#But as I've said before: if I can give people a laugh during a frustrating / difficult time I'll try to do that

[dessarious]

This was not the Plan

New Years one shot (please let it stay a one shot)

Marinette could not for the life of her figure out how she'd ended up here. She was supposed to be at home, in her pajamas, asleep before the ball dropped. She had a plan, damn it.

That plan did not include Alya showing up at her apartment in London. Especially since she was supposed to be covering the ball drop in New York. It didn't involve said friend dragging her to an upscale party where Adrien and Felix just happened to be in attendance. And it damn sure didn't involve listening to Alya try to give her a pep talk (read lecture) about asking Adrien to kiss at midnight. No, this was definitely not the plan.

—————————————————-

Cass and Steph were supposed to be on a plane to Gotham. Unfortunately, some asshole (read Scarecrow) gassed the airport, and it was in lockdown until a HazMat team gave the all clear. Instead, they were stuck in an upscale London hotel. Which wouldn't be bad except there was a fancy New Year's party going on and the host had cornered them as they were checking in to invite them. Cass hated having to keep up a public image. But at least she had Steph to make things bearable.

They were standing along one of the walls, Steph making highly inappropriate comments at other people's expense, when Cass noticed two women. One obviously excited to be there and the other... not so much. As they wandered closer, Cass could hear their conversation.

"I feel I've been very clear on this." The one who looked like she'd rather be anywhere else sounded frustrated and annoyed.

"I know you think he's out of your league, but you'll regret it if you don't shoot your shot, girl!" Her tone was exasperated, if fond. Given the reaction from the other woman, this was a recurring debate. Cass didn't think she'd ever seen anyone roll their eyes so hard.

"I don't think he's out of my league. I'm just not interested in him. I really wish you would stop acting like we're still teenagers. It was an adolescent crush, and it wasn't healthy on top of that." Her friend didn't seem to hear her.

"Look! There he is. Now's your chance."

"Alya, you're not listening to me. Besides, that's Felix, not Adrien."

"Oh? You can tell that just by looking, huh?" Her tone seemed to imply that meant something but her friend just gave her a dry look.

"Anyone who's met them should be able to tell that." She gestured to the man Alya had pointed out. "Grumpy cat." Then she scanned the crowd before pointing to another man identical to the first. "Excited puppy."

Cass observed the two and had to admit the other woman was right. It kind of reminded her of the difference in Damian and Jon's personalities. The first man was comfortable in the setting, but was extremely standoffish and full of himself. The other was happy and friendly, talking to anyone who got close to him.

"Quit stalling. It's almost midnight."

"Alya, I'm not-"

"You can't bail on me this time. Do you have any idea what it took for me to get tickets to this party? Give me one good reason why you can't go ask him to kiss you for New Years."

Given how red the other woman's face had gotten during her friend's rant, Cass expected an explosion. What she wasn't expecting was for the woman to turn and pull her down into an angry, almost desperate kiss. She didn't know how to react, so she just let it happen. Honestly, she felt bad for her... it was also kind of nice if she was being honest with herself. When the woman pulled back, Cass was a bit dazed. She turned on her friend.

"That's why!" And promptly stormed out to the balcony. Cass was startled out of watching her when Steph let out a laugh.

"I'd say that's a pretty good reason." Steph's amused tone caused Alya to flush red before storming off in the opposite direction from her friend. "You should go check on her." Cass raised an eyebrow at her and Steph gestured to the balcony with a knowing smirk.

"Do you really think she wants to see me? That had to have been embarrassing." Cass signed at her in confusion, but Steph just turned her and gave her a push towards the balcony. Cass still wasn't certain it was a good idea, but Steph had a better understanding of such emotions, so she went. She found the other woman leaning over the balcony, muttering into her crossed arms. "Are you okay?" She spoke in English even though they'd been talking in French before hoping she understood since they were in London. She could understand French well enough, but speaking it was trickier.

"I'm fine." She said it in English, barely audible. When she looked up Cass watched her go through a variety of emotions. First was exhaustion, then confusion, recognition, embarrassment, and ending with horror. "Oh dear Kwami, I can't believe I sexually assaulted a complete stranger. I am so sorry!"

"It's okay." Cass hadn't thought of it that way, but she supposed it was technically true.

"It's not okay! It's the complete opposite of okay. I can't believe I did that. I'm such a terrible person. I understand if you want to call the authorities. Or I can do something to make it up to you. I'm a fashion designer, not that you need new or better clothes, you look amazing in that dress, but if you wanted something, or I can tailor some things if you need it. Nothing will make up for-" The woman wasn't stopping to breathe and Cass had been trying to get her attention, but ended up latching onto her forearms to get her to stop. The guilt in the woman's eyes was painful to watch.

"I'm Cass." It wasn't what she really wanted to say, but it did stop her, well for a second anyway. Then she looked embarrassed.

"Oh, I'm Marinette. Marinette Dupain-Cheng." She started going through her handbag and pulled out a business card. She wrote on the back before handing it over. "That's my work phone on the front. I put my real name on the back and my personal phone number so you can get a hold of me for whatever you decide. I really am sorry." Cass frowned at the card for a moment. "Is something wrong?"

"You're the designer for Foundational Fashions?" She couldn't help her surprise. It was an innovative brand that Jason had actually introduced her to.

"Oh, um, yes, but I'd appreciate it if you would keep that to yourself. I try to stay below the radar."

"I know." That got a confused blink. "My brother and I have been trying to find a way to commission you for a couple of years."

"Then I can make you something, both of you, to apologize." She sounded almost excited at the idea, and Cass had to force herself not to frown. No way was this worth whatever her prices were.

"I wouldn't feel right not paying you. Just getting a slot for a commission is more than enough." The woman's expression fell and Cass would blame that for what happened next. She really didn't like seeing her unhappy. "There is something else."

"Of course. Anything."

"Let me kiss you at midnight."

"Sure, no problem... wait what?" Cass looked for any sign she'd made Marinette uncomfortable, but all she saw was confusion. "After what I did, why..." She didn't seem to be able to finish the thought. "I mean, I'm sure there are plenty of people who would love to... why would you pick me?"

She seemed genuinely confused, and Cass didn't really know how to respond. The longer she stayed silent, the more Marinette drew in on herself and she had no idea why. She didn't seem to object to the actual kissing part though, so Cass felt a bit less creepy about asking.

"I don't want to kiss anyone else." Marinette's cheeks turned bright red and Cass was worried she'd said the wrong thing. "Earlier I felt... I would like to try it again." It was times like this she wished she was better with words. When she looked back at Marinette, the woman was studying her. She seems less embarrassed and more thoughtful.

"There's still half an hour until midnight. Why don't we sit and talk? Maybe start on you commissions."

————————————————--

Cass looked relieved at the suggestion, and Mari realized she wasn't the only one floundering. She still couldn't believe she'd done something so stupid and could only be glad that Cass didn't want her arrested. Once they were settled at the table that happened to be on the balcony, Mari wasn't certain where to start.

"So, what are your hobbies?" That was a good starting place, right?

"Ballet, and I do martial arts."

"Well, that certainly explains the physique." Yes Mari, let's be even more creepy. She absolutely should not be flirting.

"What explains yours?" She could practically feel Cass' eyes running down her figure. Okay, maybe she should be flirting.

"I grew up in a bakery. When it comes in bulk, everything is heavy. And once I got into design, bolts of fabric aren't light either. Then, Hawkmoth showed up, and I ended up in self-defence and parkour classes with a lot of my friends. Nothing anywhere near as structured as what you've done, though." And the whole superhero thing, but that was definitely not a conversation for a first... whatever this was.

"What happened to him?" Marinette fought not to wince. That was the million dollar question that only she knew the answer to. It was an extremely messy take down, and she'd had to wipe the memories of everyone involved. Including Adrien because of how badly he'd reacted to finding out Gabriel was Hawkmoth.

"All we know is that Ladybug said he'd been taken care of and she and Chat were retiring. Most people were just grateful it was over, to be honest." Granted, that attitude was helped along by the fact that no one could find her to question the official story. "Where are you from? Your accent sounds American."

"I live in Gotham." Cass' tone was odd but Mari couldn't place why.

"Oh, then you're used to worse. At least most of the damage Hawkmoth did could be reversed. The emotional toll was bad enough, but I can't even imagine constantly being afraid that anyone around you could end up dead in the next attack." Cass gave a hum, and Mari was worried she'd offended her.

"It is... difficult." Mari noticed Cass moving her hands as she spoke and realized she'd been doing it since they started talking. "I think most people have developed a sense of apathy, or maybe just put on blinders to the danger until it actually happens, since there's not much they can do if one of the major rogues decides to attack. At the same time, more and more people and organizations are coming together to try and help each other. It is still hopeful, and Gothamites are stubborn."

"Yes, people seem to be able to get used to just about anything if they have to." Humans were extremely adaptable, and that wasn't always a good thing. "Oh! You're signing, aren't you?" Mari hadn't meant to say that out loud and given the embarrassed look on Cass' face, she shouldn't have. "Sorry, I just noticed the movements."

"It's how I first learned to communicate. My childhood was... unorthodox." Given her tone, Mari had a feeling that was an understatement. "I can stop if you-"

"No! I mean it's fine. I wasn't trying to make you uncomfortable." Mari really, really wished she could stop making an idiot of herself in front of the woman. She'd like to blame the sleep deprivation from her per Christmas dash to get everything done, but this was just how she was. She always turned into a disaster around pretty people. It's why she was so nervous around Adrien originally, because he had always been extremely pretty. Other people had called him handsome, but his features had always been too delicate for that. It took Mari three years to understand why she thought she liked him. And wasn't that a fun week long mental breakdown?

"It's fine. Some people just seem to think I'm trash talking them instead of going through the motions to help find the right words." Mari could only blink at her for a moment.

"I feel like those are the same people who are constantly trash talking people in their head and projecting that on to you." Cass let out an amused snort.

"Probably." They settled into a comfortable silence. It was nice, if Mari was being honest. Too many people she knew felt like they had to fill the silence, even when they had nothing to say. As the minutes ticked by though, she started to get nervous. Cass obviously noticed.

"We don't have to, if you don't want to." Mari started at her voice. God, she needed to not be so high strung.

"It's not that... honestly, this whole thing is just a bit bizarre. It would have made more sense for you to have slapped me. I'm just... trying to make sense of things." Mainly because, in her personal life, she wasn't this lucky. Then again, Cass was from America, so this probably wouldn't lead anywhere. And that thought made her realize that so far, she did want this to go somewhere. Great.

"I don't think there's a lot of people here that would slap a beautiful woman for kissing them." Mari felt like her face was on fire. This woman, her seriously could be a model, thought she was beautiful? Yep, crush officially formed. Shit.

"That still doesn't excuse my bad behavior. I shouldn't have taken out my frustration with Alya on other people. My being pissed off that she never actually listens to me is no reason to do what I did."

"I don't know. She seemed to get the message." Mari just sighed.

"Maybe. That or I'll be getting an extremely long lecture about embarrassing her tomorrow." Probably the second. Might be a good idea to find somewhere else to crash after the party. And figure out when Alya was set to leave London so she could avoid her until then. She loved her, but she was beyond sick of the whole Adrien thing.

"She should stop talking and start listening." Mari let out a giggle.

"Can't say I disagree, but I don't see it happening. Alya's extremely stubborn about certain things."

"If you're not willing to make excuses for your bad behavior, you shouldn't make them for hers, either." Mari blinked at her before letting out a huff.

"In theory that's true. But I can't control her actions, only mine." Cass let out another hum. Before she could say anything, people inside started counting down.

10

Oh dear Kwami, this was really happening, wasn't it?

9

Maybe it was a trick. Cass' way of getting back at her for what she did.

8

No. The way she was looking at Mari... she was actually going to do this.

7

Come on, Mari. It's just a kiss.

6

A kiss from someone with the softest lips she'd ever felt, but just a kiss.

5

Okay. Her heart felt like it was about to explode. She might actually pass out.

4

No. She is not going to create another scene tonight. She just needed to breath.

3

When did Cass get so close?

2

What if she was disappointed in the kiss? Mari was pretty confident in her abilities, but she had no idea what kind of experience Cass had.

1

What if she wasn't disappointed? What were they going to do then?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Cass closed the distance, and Mari just closed her eyes. Yep, definitely the softest lips ever. She was going to have to ask how she managed that. When Cass deepened the kiss, Mari's brain completely short-circuited. This. This is what home was supposed to feel like. She was so screwed.

When Cass pulled back, it took her a minute to remember to breathe. When she finally opened her eyes, she was on the receiving end of the softest look she'd ever seen. Suddenly, Gotham was looking like a better idea. Surely she could do some good there. She forgot how to breathe again when Cass cupped her cheek and ran her thumb over Mari's bottom lip.

"Happy New Year." The words were as soft as her look and Mari, for once, thought that for once, it actually was a good start to what was looking to be the best year she'd had in a long time. Even if it hadn't been her plan.

[the-white-soul]

... *A long silence stands on the other side of the phone. Just as you wonder if Flowey had left, his voice lowly cuts through in a toneless manner.*

Frisk.

Of all people, I thought you'd get it.

I spent so long feeling nothing, and when I finally get to grasp such a fulfilling emotion, you knock me right back down into the dust.

Do you understand how frustrating that is?

The Frisks I've met are the same. Perfectly peaceful and determined to set everything right. You're all so friendly and love to tease. You just love to play games with everyone, huh? You do it because it's funny. *He laughs hollowly.* I'm glad you found toying with me funny.

If that's how it is for you, that's how it is for every other one. You can look different, you can talk different, you can think you're different, but you'd be ignorant to think I'd find anything new if I searched universes for days.

Fly on back to where you intended to go. I can handle the Asgore problem.

*He returns the phone to Chara rather forcefully. Although he was speaking in a low voice so only Frisk could hear during the second half of the conversation, his frustration about something is evident.* If anyone else wants a turn to talk, you can.

(Frisk) "How dare you say I have to have feelings for you! *That's all anyone but Frisk knows about the last part of the call*"

(Kara) "GIVE ME THAT!!! *Takes the phone* We're going to have a serious conversation after this. *Starts talking to Frisk*"

(Frisk) "It's okay. I've been insulted so many times before it barely makes an impact! In fact, very little actually makes me sad! It's one of my greatest strengths."

(Kara) "So you're aroace huh? Why do you joke about that?"

(Frisk) "Well when I said I do it because it's funny, I meant when I was underground fake flirting. I always make it obvious. I wasn't hitting on you Buttercup. If you want to have a romantic partner here's a tip. Stop being an asshole!"

(Noelle) "*Starts to talk* I feel like you aren't giving him enough credit! He's just confused."

(Kara) "Wait, why did you say that?"

(Noelle) "In a second Kara, Frisk if this is how you deal with conflicts I might as well shoot Asgore myself. And for you Buttercup, don't be against people by their sexual preferences! You might as well say, 'Hey I know you want to be gay, why not date girls instead!' Sure it's not that bad yet but it's getting there."

(Frisk) "How am I in the wrong?"

(Chara) "How could you not see why?"

(Frisk) "Jesus, how many people will be part of this argument?"

(Chara) "You literally called Flowey an a-hole. You know what, SCREW IT! I don't care how you both feel about each other. Do you think I got here by just arguing? I don't know about you two but I'd rather not see Asgore turn to dust, OR LET JACK GET AWAY WITH ALL THE STUFF HE DID TO ME!!! Look at this *Pointed down there* You want to know the shit he did to me? You must've forgotten to have this much of a conflict about something this stupid. He touched me you dicks!!! If my plan fails because neither of you two knows when to shut up, I'll personally torture Frisk and Buttercup until they understand what they did to me!!! Understand?!"

[quinloki]

Family Ties

Fem Reader x Donquixote Doflamingo

CW: Language, violence, blood, moral ambiguity, murder, sexual themes and situations 18+ only

Chapter 1 - Table of Consent -

Chapter 12: Emotions

Dinner at the Donquixote estate was a practice in barely restrained chaos. Sugar had demanded you sit by her, which ended up with her in your lap about half-way through the meal. Dellinger had seated himself on the other side of you and spent as much time arguing with Sugar as he did talking to you.

Trebol and Diamante, two of Doflamingo's closest officers, snapped at each other's heels almost the whole meal, though most everyone else seemed to ignore them. Baby asked you a least 30 times if you needed her for anything, and you were legitimately convinced she was a hired maid for a good while, before Violet set you straight.

Monet sat near Sugar and did her best to help you wrangle the little rugrat enough that the two of you could trade off on eating. When you heard Machvise had personally made your dinner you praised him appropriately – you didn't want to unload a lot of hot air, but it was delicious food. You even admitted that while you weren't a fan of peas personally, the split pea soup was unexpectedly tasty.

Pica, Giolla, Senor Pink, Gladius and Buffalo were there a well, but your interactions were fairly limited. You feel like the younger ones had claimed you, and everyone else was just trying to make sure you weren't overwhelmed.

"Miss (Y/N)?" Sugar asks near the end of the meal.

"Miss Sugar, you can just call me (Y/N)." You say for the twelfth time, and after the third time you had started calling her 'Miss Sugar'.

"This bracelet is nice, where'd you get it?"

You realize she means the carnival gift, and you're suddenly glad to be a few seats removed from Doflamingo. "I got it as a gift."

You seem to have caught Dellinger's attention with this statement and he looks over. "From who?"

You gave a nervous laugh and smile as soon as you did Sugar pipes up. "Oh, was it the young master?" You hear someone choke on a drink, and you're pretty sure it's Monet. You're a bit sad your back's to her, she's been so composed the whole dinner it would've been a treat to see.

And people tell me I'm intuitive.

"Indeed." You answer with a smile. "It's a very special gift," you say with some drama. Sugar's attention is completely yours at this point, and even Dellinger looks like you're about to perform magic.

"What's it do?" Sugar inquires softly.

"It becomes more valuable with time." You answer, in your best mystical whisper.

You were fully rewarded with two awe-filled 'woooooah's' from Sugar and Dellinger. The conversation changes, the table was cleared, and after the meal you managed to find Monet without Sugar immediately in tow.

"I have a question for you, if you have a moment to spare." You ask and she gives you a smile.

"Anything for our new resident magician."

You grin. "Doflamingo told me you had dug into my history." Your expression didn't change, you weren't trying to make her feel bad. "I've... never looked, and while I know what happened, I don't know what the official story was."

There was a pause as she processes what you were asking and then her face became serious. "When you were six?"

You nod.

"I couldn't find the truth, and I knew I had only found propaganda when all the reports said you and your mother were killed during the Moim, and that your father had killed your killer. None of the records had anything else in them. Apparently, there's a memorial on Mary Geoise, honoring you and your mother's sacrifice." Monet's tone was usually flat, but there was a snarl in her last few words, as though the whole thing turned her stomach even as removed from it as she was.

You couldn't help the wave of emotion that went over you. Aggravation, anger, frustration, an odd pang of sadness and then anger again. He'd been able to keep climbing the ranks after the incident, you knew that much, but you didn't realize it was because they'd created a false tragic hero out of him. You had just assumed no one had known or cared – or that maybe the guy he murdered your mother to get was infamous enough for it to not matter.

"This... was a bad time to ask that, can you... I mean, is there somewhere I can go to cool off?" You question. Your fists are white-knuckled, and you're struggling to keep a neutral face.

"Of course." Monet takes you by the wrist and leads you through the estate until you come out the backside of it. The garden sprawls out before you, illuminated by the full moon, with a clear backdrop of stars. She points to a large tree that wasn't too far away.

"The old Wisteria tree always helped comfort me when I needed it. I'll keep most of the family at bay and give you a few minutes."

"Thanks."

You walk toward the large tree, feeling your anger melt away a little just from the cool air and the promise of quiet near the tree. Everything made more sense, and you hated that it made more sense. You stood under the tree, looking through the branches and blossoms, letting the moonlight fall over your face, you cry.

"May he live in agony." You whisper your wish up to the moon above, and your anger rushes back in.

"May he die in agony." You growl, your nails biting into the meat of your palms. Your shoulders shook, you wanted to unleash violence, you wanted to fight, you wanted to crush the old man's bones under your anger.

"Fuck." You croak the words, trying to keep from screaming. "Fuck."

"Rage is better released than held." Doflamingo's voice was quiet, as though he wasn't sure if he should even speak.

"I... don't..." You look over at him and your breath hitches. "I don't know what to do with this! I want to hurt him! I want to feel pain in my fists from the damage I would do his bones! I want his soul to shatter beneath my fury! I want his blood to feed the worms!"

Tears cut lines down your face as Doflamingo stands in front of you silently. If your words were affecting him, he made no outward show of it. "I want every breath he takes to cut his lungs with glass! I want the world to know what a terrible fraud he is! I want his heart's final, worthless, twitch to be between my fingers! How is this emotion simple rage?! How is this emotion even human!?"

Your tears stop. "How can... how can you hear me say all that and not flinch? Not back away? Not – not banish me from your home? How can I be so angry twenty-gods-be-damned-years-later?"

You sit on the ground hard, and it's the first time he so much as twitches, reaching out as if to catch you. Instead, he steps closer and kneels before you. His glasses are off and tucked in his shirt pocket. He offers you a handkerchief and gives you a moment to clean up your face and catch your breath.

Your mind comes back to you, and you look down at the ground. "Did it feel like this for you?" You ask quietly.

"Mmm," He reaches out and tilts your face up with a gentle touch, until you're looking at him. "It was different, but similar. My anger didn't simmer for 20 years until it boiled over. I was able to release it, and resolve it, in a smaller amount of time." His thumb caresses your cheek, wiping away an errant tear. You turn your head and nuzzle your cheek into his hand.

"I realize this is a bad time to say so, but you could just crush my whole head in your hand." You lean back, holding his hand with both of yours. "I wasn't able to really appreciate how bloody big your hands are until now."

The velvet rumble of his soft chuckle makes you feel warm. "Feeling a bit better?" He asks, standing up and offering you a hand up.

Smiling, you accept his assistance. "I am, thank you." Stretching a bit, you chuckle. "Painful truths over sweet lies, what a legitimate sentiment."

"If you're up for it, there's been an offer of dessert." He says with a devious grin, and continues before you can say anything. "The kind you can enjoy in the company of the family."

You blush a bit despite it all and laugh. "Sure, yes. They say sweet things are good for the soul anyway, so dessert-mffmph!"

Warm lips press against yours, and a strong hand presses into your back to steady you against the surprise. When he leans back you grab his collar and pull him back in, causing the softest sound of surprise to escape him. You press your tongue against his lips, and he lets you in. You didn't control the kiss for long, but you didn't care. Being devoured by this man wasn't the worst that could happen to you.

"My apologies," you breathe, as the kiss breaks, your eyes shifting from his lips to his eyes. "I'm sure you had something about you being good for my soul on the tip," you lean closer again, your eyes back down at his lips. "Of your," you ghost your lips past his, biting your lower lip lightly, before backing away entirely.

"So, dessert?" you prompt, with a great big smile on your face.

He chuckles, putting his glasses back and gesturing back to the estate with a small flourish, "My dear."

You got a step ahead of him and hear his voice rumble in his chest. "That won't be forgotten," he promises, and you weren't sure you were as scared of that as you should've been.

Dessert was a delicious strawberry shortcake, and a more subdued conversation with Monet, who apologized for delivering her new so bluntly. You also get to speak more directly to Trebol, Diamante, Pica and Giolla.

Leaving for the evening was a little bittersweet, but when Doflamingo didn't tempt you to stay, you realized just how busy his own job was keeping him. He did walk you to the limo, pinning you against the door and finishing the kiss from earlier before allowing you to slip away for the evening. You were in the backseat without a chance to request different, and sure enough your mind wandered to what had been done before, and what could be done in the future.

Tuesday came and went with little incident. You sporadically texted with Doflamingo, worked your jobs, and took an evening to yourself. You had every intention to vegetate on the couch and watch cheesy action movies. When you got home Tuesday evening, you saw Zoro in the driveway, looking at his phone and leaning against his delivery van.

"Hey, Marimo," you greet, jogging the last few steps to reach him. "What's up?"

The grin that spread across his face made you tilt your head in confusion.

