#Anyway the coffee from the cafe is good but now I need to go read as much Sanji trauma dump fic I can get my hands on lol

[to-the-all-blue]

On my walk home from the cafe I was thinking about Sanji (as one does) and how every influence in his life for 19 years screamed at him to hunker down, stay silent, and never appear weak.

As much as I love Zeff and know he loved Sanji, it's clear he has such a straight-laced and unflinching view of masculinity and what it means to be a man. The environment on the Baratie was an extension of that.

It was a machismo world where affection was hidden behind kicks to the head and insults. The kind of environment where cutting your hand or something gets a response of "what? You call that an injury? Don't cry over nothing". Where outright kindness has to be dragged out of people, and then immediately covered up with a half-baked insult.

Throw into that environmemt a little boy who is desperate to prove he's not the failure he was told he was, and out pops a man who wears his heart on his sleeve for "acceptable manly emotions" but who hides real emotions behind anger, and hides pain (physical or emotional) altogether so as not to seem weak.

Tack onto that the idea that the only surefire way to show love is through self sacrifice (his mom + Zeff), then of course Sanji will be all sorts of jacked up.

We see throughout the series how Sanji is so unwilling to be vulnerable or to even admit he's feeling hurt at all. Plaster a smile on, make some comment about loving women, and voila! He's the man's man everyone expects. No need to worry about him. After all: he's strong.

...🥺

[lilyaceofdiamonds]

I really hate how much my brain hates to do new things sometimes

[kroosluvr]

temptation

i lowkey have too many notes to write down properly KDFHKDS but ill write them down for Future Cele so i can read it later and be like omggg past cele ur so fun and interesting

in general, the more "color" the scenes have, the closer it is to "real life" as opposed to the muted/hushed winter blues of maruki's reality

i.e. the dark frames w akira smiling and the very last panel are when reality sinks in: first for akira, then for goro

by the way this is long winter au but sumire is still brainwashed. this also works for canonverse but i just had long winter au in mind:o

youve heard of laundry and taxes now get ready for coffee and pastries

in every panel, akira is smiling! :) and goro is very much not smiling.

intentionally his face is hidden in the last 2 pages so its unclear whether it's the "ideal reality" already (akira/goro's daydreams/wants/desires), or if goro is still fighting akira on making sure he picks the right choice

the smoke from the first page kinda leads into the 3rd page omfg COMPLETELY UNINTENTIONAL BUT REALLY COOL LMAOOO

that's nameless and belladonna in jazz jin!!! i love them. I LOVETHEM. i miss them so bad is it obvious

the cafe is loosely based off of caffe strada @ uc berkeley LMAO. my parents used to take me there a lot as a little kid so that's the first cafe i think of when i imagine one. its like right on the streetside, basically on the sidewalk, so its very bustling and people are always walking by... probably a little disconcerting to see everyones summery bright smiles despite the bitter cold and snow

in long winter AU, the Ideal Reality starts before 1/1 so yeah they get to see the new years fireworks together (or something)

also intentional that they wear the same winter outfits in the whole comic although it Probably does not take place at the same time. in maruki's snowglobe, time seems frozen in place... but akira and goro are both acutely aware that the sands are running thru QUICK

goro's frustrated expression on page 3 is one also of disdain: "don't speak FOR me you fucking imbecile" type of expression.

goro, who's never lived a normal life and therefore doesn't know much abt "normalcy" nor really actively seeks it. this 3rd semester is basically purgatory for him and he doesn't care to try and go through the motions the way akira does. akira what do YOU know about the type of "normalcy" i deserve? how do YOU know if i "deserve" that?

im thinking that this is a naive akira who is mostly set on taking the deal because he feels hopeless... seeing all his friends with good happy lives while goro and himself are alive and miserable and shouldering the weight of the world during the horror of long winter......

oh but if he takes the deal they could all be good and alive and happy!!!.... and goro knows this. i feel like in any other universe (i.e. akira is 100% certain on not taking the deal and goro knows this) then goro would be happy and carefree to do these little indulgences for himself and akira's sake, to just enjoy the snowglobe world while it exists.

but this goro is discontent. he sees how akira is enjoying the snowglobe and knows maruki is depending on this. goro has to be the one to remind akira that none of this is his to keep........ in this fucked up world, routine is dangerous. becoming comfortable is dangerous. they cannot keep any of this.

on that note, goro says "i hate you" in a halfhearted sort of way (it's not true and akira knows that.) but he's trying to think of a way that he can dissuade akira from picking the wrong choice.....

and i think the thing is, goro thinks all of this, but he still falls into the rhythm of routine with akira anyway. in a way, goro feels hopeless too.

all of this is maruki's doing........ paralyzed by the inability to choose... whatever you do, you lose. goro needs to hold akira at arm's length so the stupid sentimental fool doesn't get too attached and falls into the wrong universe. akira needs to make a concentrated effort to detach himself from goro even though he wants the simplest thing in the world: just one more unremarkable day with him. it's lose-lose..........,

also i liked drawing the tentacles in the last pic the freaking blue lines on them were SO satisfying to draw

edit: also the last page: the blood flooding the panel….. the idea of the ideal world being built off of the blood and sweat and tears and bodies of the people who could have been. of those lost in the actualization, of those destroyed, of those stitched together and brought back to life. all just for a little false happiness. goro sees it but akira doesn’t, and it’s a grim sight.

[tangyangie]

— 𝐒𝐀𝐈𝐊𝐈 𝐊 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍𝐒!!

we all know that saiki isn't too excited when it comes to romance.

so... how did he land you? he doesn't know either. all he does know is that you're the only person he'd actually accept romantic gestures from.

hugs, kisses, cuddling—don't expect him to jump into it suddenly at the beginning of the relationship. he'll definitely need some time do do these things, if he'd do them at all.

but, once he does sort of settle down, he basically lets you do whatever you want. so what if you're harassing him? he prefers it be you over anyone else.

and maaaybe he's okay with cuddles. a little bit. he gravitates towards you in his sleep.

cafe dates!! or, anything with sweets, at all. take him to hershey park, for all he cares—as long as he gets to buy all some candy.

he watches your TV shows with you. he does his best not to get spoiled, and if he does, then he keeps it from you and acts like he wasn't.

he takes interest in the things you like. the music genres you prefer, your favorite hobbies, and so on. unless it involves bugs, he'll probably give what you like a chance.

he tells you about his powers eventually. he doesn't really know how he expects you to act, but he definitely doesn't expect you to just shrug it off. which is exactly what you did.

"you're a what, now?"

"a psychic."

"oh. you're serious?"

"...yes."

"oh.. cool."

please buy him coffee jelly. one second of seeing him in pure bliss is filled with enough joy to last you ten lifetimes.

one time, you tried feeding him coffee jelly while making an airplane "brrrr" sound. you did the whole, "here comes the airplane!!" as you'd spin around and twist the spoon until it came to a rest in saiki's mouth.

"and... that was supposed to taste better, how?"

"it just does. i don't make the rules."

you will playfully flirt with him all the time. doesn't mean he'd respond, but he tolerates it.

from time to time, he may humor you with a quick remark to counter your statements. but, it's always out of the blue, and always will leave your face feeling like an oven with your jaw dropped.

if you think he's one to do it in public, though, then you're crazy. pda is a big no-no.

you got him a pair of sunglasses once, and he stared dead in your eyes (with his glasses on). he asked you why you thought he needed it, and you responded that they were for when his green glasses got tired.

he blinked slowly, shook his head, and ruffled your hair. (it was an excuse to wear his glasses for a bit. don't think he wouldn't read your mind. not like he can help it, anyways.)

if you're cold in public, he stands near you and uses his pyrokinesis to warm you up, and may hold your hand. in secret only. if you tell anyone, his hand in yours is as good as gone.

he doesn't really get jealous. he's fine with being alone, but if you ask him to come along, he most likely won't say no. but if teruhashi is coming along, forget about it.

you play with his hands. like... i can just imagine gently grabbing his fingers and bending them like a seesaw or a bicycle.

he makes you come with him to take care of yuuta, hoping you don't have a resemblance to anyone else in cyborg cyder man no.2, or else yuuta will be all over you.

notes: okay guys 5 finals to go 🫡

[yestrday]

— YANDERE! MALEWIFE! GENSHIN AU part one | two | three | four

⇢ alhaitham, kaveh, tighnari, cyno

introducing ! at the altar decorated by the blooming lotus flowers, your wrist is bound to your husband with a red string and a promise of togetherness. while the people dance and sing in celebration of the newlywed, his eyes are on you and you only— possessive through and through, even in parabandhana.

[ surpriseeeeeeee yea you did not expect this did you yeah neither did I. i just sat on my computer and decided to be productive. also did not include baizhu and mika for now cuz I got lazy. ]

warning ! yandere behavior, drúgging, manipulation, mentions of locking you away and múrder

— ADMONISHING INSTRUCTION. alhaitham | الهيثم

[ “sure, sure, i’ll clean up after you go. hm? i’m not being lazy at all, just enjoying my peace and quiet.”] 

⇢ my boy is living the dream life. no nosy seniors, demanding bosses, and curious co-workers. just him and his hardworking partner and the freedom to do his research at his own time. when you’re around, he tends to slack off (though he denies it) but he does his part of the chores anyway, so you don’t really have any complaints. he’d already been living the cushy life before, but now this lifestyle is more than comfortable.

⇢ he helps you out with your work when he sees you struggling, and he lets you use him as a soundboard to work out solutions. sometimes even lets you complain. keyword: sometimes. most of the time he’ll distract you with a movie or just bring you to the bed so the two of you can read a book together. unfortunately, his tolerance towards whining is very low (reminds him too much of a certain blonde), but he still loves you enough that he’s willing to let your stress out through other means.

⇢ marriage seems to have made him a bit of a romantic, though he’ll tell you that he’s stayed the same as he was when he was still your boyfriend. whenever you’re squinting at your computer screen in frustration, you’ll be caught offguard when he presses a tender kiss to your temple and sets down a mug of coffee next to you. or while you’re talking about something or another as you eat, he’ll clasp your hands in his and press a chaste kiss to each knuckle. these gestures has you blushing and stammering all the time, reverting you back to the naive student you were when you met him. this makes him a bit smug, so you often hit him in embarrassment.

⇢ he would never look down at you. marrying you means he has acknowledged you his equal, and to be fair he doesn’t really have a habit of looking down on others. however, when he sees some pesky flies fly a bit too close, he often gets too full of himself. someone trying to smooth talk you at the cafe? haitham’s not one for pda, but he’ll wrap a sturdy bicep around your waist and watch as the poor thing trembles from his gaze. 

⇢ haitham doesn’t always tell you this, but he admires you for a lot of things. but sometimes you get a bit too… irrational, and he knows that he has to be the one to bring you down sometimes. you’re not a kid, so you should know better. besides, haitham’s always been the more rational between the two of you. sometimes bordering on…heartless, but you never tell him that. you don’t have the heart to.

⇢ he’s often the decision-maker, most of the time not even asking you what you want. he says it’s not about want, he has to take the rational decision for the both of you. you’ve always been a little… dull. it’s an endearing trait, but it’s something that has to go away as you both age. he sees the hurt flash in your eyes when he tells you this, and he thinks he can make up for it with a gentle kiss between your pretty eyes. he loves you like his equal, really, but sometimes (most of the time) you need a good talking down to.

“so you’ll continue to let your brother exploit you, despite everything he’s done to you in the past?” haitham shuts his book and stares at you with a seemingly bored gaze. “you know you don’t need to give them that solicitation, right? he’s not worth it.”

“it– it’s not about him, haitham, believe me!” you plead with him. “i’m, i’m doing this for his wife, okay? she doesn’t deserve to deliver a baby in his dingy apartment with no professionals around. it’s not fair! just because my brother was a díck doesn’t mean she deserves the cold shoulder too! have some compassion for once!” he rolls his eyes and gets up, towering above some good inches. his eyes look down at you, but his hand rests heavy on your shoulder as if trying to calm you down. “it’s not about compassion, dear. it’s about being rational. once your brother sees you softening, he’ll start asking for more and more and more and well, we know what kind of person you are.” you open your mouth to retort, but he shakes his head. “you’re too soft, [y. name]. chasing around the affection of others… you don’t have to do that anymore.”

[ “this is for the both of us. i’m sure you can’t tell now, but sooner or later, you’ll thank me.” ]

— EMPYREAN REFLECTION. kaveh | کاوه

[ “you’re the — hic!— the best thing’s that ever happened to me! of– of course i’m crying! i’m not heartless!” ] 

⇢ for kaveh, your marriage was both a blessing and a cause of distress to him. a blessing, of course, because what sane man would not want to get married to you! his darling, light of his life, the one who tolerates his flaws more than any other person on teyvat! but at the same time, he can’t just let you shoulder his burdens! he can’t give you the luxury you deserve to have, you don’t deserve to be saddled with his debt, it’s– it’s just not fair!

⇢ with kaveh’s sense of aesthetics and talent for architecture, you two will have the prettiest home around! it is a must for this architect to gift you with the prettiest home you’ve ever laid eyes on. sure, he can’t give you the grandiose mansion that you deserve even with both of your savings joined, but a master architect will make the most of what he has. this is the place where he’ll make memories with you, where you’ll grow a family and your chi… children (?!??!!!!) will live. it has to be as beautiful as you.

⇢ complains like you’d never believe. he’s always been chatty, but he gets even chattier after a disagreement with a client or a run-in with a certain someone or when he hears whispers of your horrendous workplace. to anyone else, his overdramatic flair might be a bit too much to handle, but you can’t help but listen with amusement as your husband drones on and on and on and embellishing his rants with over-the-top remarks. nevertheless, in the case that you do get weary, just press a kiss on his lips— it will surely leave him an incoherent mess in no time.

⇢ a bit too eager for your praise. it’s not like people don’t praise him all the time, but it’s only your approval that he cares for. when he makes a meal that he’s proud of, he’s squirming nervously in the seat across you as he watches you take bite after bite. when he finished his part of the chores, he tends to be a bit clingy with you as he tries to fish for compliments. it’s your choice to cave in so easily or play around with him, but when you do utter a compliment, know that you’ll be left with a gooey pile of mush cuddling into you.

⇢ on the other hand, kaveh absolutely cannot handle fights with you. fighting is a normal thing between couples, but he gets so absolutely wrecked it’s unreal. your look of disappointment, the glare you gave him, the fed-up sigh when you push him away and say that you need some time away from him… they all drive him insane. he curses himself, wondering why’d he have to go and open his stupid mouth and fuck everything up. you’re not wrong, never wrong, and it should be him to take the blame. the longer the fight, the more his wellness and self-confidence cracks. it’s a common sight to see him groveling on the ground, for your forgiveness, begging for you to notice him again. the sight is so pathetic that you can’t bear to look away.

⇢ the most insecure husband to ever exist and grows even worse with every fight you two might have had in the past. anyone who approaches you has him tensing up and tightening his grip on you, but a raised brow from you has him reluctantly loosening his grip and shamefully looking away. he’s plagued with thoughts of you leaving (because why would you stay with a wreck like him?) and overthinks every friendly gesture you give towards anyone who isn’t him (is that how you smile with someone who isn’t a complete fool?). he’s a pushover and craves your love and attention the most. if you love being an asshole and having someone completely around your finger, there’s no perfect husband to get more than kaveh.

“kaveh…” you start hesitantly, brows furrowed as you put a hand on his shoulder. “kaveh… there’s really no need for you to do all this.” but despite your gentle words, it only makes kaveh flinch and bury his weeping face even more into your chest. “i’m sorry, i’m sorry, i’m sorry,” he keeps whispering with a voice ragged from the amount of apologies he’s repeated. “i won’t do it again. whatever i’ve done please just forgive me. i can’t, i can’t stand it!” he looks up at you and that pretty face of his is ruined with tears. “please come back to me. you don’t have to sleep at that inn anymore. i can’t handle you not being with me anymore.” your grip on his shoulder tightens, and your expression seems to twist between a grimace and guilt. the only reason you stayed at an inn was because you were a coward, and you couldn’t handle watching kaveh break down as he beats himself up for a mistake that you caused. this fight was your fault to begin with, but the only one ruined was the innocent one. “i… i forgive you, dear,” you hushedly whisper, with the audacity of a man who did nothing but take advantage. “i forgive you. no matter what you’ve done.” and when he brightens up and smiles so prettily, your heart squeezes in your chest as he pulls you into a kiss sweeter than you deserve.

[ “wh… what are you apologizing for…? there’s no need to look at me like that…! you can blame me all you like!” ]

— VERDANT STRIDER. tighnari | الطغنري

[ “once again, i told you not to eat your boss’ baking! no, i don’t care if they looked nice! they. are. poisonous!” ]

⇢ he’s more at ease now that he doesn’t have to tolerate idiots who think eating poisonous mushrooms recklessly count as experiments or co-workers who tell him stupid jokes all the time. it’s a less stressful environment now… at least, that’s what he thinks. so why do you keep coming home barely alive?! you’ll find tighnari fussing over you and nagging at your office’s poor working environment.

⇢you’ll have the prettiest garden in the whole neighborhood, if not the whole world! the research data he can acquire from the plants in his backyard is limited, so it’s mostly a hobby of his. of course, he doesn’t just grow whatever there! there’s tons of medicinal herbs growing there and there’s a shed you both built where he can experiment wherever he likes. whenn you’re off work, you like to idle the time away in the garden while tighnari is hard at work on another of his concoctions. simply admiring his focused face is enough to put the stress of work behind you, and you think it’d be prettier if you tucked a flower behind his ear. but you never learn, do you? he launches off to another lecture about why you shouldn’t pluck flowers thoughtlessly while you daydream about his pretty face.

⇢ please please please don’t bring him to any work parties, lest you want to see the entire world burn. he still has that dry sarcasm that you oh so love, but he’s ruthless when it comes to your boss and your more unpleasant co-workers. if any of them try to act chummy with you, he immediately raises a brow and gives them the side-eye. he combats whatever fake-ass comment they have with a dry retort, leaving you panicking and trying him to stop it. but no one stops tighnari in verbal combat, and before long he’s revealed your boss’ and co-workers' vulnerabilities and have them deflating like a balloon.

⇢ tighnari always knows how to make the perfect brew, his teas always the perfect blend of both taste and remedy. it’s too bad though, that you always fall asleep before you can manage to finish a single pot. whenever you awake from a tea-induced slumber, your body feels strangely heavy but you can’t complain about the sleep. your husband is always the first thing you see from these naps, his fluffy tail wrapped around your legs and his big eyes staring intently at your face.

⇢ whenever he mixes in the drugs in your food or tea, tighnari’s tail swishes back and forth as he begins thinking of your cute expressions while you’re half-sober. sometimes he doesn’t put the usual dose and instead just halves it, just to see you flailing to get a grip on your senses and reaching out to your oh-so-innocent husband for help. he often chastises himself for this… dirty behavior, but the devil in his mind gleefully reminds him that this counts as research. the test subject just happened to be his trusting partner for life.

⇢ tighnari isn’t above imprisonment. it’s less for the thought of protecting you and more for his personal benefit. he likes to tell himself this is strictly research, but he can’t deny the awestruck look on his face as he greedily eats up every expression of your drugged face. when you grasp onto his clothes and lean on him for support… it makes him shudder with delight. you’re so cute when your system is laced with drugs, and even cuter when you look at him like he’s your entire world. he wants you to rely on him… and in turn, he wants to abuse that over reliance.

“you look better like this,” he murmurs as he brushes your freshly bathed hair. your figure is slumped in your chair like a doll, which isn’t far from the truth from how he handles you like one. he holds you gently, like porcelain, but you don’t react. you are too knocked out from the dose he had slipped into your tea awhile ago. he leans into your face, tutting at the dark circles under your eyes. “look at this… clear neglect of your health. i keep telling you to sleep, but you never listen to me, do you?” he sighs before focusing his attention back to your hair. “you’re so stubborn sometimes, you know. i barely know what to do with you.” he spends the next few moments in silence, rubbing cream into and ointments into your face. you smell slightly of lemongrass now, thanks to the bath he’s given you. tomorrow when you wake up, you will marvel at the softness of your skin and the clearness of your mind, before you throw yourself into another week of overwork. like always. tighnari regrets giving you the sleeping drug now. maybe he should’ve added a dose of the aphrodisiac drug he’s just finished. with the way his feline eyes zero into your blissful face and the eager swaying of his tail, he can just barely hold himself back now.

[ “aaah, i’ve run out of your meds again. oh, don’t you worry, i’ll make you some more. it’s nice how your body is so… receptive to my medicine ♡” ]

— JUDICATOR OF SECRETS. cyno | κύων 

[ “... we’re married… …what? i honestly didn’t think i’d come this far.” ]

⇢while there’s no other man you could imagine to spend the rest of your life with, you’re inwardly groaning about the amount of dad jokes you have to put up with later on in life. sure, you love cyno’s goofy lil personality, but you think you can only take too many stupid jokes before you go crazy. you voice this concern to cyno, who just gives you a reassuring hand on your shoulder and says he can handle you just fine if you do. you’re not quite sure what this implies.

⇢ quite sulky, but he refuses to own up to the fact. sometimes you get a little distracted with one of the neighborhood children, start chatting up one of the kind neighbors, or meet one of your co-workers. you tend to get a little bit distracted by them, and while cyno believes that he’s not overly bothered by this, he admits that he is a little bit miffed about you not paying attention to them. he also gets pouty when work starts taking up of your time and you start to neglect him, so expect him to just shut the laptop close and demand you to eat dinner with him without rushing to get your job done. 

⇢ he used to scare the neighborhood kids away with just one look and you always had to comfort him and pat him on the back in sympathetic understanding. “maybe you’ll get them next time,” you had joked, handing him an ice cream as he sulked on the park’s bench. “one of your jokes should do the trick.” you really shouldn’t have suggested that, because after another trip to the park he stared those kids down with his same stoic expression and cracked one of the corniest jokes known to man. every kid looked at him like he was stupid. now no one takes him seriously. well, at least they like playing with him now???

⇢ overprotective, like over overprotective. he knows you can handle going outside the house on your own, and hell, he might have no qualms with your workplace. but the more you complain, the more paranoid he gets until he’s staking out the site for himself. touchy co-workers? cruel bosses? he could easily have their corpses fed to the dogs. he is a protector of justice, after all, and what is justice but not killing those who lay a hand on their partner?

⇢ it’s not very easy to just push him over the edge, but he can and has the will to lock you away. it’s the modern world, no one’s going to have it out for a salary worker slaving day in and out for a corporation, but still. he’s made plenty of enemies when he was still in the force and there’s a paranoia eating at him whenever you go out of the front door. when he does lock you away, he’s as gentle as he can be, even with the stench of blood all over him. this is all for your sake after all, and he couldn’t bear to see you hurt when he had the power of protecting you.

“cy,” you huff in exasperation, looking up from your laptop as he glares down at you from behind it. “what in the world are you talking about? they’re my co-worker, my superior. you can’t just tell me to stop talking to them. i need their help!” “what help could you possibly need from them when you have me?” he huffs back, crossing his arms. “i’m telling you. they’re dangerous. i… i just know it, okay?” “what could a retired general possibly know about handling excel sheets?” when his face falters, you sigh and shut the laptop closed. “look, i know you just want to protect me and i appreciate that, really. but come on, cy, don’t be unreasonable.” the pressed line of his lips tells you that he has something against being called that, but you press on. “the company does background checks on their employees. it’s safe, i promise.” you press a kiss on his cheek and smile at him. “sit here and calm yourself down, okay? i’ll handle dinner tonight.” he watches your back as you disappear into the kitchen, humming a bright tune that offsets the stormy look in his eyes. he could tell you all about his time in the workforce— the violations he’s made, the blood on his hands, and the enemies he’s made— but he won’t. not if it means breaking this beautiful life he’s created with you. but that’s okay, that’s fine. he’s been trained to adapt to the situation and to work with the shadows.

