#I think her hand wave meant “don't do anything” and she also reached out to him with her hands like “STOP” right before Nathan shot him

[chleem]

Love Deception III

Series : ceo!drew starkey x assistant!reader

Summary: In order to secure a business deal, you pose as Drew’s girlfriend at an engagement party.

Genre: fake dating, slowburn, age gap (31 & 26), (read at own caution

⋆.˚ don't copy or translate my work!

⋆.˚ inspired by this tweet!

♡⸝⸝ two | index | four

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

“Wow, this looks amazing, Mrs Harrington,”

You immediately compliment the food scattered across the dining table, eyes lightening up at the sight of it. You hadn’t even realized you were hungry until you saw how beautifully cooked this dinner was. 

“Call me Lily,” she gives you a wink, her smile warm and inviting. Her eyes flicker between you and Drew as her husband instinctively pulls out her chair, “sit- sit, make yourselves comfortable.”

Your hand reaches to pull out your chair, instead, crashing with Drew’s, whose… surprisingly, doing it for you. 

You quickly retreat, glancing at Drew, hoping to catch a flicker of anything—anything—that might give away what he's thinking, but his expression remains neutral, as always. 

“Thanks,” you murmur, sitting down in your seat. 

“I haven’t cooked this much since Thanksgiving,” Lily jokes, starting to pick up food onto her own plate. “But I just had to for-“

Your eyes begin to scan the table, her voice fading into the background as your focus sharpens. 

Cacio e Pepe. You spot it, one of your favorite dishes—there, across the table. 

On Drew’s side of the table. 

You watch as he serves some onto his own plate, and you contemplate about speaking up. 

“-do you cook at home, y/n?”

The sudden and first question of the evening tears your attention away from the plate of pasta. 

“Oh, uh… sometimes, but just really quick, simple stuff,” you answer, and your eyes land on the seafood risotto in front of you. You’re suddenly torn—your favorite dish is across the table, but this risotto... it's right in front of you. 

Okay. Risotto’s not bad either, right? 

You grab the the communal spoon, and serve yourself a portion of the seafood risotto.

There’s also steak on the table, perfectly seared, and you can’t resist adding a slice of that as well. 

“Simple’s often the best,” James winks over at you, earning a chuckle from his wife. 

You politely smile, preparing to dig into the food on your plate, when it’s suddenly snatched away. 

Your fork hovers mid-air as you blink in surprise. 

Drew’s hand has swapped your plate with his, and now your eyes land on the contents:, the Cacio e Pepe, a side salad, and a slice of that steak. 

You glance up at Drew, but he doesn't look at you, focusing on his own plate. 

But you can see- that little, briefly there, curve of his lip. 

“So, are there anything you two like to do? Like, outside of work?”

You slowly start eating the food Drew swapped with yours, the flavors of the Cacio e Pepe hitting you in unexpected waves of comfort.

“Y/n likes art,” he says, without looking at you. “She goes- visits a new gallery every week.”

You blink, slightly surprised. How does he know that?

You manage a tight smile, turning your attention to the Harringtons across the table as you chew, James laughing softly before chiming in with another question.

“No, no, I meant together,” he corrects, his gaze shifting between you and Drew, clearly intrigued. “What do you two do together?”

Your eyes flicker to Drew once again, seeing the way he pauses. 

You clear your throat, stepping in. Because, that’s your job, right? As his assistant, help him fill in some gaps. 

Including now, as you lie, “Well, we... go on trips.”

“Really? Where do you go?” Lily eagerly asks, before taking another bite of her own food, “Drew certainly doesn’t seem like the type.”

An exchange of soft laughs echo through the table, yourself included. 

“No- no, but we go somewhere- somewhere out of the city,” Drew says, his tone casual, but there's a slight pause as if he's carefully choosing his words. He takes a slow sip of his wine, glancing up briefly at you, "just quiet spots. Y’know, a change of scenery.”

“So…nature? Into hiking?” Lily coos, her voice filled with curiosity.

You look down at your plate, eyes widening slightly. Hiking? 

You’re not exactly an outdoor enthusiast. 

The thought of long trails and bugs isn’t exactly your idea of a getaway, but before you can even formulate a response, Drew answers smoothly.

“Yeah—yeah, but more, uh, calming,” he says, “we like peaceful walks and, uh, places to just… relax.”

His answer is vague enough to keep things believable without making either of you look too out-of-character.

The Harringtons however, seem to buy it, their smiles widening. 

“That sounds perfect,” she says, her tone bright.

You quietly chew on your plate, savoring the rich cuisine that you don’t often get to indulge in. The warmth of the food is comforting, giving you a moment of peace amidst the conversation.

Then, out of nowhere, you hear James’s voice cut through the air, “actually, there’s something we wanna… ask you two about.”

You glance up, sensing a shift in the tone of the conversation. James leans forward slightly, a glint of excitement in his eyes, as Lily’s gaze flits between you and Drew, her expression curious.

You swallow the bite in your mouth, suddenly aware of the tension that seems to hang in the air.

Drew remains composed, but you can tell by the way his jaw tightens slightly that he’s listening carefully.

Oh shit- what are they gonna ask?

It’s not even ten minutes into this dinner, and already, it seems like they’re dropping a huge bomb. 

“We just wanna get this out the way-“

“Before we talk about anything else-“

“Or we get too full-"

“We’ve been thinking for a long time-“

“Always talking-“

“Wondering if you two might be up for it-“

“You wanna say it?”

“You say it-“

“Okay, okay- I’ll say it-“

The back-and-forth between them feels almost scripted, like a scene out of a cheesy rom-com. You half-expect the camera to zoom in on their animated faces, as if this moment is building to some huge revelation.

Your tight smile and slightly widened eyes might just give away how uncomfortable you felt right now. 

“So, every year, we have an annual hunting party,” James starts, and you gulp down the food in your mouth. 

Hunting party? You blink, processing the words. People still do that? People can still do that?…But then again, they were ridiculously rich. Of course they did extravagant things like that.

“Wow- that sounds, amazing,” you hear Drew comment beside you. As sarcastic as it sounds, he somehow makes it come across as genuinely interested.

James nods, continuing, “It’s a tradition we’ve had for years, and we always invite our closest friends.”

“- and we thought it’d be a great fit for you two. A chance to get to know everyone better—and of course, enjoy the outdoors!” Lily practically cheers, clapping her hands in excitement. 

The couple’s smiles felt like as if you were staring directly at the sun.

Oh my fucking god. 

You’re still processing the idea of an actual hunting event. The image in your head involves fancy rifles, a private estate, and people dressed in expensive outdoor gear. 

It’s hard to picture yourself in the midst of all that, but you nod along, trying to mask your surprise. 

You advert to the food, chewing on it intently. 

You really don’t know what to think. A whole day with rich strangers, all while pretending to be Drew’s girlfriend? Definitely not your idea of fun.

It…it sounded like a nightmare. 

Willingly spend time with a bunch of rich people? Yeah- no. 

“Oh, and it’s the whole weekend!” Lily adds, as if it would make the decision better, “so, a little getaway!”

“An island that’s been passed down from each generation,” James chimes in, his tone dripping with pride. “It’s private, of course. No interruptions, just us and nature.”

You nod absently, trying to force the smile back on your face. An island? Great.

Basically no room for escaping. 

You swallow hard, forcing yourself to stay calm, to play along.

The food seems tasteless now, and you can’t focus on anything else but the suffocating pressure to deliver. 

Say yes? Say no?

But then, you feel the gentle warmth of a hand placed on your thigh.

It’s Drew’s hand, his ring cold against your skin— yet steady, and strangely comforting. 

Almost as if his touch is a reminder that you’re not in this alone…or a subtle cue that you need to hold it together, his fingers gently gripping your flesh.

You look at him, seeing that he’s already staring at you. You see that smile on his face- the one you know can’t be faked. 

“We’ll think about it,” Drew says, his tone polite, turning away from you. "I mean, we’ve got other schedules, and so on.”

His hand remains there, and you feel a sense of reassurance in a moment where everything seems all too wrong. 

The moment you feel that pressure start to lift, Lily and James exchange an almost imperceptible glance. It’s clear they’re a little disappointed, but they don’t push. They simply nod, their smiles tightening just slightly.

“Well, of course,” James says with a gracious wave of his hand. “Take your time. We’ll send over the details. No rush.”

“Thank you, we’ll definitely—definitely try and fit it into our schedule,” Drew smiles, his voice smooth, the professional manner of his never slipping. 

Yet, just like that, his hand slips off your thigh.

The absence of his touch is oddly jarring. For a second, you almost feel a sense of loss, as if the warmth and quiet reassurance he provided had evaporated with his hand.

You shift, feeling self-conscious as you force another bite into your mouth. 

“But, uh, what made you consider us?” Drew asks, his tone light, more jokingly now. He leans back slightly in his chair, his usual confidence returning now that he doesn’t have to answer any more questions about your relationship.

His eyes twinkle with that familiar mischievous and easygoing gleam, but yours twinkle down at his hands, suddenly aware of how his hands look. Or more, the one that was just gently caressing your thigh. 

James chuckles, “want us to be completely honest?”

“Please- of course,” Drew takes a sip of his wine.

You lean back into your chair, letting out a small breath as the energy of the dinner shifts, the spotlight turning back to Drew as the Harringtons continue, clearly amused by the change in tone.

As you take another bite of your food, it suddenly tastes different—like you can finally savor it again.

“We’re getting married. We like to hang out in twos.”

So the rumors are true.

The Harringtons, a newly engaged couple, has become one of those pairs who only seem to socialize with other couples.

“And at the engagement party- we talked about that deal, right?” James continues, a knowing look passing between him and Lily.

The deal! He’s mentioning it!

“Yeah, the deal,” Drew murmurs, more to himself. 

“And we thought, since our main business partner is now a couple, it could be a great chance to make some new connections,” James adds with a smile, his tone light but purposeful, “make some new friends.”

You smile at his words, and you suddenly realize that these people— seem genuinely kind. There’s a warmth in their offer, a subtle understanding that this isn’t just about business.

“So you must excuse the questions we’ve asked about you two—it’s just so sudden,” Lily adds, her tone softening, trying to ease any lingering discomfort.

You could only smile, because it seems like… they also suspect this relationship is fake. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck. 

“We also, um, just got together, so we’re still pretty nervous,” Drew lies.

You could feel his glance on the side of your face, and you nod, both of you playing the part, “yeah, we’re still figuring some stuff out.”

The Harringtons nod, almost understandingly at your comment. 

“Well, for us, at home, we also like to keep it ‘no business’ talks,” Lily adds, her tone soft and playful. She gives James a knowing smile, clearly at ease now. “Just a little rule we’ve adopted.”

You’re happy about the subtle shift in topics, moving back to the couple across from you.

“Really? Then what would you guys talk about, or …do?” You ask. 

Lily's smile widens, clearly enjoying the question, and James chuckles softly, shaking his head.

“Well, anything but business,” James says, leaning back in his chair. “A tv show, her new nails-“

Lily holds out her hand with a playful twirl, showing off her freshly done nails. They’re painted in baby pink, along with crazily cute and 3D stickers on each finger. 

“These?” She laughs, wiggling her fingers. 

“Oh- they’re beautiful,” you compliment, instinctively reaching your hand out to hers, admiring the detail.

Lily beams, her eyes lighting up at the praise, letting you hold her hand for a few seconds. “I’m obsessed with them right now. James thinks they’re a little too much, but that’s just him.”

Her husband chuckles, shaking his head lightly, as if this is an ongoing debate between them. “They’re... definitely a lot, but hey, whatever makes her happy.”

“What- I think James is a boring old man,” Drew teases, and you turn around, raising an eyebrow at him unexpectedly.

You didn’t see this side of Drew— so at ease around clients. He was always polished, professional, but this playful teasing? It was a side you rarely got to see. 

It threw you off for a second, and you can’t help but glance over at him, wondering how comfortable he really is in this situation.

His grin widens as he catches your look, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth.

James raises an eyebrow, a bit taken aback, but he laughs it off. “Well, someone’s gotta keep things balanced around here.”

“He’s a boring old man!” Lily loudly whispers to you and Drew, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

You can’t help but chuckle, glancing over at James, who’s still trying to process the teasing.

You lower your voice, leaning closer to Lily. “I think you’re right.”

“I knew you’d get it,” she says with a wink, before turning back to James, who’s now pretending to be offended.

Your grin widens, playing along, but deep down, something feels off. You’re grinning, but inside, your heart is cringing. This feels way too casual, you think. Too... friend-like with clients.

It’s a strange feeling—being so relaxed in a setting where you’re supposed to be professional. You're used to keeping things composed, especially with Drew, your boss. But here you are, being pulled into this lighthearted banter that doesn’t sit right.

And you feel as if you’re the only one that doesn’t fit in, because well, all three of them have huge, staggering amount of wealth upon them. 

You? You only have staggering amounts of debt, unease, and responsibilities. 

“But seriously though- we also play board games,” James says, bringing the conversation back. 

“..maybe we’re so boring that we need to torture others to eat dinner with us on a Friday,”Lily teases her husband.

You and Drew exchange a polite laugh, and he’s quick to assure them, “no, no, we couldn’t have spent tonight, in any other way.”

“How flattering,” James smiles, clearly pleased with the response. “Then would you two stay later to play a round of Monopoly?”

You laugh, glancing over at Drew, awaiting his call. 

After all, he was the boss, and he decided when the job was done. And in the Harringtons' case, it might be undone for a veryyyy long time.

Drew slides an arm around the back of your chair, and you can feel the warmth radiating off of him, his fingers brushing lightly against your arm.

“Of course,” Drew says, “we’ll definitely, definitely stay for the afterparty.”

The Harringtons smile, as if it’s the best news they’ve ever received. 

The rest of the dinner breezes by smoothly. The conversation flows effortlessly, the awkwardness from earlier fading into the background. The atmosphere feels lighter now, with laughter and casual chatter filling the air. As much as you can’t fully relax, the Harringtons’ warmth and easy-going nature make it a bit easier to play the part, just like Drew so effortlessly does.

By the time dessert is served, you're almost starting to forget that this whole evening was part of a bigger plan. Almost.

——

The car ride home is heavy with silence. 

It’s the kind of quiet that settles in when you realize how far you’ve pushed the boundaries, how much you’ve flirted— pretended to love your boss, all for the business deal.

At least during the engagement party, you’ve drank enough to nap in the car. 

Okay, maybe napping in the car with your boss right next to you was weird too. 

Now? Just a few sips of wine, but still really awake. 

You look out the window, the scenery slowly shifting—luxury to more worn streets, as it leads to your neighborhood. Your home.

This, the scenery outside the exact reason why you always ask to be dropped off at the subway station. 

You didn’t know why, but it was suddenly awkward to be alone with Drew. Maybe it was the pretending, or the touches. But it was a bit suffocating, to be sweet with your boss. 

And just as the station comes into view, you lean forward, telling the driver, “Oh, drop me off here, thanks.” 

It was a phrase that you have stopped saying three months into working with Drew, but now, it has resurfaced again. 

You start to unbuckle your seatbelt, the flickering car lights casting shadows on your hand, when Drew’s hand covers yours, brushing it off gently.

“Just drive to her place,” Drew says, his voice steady.

The driver nods, pulling away from the curb.

“What? No, just pull over-“

“Just sit back,” Drew interrupts.  

You glance over at him, confused, and he’s leaning back in his seat, legs spread out like he’s settled in for a long ride. He’s not looking at you; looking straight ahead and biting gently on his lower lip. 

You hesitate, your hand still half on the seatbelt, but you drop it, sinking back into the leather seat.

You rest one of your hands on the middle seat, and your eyes drift over to Drew’s hand, resting there, palm spread, the ring glistening in the dim light of the car. 

You can’t help but stare, the size of his hand almost too much to ignore. It reminds you of how his fingers felt earlier—strong, sure, and just…Drew. 

Your breath catches, and for a second, you’re suddenly so aware of being in the backseat with Drew. And also this whole…arrangement with him. 

No- no, don’t overthink it. It’s just a job. Nothing more. 

You turn away, focusing your gaze on the streets that become more familiar with each passing block.

Just as the hum of the air conditioning fills the car again, Drew’s deep voice cuts through. 

“That…trip,” he starts. 

You don’t want to look at him. You keep your back leaned against the seat, eyes glued to the window.

When you don’t reply, he adds, “The hunting party?”

Oh shit. 

You totally forgot. You’d gotten so lost in the whole dinner, the board games afterwards, that it slipped through your mind. 

Not looking at him doesn’t last long, though, as you quickly turn around. 

You’re met with those blue eyes of his, the only thing that shines through the dark car.

“Right," you say, voice a little too tight, "The hunting party.”

“..you don’t wanna go.”

“No—no, I do,” you lie, looking ahead, trying to steady your breath. You nod, but it feels stiff, too obvious. You weren’t a bad liar, but somehow, you can’t fake it around Drew. Not entirely. 