"Special delivery, Mouse." He teases you back and hands over one of Robin's flower arrangements. You realize from his smile that he knows what the hyacinths meant as well as you did. You hold the flowers nearby and appreciate the scent.

Your face goes red and all you can murmur is a small, "Thanks."

"Least I could do." He replies. "It was my last delivery of the day, so I decided to stick around until you got home. Things run long at Eustass' shop?"

"Not overly. I ended up kibitzing with the guys for a bit, but admitting that my stray had turned into a more permanent sort of trouble was what kept me."

Zoro snorts, "Yeah, I'm sure a couple of those guys will be drowning their sorrows tonight."

You laugh, "If they felt that way, they should've said something sooner."

"As long as you're happy," he shrugs.

"Nervous?" you question, shifting the topic of whose relationship was being discussed.

Zoro looks away and rubs the back of his head. "Maybe a little."

You pat his shoulder. "She's only had a thing for you, for like, the last year at least. You'll be fine whatever you have planned."

Zoro groans. "Did I really not notice for so long?"

"I blame time spent hanging around Luffy and Ace." You say, "They're both dense as tungsten."

Zoro laughs and leaves you to your thoughts and flowers. Hyacinths, your loveliness charms me. There's a definite skip in your step as you go into your home.

(Y/N): I see you have responded in kind.

You send the text and set the flowers on your coffee table and do a silly happy dance for a moment before your phone vibrates.

Trouble: I was told a simple reply would suffice.

(Y/N): I only have so much space for replies.

Trouble: I was reminded repeatedly by your florist friend.

(Y/N): I would like to reply in a more direct way, but you must promise me something.

Trouble: I shall do my best, my dear.

(Y/N): Do not answer your phone for the next twenty minutes.

You were skipping up the steps to your room waiting for a reply. It took so long you were a bit concerned he wasn't going to agree.

Trouble: Very well, I promise.

Utilizing the toys you had available, you brought yourself close to orgasm before dialing his number. You tried to calm your breathing in case he picks it up, so you could scold him without giving your intent away too obviously. Once you heard the customized voicemail greeting, you had a feeling he at least had an inkling as to what you meant to do.

"Leave your messages as you please, kitten."

Caught or not, it didn't matter. You let the pleasure in your voice sing out for him. You were so close you didn't think you were going to need multiple messages, just the knowing sound in his voice was enough to get your heart racing. Your imagination brought his presence into your room, looming over you and telling you to scream for him. Purring softly in your ear with need in his own voice for you to cum for him.

The idea of him watching you while you did something like this drove you over the edge in a rush. You mewl his name and cry your orgasm into the phone as best you could with your hands preoccupied. Panting and enjoying the rush you pick up the phone properly and left the only fully formed words of the whole message.

"Just some of my charming loveliness, Doffy."

Hanging up the phone you laid out on the bed and basked for a moment before dragging yourself into the shower. As you were coming back out of the shower, you noticed a missed called and a new voicemail message. Your face flushes as you press play, unsure of what to expect.

"There is a fine line between divinity and torture, Miss (Y/N). One you seem to be alarmingly skilled at walking. I do hope you're available tomorrow, I would hate to have to kidnap you, my dear."

You sent a text, not wanting to risk your voice betraying you. You also wanted the chance to pick your words, and not vocalize the fact that you wouldn't have any issues being kidnapped by him.

(Y/N): I promised Pop's some of my time tomorrow.

(Y/N): Is after dinner acceptable?

The lack of a reply stretches out more minutes than it ever had before, so you decided to continue.

(Y/N): It seems I've bordered closer to cruel than I meant. I could, graciously, get someone to cover my café shift Thursday, so that I could stay the night.

The last few words were hard to type, not because you were against the idea, but you were a little worried you misread his delay. You wanted to jump in with both feet, you didn't want to leap into concrete on accident.

The response was almost immediate.

Trouble: Then I shall graciously accept.

You bit the bottom of your lip, and preemptively apologized to the Boys that you wouldn't be as focused on visiting as you usually were.

[casspurrjoybell-22]

The Art of Sin - Chapter 6 - Part 1

•Blue Nekozuka (Neko)

•Lycus Tupou (Phooka)

*Warning Adult Content*

I knew I said I wouldn't be a part of their game but I've never been more sexually frustrated in my life. 

Since the situation with Ire and Lycus a couple weeks ago, no one has done anything.

No sex... no kissing... nothing.

I've never been a situation where sex was withheld or at least not in one where I wasn't the one withholding it but it's not like I wanted to have sex with them specifically.

I just needed a good fuck.

I don't like how friendly I've become with my right hand. I suppose, in a sense, not having sex was relaxing.

I didn't have to look over my shoulder as much and customers weren't using my body for their own pleasure but damn.

I really wanted to be pounded into oblivion.

I studied myself in my the mirror, running a hand through my hair.  

I looked different and not just because of the shorter hair, though it did make me look younger.

I didn't look like the pathetic whore who was sold.

Though I wanted to fuck like crazy, I had gained some dignity during my short time here.

Not much, mind you but enough that I had freewill.

For instance, I was currently on strike.

It started two days ago.

We were in the library, a two story room lined with what seemed like thousands of books.

I had found a section of books in my native language and began reading through them, much to the other's shock.

"Dude, you can read those?" Lycus exclaimed, walking to the love seat I was occupying. The others, curious, wandered closer.

I gave a laugh, understanding their shock.

Though the language wasn't something extremely complex, others would be hard pressed to get information from a book written by incubi or succubi.

"My people are extremely secretive in just about every aspect of our lives. We use glamour for everything even if it doesn't seem that big of a deal to an outsider."

Noir frowned, noticing my choice of words.

"I didn't know incubi were capable of glamour," Tate added, interested by the discussion.

I was amused by their lack of knowledge.

Giving a small grin, I motioned for Lycus to come closer.

I touched his arm, the skin beginning to shimmer and spread across his body.

His previously dark, sun-tanned skin had become as light as a newborn Sun Elf's.

He gasped, waving his arm in front of him in disbelief.

"I can't even sense the glamour..." Tate stated, moving closer to inspect Lycus.

"Well, yeah. It's part of survival for my people. An undetectable glamour can, at times, be the difference between life and death. For that reason incubi and succubi take great pride in their glamour, becoming experts."

To prove my point, I gave Lycus a pair of horns and a long, scaled tail.

Bain, too amazed to stay with his book, came over as well... leaving only Lord Nikoli who stood away from us, looking at me with a slight frown.

"Are you using glamour on yourself now?" he asked but it came out as a demand. 

I swallowed, suddenly nervous and the others fell silent, glancing between us.

Minutes passed before I finally gave a slow nod, my wide eyes not leaving his narrowed ones.

His frown became more of a grimace.

"Glamour is one thing I do not allow, please release it."

"NO," it came out harsher than I mean, shocking not only the others, but myself.

Softer, I repeated myself.

"No..." I could tell he was clenching his teeth and he gave me a stiff nod before turning abruptly and walking out the door.

The others only looked at me in both sympathy and surprise.

Numbly, I released the glamour I casted on Lycus, proceeding to pick up the book I'd been reading.

After returning it to the shelf, I left... not glancing at the others though I felt their gazes like laser beams burning holes in my back.

For two days I barely spoke, answering questions in as few words as possible and only when it was absolutely necessary.

I knew I was grating on Lord Nikoli's nerves.

Everyday at breakfast he asked me to release my glamour and everyday I said no, refusing to say why.

After our exchange of heated expressions, we'd both sit in silence, neither willing to let up.

I knew it was awkward for the others.

The tension was almost overwhelming.

I felt slightly guilty but I wasn't going to give in.

I had my reasons but I didn't want to say them out loud.

I avoided glancing in a mirror I passed, walking down the hall as I looked for Blue.

Tate said he wanted me to help him with something.

I was about to give up when I spotted him out the window, stopping me dead in my tracks.

He was on top of the roof, jumping around without a care in the world.

I quickened my pace until I was sprinting to the other wing.

I found the flight of stairs leading up, taking four steps at a time.

When I burst through, my breathing erratic, he jumped, turning to me with wide, slit like eyes which quickly narrowed.

"Fuck, man, you scared the shit out of me."

I noticed a tail flick behind him in annoyance, my gaze traveling up to his hair where a pair of cat ears sat.

"You're a Neko," I stated dumbly, my previous panic being released knowing that he was safe.

"Duh. Now come help me catch him," he said, pointing towards what seemed like a small, black cat.

[neonhorn]

Well, after letting it really get to me for an entire night and finally get some rest... I've decided to double down and talk about things just as earnestly and even longer. If someone wants to just dismiss me out of hand and put me up for people to laugh at for no reason then that reflects on them. I still believe strongly in talking about various mentalities of going into competitive games. I'm the kind of person that can get really competitive in multiplayer games. Have it be Pokemon, Armoured Core, or dm_mariokart2_b3.bsp on TF2, etc.

Over the years I've had plenty of time to think and put into practice mentalities that work for me. I'm not saying the following will work for everyone but is more friendly advice from someone who wants to help other people learn and have more fun. I'm not a scientist or making a paper, this is more like a friend talking to you. I'm not preaching, just wanting to share my experiences in the hope it might help. A lot of what I say may be obvious, but I often find that said obvious things are rarely taken to heart or practised. They're more taken for granted. Sometimes you just need someone talking about it for it to sink in, I know I did and still do. So maybe I can be that for just one person, that would be worth it. All it takes it one person and maybe that person might pass it on themselves or maybe not. It's still worth it.

Even if you don't read this, already know what I say and more, or perhaps what I say doesn't even help at all; I hope you have a good day.

Tilt

Let's first talk about tilt, frustration, getting salty etc. What is it? Tilt and frustration can take different forms in different people. Generally it seems it comes up most in the form of annoyance or anger and can lead to people acting out. I find there are some other things that are much less talked about such as how it makes you feel when you encounter the thing that tilted you again and how it makes you feel afterwards. Whenever I encounter something even to this day that terribly tilted me, I notice how much quicker I end up getting tilted again. I get in my own head. This obstacle, character, game mode, etc. each time becomes more and more of this insurmountable obstacle with no counter play. Simply put, you don't want to deal with it.

What about afterwards? When you put down the game? Getting tilted often to most people including myself, can make it really hard to pick the game back up again. That ever looming feeling that you're going to lose, play some mode you hate, a shitty map, etc. really makes it hard to go back. Why pick it back up if it's just going to tilt you and you can just go play some other game that gives you instant gratification?

These couple of points bring me to my main point that I alluded to before: mentality. You can be the most talented player of a game or the worst, if you have a bad mental you're not going to improve and find ways to keep going. Mechanical skill isn't everything.

Some advice I learned the hard way is to just put the game down if you're on a losing streak. You may not feel your typical Tilt always, but it can cause a more 'silent' Tilt. In these situations I find it best to put the game down for the rest of the day or at least until I've moved on and done something else.

Before we move on, remember: it's completely fine to be casual or competitive at games. What's important is that you enjoy yourself. Most of us aren't genuinely planning on becoming esports stars, video creators, or streamers, so don't take the games you're playing as jobs. Hell, even the latter two you may wanna take it easy unless your brand is being really good at the game.

Mental

For most of my time I've really been into gaming and getting better I've had carpal tunnel. It's gotten better over the years but also my reaction speeds have slowed down as I age. Both of these things have had adverse effect on my mental and therefore tilt. "If only my hand didn't lock up", "If only my arm didn't hurt during that play", "If only I had gotten into things like this when I was younger", etc. All these thoughts and more are things I deal with nearly any time I pick up a competitive game. So how do I deal with it? How do I not let it drag me down? While there's not concrete answer for everyone, sometimes the simplest and most obvious things are the best. Taking breaks genuinely helped me a lot, and not just sitting there and stewing on the bad game I just had. Moving around, doing something else, getting some water, generally removing myself from the situation helps clear my head and it might yours as well. Sometimes just having a friend or document to vent into helps as well.

Just whatever you find that helps you clear your head make sure it's not harmful to yourself or others, that's just counter productive.

So now that your head is clear, what do you do? Sure you can just hop back into things, but I also like to reflect. What could I have done differently? What did the opponent do that tripped me up? Why didn't I like that part? It's important to reflect and theorize, without it you're just running in blindly and not learning. It's also important to not put blame on things that you cannot control, like physical disabilities or teammates. Sure they could be the reason something went wrong, but at least for me blaming it all on that doesn't help me improve. It just gives me excuses.

(Though I'm not saying that games shouldn't have accessibility features or shouldn't try to, they very much should especially if they're AAA, but that's a whole other discussion I'm not getting into here.)

So Rest and Reflect? Any other esoteric wise words? Of course! Practice! Bet no one's ever told you that one before. I find a lot of people just blurt this out like the whole process starts and ends with this. It's hard to start this step or even learn properly if you're not in the right head space to do it. As we all grow older it becomes harder and harder to reach a head space where we can do this, more and more responsibilities pile up and the ever degrading work week takes more and more out of us. This brings me to my next point...

Goals

While this can technically be under mental, I think it's very important to single out.

This is where you decide what the game you're playing really means to you and what you want to do with it. Are you going to pursue this game competitively or are you going to be more satisfied being more casual about it? Both are fine, but you have to not let yourself get too stuck in the middle.

A clear goal is needed.

Not something vague like "I want to get better" or "I want to play it with friends". Better goals would be "I want to get to the high end of the competitive ladder" or "I want to be able to beat all my friends". When you have goals you have something to work towards and think around. You can have multiple goals as well, such as wanting to be the top of the ladder and the best at a certain character.

I know it sucks to admit, but those high school teachers and therapists were right. Having a goal to work towards does wonders for the mind. Even if you know the goal is unattainable, having something to push you forwards helps you learn and progress. Once again, you need a good Mental.

Part of these goals as well is to see how much you want to Invest into the game. Realizing you may not want to invest that much time into the game can be a freeing thing. Realizing the opposite as well. I find being uncertain tends to invite Tilt a lot more. Knowing I want to just take Elden Ring PVP causally suddenly turns me getting stomped easily from a frustrating experience into a funny one I can tell my friends how I was atomized.

It's completely alright to change your mind in the future about how you want to invest yourself into a game there is nothing wrong with that. But knowing what you want invest in the moment is important. Especially with all these live service games trying to guilt you and make you feel like you're losing out if you don't constantly play them.

It's also important to pay attention to what game you're getting into and adjust yourself accordingly. If it's a game that's been out for a few years or more the barrier to entry is going to be much higher. People have learned all these tricks and techs, and coming in as a new player or returning one can be extremely daunting. So what do you do?

Resources

One of my biggest hurdles back in the day was getting over my sense of pride and looking up resources. It's all well and good, admirable even, to want to learn everything yourself and climb on just your own. But even at the highest level you can always learn stuff from others.

If you've read this far you're already practising this advice. Other people have a wealth of knowledge that can help contribute to your own. Sure it can be hard to sometimes parse the trash trying to get a quick buck from people who know what they're talking about. It's a skill that comes with time, as well as knowledge of the community you're trying to engage with by playing the game. It's something that comes with time. Though my very entry level tip is probably don't take advice from a gaming outlet like IGN too seriously.

There are plenty of passionate and creative people out there, even watching funny highlights of a game can give you insight. It's all about what you do with this information and how you interact with it. If you simply try to just mimic what you see others doing, you'll find moderate success at best. If you want to elevate your play and become even better, you have to start asking and figuring out the WHY of it. If you don't understand why someone tells you do something in certain situations or why a combo is good, you won't learn. You're just copying. I'm not the best teacher, I'm sure I could be doing a lot better in this write up but I strongly believe knowing or at least thinking about the WHY of things is important and I've been trying to put that in. Learning the WHY of things leads you to be able to make your own choices, create your own things, and have a fundamentally deeper understanding of what you're doing. WHY did they go that direction, WHY did that person back off from that, WHY did that combo work, WHY did that hit me, etc. When you question the why, you can better understand the how. Critical thinking and analysis are important, even in games, and in order to that you need a clear head.

Misc.

Here's just a category of some miscellaneous advice I have. If you're struggling against a certain character or archetype, learning said character or archetype can greatly help out. Sure you can bang your head against that wall until you learn that way, but by picking that character up yourself and getting at least decent at will completely change how you see that frustrating situation. I know how tempting it is to just play that one character, but branching out and understanding other play styles and characters is important. Hell, you may even enjoy the things you try.

Are you saying to never drop a game ever? No, of course not. If you're not enjoying something then of course let it go. At the same time I see way too many people give up extremely early. It's like watching a baby bird give up because it can't fly, discouraged because other birds are in the sky flying. For example I had to drop League after a few years of playing due to how unhealthy it was for me. I was getting really mad constantly and none of my techniques were helping me. So I had to back off and not let it do that to me anymore.

Be kind in team games. It will win you more games, keeping a good mental around frustrating teammates is a skill in of itself. Getting angry and yelling at teammates or telling them to do something else will often just end up making you lose a teammate. I'm not saying to deny your frustration, but if you're going to grumble and rant do it off mic. Get your frustrations out and back to thinking more clearly.

"I took a break for a while and now it feels like I've gotten worse :c" For me at least I found that my time before I get rusty at a game is 2-3 days and it can take up to 5 days before I'm back in the groove. If you're serious about improving I suggest not putting the game down for too long or else you'll be fighting rust more than the opponent. Of course real life obligations and other things get in the way and that's alright, it's just better to know how long it takes before you start getting rusty and about how long it will take for you to get back into things.

Anyways, I hope even a bit of this helps someone. There's a good chance no one reads this and it will just be lost to time, but I still think it's better that I put this out there. And hey, if you actually read through this or just skipped down in curiosity; Hi! And thanks for your time. I hope you have a good one and i wish you luck and skill in your games.

glhf

[onlyyvette]

Teasing the Demon Brothers(Satan)♡

NSFW Minors dni

Warnings: DOM/TOP reader + SUB/BOTTOM character + AFAB reader but is referred to with the title of "sir" + feminization + humiliation + threat of public humiliation + pegging + use of cockcage + consensual filming + semi-public sex + aftercare

Word Count: 3019

A/n: Okay, I've finally got to time to do this! Because I couldn't choose, I'm going to do both orgasm control and overstimulation. Not only that, but you didn't specify what sex and gender you wanted the reader to be. I hope AFAB reader is fine, but if not, I can remake the fic with a few tweaks to make it gn or AMAB reader. This will be a part of my "Teasing the Demon Brothers" series, I hope you guys enjoy it

Satan♡

Satan absolutely loved the way you treated him. As lovers, the two of you were just…as in love as the two of you could be. You would sometimes hold hands as you walked down the road, share the same drink at your favorite cat cafe, having him sleep against your shoulder as you read a book, it was all wonderful. But sometimes, the two of you would do something that you wouldn’t find most couples doing..

Today, the two of you decided to visit a mall in the human world. As you walked through the mall with your boyfriend, you found him clinging onto your arm, squeezing it at times. He would sometimes tremble slightly as the two of you walked, and it would always make a little snicker come out of your mouth. People would sometimes stare at you, causing Satan to look down at the floor, but you didn’t mind it too much.

During a stop at a boba stand, the cashier gave the two of you a compliment. Motioning to you, she said, “Is that your girlfriend? If so, you two are such a cute couple.” Satan let out a tiny gasp as he clung onto you even closer. “Thank you,” you replied. “And yeah, she is my girlfriend. She doesn’t talk too much though.” The cashier let out a laugh, telling you about her own girlfriend. It was no surprise that she thought that your boyfriend was a girl.

Today, you had Satan dressed up in a cute outfit: a pale blue blouse with puffy sleeves and a red ribbon around the collar. At the end of his sleeves, his nails were painted white, decorated with cat stickers. He wore a blue plaid skirt with white ruffles underneath it. It was a bit too short on him, but you didn't get any verbal complaints for him. White, thigh length stockings decorated your boyfriend’s legs. Brown knee-high boots covered the rest of Satan's legs, the small platforms on the bottom making him a bit taller than usual. Around his neck was a white choker, a heart-shaped pendant attached to it.

You had paid extra attention to Satan’s face. You did his eyeliner for him, giving him neatly done wings and gave him more volume to his lashes. Since you wanted to be extra, you gave him pretty heart stickers to put under his eyelids, adding a little bit of sparkly blush to them. You applied a pale lip gloss color to Satan’s lips, making them perfect for kissing. Lastly, you put a longer wig with wavy twin tails on him, completing the final look.

When you look at Satan now, you can’t help but feel a sense of pride from making him look so pretty and so erotic. The makeup complimented his natural features and the frilly skirt he was wearing made you want to ravish him completely. You almost regretted taking your boyfriend out today due to the fact that you would have to wait a few hours before being able to touch him. Now, while you couldn’t touch him, you still had a good way of tormenting him.

Right before the two of you left for the mall, you had slipped a vibrator inside of Satan(you also made him cum two times). He had pleaded with you to not keep the vibrator because he knew that he would get too excited easily, so you added a cockcage to make sure that he didn’t get hard in public. It wasn’t easy putting the cockcage on him because while no one would know if he was getting hard because it would be impossible, it was still so frustrating to Satan. He wouldn’t be able to get hard, which meant not being able to cum. You only found this amusing. If you couldn’t touch him, it was only fair that he couldn’t touch himself too, no?

Throughout the trip to the mall, you would turn the vibrator on from time to time, startling poor Satan, causing him to jump or cling on to you, waiting for the vibrations to stop as his voice got too loud. Even when the two of you were talking to that friendly cashier, you had turned on the vibrator, causing him to try to stay as mute as possible so that the cashier couldn’t catch onto his predicament. Still, he let out a gasp that was too loud in your opinion, causing you to secretly glare at him, quickly turning the vibrator off.

Satan should have been relieved that you were turning the vibrator off, but he knew you better than that. As the two of you continued to explore the mall, Satan was antsy, waiting for the next time that you would turn on the vibrator. Yet you never did.

Satan should have been relieved that you were turning the vibrator off, but he knew you better than that. As the two of you continued to explore the mall, Satan was antsy, waiting for the next time that you would turn on the vibrator. But you never did.

Your last stop at the mall was a pretty store with many different varieties that you just had to stop and take a look. As the two of you were browsing the store, your boyfriend had almost forgotten that he had that vibrator inside of him or had a cage restraining his cock. Once the two of you had picked out some clothes, you led Satan to the dressing room. The women’s dressing room.

Satan was a bit nervous, forgetting that he could pass as a girl now and considering the fact that he usually doesn’t go into the women’s changing room. Nevertheless, you shoved him into the dressing room, locking the door behind you. The dressing room was a little bit over a medium size, only one stall and was made for 1-2 people to be in. Pushing one of the outfits that you chose for him and ushered him inside the stall.

A few minutes after Satan went inside the stall, you came with an idea. Coming up to the door, you knocked a few times. “Satan, are you done yet?”

“If I was, don’t you think I would be out yet,” Satan called out, an exasperated tone showing in his reply. “Besides, I’m still taking off my clothes.” You knocked on the door again. “Satan, let me in.” Your voice seemed light and cheery, but something about it made your boyfriend shiver. “What do you mean let you in? I told you, I’m still taking off my clothes.” 

“Satan, let me in.” Your voice seemed more demanding this time. Satan went silent for a few seconds, and opened the door. When you could finally see his body fully, you had to stop yourself from jumping on him right then and there. 

The first thing your eyes were drawn to was Satan's shirt. It was halfway unbuttoned, down to his navel. Where you would have seen your boyfriend’s nipples were instead covered up by a lacy, light pink bralette. Your eyes traveled lower, to his thighs. He still had his skirt on, but it was lowered a bit so that you could see his panties peeking out a bit. His boots were off, one of his stockings was pulled down to his ankle, but the other one was still fully on, making a mouth watering sight. You pulled your eyes up to see Satan’s face. He was furiously blushing as you were unabashedly checking him out.

Finally done with your inspection, you looked Satan straight in the eyes, a small smirk growing on your face. “You’ve been in there for a while, Satan,” you sneered. “Mind telling me why you’re not fully undressed?”

“...” Silence.

