this weirdness between them. He won’t let what they did ruin things between them.

George marches up to Dream and punches him on the arm.

“Ow,” Dream says, rubbing his shoulder and looking at George like he’s lost his mind. “What the fuck? What was that for?”

“You’re being weird,” George says. “Stop it.”

“You’re being weird,” Dream says back. “I’ve been fine. You’re the one who ran off to LA.”

“I had plans with Larray,” George says, which is only true because he made those plans last minute. Whatever.

------

This was the ending of this chapter for a long time -- eagle eyed readers will realize i changed quite few things in there. This was also written before i wrote most of the middle so I had to change the line about George leaving for LA for plans with Larray that he made at the last moment.

-------

This version is from 4/6/2024:

“Hey,” Dream says, nonchalant. He takes a deep gulp of his sugar free Gatorade and then puts it back in the refrigerator.

“Hey,” George responds because what else can he say? He doesn’t take off immediately, but he feels an awkwardness around Dream that isn’t normal for them.

No, he can’t—he can’t have this weirdness between them. He won’t let what they did ruin things between them.

George marches up to Dream and punches him on the arm.

“Ow,” Dream says, rubbing his shoulder and looking at George like he’s lost his mind. “What the fuck? What was that for?”

“You’re being weird,” George says. “Stop it.”

“You’re being weird,” Dream says back. “I’ve been fine. You’re the one who ran off to LA.”

“I had plans with Larray,” George says, which is only true because he made those plans last minute. Whatever.

“You were weird before that, too.”

“Well, neither of us are being weird now,” George says. “Moving forward.”

“You can’t just—you always try to just sweep things under the rug without talking about it.”

“Oh, really? You want to go down that route?”

“Yeah, maybe I do, George. You’re always—trying to get you to talk about things is like pulling teeth.”

“You didn’t want to talk after you fucked me, so I don’t see why we should talk about it all now. We moved on, we’re fine. You’re mad because I didn’t want to fuck again. Get over it.”

“That’s not—fuck you, George.”

“We just went over this,” George says, a meanness about it that he doesn’t feel connected to. “You already did.”

“What are you—why are you being like this?”

“We fucked. We fooled around. Now I don’t want to. So drop it.”

“I’m not—this isn’t about me pushing you for sex, George.”

“Is it not? Because bro seems kinda mad that I rejected him.”

“You’re not—ugh. You’re so annoying when you’re like this. You’re the one who just said you wanted to be normal again. Part of being normal is talking about how we got, like, abnormal.”

“Now bro is calling me abnormal. Cool. Really feels great for a guy who fucked you to call you abnormal.”

“So now I’m just a guy that fucked you.”

“You made yourself into just a guy who fucked me.”

“George, honestly? What are you talking about? What are you—what is this? This isn’t you. What’s happening right now?”

“Oh, so now I’m abnormal and not myself? Are you gaslighting me right now?”

“You’re gaslighting me!”

“Just—drop it.”

“No, I can’t drop it.”

“Trust me, Dream. Drop it. Leave it alone. I don’t want to talk about this and I don’t want—we’re not fooling around anymore. No—stop trying to seduce me.”

“George—if you think I care more about sex, about getting my dick wet, than your friendship, then you’re just plain wrong. You—I don’t need sex from you to…”

“Good. Then no more sex. No more making out when we’re drunk. No more any of it. Just—no.”

“Okay, message received. Sorry I—I’m sorry if you felt that I pressured you into it, or. It would break my heart if you felt like I—”

“No,” George says. “You didn’t—it was consensual, idiot. I would have said if I didn’t want it. So shut up. The past is the past and it was—it was fine, just no more. Not again.”

“Okay. Okay. So are we good?”

“Yeah, why not?”

They are decidedly not fine.

--------

You'll see the bones of the full scene here. This is what I mean when sometimes my writing starts with just dialogue back and forth. No point in getting a contentious scene all padded with everything if it's still not doing what it's supposed to do. So I'll start with the dialogue and when it feels right, I'll add action beats and inner monologue that bridges the gaps in the dialogue where it looks like they make weird leaps.

And then this part sat while I worked on the middle again and then added the last chunk where Dream asks for George's help with coding. I added that part after this confrontation (which I originally intended to be the end of chapter 2) to show them *trying* that even though they're both in these weird spots, they still want to make whatever it is between them work in some capacity. George can't not have Dream in his life, even though he's mad and heartbroken and going insane with hormones--he makes a point after he's done sulking to try and work things out so they can get back to normal(ish), even if that intention gets really really off track.

I'll skip Dream's motivation for now so as not to spoil anything too much.

[drjohndisco]

Question: Is Yarrow living with Giles in season 4 when Spike is held captive at his apartment or are they already in LA with Wesley, Cordelia and Angel? And not, how did they get along with Spike while he was held prisoner there? —Nic

@me-myself-and-my-fos

Yarrow is still in town at that point (I think I'd initially said they weren't, but I have changed that). They do get talked to by Angel when he turns up at Thanksgiving (oh man, I hate Pangs - for the bad cultural representation, not the plot) but they don't go back with him.