“It sounds amazing,” you whisper, trying to sound excited. 

You can feel the weight of his stare burning the side of your face, making your skin feel too tight. The silence stretches for a few seconds, though, felt like eternity. 

You weren’t sure why it was so awkward with Drew now. But it is. 

“…you don’t wanna go,” he repeats again, and this time, you hear the smile in his voice, the slight tease and knowing. “Why?”

Your lips press together, and you instinctively pout, the expression betraying you before you can stop it. You want to say something, anything, to brush off his words, but they hang there, heavy and expectant.

“I want to go,” you mutter, but even you don’t believe it. The pout lingers on your lips, despite your best effort to hide it. 

“Come on, just admit it,” Drew presses, his voice low, almost coaxing, “you promised.”

There it was again. Yesterday, he’d just remind you of the promise you made with him, one of the first conversations you two had. To be fully transparent with each other, for this assistant/boss dynamic to work. 

He didn’t need to remind you for the past year, since, well, it had become a habit, where you spoke your mind without hesitation. 

But, maybe because of your new role, that this might be getting a bit personal. 

Too personal. 

“Fine,” you mutter, crossing your arms, still keeping your eyes fixed ahead, afraid  to meet his gaze. 

How does one rephrase thoughts? To sound more…professional?

“I… I don’t want to be around rich people,” you blur out. 

Somehow, it sounded much better in your brain. 

You could feel your cheeks going red, your lips forming a wider pout, mainly out of embarrassment. 

But before you can retreat into silence, you push forward, desperate to make sense of it.

“It’s an island…and three whole days! That would be…” you glance up to make the calculations in your head, “72 hours! We would have to fake for 72 hours. We couldn’t even get through that dinner- or the one last week!”

“Y/n-“

“I think…the problem might be me, though. I- I don’t think I’m cut out to play your girlfriend. I’m just an assistant-“

“Y/n-“

“And you’re this- CEO, with your perfect suit, life-“

“Y/n,” Drew interrupts, his voice cutting through your ramble, calm but firm.

You freeze, suddenly aware of how far you’ve gone. You didn’t even realize you’d said that much.

In a rush of embarrassment, you bury your face into your palms, your heart pounding in your chest. God, why did I just say all of that?

The silence stretches, and all you can hear is the pounding of your own thoughts.

“Sorry,” you mumble through your hands, wishing you could take it all back.

You cringe at how unprofessional that was. 

But then again, Drew did invite you to say everything you were thinking of. 

Then Drew laughs.

It’s that signature deep-throated laugh, the one that rolls out of him effortlessly when he’s genuinely amused, or when he finds something unexpectedly funny.

You don’t know why, but you wanna see it. 

You turn your head over, and sure enough, he is smiling. You could see it; his mouth parted slightly in a smile, and his eyes, even softer in the shadows, crinkling at the corners.

“Sorry- sorry, but, that was cute.”

Your eyes widen at his compliment; it was the second one of the night. 

“Are you saying- saying that you’re not good enough to be my girlfriend?”

You blink at his word choice, eyes widening more, if that’s even possible. 

“To play your girlfriend.”

“Oh,” Drew shifts in his spot, and you can see him spreading his legs further. He leans an arm against the car door, fingertips rubbing the side of his face, as if deep in thought.

“Yeah- I mean, I’m not an actor. I can’t lie.”

“But only you would make sense.”

“That’s a stretch-“

“No, seriously,” he starts, and you could hear the exact moment when his work mode switches on- the voice he uses when he’s persuading investments, all smooth and calculated. 

“You…you’ve worked with me for more than two years. I know you. And I know that- that you know how to read the situation, think on your feet. That’s exactly what- what I need.”

“…besides, didn’t I say this to you the other day?” Drew adds, his gaze softening, a small smile appearing on his lips. 

The memory of a few days ago, when you were in Drew’s office, him asking you to be his fake girlfriend, flashed through your mind. 

“You did—but you saw how we did just then. We were a mess.”

“I- I wouldn’t call it a mess.”

You give him a look, one that mixes exasperation with disbelief. “They said it themselves. They don’t believe we’re together.”

Drew’s answer comes with a pause, his gaze narrowing slightly, “then… then what should we do?”

You know that once Drew asks those words, it’s almost like a test to your role as his assistant. To come up with the best solution, deliver it perfectly, like you always do. 

But, the stakes are higher now, more real than you’d anticipated. The Harringtons, the deal, everything—it’s all hinged on the belief that you and Drew are a couple, and you know that if you’re going to pull this off, things are about to get a lot more complicated. 

Your mind begins to race. You need to convince the world, but convincing the Harringtons is just the start.

The next step—how you make them believe—is suddenly so clear, yet so daunting.

You swallow, trying to steady your breath. “We need…need to practice.”

The car comes to a stop, and when you glance outside, you realize it’s your apartment complex. 

But you don’t make a move to get out. Instead, you’re focused on Drew’s expression. The streetlight outside bathes his face in a soft glow, casting shadows that make his features look even sharper. 

You catch the corner of his lips tugging up into a slight smile.

Why is he smiling? You don’t know. 

“Practice?” He repeats, his voice low, almost as if amused. 

You move uncomfortably in your seat, trying to maintain your usual professional tone, but it's harder now. "Yeah," you say, your voice steadier than you feel, "practice. If we want this to be convincing, we need to be… real.”

"And...practice can help?"

"...yeah."

Drew tilts his head slightly, “how?”

"Small things," you start slowly, "things that couples do. Holding hands, nicknames... I don’t know. Just enough to make it feel natural.”

He’s taking a long time to answer again, and you wonder if this was the wrong thing to say. Was this too much? Too forward? Too unprofessional?

You fidget with your fingers, looking down at your lap again. 

Finally, Drew speaks, and you could hear him moving in his seat again. 

"You sure?"

High risk high reward.

Fuck it.

"Yes."

“Okay. I’ll- I’ll practice with you.”

You blink, your breath catching for a split second. 

His tone is different— it’s almost too calm, too easy. He’s agreeing to this, just like that. And somehow, that makes the situation feel even more intense.

You look back up, your smile briefly there. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

“Um- so, yes to the hunting party?”

“Uh- yeah, yeah.”

“Okay. I’ll tell the Harringtons tomorrow.”

Drew nods, biting down on his lower lip. 

“Then, um, I should get out now,” you say, clicking your seatbelt off. 

He doesn’t immediately answer. Instead, there’s a brief pause where he seems to reconsider something, but then, as if snapping back to the present, he nods, “yeah. Yeah, I guess so.”

You give him a smile, one tinged with nerves, before opening the car door. The cool night air hits you as you step out. 

And you don’t know why, but you do it again; giving a quick wave to the blacked-out windows, even though you can’t see anything inside. 

Fuck, fuck, fuck. 

Your feet move before you could even process it, and once you step into your apartment building, the realization hits you at once; 

You’re gonna practice being Drew’s girlfriend. 

Practice. 

…practice. 

Which, is as simple as it sounds, right?

Right?

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

word count: 4.6k

ִ ࣪𖤐 a/n: i was smiling like mad crazy when writing this. also, the pics of anya and drew??? so cute tf

and yes, a part of me died at the sag awards when he's no longer blond... but buzzcut ?- classic.

official taglist for this series: @ecstqzy @wheeniemyloove @melvigaristaa @hugheswife @maybankslover @iwannagetdickeddown @lilithblackkk @mattiwe01 @rafeslvttygirl @jessiskindacoolig @suzuki-18

elevator | other | two | index | four

[ashblooddragons]

In Ripe And Ruin

This was a request by @vavafaure1994 I'm so sorry this took me so long to make! I hope it was worth the wait!

also special thanks to @sugutoad for making this fics moonboard! I don't know what I would do without you girly!

Word Count: 2504

Warnings: semi public sex, dirty talk, oral f receiving, swearing, p in v sex, loss of Virginity, purity kink, blood kink, tell me if I missed anything

Summary: When Lady Elia Martell came to the Red Keep for her little sister's betrothal, she didn't expect to catch the attention of a certain Rouge Prince and most certainly didn't expect this visit to involve her being the one betrothed and not her little sister. also this is my first ever smut so do be kind, I tried my best!

I can’t believe my father agreed to come to the little Prince Jacaerys sixth nameday. Though I shouldn’t be surprised, not after seeing that letter from the heir asking if her son and my youngest sister could be betrothed.

I watch as the soon-to-be betrothed run around together. “She will be Queen one day if we agree to this match. Don’t you wish for Arianne to sit on a throne just as you will sit mine?” My father says as he smiles and waves to the heir to the iron throne. 

“But that is the thing, Father, she will not sit on the throne, only look pretty beside it with that boy's seed leaking down her legs as she clutches her swelled belly.” I fire back through clenched teeth as I smile at what seems to be a prancing lion turned human, and not in a good way. 

“Elia.” He chides

“I speak only the truth you seem to be blind to, Father. What you forget at every turn is that we are not like them, we do not see Bastards as sinful as they do. They will kill my dear sister the moment that diseased King falls from that throne. For they know what we all do, that boy, nor his brothers are true-born Velaryons. No matter how hard the Princess so direly tries to make everyone believe they are. And when the King dies, a war will break out, and I will not let little Arianne be in the middle of it.” I hiss back before walking away as my father calls for me.

I walk over to a food table and pick up a honey cake. “Those are my personal favorites as well.” I hear someone say behind me, his voice sent shivers of exhilaration down my spine. I turn and see none other than The Rouge Prince himself smirking at me.

“Well, that’s a shame for you as this is the last one.” I say as I take a bite with a smirk.

He chuckles and looks at my eyes inquisitively. I know why, though my black ringlets and olive skin say I am a  Martell, but my eyes of vibrant Lavender say I’m a Targaryen. “Viserra’s daughter, Elia Martell right?” He inquires as he reaches for a vine of grapes, popping one into his mouth.

My mother passed birthing me, I’m the only child of Princess Viserra. I’ve been told if it weren’t for my hair and skin tone I’d be her clone and anytime I see her portrait I can’t blame them as I at times think someone had ruined one pf mone own only to realize it is my mother’s. 

“What gave it away?” I tease smiling when he laughs fondly. His laugh a deep and sultry sound and the way he’s looking at me as if I’m a gazelle and he’s a lion about to pounce on its prey and have the most delectable feast, leaves me breathless trying to find my footing again.

“What brings a sand Queen to this shit-filled city? Surely there is more to your visit than just making men think most debauched thoughts.” He says as he reaches for two wine glasses from a servant passing by, handing me one with his signature smirk. 

“I had not meant to make men think such ways, though if they are that is their problem is it not?” I say looking down at my dress, in Dorne it would be seen as normal and lovely dresses fit for the heiress to her families seat. But the dress of the finest silks and chiffon only reserves me disgusted looks and the word ‘whore’ whispered behind me as I pass.

“Hmm, that doesn’t answer my question, why are you here? Dorne only comes here if it is of the utmost importance.” 

“My little sister, Arianne,” I say pointing to her talking to the little Prince Jacaerys. “There’s a possible betrothal between her and the little Prince. I do not think it is the right choice, there is a war to come, you know this just as well as I do there is no avoiding it. I do not want her to be in the middle of something she has no part in. She is too gentle and kind for your cruel and septic city and Kingdom filled with snakes and vultures reader to swallow her whole. I do not like that the Princess is now bringing house Martell into her mess because she can not clean it up on her own. Targaryen problems should stay with the Targaryens” I say seriously.

“Are you not also Targaryen?” He says amused looking me up and down trying to asses me after my little speech.

Underestimated me, you will learn to never do that my Prince. 

“Yes I am, I even claimed the she-dragon Sliverwing, but it is not I the Princess wishes to bring into her problems, it is my sister a girl with no Targaryen blood. If it were me that would be a different story, but it isn’t.” 

“Well, put.” He says as he holds out a hand to me. “Would you do me the honor of a dance?” He asks and I take his hand letting him lead me to the horde of dancing courtiers and ladies. 

“So tell me, I had heard you claimed Sliverwing, though not how you had done it.” He says gripping my waist holding me close enough I feel his breath against my ear sending a shiver of want down my spine.

“I kept seeing something in the clouds, it felt like it was pulling at my very soul, calling to me. One night I couldn’t handle it anymore I left the keep and followed that pull and when I finally felt the end of the string, felt it finally slacken, there she was, as if waiting for me to build the courage to face her. I climbed her back, I didn’t need to say a word she thrust herself into the air letting out a happy roar. I knew then with her wings beating under me what I had done, what every child, especially a Targaryen child dreams of, I claimed a dragon.” 

When I looked up at him again he seemed enthralled with my story. I gasp when I see how close we’ve gotten, our lips only an inch apart only needing one of us to bridge the gap and our lips would be locked. I look him in the eyes and see the lust filling his amethyst pools and I know he sees the same lust in my Lavender ones. 

“It’s interesting that our souls know where we belong before we do, don’t you think?” He asks in a tone that tells me there is a darker, more debauched reason behind this question.

When he turns me in time with the beat of the music I feel dizzy with lust, the only thing grounding me is him grabbing my hands so my arms are crossed against my chest and my back rests against his chest. when I look up at the royal table I see the Crowned Princess glaring at me and the Prince, I see the rage she feels towards me and the want she has for The Rouge Prince.

“And what is your soul telling you now, my Prince?” I ask turning my head to look up at him and when I do I feel his breath fan my lips. I feel a coil of need, of lust, form in my abdomen as I feel the large hardness of him against me.

“That it seems we need privacy.” He says as he grips my hand pulling me through the horde of dancers until he leaves the throne room. He continues to drag me until he finds a secluded corridor, he then turns and kisses me walking me back until my back hits the cool stone of the keep. 

I gasp when he dips his head down and starts to suck and bite at the soft skin of my neck. “How have I lived this long without tasting your sweet lips, sweet skin? Is that cunt of yours just as sweet?” He asks as he rucks up the skirt of my dress, I feel his hand grips my thigh as the other grips my hair keeping my head in place as he devourers my lips again swallowing any moans or whimpers that would escape me. 

I gasp when I feel his fingers graze against my wet core. “Gods you're already wet, I knew you wanted me just as much as I wanted you.” He says as he gets down on his knees in front of me lifting my leg onto his shoulder. 

When I realize what he is trying to do I grip his hair stopping his advancement. “I–I’ve never–.” I stutter out blushing as he gives me a wolfish grin.

“Your telling me this sweet cunt is unspoiled? That I am the first to taste it?” He asks as if in a trance.

“Yes, I still have my maidenhood.” I say breathlessly. 

I gasp at the way he looks up at me after learning of this, it’s the look of a madman, of a man given all he has desired on a silver platter and now it is time for him to feast. 

And with that thought in my mind, he delves forward between my legs to lick at my wet core. I slap my hand to my lips trying to muffle my moans. 

I can’t help but fear someone will hear us, more so me I suppose, as of course he couldn’t bring me to his chambers or even a storage closet, only a secluded corridor where anyone can hear or see us. For some reason the thought of someone catching us excites me, making me clench on nothing.

I feel his tongue inside my core and I move my skirts so I can see him better. When I do I see him smirking up at me as he sucks on my pearl, I throw my head back letting out a loud moan. 

“Seven hells, keep singing for me, love.” I hear him growl against me as he laves at my pearl and he sinks a finger inside me curling it just right to make me see stars. As he licks and sucks, pumps and curls I feel my legs tremble the only thing keeping me up is the Prince.

“Please! Please! Please!” I beg not fully sure for what though all I know is the coil in my gut is hot and tight and I need it to release.

“Not yet, love, you don’t get to peak without me.” He says as he rises back up keeping a grip on my thigh as he unties his trousers. 

When he pulls out what must be his cock I gasp and shack my head. “Th–there's no way that is going to fit.” 

I only hear him chuckle as he kisses my neck again gripping my other thigh so he can lift me and my legs wrap around his waist. “It’ll fit, it may be painful but I’ll make it fit.” 

I feel him tap the head of his cock to my pearl making me whimper before he positions himself to my core stretching me to the point of pain. I bite his shoulder fighting back my scream of pain as tears roll down my face. 

“Shh, it’s alright, love just relax.” He whispers as he hisses as he tries to push his way through. “Fuck your a vice, you weren’t lying about being a maiden.” He groans

I continue to cry and whimper as I bite his shoulder until he pushes his way through till he bottoms out, once he does I feel something snap.

He rests his brow to mine waiting for me to relax before he moves, he kisses my tears as they fall slower and slower now as the pain subsides to want and need. I try and move my hips silently imploring him to move, and when I look up at him again I see him smirking down at me. 

“Please.” I whimper out.

“Please what, love?” He teases and I look up at him pleadingly. “Tell me what you need.”

“Move, please move.” I say not knowing what else to say to convey my need.

He lets an animalistic growl as he starts to thrust into me, gripping my hips and plush thighs. I bite my lip trying to hold back my moans only letting the whimpers and whines of pleasure leave my throat.