[ “even if you don’t have a care in the world… i’ll be right behind you. wherever. whenever.” ]

[occamstfs]

Rosa's Cafe

Here's a longer Racial TF set in a coffee shop, Best! Occam

Matthew had clocked up more hours of overtime for his company than they were willing to pay him. He assumed that their guidelines weren’t so rigid and that he would be fine to get ahead early. These days you really need to go above and beyond to get ahead and Matthew was determined to get in the good graces of the big bosses.

Unfortunately working so hard was a misplay. His direct boss was forcing him to take Paid Time Off in lieu of the overtime pay for the past year. Now he sits at home with next to nothing to do, twiddling his thumbs until he can return to the grind. He loved back when he was a barista in college? Maybe he can get back to customer service?

Reflecting on this he takes to LinkedIn to see if there are any managerial spots open for a cafe. Something needs to scratch his itch for administration and he night as well pour coffee while doing so. In a stroke of luck, or perhaps something more deliberate, as soon as he logs in to check listings he sees a manager position at “Rosa’s Cafe.”

He auto-submits his resume to the restaurant assuming he’s overqualified before even reading the listing’s qualifications. Glancing through them he sees that they’d prefer someone fluent in Spanish. Matthew struggles to recall what if any Spanish remains in his head from taking it in both high school and college. He starts to pull up a language app on his phone before seeing that, jarringly fast, he has already been advanced to an interview for this cafe. Rosa herself sending him a message to come as soon as he’s ready. 

Matthew then sprints to check himself in a mirror. He has certainly not slacked in his hygiene since he was asked to stop coming into work, partially in hopes that they’ll need him to come in any day. Today though he throws on some cologne and drives off to Rosa’s Cafe. He doesn’t stop to question how odd it is to already be on the way to an interview, minutes after submitting his resume. They must just really need someone?

As soon as he arrives Rosa is there at the door to greet him, smiling wide and welcoming him into her establishment.

“Hola Matthew! So glad for you to join us, your application was outstanding! Solamente, I was wondering why you wanted this job given your current one?”

Matthew blushes and explains his situation, struggling not to sound like a maniac for wanting to work despite the relatively cushy situation he is in. Although Rosa hears this and is impressed at his ethic, his crave to work. Rosa was more than happy to take advantage of his situation.

“Uhhh there was just one thing though, Miss. Oh uh, lo siento. Señora Rosa.”

“Sí, sí. You aren’t quite fluent en Español, are you Matthew?” He averts his eyes but before he can answer Rosa continues on, “Esta bien. You will just learn on the job sí?”

Putting on an air of determination Matthew pumps his fist “Sí, Sra Rosa! Uh claro que sí,” he attempts, stepping to the limit of the Spanish remaining in his head. Rosa gives him a look like an owner watching a pet as it tries to show off, offering an ambiguous smile before explaining her stance.

“Claro que sí,” offering a knowing nod, “I’m sure you understand why I would want a manager to speak Español, yes? En esta ciudad, in this city, there are very few places where Español is the default. I would just like my cafe to be one of them. The job is of course yours, I would be a fool not to take the opportunity. But while you’re here, mientras estás aquí, please work on su Espanol,” tacking on, “I can’t imagine it will be too long before you’re called back to your job eh? Una estrella como tu” 

To her point there are clearly not a lot of people speaking English in the cafe. Matthew would guess he is probably the only native English speaker present making him blush, although after being flattered by Rosa he was ready to accept. After all he had been meaning to practice his Spanish anyway. He puts his hand out to shake her hand, “when can I start?”

“Well, mi pequeño gerente, why not start training now?” Turning around she calls over the barista Juan to introduce the two, talking to Juan at a speed that made it clear to Matthew that she was quite dumbing down her language in their conversation. She then bids farewell to the two, “adios Matthew! Tengo que ah, cόmo se dice, file your paperwork. Hasta mañana!”

“Hola Matthew, it is nice to meet you! Rosa said to show you around,” Juan smiles offering him a cup of their house roast. “Espero que, ah, I hope you don’t mind but I added canella, cinnamon.” Matthew graciously accepts the cup. He may be a world removed from his time as a barista but instantly returns to his first coffee tasting.

It smelled quite strong, darker than he usually prefers and he can see cinnamon swirling through the cup as the cup steams in his hand. He begins to bring the cup up for a closer smell although as soon as the movement begins the allure of the drink overpowers him and he drinks almost too quickly. It was delicious. He always, almost performatively, drank black coffee at his old job. Or no, his real job?

Juan sees Matthew continue to gulp down the cup of coffee waiting for reaction, though he sees very little sign of his mind processing the drink at all. Matthew’s just staring ahead, his eyes ever so slightly glazing over as he finishes the cup. He grins as it almost looks like the coffee has stained Matthew’s upper lip, offering a napkin before asking, “te gusta hermano?”

Matthew snaps back to his senses, staring at Juan as a small ring of brown starts to stain the center of his icy blue eyes. He struggles to even find the words to describe how profoundly he enjoyed the coffee. It was a passion too great for him to even begin to capture in English. “Juan, that was, cómo se dice? Is there some word better than delicioso?”

Juan laughs putting his arm around his new manager, “Ay hermano! Maybe that’s what you should do now! You just go work on your Spanish and I’ll bring you some samples! Ah, aqui, the employee handbook is in Spanish, practica perfecta!” He brings over another cup and the handbook and Matthew starts struggling through it. 

Matthew figuratively bashes his head into the handbook, it’s not dense but it is per cierto not written with beginners in mind. Smirking as he notices he just reflexively thought in Spanish, going to get another drink only to find the cup emptied once more. He hasn’t been drinking nearly as much since he left the office, bargaining with himself as Juan comes to refill his cup. He can cut back his intake later, he needs to get this through this work.

And work at it he does, caffeine is not making him feel wired as usual but sensual as he continues to page through the booklet. He starts to stretch just to feel the strain in his muscles and the tension in his clothes. He looks down and sees his shirt is fitting much better than he thought it did. It’s not tight but anyone who looks can see there is muscle under there. He stares at his own body feeling strength he does not remember cultivating. Suddenly he notices it’s not only his upper body that’s filling out, as a growing package begins to demand attention under the table. These jeans were clearly not designed to handle this and Matthew is barely able to stop himself from flexing to see just how much he truly can fill this outfit and he attempts to switch gears back to working. Urgently feeling adverse to thinking any further about his body.

Struggling to find any way to distract himself he remembers being historically shit at actually speaking in Spanish. This is as good a chance as any to practice his pronunciation. Matthew begins to mouth the words in the handbook, feeling his tongue in unfamiliar ways that he swears he has done a million times before. Matthew attempts to raise his practice to a whisper and immediately goes into a coughing fit. Hope that coffee didn’t burn my throat he thinks clearing his throat and finding a much deeper voice on the other side. One that announces his Spanish progress to the whole cafe shockingly loud for a whisper though Matthew doesn’t notice. What is immediately apparent to him is how expertly he rolled an R. 

He knows he could never do that, and not without trying. He probably spent half an hour practicing it his sophomore year. He reflects back on how hard he worked on Spanish in the past as his eyes start to glaze over once more. Something is off here, his hand raising to his face not notice a moustache and sloppy goatee start to push out of his face. He foes feel itchy elsewhere though, scratching at his chest and stomach, averting the more animalistic urge to scratch his pits and crotch as Juan begins to walk over.

Matthew quickly tries to meet him halfway, standing to a height just taller than the one he thought he knew to be true. His bulge grazes the bottom of the table which causes his body to convulse in pleasure. His feet are caught on the table as he falls knocking his coffee all over himself and the floor. “Mierda!” He shouts before going dark.

He awakens to Juan wiping coffee off his face, his clothes now certainly stained brown and spelling of rich coffee and cinnamon. Helping him back to standing, Juan makes sure he is alright, “quite the fall amigo! Tal vez we call it a day?” Matthew hastily agrees feeling impossibly strained and weary for what little work he has actually done. Juan continues, “Rosa said the paperwork should be good for you to start tomorrow if you can!” Stumbling to his feet Matt knows he agrees but the rest of his night is little more than a blur. 

He sees Juan wink at him and knows he is going to start tomorrow. He must drive home after that since he is now looking at himself in the mirror brushing his teeth. Something seems off, he is clearly too tired to put a finger on exactly what it is. He flexes his bicep noticing he must have completely disrobed. He thought he shaved his pits recently. He scratches at his crotch realizing that his now heavier cock is also out, pawing at his pubes and feeling his bulge expand even further into his hand before forcing it into some briefs and continuing his audit. 

Didn’t he have a tan? Looking at himself up and down he feels like he isn’t supposed to be this pale right? Isn’t he from? Matthew feels lightheaded and begins to collapse once more before being jarred back to reality smelling the coffee and cinnamon scent still hugging his chest. Using this second wind he stumbles into bed, neglecting to change into his nightclothes and he quickly drifts to sleep.

Matt falls into a dream that feels realer than the reality of his previous life. It’s the middle of the rush and he sees himself working at an espresso machine with Juan. He looks down seeing his body expertly maneuver around the bar, tossing cinnamon into drinks, chatting with customers in truly fluent Spanish. He pauses in this dreamscape to notice the tan he was so sure he had earlier. He sees the tattooed arms he has known for years, he worked hard enough for them after all, might as well show them off on the clock. He raises the hairy arms to flex at Juan and say something clever in his native tongue before being jarred back to reality by a sunbeam.

Matt awakens hearing his morning wood stretch his briefs to their near limit barely able to keep himself together before seeing the time and once more shouting “mierda!” He is already so late for work, they’ve been open for hours. It’s his first real day and he has already jod- he’s already fucked it up! He quickly inspects himself once more, seeing the true version of himself he saw in his dream. Seeing his recently shaved chest he quickly realizes he doesn’t have time for a shower. He smells his pits just to see how bad the damage is. His voice rumbles in his chest, “joder…”

He smells again even deeper, it reminds him of? Oh it is just on the tip of his tongue, which he begins to reach out before remembering his predicament. He throws on a dress shirt before giving one last whiff to his pits, flexing his pecs as he does so. It is so fragrant, almost spicy. Matt postpones the mystery after concluding it should certainly be covered by the smell at Rosa’s and rushing out the door. Not seeing as his chest pops off the top button of his shirt and his neat goatee begins to grow even thicker.

Matt rushes into the door and is greeted like a regular, which he is of course to be now, as the new manager. He feels a warmth in his chest as Juan brings over his first cup of the day. “Buenos días Juan!” Matt offers before going to meet the chef, Benito, as the plan was today.

Making his way back to the kitchen he smells something even more distracting to him than his body odor this morning. Benito runs over with a plate full of arepas that Matt recognizes instantly before Benito greets him, “buenos dias jefe! Rosa said you wanted us to start serving arepas sí?” 

“Rosa? She said, I asked for these?”

“Si! Desde su ciudad natal no?”

Matt’s mouth is overcome as he starts to clearly drool for the plate in front of him. He has no choice but to tear into one which immediately brings him back. He loved these when he was a kid, but? Didn’t he grow up en los estados? Wasn’t he from? He fails to finish the thought in his head before it is wiped away as if fireworks are going of in his mind. 

He beams at Benito as his eyes glaze over and fully darken to brown. He feels an urge to burp which he chokes down with another cup of coffee. “Ay this takes me back amigo, estos son exactamente como, like the ones mi abuela había before nos pequeños…” Matt pauses as he feels a pervasive warmth starts to grow distracting in his chest as a similar itch begins on the outside.

He doesn’t notice as his inner monologue begins to entirely shift away from English, as it should of course. He may live in los Estados hoy, but he was colombiano born and bred. He remembers how hard he worked as a child learning English as his biceps start to clearly strain the already tight dress shirt.

Matt remembers fighting for his place to get a degree at a university that did not respect his native country or tongue as he feels his voice deepen beyond baritone and into a strong bass. He remembers trying to find a place in this mierda ciudad before meeting Rosa as his chest bursts open shooting any buttons remaining off his shirt. 

Rosa then enters the kitchen to see how her new hire has progressed and slyly smiles seeing his progress. She tosses a shirt at him saying in Spanish now effortlessly understood “Oi Matteo! You’re in the kitchen put some clothes on!” 

Matteo shuffles to the restroom to change as he looks one last time in the mirror and sees the flawless trajabador he sees every time he checks himself out. He puts on his nametag flexing to see just how much he can strain his shirt before returning to the cafe, ready to conquer another day in the life he has worked so hard for.

[overtake]

I’m sorry we need about 5k more words of mechanic Daniel driver max pls and ty!!!

Part One

I’m actually so shocked (but pleasantly surprised and honored!) by people enjoying this verse because I almost deleted it without posting. I don’t have 5k more, but I can offer 1.2k!

I still lowkey hate this - and you can definitely tell I have no vision for where this story would go, hence why it’s just harping on the same 3 details we already knew - but it’s all yours and I hope you have a good time reading it anyway :)

Five minutes into pretending to examine an engine instead of obsess over what Max said, Daniel breaks.

“Did you mention me to Max?” he asks Cyril, trying to come across casual.

Cyril looks at him disbelievingly. “Max Verstappen is in our garage and you think I talked about you at all?”

Daniel lifts a hand to his chest and feigns being shot. “People love me, you know. Guys are all over this.”

Cyril heaves out a long-suffering sigh. “Get to work, Daniel.”

Daniel’s lucky, given his condition, that everything is relatively routine today. He does three oil changes, and he could kiss those people’s feet for it.

He’s mentally preparing himself to slide under a car, wincing at much more congested he’ll be once he emerges again, when Max suddenly appears in the corner of the garage.

“Hello,” he says. He does a cute little half-wave to get Daniel’s attention.

“Hey,” Daniel says, straightening and rubbing his grimy hands on his thighs. “Cyril’s working on your car, so he’ll have any updates you need.”

“It’s not my car, just a rental,” Max dismisses. “No, I just have …” He cuts himself off, turns a sweet pink on the apples of his cheeks. “You sounded sick earlier and looked really pale. I brought you soup.”

He lifts a takeaway bag from the cafe down the street, which usually specializes in ten dollar lattes and sandwiches with names so cutesy, you have to practice five times to order without shame.

Daniel smiles at the idea of Max Verstappen, world champion, saying one of those horrible names for Daniel’s benefit. “You didn’t have to do that. Thank you. Let me pay you back.”

Max shakes his head. “It’s my thanks for fixing the car.”

Daniel raises his eyebrows. “So what soup did you get Cyril, who’s actually doing that?”

Max scrunches his nose in disgust. “You cannot expect me to say the name Noodle Nest Paradise more than one time.”

“How many times did you laugh trying to get that out?”

Max shudders. “I pretended to speak really bad English and just pointed at the menu.”

“So you could’ve ordered multiple,” Daniel points out. Max very blatantly pretends not to hear. He focuses instead on pulling a little bag from the order and holding it up proudly, smiling a crinkly-eyed smile.

“I got you crackers!”

Eating soup with Max Verstappen is an out of body experience.

Daniel’s been eating his soup over the coffee table in the office because it felt wrong to make Max sit at the grimy, wobbly table in the closet-sized corner of the garage where Daniel and Cyril usually change and scarf down meals. This, however, means they’re stuck together on the loveseat. Max’s expensive skinny jeans knock knees with Daniel’s greasy coveralls when they get too into the conversation.

Daniel knows he’s being a terrible conversationalist, especially at first. His normal easy charisma is buried somewhere in the pile of tissues he’s burning through. He’s basically just answering Max’s rapid-fire questions about his life, his job, his family, his non-existent partner (“do you have a girlfriend or boyfriend or anything?” Max had asked, and looked remarkably pleased by Daniel’s answer of no).

Daniel’s about 87% sure he’s being hit on right now. It’s a nice confidence booster given how much of a mess he looks, but it’s not like it matters. Max is Max, and Max is F1, and Max doesn’t live here.

He likes Max, though, the longer they talk. He likes his eagerness, his down-to-earth nature, his total lack of interest in discussing racing. Max delights in all Daniel’s behaviours that usually make people roll their eyes and wait for him to be done, whereas Max leans into Daniel’s dumb songs or drawn out jokes. He likes the long lashes that frame Max’s bright, happy eyes, and soft double chin he gets when he ducks his head into his laugh.

Daniel’s not sure how much time passes before Cyril comes in, but he knows his voice has faded to practically nothing, and he’s having to constantly turn to avoid coughing on Max.

Cyril’s timing is rather unfortunate, entering just as Daniel breaks into a particularly rough wheeze. Max is patting his back gently, which Cyril will definitely have words about later. Presently, however, he seems too concerned about Daniel’s wellbeing to lecture him about appropriate contact with famous customers.

“Daniel. Go home,” he orders, voice kind but firm. His tone leaves no room for argument, not that Daniel really wants to fight him on it. He’s enjoying this, but his brain and body feel as if they’re wading through a pool of thick custard.

“Are you okay to drive?” Max checks. His eyebrows are knitted in sweet concern, like Daniel actually might keel over and die in the ten-minute ride home.

“All good,” Daniel promises. He stands, then promptly has to collapse back onto the couch when black spots dot his vision.

“I’m driving you,” Cyril says firmly.

“I just stood up too fast.” Sure, he’s a little woozier than expected, but he could do this drive blindfolded and half-dead.

“I’ll drive you,” Max says. “I mean, Cyril has work to do, but I’m just sitting here.”

“How do I know you won’t kidnap me or steal my car?” Daniel rasps.

“He’s not worth kidnapping, and selling his car probably couldn’t cover an oil change for the kinds of cars you drive,” Cyril informs Max. He ignores Daniel’s protests, then pushes Daniel back down to the couch when he half-rises from it.

“Stay. I will get your keys and bag.”

The second Daniel’s brain understands that he’s off-duty, that it’s no longer expected to carry him through the day, it mostly blacks out, and everything is a blur from there.

He’s pretty confident Cyril steals his phone to call his mum, which is vaguely embarrassing but perhaps necessary given his current state. He knows Cyril gives Max directions to Daniel’s parents’ place instead of his own. He feels Max’s hands help him into the passenger seat, and he definitely mutters some fever-addled sentences on the drive. That’s about all he remembers until he wakes up in his childhood bed, shivering and sweating while his mum runs a hand through his hair and forces medicine down his throat, before he falls back asleep again.

When he finally comes to enough to make his way downstairs, he finds his parents seated at the kitchen table. His mum jumps up, forces him into a chair and fusses over him while simultaneously lecturing him about going to work sick. His dad just sits there, eyebrows half-raised, until Daniel is settled with food and water.

“So. You had an exciting day at work.”

He slides a piece of scrap paper across the table. There, under some advertisement for gardening services, is a scrawled message in red pen:

It was lovely to meet you (again). I hope the terribly named soup made you feel better! :)

- Max

Under his name, Max has scrawled a phone number.

Daniel runs his finger over the lines, feeling the imprint of each number that Max etched into the paper. It’s neatly written, far more cautious and intentional than the rest of the words, as if to ensure that no digit could be misread or smudged.

Daniel pauses, processes the full note, and double backs to the word ‘again.’

“Yeah,” Daniel croaks through the stabbing pains in his throat. He stares at the word harder, like it might reveal what the fuck Max means by again. “I guess today was pretty interesting.”

[s-awturn]

Pilots and their love languages || F1 Grid

cw: superficiality, slightly suggestive, PDA and non-PDA and I don't know what else to say, so blah blah blah

starring: LH44, CS55, CL16, LN4, OP81, MV1

a/n: I'm testing something new, so please bear with me 😩 for now it will be just these pilots because they are my favorites here, as I get used to this format, I can include more pilots. Anyway, enjoy!

LEWIS HAMILTON - Acts of service

Lewis knows that you are inattentive and forget to eat, sometimes you fall asleep in the office while you are working, you forget your things when you are in a hurry, And luckily for you, your fiancé is always attentive to these details. So he always checks his things, whether he has his keys, whether he has had his coffee properly or whether he is about to finish his work at the office. No matter how much you tell him that he doesn't need to worry, Lewis loves taking care of you and making sure your needs are met, even the most basic ones.

"Sorry for giving you so much trouble, you must be tired from training"

"Nah, I'm fine and taking care of you is no work at all, it's a pleasure for me"

CARLOS SAINZ - Gifts

Carlos loves to give gifts and his generosity knows no bounds, especially for you, he loves to present you with whatever he thinks you like. Did you like that book? It's yours. Did you show interest in a bracelet? It'll be on your wrist before you know it. You've lost count of how many times you've talked to him about it, your closet couldn't fit anything else! But how could you deny it? Whenever your boyfriend arrived with that lost puppy dog look, you knew what was coming, Carlos knew you couldn't resist that look.

"You can't blame me for wanting to see my girl happy"

"You make me happy and as much as I love your gifts, I don't need them, I already have you"

CHARLES LECLERC - Physical touch

No matter where, no matter who is watching, Charles will always have his hands on you. Whether it's holding your hand, wrapping his arms around your waist or kissing you. PDA is not a problem for him, the Monegasque loves to show how much he loves you, he is completely ok with the idea of kissing you in the street, of fixing your hair when necessary or keep his hand on your thigh while chatting with friends in a cafe. As long as he touches you, the world could end.

"Charl, there are reporters here, they're going to make a huge deal out of this..."

"They can say whatever they want, I won't keep my hands off you, chérie. "

LANDO NORRIS - Words of affirmation

When you first met Lando, you could have sworn he was the gift or physical touch guy, so it was a big surprise to find out he was the words of affirmation guy. You'd often find notes around the apartment, or receive sweet messages at random times of the day, and Lando was the best at captioning his Instagram photos; He wants you to have no doubts about his feelings, so any chance he gets to tell you how he feels about you, he will.

"Are you paraphrasing Edward Cullen's wedding vows?"

"It was either Twilight or Romeo and Juliet... I chose the one where the characters stay alive... Figuratively speaking"

OSCAR PIASTRI - Quality time

Oscar is aware that he doesn't have much free time between races, so there aren't many good breaks he can enjoy with you. Knowing this, Oscar doesn't mind spending as much time with you as possible; It doesn't matter what you do, you can read, watch a series, having a skin care session, talk or just be silent, he just needs some time with you. It could be an hour or five minutes, as long as he's with you, it's fine.

"Are you sure I'm not bothering you here?"

"Baby, you never get in my way, I just need a few minutes with you before the race, alright?"

MAX VERSTAPPEN - Quality time

Just like Oscar, Max likes to spend as much time with you as he can, and that time is usually spent doing activities that focus on the two of you. Max will trade any party, any event for an afternoon at home watching his favorite movies or sitting by the window of your apartment, talking while it rains. Max really appreciates these moments because he knows they don't happen often, they both have very demanding jobs and he values every minute he has with you.

"Choose any movie you want, I'll watch whatever it is, as long as it's with you"

"And you still say you're not romantic"

Gif credits: rb19, callumilott, quadrantslandonorris, walkingonanunknownpath, artemispt and yungbludz

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ALL RIGHTS RESERVED TO S-AWTURN™ 🪐. I do not allow copying or republication. Any unauthorized publication will be reported.