Yarrow goes to L.A when Buffy goes to see Angel after the shenanigans with Faith. Since Yarrow moved out when Giles was thinking about dating they got a house on the outskirts of town (was probably last owned by a demon, as it was cheap. That's where Wesley was staying with them in season three.) Yarrow then moves out again -- this time using the mirror -- when they join Angel Investigations (they do drop in to see Giles on the weekends, though.)

In terms of Spike, they tolerate him. It's nice to have another vampire around, but man can Spike be a bitch. So. It depends.

After his reappearance it all goes back scratch -- due to the memory wipe done by Angel -- that's when they go back to pissing him off. Certainly made Buffy get a restraining order against him at some point (it's what she deserves).

[explosuion]

chapter 4 - 'perra, you fucked my brother?' ⋆⁺₊✧

i woke up to the feel of hands on my back. "ma'am..." the flight attendant's voice dragged me out of my sleep like nails on a chalkboard.

i groaned, rolling over and sitting up, rubbing my temples as i muttered under my breath, "odio cuando las perras me despiertan de mi sueño. (i hate when bitches wake me out of my sleep.)"

she revealed a food cart, offering me a bowl of fruit. i nodded begrudgingly, taking it without a word. as she moved out of the way, my gaze landed on castello, seated across from me, shirtless and completely unbothered. his fingers danced across his laptop keyboard, his focus unbroken.

"good morning, principessa, (princess)" he greeted, his deep, morning tone laced with teasing warmth.

i rolled my eyes, barely sparing him a glance. "don't call me that," i snapped, turning my head toward the window. "ugh, are we almost there yet?" irritation dripped from every word.

he glanced at his watch. "thirty minutes, if the food's out."

i leaned back in my seat, muttering incoherently as i popped a grape into my mouth.

when the plane finally began to descend, i pulled out my phone and dialed malia. after what felt like forever, she picked up.

"habla en español para que este idiota no pueda escuchar. (speak in spanish so this idiot can't hear.)" i put her on speaker while adjusting my hair in the camera app.

there was muffled noise on the other end, her voice distant. "hola? malia? (hello?)" my brows furrowed.

"sí, sí, estoy aquí. (yeah, yeah, i'm here.)"

i heard faint shushing. "con quién estás?? (who are you with?)" i demanded, suspicion sharpening my tone.

before i could get an answer, castello abruptly stood. he muttered something under his breath in rapid italian as he stormed out of the cabin.

"who's the drama queen now," i mumbled, rolling my eyes.

"no esto—"

"talk in english," i cut her off. "he's gone."

she sighed, her tone turning sharp. "i'm with no one, camila!"

"okay, okay, i'm sorry," i relented, though my curiosity simmered.

"are you okay?" her voice softened, though it sounded distant, distracted.

"not really," i admitted, looking around the cabin. "his brothers stayed behind, so it's just us... on this tiny-ass jet."

she laughed softly, though it wasn't at me. "that must be awkward. are you almost to sicily?"

"twenty-five more minutes," i sighed, pulling out my skincare. "mariana is coming, too. she lands a few hours after me."

"wait, your sister's coming?" malia's voice piqued with interest.

before i could respond, castello re-entered the cabin with all the grace of a thunderstorm. his sharp gaze pinned me, fists clenched at his sides.

"who is mariana?" he demanded, his accent thick. "you didn't tell me someone was coming."

i tilted my head, feigning innocence. "oh yeah, her plane lands an hour after ours."

his expression darkened as he slammed his fist onto the table, making the fruit bowl rattle. "you didn't—"

"oh my god, malia, i have to go." i hung up mid-protest and stood, closing the distance between us.

"my sister is fucking coming," i hissed, my tone daring him to challenge me.

he stepped closer, his frame towering over mine, a sly smirk curling his lips. "ask nicely..." his voice dropped to a low, almost sultry whisper as he leaned in, his breath brushing my ear.

i pressed a hand against his chest, pushing him back with a scoff. "i'm not asking for shit."

before i could escape to the bathroom, his hand caught my wrist, spinning me around and pinning me against the wall. my breath hitched as his gaze locked onto mine, searing and unrelenting.

"are we not going to talk about what happened?" his voice dipped, dangerously smooth. "you know... between us." his hand trailed down to grip my waist, his lips brushing my ear. "i'd very much like to do it again."

"i can promise you this," i said, meeting his gaze defiantly, "we won't."

with a firm shove, i freed myself and slipped into the bathroom, slamming the door shut behind me.

as i tried to collect myself, i could hear him muttering curses under his breath outside.

"camila, come on!" his voice broke through my thoughts, followed by a loud knock. "i have to take a piss!"

i ignored him, taking my time.

"i swear to god—"

the door swung open before he could finish. i shot him a pointed look before brushing past him, my shoulder bumping his.

the rest of the flight was tense, the air thick with unspoken words.

when we landed, i gripped the seat for support, the descent more nerve-wracking than usual. castello noticed, his lips curving into a knowing smirk, but he said nothing.

as the plane doors opened, i stepped out, the warm sicilian air hitting my face.

castello followed closely, watching as i hovered near the luggage, eyeing every movement like a hawk.

"if you're done babysitting your bags, i'm leaving," he called out, already heading for the car.

i rolled my eyes but hurried after him.

i sat in the car with my arms crossed over my chest, feeling the irritation bubbling inside me. we were on our way to his damn 'villa,' and it was already starting to piss me off.

so fucking annoying.

i decided to break the silence, "i'm gonna need a car sent out for my sister." i blurted, not even thinking twice. he glanced at me, scoffing in disbelief. "whatever," he muttered, rolling his eyes like i was the one being unreasonable. i wasn't having it.