“Fuck, look at that mess.” I hear him groan as he looks down at where we meet. When I pick my dress up more so I can see what he speaks of,  I see the smear of blood coating his cock and white hairs upon his pelvis. 

“I’m sorry.” I moan out gripping his shoulders tighter as he thrusts into me faster and harder. 

“Don’t be, love, it’s a welcome sight.” He says before capturing my lips in a searing kiss that leaves me breathless as he fucks me against the stone wall. 

I moan into his lips until he pulls back looking me in the eyes as he hits me where I see stars. “You won’t need to worry for your sister anymore, love. For she won’t be needed for an alliance anymore once I fuck my babe into you and wed you before the gods.” 

I can only moan and nod my head in response completely lost to the pleasure he is giving me. He continues to thrust into me hitting me each time in the spot that makes my mind go black. That is until he grips my hair and makes me look at him.

“Fucking say your mine, say you’re made for me.” He demands as he continues to thrust into me.

“I’m your, my Prince, all yours.” I gasp out feeling my peak on the precipice 

“Daemon.” He growls out.

“Wh–what?”

“Call me by my fucking name.” He says emphasizing each word with a sharp thrust. 

“Daemon! Daemon! Daemon!” I cry out as my peak crashes over me in sharp suffocating waves. I swear I hear him groan as he releases his spend in me but I can’t be sure as all I can hear is the pounding of my own heart in my ears.

Once we’ve both come down from our highs he sets me on my own two feet again steadying me as my legs still tremble. I try and ignore the feel of his sticky seed leaking from my core and roll down my legs.

“Did you mean it? Did you mean what you said of marrying me?” 

“Yes.” Is all he says in return.

I don’t know why I believe him, but when I look into his eyes I find nothing but conviction and honesty.

Seems my sister won’t be getting betrothed after all, but me instead. this is most definitely not how I thought this night would go. I think with a chuckle as I kiss the Pri-Daemon again saying in all but words I accept.

Taglist @sugutoad @ilikefelines @sachaa-ff @mmogurl @classicsimpforaaronwarner @baybaybear1

[okaysonny]

the one where they lose yenna ╏ zack + johan

❤️ @always-lovingly — hope you like it!

★ summary: eli bestows zack with the greatest honour: babysitting yenna. nothing will go wrong, right?

★ details: fluff, no reader, spoilers for 517 onwards, canon dynamics. (aka zack and johan's relationship is platonic)

★ wc: 3.4k

★ A/N: I HATED MAKING THIS!!! comedy is really hard to write + i feel like i waffled too much... made a post about it, but this fic is drawn from s2, ep6 of friends (the one with the baby on the bus)

how did they get ben back with no paperwork/confirmation? idk but it makes my job easier #yes

"what? you want me to look after zami tomorrow?"

"…her name is yenna" eli smiles at him sheepishly. "and yes. i have to unexpectedly work at the fruit stall. derek got a stomach bug and there's no one to cover for him. plus, the daycares closed on saturdays. would you mind?"

"…eli…i can't believe this…"

of course. eli should've expected this. what eighteen year old wants to spend their saturday babysitting?

"sorry zack. don't worry about it. i'll get someone else to— "

"i can't believe you're trusting me to babysit zam— i mean yenna!" a beam of light is practically shining on him.

eli blinks. he swears he can see zack's eyes well up.

"do you really trust me to? you really think i'm worthy?!"

well, he wasn't expecting that. eli laughs softly, shaking his head. "well…you visit her a lot and you're really great with her. i think you'd do a good job"

zack covers his mouth, trying not to cry in front of the beauty department's only guy. he does visit yenna a lot. how can he not? the fact that the baby he found happened to be eli's daughter…it felt like fate.

he coughs into his hand, composing himself, before looking at eli with determination - the determination of being the best babysitter in the world. "…it would be my honour"

eli smiles softly. he was hesitant in entrusting yenna with someone who misnames her half the time. but now, he doesn't regret it one bit.

"…thanks, zack"

"oh…you really came prepared, huh?"

zack has come prepared. he still owns that baby carrier from before. he also wears something without buttons this time. and he still uses gel, but not too much gel, because the spikes could stab her.

"of course!" he nods enthusiastically. "only the best for zam— yenna! mesh ventilation to ensure maximum comfort!"

eli can't help but chuckle. "that's…very nice of you"

with one hand, eli hands zack a list of instructions and a bag of supplies. his other hand is holding yenna, as adorable as she always is.

"…if anything happens, call me. i'll try make it back as soon as possible" he hesitantly hands yenna over, her little hands grabbing at zack's face.

"ba!" she squeals.

his eyes light up. "zam— yenna!" he cradles her head gently. "don't worry, eli ! she's safe with me!"

he nods, exhaling slowly. he reaches out to stroke her hair fondly. "you have a good time with uncle zack, okay? i'll be back before you know it" he whispers.

eli steps back, checking the time on his phone. "shoot, i need to go. you'll be fine, right?"

zack grins, using yenna's hand to give him a little wave. "yes, yes. go and chop fruit or whatever"

eli waves back and zack watches as his figure slowly gets smaller. he looks down at her, speaking with conviction.

"alright, zami. uncle zack will give you the best day of your life"

"what the hell, man? why'd you bring a baby here?"

okay, so saturday just happened to coincide with his study session. but it's a sacrifice he's willing to make.

zack hastily covers her ears. "don't swear in front of yenna! this is eli's daughter, y'know?! i'm an uncle on babysitting duty"

johan looks down at yenna with a mix of contempt and confusion, her big eyes staring back at him.

"ba?"

she's holding a baton with the top of a toy wand attached to it. his brows furrow, remembering his fight with eli.

Are you messing with me? What's with the toy?

whoops. in his defense, how was he meant to know?

johan sighs in exasperation and closes his book. "we're not getting anything done if she's here. by the way, don't expect me to help, alright? you're on your own"

"hmph. yenna doesn't want to hear your obscenities anyway" he pats her head protectively.

he rolls his eyes. "yeah, okay"

yenna suddenly starts smacking her baton-wand against the edge of the table, the smile never leaving her face.

BANG. BANG. BANG.

zack stares at the wand, already dented from her relentless attack on the furniture.

"alright yenna, that's enough of that" he says nervously, gently prying it out of her hand. she immediately starts to fuss, her big eyes tearing up.

johan glares at him. "nice job, genius. now she's going to cry"

"hush!" zack snaps. he waves the wand awkwardly in front of yenna’s face. "see, yenna? it's all better!"

yenna, unimpressed, lets out a wail that could rival a siren.

johan groans and presses his fingers to his temples. "you need to get something to keep her quiet. a softer toy maybe"

zack perks up at the suggestion. "hey, we should go to the city! we can grab something real quick!"

"we?"

"yes, we. you're not sitting on your ass while i do this alone" he grumbles.

johan stares at him in disbelief, but yenna’s cries grow louder, and he visibly gives in. “fine. but if she screams on the bus, i'm out”

zack grins, already packing up. he turns to yenna with a cheerful voice. "alright princess, let’s go find you the perfect toy!"

"...gross"

"you're gross" he mumbles, as they make their way to the bus stop.

zack awkwardly adjusts the baby carrier strapped to his chest, yenna wriggling furiously against him.

“why is she squirming so much?” johan asks, sitting in the seat across from him, his arms folded.

“she’s probably uncomfortable” zack shifts the straps again. yenna lets out an irritated whine, kicking her tiny feet against his stomach. “c’mon, work with me here…”

johan leans back. “maybe she can sense you have no idea what you’re doing”

“real helpful, johan. you wanna take over?” he glares at him while holding the carrier steady.

“pass”

“yeah, that’s what i thought” zack adjusts the carrier again, but yenna’s whining only gets louder. people start glancing over, their expressions ranging from amused to annoyed.

“okay, okay. hang on” he sighs in defeat, unbuckling the straps, gently lifting yenna out of the carrier and onto his lap.

“so now you’re happy, huh?” zack mutters. yenna’s only response is a delighted giggle as she smacks his knee with her baton-wand.

“you’re spoiling her” johan comments, deadpan.

“what do you know about babies, johan?”

he shrugs. "if you say so"

yenna, meanwhile, starts squirming again, clearly eager to explore her surroundings.

“you wanna stretch those tiny legs?” zack carefully sets her down on the floor of the bus. she stands unsteadily for a moment, then takes a few steps, laughing as she bangs her toy against the metal pole by their seats.

“...are you seriously letting her walk around here?”

“she needs some freedom!” zack defends himself, his eyes flicking between yenna and johan. "she's only a baby, it’s not like she’s gonna go far"

“...right”

“calm down. i'm watching her!” zack beams confidently, leaning back in his seat while keeping one eye on yenna.

for a moment, the two of them sit in silence, the bus rumbling along as she continues her wobbly exploration of the aisle.

“...y’know, you’re pretty calm for someone who's scared of babies”

johan shoots him a glare. “i’m not scared of babies”

“you totally are! the look on your face when she said ‘ba’ was priceless”

johan’s eyes narrow. “keep talking and i’ll make you ‘ba’ yourself”

they continue bickering, their voices overlapping as yenna toddles around the aisle, occasionally smacking the bus poles with her baton-wand.

the bus screeches to a halt at their stop. zack stands up, slinging the bag full of baby supplies over his shoulder. "alright, this is us"

johan follows closely behind as they get off, stepping onto the bustling city street. the sound of car horns and chatter fill the air, and zack immediately starts scanning the area.

“so” johan drawls, looking around. “what exactly are we looking for? a squeaky duck? a magic wand that doesn’t double as a weapon?”

“something soft, like you said” zack adjusts the straps of the carrier on his shoulder. "i never want to hear that banging noise again"

johan opens his mouth to speak, but pauses. his eyes flick down, then back up to zack, his face suddenly paling.

“...zack?” his voice is unusually tense.

“what?” zack asks distractedly, glancing around for a toy store.

johan's face is laced with panic.

“where’s the baby?”

“what are you talking about? she’s right—”

but she isn't. he glances down at the empty carrier on his shoulders, his voice catching in his throat.

we left her on the bus.

"johan, you rat!" zack snarls. "how could you forget about our child?"

"how the fuck is this my fault? you’re the one babysitting her!" johan snarls back. "and what do you mean our child?"

the argument attracts curious stares from passerby.

zack waves his hand dismissively, his movements frantic. "who cares?!" he yells, sprinting off. "we need to catch that fucking bus!"

zack hears johan groan, but his footsteps quickly follow after, the bus luckily still in sight as it makes a turn.

"it's fine!" zack pants. "we just need to alert the bus driver and it'll be fine!"

they turn around the corner, but stop in their tracks.

they're both flabbergasted as it's joined by two other identical buses on their route, the traffic blocking the vehicles out of sight regardless. something out of a 90's sitcom.

zack's lip begins to tremble. he's a dead man. will he die without knowing mira's touch?

he aggressively shakes his fist at the sky. "OH COMPASSIONATE BUDDHA!!! why have you forsaken me?"

"...what the fuck? relax. let's just..." johan pants, trying to catch his breath. "let's just think, okay? there's gotta be a way to fix this"

they both stand in contemplation.

they can fix this, right?

"thank you! please come again~" eli hands over the bag of fruit cheerfully, waving the customer goodbye.

his smile falters.

strange. he suddenly has a weird feeling.

he shakes his head, shrugging it off. it's probably nothing, he says to himself.

"the transit authority!" zack exclaims, an imaginary light bulb appearing on his head. "the bus drivers' hand all lost property to them. we just need to call and let them know we left a baby! she has to be with them! no idiot would leave a baby on the bus!"

johan nods, both of them blissfully unaware of the irony. "i was gonna say that"

zack scoffs. "sure you were. now, all we need to do is—"

zack's phone rings. he looks at the screen, his eyes widening in horror.

"i-it's eli" he stammers.

a smile tugs on johan's lips, slightly amused. he gestures to the phone. "answer it. it's gonna look suspicious if you don't"

zack glares at him, but doesn't argue. he breathes out slowly before accepting it.

"eli !" his voice is incredibly high pitched. "what's up? shouldn't you be chopping lemons or something?"

"i'm on my break" he laughs. "i just wanted to check in. is everything okay, zack?"

"everything's fine!" he chirps. "me and yenna are having a great time!"

"...that's good. would you mind putting her on the phone? i want to hear her voice" he says gently.

fuck.

johan smirks, not even trying to hide it anymore, watching zack in anticipation.

zack closes his eyes, pausing.

he does the only thing that comes to mind, shoving the phone near johan's mouth. the latter's face drops.

what the hell are you doing? he mouths.

zack covers the phone so eli can't hear.

"act like a baby" he hisses.

"over my dead body"

"just do it, you hobo! or i'll tell your mom you failed english again" he glares.

"...you wouldn't"

"wanna find out?"

"um...zack?" eli speaks up again. "what's going on? is she—"

"...goo goo?" johan squeaks, removing zack's hand from the speaker.

zack winces. he's heard better acting in porn.

radio silence.

"is she okay? she sounds a bit—"

"i think she needs a diaper change! bye eli !" he hangs up quickly.

johan stares daggers at him, his cheeks slightly flushed. "i'm gonna beat your ass"

zack shrugs, googling the number for the transit authority. "you can beat my ass after we find zami"

"...i thought her name was yenna?"

the human resources department is a picture of monotony, the ticking of the clock being the loudest sound in the room. the clerk behind the desk often jokes to himself that he lives in a time loop. every day was the same — forms to file, complaints to process, and the occasional awkward phone call. nothing ever changes, and he's stopped expecting it to.

until today.

the phone on his desk buzzes, cutting through the endless drone of routine.

“transit authority here” the caller begins briskly. “we’ve got a...situation. someone called claiming they left a baby on one of our buses”

the man blinks, the pen in his hand frozen mid-air. “a baby?”

“yeah. a little girl. we’ve got her safe now, but we’re bringing her over to your department, since...you know, you handle these things” the voice sounds exasperated, as if they can’t believe they're saying this either.

he swivels slightly in his chair, still trying to process the information. “so, wait. someone just...left their baby on the bus?”

“that’s what we’ve been told” the caller says with an audible sigh. “the guy on the phone sounded panicked. i told him to go to your building”

"...what kind of idiot leaves their baby on a bus?"

“i’m asking myself the same question”

hanging up the phone, the clerk leans back in his chair, shaking his head in disbelief.

this is new.

he glances at the clock, bracing himself for what kind of man would walk through the door.

or men, he should say.

the door to the department bursts open, startling the clerk so badly he nearly knocks over his coffee. his head snaps up, expecting one man, but instead, there were two.

they both look like they just sprinted a marathon. the first, a broad shouldered guy with a baby carrier strapped awkwardly across his chest, is hunched over, gasping for air. his face bore the genuine panic of someone who just lost something irreplaceable.

the second young man follows behind him, his sharp eyes darting around the room, like he’d rather be anywhere else.

the clerk stares at them, dumbfounded, as they both stand there panting. finally, he clears his throat, glancing at the baby carrier. “so… i’m guessing you’re here for the baby?”

"y-yes! the baby...we called about the baby! is she here?" zack heaves.

"...she's here"

zack and johan sigh in relief.

"is one of you the father?"

zack rubs his neck shyly. "ah...well no, but we know her very well. can we collect her?"

the older man crosses his arms. "if neither of you are, you'll need to call one of her parents, so we can confirm guardianship"

fuck.

zack looks at johan in wordless communication. it'll be awkward. it'll be difficult. but they both know what they have to do.

"w-what i meant to say was..." zack slowly wraps an arm around johan's shoulder, cursing his sudden high pitched voice. "we're actually both the fathers"

zack leans his head against johan's, trying to control his trembling lip as he smiles sweetly.

the clerk presses his own lips into a thin line, not looking convinced.

johan sighs and briefly scrunches his nose before laying his hand on top of zack's, leaning into his touch. his smile is incredibly fake and plastered. he's afraid he'll commit murder otherwise.