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[bippot]

Hi hun 💜

I have a request for a smut fic with Bob Floyd

(This isn’t compliant with top gun maverick btw x)

ok so, Bob and the reader are in college together and the reader is a huge bookworm

Bob just like admires her from afar until he finally plucks up the courage to talk to her about a book she’s reading after class

She flirts with him and his lil brain can’t compute so he just stands there like 😳

anyway long story short they go back to her place and she seduces him

thought I’d leave it up to you bc you’re so talented 🩵🩵

Ducky's

Story Summary -> After leaving the Navy, Bob enrols in college to experience what he missed. At a café, he meets Y/N, a fellow bookworm who quickly becomes more than just a friend in more ways than one.

Tags -> Fluff and Smut, College, Teacher-Student Relationship, Strangers to Lovers, cafe setting, First Kiss, First Meetings, Study Date

Would you prefer to read this on AO3? Click here!

The small bell above the door chimed as Bob Floyd walked into Ducky’s Café, the scent of freshly brewed coffee filling the air. He scanned the cosy, dimly lit space, noting the clusters of students, artists, and locals deep in conversation or study. It was a sight that felt new and foreign.

Just days ago, he’d been stepping off his last Navy deployment, wrapping up a career that had spanned more than a decade. Now, here he was: a thirty-four-year-old freshman, feeling both out of place and oddly hopeful.

It was weird. He'd spent years in the Navy, living through it's strict rules and structure until they became second nature. He'd always wanted to fly planes and be an aviator adjacent, but he failed to realise how much it frayed his nerves. His mind had to be constantly alert, constantly be whirring, constantly be worrying, and it was a lot of mental strain.

As soon as his contract was up, he declined to renew it. He wanted a slower life, one where he could focus solely on bettering himself without having to constantly deal with the pressures that came with a government job. And now, here he was at the cafe directly opposite the university he was enrolled at, living it up.

And living it up meant that he was audited every class he possibly could. He had the drive to be a Renaissance man, full of knowledge and talent and passion for the world that he’d never had before. Officially he was a creative writing major, but the psychology that he was carrying under his arm pointed to a different subject.

Sitting at an empty table, Bob spread out his materials, trying to arrange the chaos of notebooks, pencils, and highlighters so he didn't seem so unorganised in front of all of the other students around him. He wanted to make a good impression, after all. These eighteen-year-olds were his peers in academia, and if he made any mistakes, they would surely laugh at him behind his back for being so old and inept.

He'd been working for around half an hour when the lady behind the counter very loudly greeted, "Ah, she finally makes an appearance," and his head lifted to see the most beautiful woman he'd ever had the pleasure of looking at walk into the cafe.

The beautiful woman replied, "Mama, my class ran late, okay?" She flashed a smile as her mother handed her a large coffee and looked around the packed cafe. "Didn't save me a seat? You must not love me any more."

"You're spoilt, and you know it," her mother laughed. "I'm sure that handsome man over there will let you sit with him."

As if by magic, Y/N's mother pointed directly at Bob's table, and he smiled shyly and pretended that he hadn't heard their whole conversation. He hoped to God he hadn't blushed too obviously. Yes, he wanted her to sit somewhere near him, but, no, he would have no idea what to say to start a conversation. To his benefit, she started the conversation for him with a simple, "Hi, do you mind if I sit here? You look kind of busy, so it's okay if not."

"Uh...sure. Go ahead," Bob said awkwardly. "I can tidy up if you need some space; just say the word."

Quickly, she shook her head with a smirk and sat down next to him, crossing one leg over another as she settled herself into her chair and brought out a book from her bag. Glancing over the top of his glasses, he read the cover of her book, Room, and realised that he had a way in. He'd kept a reading list for the past few years, and for some reason, despite the fact that Room had always been on the list, he'd never actually gotten around to reading it.

"I've been meaning to read Room; how are you finding it so far? Would you recommend?"

She tilted her head as she came up with a response, and Bob couldn't help the way he let his head rest on his hand as he admired the profile of her face. She had an air of thoughtfulness about her, and her hair was pulled back loosely into a ponytail, framing her face and neck and giving her a very studious look. But then she opened her mouth to respond, and Bob found that he loved the way those lips curved as she spoke about what she was passionate about: books.

The detail she went into was insane; Bob was impressed and intrigued. It was fascinating to watch. There was passion, yes, but also humour and immense empathy. Her eyes were expressive as she told him all about the case the story was based on. It was a harrowing tale - they both knew that - and a little light-hearted comment every now and then helped to ease the discomfort that came along with discussing such a topic.

"... so, yeah, it's an intense read," she finished, her final words rushing into one. She'd gone on a full rant and, while Bob had added the occasional sentence or two, had taken the reins of the conversation without realising it.

Suddenly self-conscious, she mumbled, "Sorry for rambling like that; I didn't even ask your name." She gave him a sheepish smile. "And I'm keeping you from your work."

"No, no, please, keep talking," Bob said quickly, hoping that she wouldn't notice how he was staring at her lips. He held out a hand for a handshake, which she returned, unable to take his eyes from hers as he did so. "I'm Bob, Bob Floyd."

"I'm Y/N. If you hear my mother call me Ducky, please pretend you didn't hear it."

"You're the eponymous Ducky?!" he teased, his blue eyes flashing playfully. "You didn't tell me I was in the presence of cafe royalty!"

She lightly smacked him on the bicep. "Shut up," she chided softly. "It's a childhood nickname; my mom loves to embarrass me with it."

They laughed together, their voices soft in the chatter around them, and a gentle warmth washed over them as they gazed at one another. It was so comfortable and easy to talk to Y/N; a sense of familiarity overcame him, and he began to feel that this was exactly where he belonged. It was weird. They just met; they hardly knew anything about each other. Yet they felt so connected already. A bond seemed to develop between them that was almost instinctual, as if they were drawn towards one another in some mystical way.

They talked and talked and talked. Their shared fascination for literature led to discussions about various genres of fiction and poetry, and, before they knew it, time flew away. He mentioned being in the Navy briefly, just as a bit of flavour in a story, and he watched as Y/N's eyes roamed over his frame. 

She interrupted him midsentence by mumbling to herself, "Oh, that's why you're so hot."

Bob stopped. His voice abruptly cut out.

"Did I say that out loud?"

"...yeah," he replied, his cheeks burning at her compliment. In his life, he'd never really considered himself as hot. He was in shape - that's essential in the Navy - but he'd always been around other pilots like Hangman and Rooster, who were 'hunkier' by society's standards. 

That insecure nerd he was as a kid was still inside of him, and it was times like this that made his insecurity resurface. He wasn't vain - his ego was never big enough to allow him to consider himself that - but he knew for a fact that he was definitely a catch. He was kind and polite (his mama made sure of that), yet he didn't consider himself as 'hot'.

"You're incredibly pretty," Bob blurted out after a moment's hesitation. "I didn't expect to meet anyone as beautiful, inside and out, when I woke up this morning."

Y/N giggled, covering her lips. "Flatterer," she teased, though there was no bite to her words, just fondness.

"I'm just saying it like it is, Ducky."

The nickname slipped out so easily. For some reason, it felt right. So naturally, it felt like something that should fit perfectly on his tongue. And maybe it did. Maybe it did indeed belong. 

The conversation continued to flow between them, yet this time there was a hint of flirtation that neither had felt before. There were touches and looks exchanged across the table. The air became heavier and more intimate, and it became obvious that this wasn't just casual flirting that passed between strangers. 

"Hey Duck, I'm going to close in 5 mins. Get your butt moving," Y/N's mother suddenly called from behind the counter. "I love you, but I'm not extending my shift any further today."

"Okay mom!"

"Take your new 'friend' with you."

With that, Y/N rolled her eyes good naturedly and turned to look at Bob, who was slightly red in the cheeks and trying to suppress a huge grin as Y/N stood up. "You heard the woman; get a move on."

Bob hurried to pack his stuff away and follow Y/N to the door until they were outside. "Did you walk?" Bob asked as the door was locked behind them and Y/N's mother turned the hanging sign to CLOSED.

"I don't live that far away, so, yeah, I walked." 

"Would... uh, is it okay if I walk you home?"

"I'd like that, Bob."

They made it to her front door in no time. They lingered for a second once they reached her doorstep, staring at each other for what felt like ages, feeling the energy build and grow between them. Then, Y/N gave up on the whole tip-toeing around the issue thing. "You should come inside. Someone might’ve broken in while I was out. I might need a strong Navy man to help me out," she stated plainly, looking him straight in the eye, daring him to refuse.

He didn't want to refuse. He simply couldn't, so instead, he nodded slowly and followed her inside the house with a blush high on his cheeks. "Strange, it doesn't look like a break-in has happened here. Maybe I should just -"

She silenced his joke by tugging his hand and, consequently, bringing him closer towards her. Bob looked down and smiled shyly at the sudden proximity between them. 

"I mean, I'm gonna stay. I want to stay. It's just... I don't usually do, uh, this," he explained, his hand coming up to cup her cheek and his thumb stroking the skin beneath her lower lip. "So..."

His words hung in the air, a little awkward and a lot nervous, but she understood nonetheless. She leaned into his touch, her eyes half-lidded and lips curling upwards in a small smirk. 

"Me neither," she whispered teasingly, leaning forward slightly and pressing a quick kiss against his cheek. Her fingers brushed his jaw, and for the briefest of moments they were suspended in silence, their breath mingling as they looked into each other's eyes. 

Bob swallowed hard, his mind buzzing with questions. Was this wise? Was this a smart idea? He'd never moved this quickly before, but with Y/N, it was different. She was different. He liked the way she made his stomach flip flop, the butterflies in his stomach, her lips on his cheek, and the way she looked at him as if she wanted nothing else but to kiss him again.

"Are you sure? We can go slower if you want?" He asked quietly, breaking the spell they'd fallen under. She shook her head and placed her hand gently on the back of his neck, caressing him ever so gently, sending a pleasant tingle down his spine.

In a blink of an eye, her lips were on his. They were soft, pliant, and warm against his, and, within seconds, everything else faded away, leaving only her, the feeling of her soft lips against his, and the feeling of her hands running through his hair.

As they smooched, Y/N walked their connected bodies into her room. If they happened to be more than an inch apart at any point, one of them was closing the distance as soon as possible. Even when Y/N pushed Bob down on the bed, she climbed on top of him, straddling his waist, and pressed herself against him within 5 seconds. 

She could feel the smile spreading onto her face as he groaned softly into her mouth as she began to trail kisses across his cheek and down along his jawline to his neck. Bob grabbed hold of her shoulders tightly, his breathing growing uneven as his desire rose. As he let his hands wander underneath her shirt, tracing soft circles around her back, he pulled away and looked up into her eyes. 

"Do you have a condom? I'd usually be prepared, but I didn't leave the house this morning thinking I'd be, uh, needing one, to be completely honest," he said nervously, biting his lip slightly, his eyes darting from hers down to her lips, and back up again.

"Yeah, of course," Y/N replied, sitting upright and reaching into her dresser drawer and rummaging through a bunch of items, eventually finding what she was searching for and pulling out an unopened box of condoms. "Bought these when I moved here, still haven't had the occasional to take the Saran off."

"Been a while?"

"Unfortunately, yes."

"Same here."

Their clothes were thrown off and fell into a heap on the floor somewhere in the midst of things. As soon as she felt his hands exploring the expanse of her back, Y/N gasped, her breath hitching in her throat. He took the opportunity to trail light kisses down her chest and neck, pausing whenever a gasp escaped her mouth to revel in the sound. Y/N ran her fingers through his hair, arching her back slightly as she felt him nip at her hip. "Bob, please…" She pleaded quietly, barely able to keep quiet, the heat building between them rising higher with every passing second.

He grinned against her skin as he bit down harder on her hip bone than before, eliciting a moan from her throat. "I know, I know," he murmured. "Let me savour you properly, darlin'. Then, you better believe I will make you scream my name like nobody's business."

"Oh god..."

It sounded more like a whimper than anything, and he chuckled against her and kissed his way along her stomach and down her thighs. The feeling of being touched so deliciously and tenderly was almost too much to bear. His hands travelled all over her, tracing patterns, caresses, even kisses, and then, finally, he found her sweet spot. One gentle swipe of his tongue, and she was clutching at his hair and arching upward, moaning loudly, begging him to give it a little more attention. 

"Yes, baby," he whispered against her skin. "I'll give it to you. But we're going to take it slow, darlin'. I promise," he reassured, and then, after getting comfy on his stomach, he dipped a single finger into her.

After all, Bob was a patient man. He waited for her to adjust to him first; to get used to how he touched her before he dared to move another centimetre, and, even if she was aching now, he would wait. He would try and ease her body back into the rhythm, slowly increasing his pace until it felt right, until she was screaming his name, till he got the reaction that he needed. 

Foreplay had always been his favourite part of intimacy, and this was no exception either. He was careful and gentle, giving her the chance to adjust to him and teasing her just enough for her toes to curl, until her brain was fuzzy and her heart was pounding, until she was falling deeper and deeper into the haze of passion, her fingers digging desperately into his scalp and her breaths shallow and rapid.

It was all in order to prolong the pleasure and, hopefully, cause her to come back another day for more. And, oh, did he intend to make that happen.

Who knows how long Bob spent with his head between Y/N's thighs, kissing and licking his way along the insides of her legs until the sensation became too much to bear? Tears were streaming down her cheeks, her moans turning into cries as she begged, "Bob, Bob, Bobby, please! Please! Fuck me! Need you, need your cock in me, fuck -"

And, oh boy, was she about to find out just how much he needed her too. The desperation in her voice spurred him on, making him lose control and finally give in. With a heavy, panting sigh, he slid deep into her, filling her perfectly with all he was, all she was, and all he could be. All they were together. 

The moment he started to move, she threw her head back and cried out his name in a hoarse voice, grasping his biceps with both hands as if they were life preservers. "That's it, baby, that's it," he breathed, pulling himself out once again and repeating the process over and over again. 

"You're doing such a good job, darlin', so very, very good..." he praised huskily and kissed the side of her neck repeatedly as he continued moving in her. "So, so good..."

Her nails dug painfully into his flesh, drawing small beads of blood from his body, and he gritted his teeth, pushing his weight down on her so she couldn't possibly move. She couldn't squirm away from him though; he was holding her too tightly. It was driving her crazy. 

With each thrust, Y/N's intelligence dropped until she was left as a sweaty, dumb mess beneath him, gasping and sobbing and pleading and cursing. "Oh, pretty girl," he smirked, burying his nose in her cheek. "You look so beautifully stupid right now. Am I fucking your brains out?"

It was a rhetorical question, but if it needed an answer, the way her eyes rolled to the back of her head as she came was the answer Y/N gave. She let out a silent scream of his name one final time as her walls clenched around Bob, squeezing tight, and tipped him over the edge too.

They lay there, in a tangled mess of limbs and sweat, listening to the sounds of their breathing fill the space around them.

"...Holy shit," Y/N breathed.

At the same time, their heads turned to make eye contact, and a laugh erupted from their lungs. Neither was able to stop giggling as they tried to calm themselves down and make sense of what had just happened. Slowly, Bob lifted himself and hopped out of bed.

"Where's your bathroom and kitchen?"

"Door opposite the bathroom; the kitchen is left of the living room." 

Within 2 minutes, he came back with a warm flannel and a bottle of water. He helped Y/N sit up, wiped the sweat from her forehead before cleaning up the mess down below, and then wrapped her in his arms as she rehydrated. 

"Can you pass me your phone?" she asked him, looking up towards him through half-closed eyes. Bob was quick to rifle through the pockets of his discarded jeans and hand her his phone. Y/N added her number to his phone and took a selfie of their post bliss faces to use as her contact picture. "You better not ghost me or you're dead meat, capiche?"

"I wouldn't dare to, darlin'," he chuckled, pressing a quick kiss to her lips. Well, it was supposed to be quick, but when he felt Y/N's hand come into contact with his jaw, stroking softly across his stubble, he lost any intention of stopping. He pressed his lips against hers hungrily, his other arm coming around her waist to pull her closer, and they kissed slowly, tenderly. 

When the morning came, their parting was bittersweet. Both of them were reluctant to leave, but Y/N had a job to go to, and Bob had already missed one of the lectures he was planning to go to. Plus, he had his first creative writing lecture - y'know, the one for the major he'd chosen - at lunch, and, as much as he wanted to be around Y/N, he didn't want to miss that lesson.

He knew it was silly to feel this way after one night, but he couldn’t help it. Y/N had a warmth about her that made him feel like he’d known her forever. He thought about texting her but decided against it, not wanting to come off as too eager.

Bob stepped into the classroom with a spring in his step, the remnants of a whirlwind night with Y/N still buzzing in his veins. The morning light filtered through the tall windows, casting a golden hue over the rows of desks, and for a brief moment, he felt invincible. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for him. As he slid into an empty seat, the door creaked open once more, and his heart nearly stilled in his chest. There she was — Y/N L/N. She strode in with an air of authority, her demeanour polished and professional, a stark contrast to the intimate whirlwind of the previous night. There was a flicker of recognition in her eyes as they locked, a spark of shared secrets that sent a rush of heat through him.

Her confidence radiated as she introduced herself to the class, her voice smooth like silk, but Bob caught that fleeting glint in her eyes whenever she looked in his direction. His mind raced, processing the surreal scenario: he had done what most frat boys only fantasise about—he had crossed that line and succeeded in banging his professor, all before the semester had even begun.

Bob tried to focus as she outlined the syllabus, yet every time she turned to face him or glanced away, his thoughts derailed. The air in the room felt charged with unspoken tension, a delicate dance of professionalism clashing against the wild intimacy they had shared. Her hair cascaded around her shoulders today, soft and inviting, and Bob's gaze inadvertently drifted toward her collarbones, and he caught a glimpse of faint marks that still lingered—a testament to their passionate night together. His heart thumped wildly as he fought to maintain his composure, a mix of pride and sheer disbelief bubbling within him. Could it really be that he was sitting in a class, learning from the very woman who had wrapped around him so tightly just hours before? 

As the class finally emptied, a rush of relief washed over him. He lingered, letting the last stragglers filter out, the echo of chairs scraping against the floor fading into the background. Bob stepped forward and approached her desk, the thrill of their secret coursing through his veins. “Well, this is a surprise,” he said, a grin spreading across his face, unable to contain the playful lightness of the moment.

Y/N chuckled, a delightful sound that danced in the air between them. She seemed to gather herself, a hint of embarrassment flickering across her features. “Yeah, I wasn’t expecting to see you here either. Small world.”

“Look, if this is going to be an issue, I can—”

“No, it’s fine,” she interrupted, her voice steady and assured. “We’re both adults. I see that you're actually enrolled in this class and not just auditing, and if this is the course you want and as long as we keep things professional, I don’t see a problem."

“Right. Totally professional,” he replied, the teasing lilt in his tone betraying the gravity of the situation. He couldn’t help the smirk that tugged at his lips, the memory of her beneath him fresh in his mind. "I guess I should wait until the end of the semester to ask you on a date."

“Probably for the best, yes,” she laughed, the sound rich and warm, her laughter drawing him closer despite the tension. Her eyes sparkled with playful defiance. Then she stood up straighter, a subtle shift that reminded him of the professional façade she wore so effortlessly. “Don’t think I’m going to go easy on you during class, by the way.”

“Good,” he shot back, his voice low and teasing. “Because I’m not exactly the type to settle for less than perfection.” 

The air thickened with unspoken promise, an electric connection that pulsated between them, holding the weight of their shared experiences. Bob felt alive in a way he hadn’t in years, invigorated by the thrill of the unexpected and the rush of possibilities. As he left the classroom, a smile plastered on his face, he felt the eyes of fate watching him. What had started as a night of reckless passion was transforming into a tangled web of feelings he was only beginning to understand. The world outside bustled with the chaos of students and faculty, but for Bob, the universe had narrowed down to one singular thought: he couldn’t wait for the semester to end.

She was an exceptional teacher, guiding discussions with a skill and insight that made literature come alive. He watched her command the room and admired the way she could turn a simple line of poetry into a profound discussion on life, love, and human nature. And every so often, he’d catch her looking at him with a hint of a smile, a glint in her eye that reminded him of their night at Ducky’s.

They developed an unspoken understanding, exchanging glances that held layers of meaning. He often stayed after class to ask questions, sometimes just to hear her talk. And though they kept their conversations professional, there was always a tension lingering beneath the surface, a shared recognition that they both wanted more. Sure, they’d agreed to boundaries, and Bob respected that, but he was counting down the days till he could hold and touch her again. Their amorous exchange had been a blip in the grand scheme of his life, and he was determined to expand it with no more delay than was necessary.

Fortunately for Bob, time went by in a flash. Thanks to his extensive study schedule, he was always busy. It was necessary. Whenever he slowed down, his brain would flash back to that night—her soft gasps, her sweet taste, their intertwined bodies, entangled in passion. Being busy ensured that he could wait it out, that he wouldn't interrupt his lecturer half way through her lesson to snog her face off, that he wouldn't get distracted, because he knew if he did, the day would take so long to come.

He had done a good job at suppressing his desires until one fateful library session. With only a few days left until all her students had to submit their writing portfolios, Y/N held a study session in the library to help them refine their work. This session wasn't anything unusual; it was simply a teacher helping her students prepare for the upcoming exam, and by the time they got to Bob's work, he'd completely forgotten that the subject of all of his poems and prose was her.

Obviously, some part of his brain understood that, yeah, she was his lecturer, so, duh, she'd have to read and analyse his work. Each student got a private 1-1 with Mrs. L/N (as the younglings knew her as) in one of the quiet rooms, and Bob was dreading his session. Whenever they had academic meetings, Y/N always saved Bob for last. He knew it was so he couldn't distract her halfway through her shift, but it always left him sat twiddling his thumbs in anticipation as he watched everyone else go before him.

Once it was his turn, he walked briskly toward the table, pulling out his chair and setting his folder down next to her. "Hi Y/N," he said breathlessly, his palms becoming clammy as he gripped the edge of the table. He forced himself to calm down as she peered at him curiously, her brow wrinkling slightly as she noticed the beads of perspiration forming along his forehead. 

"Hi." She reached out to wipe a bead away, a tender gesture that caused his insides to stir. "What's up?"

"Ah, nothing really, just… uh…" The words came out awkwardly, his mouth moving faster than his brain. He sighed heavily, attempting to push through his nerves. He leaned over the table towards Y/N, a goofy grin plastered on his face. "Can I ask a favor?"

"Of course."

"Can you pretend to not know that all of these poems are about you?" Bob asked shyly, gesturing to the papers. A slight flush coloured Y/N's cheeks, a coy smile curling onto her lips, and she tilted the folder so she could read what was inside.

Beneath cold waves and navy blues,  

He holds secrets in tight-lipped views.  

In cockpits, sky-bound, firm and sure,  

A warrior, honed, clean, and pure.  

But here, she breathes with ink-stained hands,  

Weaving worlds like soft, dark sands.  

Her voice, a rhythm, raw and deep,  

Stirs dreams he'd hidden, locked to keep.  

His uniform, his life’s firm chain,  

Feels lighter now with her in frame.  

Her words unfurl like silken thread,  

Untangling thoughts he'd left unsaid.  

In every story that she spins,  

He finds a place his heart begins.  

Though bound by orders, flight, and tide,  

For once, he feels alive inside.  

And as she speaks in gentle prose,  

A warmth inside him blooms and grows.  

The warrior leans close to learn,  

While letters smolder, pulse, and burn.

She flipped to the next page.

In shadows deep, where pages softly turn,  

A quiet soul with ink-stained hands does seek,  

The whispered call of words, where passions burn,  

A bookworm’s grace, her thoughts both pure and sleek.  

