#Also yes they can ‘swim’ in the air too

[e-vay]

The Sonnet of Domino & Phlox - Ch3

[A/N: Click here to read the previous chapter. Click here to start at Chapter 1. This story is also available to read on AO3]

Getting to the townsquare was easier said than done. Running against the flow of escaping townsfolk was like swimming upstream in white-water rapids. But the screams of terror that surrounded her only spurred Domino to push forward. To steel mind, she reminded herself that this was no different than any other time she worked her way through crowds going unnoticed. She tucked her arms in and crouched low, making herself as small as possible before sprinting and weaving through scrambling bodies. Among the foot traffic she spotted a trail of trampled produce and followed its lead to a toppled over cart. She used the desecrated merchant stand as a jumping board and launched herself high into the air, catching onto a light pole and swinging from one to another. Clouds of dust weren’t enough to mask the orange behemoths that had just successfully knocked over the town center statue.

“I knew it!” Domino seethed. As soon as she landed on the cobblestone path, she swung her backpack off her shoulder and pulled out a medium sized pot. It wasn’t much in terms of a weapon, but it was fairly sturdy and she figured she could dislodge the bot’s head if she found a way to strike in the right spot. “Sorry Phlox, looks like I’ve got another date for dinner.” She gripped the pot by the handle and began to charge at the giant mechs with a mighty battle cry.

“WAIT!”

The hedgehog skidded to a halt, turning her head and tilting her ears to find the source of the yell. She looked up to spot a pair of trembling shrew ears poking up from a window in a nearby building. Hesitantly, the mayor looked out to her over the window ledge. “Y-You can’t-”

His command was drowned out by the noxious screeching of metal-on-metal as one of the Botniks pried the recently installed well pump from the ground. The robot’s torso began to spin, gradually gaining speed. Once it was spinning at full velocity, it released the well pump from its grip and the metal tube worked as a missile to plow through one of the storefronts. The ‘torpedo’ wasn’t large enough to bring the entirety of the building down, but the frontmost wall of bricks had been launched into the store like a shotgun blast and destroyed almost everything inside.

Domino’s eyes widened at the destruction the robot was able to achieve in only seconds.

“Spit it out, Mayor,” she encouraged, bouncing on the balls of her feet in preparation to fight, “-before these bumbling bozos knock down your house, next!”

“You can’t break them!”

“I can sure try,” she shouted back, looping the handle of the pot over her finger and twirling it.

“No! I mean you can’t break them; they were too expensive!” 

Her eyes shot up to the shrew in disbelief. “What?!” She scoffed and gestured at the growing pile of debris that cluttered the town square. “You’re tellin’ me these things are worth more to you than the rest of the town?!”

“YES! Literally!” He shrieked. “ I-... We invested our entire budget into these machines. We won’t be able to return them if they’re reduced to scraps!”

The girl groaned, shoving the cookware back into her backpack. There was no time to debate ‘returns’ and ‘lawsuits’ and whatnot, not with the clunky orange beasts making their way towards her. “If I can’t break these things,” she thought to herself, “I’ve gotta figure out a way to turn ‘em off.” These were machines after all, and as far as she knew, all machines had an off-switch. But despite the ‘smiley face’ logo branded on their chassis, these robots didn’t seem friendly enough to let her get a close look.

She thought about the lessons Phlox taught her while they played in the creek that morning: Assess the situation and use her strengths. 

Size.

Speed.

Resourcefulness.

These bots were bigger and stronger than her, but they were far slower and not nearly as nimble. A smile spread across her muzzle.

Domino ran straight towards the Botniks. One of the robots reached out to snatch the teal hedgehog, but she quickly darted in another direction before it could grab her. While its body was still leaned over and its arms stretched at a 45 degree angle towards the ground, Domino sprinted back towards the machine and used its arm as a ramp to scale to the top of its head. “Wheeere are you, ‘Off Swiii~iitch’?” she sang nervously. Her eyes scanned the back of the dome. Except for the crude paint, the surface of the bot’s ‘skull’ was smooth and free of any switches. A blur of orange was visible in her periphery where Botnik #2 was launching a punch right towards her. She scrambled behind #1’s head and she was just small enough to use it for cover. The metallic fist collided into the dome of its peer with an echoing BONG! 

She slipped down the robot’s back, musing as she noticed an access panel. “Oooh hello.” She ran a finger along the seal and traced the singular, straight indent in each of the screw heads. “HA! Some fancy tech you are. These are just your run of the mill-wHuoOAHH!”

Domino wailed as the robot once again began spinning its torso and the centrifugal force pried her off the mech and launched her down an alley and into a stack of barrels. The weight atop her was bad enough, but the contents of her backpack dug into her back as she was pinned down. With effort, she pushed the heavy containers off of her and shrugged off her bag, rubbing the stinging spot in her back. “Maybe pants are better than a backpack,” she joked to herself. Her eyes widened and she gasped. Pants! 

She shoved her hand into the pocket of her trousers and pulled out one of the coins she’d received from the mayor. It was no flat-head screwdriver, but it was just the right size to do the trick. An incredulous laugh escaped her lips and she was actually glad that the politician had been such a cheapskate. She excitedly tossed the coin into the air before snatching it and pocketing it again. Domino returned to her feet and sprinted back to the courtyard, leaving her backpack hidden away within the rubble for later.

Fighting both bots at the same time wasn’t an option. She’d have to make sure that one was occupied while she worked to power down the other. As she quickly approached the town square, she looked up and noticed the stringed pennants that decorated the once lovely neighborhood. Leaping into the air, she curled into a spinning ball and sliced the cord with her quills. With string in hand, she ran towards Robot #1 that was preparing another attack. Using her small size and speed, she darted under the bot’s legs and began weaving in and out around and between them. The bulky robot was too rotund and had no neck in order to look down and see that she was tying loops around the machine’s appendages. As it blindly took a swing, she dodged and instead jumped onto the offending arm, looping the pennant string around the bot’s wrist and leaping up onto its shoulder, swinging around the back of its neck and then jumping back down so the robot had put itself in a chokehold. Domino made one final loop around the robot’s other arm and at last, secured the end of the string to itself with several tight knots. When the angry orange behemoth tried to attack again, it stumbled onto its back and struggled to break free from its ties with a series of whirrs and mechanical groans. She laughed breathlessly, marveling at her own handiwork.

A couple of high-pitched screams snapped her back to reality. She spun on her heel to see two marten children cowering in the looming shadow of Robot #2. The bot raised its fists in the air, poised to bring them down like a hammer on the younglings. The oldest of the two girls was poised in front of the other as if to shield her, but it was clear both were paralyzed by fear.

Domino used a running slide to snatch the children into her arms and all three narrowly escaped just as the robot slammed its fists into the ground. Without much time for pleasantries, she pushed the kids away and shouted, “Run! Hide and stay hidden!” The martens nodded, tears in their eyes, and scrambled away. Just as Domino started to get back up, a mechanical set of fingers wrapped around her ankle and she was quickly pulled out from under her feet, swung over the robot’s head and then slammed into the ground on her back. The hedgehog wheezed, the air having been knocked from her lungs. Running around was one thing, but brawling was a completely new experience. And it hurt like a sonofabitch.

Propping herself up onto her elbows in hopes to calm the dizzy spell that rattled her brain, she noticed a shadow cast over her. The orange robot stood above her, arms once again raised high above its head, and before she could manage to roll away, its fists came crashing down for a fatal blow. She only had enough time to clench her eyes shut in hopes that not being able to see ‘the end’ would somehow make it less painful.

So much for making a difference.

A heavy “thud” was followed by the sound of mechanical groaning and whirring, as if the robot’s gears were grinding in a struggle. Confused as to why she wasn’t a puddle of jelly, Domino opened her eyes to see an indigo angel shielding her view.

Phlox stood between the mechanical beast and the young woman who lay on the cobblestone, having caught the robot’s arms by the wrists and stopping it mid-strike. The interior workings of the machine screeched with effort as it continued its attempt to bring its weight down upon the two hedgehogs, but Phlox held his grip and didn’t let the metal arms budge an inch.

The young man looked over his shoulder at the bewildered lady. “What do you need?” He asked, cutting right to the point.

Domino blinked and shook her head, not allowing herself the time to comment on Phlox’s insane talent of being-at-the-right-place-at-the-right-time or marveling at the tense muscles in his arms and shoulders as he grappled with the robot. “Breaking it is off-limits. I need to get to the access panel on this thing’s back to try and power it down. Do you think you can hold it in place?”

Phlox grinned, eyes half-lidded with confidence. “You got it. Mind moving over just a skosh?”

The teal hedgehog scrambled away from the powerhouses. As soon as she was safely out of harm’s way, Phlox released the robot and quickly darted to the side, using the machine’s momentum against itself so that it fell on its hands and knees. In a series of forceful maneuvers that were too fast for Domino to comprehend, Phlox pressured the bot onto its chest and grappled it into a hammerlock, driving its wrist to its opposite hip behind its back. Despite the robot’s size, Phlox stretched himself as far as he could and hooked one of the bot’s legs with his own, looped his free arm over the robot’s neck and then scraped the machine’s head towards its own knee in a cradle position. The ovoid behemoth screeched and whirred as it tried to break free, but with its limbs secured and Phlox’s weight and strength pinning it in place, it twitched helplessly on the ground with its back exposed.

“Step on up,” the purple hedgehog encouraged proudly, maybe a little too excited at the chance to show off his wrestling skills.

It took all of Domino’s willpower to suppress the whirlwind of butterflies in her stomach and focus on the mission at hand. She hurried over and, using the coin from her pocket, began to unscrew the plate from the access panel. Once open, she could see a seemingly endless network of wires and doohickeys that made up the robot’s interior. There were no signs of any buttons but she hoped there was a switch hidden inside or at least a notable power source. Luckily, the panel opening was just large enough for someone of her small frame to narrowly sneak through. “I’m going in. Keep it steady,” she instructed and Phlox acknowledged with a nod. 

The sharp edges of the metal access panel scraped against her shoulders and arms as she burrowed her way into the mechanical beast’s chassis. The interior was just as confined and difficult to move around in, but Domino thanked the stars that she wasn’t claustrophobic and that being contorted into a ball came naturally to her. With the robot being a custom build, there weren’t any obvious labels present. She opted to simply start unplugging wires in hopes it would stop the bot without permanently damaging it. She disconnected wires by the handfuls and pried open panels in search of a battery to dislodge, but despite her efforts she could still feel the rattling of the bot as it struggled against Phlox. “What the heck is powering this thing?” she muttered to herself.

After determining that it stood no chance breaking free from the male hedgehog’s powerful pin, the robot ceased its jostling and focused on recalculating. Phlox raised an eyebrow at the now still machine.

Without the constant sound of grinding gears, Domino could hear a frantic chattering noise coming from the darkness in front of her. Curious, she squeezed her way further into the ovoid torso to find the source of the sound.

Before Phlox could ask Domino if she had powered the bot down, the mechanical hand that belonged to the posted out arm slowly began to retract into its forearm. Phlox’s pin didn’t allow him to see what was happening, but he could hear and feel mechanical turning and shifting in the robot appendage that rested between his feet.  “Uh… Minnie?”

“Just a minute!” she shouted back. With an outstretched hand, her palm made contact with some kind of container located in the core of the bot and the chatter and squeaks got even louder. Squinting in the dark, she could just barely make out what was inside. “What the hell?”

The robot’s hand was replaced with the same drillbit that was used earlier to bore into the ground. Phlox immediately clocked the sound of the drill beginning to spin and his fur stood on end as the arm gradually hinged at the elbow, the vicious, tapered helix making its way towards one of his ankles at a cruel, menacingly slow pace. “Hey, let’s hussle!” he hollered, inching his stance wider in hopes to avoid the approaching weapon but committing to holding the robot in place while Domino was still inside. “This thing’s got accessories!”

“Don’t worry,” she whispered to the orb. “I’ll get you outta there.” She clenched her hand into a fist and threw as strong of a punch as she could muster.

Phlox lifted onto his toes to just narrowly avoid the drillbit skimming his heel. He took several short, shallow breaths in preparation for the excruciating pain he was about to endure but suddenly the drill slowed and the arm clanged lifelessly against the ground. 

“Did that work?” Domino’s voice echoed faintly from within the ‘corpse’ bot.

“Yeah,” Phlox released his tight hold on the robot and instead let himself collapse and rest against it, exhaling a sigh of relief. “Phew!”

Teal quills breached from the access panel and Phlox made his way over to carefully assist Domino out, hissing through his teeth at the noticeable scrapes on her shoulders and shirt from the sharp metal. Once she was free, his brow furrowed at the curled up, frightened little animal that the woman cradled in her arms. “...Who’s your friend?”

Domino petted the trembling Pocky. The gentle touch made the critter look up from its cowering stance and upon realizing it was outside, it leapt out of the woman’s arms and bounded away. Domino looked to Phlox, a mixture of concern and anger burning behind her blue eyes. “He was the battery.”

Phlox pursed his lips and took hold of Domino’s hand. They turned towards Robot #2 who was still rolling and trying to untangle itself from its binds. “Let’s go help his buddy.” The pair sprinted to the bot and, to let loose a little bit of steam, Domino kicked it to roll over onto its front. She hurriedly unfastened the screws but Phlox stopped her before she could crawl atop the robot.

“Allow me,” He gripped onto the edges of the open panel and used all his strength to begin to pry the access panel open wider.

“We’re not supposed to break it!” Domino laughed with excitement and shock. She held onto Phlox’s shoulders in a feigned attempt to stop him, but mostly to appreciate his strength.

“Bending isn’t breaking,” he teased with a strained voice. With the panel opening now widened and reshaped so the edges wouldn’t cause as much harm, Phlox patted the metal body of the flailing robot. “There ya go.”

Thrilled, Domino hopped up and lowered herself into the robot with ease. Now that she knew what she was looking for, she reached through the web of wires until her hand tapped against the hidden container. With a loud ‘HYAH!’ Domino punched the container and the barrier popped.

Phlox watched in amusement as the thrashing robot’s eyes dimmed and its movements came to a halt. He was about to peek over the access panel to help Domino out once again but was startled by a very angry Flicky that flew out from the bot. The little bird screeched what Phlox could only imagine was a series of curses as it fluttered to the head of the bot and gave the dome a few angry pecks for good measure before flying away. 

Domino stood upright, a bewildered smile on her face. “We did it.” She jumped out of the mechanical shell and purposefully landed in Phlox’s arms. “We did it!”

“We?!” Phlox burst into that fit of laughter that Domino found herself craving the more she heard it. She laughed breathlessly as he spun her around. “You did it! You were fearless! And your quick-thinking by tying one up so you could deal with the other? I’m beyond impressed!”

“Okay but I would’ve been a Hedgehog-Pancake if it wasn’t for you! You were amazing!” She released her arms from around his neck and inspected his bicep with overly aggressive, playful squeezes. “What was that?!”

Phlox chuckled, his muzzle red with blush. “I told you, I’m one of four brothers. In our house, if you didn’t get good at wrestling, you didn’t get to eat.” He held Domino’s face in his hands and gasped as if suddenly remembering something. “Oh oh oh! Can we talk about that poetic justice?! You taking down those things with pocket-change??? Don’t think your commentary on Capitalism was lost on me.”

Domino giggled and before she knew it, she had planted another kiss on Phlox’s lips. Right now, she wasn’t thinking about how much more dangerous letting him into her heart was compared to the robots she just fought. Right now, she was only consumed with how sweet and clever and astounding he was, and how good he tasted.

“Is it finally over?!” came the shrill voice of the mayor, snapping Domino out of her stupor. She immediately put a good amount of space between her and Phlox. She cleared her throat and combed the tufts of fur on the sides of her face, hoping to hide her blush.

“Yeah, s’all good,” she coughed.

The sweating shrew embraced the lifeless shells of the robots, inspecting them with panic. “And you didn’t break them? Right?! I swear if they’re damaged-”

“Relax,” Domino did her best to mask her irritation. “Your precious little Botniks are without power but otherwise unharmed.”

Phlox crossed his arms, more openly expressive of his annoyance with the politician. “Botniks? More like ‘Badniks’...” He scoffed under his breath. He directed his attention to the shrew. “If you notice anything out of place, you can direct me to the nearest fabrication shop and I’ll do my best to patch them up. I’m a certified steel worker. Though after seeing what ‘good’ these things do, I’m not so sure they’re worth it. Before you go contacting the manufacturer about that extended warranty, maybe you want to focus on your people?”

“Right right,” the Mayor slicked back his sweat-matted fur and adjusted his coat before proudly sticking his chest out. “Alright everyone, nothing to fear! Please return about your business,” He waved his arms as he paraded down the street to weary citizens who hesitantly emerged from their hiding spots. 

Domino dusted off her backpack and secured it to her shoulders when she recognized the high pitched screaming of the two little martens from before. Only this time, their cheering was that of the happy kind. The siblings ran full speed into the lady hedgehog and hugged her tight. “OUR HERO!” they shouted in unison.

Phlox smiled warmly as he watched Domino patting the little girls’ heads affectionately. “Oh hey you!” She knelt down to playfully (and oh so gently) make a slugging motion against the older child’s chin, earning a giggle from the little girl. “You were really brave back there, protecting your little sis like that.”

“YOU’RE the brave one!” the smaller one argued. She then used her childlike energy to bounce around and throw her fists about with karate chops, complete with sound effects. “You were like HOO-SHWAHHH-WHOOOSH!”

“Brie?! Mimolette?!” A mature woman rushed towards the group.

“Mommy mommy, this is her! She’s the lady who saved us!” The woman sighed with relief and scooped all three–the two little girls and Domino–into a tight group hug. Domino blinked in surprise, the embrace feeling strange and foreign.

“Thank you! Thank you for saving my babies!” the woman cried. Domino patted her arm and did her best to squirm out of the hold.

“No prob, besides it was a team effort,” she pointed her thumb at Phlox, whose eyes widened. “If it weren’t for him, those things would still be causin’ a ruckus.”

Phlox tittered nervously. “Oh, well I-” The older marten cut him off by hugging him tightly and wailing a series of ‘thank yous’. Phlox muttered a strained “ᴵᵗ ʷᵃˢ ᵐʸ ᵖˡᵉᵃˢᵘʳᵉ.”

Finally the woman released him but took each hedgehog by the hand. “My name’s Fontina. You’ve already met my daughters. Please, come with us to my shop so I can repay you.”

“Oh you don’t have t-” Domino started but was yanked along by the stubborn marten. Mimolette, the youngest, grabbed Domino’s free hand and Brie grabbed Phlox’s and the girls skipped along as the hedgehogs were pulled against their will.