"mhm..." johan manages to croak out.

radio silence.

if the clerk doesn't believe them, it seems he doesn't care enough to press further. he shrugs, gesturing to the door at the back. "alright. right this way—"

that's all they need to hear before they bolt to the door, flinging it open.

yenna is sitting on a small cot, gripping her beloved baton-wand in one hand. she’s completely unbothered, her big eyes scanning the room with innocent curiosity. she gives the wand a few lazy taps against the cot, unaware of the trouble they had to go through.

the moment zack spots her, he rushes over, scooping her up without hesitation. “yenna! we’re so sorry! your uncles are so sorry” he says, his voice filled with guilt. he hugs her tightly, rocking her gently. “uncle zack won't let this happen again, okay? never, ever”

standing just behind him, johan watches silently. "...you’re so ridiculous" he mutters. but zack knows he doesn't mean it. he knows him too well to not spot the softness in his voice.

he doesn’t look back, too wrapped up in stroking yenna's back. "couldn't care less, mommy's boy"

as zack shifts yenna in his arms, her tiny hand stretches out behind him, her fingers reaching for johan. johan hesitates for a moment, glancing down at her outstretched hand, before gently taking her little fingers in his big ones. the room is quiet, the world around them seeming to pause.

johan’s lips curve into a small, genuine smile, one he doesn’t realise he’s wearing. he gently plays with her fingers, a silent exchange passing between them.

zack glances over his shoulder and freezes when he spots it.

a slow grin spreads across his face. “i knew it!” he blurts out, triumphant. “i knew you secretly felt the same way!”

johan's ears turn faintly pink but he doesn't let go of yenna’s hand. “...shut up”

zack snickers. “you don’t fool me anymore! everyone knows you’re actually a big softie”

johan grits his teeth, his grip not leaving her fingers. "whatever, man"

they don't see the clerk silently watching them through the door, his hand hovering over its knob.

he did think they were lying. they were way too jittery to be convincing.

but the sight of the scene made him stop. the broader one, cradling the baby so protectively and murmuring apologies with a guilt-stricken face.

the other, quieter one, gently holding the baby’s hand with a softness that doesn’t match his standoffish appearance.

it’s a moment so tender, so raw, that the clerk pauses, his hand lowering from the door knob. maybe he was being too narrow-minded.

he shakes his head with a bemused smile and turns away, leaving them to their privacy. as he walks back to his desk, he mutters to himself.

"what a progressive world we live in"

after parting ways with johan, who pats yenna's head for a little too long, he sits on a bench, waiting for eli's return.

"okay zami. you had a good time with uncle zack and uncle johan, alright? nothing crazy happened"

"ba!" she chirps back, as if she understands.

zack nods solemnly. "good"

"zack! hey!"

he sees eli walk over, sally with him.

zack spots eli's jaw tense a little less as he sees yenna safe and sound. she instantly reaches out, squealing at the sight of him.

"there you are..." eli beams, gently carrying her. "did you have a good time with uncle zack?" he says softly.

yenna aggresively shakes the wand in response.

he laughs and then looks up at zack. "so, how was it? did she give you much trouble?"

he waves a hand dismissively. "of course not! cool as a breeze. no problems at all"

"wow" sally grins. "eli, you should have him babysit more often!"

eli smiles, his gaze shifting back to yenna. "yeah...thanks a lot zack. i was worried because you hung up suddenly...i guess i was just being paranoid"

i'm off the hook! zack tries not to appear too excited.

he sighs, looking pleased with himself. "psh. don't worry. just had to focus all my attention on her. i'd never leave her out of my sight"

he nods, removing some lint from her clothes. "yeah, i get it. seriously, thanks a—"

he pauses, his smile suddenly dropping.

"hey zack?"

"...yes?" he looks up in anticipation.

is he gonna promote me as official babysitter?

eli turns yenna around, lifting her dress up slightly to reveal a big, bold PROPERTY OF HUMAN SERVICES stamp.

"what's this?" he asks, his voice a little too sweet.

zack's face drops. he can feel comical sweat beads appearing on his forehead.

"w-well that's uh..." he begins, but the words don't form.

eli silently hands yenna to sally, the grin now wiped clean from her face, being replaced with awkwardness instead.

eli smiles at him as he walks closer, pulling his sleeves up and cracking his knuckles.

"sally? please cover her eyes" he says quietly, his stare never leaving zack.

"wait eli !" he splutters. "let's just talk about this! it was—"

PUNCH

"owww! fuck! okay fine! just watch the hair—"

PUNCH

A/N: posted this on boxing day because zack is a BOXER 💜

divider: @thecutestgrotto

[morlao]

Sisterly advice

▪︎Luke Castellan x fem!reader

▪︎daughter of Aphrodite

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

You and Luke have always been close. So close, in fact, that newcomers automatically assumed that you were dating. The surprised look on their faces when the older campers told them you weren´t, was according to your siblings hilarious.

It's evening and you're sitting on your bed, your legs crossed, while Silena is braiding your hair.

Of all your half-siblings she is your favourite one. Loving, gentle and kind. She is the perfect definition of a daughter of Aphrodite, as she embodies everything that comes to your mind when you think about love - and you want others to feel the same way. They should also think of her and not your other siblings with their childish plays and cruel rituals of breaking others hearts. Maybe they themselves don´t understand what it means being the child of love.

Silena´s fingers run gently through your hair, parting it and intertwining the individual strands together.

“So… what about Charlie?”

You don't have to see her face to know that a smile flashes across her lips at his name. “What about him?”

“Did he finally ask you out?”

She laughs, trying to pretend that she finds the idea absurd. “We are just friends.”

You turn around and give her a look that expresses your opinion about it all too clearly. Don´t try to fool me, darling. I see what´s going on between the two of you!

Again, Silena laughs, gently turning your head forward again to finish the braid. “Okay, other topic. What about you and Luke?”

You copy her laugh. “What about us? We´re just friends.”

You could feel her rising her eyebrows. “Let me give you some sisterly advice: Just friends don´t look at each other like that.”

“Who did you quote? That sentence is so cliché!”

She laughs, taking a hair tie from your bedside table and wrapping it around your braid. “Well… maybe it is but it totally fits you and Luke.”

You turn around, giving her a skeptical look.

Silena shrugs and sits down beside you. “I mean… have you seen his smile when he looks at you? Also he constantly finds excuses to touch you. He improves your posture in archery, even though you are at least as good at it as he is. And – “ she looks at you triumphantly, “He gives you a kiss on the cheek every time he greets you or says goodbye.”

You feel your cheeks flush and cross your arms, trying to think of a counter argument. “A lot of people do that.”

“Yeah, but you´re the only one where Luke does that. Haven´t you noticed?”

To be honest: no, you haven´t. But now as you think about it in detail... it is true. When Luke greets one of the other girls, he just smiles at them.

“In addition, he immediately drops everything when he sees you”, Silena adds, “Yesterday he left in the middle of training because he saw you walking by and wanted to talk to you. Or on Friday, he was in the middle of a conversation with Chris and you waved at him. And what did he do? Exactly, he immediately jogged over. Also last week…”

“Enough!” You laugh, trying to make her shut up by covering her mouth.

Silena dodges you, laughing as you reach into the void. "He let you draw hearts on his sneakers! He watches the sunset with you! He bought you a bracelet for your birthday! You know, I could go on with this for hours." She steps closer, cupping your cheeks with her hands. “Believe me, sis: He´s in love with you!” Her voice is melodic, angel like even. Loving, gentle and kind.

You feel the heat rising to your cheeks and embarrassed you pulls away and cover your face with your hands. “I´m pretty sure he isn´t! You´re overinterpreting!”

“Nope, I´m a daughter of Aphrodite, I can feel it!”

“So am I! And I don't feel anything!”

Silena grabs her cherry lipstick. “Your reaction makes me think that you like him too!”

Did you like him? You weren´t sure. Of course he meant the world to you, but did you like him more as than a friend? Wouldn´t that be weird kissing him since you know him for so long?

"I'm not sure", you finally manage to say, rolling off your bed and taking a look at the clock. Fortunately, you can at least put the topic off for today. "Oh, damn! Come on, we are already late!”

Silena grabs your hand and leads you outside of cabin 10. It´s already dark and in the distance you can see the flickering flames of the campfire. Most of the campers seem to have already gathered there, their drink in their hands and a smile on their lips as they talk to their siblings and friends.

“Finally!”, one of the Apollo girls greets you.

Chris Rodriguez grins. “Why are the Aphrodite girls always late?”

That is definitely not true! You're not always late. Just most of the times. God, you hate being a cliché.

Luke lifts his head as he hears his brother say “Aphrodite girls”. He spots you and his face lights up like a Christmas tree. Immediately he walks up to you and hugs you, his lips placing a soft kiss on your cheek.

From the corner of your eye you can see Silena rising an eyebrow, as if to say "Well, what did I say?"

“You look amazing”, Luke whispers in your ear, before breaking away from the hug and greeting Silena with a smile. “Charlie is already waiting for you!”, he grins, nodding towards said boy.

Silena giggles, before walking over to him. Gods, it was so obvious that she was head over heels for him.

Luke takes your hand and leads you over to his place next to Chris, where he had already a blanket spread out for the two of you. “Mylady” He pretends to bow.

You can feel your cheeks blush as you sit down. “Thank you so much, Mister!”

Gods, somehow Luke always manages to put a smile on your face. You sit down and stretch out your legs, feeling the comforting heat of the fire.

As Luke takes a seat next to you, you can feel him slide closer, his arm touching yours. Feeling him beside you was comforting, the closest feeling you had to "home".

Luke Castellan. You tilt your head back and look up at the stars as if you expect to see his name engraved up there. You have always liked his name. Luke Castellan. It feels like a secret incantation on your lips.

You can feel his eyes on you. The flickering flames make his face look almost golden. Golden boy. Why didn´t you notice before how handsome he is?

The next song starts and immediately everyone joins in. They lie in each other's arms and rock back and forth, bawling Country roads.

Well, maybe it was just because Silena had told you, but Luke really seems to find exuses for touching you. He leans against you, his arm around your shoulders - even after the song has already ended. You enjoy feeling him so close next to you. The heat he radiates. His soft skin against yours. The realization hits you straight in the face. You had fallen in love with your best friend.

He looks at you and you can't help but smile. Fascinating how beautiful an evening with a campfire could be. For a moment it feels like gods and monsters didn't exist. For a moment everything seems peaceful.

 “Can I talk to you for a second?” You can feel Luke´s warm breath on your neck as he whispers in your ear.

Your heart skips a beat. Did he notice the way you looked at him? Did he suspect something? Was Silena wrong? “Sure!”

Your voice sounds more enthusiastic than you feel.

Luke takes your hand and leads you away from the campfire, away from the singing and the laughter of the others.

You look at him, smiling nervously. “Sooo… what is it? Or did you just want to escape singing Knocking on heavens door.”

He shakes his head, laughing. “No, why would I want to miss Drew´s wonderful voice?”

You cringe at the thought of your sister singing louder than everyone else – and on top of that terribly wrong. She doesn't hit a single note.

“No, actually… Y/N…” He runs a hand through his hair, trying to find the right words. “Gods, you´re so beautiful.”

It´s not the first time that somebody told you that. In fact, being a daughter of Aphrodite, you had heard it thousands of times already.

Still his words felt special to you. Special because he wasn´t just anybody. Ä

He was Luke. Your best friend Luke. Luke who was always there for you, who comforted you when you had trouble with your family, who managed to make you laugh when you lay in your bed crying your eyes out over something your stepmother had said. Luke who you trusted with all your heart.

“I wanted to ask you if you'd like to go on a picnic tomorrow?” He avoids looking at you.

Why is he so shy about going on a picnic? That's quite strange since you´d done this a few times before. You had even found your very own spot with a fantastic view over the sea. There was nothing more beautiful than watching sunsets while drinking juice and eating biscuits. So why does he seem so insecure?

Luke seems to notice your confusion. “I meant as a date”, he clarifies.

You raise your eyebrow, your heart racing. “Are you asking me out?”

“Yeah.”

For a moment you stood there, perplexed. Why was it so obvious to the others while you had no idea?

"So... what do you say?" Luke looks at you, biting his lip nervously. He seems to assume that you aren't answering because you're looking for a way to reject him as gently as possible.

Quickly you step forward, brushing a strand of your hair behind your ear. "Yes, I'd love to go on a date with you."

"Really?" Immediately he blushes deeply. That must have slipped out.

"Sure, why wouldn't I?" You giggle, taking his hand. "I've known you for years now. You're kind and brave and one of the most caring people I know."

A laugh escapes his lips. "Wow, if I had known that, I would have asked you way earlier." His hand slowly reaches for your cheek.

You hold your breath as he leans forward and places a soft kiss on your lips. It didn't feel weird at all. The opposite, actually. Seems like sometimes best friends can turn into lovers.

You wrap your arms around him, pulling him closer. Soft kisses become more passionate. His hands run through your hair, slowly brushing loose strands out of your face.

When he pulls away a huge smile creeps across his lips. "I love you, Y/N"

You return his smile, taking his hand and intertwining your fingers. "I love you, too."

As you walk back to the campfire holding hands, Silena beams at you. "I told you, Y/N, friends don't look at each other like that."

You shake your head, laughing. "Your advice really is the best."

[n3on-graveston3s-calling]

Rating: E Characters: Portgas D. Ace, Fushichou Marco, Izou, Thatch, Reader Warnings: Temperature Play, BDSM undertones, Wax Play Series: Kanon's Kinktober '24 Do not interact with this post if you are under the age of 18; the following material is intended for mature audiences only.

Summary:

“You’re killin’ me,” Ace murmured, reaching out to smooth his fingers down your spine. You gasped at the trail of heat they left in their wake, your movements stilling. “Eh? Você gostou disso?” He questioned, his head tilting, watching as you quickly struggled to tug your pants off the rest of the way. Bingo. “I don’t know why you decided to do this new fancy trick with your hands-” “It’s not just my hands.”

Notes:

HAPPY FIRST WEEK OF KINKTOBER. Some fun notes: -I'll be posting one fic for the next 4 weeks for Kinktober; my work schedule doesn't give me the free time to do a fic for every single day, so I decided one a week, posted on every Wednesday, with a bonus one on Halloween itself. -Each fic will be tagged appropriately, I'll even include a rundown of what to expect here in the notes. -First up is Ace, with Temperature Play ( Devil Fruits Are Fun! ) + Wax Play, with a fem!Reader. There isn't anything too crazy in here, just Ace being a little possessive and absolutely drunk on the reader. Also, Ace does use Brazilian Portuguese in this fic. c: As always: PLEASE PRACTICE SAFE, SANE, CONSENSUAL SEX. THIS IS LOWKEY BDSM MATERIAL. You should always have a system in place to check in with your partner when partaking in more intense scenes, and multiple ways to communicate if you can't speak for some reason- as well as a hard stop Safe word. Neither are used in this fic, but it is discussed in the fic, just in case. PLEASE use candles that are created specifically for wax play ( low burning candles ) if you want to safely try out wax play. Also, always be careful when using fire to not burn yourself, your hair, or anything around you. There are candles you can buy for this. The wax doesn’t heat up to such a high degree. Also, don't be silly, wrap your willy. <3

It was a rare treat to find the Moby Dick and fleet docking at an island for longer than a few hours for a restock run. The latest storm that was churning up the oceans in their pathway had made it too dangerous to even consider taking the whole fleet through. Ace didn’t mind, really; it meant more time to spend with the holder of his attention, the object of his affection. His gaze followed you across the tavern as you laughed with Thatch and Izou. His jaw worked slowly as Izou reached over, tucking a strand of her hair back from your face. Izou wasn’t interested in you, he knew that; Izou had his eyes on someone across the ocean from them.

Still, some part of him- some deeper part that he almost loathed- burned with the urge to make it clear to everyone just who you belonged to.

You was his, and his alone.

“You look ready to burn a hole through the wall,” Marco chimed in as he plopped down beside Ace, his gaze tracking Ace’s own. Ah, the little deckhand. “Got rooms for everyone, yoi. Go.” He waved a hand, and that was all Ace needed to hear as he rose from his seat, leaving a few berry behind for the flagon of ale that he hadn’t even touched- which Marco was greedily reaching for, his own gaze shifting to follow a pair of long legs.

“Ah, speak of the devil!” Izou greeted Ace as he approached, a brow raising as he took in the expression on his face. “I think your free time is over, dear.” He hummed, looking over to Thatch, who snickered into his ale.

You sighed as she leaned back in her chair, gaze flickering up to meet Ace’s in faux innocence. You knew just what had gotten him so worked up- you. Your antics from that morning, getting him all riled up before leaving to go attend to your duties, leaving him high and dry. A shame, really; it had left you aching for more, with this odd sort of anticipation that lingered beneath your skin. “Marco got us all rooms.” You informed Ace, watching as his gaze narrowed slightly. He hadn’t even spoken, yet. Oh, you were in for it.

“Have you eaten?” He asked finally, his hand smoothing over the back of your neck. The touch sent shivers down your spine despite how warm his palm was.

“Mhm,” you answered, bobbing your head. “Guess it is getting late, huh?”

“Don’t break her too hard, Pops wants us out by daybreak.” Izou warned, watching as Ace’s eyes widened, as his cheeks colored. Ah, that cool facade broke far too easily.

“I-I’m not- shut up!” He hissed, ducking his head as his hand dropped from your neck, only to be grabbed by your own hand, fingers lacing as you rose from your seat.

You reached over, stealing one more roll before winking at Izou and Thatch. “See you two in the morning.” Ace sighed with silent relief behind you as you led the way out of the tavern and down the hall. You glanced down at the key Ace was carrying, catching sight of the ruby numbers: 13. The last room in the hall, how nice.

