#Fic: middle of the night
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Some Andy and Fuuko for Valentine's Day
The fic to go with it: Middle of The Night
Rated: E Word Count: 10k Pairing: Andy(Undead Unluck)/Fuuko Izumo Summary: Fuuko has a nightmare. Andy has an idea. He's pretty sure he can take her mind off things.
#Undead Unluck#Andy/Fuuko#andy x fuuko#anfuu#Undead Andy#Fuuko Izumo#Valentines's Day#TW: Suggestive#Fanfiction#Sweet jesus I love this ship#Firefly art#Art for a fic#Fic: middle of the night#firefly writing
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a rose and her thorns | luke castellan
pairing: luke castellan x fem!daughter of aphrodite reader
summary: luke vies for a valentine. you're just trying to get through cabin inspections.
a/n: take this as my formal apology for the angst iâve been throwing at you all with demeter girl lol and take this tooth rotting fluff. this was supposed to be shorter but i got carried away, after writing that 11k angst riddled monster this was a much needed palate cleanser lmao
wc: 3.3k
warning(s): no warnings this is all fluff <3
You huffed as you knocked on the door again, chewing on the inside of your lip as you waited for a response. The Hermes cabin usually always had kids in itâeither they were ignoring you, or they were just causing too much ruckus to even hear it in the first place.
Honestly, you should have known this was how cabin inspections with Luke would go. He was probably in there right now, ushering all of them through rapid last-minute tidying in the hopes of something higher than a one. You had half a mind to knock a point off right now by virtue of tardiness. Â
The hairs on the back of your neck stood up all of a sudden, and you whirled around.Â
âSpeak of the devil,â you said wryly.Â
You were greeted with Luke Castellan himself, his hands up with a slight smile on his lips. âEasy. I didnât think I looked that bad.âÂ
Your brows creased ever so slightly, and he gestured with head. You looked down and realized you were holding your pen like a sword. You cleared your throat and let your arm drop, adjusting your shirt on the way down.Â
âSorry. People tend not to sneak up on me.âÂ
âI canât imagine why.â Luke put his hands down and started towards his cabin, craning his head back at you. âWhat brings you here on this fine day, Rose?âÂ
âDonât tell me you forgot,â you pouted, holding up your clipboard and pen as you followed him. âWeâre on inspection duty together. Where were you?âÂ
He snapped and pointed at you. âThatâs what we were doing together today! I knew we were spending time togetherânot like I could forget thatâbut,â his hand paused on the doorknob, âI kind of forgot about the cabin inspection part. Had to spend a little extra time with one of your siblings at the end of sword-fighting lessons.âÂ
âSounds like Liz is getting better, then.â A smug smile pulled at your lips as you stopped next to him. âAnd it sounds like someoneâs gonna be cleaning the dishes tonight,â you said in a sing-song voice.Â
You placed your hand over his and opened the door, and Luke groaned. âTake mercy, Rose. Please.âÂ
It was certainly a sightâmore akin to a tornado than the inside of a cabin. Various kidsâHermes, unclaimed, and minor gods alikeâran around, shoving dirty clothes beneath beds, cramming duffles and suitcases into overflowing closets, with a few noble exceptions attempting the Sisyphean task of actually cleaning.Â
âWow,â you said, glancing down at the papyrus scroll. âCan I give you a zero?âÂ
âListen,â Luke said from behind you, âour thing isnât tidiness. Itâs thieveryâswiftness, cunning, panache.âÂ
âI thought you were supposed to be jacks of all trades,â you mused as you checked off boxes. âCleaning is a trade.âÂ
âNot here.â You could feel him peering over your shoulder and he groaned yet again. âCome on! Youâre grading us way too low. I get input too, remember?âÂ
âSure,â you remarked. You held out the clipboard and gestured with your head at the natural disaster in front of you. âBut you canât tell me this is anything better than a two.âÂ
âA twoâs better than a one.â Luke plucked the pen out of your hand and scrawled out a number two on the final line.Â
âLukeââ you started in protest, but he just snatched the clipboard as well with a wink as he started walking backwards towards the door.Â
âWeâve got a chance, guys!â he called out. âHephaestus has gotta be worse than this!âÂ
You huffed as you chased after him, shutting the door on your way, and you crossed your arms as you came to a stop in front of him. âThis isnât very cooperative of you.âÂ
âGotta give myself a chance,â Luke said, smiling as he took the Hermes sheet off the clipboard and stuffed it into his pocket.Â
âThatâs just cheating,â you said, and he let you take the clipboard back from him. You started walking, and he fell into pace with you. âHephaestus is nextâweâll see how much of a chance you have.âÂ
âWe should get some slack because weâve got double the campers,â Luke said. âNineâs got no excuseâtheyâre just a bunch of messy engineers.âÂ
You tapped your pen against the board. âIâm not changing my mind, Castellan.âÂ
âOuch,â he winced. âI got last nameâd.âÂ
You merely smiled and shook your head. You could see his own smile in your peripherals, then he huffed. Â
âYouâre distracting me from my whole plan with these ridiculous grades,â Luke sighed. âI havenât ruined everything, have I?â
âYouâve got a plan?â you asked in amusement.Â
âOf course I do.â Luke took a few long strides to get in front of you then turned around so he was walking backwards, that stupid smirk still on his lips as he kept eye contact with you. âValentineâs Day is coming up.âÂ
âYouâre very observant,â you said. âWatch your six.âÂ
Luke moved a step towards you to avoid a younger camper with their head buried in a book, and you chuckled as he shrugged.Â
âItâs a work in progress,â he admitted.Â
You hummed, biting back your smile as you came up to the Hephaestus cabin. You were about to knock on the door, but once again, Luke caught your wrist.Â
âYouâre not even gonna let me say my piece?â he asked.Â
âIâll give you a little time to polish it up,â you said.Â
âYou assume I donât have it prepared already?âÂ
âOh, Iâm sure you do.â You winked. âBut I know the effect I have on you.âÂ
Lukeâs fingers loosened on your wrist and you allowed a small, self-satisfied smile as you pulled free and knocked on the door. It took a couple seconds, but eventually the door opened and their counselorâAlya, if you remembered correctlyâgreeted you with a smile.Â
âJust in time,â she said, smudging the bit of grease on her face as she wiped at her cheek. âWeâre actually not horrible today.âÂ
Luke grumbled beneath his breath as you walked in togetherâusually, the place was a mess of loose parts and hastily sketched out plans and smoke-scented clothes. Today, it was still a mess, but slightly less so.Â
âDamn it,â Luke muttered. âStill not as bad as us.âÂ
âStop comparing your place to everyone else,â you said. âThis is supposed to be fun.âÂ
âCabin inspections are fun?â he asked wryly.Â
âHanging out with me is fun,â you clarified. âIââ
You were cut off with a gasp of your own as you slipped, and before you could even fully process it you were falling. It wasnât until everything steadied that you realized someone had caught you, strong arms cradled you around your waist. You looked up to see Lukeâs wide eyes.Â
âYou good?â he asked, his voice slightly higher than usual.Â
âYeah,â you said, nodding far too many times, âyeah. Yeah, Iâm good.âÂ
â...Good,â he said, ever eloquent.Â
A small smile creeped in. âYou can let me go now.âÂ
It almost took him a moment to come back to Earth, because he blinked before he nodded, smiling on his own as he helped you back up. You could feel the heat in your face and tried your best to ignore it as you looked down. A small pool of oil was the culpritâyou grimaced at the thought of having to clean that out of your jeans. Thank the gods for Luke.Â
âThatâs gotta be points off,â Luke whispered in your ear, still close by, and you stifled a laugh. âOil on the floor, making pretty counselors slip. Right?âÂ
You ignored him too, looking over at Alya, though you couldnât stop your smile. She looked mortified.Â
âI am so sorry,â she rushed. âI guess Michael didnât clean as well as he said.âÂ
âNo problem,â you said. âIâve got a little guardian angel. But this place isnât too great.âÂ
âDamn,â she mumbled. âI even got one of your sisters to come in and help clean things up. Do you not smell the perfume?âÂ
âThe smoke kinda overpowers it,â you said sympathetically, and she sighed. âThree out of five, Alya. But youâre right on the edge of a four.âÂ
Alya glanced at Luke. âBetter than Hermes?âÂ
Luke grimaced. âI donât wanna talk about it.âÂ
She smiled and went off to talk to one of her siblings. Luke shook his head and tutted once she was gone. âThe double standards here are ridiculous, Rose. I might have to report you to Chiron.âÂ
âOh, quiet.â You hit him in the side lightly with the clipboard and continued scanning the room for a final check. âIf you wanted help with cleaning up from an Aphrodite kid, all you had to do was ask.âÂ
âAnd would you have accepted?â he asked.Â
âOf course,â you said as you scribbled down your last couple of notes. âIâll always help you, Luke.âÂ
He went silent as you continued to write, and when you finished you saw he was only looking at you.Â
You frowned. âWhat?âÂ
âNothing,â Luke said, still smiling. âLetâs keep going.âÂ
You stared at him for a moment, but he didnât say anything else. So you just laughed a bit and shrugged. Luke followed behind you as you walked out, and despite his claims of ânothingâ just a moment ago, soon enough he was talking again.Â
âSo,â he said, âValentineâs Day.âÂ
âValentineâs Day,â you said sagely. âWhatâs your plan?âÂ
âBe my Valentine.âÂ
âThatâs your plan?â You glanced over at him. âJust asking me out straight-up?âÂ
âOh, sorry. I also have this.â Luke pulled something out of his back pocket and held it out. You couldnât help but laugh.Â
âA rose?â you asked with a lopsided smile.Â
âNot just any rose,â he said as you took it. âA chocolate rose.âÂ
âYou are so cute.â You pulled the wrapper off, and though the stem and leaves were plastic, the flower was, indeed, very much chocolate, and in the shape of a rather pretty rose.Â
Luke shrugged. âFigured you needed something as sweet as you.âÂ
âIâve got a toothache just from being with you,â you remarked. You broke it in half with a bit of effort and offered it to Luke.Â
âYou canât just split the gifts I get for you with me.âÂ
âTheyâre my gifts,â you said. âI can do whatever I want with them.âÂ
âReally?â he asked.Â
âWhatâs a rose without her thorns?â you responded. Luke grinned as he took the other half from you. You popped yours into your mouth and your eyebrows rose.Â
âThis is actually good chocolate,â you said as Luke ate his part. âNot like that crap we get at the camp store.âÂ
âI mightâve snuck out to the city to get the good stuff,â Luke said offhandedly.Â
You looked at him incredulously. âWhat?âÂ
âDid I stutter?âÂ
âYou risked all that trouble just to get some chocolate for me?â you marveled. âHell from Chiron, extra chores for a month, literal monster attacksââÂ
Luke held up a hand, stopping your ranting. âNothing happened. And even if it did,â he shrugged, âyouâre worth it. So it doesnât matter.âÂ
You shook your head and Luke continued. âBesides, I got some other stuff too for the rest of my plan.âÂ
âRight,â you nodded, âyou never finished telling me.âÂ
âHowâs your schedule?âÂ
âBusy,â you said. âIâm an Aphrodite kid during Valentineâs season.âÂ
Luke tipped his shoulder. âFair. Think you can block something out for me?âÂ
âThat depends what it is,â you said.Â
âItâs a secret,â he said.Â
You stared at him. âA secret?âÂ
He nodded. âIt might be a foreign concept to you Aphrodite kids, butââÂ
You cut him off with a light shove and he only chuckled in response. âSo you talk yourself up and it ends up being a secret.â
âI think Iâve earned some secret surprises,â Luke said. âIâm already sweeping you off your feet.âÂ
You shook your head, smiling inwardly as you tapped your pen against the clipboard. âIs that how you see it?âÂ
âWell, I did keep you from an untimely death back there,â he said. âAnd the more unfortunate plight of having to get oil stains out.âÂ
âYou read my mind,â you mused.Â
âAnd isnât that worth a date?â Luke asked. âSaving you from a fashion faux pas?âÂ
âYouâre worth a date all on your own,â you said as you came up to the next cabinâApollo was bright as ever, gleaming golden in the sunlightâand you looked at him with a smile. âNo rescuing required.âÂ
-
Your journey to the rest of the cabins went by relatively quickly, especially the Apollo and Ares cabinsâyou think Luke had been temporarily stunned into silence by you actually flirting back.Â
Youâd had a subdued smile on your face nearly the entire time, even as you felt warmth bloom over your face again. Luke really brought out the inner Aphrodite in youâyou were sure your mother was proud, wherever she was watching. What seemed to get Luke out of his addled state was the 5/5 you gave to your own cabinâhe complained that the scent of perfume gave him a headache, and when you said youâd been wearing perfume the entire day, he claimed that it was different.Â
(Cabin Ten kept their full score. It was amazing what a pretty smile could do, especially when Luke was the victim.)Â
Finally, you were at the Demeter cabin. Luke insisted on going there last, so that all the expectations would be taperedâhe was still trying to get a better score for his cabin, but the odds were looking pretty slim. The door was already open, and you smiled at the newly grown flowers outside the cabin.Â
âNice touch.âÂ
Luke sighed. âGreat. Going out with a bang.âÂ
âItâll be fine, Luke,â you said. âIâll help you clean your cabin tonight.âÂ
He frowned. âYou were actually serious?âÂ
âOf course I was.â You tipped your head. âItâll just have to be pretty late. Yâknow, because youâll be cleaning all the dishes.âÂ
âLow blow,â he said, shaking his head. You chuckled as you stopped in the doorway and poked your head in.Â
âHey, Katie,â you called to the counselor. âHowâre things?âÂ
âGood,â she said, nodding. A smile of her own bloomed on her lips as her gaze moved over to Luke. âI see Rose and her thorns are on duty today.âÂ
âFlattery wonât help you with your score,â Luke mused as he walked into the cabin. You smiled as he held out his hand for the clipboard, and you finally acquiesced. You could feel Katieâs eyes on you as he walked further in.Â
âHe takes that as a compliment?âÂ
âThorns protect a rose,â you said, still watching Luke. He played the part of a foreman well, investigating their shelves and walls with vigor and even opening drawers. You couldnât help but laugh a bit, and Luke looked back and smiled at you. You nodded, giving him the go-ahead, and he winked as he gave you a thumbs-up.Â
âAnd he protects you?â she asked.Â
You shrugged. âWe protect each other.âÂ
ââŚYou would be cute together,â Katie admitted.Â
You managed to tear your eyes away from Luke, leaning back against the wall. âYou think so?âÂ
âHeâs only been vying for your attention and flirting with you since the moment you got to camp,â she said wryly. âBut youâre the expert on loveâyou tell me.âÂ
You bit your lip as your gaze darted back to Luke, who was squatting on the floor having what looked to be a very serious conversation with a younger Demeter boy.Â
âI think Iâm his valentine,â you said, almost absentmindedly. âAnd I think Iâm really looking forward to whatever this date is.âÂ
Katie came back into focus as you came back to Earth, and even she was smiling. âThen I think youâve got your answer.âÂ
Luke had picked the most opportune moment to come back, when you werenât staring at him like an infatuated idiotâyou were only one of those thingsâand he held out the clipboard and pen to you. âAfter having a very in-depth conversation with Damian about how things are going here, I scored them properly.âÂ
You chuckled as you took it from him, but your eyebrows rose the more you read. âYouâre kidding me.âÂ
He shook his head. âThereâs unpaid labor going on hereâunpaid child labor. Damian said heâs responsible for half the cleaning and plants here.âÂ
âWeâre all children. All the labor we do is child labor,â you deadpanned. âAnd weâre sure as hell not getting paid.âÂ
Luke held his hands up. âDonât shoot the messenger. Iâm just delivering what heâs said.âÂ
âDonât tell me he gave us all ones,â Katie said dryly.Â
âYou know him so well,â you mused. You scribbled out half of what Luke wrote as you stood up from the wall, shielding it with your body so he couldnât see while you walked out together. âSee you, Katie!âÂ
Her protests fell on Lukeâs deaf ears as he held up the rear, shutting the door behind you two, and when you looked back at him he was grinning.Â
âStraight ones,â he tutted, shaking his head. âWhat a shame. Looks like theyâre gonna be cleaning the dishes tonight.âÂ
âYou know they got a five, Luke,â you said, finally allowing him to see your revised marks. âIf youâre gonna fudge the numbers, at least try and make them believable.âÂ
âOh, come on!â he exclaimed. âA five is way too niceâitâs not fair that they can just grow plants all over and make everything look presentable. Using powers should count as cheating.âÂ
âTheir floors are clean, their beds are made, and it smells like floral heaven,â you said. You tapped his chest with your pen. âYou could learn something from them, Castellan.âÂ
He caught your wrist before you could move it away. âThe Aphrodite cabin always gets perfect scores. Think you could teach me a few things?âÂ
You grinned as you pulled your hand out of his grip and continued walking, this time en route to the Big House to drop off the final inspections. âThat depends.âÂ
âOn what?â Luke came back into your peripherals as he caught up to you.Â
âOn how good this secret plan of yours is,â you mused.Â
His eyes lit up, past worries of low inspection scores seemingly fading away in an instant. âSo itâs a go? Youâre in?âÂ
âOf course I am,â you said, tucking the clipboard under your arm. âYou got me the good chocolate, Luke. How could I not see where this goes?âÂ
Previously unnoticed pressure dissolved in his shoulders as he took your hands in his. You could only focus on his eyes, on the warmth of his skin, on the callouses borne from years of sword-fighting.Â
He was surely blessed by your mother.Â
âYouâre not gonna regret it,â Luke vowed. âAll those promises Iâve made about blowing you off your feet, about making your mother proudâtheyâre all gonna be true.âÂ
âYou know what wise men say,â you said wryly.Â
âThat theyâre so glad youâre finally giving me a chance?âÂ
âOnly fools rush in,â you provided. âGoing all in on our first date seems a little hasty.âÂ
âIsnât your whole thing supposed to be rushing in?â he asked cloyingly. âYâknow, daughter of love and all.âÂ
You shrugged. âMaybe I like taking the idea of taking it slow with you.âÂ
âThen call me a fool,â Luke mused, letting go of one hand to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. His own curls hung over his eyes and you had the strongest urge to take his face in your hands. âBecause you should know I canât help it.âÂ
You felt your cheeks heat as warmth spread all over, and you couldnât even try to hide your smile. âYou think you can take me out on one of those city trips of yours? Show me how to steal a camp van without getting in the most trouble?âÂ
âIâm trying to steal your heart here,â Luke said with a goofy grin, âbut I think a vanâll do.âÂ
âOh, donât worry.â You took his hand back, intertwining your fingers together as you pulled him closer to you. âWe can multitask.âÂ
#luke when heâs so smooth and then she actually flirts back and he system reboots#posting this and running before i go to sleep bc i can only write in the middle of the night#luke castellan x reader#luke castellan fic#luke castellan fluff#percy jackson and the olympians x reader#pjo x reader#x reader#sadie writes
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(Obey Me! Barbatos x reader with no gender mentioned.)