“Honestly ma’am this isn’t necessary,” Phlox chuckled nervously, not used to being doted on by someone other than his own mother.

Domino nodded frantically. “Yeah, we were only doing the right thing. S’no biggie.”

“Yes, biggie!” the woman corrected. “Now then, I don’t have much money–it’s been a slow week for us–but I will let you help yourself to anything in my supply!” The merchant kicked open the door to her shop, a quaint general store equipped with mostly clothing and accessories. As soon as they entered, the little girls darted off and began pulling all manner of garments off their hangers, giggling amongst themselves.

Domino waved her hands dismissively. “Whoa whoa whoa, you seriously don’t need to do that.” She knew what it felt like to work hard and still struggle to make ends meet. She didn’t want to put this family through that. “We don’t wanna take your inventory, especially with you running your own business and all…”

Fontina turned on her heel and placed her hands on her hips, demonstrating a commanding presence that made both young hedgehogs stand up straight and listen obediently. “Without you two stepping in and stopping those dastardly things from destroying the whole marketplace, I’d no longer have a shop at all! Besides, it looks like those baddies did a number on your wardrobe.” The woman plucked at Domino’s tattered top. The teal hedgehog lowered her head and averted her eyes in shame, hoping the merchant remained clueless that the majority of the rips in her clothes came before the battle. “Now, I insist.” The woman held up a blouse to Domino, eyeing her frame and making sure it’d be the right fit, before placing it into the teen’s arms.

The children returned with handfuls of dresses, shirts and shoes, tossing them at Domino faster than she could catch them, while the girls also bombarded her with cheers of “Oh this would look so cute on you!” “Have this one! Have this one!”

Phlox looked on with pride and amusement, his grin stretching across the entirety of his muzzle, rubbing his thumb along his bottom lip in a failed attempt to suppress his smile. As silly as it was to see Domino getting smothered in a mountain of clothes, it made his heart happy to see her luck turning around and finally getting some well-earned recognition. As if she could sense his gaze, Domino looked over at him, peeking out from the pile of garments. She widened her eyes and silently mouthed the words ‘Help me.’

His grin widened but it was now filled to the brim with mischief. Though he was still getting to know Domino, he figured she would be too proud to admit she could really use some of the items she was being given and no way in hell was he going to let her be talked out of it. Plus, Phlox didn’t need anything himself and figured his time could be better spent returning outside and helping clean up some of the rubble. Better to keep the attention on her. He shrugged as he quietly backed away, as if to say ‘Sorry, not rescuing you this time.’ Phlox teased her with a wink before slinking out of her view.

Domino called to him as loudly as one could while still maintaining the volume of a whisper, his name coming out like an oh-so-faint shriek, “Phlox! Phlox!” But it was too late, he was already gone without the merchant or her daughters noticing. Domino grumbled. She was totally going to kick his jean-wearin’ tush later.

On his way out, Phlox happened to spot one item hanging on the wall that did intrigue him. He removed it from its hook to inspect it. Despite Fontina’s instructions, he left some money on the counter to pay for his purchase and exited the shop.

.

Being fussed over was… weird. It wasn’t bad, per say. But it certainly felt unusual.

Domino ruminated over the bizarre day she had, her backpack weighted by a full assortment of foods and her arms carrying large, overstuffed bags as she made her way to the inn. She had probably spent at least two hours at the general store with the marten family who refused to let her leave without several shopping bags full of things she definitely didn’t need. It was exhausting having all that attention on her, dodging all of the shopkeeper’s questions and quickly improvising innocent little fibs on the fly. Still, it was a really sweet gesture and she honestly couldn’t remember the last time an authority figure had been so kind to her. 

When Domino mentioned that she was going to see if there were still any food carts left standing in order to purchase some groceries, the two little girls pulled on her arms and begged to join her. She couldn’t understand why these kids seemed so fixated on her, but something about them tugged on her heartstrings and with their mother’s permission, Domino agreed to let them tag along. She held each child by the hand as they escorted her down the alley, pointing at their favorite stands and making recommendations of which ingredients she should buy. Domino felt a warmth blooming in her heart, a sense of longing and pride that was foreign yet so deeply ingrained in her instincts that it also felt natural. She couldn’t place what this feeling was, but she welcomed it all the same.

Thanks to the marten family supplying her with all the free clothes she could want, Domino had plenty of money that she could spend on food supplies both for tonight’s dinner and for the approaching winter. She even got a huge deal on produce, as many of the items were blemished from the robots’ earlier antics, but of course she didn’t mind. Food was food, after all. Here she thought she’d be down to her last penny, but it looked like she’d have some ‘emergency funds’ to last her over the next season. For the first time, luck seemed to be favoring her. 

All of that, paired with her melee against a couple of crazy robots? This was a strange couple of days indeed! Not to mention being treated to her first ever date, on her way for a second date at that. Domino bit the inside of her cheek to stifle the butterflies that filled her stomach once again. Even if that ‘jerk’ had ditched her at the shop, she was thrilled to get to see him again. Perhaps she’d force him to sit through a ‘fashion show’ of all the superfluous outfits she was given. Yeah, that’d make for excellent payback!

She chuckled at the thought as she entered the lobby of the inn and made her way to the stairs to find Phlox’s room. The innkeeper had been lazily relaxing, his feet propped up on his desk, until the sight of the teal hedgehog startled him and the dog jumped to attention.

“Excuse me,” he approached her and Domino stopped and tilted her head. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“Oh, I’m meeting a friend,” she gestured towards the stairs. The innkeeper blocked her path and pointed at the bags in her hands.

“And where did you get all that?” he scowled.

Domino tensed and furrowed her brows. “...From the store…”

“All these goodies, yet you can’t afford a good shirt?” The large dog looped his finger under one of the straps of Domino’s tattered tank top. She jerked her shoulder away in reflex.

“Don’t touch me,” she hissed low, her quills raising on end.

The man tugged on one of the shopping bags to check inside. “You got a receipt for this stuff?”

Domino’s breath quickened, her blood boiling and making her skin feel uncomfortably hot. “These were given to me, as a gift.”

“Ch’yeah, another one of your tall tales,” the dog remarked. The hedgehog girl’s mouth fell agape and his look grew even more smug. “In this town, word spreads. I know how you’ve been lurking around, spinning your web of lies any time anybody asks what brings you here. You think you can go around lying and thieving and then hide out in my establishment?”

Her face was burning hot with rage, but she wasn’t sure if she was more mad at the guy throwing accusations or angry with herself. Yes, she had made up some things, but never at the expense of anyone, never to hurt anybody else or to try to swindle them. Her stories were her means of deflecting and protecting herself from harm, and here they led right to this heated confrontation. “I’m not lying!” Domino insisted. She threw her arms down and let the shopping bags crash to the floor. “Go ahead and take them, I don’t even need any of this stuff!”

“Don’t you try to offload your haul on me, you little street rat!” he raised his voice even louder. “Now beat it before I call the authorities!”

“Hey!” A third voice boomed from the stairway. Phlox made his way towards the two, his shoulders straight and upright so that he commanded attention. He pushed himself between the innkeeper and Domino, shielding her with his arm. “Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?” His tone was far more serious and firm than the gentle, melodic voice he used whenever he spoke with the girl. “This is the woman who just saved this city from those two rogue machines out there. She’s the reason this inn is still standing.” He stared down the annoyed man. Even though the innkeeper was larger and Phlox was normally soft spoken and shy, at this moment he didn’t feel even an inkling of anxiety. Something about Domino’s presence and–more importantly–the compelling need to defend her made him feel more confident than ever before. He pointed his finger into the dog’s chest. “I’ll testify for her, as will Fontina the shop owner, and a dozen other people who will as well. Including your esteemed mayor. So go ahead, make that phone call. Or leave her be.”

The man glared silently for several intense beats but when he realized the indigo hedgehog wasn’t backing down, he scoffed and returned to his desk.

Phlox turned back to Domino, taking her by the hand and using his other to help pick up her bags. “Come on,” he said softly, using the gentle voice she had come to know. But as he led her up the stairs, she couldn’t hear what he was saying. Instead, her mind was racing with a million thoughts that were far louder and more painful.

Stupid. This was so stupid. She was so stupid.

Why did she let herself think these last few days were any different than every other day of her life? How could she think that the people of this town were any different than every other hateful, judgemental stranger she came across? What on earth made her think that for once, just once, she might be able to go about without the world thinking so little of her? But they were right to think these things. She was wild and dirty and stupid, so stupid.

The hedgehogs had made their way to Phlox’s room and he pulled out the chair to the small dining area so that Domino could sit, but her mind was still reeling. Her eyes darted around, taking in the pristine bedding that was more warm and more sterile than anything she’d ever laid on, to the stark white paint on the walls that felt constricting and nauseating, to the state-of-the-art kitchenette with a stovetop full of buttons that she had no idea how to use. She didn’t belong in this world. Her gaze stayed fixated on the stove. Chaos, how was she supposed to cook dinner for a guy using equipment that she knew nothing about? For a perfect guy part of this perfect world, all of which she had no business associating with. For all the far-fetched stories she told throughout her life, the idea of belonging to this perfect world with this perfect guy was the most unbelievable and she was a fool to let herself fall for her own fantasy.

Tears pricked the corner of her eyes. ‘Stop crying,’ she thought to herself, breathing quickly and heavily through her nose. ‘Stop crying. Stop crying.’ Domino repeated the phrase over and over in her mind in an endless loop until the voice inside her head evolved into the angry, aggressive voice from whom she had first learned the phrase. Her stepfather.

‘STOP CRYING!’

Her train of thought was broken as she felt a warmth in her hand and she turned her head to see that Phlox was kneeling before her, her hand in his. His green and amber eyes searched hers, looking deep beyond the surface. He studied her with an intense focus, hoping he could learn what was hurting her so badly but worried that if he spoke, she might completely break. He could sense that this went beyond the little altercation that just happened in the lobby. There was a deep, festering agony from an old, hidden wound that refused to scar over. Phlox gave her a weak, pained smile, for it hurt him to know that someone as resilient as Domino had a heart made of glass and that something from her past was still chipping away at it.

His soft gaze and the colors in his irises brought her back to the grotto, that wondrous moment of serenity where pain and pressure didn’t exist. A calming wave gradually washed over her, soothing her burning skin and easing the agitated twitching in her muscles.

“I’m okay,” she breathed shakily. A fib. Phlox didn’t want to cause any more distress, but he decided to press her ever so gently.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked, his soft voice full of compassion.

Domino shook her head. “No, I don’t.” It wasn’t the answer he was hoping for, but it was the truth, and that mattered to him most. He would respect that. “But-” she started and Phlox leaned in closer to give her his full attention. The woman looked at the kitchenette once more, biting her lip. “Could we… have our dinner date ‘campfire style’?” She gave him an embarrassed smile. “Maybe we can pick a pretty spot to get a fire going and it’ll give you the chance to snap some more pics while I prepare the stew?”

“Sure!” Phlox grinned enthusiastically. He gave her a wink and opted to tease her a bit to help cut some of the previous tension from the air. “You’re the one who asked me on this date, so the details are up to you. I’m at your mercy, Minnie.”

Domino giggled and Phlox sighed with relief to hear her laughter again. When their eyes met once more, hers were free of tears. She tilted her head when she spotted something in her periphery. “Is that what I think it is?”

The teal hedgehog hurried past Phlox and chuckled with wicked delight as she picked up the item that was resting near the foot of the bed. She spun around and sat down on the mattress, proudly holding up an olive-colored bag. “Did I successfully convince you to join Team Backpack?!”

Phlox looked down at his boots, swinging one leg bashfully. “Yeah, well…” He wanted to say the phrase he had been practicing repeatedly in the hours since he grabbed the pack from the shop: ‘I got this because… I’d like to come with you, if you’ll let me.’ But the words wouldn’t come out. He shrugged and gave himself a bit of grace; being bold was still new to him and after all, Spagonia wasn’t built in a day! “...You can be pretty persuasive.” He walked over and sat next to her. “How’d I do? Does it meet your standards?”

“Let’s see…” Domino turned the bag around in her hands, playfully humming. “Water resistant material… Double passed stitching… Well-padded straps for those brawny shoulders of yours!” Phlox chuckled sheepishly. She unzipped the bag and continued her survey. “Oooh, plenty spacious. This is quite the find, Birdy!” 

“Phew, what a relief!” he joked. “Speaking of, are you going to show me your haul?” He thumbed at the bags still resting near the entry. “I noticed the girls picking out some ‘darling’ outfits for you that I’m sure you’re just dying to try on.” He batted his eyelashes in mockery.

“Eh,” Domino grimaced. “The ladies were really sweet and I definitely needed some replacement threads, but I was planning on giving most of that back.”

The smile dropped from Phlox’s face. “Give it back? This isn’t about what that jerk downstairs said, is it?”

“No, no!” The young woman insisted, waving her hands. “I mean, not entirely.” Phlox maintained his serious gaze and sensing he wasn’t going to let it go without an explanation, Domino resigned with a sigh. “I’m grateful for all these gifts, honest! But I can’t-…” she chose her words carefully, an attempt to tell the truth without revealing too much, “...I’ve got a code: Necessities only. I don’t need a lot of this stuff, but that lady wouldn’t let me leave without my hands full!”

Phlox exhaled a laugh through his nose. The irony of this girl who didn’t show a hint of fear when it came to confronting evil giant robots, but was too scared to tell a woman and her daughters ‘No thank you,’ was just too adorable.

“Which is whyyyy~...” Domino grinned, a rascally glint in her blue eyes. “You’re going to help me pull a reverse-heist!”

“Whoa now, why are you roping me into this?” the purple hedgehog laughed. 

She placed her hands on her hips. “You said I’m in charge of this date. What we do and where we go is my choice, and I choose phase one of the night to be a backwards-burglary-mission!”

Phlox raised an eyebrow but his smile was filled with mirth. “You do know breaking-and-entering is against the law, even if you’re giving stuff instead of taking stuff, right?”

“Santa does it all the time and I don’t hear anybody complainin’ about him,” Domino quipped. “I won’t make you go in there with me. I’m just asking you to be my lookout. Will you keep an eye out for me?” She went to tap his snout but he swiftly caught her hand within his own.

“I’d rather keep my eyes on you,” he remarked, his voice low and laced with flirty mischief. 

His tone and the look in his eyes made Domino gasp. Until now she hadn’t noticed how their fingers had interlaced or how they had leaned into one another so closely she could feel the tickle of Phlox’s breath on her muzzle. She was tempted to pull him in for another kiss, but in the privacy of this room and with the warmth in her lower belly growing stronger with the frequency of these interactions she had to wonder: would it only be a kiss?

Phlox noticed the blush creeping along the woman’s cheeks and he suddenly realized their proximity and the intimate implication of the bed they were sitting on. Alarmed by his own urge to close the gap between them, he reluctantly released her hand and nervously scratched his increasingly crimson muzzle, averting his gaze. “Uh y-yeah, yes,” he sputtered, his usual smooth cadence now quick and broken. “Of course I’ll look out for you.” Before Domino could say anything, Phlox had already made his way to the other side of the room with his hands in his pockets. “So, what’s the plan?”

.

Domino chuckled to herself, recalling how Phlox had been stunned speechless while she effortlessly scaled the wall of the shop and pried open an upper window to let herself in. Once inside, she had quietly whistled a bird call to signal him to toss her the bag of clothes. Then, she neatly piled the garments on top of the cashwrap and, using the notepad she borrowed from Phlox, attached a message expressing her gratitude to the marten family. Domino crawled out through the same window and upon closing it, she let herself fall into Phlox’s arms and they ran off into the forest with hushed, nervous giggles.

Now the two hedgehogs settled quietly into an overlook, the small town a twinkling, insignificant patch compared to the wide open forests that seemed to melt into the night sky. As beautiful as it all was, Domino couldn’t help but think about how this weekend was no different: a small blip in an infinite timeline of events. She anxiously fiddled with the sleeve of her jacket, one of the few gifts she kept from the shop owner. She didn’t really need Phlox’s help returning the rest of the garments, not even as a lookout. Stealth was one of her greatest skills and she could have easily gotten in and out of the shop without anyone ever knowing she was there. But she wanted him there. With her. 

With the sun fully set and the stew boiling over the campfire, this brief little adventure was quickly drawing to a close. She would have repaid her debt by supplying Phlox dinner and at first sunlight she’d be gone, never to see him again. Logically, she knew it was for the best, but the thought made her stomach feel more hollow than any amount of starvation had ever done. So she prolonged their time together, even if only for an extra half hour, by having Phlox ‘assist’ her in their silly heist scheme. Despite herself, she was also glad the meal they agreed on would take longer to prepare than others. 

“If there was a movie about our escapades, what would it be called?” Phlox asked, attaching his camera to a tripod.

Domino pondered, stoking the fire. “How ‘bout: ‘Young & Stupid: The Do-Gooder Duo’?”

“Mmnnnhh,” the male skewed his lips in disapproval. “Needs some work.”

“Hey, titles aren’t my strong suit, okay?” She huffed, stepping away from the fire and plopping down next to Phlox who was still making adjustments to his camera. “The meat of the story’s more important anyway.”

“Well, you are great at telling stories.” The indigo male smiled and then sniffed the seasonings in the air, licking his lips. “And cooking as well? That stew smells amazing!”

“We’ll see~” Domino rubbed her hands together enthusiastically. “This recipe is tried and true, but I’ve never made it with chiles before.”

She laid onto her back, looking up at the sea of stars and crescent moon. “It’s so dark tonight,” she furrowed her brows and rolled onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow to look at the photographer. “How are you supposed to take any pictures?”

“It’s doable.” Phlox said simply. “You just have to be thoughtful about it. And you have to be very patient.” The woman scrunched up her nose at the word and Phlox laughed. “Hey, spontaneity is a lot of fun too but trust me, patience can be equally rewarding. If I keep the camera steady–hense the tripod–and use a slow shutter speed to allow the lens to capture as much light as possible, it’s just a matter of time before the beauty of the night reveals itself. I can’t rush it.”

Phlox’s heart fluttered at how similarly this technique compared to how he was hoping to slowly ease Domino out of her shell. He hoped the metaphor was not lost on her. He clicked the shutter release button and turned his attention to Domino, a smug expression on his face. “And I am a master of patience.” 

“Good, ‘cuz it’s gonna be a couple hours until that stew’s ready,” the lady teased. “How do you wanna pass the time?”

He rubbed the scruff of his muzzle in thought. “Would you tell me another story?” 