He reached past you, sliding the key into the latch, unlocking the door with a soft ‘click’. You pushed the door open, eager to both be alone with Ace, and to have an actual bed rather than a hammock. As soon as the door closed, his hands were gripping your hips, pulling you back against him. “I’ve wanted you literally all day,” he murmured, lips brushing against the shell of your ear. “Do you know how hard I’ve been?”

“If an erection lasts longer than four hours-”

“I’ll bite you.”

“Do it. I’ll like it.” The teasing was normal, easing both of you into more of a relaxed state as you turned in his grasp. Your arms reached up, winding around his shoulders as you bumped your nose against his own. “You showered,” you whispered, fingers toying with the soft curls at the base of his skull.

“‘S nice to be clean,” his hands squeezed your hips gently, thumbs sliding beneath the hem of your shirt. “I got a question for you, baby.”

His hands were still warm. Oddly so; it wasn’t abnormal for Ace to get heated- literally- when you two were together. But something felt different here. It made your heart begin to slowly speed up behind your ribcage, had you pulling your head back to meet those gorgeous brown eyes of his. “Talk to me, love.”

His cheeks were rosy, his gaze unable to meet your own as he looked to the side. Despite the bravado, he would get shy with you. You were his weakness. “You mentioned an idea the other night that’s been on my mind.”

Your brows furrowed. What had you… Oh! “The candles?” You asked, reaching up to carefully pluck his hat from his head. Your fingers returned to his hair, slowly working through the slightly damp tresses. “Did you wanna try it on me, Ace?” You asked, voice soft- low. Your nails gently brushed against his scalp, watching as his eyes fell shut, as a shudder worked its way through him. “I wouldn’t mind it. I think it could even be pleasurable.”

He groaned softly, his head dropping, chin resting on your shoulder as he simply held you close for a moment. “You’re gonna torment me, huh?” He mused with a soft chuckle, turning his head to press a kiss to your throat. His eyes were heavy; he was tired, but not from exhaustion. The damned narcolepsy… “Strip.” Ace whispered, his lips trailing up towards your jawline. “All the way down,” a kiss to the corner of your lips, “like a good girl.” He finished with a proper kiss to your lips, one of his hands raising to cup your jaw, tilting your head back to deepen the kiss.

You were weak for him, and Gods, he knew it.

You didn’t whine, didn’t pout as he pulled back, a cocky grin pulling at his lips as he sat down on the edge of the bed, eager to watch you disrobe. Cheekily, you turned away from him, your fingers grasping the hem of your shirt, slowly lifting it to reveal your back. Shirt tossed aside, you leaned down, unlacing your shoes slowly while Ace admired the view of your rear. Boots unlaced, you toed one off, then the other, followed by your socks. Slowly straightening back up, your arms raised high above your head, stretching. The movement allowed Ace the grace of seeing the subtle swell of your breasts- and the hint alone got a soft groan from him. “Merda,” he sighed, shaking his head. Your hands smoothed over your sides as you continued your little show, fingers hooking in the waistband of your pants. Slowly- as slowly as you could manage, you lowered your pants down your thighs, over your knees, down to your calves before bending over-

“You’re killin’ me,” Ace murmured, reaching out to smooth his fingers down your spine. You gasped at the trail of heat they left in their wake, your movements stilling. “Eh? Você gostou disso?” He questioned, his head tilting, watching as you quickly struggled to tug your pants off the rest of the way. Bingo.

“I don’t know why you decided to do this new fancy trick with your hands-”

“It’s not just my hands.”

Your eyes widened as you turned around, facing him with blown pupils. “... Fuck.” You whispered, taking in the gorgeous sight in front of you- much the way he was also admiring the view of your nearly nude form. While you’d been giving him a show, he’d stripped down completely. The tan line from his shorts was always comical, but you weren’t focused on that. No- sweet Poseidon, he was already half hard.

“Trying to,” he reached over, hooking his fingers under the side of your panties, tugging you closer by it. “Gotta enjoy this meal in front of me first before I do anything else, though.”

“Ace-” You gasped, cheeks flushing at his eagerness, a hand raising to cover your mouth as his lips pressed against the sensitive skin beneath your naval.

His lips worked down, teeth scraping against the sensitive, soft skin before hooking in the hem of your panties. Wordlessly, he sank to his knees, tugging the fabric down with him. You knew the rules, now- hold on, and don’t let go until he was done with drinking his fill. Your panties fell around your ankles, and he did help you step out of them- just so that he could have you raise one leg up, settling it over his shoulder. You had nothing to brace against except for Ace, but he liked it that way.

The first press of his lips against your folds was gentle, an almost loving kiss pressed to such an intimate, sensitive space. Your fingers wove through his hair with one hand, the other reaching down to grasp his shoulder as his tongue smoothed through your folds, parting them for the near burning touch of tongue to sensitive clit. “Ace!” You gasped in surprise, nearly jumping back before his arm looped around your other leg, holding you in place.

And here you were, thinking that the ice you’d used a few weeks back had been a shock to the system. Nothing could have prepared you for the feeling of his abnormally warmed tongue lapping at your pussy like a man starved. He moaned against you at your taste, fingers squeezing the back of your thigh in appreciation. His nose brushed against your clit from this angle, each movement of his head giving you sparks of pleasure. His tongue lapped at your weeping center, drinking what you offered him. Your head tilted back, hips slowly grinding against his tongue, his nose, his lips, taking the pleasure he was greedily offering you.

You could stay like this for hours, with his head between your thighs, desperately licking at your core, at your swollen clit, gasping and moaning his name- and you had, multiple times. But something told you Ace had other ideas- and you weren’t ready to cum, not yet. Not that your legs would hold you up if you did, anyway. “Ace,” you panted, jolting with each hot swipe of his tongue across your clit. You glanced down- and good Gods above and below, that was a mistake. His hair was a wavy mess from your fingers running through it, tangling it. He was looking up at you, gaze lidded and afire, his cheeks rosy and as he pulled back for a moment, his chin and mouth glistened. “Holy shit.” you couldn’t help but whisper as he grinned, pupils blown so wide, they swallowed the chocolate of his gaze. “Baby- not yet, please.”

It almost pained him to pull back- but he did, only after placing a teasing kiss to your clit. “Lay down on your back.” He murmured, gently lowering your leg from his shoulder. He watched you stumble, reached out to grab you around the waist and tug you closer. “Careful, meu bebê.” He chuckled, grinning as you regained your balance. “Can’t have you falling. Unless it’s in love-”

“Your dick is within squeezing distance, Portgas.”

“Point taken.” Still grinning that mischievous grin, he released you, watching as you fell onto the bed. His gaze raked across your form, drinking down his fill. Shaking his head with a soft whistle he turned to the room. “Let’s see if I can do this.”

“Do what?” You asked, watching him curiously as he wiggled his fingers. The fire is him, and he is the fire- that’s what he had told you when you first started getting to know one another. You knew a fair amount about Devil Fruits, the different variations between nature based ones, animal based ones, and the weird ones that don’t fall into either category. Ace had insane control over his, could create a wildfire with a flick of the wrist. And now- now, with a wave of his hands, the candles throughout the bedroom flickered to life, their wicks catching flame with such ease. You gasped in awe as the golden glow of the candles bathed the room, as Ace looked at you over his shoulder with that damned smug smirk.

“That.” He answered, settling down onto the bed beside you. “Now- let’s lay out a few ground rules, yeah?” He reached over, brushing his knuckles against the apple of your cheek. “What’s the safe word?”

You thought for a moment. Something easy to remember, but not something you would just casually bring up in conversation. “Peppermint.” You decided, nodding. “And the basic color system. Green for keep going, yellow for a break, red to stop.”

“And if you can’t talk for some reason?” Fingers warmed by unseen flames traced your collar bones, dipped down to brush over the swell of your breast.

A shaky breath drawn in, you answered, “One tap for okay, two taps for slow down, three to stop.”

“Good girl.” He leaned over, capturing your lips in an eager, heated kiss. His tongue ghosted against your bottom lip before he pulled away, teasing. “You ready?”

You were nearly shaking with excitement as you nodded. He leaned over, grabbing one of the pillar candles from the side table. Easing back up onto his knees, you are gifted with a near godly sight. Ace, kneeling above you, his cock hard and the tip weeping- but even further up, the way the light from the candle bathed him in gold. He looked like a God.

Sometimes, you wondered if he was a God in mortal skin.

You watched as the flame flickered, the candle tilting slowly over before wax dribbled out- and onto the skin of your hand. “Too hot?” He asked; a test, you realized. Smart. You shook your head ‘no’, and he hummed. “Good.” The next drops landed on the tops of your breasts, making you gasp loudly in surprise. The sensation was sharp, the feeling almost painful at first before the wax began to cool on your skin. You drew in a deep breath, nodding.

And so, the game began.

Slowly, Ace dribbled wax across both of your breasts, until you were a squirming, whining mess. “I bet you’re even wetter now, huh?” He mused, head tilting slightly as he let wax build up one more in the candle’s hollowed out center. A part of him considered helping speed the process along- but that could make the wax too hot, and he’d like to avoid causing you actual harm. The candle tilted, and he watched the wax dribble down the center of your sternum, down over your tummy. You hissed as it got close to your naval, but he skipped down- and for a brief moment, you both wondered what would happen if it dripped further south.

He very carefully did not spill any, there.

No, instead, he moved it to your thighs, letting the wax spill over and drip down the insides of your thighs as you hissed and squirmed, moaning with the sharp form of pleasure the wax was offering you. “Ace,” you whined, legs spreading wider as he painted your sensitive inner thighs with wax. “Ace, please.”

“Please, what?” He asked, reaching down to cup your core, his palm heated up, mimicking the warmth that the wax offered. You shuddered at the feeling; your words failing you as his fingers parted you, brushing against your nub in slow, deliberate circles. “Words, Amoreco.” A soft tap- it couldn’t even be considered a slap, not with how gentle it was- was delivered to your core, making you jolt from the feeling.

You met his gaze, your own hazy. “Fuck me,” you whispered- and that was all it took for Portgas D. Ace to break. He leaned over, setting the candle on the floor away from the bed before sitting back up. You hummed, arms open as he slid into your embrace, his fingers seeking out the foil packet he’d placed on the bedside table preemptively. Just in case.

You never know.

A hiss escaped him as you rolled the condom onto his weeping cock, your touch like heaven for him in that moment. “Lube?” He whispered against the column of your throat. You huffed, reaching over for the small bottle as his fingers toyed with your entrance, teasingly dipping in before pulling out, feeling how wet you had become due to the toying. “Fuck, you’re dripping,” his words held no small amount of awe as you reached between the two of you, dribbling the lube onto his cock. He let out a noise not quite a hiss, not quite a yelp at the temperature difference that sent you into a giggle fit.

“Oops,” you snickered, feeling him pout against your throat. Your amusement was short lived as Ace lined himself up, the fat head of his cock slowly pushing in. The stretch was something you never got used to, your breath escaping with a soft, “Oh, yes,” as he sank in inch by glorious inch. Once he’d bottomed out, you both lay there for a moment, enjoying the feeling of being filled and filling you.

Until you could feel Ace physically growing warmer- all over. He grinned in a rather feral way against your throat as his hips pulled back, only to slowly roll back into you, making you feel every inch that sank in. A wordless moan pulled free from your lips as he kept the torturously slow pace, his heat sinking into your skin- inside and out. “You feel so good,” he whispered, biting down on your shoulder gently. He was holding back.

Well, that wouldn’t do.

Your hands shifted from their position at his shoulders to smooth down his back- before you adjusted your hold, your nails raking down his back, leaving red lines in their wake. “Ace,” you purred, rolling your hips to meet his stuttering ones, “Puedes follarme mejor que eso.” The resulting groan and shudder was your answer. Ace liked being close when you two were together, but this required him pushing up, sitting up on his knees to gaze down at you. You moaned at the subtle change within, the head rubbing against that one damned spot that promised to make you see stars.

“Brat,” he muttered, his hands settling on your hips- holding you down as he pulled out. The next thrust in felt like a punch, your breath leaving you in a half-yell as he set a punishing pace. His hands felt like brands on your hips, and you almost hoped that they would leave a mark in his wake. You couldn’t speak, not with how he was moving, your mind stalling. “Takin’ me so fuckin’ well, look at that.” He groaned, reaching between the two of you to press his fingers against your clit, rubbing it in time with his thrusts. “Who’s this pussy belong to?”

“You!”

“Say it again, couldn’t hear you.” He leaned down, tongue laving over one of your nipples, leaving an almost burning trail in it’s wake. “Who’s fuckin’ pussy is this?”

“Ace!” You sobbed, feeling your impending orgasm rapidly build- faster than you’d ever experienced. “My pussy is yours!”

Ace groaned, his lips circling a nipple as you wailed, the waves of your orgasm crashing over you. He grinned around your nipple as you shook, your walls clenching around him rhythmically. He didn’t slow his pace, groaning against your bust as he began to chase his own release. “Baby-” he moaned, brows pitching as he felt his balls drawing up, as that thread threatened to snap. Your hands grasped his face, tugged him up to capture him in a kiss- and oh, how he snapped. His hips stilled, buried to the hilt within you, as he moaned into the kiss.

Music to your ears.

His forehead pressed to your as you both panted, catching your breath. “That… Was amazing,” he laughed breathlessly, pecking your lips, the tip of your nose, your cheeks. You hummed in agreement, bone weary after everything. Ace slowly- carefully- pulled out of you, quickly discarding the used condom to the trash. He was tired, too- but before he could sleep, he needed to tend to you. He stepped into the bathroom for a moment, wetting down a wash rag with warmed water. He kept the rag warm in his hands as he returned, settling down beside you. “How are you feeling?” He asked softly, reaching over to cup your cheek, directing your gaze to meet his.

“Good,” you replied softly, blinking lazily. “Tired.”

He nodded in agreement, chuckling. Slowly, he cleaned off the wax bits from you, using his palms to heat them up to clean them off easier rather than simply peeling them off bit by bit. Red whelps lay in their wake, each one soothed by the gentle caress of the rag. By the end of it, you were clean and warm and freckled with the evidence of your coupling.

You brushed your fingers over one of the groups of whelps on your stomach as Ace joined you back in bed, curling against your side. “I like it,” you murmured as his head tucked into the crook of your neck, his arms winding around your middle. “The cleanup is more tedious than ice is, but I like it.” Turning your head, you pressed a kiss to his forehead. He was already half asleep, legs tangling with your legs.

“‘M glad,” Ace mumbled, his breathing beginning to deepen. It was a miracle he hadn’t fallen asleep before now. You smiled, enjoying the warmth he offered you as sleep took him away. Love wasn’t something either of you mentioned; the topic was a difficult one for him to speak about. But it showed in other ways- like him taking the time to clean you up meticulously, how he wrapped himself around you when he slept. How his fingers still sought out one of your hands, even when holding you now. No, love wasn’t something you said out loud-

But with Ace, actions would always speak louder than words.

[rosinkreutz]

Category 5 Rambling Alert:

If I were writing the Strive story mode, I think I would have had the conflict with Jack'O sacrificing herself to destroy I-No be that only one of the personalities got destroyed and not both... I don't really know why they did it the way that they did tbh, because if both Aria and Jack'O were destroyed, then that's unequivocally bad. But if it's presented as a choice between them, then that's actually in line with the internal conflict of her realizing she's become her own person that wants to live and not just a disposable vessel.

Like, Jack'O would be say "No... This body was made for you... You're the one that Frederick and Asuka want..."

And Aria responds: "This isn't about them... It's about you..."

And they go back and forth until the end of the story.

I-No is ascended, and then instead of Jack'O going to try to defeat her first, Sol does the bit with the Outrage laser pretty much immediately while the others distract her. Except this time, it actually is killing him for real since he doesn't have the FOC anymore. Jack'O is desperately trying to get him to let go of the trigger, saying like, "You can't die! Don't you want to see Aria again?!"

Then Sol says something to the tune of "Have I ever called you Aria?"... He looks at her with so much love and closes his eyes (expecting to die).

But then... He comes back into consciousness and looks around, confused... He sees one of Jack'O's minions sitting where she was, holding a piece of the now broken Outrage. It waves at him and goes "Bye-Bye!" (like in the game), then disappears- to which Sol looks up in shock just in time to see Jack'O hurl herself into I-No to sacrifice herself instead.

About this time Asuka is also waking up (passed out after being turned into a book) to see the same thing, and they both shout and try to stop her.

Time freezes around Jack'O once she reaches I-No. She looks to see one of Asuka's mecha hands just inches away from her back, and Frederick in the middle of trying to stagger up into a run. Here, she talks to Aria one more time, and Jackie finally says something like "I guess I just didn't realize it before... Or I thought it was just your feelings tricking me... But I think I feel... No... I know I really, really love him!"

She finally lets Aria take the SOJ to destroy I-No.

And then she and Sol reunite and hug and what not...