“Don’t tell me,” you started. “You were staring at yourself in the mirror? Were you so mesmerized by your new look?” Satan turned away from you, his blush spreading. “That’s not it…” he said in a small voice, despite the fact that you both knew it was a lie. “You don’t need to lie, dear. I guess you really enjoyed my make-over. "So,” your voice suddenly took on a serious tone. “How about you let me help you undress, hm?” Satan stayed quiet for a bit before startlingly clinging onto your arms, causing you to be taken aback a bit. “Please…” he pleaded, his lips trembling as tears gathered in his eyes. “Please touch me!”

“Slow down there, I’m not going anywhere,” you began, as your eyes darkened. “But…what if I do? Will you follow me out of here like a lost puppy?” You could see your boyfriend about to interject, but you narrowed your eyes, warning him to stay quiet. “What if…what if I let you cum here, but you’re too loud? The customers and employees will know everything that happened in here. Are you going to walk out of here and face all their judging stares?” By the time you finished speaking, Satan clung onto your arms even tighter as he imagined the scenario you were presenting. What if that happened? What if I walked out, knowing I was so loud, having everyone judge me? Just thinking about it… Just the thought of being found out caused Satan to rub his thighs together, an action not gone unnoticed by you.

“Well, Satan, let’s start! Do you want me to start taking off your shirt, or your skirt? Your choice,” you piped up, your voice taking a sharp turn and becoming cheery. “Please, Y/n, just touch me,” Satan begged, his tears about to fall as his grip on you wavered. “Okay, skirt it is then!” you ignored his pleas, shrugging off his hands from you. You pressed yourself against your boyfriend, slowly taking off his skirt. Satan whined under his breath as you went so painstakingly slow. “C’mon, faster!” he urged. You sighed. “Fine then,” you said, your tone making Satan even more nervous. “Since you clearly want to go faster, turn around for me and face the mirror. I want you to put your hands on the wall with it.” 

Satan’s eyes widened as he realized what you wanted him to do. Obediently, he turned away from you and faced the mirror, placing his hands on the wall. He was silent as he waited for your orders, but was only met by your silence as well. “Hey, Satan, can I take a picture? I really like this angle,” you said after a while. “...Fine,” Satan lowered his head in embarrassment as he heard the shutter of your phone. Of course you had to have your camera at max volume. Suddenly, he remembered how short his skirt was. “Oh, Satan, your panties are so cute from this angle,” you exclaimed. It was like you were reading what was on your boyfriend's mind. “Too bad it’s not completely visible. Still though, it’s pretty erotic considering how half of your underwear is showing right now. I knew I picked the right color! Pink really suits you.”

How can they talk about this like an everyday conversation? Satan felt so exposed under you. He could feel his body getting hotter by the second. His poor cock in its cage had began to throb long ago. Satan really couldn’t take this torture any longer. “Please Y/n…” your boyfriend called out softly. “Please touch me, I-I’ve been a good boy!” Satan was getting very desperate now. “Oh come on, Satan. It’s only been like, what, 10 minutes,” you rolled your eyes. “Besides, I haven’t only been leaving you untouched just to mess with you. I think you forgot who I am to you.” 

Oh. Of course. How could he have forgotten? “Please S-sir…I’ve been a good boy for you Sir. Will you please touch me!” Satan turned his head and was elated by the fact that you seemed satisfied. And you were. It felt so empowering to have the fourth strongest demon brother in the Devildom at your mercy, crying for your touch. “Well, Satan, since you asked so nicely, of course!” you said, getting closer until you were right behind him. You lifted up his skirt completely and pulled his panties to the side, revealing the purple plug nested inside of him.

“...Aren’t you going to take the underwear off?” Satan asked nervously. “Nah,” you replied casually. “I’m gonna keep it right here,” you pushed on the plug without warning, eliciting a sharp gasp from your boyfriend. You had been nice enough this whole time to not turn on the vibrating plug, but you decided that now was the time. Reaching for the remote in your pocket, you set the vibrator to a low setting. “Ah—” Satan cut himself off by slapping his hand over his mouth. Despite the vibrator being at a low setting, your boyfriend still had to muffle his moans, and boy, was that pathetic to you.

“Come on Satan, I haven’t even gotten to the higher settings and you’re already moaning. This is just sad to see.” Satan whined, muffled by his hand. “Actually, move your hand away, dear. I want to hear the sounds that you make.” Satan hesitated at first, then reluctantly removed his hand from. “Good boy,” you raised the vibrator’s level to the highest setting without any warning. “O-Oh! Y/n—S-Sir, please–MnngGHH!” Satan couldn’t hold back his filthy cries any longer. Oh how he wished you would take that cage off him. He wanted to cum so badly, but the cage wouldn’t allow him. It was driving him crazy!

“Hahh, Sir! Pl–AnngGH! Ngh! Please, the c-cage,” Satan begged, his moans disrupting the flow of his sentence. “You want the cage off,” you taunted, waving the key to the cage in his face. He nodded desperately. “Fine then, but you need to cum a different way then.” You unlocked the cage on your boyfriend’s cock, causing him to sigh in relief. Before he could cum, you grabbed the base of his cock, ruining his orgasm. “...Huh? B-but why Sir?” Satan sobbed. All that torturous pleasure and he wasn’t even able to cum in the end. “Relax, Satan,” you rolled your eyes. You took a cockring out of your bag and slipped it on his still hard dick. “You can still cum, even with a ring on, but it’ll be a bit difficult–” you paused in the middle of your sentence to get something else out of your bag. You were taking a while, so Satan looked behind him. He was greeted with the image of you wearing a 9-inch(at least he thinks so) dildo harnessed to your waist. You had a small bottle of lube in your hand and you were already opening it.

“Today is your lucky day, Satan,” you claimed. “You’ll have to wait even longer to cum now,” you had a sadistic look in your eyes. “I’m not luck—Unghh!” You cut Satan off by plunging your lube coated fingers inside of him. Your fingers scissored his insides, loosening him up for your strap. “Hahh, S-sir, hur—Annhhgg, hurry up please!” Satan pleaded. You had been purposefully slow and avoiding his prostate—it was torturing him! “Sir! I’m ready for you to–Oh! To fuck me!” You finally decided to take a little bit of mercy on your poor boyfriend and take your fingers out of his ass. “Well, I hope you’re ready, Satan,” you said as you placed the tip of your strap at his entrance. You began slowly pushing into him, causing Satan to whimper as he tried to grasp at anything to steady himself. All nine inches of the dildo was finally inside of him and it was driving him mad. “Gghhhgh…S-Sir…I can feel it—mnghh… inside me. It’s f-filling me up~” Satan mumbled half to himself, a delirious smile on his face.

Unable to restrain yourself, you began to roughly thrust your strap into your boyfriend, causing him to let out loud, unrestrained moans. “Shut up,” you hissed. “You don’t want others to hear us, do you?” you wrapped your hands around Satan’s throat, startling him and causing him to choke as you picked your pace. “GgHHKK—S-si-UunnGHHhh!” Satan’s eyes rolled back into his head as he tried his best to collect his thoughts while you continued with your harsh pace. He would have cum already, if it hadn’t been for that ring on his cock! “Come on, Satan, cum,” you taunted as if reading his thoughts. “You can cum with the ring on with the right kind of stimulation!” you tightened your grip on his throat as you began to bite the outer shell of Satan’s ear.

He couldn't stand it. Even though your hands had already left his throat, they had sneaked under his bralette and were now busy playing with his nipples, pulling on them until they become red. Satan keeps whining that it’s too much and that it won’t be possible for him to. Yet you keep on pushing him to do it! As you continue to thrust into him, he feels the climbing feeling of his orgasm coming back again. He could feel it multiple times when you were touching him, but it felt different this time. Like he would actually have a proper orgasm. “W-wait…sh-shlow–MMmnnGHhKK! H-hahh, Sir~! Feeshls like m’ gonna…” your poor boyfriend slurred as he tried to voice his thoughts, being interrupted by his own moans. “I said you could have an orgasm,” you said in a triumphant voice. Then you grabbed Satan by the face and leaned close into his ear.

“Cum for me, Satan. I know you can. do it”

That’s all he needed to cum. Satan let out a long wail as he shook violently, his long-awaited orgasm washing over him. Finally, he stopped moving and you set him down on the bench and began to admire your work. Satan’s makeup was ruined, his mascara and eyeliner running, lipgloss smudged, but it made him look even more appetizing. His clothes were still partially on but were a bit wrinkled and frazzled. Once you finished looking over your boyfriend’s wrecked body, you turned to get some wipes and water for him. Satan was still conscious, but barely. As you ran the wipes all over his body, you kissed him all over, whispering sweet praise whether he was listening or not. He seemed to have heard based on the way that he was slightly humming. Once you were done, you gave him some greatly needed water and kissed on the top of his head while he nuzzled your touch.

“Good job, Satan. Now don’t be surprised if we get kicked out of the mall though."

[randomshyperson]

The Scarlet Witch Prophecy - Chapter 13 - The Sixth Year (Part Three)

My dear friend @abimess, I keep stealing your gifs and making updates without telling you. I hope you never get tired of it.

Summary: As the youngest daughter of Howard Stark, you have ordinary expectations for your years at Hogwarts. Little do you know what adventures await you when your destiny is intertwined with the legendary Scarlet Witch.

Warnings: +16. Adaptation of the Harry Potter Saga, Magical Thematic, Prophecies, Mentions of Violence, Torture and dark magic, Language (swearing and minor/major offenses), manipulation of will, Underage kissing, insinuation of smut with minors, Smut (overage), descriptions of death, aggression, obscurity, angst, fluffy, soulmates analogies. || Chapter Warnings: Magical torture with minors, cursing, angst, ptsd, derogatory thoughts and behavior, dark magic.

Chapter Words: 8.486 K

A/N> Yes, I've gone for a month without warning anyone, and yes that might go on, but at least i'm near ending this (I'm already writing chapter 21). Once I'm finished, I'll just programe tumblr to upload them all for me because i'm lazy. I hope anyone like this yet, i don't even know what i'm doing anymore. Good reading!

Series Masterlist ||  Read on AO3 || All Works Masterlist

Chapter 13 - Part XIII - The Sixth Year (Part Three)

Gossip really starts to irritate you when you go to lunch after potions.

"You want to say something to me, girl?" You charge impatiently when you hear the giggles behind you again, coming from a group of students sitting at Ravenclaw's table.

The group turns around with wry smiles on their faces, and you notice the editions of the Daily Prophet in the hand of one of the boys. It is Hope Summers, your classmate, who speaks first:

"We're just sharing some theories, Stark." She says in a provocative tone. "Some of us find it an interesting coincidence that just now that Mephisto is back, you and Maximoff are losing control of magic."

You frown.

"What are you talking about?" you ask in surprise, referring to Wanda, but Hope thinks you want her to keep mocking you.

"It's just suspicious that no one knows what happened to you in that dungeon, or at the ministry of magic." Hope counters. "And now you two are blowing things up, and we have a dark wizard on the loose."

"Fuck you, Summmers." You curse as you stand up, leaving the girl in shock at your aggressiveness.

The same auror from the first day stands in front of you as you try to approach Slytherin's table.

"Students must respect..."

But you interrupted his speech with a loud shove that sent him staggering backwards, and drew the immediate attention of several people.

You were seeing red by now, the man's wry smile only making you more irritated.

He drew his wand, but so did you. And the room held its breath.

"Put your wand away, Miss Stark." Warned the auror angrily, but you didn't.

Wanda stood up as she noticed the confusion, rushing to reach you, but the auror put his arm in her way.

"Now, miss." He warned again, and you grunted in irritation.

"Get your hands off her." You retorted, feeling your body fever with hatred.

"Stark." The man said, his arm reaching down to push Wanda back, and you exploded.

You didn't even finish thinking about the spell, the magic exploding out of your wand.

The auror masterfully blocked it, and you dropped your wand to jump on top of him.

It was a confusion of shoving, other bigger students pulling you away from the man and he away from you.

" Never fucking touch her again!" You warned snorting in anger, Thor Odinson stopping you from jumping on the man's neck.

"I just pushed her away from the line of fire, you crazy bitch!" The auror retorted indignantly and angrily. "Go to the headmaster's office now!"

"Fuck you!"

Thor pulled you out of the hall as the crowd of students whistled in celebration, excited about the whole fight. The auror was too busy dissipating everyone to follow you.

"Hey, hothead, calm down." The blonde warned as he released the grip of you by the courtyard. You grunted angrily, wishing you could break something.

"Fuck this school, fuck that asshole." You complained aloud, as Thor looked at you curiously.

"You have quite a rage, Stark." He comments, and you grumble in irritation.

But Wanda catches up with you the next moment, and she looks even angrier than you.

"What the hell was that?" she asks and you roll your eyes, running your hands through your hair.

"I think you are going to be fine for now on." Thor comments, smiling at the thank you Wanda says to him before leaving you two alone.

"So?" Wanda insists, arms crossed. You bite the inside of your cheek as you look at her.

"What do you want me to say?" You retort angrily.

"You just started a fight for no reason! Again!" She accuses. "Only this time it was with a wizard who could kill you. I want to know what's going on!"

"I don't know, Wanda!" You exclaim angrily. "Why does everyone expect me to have answers? I don't know! Do you understand that? It feels like I'm going to explode in frustration any second, neither you or Gamora seem to get it. I don't understand what's happening to me!"

"Because you won't talk to us!" She shouts back, just as annoyed as you are. "You're pushing everyone away! Even me! We can't help you if you don't talk to us!"

You grunt impatiently, turning around. There was a strange throbbing in the back of your head, a strange whisper. Like a voice telling you that no one was telling you the truth, that your friends expected too much of you, that Wanda didn't care...

This last thought made you sob. Wanda softened her expression immediately, taking a step toward you and touching your shoulder, but you pulled away from her touch as if burned, wiping your tears away quickly.

"Leave me alone, Wanda." You mutter between teeth. She hesitates, raising her hand toward you again.

"Please."

"I need some time from you." You insist, pushing her hand away, and walking away.

A part of your brain is begging you to go back and make things right, but there is a cloud of anger and irritation that keeps you walking.

//-//-//-//-//

You roll over in bed in discomfort.

Nightmares. Again.

It has only been five days since you had your fight with Wanda, and you are getting worse every day.

With Summers' teasing, you end up noticing other things too.

How the school really found the theory that you and Wanda were somehow related to Mephisto, because the minister had covered up what happened in the dungeons and in the ministry, and everybody thought it was strange that two students were showing an increase in magical potential with the return of a dark wizard.

Unlike you, who were failing considerably in any simple execution of spells, Wanda was demonstrating exceptional abilities. Kaecilius was more than willing to make her the face of progress at Hogwarts, you heard the gossip about bringing in reporters to share the news of the new direction.

You know that the only reason Wanda hasn't come after you yet was because you're running away from her like the plague.

And you couldn't even explain why.

You were also blocking out your real health condition from her. Just like you two practiced during the summer.

Besides hiding this from Wanda, you have kept your friends away too, isolating yourself from everyone else in search of a little rest, only succeeding in taking a nap when you are running away between classes.

And the detentions with Kaecilius keep increasing as you skip classes.

You begin to consider learning to write with a different hand, just so the bruise has time to heal, but at this point you don't even care about the scar anymore.

"You really must like pain." Loki teases wryly as you sit in an empty room, waiting for the aurors' shift change again after your detention.

You don't ask him what he's doing on that floor again, and he doesn't ask why you haven't spoken to your friends in two weeks.

"Sure, that must be it." You joke back, massaging your injured hand.

He assumes a pensive expression for a second.

"Are you sure you haven't been cursed by someone?" He asks, causing you to frown in shock and confusion.

"Excuse me?"

He gives a little chuckle, settling himself better against the wall.

"Everyone's been talking about you being sick." He says. "I heard some of the Ravenclaw people theorize that you became a werewolf over the summer."

You laugh helplessly, massaging your temples lightly.

"I guarantee that's not it." You say making Loki smile.

"If you are sick for no reason, it could be a curse." He says. "I wouldn't be surprised, the way things are."

"But how do I find out if I've been cursed?"

Loki takes a thoughtful stance.

"I don't know." He says. "But I'm sure you can learn that in the no longer reserved session of the library."

You laugh at the joke, but soon you both return to silence. When that hallway's shift ends, Loki sighs, getting up and helping you to stand.

"Still can't perform spells?" He asks, already drawing his wand.

"Only if I want to blow things up." You scoff making him laugh.

"Fine, I'll enchant you." He says. When you are transparent, he looks at you with an amused expression. "See you next Saturday, troublemaker?

"Don't worry, I plan on skipping DADA, maybe I'll be here tomorrow." You retort in the same tone before turning to leave.

//-////-//-//-//-//

It takes three more days for Wanda to finally corner you.

You are skipping class in an empty room on the seventh floor, trying to doze off, and almost fall out of your chair with fright when the door opens and Wanda comes in, looking annoyed.

You grunt impatiently, without lifting your face from the desk.

"I told you I needed time." You complain, but tense up when you notice the tears in her eyes as she moves closer to sit at the table next to yours.

" You want to break up with me?" She asks in a whisper and you raise your head immediately, feeling your chest tighten.

"What? What are you talking about?"

Wanda gives a humorless laugh at your expression. "Why are you acting like this is an absurd idea? You've disappeared. You've been avoiding me, not even talking to me anymore."

You shake your head quickly, feeling the urge to cry.

"I don't want to break up with you." You say. "I..I would never want to be away from you."

"You just said you need time away from me." Wanda retorts with annoyance, and you feel your stomach clench as she sighs. "I don't know what's going on with us. And I miss you, but you won't let me near you."

You are exhausted. So you cry.

You rest your head on your arms, and let your sobs fill the silence, hoping that the tears will take this bad feeling away.

It's Wanda's gentle touch on your back that helps.

"Babe, tell me what's wrong." She whispers to you, her tone concerned.

It takes many minutes for you to calm down. But when you do, Wanda holds your hand, kneeling on the floor beside the chair you are in.

"I can't do magic." You breathlessly tell her from crying, "And I can't sleep. I've been sick for weeks, and I'm angry all the time. Healer Cho doesn't know what's wrong with me, but everyone at school seems to have a theory about it. I think I'm going to suffocate, Wanda. I'm messing everything up. Between us, between my family, and at school." You sob as you finish and Wanda shakes her head, her hand coming up to your cheek.

"Don't say that." She urges. "You didn't ruin anything. Hey, look at me. I love you. Your sisters love you, your friends love you. We'll figure out what's going on."

Wanda hugs you tight, and you sob, shaking.

You want to believe her words, so you push the intrusive thoughts away, and believe it.

//-//-//-//

Wanda takes you to a door in that same floor you two were before, but you have never seen that door until that moment.

And you are very surprised to realize that it is a bedroom.

"How...?" You ask confused as she closes the it.

"Welcome to the Room of Requirement." She says with a smile, pulling you by the hand around. "We hold our Avengers meetings here." She counters and you frown.

"In a bedroom? Interesting choice." You comment and she giggles.

"No, my love." She says. "That's how this room works. It is charmed to meet your needs. That's why I asked you to come in first."

"Oh, that's pretty cool." You say looking around. Wanda smiles at you, and then you both reach the bed. "The room thinks I have to sleep?"

"I do too." Wanda retorts, pushing your shoulders gently for you to sit on the bed. "Go on, nice dreams."

You hesitate. "You gonna leave me here alone?"

Wanda denies with her head, pointing to the chair that probably just magically appeared next to the bed. You frown.

"Can't you sleep in the bed with me?"

She giggles. "We don't have much time for you to sleep. If I lie down, you'll want to kiss me. So I'll be sitting in that armchair, studying as I should." She explains seriously, and you pout.

"Stupid rules." You grumble moving your hands up to her waist. "Lie down with me."

"Babe..."

"Please."

Wanda sighs, then nods. You smile, quickly removing your shoes as she does the same. You quickly adjust yourself on the bed, opening your arms for her to lie on top of you, and she gives a little giggle before doing so.

"Are you cozy, sweetheart?" You murmur against her hair, and Wanda squeezes her arms around you.

"Yeah, your boobs are good pillows." She teases, making you laugh with reddened cheeks.

Your eyes begin to heavy quickly, fatigue catching up with your body relaxed by the comfort of the moment.

"Go to sleep, babe." Wanda whispers. "I'll be here when you wake up."

You smile with your eyes closed, surrendering.

It's the best sleep you've had in weeks.

The problem is that as soon as you start to wake up again, you are feeling sick.

You touch the emptiness in the bed, mumbling softly. When you open your eyes you find Wanda sitting in the armchair, the darkhold in her lap.

"Damn it, Wanda, this book again." You complain in a hoarse voice, but she just sighs.

"Why the attitude?"

"I hate that book." You grumble sitting up in bed, massaging your face lightly. "Why do you keep reading it anyway?"

"It's interesting." She says, closing the item to look at you. "Agatha really told me a lot, but there are also things I didn't know."

"For example?"

Wanda bites her lips, appraising you.

"Scarlet witches are forged, for instance." She says and you frown in confusion. Wanda sighs. "Many powerful witches, born scarlet witches, never got to fulfill their destiny because the forging didn't happen."

You straighten your clothes uncomfortably, pensively.

"What exactly does that mean?"

"What the headmistress did last year was my forging." She clarifies and you swallow dryly, feeling your stomach turn. "I'm sorry."

"For what?" you ask confused.

"Everything." She says upset. "I know we've talked about this, but it seems like all I do is cause you problems. With the bond, and with the forge. If Agatha didn't want my powers, she wouldn't have taken you to the dungeon and you wouldn't have suffered."

You poke at the knot of your tie, feeling yourself suffocate slightly. Wanda is speaking, you blink to focus on her words.

"I'm sorry, could you say that again?" You ask out of breath, sweating. You blink to find Wanda's concerned gaze on you.

"Babe, what's wrong?" She asks worriedly, her hands around your face.

You feel your head spin, and everything goes dark before you can answer.

//-//-//-//

You smell the scent of grass when you wake up.

Then you blink in confusion, getting used to your surroundings to realize that you are in what looks like a ward bed.

"Hey, all right, take it easy getting up, Miss Stark." Asked Professor Strange with one hand on her shoulder. In the other he held a potion that you imagined he had given you.

"W-what happened?" you mumbled confusedly, sitting up in bed. Only now did you notice Professor Munroe and Wanda standing in front of the bed, both with worried expressions.

"You passed out, but you're better now I imagine." Stephen explained gently, but you were still feeling very weak.

"Professor, she simply blacked out." Wanda commented in a tearful voice. " Don't you have any idea what's wrong?"

Stephen sighed, and then pointed at the chair, the darkhold.

"Where did you get that book?" He asked, and Wanda frowned, taking a step toward the chair in a defensive posture.

"What does that have to do with my question?" she retorted dryly, and Stephen looked at you one last time before standing up.

"There's a reason it's called the Book of the Damned, Miss Maximoff." He says."It damns its readers."

"That's ridiculous." Wanda retorted, crossing her arms. "I've been reading it for weeks and nothing has happened."

"Not with you."

Wanda hesitates, widening her eyes. And then she takes a step back, swallowing her cry as she reaches out to grab the book and hand it to Stephen.

She turns her gaze back to you, and lets the tears fall.

"I am truly sorry." She says with a mixture of guilt and shame before turning to leave the room.

You call out to her about three times, but she leaves and you don't have the strength to go after her.

"Damn, couldn't I have said that in a different way?" You complain angrily to Stephen, who just sighs, exchanging a look with Professor Munroe. "How come you two are here anyway?"

"It was Wanda." Professor Ororo replies. "She asked the room for someone trustworthy to help her with you. Then there was a door opening in the potions room. Stephen was there with me, and we both came."

"Great." You mutter annoyed, thinking about how you are going to talk to Wanda and convince her that you were not angry with her. "Would either of you happen to know how to make me better now?"

"Sure." Stephen comments by raising the book in the air, and with a wave of his hand, the item dissolves into several pieces until it is gone. "I didn't destroy it, if that's what you're thinking. I just put it away, to prevent something like that from happening again."

"Congratulations." You grumble wryly as you straighten up in bed, the same migraine from before is now weaker, but it's still there.

"You know, you had a better attitude when you didn't have a magical doom on your spirit." Stephen complains, causing you to frown, but Professor Ororo gives a chuckle.