Domino sat upright, looking out across the vast expanse of the valley below while pondering what tale to weave for him tonight, their last night together… the last story she’d ever tell him. She looked over at him, admiring the care he took to snap the shutter release again and carefully back away from the camera as if his movements might startle it. She adored him, and she hated herself for letting that happen–for tricking him into spending time with a Nobody like her and for believing that maybe, just maybe, he wouldn’t inevitably hurt her, too.

Perhaps it would be better to avoid an adventurous fable that would leave the curious male to want to know the next chapter. Maybe, she thought, she should tell him the most boring, meaningless story she knew.

Her gaze shifted back to the town. “Far away, there lived The Girl Who Had Nothing. But because she didn’t know what it was like to have anything, being without did not dampen her spirits. One day, Fate approached her and told her she needed to give something up. ‘But I have nothing to give,’ The Girl said. ‘You have a father, don’t you?’ And so Fate took her father away. Later, a Man took his place and told The Girl she needed to give something up, again. ‘But… I have nothing to give,’ she insisted. ‘You have joy, don’t you?’ The Man said, and so he took her smile. Then her mother told The Girl she needed to give something up. ‘Please, I have nothing to give you,’ she pleaded. But the mother argued, ‘I gave you my heart, didn’t I? Return it to me.’ And so the Girl did.”

Domino subconsciously reached up and brushed the scarred over rip in her ear. 

“Without a home, she wandered the streets and with each new stranger she met, they took more and more from her. ‘But I have nothing to give you!’ The Girl cried, but the townspeople found things they could take. Her dignity. Her pride. Her hope. So at last, The Girl hid herself away in the wild where nobody could find her. If nobody could see her, then they couldn’t take the things she didn’t even know she had.”

Phlox listened with a quiet intensity, a tear rolling down his cheek. His heart broke for her, but equally he was so grateful to her for letting him in on this secret. This moment of pure vulnerability was… monumental. It didn’t make her weak, it only proved how strong she was. Phlox wondered how he could prove to Domino that she was more than she believed, to make her see herself through his eyes.

“But Fate seemed to have a sense of humor… For as she became one with the wilderness, she soon discovered a happiness like she had never known before. Unlike the others who took, The Earth provided. It gave her food to eat and shelter for her to rest. The varying terrains gave her an endless playground where she could freely experience joy. With nothing and nobody to hold her back, she got to make every day an adventure. It took years but she learned to stop thinking about all the things she did not have and focus on all the things she did have. And The Girl Who Had Nothing came to realize that that was … Everything…”

She inhaled deeply and released it, surprised at the weightlessness she felt at this moment. She felt free.

The crackling of the fire masked the soft sound of a shutter clicking. After a pause, Phlox broke the silence. “Well,” he said softly, almost as a whisper. Domino returned her attention back to him and saw that he had adjusted the camera and had snapped a photograph of her. “I think… I might as well quit my career now while I’m ahead,” he looked at her, and though another tear ran down his cheek, he smiled genuinely. “Because I’m certain that was the most beautiful photo I’ll ever take in my life.”

They stared at each other for what felt like an eternity. 

Without warning, Domino lunged into him and crashed her lips into his. Phlox briefly stumbled back from shock, but it was only a matter of seconds before he confidently cupped her face in his palms and kissed her back. This wasn’t like the kiss back in the creek, tender and full of bashful smiles. This time Domino was more desperate, pressing into him as if her very life depended on it. Her arms snaked around his neck and she threaded her hands into his quills. Phlox let out a startled hum as the woman pulled him closer, but her assertion was a pleasant surprise and he felt encouraged to slip his arms down to her waist and hold her tightly. Secured to his muscular form, Domino was reminded of how effortlessly he overpowered those metal monsters from before, and she sighed as her mind went to wild, forbidden places.

Feeling her breath on his lips caused him to instinctively open his mouth to hers and deepen the kiss. Domino tugged on his quills at the new sensation and kissed him back even more passionately. Warmth raged throughout her entire body, from the center of her core to her very fingertips. The heat was getting overwhelming so without breaking the kiss she shrugged off her jacket and tossed it aside. The winter air was crisp on her exposed arms but offered little help in cooling her, even with her short pelt. She combed her fingers through Phlox’s chest fur, comparing how thick and dense it was compared to hers. She wondered how he could stand to be so warm and yet she equally wanted to feel him against her completely and bask in all his warmth.

Domino laid back onto the grass, pulling Phlox with her. He braced himself up with one forearm against the ground so as not to crush all of his weight into the small woman, but didn’t allow for any space to come between them. Motivated by her passion, Phlox broke free from her lips only to kiss every bit of the girl that enamored him. He kissed along her jaw, her cheeks, breathing roughly into the tufts of teal that framed her muzzle. His lips grazed down her neck and shoulders, delicately kissing the small scratches from the day’s battle in an attempt to heal them as well as praise her bravery. Domino petted his scruffy cheek that was so red with blush that even the darkness of the night could not hide it, and when he felt the affectionate gesture he turned to kiss her palm and stroked his free hand through her long, windswept quills. Upon one of the passes, his thumb brushed against the tear in her ear. He paused his kisses to look up at the old wound, gently tracing the scarred over flesh. If it were anybody else, Domino would have recoiled from the touch, but here she allowed Phlox to explore. He then leaned over her to kiss her damaged ear and the teal hedgehog let out a wistful, trembling moan. If only for this one moment, she was convinced that his kiss was not only able to physically heal the old injury but also erase the very memory associated with it.

Her fingertips skirted along the edge of his waistline and the fluttering sensation it caused made Phlox gasp and shudder. He lifted himself up just enough to hover over her to meet her gaze, his eyes wide.

Domino knew that the question that was lingering on the edge of her tongue was stupid and reckless, but at this moment she didn’t care about that. Her entire methodology was about prioritizing needs, and what was this aching and excruciating hunger in her core if not one of the most natural, most powerful needs? She noted Phlox’s ragged breathing, how his broad chest and shoulders rose and fell as he panted, and how his quills stiffened and his fur stood on end with exhilaration, and she could tell that he felt the need, too. So despite the consequences, she summoned the courage to ask the most wonderful, handsome being she’d ever met for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“Do you wanna…?” 

She didn’t finish her sentence, but Phlox understood what she was asking. He knew the wise thing to do would be to say no. Heck, the mere fact she wasn’t willing to say it out loud meant they were probably too naive and inexperienced for this. But maybe he didn’t need to be wise, for once. He was young; still figuring out life, learning what it meant to live in the moment. And now, as if by fate, he found this beautiful young lady, the living embodiment of free-spirit. She represented so much of what he aspired to be, what he was hoping to discover in himself when he first embarked on this journey. Sure he didn’t know her that well yet, but he wanted to know her fully. Maybe she’d let him, with time. But they had right now. 

Besides, this girl may have had a habit of fibbing, but Phlox certainly didn’t. The truth came naturally to him. 

“Yes.”

♥ ♥ ♥

After one last check to make sure all of her supplies were accounted for, Domino quietly zipped up her backpack and swung it onto her shoulder. The early morning sky was just beginning to shift in hues as the rising sun sat just below the horizon. It was time to hit the road in order to outrun the approaching winter and go wherever her feet took her. There was only one last thing to do…

Careful not to make a sound, Domino sat down at the dining table and flipped through Phlox’s notebook to find an empty page. The pencil hovered over the paper in her trembling hand.

What could she possibly write?

She had briefly toyed with the idea of not writing anything at all, but that thought made her even more sick to her stomach. She looked over to the purple hedgehog sleeping soundly under the covers, a gentle, barely-there smile on his muzzle. Even though she believed it was in her heart’s best interest for her to leave now and even though she hoped he would soon forget about her, she also deeply believed she was a better person for having met him. She had to express her gratitude, at least.

After a few scratched out attempts, the page was left with a simple message:

Dear Phlox, I want you to know I hope that you Thank you, for making me better than when you found me. - Domi - Minnie

She pressed her back to the door, allowing herself one last look at Phlox and praying that that gentle smile would never leave his face. Quietly, she slipped out of the room before she could change her mind.

Leave things better than when she found them. 

That was her creed. It was better to leave now. Leave before he discovered the truth behind the boring, insignificant runaway. Instead, leave him happy with perhaps a couple of fleeting, fond memories of a girl he’d forget soon enough. After all…

It was only a couple of days.

[Next: EPILOGUE]

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 278

You know what I’ve gotten obsessed with and inspired by? Dredge. 

You know what is also fun? Merfolk. What’s even better? Lovecraftian corrupted merfolk. Especially if say, one goes with the Lazarus Waters being a form of ectoplasm. So, in this? Lazarus waters are like lakes, while Amity Park, thanks to the Portal, and the barriers? It is an entire sea. 

There are islands, small areas that were once the tips of buildings that have gathered more landmass around them. There are mangroves, trees not like anything on earth or anywhere else stretching up in canopies dark enough to block out the sun, yet lit by the green waters. 

It goes deep. Mariana Trench deep, despite it being impossible. The GIW have explored for caves or tunnels, they’ve tried to find some sort of explanation, but there isn’t one. 

Now all that ecto? That has an effect on people. They mutate, they change, they adapt. Anywhere else would have been a slow death- something the GIW might have even been counting on. But Amity Park? It was founded by witches, it was the hotspot for the supernatural, even before the Fentonwork Portal. They’ve been dealing with this sort of energy in microdoses from the moment they first began to live in the city in any generation. 

But they begin to adapt. Shift into something… other. Some stay contaminated, clinging to human forms as they form homes on the tiny islands, fishing and farming what they can. Others become Liminal, almost seeming to meld with fish, some similar to ones of the Living and others something just to the left. Similar yes, but not quite… right. And then there are those that have truly melded with the energy of the dead, forms torn asunder by it, ripped apart and made anew by it. 

The first sign back when the barrier was activated, when they could no longer leave and were trapped were the fish in the lake. And now they are the same, with gazes of something Else, with gnashing teeth and a hunger gnawing at where hearts once were. 

But they aren’t monsters. They’re still themselves. Just a little… Other now. 

[kashverse]

your boyfriend coaching a girls’ sports teams is a fascinating study of chaos, discipline, and emotional whiplash. it is also a terrifying display of how much power one person can have over impressionable minds. if anyone ever questions how deeply a coach can shape the future, they need only observe the absolute mayhem that unfolds under the leadership of said boyfriend.

gojo’s football team

“ladies, we must slay,” gojo declares, standing in the middle of the field, sunglasses perched on his nose like he’s about to give a ted talk instead of coaching a group of five- to fifteen-year-olds in a sport that he just barely understands. he claps his hands once. the team stands at attention. the youngest, a tiny but fierce five-year-old named mei, raises a hand. “coach gojo, what’s slay?”

“good question, mei dear!” gojo beams. “slay is when you dominate in style. it’s when you flip your hair after a touchdown, when your cleats match your energy, when—” he pauses dramatically, lowering his shades to wink at them, “—you leave your enemies in the dust and look good doing it.”

“what about actual football?” asks misaki, one of the older girls, clearly tired of his nonsense.

“yes, yes, there’s that too,” he waves a hand dismissively. “but listen, coordination is key. we can’t just play well, we have to look well. what’s our game plan today?”

the team groans in unison: “flip the hair, score the goal.”

“atta girls.”

the game begins, and despite his ridiculous antics, gojo’s training somehow works. every single touchdown is punctuated with a dramatic hair flip. even the girls with short hair have perfected an imaginary one, jerking their heads back in a movement so fierce that their opponents are momentarily stunned. “see?” gojo says smugly as the team wins their game. “dominance. in style.”

geto’s swim team

in contrast, geto’s approach is far calmer. he leans against the pool’s edge, arms crossed, nodding at his team with an approving smile. “good work, everyone,” he says, high-fiving a seven-year-old who looks like she’s about to pass out from exhaustion. “coach, can we rest now?” asks hana, one of the older girls, between gasps for air. “of course,” he says kindly. then he claps his hands together. 

“right after you double up.”

there’s a moment of silence. someone whimpers.

“coach—”

“you heard me,” he says, and suddenly, his previous warmth is gone. “double up.”

“but—”

“double. up.”

and then, like a switch has been flipped, the entire team triples their swimming speed. they slice through the water like sharks chasing prey, their strokes precise, their turns flawless. geto watches with quiet satisfaction, nodding approvingly as a twelve-year-old girl overtakes her teammate with the determination of an olympic athlete. once the session ends and the team is gasping at the edge of the pool, he pats them on the back like nothing happened. “great job today, girls.”

“you’re a menace,” one of them wheezes. he chuckles. 

“i know.”

sukuna’s badminton team

if gojo is chaos disguised as charisma and geto is warmth that turns to terror, sukuna is just terror. “victory at all costs,” he says before every game. before every practice. before every team dinner. it is their mantra, their religion, their unshakable truth. the team does not question it.

“if your opponent is faster, be faster. if they’re smarter, be smarter. if they want it more,” sukuna crosses his arms, voice dangerously low, “rip it from their goddamn hands.”

this is why his team plays like demons. they lunge for the shuttlecock like it’s the last meal on earth, their movements so aggressive that referees often ask if they’ve been trained in hand-to-hand combat. during one particular match, his youngest player, aki, executes a perfect smash that sends the shuttlecock flying into the opposing team’s side with such force that it bounces off the ground and hits the net.

“hell yeah, kid!” sukuna roars, slamming a fist into his palm. aki beams, vibrating with murderous joy. when the match ends and his team emerges victorious, they march off the court like soldiers who have conquered a nation. and then, the moment they step off the court—

“hiiiiiii, coach!” aki chirps, her demon-like aggression completely gone as she waves at him sweetly. “hello, aki,” he deadpans.

“did i do good?”

“you crushed their spirits,” he says approvingly.

“yay!”

the duality is terrifying.

toji’s american football team

if gojo is about style and flair, toji is about pure, unrelenting rage. “alright, listen up, you little punks,” toji snarls, pacing up and down the field. he has the kind of presence that makes even the stadium lights feel dimmer. “you wanna throw that ball? you wanna make it count? then stop thinking like soft little kids and start thinking like warriors.” the team stares at him, waiting. he stops, narrows his eyes. 

“who here has an ex?”

silence. then, one of the older girls, yuki, hesitantly raises a hand. “me.”

“he cheat?”

“…yes.”

“good.” he gestures to the ball. “that’s him. throw him to hell.” 

she blinks, then flings the ball so hard it nearly breaks the goalpost.  “holy shit,” one of her teammates mutters.

toji smirks. “next.”

one by one, the girls line up, channeling heartbreak into sheer destruction. passes become bullets, tackles become acts of war. by the end of practice, the opposing team’s coach is watching in terror as toji laughs darkly from the sidelines. post-practice, toji sits on the bleachers, grinning as his players gather around. he knows his power. “so,” he says casually, leaning forward. “what’s the latest?”

“mai said rena kissed her ex at the pep rally,” one of the girls whispers.  toji nods solemnly. “truly disgusting. use that next practice.”

nanami’s fencing team

nanami does not play games. he does not deal in nonsense. fencing is about skill, precision, discipline. unfortunately, fencing is also mental warfare, and sometimes, nanami indulges.

“focus,” he tells one of his fencers before a match. “your opponent is skilled, but you are better.” she nods, shifting her grip. then, nanami leans in slightly.

“also, i overheard her coach say she doesn’t think you’re fast enough.”

the fencer freezes. her head snaps toward him. “she said what?”

“mm,” nanami hums, adjusting his watch. “just a passing remark. perhaps she was right.”

“she wasn’t.”

the match is over in seconds.

nanami watches as his fencer destroys her opponent, a quiet smirk forming as the referee announces the win. he nods once when his student turns back to him, eyes burning. 

“i knew you had it in you.”

she exhales, looking down at her foil. “…was that even true?” 

nanami checks his watch again. “does it matter?”

choso’s basketball team

how choso became a basketball coach is a mystery, but no one dares to question it. he is too pure, too kind. the girls adore him. even the referees, who should remain unbiased, get emotional when they see him cheering. “you got this,” choso tells his team before a match, his voice soft but certain. “i believe in you.”

his team believes in him. they run faster, shoot cleaner, steal like their lives depend on it. when one of his players gets a foul and has to step off, she almost cries—not from the penalty, but from the fact that she has disappointed choso. “it’s okay,” he says gently, kneeling beside her. “you did your best.”

“…i’ll do better.”

“i know you will.”

by the time the team gets back on the court, they are playing with a vengeance. it is not about winning. it is about making coach choso proud. when they clutch the game-winning basket, choso pulls out a homemade banner. he made it himself.

the girls almost start sobbing.

“you guys did amazing,” choso says, smiling. one of his players full-on cries into his shoulder. 

“he’s too good for this world,” one of the opposing players mutters.

[eternalsunrise]

home, sweet home.

wolverine (logan howlett) x f!reader

wc: 980 (drabble)

tags! established relationship, no actual smut but super suggestive and gets graphic toward the end

notes! horny . but also v sweet. i pictured origins logan while writing this 💋

“if you keep moving i’m going to start slicing you up on purpose” your threat is empty, wrist away from his face completely, razor pointed the opposite direction. even with his regenerative abilities, you don’t want to hurt him, even if it’s just an accidental cut on his jaw.

logan was fully capable of doing this himself. after all, he’d been shaving his own face for decades upon decades. but there was no way he was going to pass up this opportunity.

he came through the front door after a two week long mission, scruffier than he was when he left. his mutton chops curling up at the tips of his jawline, mustache just long enough to tickle your face. he’d forgotten to pack his razor, and he’d rather use his own claws than use scott’s, or even worse, hank’s.

you were on him as soon as he walked in, leeched to his body, your hands everywhere. it had been too long since the wolverine breathed you in like this, his enhanced senses overstimulated in the best way. you ran your hand over his scratchy cheek, inquiring about his new look. he told you he was planning on cleaning it up but was exhausted. that’s when you offered.

now he’s sat on the toliet seat, and maybe he’s enjoying the view of you on his lap a little too much. he lifted his hips, bouncing you lightly on his legs.

“hm. relax princess, jus’ adjusting.” logan gives you a teasing smile, basking in the bliss he only feels in your presence. your eyes narrow in faux disdain, it’s hard to be frustrated at a guy with shaving cream covering his face. you grab one of his feline quips of hair, using it to tilt his head to finish the task at hand.

“i’m going with you next time, i can’t have you walking around like a caveman.” i missed you more than i can say.

ever the man, the image of you in an x-men suit pops into his brain, the leather hugging your body just right. the thought brings a smirk to his face, but it fades when he hears your sigh. right, no moving.