Then a little later, Sol and Asuka have their final confrontation (which is mostly Asuka getting mad at Sol for not wanting to kill him anymore- itd be the first time seeing Asuka show any intense emotion). Afterwards, Jack'O joins them but before anyone can say anything, she just completely decks Asuka and knocks him to the ground. Immediately, she kneels down beside him and apologizes profusely, saying that Aria had asked her to do it before she destroyed herself.

Asuka looks very solemn and understanding (and in pain), but then Jack'O says "But she also wanted you to know that she forgives you..."

At this point Asuka is clearly just barely, by sheer willpower alone, not shattering into a million sobbing pieces. He goes on to reassure her that even though she didn't fulfill her original purpose, he'll always be so proud of her. It ends with the three of them watching the sunrise over a beautiful sea of clouds. That's my vision anyway.

Wait one more thought. The outro credits are shot like they're going around the world checking up on people (maybe like its following a bird? Raven?), and then at the end it starts zooming way, way out and takes us to the moon. Many quiet shots of a desolate Tír na nÓg... Finally, we reach Asuka, sitting alone in a big empty room meant for hundreds. He looks longingly at the Earth through one of the massive windows and says to himself, "This really is the loneliest place in the universe..."

Aimless, he wanders around (very large hallways to make him look even more small and alone) until he enters the main area with that weird floating piano. He gets it to land and absentmindedly starts testing the keys... Then, after a moment of hesitation, he plays the first notes of Freesia, which segues into the song as the screen cuts to the last of the credits.

Then it ends for reals.

[cressidagrey]

I breathe flames each time I talk - Chapter 7

Summary:

The story of how Oriana Fireborn Belmont finally meets her mate's family.

Also the story of how Rhysand, The High Lord of the Night Court, finally recognises that by the cauldron, there is no fury like a female scorned.

Azriel would just like everybody to get along.

Warnings:

Definitely NSFW

Notes:

I put a lot of world building into this. If you don't recognise it from canon, I probably invented. Or I forgot that canon existed.

(thanks to @firefly-graphics for the super pretty dividers!)

The house had quieted down, everybody leaving, just him and Oriana. The wards were armed to their teeth and he was certain that if Cassian ever tried to force his way through them again…well he would probably lose. 

Oriana would have patched every weak spot there was as soon as she realised that there was one. 

Still, she was the one who more or less poured him into the bathtub and then scrubbed his hair, using the kind of soap bar she used, not him. It left his hair too soft to his own touch. Still, he let her do that because he knew that she was doing that not only to care for him but also to calm herself. 

She tucked Azriel into bed, giving him potions to drink and he did so without any protest, immediately feeling his muscles relax as the pain lightened. 

“How are you feeling?” she asked him quietly. 

“Good,” he promised her. “I am alright,” he repeated, leaning back against the pillow, trailing a finger down her cheek. “You don’t need to worry.”

“Sweetling,” she protested, her voice hoarse. 

“I  swear I am alright. I promise,” he repeated to her. “I promised I wouldn’t lie to you. And I won’t.”

Not when he knew that she could immediately pick out that he did indeed lie.

She sighed, but she took him at his word. 

She moved throughout their bedroom, wearing that cobalt blue dressing gown that he had come to connect with her, picking up her hairbrush and starting to pull it through the length of it.  

“May I?” he asked. He didn’t need to say anything else. She would understand. 

“Of course,” Oriana agreed, sitting down at the edge of the bed and handing the brush to him. 

He started at the ends, gently starting to tease out the knots in her long hair that fell down her back in waves. It was beautiful, long and thick and curly when she didn’t use the brush to tame it into silky waves. 

He didn’t know what he liked more. It didn’t really matter. He loved her every which way he could. 

“Every time I do that, I feel myself calming down. I am at peace here,” he said quietly. 

Azriel didn’t think that he ever going to reach a place where he could be that. But somehow Oriana had become that for him. Become this oasis of peace and quiet in his life, a sanctuary and paradise at the same time. 

As long as he had her, everything was well in his life. “I love it,” he whispered. 

“I love it here too,” Oriana agreed softly and they lapsed into silence, like they sometimes did, completely content to be in the same room and ignore each other if that meant that they could be in each other’s nearer vicinity. And he thought about that evening about his family all coming together, about Oriana surrounded by his brothers, and Feyyre and Nesta, Amren and MOore…and Nyx, baby Nyx who seemed to have his first crush on Oriana of all people when his wide blue eyes and grins were any indication. 

She had slid into place with them as there had always been a place for her. 

And still…

“The only reason why I didn’t introduce you to them sooner was Rhys. It had nothing to do with you,” he finally said, and Oriana twisted around, staring at him. The Flames in her were dancing wildly, surprise written all over her face. “I swear. I know you probably thought that it had something to do with you, but it didn’t. It was on me and I was scared.” He sighed.  “I am not good with words,” he told her quietly. 

“You seem to do it alright,” Oriana quipped, but he shook his head. 

“I…I know, but…I… Oriana,” the words stuck in his throat.  

“You don’t need to say it. I know,” she promised him, a hand gently cupping his cheek. “It’s written all over your face, in everything you do…I feel through the bond every day, Azriel. I didn’t need the words.”

Maybe she didn’t. “But I want to give them to you,” he whispered. “I love you.” And suddenly it was easy. “ These words don’t seem to be enough to describe my feelings for you. I love you so much. I am grateful every day that you came into my life. And that I get to sleep next to you and wake up with you…that I get to spend time with you and watch you and see your mind at work. I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” she whispered, and then she was leaning down and she was kissing him and all there was anymore was Oriana. Oriana’s lips and the way she tasted and every warm spark that flew from her. 

“I love you,” he whispered against her skin, again and again and again. “I love you.”

She pulled back finally, warm hands still gently running through his hair. 

“Still interested in that treat?” she asked him. “Even when you didn’t stay in bed.”

“Sorry, but it’s not every day that you dangle a High Lord in the air in front of our house,” he told her drily. 

She just shrugged. 

There was something else that tingled at the edge of his brain though. “Where exactly did you meet Mor?” he asked her and she laughed, pure amusement pouring from her. 

“I met her in a lingerie shop on the other side of the Sidra, run by a friend. But I never got a name,” she said with some amusement.

Oh. 

“What did you buy? he asked her and she grinned. 

“The lingerie for our mating that I never got to wear,” she answered honestly. He swallowed. 

That was...That was… “Will you put it on?” Azriel asked, his voice hoarse.

“Ah, you have requests,” she teased him. He could just nod. 

She seemed more amused than anything by that, but he did go to their closet, picking out whatever she had bought and then disappeared into the bathroom. 

He hadn’t been sure what to expect, had no bloody picture in his mind…but he was sure that nothing that he could have come up with anyway would be able to match the sight of her in the blue lace as she stepped out of the bathroom. 

He swallowed once again. 

“I would ask you if you liked it, but I think you need to have some blood in your brain to answer me, and you don’t. So that is probably an answer,” she quipped as she stepped closer to the bed. 

The arousal that was normally tightly blanked came over him like a wildfire, pouring all over the bond and Oriana’s eyes brightened.

“You are so gorgeous,” he finally managed to bring out. So fucking gorgeous. 

And she was all his, from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes. 

The lace left nothing to the imagination, nearly see-through in places, but it rams and surrounded her in bright cobalt blue, contrasting sharply to her skin. 

It was utterly enchanting. He wanted to reach out and touch as she climbed onto the bed, but she caught his hand into hers, linking their fingers. 

She clucked her tongue at him lightly. “No. Not right now,” she told him softly. “I said I wanted to return the favour.”

Oriana was going to be the fucking death of him, he thought weakly as she worked the loose linen pants he wore down over his hips. He hadn’t even bothered with a shirt after his bath and now he regretted that. Because like this, he was stretched out underneath her, as she pressed a kiss against his skin, every single touch of her mouth on his skin like a spark of fire, of pure ecstasy against his skin…

He bucked against her, but she didn’t let up as she worked down his body, against the muscled wall of his stomach, drew sharp nails against a tight nipple that made him hiss and then finally kneeled between his legs. 

“You tell me to stop when it’s too much,” she warned him. 

It was all the warning he was going to get. 

She swallowed him down without much further of a preamble, full lips stretching over the heart-shaped crown of his cock. His back bowed, a whimper leaving his throat. 

“Fuck, love,” he whispered, threading a hand through her face, not trying to set a pace, just watching her, feeling the tight heat of her mouth against him, the fluttering off her tongue that made him moan deep in his chest. 

Her eyes met his, the flames burning brightly.

✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦ . 　⁺ 　 . ✦

There was something to say to have Azriel at her mercy, reduced to a whimpering mess beneath her. For once he wasn’t fighting her for dominance instead let her do to him as she wished, hearing every bitten-off moan and curse that he tried to swallow down as hollowed out her cheeks and sucked.

He threw his head back, the line of his throat as he moaned, the sweat that had broken out over his body. She wasn’t going to pull this out for much longer. He was still not completely better, still not…

“Stop,” he whispered. She immediately pulled off him, his breath coming in ragged gasps. “I want to come inside you,” he told her, sitting up and pulling her towards him, already moving to bury her underneath him but she pressed him back into the pillows.

To her surprise he actually went, letting her straddle him. 

“By the cauldron you are gorgeous,” he whispered. 

She took that as an opportunity to pull the blue nightgown over her head, the blue lace ending up on the floor somewhere behind her. She hadn’t even bothered with underwear. 

“You want this?” She asked him, letting a hand slide over her body, her heaving chest…“Then you are going to stay right like this,” she told him pointedly. “And you are not going to put any pressure on your stomach.” He looked at her nearly startled. “Think you can do that?” She asked as she leaned forward to kiss him. “Or do you want the shadows?” 

It was a sudden thought that came into her mind but as she could feel his throat bob and him nod, the shadows came out to join them, surrounding them in velvety darkness and pin him to the bed. 

A thought of him would be all that would be needed to let him go and she knew that was the only way how he could even stand that. 

“You say stop and it stops immediately,” she said quietly as she leaned forward to kiss him. 

“I know,” he whispered against her lips. “I trust them. I trust you.”

That was all she needed as she leaned back, placing her hand on his chest, as she got him at just the right angle…She shuddered.

Oriana knew that she wasn’t really ready for him, even when she was absolutely drenched with her own slick, even when she could feel the arousal through their bond, even when… she rocked down, enough to take the head at the entrance of her slick passage. 

“Oriana.”

She relented, taking him in. She had to breathe through it, for just a moment wondering if she could actually do this, if…

And then…then suddenly without a thought from either of them, there they were. His shadows, swarmed to her, right there where they were joined and she couldn’t help the shudder that trembled through her whole body as they slid against her slick and overheated flesh, up and up until they found the bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs. 

They concentrated there, nearly bodily, massively, pulsing against her skin, nearly vibrating against it and the only thing Oriana could do was to shudder through it, was to pulse around him as his shadows pushed her to her peak. She came with a whimper, her thighs trembling, her body clenching and unclenching, opening up for him, letting him slide inside her as she collapsed half on top of him, as the pleasure took over for her. 

But they weren’t done with her. Azriel wasn’t, his shadows weren’t either…They pushed her forward and up and then down again. Her nails squabbled against his chest, moan after moan tumbling from her mouth as she started to find some form of rhythm, the shadows wrapping themselves around both of them, around her, around him…

Azriel was hard and thick inside her, hips bucking up against her, even with the shadows holding him down…and still, the shadows seemed to know that there was more. 

They were still pulsing against her, even as she could feel one wisp move, probe the point where they were joined, something that got another gasp out of both of them…She felt them move back, felt them spread her wider. 

She could feel the blood burn in her cheeks as she had never even thought about this, that any of this could be used to make the pleasure burn even brighter for her…

But his shadows managed that. Their touch was cool and soft and still insistent, probing. 

They slid against her other hole and she choked with pleasure, every muscle off her body locking up for a second, even as they wrapped her up and caressed her. They pressed back against the bundle of nerves, concentrating on that until she had relaxed…and then pressed into her there. 

She thought that she was so full that she couldn’t possibly…couldn’t possibly take more, even if she wanted to…but they gave her more before she could even voice a thought of protest, filling her up as far as she went and then filing her up even more, until she was sure that she couldn’t even breathe anymore, the only noise that still left her mouth a high keening whine…as it felt like she couldn’t even breath anymore, as she whimpered and shook and clenched and unclenched…

And then it all came to a point where her body shuddered through another climax as his hips pushed up sharply into her. The pleasure seemingly exploded, burning so brightly that for just a moment she was sure that she blacked out. 

She whimpered as she fell against his chest, as she felt the shadows disperse, leaving her and him alone, letting Azriel#s arms wrap around her back, his cock still buried inside her. 

“Your shadows have the dirtiest mind of all of us,” she finally managed to get out, making him snort with amusement as he shifted her so that she was lying next to him, with one wing wrapped around her like a cocoon. 

“I told you they like you more than me,” he whispered against her skin, his voice hoarse, as she felt his heart beat against her fingertips, just as rapid as her own. And then, completely out of the blue: “You know, you should give me treats more often if it ends like this for both of us.”

She couldn’t help but start laughing, her laughter skittering over both their skins. “I definitely should. We both win,” Oriana declared. “And I love every damn minute I get to spend with you.”

He pressed a kiss against her sweat-damp skin and she couldn’t help but smile as she felt him pour all his affection and love for her into their bond. 

As long as they were together, everything was going to be just fine.

[cre8inghavoc]

What are friends for?

Note:

This is my first ever post, so please be kind! I've been working on this piece for a few days, and there will be more parts to come, but it may take some time to complete. The story will also include text messages between you and your friends (SMAU). I'll do my best to maintain a good length for the story, but there may be some shorter parts. Also, I'm new to this, so there may be a few errors, but I hope you enjoy the story! :)

Status: ongoing!!

Updates: Whenever I can, no set date.

WC: 2756

Description: Characters are aged up. Y/N's stuck in a toxic relationship with her controlling boyfriend, feeling lost and doubting herself. Now, she's facing a crucial choice: stay put or find the courage to break free and reclaim her independence. Pairing: megumi fushiguro x FEM!reader

Genre/Warnings: [18+] This story contains toxic boyfriend, cursing, name calling, self-doubt/hate, angst, breaking up, post-breakup, alcohol, drunk moments, new friends, dating!au, college!au, no curses!au, dark humour, dark jokes. SMAU.

Your friends have been telling you to leave your boyfriend for months now. They warned you about him, about his manipulative, controlling, and narcissistic nature, which contributes to his toxicity. They keep pointing out his flaws – how he always wants. No. NEEDS to tag along wherever you go, how he tries to control what you wear and who you hang out with. And don't even get started on the name-calling and arguments that seem to happen like every single day. But despite all their warnings, you find yourself wondering if maybe it's just his way of showing he cares… it was all out of love wasn’t it? If he didn’t care about you he wouldn’t act the way he does… 

Right…?

You're constantly caught in a loophole of conflicting feelings. On one hand, you can't help but notice the red flags they've been waving in your face. But on the other hand, there's a part of you that wants to believe there's genuine love behind his actions. He loves you?

Right…?

Still, you can't help but question: does all this make him a "bad boyfriend"? Sure, he's not physically abusive, but his mood swings leave you feeling like you're walking on eggshells. As you grapple with these thoughts, you can't help but wonder where to draw the line between love and toxicity.

"Y/N!"

You snapped back to reality as Maki's voice cut through your thoughts, finding yourself now parked in front of Yuta's house, a 15-minute drive from your own.

"Are you okay? You've been lost in thought the entire car ride here," Maki asked, a mix of concern and confusion evident in her tone.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I was just thinking about the exams coming up," you replied with a forced smile, though it didn't seem to convince her entirely. Luckily for you, she didn't question further. 

You made sure to silence your phone before heading out, knowing the argument that would likely occur with your boyfriend over your plans with friends. It wasn't news to you that he disapproved of your friendship with Yuta and Inukami, despite having plenty of female friends himself. Hypocritical isn't it. But today, you decided to take a stand. You were tired of the never-ending arguments and his controlling behaviour. It felt like you couldn't say or do anything without setting him off, and honestly, you were fed up with it.

You felt it was the right decision, even if it meant facing another argument later. You were determined to spend the day enjoying yourself with your friends, and if that meant upsetting him, then you were willing to deal with the consequences. After all, arguments had become a daily occurrence between you two, so what harm would one more do?

You didn’t quite know where this newfound confidence had come from. Normally, the thought of upsetting him would send shivers down your spine, making you hesitant to go against his wishes. But today was different. You were reaching a breaking point, tired of his behaviour and the constant strain it put on you. Mentally, you were drained. Ever since getting together with him, you'd been affected with a sense of unhappiness, a feeling that even your friends had picked up on. All they wanted was to see you happy again, but it felt like an impossible challenge to break free from his control and spend time with them. He dictated every aspect of your life, and you were beginning to realize just how suffocating it had become.