(Some very intimate Barbatos fluff for his birthday! Posting one evening early for the American crowd as it's already his birthday in Japan.)
You hadn't realized how late it was.
With the Devildom sky being in a constant state of darkness, hours could easily slip by unnoticed. Barbatos' birthday dinner had wrapped up long ago. You offered to stay and help tidy things up. Afterwards, the two of you retreated to his bedroom to converse over drinks.
The time displayed on your D.D.D. was shocking. You should have gone home ages ago. It wouldn't be safe for a human to walk the streets at this hour, so you asked, "Is it okay if I spend the night?"
Barbatos responded, with no hesitation, "Of course. I'll prepare a guest room for you immediately."
You shook your head and put out an arm to stop him from getting up. "I can't ask you to work more on your birthday. What if... I stayed with you tonight?"
Barbatos contemplated the idea with a sip of tea. "I would like that very much." A smile crept onto his face, gradually becoming the biggest one you had seen all day. "Are you sure you can handle it? I must say, with all the pampering I've received today, I'm in a rather selfish mood."
--
It turns out, there really is a bed in one of the many nooks of Barbatos' room. It was on the smaller side, with sufficient room for one butler, but a smidge too tight to fit a couple. It was expertly arranged with layers of fluffy comforters and two sets of pillows, as if Barbatos foresaw this turn of events.
"Make yourself at home."
Barbatos briefly excused himself and left the room, giving you time to change into borrowed pajamas. They were his signature turquoise. Long and loose and flowy robes that crossed in the front with a belt to tie the fabric around one's waist. They made it easy to slide into bed where you nested into the soft sheets. They were sparkling clean and smelled of fragrant detergent with a hint of Barbatos' natural odor.
"Now then, if you'll pardon me."
You hadn't heard him return. The mattress suddenly shifting made your heart skip a beat. It got warmer under the covers. You lifted your head to get a glimpse of the birthday boy but he quickly took that as an invitation entwine his fingers in your hair. Round nails grazed against the top layer of your scalp as your face got pressed into the curve of his neck. You felt a peck on your head.
"As you can see, my bed is narrow. Allow me to make some adjustments." Barbatos intended to make maximum use of the minimal space. All in the name of comfort, his leg went between yours, thigh rubbing against thighs. A hand coiled around your midsection, tucking itself under the robe's belt and pulling your waist against his. Your bodies were so close that a third person could probably fit.
The fingertips in your hair trailed down your ear, around to your collarbone, down your arm. Raising goosebumps along their path. Barbatos threaded his slim fingers into yours and placed a kiss upon your hand. "If this bothers you, do stop me."
You shook your head, nuzzling into his neck. It took some time to discover the grooves in his body where you fit the best. He worked his way back up your arm with his mouth, retracing the route he just took. Some spots he would only exhale over. Some spots he would part his lips and sample your taste with the tip of his tongue. He was making it hard to sleep.
Through all the doting, you nudged your face up and softly peeped, "Hey, Barb?"
He reluctantly came to a stop at once. The pressure on your back loosened, his grip let go. A resigned sigh escaped next to your ear, so full of yearning yet so faint you could have imagined it. You placed a hand on his cheek, brushing back the long strands of hair on the side of his face. Barbatos touched his forehead to yours. Deep emerald eyes seemed to shine in the dark. You wondered if they glowed.
"Yes?"
"Happy Birthday."
Barbatos froze. This was not what he expected. Aside from his chest subtly rising and falling with each breath, he was a complete statue. You let him process the simple sentence, content to gaze into his astonished expression and play with his hair. His skin heated up. A pink blush overtook his whole body. Months of conditioned restraint had to be fought back before he wholeheartedly embraced you.
His weight dug your legs into the soft blankets. Everything felt plush. Barbatos grabbed a fistful of fabric along your midriff and placed kisses on your nose, your eyelids, your lips, whilst you were busy laughing at the onset of affection. The mattress shifted again, the covers slid. When finally you could catch your breath, you were laying face up, eye-to-eye with the demon on top of you.
"I cannot imagine a better gift," he cooed.
#and then you both fell asleep holding hands and had an incredibly restful night. :) the end#imagine getting up in the middle of the night and getting lost in his room. climbing stairs for like 10 minutes and going nowhere#obey me swd#obey me#obey me shall we date#obey me fandom#obey me fic#obey me!#obey me barbatos#obey me barbatos x mc#obey me barbatos x reader#obey me barbatos x you#obey me fluff#obey me fanfic#obey me x mc#obey me scenarios#obey me barbatos fluff#om barbatos#om! barbatos#omswd#omswd barbatos#obey me! barbatos
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It's a quiet evening, they're winding down after a long, exhausting day of work, just enjoying each other's company. They're on the couch, a cheesy romcom playing on the TV, Tommy's head in Buck's lap, Buck's fingers playing with Tommy's soft curls.
He's watching Tommy more than the movie. He observes his reactions, the soft smiles, the small chuckles, the eye rolls and scoffs - depending on what's happening on the screen. He's so beautiful and Buck wants to stare at him forever. And he gets to.
He beams, as he glances at his hand, still in Tommy's hair, where a simple silver band sits right on his ring finger, an exact match to the one on Tommy's hand, now casually resting on his stomach. Well, almost an exact match, the inscription on the inside just a little bit different - they both say their wedding date and the word 'forever' but they also have each other's names inscribed. Buck likes to take if off sometimes and just look at the words, trace his fingertip over Tommy's name, still amazed that this is his life, even after over a year of being married already.
So he observes his husband, eyes scanning all over, while Tommy's completely immersed in the movie, the romantic dork - Buck loves that he's the only one who truly gets to see this side of him. He's so cute and gorgeous, and Buck loves him so much and just can't take his eyes off him.
That's when he notices it, and a gasp breaks out of him. He can feel a huge grin pulling at his face.
"What's wrong?" Tommy immediately looks at him, a small concerned frown creasing his forehead. When he notices Buck smiling, worry turns into pure confusion. "Evan?"
"Baby." Buck says seriously, his fingers gripping a strand of Tommy's hair, as he announces happily, "You have your first gray hair." He's looking right at it, just a tiny, barely noticeable, silvery hair. It's there, and it looks beautiful, and Buck already kind of can't wait to see his husband get more of them.
"Okay?" Tommy's frown deepens, this time with amusement. "So?"
"So-" Buck starts, then shakes his head. It's stupid, it's just a hair, no big deal, everyone gets them eventually, it's nothing special. But in a way, it is. Because when they met a few years ago Tommy didn't have gray hair. Because in their line of work, and with their luck, with Buck's luck, seeing yourself or a person you love grow old is not always a given - and it's such a blessing. This, seeing a gray hair in Tommy's hair, combined with wrinkles starting to form on his beautiful face - it's an amazing sight. They're sharing a life together, growing older together, they're able to see each other go through all these changes, step by step, day by day, seemingly unnoticeable unless you pay particular attention. It makes Buck feel so grateful for this life he has, for his husband, for getting this chance. "Nothing," he says, fingers resuming combing through Tommy's thick curls, eyes still drawn to that lone gray hair. "I just love you."
"I love you, too, Evan." Tommy smiles that crinkly smile that makes the lines around his eyes even more pronounced. Buck has to lean down and kiss his lips, then the corner of his eye, making Tommy laugh. "What's that have anything to do with my gray hair?"
"I just really like the thought of getting to grow old with you. Of spending my life with you." Buck whispers, and sees Tommy's smile melt into that soft 'Evan' smile, reserved just for him.
"And you say I'm sappy," he responds teasingly, and Buck laughs. Oh, he loves Tommy so much. He looks into Tommy's eyes and sees everything he was just thinking about. He sees how Tommy wants the same things, how he appreciate those reminders, like a silly gray hair, of getting to go through life together.
He kind of can't wait to start going gray, too. To grow old with his husband.
#bucktommy#bucktommy ficlet#wikiangela writes#911 fic#idk what this is and i can't remember what inspired this lol#had a post in my drafts from like two nights ago about buck finding a gray hair in tommy's hair and I wrote this last night#someone tell me to go back to my wips lmao#(well that's gonna be after I get back from vacation haha)#anyway#evan buckley#tommy kinard#dailykinley#btw the wedding rings are inspired by my parents' bc when i saw the inscriptions i was like this is the cutest shit wtf#wrote this in the middle of the night last night#and wasn't gonna post just yet bc i *just* posted a brand new fic yesterday#but also fuck it lol
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âIâd pick you up at the airport.â
âWhat?â
âIf we were normal. I would â have one of those signs, you know. When you came back from your adventures.â
âOh.â Nico snorts. âIâm still fucking off all the time when weâre normal? And youâre not coming?â
âIt is woven within your very soul to fuck off as you please,â says Will sagely. âYou get antsy. You know, like a house cat.â
He laughs when Nico shoves him. Less when he loses his balance and rolls into a tree, but he crawls back, anyway, kicking Nicoâs ankle as he lies back next to him, folding his hands over his ribs. Nico watches him for a moment, tracing the round edges of his knuckles, until Willâs smile begins to twitch with him knowing, and he looks hastily back to the sky. Itâs embarrassing, Willâs snorting huff of amusement, but more than that itâs electrifying, zapping a trail down Nicoâs spine and making him shiver.
He can feel the heat Will is always throwing off, blazing every centimetre from his shoulder to his heels, a hairâs breadth away, a millimetre of distance.
âWhat else would it look like?â He clears his throat. âOur, um. Our normal?â
Will hums. âNew York, probably. Big-ass penthouse with your trust fund.â
âIâm a trust fund baby?!â
âHey, Nico, how much does dish soap cost?â
Nico opens his mouth, and closes it again. Willâs snickers get louder. Is it considered bad etiquette to banish oneâs significant annoyance to the Underworld? Only permanently, probably. If he only keeps him there for a couple weeks it should be find. A couple weeks would be appropriately humbling.
âAnd what do you contribute?â Nico asks, instead of answering. (Not because he doesnât know. Obviously. Because he is dignified, thatâs why.) âYour dimples and boyish charm?â
âYes, obviously.â
Well.
ââŚOkay, fair.â
Will snickers triumphantly.
âYou still a doctor?â
âMhm.â Will shifts, mouth curled in amusement. âPaediatric in Mount Sinai. We live close, by the way. You said itâs cause itâs close to Central Park but really you like to hide my lunch in the mornings to have an excuse to come see me.â
âSounds like you forget your shit a lot, actually.â
âThat, too.â
He looks over and smiles at Nico and for a moment he is convinced, wholly genuinely and truly, that the sun thatâs been hiding behind the clouds all day has finally peeked out, because he can actually feel his whole body warm, in that slow-rising, penetrating way; he can actually smell the surge of sunshine in the air, feel the red glow in the backs of his eyelids, taste the brightness of the light. Every one of his neurons sinks into his system, sighing, cells reacting to thousands of years of memory of the gentle warm of the Earthâs closest star.
But the sun is not shining, and there is only Will, and his too-big teeth brush against the bottom of his lip, and his dimples show, and his eyes crinkle, and he is more radiant in even his old stained camp shirt and fraying jean shorts than his father has ever been and could ever hope to be. A thousand planets could thrive under a hundred blazing stars and none could come close to him. He knows it, how those ancients felt, the drunken surety as they stood and challenged the gods, swore up and down that their beloveds outshone Venus, Diana, Juno; Will does, Will does, and Nico understands intimately the hubris in a way he scoffed at as a child, because the words bubble and boil and threaten bursting inside of him now. What claim have the Olympians? Over sunlight? Over beauty? Over Will?
âWeâre happy?â he says instead, choking hoarsely over the veneer words, over the blocked desperation, truth. âIn our normal, weâre happy?â
âAlways,â Will whispers. He twists onto his knees, crawling the two inches over to press close, close, closely, hand gentle on Nicoâs stomach when he tries to sit up, and presses his lips to Nicoâs cheek, dry, twitching with his smile, shaking with his laughter. Nothing is funny, and he isnât joking, but Nico can feel the giddiness bubbling up and out of him the way sadness flows out in tears; when Will is giddy he giggles, constantly, hiding it barely in his hands, and now he presses it into Nicoâs skin, because he knows how Nico aches to hear it, how he watches him like heâs burning it into the ridges of his brain. âI am always happy with you, Niccolò.â
âI love you,â Nico says, fiercely, and it will never be enough, not in English, not in Italian, not in Greek, but he will try. âTe amo. Capiscimi? I love you, Will, I ââ
âI know.â The tiny little vibrations of his laughter are â intoxicating; Nico is drunk, ascending. âI know, di Angelo. Sap. I love you, I know.â
He dissolved into giggles into the crook of Nicoâs neck, and Nico is lying, still, facing the clouds, and he is warmed, and he is warmed, and he is warmed.
#itâs so funny that i never have ideas for 100 ways until the middle of the night stressing#like iâve skipped over this prompt before cause i was like nah iâll never fit this into canon verse but#here we are#pjo#percy jackson and the olympians#hoo#heroes of olympus#pjo hoo toa#nico di angelo#will solace#solangelo#nico di angelo/will solace#nico/will#will/nico#established solangelo#soft solangelo#whipped nico di angelo#100 ways#100 ways to say i love you#my writing#fic#longpost
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Jealousy
Chris Sturniolo x Fem!reader
â tags;; mentions of a physical fight & injury, injury tending, fighting, pet name (baby), no use of yn, toxic habits (overprotectiveness)
â wc;; 1282
â authorâs note;; my take on overprotectiveness since i hate the âtouch her and you dieâ trope, hope you enjoy <3
He did it again.
You donât know how to feel as you silently drive home, Chris in the passenger seat, seemingly oblivious to the storm raging in your mind.
He did it again. He hit a guy just because he looked at you weirdly.
Donât get me wrong, you love his protective side. It is hot, honestly. The way he always makes sure everyone knows youâre his girl, the way his arm sneaks around your waist at parties, the way he gets rid of other boys trying to flirt with you.
But this⌠this wasnât protective, this was violent. He hit a guy, for the second time this week. The second time in four days.
Yes, the guy was rude and obnoxious. Yes, you felt uncomfortable around him. Yes, you were relieved when Chris came to your help after the guy wouldnât listen to your Noâs.
But Chrisâs punch, it wasnât protective. It was violent, brutal, merciless. And of course, the guy hit him back, right on his cheek.
When you glance to your right, you can see the dark patch forming on your boyfriendâs cheekbone.
You arrive home â your house, not the tripletsâ â, and you go to fetch the first aid kit immediately after entering through the front door. Chris trails in behind you, unbothered by his split lip and bruised cheek.
He just sits down at the kitchen table, knowing you will take care of him. Expecting you to.
You take an ice pack out of the refrigerator and settle down next to Chris, all in complete silence. You canât bear to hear his voice now, or your own. Youâre afraid it might give your thoughts away. And your eyes, your eyes will surely betray you, so you keep them focused on the ice, the bruise, your hand, anything but Chrisâs eyes. That he is looking at you constantly isnât helping.
But eventually, he picks up on your uncharacteristically silent behaviour.