“yes ma’am. i’ll call the professor and let him know.” i missed you too. felt like i was never going to come back to you.

you lean your body over to rinse the razor off in the sink, logan’s large hands on your thighs keeping you steady. the metal clinks against the porcelain of the sink, shaving cream and dark hair going down the drain.

when you look back, you see your boyfriend in place of the lumberjack that walked in earlier. still scruffy and masculine, after all he is still the wolverine.

logan lifts his hips again, shifting backwards and forcing you to fall against him, razor clattering out of your hand. “whoops” his deep voice carries no sympathy, chocolate eyes locking with yours, giving you that love struck look that makes your stomach turn. the kind of look he saves just for you.

your chests are touching, the closeness sets your whole body ablaze. it’s been too long since you’ve got to soak him up like this. the smell of him makes your head swim; leather, cheap cigar smoke, and that cologne you bought him a few months back.

logan sneaks his hands under his brown flannel button up you’re wearing, delighted to be met by the bare skin of your hips. the metal of his belt buckle is cold against the bottom of your stomach, causing a gasp to leave you.

as he admires you now; sitting pretty in his lap in only his shirt, logan wonders how he had the strength to leave you in the first place.

hands wander over his freshly shaved face, stubble like soft needles against your fingertips. your head has a mind of its own, and suddenly your lips are brushing his. once. twice. a third time. soft and slow.

there’s something new in the air now. your heart is pounding, and you wonder if he can feel it beating through your chest and into his own. there’s a split second of silent eye contact before logan lurches forward.

there’s hunger behind his kiss. a certain lust behind his tongue making its way to yours. your hips swivel in search of friction. hands tangled in his hair, pulling in a way that’s so familiar it makes logan groan into your mouth; already aware of what tonight will bring.

his hands are traveling up your his shirt, rough fingers just barely making contact with your breasts. his touch lights you on fire, forcing you to break apart, head tilting back in a whimper.

logan takes that as his cue, and suddenly you’re in the air. one of his hands on your lower back securing you to him, the other cradling the underside of your knee.

you latch your other leg behind his waist as he walks out of the bathroom. your lips reconnected, eager to make up for the lost time.

you recognize the softness of your mattress against your back as logan lies you down gently. his mouth continues its assault, a trail of wet kisses down your jaw and side of your throat. he can feel your pulse drumming frantically under his lips, and he has to bite back a smirk at the effect he seemed to have on you.

your reaching your hands down to unclasp his belt when….ring. ring. ring. you feel the vibration against his pants and you think you might die if you have to stop right now.

you both pause in your actions. logan let out a gruff “you gotta be jokin’” as he stands up straight, leaving you lying on the bed.

he pulls his phone from his pocket, eyeing the caller id, scott summers. he’d been the third member of the x-men to try and get ahold of him. fuck can’t a guy have a day off?

he looks away from the phone, shifting his eyes to you. you’re sprawled beautifully on the bed. hair fanned around your head, cheeks flushed red with a devious smile to match. his eyes follow your body down to your legs. they’re spread wide for him, and he watches in shock as you let a hand slide between your thighs, swirling a couple slow circles on your clit through soaked panties.

you throw your head back and call his name, and that’s enough for him. logan tosses his phone over his shoulder, leaning down and crawling in between your legs.

“they’re gonna have to come pry me from this fucking bed, doll. i’m not goin’ nowhere.”

god it was good to be home.

[loverindeepspace]

Is That What You Think? // Sylus x Reader

Guess who's back, back again! Thank you so much for all the replies and support on my other oneshots! Ya'll are incredible <3 As a treat, I'm giving you some hurt/comfort :D Enjoy Concept: (Pre-relationship) Sylus gets hurt, you have an argument and make up Tags: Pre-relationship, getting together, gun violence, blood and wounds, hurt/comfort, angst, fluff, first kiss, reader is referred to as 'Miss Hunter' once, swearing Word Count: 2085 Masterlist

You don’t know where it all went wrong. You don’t know when hatred turned into something softer, something vulnerable. The more time you spend with him, the softer the edges of his character seem, the sharpness of his gaze turning to something gentle, the harsh touch into something warm. But the darkness, the danger, still lurks underneath all that. He is harsh, cruel and merciless to others, and you caught glimpses of that often enough. But alone with you? The walls seem to ease slightly, something tender filling the air instead. 

He was dangerous. He was trouble. You knew that, and yet you still fell for him. You also knew it wouldn’t be long until these feelings came back to haunt you. 

And haunt you they did, when your colleagues, other hunters, took you to the interrogation room in your own workplace. 

“Don’t worry, you’re not in trouble. We’re just here for a chat.” The first hunter, Kim (at least you think that’s her name) started, confusion and anxiety already stirring within you. 

“What do you need to chat about, that you have to take me into the interrogation room?” You keep your voice as steady as you can, not allowing yourself to cower under their serious demeanor. 

“You went into the N109 zone recently, did you not?” Kim says, sitting down across from you, her colleague, Tom, slouching in the chair next to her. A file sits in front of them, still closed.

“...Yes, I did.” Your fingers pull on the hems of your sleeves subconsciously.

“Who did you interact with in the N109 zone?” Tim’s gaze narrows slightly, almost accusatory.

“No one of mention, I kept my head down. I left before I got into any trouble. Sorry, what is this about?” You say quickly, something you have practiced many times in preparation, just in case someone caught onto your endeavors. 

“What do you know about Onychinus?” Kim got to the point, pen and notebook at the ready. The air was heavy, you had trouble taking steady breaths. The pointed looks in your direction didn’t help, your stomach dropping at the mention of the crime organisation. 

“... Not much really, just the rumours that go around the association.”

“Which rumours?”

“That Onychinus deals with illegal weapons, that the hunters association has been trying to hunt them down for years, that they pretty much run the N109 zone?” You carefully avoid mentioning Sylus, sticking to surface knowledge. Surface knowledge is safe, surface knowledge is normal. 

“You didn’t learn anything on your trip to the N109 zone?” Tom scoffs slightly, disbelief shining through his eyes. He was putting you on the spot. Is it suspicious to say no? They’ll question why I was there in the first place. Why I left without information. What can I say? 

Your words catch in your throat slightly.

“Not really, I left before I got myself into a situation I couldn’t get out of. Again, what is this about?” The front you put up must be convincing as Tom backs off slightly as your hard tone.

“The association is taking up Onychinus as a priority as of yesterday, that’s all you need to know at this point.” Kim states, and questions swim through your mind.

Why is the association moving in on Onychinus? What happened since the last time I talked to Sylus? 

The interrogation ended not too long after that, the two hunters trying to dig further into your mind, but you gave them nothing to work with. You made your way back to your desk, leaving the stifling and accusatory atmosphere behind you. Unanswered questions still plagued you, and where better to try to get answers than from the Onychinus leader himself. You leave work quickly, your shift ending before you know it, and you immediately pull up Sylus’s contact info and press the call button.

It rang once, twice, three times, before a deep voice filled your ears.

“What an honour, getting a call from Miss Hunter herself. Did you miss me, Kitten?” He crooned, a teasing note shining through his voice. A small smile spread across your lips, but the tension in your body didn’t let up.

“You wish. Now please enlighten me as to why I was suddenly questioned about Onychinus in my own workplace.” 

“Oh? How should I know?” You hear the smirk in his voice.

“What did you do?” You say with a very audible sigh, fingers rubbing the tension from your brow. 

“Me? I didn’t do anything. Had a bit of a pest problem, but that was dealt with quickly.” 

“Explain.”

“It’s nothing you need to worry your pretty head about.”

“And how did this ‘pest problem’ evolve into the association putting a priority on hunting you down?”

“Are you worried about me?” Again with the smirk. It’s very audible.

“Should I be?” You decide to answer the question with your own. He huffed a laugh, before assuring you that there’s nothing to worry about. 

A few days later, the situation worsens, and you’re in the worst place for it. You know how they say the wrong place and the wrong time? He had invited you to another auction, and you readily agreed to go with him. Until a group in familiar uniforms storms the auction house, weapons drawn. Chaos surrounded you, the mask on your face obscuring your vision, making it harder to move, harder to fight back and escape. Bullets shot past you, shouting filled your ears, and an arm grabbed you pulling you into a tight embrace. A hand held your head down and a restrained hiss filled your ears. 

—=+=---

“What the hell is wrong with you?!” Your voice is harsh, even in your own ears. His weight slows you down as you support him while trying to keep pressure on the gash in his side. 

“I’m fine, Kitten. This is nothing.” His voice is steady, not even a grimace shown in his expression. If anything, he sounds exasperated. But he’s still leaning on you for support, and that tells you everything you need to know. You lead him through the Onychinus base, all the way up to his room and deposit him on the bed while you go grab the first aid kit. 

You move closer to him, tension and adrenaline not letting up as you open the kit, pulling out gloves, gauze and antiseptic. 

“You knew this was going to happen. You knew the hunters were going to show up.” You snap, giving him an accusatory glance. 

He chuckles slightly, “this was the best way to get rid of the pests infesting my territory. They arrived a little ahead of schedule, but nothing I can’t deal with.” His nonchalance about the situation lights an anger within you, as you start to treat his wound, which wasn’t healing at all, still oozing blood. The first crack in his demeanor shows when you swipe the antiseptic wipe across the gash, cleaning up the blood, not as gentle as you probably should’ve been. 

“Careful Kitten, pull back those claws.” His hand engulfs your own, stopping you in your tracks. His crimson eyes are focused on you, studying the furrow in your brow, your clenched jaw and the furious glare shot in his direction. 

“Come on now, Sweetie, no need to be upset. I didn’t harm any of your fellow hunters, did I?” His voice is steady, amused even.

“Is that what you think I’m upset about?” Your tone is harsh, unbelieving, as you move to meet his eyes, your expression stone cold, “Sylus. You purposefully put yourself in danger, to what? Mock the hunters association? Add fuel to the already burning fire? You’re not even healing right now. Those bullets? Those bullets neutralise evols, you won’t be healing for a good while yet. And as a hunter, I can tell you one thing. The association is relentless, they will keep coming back. What will happen next time? What if someone gets in a lucky shot? You won’t be walking away with just a gash, you won’t be walking out of there at all. I think I have the right to be angry at how fucking reckless you can be.”

Silence stretches between the two of you, his eyes searching your face, your expression twisted in barely restrained frustration. 

“Wouldn’t that be good news for you though? Onychinus finally crumbling? Your little hunters association finally winning? You could probably even get a medal for my death. You should be celebrating that fact.”

You freeze, your hand still reaching for the bandages settled beside you. Your eyes snap to his, disbelief, hurt and many unnamed emotions flashing through your gaze.

“Is that how little you think of me?” Your voice is small, hurt bleeding through every word. You steel yourself, standing up and throwing the bandages on his lap. 

There’s no reply as his eyes narrow in curiosity, judging your reaction, smirk slowly falling off of his face. 

“Is this all a joke to you?” You scoff, “You know what, no, I’m not doing this right now. I’m going home. Bandage yourself up, see if I give a shit if you bleed out.” Your movement is swift as you grab your bag and jacket, the only thing stopping you from stalking away is a sudden grip on your wrist. You don’t turn to look at him, instead trying to pull your hand away from him. Tears are already swelling in your eyes as you try to blink them away. You will not show weakness now. 

“The hunters are still out there, what will they say if someone sees you walking out of the Onychinus base?” His voice is no longer teasing, a more serious tone replacing the carefree one from earlier, “Stay here for now.” He pulls you back towards him, another hiss leaving his mouth as he jostles the wound on his side. 

“Sweetie? Look at me.” You still refuse to turn around, words caught in your throat. The sting from what he said still makes your heart ache. 

“Kitten, I was wrong. I’m sorry for insinuating that you wouldn’t care.” He says softly, voice trembling slightly as he continues, “I’ve done a lot of shit in my life, but the one thing I don’t regret is keeping you safe, even if it risks my own wellbeing.” His hand moves to hold yours, thumb gently caressing your knuckles.

The frustration and hurt still simmer under your skin, and you finally turn to meet his eyes. 

“I can’t lose you Sylus. I care about you too fucking much. And I hate it, I tried to fight it, trust me. But I can’t help it. Is that wrong?” You let out an unamused laugh, a fresh set of tears filling your eyes. His eyes widen at your words before softening to a tender gaze. He pulled you towards him, until you were close enough for him to wrap his arms around your waist, his face nuzzling into your middle. 

“I can’t lose you either Kitten. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you while I was right there. Never once have I lied to you, so I won’t promise you that I won’t put myself in harm’s way if it means you’ll be okay, but I can promise you, you won’t lose me. I’m here and I plan to stay.” His voice is muffled against your shirt, his arms tightening before moving away just enough that he can look up at you. 

“I’ve done a lot of shit in my life, but loving you is different. You make me feel things I never thought I could feel. It’s terrifying.” The words seem hesitant, a vulnerability he doesn’t seem quite ready to admit. 

The anger towards the man in front of you starts to melt away as you sigh. Your eyes close for a second, before opening and meeting his gaze. Your hands move to the sides of his face, cradling him gently.��

“I love you too Sylus, but if you ever do this again I’m going to kick your ass.” You pinch his cheeks slightly as you say this, before moving closer, your lips landing on his. His lips are slightly chapped against your own, but still incredibly smooth, gliding against yours.  His hands start to move up to your face, before he pulls away quickly, a grimace twisting his expression. You smile fondly, before moving to pick up the discarded bandage from the bed.

“Let’s get you bandaged up first.” 

[ladsheadcanoncorner]

random turn ons ♡ - lads headcanons

prompt: just some things i think would get the boys in the mood that aren't inherently naughty ;) rating: n-fw, 18+, minors dni cw: slight smut, implied fem!reader, some physical descriptions given (mostly vague, but please feel free to imagine mc however you like, regardless of what i've written!) ✉︎♡: ask box open, tumblr users + anons

Xavier: -Lounge wear! -Because it means he can probably convince you to take a nap with him, but also because no one else has the privilege of seeing you wearing that -He likes literally every type of lounge wear, but he is partial to tight fitting shorts and lace camisoles -His hands will wander while you’re watching TV, fingers brushing against the skin on your stomach and your thighs -You: “What are you doing, Xav?” Xavier: “Hmm? Oh, nothing. Just think you feel so soft.” -He’ll make sure to plant plenty of kisses on every inch of skin he can reach, hiking up your shirt to kiss there, too -Also unabashedly into watching you eat anything that could be taken sexually -Ice cream? Forget about it. Popsicles? He’s gonna cream his jeans -He just really loves watching your lips close around certain things -“Maybe you can show me how you do that later?”

Zayne: -Sundresses -There’s just something about the way the summer air billows through the fabric, framing your body, each particularly strong gust showing him the tiniest peak of your ass -If the straps fall off of your shoulder, so help him now he might just have to make a quick detour with you somewhere private -Also loves when you try on his glasses, even though he’s far too pragmatic to admit it -You: “Do I look smart enough, Dr. Zayne?” Zayne, trying to hide the blush blooming on his cheeks: “Smart? Yes, of course. Let’s go with that.” -Will fully make out with you when you’re wearing his glasses, pulling you onto his lap in his office to help him relieve some of the pressure building up from seeing you in them -When you realize this, you make sure to steal them more often, feigning innocent the entire time so that he doesn’t catch on to your schemes

Rafayel: -You know those cliche videos of women getting out of the pool in slow motion? Yeah, that’s what Raf sees every time you go swimming or get out of the shower -Your wet hair slicked back, water droplets clinging to you skin, the glow of the light reflecting shimmery sunshine -Eyes would do that cartoony ‘awooga’ if they could -Pulling you against him, he says, “You got me all wet, guess we’ll have to take off these clothes, huh?” -Also super into your hands -As an artist, he appreciates the nuances of the human body, and you are his forever his muse -He’ll play with your fingers, turning your palm over in his hand, kissing each individual digit -Usually leads to your hands moving to touch him elsewhere, his dramatic ass claiming all breathy that he’s being touched by the hands of a goddess

Sylus: -Putting your hair up The first time you do this is during a sparring session with him in his boxing ring -You: “Hold up, my hair is in the way.” Sylus: “You’re giving your opponent too much time to plan their next move, kitten.” -You bend over to secure the hair tie in place, and when you flip your head back up Sylus.exe has stopped functioning -He rips the velcro on his boxing glove free with his teeth and corners you in the ring -“Distracting your prey is a good move, too,” he’ll murmur in between kisses -Yeah he’s definitely using that hair tie to pull your hair in bed later -Also loves watching you do your makeup -Will stand in the doorway in the bathroom, one leg crossed over the other to hide how absolutely turned on he is watching the way your mouth slightly hangs open when you put on mascara -You know by now to start getting ready early so you and Sylus have enough time for a quickie before you leave

Caleb: -Cute marks on your face -He absolutely gushes over dimples, birthmarks, freckles, or beauty marks -Likes to poke each place they mark your skin and if you get annoyed with him when he does this, he will only laugh and then kiss each one -The easiest way to get Caleb absolutely feral for you is to wear his tshirts or hoodies -You devise the plan when he is in the shower, taking his favorite shirt and spraying his cologne on it, before pulling it over your naked body -When Caleb enters the room, towel already hanging dangerously low on his hips, he stops in his tracks when he sees you -“My favorite shirt and my favorite girl. Do you want to take it off now or should I ruin both of you tonight?” -Definitely going to take you from behind while you’re wearing it, both of your smells mingling on his skin and driving him crazy

[ladysharmaa]

Swim

bridgerton family x sis!reader

summary: when the youngest Bridgerton is playing in the garden with her siblings, she falls into the lake, not knowing how to swim. Realizing the accident, her older brother runs to save her

requested: yes

warnings: drowning

It was a hot day in the countryside, the heat almost unbearable and most of the animals seeking shelter in the shadows. The Bridgerton family was at Aubrey Hall, however the younger ones were dissatisfied with how the day was going. Daphne was away with her husband, Benedict had locked himself in the art room, consumed by a burst of inspiration, and Colin was still traveling through Europe. Eloise was visiting Penelope, and Lady Bridgerton was engaged in a lively chat with the other ladies of the parish.

"Anthony!" Y/n called out for the only brother left. However, she was also unlucky when she saw him hunched over paperwork in his study, his brow furrowed in frustration.

The youngest Bridgerton sighed in annoyence, everyone was busy except her three older siblings. However, their mother had forbidden them to go out and play in the garden without the surveillance of any family member, keeping them dry all day reading until they got tired of lying on the sofa, vanning themselves.