He felt like a never-ending storm cloud, hovering over you wherever you went, casting a shadow of negativity that left you feeling drained and miserable. It was as if his presence drained your strength, both physically and mentally, until you were left feeling defeated. You knew deep down that the only way to find a “cure” was to get rid of him, but it was far from simple. If it were that easy, you would've done it long ago, at the first signs of trouble.

Believe it or not, he wasn't always like this. That's why you were drawn to him in the first place. But as time passed, things only seemed to deteriorate. A part of you held onto hope that he would revert to the person he once was—caring, supportive, and loving. Yet, as months turned into nearly a year, nothing changed. If anything, it only seemed to worsen. 

Why? Why did he change? Was it something you did? Was it your fault? Did you somehow fall short? He always made you question your self worth. He made you believe that this was what you deserved—that you deserved to be hurt, to be broken. He convinced you that you weren't worthy of more.

You and Maki entered Yuta's house, using the spare key you both had. It was a common practice among your close group of friends; you all had keys to each other's homes. After all, you practically grew up together, so there was nothing unusual about dropping by unannounced.

Inumaki and Yuta greeted you warmly as you entered the living room, where they were too focused on a video game. As the hours passed, laughter filled the room, followed by playful teasing and occasional cussing at each other due to the intense gaming moments. You all talked about life, ate your favourite meals, and for the first time in a while, you felt a sense of happiness return. It was as if you were reconnecting with the positive, joyful version of yourself that had been buried beneath the weight of recent struggles.

"I'll be right back! Just need to use the bathroom," you announce before grabbing your phone and heading off.

"Do you want us to pause the movie?" Yuta offers, showing his consideration for your absence.

"No, it's okay! Keep watching, I'll be quick," you assure them with a laugh as you slip away.

Time flew by, and before you knew it, it was almost 9pm. Your peaceful day took an abrupt turn when you saw multiple missed phone calls from no other, your loser of a boyfriend. 

**5 MISSED PHONE CALLS AND MESSAGES BETWEEN Y/N & BF**

Luckily, Maki, Inukami, and Yuta were too engaged in the movie to notice your lengthened absence. However, tears welled up in your eyes as you read the messages, feeling the weight of self-doubt creeping in once again.

"I’m just a bitch. That’s all I am. I'm nobody," you muttered to yourself, your eyes red as you struggled to contain your emotions. You couldn't afford to show weakness in front of your friends. This shouldn't affect you, you reminded yourself. You knew this was coming, so why did it hurt so much?

Knock Knock

A knock on the bathroom door interrupted your thoughts. "Hey, Y/N. You okay in there?" Maki's concerned voice broke through your internal chaos.

Fuck.

Of course, Maki sensed something was wrong. She had picked up on it the moment she picked you up. She wasn't one to pry, though. She respected your privacy, and if you didn't bring up the issues first, she wouldn't force them out of you. That's why you cherished her friendship so much—she was the best friend anyone could ask for.

You wanted to tell her, you really did, but you knew all too well what her response would be, and frankly, you didn't want to hear it—not today. All you wanted was to be with your friends, to immerse yourself in their company and forget about your troubles, if only for a little while. You didn't want them worrying about you or your mental state. So you took a deep breath and plastered on a smile, hiding all the negativity like you always did.

"Yeah, sorry about that. I was just on the phone with my mom," you said, forcing a smile as you opened the bathroom door, only to be met with Maki's skeptical expression. Her raised eyebrow spoke volumes, questioning your excuse without saying a word. But she didn't press further. Instead, she offered a soft smile and placed a comforting hand on your back.

"You're missing the movie. We decided to pause it when you didn't return after five minutes. Come on, let's go," she said gently, leading you back to the living room.

You both made your way downstairs and settled back onto the couch, resuming the movie with the others. After a few minutes, Yuta stood up from his spot and took a seat beside you, leaning in closer to whisper in your ear so only you could hear him.

"Hey, I know you haven't been feeling your best lately, and I understand why... But I want you to know that you can always talk to me. To us. We're here for you, no matter what." he whispered, his words causing your heart to stop for a moment. A soft smile spread across your lips as he leaned back, his eyes meeting yours with warmth.

"Thank you," you replied softly, leaning your head against his shoulder as the movie continued. Resting on each other like this was a familiar gesture among your group—it was something you all did since childhood, a sign of trust and comfort. So when you leaned on Yuta's shoulder, it wasn't a romantic gesture—it was more like seeking comfort from an older brother figure. Your friends have always been there for you, caring and supportive, much like older siblings would be.

Finally the movie finished, with the time now showing 11:16pm—it’s very late, thank god you guys had no classes scheduled for the next two days.

"It's getting late, Y/N. Are you ready to head back?" Maki asked, her expression soft with concern.

Before you could answer, Inukami jumped in with a hopeful tone, asking if you guys could stay a bit longer. You could tell he was really loving the reunion, bringing back memories of all the fun times your group had shared in the past… just like before you got into a relationship. 

"Yeah, come on, Maki and Y/N! We haven't had this much fun in a while. It feels good for the group to get back together again," Yuta chimed in, his gaze shifting between Maki and you. The collective attention turned to you, though you knew it wasn't intentional—they subconsciously understood that the decision rested with you, or rather, with your boyfriend's expectations.

Even though it was late, the idea of going home to an empty house, knowing your boyfriend would be out, doing who knows what, filled you with dread. You knew it would only trigger more overthinking and anxiety so with a reassuring smile, you decided against it. Tonight, you didn't feel like going home, and that was perfectly okay.

"Fuck it," you thought, smiling back at them. 

"Why don't we have a sleepover?" You ask, breaking the silence. Their eyes widen in shock, the suggestion catches everyone off guard. It's been a while since the last sleepover, back before you started dating your controlling boyfriend. They've tried to organize some since then, but you always declined, due to your boyfriend's disapproval.

Of course. Typical.

Their initial shock quickly turns into smiles and nods as they exchange glances before turning back to you.

"Let's do it!" Maki says with excitement.

All of them cheered in excitement, and the lively conversation continued throughout the night until exhaustion finally led to all of you drifting off to sleep on Yuta's spacious and comfortable couch. Despite the cozy setup, you found it hard to sleep as your mind continued to race, clouded by thoughts of him once again. Unable to find peace, you quietly slipped outside to the backyard, just to get some air.

Yuta awoke shortly afterward, noticing your absence. He got up from the couch, careful not to disturb Maki and Inumaki and began searching the house, half expecting to find you sleeping in his room. But you weren't there. He started to slightly panic as he considered the possibility of you leaving without informing anyone. How did you get home? Was something wrong? Why would you leave without saying anything?

As his mind rushed with worry, Yuta made his way to the backyard door and spotted you sitting on the stairs. Leaning against the door frame for a moment, he gathered his thoughts before joining you outside, silently taking a seat beside you.

"Hey," Yuta says as he settles beside you.

You jump at the sudden sound, caught off guard by his unexpected presence. "Omg, Yuta," you playfully shove his shoulder, "don't sneak up on me like that."

"Sorry," he chuckles softly, "didn't mean to scare you."

"What are you doing out here this late?" he questions.

"Couldn't fall asleep so I decided to get some air."

"Something on your mind?" He asks with concern.

I smile at him. "No."

"Come on, Y/N. I've known you for years; you think I can't tell when something's on your mind..."

You both sit there in silence for a moment before he speaks up again.

"Is it—"

"Mhm. But I don't want to talk about him. I'm here with you guys today, and that's what's important. Not him," you state, trying to change the conversation away from your boyfriend.

Yuta gives you a reassuring smile and nods, but then an awkward silence settles between you. It's unusual; conversations with your friends usually flow effortlessly, so why does it feel so difficult now?

After a moment, you decide to break the silence.

"Yuta..." you begin hesitantly.

He meets your gaze with a soft look. "Yeah?"

"I'm thinking about breaking up with him, you know," you confess.

Yuta's eyes widened in shock, a spark of excitement shining in him. As your best friend, he genuinely cares about your well-being and wants what's best for you. They all do, and they know that leaving your boyfriend will bring out the best in you, bring back the real you.

"Really?! How come... I mean, I already know why, but I'm just curious after all the times we've mentioned it to you, you never really pa—"

"Yuta," you interject, giggling at his enthusiasm.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking, and being here with you guys today reminded me of the times we used to have together before him and I got together. And honestly... I haven't felt happier and more relaxed in a long time until now. It's like when I'm with you guys, I'm constantly smiling, laughing, talking, and I never feel judged. But with him, I feel so... miserable. I don't even remember the last time he and I actually talked and had a laugh together. It's always arguments, and he's the one who always starts them over nothing."

Yuta places a comforting hand on your shoulder and gently wipes away the tears on your face. You hadn't realized you were crying. You tried your hardest not to cry for months, but while telling Yuta how you felt, you couldn't hold it in anymore.

"Shhh... it's okay, Y/N. I'm glad you feel like yourself when you're with us. You deserve so much better than that jerk," he reassures you, his words bringing a sense of comfort.

He never fails to make you laugh.

"Thanks, Yuta," you say gratefully.

"Hey, what are you guys doing outside?" Maki and Inumaki mumble sleepily as they stand at the door.

Yuta grins mischievously and glances over at them. "What's with that ugly grin?" Maki jokes, prompting laughter from everyone.

"MAKI!" you all shout in unison, teasing her.

Yuta can't contain his excitement any longer. "Y/N is planning on breaking up with her boyfriend!" he blurts out.

If Maki and Inumaki thought they were awake before, they're definitely wide awake now. They exchange shocked glances between you and Yuta, repeating the gesture several times. You can't help but smile; despite the gravity of the situation, you feel a sense of pride. Proud that you've finally gained the courage to do something you've been wanting to do for months.

"You're not messing with us, right? Because I swear to god Y/N, if I find out yo—" Maki begins, her voice tinged with concern.

You cut her off before she can finish her sentence. "I swear I'm not messing with you guys. I'm going to do it tomorrow night."

Yipeee!! Go Y/N!!! finally we've all been waiting for this moment.

im currently working on the next part so please be patient!

Also, thank you so much for reading!

[skzartemis]

𝐿𝒾𝒶𝓇

Chapter 9

Masterlist | previous | next

Pairing: Chan x F!reader x Felix Genre: SKZ ninth member au, angst, forbidden love, cheating, fluff Summary: Felix- the sunshine of her life, someone who she valued the most. Chan- the person that she fell for when she knows it's impossible. Status: ongoing Taglist: Open

That evening, Y/N found herself alone in the dorm's common area when Minho walked in, his usual composed mask slipping.

“Minho-hyung,” she started softly, but he waved a hand, collapsing onto the couch beside her.

“Jisung's avoiding me,” he muttered. “I don't know how much longer we can keep this up.”

Y/N placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Maybe it's time to stop keeping it up, then.” Minho's eyes met hers, weary but grateful. “It's not that simple.”

Before she could respond, the door burst open and Jisung walked in. The air between them crackled with tension. “Jisung—” Minho began, but Jisung shook his head.

“Not now.”

Y/N stood. “I'll give you guys some space.”

She slipped out into the hallway just as Felix appeared, concern written all over his face.

“Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Not really,” she admitted. “But I think it will be.”

As they walked toward the elevators, the sound of raised voices followed them — Minho and Jisung's emotions finally spilling over. Felix reached for her hand, and for once, she didn't pull away.

The tension had been simmering for weeks. Between Y/N and Chan’s increasingly complicated dynamic, Felix's quiet heartbreak, and the delicate balance the group tried to maintain, it felt like something was bound to break. And it finally did.

It started when Jisung and Minho were caught sharing a quiet moment by the practice room. They thought they were alone, Jisung's laughter muffled against Minho's shoulder as the older boy held him close. But Seungmin, ever observant, had seen them. He hadn't meant to, but the sight had left him conflicted.

Later, when Seungmin met Jeongin back at their shared dorm, the younger boy could tell something was off.

"Hyung, you okay?" Jeongin asked, nudging Seungmin's arm as they sat on the couch.

Seungmin hesitated before speaking. "Do you ever feel like... we’re all keeping too many secrets?"

Jeongin blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I saw Minho hyung and Jisung today," Seungmin said softly. "They looked... happy. But also like they were scared someone would see them."

Jeongin frowned. "You think they're together?"

"I think so," Seungmin whispered. "And I think they're scared of what might happen if people find out."

Jeongin was quiet for a moment. "Do you think we should say something? Or just... let them be?"

"Let them be," Seungmin said firmly. "But it makes me wonder... how many of us are hiding things?"

The question hung in the air, heavy and unanswered. ————————————————————————— The bombshell dropped in the middle of a fan event.

Chan was scrolling through his phone between schedules when he suddenly froze. Y/N, sitting next to him, noticed immediately.

"Hyung? What's wrong?"

He didn't answer right away. Instead, he handed her the phone. On the screen was a post from his girlfriend's account.

"We've decided to part ways. Please respect our privacy as we move forward separately."

Y/N's heart skipped a beat. "Oh..."

Before either of them could say anything more, the comments started flooding in. ————————————————————————— STAY: OMG THEY BROKE UP???

STAY: I hope he's okay...

STAY: I KNEW IT. Chan and Y/N have always had more chemistry.

STAY: Felix is gonna be mad...

STAY: Please just let them all be happy. T_T ————————————————————————— Chan sighed heavily, rubbing his face with his hands. "It's gonna be a mess."

Y/N reached out, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. "We'll get through it, hyung. Together."

But the storm was only just beginning.

Masterlist | previous | next

Taglist:

@toasty0703 @kpopnonous @ihrtlix @jennibahng @hyunjinstolemyheart @private-vampire @n3atjok3r246 @rhonnie23 @pixie-felix @idiotmaterial

[sorrowsofsilence]

Burning Out • V

Pairing: Noah Sebastian x Fem!Reader

I was lost, but now I'm found Under the lights and in the sounds So let us sing and sing it loud That we're not perfect, but we're proud of who we are.

Noah Sebastian is lost. His crime-filled lifestyle is anything but perfect; but everything changes once he meets you.

Words: 6.6k

General Fanfic Warnings: 18+, explicit language, smut, alcohol, drugs, violence, mentions murder/suicide, panic attacks/anxiety, nightmares

Authors note: Chapter Five- A Dreamlike Heathen (EDITED: 09-03-24)

new? start from chapter one here

THIS IS A FANFICTION USING REAL PEOPLE IN A FICTIONAL SITUATION! I AM NOT IMPLYING THESE PEOPLE WOULD DO THE THINGS IN THE STORY OR ACT THE WAY THEY DO IN THE STORY, IN REAL LIFE! IT IS SIMPLY FICTION, AND JUST FOR FUN! THINK OF THEM AS ACTORS LOL.

+

"Fuck, Noah," she moaned, throwing her head back against the mirror as she rode the wave of pleasure. Her eyebrows were furrowed in ecstasy.

"Don't stop," she begged, and I didn't. I gave her everything I had.

"Come for me, Y/N," I said between licks and squeezes of her hips. "Be a good girl for me."

As her legs started to tremble and her mouth opened in a silent scream, she reached the peak of her climax. I continued until she pushed me away, her breathing becoming shallow as she caught her breath. I took hold of her chin and brought her lips to mine, yearning for her to taste herself on my tongue.

Life had broken her; just as it had broken him. But when they got together, their pieces became whole. And they started on their journey, together, mended as one. - Steve Maraboli

+++++

NOAH

Twenty fucking thousand dollars. Twenty.

My thoughts were consumed by two things. The first was the daunting task of coming up with all the money myself. And the second, the fact that I had slept with Y/N last night. The next morning, I sat on the cot in our motel room, my head buried in my hands as my leg fidgeted anxiously.

“I-I should go,” Y/N hopped off the counter, wiping my release off of her stomach before readjusting her shorts.

“wait-” I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back toward my drunken state, “can I see you again?”

She gave me a wry smile, “I’d like that.” She tugged from my grasp but I held her tighter, pulling her into my arms.

My body remained swaying, the euphoria and alcohol mixed, “do you regret what just happened?”

I wasn’t sure if this question was for me, or her.

“No,” She said, her fingertips running up the skin of my neck. She fit against my body perfectly, as if she was always meant to be there.

I had left the bar with the boys minutes after fucking Y/N’s brains out, stealing lingering glances at her figure behind the counter before parting. Even though I was drunk, I couldn’t believe it happened… but I needed a release, a bit of euphoria to ride out through dealing with the crushing news D gave us.

Twenty thousand.

My eyes settled on the anklet that D had forced me to wear, the green dot blinking every few seconds. I couldn't believe that the bastard was tracking our every move now. He'd been following us for years, but this was taking it to a whole new level.

I had no idea how I was going to come up with that much money on my own. The boys and I took turns doing jobs each night just to keep our sanity, but the fact that I had to keep a log of where we got the money from and submit it to one of D's lackeys so he could monitor my work was absurd.