âHey,â he says softly. âEverything alright?â
You swallow thickly, knowing your voice will give in the second you try to speak. So you remain silent. For exactly three seconds, dabbing a cotton pad at his split lip, before Chris speaks again.
âThat dick wonât bother you anymore.â
Of course, he thinks thatâs the problem. Of course.
âThatâs not what Iâm worried about,â you mutter, stoically keeping your eyes on his injuries.
âYouâre worried about me? Oh, baby, you know I can take care of myself,â Chris says warmly.
âThatâs not⌠I am worried about you, Chris. You need to stop this. But-â
âBaby, you know I wonât,â he mutters, slowly tilting your chin up with the hand that isnât holding the ice pack. âThose pricks deserve it.â
âBesides the fact that no one deserves to get beat up, thatâs not what I mean,â you say, pulling away from him. âYou need to stop or youâll end up in serious trouble.â
âI wonât,â he says softly. âI promise. I just want to teach them a lesson-â
âYouâre not listening to me, Chris!â
âWhat are you talking about, of course Iâm listening to you,â he says, his brows furrowing.
âNo youâre not,â you scoff. âI see the way you look at the guys youâre going to hit. Iâm not blind. I can see that you want it.â
âOf course I want it,â Chris says, laying a hand on your arm. âI need to protect my girl-â
âThatâs not what I mean, and we both know it,â you snap, quickly closing your mouth and taking a deep breath. âI am just an excuse. Donât deny it!â
He already opened his mouth but closes it again, worry and confusion clouding his gaze. âBaby-â
âNo. Listen to me,â you interrupt him, trying to keep your tone calm. âYou like the confrontation, donât you? The adrenaline? But you canât see⌠You donât see the way itâs hurting me.â
Chrisâs expression falters for a moment. âI donât- what are you- what do you mean? I donât understandâŚâ he stutters.
âNo, you donât,â you say softly, pulling your arm out of his grip and standing up to bring more distance between you.
He really doesnât. He doesnât understand the way your heart clenches every time a guy even just glances at you in public. He doesnât understand the way your thoughts start racing even when someone is just walking in your direction. He doesnât understand the way youâre terrified of talking to anyone while out with him â out of fear to trigger his jealousy.
The air feels thick as you look at his expression, his desperate eyes, the bruise on his cheek and his still-bleeding lip.
âExplain it to me,â he says, âplease, what am I doing wrong?â
âYou donât see the way youâre hurting me, hurting everyone around you,â you whisper, your voice just as thick now. The words feel like theyâre stuck in your throat and you have to force yourself to speak them. âI hate seeing people hurt, especially you. I hate seeing you get hurt, and knowing- knowing that itâs because of me.â
âThatâs not true, baby, Iâm-â
âPlease, Chris,â you whisper, tears collecting in your eyes, âPlease let me finish. I hate avoiding to go- to go out in public with you just because I canât⌠I canât trust you not to lash out at someone, I hate b-being scared every time someone looks at me or talks to me, I- I just⌠I hate seeing you angry, I hate seeing you violent, I hate seeing you like that⌠And yet you- you keep doing it, n-no matter how o-often I ask you to stopâŚâ Your throat is clogged, your breaths are laboured, your eyes are watering, and you physically canât speak anymore, the words having drained out of your head. But there is one sentence left, one youâre terrified to even think.
And Chris is just standing there, the words burning in his mind, on his skin, digging into his flesh while he tries not to rush to hug you because he knows, he knows it wouldnât help. And then he feels the tears running down his face, and the pain ripping through his chest. You donât trust him. You canât trust him, you said it yourself. Youâre scared of him.
Fists clenching at his sides, he lets that sink in. Everything heâs done for you, everything he thought heâs done for you, crumbles under the heavy weight of reality, the realisation that heâs been hurting you all along.
He steps forward, raises his arms, and sees the way you cross your arms. A shielding gesture. Chris thinks he can hear his heart finally shatter at that, after slowly cracking over the entire conversation.
There are no words he can use to explain himself. He knows he should apologise. But how do you apologise after terrifying your girl over and over again without even noticing? What words are there to express the mixture of frustration, fear, and self-hatred heâs feeling against himself?
Chris drops his arms to his sides.
He turns around, and leaves.
And you are left alone. The front door slams closed, but you donât even flinch. Your mind is full, and so are your eyes, your ears, everything is clogged with memories, everything is breaking inside you, but you are relieved.
You are relieved, because how could you bear his overwhelming presence any longer, with one last question, one last sentence burning on your mind, a question you canât ignore but also canât speak, not in front of him?
How can you be sure he will never lash out at you? How can you be sure that you will never be on the receiving end of his fist?
masterlist
#chris sturniolo#chris sturniolo x reader#chris sturniolo angst#christ sturniolo fic#christopher sturniolo x reader#sturniolo fandom#christopher sturniolo#matt sturniolo#nick sturniolo#nicolas sturniolo#sturniolo edit#sturniolo fanfic#no fluff this time#ahh i love writing angst#ngl my fav oneshot until now#my take on overprotectiveness because i think itâs radically misunderstood how toxic it can be#but that might just be me#kinda messed up the narration in this one#thereâs first person and second person perspective but the first one is genuinely just me talking#as is second person but whatever#lol do people actually read tags?#if you do pm me or send me an ask#iâm curious lmfao#i struggled sm with the ending of this one#but sad ending it is#took me like an hour to write thid in the middle of the night
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Jayce x Reader for the kiss prompts with the âkisses to keep your lover quiet during sexâ đ please please please
your wish is my command, hehe.
pairing: jayce talis x fem!reader word count: 957 tags: mdni! smut, shameless slut, pwp, vaginal sex, rough sex, choking, forceful kissing, reader is being way too loud lol. notes: an ask from this prompt list!!
You couldnât help it, his cock was stretching you with every thrust and leaving your cunt aching for more. You rolled your hips against him, arms lifted above your head and pressed to the headboard as his name rolled off of your tongue.
âBe quiet,â he grunted, a large hand pinning your hip to the bed as he fucked you, huffing as he kept up a quick rhythm.
âCanât,â you whined, âyour cocks so big, I really canât help it.â
You may have been overacting your coy behaviour, but it was true. Every thrust had you mewling in pleasure and it was near impossible to stifle the sounds.
It was a great compliment which stroked Jayceâs ego, but he still knew that fucking in the guest room that shared a wall with Caitlynâs bedroom needed to be treaded carefully. Especially when the headboard was already thumping against it.
Your hands clawed at his chest, legs wrapped around his hips, âfuck me harder,â you whimpered.
âI said quiet,â Jayce groaned, leaning down and burying his face against your neck, lips and teeth dragging along the skin as his hips thrusted forward with a ruthless pace. The walls of your cunt felt so fucking good squeazing around his length, and he was doing his best to keep his own moans suppressed, but it wasnât looking so good for either of you.
All he wanted was to sit upright on his knees and dirty talk you as he fucked youâwatching the way you squirmed and would try to hide your face. Legs spread wide apart for him, his thumb circling your clit in a terrifyingly quick rhythm and watching your pussy take his big cock with no struggle like the good girl you were.
The best part? You could be as loud as you wanted, he could hear you scream his name until your throat was raw and fuck you until you were begging him to slow down.
But neither of you had that luxury as you were so graciously housed in the Kirramman house for a few nights.
You let out a sharp, loud moan when the head of his cock bruised your cervixâso deep you wanted to writhe away from his touch and treat the night like a game of cat and mouse.
Jayce was quick, lifting his head up from where heâd begun to litter your chest with love bites and capturing your lips into a heady kiss.
Immediately, your arms wrapped around his neck. Lips parting to give him access to your mouth, tongue gliding against yours and swallowing your moans.
âYou like that?â He mumbled against your lips, tongue brushing against your teeth as he snaked a hand between your bodies and rubbed slowly at your swollen clit, his pace slowing.
You couldnât answer back, lips and voice muffled by the way he assaulted your mouth with his tongue.
It was so fucking hot, almost hotter than the way his cock pushed in so deep you felt like you were being split open. Your thighs tightened around his hips, arms gliding up until you could grab his hair in a fistful, the other resting on the front of his throat.
âYeahâ you whined into his mouth pathetically.
Jayce snapped his hips harder once again, fucking you relentlessly as the bed shook. He had to take shallow thrusts, anything too forceful slammed loudly against the wall and risked someone hearing.
âIâll be quiet,â you urged against his lips, attacking them and licking into his mouth to taste the remnants of a black spiced tea.
âYou sure?â he whispered, eyes fluttering as his stomach twisted. Sweat had begun to build up on his forehead and the back of his neck, meanwhile the pillow princess herself laid back and began to play with her tits while he did all the work.
Jayce loved it.
âMhm,â you hummed, cheeks burning hot as the thumb circling your clit did wonders to push you closer to the edge. You could feel the bundle of nerves getting sensitive with each passing second, little jolts of electricity making your pussy tighten so hard around his cock he had to whine into your mouth.
âFine,â he muttered, lips trailing down your jaw and neck, âyou make any more sounds and Iâll stop.â
You were obedient, chewing on your bottom lip fiercely to keep yourself from moaning. You even had to lift a hand, the back of it covering your lips as you met your boyfriendâs gaze.
His free hand had gripped the top of the headboard, tight enough the wood creaked as he looked down at you, admiring your beautiful fucked out face.
âAh, fuck,â he groaned, âIâm gonnaâ cum,â he whimpered against your skin, jaw clenching as his orgasm neared with each harsh snap of his hips, âgonnaâ fill that pretty pussy.â
Your hand fell from your lips and you closed your eyes, lips forming into an âoâ shape as your own release crept up on you. Before you could stop it, his name was rolling off your tongue loudly and he was forced once more to press his lips to yours and place a hand at your throat, fingers pressing on each side of your windpipe.
âSorry,â you breathed into his mouth, nails digging into his chest as his choking left you pleasantly dominated.
âNo you arenât,â he mumbled, tongue licking against yours as you both met your release together in near-silence. Blissfully ignoring the idea that Caitlyn could hear everything.
âŚShe could.
#arcane x reader#arcane#arcane fanfic#jayce talis x reader#jayce talis x you#jayce talis#jayce talis fic#arcane x you#not me waking up in the middle of the night to finish this#yaâll im so down bad for a fandom for the first time in months this is too good#ok back to sleep only to wake up in an hour lol#and on that note i apologize for any grammatical mistakes ahah#wordsbyspatial#spatialanswers
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Another for the Crane Husband auâ eventually heâll cultivate a human form (and wonât SQQ be surprised!)
I blame @rarepears for the brainrot :3
#svsss#jiuyuan#shen qingqiu#shen jiu#shen yuan#the crane husband au#svsss art#my art#it becomes habit for SY to preen SJâs hair while heâs working in the evenings#and more often than not he falls asleep to that#no nightmares :)#and SY roosts right next to him like a big feathery dog#(up until he cultivates a human form in the middle of the night but ummâŚtheyâll cross that bridge when they get to it) đŹ#fic ideas
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âWhat do you mean you didnât bring the fob?â The bubble of Wei Yingâs bright pink bubblegum pops as he speaks.
âI mean I didnât bring the fob,â Nie Huaisang shrugs.
âSo then how did we get back in?â Itâs three oâclock in the morning and theyâre standing in the foyer of Jiang Chengâs fancy apartment building, in front of an elevator that cannot be operated without a security fob. Their arms are laden with snacks and Wei Ying is chewing five different flavours of bubblegum together. Itâs an interesting combination.
âThe door was open.â
Wei Ying turns back to look at the main entrance. It was open when they stepped out of the building to go hunt for the unhealthiest, ungodliest snacks the local 24-hour convenience store could provide, and had remained open this whole time, right until the two of them stepped back inside.
âWe'll just have to use the stairs then.â
âJiang Cheng lives on the fourteenth floor,â Nie Huaisang screeches in alarm.
âExactly.â Wei Ying pops his gum again. âEasy peasy!â But when he tries the door that leads to the stairwell, the door does not open. So he tries again. And again. But the door refuses to budge. âDonât tell me we need a fob to use the stairs too.â
Beside him Nie Huaisang taps on a sign with a well manicured fingernail and reads, âThe stairs cannot be accessed without a fob.â
âFuck.â Wei Ying squints at the empty security desk. âJiang Cheng will have to come down to let us in.â
âHeâs going to be so pissed off,â Nie Huaisang says, but takes out his phone to message Jiang Cheng anyway.
Several minutes pass as they wait for Jiang Cheng to respond. Wei Ying watches as Nie Huaisang taps irriatedly at his phone, his frown getting deeper and deeper. âWhat is it?â
âHe hasnât read any of my messages, but theyâre all going through so I know his phone is on.â
âMaybe heâs in the shower or taking a shit, or something.â Although Wei Ying remembers Jiang Cheng complaining about the time of night and how much he wanted to sleep. âTry ringing him instead.â
Nie Huaisang nods and puts his phone to his ear. Wei Ying leans against the wall and waits.
And waits.
Eventually it becomes more than clear that Jiang Cheng is not going to pick up. âHeâs probably fallen asleep,â Wei Ying groans and slides down the wall to slump onto the ground, nearly choking on his bubblegum. He spits the now discoloured lump out into a tissue with a grimace.
Nie Huaisang follows him down and buries his head in his knees. âWhat do we do now?â
âBreak in?â Wei Ying suggests, and gets a disparaging look from Nie Huaisang in response. âWhat? I could totally break in! Remember whenââ
âYes, I remember,â Nie Huaisang cuts him off. âI know for certain that youâd be able to break in. But Iâm really not in the mood to get arrested tonight, Wei Ying. Please.â
âWell, what else can we do?â Heâs already eyeing the security system, thinking up ways he might be able to bypass it. A packet of gummies hits him square in the head. âHey!â Wei Ying scowls at Nie Huaisang and tears into the packet. âIf only Jiang Cheng had a girlfriend so we could call her to come let us in instead,â he says around a mouthful of gummy mush.
âYeah, if only pigs could fly,â Nie Huaisang scoffs.
Wei Ying gasps, âIâm going to tell him you said that!â
âRight now I wouldnât care if you told him I fucked his mom. As long as he wakes up and lets us in!â
âIâm going to tell her you said that,â Wei Ying tells him with a grimace, unable to stop images of Nie Huaisang and Jiang Chengâs mom getting it on popping into his head.
âSheâll fuck us both up, and you know it.â
âThatâs if we ever make it out of here alive. This whole building is a death trap!â Wei Ying gestures aggressively around the place. âWhat if there was a fire? Or the emergency services needed to get in? Or an axe murderer was chasing us? What would we do then?â He puts on an overly saccharine voice and bats his eyelashes, âOh sorry, Mr Murderer. Please give me a moment while I go and fetch my fob.â
Nie Huaisang grabs the packet of gummies from him. âRich people donât give a fuck about safety regulations,â he shrugs. âThe building has a gym, pool and a sauna.â
âA sauna?â Wei Ying perks up. âWhy didnât Jiang Cheng tell me?â
âBecause he's a hater.â
âThat he is.â Wei Ying fluffs up the large family pack of chips theyâd bought and places it on the ground to use as a pillow. The marble floor is cold and hard beneath his outstretched body, but otherwise the building is mostly warm. He closes his eyes and settles in. Heâs slept in much worse places than this.
âAre you really going to sleep here?â Nie Huaisang sounds appalled.
Wei Ying cracks one eye open. âYou wonât let me break in, so what other choice do I have?â
After staring at him morosely for several long moments, Nie Huaisang sighs and balls his jacket up to make a pillow for himself. âWell, at least weâre not trapped in your apartment building. The rats would have eaten us alive.â
âTheyâd be better company than you,â Wei Ying huffs.
Instead of responding, Nie Huaisang sits back up and punches his balled up jacket several times. âThis pillow is shit.â
Wei Yingâs own makeshift pillow crunches loudly under his head. âShould we sixty-nine instead?â
âWhat?!â Nie Huaisang shrieks, his face rapidly draining of all colour.
âAs in, you sleep on my ass and I sleep on yours. Although Iâm not quite sure how itâll work.â He uses his hands to try and figure out the positions they would need to be in. âAnd my ass is way juicierââ
Nie Huaisang interrupts him with a gasp. âBrilliant idea!â
âWhat, sixty-nineing?â
âNo.â He gives Wei Ying a disgusted look. âUsing grindr.â
âWhat?!â Now itâs Wei Yingâs turn to shriek. âThis is not the time nor the place for hookups!â He looks around at the confined space of the foyer in distress. âAre you planning to have sex in front of me?â
âNo, you idiot,â Nie Huaisang says, pulling his phone out once again. âIâm gonna try and use it to find someone who lives in this building so that they can let us in.â
âThatâs a great idea!â Wei Ying crawls over and makes grabby hands at him. âHuaisang, I could kiss you on the mouth!â
Nie Huaisang pushes him away. âYouâre not my type, Wei Ying. How many times do I have to tell you?â
Wei Ying laughs, âFuck off, Iâm everyoneâs type.â But his laughter quickly fizzles out when he sees the look on Nie Huaisangâs face. âWhatâs wrong?â
âMy phone just died.â He flips it around to show Wei Ying his phone screen; completely dark and unresponsive.