"Y/n! How many times do I have to say that you can't walk into my office like that?! It’s not proper." Anthony scolded her, he was also frustrated with the work that was piling up, the heat and his youngest siblings who couldn't seem to stop bothering him.

“The door was open…” Y/n muttered, only to earn a sharp glare. “I’m sorry, brother. But Hyacinth, Gregory, Francesca, and I are so bored. It’s unbearable indoors, and we want to play outside.”

The older man ran his hand over his forehead, taking a deep breath to control his impatience and not take it out on his little sister. The truth was that the heat wasn't helping for his patience.

“You know what?” he said, exhaling sharply, “Go. Go play outside. Just don’t disturb me again.”

"But mother said—”

"You'll be fine." Anthony waved a hand in the air, dismissing what the girl was going to say, his attention already focused on the documents. "Just don't get too close to the lake and if you need anything, fetch for a maid."

"Are you sure?" Y/n questioned hesitantly, knowing these weren't the rules Violet imposed.

"Off you go." the Viscount muttered, motioning for her to leave and close the door.

“Of course, brother.” she left in silence, closing the door.

She returned to her younger siblings with a bright smile, though a flicker of uncertainty lingered. "We can go!" she announced, and their faces lit up. The four of them dashed to the garden, their laughter ringing out as they burst into the open air.

The garden was Y/n’s favorite place, a haven of color and life. The vibrant flowers—roses, tulips, and daisies—lined the pathways, their sweet fragrance mingling with the warm summer breeze. A fountain bubbled gently at the center, its soothing trickle blending with the cheerful quacks of ducks paddling in the nearby lake. Towering trees offered patches of welcome shade, their leaves rustling softly as if whispering secrets to the wind.

Gregory raced to the fountain and splashed water at his sisters, eliciting squeals of surprise. The girls retaliated, sparking a playful water fight. The cool droplets against their skin brought much-needed relief from the sweltering heat, and their laughter echoed across the garden.

Hyacinth soon grabbed a small ball, and the group shifted to a lively game of catch. When Gregory threw the ball to Y/n, she was momentarily distracted by a pair of butterflies flitting gracefully nearby. The ball slipped through her fingers and rolled into the lake.

“Oh, no!” Y/n exclaimed, spinning around to face her siblings. “Anthony said the lake was off limits!”

“That was your fault, Y/n!” Gregory shot back, folding his arms. “You were distracted! Just go get the ball. Nothing will happen, and we can keep playing.”

Hyacinth frowned, tugging at Y/n’s arm nervously. “Be careful,” she whispered, glancing anxiously at the shimmering water. Francesca stood silently, her face a mix of worry and curiosity.

Y/n hesitated, looking between her siblings and the ball floating just a little too far from the edge of the lake. “Alright,” she finally said, though her voice trembled slightly. “I’ll get it, but don’t tell Anthony or Mama.”

She carefully made her way to the edge of the lake, the grass beneath her feet slippery and damp. The ball bobbed lazily on the water’s surface, taunting her. Stretching out her arm, she leaned forward as much as she could without stepping into the water.

“Just a little more…” Y/n muttered to herself, her fingertips brushing the edge of the ball. But the ground beneath her shifted suddenly, and with a startled yelp, she lost her balance. Her arms flailed as she tumbled forward, plunging into the cold water with a loud splash.

“Y/n!�� Hyacinth screamed, her hands flying to her mouth as she watched her sister vanish beneath the surface.

“Y/n! Get up! Stop playing around!” Gregory shouted, his voice wavering as panic set in.

But Y/n wasn’t playing. The moment she hit the water, she remembered she didn’t know how to swim. Her brothers were always making the promise they would teach her how to swim, but they were always busy.

The weight of her wet dress dragged her down, and she struggled desperately to keep her head above the surface. Her hair was in front of her eyes, which was only adding to her panic. Her siblings were screaming behind her, but she couldn't do anything. She gasped, swallowing water instead of air, her arms thrashing uselessly.

“I-I can’t—help!” Y/n choked, her voice barely audible over the splashing.

Francesca started crying, while Hyacinth grabbed Gregory’s arm. “Do something, Gregory!” she pleaded, her voice high-pitched and trembling. "Help her!"

“I—I don’t know what to do!” Gregory stammered, his face pale as he watched his sister struggle. “We need Anthony!”

The three of them began screaming at the top of their lungs. “Anthony! Anthony! Help!”

Inside the house, Anthony sat at his desk, brow furrowed as he tried to focus on his work. But the distant sound of frantic shouting made him freeze. His siblings’ voices pierced through the thick walls of Aubrey Hall, each cry laced with panic.

“Anthony! Help! Y/n, swim, please!”

He was on his feet in an instant, the paperwork long forgotten. His hands were trembling and he was having trouble taking a breath in. Memories of his father dying were playing in his brain. He couldn't lose his younger sister, he wouldn't survive. He believed no one in the family would. Y/n was a ray of sunshine, she had the power of making him smile even in his darkest days.

Racing out of his study, he bolted through the house and into the garden. The sight that met him stopped his heart for a moment—Y/n floundering in the lake, her siblings screaming helplessly at the edge.

“Y/n!” Anthony roared, sprinting toward the water.

Without hesitation, he dove in, the cool shock of the water biting against his skin. His powerful strokes cut through the lake as he reached her, wrapping one arm securely around her chest to keep her head above water. “I’ve got you, Y/n! You’re safe!” he gasped, pulling her toward the shore.

Y/n coughed and sputtered, clinging tightly to Anthony’s arm as he hauled her out of the water and onto the grass. She collapsed onto her side, shivering and coughing up all the water trapped in her lungs.

“Y/n!” Hyacinth sobbed, rushing forward to kneel beside her. Gregory and Francesca hovered close, their faces streaked with tears.

Anthony knelt next to his youngest sister, his hands gently brushing the wet hair from her face. “What were you thinking?” he demanded, though his voice cracked with a mix of anger and fear. “I told you to stay away from the lake!”

“I-I’m sorry,” Y/n whispered, her voice trembling as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I was just trying to get the ball…”

“Forget the ball!” Anthony snapped, though the harshness of his words softened as he saw the guilt in her eyes. He sighed heavily, pulling her into a protective embrace despite her soaked clothes. “You scared me half to death, Y/n. Don’t ever do that again.”

“I won’t,” she murmured, burying her face in his shoulder. “I promise.”

Anthony held her tightly for a moment longer before pulling back and looking at the other three. “And you lot,” he said, fixing them with a stern glare, “should have come to me the second something went wrong. You don’t handle things like this on your own, understood?”

“Yes, Anthony,” Gregory muttered, his head bowed.

“I’m sorry, Anthony,” Hyacinth sniffled.

“Let’s get you all inside,” Anthony said, scooping Y/n into his arms. “Y/n needs to change out of these wet clothes, and all of you need to stay out of trouble. And don’t think this means I’m letting any of you off the hook when I tell Mother about this.”

The siblings exchanged nervous glances but said nothing. For now, they were just relieved Y/n was safe.

"And go get Benedict for me, please," Anthony sighed, tightening his protective hold on Y/n, who rested her head against his chest. Just like she used to when she was a baby, seeking comfort and safety in her older brother’s arms.

The Bridgerton siblings immediately sprang into action, not wanting to further anger their eldest brother. Gregory and Hyacinth bolted toward Benedict’s art room, their small footsteps echoing through the halls. Meanwhile, Anthony called for the maids, handing Y/n over gently and instructing them to draw her a warm bath and help her change into fresh clothes. Once she was seen to, he retreated to his room to rid himself of his soaked garments.

Later, Y/n was tucked into her bed, warm and safe, her cheeks flushed pink from the warmth of the bath. She had drifted off to sleep, her breathing soft and steady. Anthony sat in a chair beside her bed, his elbow resting on his knee as he leaned forward, his eyes locked on her small, peaceful frame. Every slight rise and fall of her chest reassured him she was still there, still breathing.

Beside him, Benedict sat in quiet solidarity, his hand supporting his chin as he watched his older brother wrestle with his thoughts.

“I thought we were going to lose her,” Anthony whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “She was screaming, Benedict. She was drowning, and I didn’t know if I’d reach her in time.” His jaw tightened, and he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “All because none of us had the bloody sense to teach her how to swim.”

“It’s not your fault, Anthony,” Benedict said softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. “She’s okay now. You saved her.”

Anthony shook his head, his eyes never leaving Y/n. “She asked me to let them go outside. I said yes because I was frustrated she was interrupting me. I didn’t think, Benedict. I didn’t think about the lake or the rules or how dangerous it was. I let her go because it was easier for me, and I put her in danger. That’s on me. I was irresponsible.”

Benedict’s hand squeezed his shoulder, grounding him. “You made a mistake, Anthony. But don’t forget, when it mattered most, you were there. You pulled her out of the water and you’re here now, making sure she’s safe. That’s what being the eldest means. You can’t be perfect all the time.”

Anthony let out a heavy sigh, leaning back in the chair. “I don’t have the luxury of mistakes. Not when it comes to them. Not when it comes to Y/n. I should’ve been better.”

Benedict paused for a moment before leaning forward, his tone shifting to something lighter, more familiar. “You know, Anthony, this might be the first time I’ve ever seen you admit to not being perfect. I’m almost proud of you.”

Despite himself, Anthony let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. “Not the time for jokes, Benedict.”

“Come on,” Benedict smirked, “you’ve been brooding for hours. She’s going to wake up and see that same grumpy expression, and then we’ll have a whole new mess to deal with.”

Anthony gave him a sidelong glance, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward slightly. “You’re insufferable, you know that?”

Benedict leaned back, feigning a look of triumph. “I’ve been told.”

A small, sleepy voice interrupted their exchange. “Anthony? Benedict?”

Both men snapped their attention to Y/n, who was stirring in her bed. Anthony leaned forward immediately, brushing a hand over her forehead. “I’m here, Y/n. How are you feeling?”

Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked up at him with a mix of guilt and relief. “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to make you upset.”

Anthony’s heart clenched. “You don’t need to apologize, sweetheart. I’m the one who’s sorry. I should’ve been paying more attention.”

“You saved me,” she said softly, her small hand reaching out to grab his. “Thank you.”

Anthony squeezed her hand gently, his voice thick with emotion. “Always, Y/n. Always.”

Benedict leaned in, his tone playful. “And just so you know, next time you want to cause this much chaos, at least let me finish my painting first.”

Y/n let out a small, tired giggle, and Anthony finally allowed himself to relax. His little sister was safe, and he would make sure it always stayed that way.

[a-lurking-fae]

◇ SYNOPSIS ¡ — in which a girl is born, only to live in conplete and utter tragedy.

◇ WORD COUNT ¡ — 1.4K

◇ SERIES ¡ — BATFAM X FONTAINE! NEGLECTED READER

The sounds of a baby's wails plague the halls of the Wayne Manor, Richard Grayson— the adopted son of Bruce Wayne, who watches on his father's misery. His mother, well, adopted mother, has just passed away from childbirth. Her child (Name) is being held by their most trusted butler, Alfred.

Bruce holds his wife's hands as if it was his only lifeline, his screams of anguish mirror the infant’s cry for their mother. The night is filled with horrible memories, forever to be remembered.

────୨ৎ────

(Name) walks the halls quickly and quietly, afraid of the monsters that may take her if she is not careful. She opens the door to Jason's room. He was recently adopted by Bruce and was a delight to be with. Jason was her only refuge for warmth in this cold manor, although she was not oblivious to their… nightly activities.

She smiles at her brother, who just came from a mission, holding a book in her hand. “Hey bub! Do you want me to read you that one tonight?” Jason beams at you. A cute little sister to see him after he gets home? YES.

Jason lifts you to his bed, setting you near the wall to make sure you don't fall. He picks the book up and starts reading. After lulling you to sleep, Jason kisses your forehead, wishing you sweet dreams.

Jason is dead. That is what you can think about. Your father held a funeral for him to honour his memory. You hold onto his stuff. Sometimes, you sneak in his bed and sleep in it. The remnants of him were preserved in that room. You wished he could have seen you sing the songs dedicated to him on stage.

Tim came into the picture. He saw you as a weakness in the family. You could easily be kidnapped, an innocent civilian never meant to be here. But he cared for you in his own ways, how could he not? You were a bit younger than him, a cute little thing with doe eyes and chubby cheeks.

He maintained his distance, making sure not to get attached. He never really knew how to handle things like family after all. Barbara came to the manor sometimes, although you both never really had much interaction. Damian came into the picture. He was cute but a demonic thing nonetheless.

Cassandra, Stephanie, and Duke came to the family, with them being Orphan, Spoiler, and Signal. You were pretty jealous of Cass. She always seemed so… loved. You truly wanted to bond with them all.

They always spend time with each other, and heck, Dick sometimes came to the manor to spend time with Damian! He had time for everyone except you. Jason? He's avoiding you like the plague! You don't really understand why though, did you do something you weren't aware of? Tim, the boy barely interacted with you!

Damian? Nope. Barbara? Too busy for you, apparently. Cassandra? She's a bit scary, but she's fine. Stephanie? Also too busy! Your own biological father (who should definitely just be called sperm donor), ignored the fuck out of you.

You went to the beach to let out some stream. After all, can tears be seen and shed underwater? You swim to the far sea, the waves soon taking you deep. You try to reach the surface, but you can't. You breathe and— wait, breathe??

You open your eyes to unfamiliar waters, you see land and quickly swim towards it. Coughing up some water, you see two men, a flying snowball, and a very pretty lady. You feel dizzy, your eyesight is blurry, and… you lose consciousness!

You wake up, lain in soft silk sheets that definitely beat yours. You look around to see some people surrounding you. “Hello, dear. I am Furina de Fontaine, the Hydro Archon, God of—” She gets cut off by the snowball, “Just get to the point already!” she huffs in the air, kicking in frustration.

“Fine, fine!— Man in blue, My Iudex, Neuvillette. Man in black? The Duke, Wriothesly. Blondie, Lumine. Flying pet, Paimon.”

“I am not a pet!—”

Ms. Lumine— you believe, covers her mouth and takes her away with Mr. Wriothesly behind them. “Right, back to the topic, do you know this person, little one?” Mr. Iudex points to a painting, and you froze.

The painting looks hauntingly like the woman plastered on the walls of the manor— “Mom…” they both look shocked at your response, nodding at each other. “I am your grandmother, my dear. He is your grandfather. Do you think you could tell us what happened?”

“I… She's dead. She passed away after giving birth to me.” You look away. They're sure to hate you, too. Furina embraces you tightly, tears roll down her cheeks. The loss of a child is never light. Neuvillette pats her back, and you hear a light drizzle outside. It quickly becomes a turbulent storm, as Iudex weeps as well. The three of you embrace each other, unwilling to let go.

You eventually figured out how to get between the two worlds with your mother's diary. It was kept by Iudex, and not an inch of dust has reached its pages. You read about her adventures, how she ended up in Gotham, and how she decided to leave Fontaine.

“Your mother was a cheerful person. You certainly took after her the most. ”Neuvillettes's eyes softened at you. “My dear, do you truly have to return to that place? You could simply stay here—” Furina looks at you, you were an adventurer, she never really had the ability to keep you down. After all, she knew what that felt like.

“Nana, I like to explore, a trait from my mother. I have two vast worlds that allow me to see magical places. Who am I to refuse such sights?” You stuff your mouth with cake, it was your favourite flavor.

“The abyssal corrosion is taking me slowly, I believe I have enough time to explore more. That is my wish, nana.”

You smile at them, their expressions are unreadable. Neuvillette clenches his teacup, nodding at you. “If that is what you desire, then so be it my dear.” Tea time soon ends, and you return to Gotham.

You lay in your bed. ‘One last chance, then I'll stay in Fontaine forever.’ You think your performance was coming up soon. If they didn't come, then that is it.

The next few weeks were certainly nerve-wracking. On the day of the show, you get up on the stage, and do your absolute best. You sang your heart out like never before, people shed tears during your performance. They were nowhere to be seen. You should have expected this.

“Great job, (name)!” A stage designer came up to you, handing you some gifts from the crowd. You adorned a smile, pearls on your neck lit up at the lights. There are so many praises from people you don't know, yet not a single family came.

You return to the manor, quickly writing a letter to Alfred. You knew it couldn't be helped. You make your way to the beach, Alfred came home right when you left.

The letter sat on his desk, opening it shook him.

Dear Alfred,

It has truly been a delight to be with you. It is hard to simply leave you, so I leave you this letter. I hope that you may find your peace in this manor, thank you for all these years.

Truly yours,

– (Name) de Fontaine.

Alfred quickly went to the batcave, calling everyone on patrol. He accessed every camera nearby, trying to find you. Were you trying to kill yourself?

“Alfred?” Dick spoke first. The rest listened. “Ms. (Name) might be trying to kill herself, I'll try to find her.

Bruce is shook. What parent wouldn't be after hearing that. He doesn't know where to start looking, so he and Damian search the places your mother would go to.

Alfred finally finds you heading to the beach. You loved that place. “She's at xx-road, heading to xx-beach.” They all rush to the coordinates, hoping they weren't too late—

There you were, in a white dress, you could get sick in that! “Goodbye.” You start to turn to foam. They rush towards you, but they are too late. Your shawl floats to Bruce. He grabs it, trying to find a semblance of you. They'll find you soon, just wait for a bit.

You return to Fontaine, going to Palais Mermonia, munching on some pasta Furina made, as they both work.

────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────

NOTE : Whew, so that was chapter 1! I'm loving the gradient hehehehe. (If I learn more I will become unstoppable)

[coryndoll]

STAY THE NIGHT ( prologue )

plot ── you unexpectedly bump into your ex-boyfriend, drew starkey, years after a breakup. you reluctantly help him escape the spotlight. what starts as a tense reunion turns into a secret, spontaneous journey through the city that forces you to confront your shared past. will he stay the night?

content ── “starstruck” inspo, exboyfriend!drew starkey x exgirlfriend!reader, aspiring writer reader x new rising actor drew basically

authors note ── hi guys so .. yes a new series i fear.

main masterlist

drew stumbles through the narrow back halls of the club, his vision swimming as the alcohol dulls his senses. his shirt sticks to his skin, damp with sweat, and the lingering press of too many hands, too many bodies, feels like it’s still clinging to him.

he’s out of it. too many drinks, too much noise. but somewhere in the fog, a single thought keeps pulling him forward: he needs to leave. he needs air. he needs to go home.

his hand trails along the wall as he walks, searching for balance, his steps uneven. someone—he can’t even remember who—told him to use the back exit. avoid the crowd. the fans are still out front, waiting, calling his name. the idea of facing them feels unbearable, so he keeps moving, rounding corners, ignoring the distant voices of staff and the clinking of glasses from the bar.

finally, he reaches the last door. it’s heavy, metal, the kind that slams shut behind you if you’re not careful. his fingers curl around the handle, and without hesitation, he pushes it open hard, letting the door swing wide.

the impact is immediate. there’s a solid thud, followed by a sharp, startled noise.

he freezes, his heart lurching as he realizes he’s hit someone.

outside, you’ve stumbled back, your hand shooting up to your head where the door clipped you. the sharp edge of the impact throbs, and for a moment, you’re too stunned to do anything but blink.