"Thanks professor." You comment wryly, making him laugh. He sits back down beside your bed, and pulls out of the cover a small notebook.

"Now that Miss Maximoff has stopped reading the book, I suppose you will get better." Stephen says, making you sigh.

"You suppose? That's encouraging." You say moving to stand up.

"Where are you going, Miss Stark? You need to rest." Warn the professor, but you ignore him, and ignore the weakness in your body as well.

"What I need, Strange, is for people to stop lying to me."

"No one is lying, Miss Stark." Professor Ororo states next. "We really don't know the extent of the magic the darkhold carries."

"And why is that I imagine?" You sneer. "Because someone omitted the truth from you, and it's been passed down for generations, isn't it? Well, that's over now. Because we've finally studied everything in this place, including a book that condemns anyone who reads it." You exclaim impatiently, stooping down to put on your shoes. "If you two will excuse me, I'll figure out how to get better on my own. But first I'm going to explain to my girlfriend that none of this is her fault."

Ororo and Stephen are silent, but you wouldn't have been paying attention to anything they said anyway.

Soon you are up and out of the requirement room looking for Wanda.

//-//-//-//

She seems to have disappeared from the castle, so you must concentrate to use your instincts.

The hardest part is dodging the aurors, but you finally reach the astronomy tower.

You're a little out of breath from the run, but it's the image of Wanda standing on the edge, the sunlight in her hair that leaves you breathless.

"Hi." You say in a low tone, your hands in your pockets as you approach. She startles slightly, wiping away tears as she keeps her gaze forward.

"What do you want here?" she asks in a husky voice. You sigh.

"That you stop hating yourself and listen to me." You say and she lets out a short laugh.

"And what do you think you can say?" She questions turning her body toward you. "All I do is hurt you."

You shake your head, but Wanda lets out a tearful laugh.

"No you don't understand." She says. "Since I met you, you have only brought me good things. Affection, happiness, hope. You've been that kind warm feeling that I need on my worst days. Hell, you're even the memory for me to cast a patronus." She confesses with emotion, her face wet with tears. "But me? All I bring you is pain and suffering. And now I even bring sickness. This is wrong, I hurt you. You need to see this, and understand that we can no longer happen."

"Don't say that." You ask, reaching up to touch her face, wipe away her tears. "That's not true, Wanda. I love you, you make me..."

"Stop it." She interrupts with a sob. "Don't make it any harder than it already is."

"Please, Wanda, listen to me." You plead, resting your forehead on hers, your hands on her cheeks. "You make me happy, you are the only thing that makes me happy, I love you, please..."

Wanda kisses you hard, and you respond with the same intensity, both of you gasping into each other's mouths.

But then she is pulling away, thrusting you farther apart.

"I'm sorry." She cries, taking a step back. "We're over."

And she's running away again, and this time you don't go after her.

//-//-//-//-//

Without Darkhold's being consumed, you really start to improve in terms of physical health.

The only problem is the emotional ditch you find yourself in.

Gamora, Nebula and Mantis find you, again in the Room of Requirement, skipping class.

"My god this is worse than last time." Gamora remarks as she looks around at the mess of junk food and pillows. The room had been transformed into a "comfortable place", which basically had the appearance of a living room, with several soft armchairs, and lots of unhealthy food. "Why did you guys break up this time?"

"Please don't talk to me." You grumbled, your voice coming out muffled because you were lying on two soft puffs, your face buried in the pillow, your hand inside a bag of muggles snacks.

"I bet you five bucks they'll be back together before the end of the month." Nebula commented and you sniffled against your pillow, hearing a noise that sounded like Gamora hitting her sister.

"We talked to Wanda." Mantis said. "And with Professor Stephen, too. We're sorry about everything, but have you decided you're not going to study anymore?"

"I don't care about school." You grumble against the pillow. "Leave me alone, I want to cry."

Nebula gives a short laugh, and Gamora elbows her.

"Stop hitting me, you crazy." Nebula complains loudly, moving away from her sister to approach you, taking the bag of snacks you have, and making you complain softly. "And you stop being such a drama queen. Aren't you two like soul mates or some shit? It's just a fight, you'll work it out. You're acting like you've never broken up before."

"Your sensitivity is admirable." Gamora scoffs, pushing her sister away to sit next to you, stroking your back until you look up at her. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"

You feel the urge to cry arise again. "Wanda thinks she is bad for me." You say. "And she doesn't want to be with me anymore, and I want to die."

You start crying again, stuffing your face into the pillow as Gamora strokes your hair.

"How did this happen anyway?" Nebula asks, confused, chewing on salty snacks."You barely slept at home over the summer to be with her, and now you guys are breaking up. It's hard to keep up with this relationship."

"Merlin, Nebula shut up." Gamora asks impatiently, and her sister raises her hands in surrender with an ironic expression. You want to scream against your pillow, but all you do is try to control your crying.

"You can't keep disappearing, sweetheart." Gamora says as she runs her hands through your hair, trying to calm you down. "Kaecilius has already noticed. He's trying to figure out where you're going, and eventually he'll figure it out since you can't stay here forever."

"Maybe I can." You mumble making Gamora laugh softly.

"Come on, I'm sure you miss a decent meal." She says. "Why don't you join us for lunch?"

"I can't sit at your table."

"Who said anything about a table?"

This is how you end up on the edge of the great lake, at a picnic.

Mantis gets several dishes from the house elves, and since lunch is a free social hour, nobody seems to mind that you are eating outside.

Your sisters are not the only students who, over time, have learned ways around school rules.

You grumble slightly as you feel the sun on your face, but lie back on the grass, closing your eyes.

Your mind wanders back to last summer immediately, the memories of Wanda, and you feel horrible. You just want her back. And then you swallow the urge to cry again to accept the juice Mantis offers you.

"We wanted to tell you that we've found a way to help you, too." Gamora says after a moment, causing you to raise your eyebrow. "About the darkhold, and the eternal damnation thing."

"Light topic." You sneer, throwing your arm over your face. The day is hot. "I appreciate the help, of course."

Gamora giggles. "Merlin, I had forgotten how grumpy you get when you're upset."

"I'm not upset, Gamora." You retort angrily. "I'm frustrated."

"Sexually." Nebula sneers, making you grunt in anger, but Mantis holds back a laugh.

"What's your problem with my feelings lately?" You accuse the girl with irritation.

"Not everything is about you, you know." She retorts and you sit up quickly, looking at her with a raised eyebrow.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Nebula laughs, rolling her eyes. "In case you haven't noticed, there's a war going on." She says. "We're all stressed and scared. And the three of us have been in the same classes as you, having to watch the same things. But you only have time for Wanda. And now you've broken up, again, because there's some mortal danger, again, that she's caused for you. So, I don't know, but maybe she is right to break up. Ever since you guys started dating everything has been about her, and the trouble she causes!"

"Fuck you, Nebula!" You exclaim angrily, advancing against the girl in front of you. Gamora and Mantis quickly separate you.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?" Gamora shoves you. "Were you really going to hit her?"

"Fuck this." You curse angrily, taking a step away. "I didn't ask any of you to come after me. I don't need you. I just need Wanda. Fucking leave me alone."

You turn back to the castle, cursing the wild on your way.

//-//-//-//

Loki is the only friend you have now.

You wouldn't call him a friend exactly.

Kaecilius has put you in detention for three days a week, including Saturday, but mostly you just clean the castle. But when he takes you to the seventh floor, and makes you scrape sentences against your own skin, you don't worry about being alone anymore, because Loki is always on that floor.

It takes a week for you to tell him about the requirement room.

" You could have mentioned it earlier, we would have stuck around here." He comments without sounding upset.

Soon it doesn't take long for you two to start seeing each other even when you're not in detention.

You are not surprised that Loki also skips classes, he has always been quite mischievous, but the reason is different from yours.

He knew dark magic. Much more than you or your classmates. And he has no interest in practicing it in class.

"It's stupid." He comments as you are sitting in the armchairs. "Most people will never have the courage or willpower to cast a death curse. It's useless to learn."

"Is that the only reason you don't agree with the teaching at Hogwarts now?" You ask in surprise, setting up the chessboard for yourself as Loki shrugs his shoulders.

"I feel like you're judging me, Hufflepuff." He sneers but you smile, rolling your eyes.

"Honestly, I don't give a damn."

And you really didn't care.

Wanda was avoiding you in the halls, and you were doing the same with your friends and family.

When Iron delivered the mail to the Slytherin table, including Nebula's birthday presents, you wanted to throw up, but all you did was walk away from the Hufflepuff table toward the requirement room.

Without the darkhold, you didn't feel sick, but the anger didn't go away.

Your magic hadn't stabilized, and you were failing at everything, but you couldn't bring yourself to worry about it.

Erik wrote to you, commenting on the importance of you and Wanda practicing magical balancing together, and you burned the letter while crying on the carpet.

And at this rate, time went by.

It was almost the middle of the school year when things started to take a turn for the worse at Hogwarts, and in the wizarding war as well.

Mephisto is getting stronger, and the order is losing. And Kaecillius must be under some pressure from the ministry, maybe for answers from organizations like the Avengers, which are forbidden, because his detentions get too horrible.

It is Saturday again, and you drag yourself to the room where you are supposed to fulfill your detention, but unlike the other days, Kaecillius locks the door.

You only notice because he seems tense and distracted, and there is no feather or book.

"Professor, what will my punishment be today?" You ask confused, and he is nodding to the center of the room as he stands in front of the desk, a few feet from you.

"Miss Stark, today I want to ask some questions and I expect honesty." He declines as he turns to you.

You hiss softly, putting your hands in your pockets.

"Shoot."

Kaecillius doesn't even mind your lack of formality, looking at you with an impassive face.

"What is Mephisto's location?"

You choke in surprise and disbelief. "Excuse me? Why do you think I know that?"

"The ministry has reason enough to suspect that the Order of the Avengers is nothing more than a cover for the death walkers.Your brother, whom I had suspected of being part of that order of delinquents, is no longer at Hogwarts, but you will have to serve." He speaks and with each word you become more outraged. "Now answer me, where is Mephisto?"

" Did you just fucking call my brother a delinquent?" You mutter incredulously. "I have no idea where Mephisto is, what's your problem?"

But you widen your eyes when the professor draws his wand, and you barely have time to swallow dry before the spell hits you in the chest.

It's the cruciatus curse. You know the second it hits you. The sharp pain fills every cell in your body and you scream, not having the strength to stand or with your eyes open, hugging yourself.

"We must not tell lies, Miss Stark." Kaecillius says as soon as he stops enchanting you, the pain disappears in the same instant, but you continue to tremble.

In complete shock and fear, you sob.

"I will ask you again, where is Mephisto?"

You let the tears flow, and shake your head. "I don't know, professor."

Kaecillius lets out a sigh of disappointment. "Some cases are more difficult than others." He comments somberly, taking a step toward her. "Did you know that the record for enduring the Cruciatus curse before madness is six hours? Incredible, isn't it? It happened during the first war, with a muggleborn. You're a half-blood, maybe you can take longer"

He has a devilish grin as he finishes, and you clench your jaw at the threat.

"I don't know where Mephisto is." You repeat, but the professor points his wand at you again.

"My bet is seven hours."

And then the pain returns.

You don't know how long you stay in that room.

But it is long enough for your consciousness to begin to fade. The pain gets so severe that it gradually fades away. You begin to gasp breathlessly, not even able to scream anymore.

Someone help me. Please, help me. Help me. Wanda.

Between the tears you see the floor of the room, and between a twinge of pain, a red light. And everything is dark again.

//-//-//

“Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Warcraft and Wizard is arrested in flagrant by aurors from the ministry of magic this week, full coverage on page..."

You blink confusedly, your eyes getting used to the clarity, while the headline of the Daily Prophet was the first thing your vision caught.

And then you shifted in bed, realizing that you were in a hospital room , and whoever was reading next to you put the paper down when they heard you, and you could behold the curious look on your brother's face.

"Tony?" you whispered confused, and he smiled as he stood up quickly, the newspaper forgotten on the armchair.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" He asked as his hand reached for the loose strands of hair on your face and put them back. "You scared the hell out of me."

"What happened?"

"What's the last thing you remember?"

You thought, and then sighed, closing your eyes for a moment.

"Kaecilius."

Tony bit his lip nervously before speaking.

"I'm sorry." He said, lowering his hand to his own. "I came here as soon as I got the howler from Professor Strange, but honestly, I didn't even need it, because all the newspapers are talking about it."

"What...?" You started in confusion, but Tony hurried to explain.

"Wanda found you, Y/N." He told. "She, well, wasn't exactly happy about the whole thing. I think she lost control. Kaecilius is lucky to be alive if you ask me. She almost destroyed the seventh floor, it was a huge mess. And then the aurors interfered, and soon there were reporters everywhere. I guess now everyone knows she's a scarlet witch."

You widened your eyes, straightening to sit up and grumbling a little in pain. Tony looked at you with concern, asking you to take it easy, but you were already asking about Wanda.

"She's at the ministry of magic." He clarified. "Kaecilius is going on trial for torturing a student, and she will answer for putting everyone in danger."

" What?" you ask incredulously, and Tony sighs.

"Yeah I know it's unfair." He says. "But the minister of magic seems to be looking everywhere for people to blame for his lack of control. The problem is how much of that information will get to Mephisto. The whole ministry seems to be full of walkers."

You ran your hand across your face, frustrated.

"I'm so tired, Tony." You confess in a whisper. "It feels like everything is falling apart around me, and things are only getting worse."

Tony squeezes your hand. "I'm sorry, I really am. This whole situation sucks, and I wanted to help you. I'm trying, sister. I haven't been talking to you as much as I should, but I didn't want you to think you're alone. I'm working on breaking the bond. To free you and Wanda from the prophecy, and the wizarding world from dangers like Mephisto. I'm sorry I haven't been by your side."

You swallow your cry, and nod, trying to smile at Tony. He reaches up to hug you, and you gasp softly, taking a few seconds to relax and let the tears flow.

When you calm down, Tony tells you that he is going to get a Mediwizards to check your situation.

You lie down again, sighing softly. The memories come back with full force, and you choke softly, feeling your body tremble.

It's as if you can feel the curse again, sense the pain on your skin. Opening your eyes and shaking the memories away, you swallow dryly and reach for the glass of water on the nightstand.

You just want Wanda by your side telling you that everything is going to be okay.

//-//-//-//-//

You stay under observation for two days.

Doctor Hank makes a joke about you enjoying St.Mungus more than you should since you keep coming back, but Tony doesn't laugh.

Then you' re going back to Hogwarts by train, because the doctor thinks you shouldn't use magical means of transportation for a few days, and it's weird to take the empty express, but as soon as you arrive at the station, Gamora and Nebula are waiting for you with boxes of candy bought in Hogsmeade, and tight hugs.

You are not surprised by the stares you receive from the other students, but you ignore them as your sisters escort you around the castle to the Hufflepuff communal hall.

"Did you get to talk to Wanda?" Gamora asks as soon as you sit down on your bed, sighing with exhaustion from the train ride. The mention of the other sorceress' name doesn't help.

"Not yet." You say. "And I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she's ignoring me."

Nebula exchanges a look with her sister before sitting down on Mantis' bed, who is hugging her knees and looking at you.

"Honestly, I just want to finish this year without any more problems." You confess as you take off your jacket. And there is a moment of silence before you swallow dryly. "I also wanted to apologize to you guys."

Gamora frowns slightly, but says nothing. You take a deep breath.

"I know I was under the influence of an evil book, but that was still no excuse for treating you guys like that." You begin. "Tony told me about how things are in the wizarding world. Everyone is going through something, and it was selfish of me to think that only my problems matter. I'm sorry."

"Really, Y/N, it's okay." Nebula says, surprising you a bit. "We were all stressed, and well, I think an evil book is a pretty fair excuse." She jokes, making you smile. "Maybe things will get a little better now that Strange is the director."

"Oh, that's right" You comment just then remembering the things Tony updated you on while you were at St.Mungus. Like Kaecillius' resignation, and the position being passed on to Professor Stephen. "But honestly, I won't be at peace until I hear from Wanda."

"The trial isn't until Friday. And the way things are going, we won't get any news until it's over." Gamora warned as she sat down on the bed next to you. "I think the Maximoffs are probably too busy to write."

"What do you think will happen to Wanda?" You ask as you tug at the loose strands of the comforter. Mantis sighs lightly.

"I don't have a good feeling about things, Y/N." She confesses and you frown in concern. "And the stars never lie."

"Thank you, Mantis." You mock softly, and Gamora runs her hands through her hair.

"Let's not be pessimistic, okay?" she says. "Maybe the predictions are about, I don't know, the school finals? It doesn't mean something bad is really going to happen."

You grumble unhappily, grabbing a pillow and sinking your face into it. Gamora strokes your back.

"I'm sure things will work out, Y/N." She says. "Wanda will write as soon as she can."

"Do you guys think Kaecilius will be sent to Azkaban?" Nebula asks next, making you raise your head curiously.

"I wouldn't be so sure." You grumble. "I was actually surprised that he was put on trial at all."

"Well, with the whole mess that happened, it was bound to happen." Gamora said. "More than half the school became aware that he used the cruciatus curse on you, and then the daily prophet. And I didn't even know they were in the castle."

"It was because of Wanda really, wasn't it?" Mantis added. "Kaecillius caused his own ruin. He called the journalists to show what he called progress and decided to torture a student while they were in the castle. Then Wanda destroyed the entire floor and the next morning his arrest was all over the pages."

"I'm just really outraged to know that if no one had seen it, he would probably still be at Hogwarts." Gamora says angrily, and you sigh, agreeing as well as the others.

"Well, you must be hungry, shall we go to the great hall? It's almost dinner time." Gamora comments next, pulling you by the hand. You grumble softly, but agree, and soon you are leaving the communal hall to join the rest of the students.

//-//-//-//-//

You are tapping your fingers gently against the desk as you wait for the History of Magic class to begin.

It is Friday, finally.

You have barely slept because of anxiety about news of Wanda's trial.

Things at Hogwarts have changed a lot this week, all because of Strange's administration.

He restored the old classes, banned the teaching of dark magic, the scandal at the Daily Prophet being enough of an argument that the Minister of Magic no longer had a defense over this kind of teaching at Hogwarts. The restricted session of the library was also put back, and the seventh floor was off-limits because of the destruction Wanda caused, and you unfortunately lost access to the Requirement room.

Mantis was writing what looked like a lunar calendar for the divination class while Professor Okoye didn't arrive, and you started whistling distractedly.

And then Thor Odinson was poking you in the back to get your attention, and you turned around in your chair.

"Hi, Stark, what's up?"

"Fine." You grumbled suspiciously. "Can I help you with something?"

Thor looked almost unsure. "I was just wondering if you know of anything going on with Loki."

You frowned. "Excuse me?"

"I mean if you know if he's sick or something." He explains. "We had a fight, and well, he's not talking to me. And I've noticed that you guys have been kind of close lately, and I was curious if you knew anything and..."

"No, Thor, I'm sorry." You interrupt with a sigh. "Maybe you should ask him that."

Thor assumes a sad expression. "I would, but he's ignoring me. I think it might be about our mother."

You make a confused expression, and Thor looks surprised.

"Our mother, she...died earlier this year, Y/N." Thor counters, and you widen your eyes. "Our family is a name of reference against Mephisto. With the war, the walkers came to our home. She was there while we were here, and Dad was at the ministry."

"I'm so sorry, Thor." You whisper to him, still shocked by the information. He shrugged.

"I thought Loki told you."

"We don't talk about things like that, I guess." You say. "Sorry, I wish I knew how to help you."

"No, it's okay." Thor says with a sad smile. "You being his friend this year is more than enough. I don't like seeing him all alone out here."

You nod lightly, settling into your chair as you notice the teacher entering the room.

Mantis exchanges a look of understanding with you, having overheard the conversation even if accidentally, but she says nothing, and soon you are hearing about the witch hunt in the United States, and you try to focus on that rather than curiosity about how Wanda's trial is going or Loki's current emotional state.

//-//-/-//-//-//

As soon as lunchtime begins, you join the Slytherin table, where some of the students have placed a radio on the table, equally with other students from the other houses, to listen to the trial.

You are not surprised that a student's trial is such an interesting topic for everyone, but after the school started talking about Wanda being a scarlet witch, and the theories circulating around the halls, it was to be expected.

So you sit back while biting your fingertips and listening.

"And now directly from the Ministry of Magic, the trial of seventeen-year-old witch Wanda Maximoff, daughter of legendary witch Erik L-"

Your attention is slightly diverted from the narrative when loud laughter catches your ears.

They are Gryffindor and Slytherin students, exchanging coins. You don't need to hear the conversation to know they are gambling about the trial, the mean laughter and glances in the direction of you and your sisters are enough.

And as if she could feel your growing fury, Gamora touches your shoulder gently.

"Just ignore them, Y/N." She urges and you clench your jaw. " Everything is going to be okay with Wanda."

"I hope you're right, Gamora." You grumble, turning your attention back to the radio.

The narration of the newspaper is generic, and you discover that the audience has been closed off to the reporters.

You take a deep breath, concentrating.

No strange feeling, so Wanda is safe.

You wonder if Erik and Pietro are by her side during the whole thing.

It is only at the end of lunchtime that you have the result.

"It's amazing how things unfold in the ministry this afternoon." Counted the reporter with almost excitement. "After a unanimous vote, the witch Wanda Maximoff was found guilty of endangering her fellow students by not registering as a scarlet witch to the ministry of magic, after it was proven that her father, the sorcerer Erik Lehnsherr knew of her condition, as well as the affiliation with the criminal, Agatha Harkness was also mentioned. The ministry finally decided on Wanda Maximoff's expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizarding"

You felt your stomach plummet.

And everything became a little muffled around you, a soft whistle in your ear. You think Gamora and Nebula were calling for you, but you were getting up, feeling the room getting too small.

Stumbling out, you loosened the knot of your tie, finally stopping in the courtyard as you leaned your body against a pillar.

Wanda had been expelled from Hogwarts, publicly exposed as a Scarlet Witch, and tried as a criminal. You wondered if they would break her wand. Banned wizards led horrible lives.

Your sisters and friends caught up with you quickly, and you let them hug you.

In a few minutes Director Strange is catching up with you as well, and you release Gamora's grip to talk to him.

"Professor, I need to..."

"You cannot leave Hogwarts, Miss Stark." He interrupts with a wave of his hands and you frown in confusion, ready to protest but he is already speaking. "Tony sent a patronus as soon as the results came out, he already figured you'd want to see Miss Maximoff. The ministry is a mess, and Wanda will be staying with her father there for the minister's final decisions. You should stay here, where you are safe."

"That's not fair!" You squawk angrily. "Wanda needs me, I must-"

"She needs you to be safe." He interrupts again seriously, and then lowers his tone slightly as he notices the curious looks of the surrounding students. "Be rational, Miss Stark. Now that the Wizarding community knows the nature of Wanda's powers, how long before Mephisto has enough information and discovers your identity as protector."

You swallow dryly, clenching your fists begrudgingly. Stephen is right. You look away, and he sighs, placing his hand on your shoulder.

"Wanda will be fine, even without her NEWTS, she is an extraordinary witch." He says. "And the year is coming to an end, soon you will be able to see her again."

"She needs me now." You grumble annoyed, turning away from the professor's touch. He looks at you for a moment and then clears his throat.

"I'll see what I can do, Miss Stark." He says."In the meantime, focus on your studies, and be careful."

You frown at Stephen's words, but he is already turning and leaving before you can ask.

As you turn to your friends, Gamora has a worried look on her face.

"Are you okay?" She asks, and you sigh, agreeing to hug her again as you mumble no.

"I can feel how upset she is, Gamora." You grumble against your sister's shirt, wishing you could hug Wanda now. Gamora squeezes you against her arms, and you thank her for her intention even if it isn't enough.

The next few days are like a blur for you.

Many letters arrive, as do many editions of the Daily Prophet.

When the picture of the day Wanda's wand was broken comes out on the front page and you see her tired face, you have to run out of the common room to keep from crying in front of your colleagues.

Everyone writes to you, even Carol, everyone but the Maximoffs.

It is frustrating, and honestly, it breaks your heart in many ways.