"don't fucking have an attitude about it," i snapped, leaning into his space, getting in his face a little.

i then tried to swing at him, but he was quick. before i knew it, he had my arms pinned down on the seat. i gasped, caught off guard by his sudden movements.

"que mierda? (what the fuck?)" i gritted out through heavy breaths, trying to squirm my way free.

he was trying to assert control over me, but the bastard didn't know when to stop. the way he grabbed me, it stung—a little too much. in a split second, my hand was free, and i managed to scratch at his jaw. he winced in pain, tightening his grip on my arm, before finally letting go.

i glared at the marks he left on my arm, irritated. he felt his jaw, eyes narrowing when he turned to look at me. i could tell the scratch had left a mark.

the rest of the car ride was silent. the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. i stared out the window, trying to ignore the prick sitting next to me. sicily was beautiful, though, and i couldn't deny that.

my phone vibrated in my pocket, and i glanced down to see elise had snapped me. it was nearly 8AM here, which meant it was almost 2AM back in new york.

i opened the snap, rolling my eyes in jealousy. there they were, elise and malia, posing in the club. tall figures surrounded them, their backs turned.

camila: 'i wish i was there!!!'

no response. they were probably off doing their thing, having fun without me.

another 15 minutes passed in complete silence.

we pulled up to the gates of the villa, and holy shit, it was breathtaking. manicured lawns, tall trees surrounding the place—everything screamed luxury.

the gate opened, and the black car rolled smoothly through.

when we stopped, the driver jumped out quickly, opening the door for me. castello stormed into the house, not even bothering with a tour. what a fucking asshole. i rolled my eyes as i grabbed my sunglasses, stepping out.

i guess i'd have to show myself around. and so, i did. the villa was stunning, no doubt about that. it was clear that i was living in a place that many could only dream of. i met a few of the staff, offering polite introductions, but my mind was elsewhere.

i froze when i heard raised voices from behind a nearby door. curiosity got the better of me, and i pressed myself against the wall to listen in.

"— you told me i needed a wife!" castello shouted, his voice angry.

"not from the fucking spanish mafia!" his father, christos, yelled back, his voice laced with disdain. he downed his whiskey in one go, slamming the glass on the table.

christos glanced down at the contract in front of him, eyes narrowing as he muttered, "well, we are gonna have to make this work." he looked up, briefly meeting castello's eyes before turning away, his voice darkening. "i can't even look at you right now."

castello turned to leave, his footsteps heavy. "good, let's not."

i quickly darted out of the way, moving up the stairs.

as i did, i caught a glimpse of someone bringing in familiar bags into a room. that's when it hit me.

that was my room.

OUR room.

i sighed heavily, stepping toward the door. staff members nodded as they passed me, exiting the room. i entered, and—honestly? it was cute. but basic. nothing special. i had seen better.

the one thing that caught my eye was the large portrait above the bed. and of course, it was of castello.

what a narcissistic prick.

before i could even process it, the door opened, and out he came.

shirtless.

"god! put a shirt on, you freak!" i exclaimed, trying to hide my eyes from his exposed chest. he chuckled, unfazed, as he reached for a shirt on the bed.

"don't worry, i'm not interested," he said, his jaw clenching as he shot me a look.

perra. (bitch), i thought.

i barely held back a roll of my eyes, annoyance bubbling up. "don't worry, i'm not either," i shot back before quickly changing the subject. "anyway, where the hell are my bags?"

he smirked slightly and pointed toward one of the doors.

i walked towards the door, feeling castello's eyes burn into me, watching every single one of my movements. as soon as i opened it, i gasped at the sight.

the closet was massive—floor-to-ceiling space wrapped around the entire room, drawers built into the walls, and a small vanity tucked into the corner. a circle rug covered part of the floor, adding to the luxury.

my bags were in the corner by the vanity, and the first thing that hit my mind? i needed mariana here... so we could smoke a damn joint.

i slammed the door behind me as i stepped into the closet. i just wanted to get high, to forget about everything that was happening.

i pulled out my dab pen and took a few hits, feeling the familiar calm wash over me. my thoughts cleared, even just for a moment.

i opened my trunk, filled to the brim with shoes, and began to organize them into neat categories—casual, outgoing, and so on. i couldn't focus on anything else right now, so unpacking was all i could do.

just as i started to hang up my clothes, my phone rang. it was elise, and i could hear the slur in her voice. she was definitely drunk, probably still out at the club.

i answered the call, propping my phone up on the vanity as i continued unpacking.

"hey, perra!! (bitch)" she giggled, clearly not making much sense.

i couldn't help but smile, though i gave her a side-eye. "that's your closet?" she asked, noticing the massive size of the space.

"i know! it's huge, right? at least i'm getting treated right here," i replied, giggling a little.

but my smile faded quickly, replaced by something else—a sinking feeling in my gut. i stopped what i was doing and stared at the phone, trying to steady my voice. "i have a question..." i began, my tone more serious.