“what the hell?” you snap, your voice cutting through the quiet of the alley.

drew peeks out through the doorway, his movements unsteady but quick. his eyes land on you, and for a split second, he doesn’t register who you are, just that you’re there, and he’s the one who hit you.

“oh shit,” he mutters, his voice low, hoarse. “i’m so sorry— are you alright?”

he steps toward you, his words tumbling out fast, almost slurred. there’s a frantic edge to him, like he’s not sure how to fix what just happened. his hand hovers near your arm, unsure whether to help you or keep his distance.

you straighten slowly, your fingers still pressed to the side of your head. you glance up at him, your eyes narrowing in irritation, but something about him catches your attention. it’s the way he’s looking at you. he’s panicked, apologetic, but also . . . strangely familiar.

“what the hell is wrong with you?” you snap again, but your voice wavers slightly now, your irritation giving way to confusion.

drew’s gaze flickers over you, and something shifts in his expression. it’s subtle at first, a flicker of recognition that grows stronger with each passing second.

you notice it, too. the way his features seem to change, the way his panic starts to melt into something softer, something heavier. you stare at him, your chest tightening as realization creeps in, slow but undeniable.

“wait,” you breathe, your voice softer now, almost disbelieving.

he doesn’t say anything, but his eyes meet yours, and it’s like the world around you falls away.

“drew,” you whisper, the name slipping from your lips before you can stop it.

his breath is shallow, his chest rising and falling as he stares at you, his eyes wide with something between disbelief and urgency. “y/n,” he says, your name tumbling from his lips like it’s a lifeline, like he’s been holding it in for years.

you can’t move, can’t speak. your legs feel unsteady beneath you, and your hands hover awkwardly near your thighs, like you’re trying to brush off the dust and rocks but can’t quite follow through. your mouth opens, but no sound comes out.

drew looks away first, his head snapping to the right toward the street. his body tenses, his shoulders rising as he scans the sidewalk just beyond the alley. a few people walk by, but none of them glance your way. still, it’s enough to make him anxious.

he exhales sharply, almost like a curse, and his hands move instinctively to your shoulders. his grip is firm but careful, like he’s grounding himself, or maybe grounding you. his fingers tighten slightly, and there’s something in his touch that says more than words could: relief, hesitation, maybe even regret.

you blink up at him, your lips parting like you’re about to say something, but he shakes his head, just barely, and pulls back.

he starts to turn, his body angling toward the street like he’s about to leave. “i—” he begins, but the words don’t come. he takes a step away. a part of you doesn’t want him to go.

your hand shoots out before you even think, grabbing his arm just below the elbow. your grip is firm, your fingers curling around his forearm in a way that stops him in his tracks. he freezes, his breath catching, and then he looks back at you.

his eyes meet yours, and for a moment, everything slows. you search his face, your gaze darting between his eyes, his mouth, the faint lines of tension in his jaw. you’re looking for something, like an explanation, a reason, anything that might make sense of why he’s here, why he’s running, why he’s leaving already.

drew glances over his shoulder again, his jaw tightening as he checks the street. this time, he mutters a curse under his breath, low and frustrated. when he turns back to you, his expression softens, but the urgency is still there, tugging at the edges of his features.

“do you have a car?” he asks, his voice low and hurried.

you blink, caught off guard by the question. your hand is still on his arm, and for a moment, all you can do is stare at him. the first time you’ve seen him in years and this is what he asks you?

authors note ── there will be sm drama & a journey & adventure around los angeles & actors & rekindled sparks just u wait omg. if u want to be part of the taglist for this new series, let me know thru replies, anons, dms, reblogs, etc !!

early tags ── @nicholaschavezslut69 @iissza @snowtargaryen @yootvi @ariiwritess @spideysimpossiblegirl @skyslowalking @adribarbie @obsessionsarenotfortheweak @0-tatiana-0 @beebeerockknot @hoelesslyt @lotuslovers

[aurynsia]

Unrequited, Terrifying Chapter 2

James Potter x Reader

Summary: After receiving a mysterious letter left under your door, you begin to search for the culprit…

Warnings: Extremely fluffy, nervous!james x shy!reader, some subtle wolfstar action in the background, reader plays hard to get without intending to, idiots in love, potentially a slow burn, oc!friends, lovesick!james x salty!reader, no use of Y/N, reader is referred to with she/her pronouns, NOT EDITED!

Word count: 1.7K

Series Masterlist

Chapter 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

——————— ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ ———————

“Has anyone got any better ideas?” James asked, slumping against the wall of his dorm room with desperation plastered across his face. An hour into the school year and the Marauders were already failing in their attempts to woo James’ crush.

“I don’t know, Prongs. We’ve established that you can’t just approach the poor thing and ask her to marry you, THAT would be a horrible attempt at a relationship. You also can’t stalk her the entire year, that’s illegal.” Peter pondered, looking concentrated in thought. “James,” Remus broke his silence, “You’re a smart boy under that flirty exterior. You get good grades and you know how to write. Why don’t you just write down how you feel and pass it along?”

“Remus…you genius.” James replied with complete sincerity, dashing to hug the boy who might have just saved his chances with you. “That’s perfect! She won’t feel expected to respond, I can say all I need to say without tensing up around her, and I don’t even have to expose myself if she doesn’t like me back! It can be anonymous, yes!” James rambled as he searched his desk for a spare sheet of paper and a quill, ignoring the silent glances his friends gave to one another, teasing him mentally.

A sweet baby blue envelope was retrieved from his stack of correspondence material, lined on his desk as he began to write. “Looks like we don’t need to tell you what to say then, Prongsie?” Sirius commented to the quiet room as all four of them attended to their own business. James hummed in reply, tongue sticking out from his lips in concentration as his eyebrows dipped together. “Just have…to get this…right…” he murmured, pouring his heart out onto the paper.

Not too subtle, but refined, like a gentleman. Not too pushy, but still explicit in his feelings. Anonymous, but hinting at who your new secret admirer could possibly be. A flourish of shifting paper filled the quiet air as James tucked his note into the envelope, finally scribbling your name on the surface.

Stood in front of your dorm room, James shifted his weight from his left foot to his right as he weighed his options. Your uncharacteristic chatter could be heard from behind the wood, though all he could make out were his friends’ names and an unmistakably annoyed tone hung on your words.

“James” you continued, and his heart began to swim laps around his chest. You sounded confused and frustrated as you rambled on, allowing James to take a beat as he collected himself.

Your voice softened, and he took this as his call to action. He slipped the note beneath the door and pursued the safety of his own dorm before he could get caught.

——————— ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ ———————

“EHEM! ‘To the only creature I could ever admire,’” Charlie began her dramatic reading of the mysterious note left under your dorm room door. “I have the greatest honour in being met with your stunning eyes, soft skin and quiet personality everyday when I pass you in the hall. The classes I share with you are moments in which my heart flutters at the sound of your gentle voice. The intelligence you hold and your refined sensibility could never be matched by a boy like me-’ ooh it’s a boy!! Ehem, sorry…‘but this is my best effort at showing that I am worthy of your love. I’ve seen the beauty you hold behind those guarded walls and I would sell my soul to bathe in its light. Make me yours, and I’ll give you the moon, the sun, and the stars in the sky.’ Oh! And it’s signed, ‘Forever yours…’”

You were stunned into an impression of a statue, barely showing the rise and fall of your chest. Hope smirked at the deep blush hovering over your cheeks while Charlie caught her breath from her award-winning performance. The room was still, a curiosity lingering in the air as all three of you began to silently ponder, who could this mysterious suitor be?

“Well, it says here that he thinks you’re out of his league- oh, damn! That doesn’t narrow it down…” Charlie joked to ease the tension and a fit of giggles erupted from the surface of your bed. “If it were up to me, dear, I’d start crossing names off of a list!” Hope laughed, though her smile fell as you and Charlie looked at her with faces of realisation.

“That’s what we’ll do.” You spoke for the first time since the note arrived, “We’ll write down every boy who could fit this description and narrow down the options!” You said with a glint of determination in your eye.

“So you’re interested in this secret admirer?” Charlie smirked, though her face emitted a sense of hope. “If he can speak so honestly about all of this,” you gestured to the note, “then I believe his maturity might just be worth it.”

——————— ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ ———————

Four pairs of eyes locked on you as you entered the Great Hall for breakfast. James was visibly more flustered than the others, but the rest of them were equally as invested in your reaction to the note.

You and your friends sat down with quiet whispers and glances down the table. As your eyes passed over the group of trouble makers they immediately paid special interest to their plates of food. Sirius began to pick at his eggs, Peter at his fruit and Remus stole quick sips from his juice. James gulped around nothing as he stared at his reflection in his plate, willing the bright flare of red occupying his face to fade away.

Once the three of you had moved your focus to a small huddle around your breakfast, the selection of Gryffindor boys immediately returned to ogling. “Can any of you see what they’re doing? Is that a quill in her hand?” Peter questioned. You shared quick giggles with your friends that disrupted the secrecy of your activity. The Marauders couldn’t quite place what you were doing, but they knew it would have something to do with the letter.

“An eye for mischief that one has, Prongs, what a cheeky couple you’d make- Ouch!” Sirius was interrupted by a sharp kick from his best friend under the table, though James’ eyes never left your frame.

Suddenly, your group took on faces of empathy, severity and concern, glancing at each other from your hunched positions. You trained your gaze on the boys who were discussing you, once again causing them to occupy themselves with the activities of breakfast.

After a lingering stare, you shifted back to the safety of your team and resumed your actions with a resolved expression.

“What do you think that was all about- Ow Prongs, what the bloody hell did I do?”

——————— ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ ———————

You gently opened the doors to the Great Hall, quill and notebook tucked behind your back. Charlie and Hope accompanied you to seats by the Gryffindor table, glancing over the potential perpetrators of last night’s events.

With a final look over your eligible bachelors, you sat down and began to work, sheltered by your friends. “I think this is pretty much the entire male cohort of Gryffindor…” you giggled breathlessly, pondering the dense list of names placed in front of you. Charlie and Hope joined in on your humour, scanning the list to double check your memory, then glancing around once more.

“Oh…um, w-well,” Charlie started, “there is one group we haven’t quite considered yet…” You and Hope turned towards the girl, who glared at you with an uncharacteristically subtle, mental comment. All three of you turned to face the Marauders, who were busy devouring their plates full of breakfast.

Your gaze lingered on each one. Sirius was no match for your intelligence and humility. You were certainly out of Peter’s league. Remus could convey that quiet poeticism that made you blush when the note was read out. James was always unpredictable. He did succeed in classes and he could potentially feel intimidated by your presence, or he could just be a dickhead. Either way, all four boys were, unfortunately, eligible suspects.

You returned to your coven of secrecy, hunched forms plotting over your notebook. You listed the boys below the pre-existing list of Gryffindor inhabitants that you shared classes with. ‘Sirius, Peter, Remus, James.’

——————— ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ ———————

Potions class finally arrived as the sun threatened to set in the faded sky. James rushed to his seat, close enough to you to feel sickeningly sweet without making it too weird. He wasn’t being too weird about all of this, right? No, the note was the right approach.

You drifted airily to your seat a few minutes later, resting on the chair as you retrieved your equipment. James felt his heart fight against his chest, pushing to be released from his lovesick body. A goofy smile captured his expression as he gazed at the back of your head in a daze, eventually interrupted by the beginning of class.

Potions came and went, with James struggling to keep his good grades with you just grazing the edges of his eye line. As the class began to fizzle away, and books found themselves tucked in bags or hugged towards chests, James decided this was his chance. Making his way to the front of the class, he smirked with confidence as he attempted to ask for his grade on the most recent assignment.

As he approached the teacher’s desk, he quickly dropped a folded note on your desk as you leaned into your bag on the opposite side. He promptly began his banter as you returned upright, watching as you curiously discovered the note in his peripheral vision.

“…Potter, you’ll get the grade at the same time as the rest of your class. Have some consideration for my free-time the next time you think to ask.” The professor’s words draw his attention back to their discussion, excusing himself with “Apologies, Professor! Have a good evening!” unusually happy for someone who just discovered they wouldn’t know their grade for at least another week.

As he swiftly moved towards his own belongings, a little bit too cocky for his own good and high on the success of his plan, he met a classmate’s back with a thump.

“Oh Merlin, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to…” He realised who he had run into, your sweet fingers pinching the note you had yet to open as you swivelled around to face him, curiously. “Um, I- I’m sorry!” He rambled as he inched past you, scooping up his belongings and dashing out of the classroom.

Bollocks.

——————— ⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ ———————

A/N: TYSM for all the support on the first part! This chapter should hopefully move the story along so we can get to the real fluff >:3 As always, likes and reblogs are immensely appreciated! Comment for part 3 <3

[mcondance]

say yes (please?) > peter quill

fem reader, pathetic peter, reader has his shirt on

peter’s like a big dog.

you know, the ones who don’t really know just how big they are?

he’s also a little pathetic— lovingly, i promise, especially when it comes to you getting his dick wet.

which culminates into this; his forehead resting on your shoulder with you pressed against a wall in the ship, tucked off in a hall no one really passes.

“please? lemme— fuck,” he groans when his dick, hard and trapped in those fucking pants, catches against your thigh. the pressure has his head spinning and he’s seeing stars much like the ones he passes through all the time.

his hands encase your waist, he makes light work of shrouding your body with his. and his lips are trailing up your neck, slow and sweet as molasses and as entrapping as it too.

you’re weak, always are when it comes to him, and he didn’t even have to beg before you were ready to let him in. he’s hiking your leg up with one hand and pressing it around him and before you know it he’s got your panties and shorts pulled to the side and he’s breaching your cunt, stretching you on his cock.

your mouth slack, your hands threaded in his curls, you watch with barely opened eyes the way your cunt envelops him, swallowing his thick cock. he’s all whiny, soft breathy moans tumbling from his lips as he feels your warmth overtake him, your wet, soft walls kissing his length. the stretch burns but its a heat you’ve grown to love, a marker of the absolute weapon he’s got between his thick thighs.

“you take it so—, fuckin’ stargirl,” he breathes in awe, chest heaving as he inches inside you, taking it slow so he can drink in the celestial sight. the last push is one of his favorite things, the little breath you give him when he’s flush against you finally, the way it feels to be completely fucking intertwined. its what made him herd you into this corner and grovel like a sinner before his star.

well, partly at least. he pulls out and sinks right back in, stirring up your stomach. your eyes roll back at the feel of the pretty veins on his cock rubbing against you, and they squeeze shut when he hits that deep spot inside you. he’s all rambly, like he always is when he gets like this, spilling out, “so good, so fucking good, baby.”

feeling your body move with his, hearing your back slide against the wall through his shirt, hearing himself fuck the breath out of your lungs is something else he’ll grovel for. you leak and gush around his cock, around his big cock, and you make him fit, and you just barely muster his name before you suck in air and a whine, and it has his head swimming, full of light and flames.

the hand wrapped around your thigh squeezes tight. his fingers dig into your hot skin. “don’t know how i go so long without it,” he confesses, “should give rocket what he wants and let him steer this thing the whole time so we can fuck back here till we can’t anymore. can we, honey, please?”

you reduce him to this, this whiny mess. strong only in his hands holding you up and his thrusts pinning you to the wall and his overwhelming urge to get laid. he’s pathetic, but he’s a world-shaking fuck, and that’s why he always gets what he wants. rocket steers the ship for the rest of the trip. peter makes sure to fuck somewhere you can see the stars pass by.

[myharkness]

MOMMY'S BUNNY

3k words. summary: agatha is a workaholic—she likes getting things done before resting. sometimes, however, you miss her. you just want her to come to bed with you. and you find a way to make that happen. tags: sub!reader, fem!reader, dom!agatha, established relationship, age gap, pet names, enchanted strap, reader is a little oblivious/innocent, pet names, praise kink, accidental seduction, enchanted strap, nipple play, hands-free orgasm, blow job, mommy kink, creampie, slight pain kink, mild overstimulation, size kink, dacryphilia, bulging, degradation, accidental seduction, etc.

The rain falls lightly at night, the trees rustle with the force of the wind, and the cold comes in waves. The tapping of the computer's keyboard echoes in the house, steady and melodic, stopping for the occasional sip of tea from the steaming mug. Agatha sits at the dining table, darkness surrounding her aside from a soft, yellow light above her. She's been working all day long—and she'd started typing away from the second she arrived home from work.

You, as always, never complained. She's the one bringing home the money, making sure you stay home so she can see you every day at any time she wants. Instead, you do your best to be supportive, bringing her meals to ensure she's well-fed, bringing her tea whenever she appears too stressed, and reminding her to take short breaks every once in a while to avoid being burned out.

And as supportive as you want to be—you also need her at your side. Especially at night, when you're tired. When you know she's tired. You want to feel her next to you, like every night, nuzzle into her neck, sink into the heat of her body, and sleep safely in her arms. But you're alone instead. So you slide out of the comfort of your bed and step outside, watching her work diligently.

"Aggie?" Your voice flows through the air, entering your lover's ears. You watch her glance up at you, peeking over her glasses as you bite down on your lip nervously.

"Yes, sweetheart?" Agatha replies gently, glancing at the time. She removes her glasses and sets them aside, eyes wandering over your body appreciatively, unabashed. She knows you're too oblivious to realize what you're doing to her—what your body is doing to her. You just dress comfortably around the house, she just happens to find everything you wear delicious.

You're clad in one of your soft, more snug shirts. It's dark purple, her favorite color, and the chilly air makes it obvious you're not wearing any underwear. The fluffy black shorts you wear hang loosely around your waist, threatening to dip too low at any given moment. She can see the v-lines on your lower abdomen, and her eyes trail up to your chest, firm and round—plump. She can almost feel them in her hands.

"Are you coming to bed soon?" You ask gently, leaning against the door frame. Your hair is fluffy and messy, framing your face and barely interrupting your line of sight. Your eyes are tired, watching her expectantly, swimming with a hint of diffidence. Agatha lifts her finger and motions for you to come to her, moving her chair away from the table.