Her gaze is lost in realms of untold dreams,  

Each line a kiss upon her trembling lips,  

While I, entranced, watch every quiet gleam  

Of knowledge wrapped in the softest fingertips.  

Yet though her mind is bound to tomes she’s known,  

Her heart, like mine, still seeks what words can't say,  

For in her eyes, a warmth I’ve never grown,  

A yearning deep that pulls me in each day.  

Oh, let me trace the secrets she may keep,  

And in her world of words, my soul to steep.  

And the next.

In shadows deep where passion clings,  

I wait, as silent longing sings,  

For her whose touch once set aflame  

A heart now bound to her sweet name.  

She taught me words, but not the art  

Of keeping still my wild, torn heart,  

A glance, a breath, a fleeting kiss,  

And now the night is void of bliss.  

The fragrant pages know the tale,  

Of stolen hours where senses sail—  

Her lips, a promise, soft, divine,  

And every sin that calls her mine.  

But cursed be this love so frail,  

Where tender fingers weave a veil,  

For though the flame within me burns,  

Her absence leaves the world to churn.  

I ache to feel her near once more,  

To know the taste of that sweet lore,  

But now, I am but shadows cast,  

Forever bound to the lessons past.

And the next and next.

Then, when she raised her head to meet his gaze, she found his seat empty, the only sign of him being his jacket draped over the wooden back. With a sigh, she set the folder back on the desk with a small frown marring her features and went in search of him. It didn't take long before she made her way outside, as some of the younger ones had swore they saw Bob dart to get some fresh air. He hadn't made it far. 

In the purple of the evening, Bob sat on the bench right at the side of the building, staring blankly ahead. The sound of her approaching footsteps drew him away from his reverie, turning towards her with wide eyes, his face pale with shock and worry. Luckily, most students had already left campus or were cramming in the library, so despite the fact that they were out in the open, they had some semblance of privacy.

"Do you want comfort or space?"

"... I don't know." His voice trembled. “Both, maybe?” 

Y/N nodded in understanding and sat down beside him, not too close or too far apart, giving him the space to breathe and compose himself. He rested his elbows on his knees and stared at his feet, taking a moment before raising his eyes to hers.

"I'm not used to putting everything out there like that," he admitted quietly, running a hand through his hair anxiously. "I know that you know that I'm infatuated with you, but... well, now you know that I'm totally in love with you. Like, writing bad sonnets about you kind of love." 

"I quite liked your sonnet," she said with a reassuring smile, placing her hand atop his own gently as she offered him an encouraging squeeze. "Your poems were beautiful and heartfelt and full of so much emotion and passion that I was moved beyond words, and though it's currently irresponsible for me to say, the feeling is mutual."

He smiled bashfully in response, then turned his attention to her hand, studying the smooth skin, her graceful fingers, her delicate nails trimmed short and neat, and the silver ring on her finger shining brightly. Without thinking, his index finger ran across the surface of her hand, brushing the top of the ring with his thumb."Bobby," she murmured softly, turning her palm upward and allowing him to caress her skin. He did so slowly, reverently, as if it were something sacred and fragile, something which he may never have the pleasure to touch again if he weren't careful. 

Once he made contact, he began tracing circles around her wrist, following the lines of her veins and mapping the contours of her skin with featherlight touches, drawing shapes and words into her flesh wherever possible. She remained still and patient and silent, letting him draw as many hearts and roses as he wanted to let him calm himself down enough to speak again.

When his breathing eventually evened out somewhat, he lifted his hand from her arm and looked up at her again, smiling shyly. He brushed his knuckles against her cheekbone in greeting, and she giggled, her eyes crinkling and filling with mirth, before they both realised that maybe this wasn't the place for this amount of affection. "Sorry," he muttered, his cheeks flushing a deep crimson as he stood up hastily. "Um, let's go back inside?"

"Yeah, good idea."

Y/N had only taken two steps before Bob caught her wrist and tugged her back towards him. Before she had time to react, he yanked her body closer to him until their lips met and all thought flew out of her mind. Their lips collided in a hungry rush, tongues tangling together as if their lives depended upon it. Her hand clutched onto the front of his jacket while Bob's hand went to the back of her head, cushioning it so she wasn't concussed when he pushed her up against the cool brick wall of the library. Their kisses grew heavier and more frantic with each passing second, desperate and needy. 

Their chests pressed against each other tightly, leaving no room between them; their bodies moulding against each other with ease and familiarity like two halves of a whole. He gripped at her hips tighter than ever, pulling her impossibly closer and deeper into the kiss. Their mouths moved together feverishly, their tongues tangling with the taste of mint and salt and everything nice in the universe. They kissed and kissed until her back was flush against the wall, and her legs felt like jelly beneath her. 

The only thing that broke them apart was the signature chatter of her class quoting brainrot memes as they began to get closer and closer to the library exit. They stepped away from the wall reluctantly, trying hard to hide their flushed faces as they tried their best to calm themselves and gather their wits in the minute before they were found out. But it was hard when you could barely think straight.

As they walked, Y/N kept glancing towards him, her eyes full of questions, her lips curled into an amused grin. He knew exactly what she was asking: Are we really okay? He answered with a nod as he took a deep, cleansing breath.

“Hey everyone, I'm sure you're all going to do brilliantly. Please don't overwork yourself. Sleep. Stay hydrated. Eat. And, pretty please, don't worry too much! You've done the work, you got feedback to think about, and a whole semester of notes to fall back on," she instructed, giving a little wave as they passed by her class. "Good luck. Let me know if anything goes awry before next Friday and I will do my best to help you! 

With a last smile and a wave, they returned to the study room with the knowledge that they were truly alone in there. Only the librarian was there, reading a book behind the counter, her face devoid of its usual stern countenance as she snoozed in her chair. They had no plans to do anything salacious, not today anyway, but they didn't have to have that student/teacher pretence anymore. Today was just theirs, theirs to enjoy, and they could have an open and honest discussion about his poetry without having to ignore the context behind them.

Bob, his heart racing with a blend of joy and mischief, slid his arm around Y/N’s waist, pulling her closer as they strolled side by side. The world around them blurred into a backdrop as he pressed a tender kiss against the crown of her head, a gentle act of affection that sent a shiver of warmth cascading down her spine. “If I take you home and fuck you stupid again, will you give me extra credit?” he asked, his voice low and teasing, a playful glint dancing in his eyes.

Y/N’s eyes widened in mock outrage, her cheeks flushing a delicate shade of pink that could rival the evening sky. “Robert Floyd!” she exclaimed, delivering a playful punch to his shoulder, the impact barely registering through the haze of laughter enveloping them.

“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!” he laughed, his laughter infectious, echoing against the brick buildings surrounding them. But the teasing wasn’t done; he leaned in closer, a smirk playing on his lips. “Although...” he trailed off, leaving the words hanging in the air like a promise, and was rewarded with a flurry of soft hits from her.

He tightened his hold around her waist, stopping in his tracks and squeezing her tighter, their laughter mingling in a melody of youthful abandon. Y/N, unable to resist the magnetic pull between them, buried her face against his chest, the comforting rhythm of his heartbeat echoing in her ears, enveloping her in a cocoon of safety and warmth.

“Thanks to that comment, I’m going to give your assignment to another professor to grade,” she said, lifting her head to meet his gaze, her expression feigning seriousness, yet a spark of amusement lingered in her eyes.

Bob’s smirk widened, his confidence soaring. “That’s understandable. You are very, very biased towards me, ducky,” he replied, leaning forward to plant another quick peck on her lips, their mouths brushing together in a soft and intimate connection that set her heart racing.

“Oh, I am indeed,” she agreed, her voice a mock solemnity that was impossible to take seriously. With a playful tug on his hand, she continued, “Shall we go home so I can show you how biased I am?” The sultry tone slipped from her lips like honey, sweet and tempting, causing the tips of his ears to burn a bright crimson as he stole a glance at her.

Suddenly, he found himself in a rush—the desire to be alone with her, to explore the depths of their connection, propelling him forward. The thought of returning to her apartment filled with shared laughter, whispered secrets, and the thrill of their newfound intimacy made his heart race.

As they weaved through the familiar streets, the golden light of the sun dipped lower, casting long shadows on the pavement, each step taking them closer to their sanctuary. Bob felt like he was walking on air, buoyed by the weight of Y/N’s presence beside him. With every shared glance, every soft touch, he was reminded of the warmth and brightness she had brought into his life, a light that pierced through the fog of his worries and anxieties.

Weeks turned into months, and when the semester finally commenced and all the assignments had been graded, a wave of euphoria washed over Bob. He learnt that Y/N’s lecturer friend had awarded him a high score, a testament to his growth and effort, and in that moment, he felt like he was soaring through the skies in his beloved F/A-18F Super Hornet. 

Bob cradled the subject of his poetry in his thoughts every morning, realising she was not just a muse but his sun itself, illuminating every dark corner of his mind and guiding him through the clouds of uncertainty. The world was suddenly a canvas painted with their shared moments, laughter echoing in the hallways of his heart, and he knew he would do anything to keep that light shining brightly.

*Click here for my Bob Floyd masterlist (including Rhett Abbott and Miles Miller), or here for the entire masterlist*

Wanna be added to a taglist? Either comment on this post or send me a message!

taglist: @kpopgirlbtssvt @adriansboyfriend

[haetrack]

mark couldn’t help it. he couldn’t help but to place his hand over his pants, palming himself when the only thing racing through his mind was how pretty u looked today, ordering a coffee from the cafe that he worked at. he thinks about how u pursed ur lips, reading the menu in concentration, the way ur chest heaved up and down when u came running into the store, escaping the rain. a groan catches in his throat, knowing that this was so wrong, getting off to someone he’s never even talked to, but oh god did it feel so right when his hands slipped past his waistband, fingers curling around himself. the outline of his hardening dick was too prominent thanks to the plaid pyjama pants he wore. he bit his lip, inhaling deep breaths as his hand started stroking himself. he remembers the spark he felt when ur hands brushed his as u handed him ur credit cared, he imagined it was ur hands that were rubbing against his skin right now, ur hands that were playing with the warm pre-cum that was dripping out of his swollen tip. the little voice in the back of his head was still telling him that it wasn’t too late to stop, but all he could hear was how silky smooth ur voice was ordering a drink, he wished he could listen to all the pretty sounds u would make if he was buried inside u. his pace quickens at this fantasy, imagining that he was fucking u right now, not his right hand. groaning at the thought of how good he would feel surrounded by ur warmth, his hips thrusting up into his fist harder and faster. his grip tightens when he remembers how ur white tshirt had gone slightly see through from the rain, how he must’ve been the only one who had the honour to see the traces of ur blue lace bra before u threw a crewneck on top. he couldn’t help but smile at the fact that u were wearing his favourite colour. his deep breathing now morphing into shallow whines with how long the pleasure has been building up inside. it’s the thought of ur pure, innocent smile that pushes him over the edge. the orgasm causing a string of swears being grunted out. his hips sputtering at the thought of cumming all over ur sweet face. his hands continue stroking, milking himself for everything he has. the clarity starts to settle and shame creeps over him at that fact that he really did just get off to a total stranger. but the shame didn’t last long when he discovers that none of his cum spilled and he doesn’t have to change his sheets, grateful for the fact that he was so horny, he didn’t even bother to take off his pants.

ngl smoothie dance practice mark has me in such a chokehold i had three other scenarios i started writing for him but they were all getting SO long i had to stop myself 🧍‍♂️ mark pls hmu i want u so bad 🙏

- 🌱

GODDDDD WHY MEEEE... perv mark who doesn't even realize he's being a little perv... i need him. 🌱 anon get in line bc i need him FIRST!!!!!

he would tell himself it wouldn't matter that he got off to you. it was probably just a one time thing that you came to the coffee shop he worked at. if he doesn't have to see you, it doesn't matter that he came in his pants because he'll probably never see you again anyways.

except, there you are again, pretty smile on your face as you enter the cafe. you're not drenched this time, but you are wearing a low-cut top. you're quick to order this time, same order as last time. mark tries so hard not to stare too hard at your chest, but when you hand him your card, he takes a moment too long to grab it, too busy staring at you. you clear your throat, and you're met with a sheepish look as his face turns red.

he's trying hard not to mess up your order, hands fumbling all around in embarrassment. he's also trying very hard not get a boner at his job where quite literally anyone can see him. when he calls out your order, he swears that your hand lingers on his for a while, and he swears it's on purpose. he watches you walk away, saying goodbye to him as you go about your day.

he waves goodbye to you. although he said it was a one time thing, he might just have to fuck his fist again tonight because of you.

[lieslab]

Cake pops and coffee

꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎ ꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎

Pairing: Changbin X gn reader

Summary: After starting a new job at a bookstore, the barista working on the opposite side manages to capture your heart with his good looks and infectious laughter.

Genre: Fluff

Word Count: 2.3K

_ _ _

“It’s just a silly little crush and that’s all.” 

When you told your best friend that you started to catch feelings for the barista at your job, you were sure it’d be over before it truly started. Crushes were simple like that. Whether it’s attraction or your heart pittering because of their personality, they go away with time. In the meantime, you’re stuck attempting not to make a fool out of yourself and a fool you were. There was no word that described you better. 

When you applied for a job at the bookstore in the next town over, you were holding your breath. You needed a new job and what job sounded better than being surrounded by some of the things you loved? Every story was a new adventure and every new adventure meant new knowledge. 

How many times have you pulled knowledge from stories? How many times have you found your favorite niches and craved more? There was just so much to learn and so many lives to live hidden between pages. 

Life isn’t perfect, it has ups and downs, but books help. Escapism helps keep you content. This job was just an added bonus. A discount on all your favorite books. During down time, you found yourself pulling out a book and skimming through page after page. 

Your second week on the job was when you met Changbin. Changbin was one of few baristas that switched places behind the side coffee bar. A large counter spanned nearly ten feet. Day after day, he’d spend his time tucked behind the counter with a black apron. Curly raven hair sat tucked behind his ears. Matching thick-rimmed glasses slid from his nose every now and then. You couldn’t help, but sneak glances during your shift. 

How could you not? He was quite a distance away, but his laughter was still loud enough to reach your ears. The captivating sound always made you bite your lip. There was something so jubilant and jolly about it. It wasn’t supposed to make you laugh, but it was contagious. 

Oftentimes, you found yourself turning around and letting a smile fill your face. Your heart raced in your chest and as much as you wanted to approach the man with infectious laughter and charming smile, you couldn’t. What were you supposed to say anyway? 

If you could manage to muster up the courage to speak, you knew your words would become tangled. Looking into those dark eyes, your heart would likely burst upon the spot. So instead, you stayed to yourself. 

You spent shifts sneaking glances and trying to figure out how to approach him, but you couldn’t. No matter what you tried to do, the courage wasn’t there. You couldn’t find the words to say. Your cheeks would turn red and you’d lose your words before you could start. 

As the days went by, you accepted that you’d just be two people working at a joint bookstore and cafe. Two people orbiting around each other like a planet and a moon; always there, but just out of grasp. It sucked, but you could manage to live with that knowledge.

Just as you were about to fully accept it, something changed one day. A few books slammed down onto your counter as you were reading on a stool. Off to the side, your eyes peeked over the edge of the book. You started to get up, ashamed that you hadn’t realized someone was approaching the counter, and that’s when you saw him. 

Your brain went into overdrive. The book fell from your fingers, hit the edge of the counter, and slipped onto the floor. A look of embarrassment passed over his face as he reached back and scratched the back of his neck. 

“I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I like that book you’re reading, by the way. I read that book a few months back and really enjoyed it. I’ve seen you around here, but I’ve never introduced myself formally. I’m Changbin and I’m one of the baristas.” 

The bug-eyed look of shock didn’t leave your face. His eyebrows furrowed and a frown began to replace his smile. “Are you okay? Did you get to that one part of the book? Maybe I should check out another time.” 

“No, no, no!” You jerked upright from the stool and shook your head. “Sorry, I just-” You shut your eyes with a sigh. “I got too wrapped up in my book. I should be the one apologizing.” 

“Perhaps, we’re just both nervous about speaking to one another?” He offered with a half-smile. 

Your cheeks flushed red as you tugged his stack of books towards you. “Yeah, something like that. It’s nice to meet you though. Are you getting these all for yourself?” 

“I’ve gotta put that twenty percent employee discount to good use, right? I thought it was the perfect way to talk to you. I keep hoping you come over to order coffee or tea or a muffin, but you never do. So I decided to make the first move.” 

“And for that, I’m grateful.” 

The chemistry between the two of you was natural from the start. Despite the thought that you’d screw things up, you managed to pull it off. The more you talked to him, the easier it became. That was just the start of things until the next day. 

Changbin’s back was turned as he steamed milk for a latte. He took his time letting the milk turn into a foamy substance before he reached for the disposable cup of coffee. After pouring it, he popped the lid on and turned back to the guy ahead of you. 

“Alright, here you go. One latte straight from the source. The coffee beans were ground fresh and the cows were happy to provide extra flavor. Just please remember that this is hot coffee.”

The scent of fresh ground coffee was something you’d never get over. It lingered over the entire bookstore and hung in the air. Even after hours, the scent of sharp coffee hung around like a ghost. 

You watched the guy walk away before your eyes met Changbin’s. A smile stretched across his face and he gestured you closer. “And what can I get for my fellow co-worker?” 

“Do you always warn customers that the coffee is hot? Even after they watch you pour the espressos and steam milk?” 

“I’m a man of many talents and my customer’s health is my number one priority. I also warn the iced drinkers that their beverage is cold. I don’t even serve customers banana nut muffins until I’m positive they’re not allergic to walnuts.” 

As your grin grew, he spun around to grab a towel from a nearby golden hook, gave it a light whip, and used it to wipe off the metal milk steamer handle. “So what’ll it be?” He called over his shoulder. “Something hot or cold? Perhaps, you’re more of a tea drinker? We have herbal teas if you’re into that.” 

Your eyes went up to scan the small menu above his head. Even after working here for a while, you didn’t know the full menu. Occasionally, customers brought their drinks up with them to check out books, but you didn’t pay much attention. 

“Um.”

“We don’t serve ums here, unfortunately.” 

“Very funny.” 

“Don’t have that either.” 

A playful scowl filled your face and you rolled your eyes. He let out a giggle and your heart melted right there. It dripped onto the floor and you fell harder. 

“If you don’t know, just tell me what you like and I can make you a surprise drink.” 

“Sure, let’s do that.” 

“Size?” 

“Medium.”

“A large it is.” 

“You’re very funny.” 

“I know.” 

And so you began to list off an array of drinks you liked. He nodded and grabbed a cup while beginning to use his magic to pull together your drink. You watched every small movement he made. From the way he scooped ice into the cup to how he did a little dance after pouring in milk without spilling it everywhere. 

You were utterly captivated and couldn’t help your feelings. When he finished, he held it out to you. “How much do I owe you?” Your fingers stretched out to grab the cup from him. 

“Every barista employee can get one free drink of their choosing on their shift, so consider this a welcome gift from me to you.” 

“But-” 

“I know you gave me a fifty percent discount on my books yesterday. Consider this a thank you for that. Go ahead and take it, your magic potion awaits you.” He gave your drink a light shake and you smiled. 

You grabbed it and when you did, your fingers brushed over one another. Electricity ran up your arm and jolted straight to your heart. When your grip almost slipped. Changbin’s other hand suddenly wrapped around your fingers. 

“Woah, don’t let go. This is an iced matcha latte. There’s no way the green wouldn’t stain your shirt. Do your fingers work or do you need me to hold it for you?” 

Your cheeks went red again as you tried to find the words. A scrambled weak apology shot out and he laughed again. “I’m just giving you a hard time. Accidents happen, you know. You’re really fun to tease.” 

And so the friendship began. The two of you started to sync your breaks together. If you didn’t, you visited one another on breaks. Changbin would sneak around the counter as you checked people out. 

He’d make small talk with you between talking to the customers about their books. For some, he’d ask about their purchases. While others checked out, he’d question their choices beneath his breath. It was low enough that the customer couldn’t hear, but you could. You kept having to bite your tongue to keep the giggles at bay. 

On your break, you’d usually slink off to one of the three bar stools against the counter. You’d slump forward on your elbows with your chin in your hands. You’d watch Changbin work and flawlessly joke and impress the customers. 

You wanted more, but you were content with this. Feelings could be difficult and as much as you wanted a closer relationship, the idea of destroying this routine killed you. You liked your job, the employee discount, and you liked your co-worker. Maybe a slice of heaven did exist and you found it here on earth. 

“Okay, okay, okay. Don’t get mad at me, but I’ve gotta ask this. It’s coming from a deep loving place.” 

After seven months of your job and countless interactions with Changbin, you glanced up at his words curiously. You were on your favorite center bar stool and eating a vanilla cake pop covered in sprinkles. Changbin was wiping down the counters and cleaning up after his shift. 

The two of you were utterly alone. People came and went, but not you. Your boss had grown to trust you enough to give you a key to the building. You already locked the front door, so nobody could come in. You’d unlock it to leave and then relock it after the two of you left. 

“Have you been getting any sleep lately?” 

“Obviously.” 

“Well, excuse a guy for asking!” He put a hand to his heart in a teasing offensive manner. “Can’t I be worried about you?” 

“Nope.” 

He sighed and tipped his head back. “You look tired, that’s all.” 

“I’m always tired.” 

“Have you had nightmares or something lately?” 

You shook your head. 

“Seriously?” His eyes narrowed. 

“Seriously. What about you? Any nightmares?” 

“No.” 

You glanced down and shifted the stick in your hand. “Any good dreams?” You took another bite of the mixture and chewed. 

“Well, I had this one dream, but I wish it would be reality.” 

“Really?” 

“Yeah.” 

“What was it about?” 

“You.” 

You paused while chewing and blinked. “It was about me?” Your voice raised a pitch. “What about me?” 

“We were just like this. I was cleaning up and you were eating a cake pop. The two of us were alone without any pesky customers or prying eyes. Just you and me and me and you.” 

“Oh?” You swallowed with a faint gulp. 

He left the towel on the counter and walked in your direction. His hands found the edge of the counter and he leaned closer towards you. Your cake pop was half-raised to your mouth, but that didn’t stop him. 

“What are yo-” 

He didn’t respond. He grabbed your hand and pushed the cake pop away from your mouth. Leaning forward, he gently pressed his lip against yours. Your eyes shut and your body responded instantly. 

The cake pop left your fingers and hit the floor. You ignored it as you shifted and got closer to him. His hand came beneath your chin and gently grabbed it. A holy choir screamed in your brain. 

When he pulled away, a string of saliva followed. He reached up, lightly brushing his thumb over your bottom lip. Your breath caught in your chest as your eyes met again. Blush stained your cheeks, but you couldn’t utter a word. 

“Thanks for that. You should clean up the cake pop now. That’s on your side of the store and not mine.” 

“But what was that for?” 

“I was just making my dream a reality.” 

You watched him speechlessly as he turned around with a cackle. Your eyes stayed on his back and replayed the moment in your head. The entangled mixture of vanilla cake pop and coffee sat on your lips. So many words remained unspoken, but you already knew what was happening. 

Something was brewing between the two of you and it wasn’t just coffee. 

| ♡.﹀﹀﹀﹀.♡ | ♡.﹀﹀﹀﹀.♡ | ♡.﹀﹀﹀﹀.♡ |

Taglist: @lina-linny @straykidsstanforeverandever @seungnishi @stellasays45

Masterlist

Taglist and inbox rules

[nordickies]

Nordictalia Fanfiction Masterpost

Hello, hello! I recently asked people to send me their Nordic 5-centric fanfiction recommendations, and I ended up getting so many good suggestions that I figured I'd compile them all into a single master post! Thank you so much to everyone who participated; this is exactly what I was looking for <3

All linked fanfictions are recommended by people in my inbox, I haven't read them all (yet). I'm willing to update this list if more recommendations come my way!