"are you alone?" i asked, and she nodded, her chewing slowing as she seemed to catch on. "is malia seeing someone new that you guys are keeping from me?"

i saw her pause. the laughter from her side of the phone stopped. her face was unreadable, and i could feel my heart rate spike. "okay..." she hesitated before speaking again. "i'm only telling you this because we're cousins. you know i think of you like a hermana. (sister)"

i shook my head, feeling the panic rise inside me. "okay, you're really starting to freak me out. just tell me." i glanced around the room, trying to brace myself.

her voice dropped, and she sighed before dropping the bomb. "okay... malia is fucking nico."

my jaw dropped. my mouth formed an o shape as i stepped closer to the phone. "i fucking knew it!" i hissed, anger flooding my veins, but deep down, the shock of it all still hit me hard.

"and you fucking knew about this?" i shouted, the rage bubbling up. "you're my fucking cousin, elise! you should've told me!" she started to speak, but i cut her off. "no. don't even fucking bother coming to sicily. you're my fucking cousin, and you didn't even tell me this shit!"

"camil—"

i hung up on her before she could finish. disbelief gripped me as i stared at the screen, my heart pounding in my chest.

now, more than ever, i needed mariana. i checked the time and debated whether or not to call nico. i was almost certain he was the one in the photo, the one standing next to malia.

he picked up, his voice slurring with drunkenness. "c-camila!" he giggled, barely able to get the words out.

i couldn't keep it together anymore. "who are you with?" i demanded, waiting for him to answer. when he didn't reply immediately, i repeated myself, louder. "tell me who the fuck you're with!"

"is it malia?" i pressed, knowing damn well the answer.

"how do you—"

"save it!" i cut him off, disgust creeping into my voice. "fuck you both."

i ended the call before he could say another word, anger coursing through me like wildfire.

i checked the time again—one more hour before mariana's plane landed. i could already feel the weight of everything settling over me.

i just wanted to hide in this huge closet, away from everyone, away from the mess.

i never thought malia would do this to me. she was my best friend, and she couldn't even tell me she was fucking my brother? i couldn't even process it, but the reality of it made me sick.

i spent the rest of my time unpacking, sorting clothes and trying to ignore the gnawing pit in my stomach. i just needed mariana to get here.

the time flew by as i finished unpacking. let me tell you, organizing a new closet was almost therapeutic. i was sitting at the vanity, scrolling through social media, when i heard the closet door creak open. and then... mariana appeared. i gasped at the sight.

as soon as the door closed, i jumped up and wrapped her in a hug, feeling the warmth of a familiar face. she hugged me back, and for a second, everything felt right again.

after a few exchanged words, we finally sat down, the tension between us easing.

"... i met castello..." she blurted out, making a face like she had just tasted something sour.

"whaat?" i asked, my brow raised as i took a hit from the joint between my lips.

"he's cute! that's all i'm saying," she added, taking a hit from her vape, her eyes never leaving me.

"girl, you are married!" i giggled, the smoke from the joint curling in the air.

"yeah, married to the love of my life. thank you very much..." she reassured me with a smirk.

"lucky bitch," i muttered under my breath, scrolling through my feed, but sneaking glances at her every so often.

"girl, he is fine. you need him to treat you right," she said, her voice full of amusement as i passed the joint to her. she took a long drag before handing it back to me.

"yeah, he already did..." i said, my words laced with bitterness. she froze, eyes widening in shock as she took another hit.

"wait, when?" she asked, her fingers running through her hair, her expression a mix of curiosity and confusion.

"... hmm. almost a week ago," i replied, lighting another joint between my lips. "but we didn't know who each other were back then. it's completely different now," i added, the smoke filling the air, the bitterness still lingering on my tongue.

my mind drifted back to the shitstorm with nico and malia. i stared at the crystal ashtray in front of me, then glanced at the mirror, trying to keep my composure.

"... okay. what's wrong?" mariana asked, exhaling a thick cloud of vape smoke.

"i found out some shit about malia--" i started, but she cut me off.

"what happened now?" she asked, her voice full of concern. i let out a giggle, trying to shake off the anger bubbling inside me.

"apparently... she's..." i shook my head, trying to push away the frustration. "... apparently, she's fucking nico, and elise knew about it." mariana's face shifted, her expression serious. "i'm not even mad she's fucking my brother—everyone knows i think of malia as a sister, so it would be nice if they were together." i took a long drag of the joint, then passed it to her. "i'm just mad everyone knew about it but me." i rolled my eyes, my voice tinged with disbelief.

"do you know if elio knew?" she asked, her eyes narrowing in thought.

i laughed, bitter and disbelieving. "i mean, i wouldn't be surprised," i said, shaking my head.

our conversation flowed easily, just like old times. we caught up on everything that had happened in the past week, and mariana couldn't stop raving about her trip to dubai. apparently, it was nothing short of amazing, and she had a million stories to tell.

we both eventually made our way into the kitchen, looking for something to eat. the place felt unusually quiet today—everyone was either out of the country or doing their own thing. it was just us, castello, his father, and his wife left in the house. we didn't mind though, it gave us a chance to just hang out and relax.

we spent the entire day exploring the villa, taking in the breathtaking views from the windows. the whole place felt surreal—like a dream, honestly.