Your legs move before your mind processes the command. The second you're directly in front of her, she points the tip of her finger downwards, eyes still on the computer screen, and you sink to your knees. You keep your hands on your lap, fingers curled as you look up at her, pretty and doe-eyed. Her lips stretch into a smile, fingers gently pinching your chin as she looks down at you.

"What did you think was going to happen when you came in here looking like that, angel?" She murmurs, brushing past your previous question. Your eyes shimmer with confusion, and you tilt your head to the side curiously.

"Like what?" You ask softly, watching her pupils dilate.

"Oh, bunny," Agatha sighs condescendingly, and her thumb brushes over your bottom lip. "This pretty head of yours is just so silly sometimes, huh? Can't even understand the simplest thing, can you? So dumb and innocent, baby—and all mine, right?"

"Yes," You answer, heat crawling up your neck. Your cheeks burn a light shade of red, eyes shifting down. "Yours.."

"Who's?" She asks in a soft whisper, gripping your chin. Her smile feels dangerous, and her eyes shine with a silent warning.

"I—I'm yours, Mommy," You answer, swallowing thickly.

"Good girl," She coos. "Mommy still has some work to do, bunny, but I'll let you spend some time here with me. Would that make you happy, pretty girl?"

You nod quickly, "Mhm. Yes, please.."

Satisfied, Agatha hums and places down her pen. Your eyes are glued to her hands as they slowly undo her belt, making your eyes fall onto the action, lips parted. You shuffle forward and the corners of your lips glisten as you watch her undo the button slowly. You bite back a whine, hands moving to her thighs as you kiss the tips of her fingers. Your eyes are already wet, and you shift as you catch her zipper with your teeth, tugging it downwards.

She watches you, jaw flexing as she clenches her jaw. Her hand dips into her boxers, pulling out the purple dildo she'd let you get acquainted with. You glance up at her, seeking her permission, and she nods briefly, brushing your hair away from your face. You lick your lips and part them obediently before leaning forward. She slides the strap into your mouth, and you watch her inhale sharply.

"Atta girl," She breathes out. "Just be good 'til Mommy's done.."

She returns her attention to the computer, and you hear the mouse click occasionally, the tapping of the keyboards echoing once again. Your tongue presses on the underside of her cock, and your cheeks hollow as you slowly bob your head. You can hear her breaths above you, quick and heavy, and the speed of the keyboard taps slow.

Slowly, you sink your mouth further down experimentally, until she stretches your throat and she's nestled comfortably there. Her hand falls on the table and she gasps, her fingers tangling in your hair at the action. Your eyes sting with tears, but you breathe in through your nose to avoid gagging.

"Fuck," She groans, and her hips buck. You gag, sniffling, "Fuck, sorry, baby. Sorry—jus' stay there. Be g-good for Mommy.."

You let out a choked groan when she begins thrusting her hips. Your fingers grip her thighs as you focus on bobbing your head, listening to her moans, feeling her fingers tug at your hair firmly. She's already close—you can feel it in the desperation of her messy thrusts. You've never had her so far down your throat before, you know it's driving her crazy.

You push down, nuzzling your nose into her pelvis. A loud moan rips through her throat, thighs trembling beneath your hands, and she squeezes you tightly into her. You swallow around her cock and lift your hand up, wrapping around the slight bulge in your throat and squeezing. You choke and splutter as her hips buck desperately, and she reaches the orgasm she's so desperately been chasing.

She watches you, mouth parted and eyes wide. Her fingers dig into your scalp, and tears stream down your cheeks as you bob your head up and down, helping her fuck your mouth through her orgasm. She falls back against the chair, moaning loud and unabashed as she pushes your head down, the tip of your nose pressed against her skin once again.

You can feel her fill up your mouth, her legs twitching each time you swallow her release. Finally, she lets go of your hair and allows you to pull away from her strap. Your lungs burn, and your jaw aches, but your return to her cock, grasping it delicately with your fingers, looking up at her with wet eyes and tear-stained cheeks as you lick the cum off the shaft. Her head falls back as she tries catching her breath, but her eyes never leave yours.

"Shit," She sighs, chuckling breathlessly. "Fuck, bunny. That's a nice trick you got there, huh? Where'd you learn that?"

Your cheeks flush, "Well, I—I was just ... thinking 'bout you. I wanted to make you feel good, and I through I'd try it.."

She runs her fingers through your hair, "Just wanted to make Mommy feel good, huh?"

You nod, still flushed. Your eyes are still wet, and the strap stands straight, brushing against your cheek as you look up at her. Your knees begin to feel sore, and the cold catches up to you, leaving goosebumps to appear on your skin.

"I think you've earned yourself a reward, bunny. Why don't you get on the bed, hm?" She hums softly, and you perk. You stand on your feet, ignoring the pain in your knees as you make your way to the bedroom, sitting on the bed obediently.

You can hear her in the kitchen, likely returning her empty mug. Her footsteps move in your direction, slow and careful, leaving you to squirm in place. You rarely receive a reward or punishment—you have a tendency to stay in the middle, on her good side, but with the occasional bratty acts that keep her on her toes.

"Ready, bunny?" She asks as she walks through the door. Her lips curl into a smirk as your cheeks turn red beneath her attention, but you nod quickly, expressing your desire as your eyes travel to the unbuttoned pants, the bulge leaving a wet stain on her crotch.

"Yes, Mommy," You swallow. She chuckles and walks slowly.

"You're unusually eager," She murmurs thoughtfully. "Excited?"

"Uh-huh," You nod. "Want you.."

She beckons you over to the edge of the bed. You obey instantly, sitting on the corner and letting your legs hang over the bed, barely brushing against the floor as you look up at her. Her lips catch yours in a gentle kiss, something soft in comparison to the passion-filled kisses she usually gives you when she's eager to devour you whole.

Your hands reach up, grasping her shirt as your eyes close, opening your mouth to let her tongue slide in. Her lips are as soft as they usually are, and her tongue is kinder as she sucks in your bottom lip. She moans lightly, and her hand grips your jaw lightly, allowing her to work her tongue inside your mouth. She continues to kiss you, hands moving down to the hem of your shirt.

"Arms up," She murmurs against your lips. You whine and pull back briefly, raising your arms and allowing her to slide your shirt off. She groans as she watches your breasts appear from beneath the soft material. Her hand pushes you back softly, guiding you to lay back on the bed. She kneels on the mattress, draping your legs over her thighs as her fingers knead at your breasts.

You whine briefly, the back of your hand coming to rest over your mouth. Your face feels hot as her fingers gently pinch your nipples. She smiles wide at your reaction, pulling your hand away from your mouth.

"Let Mommy hear you, angel," She murmurs, chuckling. "You think I forgot how sensitive you are here?"

You twitch, lips parting in a needy, breathy groan. Your eyes cloud over as she leans down, taking a nipple in her mouth while she toys with the other one. You whimper, breathing heavily as her teeth gently nip at your skin.

"Mommy," You moan, wrapping your legs around her waist. She chuckles and sucks harshly at your nipple, making your body jolt as a high-pitched squeak leaves you, looking up at her with teary eyes.

"Hm," She mumbles. "Wonder if you can cum like this.."

You cry out when she bites down on your nipple, panting heavily. She moves to the swell of your breast, sucking a mark on it. You can feel a coil tighten in your abdomen—it feels strange. Weaker, but still pleasurable. She moves her mouth to the other nipple. Tears sting your eyes—like there's a connection from your nipples to your clit. Your legs tighten around her waist, your eyes shoot up to the ceiling and your fingers curl around the blanket as you focus on chasing the feeling.

"M'gonna cum ," You choke, and your hands hoot to grab at her shoulders. "Please, Mommy—can I?"

She hums in approval, biting down on your nipple once more. Your eyes fly to her, hands tangling in her hair as you moan loudly, hips moving as you chase the high you feel as the coil in your abdomen snaps. Your mouth waters, cheeks flushed in embarrassment. You came so fast—with your pussy untouched.

"My sensitive little bunny," She murmurs softly, releasing your nipple with a pop. You sigh, slumping against the mattress as you try pressing your thighs together. You're wet between your legs, and your clit pulses angrily, arousal soaking your thighs.

She taps your leg, "Open."

Your legs part obediently, but your mind barely processes. You feel a little spacey, your head is fuzzy and you feel a little sluggish. But you're so turned on, so needy for her. She cups your cheek, and you realize you've been lost in your head, catching your breath.

"How do you want me?" She whispers, and her fingers gently pull your shorts aside. Her fingers nudge at your clit. "Talk to me, angel."

You whine, "Want your cock, Mommy..."

"Yeah?" She asks softly. "Want Mommy's cock inside you, huh?"

You clench around nothing, nodding quickly. Her lips twitch into a smirk, and her fingers dip into your cunt. You groan, walls fluttering around her fingers as she fills you up nicely, moving her hand in slow, gentle thrusts. She has an idea—you know she does because of the smirk she wears, the glint in her eyes.

"Wanna try something new, baby?" She asks, her grin never faltering. You nod along, eyes fluttering closed as you focus on the feeling of her fingers inside you. She slides them out and you whine, but she positions the strap against your entrance and sinks into you. You pussy wraps around it the way it always does, and you gasp as the ridges massage your walls, leaving you pulsing.

"F-fuck, Mommy—so good," You pant, groaning breathlessly. She doesn't answer, doesn't even move before you feel a stretch inside you that almost makes you lose your mind. Your eyes snap open and you look at her—your mouth falls open when another stretch makes a moan fall from your lips, making you feel fuller than ever.

"Look at that.." Agatha chuckles, her hand moving to stroke your belly. There's a bulge there—you see sweat trailing down the side of her neck. You don't know how she hasn't cum inside you yet—you're already so close to losing yourself. She moves her hands under your thighs and lifts them, letting your legs rest on her shoulders as she shifts her position.

"Ohmygod—" You gasp, and she moans loudly. She pulls her hips back and snaps them forward, making your eyes roll back as she begins a steady pace. She doesn't ease up, and her hand moves to your belly again. When she pushes down on the bulge, you sob loudly and let your back arch off the bed.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck," Agatha hisses sharply. "Fuck, bunny. So fucking tight—m'gonna fuckin' cum already.."

"Mommy—" You sob, pulsing around her. Your cum slides out, coating her cock, acting as a lubricant as she keeps fucking into you. The new size of the toy makes you burn, but it hurts so good. You wiggle your hips, and the movement causes a guttural moan to leave Agatha's lips, still fucking you roughly.

"All mine, bunny," She whispers breathlessly. "You're all mine, okay? Mommy's your first and your last—nobody is going to touch you."

"Yes, Mommy," You whine, flushing. She increases the pace of her thrusts. She's usually much more silent when she's fucking you, but she's moaning out with every thrust, breathing heavily, ragged and desperate. Her hand remains pressed against the bulge. Her thighs shake as you push your hand over hers, adding more pressure to the bulge. Your eyes water and your mouth drops open as she fucks into your sweet spot again, and again, and again.

"Oh my—fuck, Mommy, it's so good!" You moan gutturally, feeling her fingers dip into your hips as she fucks you harder, Her panting and moaning drive you so much closer to yet another orgasm—but the way her eyes gloss over when you press down on the bulge makes you want to burst. Your hands slide up her arms, eyes falling shut as you clench tightly around her.

"Fuck!" She groans, jackhammering into you with more vigor as her fingers rub tight circles on your clit. Your mind goes blank, your mouth dropping open as you reach your third orgasm. You see stars behind your eyes, feeling her release inside you. She slows the thrusting, filling you up to the brim—but she doesn't stop thrusting. Her fingers on your clit make you writhe, lower abdomen trembling as tears stain your temples.

"Too much—" You choke out, legs shaking. She pulls her fingers from your clit, hips moving slowly inside you as she slowly finishes filling you up. She nuzzles into your neck, breathing heavily. You're still trying to catch your breath, but she's lost in another word. You wince as you sit up, and she pulls you up as she sits on the bed.

She's still inside you, and you rest your head on her shoulder, relaxing your body as you shift. It makes you accidentally pulse around her, making her choke out a moan and thrust harshly, sensitive from the intense orgasm.

"Fuck," You whine. "Sorry, m'sorry.."

Agatha breathes out and gently lifts you, making you wince. With a bated breath, she lays you back on the bed and unhooks the strap, sighing as the sensitivity eases. She watches cum soak your thighs, and the bedsheets beneath you.

"How're you, bunny?" She asks softly, kissing your brow.

You hum, eyes closing, "If I wasn't tired before, I am now."

Agatha laughs lightly, kissing your lips briefly. She brushes your hair away from your face. She watches you eyes droop faintly, but your arms wrap around her neck and pull her in for a tight hug.

"If you get up to do more work, I will throw that fucking computer in the pool."

[...]

[camryn-haitani]

you can take us, can't you?

Sam and Colby x Fem reader

you, Sam, and Colby were hanging out by the pool. you decided to go to the hot tub to warm up when Sam followed you. and things took a turn for the better

TW: p in v sex, degrading and praising, squirting, deep throating, recording, fingering (Fem receiving), body worship, fingering in hot tub (also Fem receiving), cursing, sir and daddy calling, pussy eating, masturbating, cum eating, ass slapping, smelling (Colby smells her a few times), pet names (too many to count), unprotected sex, after care

here's the long awaited part 2 <3

I'm sorry for making y'all wait😭

also ion know whats goin on with my caps on my i's. like some are capitalized and some aren't. oh well🤷

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

you were extremely bored. like to the point where you were staring at the ceiling counting the spikes from the ceiling popcorn. you decided to text Sam and Colby in y'all's group chat to see if they wanted to hang out

Spooky Gang😱

you: hello my favorite paranormal investigators, I am very bored and have come here to bother both of yall

Colbs<333: wanna come over and swim princess?

Sam<333: anything for you darling

you: stooooop y'all flatter me🤭

you: but yes I'd love to come and swim. I'll be there in 30<3

Sam<333: we'll be waiting angel🖤

i put down my phone and start to get ready. Colby was already at Sam's so I didn't have to worry about him. i put on a baggy shirt and colbys hoodie wrapped around my waist with my bathing suit underneath. I didn't see a reason to wear pants or shorts so I didn't. i get to my car and I drive to Sam's

Colby POV

i was talking with Sam when I hear a car pull up. we both look at each other and thought the same thing. "shit, y/n's here..". we both swallow the lump in our throats and wait for her to get inside.

we hear the door open and there she is, all in her glory. i snapped out of my ogling over her and meet her at the door.

"hey pookies, how are ya?" she asked as she sets down her keys. "we're ok, what about you?" Sam asks. "hot, extremely hot and bored. sooooo why don't we jump in the pool?" she says as she takes off my hoodie from her waist. 'now it's gonna smell like her.' I take the hoodie from her and go to the kitchen. i make sure she couldn't see me and I smell the hoodie. her scent is so addicting, I can't get enough of it. i put it down before I'm caught.

we all go outside and get undressed down to our bathing suits and y/n just jumps in. she comes out of the water and gets out and comes to where me and Sam are. she bats her eyes innocently at me and holds my hand. i raise an eyebrow but I catch onto her motives. my eyes widen as I realize what she's doing. she pulls me into the pool.

"holy shit! oh my god it's cold!" Sam yells. "oh shut up, it's fine" she says. she starts floating around the pool when me and Sam have an idea.

we get out of the pool and surround her. she opens one of her eyes to look at us and we jump on her. she sinks underwater and comes back up gasping for air. "you little fucks."

Y/n POV

after their little stunt, I get cold and head to the hot tub. i step in and sink under the hot water. my nose and up are the only thing above the water until I feel something else come in. i open my eyes and see who it is. 'oh it's just Sam.' I think to myself.

i look around the pool and see that colbys not there. 'he must've gone inside'. i feel hands wrap around my waist and pull me up "hey what the fu-". I felt lips on mine. hungry and passion filled lips. I'm in shock when I see Sam kissing me and I'm in his lap, straddling his waist.

i kiss him back with the same energy he is with me. his hands move my body back and forth and I hear him groan against my mouth. i put more body weight onto him and he pulls back.

"do you know how much you drive us crazy, darling?" he questions. i shake my head no. "want me to show you?" he whispers against my neck. "yes please." he kisses up my neck and down my jawline while his hand snakes down to my bottoms. he hooks his finger around the fabric and pulls them aside. Sam teases his finger around my hole and grazes his fingertip on my clit. i hiss at the contact and my forehead reaches his shoulder. "you're so beautiful, angel. Colby was right, you get so sensitive." he whispers against my neck. 'colby talked about me?' I say to myself.

"w-wait, we can't do this here. there's no telling what's in the pool." i panic. "yeah, you're right." he says. he picks me up and I wrap my arms and legs around him. he carries me to the beach chair (I forgot what they're called, bear with meT-T) and lays me down. he yanks down my suit bottoms and runs his tongue up and down my slick folds. my hand quickly finds it way to his hair and grips onto it. "fuck Sam!" not expecting him to do that.

he slips his two middle fingers into me and sucks on my clit. his movements pick up as he harshly sucks on my clit. that familiar knot in my lower stomach forms while I can't even form words. "sa- cum-... fuck... Sam... plea...." i stutter out. "gonna cum, sweetheart? gimme a few more minutes love, you taste divine." he dives back into my pussy.

he stops before I can cum. i whine as I throw my head back. "wh...why?" i give him a questioned look. "I'm gonna wait for Colby, darling." he stands back up and picks me up. my bathing suit bottoms still on the concrete. i wrap my arms and legs around him. he shoves his two fingers back into me as I moan in his neck. he continues to finger me as he takes me back inside.

Colby POV

*this was when you went to the hot tub. also this is just a quick Colby pov*

i take my leave and go inside. i dry off and head to the kitchen. I'll let Sam have her for a moment. i see my hoodie and pick it up to smell it again. my eyes rolls back as I get hard from her raw scent. "fuuuuuck" I draw out. i go to my room and immediately take off my swim shorts. i jump on my bed and start to jerk off to hy own fucking hoodie. i place it on my head so it covers my nose and I start masturbating. her smell alone drives me crazy, it already makes me want to cum.

a good few minutes go by and I feel myself get more sensitive and the knot in my stomach breaks as I cum all over my stomach. i take my fingers and just lick it up. I have no shame in eating my own cum, so I do anyway. I hear the door open and I see who it is

Y/n POV

Sam is still finger fucking me as he walks and with every step he takes, his fingers go deeper into me. god it feels so good, I can't get enough of it. i hear Colby come up from behind me and grabs my face to make me look at him. "you gonna be a good girl for us, doll?" i can only nod as I still can't speak words. "nuh uh, I need words, slut." he grips my face tighter. "yes sir, I'll be so good for y'all"

"that's what I thought. can I have her Sam?" he looks at him. "all yours." Colby takes me to his room as Sam follows. he tossed me carelessly on his bed and I look over to see the hoodie I wore over here. 'oh hey there's my hoodie..... what's that?' I question. i pick it up and I see there's cum on it. i look at Colby to see that him and Sam are setting up a camera. 'shit... they're gonna record this.'