Wei Ying takes Nie Huaisangâs jacket, wraps it around his own neck and says, âGive me one good reason why I shouldnât end it all right now.â
âOh, donât be overdramatic.â He waves a hand dismissively at Wei Ying. âWe can just use your phone instead.â
The jacket falls limply out of Wei Yingâs hands. âBut Iâm not gay!â
âIâm not asking you to suck dick, just download the app.â When he makes no move to comply, Nie Huaisang snatches Wei Yingâs phone out of his hand and downloads the app for him. Wei Ying watches with terror as the unfamiliar black and yellow icon appears on his homescreen. It takes just a few clicks before heâs got a profile up and running for Wei Ying to use. âHere.â
Wei Ying takes his phone back from him with a visibly shaky hand. âWhat if they want sex?â
âThen you give them sex,â Nie Huaisang shrugs.
âWhat!â
âIâm just kidding.â He huddles close so that they can both go through the app together.
Wei Ying has no idea how grindr even works so he lets Nie Huaisang take the reins. But that doesnât save him from having to see a throbbing hard penis in high definition right off the bat. He yells in fright and nearly tosses his phone into the wall.
âDonât be a baby,â Nie Huaisang laughs. âItâs just a dick!â
âYeah, wellââ Wei Ying splutters. âFind someone less⌠aroused!â
Nie Huaisang snickers at him and then disparagingly narrates his way through a few profiles until he comes to a stop. âOh, this guy looks normal. Message him.â
âWhy should Iââ he begins, but the rest of the words immediately die in his throat when he lays eyes on the profile. Fuck. The man on his phone screen is beautiful. Face of a movie star and built like an underwear model. Wei Ying canât make himself look away from his golden eyes, or the terribly low-slung waistband of his sweatpants.
âEarth to Wei Ying!â Nie Huaisang punches him in the arm. âMessage the guy. Iâm pretty sure he lives somewhere in this building. He might be able to let us in.â
Wei Ying almost tells Nie Huaisang to message him himself and then realises that he doesnât want that. For some strange, inexplicable reason, he wants to talk to the guy himself. Wei Ying swallows to wet his dry throat and croaks, âHeâs too⌠Heâs probably a catfish.â
âWho cares? Itâs not like youâre looking to marry him,â Nie Huaisang rolls his eyes.
Wei Yingâs cheeks turn embarrassingly red. âWhat if heâs an axe murderer?â But heâs already typing out a message.
WY (03:55): Heyyy
âThatâd be kinda hot, if you ask me,â Nie Huaisang says, biting his lip. Wei Ying gives him a disgusted look, but when he sees the guyâs picture again he canât help but imagine him wielding an axe and covered in blood and woah. Wei Ying feels a bit dizzy.
Nie Huaisang reads the message heâs sent and nudges him. âWhy are you messaging him like you do want dick after all? Tell him straight up that weâre trapped and need help.â
Wei Ying scowls at him but does as told.
WY (03:55): Do you live in lotus apartments?
WY (03:56): This might be a bit weird but my friend and I are trapped in the foyer on the ground floor cos we forgot to bring a fob
WY (03:56): Pls can u help us đĽş
Several long minutes pass but they donât get a response from the guy, even though heâs definitely seen the messages. Wei Ying canât help the pang of disappointment he feels.
âMaybe he thinks youâre lying to get into the building, or something. Just try someone else,â Nie Huaisang suggests.
But Wei Ying doesnât want to do that, so instead he snaps a picture of himself looking pleadingly up into the camera, eyes wide and lips pouted, the same look that always convinces Jiang Yanli to give him an extra helping of dessert. Then he takes a quick picture of Nie Huaisang where heâs once again slumped across the floor with his jacket over his face, the foyer easily recognisable in the background.
WY (04:06): I promise Iâm not lying look
WY (04:06): [2 images attached.]
WY (04:06): PLEASE đĽš
WY (04:07): Weâve literally been stuck here for over an hour
Heâs still typing when a blue reply bubble pops up on screen.
LZ (04:07): Coming.
WY (04:07): What?
WY (04:07): To help me?
WY (04:08): TO HELP ME RIGHT????
Wei Yingâs momentary relief quickly turns into panic when he doesnât get any further replies from the guy. He stands and starts to pace around, ignoring Nie Huaisangâs huffing. When the light above the elevator lights up, indicating that someone is on their way down, he knows he should feel relieved that the guy is coming to help him, and not anything else. But instead he feels jittery all over. Heâs not sure what would be worse, if the guy really is a catfish and looks nothing at all like his pictures, or if he looks exactly like them. The elevator pings. Wei Ying wipes his sweaty palms on his jeans and turns to face the metal doors as they slide open.
The man that steps out of the elevator is the farthest thing from a catfish. Six-foot-something tall and bathed in the warm glow of the foyer lights, heâs somehow even more attractive in person than he was in his pictures.
Wei Ying feels his breath catch in his throat. âWow. Fuck.â The words spill out of his lips unbidden and Wei Ying has to slap his hands over his mouth to keep it shut.
The man slowly looks him up and down, amused. âLikewise.â His voice is deep and gravelly.
Wei Yingâs whole body heats up. âI meanâ Youâre not a catfish. YouâreâŚâ Beautiful. Breathtaking. A dream. Every single word that comes to mind cannot be voiced out loud.
âLan Zhan,â the man offers.
âLan Zhan,â Wei Ying repeats the name. It makes itself at home on his tongue. He licks his lips and sticks his hand out. âWei Ying.â
Lan Zhan looks even more amused as he takes Wei Yingâs proffered hand. On anyone else the look might come across as cocky, over confident, but on him it just looks good. Instead of shaking Wei Yingâs hand he gives it a light squeeze, thumb stroking over the back of Wei Yingâs hand, and makes no move to let go. Wei Ying does not want him to.
âAhem!â Nie Huaisang coughs loudly from behind.
Wei Ying reluctantly turns to look at him, still not letting go of Lan Zhanâs hand. Nie Huaisang has gathered all their snacks from the ground and is tapping his foot impatiently. Heâs almost invisible behind all the junk food in his arms but he still manages to look irritated. Wei Ying rolls his eyes. âThank you so much for coming to help us, Lan Zhan. We wouldâve had to spend the whole night down here if it wasnât for you.â His palm is so warm and large against Wei Yingâs. âYouâre a saviour!â
âThere is no need to thank me.â He tilts his head towards the elevator. âWhich floor do you need?â
âFourteen. My brotherââ The word feels much lighter, easier than it used to, ââlives here. Heâs probably fast asleep in his room right now with his phone on fucking silent. Me and Huaisang went out to get snacks and forgot to bring the spare fob with us.â He follows Lan Zhan into the elevator when the doors reopen, Nie Huaisang trailing along behind them. âWhat would we have done without you, Lan Zhan?â He bats his eyelashes. Just a little.
âOh, I know you,â Nie Huaisang chimes.
Wei Ying doesnât like the sound of that at all. Does he mean heâs come across Lan Zhan on grindr before and hooked up with him? He whips around to frown at Nie Huaisang and surreptitiously makes a very rude gesture to inquire whether the two of them have had relations before. A dick sucking gesture.
And then he looks up and realises that all four walls of the elevator have mirrors on them, and Lan Zhan has just seen him make that exact gesture. Wei Ying wants to die.
âNo,â Nie Huaisang shakes his head. âWeâve just bumped into each other a couple of times when Iâve come to visit Jiang Cheng.â
âOh.â Wei Ying turns back to face Lan Zhan with a sheepish smile, running his hand through his hair. âI see.â
Lan Zhanâs pretty eyes track the movement of his hand. âI have not seen you around before.â
âYeah, um.â Wei Ying eyes the phone in Lan Zhanâs hand. He figures he has to explain himself now. âIâm not, Iâm not reallyââ But the rest of his sentence feels stuck in his throat. It had been perfectly easy to yell, âIâm not gay!â at Nie Huaisang but now Wei Ying struggles. âIâm not on grindr,â he says instead. âI only downloaded it to find someone who could let us into the building. I donâtââ and this bit feels important for some reason. âI donât do hookups.â
âMn.â The intensity of Lan Zhanâs gaze does not waver. âBut I meant that I have not seen you around in the building before.â
âOh!â Wei Ying wants to punch himself in the head. âOf course. Yes, Iâ My brother. Jiang Cheng. Weâre good now, but we fell out a few years back. So this is my first time visiting his place.â
âThat explains it,â Lan Zhan nods. âI would have remembered a face like yours.â
Wei Yingâs heart does something funny in his chest.
âCan someone please hit the button?â Nie Huaisang groans.
Wei Ying nearly jumps out of his skin. Heâd forgotten there was someone else in the elevator with them. Itâs impossible to look away from Lan Zhan, despite Nie Huaisangâs huffing and moaning. Like thereâs a magnet beneath the surface of his skin, somewhere inside his ribcage, pulling him towards the man.
The elevator hardly even jolts as it begins its ascent upwards, but Wei Ying stumbles anyway, a step and a half closer to Lan Zhan. Lan Zhan steadies him with a hand around his waist, warm through the thin, threadbare cotton of his two sizes too small t-shirt. Wei Ying looks up at him through his eyelashes, his own hand coming to rest on Lan Zhanâs chest, sturdy and firm under his tentative fingers.
âWhich floor do you live on, Lan Zhan?â he asks. His voice comes out low, murmured in the air between them.
âThirteen.â Lan Zhanâs hand slowly travels further along his waist, slipping just slightly underneath his shirt.
âRight below us!â Wei Ying gasps. The gasp is less to do with Lan Zhanâs words and more to do with the touch of his hand. âLan ZhanâŚâ he breathes, watching Lan Zhan watch him chew at his bottom lip. âDo you think itâs fate?â
âMaybe.â There is laughter in Lan Zhanâs eyes, but it doesnât feel mocking. It feels indulgent, good enough to drown in.
âYo, what the fuckâŚâ Somewhere far away Nie Huaisang sounds like heâs drowning in disbelief. Wei Ying has never found it easier to ignore him.
The elevator pings as it comes to a stop, breaking Wei Ying out of his reverie. Lan Zhan follows them out onto Jiang Chengâs floor to let them through the final set of doors with his fob. Nie Huaisang is quick to push past them and make his way into Jiang Chengâs unlocked apartment, muttering something distinctly homophobic under his breath and slamming the door shut behind him.
Wei Ying on the other hand, loiters in the hallway, unwilling to part ways with Lan Zhan. He doesnât know how to draw this out any further without saying anything, but for the first time in his whole life words are evading him entirely. When he looks up at Lan Zhan, he finds him already looking back at Wei Ying, still as indulgent, still as beautiful.
âItâs not my apartment or I would invite you insideâŚâ he finally says, mustering up as much courage as he can. His intention could not be any clearer. He can feel as his face heats up with a vivid blush.
âIt is lateââ
âOf course.â Wei Yingâs heart sinks. âYes, of course. SorryâŚâ he laughs awkwardly. Lan Zhan had only come to help them and here was Wei Ying, practically throwing himself at the man. âThank you so much for helping us, Lan Zhan. I wonât keep you any longer.â He thinks about getting Lan Zhan a box of chocolates or something of the sort tomorrow to thank him properly for his help. At least itâll give him a reason to see him again. He really hopes it wonât come across as too desperate. âThankââ
âWei Ying,â Lan Zhan interrupts his awkward rambling. âWhat I mean to say is that nothing will be open at this time of night. Will you let me take you out tomorrow?â
âOut?â Wei Yingâs mind screeches to a halt.
âFor lunch,â Lan Zhan says. âOr dinner, if youâd prefer.â
âOh. YouâŚâ Wei Ying blinks. Hope bubbles all through his body and pours out of his big, stupid mouth, âSo youâre not going to just hit it and quit it?â
âNo. Not unless that is what youâre looking for?â Lan Zhan quirks a brow up in question.
âNo,â Wei Ying is quick to correct. âNo, no. A date.â And it is with no small amount of astonishment that Wei Ying realises he is feeling shy. Something he has never, ever felt before. âA date, right?â he asks hesitantly.
âA date,â Lan Zhan confirms with a smile.
#wei wuxian#lan wangji#wangxian#mdzs#mdzs fic#mo dao zu shi#mdzs fanfic#mdzs fanfiction#wwx gets locked out of the building in the middle of the night and has to use grindr to get back inside#scribbles#3.5k
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idk why these nasty thoughts come to me in the middle of homework induced stress but ⌠being married to college professor gojo?
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youâre beyond frustrated.
your husband had you sitting on his insanely hard cock for the past hour. you werenât sure how he was able to manage but there he was, sitting up in his office chair grading papers while you were spread on his lap, huffing and puffing and squirming for relief.
he was so immersed that it seemed that nothing was bothering him, only concerned about making the grading deadline that was about to come to pass in less than 20 minutes. he didnât even bother to take off his white dress shirt and his black dress pants, his sunglasses still over his sensitive eyes to block the glare from the computer screen.
he didnât seem to care that your juices were ruining his pants and that you were trying to oh so softly grind against him and sink down on him even deeper. not until you ground a bit too hard.
âhang on a second baby, iâm almost done okay?â
he brushed his hand over your head and stilled your hips as he spoke. his voice was so soft and unbothered, you wondered if he even felt your cunt around him at all. it made you angrier and needier for whatever reason and you ground down on him again, a bit harder this time.
his focused eyes stayed on the screen as he whispered, âi wonder why my students even use the word consequently when they donât even know how to use it right.â
âsatoruuuuuâ. you huffed and moaned out in annoyance, digging your nails in his pants.
he laughed, your frustration bringing him amusement. âi know baby i know, iâm almost done okay? i promise. this is the last one and then iâll let you have it, can you just wait a little longer for me?â
you nodded and he hugged his arms around you, leaning down to kiss your cheek.
âgood girlâ
you straightened up at that as he turned his attention back to his computer. he whispered more nonsense to himself as he read and typed, somehow soothing you and firing you up at the same time. you looked over at his bright eyes glowing in focus, getting lost in them before he slammed his laptop closed, making you jump a bit.
he leaned back in the chair and sighed, a smile on his face. he turned you around in his lap to face him, making you clench around him a bit.
âalright babyâ
he slapped his hand against your ass, his wedding band causing a slight sting even through your panties.
âgo ahead, take itâ
#iâm literally in the middle of writing a paper thatâs due in 3 hours#this popped into my head randomly and i had to write it#can someone write my paper for me i wanna sleep#jujutsu kaisen#jjk#jujutsu kaisen smut#jjk smut#jujutsu kaisen gojo satoru#gojo satoru#jjk gojo#gojo smut#gojo satoru smut#satoru smut#anime#anime smut#jjk fic#wonderthor writes#late night quick writes#anime fic#jjk x reader#jujutsu kaisen x reader#gojo satoru x reader#gojo x reader#anime x reader#satoru x reader#gojo satoru x you#gojo x you#jjk x you#jujutsu kaisen x you#satoru x you
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Had the absolute pleasure of illustrating another fic for @cranberrymoons
Look Whoâs Inside Again
#this fic has everything- Chris being a moody teen - ill times tiktok suggestions - road trips#- calling ur dad in the middle of the night and finding him in bed with his best friend#And More!#buddie#fic rec#my art#but seriously i cannot recommend this fic enough đđđ
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In the Middle Of the Nightđ
-> Ao3 link is here.
-> Part Two is here.
-> Part Four is here.
Pairings : Bi-Han/ Sub-Zero x You, Kuai Liang/ Scorpion x You, Tomas Vrbada/ Smoke x You
Authorâs Note : This chapter spans over 12,000 words as Kuai Liang unravels his story, and Iâm quite pleased with the result. I hope youâll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. However, I want to provide a heads-up about a couple of sensitive topics covered in this chapter: food deprivation and references to past sexual abuse.
.
.
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These burning flames, these crashing waves,
Wash over me like a hurricane.
I'll captivate, you're hypnotized,
Feel powerful, but it's me again.
CHAPTER THREE : KUAI LIANG
Kuai Liang had protected his heart well throughout his life.
He had learned to control his powers at a very young age. Compared to his older brother, he was more capable of destroying powers and creating serious dangers instantly if left unchecked. Hence, he had to master the art of composure and patience, ensuring his emotions remained tempered. As a pyromancer, fire was less forgiving than ice; even a small mishap could have serious consequences and quickly destroy whatever stood in its way.
As the Grandmasterâs son, Kuai Liang shouldered heavier responsibilities within their clan due to the hierarchical structure. This framework not only limited his interactions but also instilled a fear of accidentally harming others with his powers. Despite his efforts to erect emotional barriers for the safety of those around him, he struggled internally and envied his brothers. Unlike him, Bi-Han always has an intimidating aura around him, his icy powers reflecting his demeanor as he effortlessly distanced himself from others. In contrast, Tomas initially grappling with the loss of his own family, he eventually warmed up to others, radiating a friendly and approachable demeanor.