I decided to share this list because I have seen other people on the desperate lookout for new fics to read. Hopefully, this list will serve you well, too!

─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Oneshots (<10K)

Sticky notes by MilyV wc: 732 || rating: G || pairings: SuFin || completed Soulmates AU summary: AU. If you had the chance, would you communicate with your soulmate through sticky notes? Tino wasn't really sure about it but he decided to try it anyway. Fishermen & drowning sailors prompt by @saltcove wc: ~800 || rating: Not Rated || pairings: DenNor || completed Fantasy AU summary: pairing: denmark/norway / theme: fishermen & drowning sailors SuNor oneshot by @norgetalia wc: ~900 || rating: Not Rated || pairings: SuNor || completed Nationverse summary: Inspired by this post by nordickies! I love writing SuNor… mmmm stoic old men exes who are secretly in love >:) Linger by islande wc: 1,207 || rating: T || pairings: NorEst || completed Paranormal AU summary: Estonia sees ghosts from his past. They linger in the corner of his eyes, always watching. People who cared for him, people he cared for in return. Even strangers—men, women, and children whom he had never seen while they lived—appear before him. But Norway cares for him now, and Estonia is glad to care for him for as long as he will accept it. Beowulf by @balladofthewhitehorse wc: ~1,400 || rating: Not Rated || pairings: Eng & Swe || completed Nationverse summary: One of the earliest mentions of Sweden in old English literature comes in the form of the epic poem of Beowulf ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Coffee and Piano Keys by @scarlettlillies wc: 1,545 || rating: G || pairings: DenEst || completed Human AU summary: Christian is a busy construction worker who's a social butterfly, Eduard is a pianist who's tickets aren't selling. Everything started with just a cup of coffee. Knight's Ghost by RosieTheRo wc: 1,550 || rating: G || pairings: SuFin || completed Paranormal AU summary: Musician Tino Väinäm��inen is interviewed for a television show, and has a strange story to tell. Inspired by the show "Celebrity Ghost Stories." Slight SuFin. First-person monologue. // cw: Major Character Death Make Me Laugh by bwinkbear wc: 1,594 || rating: G || pairings: DenFin || completed Nationverse summary: Valentine's Day in the States isn't quite what Tino is used to, but at least his delivery driver likes dogs. The Librarian Aide's Tale by Fintastica wc: 2,142 || rating: G || pairings: Ame & Liet, Den & Nor || completed Harry Potter AU summary: Lukas Bondevik, or, the struggles of dealing with people Kärringkånk - Or Not by Kono10 wc: 2,521 || rating: G || pairings: SuFin, DenNor || completed Nationverse summary: Finland and Estonia compete in the "Wife-Carrying" competition every year which makes Sweden very jealous. So, after a few drinks, he marches all the way across the Baltic to get his lover back, but he ends up going the wrong way to Denmark's front door instead. Will his friends comfort him in his time of emotional need? Highly unlikely.. Fireflies by @darcymariaphoster wc: 2,534 || rating: T || pairings: SuNor || completed Human AU summary: It started and ended on a summer night, before Berwald goes off to college. But apparently neither forgot, and a more or less chance meeting at a cafe some 20 years later reignites a spark they almost let disappear. [Late Night Vibes/High School prompts for SuNorWeek2022 on tumblr] the shore by phyripo wc: 3,000 || rating: G || pairings: Nyo!DenEst || completed Fantasy AU, Mermaid AU summary: Helle has always loved the sea, loves living this close to it, despite the dangers that come with the situation. The air is always sharper here than inland, carrying with it cold from the east, the smell of salt or faraway forests. The sea brings stories that no one would ever hear otherwise. And sometimes, the sea brings wandering mermaids. My Caoineag by @darcymariaphoster wc: 4,148 || rating: T || pairings: ScotNor || completed Fantasy AU summary: The waves should have taken him, but fate had other ideas. Sigurd instead found himself entangled with a creature who could not know kindness, and yet only showed kindness to him. [loosely ScotNor] ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Alternative Universes (AUs)

With Flowers by orphan_account wc: 2,170 || rating: G || pairings: DenNor, SuFin || completed Flower Shop AU summary: What was not normal was the blonde man shoving the door open, panting and red faced. Lukas stood up abruptly, before the man looked up, eyes locking on him. "How do you say 'screw you' with flowers?" Reverie Of The North by @eveistdiepommes wc: ~4,000 || rating: Not Rated || pairings: SuFin || work in progress Fantasy AU summary: ROTN: We Were Tasked With Slaying the Demon Prince takes place in a medieval/fairytale/fantasy setting. Magic is ever present, beasts and creatures roam the forests, and while peace is happily maintained in the northern kingdoms, a new threat looms over the horizon. Word has spread of ferocious, terrifying armies of dark beings attacking kingdoms and leaving civilians fleeing their homes. The only kingdoms with enough time and resources to assemble a plan are the ones high up, the ones who haven’t been affected… yet. The Kingdoms of Frost, Shadows, Mystery, Isolation, and Life must band together and find the root of the issue. Good thing the princes from each kingdom are childhood best friends! Your Guardian Ghosts by @darcymariaphoster wc: 7,253 || rating: T || pairings: NorFin || completed Paranormal AU summary: Emil has always seen things -- ghosts and the like. The problem is, they're never nice things, and so he's refused to admit that he sees anything at all. But as his life changes, he may have to admit defeat. [A story of spooks and hauntings and healing for tumblr's 2022 Hetaween event.] // cw: major character death ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Espresso Kiss by @darcymariaphoster wc: 10,094 || rating: T || pairings: NorFin || completed Human AU summary: Lukas has run this cat cafe for the past three years and he's never had any problems. Until now -- two weeks before Christmas, his friends all show up for a big get-together and he's supposed to get an inspection right before the holiday hits. Maybe he'd be able to handle it, if his ex wasn't also going to be there, and if he hadn't just brought in a new batch of kittens, one of which seems absolutely hellbent on escaping. Or, maybe not so much escaping as pushing people together… Diamond Glints on Snow by Ludwiggle73 wc: 11,574 || rating: T || pairings: DenNor, SuFin || completed Fantasy AU summary: Mikkel sets off on a quest to save an old friend and ends up finding a new perspective as well. // cw: Major Character Death Not With Haste by @snark-sniper wc: 12,109 || rating: G || pairings: DenNor || completed Nobility AU summary: In a world where literacy is restricted to the upperclass, Mathias finds his soulmate's first words to him written on his forearm. Lukas doesn't. ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

folly of men by @brokskar wc: 15,689 || rating: T || pairings: DenNor || completed Human AU summary: Losing his job is not something that Mathias is particularly happy about. But it leads him back to Lukas, an old friend he lost touch with years ago. A lot has changed throughout the years, and as Mathias learns more about Lukas, he realizes there's more to learn about himself, too. The Best Bakery In The City by Peanutsfan1 wc: 33,439 || rating: T || pairings: DenNor, SUFin, HongIce || completed Human AU, Crime AU summary: Mathias Køhler was feeling quite confident. The week started with his Captain approaching him with the best case, an undercover mission to investigate the crime organisation run by the Bondevik family. Turns out this case isn't as simple as Mathias thought. As he keeps running into obstacles, he has to deal with the ever-present fear that he will be found out. Can he take down this criminal organisation without being discovered? And is Lukas Bondevik as terrifying as he let's on? Read My Lips by Terra Saltt wc: 36,782 || rating: T || pairings: SuFin || completed Superpower AU summary: Tino enjoys the comfort of a quiet library and dreaming minds when he picks up on the charming thoughts of a perfect stranger. Has Berwald found someone that can fully understand him, even when he is silent? MindReader!Tino x Deaf!Berwald AU ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Nationverse

Words and Broken Tables by Liradawn wc: 475 || rating: T || pairings: SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: "I thought I would love you forever. But forever is a long time to be wrong." SuFin angst, written for the kink meme. Reviews will always be much loved! The Birch tree by @caffinatedstory wc: ~800 II rating: Not Rated II pairings: none II completed Nationverse summary: It’s not a pretty sight that greets his eyes. His uniform is ripped and worn. Pale and washed out from far too much exposure to the outdoors. Scars are visible all over his chest. Deep grooves and soft lines of pink mar his pale skin. But scars are nothing new. Scars do not cause him pain. // cw: gore Two Oceans by @caffinatedstory wc: 934 || rating: G || pairings: Nor & Ice || completed Nationverse summary: "What's love?" Iceland enquires with a curious gaze up at his brother. The question seems to take Norway by surprise. The previous 30-50 questions Iceland had asked today had been more about why grass was green and the sky blue. Norway wasn't prepared for this sort of stuff. He'd gotten away with blaming the gods for a lot of stuff too, but he didn't think that would work now. Selfoss by @scarlettlillies wc: 1,346 || rating: G || pairings: Swe & Ice || completed Nationverse summary: During a trip to see the northern lights near the Icelandic town of Selfoss, Sweden couldn’t shake off the feeling that he was being watched. Yesterday by @scarlettlillies wc: 1,450 || rating: G || pairings: Nyo!DenEst || completed Nationverse summary: It was the final day of their brief holiday in Hiiumaa. Even though Estonia assures her that they will be back again soon, it's not enough. Denmark was tired of going home alone. Change by @ifindus wc: 2,515 || rating: G || pairings: SuNor || completed Nationverse summary: Norway is not happy with being traded around like a piece of property and he is certainly not happy with his new "boss" ; Sweden. Over the years, his opinion does not change, but their personal relationship just might. Brushstrokes by yuuago wc: ~3,100 || rating: G || pairings: SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: When Sweden had commissioned the portraits, he had meant it only as a token of affection; he hadn't thought there would be a time when he'd see Finland's portrait more often than Finland himself. ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Ástin mín by @i-am-a--lionheart wc: 3,941 II rating: M II pairing: SuNor II completed Nationverse summary: At the End of Kalmar, nothing keeps Sweden around but Norway. As he asks him to leave the union, the words between them stay soft and gentle, but hearts are torn apart anyways. // cw: Graphic Depictions Of Violence. Major Character Death Siblings and Quibblings by @95jezzica wc: 4,587 || rating: G (K) || pairings: none || completed Nationverse summary: Multiple fics dedicated to sibling idiocy. xD - [Ch1, Punchline: Norway goes to the market and leaves Sweden with the task of keeping Denmark out of trouble. In hindsight that was a stupid idea.] - [Ch5, Parenting is Warranting: There was no rush, and so Sweden could afford to let Sealand n Ladonia finish thinking what was on their minds. In hindsight, this had been a mistake.] xD Those Easy Days by kosame wc: 5,409 || rating: M || pairings: DenNor || completed Nationverse summary: He may not have his memories, but he has a good, simple life, until two strangers come to town and destroy his quiet equilibrium. The Butterfly I Keep in the Pocket of my Shirt by @randomw07 wc: 5,501 || rating: G || pairings: none || completed Nationverse summary: In Norway, he doesn't so much question his sexuality as realise it has a name. Snippets of Love by @95jezzica wc: 8,499 || rating: G (K+) || pairings: SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: Multiple snippets of various genres and SuFin's love for each other. [Ch1: Not Leaving. -Sweden has to be insane if he thinks Finland is about to leave him wounded and alone in the middle of a blizzard.] - [Ch10: Just Trust - Free Falling. - "Trust is a must in relationships, but sometimes Finland takes trust falls a little TOO literally for Sweden's and Estonia's liking."] xD ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Waiting for Sunshine in Tallinn by A_Virtuous_Pyromaniac wc: 10,207 || rating: T || pairings: SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: The year is 1974. From fraternal obligation, Finland takes a ferry across the Iron Curtain to pay Estonia a Christmas visit. Soviet Estonia might seem closed-off and static, but change is rippling beneath the surface. A mostly-serious historical fic about Estonian/Finnish relations during the Soviet occupation Five Loves for Berwald Oxenstierna by coeurgie wc: 17k+ || rating: M || pairings: DenSu, SuNor, SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: From Björn of the ætt Steirnung to Lord Berwald Oxenstierna to Papa, one thing has stayed the same: Sweden loves. / Sweden/OFC, Sweden/Denmark, Sweden/Finland, Sweden/Norway, Papa!Sweden Sealand. Historically accurate. Author's note inside with more. Ystävänpäivä by orphan_account wc: 17,410 || rating: M || pairings: SuFin, RusFin, NorFin || completed Nationverse summary: It's February 14th, and in honor of Friendship day, Finland has sent out cards to every nation he has an embassy in. It's just too bad that most countries do not view this particular day as a day to celebrate friendship. Why Iceland Can Speak Arabic by Klokkenspel wc: 23,429 || rating: T || pairings: none || completed Nationverse summary: He didn't think this visit would be different from the others, as his people were doing quite well, after all. He probably should have paid more attention to those ships on the horizon, but there was little room for regret when your hands are tied and you're taken aboard on a voyage to who-knows-where. Iceland is kidnapped by Barbary pirates. Norway comes to the rescue. Based off the Turkish Abductions of 1627. // cw: kidnapping Once a Family by Simana wc: 28,638 || rating: G || pairings: none || completed Nationverse summary: Once a family, always a family. Nordic story, Denmark-centric. Five times Denmark was there for his family, and one time his family was there for him. No slash. Originally posted on FF.net. Lif & Lifthrasir by @snark-sniper wc: 39,387 || rating: T || pairings: HongIce || completed Nationverse summary: On May 10, 1940, Iceland is occupied by England; per tradition, the personification of Iceland is brought to London to live in England's household. An Asian colony greets him at the door. (A story of coming of age in quarantine.) // cw: WW2 Healing by messe_jesse wc: 40,680 || rating: Not Rated || pairings: Dennor, SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: It's the end of World War II. The Nordics, after not being together for six years, are living together again under the same roof. It's tough, and all they want to do is go back to normal. But how do you go back to normal after seeing nothing but death, destruction and fear for six years? The chapters after the prologue are the same events but in different point of views so there's some repetition, but it's to show how everybody is processing events differently. The prologue is a bit heavy with the history and there's no dialogue, but the rest of the story has a lot more going on! Also, I apologize if any of my history is incorrect!! I did my best with research. // cw: WW2, PTSD ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Multichapters (+50K)

Apartment 43 by @lumassen wc: 56,867 || rating: T || pairings: DenNor || completed Human AU summary: Sigurd is a single parent to Emil, and they've just moved in to a new apartment complex for a fresh start. Mads, their neighbour below them in Apartment 33 becomes friends with them over time, and he realises that he can help Sigurd in more ways than one. While he figures out what he wants to do with his life, Mads not only forms a friendship with Sigurd, but with little Emil too. Under the North Star by Embrose wc: 66,327 || rating: T || pairings: SuFin, DenNor || completed Human AU summary: Tino Väinämöinen lives in the farthest reaches of Lapland, scraping together a living and keeping himself sane through painting. He ran away from his past, but cast himself into loneliness and darkness. But his quiet living is interrupted, when a Swedish giant Berwald Oxenstierna comes into his life and gradually pulls Tino back into the light. But eventually Tino's past catches up to him… Sendlingur og Sandlóa by @pyrrhocorax wc: 74,037 || rating: T || pairings: SuNor, EstFin, (queerplatonic) DenNor and SuFin (romantic) || completed Nationverse summary: During an average summer in modern day, the Nordics meet up in the countryside for a long vacation to relax together. However, with hundreds of years of history between them, old memories get dredged up, both bad and good. Sendlingur og Sandlóa is a story about perspective, of loss and longing, the temperamental nature of both life and human relationships, and family. (Aromantic asexual Iceland, queerplatonic SuNor and EstFin, romantic DenNor and SuFin. Centered around DenNorIce as a family unit but includes other relationships as well. And honestly, even though this is my intent, you can freely interpret the relationships however you see fit and I actively encourage you to do so if you'd like.) Top Secret by VyraFinn wc: 76,001 || rating: T || pairings: DenNor, SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: Iceland thought that his life would return to normal once he finished the studies in Copenhagen. Unfortunately, he wasn’t right about that, and a bet made with Norway gives him whole new set of problems. Can he survive the Norwegian military training and find the spy before it is too late? There is also something strange going on with Denmark and Norway, but Iceland is not even sure if he wants to know more about that. Sequel to Higher Education. Mise en Scène by @brokskar wc: 77,013 || rating: M || pairings: DenNor || completed Human AU summary: As a screenwriter, Lukas wants to tell the truth about the world; that it's messy, unkind, and complicated. He's also desperate for a way out of the home situation he's stuck in. As a director, Mathias is trying to take back control of the life he lost sight of two years ago. He's looking for an escape from the messy, unkind, and complicated world that Lukas is so adamant on recreating. As members of the same film group, they both have their own ideas and ambitions when it comes to making their new movie, and neither one of them are particularly interested in letting the other get in their way. Stories Through the Years by Ikikuka wc: 79,541 || rating: M || pairings: SuFin || work in progress Nationverse summary: Short, and sometimes a little bit longer, stories from the North. Finland's and Sweden's journey from the past to this day from their respective perspectives. Gutters by glassamilk wc: 98,149 || rating: M || pairings: Den & Sea || completed Apocalypse AU summary: 'The Calamity' has left the world stripped and dying. Alone in a civilian bunker in Munich, Sealand will be reunited with the last known living member of his surrogate family and together, they will set out across Europe to find those they have lost. // cw: Major Character Death ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Higher Education by VyraFinn wc: 99,845 || rating: T || pairings: DenNor, SuFin || completed Nationverse summary: After a brief argument with his boss Iceland finds himself to be enrolled in to a master program in University of Copenhagen. Not only he is a nation but now he should somehow survive the student life and keep it all secret from his family. Good thing Denmark never notices anything, right? A Kingdom to Fall by @darcymariaphoster wc: 150,275 || rating: M || pairings: Nordic polycule || work in progress Fantasy AU summary: The Väinämöinen family is dead. That's the news that sparks the building of a new and vast kingdom, one that promises to rival even the most powerful kingdoms in Europe. It's not the way Sigurd had imagined meeting any of his soul partners, under political terms and conditions. But here he is -- with three other men, conspiracy, and more personal challenges than he'd ever thought one could handle. All he'd wanted was to be King. // cw: Graphic Depictions Of Violence. Major Character Death Take a Chance on Me by Hetart wc: 183,443 || rating: Not Rated || pairings: DenNor || completed Human AU, High School AU summary: When Lukas moved in with his grandparents next door, Mathias immediately knew they would be the best of friends. For the most part, this prediction was correct. But as the years pass and the two grow older, Mathias learns that life is rarely as simple as it seems when you are six years old and with a heart full of stars. Or. A story of two boys who, against all odds, will find each other every time. Once in 19th century by VyraFinn wc: 203,195 II rating: M II pairings: DenNor, SuFin II work in progress Nationverse summary: Denmark has fallen, Norway has been taken away, and Iceland… Iceland is all alone. Thrown into a life of great changes and discoveries, he has to figure out what it really means to grow up. Independent, stand-alone part of the Icelandic Studies, and prequel of sort to Higher Education and Top Secret. ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

Explicit [18+]

Head Over Feet by Sara Generis (kanadka) wc: 2,128 || rating: E || pairings: NedDen || completed Nationverse summary: It all starts out perfectly innocent: well-travelled routes brought a Viking Dane through to Dorestad where he met a young Lowland enterpreneur selling wares. And when they grew up it was natural enough to consider each other for a spot of casual fun. Just innocent fun, filthy sex, but nothing so messy as romance. //cw: smut Stuffed by uncagingwardens wc: 3,275 || rating: E || pairings: DenNor || completed Nationverse summary: Aleksander makes a promise, and Mathias holds him to it. // cw: smut, OC Decades by wickedlupin wc: 3,477 || rating: E || pairings: DenNor || work in progress Nationverse summary: separation. n. 1. the action or state of being moved apart. 2. the division of something into constituent or distinct elements. independence. n. 1. free from outside control. 2. not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence. “Sve will be pissed if he finds out I have you like this.” “That’s all the more reason for you to do it, then, isn’t it?” // cw: smut Under Your Breath by Ludwiggle73 wc: 5,007 || rating: E || pairings: SuFin || completed Human AU summary: Berwald is a chiropractor. Tino gets his back blown out. // cw: smut, omega verse Rags To Dance In by bunnyfication wc: 9,690 || rating: E || pairings: NedDen || completed Nationverse summary: In which blood is thicker than water, but even that might not be enough, and Netherlands is a (mostly) neutral spectator helping bros with trouble with other bros. // cw: smut, medical trauma Dragon's Heart by Domina_Ecca wc: 10,359 || rating: E || pairing: DenSu || completed Fantasy AU summary: Hetalia Fantasy AU: A beast of legend has attacked a defenseless village at the base of a dark mountain. Only one warrior is brave enough to seek it out. But no creature is more determined at getting what it wants than a dragon… Rated for cursing, adult content, and some violence. [warrior!Sweden x dragonshifter!Denmark] // cw: smut ─•~❉᯽❉~•─

[lovings4turn]

୧ ‧₊˚ ☕️ ⋅ ☆ 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭…

— in desperate need of caffeine, logan stumbles into the first cafe he comes across. little does he know, this will be the start of something great.

+ the first part of my whole latte love series , aka my child , so i hope you all enjoy <3 this is set in the uk , but reader isn't specified to be any particular nationality !

+ dividers from benkeibear !!

there were many sacrifices logan sargeant was willing to make in his life.

flying halfway across the world aged only eleven to pursue his dream of racing, for one. on a smaller scale, always allowing his brother dalton to ride shotgun on family trips, despite the fact that the backseat caused his legs to cramp up after a few hours.

but, no matter how late he was running, logan had promised himself he would never, ever deprive his body of a hot, caffeinated beverage before a meeting. 

on this particular morning, though, logan was running especially late. normally, the jarring sound of the iphone alarm would snap him from his deep sleep within seconds, the noise sparking an instant feeling of dread within him even when it wasn't coming from his phone. 

he’d learned that alex had a habit of setting alarms for various things throughout the day, before promptly forgetting what he’d set it for, leaving logan to go through the five stages of grief at least four times a weekend. 

but it seemed today the universe had been a little bored, and so decided to find entertainment in burdening a poor, unsuspecting american race car driver with one minor inconvenience after another. 

firstly, his alarm hadn't woken him up. correction: it had woken him up, just thirty minutes after it was supposed to.

secondly, his pride in managing to get dressed with an impressive five minutes to spare was quickly dissipated when he couldn't find his keys or wallet. the hunt had set him back another ten minutes (because why on earth would he think to check the cutlery drawer until he had run out of other possible options?).

and, for good measure, he'd tripped over his own welcome mat in his mad dash out of his apartment. so, yeah, it had been a morning, to put it lightly.

logan cursed to himself as he all but jogged down the busy street, eyes desperately scanning every building he passed in search of a cafe. he was too frantic to read any shop signs, but when he witnessed two girls walking out of a doorway clutching two paper cups, he knew he'd struck gold.

fucking finally.

logan offered the pair a tight lipped smile as he slipped past them and into the cafe, letting a sigh of relief escape his lips as the familiar smell of strong, freshly brewed coffee hit him. 

this was more than worth being late for, he decided. he'd pick up a few extra coffees, as an apology, a courtesy of some kind. who could be mad with a cup of coffee in their hand? though logan figured he was allowed to be a little lax in his timings anyways, since he was no longer in his rookie year at williams. the team would forgive him quick enough.

trainer-clad feet led him towards the back of the fairly short queue leading up to the counter, and logan took the opportunity to slip his phone out from his coat pocket and shoot a quick text to alex. he hoped his teammate wouldn’t mind bearing the responsibility of updating the rest of the team on his whereabouts. 