"what are you gonna do about malia and nico?" mariana asked, breaking the comfortable silence as we strolled down the hall.

i glanced at her, then looked down at my feet, the weight of the situation sinking in. "i'm not saying shit. they know i know, it's just up to them now." i flicked my hair over my shoulder, trying to brush off the irritation that was simmering underneath. "they know what they did is wrong. i didn't do anything. it's their mess to clean up, not mine."

we were about to turn the corner when we heard footsteps by the front door. mariana paused mid-bite of her yogurt, and we both quickly ducked behind a wall to listen.

"come on, eliana!" christos commanded, his voice stern.

eliana's voice followed, sounding a little breathless as she scurried down the stairs. "i'm coming!" she called out, catching up with him.

they made their way out of the house, and i let out a quiet breath. mariana turned to me, curiosity lighting up her face.

"who the hell was that?" she asked, her brows furrowed.

"whoever it is, i don't care," i muttered, already pulling her up the stairs. "come on, let's go."

i laid down on mariana's bed, propping myself up on my stomach, and took a hit of her dab pen. the smoke filled my lungs, and for a moment, everything seemed to slow down.

"i think i'm gonna go to bed," she said, her voice a mix of tiredness and contentment as she let out a yawn.

i glanced at the time and stretched a little. "yeah, it's getting late," i replied, a frown creeping across my face. i shifted to sit up and pulled her in for a side hug. "goodnight, bitch. sleep tight."

"you too, perra, (bitch)" she giggled, hugging me back tightly. "text me if you need me, okay? i'm just down the hall."

"always," i said, my voice light as i released her from the hug.

as i walked out of the room, i heard her voice call after me. "don't do anything i wouldn't do," she teased.

i rolled my eyes as i exited her room. "trust me, i'm not planning on it."

i made my way down the hall, the quiet of the house almost suffocating as i walked to my room. or rather, our room. i pushed open the door and froze in the doorway for a moment.

it hit me again: i had to share a bed with castello tonight.

i let out a sigh, frustration bubbling inside me. my mood instantly soured. "great," i muttered to myself, walking further into the room.

after i was done taking a shower, i wrapped myself in a towel, running my fingers through my damp hair. once i finished that, i applied my skincare, admiring the soft, moisturized glow of my skin in the mirror. i turned around, ready to step towards the door.

"—ugh!" i gasped, stumbling back as castello's phone hit the floor with a loud clatter between us. my towel slipped, revealing the creamy swell of my breasts and the curve of my collarbone, the soft flesh teasing the air.

castello's dark eyes locked onto me, a wicked glint in them as they roamed over my barely covered body. a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips, and he slowly straightened, towering over my smaller frame. he didn't move to pick up his phone. instead, his gaze lingered, appreciating the way my towel strained against my chest.

"the fuck you staring at?" i rolled my eyes, shoving past him to the closet. i could feel his eyes still burning into me as i walked, every step exaggerated in my peripheral vision. i shut the door behind me, knowing he was still watching.

i slipped into a silk white cami slip, letting my dark hair cascade down my back. i applied carmex to my lips, the cool balm soothing as i tried to ignore the lingering tension.

when i walked back into the room, he was standing by the bed, phone in hand.

"what are you doing?" his brows furrowed as he eyed me.

"what does it look like?" i snapped, yanking at the pillows to create a barrier, pretending i was unaffected.

he set his phone down, peeling off his shirt before climbing into bed. "that's not necessary," he muttered, turning off the lamp.

i rolled my eyes, climbing into the bed beside him and turning off my own light. "whatever," i muttered, adjusting my hair before closing my eyes.

the night dragged on, filled with kicking, yelling, and stealing blankets. he was clearly doing it on purpose to piss me off. i shoved at him, but he only grinned wider, making it worse.

the next morning, i rubbed my eyes, adjusting to the sunlight. castello wasn't in the bed. thank god. i quickly checked my phone.

9:52AM

shit. i had a breakfast to attend, and i was meeting the rest of his family. his brothers were flying in from new york, and i had to face them.

... great. if you don't recall, his brothers were the ones pointing guns at my family not too long ago.

i scrambled out of bed, rushing through my morning routine. casual clothes, a touch of makeup, and bam—still looking good.

i rushed downstairs, nodding at the staff as i passed, trying to make it to the dining room before i exploded.

i entered to see mariana already seated. castello and his brothers stood nearby.

"good morning!" mariana beamed as she pulled me into a side hug.

"hey," i murmured, hugging her back, glancing briefly at castello before sitting down next to him.

i massaged my back with my hands, i did not get much sleep last night.

the two brothers came in from the kitchen and took their seats, followed by bianca, walking in with her brunette hair and a baby on her hip.

"bianca," castello greeted her with a nod. but she barely spared him a glance.

"who the hell are you?" bianca's voice was sharp, her eyes sizing us up.

"i'm—" i started, but castello cut me off with a firm tone.

"bianca," he said, his voice sharp and demanding, "this is my... fiancée." he hesitated, but finally spoke the words.

"fiancée?" bianca raised an eyebrow, making a face of disbelief.

mariana didn't hold back. "no hagas esa cara, perra! (don't make that face, bitch)" she shot at bianca, glancing at me before glaring back at her. "bitch."

"treat us with respect," mariana added, her eyes blazing with fire.

"i'll cut you." bianca stood abruptly, her chair scraping the floor.

mariana stood too, ready to match her energy. "hazlo! (do it)" she spat back with attitude.