As they were sealed inside the book, they found themselves drifting apart. Bi-Han grew colder, even to him, while Tomasâs once bright eyes dimmed, reminiscent of the day they discovered him at the clan borders, drenched in the blood of his family, wearing a vacant expression. Kuai Liang became the conduit between his brothers, as the curse slowly consumed them from within.
Especially when she summoned them, thatâs when everything spiraled downward. Kuai Liang didnât realize the depth of their descent until they were already submerged in it, despite having endured so much already.
ââI told them that you could satisfy them, Kuai Liang. There are only five of them, youâre not going to mislead me, are you? Iâm sure youâll get over it.ââ
His masterâs hands rested on his shoulders, her lustily muffled breath tickling his ear, while Kuai Liang endeavored to remain still, his expression carefully blank. Standing naked before a vast, round bed swathed in luxurious satin sheets, he felt a prickling sensation crawl across his skin under the scrutinizing gaze of the small group gathered before him. The room glowed with the warm flicker of candles of various sizes, their dancing flames casting intricate patterns on the walls. A crackling fire burned in the nearby fireplace, its radiant heat almost overwhelming him, despite fire being his element. The intense warmth caused his skin to feel hot and sweaty, everything feeling too much at the moment.
The group, nestled on dark red satin sheets, observed him with a mix of curiosity and hunger, their whispers filling the air with anticipation. The heavy scent of aphrodisiac permeated the room, emanating from the candlesâa deliberate attempt to set the mood, given Kuai Liangâs inability to do so himself.
Leilani, his master, coiled the chain of his collar around her fingers, the cold metal sending a shiver down his spine as she obediently lowered his head. She captured his lower lip between her teeth, biting down with a force that bordered on painful, eliciting a sharp intake of breath from him. Despite the discomfort, he remained stoic, his gaze unwavering as blood trickled down to his chin in a thin stream. A smirk of pleasure adorned Leilaniâs lips as she licked the blood smeared on his lip with the tip of her tongue, savoring the metallic tang, before delicately tracing the blood trail on his chin with soft, deliberate licks.
âDonât embarrass me, slave,â she remarked coldly.
As Kuai Liang managed to open his eyes with a ragged breath, everything appeared blurry at first. He felt a faint coolness on his forehead, his body weighed down by an unbearable ache in every muscle. With teeth clenched in pain, he struggled to regain focus.
âOh, Iâm sorry, did I wake you up?â a soft, unfamiliar voice reached his ears, distinct from the nightmare he had just endured. Despite the heaviness of his eyelids, Kuai Liang managed to blink them open. As his vision cleared, your figure came into view. Whatever expression crossed his face, you spoke in a gentle, understanding tone.
âItâs okay, Kuai Liang. Youâre safe, youâre in my house, remember?â
Your words triggered images to flood into his mind. He was out of the book, but when? How long had he been lying like this? His body throbbed with pain, suggesting he had been immobile for some time.
âYour throat must be quite dry. Wait, Iâll get you some water.â
Kuai Liang propped himself up with his elbows, wincing at the protest of his aching muscles. He watched as you poured water into a glass from a nearby jug and carefully sat down beside him.
âHere, let me put a pillow behind you to make you more comfortable.â
As you placed a pillow to support his back, Kuai Liang drew a deep breath, finally able to sit upright. Even this simple movement caused his muscles to rebel. Silently, you handed him the glass of water to drink. Kuai Liang grasped the cup with his numb fingers, feeling a surge of life as the cool water flowed down his parched throat. He finished the water in one go, thirst quenched like a desert traveler finding an oasis. When you refilled the glass and offered it again, he drank more slowly this time, savoring the refreshing liquid. Once his mouth felt moist enough to speak, Kuai Liang asked in a hoarse, wheezy voice, unused to speaking after days of silence.
âHow many days have I been in bed?â
âItâs been a week,â you said in a kind voice, refilling his glass with water for the third time. Kuai Liangâs eyes widened slightly in surprise.
âA week?â
âYes, your brothers tried not to show it, but they were worried about you,â you said with a sweet smile. âBut they had complete faith in you that you would get through this.â
âWhere are they?â Kuai Liang asked as he took another sip from the glass. The water felt like medicine, satiating the last embers of fever that had spread from his lungs to his entire body, gradually calming him down.
âBi-Han went out until about an hour ago. Tomas is sleeping in the living room.â
Kuai Liang couldnât be sure he had heard the last part correctly. Tomas? Sleeping? How was this possible? Since the day they were sealed in the book, Tomas had always struggled to fall asleep. He fought insomnia, afraid of returning to the eternal darkness, and tried to cope by taking short naps whenever he could. Hearing that he was sleeping now didnât sound convincing to Kuai Liang at all.
âOf his own accord?â Kuai Liang said, his voice filled with doubt and disbelief. Despite his frown, his expression remained composed. There was an understanding in your gaze, indicating you comprehended his reaction.
âYes, itâs quite early for him to wake up, but if you want to see him, I can wake him up.â
âNo, thereâs no need.â Kuai Liang quickly opposed the idea. If Tomas managed to sleep, he wouldnât want to disturb him. He knew how rare this situation was and wanted his brother to take advantage of it.
âAre you hungry? I made you some porridge so you could eat comfortably. I can heat it up and bring it if you want.â
Though Kuai Liang was once again surprised, he tried not to let it show too much on his face. His eyebrows furrowed slightly, a sign of his guard being raised. Had you prepared a meal for him, Kuai Liang wondered? The notion seemed as peculiar as Tomas managing to sleep. The only logical explanation he could muster was that you intended to ask for something in return for the food. After all, he had been bedridden for a week, too weak to follow orders. Ironically, it only took a simple command from you to spur him into action. You didnât need to prepare anything in exchange. Yet, it was easier this wayâto diminish their pride, as many masters before you had relished doing.
Despite having woken up, Kuai Liangâs body still felt weak. It was a challenge for him to muster the strength to prepare something for himself in order to regain his energy. Upon waking, his stomach stirred, reminding him of how hungry he truly was. With a metabolism faster than that of a normal person, he often found himself needing to consume more food. His old masters had exploited this trait, subjecting him to hunger tests and various trials to gauge his endurance. Through those experiences, Kuai Liang had learned the limits of hunger all too well.
âIf you donât like porridge, I can make soup or something different,â you said, your voice slightly faltering with the lengthening silence. Realizing Kuai Liang hadnât answered, he pulled himself out of his thoughts and spoke hesitantly, choosing his words carefully.
âThe porridge is fine. I prefer to eat it cold⌠I believe Iâm warmed enough.ââ
Your face unexpectedly brightened at his answer, and you stood up, a smile returning to your face.
âGreat! Wait here, Iâll be right back. Iâm sure youâll feel better after eating.â
As you quickly left the room, Kuai Liang remained where he was leaning, trying to make sense of what had just happened. His tired gaze wandered around the room, realizing he wasnât in the living room. It was your bedroom, filled with your personal belongings. Despite the open window airing the room, there was a faint, vaguely sweet smell that defined you, a scent he could only describe as feminine.
His gaze shifted to the thin blanket half pulled over him. As his fingers grazed the fabric, he tried to remember how he got here, but his memories were blurred. He could barely recall the conversations with Tomas and Bi-Han. All he could do was try to hold himself together at the moment. He felt as if he were burning with such intensity that he thought he would be reduced to ashes. While the fire consumed his body, he hadnât experienced such a severe one before. He had never lost consciousness, although it always took him a long time to fully come to his senses after emerging from the book, unlike his brothers.
As you re-entered, Kuai Liang was snapped out of his thoughts, watching as you handed him the tray with a kind smile.
âHere you go, I hope you like it.â
Kuai Liang steadied the tray on his lap, gradually quelling the tremors in his hands. His gaze fell upon the bowl of porridge, its steam rising in wisps, teasing his nostrils with its warmth. His stomach clenched with a pang of hunger, urging him to devour the meal. With each passing moment, the gnawing sensation intensified, Kuai Liang dipped his spoon into the porridge to alleviate the relentless ache.
The porridge was cold, as you hadnât heated it up as he requested and it was exactly what his body needed. With the first spoonful, he was taken aback by its unexpected deliciousness. While porridge was typically bland and unremarkable to him, the one you made was surprisingly rich in flavor. The chicken broth mingled seamlessly with the rice, enhanced by the spices you added, making it not only palatable but enjoyable to eat.
âKuai Liang,â you chuckled softly, your voice triggering a strange sensation in his stomach, distinct from hunger. Turning his gaze to you, he was met with your gentle expression. âYou should eat slowly. Itâs been a while since youâve eaten, and youâll make your stomach uncomfortable at this rate. Thereâs a pot full of porridge still, so donât worry.â
As the food settled in his stomach, Kuai Liang finished his mouthful and took a sip of water before speaking. Thankfully, his bronze skin hid the faint warmth creeping into his cheeks at your words. He couldnât remember the last time he had felt this hungry; it was as if his strength would ebb away entirely if he didnât eat, as if the gnawing feeling in his stomach would consume his entire body.
Due to his fast metabolism, he had to eat constantly to survive and keep his body fit and agile. His previous masters had exploited this weakness, subjecting him to tests of endurance. He was a fighter, refusing to surrender without a struggle. Over time, Kuai Liang had learned to endure hunger for extended periods, gritting his teeth against the relentless pain in his stomach.
One of the perpetual side effects of the book was to maintain their physical appearance, like a perfect gift always on display. Despite the hardships they faced, their bodies remained unchanged from when they were first sealed in the book. Their skin remained firm and devoid of signs of aging, while their muscles remained taut and defined.
Though he felt powerless due to the lack of proper nourishment, Kuai Liang avoided showing weakness to the outside world, especially to the master of the book at the time. His brothers had been his biggest support. While Bi-Han and Tomas often shared their food with him, Kuai Liang initially tried to refuse their help. Ultimately, they all needed sustenance to endure and find a solution to their nightmare. Even though Bi-Han could go days without eating, Kuai Liang didnât want him to endure the same deprivation.
âThank you,â Kuai Liang said after a while. âThatâs enough for me.â
Your furrowed eyebrows revealed your disbelief. âYouâve been sleeping for days, Kuai Liang. From what Iâve learned from your brothers, considering your metabolic rate, you need to eat at least four servings from that bowl, not to mention your body size. If you donât like it, I can make something else, but you definitely need to eat. I donât want you walking around hungry.â you insisted, your voice laced with concern.
Kuai Liang probably looked at you with surprise, though he managed to conceal it on his face. What? Your innocent tone and facial expression seemed to support each other seamlessly. Obviously, you didnât know anything about his past, and he didnât expect his brothers to say anything about it. You hadnât ordered them to gather any information either.
âNo, the porridge is fine, thank you,â Kuai Liang tried to smoothly continue. âCan I have more?â
âOf course!â Your smile widened, your whole face lighting up with joy as if the sun had risen upon you. Kuai Liang felt that strange ache again as he looked at you. âI thought youâd never ask!â
***
After Kuai Liang finished all the food in the pot and took a cold shower, he felt refreshed. His body was free from the daysâ accumulated sweat, his stubble shaved, and his hair pulled back neatly. It was a strange feeling to have a full stomach, having forgotten what it felt like. Yet, there was a sense of peace within him. A weight had lifted, quieting the constant alertness that had consumed him for so long.
Arriving at the entrance of the living room, Kuai Liang encountered Bi-Han in the narrow hallway. His brother scrutinized him in silence from head to toe, assessing if he was well enough to stand.
âYou look well,â said Bi-Han, his voice barely audible. âDo you feel as well as you look?â
âYes, brother,â Kuai Liang replied, forcing a small smile to accompany his words. âHow are you and Tomas? Was there anything I missed in a week?â
Bi-Han fell silent for a moment, nodding towards the study room adjacent to the bedroom. Kuai Liang followed his brother quietly into the room, and Bi-Han closed the door behind them, lowering his voice despite its depth.
âTomas has begun to lose himself to the woman,â Bi-Hanâs words filled the room with an icy chill. Kuai Liang observed his brotherâs stern expression, which conveyed his displeasure with the situation. Despite their painful past and Tomasâs training as an assassin by the Lin Kuei, his inherent naivety had persisted, a trait Kuai Liang had always found unique. His brother lacked a judgmental nature, easily believing whatever he was told.
Since their time in the book, Tomas had changed like the rest of them. Whoever became the master of the book, Tomas obeyed them almost flawlessly, swiftly fulfilling orders and expectations. Kuai Liang soon understood why â it was the same as when he was trying to adhere to the Lin Kuei. He had no choice but to comply in order to survive in this new world where he didnât know the rules. Yet, there was one person who made Tomas hesitate, offering a glimmer of hope in their dark world and suggesting that the cycle could be broken.
âHow so?â Kuai Liang asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.
âYou heard me.â Bi-Han replied.
âLike what happened with Leilani?â
âIt may be even worse than that,â Bi-Han snarled, his face contorting with rage at the mention of their old masterâs name. ââThe speed at which sheâs manipulated him is unprecedented.â
âHow is that possible? Tomas was cautious after what happened.â
âYou havenât spent time with the woman. She offers him everything he desires, and he willingly accepts. Theyâre always together, laughing, touching, kissing. Itâs all by his own consent.â
âWhat? Are you sure?â
âYou know how long it took him to recover after Leilani. If this woman can make this much progress in a week, imagine what will happen when we return to the book in three months.â
âWait a minute,â Kuai Liang tried to digest the information, pinching the bridge of his nose and taking a deep breath. âShe told me that⌠Is it true that Tomas is sleeping of his own accord?ââ
âYes,â Bi-Han confirmed, his anger palpable.
ââDamn it,â Kuai Liang muttered, running a hand over his head in frustration. All three of them harbored an aversion to darkness, but for Tomas, it went beyond mere dislikeâit was pure loathing. He avoided closing his eyes for extended periods and fought against sleep as much as possible. The fact that he could now sleep next to you, in his most vulnerable state, only heightened Bi-Hanâs concerns. Tomas had never revealed this side to anyone, not even to the master of all the books that had come and gone, except Leilani. Yet, even Leilani took a considerable amount of time to witness this aspect, setting a new record compared to their previous experiences.
âIâve been constantly warning him to get it into his thick head and not trust the woman, but he doesnât listen to me. Go talk to him, try to stop him from getting any more attached. Maybe your moderate approach will ring a bell for him.â
âIf the situation is as serious as you say, brother, I donât think Tomas will listen to me either.â
âWell, what shall we do then? Shall we allow his feelings to be manipulated, humiliated, and used again? Weâve been through this once, Kuai Liang, and I swore it wouldnât happen again,â Bi-Hanâs voice was as cold and harsh as winter itself, his demanding gaze piercing through him like a blade.
âOkay, Iâll talk to him.â
Taking another deep breath, Kuai Liang exited the room, silently following the voices until he reached the entrance of the living room. Both of you were engrossed in examining a pile of books on the kitchen island, your conversation too hushed for him to make out. However, judging by the expressions on your faces, you appeared to be in good spirits. Shifting his focus entirely to his brother, Kuai Liang comprehended Bi-Hanâs concerns more clearly.
There was a calmness in Tomasâs expression that Kuai Liang hadnât seen in a long time, almost peaceful. It was a departure from his usual artificial and distant smile, a sign of his increasing pessimism over the years. Despite his youth, his face carried a weight beyond his years, rivaling even Bi-Hanâs gloominess.
The way heâs watching you now, with one hand casually supporting his chin and a subtle smile playing on his lips, rather than being absorbed in the book before him, is very different from what heâs used to. He would never have imagined it if he hadnât seen it for himself. Seeing his brother carefree and relaxed, just like old times, filled Kuai Liang with concern instead of contentment. Bi-Han was right; Tomas had gotten carried away with you, and from what he observed, the situation was much more serious than he thought.
âDo you understand what I mean now?â Bi-Hanâs voice came from right behind him, close enough for Kuai Liang to feel his cool breath on his neck. Kuai Liang didnât say anything. After silently nodding in agreement, he stepped in, and you both snapped out of the peaceful bubble you had created upon noticing his arrival.
âKuai Liang, good morning! I heard you were up, but you were in the shower when I got up. How do you feel? Are you better?â Tomas greeted him in a somewhat cheerful voice. Now that he could see him up close, Kuai Liang could discern the details better. While his pale face should have been marked with dark circles due to his usual insomnia, Tomasâs face had a lightness that indicated he had a good sleep. There were no stress lines, and his dull gray eyes were bright and sharp, as if life had returned to them.
Kuai Liang still found it hard to believe the change that had occurred in such a short time. He answered Tomasâs question in a flat voice,âYes, I feel much better now.â To divert Tomasâs attention and avoid probing further, he turned his gaze to the books you were examining. âWhat are you doing?â
âWeâre looking for a solution to break the curse,â you intervened in a soft voice. âI found these books in the library; I thought maybe there might be something useful in them.â Your gaze shifted from him to the notebook in front of you, scribbling something that he couldnât read from this distance. âWeâve tried several solutions so far, but none of them have worked.â
âWhat were the things you tried?â
âWell, I tried to buy a small bottle of holy water from a church nearby and bless the book. When that didnât work, I read somewhere that a little blood and certain prayers could be effective in breaking the curse, so I tried that this time.â
You raised your left hand and showed him your palm, revealing a long, thin cut running from the little finger to the thumb. Judging by the look of the cut, it seemed to have been at least a few days old. Kuai Liang was surprised that you had hurt yourself for them, but his astonishment faded when he reminded himself that this was likely part of the deception.