‘sorry, overslept. omw now though, bringing coffee as an apology and effort to keep my head’.

three laughing emojis quickly flared up onto logan’s lockscreen, and he took that as a positive sign. 

it was only when logan placed his phone back into his pocket that he realised just how close he was to the front of the line, and immediately began rehearsing his order. sure, he ordered the same thing practically every single time he got coffee, but with the day he was having, he’d probably find a way to absolutely butcher the simple order.

all he needed was his oat milk latte, a black coffee for james, and some sort of sugary, overly sweet concoction for alex. he doubted this place sold the pumpkin spiced lattes that he loved to tease alex about ordering, so he’d just have to find the next best thing.

only, when he finally stepped up to the counter and opened his mouth to order, his mind went blank.

standing only a few feet in front of him was the most gorgeous person logan had ever seen, and considering he’d travelled the world and met countless different women and men over the years, that was an impressive achievement. 

you, luckily, hadn’t noticed the internal reboot logan was experiencing, and focused instead on offering him a warm smile and greeting.

“morning! what can i get for you today?” you asked, finger poised and ready to input his order into the till in front of you.

logan barely managed to stop himself from physically shaking his head in an attempt to clear it, before pasting a crooked grin of his own onto his lips.

“good morning,” he returned, voice a little quiet before he cleared his throat and spoke up again. “can i just get a large black americano, large oat milk latte, and uh,” logan paused, eyes quickly scanning the board in front of him as he weighed up all of the different syrups available. 

vanilla, caramel, hazelnut, and oh, thank god, cinnamon. that was close enough to pumpkin spice, right?

“and a large cinnamon latte, please. oh, to take out.” he finished, finally returning his eyes to you as you skillfully rang through his order.

“ah, great choice,” you commented, your smile still never having left your lips. 

from the moment he’d opened his mouth, you’d quickly registered the accent, though opted not to comment on it despite how pleasing it was to your ears. of course there were no shortage of americans stepping into the cafe everyday, but there was something about his in particular that caused your ears to perk up a little more. maybe it was down to the person it was attached to, instead. 

“and is that everything for you today?” you continued, snapping back into following what you’d aptly dubbed your ‘service speech’, a routine that ensured you didn't stumble over your words to every customer you served.

“that’s all, yeah.” logan responded with another small smile. 

“perfect. that’ll be nine eighty there.”

"great, thank you."

logan quickly pulled out his phone to pay, though as his eyes caught the small jar sat on the counter, ‘tips’ scrawled onto a label in nice handwriting, he wished he was paying by cash. a flash of hope ran through him as he dug his hand into his jean pocket, and he had never been more relieved to feel some spare change brush against his fingertips. 

barely even bothering to count how much was there – it looked to be about three pounds, but he could have been wrong - logan dropped it into the jar, offering you a sheepish smile. he felt a little foolish, paying by card and fumbling around for some cash, but the look on your face was more than worth it. 

“thank you,” you repeated with a soft laugh. “should be ready for you in two minutes.”

logan couldn’t bring himself to speak again, so simply nodded and moved to walk to the point he would collect his drinks from. before that, though, he would grant himself one, small privilege. 

his eyes quickly found your name badge, and he scanned it as subtly as he could before he walked away, the name replaying over and over in his mind like a broken record. but, no. broken records were annoying, an inconvenience, something to fix or throw out. your name was anything but. 

not even five minutes after he’d placed his order were his drinks placed onto the counter, each labelled appropriately to save for any confusion. a cupholder had also been provided, which logan was eternally grateful for. he didn’t think the three drinks would survive the short journey otherwise. as a treat to himself, he took a small sip from his latte and almost swore. logan didn’t believe in magic, but he was sure that this coffee was somehow laced with it. never had a simple oat latte tasted so good to him.

and, he thought, a little embarrassingly, never had someone looked so good making one, either. 

“see you later!” you called from behind the till, lifting your hand in a gesture that could be perceived as a wave, but also an attempt to smooth your hair a little. 

logan nodded and gave you a smile. you would definitely see him later. he had just found his new favourite coffee shop, and he wasn’t going to give it up any time soon.

☕️ . . . there it is , the first instalment !! i loved writing this so much - and actually did so with a cinnamon iced latte of my own , as alex and i are actually one and the same ! hope you all enjoyed , and thank you for reading <3

[wonwooslibrary]

svt as boyfriends ♡ jihoon edition

member: woozi x reader

genre: fluff, bullet points

word count: 878

summary: jihoon’s boyfriend things

warnings: a very small mention of periods, and that's it

author’s note: hahah i actually forgot to write this time!!! but hey i'm on break from school now so I had time to whip this out and post if for all the woozidans who are about to knock my door down for forgetting abt our precious jihoonie's day anyway please enjoy !!! <3

Jihoon is the epitome of a quiet bf 

He just kinda exists and so do you and you both love it like that 

He’s also the (obvs) producer bf 

Quality Time

I think that Jihoon’s favorite thing to do with you would be to teach you how to write or produce music 

Or even accompany him at the gym because even if you don’t work out too, this man cannot, for any reason, miss leg day

He likes showing you what he is interested in, and of course, you love listening to him talk about his hobbies

I think he would also be the type to just…enjoy whatever you like, too

For example, you would have a show that you both specifically watch together, and maybe even read a book together and talk about the characters in them you liked or something 

Also !!! coffee dates !!! Y’all would totally have a specific date night on like Thursdays or something and you would always so to a coffee shop or a cafe or something and sit together and talk aaa he’s so sweet 

Cringy movie scenes like a large milkshake with two straws is the perfect way to summarize these dates too 

Words of Affirmation

Surprisingly, I don’t think Jihoon would be big on pet names or nicknames…he’d just stick with your name or a nickname you like being called 

He says it makes it easier to not call you something embarrassing in front of his friends, but we all know its because if he makes nicknames, you will too and he refuses to be called something cute in front of other people 

Always compliments you!!! And encourages you!!! 

“Y/N-nie, you’re working so hard, of course you’ll do great on that exam” 

Or even “Y/N-nie you’re such an amazing person and I am glad that you’re with me” 

Jihoon cannot physically or mentally take a compliment so if you compliment him back he’ll just be like “thanks…?” before destroying you in a compliment war 

Mans likes words so ofc like his quality time, he would write the most perfect songs ever for you and they would perfectly express his love for you in ways he would otherwise not be able to comprehend 

Physical Touch

We all know this man is a cuddle-bug on the inside, so of course that means that Jihoon has his needy time aka he must be the little spoon: no ifs, ands, or buts

I think Jihoon would appreciate a good back hug from you if you’re taller than him, and if you’re shorter, he loves when you rest your head on him :( 

I don’t think Jihoon is one for PDA, obviously (poor Hoshi) so there would be barely any proof to an outsider that y’all are actually dating to begin with 

Likes to keep hand-holding to a minimum, especially when in the studio, but he doesn’t mind when you sit with him and put your legs over his lap 

Or even play with his hair while he is working !! He likes soft things just only when you guys are alone together 

He’s just a shy baby fr 

Acts of Service 

When he comes home late, he makes sure that the apartment is tidy and clean before showering and going to bed because he knows it stresses you out seeing a messy place as soon as you wake up 

Cannot make food for the life of him please do not allow him in the kitchen unless he has a very specific task (he has zoned out while humming new melodies too often and burnt food is not a pleasant smell for your apartment) 

Always makes sure that you’re phone, watch and computer/tablet are plugged in at the end of the night, because you need them to be just as prepared for the next day as you

He would totally get sad if you do all the cleaning by yourself because he says that you work too hard making the messes, you don’t need to be cleaning them too 

You say the same thing to him when the boys make a mess in the living room when they are drinking and you offer to help clean up 

If you have periods, when you are getting close to it starting, he makes sure that your products are always stocked up so you don’t have to worry about getting anything 

Gift Giving 

Two words: Spotify playlists 

Jihoon would be over the moon with both making them for you and also receiving them from you 

I feel like Jihoon is also the type to just randomly show up with something and hold it out to you and just say “this make me think of you so I got it” 

Is super embarrassed when he does so but you love it so he’ll get over it when he sees how happy you are 

Is definitely not one for huge and expensive gifts like jewelry, cars and all of that stuff, but loves getting little trinkets and stuffed animals for you because let's be real: who doesn’t like a really cute and soft plushie? 

Doesn’t like receiving gifts because he feels bad when others spend time and money on him but >:( how dare he!!! He needs to be appreciated!!!

[ratmonky]

Devoted Innocence

word count: 9.2k

warnings: manipulation, gaslighting, bullying, stalking, alcohol, corruption, jealousy

ao3 link

chapter 1/2

finally it is here, nanami's coi sequel! i hope you guys enjoy it I'm so excited!! let me know your thoughts!! this chapter is a bit tame since it's the base of the story but i hope i did good!!

“What are you doing out here this late, Nanami?”

Nanami gazed blankly up at Gojo’s face. He exhaled the last bit from his cigarette before speaking, “Same goes out to you.”

Gojo scoffed and stood next to Nanami who was sitting on a bench by their old dorm. “I just got finished with work,” he answered. 

 Nanami reached his pocket to grab a cigarette but he had already finished his last packet. Shit. He had to sit here just talking then. Lame. “What do you want?” he asked, trying to sound dismissive. 

“Brings back memories,” Gojo abruptly said, swaying his head back towards the night sky. “We would all hang out here and smoke.”

Nanami hummed, he did remember. Their smoke corner was here, the bench was put up here after they all had graduated. He used to smoke standing or sitting on a large rock here with Geto and Shoko and also…

“I wonder what she’s doing,” Gojo sighed with a dreamy smile, watching the moon. “I miss being young and careless.”

“You are still careless,” Nanami said but he didn’t comment on what he said. As if he was waking up from a nightmare, he saw a memory abruptly pop up in his mind. He crumbled the cigarette packet in his hands.

Gojo must have noticed this because he was grinning. “You could also still be careless.”

“We’re not kids anymore,” Nanami sighed audibly. 

“We weren’t kids back then either,” Gojo said. 

That was true. It didn’t matter how much Nanami wished the opposite. There was no need for him to frown and curse at his coworker. However, he was different from them. Gojo and Geto were the ones at fault.

Nanami was quiet for a while.

“Anyway,” he groaned while stretching his arms over his head, getting ready to get up from the bench. “Need to head back home soon. My nurse is waiting for me.”

Nanami was still surprised about that. The school nurse in Kyoto was pretty but it was hard to believe that Gojo was moving on from the past.

“I’m taking her out this Wednesday.” Gojo stood up, stretching his legs now, getting ready to teleport. “You should come.”

“No, thanks.” Nanami had his eyes on Gojo’s face, studying his expressions. 

“Your loss,” Gojo snickered and waved at him. “Goodnight-”

Nanami didn’t bother to say it back as Gojo’s body disappeared from in front of him. He shoved the crumbled cigarette packet into his pocket and decided it was time to go home.

It was unfair that he was still living in the past. Everyone was moving on but him. He had heard from Gojo that Geto…

Nevermind.

~~~

Today he ordered a double-shot espresso while he was reading through the documents he was assigned. The place was never crowded, naturally, the only noise would be coming from the coffee machines and the cutlery, which was the perfect white noise for him since he enjoyed doing his work at this coffee shop. However, with each page he turned, the more complicated the paperwork became and he found himself drinking his second double-shot espresso. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he slowly lifted his head from the paperwork and stared out of the cafe window. 

The street was cozy to look at, and watching the people walking past was fun. There were so many differences between each person, whether it be their style, face, or hair. It was just so fascinating that the world was full of so many people yet he could only imagine the face of someone he met in Jujutsu High.

He clicked his tongue and took a sip from his coffee to ease himself. His eyes then landed on someone who was sitting outside in front of his table. You were holding a big book, he could see that you were moving your hand on it. Maybe you were writing? He had never been a nosy person but he found himself moving his head to see what you were doing.

The first thing he noticed was that you were drawing. The second thing he noticed was that you were drawing the person sitting a little further at the front. Nanami looked up from the drawing to the man, he was an ordinary salaryman but there was a flyhead on his shoulder. He returned his gaze to the drawing and tilted his head just right to see the entire drawing.

The flyhead was in the drawing too. 

Nanami chuckled to himself, it wasn’t every day that he met random people who could see curses. He wanted to ignore you but you put your sketchbook down and walked inside. At first, he got a little surprised and had a small moment thinking that you had noticed him but you were here just to order another drink.

Without realizing he got up from his table to order something too, standing behind you and watching you drool over some strawberry cake that was on display. He wasn’t earning enough to offer to buy you a cake and nevertheless, you were a total stranger. He was only observing you right now, watching your eyes read through the menu to find something to order. When the person in front of you in line finally moved, you smiled at the worker and Nanami felt like someone threw boiling water on his face. He got hit with flashbacks of the past, the same smile he had seen so many times yet not enough times was right in front of him right now. The same bright innocent smile.

He could hear his own heartbeat and feel each droplet of sweat forming on his forehead, he could only see you in his world. With anticipation, he watched you open your mouth to speak. He was all ears now.

“I’d like to have today’s special with this-” You pointed at the strawberry cake on display. “Please!”

The worker asked about the usual stuff, things like if you would like extra syrup or cream in your coffee. You shook your head instead of talking. You had this cute aura oozing out of you, someone so sincere and innocent-

Nanami balled his hands into fists, stabbing his palms with his nails to snap out of it. When the worker asked him what he would like to order, he mumbled his words. “Filter coffee with cream.”

“It’ll be served right there,” he informed and Nanami moved to the small counter to pick up what he ordered. You were standing next to him, gently bouncing on your heels. He heard you humming very softly to a song he had never heard before. It took him every single rational thought he had to not stare you down and keep quiet. 

He wasn’t a kid anymore.

He wasn’t a kid back then either…

No, he was a grown man now.

This wasn’t like back then, he was a grown man now. He was at that age where every one of his actions had consequences, he was responsible if someone got hurt. He wasn’t a stupid eighteen-year-old like before.

Yet he knew he was still seeking that thrill of being able to control someone fully. Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered a certain person, someone who was so gullible yet sweet, someone he knew to be his only obsession. 

Ever since he had graduated, he had been looking for someone similar, someone to be corrupted by his sinful hands. Sins that were overflowing from his hands would paint their bright future black, he would rip off their wings so they could never escape. 

Unlike what he did back then.

Thankfully, he got his order first and was able to leave you alone as soon as he could. He was going insane. Was he even himself? Gojo had gotten to his head that night. How dare he move on? He was the one who had forced him into the whole thing and then as soon as they graduated it was gone. They left Nanami. He knew they were still toying with her after they had graduated, he knew that they continued to share her for as long as they could before it ended.

He never asked and he didn’t want to know. But he was angry. He never got to f- He never managed to say goodbye. He never even got to see her smile.

Today, he did.

No, that wasn’t her. 

You had the same bright smile. The same joyous tone in your voice and the same adorable gestures. 

Nanami’s thoughts got interrupted when he saw you take your place on your table again. The salaryman was gone but your drawing was finished. You looked around as if to decide what to draw.

That was when you looked behind and locked eyes with Nanami. He was caught off guard. You beamed at him and waved as if to apologize for the awkward eye contact. He wasn’t sure what he looked like to you at that moment but he felt his blood run colder as he smiled back. He could feel the connection.

To you, it had been a simple momentary glance, he knew because you turned around like nothing happened and started drawing a couple sitting on a bench across the street. He tried working and the more he forced himself the more worried he got that you would leave when he wasn’t looking. 

You were there every time he looked up. Your sketchbook got fuller and fuller with sketches of random people. He smiled and got a refill, hoping to watch you a while longer. When he was back, you were gone.

That night Nanami couldn’t sleep. 

He let his hand move under his boxers like he did every other night when he couldn’t sleep. Stroking his cock slowly, he closed his eyes. The scenario was always the same. He was in his room with her and drinking. They were smiling at each other and she was being all cute. He would tell her something that would make her blush, she would get shy and stutter like she did when she got flustered. He would grab her by the chin, kiss her hard, and undress her. She would put her hands on his chest, and try to push him away because “It’s embarrassing, Nanami.” He would move his lips to her chest, kissing and sucking on her tits until he could feel the wetness of her panties. She would press her legs together because she was always so shy about having sex. She was so pure. He would fuck her hard until she cried until she could only mumble out his name, and until he made her his. He wanted to mark her as his so nobody else could have her. He would look at her face and... And- 

Nanami opened his eyes, he didn’t remember her face.

He got all hot and sweaty. 

Closing his eyes, he forced himself to remember and continued rubbing his cock hastily. He was close but he would go into the bathroom to finish soon. 

Her face was all blurry, her smile was the same and her voice only got cuter. Her face formed into yours. Your half-lidded eyes filled with tears looked up at him, your lips parted, “Nanami, please.”

Nanami came abruptly, he was out of breath as the image of you was burned into his mind. He couldn’t even worry about getting his sheets and boxers dirty, all he could think about was you. He knew he would never see you again and he hoped that would be the case because he didn’t know what he would do if he saw you again.

~~~

“Oh, and Suguru says hi!” Gojo chirped as Nanami organized the paperwork on the desk. He had been aimlessly talking and talking even though Nanami was refusing to talk to him. “He wants you to come over sometime! Like a reunion, you know! Shoko was there this weekend and it was fun.”

No answer. 

“Pipsqueak asked about you.”

Nanami’s body froze, hands trembling. “What did she say?” he asked in a calm tone.

Gojo smirked, “I lied.”

There was a violent silence that filled the office room. 

“But it would be nice to see her again, in your dorm room, right? Just like the first time?” Gojo’s voice was distant.

Nanami glared at him, where did this idiot get the confidence to talk like this?

“Admit it, you wish you could have been a part of it for longer. If only you weren’t on such a high horse, she’d give you the attention you sought.” Gojo grabbed Nanami by the shoulder, “Maybe even forgive you for all the times you hurt her. Maybe if you took me and Suguru’s advice and learned from us, you could have gotten away with anything you did to her.”

“Shut up,” Nanami hissed, his eyes were wide. He could feel his body heat rising, he was getting angry and he could hurt someone. Specifically Gojo.

“You ruined everything for yourself by trying to ruin it for us. What did she do in the end? You remember?”

Nanami abruptly stood up and grabbed Gojo while raising his fist to punch him but before his fist could come in contact with his smug face he jolted awake in his bed. He was out of breath, his jaw hurting from possibly when he was clenching it during his sleep, and sweaty. 

With a soft curse spilling from his lips, he sat up on his bed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. What a way to start another miserable day. 

~~~

The heavy door of his office room opened with a loud creak, turning all of Nanami’s attention to the expected guests. He got up from his desk and fixed his suit to greet Ijichi coming in to introduce his new Jujutsu Sorcerer partner.

“Ijichi,” he greeted but his composure almost faltered when he saw a shorter figure behind him. It was…

“Hi!” you bowed, giving him a polite smile. “I’m (name).”

Ijichi smiled, “Mr. Nanami, (name) will be in your care.”

Nanami’s mouth felt dry as he tried to school his brain back online. He wasn’t sure as to what to do or act like. You of all people… You were going to be his-

“Let’s get along well,” you chirped, reaching your hand out to him.

He looked at your hand and then up at your face before giving you a handshake. “Nice to meet you.” The handshake lasted longer than a regular one but he made sure to keep it professional, he had been caught off guard but it wouldn’t happen again. 

You were still smiling, nodding at whatever Ijichi had to say about you and your sorcerer grade. Nanami’s eyes didn’t leave you for a second, staring at your smile was enough to make him sweat and shiver in anticipation all at the same time.

“That is all,” Ijichi bowed, “I’ll be leaving now, please don’t work too hard!”

“Bye-bye!” you smiled, waving him goodbye as Nanami collected a file from his desk. “So,” you turned around on your heels, still grinning, “Nanami, what do you say to giving me a tour around Jujutsu High?”

He paused for a moment and put the file down instead of checking if the report was complete. That could help the two of you warm up to each other, he could do that. “Sure. Jujutsu High is close to us.”

You clapped your hands together, “Amazing! I’ve never been to the Jujutsu High in Tokyo. I’ve heard so many great things, you’ve gone to school here, right?”

Nanami led the way, walking in front of you and out of his office. “Yes, I have.”

“How was it?” you asked, catching up to him and walking beside him. 

Not a second passed but Nanami got lost within two years of his youth. The second year was full of her and his third year had been- “Well. Principal Yaga is an exceptional teacher.”

“Oh, I see!” you smiled, eyes looking around the garden he led you to. 

The campus was huge and he gave you a wonderful tour. Showing inside the classrooms and even the large library. 

He was done with the tour in an hour, his stories of the place were short and only about the classes. This was where he first executed a curse, that was the first cursed tool he used and there was the training dummy he had broken. Memories of his academic years.

“What about that building?” You pointed at the large building with two floors. 

He looked at the building and his lips formed a frown. “That’s the student dormitory.” 

“I’d like to see it too!” You started walking by yourself and didn’t look behind you to see if Nanami was following you.

He stood where he was. He didn’t want to go inside. He didn’t want to walk those hallways again and he didn’t want to see the traces of his youth there.

“You coming or what?” You turned around, beaming at him with such bright joy. 

He found himself unable to resist your smile, your peppy personality, and he wanted to corrupt any joy you had ever felt and would ever feel. 

He took a step forward and your smile only got brighter. “Don’t make a lady wait, Nanami.”

He scoffed at that, shaking his head. You were ridiculous but not as much as Gojo. He could tolerate you.

You waited until he was next to you and then started walking again with a proud puff of your chest. The dormitory was empty when you two got inside.

“Students are on a field trip with their teacher, I think the tour will be faster this way.” Nanami walked inside the common room, it didn’t look any different from what it looked like before. The TV was a newer model and the broken coffee decanter was gone. Now they owned a better one. He showed you the small library and the laundry room. 

Then the pictures on the walls of the common room. Every single graduation picture was taken at the end of the school year. 

“Where’s yours?” you asked, smiling as you looked around. 

He felt a tinge of sorrow as his finger tapped on a picture frame. 

Your smile faltered momentarily as you looked at the picture of Nanami and him only in the graduation picture. He was the only graduate from his class and he looked dreadful in the picture, glaring at the camera while holding a bouquet and a diploma. 

“That’s horrible, didn’t you have any friends or classmates?” you asked with genuine sympathy. 

“My classmate passed away during our mission in our first year. My other classmate repeated the first year. I had my upperclassmen but we weren’t exactly close.” He tapped on the picture frame that came before his picture.

It was a picture of the golden duo. Gojo and Geto. Shoko and she was there too. The girl was between the two guys while Shoko was lying on the ground in front of them all with the bouquets. She was grinning from ear to ear while she was showing off her diploma to the camera. The other girl was making peace signs with a hand and she was holding her diploma with the other. Gojo and Geto both had an arm draped over the girl. Gojo had his diploma folded in his school jacket and he was kissing the girl’s cheek next to him while he was holding his sunglasses up. Geto was squeezing the girl’s cheeks together with his free hand and his diploma was tucked under his arm.

“They look very close,” you said, eyes on the girl in the middle, taking all of the attention. “Sad that you didn’t get to graduate with them.”

“Yeah,” he mumbled. “They are all very close.”

You must have realized he was drowning in misery because you moved on. “Show me your old room!” you giggled.

He stumbled on his words but didn’t refuse. He led you down the hallway of the first floor of the dormitory and opened the door to an empty room. Nobody was staying in this room right now so he didn’t feel like he was intruding. 

You gasped, “It’s bigger than I expected!” Walking up to the bed, you sat on the mattress and grinned while looking around. 

“I spent most of my time in here, reading and studying.” He realized your eyes were fixated on something.

“What’s that?” you asked, still smiling.

He followed your stare and found himself looking at a blood stain on the tatami floor. The traces of his sins.

“I don’t know,” he replied because it was the best you didn’t know how he used to have his hand around his cock on the bed you were sitting and stare at that stain to relive the moments of that night.

“Creeepy~” you giggled and stared at him. “Thanks for the tour, I feel like I know you better now, Nanami!”

He nodded languidly, “Sure.”

“Ugh,” you sighed, “Let’s not be so formal, I’d hate to work with you if we don’t become friends. It would definitely make us hate coming to work!” Getting up from the mattress you stood in front of him. “Let’s make sure to get along well!”

He forced a smile, eyes on your beautiful face. “You’re right,” he relented. “Let’s get along well, (name).” 