"stop, come on!" i grabbed mariana, pulling her down into her seat, whispering desperately to calm her down.

just then, i glanced at my phone—it was malia. i hesitated, answering with a frown.

"what, malia?" i asked, irritation clear in my voice.

"camila, i know i fucked up," malia's voice sounded rushed, with the noise of traffic in the background. "me and elise are in sicil—"

"why the fuck are you guys here?" i cut her off before she could continue.

"me and elise got a ride from atlas and ares... we're at caffetteria del corso in sicily."

"okay... we're coming." i hung up, turning to mariana and telling her what just went down.

we quickly headed upstairs to get ready, choosing designer outfits and making sure we looked flawless.

after we finished, we strutted downstairs and were met with castello's presence in the foyer.

"going somewhere?" he asked, stepping forward, arms behind his back, sizing us up.

i looked up at him, my gaze unwavering. "i'm meeting my cousin and my sister," i said coolly, brushing past him, dragging mariana along with me. "not like it's any of your business," i muttered under my breath as we exited.

"... he's so fucking annoying," i murmured to mariana as we walked the streets, deciding to walk to the café instead of driving.

we arrived at the coffee shop, and i spotted elise and malia sitting in the corner booth.

"i'm gonna go smoke a blunt and try to get ahold of haiden," mariana said quickly, heading out of the café.

i approached the table, sitting down awkwardly. "hey," i said, trying to sound calm, but the anger was boiling just below the surface.

the waiter came by, and i ordered a cappuccino, trying to settle my nerves.

malia and i exchanged glances. she could tell i was losing control of my anger.

"so you wanna tell me why you fucked my brother behind my back?" i asked, my voice quiet but dripping with venom.

"i didn't do it to hurt you..." malia replied softly, but i could feel her guilt in the air.

"perra, you fucked my brother! (bitch)" i shot back, barely containing my rage.

i stood, ready to unleash, but before i could move, elise jumped in front of me, surprising me.

"oh, so now you wanna protect her?" i hissed, just inches from smacking the hell out of her.

"no—she—" elise started, but malia stopped her.

"elise," malia whispered, a quiet plea.

"what?" i demanded, my anger still simmering.

elise looked straight ahead, a moment of hesitation hanging in the air.

"no, tell me!" i snapped.

"malia's pregnant!" elise blurted out.

what...?

rory's notes! another doozy! tell me what yall think.

[hoovesandfloorpaws]

Part 4

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Louis purchased the 4 songs Promise, Gracious, The Fear, and Only Love by Ben Howard (May 10, 2012) Commented by Rachel L.: "i see youre really digging this album, lou. i may have to look into it, shall i? seems you have a really great taste in music :) love you, keep doing what youre doing. [...]"

Louis purchased the 4 songs Everything, The Wolves, Diamonds, and Old Pine by Ben Howard (May 10, 2012)

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Louis purchased the album Strangeland (Deluxe Version) by Keane (May 8, 2012) Commented by Kelly B.: "Oh, looking back I sound kind of upset at you...I'm not, I'm just trying to be helpful--my bad"

Louis purchased the song Shine On by The Kooks (April 22, 2012) Commented by anup p.: "OMG YES."

Louis purchased the song Seaside by The Kooks (April 22, 2012)

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Louis purchased the two songs Ooh La and She Moves In Her Own Way by The Kooks (April 22, 2012) Commented by Emily S.: "I've loved this song since I was 2 omg why."

Louis purchased the song Earthquake (All Stars Remix) [feat. Tinie Tempah, Kano, Wretch 32 & Busta Rhymes] by Labrinth (April 22, 2012) Commented in by Dayna C.: "Cool"

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Louis purchased the album Now That's What I Call Music! 81 by Various Artists The album isn't on Spotify, but here's a YouTube playlist. A few of the songs on there are Ed Sheeran - Lego House, Olly Murs - Dance With Me Tonight, Florence + The Machine - Shake It Out, Lady Gaga - Marry The Night, and Kelly Clarkson - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) (April 22, 2012) Commented by James L.: "OMG i have that CD and it is amazing"

Louis purchased the song Drops of Jupiter by Train (April 22, 2012) Commented by catherine H.: "LARRY"

Louis purchased the song Keep Your Head Up by Ben Howard (April 22, 2012)

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Louis purchased the song Stop and Stare by OneRepublic (April 22, 2012) Commented by Alyssa T.: "I like this song too :)"

Louis purchased the song Just Say Yes by Snow Patrol (April 22, 2012)

Louis purchased the song Dreaming With A Broken Heart by John Mayer [he later on bought all of John Mayer's albums that had been released up until 2012] (April 22, 2012) Commented by loulabelle B.: "this is a great song"

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Louis purchased the four songs I'm Gonna Find You and I Don't Trust Myself (With Loving You), Shadow Days, and Heartbreak Warfare by John Mayer He also purchased the two songs Somebody Told Me and Mr. Brightside by The Killers [🚨🎶 BANGER ALERT] (April 22, 2012)

Louis purchased the album Love Is a Four Letter Word (Deluxe Version) by Jason Mraz (April 22, 2012) Commented by Karen T.: "I love Jason Mraz!!"