The news of a Scarlet Witch after a century is almost as bombastic as Mephisto's return, and you're not surprised that many of your colleagues would start to comment on the possibility of Wanda working with him or against him.

It's overwhelming how everyone talks about her, but all you can feel is how much you miss her around the castle, around you.

You couldn't even remember that your magic is stable, and with everything that has happened, you haven't had time to figure out how to fix things.

Stephen tried to help, but he didn't know what was going on. At least the theoretical part of magic you were able to master, and you hoped to get at least an acceptable score in some subjects.

Only almost a week and a half after the trial, Professor Strange interrupts the potions class to talk to you.

Ignoring the curious stares and whispers of your classmates, you ask Professor Munroe to excuse you, and leave the room.

"What is wrong, professor?" You ask curiously as you close the door, watching Stephen with his hands in his pockets.The dungeons feel emptier without the ministry aurors around the castle.

"Saturday, in the Astronomy tower, nine-thirteen at night." He says as he hands you a small gold key, causing you to frown in confusion. "You will have exactly one hour, Miss Stark. Not a second more."

You stare at the object in your hand, and understand. A portal key. To Wanda.

"Thank you, Professor." You say, and Stephen nods before leaving.

You turn back to potions, the object in your pocket. You could barely contain your anxiety.

//-//-//-//-//-//-//

Tag list> @imapotatao / @aimezvousbrahms/ @ensorcellme/ @helloalycia || @mionemymind / @abimess / @stephanieromanoff / @yourtaletotell / @tomy5girls / @justagaypanicking / @thegayw1tch / @idek-5 // @myperfectlovepoem // @helloalycia // @ENSORCELLME // @AIMEZVOUSBRAHMS // @drpepperobsessed // @sighsam // @olsensnpm // @sxfwap // @table57 // @madamevirgo // @causeitswhatjesuswouldfreakingdo // @emptysince18x // @xastrydx || @yuhloversxx || @ymzki-haruki || @wouldirunofftheworldsomeday || @lostandsearching || @lezzzbehonesthere || @musicinourlips || @chaekhan || @diaryoflife || @nervoustrack || @aquamarinescarlet || @cristin-rjd || @idamaemann || @fortunatelynerdylight || @iliketozoneout || @blackwow34 // @tiny--freak || @spongebobtentacles || @cyberbonesworld ||

A/F/N> Place your bets for my next comeback (a week, a month or tomorrow?). If I delete the blog, and you're in love with this story for some reason I don't know about because there are so many better things to read, know that I'll post everything on AO3 if I ever do.

[helloalycia]

teenage dirtbag [four] // wanda maximoff

summary: Things finally explode between you and Nate, and Pietro decides to get to the bottom of whatever is going on between you and Wanda, though in usual Pietro fashion AKA not subtly at all

warning/s: none.

author's note: this is very beefy, i must admit, but i think you'll all enjoy the outcome 😂💘

part one | part two | part three | part five | masterlist | wattpad

Dinner with the Maximoffs wasn't as strange as I envisioned. Her parents were sweet and the twins did their best to make me feel comfortable. Wanda still seemed mildly frustrated whenever Pietro and I would talk though, and I figured she may have thought I was lying when I told her I didn't like him like that. I hoped that wasn't the case.

After dinner, Wanda took me upstairs to show me her bedroom. I'm not sure how to describe it other than it seemed so Wanda.

"I'm guessing red is your favourite colour," I said when I saw the hints of scarlet in her bedroom. On her walls, in her bedding, on her pillows. Just like her car and her jacket, they were all bright and very her.

"Great observation, Sherlock," she teased with a sly smile.

I returned the smile, sticking my tongue out at her playfully, before having a walk around and coming across her massive CD collection and CD player. Her music taste was actually quite similar to mine, which I definitely didn't expect. It just made her ten times more attractive to me which wasn't good, but oh well. I was here for a good time, not a long time. And my crush on Wanda Maximoff would surely be the death of me.

"D'you have any CDs at all?" she asked, joining my side when she noticed me staring at the shelf.

I crossed my arms, glancing at her. "Don't get me wrong. I'd love to collect them, but it's just so much easier to have Spotify, y'know?"

My intention wasn't to make her laugh, but God I was glad I did when her eyes crinkled and the sound rang around the room, making my heart pinch with adoration.

After giving me some of her pyjamas, the two of us got ready and brushed our teeth before I realised she wanted me to share bed with her.

"You wanna watch some TV before bed?" she asked, clearly not registering my hesitance to slide into her Queen-sized bed.

I swallowed hard. "S-sure."

She turned on the TV at the end of her bed as I slipped in beside her, still a bit rigid as I kept a fair distance from her.

"What you feeling? Comedy? Drama? Horror?"

"Anything is fine with me," I said, still tense.

She hummed in acknowledgement before leaning down on her pile of pillows behind her, edging closer to me. My heart was hammering in my chest as her hair tickled my arm from where she was laying.

"You comfortable?" she checked in, leaning backwards so her head was upside down to see me. "I have more pillows if you need them."

I offered her a small smile, hoping it disguised my nerves. "I'm good."

She nodded before flicking through the channels and eventually settling on reruns of The Office. It took time, but I eventually overcame my initial shock of sharing bed with the girl I had a major crush on and instead relaxed, getting comfortable under the covers.

After watching some TV, we called it a night and fell asleep quite quickly, the day taking its toll on us. For once, I wasn't panicking about doing something stupid. I simply fell asleep, trying to ignore the heat she emanated from beside me.

It was a peaceful night – her bed was super comfortable – and I woke up to the sound of Wanda moving about in her bedroom.

"Shoot, I'm sorry, did I wake you?" she asked when she saw me moving about under the blankets. I tried to blink away the sleep as she continued, "I was gonna wake you soon. School starts in an hour."

I rubbed my eyes, yawning, before sitting up and seeing she was practically already dressed. That meant she would have been up for a while, meaning she would have seen me fast asleep. God, I hated when people saw me sleeping. It always felt so weird.

"It's okay," I got out tiredly, before running a hand through my hair.

"You sleep well?" she asked, spinning around in her chair, her makeup half done. "I tried my very best not to use you as a teddy bear."

She was joking, but I felt my neck grow warm at the thought and damn, it was just way too early to be flustered.

"Yeah, I slept great," I settled, feeling her gaze on me. "Thanks again for having me over."

"Anytime," she said, and something told me it wasn't just a friendly response but that she actually meant it. Maybe it was the kind smile on her lips as she said so. "Just like last night, if you wanna use anything in the bathroom, go for it."

I gave her a thumbs up, taking a moment to wake myself up a little more, before heading to the bathroom to brush my teeth. When I returned to Wanda's room, I saw she'd already made the bed and had laid my clothes on top of it.

"I've got a shirt you can borrow," she said when I grabbed my jeans.

"Oh, I can just wear the same thing again, it's no biggie," I told her, already grabbing my shirt.

She pouted before grabbing a shirt from her closet. "Just hold on. You'll love it."

In no time, she came out from her closet and held out a Paramore tee shirt on a hanger towards me.

"I got it from the last concert I went to," she explained. "I thought you'd like it."

I couldn't help but smile at the thought. "Wow, Wanda. Really? You don't mind?"

She nodded, shaking the shirt as emphasis for me to take it. I did, having a look over it and smiling to myself.

"I'll wash it and give it back to you tomorrow," I promised, taking it off the hanger and holding it with my jeans. "Thanks."

"You can keep it," she said, scratching the back of her head apprehensively. "I've got loads."

"Oh, no, I can't do that," I began to deny, but she shook her head.

"It's fine, I'm giving it to you," she said, before smiling sweetly. "I'm sure you'll look better in it anyway."

Again with the warmth spreading up my neck...

"I doubt that," I quipped with a small smile.

"Go! Go get changed," she said, already pushing me towards the door. "I'll meet you downstairs for breakfast."

I snickered, letting her shove me into the hallway, before heading into the bathroom to get ready. The shirt was oversized, so there was no need to be worried it wouldn't fit. It was actually really nice, plus I liked it that extra bit more knowing Wanda gave it to me. Though I knew I wouldn't keep it. It was hers and she was just being nice.

When I finished making myself look presentable, I headed downstairs and found the twins at the kitchen counter, chatting between themselves. Their chatter ceased when I walked in, with Wanda biting her lip and looking me up and down with satisfaction.

"I was right," was all she said, making me nervous. "You do look better in it than me."

—

The day after that, I did as I said I would and returned Wanda's shirt to her, washed, folded and ironed. Knowing she wouldn't accept it without a fight, I left it in her bag when she wasn't looking during class.

I should have expected her to approach me at my locker afterwards.

"It was supposed to be a gift," she said, and I saw her pretty face reflected in the mirror hung inside my locker.

I turned around, already knowing what she was talking about.

"I told you I couldn't accept," I said politely, giving her a small smile. "I appreciate it though." She seemed disappointed which obviously didn't help with my feelings for her, so I took a leap and added, "Maybe I can get my own at their next concert. In the summer, right?"

She picked up on what I meant and smiled, stifling a laugh. Running a hand through her hair, she met my gaze and I found myself frozen in place as always, unable to look away. I wondered if she knew what she was doing when she did that, knew that she was giving me heart palpitations every time her lips turned into a playful smirk and dark eyes studied me curiously.

My eyes drifted to her lips subconsciously and she must have put on some lip balm or something, prior to finding me just now, as they looked shiny and pink and just so damn kissable. Nate was one lucky guy.

—

Having faced issues with Nate three times now (AKA the three times he happened to launch a football at my head), I'd figured I wouldn't be seeing the last of him. He was a dick, meaning he had a natural inclination to piss people off, particularly me. But I never thought he'd go for Y/BF/N.

We were chilling by our lockers, chatting about his film project, when his books suddenly got knocked out of his hands and he was shoved against the lockers. I straightened up when I saw it was Nate, looking pissed off as he had Y/BF/N's shirt bundled in his fist.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I shouted, trying to shove him off, but he merely pushed me back.

"This isn't your business," he said to me before glaring at Y/BF/N, who was quiet with panic. "You. You've been hanging around my girlfriend and I don't like it."

The colour drained from Y/BF/N's face as Nate slammed his hand to the lockers beside his head, startling him.

"I want you to stay the fuck away from Wanda!" he ordered, and students were starting to pick up on the fight that was clearly about to break out. "You fucking hear me, you nerd? Stay the fuck away!"

Poor Y/BF/N nodded his head, eyes avoiding Nate's. Meanwhile, I was angrier than Nate probably was. Y/BF/N had done nothing wrong. Maybe Nate had just seen Wanda hanging with me and because Y/BF/N was always with me, assumed the worst. Either way, this was no way to handle the situation and I was not gonna let this dick threaten my friend.

"Get the fuck away from him, Nate," I said through gritted teeth, glaring a hole into the side of his head.

Nate barely glanced my way. "I told you this isn't your business, honey."

"Five seconds," I said, standing behind him as a crowd began to form. "You've got five seconds or I'm gonna kick you."

He seemed to ignore me as he tightened his grip on Y/BF/N's shirt, only pissing me off more.

"Five," I began to count down, the grip on my books tightening with nerves and anger. "Four."

He still didn't look my way, just kept slapping Y/BF/N's face to scare him.

"Three, two, one," I said quickly, tired of giving him the benefit of the doubt.

Without waiting anymore, I kicked him between the legs with full force, watching as he instantly let go of Y/BF/N and doubled over. Everybody began to laugh, some making 'ooh' noises, but the consensus was clear – it definitely sucked to be Nate right now.

I tried not to laugh as I watched his face scrunch with pain, turning red. I was starting to appreciate my choice of wearing my doc marten boots today.

"No more balls for the guy who keeps throwing them at my fucking head," I got out, jaw clenching.

He looked up, his face crossing with realisation as he recognised me. In response, he glared in my direction, but it didn't faze me.

"Come on, Y/BF/N," I said, looking to my startled friend. "Let's go."

"What on Earth is going on over here?!" a teacher's voice rang out in the distance, and I groaned internally.

When I turned to leave, I heard Nate from behind me, grunting with dissatisfaction.

"Fuckin' dyke," he mumbled under his breath, and I paused, clenching my fists.

"Y/N, don't–" Y/BF/N tried to stop me, but I was too pissed to care.

I spun around and punched Nate square in the face, feeling good as his smirking face scrunched in pain and his back hit the lockers from the impact.

"Woah!" a teacher came out of nowhere, shoving herself between us and pushing me away from him. "What the hell is going on here?!"

I shook my hand to ease the pain on my knuckles, though the pain couldn't stop the grin on my lips as Nate raised his hands to his face, holding his busted nose. Students were going crazy, egged on by the potential fight, and for once, I didn't mind the attention. Nate had that coming for a while now.

"Everybody back to class! Now!" the teacher yelled, glaring all around her, before her eyes settled on Nate and I. "You two. Nurse's office now."

Nate glared at me behind his bloody nose and, once again, I tried not to laugh. Y/BF/N patted my back, amazement written on his face, before letting me leave with the teacher and an unusually silent Nate.

—

Kicking Nate in the groin and punching him in the face wasn't something I did to get attention, yet that's exactly what happened. Word of the incident spread around the school quite quickly, so much in fact that even students from other grades became aware of the situation and were approaching me to tell me how awesome I was. The whole thing was definitely strange, but I could tolerate it.

What I couldn't tolerate was having Chemistry after lunch and wondering if Wanda knew.

Would she hate me for punching her boyfriend? I wasn't sure. I just knew that when she walked into class and sat next to me, I felt everyone's eyes subtly watching us as if waiting for her to explode at me.

I'd been given an ice pack for my bruised hand after my visit to the nurse's office earlier whilst Nate had been treated for his broken nose (the fact that I'd broken it was hilarious to me, since I knew I wasn't even that strong). The principal had a very angry yell at us both in his office, neither of us willing to reveal the premise of our fight, before giving us detention every day after school for two weeks straight as punishment. Of course, Nate got his two weeks at a different time to mine for fear I'd punch him again (he definitely didn't like that, but he couldn't exactly say that to to principal).

I didn't bother using the ice pack in Chemistry for fear Wanda may ask what was up. I successfully managed to hide my hand and as a second surprise of the day, Wanda mentioned nothing about the incident. Not one thing about her boyfriend, about Y/BF/N, about any of it. I thought she might hint at it, trying to get me to bring it up. But she didn't which made me think she actually had no idea it even happened. Had anyone told her? Had he told her? Nah, probably not. His fragile masculinity probably caused him to change the story to something else so he didn't look like a wimp in front of his girlfriend.

Whatever it was, I was safe for now.

Thinking I'd got away with a confrontation from Wanda, I went about the rest of my day as usual. Well, that was until I was replacing some books in my locker at the end of the day and saw Wanda at her locker behind me, arguing with– yep, you guessed it. Nate.

Y/BF/N was collecting some books from his own locker beside me and we both exchanged looks as we saw the two lovebirds in a heated argument. Just when we were about to leave, someone cleared their throat from behind us, making us turn around.

Wanda was stood there, backpack hanging from her shoulder, beside Nate, who looked like he would rather be anywhere else but here.

"Hi," he started quietly, making Wanda clear her throat. He glanced at her before looking to Y/BF/N. "Look, man, I'm really sorry about earlier. I was wrong about what I said. We cool?"

I tried not to laugh at the way Nate was being forced to apologise by his girlfriend. Y/BF/N glanced to me with questioning eyes, so I simply shrugged.

"I guess...," he finally answered Nate, still a little awkward.

Nate nodded before looking to me. He still had his reservations, judging from the twitch in his expression, but for Wanda's sake, he kept his cool.

"I'm sorry for treating you badly," he said reluctantly. "With the football and just generally."

God, it was so hard not to laugh in his face right now. His nose had gauze taped to it and it made him look like an idiot. I fake coughed to disguise my smile, before meeting his gaze.

"It's, er, cool," I said, not in the mood to be an arsehole to him, even though he deserved it. I'd punched him – I think we were equal for now.

He nodded, before staying quiet. Glancing to Wanda, he waited for her to say something. She rolled her eyes and nodded for him to leave. When he was gone, she sighed tiredly.

"I only heard about what happened after Chem class," she said, mainly to me, a guilty expression on her lips. "I'm so sorry he acted like a jerk."

I chewed my lip, unsure what to say.

"It's okay, Y/N here took care of it," Y/BF/N said, smiling with amusement at me. Okay, well now she definitely knew.

"Yeah, sorry you felt you had to do that," she said with a grimace. "I guess he deserved it though."

"Kind of," I agreed, before noticing the regretful frown on her lips. "He apologised though. It's already happened. I kinda broke his nose... No point in dwelling on it."

She smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah..." Her eyes fell to my bruised hand before lifting it gently. I winced at the ache, but let her hold it, studying the purple bruise painted across my knuckles. "That looks bad."

It felt good punching him though, but I wasn't about to say that since it was her boyfriend I was talking about.

"It's alright," I said dismissively, shrugging. "Nate kind of got it worse. I'll live."

The pad of her thumb stroked the bruise gently and I held my breath, the feeling of her hands holding mine sending shivers up my arm. Her eyes flickered to mine, softened with guilt, before she let go of my hand.

"I should head home," she said after a pause. "I'll see you both tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow," Y/BF/N said for both of us, sensing my loss of words.

Wanda held my gaze once more, eyes half lidded as they glanced down. Before I could even question what she was looking at, she waved goodbye and left.

"She's either starting to realise what a dick her boyfriend is or she's just really into you," Y/BF/N said, patting me on the back. "Maybe both, who knows?"

—

"You definitely cheated," I told Y/BF/N once we finished yet another round of air hockey. "Nobody wins six times in a row like that!"

He laughed at my expression. "Tell me, dear Y/N. How would I cheat? The concept of the game is simple, really. It's not my fault you're terrible."

I rolled my eyes lightheartedly. "Seventh time's the charm. C'mon."

He chuckled, about to put more money in the machine, before his eyes got distracted by something behind me. "Well, would you look at that. The Maximoff twins are here."

"Very funny," I said with a knowing look. "You can't throw me off like that. We've established I'm already terrible. Now c'mon. Let's go!"

"I wish I was joking," he said, shaking his head.

I scoffed, not believing him, and turned around to prove him wrong, but I was surprised when I saw Wanda and Pietro walking into the arcade we were in. They seemed to spot us instantly, waving in our direction before approaching us.

"Fancy seeing you here," Pietro teased with a smile as they stopped before us.

I cracked a smile as Y/BF/N joined my side. "We're hanging out. And you?"

Wrapping an arm around his sister's shoulder, he tugged Wanda close to him. "Sibling bonding time."

Wanda rolled her eyes at his childishness, but I could tell she found it endearing all the same.

"Well, if you want, you can hang with us," Y/BF/N offered, and we all looked to him, myself raising a brow his way. He seemed to sense my reluctance, it egging him on as he grinned at them. "Y/N doesn't mind. Do you, Y/N?"

I swallowed hard as I looked between the twins. "'Course not."

And that's how I found myself playing arcade games with the Maximoff twins that Saturday afternoon. It was actually pretty fun, with Pietro being as competitive as I was and Wanda being the sweetest loser with everything she played. It was so adorable, but I ended up letting her win some games of skee-ball just so I could see that cute nose scrunch of hers as she realised she'd won.

"You gonna let me win like that, too?" Pietro caught on as he took his sister's place in playing against me. He had a mischievous grin on his lips and I felt my mouth go dry at what he was implying.

"You wish," I said, playing it cool, though I wondered if he cared that I clearly let Wanda win. He wouldn't read into it, right?

Pietro took his go as he spoke. "So, I heard what happened with you and Nate at school last week."

I closed my eyes, cringing at the reminder. Pietro merely laughed.

"You kicked him super hard, right?" he asked excitedly. "I heard his face went so red with anger that you could fry an egg on it! And don't forget that punch, goddamn what I would pay to have seen that!"

"Pietro!" Wanda scolded from behind us as her and Y/BF/N played air hockey. "Don't be a tool!"

I felt my face heat up with embarrassment as Pietro continued to laugh. Y/BF/N joined in whilst Wanda tried to hide the smile dancing on her lips.

"You're not even together anymore," Pietro called to Wanda between laughter. Wait, did I hear that right?

"You and Nate broke up?" Y/BF/N asked with disbelief. "Our grade's 'it' couple broke up?"

Wanda ran a hand through her hair to distract from her flittering eyes. "He treated you horribly last week. Both of you." She glanced my way before looking at her shoes. "He was a jerk. It was long overdue... Also, I would have broken up with him there and then had I known what he'd said to you. I'm sorry he said what he did."

She stared at me with apologetic eyes and I wasn't sure what to say or do other than nod awkwardly and look away. The fact that she'd broken up with him put a smile on my face though.

"I just think it's awesome," Pietro admitted, before saluting playfully to me. "Thank you for your service. I knew you were awesome, but this is a whole new level."

I sighed, attempting to hide my smile, before straightening up to play. Pietro and I played some skee-ball before I decided to have a go at the claw machine. Wanda was at the one beside me, attempting to win herself a fluffy black cat plush toy. She'd had three goes before giving up, admitting to defeat.

"Typical Wanda," Pietro teased. "Giving up when the going gets tough."

She punched him in the arm, making him jump and rub it. That elicited a smile from her, making me laugh at their immaturity.

"How about Wanda and I go and get a table in the diner next door whilst you finish up winning whatever it is you're trying to win?" Y/BF/N asked, looking to me, as if assigning blame.

"I already told you, I'm not leaving this machine until I win at least one thing," I stated stubbornly.

"The amount of money you've put into the machine won't make up for whatever you win," Y/BF/N teased with amusement.

"Just go," I said, waving my hand dismissively. "I'll be there soon."

"I'll wait with her," Pietro said, resting a hand on my shoulder, making me shrug him off jokingly. "See you soon," he added with a laugh, to his sister and Y/BF/N.

When they left, I looked to Pietro with an amused smile. "I don't need you to look after me, y'know."

He shrugged and looked through the glass of the claw machine. "I know. But I stayed to give you some advice, princess."

"Oh, really? And what advice is that?" I asked, before putting some coins in the machine to have another go.

"People usually tend to win these things for people they like, right?" he asked, nodding to the plush toys in the machine.

"Or for themselves," I corrected with a curious smile. "Take Wanda for example. How badly did she want that cat?"

He crossed his arms, smiling with amusement. "You could win it for her, y'know."

"What?" I asked, half paying attention as I attempted to grab a teddy bear.

"Win the cat for my sister and give it to her?"

I ended up dropping the teddy from the claw as I looked to Pietro with shock. He laughed at my expression, leaning against the machine.

"You do like her, right? Otherwise this is awkward," he added as an afterthought, looking down and smiling to himself.

My jaw hung open. "I– er– I never really– I don't–"

"She must definitely like you," Pietro noted, glancing at me.

I licked my lips as I found my words. "Did she," I cleared my throat, "did she say something?"

"Well, no," he said, "but she looks like she wants to murder me every time I hang out with you."

"That's just a coincidence," I said, shaking my head and looking back to the machine. "She's not–" I thought about, before shaking my head again. "No."

I appreciated Pietro's help, but Wanda definitely didn't like me like that. She was just protective of her brother and friendly to me. It didn't mean anything.

"Look, you don't have to listen to me," he said, straightening up and looking at the machine as I slotted another coin in. "But you could give it a shot. See what happens."

I glanced at him, his blue eyes watching me knowingly, a matching smirk on his lips.

"Fine," I gave in, hoping it wouldn't backfire. "Let's see what happens..."

[kerie-prince]

forgotten birthdays

Fred Weasley x Slytherin!reader

requested: (anon) Hiii, can I request something aangsty with Fred Weasley and slytherin reader? Like he got mad for something, maybe jealousy bc reader was spending much time with her house mates and he ignores her or says mean things to her but with a happy ending please 🥺

warnings: language

summary: Fred has his suspicions about your best friend and on the day of your birthday, he crosses the line which causes you to rethink your relationship

a/n: yoo this was hard to write for a quick second lol i hope you enjoy ~ plus, i got a new job so i'm in training and i'm so excited bc i've been wanting this job for so long (y/n/n = your nickname)

(gif not mine, cred to owner)

It was getting irritating.