"hey Colby?" i ask. he comes over and runs his hands on my chest. "yes baby?" "uhm why is there-" "cum on 'your' hoodie?" he finishes for me. he leans down and starts to smell my stomach. "you smell angelic, sunshine. I couldn't resist."

Sam finishes setting up the camera and comes to where we are and starts pulling down his shorts. i hear the water filled shorts fall on the floor and Sam's cold hands touch my chest. "you ready for us, dear?" i nod my head as I feel two fingers slip into me. "what did I say about words, babes?" Colby grips my face again. "I'm sorry.... y-yes I'm ready" I answer.

Colby walks around to the other side of the bed and takes off his swim shorts. his dick slapping against the side of my face. Sam walks back over to the camera and starts recording. colbys tip presses against my lips, waiting to enter my mouth. Sam gets on his knees and grips my legs so they're over his shoulders. his tongue presses onto my clit ever so lightly. my cold hands run over colbys waist. i feel him shiver against my touch.

"you ready Sam?" Colby asks. "as I'll ever be." he answers. at the same time, Colby shoves his dick in my mouth as Sam slips his tongue in my pussy. i moan around Colby as he thrusts into me with no remorse, while Sam takes his times tasting me.

i get flipped over to where I'm on my stomach, not stopping my movements with Colby. sams nose brushes against my aching hole while he laps up my clit. 'colbys about to cum' I tell myself. i grab his waist like last time and deep throat the rest of him in me while he grips the back of my head, pushing me further than I was. his cum slipping down my throat.

my thighs clench around Sam's head as I'm nearing my high. "I can feel you, you bout to cum, love?" Sam teases. "mhm yes yes" I nod. "she's done such a good job, she deserves a reward" Colby coos as he lifts my head to look at him.

i reach that ever so god feeling high Sam gave me after denying me earlier and I get flipped back onto my back. "now darling, we won't hold back unless you want us to, mkay?" Sam says. i start to nod when I remember Colby. "yes sir" I say.

Sam lines himself up with my hole. Colby starts feeling my chest and stomach again, smelling all of me. Sam gives me a look saying 'you ready?' and I nod. "what did I say about using your words, slut?" Colby grabs my face with his hand again. "thats what? the third time? i think you need a punishment, hm?"

"no no no no please daddy m'sorry. won't happen again." i plead. "hm too late princess, now take my dick like the whore you are." he takes his opportunity and slides his dick back in my mouth

Sam pushes his way into me as I'm busy with Colby ramming his cock back into my throat. the pleasure from both of them is too much. 'i feel like I'm about to pee myself' I know I'm not but it feels like it. next thing I knew, I felt relieved of that pressure. i open my eyes to see both of them looking down at me and sams chest being all wet. i feel Sam and Colby throb in both my mouth and my pussy. "shit you're gonna need to do that more often sweetheart because that was so hot." Colby says as he leans down to smell me once more. his cock still gliding in and out of me.

Sam's thrusts get more erratic and Colby gets more harsh. i can tell both of them are about to cum, as am I. i pull Colby more into me because it seems to get him to cum and I pull my legs around Sam to pull him closer. i feel both of their cum dripping in me as they both pull out.

colby goes and gets a washcloth to clean us up as Sam stops recording and cleans himself up in the bathroom.

"I will definitely be sending this to you" Sam tells me

- - - - -

YAYAYA I DID IT

Also have some Sam and Colby pics

[cheol-e-kat]

alpha seungcheol, pt. 2

summary: y/n wakes up after her night with seungcheol and doesn't really want to leave, luckily he doesn't really want her to either

part i

word count: 1.2k

genre: a/b/o, alpha!cheol, omega!reader, ruts, enemies to lovers (barely), implied pining, kind of fluffy ngl

warnings: penetrative sex, fingering, mentioned knotting, marking

he was sleeping. an alpha in rut who had finally passed out was, hmm, to your mind he was just asking to be bothered. maybe not bothered, but examined as though he were the little man in the operation game waiting for you to have a prod around.  

you grinned at the idea and hid your face, wondering why seungcheol had let you in to begin with. you had confirmed he wasn’t dead fairly quickly. and yes, you had ordered food, which had helped. and you had fucked, something that also helped. 

but now you were lying awake, fairly early in the morning, imagining the prospect of poking and prodding him simply because he was there. and wearing absolutely nothing, that was also key. 

because the seungcheol you had grown up with was always modestly dressed. if there were an option to wear a turtle neck, you knew in your soul that he would choose it. you closed your eyes tightly, wondering if he was right that you were evil. because why were you absolutely itching to snatch all the covers away just to see the way the small of his back flowed so perfectly to the curve of his ass. 

or maybe you could just feel how soft his skin was. that was nothing, right, you wondered. you glanced back to see his completely serene face. it was maybe the first time he ever looked that way around you, even if he were asleep, you weren’t looking to quibble over the details. 

you moved to lean over him, smoothing his long bangs from his forehead. he was still too warm, but at least you weren’t covered by 50 blankets. it was mildly upsetting to see him this way because your mind was suddenly overrun with thoughts about how beautiful he actually was. 

those were thoughts you could normally shove deep down in your mind somewhere - out of the way. the same way you could sometimes, almost ignore how much you loved his scent. and the ridiculous thoughts you had about it, like how if it were a perfume, you would happily dive into a vat of it and swim around. 

you traced a finger gently along his cheek, wondering why he had marked you, though. even if he were in his rut, that wasn’t exactly a necessity. the fact that it was more of a choice flickered briefly in your mind. but you snuffed out that idea before it spread too far because since when would seungcheol want to mark you when he did everything to make sure you knew he found you bothersome. 

you also didn’t revisit the way he had reacted the night before - that ‘this’ wasn’t the way he had imagined things would be. that memory was buried deep in the pits of your brain, ideally to not be unearthed until year 3047 by someone in search of a time capsule, aka the remnants of your long dead brain. 

you watched his eyes slit open hesitantly, just enough to see you and then return to their closed state. 

he sighed softly, “just do whatever you’re thinking,” he barely pouted as he spoke. 

“you have no idea what i’m thinking,” you whispered, still playing with his hair. 

“some new way to torture me, i’m sure,” he almost smiled as he spoke. 

your eyes widened in offense, “torture?” you asked incredulously, still whispering - it was too early for anything else. besides, you liked the undisturbed air of his room - the soft plinks of rain hitting the window and the far away sounds of people doing wednesday-morning people things. 

he nodded, glancing up at you from beneath his long lashes, “your love language is disturbing me in every way you can possibly imagine.”

he giggled when he saw that you were offended. you barely noticed the way he had pulled you closer, your body flush against his. 

“tell me i’m wrong, y/n, you love irritating me, but only me,” he whispered smugly. a smile you were less familiar with played over his lips, as he watched you fumble for a response. 

you took too long, apparently because he was suddenly kissing you. his warm lips working slowly and sweetly against your own. you kissed him back, and it went on that way for an astonishing amount of time. a thousand and two easy, soft kisses exchanged, and the only sounds from either of you were faint moans. 

even when you parted to breathe, you still didn’t really have a response to what he had said. you only stared down at him, taking him in, twining your fingers in his soft hair. to be fair, your mind was blank at this point. mostly blank anyway. 

you were fully aware that he was hard. and you hadn’t forgotten how delicious it felt to be on his cock, even when it was rushed. 

“i thought i was your good little omega?” you asked softly, leaning down so your lips ghosted against his cheek. 

you felt his hands slide along your sides and down to you ass, squeezing you firmly, “you were last night,” he murmured. 

“and now?”

he sighed, “now? hm, now i can feel you eyeing me with some scheme in mind.” he gave your ass a small smack to emphasize what he had said. 

“scheme?” you groaned because since when had you ever schemed. schemes required plans. you didn’t plan the things you did to seungcheol - they sprang freely into your mind at the mere sight of him. 

he nodded, “my scheming little omega,” he watched you as he said it, the emphasis on ‘my’ was strong. 

you hummed in response, rolling your eyes, “can we just fuck already?” you asked, tracing a finger along his well-muscled chest. 

you didn’t have to look at him to know he was smiling, “i can’t believe you’re pouting,” he laughed, swapping your positions and staring down at you. 

even underneath him, you avoided his gaze. he didn’t care though - for once he had said something that you were bothered by. or at least you assumed he didn’t care. until he was nuzzling your throat and teasing your nipples, “don’t be annoyed, y/n,” he whispered, kissing the mark he had made the night before. 

you couldn’t help but moan as he teased the sensitive skin, even if he hadn’t marked you, what he was doing would have been enough to make you wet. 

but he had marked you, and if he kept licking and teasing, you knew you would come - you could already feel heat building in your low stomach. and when you felt his teeth graze gently against your skin, you naturally shifted, exposing your throat to him, your entire being wanting him to renew it. 

you felt the soft press of his teeth before he leaned away, “so perfect for me.”

you whined softly, turning to look at him, pressing close and kissing him. you felt his fingers tease your entrance, barely sliding in before being pulled away. he sat up though, moving onto his knees and sliding his hands under you, positioning you exactly where he wanted. 

“it’s cute, the way you want all of my attention,” he whispered, slowly pushing in, “i’ve always loved it.”

your eyelids fluttered closed at his words and the contact, and your hands clutched at the sheets as he started to move. you whimpered at the slower pace - the pace he actually wanted - and the way you knew he was still making sure that you took every millimeter of him. you knew your alpha was going to knot you again.

a/n: for the anon who wanted more of this - i really do love messing around with a/b/o, so feel free to ask for more of them

♡ kat

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♡ if you want to be tagged in my posts, go [here] & this is my [master list] if you want to read more

[ma1dita]

its 10pm again.... 😈😈

rivals with benefits Luke who makes everything a competition. even in bed. 😼

IM ALSO SO SORRY FOR FLOODING UR INBOX

MDNI

🐥🐥🐥🐥🐥

a/n: liv we're boxing because i literally could not rest until i got this right,,,, smut. public sex. wrap before you tap. creampie. all the nasty things. fuck man...

wc: 968

“That’s a point for me,” Luke says with a menacing grin. The both of you are soaked to the bone after paddling across Canoe Lake to see who could make it to the other end the fastest, and as you gasp for air while holding onto the wood post of the pier, you can’t help but somehow be convinced that he cheated.

“You’re built like a frog with those long legs of yours, how the fuck was I supposed to win?”

Daybreak spreads slowly across Camp Half-Blood, sunlight kissing where the sky meets the water and Luke thinks he wants to kiss you. Knows it, actually—deep down to his bones that the line between hatred and love must be lust.

He swims closer to you like a predator creeping toward his prey, wet curls stuck to his forehead as he admires how hard you’re breathing. You’re right there, and since you like to make a competition of everything from capture the flag strategies to how many campers you both can get to screech at nightly sing-a-longs, he thinks he has an offer you won’t be able to resist. Luke’s hands glide under your shirt as the both of you tread water, still fighting for dominance even when it comes to who takes up the most space to stay afloat. You lick your lips, fingers tugging at his camp necklace as you look at him curiously and raise an eyebrow.

“I’ve got an idea…”

“I’ll start my prayers,” you smirk, before seeing the hot burning want in his gaze. You can feel it in his fingers as they brush the underside of your breasts, nipples stiff in the frigid water. Shaking your head, a nervous giggle leaves you as your arms circle his neck, bodies separated by your thin, sopping nightshirt. If he touches the rest of you, he’ll find other parts that are wet too, warm enough to brave the chill of the morning breeze that settles upon your shoulders.

“The nymphs might see…” you whisper, even though the both of you know not a single soul is awake right now but time is running out like sand in an hourglass.

“You backing down?”

The kiss you press into his open mouth is a clear enough answer—tongues sliding and spearing against each other, hot and angry and bruising. It’s a fair shot, not knowing who’s going to come out on top.

—

“Oh, gods, please!”

Your hands and knees are scraping in the rocks and sand of the shoreline underneath the pier as Luke pistons into you at an alarming rate, each thrust a blow to your senses. He watches your head bob up towards the sky almost in reverent prayer and he’s grinning, continually sinking into your warmth while the rest of him shudders from the cold. Luke’s cock works inside your slick hole instead of against it, and he laughs at the irony of you finally letting him have his way. Your fingernails dig into the coarse beach, grains of sand making their way through every crevice as he fills your pulsing one with glee.

“Fucking knew you’d behave…” he grunts, one hand pulling at the thin cloth around your waist and the other holds onto your stomach so he can feel himself bludgeon you from the inside. “Can’t fight back when you’re getting your brains fucked out, hmm?” 

He watches your pretty tits swing from the stretched out opening of your soggy shirt as you choke out a sob of pleasure.

“Yes…f-fuck Luke,” you whine, reaching back to ease your hand against his abdomen but he pulls it behind your back to use as a better hold on you. Luke puts two of his fingers in your mouth and they prod at the skin of your cheek, spit dripping around the digits.

Despite the intrusion, you’re groaning loud enough over the icy smacks against your skin that for a moment he thinks it might actually wake the forest nymphs, but then he’s distracted by your pussy pushing and pulling him as his hips clap against your ass, leaving them raw for days to come. Light waves crash against the shore with your movements, splashing against your knees and you’re giggling at him with a dazed grin as you push your hips back harder against his thrusts, overpowering his control over you. 

He swallows thickly, groaning through the building sensation in his stomach as you rock back onto his cock faster and with the purpose of taking him down and winning. The both of you work in tandem as you writhe against each other in a battle to reach the end, unsure of if you’re with him or against him but gods, it feels so fucking good being under him.

“M’so close…Don’t fucking stop,” you shudder, and Luke shuts his eyes hard and takes a deep breath. Even if all 12 Olympians came down right now to smite him he wouldn’t be able to pull out. 

So he doesn’t. 

He couldn’t even if he tried—he cums so hard, his front meeting your back as you fall into the sand with a muffled yelp and he’s pumping thick rods of his release into your pussy. You shiver under him slightly until you realize your belly is warm from his efforts.

“That’s gotta be like 5 or 10 points,” Luke pants, nipping at your shoulder before he sits up. You’re laying there, ass up and motionless so he slaps a cheek before you start laughing.

“For me. At least you came,” you drone, having been on the brink of an orgasm.

He couldn’t argue with that. So he flips you onto your back and eats you out (sand and slick and all) until he’s ready again and by the time the morning bell rings, you’ve both lost track of who’s won your so-called competition.

[caitified]

hiii can you do a fix where caitlin and the reader go on vacation with bella to like fiji and bella becomes obsessed with the ocean and the island you can also do it with paige if you want

FIJI

CAITLIN CLARK X READER

notes: more bella requests please!!

it was your first real family vacation in a long time, and fiji felt like paradise the second you landed. the air was warm, the sky was impossibly blue, and the moment you stepped off the plane with caitlin and bella, it felt like the rest of the world didn’t exist. just the three of you, surrounded by palm trees, white sand, and crystal-clear water.

bella, in her tiny sunglasses and a sun hat that was just slightly too big for her, was already babbling excitedly, even though she had no idea what was happening.

“mommy, what’s that?” she pointed dramatically out of the airport window.

“that’s the ocean, baby,” caitlin told her, adjusting the toddler on her hip as she grabbed your luggage with her free hand. “we’re gonna go swimming in it.”

bella gasped, her little mouth forming an “o” as she turned to you. “swimming?”

you nodded, smiling. “yes, baby. you’re gonna love it.”

and she did.

from the second her tiny feet touched the sand, she was in love. she stomped around in it, laughing at how it squished between her toes, but the real obsession started the moment she saw the ocean up close.

you barely had time to set your bags down at the beachfront villa before she was yanking at caitlin’s hand, pointing toward the waves. “mommy, water! water!”

caitlin, who had planned to at least unpack a little, sighed dramatically but let bella drag her along. “babe, she’s already got me working,” she called over her shoulder as you laughed.

you followed them out onto the beach, watching as caitlin let bella go, and the toddler sprinted toward the water, her little legs pumping as fast as they could.

“bella, wait—” but it was useless. she was gone.

she stopped right at the edge where the waves kissed the shore, shrieking with delight as the water lapped at her toes. when a slightly bigger wave rolled in and covered her feet, she gasped and turned back to look at both of you with wide, sparkling eyes. “it touched me!”

“that’s what the ocean does, baby,” you laughed, stepping closer and picking her up before the next wave could knock her over.

from that moment on, it was over. bella was obsessed. she wanted to be in the ocean from sunrise to sunset. she called it “my water” and got very territorial when other kids ran past her.

“they can’t have my water!” she pouted to caitlin one afternoon.

“baby, it’s the ocean,” caitlin tried to reason, holding back a laugh. “it belongs to everyone.”

“no. my water.”

caitlin just looked at you and shook her head. “she’s literally trying to claim the pacific ocean as her own.”

you shrugged. “i respect the confidence.”

bella ran both of you ragged the entire trip. she wanted to go to the beach immediately after waking up. she’d sit in the sand, letting the waves roll over her legs like she was some kind of ocean princess. she’d talk to the fish she saw while snorkeling with caitlin in the shallow reefs. she even cried when you told her you had to leave the beach for dinner.

and when the trip was almost over, she sat on the sand with her arms crossed, frowning at the waves.

“i don’t wanna leave,” she grumbled.

caitlin sat next to her, wrapping an arm around her tiny shoulders. “i know, baby, but we’ll come back.”

bella turned to you, pouting. “promise?”

you bent down, brushing a curl out of her face. “promise, baby.”

that seemed to satisfy her just enough to let you scoop her up and take her inside, though she did give the ocean one last very dramatic wave goodbye.

and, of course, when you got home, she refused to talk about anything but her beloved ocean.

“mommy, remember my water?”

“mommy, i miss my fishies.”

“mommy, can we go back to my island?”

caitlin just looked at you every time, shaking her head. “babe, i think we accidentally created a beach bum.”

you smiled, watching bella play with the seashells she brought home. “yeah. and i don’t think she’s ever gonna recover from it.”*