Louis purchased the song Let's Go (feat. Ne-Yo) [Radio Edit] by Calvin Harris (April 22, 2012)

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Louis purchased the song We Are Young (feat. Janelle Monáe) by Fun. (April 22, 2012) Commented by Alyssa T.: "oh my god you like fun. my life is complete."

Louis purchased the song War of the Worlds by Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly (April 8, 2012) Commented by Marcus K.: "Serious question 1D, how do you learn your new songs? Do you use sheet music or just learn them by ear?"

Louis purchased the song Do the Conga by Black Lace [🪩] (March 27, 2012)

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Louis purchased the song Turn Up the Music by Chris Brown [a resounding FUCK CHRIS BROWN] (March 27, 2012) Commented by loulabelle B.: "this song is the best"

Louis purchased the album Keep Calm & Relax by Various Artists The album isn't on Spotify, but there's a YouTube playlist. It includes songs like Bruno Mars - Just The Way You Are, Damien Rice - Cannonball, The Fray - How To Save A Life, The Script - Breakeven, Savage Garden - I Knew I Loved You, Ellie Goulding - Your Song, and Jason Mraz - I Won't Give Up (March 26, 2012) Commented by Saira A.: "Only for you :)"

Louis purchased the album Who You Are (Platinum Edition) by Jessie J (March 26, 2012)

continued in Part 5

So, Ping (iTunes’ ill-fated social network) will be shutting down on September 30th and I couldn't let Louis' profile disappear forever, so I screenshotted the entire thing.

and put it all here. so enjoy 64 screenshots of Louis’ musical taste

~updated in 2021 with working screenshots

Keep reading

[roccoparondi]

im rewatching the godfather bc ive been binging bruised fruit and the timeline of the movies/ book is soooo confusing to me bc of all the inconsistencies T_T what timeline or reference does bruised fruit follow bc it feels so coherent :0

Thank you so much! Hearing you've been rewatching The Godfather movies and binging Bruised Fruit makes me so happy🖤

As for timeline stuff, that's totally understandable! I had to make one for myself to reference while working on Bruised Fruit, and I think it's as accurate as I can get? I used the handful of real-world events explicitly referenced in the movies (the attack on Pearl Harbor, the end of WWII, The Bells of St. Mary's release, Jake LaMotta vs. Tommy Bell, at the Garden, and the Cuban revolution) to build this out because there are a lot of inconsistencies otherwise, especially when it comes to the novel and even in some early drafts of the script for Part II.

Anyway, my Godfather timeline for Michael's arc is beneath the cut! The Bruised Fruit-specific events are differentiated with red text.

1941

December - US joins WWII following attack on Pearl Harbor, Michael drops out of college to enlist in the Marines immediately afterward

1945

September - Connie's wedding, as Nazorine says that the war is over when he appeals to Vito for Enzo to stay in the US so he can work in the bakery and marry his daughter. Also based on wardrobe, the weather is still warm enough for light, summer dresses and short sleeves

December - During the atempt on Vito's life, there's a sign behind the fruit stand advertising the fight between Jake LaMotta and Tommy Bell at Madison Square Garden, which was in January 1946. Michael and Kay find out while leaving a screening of The Bells of St. Mary's, which came out in December 1945. Later on, in Vito's office when everyone's discussing what to do, Tom says "This is almost 1946, nobody wants more bloodshed."

1946

January - Michael kills Sollozzo and McCluskey and flees to Sicily, there are still Christmas decorations up around NY (could be late December 1945?)

1948

Michael meets Apollonia; marries her not long afterward (a few weeks?)

1949

Santino is killed on the Long Beach Causeway

Apollonia is killed in a car bomb meant for Michael

1950

Michael returns to the US from Sicily (according to the novel The Sicilian, he has been in exile in Sicily for 4 years - full disclosure, I haven't read this novel yet)

1951

Autumn/Winter - Michael reunites with and marries Kay — she asks him how long he's been back, he says at least a year, maybe more; leaves on the trees in New England are visibly orange/brown in the scene, they're both in coats

1953

Gloria moves to Las Vegas

Michael first meets Gloria in Las Vegas - He is 33, she is 20

1954

Michael and Gloria start their affair

1955

Murder of the Five Families

Corleone family moves to Nevada

1958

October/November - Anthony's first communion (though I've never heard of a first communion happening any time other than spring?), while they're dancing, Kay reminds Michael that "You told me that in five years the Corleone family would be completely legitimate, that was seven years ago"

December - Michael goes to Cuba

1959

January - New Year's Day, Batista's government is overthrown by Castro's revolutionaries

February/March - Senate hearings; Kay leaves Michael; Bruised Fruit chapter 1

[frontproofmedia]

Jamaine Ortiz Garners TKO Victory Over Christian Rubio Mino

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Published: November 06, 2024

ORLANDO, FL – At the Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, FL, Jamaine “The Technician” Ortiz (18-2-1, 8 KOs), from Worcester, Massachusetts, claimed the WBA Continental USA Jr. Welterweight title with an impressive fourth-round TKO victory over Christian Rubio Mino (24-10-2, 17 KOs) of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ortiz showcased his skill and precision at every turn, ultimately securing the title and further solidifying his presence in the Jr. Welterweight division. The 10-round main event was broadcast live worldwide on DAZN.