~~~

Today’s task was to finish the paperwork. This task had always been Nanami’s favorite since as soon as he was finished he could go home but also this meant Gojo piling all of his paperwork on him. 

Yet today he had you. You were excellent at helping him finish all of the reports and check for any mistakes without complaining and instead enjoying the work. 

“Would you like some coffee, Nanami?” you asked as you got up with your empty cup. 

He gave a slight nod and watched you take his cup from the desk before walking out of the office. When he was sure you were out of the room, he leaned back on his chair and sighed, you were so overwhelming in the most beautiful ways. He found himself staring at you when he should have been doing his work, watching your eyelashes flutter and eyes follow the long trail of words printed on paper.

He couldn’t help but notice the small things. The small taps of your finger to fidget and the way your brows furrowed before you lifted your head to ask Nanami something you didn’t quite understand. 

He was lost in it all.

When the door opened again he turned to greet you but Gojo’s stupid face greeted him instead.

“Why are you here?” he grimaced. “I’m too busy, Gojo. Come back tomorrow.”

“I’m not here to see you,” Gojo whined and looked around. “Where’s the fresh meat?”

Nanami’s jaw clenched, and he raised his eyebrows. “Don’t speak like that.”

Gojo scoffed as he closed the door and walked further inside. “Oh, you’re calling dibs?” He let out a chuckle, “That’s a first Nanami~!”

“Knock it off and leave if you-”

“Calm down, I have a clingy girlfriend,” Gojo sighed, shaking his head dramatically. “I’m just joking with you! When did you get all serious?” He paused and grinned, “Ah, you were always serious. My bad!”

“You should leave,” Nanami argued.

Gojo smiled again as he nodded slowly. “I’ll leave after I’ve seen the new pipsqueak,” he said, before breaking into a laugh.

Nanami glared at him but before he could say anything you walked into the room with a tray.

“Ah, you must be the new girl!” the tall man chirped. “I came here to say hi!”

Nanami felt his hackles rising.

You were dumbfounded as Gojo approached you with a grin. “Hi, I’m (name)! And you must be Satoru Gojo.” 

He continued smiling, “Guilty!”

Your brows rose and you stared at Nanami, nervously chuckling, “Is he always this friendly?”

Gojo responded instead, “Only when they’re pretty.”

You blushed faintly and finally moved towards the desk to put the tray down. “Would you want to have something to drink as well?” you asked with a smile.

“He’ll leave soon. We all have work to do,” Nanami’s tone was cold and it made you look at him in question. 

“Yes, how could I forget,” Gojo hit his forehead jokingly, “I need to work! I left the students back in Osaka. I should leave.”

“Travel safe,” you joked. 

“Nice to meet you and see ya! Promise to visit the Jujutsu High a lot!” He let out a laugh and waved at you before disappearing.

As soon as he disappeared you let out a sigh, “He’s way too overwhelming.”

Nanami didn’t look at you or stop reading the file in front of him for a moment. “Exactly, that’s why I don’t like him disturbing me.”

You chuckled, “Do I fall into the same category?”

“It depends,” he shrugged and looked up to take his coffee cup from the tray. He saw that you had brought some pastries too. He took a small piece. “Will you annoy me more than a curse?”

“Sorry, Nanami,” you sighed, grinning. “I’ll be your curse. The worst burden you’ll ever have.”

Nanami rolled his eyes but a scoff escaped his lips. The rest of the passing hours were calm and filled with work. Neither of you complained and he found that peaceful. When it was time to go home he felt a bit sad about it. Yet he still laid awake at night with his hand around his cock, eyes closed while imagining shoving his cock down your throat.

~~~

You were only a coworker. You didn’t ask to drink coffee after work or ask to go to a bar. You always left for home as soon as the work was finished. You didn’t even take Ijichi’s car which made it impossible for Nanami to be able to talk to you. You had your car and you had your things to do in your private time.

Nanami was going insane. He needed to spend more time with you. Outside of work.

~~~

“What are you eating?” you asked with a grin, taking a seat in front of him in the kitchen.

“Curry and rice,” he replied as you were opening your bento box. 

“Hmm, do you cook yourself?”

“I’m able to cook for myself, so yes.” He spoke only after he was done chewing his first bite.

“That’s good! You should cook for me,” you chuckled. “I’m tired of cooking every day to eat. But buying lunch is too expensive so I have to cook.”

He shook his head, “It’d be irresponsible for me to cook for you. It’s your responsibility.”

“Have pity!” you giggled and showed him your plain bento box. “This is the third day in a row I’m eating veggies and rice!”

He snickered at that, lips curling up to a smile as you whined. 

“What is it with men and refusing to help women?” you sighed, speaking to yourself. “You are more than capable to cook for two.”

“Are you incapable of cooking for yourself?” It came out cold but he had been going for a flirty tone. 

“I’m just lazy!” you huffed and returned to your food. “I’ll get a boyfriend and he’ll cook for me then.”

“It’s better to learn how to be a responsible adult,” he said and you shook your head, refusing to listen to his advice. “I don’t cook for others.”

“I’ll eat my shitty meal outside, maybe that will give it some flavor!” you declared with another grin, “I’ll also check if Shoko is up to trading her lunch with me.”

“You’d rather go there?” He let out a disappointed sigh as you left. This building of the professional sorcerers was close to the Jujutsu High because they were sharing paperwork with the school. Gojo didn’t do his paperwork so it was Nanami’s job at some point to write his reports or send them to Kyoto when it became too overwhelming. 

Curses were all at bay nowadays, nothing too dangerous. Especially with Itadori being a sorcerer himself. Gojo was keeping the balance with Geto as always.

Nanami?

He was seen as a kind person. He had never shown a weak side to others, he was pretty stoic but there were certain emotions he could never let out.

He didn’t want the pity of others. 

He liked being seen as a selfless and hardworking man. He didn’t want people, more importantly his coworkers to see his vulnerable self. The selfish alter ego. The one that wanted everything for itself, wanted all the attention on himself. 

His mind tended to remind him of the exact moment when he joined their game. He remembered how that was the only time he felt like-

Nanami wanted to be useful to others to cleanse himself from his past mistakes. He made sure to be a good mentor and a good sorcerer so everyone around him would smile and live a restful life. 

Nevertheless, deep down he was nothing but a mess. 

Nanami was a mess even before he met you but you fueled his fire somehow. He wanted to have you but you didn’t look like you wanted to with him.

Nanami was no good to anyone anyway. He knew that. He was a burden. A curse. He didn’t deserve their attention or time. He was a nobody.

For another ten minutes, he stood in front of the sink, collecting his thoughts while washing the dishes. 

"Up to wash my container?" you asked, walking into the kitchen. 

"No," Nanami said, moving away from the sink. “You are not a kid.”

You pouted and put your dirty container in the sink, glancing at him. “Shoko said you used to help her with cooking. So you do cook for others!”

He paused. 

You noticed the sudden pause and raised a brow, “Caught in a lie, huh?”

Shaking his head, he walked towards the coffee machine. “I’m just surprised she remembers all of that.”

“Oh, was it a long time ago?” you hummed while turning on the sink, grabbing the clean sponge to wash your dishes. “It’s never too old to relive the past, you know!” 

He was quiet for a single moment. He used to help Shoko cook only because Geto and Gojo threw him in the middle. To him, those were just simple memories, not something he would bring up in a conversation. Was Shoko telling you about the past? If so, how much did you know? Did you know about-

“If we can start the fieldwork today, I’ll get you something.” 

You turned off the sink and glanced at him over your shoulder, grinning in mischief, “Cook me something, you mean?”

That broke his composure, he let out a breath through his nose and smiled. You almost made him snort! “Yes, I’ll cook you something,” he replied.

"Let’s finish the paperwork then!" you laughed, the day had barely started but you were too pumped up to get back to work.

"Finish washing the dishes and get to work then," Nanami poured some coffee for himself. 

You turned to the sink and hurriedly washed your dishes. He took this moment to stare at your back, watching the way your shoulders moved and how you stood. You were leaning on the counter and you wouldn’t stay still, shifting your weight from one foot to another. That made your hips move in a way he found hypnotizing. He was now staring at your pants and how well they hugged your ass. 

He broke out of his trance when Shoko entered the kitchen. He could guess that she walked you here. She liked the company of others.

“Hello,” she greeted, an unlit cigarette between her lips. She grinned at Nanami, “The new girl said she was gonna make you cook for her to save money.”

“Hey!” you laughed, “I told you to keep it down!”

Nanami sighed, “I’ll do it once. To be a kind mentor.”

“We’ll see about that,” you mumbled.

“I like this one,” Shoko put her hand on your head, petting your hair. “She’s got quite the personality. I think she’ll brighten you up in no time, Nanami.”

“This is a work environment, we need to keep things professional.” He took a sip from his coffee, “We don’t need another Gojo.”

Shoko scoffed, “Whatever you say. (name) could beat Gojo.”

“I could?” you froze, dropping your clean dishes back on the sink. 

Chuckling, Shoko lightly shoved you in the arm. “She’s so gullible too. You remind me of my best friend.” She had a gentle smile on her face as she looked at you. “God, I wish she was here right now, she was the only person who made Nanami laugh.”

You beamed, “Really?” As you turned your head to look at Nanami, you found him already looking at you. He had a tense look on his face. “Ah, I can imagine him laughing but how did she do that?”

Shoko looked at the ceiling to think, “She was just so gullible. Came from a clan where they kept her away from the real world so she was easy to mess with. I think the boys loved making up things for her to believe. They once convinced her that Turkey was in Africa.”

Your beaming smile died down slightly, “That’s… sad. Did she really believe them about everything?”

“Yeah,” Shoko nodded. “I guess. She didn’t mind them messing with her anyway. She was this cute little pipsqueak. Everyone’s favorite. I think that’s what makes her special. She was so innocent when she came here.”

“That’s enough,” Nanami interfered. “We need to get back to work.”

“He’s right,” Shoko let out a sigh. “We should go somewhere after work. Could be a better option for you to get to know everyone.” She was talking to you and you were nodding with a smile. 

It was decided.

The next hour, you finished all of the paperwork and headed out together in Ijichi’s car since you decided the three of you would go to the bar together. Ijichi was keen on taking the driver role for the sake of letting everyone else drink. You thanked him for his sacrifice and rode in the car with Nanami.

He was happy enough to sit next to you during the entire ride towards the woods. At the location of your first job with Nanami, Ijichi put down a veil while the two of you observed the place.

It was an abandoned and unfinished building. 

“What do you think this curse is?” you asked, stretching your arms and legs. Ijichi approached you to give you your cursed tool from the trunk of the car. It was a sword.

“It is a first grade, maybe a special grade but nothing we can’t handle.” Nanami paused, “Besides, haven’t you read the report? We had all of the information there.”

“I like the way you already count us together,” you chirped, ignoring the last part.

He shook his head.

“I’ll be waiting here,” Ijichi said, bowing his head.

Nanami nodded in acknowledgment and you bowed your head, thanking Ijichi for the ride. When you stood again, you noticed Nanami was already headed towards the building. To catch up with him, you had to jog a little.

“You didn’t even wait for me!” you whined, out of breath.

“You are wasting time, I don’t want to work overtime,” he mumbled as he opened the large metal doors for you and let you walk into the building.

You walked past him with a smile, “Thank you!”

He walked in after you, “I’m surprised you managed to finish all of the paperwork today. Did you really do it for a meal?”

“What do you think?” you winked at him, grinning.

Before Nanami could say something else, a shadowy figure bolted out of the dark corner of the building and forward at full speed toward you. 

He reached for his cursed weapon in fear of your safety but you were able to draw your sword and stopped the blow of the shadow figure. Your sword clashed against the thick skin of the curse with loud ear-scratching noise as if its skin was made of something more solid. 

Nanami jumped back and held his cursed weapon tightly, only for you to attack the curse in full force once again. You managed to slash its flesh and the curse let out a scream. You continued your attack, driving your sword further inside the curse and fueling it with cursed energy to exorcise it. 

You were doing a good job and Nanami was watching you from a safe distance just in case you needed help but you exorcised the curse by yourself. As you were putting your sword away, he smiled, “Good job.”

“Be honest, did I look cool?” you were smirking.

“Should you be looking cool while doing your job?” he asked.

“Ugh!” you whined, rolling your eyes. “Can’t you just have some fun?”

“We’re working,” he sighed. “It’s not exactly fun.”

You groaned in frustration.

“So, are we really done?” you spoke while the two of you began heading out of the building to meet up with Ijichi. “Are we going to the bar now?”

“I would guess so,” he said, cracking his neck. “Good thing we finished early.”

You had a proud smile on your face, “All thanks to me!”

“Yes, thank you,” he smiled.

“I made you smile!” you excitedly pointed at his face, still grinning. “This is great!”

He rolled his eyes. “Did you make a bet with Shoko?”

“No,” you replied and gently poked his arm. “Just with myself!”

Ijichi opened the car door for you while Nanami paused for a second to enjoy the meaning behind your words.

“To the bar?” Ijichi asked once everyone settled into their seats.

“To the bar!” you confirmed.

Although Nanami hated after-work gatherings, he didn’t miss this one. 

The two of you had finished all of your paperwork and started the fieldwork. Shoko had worked overtime because the students getting injured frequently during their training lectures. Gojo had recently gotten a girlfriend. 

It was time to celebrate getting all the work done and more.

The bar Shoko chose was close to the school and was a regular hangout place for sorcerers like you. Ijichi and Akari sat together while chatting, the two didn’t drink any alcohol as the designated drivers. Shoko was smoking while Gojo had all of his attention on you. Nanami sat next to you, observing your manners and wishing Gojo to drop dead. 

“Would you like more sake?” you asked, offering to pour some for Nanami as the waitress came into the private booth with more bottles of sake. 

He let you pour more sake into his cup while Gojo sighed. “I wanna drink too!”

You turned to him, “You told me you didn’t drink earlier?”

He pouted, looking at you over his sunglasses. “I can’t drink in public. Need to be on guard at all times.”

“Boring!” you laughed and poured more sake into your cup. 

“You’re so full of life!” he laughed with you and grinned from ear to ear. “It’s such a shame you’ve been attended to him!”

You shrugged, “I’m pleased to work with Nanami.” You poked his arm, “How about you?”

Nanami was caught a bit off guard, he nodded slowly while lighting his cigarette. “You’re a good partner.”

Your stare stayed on him and after Gojo finally moved on to annoying Ijichi, you spoke to him.

“Is everything alright, Nanami?” 

Nanami took an inhale of his cigarette smoke. “Yes,” he mumbled.

You put a hand on his arm, beaming up at him. “Am I that boring?”

“No.” He was quick to shake his head. 

“You should loosen up,” you declared.

Grumbling under his breath, he took a sip of his drink. It was already his third one. “Are you ready for more fieldwork?”

“Yes! Can’t wait to impress you with my skills!”

He glanced at you and you looked exactly as he had imagined. So bright and full of joy. “Are you trying to impress me?” he asked out of nowhere.

“Well,” you started, eyes trained on his outfit. “You are my mentor and I’d like to leave a good impression.”

Nanami raised a brow. You reminded him of Takuma Ino. He liked it when he was respected and you were so full of hope. He could imagine you looking at him like he was a hero, admired and respected. 

“Ah! Listen to this!” Gojo laughed, eyes shining even behind his sunglasses as he looked at the screen of his phone. “Suguru is coming!”

Shoko raised her glass with a chuckle, “Told you he’d be down to meet the new girl!”

Nanami’s shoulders tensed, and he looked at your expression. You were practically smiling so hard that your cheeks were puffing. How excited…

“It’s always a pleasure when Geto joins us,” Ijichi said, Akari nodding dreamily to agree.

“You’ll love him!” Gojo assured you, “He’s my best friend!” His toothy grin and sparkling eyes indicated that he was telling the truth. “He’s one of the teachers, helps me a lot with the students since we have so many first years this year.”

“Mimiko and Nanako are also graduating,” Shoko added, smiling. “Time flies.”

“Yes, they’ll either continue to Jujutsu College or they’ll get to working!” Gojo pointed at Nanami, “You promised to take them in once they graduate!”

“It wasn’t a promise, you told me to do it.” Nanami took a sip from his sake. “They had to repeat the third year twice now. I’m not sure if they’re dedicated.”

“The third time is the charm!” Gojo laughed at pointed at Ijichi, “He repeated the first year thrice! That’s why you were all alone in the second year and graduated alone!” 

Ijichi let out a nervous chuckle, “Am I supposed to take that as an insult?”

Your eyes kept following whoever was talking, you tried keeping up with the conversation but it almost felt impossible.

“Nonetheless, sure,” Nanami sighed, “I’ll take them in when they manage to graduate.” Whether it be how puzzled you looked or the guilt of leaving you out of the question, Nanami leaned down to whisper in your ear. “They’re Geto’s adopted daughters.”

“Wow, isn’t he too young?” you asked, even more puzzled.

“He was. He saved the girls from a village during a mission gone wrong after he graduated. The curses eradicated the village and he only managed to save the girls.” Nanami watched as you took notice of his empty cup and poured more sake for him. He could feel his tongue loosening, he could also feel himself getting more confident. 

“Aww…” Your sad eyes looked up at him and you pouted, “I hope the girls are doing better now.”

“They are!” Gojo said and pulled out his phone, “They’re a part of our family. Here!” He held his phone out to your face to show pictures of two beautiful young girls with him and Geto at what looked like a crepe shop. He then moved on to the next picture where they were all in school uniforms in front of the Jujutsu High garden. “They’re growing up so fast!”

You smiled, eyes softening, “Having kids so early on must be nice, but also expensive…”

“You’re so right! They want designer stuff and beg me to take them to places. It’s not like Suguru doesn’t have the power to fly them over to any city!” he feigned annoyance and shook his head.

You were laughing. 

Nanami continued drinking.

“You live in Tokyo?” Gojo said.

“Yes, I moved here about a few years ago,” you smiled, making the move to pour more sake into your cup.

“Are you single?” 

“That’s private, Mr. Gojo,” you forced out a giggle, still smiling politely. “What about you?”

“Well,” Gojo winked, “Unfortunately, I’m not.” 

“Unfortunately?” Shoko asked, taking a long whiff of her cigarette. “Already?”

“Yeah, something like that,” he shrugged.

Shoko rolled her eyes, “Gojo and his love life never fails to amuse me.”

“But it always fails, huh?” you joked. 

“Exactly,” he sighed and took a sip from his coke. “It’s hard to find the one.”

“Oh, I think we all know you’ve already found the one,” Shoko scoffed, “You’ve missed your chance and now you’re asking for pity.”

Gojo pouted, “There’s always the one that got away.” His stare found Nanami, he winked again and it made the blonde one glare at him.

Shoko let out a soft sigh, exhaling the smoke of her cigarette.

You raised a brow but didn’t question further.

Then Gojo and you started talking about your hobbies. You mentioned drawing and writing poems. He made a joke about how you should draw him. 

“I actually can’t draw that good,” you said.

Nanami didn’t know what came over him but he found himself objecting. “I think-” No, that would be a little creepy if he told you he had seen you before. It was a coincidence but still, it felt a little odd to mention to a new coworker. “I believe you can draw well. Art isn’t all about talent, it’s about expressing yourself and your emotions.”

You smiled at him, “That’s nice of you to say,” you softly spoke. “If I have to be honest, I’ve drawn you, Nanami. You’re pretty easy to draw.”

Gojo laughed but his existence was a background noise now. Nanami was baffled, he hadn’t seen you drawing anything since the two of you started working. 

“You see,” you started, a bit nervous and shy. “I’ve seen you a couple of times in the city where I hang out and drawn you a couple of times. Or enough times to make me mentioning this to you creepy.”

Nanami chuckled, “That’s interesting.” 

“I can bring them to work tomorrow, I’d love to show them to you,” you said and although it was merely to make small talk, you had no idea how happy that made Nanami.

“I’ll be looking forward to that,” he said. He was. 

“I’m gonna get more drinks,” Shoko announced, getting up from her seat, “Does anyone else want anything something other than sake?” Almost everyone started talking at once. She scoffed and shook her head, “I’ll get everyone beer, that’s all.”

“Ah!” Gojo raised his hand but Shoko slapped it away.

“I’ll get you something non-alcoholic.”

With that, she left. 

Nanami watched you finish what was left in your cup while Gojo was busy texting. There was a comfortable silence between everyone until the door to their private booth opened again. 

It hadn’t been long enough for Shoko to return so that only meant-

“Good evening,” Geto greeted everyone with a smile, closing the door behind himself.

“Suguru!” Gojo cheered, “You made it!”

Some collective greetings were being said to Geto as he sat next to Gojo, the two poked each other while smiling. They were speaking to each other when his eyes landed on you. “You must be the newbie.”

Gojo smirked, “Yes, she’s Nanami’s new partner.”

You bowed your head, “Nice to meet you, I’m (name).”

Geto stared at Nanami, squinting his eyes ever so slightly, “Is Nanami treating you alright?”

Chuckling, you nodded, “So far, yes!”

A smirk plastered on Geto’s face, “That’s good to hear, he can be pretty dense at times.”

“That never happened,” Nanami spat, rolling his eyes. “Could you stop badmouthing me in front of me?” It was more of an order.

“Well someone can’t take a joke,” Gojo laughed, raising his hands to surrender. “You see, (name)? He’s so dense.”

They were trying to turn you against him, make you dislike him and it was working. He hated that they were making a fool of him and how he took the bait every single time. He was tired of the constant state of fighting.

“I’m going out for a smoke,” Nanami abruptly said, getting up from his seat. 

Geto followed him. Then Gojo. 

Nanami groaned softly when he noticed them following after him and hurried outside. The cold night air caressed his face as he pulled out his packet of cigarettes. Without having the chance to put his cigarettes away, the packet got snatched from his hands. 

“She’s pretty,” Geto said, taking a cigarette from Nanami’s packet and handing it back to him. “Any plans?”

“What plans?” Nanami said, patting on his clothes to find his lighter, Geto was faster again, he pulled out his lighter to light Nanami’s cigarette first and then lit his own.

“The plan where you apply the things we taught you to get the girl.” Gojo walked to stand in front of the two guys. “I mean, it’s obvious that you find her attractive.”

“This isn’t high school and nor am I horrible people like you,” he spat coldly.

"Let me break it down for you," Geto said out of a sudden, exhaling his smoke at Nanami’s face. “You are in denial. We weren’t the ones who hurt anyone. It was you and your obsession. Satoru, did we ever make anyone cry?”

Nanami could feel his blood boil, anger was taking over him.