âYou said burning didnât work, but I tried it again to explore every possibility. Besides that, thereâs actually another method that comes to my mind; there are people who specialize in breaking curses. Normally, I didnât really believe in such things, but after all this, Iâm considering every possibility now. I donât know how we can explain this whole thing to them, but maybe I can ask them for help. If I canât break the curse, at least they can guide us.â
âI donât know how much more we have to tell you to make you understand.â Bi-Hanâs voice interrupted as he entered the living room. Kuai Liang observed you shift in your seat anxiously, while Tomas subtly straightened his posture in a protective manner. âYou canât break Quan Chiâs curse with such ridiculous things. If it were that easy, we wouldnât be here right now.â
âI know, butââ
âStop this game,â Bi-Han interjected, his tone growing impatient. Although you tried not to show your uneasiness, you shifted again, and your hands clenched into fists on the counter, uncertain of what to do.
âWhat game?â You asked in a soft yet timid voice. âIâm just trying to help.â
âUnwanted help would only be an imposition. Thereâs no one here who wants your help. Is that so hard to understand, or are you really daft?â
As Tomas quickly rose from his seat, the chair made a painful squeal against the floor. âBi-Han! Take back your words.â
âDo you realize who you are defending from whom?â Bi-Han growled, his demeanor emanating a threatening coldness, yet there was a determination in Tomasâs stance that he would not back down from his statement. Although Kuai Liang still couldnât decipher how things had escalated to this point in just a week, he intervened to diffuse the situation before it escalated further.
âGuys-â
However, you acted before him, placing one hand on Tomasâs arm and drawing his attention back very easily, as if you had pressed a button.
âItâs all right, Tomas,â you said in a kind voice.
âBut-â
âItâs alright,â your voice was still gentle, but there was also a certainty that emphasized the words. âThereâs no harm, Iâm fine.â After gently patting him on the arm, you continued to talk, focusing your gaze on one point rather than turning to them. On the other hand, you got up from where you were sitting and started picking up the mess on the counter. âI have a job interview, I wonât be here for a few hours. Iâll be back before sundown.â Just before closing your notebook, you suddenly turned your head to Kuai Liang as if something had occurred to you. âOh, I almost forgot. On my way back, Iâll stop by the grocery store and shop for a few necessities for home. Is there a dish you like?â
Kuai Liang was stunned by this unexpected question. âA dish I like?â he echoed, his brows furrowing and incredulity evident in his voice. Despite the tension that just happened, you still answered his question with a small smile that you managed to put on your face.
âYes. I want to make a meal that you like to celebrate your recovery; Iâm sure youâll feel better.â
***
âWhy do you have to keep being rude?â As Tomas paced angrily around the room, Bi-Han lounged on a single sofa, spreading his legs in a relaxed manner that suggested he was indifferent to the situation. Kuai Liang observed the two of them, sensing a tingling at the nape of his neckâa foreboding sign of the headache that was about to enter his head.
âIâm tired of explaining, but youâre still not tired of asking same questions. I can actually understand why youâre getting along with her so well; youâre both terribly insistent on not understanding.â
âYouâre only acting like a bully by being rude to someone who doesnât deserve it,â said Tomas, as he stopped pacing and stood in front of Bi-Han. Bi-Han tilted his head back slightly, maintaining eye contact with Tomas and quietly responding to his challenge. While it was common for the two of them to struggle to find common ground and for Kuai Liang to act as mediator, this confrontation felt different. Tomas was resolute in his determination to protect you, leading him to confront Bi-Han. The presence of someone unfamiliar getting under his brotherâs skin was evident. Kuai Liang found himself straddling the line between frustration over the situation and concern for Tomas.
âSheâs already wrapped you around her finger. Just like Leilani-â
âDonât mention her name,â Tomas interjected, his voice unusually harsh. âThere is a difference between them; she is a really nice person. Is it that hard to believe?â
âAnd so youâve figured it out in a short period of time, like a week. Congratulations to you. I wish you could really hit it this time compared to last time.â
âBi-Han-â
When Kuai Liang rose to intervene with a warning tone, Tomas acted before him and grabbed Bi-Han with a rustle, at a speed that even Bi-Han could not decipher.
âDo you know what your problem is? Youâre a coward.â
âTomas-â
âLet him finish, Kuai Liang,â said Bi-Han, his voice eerily calm.
âYouâre afraid to trust, arenât you? Thatâs why youâre like this; you donât want to let anyone near you through your arrogant walls.â
Tomasâ words hung heavily in the air, a tense silence covering the room as his words echoed on the walls. Bi-Hanâs expression was illegible, but Kuai Liang could feel the anger boiling under the surface. After all, he knew his brother well enough to understand when his boundaries were being pushed.
âYou think you understand everything, donât you?â Bi-Han retorted, his voice piercingly cold. âYou, who wear your heart on your sleeve, dare to juge me?â
âIâm not judging you; Iâm just stating the truth.â After Tomas finished his words, he released Bi-Han and left the room in a cloud of smoke. Kuai Liang heard the faint click of the study door closing nearby.
âYouâre going at him too hard,â He said with a sigh. âEven if he has an interest in her, donât turn it into spite with your approach.â
ââDo you think itâs up to my approach? Just look at him, heâs already under her spell.ââ Bi-Han argued.
ââEven so, he is our brother. He needs our support. Stop setting him against you.ââ
ââHe is the one who confronted us for the woman.ââ
ââYouâre the one who triggered it,ââ Kuai Liang said, his patience wearing thin. ââGo get some air, collect your thoughts. Iâll take care of Tomas.ââ
ââGive him some mind.ââ
Due to the small size of the house, Kuai Liang easily left the living room behind. When he reached the study, he softly opened the door and entered. Tomas stood a little further away, in front of the window, arms crossed, watching outside silently. He spoke in a dry voice without turning his head, even though he heard Kuai Liangâs approach.
ââIf youâre going to say the same things as Bi-Han, donât bother at all.ââ
âWe are both thinking only of your well-being, Tomas.ââ
âCome on, Kuai Liang, Iâd rather you speak for yourself,ââ Tomas retorted. Kuai Liang gently placed a hand on his brotherâs shoulder. Tomas didnât push it away, but he still didnât turn his head, his gaze fixed outside, his expression tense, the muscle on his chin clearly showing that he was angry about what had happened.
ââYou know Bi-Han, he may seem cold from the outside, but you know as well as I that he cares, he just fails to show it.ââ
âOkay, maybe thereâs some merit to his worries, but she didnât do anything to deserve it, the only thing sheâs shown us since the moment we came out of the book is just kindness, Kuai Liang. Thanks to her, I can sleep. You know too well what this means to me.ââ Tomas finally met his eyes, sincerity evident in his gaze. ââI want you to give her a chance.ââ
âTomas-ââ
âI know you donât trust her, but trust me,â his brother said, his voice tinged with a plea. âI understand Iâm asking too much, but if you give her a chance, youâll understand what I meant.â
Kuai Liang was at a loss for words. Tomas was more attached than he thought. Trust? He should have known that this was not possible, especially after what happened to them and the memories that still haunted his nightmares⌠He decided to drop the subject for now, it was clear they wouldnât get anywhere if this matter dragged on.
When Kuai Liang initiated a small conversation to find out what had been going on for a week, Tomas set aside the tension and began to provide him with a summary of recent events. Kuai Liang observed his brotherâs eyes light up and an small smile grace his face as he spoke about you. Despite appreciating Tomasâs strength in choosing to trust you, Kuai Liang couldnât shake the bitter pain of the possibility of leaving wreckage in its wake. Collecting the pieces was becoming increasingly difficult, and this time, the prospect of there being any pieces left to gather was doubtful.
As time passed and the sun set, casting colorful lights across the cityscape outside the window, Kuai Liang felt his body slowly begin to ache. His joints felt as though there was no cartilage between them, his mouth was dry, and his eyes burned. A throbbing headache started to pulse at his temples, while a wave of dizziness washed over him, causing him to sway unsteadily for a moment. Tomas, too, rubbed his eyes, indicating that he was experiencing similar symptoms.
âHow many hours has she been gone?â Kuai Liang asked as he left the room, with Tomas trailing behind him.
âFour or five hours, I think.â
He found Bi-Han standing up and scratching his arms almost to the point of bleeding, Kuai Liang called out to him to stop. Bi-Han, however, seemed oblivious to his surroundings. For some reason, Bi-Han was the most sensitive among them. While Kuai Liang and Tomas could endure their masterâs absences for a while, Bi-Han almost lost his mind during those times. The icy force that cocooned him decayed, and when faced with the outside world, Bi-Han couldnât adapt to the change in temperature, causing his skin to painfully burn.
âBi-Han! You have to stop before you hurt yourself,ââ Kuai Liang urged as he grabbed one of Bi-Hanâs wrists and tried to pull him out of the trance. Bi-Han, lost in his agitation, initially didnât register Kuai Liangâs presence, snarling like a wild animal and glaring with a crazed look in his eyes. Undeterred, Kuai Liang maintained his calm demeanor and tried again, ââYouâre hurting yourself brother. You have to stop.ââ
With a blink, Bi-Han snapped out of his trance, wrenching his wrist from Kuai Liangâs grip with force as he regained his composure, cursing angrily.
ââWhere the hell has this damn woman disappeared to? She should have been here hours ago!ââ.
âThis is the first time this has happened,â Tomas intervened, approaching them with a nervous look on his face. âCould something have happened to her?â
Kuai Liang had considered this possibility as well. If you were truly as kind-hearted as Tomas claimed, your intention couldnât have been to cause them suffering, even if you knew they would be weakened by your absence. He knew that Tomas struggled to adapt to the outside world after emerging from the book, and Bi-Han would have been incapable of going out to search for you in that state, likely resorting to attacking someone or causing further harm to himself.
ââIâll go look after her, you stay here.ââ Ultimately, Kuai Liang decided it was best for him to handle the situation himself.
ââIâm going with you too,ââ Tomas insisted.
ââNo, you stay with Bi-Han. Itâs better that heâs not alone in this state.ââ
ââIâm not a cripple-ââ Bi-Han began, but his words trailed off as the front door swung open. All three turned towards the door as you entered, raincoat soaked and holding a wet paper bag in one hand while the other seemed to conceal something under your raincoat. As your presence instantly offered them relief, Bi-Han lunged forward, bypassing any attempts to stop him, and positioned himself next to you, his stance emitting threatening signals from all sides.
ââWhere the hell have you been?ââ he demanded, leaning in closer. As Bi-Han cornered you, Kuai Liang moved to intervene with Tomas, while you attempted to explain yourself with a nervous, agitated tone. Startled by the tension, the paper bag slipped from your hand and fell to the ground.
ââIâm so sorry! On my way back, I found this kitten.â you said. Opening the front of your raincoat, you revealed the tiny feline tucked inside. Its meowing broke the tension as its head emerged. Tomas and Kuai Liang flanked Bi-Han, their attention captured by the small, pitiful-looking kitten. With a completely black body, its fur contrasted sharply with the white around its gray eyes and the pink tip of its nose. Its ears stood erect atop its small head.
ââIt was on the side of the road, its mother had been hit by a car, and its siblings had also perished. I discovered it nestled among them, trying to find warmth. I couldnât leave it there,â you explained, your voice soft with compassion.
Bi-Han scoffed, âYou have no livelihood, and your house is too small for all of us to fit in. As if all this wasnât enough, are you going to try to take care of a fleabag now?ââ Despite his botherâs harsh and offensive words, the kind expression on your face while caring for the kitten remained unchanged.
âI will be its foster home. When it gets well enough, itâll go to its real family.â
Bi-Han glanced at you briefly, muttering, âWhatever,â before pivoting on his heels and retreating to the living room. Tomas came up to you, giving you a little kiss on the top of your head and stroking the kitten that was perched on your lap. Relief washed over his face after he confirmed that you hadnât suffered any harm.
âAre you going to give her a name?â he asked curiously.
âYes, because it feels strange in my head to constantly call it âkitten.â Does anyone have any ideas?â When your gaze turned to both of them, Kuai Liang remained silent, captivated by your image. Your cheeks and the tip of your nose were flushed from the rain outside, your skin and hair wet, and a sincere smile hidden on your face that touched his heart. You looked painfully innocent standing there with the kitten in your lap, a different image from the masters of the other book he had encountered so far.
âHow about the name of that actor we watched last time?â Said Tomas, as he continued to stroke the kittenâs chin. The kittenâs eyes were closed in happiness, emitting loud purrs that reverberated through its tiny body, indicating how much it enjoyed being petted.
âJohnny Cage?â A small laugh poured from your lips. Kuai Liang tried not to dwell on how sweet and addictive your laugh had an air. âIâm sorry, but I think itâs a lady, Tomas. Oh, I found it! How about Ninja? She is a warrior just like you guys.â
âWe are not ninjas,â Kuai Liang couldnât help himself but chuckle at your suggestion. âBut because the fur around her eyes is white, it looks like sheâs wearing a mask. Ninja is actually not a bad name.â
âYes, it suits her.â
âGood, then from now on your name is Ninja, little one. I couldnât get the job, but I found you, so I guess itâs a win-win.â you said, stroking the kittenâs head. âI need to wash her thoroughly, sheâs too dirty. After that, Iâll start on cooking. Is everyone hungry?â
***
Kuai Liang was completely silent as he looked at the plate you left in front of him. He didnât really think you were going to make the food he liked.
ââWhatâs the matter?ââ Tomas looked at him with sidelong eyes while stuffing a generous amount of morsel into his mouth. ââYou havenât even touched your plate once.ââ
ââArenât you hungry?ââ You said in a slightly worried voice. Kuai Liang lifted his gaze from the food in front of him and looked at you. As he met your gaze, he noticed the fatigue evident in your eyes, weariness etched into their corners. Kuai Liang muttered in a voice that sounded foreign to his own ear.
ââThis is jiaozi.ââ He said, as if that cleared everything up.
ââYes.ââ You continued to speak despite your statement that you did not understand what he meant. ââIâve never done it before, so I had to look on the internet a little. Did I do it wrong?ââ
Against the innocent question, Kuai Liang found himself confronting a flood of unfamiliar emotions. The last time he ate Jiaoziâalso known as Chinese dumplingsâwas at Lin Kuei, and their father had not yet died. Kuai Liang had always liked eating this food. Normally, eating was more mechanical for him because of his metabolism, and it was an action he needed to do to survive, but he ate this meal completely arbitrarily. Now, years later, seeing this dish in front of him again made him feel nostalgic along with feelings he couldnât name. Moreover, even though you didnât know how to make this dish, the fact that you tried just because you knew that he loved it deeply affected him and changed the rhythm of his heart for a moment. For the first time, he felt cared for by someone outside of his family.
ââNo, it looks fine.ââ He said, in a voice that was hard to hear.
ââThen you better taste it before it gets cold.ââ After Tomas poked him with his shoulder, Kuai Liang picked up one of the dumplings with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. A contented hum escaped his throat as the flavor he had forgotten instantly flooded his palate, taking him back to his memories.
ââItâs quite delicious.ââ He said, appreciating your hard work without concealment. ââThank you.ââ
With those words, a genuine smile lit up your face, radiating warmth and sincerity that momentarily stole Kuai Liangâs breath away. He couldnât help but marvel at the allure you possessed, understanding a little better now why Tomas was drawn to you. Your sincerity and infectious smile had a way of making others believe, effortlessly bridging any gaps in communication. It was easy to forget your role as the owner of the book when you interacted with them so naturally, blurring the lines between master and slave with remarkable ease.
âGreat, because I made a pot full of this, itâs nice that you like it.ââ You said with a chuckle. Then you left them for a minute to give Ninja the little plate you had prepared. After you had cleaned and dried Ninja nicely, you released her to explore the house. The kitten had adapted to the environment as easily as if she had been a member of this house for years. There was no indication in her small body that she was afraid of them. In fact, on the contrary, she was constantly chasing Bi-Han as if she was thirsty for his attention. Bi-Han finally couldnât stand the kittenâs high-pitched meows and chasing after him anymore, so he went into the study and closed the door behind him. Ninja had not left the door since he had entered the room.
ââCome along, sweet thing, itâs dinnertime.ââ
You returned with Ninja on your lap, and when you placed her on the floor and left the food you had prepared in front of her, Ninja completely forgot about Bi-Han and focused on the food in front of her. Kuai Liang slightly stretched out from his seat, watched the kitten eating with a half smile, attacking her food with a great appetite and emitting strange, happy noises.
ââIf you donât want to turn into an ice floe, I suggest you donât follow that grump.ââ said Tomas, swallowing the morsel he was chewing.