You love Fred with all your heart, but he needed to stop being jealous. Marcus Flint was, is, and always will just be a friend of yours. You two grew up together and are nearly attached to the hip. Never once had you two of you flirted or done anything together. It was purely platonic, but Fred insisted there was something.

And going to Marcus’ prefect dorm after every fight probably didn't help your cause all that well, but he's your best friend. Who else would you talk to? You didn't have many girlfriends and when Fred introduced you to Angelina, you had gotten into a big fight for no reason. But you never asked him to stop hanging out with her even though you wanted to.

You could tell she liked Fred, but you were confident enough to know that Fred would never do you wrong like that. So why does he think that of you? Why does he get to hang out with Angelina, but he gets angry when you barely say two words to Marcus?

It was hard, but you’d work it out and still love each other at the end of the day. But then your birthday came around, and you’d just about had it.

You woke up in a good mood; the river sent in flowing rays of sunlight. Not too blinding, but not too dim either. This would be the second time celebrating your birthday with your boyfriend and if last year was amazing, you couldn't wait to see what Fred had planned for you today.

You took your time getting ready; you put on more make-up than usual and rather than tying your hair up with a clip as you always did, you let it down and fixed some strays to better frame your face. When you walked into the common room, your best friend snuck up behind you and yelled in your ear, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Y/N!”

Your natural response was to duck down and cover your ears. You hated when he did that, but you still appreciate the sentiment. You punched his arm as you laughed. “That’s not funny.”

“Oh yeah, then why did I laugh?” Marcus joked. Malfoy and his friends were behind him chuckling, all boys greeting you and wishing you a happy birthday. Marcus flung his arm around your shoulder and walked with you to get breakfast.

Once in the Great Hall, you saw Fred and his friends all laughing at the Gryffindor table and just when you were about to break free from Marcus’ hold, he pulled you back, “Oh no you don’t. You have all day to hang out with Weasley and company, but right now, you are gonna have at least one meal with your best friend.” You weren't going to argue; you didn't want to. If you wanted to sit with Fred, you wouldn't have to put up a fight, you would just do it. At your Slytherin table were Marcus’ other friends, Adrian Pucey and Terence Higgs. You sat in between them and pulled your hood up when they started embarrassing you by singing a birthday song. It was starting to be a great day.

However, across the Hall was Fred glaring daggers at your best friends’ arm around you. He couldn't hear what was going on, either due to the fact that you were pretty far from where he sat, or from jealous rage. “Freddie, you alright?” George asked his brother. “Yeah, just fine, Georgie.” He couldn't stand Flint. He would be enraged with every glance towards you, every whisper in your ear during class, and every time he made you laugh. Fred was sure that Flint was in love with you, but because you grew up with him you were too blind to see it. He was convinced that at any given moment, your ‘best friend’ would take advantage of you.

What also made him upset is that not only did you let Flint wrap his arm around you, you didn't even come say hi to your boyfriend. You always came every morning to his table to give him a morning kiss and sometimes even sat at the Gryffindor table.

In potions class, you sat and waited for your boyfriend to come through the doors. You weren't sure what to expect from him. Fred is an absolute wild card and could come through those doors with anything. And no matter what he brought, he’d for sure get in trouble with Snape.

When he walked through the doors with his brother and Lee, you sat up straight in your seat and waved at him. He saw you, but instead of smiling at you and taking the seat next to yours, he just looked away and sat on the other side of the room. Did something happen? You chose to ignore it until lunch rolled around and he still hadn't come up to you to even say ‘hi’ to you. Had he forgotten your birthday? It could happen, but that doesn't explain why he looked to be in a bad mood.

Once your classes were finished, you walked up the changing stairs and said the password to the Gryffindor dorms. You remembered the updated password your boyfriend gave you the week before and it was your first time using it today.

You didn't know what to expect to see; you secretly wished that today was just a big prank and Fred had actually planned a surprise party of some sort. But when you stepped foot into the room filled with tones of red and gold, there was no party. Just Fred laughing with his friends like normal. Normal without you.

Lee’s laugh died down when he noticed you walking up to Fred. He noticed Lee getting quiet all of a sudden and asked him, “Why are you quiet all of a sudden?” He felt a tap on his shoulder and spun around. “What are you doing in here?”

“Why, are Slytherins not allowed inside?” you joked. Your voice was slightly quiet and had a slight sad tone to it. “I missed you today, is everything okay?”

“Yeah. Fine. I've just been busy. Like you have,” Fred didn't mean to sound so bitter, but he was getting tired of it. He was tired of being second best to Flint.

“What are you talking about?” you asked.

“You've been with Flint all day,” Fred explained himself. You rolled your eyes, two fingers grabbing the temple of your nose from it suddenly starting to become irritated like you were. “Merlin, this again? Freddie, we talked about this. Marcus is just a friend. He's my best friend.”

Fred scoffed, “Y/N/N, you may think that but he doesn't. You trust him too much to see it, but I do. He's not just a friend.”

“You’re friends with Angelina when you know she likes you. And I know it too, but I don't say anything because I don't want to be that girlfriend who controls her boyfriends,” you were tired of playing this game with him. Your voice was heard by everyone in the room and soon enough, tons of peers had all eyes on you. Some either decided to stay, and some like Neville decided to head straight into their dorm rooms and lock the door for safety.

“Me being friends with Angelina is nothing like you being friends with Flint and you know that,” Fred raised his voice louder than anyone’s probably heard him. George and Lee silently guided people out of the common room and up to the dorms. Some people looked over the stairs to get a view of the commotion downstairs. One of them being Angelina herself when she heard her name being called out.

“No you’re right, it's different because he’s not pining over me and waiting for me to become available,” your arms were flailing about in anger, pointing at nothing to put emphasis in your words.

“How many times do I have to say I don’t like Ang? It’s never going to happen!” Angelina heard from up the staircase. Everyone heard him, loud and clear. She ran into her dorm and slammed the door so hard that you could feel the walls shake. “Great,” Fred sighed in frustration. It wasn't the ideal way to let someone down. He intended on talking to her in private without listening ears so she wouldn't be embarrassed.

“I'm not saying you like Angelina. I know you don’t like Angelina. What I’m saying is that you’re wrong about Marcus. I know he doesn't like me, you're just acting insecure,” you yelled back at him..

“I don’t know why it’s so hard for you to see he has feelings for you, Y/N/N,” Fred yelled, “I see the way he looks at you in every class and in the Hall. But you’re too fucking stupid to see–,” he immediately stopped what he was saying.

You couldn't believe what he was telling you right now. You could handle him calling you naive, but stupid? This was low, even for him.

You were getting stares from everyone in the common room. Your pride was more than hurt in this moment; it was destroyed. No words came from your mouth as you were completely still in your seat on the couch. Your nails dug into your skin as it was formed into a tight fist. But the worst of all was that your lips were quivering and you had to fight the tears on your birthday.

Your fucking birthday.

“Well if it bothers you so much, then fine. I'll fix the problem,” you started to speak low for only him to hear you.

“How?”

“I’ll end the problem,” a single tear escaped and trailed down your cheeks. This was the last thing you wanted to do today, but you couldn't take it anymore. He was scared to ask, but his ego got in the way, “And what's the problem?”

“Us,” you stated. He started saying something, but you couldn't hear it as you left. No, you actively ignored everything he was saying at that point. The second you were outside, you started bawling. And you kept at it all the way to the Slytherin common room and into your room.

You paced around your room rubbing your hands on your arms to try and calm yourself down, but nothing was working. Before you even processed it, your legs took you to Marcus’ room without second thought. You continuously knocked on his door until he answered, shirtless and with sweatpants that looked like they were just thrown on.

“Listen, I know it’s your birthday but that doesn't mean that you can do whatever you want–,” he focused in on your face and saw your red cheeks and puffy eyes. You looked behind him and there was a girl with him who sat in his bed looking curious. He looked back to her and just simply ordered, “Out,” which got her moving in seconds.

Once she was gone, he pulled you in and shut his door. Marcus guided you to a black leather chair in his room. “Sit,” his voice was stern, but never harsh with you. “What happened?”

As if by cue, you broke down completely. “It's o-o-over.”

“What is?” he questioned. But piecing it together, there's only one reason you'd be this upset in his room.

He never really knew what to do in situations like when you'd have your usual arguments, always just telling you that everything will be fine and you and Fred would be fine in the morning.

But now, he was feeling two things. One, slight heartache that his best friend is upset in front of him and two, nearly absolute rage that Fred is such an idiot.

Marcus started rubbing your back, “Hey, look at me.” When you shook your head no, he gently tapped on your shoulders until you did. “You are gonna be fine. Okay? You will be fine. There's plenty of other guys here–”

“I don't want to be with other guys, Marcus. I want Fred. I love Fred. But,” you shrugged up both hands, “I don't know. I don't know.” Your best friend pulled you in for a hug.

“Hey, sleep here tonight. You shouldn't be alone right now, especially today.” You nodded your head and kept crying until you couldn't anymore.

—

“HEY!” Marcus’ voice traveled beyond the corridors. Students were fleeing left and right to move out of his way as he made a straight line towards the group of Gryffindors who sat around a tree outside.

Before they could react to what was going on, Marcus punched one of the tall gingers in his abdomen. “OW, what was that for?!”

“You're going to apologize to Y/N right now,” Marcus demanded.

“You idiot, I'm George,” he corrected, still bent over and leaning on Lee for balance. “Shit, sorry.” Marcus looked at Fred and punched him in the same area quicker before Fred could block it. “You're going to apologize to Y/N.”

With a strain in his voice, Fred looked at the Slytherin in front of him, “What for, she broke up with me.”

“Okay, why? Because you're pathetic and insecure.”

“Is that what she told you?” Fred straightened himself up rubbing on the pain. “Of course she told you, she tells you everything.”

“Yeah, why wouldn't she? I'm her cousin,” Marcus pointed out. If he wasn't so mad, he would laugh at Fred's look of astonishment.

“No, you have different family names. And you don't even look related,” Fred wasn't buying it.

“That's because when I was eight, my dad married her aunt. I'm still her cousin,” Marcus explained.

“She never told me anything, how was I supposed to know?” Fred complained. George and his other friends left the two to argue by themselves but stood at a close enough distance to hear the conversation and be able to jump in if it were to get violent.

“Maybe if you got your head out of your ass, you would actually pay attention to her,” Marcus used his pointer finger to push against Fred’s forehead which caused the ginger to swat his hand away. “So get over whatever complex you have and apologize. If I'm being honest, there's plenty of Slytherins that can treat her better but she wants you for some reason.”

Fred knew he was right. And it was that reason why he always felt the way he did. You were enamored by many housemates, all handsome and rich. But you didn't like any of them. You love Fred. You love the lanky, devious, modestly handsome, funny Gryffindor more than anyone you've ever met.

Fred didn't say anything and walked away. His brother was asking where he was going but he didn't answer. Before he was out of Marcus’ sight, the Slytherin said one last thing, “By the way, I hope you know it was her birthday yesterday.”

Fuck. He picked up his pace and ran towards the dungeons. Halfway there, he figured that he didn't want to show up empty handed, so he made a detour to the greenhouse to 'borrow’ some flowers from Sprout’s personal garden.

You sat on one of the couches in your common room. Across from you was Adrian and Terence, arguing about some Ravenclaw girl. Some younger students passed by and whispered amongst themselves to which you didn't pay any mind to until you heard a third year say something about a Weasley being outside.

You knew it wasn't Ron because after his second year break in with Harry, he vowed that he'd never do it again. You stood up and nearly sprinted outside.

Fred was standing awkwardly outside. He tried to get a student to ask for you to come outside but they would all just scrunch their noses in disgust and keep walking. “Annoying little–”

“What are you doing here?” you asked. Your arms were crossed and you slouched your shoulders a bit. Fred noticed how your cheeks were swollen and the bags under your eyes were tinted a rosy pink. In his left hand, there was a single, large sunflower. He raised it in front of you, hoping you would accept it. “You know I’m allergic to those, right?”

Fred’s eyes bulged out. There is no way I didn't know this. Figuring he’s had enough torture, you spoke again, “I’m joking.”

“O-oh. Heh.” You grabbed the flower from him. “I’m… really sorry. I was such an arse–”

“You are an arse,” you corrected. “Yeah, you’re right. I should have trusted Flint. I should have trusted you. And if you’d let me, I want to prove that I do.”

You released a deep sigh and rubbed your forehead. “Freddie. You have to mean it this time. I can't keep going back and forth with you like this. You can't throw a fit every time I hang out with Marcus. Or Adrian. Or Terence.”

“So is that a yes?” Fred persisted. You looked at him properly in his eyes; he seemed sincere this time. And you could only hope that he was. With a nod of your head, Fred broke into smiles and picked you up from the floor and twirled you around. Your head was still sore from all the crying the night before, but you still had a smile on your face.

When he put you down, he took the hand that wasn't holding the flower and walked with you to the Great Hall for food. “So when were you going to tell me that Flint is your cousin?”

“I figured you’d find out at a family gathering or something had you waited a little longer.” He pinched your nose in response, “And you call me devious.”

—

requests open!

[mischief-marauders]

Modern Marauders: Halloween costume gone wrong

Sirius slammed his charms book down on his desk. “No! Do not ask me again! I am not risking your parent's wrath!"

James sat next to him and flashed him a grin. “Our parents. You don’t want to risk our parent's wrath.”

Sirius smiled softly with a blush creeping over his cheeks. “Our parents.”

James slapped his knee and Sirius gave him a smirk. ‘I’m still not risking it”

James flopped back on the bed and groaned. 

It was Halloween night and they were home, bored out of their minds. James would’ve gone out but Sirius was grounded due to an unfortunate mix of boredness, fireworks, Remus’ favorite sweater, and a Charms classroom. James didn’t want to leave Sirius by himself so he didn’t make plans. Until he checked Instagram and saw that Lily and Remus had gone to a muggle party in her neighborhood. It had all of his favorite things. An unsupervised house party, alcohol, and Lily. Oh and Remus.

James pouted at Sirius. “Please Sirius? Lily and Remus are having the time of their lives and you know how much I love Halloween parties. I promise we’ll sneak out and be back before mom and dad get home.”

Sirius snorted as he read his Charms book, doing the extra readings as part of his punishment.  “Your plans never work and we always end up getting in trouble. I don’t want to risk our parent's wra-”, Sirius paused as James looked at him with a puppy dog face. 

“I am not falling for that asshole,” Sirius said as he scowled at James.

James' eyes got bigger and his bottom lip protruded more.

Sirius groaned. “If I say yes, will you stop?”

James whooped and sprinted to their shared closet. “Yes. Now, what’re we going to wear? Oh! We can wear out Hogwarts robes!”

Sirius clapped sarcastically. “Great idea Jamie! Let's wear the uniform from our school of magic to a muggle party. Dumbledore would love that"

James groaned in frustration. What else could there be? He had a Mexican and Brazilian soccer jersey but that would be too basic. He needed something fresh. Original. Something that would impress Lily. He suddenly spotted a lone red hoodie and grabbed it with a triumphant smile on his face. He turned to Sirius, holding the hoodie above him like a prize.

Sirius raised his eyebrows as James asked “So, what are your opinions of paint on fur?”

Remus took a sip of his beer and surveyed the party with practiced disinterest. Lily’s neighbors who went to a muggle school in the area had invited them and while he wasn't too fond of Halloween and seeing people in werewolf costumes, he needed to get out a bit. Lily sidled up to him and let an exaggerated sigh of air. She was in the Scarlet Witch costume she had worn some time ago for his birthday party. He donned his Captain America costume to match with her. It was still the best birthday he had ever had and he loved having an excuse to put it on again

“Still haven’t talked to Sirius yet?”

Remus snorted and took a gulp of beer. He had been giving Sirius the cold shoulder. They all had plans to come to the party together but someone had the bright idea to set off fireworks during charms class. Which resulted in a furious Flitwick and Remus’ favorite sweater being charred. 

“I still need to ignore him for a couple more days to make sure he gets the message.” 

Suddenly, Remus yelped and dropped his beer on the grass as something nosed at his ass. Lily turned around, fist up and ready to pummel whoever decided to grab Remus when she dropped her fist and a grin overtook her face. James was standing there, grinning and dressed as Miguel from Coco and Sirius in dog form, painted to look like Dante. James was wearing jeans, a white shirt, a red hoodie over top, and his face was painted like a skull. Sirius the dog was covered in a rainbow of colors and patterns, looking exactly like one of the magical Alebrije’s from the movie. 

Lily laughed and asked “Are you serious?” at the same time that Remus bent down, scowling at the dog and asking, “Are you Sirius?”. 

Padfoot wagged his tail and barked at Remus.

James shrugged and said, “I was going to bring a guitar but that would’ve been too much.”

Remus ran his hands through Padfoot’s fur and scowled at James. “Do you know how long it’s going to take to get this paint out of his fur?”

James ruffled his hair in nervousness and tried not to make eye contact with the dog. 

“Oh come on, I looked it up. The paint will come off when he transforms back."

Remus narrowed his eyes in suspicion as Padfoot growled at him. James flashed him an overconfident grin, hoping it masked his lie. He had zero idea if the paint would come off. Sirius only agreed to be painted if it would come off immediately after.

Suddenly, Padfoot turned around and trotted into the house, full of blaring music and dancing teenagers. 

Lily traced her finger over the paint on James’ face.

“This looks amazing. I didn’t even think you knew what Coco was.”

James put his hand over hers and flashed her a small smile. 

“I heard you talking about how it's your favorite movie and it does have my people in it. I had to watch it. You have good taste by the way."

Remus was pretending to vomit at their flirting when a terrified girl in zombie makeup came out of the house, walking straight to them. 

“Um Lily?’, she started nervously, “Your friend's rainbow dog is drinking beer from a bowl in the kitchen. We tried to take it away but he growled and snapped at us”

Remus groaned and ran into the house, mumbling “Dumb dog”

Zombie girl drifted away as James grabbed Lily around the waist and put his hands gently on her hips. 

“By the way, I love the costume. You look amazing.”

Lily blushed and opened her mouth to flirt back when she was interrupted by Remus being dragged out of the house, his wrist clamped gently between Padfoots teeth. 

“Sirius, where are you taking me? I shouldn’t even be talking to you after what you just pulled. I don’t know how things worked at the noble and ancient house of incest, but dogs normally don't drink alcohol."

He paused as some of the people milling about outside of the house looked at him in confusion. 

“Can I fucking help you?”, he snarled at them. He glared at them until they all turned away awkwardly. Padfoot dragged him into the woods next to the house. 

All Lily and James could hear was Remus muttering “If you’re dragging me into the woods to try something, I hope you know I’m not turned on by the dog form”  

James looked down into Lily’s eyes. She looked ethereal under the moonlight. Her green eyes were alight and looked like shining emeralds. The look in her eyes and smirk on her lips drove him insane. He will always be amazed at the fact that she gave him a chance to show her that he's not a toerag. It's been months and every day it feels like a dream come true. He leaned his head down a little and she lifted her's to meet him halfway. Their lips were less than an inch away from each other when they heard screaming coming from the woods. James and Lily looked up startled as they saw Remus running out of the woods, bent over with laughter. A scream of frustration came from behind him along with the sound of pounding feet.  

“I’m going to fucking kill you James!’ Sirius roared as he ran straight at him from the woods, completely naked in human form, yet still covered in the paint he had on with his dog form. 

Lily screeched and covered her eyes as Sirius tackled a laughing James and knocked him over. 

Remus was bent over, gasping for air between his laughter. 

"You should've seen his face when he saw that he was still painted" Remus crowed, his face alight with mirth.

Sirius sat on top of a cackling James and pinned his arms behind his head. He struggling to hold him and let out a groan of frustration

“Stop laughing so I can kill you, asshole”

“You look so good though!” James wheezed between laughter and gasps of air as Sirius punched him in the stomach.

“You knew the paint wouldn't come off” Sirius hissed angrily.

James' eyes were watering with tears as he tried to break from Sirius’ hold. 

“I didn’t think you were going to transform back so soon! How was I going to know that you would try to get frisky with Remus during a Halloween party when you have zero clothes? C’mon, you wouldn’t have come with me otherwise and this costume needed a multicolored dog”

Sirius let out a huff of angry air as he punched James one last time and then stood up. He couldn't even be mad. It was a genius idea and something he probably would've done. This was going to be funny as hell if they somehow managed to get the paint off before their parents came home.

Remus wiped the tears from his eyes and struggled to stop laughing as Lily ran into the house and came back out with a tablecloth. She handed it to Sirius and helped a groaning James up as Remus helped tie it around him in toga style. 

Sirius was tying it in the front when he turned slightly and flashed a cheesy grin at Lily. “My eyes are up here Evans”

Lily rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. “You wish Black. I've seen enough of you tonight to last me several lifetimes. Do you have any shame at all? Are you not embarrassed to be naked in public? Is public nudity normal to you?”

Sirius shrugged and held Remus' hand. "What's there to be embarrassed by?"

Remus raised his eyebrows at Lily. "You should try sharing a dorm with him. He doesn't believe in doors, curtains, or privacy."

"He thinks he's God's gift to humanity", James said as he checked his abdomen for broken ribs. Once he was sure that nothing was broken, he held his bruised stomach and grinned at each of his best friends. He wrapped one hand around Lily's waist and he threw his other arm around Sirius's shoulders, making sure to squeeze his shoulder hard enough to bruise. 

“Now that thats over, let's party?'" James said as he led his friends back into the party, humming Proud Corazon under his breath. 

[catzula]

Change

a/n: this is a lil brain dump bcs I've been really inactive lately, sorry!! I wrote it in one sitting and I dint really know how I feel about it but yeah

warnings: toxic relationship i think? But its resolved in the end. Angst, miscommunication, anger management issues, conflict, break-up, but as I said, resolved in the end.

honorable mentions: female reader, 1.9k words, not proofread

Katsuki Bakugou.

Many might think he's an open book, a simple, hotheaded boy with anger management issues. He doesn't know any feelings other than anger. He can't understand others' emotions, doesn't care. 

They were right about him being bad at controlling his emotions, but everything else was false. Bakugou had never been a simple person, and it was rare he met someone who truly understood him. You, for instance, were the only one that had come as close to understanding him, but no one could ever understand someone fully, could they?

Still, ever since he had met you, Bakugou was trying to change, or he liked to think he did. You did, too. 

You tried to ignore those times it became apparent that he couldn't, didn't, wouldn't. As much as Bakugou tried to prove to you that he was giving it his best to try and change, there were times that proved it incompetent, not enough, and even a lie.

But you always did your best to forget, suppress the thoughts. It was near impossible not to when Bakugou came back to you, an apology hanging from his lips -although never spoken-, warm hands pulling you to him for a hug. 

He's trying to change, you repeat to yourself. He's trying to change.

You think of the last fight you had and shiver as he lies on you, eyes droopy with sleep, nuzzling his face to your neck as you rub soothing circles on his back. The way his back rises and falls steadily makes you smile. 

It was gradually getting worse, the fights. 

As the months passed and exams approached, Bakugou became even more jittery. You felt your heart sink as you remembered his spitting words, "you're not even in the hero course! How would you fucking know how I feel?" But you did. You knew your boyfriend far too well, and even though you weren't experiencing it firsthand, you could see how stressful it was for him.

"Stop fucking babying me!" He had shouted when you tried to approach him, to get him to calm down. "Can't you see I'm trying to change? I'm doing all of this for you, and you keep asking for more- I-I'm doing it for you, okay? I'm trying to become better, so stop asking for more!" 

You weren't asking for more, that, you wanted to say. You were trying to-to help.

"I don't want you to do this for me, if all the reason you're changing is for me, stop! I want you to change for yourself, not for me!"

That was unfair, how he was looking at you like he hated you, like he wanted you to disappear.

It's okay, you tell yourself. Katsu's with me now, in my arms, calm, promised me he would try to get better. 

And he did, too. He always did. After a fight, Bakugou became the kindest person you knew, treating you like fragile glass, showing you love in his way. And it always led you to think. This is it. No need to worry anymore, you tell yourself when he kisses you softly, oh, so- so softly that you're sure there's no way this man that's holding you like this would ever hurt you ever again. Never. 

That never is never longer than a few days, though. 