“Nuh-uh,” Gojo smirked while shaking his head. “Pipsqueak maybe? Tears of joy when we were giving her the time of her life before the graduation ceremony?”

Nanami glared at the white-haired guy, his eyes were sharp enough to cut him into pieces. “I never made anyone cry.”

Geto started walking around Nanami, inhaling from his cigarette. “Really? From what I remember, you don’t know how to handle a woman. You always waited for us to invite you and then acted like we were the worst. In your head, since you are madly in love with whoever’s the next victim, it makes everything you do out of love, right?”

“Don’t be so mean, Suguru.” Gojo folded his arms over his chest, “Nanami loves making us the bad guys because that’ll justify everything. We dragged him into everything, right?”

Geto scoffed, furrowing his brows. “If that’s what happened, then why do I remember him knocking on my door? Begging to be let in? Begging to be a part of it? Did we also force you into that?”

Gojo shook his head. “I don’t even remember asking him to go into Pipsqueak’s room late at night, do you?”

Nanami bit the sponge butt of the cigarette hard enough for it to break and fall, he spat out the half that ended up in his mouth. “Don’t you dare,” he warned.

Lifting his hands, Gojo’s lips curled up in a devilish grin, his eyes were wide and crazed. “I remember that she came to us. She sought the comfort of the horrible people because of-”

“Satoru,” Geto softly spoke, a smile in his voice. It made Gojo stop immediately. He offered a satisfied nod to his best friend and a soft, kind smile to Nanami who was on the verge of losing his composure. “No matter how much you try to act like you’re better than us, we all know the truth. We know. If you want to make enemies with us, then we will be your enemies.”

“What do you say, Suguru?” Gojo walked up to his friend, draping an arm on his shoulder. “Wanna go halfsies on (name)? Like the old times?” 

Geto’s smile turned sinister, eyes still on Nanami, watching him get riled up wordlessly. 

The blonde one clenched his jaw and kept quiet, staring at the ground. His whole body was tense but he felt helpless like a mouse caught in a trap, he didn’t know how to react, what to do or say.

“Should we do the overly friendly guys?” Gojo chuckled, “Or the mysterious guy and the funny guy? Or the best friends who are rivals?”

Nanami’s lip started twitching. 

“Nah,” Geto waved his hand, his playful tone returning. “Leave that to Nanami.” He turned around with Gojo, slowly walking back into the bar. “She’s not my type.”

“Yeah, your type’s more…” Gojo jokingly hummed in thought, acting like he was trying to decide. 

“Innocent,” Geto filled in with a sigh.

They left Nanami alone in the cold, crisp night air.

To calm his nerves, he decided to take a walk.

On the way, Nanami vomited thrice. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, ignoring the strong smell of acid, and grabbed onto his pack of cigarettes instead. He couldn’t believe he had been humiliated by those two idiots. 

They were careless, as always.

They were horrible, as always.

He was hopeless, as always.

Nanami felt a sort of sorrow in his gut, maybe they were right? Maybe he had been too blind to see himself honestly. He wasn’t sure what made him this way. He remembered liking those two until they became third years. Perhaps it was the reality of the situation settling in. Maybe because he knew he would never be able to continue what they were doing once they were gone. Or perhaps because he wanted everything to last forever but they had to grow up eventually to become a part of society. To become adults.

He remembered that day he saw the new transfer student visiting Jujutsu High and immediately told Gojo about it. It would be their one last game. One more before they became part of society.

Yet, it had ended so soon. 

What?

Did he want it to last?

He felt his legs get heavier, so he sat down on a bench, inhaling from his cigarette. 

He wanted to believe that he was a good man.

He wasn’t.

A chill went down Nanami’s spine. His throat felt dry. He let out a deep breath and pushed a hand through his silky hair. 

No matter how much he played this character of being a responsible adult, he was still tainted with these dark thoughts and urges that he couldn’t get rid of. He wanted to be able to act careless, be something so precious and big in those hopeful eyes of yours. To make you feel like he was your God and your savior. He wanted to play the game one last time. 

He wanted to play with you. 

Nanami wasn’t a good actor, or maybe he was. He had been playing a character for over a decade and it had worked for so long. He could do it.

The mischief started to bleed through his composed expression and his lips curled up. 

Gojo would have been so close to you, practically sticking to your side and putting his hands on you while pretending to be this over-friendly coworker.

Geto was calmer. He liked how Geto was able to sweep women off their feet with just his words. He kept this mysterious aura around him and spoke only when he needed to. He would say things that weren’t true but since they came out of his mouth, they would become true for whichever pitiful girl was the next victim.

Nanami knew how they played this game. 

He knew the first thing they did was to decide what character they were going to play. 

Nanami wasn’t good at that.

He was good at being a bystander.

The one to comfort you when he knew you needed it.

The one you would trust because he was the good guy.

Nanami was good at that.

[fanfictionstuff]

Curiosity 4 (Ikki Niko x Reader) SMUT

*Characters are of legal age*

Sorry for the late update, I know people have been waiting for it, including my friend who requested it. My favorite character from Blue Exorcist is finally back on the show so my thoughts are nonstop Amaimon. Sorry.

Normal.

Everything was normal the following day. You got up before Ikki and quietly changed into some clothes from your drawer. Since you’ve spent so many nights together, your parents and his had arranged for you to have a place to keep your clothes at each other's houses. You even have a uniform hanging in his closet, which is perfectly normal for best friends, right? It’s not.

Moving swiftly through the kitchen as if it were your own, you take various pans from the cabinets and gather ingredients from the fridge needed for breakfast. Ikki’s mom has left some miso soup for both of you. Preparing the tamagoyaki is straightforward, and there’s pickled cabbage waiting for you in the fridge.

Breakfast is normal. Ikki praises your cooking while you roll your eyes because there's really nothing to praise. Tamagoyaki is quite easy to make, and the soup and cabbage are leftovers from his mother. "You make the best tamagoyaki ______." “Whatever you say, Ikki.”

Everything felt normal as if last night hadn’t occurred. Watching you browse through your textbooks, Ikki begins to wonder if maybe it hadn’t happened. 

“_____, is everything okay?” He questions cautiously.

"No. Everything is not fine. Can you tell me when I'll actually use this after high school?" You pull up the calculator on your app. "Once I graduate, this calculator will be all I need. I’d like to know when I’ll have to apply this level of math in real life, Ikki?” You lift the workbook in frustration. It’s ridiculous.

He frowns at your answer; he is not talking about schoolwork. “I meant…with us.”

“Us?”

Now, he’s truly wondering if it was a dream or something more. Could it be a dream of one of his deepest desires? “Uh, never mind. I have practice in about an hour; I need to prepare." He heads into his bedroom to put on his workout clothes. A bento his mother packed yesterday sits waiting in the fridge, which he plans to take for lunch between practices.

“_____, do you need me to get you anything?” He questions as he grabs his bag.

“No, after I finish this, I’ll grab lunch and pick up what I need.” You dismiss him, focusing on the problem in front of you. “Don’t overdo it today.”

After another twenty minutes of struggling with the workbook, you reach for your phone and decide to google the answers. At first, you try to use a website that gives you the answers and explains how it’s the answer, but then you get bored with reading about math and quickly switch to just writing the answers down.

Instead of making something for lunch, you decide to go out to a local café with great sandwiches and warm drinks. It’s just around the corner, and you make it into the coffee shop rather quickly; the scent of coffee and baked goods hits you as you enter the door. “Hi _____.” The barista grins. “How ‘s my favorite customer today?” He questions as you step up to the display case.  “Good, how are you?”

"Great! Where’s my other favorite customer? I don’t remember the last time I saw you come in alone," he asks, as he begins preparing your favorite hot drink for your order.

“With his true love.”

The man snorts. “Fairly certain soccer isn’t his true love, kiddo. Anyway, what else can I get you?”

Your original plan was to come for a sandwich, but your eyes lock on a slice of cake. Would it be weird to get a slice of cake and a sandwich? Usually, you’d order one and take the other home, but you’d like to eat both now. “A panini and a slice of cake.” You point towards the slice of cake you want.

As you sip on the warm drink, you relax in the quiet cafe, watching the people walking by outside on the sidewalk. It’s not a school day, so you notice a lot of high schoolers walking by with friends. The warm comfort of the drink and smoothing warmness of the cafe is slowly starting to get to you. You and Ikki had stayed up pretty late last night, and he had to wake up early for practice today, so you wanted to make him breakfast like a good girlfriend best friend.

Shaking your head, you decide to head back to Ikki’s house. You should take a nap while you can before Ikki finishes practice. 

The journey back to his house feels slower, as fatigue weighs heavily on every step. You struggle to unlock the door and carefully place your shoes in their designated spot before slipping into a pair of indoor slippers. A nap is definitely needed. Wanting to be as comfortable as possible, you remove your pants and neatly fold them before settling onto the sofa with a cozy blanket.

Ikki gazes down at his phone while eating the bento his mother prepared for him. He hardly registers the coach announcing that practice will end early today, as he's still grappling with whether last night was a dream or reality. He hasn’t received a text from you, which feels unusual since you usually message him during lunch.

After practice, Ikki makes his way to the locker room to change out of his sweaty clothes. He pulls out his phone to check for any messages from you, but finds nothing. A wave of disappointment washes over him, yet he quickly dismisses it, reminding himself that you’re likely busy with your own activities.

“______.” Someone whispers, shaking your shoulder. “Are you okay?” You groan, opening your eyes to see concerned teal eyes staring at you. “Ikki? Yeah, I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I bed?” You ask while rubbing your eyes.

“Oh, you didn’t text me during lunch, so….” He tilts his head down, allowing the hair to cover his eyes. “…. I was a little worried.” He admits.

You slowly sit up, glancing around the living room. “Wait, what time is it?”

“A little after two.”

“Why are you here?”

Ikki’s concerned expression morphs into something else, his mouth a thin, straight line. “Sorry, I can go-“

“What? Where are you going? Why are you here so early? Practice shouldn’t be over yet, right?” you ask, tossing the blanket aside and standing up. Ikki’s eyes widen as your bare thighs come into view at his eye level. he swallows hard, his gaze slowly moving up; you remain unaware of his lingering stare. As you stretch your arms overhead, your shirt rises slightly above your panties.

As memories from what he’s starting to believe was a dream flash through his mind, his mouth starts to water.

Ikki quickly averts his gaze, feeling a rush of heat creeping up his neck. "I-I just... our coach let us go early today," he stammers, trying to compose himself. He clears his throat and looks away, his heart racing at the sight before him.

You raise an eyebrow at his flustered demeanor, noticing how he avoids looking directly at you. "Well, since you're here early, want to watch a movie or something?" you offer casually, not realizing your casual movements' effect on him.

Ikki hesitates momentarily, still trying to shake off the images from the dream—or was it reality? "Uh, sure. Yeah, that sounds good," he replies, finally meeting your gaze but quickly looking away again.

“Great.” He’s still on his knees when you lean forward to grab the remote from the coffee table in front of the sofa. Ikki bites back a groan at the sight of you bent over like that in only a shirt and light blue underwear. 

You didn't think twice about dressing like this in front of Ikki; it was completely normal for you. Even though last night had been more intimate and left you feeling exposed, him seeing you like this now, just casually watching TV, made it feel innocent again. 

After selecting a movie, you sit on the other end of the sofa. Your body angled towards him, with your knees bent and resting against the arm of the sofa. This position gives him a perfect view of your slightly visible underwear. 

It had to have been a dream. Otherwise, you would’ve said something to him, right? His fingers dig into his thighs as he tears his eyes away from you. Last night, you were so open and blunt with your curiosity. So, was it a dream? He glances back at you from the corner, but as his eyes land on the blue cloth, he can’t help but feel starved. He wants to pull them down, see if you’ll make those same noises if he parts your legs and runs his tongue along your slit. 

“Ikki, are you okay?” You shuffle on the sofa, not noticing that you’ve opened your legs a bit wider for his view as you do. 

“No.” 

“What’s wrong.”  “Last night.” He watches you carefully to see any signs that maybe last night wasn’t just a dream. 

Your eyes widen; he sounds upset. Quickly, you straighten up, tucking your legs under you, and sit on your knees, staring at your best friend. “I’m sorry! I pushed too far. Didn’t I? We can just pretend it didn’t happen.” 

“No.” 

Your hands start to shake at his blunt tone. Is he angry and doesn’t want to be friends anymore? Does he feel like you took advantage of him? “Ikki, I’m so sorry. I was being selfish.” 

“______, I love you.” 

“I know; I love you too. Yet, I put you in that position. I shouldn’t-” 

He leans in, his forehead touching yours. You can feel his breath on your skin as he closes his eyes and sits silently with you.

“_____?” 

“Yes?” 

“I meant I’m in love with you.”

He leans forward, gently pressing his warm lips against yours. It’s a sweet, quick kiss, and when Ikki pulls away, he rests his forehead against yours again. "I'm sorry if I just made things awkward between us," he murmurs. “If you don’t return my feelings, it’s okay. We can act like I never said anything. I just can’t lose you _____.” 

You slowly pull away, reaching up to cup his face while pushing some hair from his eyes. “Sorry if you made things awkward? Ikki, I asked you if I could give you a blow job last night.” 

“_____.” 

“You’re not going to lose me; I love you too. I always have.” You admit before pressing your lips to his. He responds with a low groan before nipping at your bottom lip. Encouraged, you part your lips slightly, and he slips his tongue inside, gently moving against yours. His hands slip up your thighs; they’re on your hips, fingers slightly tucked in the waistband of your underwear. “Are you okay?” He whispers against your lips. You nod.

“You’ve been teasing me since I got home today. Did you know that?” He says with a smirk. “First, I wasn’t sure if last night was just a dream. All morning, you didn’t say anything, and now, when I come home, you’re wearing only this.” He gestures towards your outfit. “Bending over, slightly spreading your legs. Right in front of my face.” He moves from the sofa to kneel in front of you. “I told you before, you taste amazing.” He gently trails his fingers over your knees, spreading them apart slightly. “Can I have another taste, ____? It's all I've been able to think about all day." He confesses, running his tongue over his lower lip. 

You nod, feeling a rush of excitement and anticipation course through your body. You can feel yourself getting wet at his words and the way he's looking at you. He leans forward, placing his hands on your thighs as he parts your legs wider. His fingers trail up and down your inner thighs, causing you to shiver.

“You smell amazing, too.” He looks up at you with darkened eyes before pulling down your underwear and nuzzling against your core. 

You close your eyes and let out a soft sigh, enjoying the feeling of his warm breath against your sensitive area. He starts to kiss and lick gently, causing a wave of pleasure to wash over you. You reach down and thread your fingers through his hair, gently guiding him closer to where you need him most. 

You're feeling a mix of emotions: embarrassment but also excitement. Last night, you thought he only did it because you gave him oral pleasure, and he felt obligated to reciprocate. But now, as his mouth eagerly explores your core with messy licks and desperate movements, it's clear that he's enjoying this just as much as you are. Your body responds by arching your back in pleasure, and he places your legs over his shoulders for easier access to you. 

He can feel your arousal building, the tension in your body growing with each passing moment. Ikki's face is buried against your core; his eyes are closed in concentration as he focuses on giving you the most intense pleasure he possibly can.

You let out a loud gasp as his thumb finds your clit, rubbing small circles that send jolts of pleasure through your body. Your hands grip his hair as your back arches off the sofa, letting out moans of pleasure that fill the room.

With his thumb rubbing your clit, he uses his other hand to insert a finger into you slowly. He watches you through his hair, accessing the situation. Your expression and sounds only hint at pleasure, so he slowly adds another finger. Still focused on your expression while starting to make a scissoring motion with his fingers. That’s how he’s supposed to do it, right? To prepare you in case you want to go further with him. His brow furrows in concentration, wanting to bring you the most pleasure possible. When you start pulling his hair almost painfully, he realizes you’re going to cum. He curls his fingers while gently sucking against your clit.

You pant out his name as you come undone, the sensation seemingly stronger than it had been last night. “I-I think you somehow got better at it, how? It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours. Your body jolts as you feel his warm tongue running along your folds again. “Ikki! Too sensitive.” You whine, trying to pull away. “Are you going to do this every time?” He frowns at you. “I’m sorry _____, you just taste amazing. I’ve never tasted something this amazing before.”

“You’re full of shit.” You huff, not believing that the taste of your release is anywhere near the level he’s trying to say it is. Ikki shakes his head, leaning forward to run his tongue along your folds once more. “I could do this all day.”

“Can I suck your cock?” Suddenly, the tables have turned, and Ikki’s confidence melts away into embarrassment at your words. “W-what? No, I mean yes.” He attempts to hide his red face against your legs. “Yes, just let me shower first, okay? I just got back from training and wasn’t expecting to do this within twenty minutes of walking in.”

“So, you were expecting this?”

Ikki chuckles nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "I-I mean, I hoped it would happen again; I didn’t think it would happen so soon." He looks up at you with a shy smile. "But I'm not complaining," he adds quickly, the embarrassment still evident in his face.

You grin at him, finding his reaction endearing. "Alright, go take a shower then. I'll wait for you."

Ikki nods and stands up, pulling his clothes off as he heads towards the bathroom. You watch him go with an appreciation for his toned body before pulling yourself together and sitting up on the sofa.

As you wait for Ikki to finish showering, your mind races with excitement and anticipation. Last night was amazing, and you can't wait to feel that same pleasure again with Ikki.

When he finally emerges from the bathroom, freshly showered and dressed in comfortable lounge pants, you can't help but stare at him hungrily. He grins at your reaction before making his way over to you.

"Are you sure about this?" he asks softly as he stands in front of you.

You nod eagerly; this all started off as your idea; of course, you’re ready.

“Maybe we could go to the bedroom.”

“Right! Yeah, of course.” You probably sound a bit too eager, but Ikki is your best friend and boyfriend? Is he your boyfriend now? Maybe this is something you should confirm first. “Uh, Ikki?” You question, suddenly feeling nervous as you follow him into the bedroom.

“Yes?”

You sit on his bed, nervously fidgeting with your fingers. “So, uh, are we in a relationship?”

He pauses, suddenly becoming more nervous, too. “I hope so. I love you, and you said you love me unless you don’t.”

“I do! I just, nothing was said.”

You watch as his face starts to turn red. “_____, I thought it was implied.”

“Oh, right, yeah.” You rub the back of your neck awkwardly. “Anyway, you’ll let me suck your cock now?”

He knows you’re just reflecting your embarrassment, so he doesn’t say anything about your comment. Slowly, he nudges you to sit on his bed, and he sits beside you. His eyes never leave yours as he pulls down the waistband of his pants to reveal himself fully.

He's already hard, and your mouth waters at the sight of his length. Without hesitation, you lean forward and take him into your mouth. A low groan escapes Ikki's lips as your tongue swirls around him teasingly.

You savor his taste and feel in your mouth, loving how he responds to your every movement. You want to make him feel as good as he made you feel earlier. You take him deeper into your throat, causing him to let out a loud groan that seemingly vibrates throughout the room.

Ikki reaches down, gently taking hold of the back of your head as you continue to pleasure him. His fingers thread through your hair, his breaths coming out ragged and labored as you continue on.

"Oh god, ____," he moans softly, eyes tightly shut as he revels in the sensation of your mouth on him. "You're so good at this."

You remove your mouth from him but don’t lift your head, slightly panting; the puffs of air you release against the head of his cock just make him more sensitive. “Ikki, I’m the only one that’s done this for you. I could be awful for all you know.” You causelly comment, licking the tip.

"I don't think that's possible," he replies, his voice slightly hoarse. "You... you make it feel so good."

You grin in response, feeling a newfound confidence as you move back down to take him into your mouth again. Your lips wrap around him, and you begin to move your head rhythmically up and down, taking him deeper with each passing second.

Ikki's fingers tighten slightly in your hair, guiding your movements as you continue to please him. His breaths come out in short, sharp pants, each one more labored than the last as he approaches his climax.

"I'm going to cum," he warns you softly, his voice barely above a whisper.

You pull off him just in time, sitting back on your heels as he releases a loud groan, his hips bucking as he reaches his peak. He grips the sheets tightly as his orgasm washes over him, his eyes squeezed shut in pleasure.

As he enjoys the aftermath of his release, you lean forward, kissing the tip of his softening penis softly before looking up at him with a smile. "Glad you enjoyed it."

Ikki leans forward, capturing your lips passionately as his hands roam over your body. You eagerly respond, tangling your fingers in his hair as the kiss intensifies. His hands continue their exploration, trailing down to your core, where he finds you already wet with anticipation.

He slides a finger inside you, causing you to gasp and arch your back against him. "You're wet again," he murmurs against your lips before adding another finger and increasing his pace. Your moans become louder as he continues to please you with his fingers.

Feeling impatient, you grind yourself against him, wanting more contact and friction. “Could we, um, have sex?” You mumble as his thumb makes contact with your clit.

“Y-yeah.” He pulls away from you slightly to remove his pants completely; you follow suit and remove your shirt; your underwear is still somewhere tossed in the living room.

Gently, he guides you to lie down on the bed. “Are you sure?” You nod. “Let me know if it hurts.” He positions himself above you nervously; he expects the first time to be awkward; you are both virgins. His main concern is not hurting you when he first enters you.

“I’m ready.” You reply, reaching up to wrap your arms around his neck, pulling him closer. He takes the hint, slowly entering you, his eyes locked with yours as he moves deeper inside you.

At first, it feels a little uncomfortable, but he moves slowly and pauses to ensure you’re okay before entering more. He waits a moment once he’s fully in you, giving you time to adjust. There’s no pain, just an odd feeling of being filled. You pull his head down to place a kiss on his lips. “Okay, you can move now.” He nods, starting with shallow thrusts, watching you carefully the whole time. You moan softly, your legs wrapping around Ikki’s waist as he moves deeper inside you.

Ikki groans softly in response, his chest grazing against yours as he finds a rhythm that seems to work for both of you. His lips find yours again in a passionate kiss, his movements becoming more urgent as he tries to please you in every way possible. Ikki moves a hand between your legs, reaching for your clit, gently pinching it as he continues to thrust into you.

You gasp at the sudden sensation, your eyes fluttering shut as waves of pleasure radiate from your core. "Yes," you whisper, clutching at his back as he continues to touch you in just the right way.

Ikki's movements become more earnest, his thrusts deeper and harder as he tries to give you the pleasure you both desperately crave. His eyes are locked on yours, searching for any sign that he's succeeding in making you feel good.

"I'm close," you pant, your voice barely audible over your own heavy breathing. "Don't stop."

Ikki nods, his eyes never leaving yours as he continues his relentless assault on your body. His breath becomes ragged, his heart pounding in his chest as he fights for control over his own impending orgasm.

Suddenly, a wave of intense pleasure washes over you, your entire body trembling as you cry out his name. Ikki feels your muscles clench around him as you release. His body shudders against yours, and he lets out a rough groan as he cums deep inside you.

Ikki's breath hitches as he pulls back slightly, his gaze still locked with yours. "Are you okay?" He whispers concern etched on his face.

You laugh, “Better than okay. Hey, did you know most girls don’t have an orgasm during their first time? So, good job.” You pat his back.

His head drops to your shoulder, “_____, please.”

“It’s true. I read it online.”

“_____.”

“Fine, fine. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

You grasp a handful of his hair, pulling his head back so you can make eye contact. “So, our parents…”

If your parents knew, they’d realize they had been wrong about your supposedly sibling-like relationship all this time, and it’d be a mess.

Ikki looks thoughtful for a moment. “We’ve only got a few months before we finish high school. Let’s tell them once they’ve helped us move into a new apartment at the university.”