ââI think heâll get used to it,ââ your soft voice was tinged with hope as you reached for your own plate. ââWho can say no to a cute kitten?ââ
ââBi-Han, of course.ââ Tomas quipped.
ââMaybe he can get used to it after spending some time,ââ Kuai Liang said, joining you. ââNinja looks pretty convincing.ââ
ââIsnât she?ââ Laughing, you raised your own glass of the wine you had opened with the meal. ââTo Ninja.ââ
Tomas and Kuai Liang also chuckled and raised their glasses, clinking them together. As Kuai Liang took a sip of his wine, he felt inexplicably light at that moment, as if the damage that the past years had left on his body and mind had lifted a little, leaving him temporarily free to enjoy the moment. After allowing himself to eat as much as he wanted again, just like in porridge, Kuai Liang once again encountered the strangeness of feeling his stomach full. It didnât seem like this feeling could get used to for a while longer.
As he lay on the sofa, one hand over his stomach and the other behind his head, many thoughts ran through his mind. They helped you clean up after dinner, and when you retreated to your room after saying that the day was tiring and you couldnât stand up anymore, Tomasâand of course Ninjaâfollowed you.
Even though he guessed that the two of you were sleeping together, it felt different to witness it. Itâs like⌠itâs like he wanted to be there, in that bed with you, even though he didnât want to admit it, even though he didnât want to think about it. There was a kind of jealousy in his feelings this time, rather than his concern for Tomas. He could see how good you were for Tomas, and a part of him longed for that connection too. It was like catching a glimpse of heaven, yet he couldnât fully embrace it. He both wanted and didnât want more, the conflict he fell into was incomprehensible even to himself.
Although Kuai Liang couldnât understand how it happened, his eyes closed after a while, and he found himself facing one of his old memories.
ââCome here, Kuai Liang.ââ
Leilaniâs voice was alluring yet toxic as she pulled on the chain attached to his collar, coaxing him into bed. He despised the collar, feeling like a mere animal under her control. Despite his inner protest, he knelt beside her on the satin sheets. A satisfied smile appeared on Leilaniâs face as he knelt down.
Kuai Liang was surprised more and more every time how he could have been attracted to this woman once. It was a ridiculous situation to have allowed himself to be deceived so easily; now when he looked, all he saw was nothing more than a venomous snake, dangerous, cruel, and selfish.
ââI will host a celebration tomorrow, and some of my most important guests will be in attendance. While Tomas doesnât have problems getting hard quickly due to his youth, I need someone who can go more than a few rounds. Taming Bi-Han can be tiresome; his stubbornness is often exhausting.â When Leilani grasped his manhood and caressed it with interest, although Kuai Liang maintained his expressionlessness, his skin stretched in disgust. He couldnât stand the touch of this woman. ââYou know what I want from you, donât you? Have no doubt that I will reward you well, Kuai Liang. You know, I keep my word.ââ
Kuai Liang wanted to scream, telling her to hold her forked tongue between her teeth to her face. This was almost a need rather than a desire; it had been a long time since her hollow promises had lost their meaning for him. After he remained silent, Leilani pulled the chain harder. With a sudden tightening of his throat, his breath remained congested in his throat, and a muffled sound left his lips.
ââI cannot hear that you approve of my words,ââ Leilani said, almost hissing. He was clenching his jaw, pressing his teeth together so hard that for a moment he thought they would break under the pressure he was applying. When he managed to say the words, albeit with difficulty, Leilaniâs dark green eyes shone with satisfied sparkles.
ââThat is my warrior, always ready to satisfy.ââ
As Kuai Liang opened his eyes with a sharp breath, the morning sun greeted him warmly, casting a golden glow across the room. He blinked away the remnants of nightmare, his hand instinctively reaching to brush aside the strands of hair that had fallen across his face during the night. When he heard the front door click, he opened one eye and turned towards the door, only to find you there, looking slightly guilty as if caught in the act.
âGood morning. Did I wake you up again?â you asked in a whispering voice.
âNo, Iâve just woken up,â Kuai Liang replied, his brow furrowing slightly as he noticed your attire. âAre you going somewhere?â
âI need to buy cat litter and food for Ninja. Would you like to accompany me? It wonât take long.â you offered. Thinking it would be beneficial to get some fresh air and distance himself from the walls that surrounded him, Kuai Liang accepted your invitation. Since he was already warm enough, he didnât bother to grab any additional clothing, knowing that none of your clothes would fit him anyway. As you walked out of the apartment together, he took a deep breath, relishing the scent of the earth after last nightâs rain. The clean smell soothed his heart, which had been beating irregularly, and the act of stepping outside helped to ease his tense muscles and nerves.
âDid you sleep well?â
Kuai Liang decided to be honest in his response, knowing he shouldnât hide the truth from you. His expression clearly conveyed that he hadnât slept well, and there was no point in pretending otherwise.
âNo, I usually have nightmares quite often. So even though I can sleep, I canât say itâs âgood,ââ he admitted.
Your face softened under the morning sun, your caring gaze causing his heart to flutter. Your words were laced with sadness, mirroring the same emotion in your eyes.
âI use aromatherapy candles to help Tomas sleep, and they obviously work. If you want, I can give them to you to help. Maybe theyâll help you relax a little and prevent the nightmares,â you suggested, your voice filled with hope and sincerity. Kuai Liang considered your offer while silently studying you. It wasnât just the candles that helped Tomas sleep; it was your presence. Your presence brought him peace. But he didnât voice that sentiment out loud.
âThank you,â he said finally. âIâd like to try.â
After responding to his answer with a smile, you began to introduce him to the surroundings. As you talked about where you usually shop for groceries and how you like to buy yourself coffee and sweet rolls from the little coffee shop on the corner from time to time, especially when the weather is nice in the nearby park, you take your book and read or go for a walk. With each detail about your everyday life, Kuai Liang felt himself decelerating even more as he listened to you, and the traces of his nightmare were erased from his mind.
As you recounted a funny incident to him, you couldnât help but chuckle at the memory. You explained how, in the past, you were walking through the park, lost in thought, when suddenly a squirrel darted out from a nearby bush and startled you. Startled, you leaped back in surprise, only to trip over a wayward tree root and land flat on your back, much to the amusement of onlookers nearby.
ââI hope you didnât frighten the poor squirrel too much,â Kuai Liang raised an eyebrow, his eyes alight with amusement. It was a feeling he hadnât experienced in agesâsimple, almost childlike, yet undeniably refreshing. He felt free from the weight of his past, not defined by his role as a slave or an assassin at the moment.
ââHey, he scared me first. Besides, weâve already negotiated a peace treaty since then. I even gave him a few nuts as a gesture of goodwill,â you replied, a sweet giggle escaping your lips.
âAh, so youâre a diplomat as well as⌠What? A squirrel whisperer?â he quipped, a small, teasing smirk playing at the corners of his lips. A sense of disbelief washed over himâhow could he find such joy, effortlessly smiling and laughing, with not a single troubling thought in his head.
You laughed at his response, the sound ringing out joyfully in the quiet street. Kuai Liang found himself captivated by the sight of you, so carefree and full of life. It made you seem so much younger and more beautiful, your eyes sparkling with mirth, your cheeks flushed with laughter. In that moment, he felt a swell of pride, knowing that he could bring such joy to you with just a simple exchange. It was almost magical to witness firsthand, and he couldnât help but feel grateful for the opportunity to share this moment with you.
âI named him Theodore, after a character from a kidsâ movie,â you explained with a smile. âHeâs quite a chubby squirrel, but youâll like him. Heâs got quite the personality.â
***
It had been a week and a half since Kuai Liang had ventured out of bed, and during that time, he found himself gradually becoming accustomed to your constant presence. Despite his initial resistance, he couldnât deny the magnetic pull you seemed to have on him. Every unexpected gesture or interaction only served to deepen his connection to you, making it increasingly difficult for him to maintain his distance.
Despite your respectful boundaries and reluctance to initiate physical intimacy, Kuai Liang couldnât help but be captivated by the chemistry between you and Tomas. Your gentle exchanges and tender gazes toward his brothers stirred a longing within him, a desire to be a part of the connection you shared. Yet, his past experiences lingered like a shadow, a constant reminder of the risks involved in opening up to vulnerability. So, Kuai Liang found himself silently observing from a distance, still caught between the yearning for connection and the past wounds resurfacing. Though he longed to bridge the gap between himself and the warmth you and Tomas shared, he remained rooted in hesitation, unable to take the leap of faith. Thus, he stayed in the background, watching and wanting, but unable to dare to take action.
Taking a deep breath of the lavender-scented candle that you had left in the room, Kuai Liang tried to relax his body and quiet his mind. With each inhale, the calming scent enveloped him, easing the tension from his muscles and soothing his restless thoughts.
With another breath, he started to ascend into the waiting darkness, his body going lax, mind numbing. Everything smelled of lavender, mingled with the faint scent of you.
âStand here, Tomas. And you, Bi-Han. Kuai Liang, come forward,â Leilaniâs voice rang out within the hall as she positioned them in front of the gathered guests. Tomas stood with a stoic resolve, Bi-Hanâs gaze betrayed a mix of defiance and resignation, while his eyes held a glimmer of suppressed rage. Leilani, draped in luxurious attire, circled them like a queen inspecting her subjects.
âDonât let the youngest brotherâs appearance fool you; Tomas is well-behaved and knows exactly how to please his lovers, always eager to satisfy their desires. As for Bi-Han, the eldest, he relishes in taking the dominant role in bed, but heâs also open to relinquishing control when desired. And then thereâs Kuai Liang, the middle brother,â Leilani declared with a coy smile. She moved closer to him, her warm breath tickling his neck as she nibbled on his earlobe.
âHeâs the feisty one, capable of enduring for hours thanks to his incredible stamina. If youâre looking to extend your pleasure beyond a couple of rounds, heâs my favorite in that regard,â she murmured seductively. Leilaniâs words dripped with temptation, accentuating their prowess in the bedroom as she enticed her guests. The guests murmured amongst themselves, their eyes darting between Leilani and them. Tomas clenched his jaw in silent fury, Bi-Hanâs fists tightened at his sides, he remained outwardly stoic, though inwardly he seethed with anger and humiliation.
As Leilaniâs hand trailed down his chest, he fought back a grimace, his skin recoiling at her touch. Silently, he masked the turmoil within, but beneath the surface, a fierce determination smolderedâto break free from the chains that bound him to this life of servitude and degradation.
Kuai Liang woke up with a gasp when he heard someone call his name in the distance, feeling a rough wetness on his cheek. As he registered Ninjaâs hot breath on his face, he struggled to comprehend the situation. How had he not noticed the kitten climb onto his lap? Ninja meowed, rubbing her little head against his chin, and with her purrs, she nestled herself in the area between his chin and neck, settling down to rest.
ââKuai Liang?ââ
Hearing your voice nearby, Kuai Liang was careful not to disturb the kittenâs comfort, turning his head slightly to the side and looking at you. Thanks to the city lights outside, he could easily pick out your facial contours. You were on your knees so that you could see him more comfortably, your expression was worried, your eyebrows furrowed as you carefully examined him, wearing an old plush dressing gown.
ââAre you all right?ââ
ââHave you been watching me?ââ Kuai Liangâs voice sounded so muffled that it seemed foreign and incomprehensible even to his own ears.
ââNo, actually, I came to drink some water. I heard you mumbling, thought you were having a nightmare. Thatâs why I wanted to wake you up.ââ
Before Kuai Liang straightened up, he took Ninja on his lap and leaned his back against the armrest of the couch. He carefully stroked the kittenâs soft head, drawing a deep breath into his lungs. Her body was almost the size of his hand, so small that Kuai Liang was afraid of accidentally hurting the kitten. However, for Ninja, it didnât seem to matter how big he was; she surrendered herself completely to his touch, content. Her happy purrs filled the silence.
Kuai Liang had never thought that he could be grateful for the existence of a kitten before, but right now, he was more grateful than ever for being distracted. It had alienated him from the imaginary hands and touches that were wandering on his skin.
âYes,â Kuai Liang said after a while. ââI was having nightmares about my past.ââ
Upon his answer, you sat down in the single seat opposite him and asked in a polite, even voice that showed you were a little afraid to express it.
ââDo you want to talk about it?ââ
Kuai Liang wanted to dismiss the matter by saying no at first, but then, Tomasâ words echoed in his mind and stopped him.
âI know you donât trust her, but trust me.â
Kuai Liang thought that he was smart enough not to make the same mistake a second time. Until this moment. Something inside him, a feeling, an impulse, or whatever it was, whispered that he could trust you. Even though it seemed stupid, Kuai Liang wanted to try it. Maybe he hadnât fully recovered from his nightmare yet, maybe he was aware of everything, contrary to the fact that he was fooling himself, and he still wanted to do it. Regardless of the reason, they all came to the same conclusion in the end.
ââHer name was Leilani. She was the sixteenth owner of the book.ââ
Kuai Liang spoke in a tone of voice that only you could hear. He could imagine the reactions his brothers would have if they heard him mention Leilani, and he didnât feel healthy and in control enough to deal with them right now. His emotions and thoughts were everywhere; the thing that held him together was the tiny kitten on his lap and your presence, keeping him calm.
âLeilani was a sorceress who lived in the Outworld lands, not particularly powerful but was well known and had important connections throughout Outworld. The book had reached her through a merchant.ââ Kuai Liang said, despite his body convulsing with tension as he resurfaced those memories, he continued. When he mentioned that she had an approach that set her apart from other masters, that she might even find a solution to this curse like you, he watched your expression clash with a mix of surprise and resentment. From what he gathered from your reaction, Tomas had briefed you on what happened.
Despite the tension coursing through his body, the words flowed easily from his lips, one by one. When he reached the part about how Leilani won their trust, you remained as still as a statue. Leilani had always been kind and overly generous to them, until she revealed her true colors. She indulged their desires, bought them separate gifts, and made sure they were satisfied. It wasnât difficult for them to believe her, as it was the first time someone had approached them like this since they were sealed inside the book. However, from that moment on, Leilani underwent a complete transformation. Now that she knew she had their trust, she began to play a different game with them.
No master had ever bothered to toy with their hopes before; typically, it was just orders and dark desires to be fulfilled. But for Leilani, playing with their hopes was more enjoyable than giving orders. She claimed to have found a way to save them from the curse, starting with seemingly harmless requests. At first, neither he nor his brothers were bothered by these small tasks. However, as the requests began to erode their pride, they realized the truth: Leilani was playing with them like a cat with a mouse. There was no freedom, no guarantee that her promises would be fulfilledâit was all just part of her game.
Especially when parties were held, it was the time that Leilani enjoyed the most. She liked to humiliate them in front of everyone, to highlight their weaknesses, which she knew very well, to announce that they were the deadliest assassins of a noble clan before, but now they were love slaves, to see them used as objects.
âI know Tomas doesnât like the dark; you wouldnât want me to lock your brother in a room with no light for a week, would you?â
âI discovered by chance last week that Bi-Han has a lot of sensitivity to my absence. You donât want me to test how much longer he can stand it, do you Kuai Liang? Be a good slave and follow my orders.â
âSo the famous assassins of Lin Kuei⌠to come to this point now must be quite crushing your pride. You are nothing more than an object waiting to be used for my desires and nothing more.â
âRemember who holds the power here, who controls your fate.â
As Leilaniâs laughter rang in his mind, at one point when he ran out of words and had nothing more to tell, a silence fell over the room. Kuai Liang was surprised that he had told so much; obviously, he had not expected himself to perform like this. While he was trying to digest that, you suddenly filled his vision and hugged him tightly without crushing Ninja. Kuai Liang remained motionless, his body stiffening as his muscles reflexively contracted. But when he felt hot tears on his shoulder, his whole system was turned upside down.
ââAre you crying?ââ He said in an incredulous voice.
ââYes, I- oh my, Iâm sorry. Just give me a second, please.ââ When you just stood there without taking your head out of your hiding place, Kuai Liang remained motionless. He could have easily got out of your grip if he wanted, but your touch relaxed him in a way he hadnât expected and made him feel⌠good. Your hug was sincere, caring, and full of emotion. His arms moved before his brain, hugging you in the same way; he gently pressed your body to his, feeling your soft and tender touch against his own hard-contoured body. Kuai Liang involuntarily inhaled the clean scent rising from your skin that touched his nose and felt his body relax a little more with the air filling his lungs.
At that exact moment, Ninja squealed because she was stuck between you, and when you both startled and recoiled, the kitten jumped straight from his lap to the ground.
ââIâm sorry, my friend,ââ said Kuai Liang, apologetically trying to stroke the kittenâs head. ââI forgot for a moment that you were there.ââ
Fortunately, Ninja seemed to have accepted his apology, allowing her head to be stroked. Then, as she caught the tassels of the carpet on the floor and jumped on them, Kuai Liangâs gaze was fixed on you.