In a few days' time, he- Katsuki forgets. The spite comes back, the snarky comments fitted in his sentences, the slight anger in his eyes. Why is he so angry? That, you can never tell. He's furious with you all the time, even when he himself doesn't know it.

"Katsuki?" You whisper meekly, and his eyes flutter sleepily. "Do you love me?"

Yes, he wants to say, I love you more than I love myself. But it's a soft grunt you get as an answer. 

It's okay, though, since you understand it well.

~

"Tell that extra to bring my shit back." It's a gruff sentence voiced with a fury that tears you away from your thoughts. 

For a second, your heart leaps. It's Katsuki! But the feeling sinks quickly. "It's Bakugou to you." You remember when he told you that, you remember too well the way he spitted the words as if he had spitted them on your face, a lump appearing in your throat quickly. He's not talking to you, rather about you, and it stings even more. You're the extra now, an extra that has his belongings in their room and nothing else, and he can't even tell you to bring them himself. Kirishima does it for him.

A half a bottle of his perfume that was never successful at suppressing his sweet smell. 

A sweatshirt of his that he knew was your favorite. 

A pair of socks, pencils and some other pieces of clothing, the usual. 

A full, newly-bought bottle of his shampoo.

For some reason, that last one hurts more than anything else. It's not the shampoo itself, rather the fact that it's new, that Bakugou bought it just a few days ago when breaking up was never a thought. 

Why did you break-up? It's very complicated. So complicated that you don't know it yourself. But you do know that he's angrier than ever, with you even more, for some fucking reason. He can't stand the sight of you, you know, he knows, too.

Bakugou himself doesn't know why he's so angry at you. He was the one who broke up, so what gives him the right to feel like this? Why do his hands clench into fists with the sight of you? His heart beating twice as fast with fury, head dizzy, his teeth clench, he can't breathe, a tightness heavying on his chest. With anger, he repeats. All these feelings are because he's so angry with you. 

The day you knock on his door, a soft thump audible from the other side of the door, Bakugou knows you brought back the box of his belongings, and he wants nothing more than to open the door and pull you in. But what is he going to do after that? He doesn't know. All he does know is that the lump in the back of his throat is because he's holding back angry shouts. His eyes are stinging with tears that are caused by anger. There is a feeling boiling in the pit of his stomach that makes him feel sick, but it must be fury.

Why did you leave it to the door? Couldn't you have waited for him to open it and look at you for once? Do you hate him that much? 

You have the right, too. 

~

Bakugou hates to see you cry. 

It's so annoying, he decides one day, as he catches a glimpse of you crying in your friend's arms, hugging them, telling them how much you missed Bakugou as they rub circles on your back. 

"He never deserved you, anyway." He hears them say. It makes you cry even more.

Seeing you cry always makes him feel angry, Bakugou decides. 

~

The way he discovers the reason for his anger is in a rather sick way.

All it takes is for him to see you laugh. 

It's spring, the winter you broke up is over, the feelings aren't, though. 

You're laughing, and you look so pretty under the tree, body swiftly shaking with laughter that doesn't seem to end.

Bakugou knows you like spring, and he notices it's been more than a winter since he last saw you laughing like this. Even before you broke up, he realizes you hadn't been laughing as you did now. That realization stings. You always laughed, smiled when you were with him, but it had a tinge of bitterness that never seemed to go away.

For the first time, it doesn't anger him, but it hurts. 

Somewhere inside, Bakugou had always been able to sense your bitter melancholy. It's a feeling you felt even when you were the happiest, but he just hadn't realized it. Like pieces of a puzzle, every other realization starts dawning on him too. 

He was angry at you because you always made him feel like he could never make you happy. All he could do was make you cry, you cried and cried, whenever you were with him, and it made him feel so frustrated- he hated it, he hated, hatedhatedhatedhatesyou.

But it wasn't you, it was never you Bakugou was angry with, but it was Bakugou himself. 

Bakugou hates himself for never being able to make you happy.

Bakugou was never angry at you, he realizes. He was heartbroken. All those times he thought it was fury he felt when he saw you- 

People think Bakugou doesn't feel anything other than anger. 

They're wrong. 

Bakugou feels many other things than anger, but he doesn't know how to differentiate them. 

~

The next time you meet, there are two changes you realize about each other. 

It's a cold night, another sleepless one you let yourself feel everything you suppress during the day. You don't expect to hear footsteps approaching you, it's the dead of the night and very cold, but you freeze when you take note of the sweet smell the sound brought with it.

You can't speak, do anything other than raising your eyes that are wet with tears to see if it really is the owner of your heart.

"We need to talk."

You don't want to, but you missed his voice more than you thought, that you're unable to leave. 

But it's the moment your eyes meet with his blood-red ones that you realize why he's here. For the first time in a long while, there isn't a trace of anger in Bakugou's eyes. 

He looks sorry, and that night is the first time you hear him apologize to you. 

Despite how much he wishes it was, this apology isn't the last.

Bakugou is flawed. He will and does make you cry, maybe more than anyone else. He knows it, and you do too. But love is a strange thing, and it took him years to realize that you would rather cry your heart out than be without him.

So this time, when he takes you between his arms and lets you cry, two things have changed since the last time you both were in this position. 

1: You noticed that this wasn't going to be the last time you cried because of Bakugou.

Throughout your relationship, you hoped, prayed that fight you had was going to stay the last, it never was. This way of thinking was flawed, damaging the relationship as much as the fights did. Bakugou could feel your growing sadness, dissatisfaction, fear that you were going to fight at every smallest disagreement you had, and they did nothing but make him angry, turning the conflict into a full-blown fight.

2: Bakugou wants to change. And not for you, but himself. 

He wants to be a better person. He always did, but it was only because you asked him to. He wanted to be better for you, and it was the only thing he could think of whenever you told him he had to change. Its pressuring, made him insecure, made him feel like anything he did was never enough. But this time, right then as he envelopes you and pulls you into his embrace, Bakugou wants to be a better person. Not for you, not for anyone else. He just wants to be better, and he will start here. 

[lareinenoir]

THE PURGE; Sanctuary C.E x black reader

PT III

60 Days Until The Purge

THEN...

"I'll order take out. I know you like Thai-"

"Don't order anything. I'm actually not even hungry." You said as he took your bag and put it on his shoulder. "What?" He was looking at you weird and it made you frown.

"Where's the rest of your stuff?"

"You asked me to stay the night. That is my overnight bag." You replied folding your arms and walking over to the couch. Your hand touched your forehead and you sighed. You could still feel him looking at you as you tried to relax with your head leaned back. "After I tell Shonda about our situation, you're signing the papers."

"What do you mean-"

"You know what I mean." You shot back

"Ok, well theirs a lot to consider now." He motioned to your stomach and you sat up straight. "We're having a baby, now."

"No no no." You shook your head feeling your petty insides bubble a bit in sarcasm. "I'm having a baby. Me. Just me.”

"Obviously I want to be apart of our baby's life." Chris argued back and you frowned and scoffed. He put your bag down and crossed his arms as you brushed it off. "You can't seriously think I won't. V that's insane."

"You wanna know what's insane? You think you're gonna get anywhere near it. Why in the hell would I allow you and your broken promises anywhere near my child? Do you think I'm stupid? To make the same mistake twice!"

"Again? V what do you want me to do?" He asks throwing his hands up. "Acting is what I do, that's my job-"

"I don't care about that. I'm not asking you to chose your job or me-"

"It damn well near sounds like it. I would never make you choose." He countered back and you gripped your fists together.

"You may not have said it directly, but there have been many times where you have indirectly patronized me. I just found out I'm pregnant and I have been trying so hard to deal with it." you replied watching him pace back and forth and shake his head. "I have been getting the worst headaches, I can't keep any food down and I literally get lightheaded on set every single day because hiding my pregnancy has been a real joy ride." You replied sarcastically with a small chuckle

"What do you want me to do? I tell you to tell the producers, you get mad. I tell you to take a break, you get mad. I tell you to come over and you’re mad.” Chris said in disbelief. “I don't know what you want from me." He shrugs brushing the hair from his eyes.

"Not once since you found out have you asked me how I'm doing? My whole career is at risk I could lose my job. And you don't even seem to care.” You said

"V, I do care." He reached for your shoulder and you took in another breath. "I want you to stop worrying all the time. And you're right, I should be concerned more about you. I should be there for you-I should've been there for you in the beginning.” He admitted and you folded your lips again.

Are For real this time? Should I let it go and move past it? Again? No because it'll start all over again.

"This baby is mine. This is a life changing thing that's happening, I can't let you ruin it too." You spoke

" I'm taking responsibility because this is something I want. Ok? Can't we find some common ground? You of all people should know what it's like to grow up without a father!"

"You know too!" You shouted back. Chris' dad had died when he was younger. He talked about him sometimes but not as much. "I'd rather have had my father six feet under then to have him choosing when it's convenient for him to show up!" You said with your foot down shaking your head.

"Forget the divorce. Me and you living here happily married for the years to come. Whats so bad about that? Why can't I have that? What's so wrong with the picture of two parents raising a child?" His voice was loud and he was getting frustrated. He didn't shout, but you could tell how passionate he was about it. He always wanted to be a daddy, a parent. "Huh?"

"It's not just about you!" You said stepping closer. "Because..." You shrugged feeling your eyes water as you suck in your cheeks. "I knew the kind of man I was marrying. So involved with his job it took him almost fifteen years to actually start dating. It's not about you or your career. This baby is all I have right now.”

He looked confused as he relaxed his brow and pinched the bridge of his nose. From two feet away you could feel his heartbeat and you felt a little bad for how foolish you probably looked. You still loved him, not like you ever stopped, but you remembered that you still loved him.

Because, it's not about me either anymore. You thought

"Forget the papers okay..." You said swallowing your own pride. "just forget it. You’re right. I want our child to have two parents who will love him unconditionally. But it has to stop, because it takes two. I can't have you with one foot in the door." You admitted

“Yeah yeah.” He nodded “yeah I get that. I’m not going anywhere.” Chris said and you walked forward and took his hand kissing his palm as you placed it on the side of your face. “I promise V.” He cups your face and stares into your eyes. His stubble poking at you a bit as you held his wrists.

“I love you.” You said with a small smile

“Still?” He laughed making you roll your eyes as you giggled a little. “I love you too. Are you sure you aren’t hungry?” He asks again

“Yes.” You nodded “now shut up and come take a nap with me.”

NOW....

CHRIS POV**

“Damnit! Damnit! Damnit!” I said throwing the phone on the couch. I had called five times and her phone went straight to voicemail.

“This is not a test, this is your Emergency Broadcast System. Announcing the commencement of the annual purge sanctioned by the U.S. Government. ALL Weapons have been authorized for use during the purge. Government officials of ranking 10 have been granted immunity and shall not be harmed. Commencing at the siren, any and all crime (including murder) will be legal for 121 days. Police, fire, and Emergency Medical services will be unavailable until December 15, 12:00 o’clock midnight, when the purge concludes. Blessed be our new founding fathers and America... A nation reborn. May God be with you all.”

My tv was replayed the message nine more times before shutting off. I swallowed the lump in my throat. Today is august 15, Vanessa’s birthday is tomorrow which was when she’d be 17 weeks. We had marked it on the calendar together. More than half my wife’s pregnancy would be spent during the purge. I needed to find her!

I didn’t support the purge. Something about killing people to be “cleansed” just didn’t sit right in my gut. It made my heart ache thinking about the clean up at the end. I could bring Dodger, but he can only do so much. Maybe he could help track her scent. Grabbing my coat I folded my lips together.

“Fuck!” I shout

With what weapon? How was I going to run the streets looking for my wife without a gun? I loved the idea of owning one, but Vanessa made me swear not to bring one in the house if she was there. So I just dropped the idea. Looking in the kitchen I grabbed one of the Chef knives off the rack. Maybe this would be enough for now...

“Damnit!” I curse looking at Dodger. “She said she was at Topanga Park. Start there?” I asked, as if he’d answer back. I grabbed her bonnet from off the bathroom door handle and stuffed it in my backpack.

I didn’t hesitate l. I locked up everything and jumped inside my truck. Dodger sat on the passenger side and I felt my hands start to shake as I put my foot on the gas. I started to promise god I would go to church if he would keep her safe.

“I don’t even know if you’re even listening or you even care. I love her, I’ve been such and idiot and I don’t wanna lose her.” I looked at Dodger and he was sitting up straight. “I remember you didn’t like her. You wouldn’t let her anywhere near me, you bark and squeeze yourself in between us when we sat down in the room to watch movies.” I chuckle wiping the little tear that slipped from my eye “You stole one of her wigs too.”

“WHAT THE FUCK!” she shouted chasing you around the house. “DODGER GIVE IT BACK! COME BACK!”

We chased him around the house and Dodger thought it was some sort of game. We had been officially dating for a month. I had started laughing when I caught him and held her headband wig in my hand. She stood their with her arms folded while I petted his head and she rolled her eyes.

"I told you he doesn't like me." She said as I stood up and she took the wig from my hand.

"Come on, he's just getting used to you."

"I've been over here every day. Your dog hates me."

"What?" I tilted my head to the side and touch her nose with my index finger. "Deal breaker? If my dog doesn't like my girlfriend, I'm gonna dump her? Tell me where that makes sense."

She walked closer to me and wrapped her arms around my waist looking up at the ceiling as I kissed her neck. "I guess you have a point." Vanessa sighed.

"He's just warming up to you that's all."

"What's stopping me from breaking up with you?"

"Over a dog?"

"This is his third assault against me. First it was tearing up my purse, then chewing up my crocs, not to mention the little shit I found inside of them. And now stealing my wig and playing cat and mouse." Said Vanessa as I rested my head on top of hers. "Luckily this is a backup wig."

“Aren’t you wearing one right now?” I asked

“Headband wig. And that wig your dog has destroyed,” she gave him the side eye “it was my favorite and expensive.” She gritted her teeth

“I’ll buy you another one.” I offered

She purses her lips and shook her head. “I don’t want you buying me anything. I’ll just break up with you. For real this time.”

"Fine then..." I baited her shrugging my shoulders. "Break up with me."

“Over a dog?” She frowns mocking me as I smile down at her and her eyebrows bend downward a little as she caressed my face. Her finger was gentle and she stood on her top toes and kissed my lips. “Never.”

...

I look over at Dodger and pat his head. "We'll find her. I know we will." I say trying to lift my spirits.

When we arrived to Topanga Park, it was a sight. I didn't even want to leave the truck. I felt my heart race a little more. "What the hell..."

In the middle of traffic-in between the cars were bodies. Dodger started barking at the train of blood that stained the streets. It was empty, but I could feel a heavy weight on my back. Walking behind me, next to me...it was all around me. I hadn't realized I had my hand over my mouth an nose, it was hard for me to breath as the stench of dead bodies. Dodger kept barking and that led to me chasing after him. I had her bonnet in one hand and I called after him.

I came to a halt when I came face to face with another person. He had Dodger in his hands and I felt my muscle tense up. He was tall and very familiar looking. I swallowed the lump in my throat and held the kitchen knife in my hand with a firm grip.

"Captain America?"

I tilted my head sideways and licked my lower lip narrowing my brow a little. "Yeah, give me the dog and we can go our separate ways. Ok?"

He nodded his head. He ran his fingers through his hair and put the dog down. I wasn't really concerned about who he was I was trying to prepare for a fight. He dropped his gun on the ground and held up his his hand.

"I'm not going to kill you. I'm looking for my wife." He said "She left her watch in that building." He pointed to the school and slowly pulled the watch from his pocket.

"In there?" I asked

"Yeah." He nodded, but I still couldn't shake the feeling I knew him from somewhere. "My name is Jared. My wife's name is Gianne, I'm pretty sure she was with someone else-are you looking for someone too? Maybe we could help each other. There was something written on the chalkboard in there, I wasn't something Gia would write, but she was here. All I wanna do is find her-"

"Supernatural?" I asked turning my head to the side. Vanessa loved that show. Whenever she had spare time she would watch it or on those many night she'd spend the night at my house we would watch it-well not really watch it. The Netflix and 'chill' was emphasized. "You said something about some sort of message on the wall?" I asked motioning with my hand. "what did it say?"

"um, CE equals BE or something like that." He shrugged

I laughed a little. Vanessa Evans plus Chris Evans equals Baby Evans. It was a stupid joke-an Easter egg if you will. Shonda put in the show on the whiteboard in one of our love scenes as a way to announce our pregnancy to the audience. She often left clues to the next episode in every episode except this one was not only in the show but in real life.

"Chris Evans." I say extending my hand out to him. I'm pretty sure he knew by the little smile playing on his face. He shook my hand and nodded his head.

"I know. I'm a big marvel fan, I know all your lines." Jared chuckled and then cleared his throat as he nervously laughed. "Nice to meet you. I'm Jared Padalecki - I know I said that already..."

I introduced him to Dodger and I felt a little more relaxed. I gathered that she was alive and we both came to the assumption that they were traveling together.

"Where do you think their headed?" I asked as we walked to his car which was tricked out and full of ammunition and guns. Not to mention government level protective gear.

"While I was in there, I picked up someone else. Heavy footed and big, traveling with dogs. Hair everywhere." He went on tossing me a bullet proof vest. "You heard of Sanctuary?"

"The safety place? Yeah, but it's hard to find. It's for people who get caught in the Purge right?"

He narrowed his brow and shook his head. "No." Said Jared sharply. "Sanctuary is a secret government funded task force. It started off as a conspiracy some myth to explain all the random disappearances throughout the year. It's a government project designed for population control." He went on

"Ok...what does that have anything to do with the Purge?"

"Everything. An organization designed to control the US population. We're talking Pro killers who were once on a leash, but when that horn sounded and the Purge began, they are just as free to kill anyone they want." Said Jared handing me an ipad. It was a list of celebrities. From pro athletes like Steph Curry and their immediate families to movie stars and singers like Rhianna and Tom Cruise. "There are rumors that they are hunting celebrities. The kardashians and Jenner's are fair game. If not the stars themselves then they choose their parents, brothers and sisters."

"And do what?" I asked quietly as I saw mine and Vanesssa picture

"Most get auctioned off to the highest bidder, I've also heard they kill them on the spot for money or bring them in to fight for the death. Bottom line, there is a bounty on our heads. During the Purge everyone is fair game, their is no protection."

"You're telling me she's out there being hunted by them right now?" I asked

“Possibly. The dog hair isn’t a breed we know. They are a combination of hunting canines, bloodhound, foxhound, Labrador retriever with the built and aggression of a something like a pit bull a Rottweiler.” Said Jared as I looked up from the iPad and gave it back. “You’re gonna need more than a kitchen knife. We find the dogs and the hunter and we’ll find them.”

He held a gun out to me and wiped my mouth with the palm of my hand trying to mentally prepare for what is to come."

“Do you believe in the Purge?” I asked still questioning why his car was full of weapons. “You kill people?”

He nodded his head. “Yes. I don’t believe in hiding or waiting for someone to kill me. We all have the right to Purge."

"What's stopping you from killing me?"

Jared sighed and shook his head. "I'm hunting them. I'm surviving and if you decide to threaten my survival, then I'll kill you." He went over to the driver side of his Ford charger. "Get in. Knowing Gia she is headed for Roberts hole."

"What's that?" I asked climbing in the passenger seat of the car.

“It’s a Cassino for celebrities. Jack Black owns it. It’s locked up right but open to his favorites during the Purge.”

“They’ll be there?”

“Relax.” He out his hand in my shoulder and looked at me as dodger sat in the back seat. “We will find them. You know how to shoot don’t you?” Jared raised his gun in the air and nodded my head.

I guess it wasn’t confidently and he chuckled. “Vanessa isn’t a fan of guns.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll practice. Ok?”

.

.

.

.

.

A/N: Sorry it took so long😬 don’t hate me, please. Lol, I hope everyone is doing well and safe out here. If you wanna be tagged leave it in the ask box, Anyways…Untill next time!

Tags!

@Tantricevans

@rosey1981

@toni9

@onceuponahuntersrealm

@pm-my-hubbies

@Cynthetic

@liqourlaughslove

@melaninfalconbucky

@omg-mymelaninisbeautiful

[lacharcutiere]

still [sawamura daichi]

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part eight of i’m gone i’m gone i’m gone miniseries. you can only put these things off for so long.

JST: japanese standard time (GMT +9). EST: eastern standard time (GMT -5). EDT: eastern daylight time (GMT -4).

tings // fluff, a little bit of angst, kinda suggestive at the end ?? // i swear this søng is abøut eating øut my best friend's pussy - cøzybøy // dm, ask or comment to be added to taglist ! minors dni.

☾𓆙𓂻

— JAPAN, SUMMER 2024.

the summer passes like this: you and daichi laughing too loudly in busy restaurants and train cars; having arms around each other in the back of taxis on the way home from clubs; making instant udon at three a.m.; walking up and down the neighborhood a hundred times; laying silently side by side and not needing to say anything. it's a routine, it's familiar—it's home.

a couple weeks before you're set to head back to new york, daichi asks you a question as you lay next to him on a blanket in your driveway, staring up at the stars.

"have you decided what your plans are after college?"

"i'm gonna come back here."

"i thought you wanted to go to grad school? you can do way better in the states, especially with a degree from columbia."

you roll onto your side so you can look at him better. "i know. but i've been away too long already. i miss you."

he gives you a little smile. "but i'm right here."

"right here is pretty fucking far from america."

"hm."

"hm."

that's the end of the conversation.

— 2 AUGUST 2024. 23:09 JST.

everything happens the exact same way it has for the past three years: he takes you to the airport. you try hard not to cry; you say your goodbyes. check-in, security, buy some candy to eat at the gate. board the plane. sixteen hours later, you're in america.

one thing was different, though.

when he said goodbye, his lips touched yours.

you don't stop thinking about it for weeks.

☾𓆙𓂻

— AUGUST TO NOVEMBER 2024.

slightly relieving is the fact that amid thesis writing and too many classes and working an internship under one of your professors (that one's nice, it even earns you enough to get a small apartment a few blocks from campus), there proves to be little time to be spent missing daichi.

you finesse your schedule to fit weekly facetimes on friday evenings (new york time) and shoot random texts back and forth about your day between classes and during meals, and without much space for anything else, it's enough. good things are worth waiting for, anyway.

— DECEMBER 2024.

but then winter sem break rolls around and there's no school so it's back to having too much lonely alone time with your thoughts. you write daichi a christmas card and drop it off at the post office. it's early this year, but oh, well.

☾𓆙𓂻

a week before christmas you receive a call from an unknown number. the phone speaker crackles when you accept the call.

“hello?”

“hey.” the voice on the other end is bright, smiley, accented. it’s tōru.

“tōru? what’s up?”

“i’m outside,” he says, “come down and meet me?”

you’re a little confused, but you decide to humor him. “uh, okay, give me a minute… do i need anything?”

“bring a coat, it’s cold out. i’ll be waiting down here.” the call ends.

a few minutes later you push through the doors of the building to be met with a brisk wind and tōru standing by a payphone, grinning.

“do you have your subway pass?”

you feel inside your pocket for it and nod.

“good,” he says. “come on, we’re in a hurry.”

“where are we going?”

“downtown.”

“ohhkay?”

he laughs. “‘s not anything you won’t like, promise.”

you follow him into the nearest subway entrance, lost in thought as you push through the barrier and step onto the train. it's only when he nudges you and says, "this is our stop," that you realize you've been looking at the ground the whole time.

tōru notices how absent you seem to be and asks, "are you okay?"

"i would be if i knew what was going on," you respond.

"yeah," he says, leading you up the stairs and into the terminal, "yeah, i think you will be."

you're in grand central. tōru asks if he can borrow your phone for a second. when he hands it back to you, he doesn't say anything, just takes you by the arm smiling widely and leads you into the fray of commuters that fill the station.

"tōru!" you groan, "can't you just tell me where we're going?"

"magnolia," he replies simply.

"we came all the way here just for coffee?"

"mhm."

"tōru!" he stops walking and turns back to you, trying and failing miserably to stop grinning for a second. "what the fuck?"

"come on," he says, "you'll like it."

"we've been here before! what's so special about—"

"you'll see."