From the opening bell, Ortiz, who is co-promoted by Boxlab Promotions and CES Boxing, showed a different look than usual as he was the stalker in this fight, walking down Mino for the entire four rounds. Ortiz dropped Mino four times before the referee stopped the bout at the 2:00-minute mark of round four.

"This victory is a huge step forward for me,” stated Ortiz. “Securing the WBA Continental USA title shows that all my hard work and commitment are paying off. It’s a great feeling to add this belt to my journey, and I’m just getting started. I’m ready to face all the champions in the division. Jose "Rayo" Valenzuela is at the top of my hit list, but I want everyone. My goal is to keep climbing and prove that I belong with the best at 140 pounds. I want to make my mark on this division and move one step closer to a world title.”

In the 8-round co-main event, 18-year-old Kaipo Gallegos (7-0-1, 6 KOs), a southpaw from Las Vegas, NV, was victorious in an all-action war, defeating Iron Alvarez (15-3, 11 KOs) for the WBA USA Continental Youth title. From the opening round, Gallegos was successful with his combination punching. Iron showed a lot of resilience, standing his ground while landing some powerful right hands. Gallegos kept the pressure on and ended the fight with a flurry of punches to the head, forcing the referee to stop the bout at the 2:38 mark of round seven.

"Alvarez was as tough as they come, and he pushed me every round,” said Gallegos. “It was a battle from start to finish, and I knew I had to dig deep to come out on top. Winning the WBA Youth super featherweight title against a fighter like him is a huge accomplishment, and I’m grateful for all the hard work my team and I put in to make this moment happen. Now that I have this title, I’m ready for bigger challenges. I want to keep climbing the ranks and face the best in the division. My goal is to keep proving myself, and I’m ready to take on anyone standing between me and a world title shot."

Undercard Results:

(6-rounds Lightweights)

Alexander Rios (9-2, 3 KOs) defeated Felix Santana Jr (7-2, 3 KOs) by unanimous decision. Both fighters had their moments, but it was Rios who applied the pressure and landed the cleaner shots. The scorecards read 58-56 by all three judges in favor of Rios.

(8-rounds Super Bantamweights)

Chavez Barrientes (10-0, 6 KOs) defeated Noah Contreras (9-2, 4 KOs) by unanimous decision. Contreras hit the canvas from an overhand right in round one. A left hook dropped Contreras in round six. An overhand right dropped Contreras in round eight. Scorecards read 80-69 across the board for Barrientes.

(8-rounds Featherweights)

John Laryea (14-0-1, 11 KOs) defeated Alejandro Majia (19-10, 8 KOs) by unanimous decision. Majia dropped in round one by a left hook. Majia gets a point taken away for hitting Laryea while he was down from a slip. Scorecards read 80-69 by all three judges for Laryea.

(6-rounds Super Lightweights)

Willmank Brito (13 -6-2, 10 KOs) defeated Tayre Jones (11-1, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision. Jones dropped with a straight left in round four with what looked like a slip but was counted as a knockdown. A point was taken away from Brito in round five for holding. Scorecards read 57-56, 57-55 across the board for Brito.

(6-Rounds Lightweights) 

Malik Lewis (8-1, 5 KOs) defeated Tristan Gallichan (5-1-2, 3 KOs) by unanimous decision. Scorecards read 58-56 across the board for Lewis. 

(4-rounds Super Middleweights)

Miguel Diaz in his pro debut (1-0) defeated Caleb Hall (0-1) by TKO in round two. Hall was dropped twice with a left hook and an overhand right in round two, forcing the referee to stop the fight at the 2:55 mark.

(6-rounds Bantamweights)

Marcus Harris (5-0, 4 KOs) defeated Jesus Martinez (33-26-1, 16 KOs) by TKO at the 1:21 mark of round four.

(4-rounds Bantamweights)

Jose Fernandez (1-1, 1 KO) defeated Zayveon Mitchell (0-1) by knockout at the 1:31 mark of round one.

(Featured Photo: Joseph Correa/BoxLab Promotions)

# # #

(8-rounds Super Featherweights)

Kaipo Gallegos (7-0-1, 6 KOs) defeated Iron Alvarez (15-3, 11 KOs)

(6-rounds Lightweights)

Alexander Rios (9-2, 3 KOs) defeated Felix Santana Jr (7-2, 3 KOs)

(8-rounds Super Bantamweights)

Chavez Barrientes (10-0, 6 KOs) defeated Noah Contreras (9-2, 4 KOs)

(8-rounds Featherweights)

John Laryea (13-0-1, 11 KOs) defeated Alejandro Majia (19-9, 8 KOs)

(6-rounds Super Lighweights)

Willmank Brito (13 -6-2, 10 KOs) defeated Tayre Jones (11-1, 6 KOs)

(6-Rounds Lightweights) 

Malik Lewis (8-1, 5 KOs) defeated Tristan Gallichan (5-1-2, 3 KOs)

(4-rounds Super Middleweights)

Miguel Diaz in his pro debut (1-0) defeated Caleb Hall (0-1)

(6-rounds Bantamweights)

Marcus Harris (6-0, 5 KOs) vs. Jesus Martinez (33-27-1, 16 KOs)

(4-rounds Bantamweights)

Jose Fernandez (1-1, 1 KO) defeated Zayveon Mitchell (0-1