Tears were still flowing softly from your eyes, your expression was so sad that Kuai Liangâs heart contracted with pain at the sight of you, the need to be able to put a smile on your face overwhelmed him. Taking your face between his palms, he asked in a gentle voice. Whenever he touched you, he felt a tingling sensation, like a harmless but enticing spark.
âWhy are you crying?â
âI am so angry,â you replied, your voice carrying a mix of harshness and innocence. âI feel such a need to hurt someone for the second time.â
âWhoâs the first?â
âQuan Chi,â you said in one breath, attempting to wipe away the tears. Kuai Liang stopped you, his calloused fingertips gently caressing your delicate skin. It felt natural, as if breathing. Even with Leilani, he had never felt such closeness. Was this what Tomas meant?
âNow I understand better why you donât want to trust. How can a person trust again after all this? This is so cruel.â Kuai Liang felt his heart soften towards you, seeing the tears you shed for them. Neither Leilani nor anyone else felt sorry for them, shed tears, or got angry on their behalf in this way. Frankly, as of now, it didnât even feel right to compare you to others. Kuai Liang reflected on the stark difference in your empathy and care compared to their previous experiences. âI will help you as much as I can, Kuai Liang. I told Tomas, but I want you to hear and know, too, that I will never lie to you like I have found a solution and play with your hopes. I donât expect you to believe this, of course, but I want you to know.â
âThank you,â Kuai Liang said sincerely. âItâs very rare for Tomas to trust someone other than us. I can see youâre good for him. Itâs enough for me that you keep this up, he deserves to be happy more than enough.â
âYou all deserve it,â you said with a slight reproach in your voice, but your gaze remained loving and sad. âI know how precious this is. Iâll keep it safe with me, and I promise to keep you all safe as well. I wonât let any harm come to you again. Although I havenât been able to find a solution for the curse right now, at least I can offer you this safe space for now.â
Kuai Liang felt his heart melt completely, enveloped in a warmth so sweet and soft it felt like an embrace. His gaze shifted to your hand, where a scar marred the otherwise delicate skin of your palm. As he gently clasped your hand and cradled it in his own, his fingers traced the faint outline of the scar. He couldnât still grasp the idea that you had hurt yourself for their sake. When his hand slipped to your wrist and he planted a tender kiss on the palm of your hand, he heard a broken breath escape you.
âYou are a good person,â Kuai Liang said, the words coming out of his lips as if he was reassuring himself. Although it was ridiculous that he had fallen into the same situation as Tomas now, despite advising caution, Kuai Liang felt his walls crumbling with every passing second. He was tired of constantly protecting himself, erecting barriers around his heart, and remaining on guard. Battling all his life had left him exhausted, and now, despite the fire within him, Kuai Liang longed for a moment of respite, a chance to calm his body and clear his confused mind. And the solution was only a few breaths away.
You didnât employ fancy words like Leilani, nor did you shower them with flashy gifts or overwhelm them with compliments. You didnât exude dominance or pose a silent threat with your presence. There were no orders or rules; in short, you were unlike any master or people they had encountered before. Your speech was naive, your presence harmless, and though your financial situation might not have been affluent, your heart was undeniably generous. You sought to make them as comfortable as possible, ensuring they were full and now even opening your doors to a kitten.
When his gaze shifted to the supposed kitten, he saw Ninja lying a little further away, on her back, her round stuffed belly in clear view. A chuckle escaped his lips at the sight.
âCats can tell if a person has good intentions or not,â he said, backing up his earlier words. When your attention shifted to Ninja like his, your small genuine laugh filled the room.
âSo Ninja played a part in you coming to this conclusion, did she?â
âI canât deny that Tomas had an influence on this, though not as much as Ninja.â Kuai Liang admitted.
âJust them?â you asked, your expression a bit playful, but mostly covered with a timidity that showed you were still unsure of his reaction. Kuai Liang felt his heart tremble with the look of you.
Before answering, he gently touched your hair with one hand, his fingers moving between the tufts, appreciating the sensation of freedom from any constraints. The label of âslaveâ had been with him for so long that he had forgotten what it meant to behave like a normal person. As his hand moved from your hair to your soft cheek, you didnât flinch away. Instead, when you leaned into his touch, just like a cat, Kuai Liangâs heart swelled with the burgeoning interest he was starting to feel towards you.
ââHow is it possible that I can ignore your influence,ââ Kuai Liang said in a voice filled with awe. ââYouâre like a dream I never expected to come true.ââ
With his words, your expression softened so much that while tears glistened in your eyes again, the most loving smile settled on your beautiful face that he had ever seen. Then, as if something dawned on you, you chuckled wetly, a sign that you were about to cry.
ââTomas had predicted this would happen,ââ you said.
ââHow so? Did you both plan this?ââ
Against the pure curiosity in his voice, you let out another giggle. Then, as you shook your head from side to side, meaning no, you placed one hand on his cheek and gently stroked his skin with your thumb. In that moment, the question marks in Kuai Liangâs head became silent.
ââItâs just your brother knows you too well,ââ When the look on your flushed face and shy gaze landed on his lips, Kuai Liang felt his heart quicken and his body fill with anticipation. You asked with a feather soft voice, ââMay I kiss you?ââ
Instead of answering, Kuai Liang inclined his head, finding your lips without hesitation. With a sigh, you welcomed him, lips parting in acceptance as he drew you closer, his other hand gently encircling your waist. The kiss was slow, unhurried, and tender, as if time stood still and belonged only to them. Your tenderness shook the walls around Kuai Liang even more deeply than before. It was as if you feared hurting him, a sensation he had never experienced, let alone kissed with such care. His heart pounded with a fierce rhythm, ignited by a wild protective instinct.
You were a unique presence, offering a glimpse of the man he once was, a rarity he had never encountered before. In return, Kuai Liang longed to learn every facet of you, to etch even the smallest details into his memory. âThis must be what they call addiction,â he thought. This was the only way he could best describe the effect you had on him.
As your body touched his, your fingers gently entwining between his long black hair, and your eyes closed in trust, Kuai Liang found himself experiencing a feeling he had never tasted before. It was more than an instant sensation; it hit him like a slap and shook his very existence. It felt like completion. You were filling a part of himself that he didnât even know was missing. You were the hope he dared not embrace, the goodness that remained pure in a world of ugliness. Being able to touch you was a lifeline, anchoring him to reality and reminding him that this was really happening, that you were here, on his lap, between his arms.
When Kuai Liang kissed you with a deeper, awakening passion, you didnât resist. Instead, you put your arms around his neck, your grip soft and yielding, showing once again that you left the choice to him rather than demanding more. You were simply there, touching him, and it was clear from everything that you were content with just that.
He wanted to laugh at Tomas for knowing him better than he knew himself, but a strange lump formed in his throat, making it difficult to swallow. Part of him felt tainted by the countless bodies he had touched, as if no matter how much he scrubbed his skin clean, he could never rid himself of the imaginary hands that had touched, grasped, clawed, and caressed him. Lips that kissed and bit him, leaving their forever mark. Thus, he felt as though he had stained you by touching you. But the selfish, hungry part of him, which brought to the surface all the forgotten feelings, was more dominant; he wanted you. And because he had chosen to open his heart for the first time, he wanted to believe that you would keep it safe, as you promised.
Perhaps this time, there was no need for him to protect his heart behind its walls.
#in the middle of the night#mk1 kuai liang#kuai liang x y/n#kuai liang x you#bi han x y/n#tomas x you#reader insert#ao3 writer#ao3fic#ao3 link#ao3 fanfic#mortal kombat1#mortal kombat fic#sub zero mortal kombat#bi han mk#bi han mortal kombat#mortal kombat#mk1#mk1 2023#mk tomas vrbada
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you're the sun to me
Buck's in the middle of cooking dinner when there's a knock at the door. Before he can even move or open his mouth to tell his guest to come in, the door is opening, and his boyfriend walks in. Buck grins at him from where he's stirring in the pot, heart swelling just at the sight of him. It's supposed to be just a regular evening, not really a date, just eating dinner together like they try to at least once a week whenever their schedules allow.
"Hey." Tommy says, kicking off his shoes at the door. Buck instantly notices that he has his arm hidden behind his back, and is careful to face Buck at all times as he walks over to him. Huh.
"Hi, Tommy." Buck responds, raising an eyebrow. "What-" he starts, but just as he's about to ask what Tommy's hiding, he's already right next to Buck, spinning him with one hand to press him against the counter, and kissing him hello. Buck instinctively closes his eyes and kisses back, smiling into Tommy's lips. Kissing him is still one of his favorite activities ever, and he doesn't think it's ever going to change.
The kiss is sweet and soft, and way too short, Tommy pulling away way too quickly for Buck's liking. He's about to pout and complain about it, and probably get another delicious, deeper kiss, like usual, but when he opens his eyes, he's a little stunned. Because he finds himself staring into a bouquet of sunflowers, that Tommy's holding up to him in the hand previously hidden behind his back. Oh, okay. That makes sense. Or, does it?
"Um. What's that?" Buck asks dumbly, as if he's never seen flowers before.
"Sunflowers for my sunshine." Tommy responds, a beaming smile on his face. Buck's heart is racing and he thinks he's going to melt into a puddle. He thinks there are tears welling up in his eyes, and he blinks them away, feeling so silly. "Is that... okay?" Tommy asks when Buck's been silent for a minute, still staring at the yellow flowers.
"Of course." Buck whispers, then clears his throat, lifting his eyes to look into Tommy's. "It's just- no one has ever gotten me flowers before."
"Hm. Well, we gotta change that, then. I can buy you flowers all the time. If you want. If you like them." Tommy shrugs, seeming a little self-conscious now, and Buck can't have that. He's wonderful, and always manages to surprise Buck in the best ways possible.
"I do, I really do. It's- it's really nice. Thank you," he says, just amazed. He'd never expect this, he'd never expect he might want this, but now that it's here, now that Tommy bought him flowers, he's actually really touched. It's stupid, it's just flowers. Still, it feels like a big deal. "But why- what's the occasion?"
"No occasion." Tommy looks down at the bouquet in his hand, smiling softly. "I was walking by the market near my house today, and saw these, and they made me think of you," he shrugs again. "So bright and happy and beautiful. Like my Evan." He grins, eyes soft and full of love and adoration, and Buck's face is burning. God, this is silly. It's such a simple gesture, but somehow it's one of the nicest and most thoughtful things a partner has ever done for him. It's sunflowers, the flower of loyalty and adoration, and happiness. And they made Tommy think of him. He called him his sunshine, didn't he? God, he's the sweetest. "To brighten your day, like you brighten my life." Tommy adds so casually, as if it wasn't one of the most beautiful things anyone's ever said to him.
"I love you." Buck sighs, and tries to lean in to kiss Tommy, but there are flowers in the way, still in Tommy's hand, extended to Buck, probably expecting him to take them, but he was too surprised to think about that. He slowly lifts his hand, placing it over Tommy's on the flowers.
"I love you, too, Evan." Tommy responds, smiling fondly. "Now, do you have a vase or something to put them in?"
"Uh, yeah, yeah, I think I have-" Buck goes to look for a vase, stirring in the pot again on his way. He doesn't stop smiling the rest of the evening. The flowers stand on the kitchen table for weeks, slowly wilting, and when they do, Tommy replaces them. Buck thinks he wants to buy his boyfriend flowers, too, so he does, researching the meanings of specific flowers and their amount. He finds it a good way to show Tommy how exactly he feels when simple words don't seem like enough anymore.
___
Years later, when they stand at the altar about to vow to love each other forever, both of them have little sunflower boutonnieres. Tommy's the one who insisted on the flower being present at their wedding. The dork proclaimed sunflowers their flower, and it's equally silly and adorable. Buck had never given much thought to what his favorite flower might be. Now, the answer is obvious.
#bucktommy#bucktommy ficlet#wikiangela writes#911 fic#bucktommy fic#this is inspired by mgk's cover of 'sun to me' bc I can't stop listening to it and thinking about bucktommy lol#now i'm off to work on my actual wips đ#should i post this to ao3 actually lol#it was written in half an hour in the middle of the night so might need some editing lol#tevan#dailykinley#evan buckley#tommy kinard#kinley
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pick me, choose me, love me
9,335 words || rated T
Eddie wants to scream. Eddie wants to talk to Buck. There are questions he should ask - Do you know when the bleeding started? How long has it been? How bad does it hurt? Are you injured anywhere else? There is a conversation he wants to have - If I leave you here I donât know that youâll be alive when I get back. There are protocols, in disaster situations. If you can only save one person, you save the one most likely to survive. Beyond protocol, you always fucking save the kid. Beyond that, it's our kid. Itâs our fucking kid, itâs Christopher, and I am going to get him to the surface and in doing so I am going to leave you for dead. But itâs Buck, and they never really needed words to talk, and Buck is still looking at him, and Eddie knows what he'd say. He'd downplay the injury. He knows the protocol. And heâd already said it, damned him out loud, heâs going to take you back up top and then come back for me.
Tag list under the cut
@cm1031sr @buck2eddie @lillathelegend @hermscat @anxieteandbiscuits @swiftiesisters14 @shortsighted-owl @eowon @slightlyobsessedwitheverything @courtjestermerlin @soitgoghs @starlingbite @simplybuddie @goodiecornbread @bingobanjo83 @panbuckley @anatargmova @melodysims @thatnamewill-probably-change @iinryer @thebrofriends @thefangirloutof-time @librathefangirl @fernt1408 @leothil @buckley-diaz-rules @hermscat @the-little-red-queen @readeries @fjuckers @prince-buck-diaz @demieddiediazz @thebirdling @spaceprincessem @daniwib @tulipfromtheinternet @adarkbouquet @devirnis @buckitup @bog-kreature @canyouhearmyfear
#buddie#eddie diaz#evan buckley#evan buck buckely#Christopher DĂaz#911 fox#911 abc#911 fic#my writing#my art#hello hehe dropping this at like midnight oops. oops#oh well thats what the tag list is for#trapped buck and Chris fic here it is at long lastâŚ.#pick me choose me love me#really posting because for some reason ao3 wasnât accepting pasted in italics and i spent awhile fixing them all and dint want it to crash#in the middle of the night and lose all that work#ok goodnight have fun
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Sometimes you see a picture of Cheng Yi from a certain angle, and have no choice but to çźç. Ever so slightly.
"On your knees," Li Lianhua says, voice like soft thunder, and Fang Duobing goes.
He barely registers the impact, the collapse of himself like a slack puppet down to the floorboards; the world has narrowed to become Li Lianhua and Li Lianhua alone. His hair falls warm from his shoulder in this lamplight, figure sculpted from the dark in flickering amber. Light and shadow travel across his skin with the tilt of his head, the swallow of his throat. The rise and fall of his chest where his robes fall undone, already tugged away by Fang Duobing at his prior bidding.
A hand reaches to cradle Fang Duobing's jaw, delicate if not for its brush callouses, forcing him to look upward. Li Lianhua's thumb traces along his lip, gentle tease of pressure, and Fang Duobing's mouth parts for him before he can register his own movement. Reaching, pleading for any taste of Li Lianhua, anythingâ
And the touch draws away, leaving Fang Duobing's breath struggling to steady, a choke of some noise sounding in his throat. At least he has enough self-restraint to keep his hands to himself. They rest at his lap instead, inches away from where every minute drag of Fang Duobing's clothes against his skin has become agony. Still, he wills himself motionless, to wait until Li Lianhua asks of him otherwise.
"Good." The corner of Li Lianhua's mouth twitches upward. Perhaps it's the start of a smirk. Perhaps, it is some show of fondness. Fang Duobing can't bring himself to care which, not while Li Lianhua looks down to study him like this, eyes flooded dark. "You've been good all along tonight. Would you like a reward, Fang Xiaobao?"
"Yes," and Fang Duobing might nearly feel ashamed at how he says it, breathless with want, if not for Li Lianhua's hand still stroking at his jaw. That single blazing point of contact has become a lifeline. He shifts, resettles himself on his thighs, for what will come next.
Li Lianhua's hand slides up into his hair, taking the length of it into his hand. It winds tight in his grasp, pulling steadily and slowly, so slowly, until the needle-sting of it makes Fang Duobing gasp into his next inhale.
Something in Li Lianhua's look changes. He holds himself more upright, set of his shoulders nearly proud. When he yanks Fang Duobing toward him by his hair, level with his hips, the curve of his mouth is more pronounced. Forgiving, and unrelenting.
Fang Duobing blinks up through tears in his eyes at Li Lianhua, charming and distantly beautiful, and understands how Li Xiangyi could have commanded armies.
"You know what to do." The words, fallen from Li Lianhua, are an offering.
Fang Duobing leans forward to run his mouth over skin and salt, and takes it.
#hi um. im not responsible for my actions in the middle of the night thanks#anyways. hope this is enjoyable đ¤#mysterious lotus casebook#fanghua#li xiangyi#fang duobing#ashton writes fic
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i can't get 1602 alchemist tony out of my head
#i know rogers hood has turned up in the middle of the night and alchemist tony let him into more than his house#'who are we to fight the alchemy' would be a perfect title for a 1602!stevetony fic đ#tony stark#what if#*
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