☾𓆙𓂻

coffee in grand central is surprisingly good. it's also surprisingly expensive. ah, well, it's new york. new york has much more to offer than just overpriced cafés.

such as... this. such as a laughing man that leads a remarkably pissed-off looking girl by the arm, towards this stupidly good, stupidly overpriced café.

the pair are weaving through a stream of people, almost there, and then they're there, and the girl is looking much less agitated now. she looks somewhere between crying and wanting to run in the opposite direction. thank god, she chooses the former.

he loves you. so much.

☾𓆙𓂻

"daichi?" you mean it to be a scream but your voice cracks a little and it comes out airy.

he has the exact same look on his face that tōru's had this whole time. "hi."

"oh my god, what the fuck?"

"you said it was lonely, tōru told me maybe it would be nice for you to have a date for new year's, i had some extra money saved up. so i came."

"you— what?" you look back at tōru. "you planned this? just? last minute?"

"nah," daichi laughs, "no, i meant to come visit you for christmas a while ago. i already had tickets and everything, i was gonna tell you but then i got your card and figured it might be more fun if it were a surprise."

"oh my god." that's all you can think to say.

— CHRISTMAS 2024.

you can't even explain how good it feels to wake up and walk into the living room to find daichi asleep on your couch on christmas morning, how good it feels for it to not just be you. the whole time he's been here, though, you've forced yourself not to think about the fact that he's going back home in a week and a half, forced yourself not to do anything just yet. soon, though. just a few more months.

☾𓆙𓂻

when he wakes up, you're making coffee for the two of you.

"merry christmas," he says, wrapping one arm around your shoulders. he places a card on the counter in front of you. "open it."

its message is simple.

you do as it says.

"i, uh, haven't gotten you anything yet, but—"

"daichi," you laugh, "it's okay. and um, i may have also not been able to get you anything. also because i didn't know you'd be here."

"wait, wait, i'm not finished."

"okay?"

"what do you want to do after you're done this year of school?"

"i already told you," you say, "i'll move back home."

"no, what do you want to do? you want to go to grad school, right? continue studying here?"

"no, i just want to stop waiting." you sigh, a little frustrated. "i don't wanna have to keep putting this off, it's been—"

he cuts you off. "i'll be here."

"huh?"

"i'll be here. or wherever."

"i don't get it?"

you've always loved the way daichi's nose scrunches up when he smiles. "you're the one planning on studying more, not me. not immediately, anyway. i'll go with you."

"daichi."

"what?"

"you're fucking joking."

he laughs; you look so confused right now. "i'm not. promise."

"i don't even—"

"hey."

"hm?"

"think you can handle long-distance for five months?"

"uh—" you inhale sharply. "yeah."

"good," he says, "then we don't have to keep putting this off."

it's been five months since you last let your lips touch his. it still feels just like the first time it happened.

— 31 DECEMBER, 2023. 19:36 EST.

he tries not to let you pay for dinner, but in the end, you slip the waiter your card while daichi's in the bathroom. it's his birthday; it's your treat.

and after dinner, there's that new year's eve party that tōru's been going on about. it feels good, so good, not to be there alone. it feels good to watch the broadcast from downtown and count the seconds to midnight as daichi's arms are wrapped around you from behind. the clock reaches zero; daichi kisses you hard. you're both drunk on champagne.

you watch him smile across the room at tōru, who's got his girl on his arm. the two of them look happy, too. everything is warm.

— DEPARTURE: 3 JANUARY 2025. 08:15 EST.

daichi's asleep next to you when the alarm on his phone goes off. you'll miss not waking up next to him for the next five months, but at least that's all it will be.

he makes faces at you in the mirror as you both brush your teeth; keeps trying to tug your sweater off when you get dressed. you spend these thirty minutes laughing with him until it hurts. the two of you take the subway back to grand central; make out in a corner of the terminal while he waits for his train to jfk international to arrive.

"see you in may."

— 21 JANUARY 2025.

taglist: @sakruisin-thru @softetsurou @oligbia

[sebstanseabass]

Afterglow (A Bucky Barnes AU fan fiction) - Chapter 9

Afterglow chapters

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader

CHAPTER NINE

For the first time in your life, you awoke in your own pool of sweat and with the fresh thoughts of Bucky as he managed to scoop you up with his strong lean arms and take you right then and there at the kitchen counter in your wild, vivid memory of dreams.

You blamed Nat for this. If it wasn't for her, you wouldn't even have inappropriate thoughts towards Bucky. Yes, you did notice his strong masculine exterior, jaw sharp as a killer's knife, body as strong as a boulder, and legs that could easily kill but did you have any thoughts on advancing towards him? No, absolutely not. He was Peter's stepbrother for crying out loud. But last night, something changed in the laws of physics. It was as if two resting bodies silently reacted to one another without a sudden force acting upon the two.

That morning, you didn't dare find out if Bucky was still in your apartment. You skipped your morning run and headed up towards the rooftop using the ladder right outside your window with a hot cup of coffee in your hand (which spilled a bit on the way up, by the way) and enjoyed the scent and sight of the dirtier part of New York City -- all its damp, cigarette covered pavements.

For the next few days, you saw no sign of Bucky. He hadn't been in the bar or in your apartment, as much as you wished he would stop by once in a while. But then, you would hear Peter talk to him on the phone every single night.

You never thought Bucky's lack of presence would start to bother you. It wasn't just the feelings of sudden desire you had for him but also the weird time you shared together -- as if you were just old friends catching up. You found it absolutely crazy how a lot of things just happened in the course of a day.

You wanted to ask Peter about Bucky's whereabouts, just a casual slip of "Hey, where's Bucky?" but you never dared to ask. So when Peter blabbed during a movie night that Bucky had been way too busy managing some business meetings, gatherings, and whatnots ever since he got back in the city, you were more than glad.

Nat had been coming to the bar every night ever since Tuesday, picking up extra shifts. She kept badgering you about Bucky this and Bucky that. She was one of the reasons why you couldn't keep Bucky out of your head. Her sudden long shifts at the bar wasn't only because she was so invested with your nonexistent dating life or, to her, a possibility of one with Bucky, but because she and Steve were secretly hooking up. Of course, she didn't tell you that. It's not like she needed to, anyway. It only took one sniff of Steve's strong scent on hers for you to find out.

Every passing day at the bar felt so slow and the same. The only thing that changed was Peter rejecting a drink on one Thursday night.

"Woah, what got your knickers on a twist?" You asked as soon as he approached the counter.

"I'm just not in the mood, y/n." He sighed. "Can I just have a glass of water, please?"

"Of course. Coming right up." You slid the glass of water on the counter towards him, your fingers drumming against the thick wood. "So, what's bothering you?"

He looked up at you with sulky eyes. "Oh god, you really are a bartender."

"And your best friend. So, what's up?"

He shook his head nothing, sipping the glass of water like a scotch.

His little act was unconvincing. Especially that he didn't try hard enough to conceal whatever he was feeling.

"Parker." You insisted. "Come on, what's up?"

"You see right through me, y/n."

"Don't flatter me too much," you rolled your eyes, "you're just easy to read."

But Peter was also stubborn as a bull. He wouldn't budge or give you any clue on what was bothering him. You thought that leaving him as you tended to other bargoers would eventually give him time to change his mind but you were proven wrong. It itched your brain that he wouldn't tell you whatever it was. You usually told each other everything. But then again, you haven't really been open with him with your growing desire for his stepbrother -- which, you hoped you never would, as you hoped all those feelings would eventually go away and keep it in a state of latency.

Peter stood by his ground, consuming no ounce of alcohol and keeping his mouth shut the rest of the night. You knew when to keep away from other people's business, even if it was your best friend's. You did try to make his evening lighter though, checking up on him and telling some old, classic bartender stories, seeing as he was clearly in an uncomfortable state but all he kept telling you was: "You're killing me, y/n. You're absolutely killing me."

You felt a heavy feeling on your chest with his surprisingly fierce tone. You urged him to go home after that, so he did.

"Dick." You mumbled after he left.

Nick walked towards the counter. "What's wrong with your roommate?"

"Wish I could tell you."

You and Nick have been getting along well despite you rejecting him. Nat kept telling you it was a way of manipulating you or some sort, to get you close to him but nothing has really happened ever since he asked you out. There wasn't a change in mood in the atmosphere, or even the way he treated you. Just some good colleagues working together.

The next night, Peter was more in the mood and even apologized to you for the way he behaved last night. "Now, for some great news."

"Does this mean you're having a drink?" You asked.

He nodded eagerly and patiently waited for his beer. Once he got his cold sip, he continued talking: "So, I've been really in a slump lately because I'm kind of lovesick. But then -- "

"Wait, what did you say?" You knitted your brows together, catching the last word he said. "Did you say lovesick? You son of a bitch, are you in love?"

"Language!" Out of nowhere, Steve yelled over the buzzing noises inside the bar. You snickered and he just gave you a look before he disappeared back into his office.

He is such a grandpa.

Peter chuckled. "To be honest, I have been for a very long time."

Your jaw dropped on the floor, ears all perked up, wanting to hear every detail of this. "And you never thought to tell me? Parker, I've been your best friend since forever. Why the hell wouldn't you tell me?"

"Because..." He trailed off, avoiding your stare. "It's not that big a deal."

"Okay, was this after that bitch Denise?"

"Actually, waaaay before that."

"Oh wow, that long, huh?" You replied. "Oh my god, is it someone we know from college? Shit, is it MJ?"

"No, it's not!" He replied. "And I'm not telling you who because I don't have actual plans on pursuing her." He sighed through his nose while taking a big sip of his beer. He brought down the bottle on the counter with a loud thud.

"So, it's a girl."

He grunted in reply.

You laughed. "So, why not pursue her?" You asked while multitasking. You handed a bowl of peanuts to the man beside Peter who was asking for it. "Is she taken? Does she have a boyfriend? A girlfriend?"

"No, she doesn't."

"So, why the hell not, Parker?"

You impatiently waited for an answer from Peter as it took him a couple of minutes to do so.

"Because I don't think it's a good idea. I don't think it will ever work." He answered, scratching the label on his beer bottle with much frustration. "I've thought about all the probabilities, but every single one of them ends the same."

"And what is that?"

"That it won't work out."

The thing about Peter was he never dive into things headfirst. Even though he was a dumbass, he was always a man of intellect who calculated everything in his head before committing to something.

"Why is it always statistics and probabilities and all that crap with you?" You let out an exasperated sigh. "What if for once in your life, follow your goddamn heart? You keep treating everything with a business mind. Go with what your gut tells you to do. Don't think too much about it because the heart wants what it wants, Parker."

Peter gazed at you for a few moments, perhaps finding the right words to say but he just shook his head and fought against his feelings. "I can't do it, y/n. I badly want to, like, it's already at the tip of my tongue. I badly want to tell her but I can't. I don't want to know what's gonna happen next. I'm just scared of what's gonna happen. I don't think I can take it."

As much as you wanted to convince him to go for the girl, you let it go. You've said what you had to say but it was always up to him whether he takes your advice or not. "So, what now?"

"Well now, I'm going to tell you the good news, the one you robbed me off when you batted in."

You rolled your eyes. "What's the good news, Parker?"

"Me and my colleagues will go on a corporate retreat for at least a week!"

You raised an eyebrow, writing a confused expression on your face. "How is this good news?"

"I'll be gone for a week, away from the city, away from my love problems and all that. I think it'll be good for me." Then, a smile started to form on his lips. "There, I'll leave all my worries behind."

"Parker, it's just a one-week corporate retreat, not a sabbatical." You grimaced, unimpressed with the whole thing. "You're not gonna get over this thing in just seven days."

"You don't know that." He scoffed. "I'll be a new man once I get back. You'll see."

"Sure." You replied, a hint of sarcasm laced in your tone.

"Oh, one more thing!"

"What, another corporate retreat?" You snickered, amused with all the clever remarks you were throwing at him. Peter, on the other hand, wasn't.

"No!" He gave you a look. "Bucky will look after you while I'm gone!"

Shock crossed your face. "Bucky?"

"Yes, me."

And on cue, a figure emerged behind Peter.

You were so bewildered with Peter's troubles that you hadn't noticed Bucky creeping up towards the counter. He was wearing what seemed like a navy blue tailored Hugo Boss suit, paired with a nice, sleek tie. His whole fit, illuminated by the iridescent lights made his blue eyes pop even more. Like last time, he opened up a button on his waist, tossed the end flaps in the air and sat down beside Peter on a high stool.

Watching him, you could feel the air around you tighten, paired with a clump of saliva caught in your throat. He placed his elbow on top of the counter and tucked his chin on his palm.

"B-bucky," you finally breathed, silently choking up on your own saliva, "hey, it's been quite some time."

"Hello, doll." The vowels on his words seemed to drop, accompanied by that rhythmic sound he usually does when he speaks. Oh god, one day with Bucky and I've already picked up on that, you thought. "Missed me?"

You felt some blood quickly rushing to your cheeks but you played it cool. "Don't flatter yourself, James." You pretended to get quite busy, wiping some clean glass off the counter then faced Peter. "So, what's this thing about Bucky looking after me?"

"Well, I'll be gone. You'll be alone. Bucky will look after you." Peter tried to "expound." "What's not adding up, y/n?"

You rolled your eyes at the two and scoffed, placing the glass on the counter. "No, thanks. It's just one week. I can take care of myself."

It was true. You once spent a two-week vacation all by yourself to California after high school and you came home in New Jersey without a scratch -- like a brand-new car. You walked around the place as if it was your turf, and blended in with the locals while basked in the glorious heat of the California sun.

"Bucky insisted." Peter chimed in defensively.

"Oh. Bucky insisted." You said, your gaze averting to Bucky's eyes. "Again, I appreciate the offer but I can handle myself. I'm not a baby."

Bucky, clearly amused with the whole situation, leaned back with careful eyes fixed on yours. "Come on, y/n, don't you want some company?"

"Aren't you busy with your company?" You retorted.

"Yes, I have been but not anymore." He replied. "Unless something comes up. A week without Peter must be somewhat lonely. Come on," he insisted once again, "it's also for me. It'll give me something to do for a week."

"Wait, what?"

"You guys could get to know each other better and get along!" Peter blurted. "And without me around, Bucky won't have someone to hangout with. Please, y/n? I'd feel so much better."

"Hang out? What are you guys, like sixteen?"

Your mind was still set on Bucky's last choice of words but you saved it for later.

"Pleaaaaseee?"

You sighed, knowing you could never refuse your best friend's pleas. "Fine."

"Great!"

"Just for the record," you said, holding up a finger, "I'm just agreeing because of Peter, not because I can't take care of myself."

Peter rolled his eyes while pulling out his phone from his pocket. "Yeah, yeah, you're an independent woman. Okay, I gotta take this call. I'll be right back."

And all then there were two: you and Bucky. While making two grasshoppers for a couple of girls who just entered, you could feel Bucky's intense stare towards you. Your mind, clouded with thoughts, wished it could tap into his and take a sly look at what was going on inside.

You locked eyes as soon as you handed the girls their drinks. Bucky wearing such a neat, tailored suit made you forget about all his child-like ways in Peter's countless stories. All you saw was a man favored by all the gods and at the same time sent by the devil to test you in so many ways imaginable. You wondered if he felt the same. Of course, you weren't like him or any other people carved perfectly by the gods, but his vehement stare said otherwise.

"Are you gonna order a drink?" You asked, breaking the silence, and also your train of thoughts.

"No." He replied. "I'm good."

"Okay."

Peter, where the hell are you?

"Hey, y/n?"

"Yes?"

"You look beautiful tonight."

A plain black tank top, paired with some old jeans, minimal makeup and this man just told you that you looked beautiful. "Well not just tonight. You've always been beautiful. I just hope you know that."

"Okay what has gotten into you? You're being... weird."

He shrugged. "I'm just stating facts."

You hummed, a look of confusion spread across your face. "Thank you, I guess. Y-you look good yourself. Very different from when I first met you." You chuckled.

"Well, I was naked the first time we met so yeah."

Peter got back from his phone call and for the whole night, you spent your time working your shift while Bucky and Peter moved on to play some billiards and darts as well. Nat kept shifting her eyes between you and Bucky and you just shrugged her off, flipping your middle finger on her in which she reciprocated.

The next day, Peter was all set for his corporate retreat, surprised he didn't need any help from me at all. You helped him with some of his bags towards the sidewalk ("Jesus, Parker, are you going out of the country?"). While you waited for his Uber to arrive.

"You better take care of yourself, Parker." You said, standing beside him on the side of the street. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Really? I'm gonna miss you too."

"Well, yeah, of course. You're like a little brother to me." You smiled, ruffling his brown locks even though he was taller than you.

He looked down on the pavement with a tight-lipped smile. "Right, right."

Smiling, you grabbed his hand and leaned your head on his surprisingly broad shoulders. "Come on, cheer up. You needed this, right?"

"Yes, I definitely do." He whispered. "More than you know."

A few seconds later, the Uber arrived. Before climbing in the black vehicle, you were pulled into Peter's embrace with a soft, fluttery kiss landing on your forehead. Taken aback, you just smiled at him and watched the car get tinier and tinier as it drove further.

You got back in the apartment and five minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Behind it was a smiling Bucky wearing some casual clothes. "Good morning, doll. Missed me?"

You rolled your eyes letting him inside the apartment. Closing the door behind me, you replied: "You've already used that line last night. Pick another one."

"Aw, you haven't heard the rest of it."

You went to the kitchen, grabbed some water from the fridge, and took a drink. "Which is?"

"Miss me, miss me, now you gotta kiss me."

With unsteady hands, you choked on your water and felt the liquid on your skin as soon as those words left Bucky's mouth. Great now I spilled the drink on my chest.

You turned around only to be faced by Bucky. "Now I gotta what?"

His laughter echoed in the kitchen as he backed away from you. "I'm just messing with you. So, what's for breakfast?"

He left you there standing flabbergasted, with some water dripping down your top and shorts, down to the floor. You bore your eyes into the back of his head as he turned on the television.

Bucky tilted his head towards you, eyed you up and down and finished it with a swipe of his tongue on his lower lip.

Oh, this was going to be a long week.

A long, agonizing week.

[welldonekhushi]

Who Do You Love? | Vladimir Makarov x Reader

Gif by @unsquishableroach

Summary: Makarov might be heartless, but is he really one? How would you know it all?

Warnings: Angst, but fluff in end

Being a girlfriend of the madman, yet a megalomaniac and a crazy psychopath was not a big issue, but the only thing that was needed to make him earn your trust so he won't really think that you were just here to gather up information about him as a spy.

Makarov was one of those guys, who was a very short-tempered yet eccentric person, who didn't gave a shit about anything. He often showed his cruel and cold side, like the way he is towards everyone. You tried not to be upset about it, because you understood that he was a terrorist.

Yes. A world-hunted terrorist, who had killed more than 30,000 people and almost let a World War III happen.

No one could have the guts to do that. We well know.

He was just busy in his work, writing something in Russian, and you quietly step in his room to surprise him, but..

"Always knock the door whenever you are coming in, Y/N." His voice was rough. You shook your head and obeyed him, shutting the door.

"Uhm, Makarov I wanted to ask if.." You fiddled with your dress for a while, and he stopped writing when you paused. He turned around, giving you a glare. Your fear increased and gulped nervously, soon he was getting mad.

"Look, you're wasting my time." He growled.

".. I-I was going to say if, you are gonna.. join us? For a little break?" You finally asked your question, and he dropped his pencil.

He sighed and looked back at his work. "Tell them I can't come. I'm super busy."

"B-but, I-"

"Did I stutter? Or I should repeat again? Move out or I'll shoot you."

His harsh words filled through your ears. It did break your heart when he said that, even after being his girlfriend he tried to be rude towards you. You gave him a nod and walked out of his room. You didn't wanted to make him more mad by showing his feelings.

You joined the crew, who looked at you upset. Yuri figured it out that maybe the reason of your condition was because of Makarov. He did also realise that he was mostly rough towards everyone even you too. So, he always used to support you to not feel bad about it.

"Does Makarov hate me, Yuri?" You were okay to shed your tears in front of the crew because they were the only ones who understood you well. Yuri rubbed her back gently, to calm her down.

"No, he doesn't hate you, my friend." Yuri replied, while he hugged you with comfort. "You know he's a terrorist, and.. he just has a lot of things in his mind. He cannot choose what should be his priority. You shouldn't really become a masochist like that, Y/N."

".. I know, Yuri.. but.. it's been so long, he hasn't even been a little gentle to me. I've been trying to show my love but it looks like he doesn't trust me.. what I do? Does he think I'm a spy? Am I invisible? Or I don't have.. feelings?" You snuggled on Yuri's chest. "He even told that he'll shoot me.. i-if I even get shot, I won't care.. I know he did it because he was tired of me. I'm not worth for him—"

"Y/N, no! Don't say that!" Yuri cried. "We are here for you, trust me. Makarov won't do anything when you have friends.. no.. brothers like us."

"You have no problem calling all of us your brothers, Y/N." Kiril smiled.

"We'll always be there for you, even if boss threatens to kill us too." Lev replied too, as the crew came over to give you a group hug. Finally, there were some people who cared about you. And there, was Makarov who was listening to the entire conversation — inside his room. He somehow wasn't feeling okay too, there were a lot of frustrations inside him but he really, really knew..

It wasn't all your fault.

—

You tried to sleep on your bed, but you always fidgeted by taking different sides but you were not able to sleep. You opened your eyes and gazed at the ceiling, sighing in distress. Those bad moments filled inside your head, showing Makarov being rude and harsh towards you. You felt like to cry again, and don't weep because everyone might hear it. You didn't noticed that someone opened the door and you wake up to see who it was..

".. Makarov?" You said in surprise. Yes, it was him. He was wearing a white shirt, with black jeans, as his only attire. Seriously, you loved him wearing that and thought of requesting to keep that look but that might have made him mad, again.

"Yeah, it's me. Who else?" He shut the door, and walks towards you. Before he could raise his hand, you clenched your blanket and turned away. There, he sighed in desperation.

"Do you really hate me that much, Milaya?" He sat beside you, and turned your head to his direction. Your eyes were still in fear when you looked at his, bright yet menacing heterochromia eyes. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be such a jerk. Whatever I am and I'm doing is the cause.." He snugged his head on your chest, and wrapped his arms around your waist. "I just want to be with you.. forever."

You were surprised to see his gentle side, for the first time in your relationship. The dangerous terrorist, becoming a gentle, pure, warm-hearted soul? It was well known he won't hurt or kill you, but because of his background and reputation, he tried to be very flippant yet inconsiderate.

"Are you really going to leave me? Tell me." He turned around you, with his now sad eyes. "I'm a monster.. not only I know, you and everyone around the world knows. I am trying to become a good lover for you but I guess I'm not able to win your heart. How would I.. even cry when.. I have no feelings? My heart is totally dead. You shouldn't be here. You should be happy with someone else, who can treat you well. Not me who, kill everybody because they think I'm sadistic, but I just wanted my own Russia, to be what it was." He cupped your cheeks.

"Just go.. you won't survive here. I would hurt you." His voice cracked in true pain, and it kind of shattered you too. You really loved Makarov, and you promised to be with him forever. Your eyes filled with tears and you put his hands down, grabbing them tight.

"No, Makarov.. I-I love you. And I always will." You smiled at him, heartily, as you hugged him and rubbed his back to calm him down. He hugged back in reply, finally embracing the heartwarming moment. You both looked at each other, and after gazing for some moments, Makarov leaned close to your lips, closing the gap in between and pecked them softly, and then pulling up with a long one. You kissed him back, getting into a heated moment as you both land on the bed.

After a pure love session, he had wrapped you in his strong arms, snuggling on your neck. All those moments, those feelings and the physical affection between you and him during the make out just enlightened your heart. You gained his trust too, though he was mean, but deeply cared about you.

While sleeping, he whispered something in your ear, in Russian.

"Ya lyublyu ty, detka~" He kissed your neck gently, and chuckled.

"I love you too, Makarov."

He got surprised, how did you knew for what he spoke in Russian?

"Did you just.."

"In love, language can be very understandable." You turned around him and smiled, as both laughed.

"You're so special, you know that?" And by that, you both kissed again and drifted off to sleep.