To make twenty thousand by the end of the month, I'd need to bring in approximately 645 dollars per day since there were 31 days. Realistically, that didn't seem too difficult when broken down, but some days we would bring in thousands while others we would make absolutely nothing. At least my final day of owing would also be my birthday; what a great present.

I let out a groan and flopped onto the mattress on the floor, feeling overwhelmed by my thoughts. Everything had led up to this moment, and I still felt completely screwed over.

Jolly sat on his bed, strumming away at his old acoustic guitar that was barely holding onto its strings. With his fingers dancing along the neck, I closed my eyes and let myself get lost in the rhythm he created, tapping my fingers along to the beat.

I began humming, words spiralling out of my mouth subconsciously, “I’ve seen the devil, more than I’ve seen god.”

Jolly gave me a slight snicker, continuing to strum, “I like that.”

“I see through you, I know what you are.”

I repeated the two phrases over and over, singing lowly as I continued to drum my fingers. Hmm. I checked the time on my phone briefly, realizing it was 4:30 pm.

I sat up, grabbed my bag and swung it over my shoulder.

“Where are you going?” Jolly asked.

“To see Y/N.”

“Why?” Jolly stopped playing, placing the guitar across the bedsheets.

It's been twenty long years I've cried, but not enough tears I've become the sum of all my fears (I feel scared, so scared)

I stared at him blankly, the cogs within my mind turning to find an answer themselves. Why was I going to see her? Why did I care that I made it for when she got off work at the cafe? Something about her was magnetizing, and I couldn’t help but crave more. I wanted to explore her mind and body; to know her in every way possible.

I don’t have time to think of someone like her; I don’t deserve to think of someone like her.

I have a job to do.

But I don’t care.

“I don’t know,” I turned to look at him with my hand on the doorknob.

Jolly’s eyes watched back quizzically, “I think you should leave her out of this. Break it off now.”

I furrowed my brows, “There’s nothing to break off.”

Jolly gave me a curt laugh, “Yea, which is why you fucked in the bathroom yesterday. Nothing to break off.”

My face warmed, unsure of how he knew. I didn’t think it was obvious.

“She seems like a nice girl. You wouldn’t want to get her killed,” Jolly warned. He wasn’t wrong. This line of business wasn’t exactly safe, and I knew I shouldn’t get Y/N involved.

“She already knows too much,” I said, avoiding his eyes as I stared at the floor.

“Det är inte riktigt rätt möblerat på övervåningen hos dig.” Jolly groaned, rubbing his eyes with his palm. Your top floor is not properly furnished (Mind is a mess).

I rolled my eyes, “Oh don’t bring out the Swedish insults you asshat.”

“Well, I suggest you break her heart now before it’s too late.”

I bit my lip as I opened the door, ignoring his burning words.

“Din jävla fubbick,” I heard the swede mutter before I shut the door. You damn moron.

Guilt crept over me like a heavy wave as I walked quickly through the parking lot of the motel. My mind was racing and my hands were slick with sweat.

What am I doing? Jolly was right; Y/N shouldn’t be dragged into this mess. But at the same time, I couldn’t deny the pull towards her. It had been years since I had someone who truly listened to me and understood me. Someone who I could relate to besides my brothers. And she was stunningly beautiful, with her sparkling eyes filled with so much hope; something I aspired to have one day. Maybe I could even share with her one day.

Hope.

You gave me a strength unparalleled But nothing compared to how much I've bled (I feel scared, so scared)

+++++

Y/N

He hasn’t shown up for his coffee again today. Did he regret what happened last night?

I swept between the tables and recalled the previous events. I don’t even know what came over me yesterday, but I do know that I didn’t have any regrets.

I knew my face began to warm as I recalled the way Noah’s fingers dug into my hips, gripping onto me as he pounded into me mercilessly; drowning his sorrows through the pleasure of our bodies.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the way he stared into me, aching with fervour and hunger, begging me to give everything to him.

I wanna know what it feels like Is it nothing but dreamlike? I wanna touch you now

It was anything but romantic- having a quick fuck in the bathroom of a bar, but I longed for Noah even more after that.

I feel like I’m going crazy. How could he have such a hold over me, especially after finding out he is a criminal? I should be running; so why can’t I let him go?

Lust? Infatuation? Whatever it is, I crave him.

I pushed away my thoughts, finishing the rest of my closing tasks and clocking out. I waved to Annika as I pulled my hoodie over my head, grabbing my bag and de-tangling my earbuds.

As I stepped outside, someone grabbed my hand and tugged me towards them. I let out a surprised squeal as he pulled me into his embrace, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.

"Noah?" I looked up at the man above me, admiring the tattoo on his neck before meeting his gaze, feeling a familiar flutter in my heart. His smiling eyes met mine as he wrapped his other arm around me, enveloping me in a warm hug. A grin spread across my face as I buried it in his chest, taking in his surprisingly comforting scent.

"I'm sorry I didn’t come today," Noah murmured into my hair, his breath warm against my scalp. "I had some... business to attend to."

I pulled back slightly, searching his face for any hint of what that "business" might have entailed. His eyes, usually so expressive, were guarded now. A reminder of the dangerous world he inhabited, one I was only beginning to glimpse.

"It's okay," I said, trying to keep my voice light. "I was starting to think you were avoiding me after last night."

Noah's grip on me tightened, and he leaned down to brush his lips against my ear. "Trust me, sweetheart, avoiding you is the last thing on my mind."

A shiver ran through me at his words, at the promise they held. I knew I should be scared, should run far away from this man and the darkness that clung

How can it feel so right? It is nothing but dreamlike I'm gonna touch you now

“But you came now,” I said.

“I wanted to be here for when you got off work,” He said, squeezing me gently before letting go. “Do you want to do something before your next shift?”

I gave him a cheeky grin, “Something?”

Noah's eyes darkened with desire as he caught my meaning. He leaned in close, his lips brushing my ear. "I have a few ideas," he murmured, his voice low and husky.

A thrill shot through me at his words. I knew I was playing with fire, but I couldn't resist the pull between us.

Noah licked his lips before matching my smile, putting his finger through the belt loop of my jeans, and tugging me along beside him as we walked down the sidewalk. I flushed at the gesture as he held me next to him as if claiming me for his own.

“I meant like, dinner,” He hummed, “but I also can’t stop thinking about last night.”

“Come Y/N,” he had said between sucking and squeezing my hips, “be a good girl for me.”

A shudder ran down my spine as my mind wandered, and I peered up at Noah, his cheeks flushing through his confession.

“Me too,” I said softly, “Did you want to come back to my place? We could order takeout… because I need to get my clothes for my next shift.”

“I’d like that,” Noah peered down at me warmly.

We walked together in silence, the only sound the bustle of life that surrounded the sidewalk as we passed various shops, heading towards my neighbourhood. For “level two acquaintances” the silence between the two of us was soothing, something that I think shocked us both.

With a gentle release, Noah loosened his grip on my belt loop, tucking his hands into his pockets. His brow furrowed with deep contemplation and worry as if something was gnawing at him from within. I turned to face him, noticing the slight creases in his forehead and the furrowed lines around his mouth, betraying his inner turmoil

“Did you want to talk about it?” I asked gently, looking ahead as the light breeze slid past my cheeks.

Noah was quiet, eyes darting back and forth, “I trust you so much, and I don’t know why.”

I nodded, agreeing with his concern silently, letting him continue.

“and I don’t know who else to talk to about this with…my brothers are too involved and have enough opinions as it is,” Noah said, following me down the path that led us towards my house.

“Remember how I told you we owe a lot of money to this… guy? Well, this month is supposed to be our last month, and then we are finally free.”

I smiled widely, grabbing Noah’s arm in excitement, shaking him gently, “That’s great news! You’ll be done with it forever!”

Noah chuckled darkly, rolling his head to the side in annoyance, “Yeah, well, there’s a catch.”

My grip on his arm fell, a sullen expression taking over my joy.

“I have to get him twenty thousand, myself. The boys can’t help me.”

“Twenty thousand?” I exclaimed, stopping in my tracks to look at him, “That’s a shit ton of money.”

Noah’s hand ran across his face in frustration, pinching the bridge of his nose, “I know. I am beyond fucked.”

I blinked a few times in disbelief as we approached the steps to my house, the greeting of Juice’s trill on the other side of the door inviting us in. Noah was immediately bombarded with cat love and he gave the furry animal a small smile, bending down to scratch the top of his head before running his fingers down Juice’s back.

Closing the door I kicked off my sneakers, hanging my bag on the coat rack. Noah followed, placing his black vans politely by the front door; which was when I noticed a small anklet blinking beneath the hem of his pants.

I stared at it quizzically, and Noah caught my gaze. He lifted his leg, mouth forming a tight line.

“Like my new accessory?” Anger seethed from his tongue as he gave me a sarcastic smile, before standing in front of me, completely defeated.

I led us upstairs into my bedroom, “What is it?”

“A tracker.”

I paused at the top of the stairs and turned to face him, my eyes narrowing in confusion. "What kind of tracker?" I shifted my gaze between Noah and the small device attached to his ankle.

With a heavy sigh, he followed me into my bedroom and flopped onto my bed. His limbs sprawled out as he explained, "The guy we owe money to, D, said we have to wear these trackers to make sure I'm not getting help from the boys. And I have to keep a record of where the money comes from and deposit it weekly to match my location."

"And you just found this out last night?"

His nod was barely perceptible, yet I could see the frustration etched on Noah's face as he closed his eyes tightly. Tears glistened at the corners, threatening to spill over. I stood by the bed, observing as his whole body seemed to crumble before me. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and crawled onto the bed beside him. He shifted over, making room for me as I sat up next to him. Gently, he rested his head on my lap, seeking comfort and solace in my touch as silent tears fell from his lashes.

“I…I’m barely holding on,” He whispered.

My fingers began running through Noah’s scalp, lacing themselves through his chestnut strands in an attempt to soothe him, showing my support. I hear you.

My heart yearned for him once again, filled with sorrow and pain as he suffered in torment, dealing with the burden of his demons. Noah didn’t deserve this. He was young when he fucked up, and he hasn’t been able to escape. I saw myself within his pain, my past mirroring back at me.

“I just keep hoping that one day I’ll have something else motivating me- something more than fear, more than spite. I wanna feel like I’m living.”

I listened to Noah’s words as they resonated with me. I too, wanted to feel like I was living.

I had never been part of the right crowd, and I was always getting into trouble, due to the influence of my previous relationships. I followed their shenanigans because I had nobody else to model- and I made some poor choices. I chose to follow them.

However, I also chose to leave- to start fresh and to forget about my past. People can change, and people can grow, and Noah deserved the same opportunity. He was being puppeteered by an evil man; and I wanted to help him escape, as much as he wanted his freedom.

I chewed my cheek in contemplation, fingers still stroking his hair, “let me help you, Noah.”

“Help with what?”

“The money. You don’t deserve to do it alone.”

Noah sat up now, watching me intensely from across the bed, “You’ve built yourself a new life Y/N. Don’t fuck it up now.”

He was right. Why was I willing to risk it all?

“I’ve been willing to fuck it up the second I saw you at the cafe,” I traced his face, analyzing his expression before my mind wandered to an idea; one so insane I couldn't even believe I was about to suggest this.

“I’m going to sound crazy, and I can’t believe I’m going to say this,” I hesitated for a moment, sucking in a breath between my teeth, “but why don't you come live with me? You and your brothers?”

Noah’s eyes widened, lips parting slightly in perplexity. He blinked a few times, and I continued my thought.

“You won’t need to pay rent or anything, so you guys can save money to pay this D guy faster. The motel money probably adds up.”

Noah slid off the bed, standing up abruptly, folding his arms over his body in defence, “You cannot be serious,” he laughed with incredulity.

“Listen, Noah,” I scooted to sit on the edge of the bed, looking up at him, “I was stuck for a long time, and I didn’t have a helping hand… but I have enough to offer you. I know what it’s like to struggle.”

Noah’s fingers ran through his hair as he began pacing, shaking his head, “I don’t need your pity Y/N.”

“This isn’t pity, I swear,” I stood up, approaching Noah gently, holding both of his biceps to keep him in place from his anxious wading, “I wished someone had helped me when I needed it.”

He stared down at me in complete disbelief, his eyes scanning mine for any signs of doubt; but I remained confident in my suggestion, staring at him assuringly.

“so let me help you,” I whispered, reaching up to place a gentle hand on his cheek. With a racing heart, I rubbed my thumb across his skin, bewildered at my words.

He closed his eyes in conflict and placed a hand on top of my own, clammy and nervous.

“Why are you helping a monster?” Noah breathed, leaning into my touch, curious eyes observing me.

“Everyone deserves help. You deserve it.”

What are we allowed to do? What are we allowed to be?

“You’re not a monster Noah,” placing a hand on his other cheek, I stood on my tiptoes, pulling him down towards me, kissing the tip of his nose delicately.

I wanna cross the line with you Let's pass the point of no return

Noah watched me with pure awe, matching me by grabbing either side of my face, and placing his forehead on my own, “You are fucking crazy.”

Is this wrong? I don't wanna know A big mistake? I don't wanna know

I chuckled softly, “I completely agree with you, I think I am insane for offering this.”

I wanna know what it feels like Is it nothing but dreamlike? I wanna touch you now

Noah laughed quietly with me, still in complete doubt. His eyes kept trailing between my own and my lips, as if trying not to kiss me, before giving in.

How can it feel so right? It is nothing but dreamlike I'm gonna touch you now

Noah's lips pressed against mine with a tender urgency, as if longing to convey all the emotions he couldn't put into words. The warmth of his touch seeped through my skin and I felt myself melting into him. Our kiss deepened, the intensity building between us like an invisible electric current.

We stood there, locked in each other's embrace for what felt like an eternity before Noah pulled away, his eyes still fixed on mine. His thumb gently caressed my bottom lip, leaving a tingling sensation in its wake. He leaned his forehead against mine, his breath warm against my skin as we stayed entwined in our own little world of shared desire.

“I’m sorry, not sorry for breaking into your house; because otherwise, we wouldn’t be here,” Noah said.

“I forgive you, clearly,” I laughed, “but you could always try to make it up to me again if you feel like it?”

Noah let out a puff of air, hands running down my neck along my curves, resting at the top of my hips, “I like that idea.”

I grinned at him, my hands resting at the back of his tattooed neck, the apple and snake teasing me.

Noah's warm breath tickled my ear as he leaned in close. "I can't stop thinking about how you taste," he whispered, referring to our one brief encounter. I moaned softly as he hungrily kissed me again, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. Our heads tilted and we shared passionate open-mouthed kisses, devouring each other in the moment. Noah pressed his hips against mine, causing a soft moan to escape from my throat. As much as I wanted to continue, I couldn't ignore the fact that I had to go to work soon.

I pushed his chest gently, “It’s already 6… I need to leave for work in half an hour.”

Noah gave me a sly smile, “You underestimating my skills?”

I chuckled, “Not at all.”

“I bet I could make you come in two minutes,” His fingers trailed up the sides of my torso, fingers tracing circles across the skin.

I hummed, “Hmm, what do I get if you can’t?”

Noah leaned towards my ear, fingers squeezing right below my chest, “then I’ll fuck you so hard you won’t be able to walk, and you’ll come again.”

My body shivered from his words, and my stomach began to swirl with excitement as Noah’s hands worshiped my body, whispering lustful promises as he peppered kisses down my neck. Noah peeked over at the clock on my nightstand briefly.

“6:04.”

I closed my eyes as my breath quickened, following Noah towards the wall. My back pressed against it as he pushed against me, his body radiating heat. He gripped my wrists and pinned them above my head, holding me in place while his other hand trailed down to my waistline, igniting my desire.

I succumbed to Noah’s touch as his touch slid through me, circling and prodding. Whatever he was doing left me completely giving in to his caress; the fact both of us were still completely clothed made this moment that much more invigorating.

Noah’s teeth hooked on my bottom lip as he ravaged my mouth. I moaned earnestly as his fingers sank through my slick, curling towards my need. His palm pushed against me, rubbing and maintaining a repetitive pattern, and my legs began to give out. How he could make me surrender with his hand alone had me flustered.

(I'm in a) (I'm in a) (I'm in a) I'm in a, I'm in a dreamlike state

I rutted my hips towards his touch and Noah smiled into my lips, “so needy,” he mumbled.

I sighed eagerly as he continued his method, my body trembling in response, close to my release.

“C’mon princess, you can do it,” Noah muttered, trailing his lips down my neck towards my collarbone, before snagging his teeth on a sensitive spot. He sucked and nibbled at my skin, branding me.

I didn’t even care, exhilaration taking over.

Noah slipped his fingers out, sliding them up until he reached the top, pressing the pad of his fingers and circling them quickly. I shuddered, my body crumbling as I cried out his name.

Can it feel so right? It is nothing but dreamlike I'm gonna touch you now

Noah smiled into me again as his head lay pressed against my neck, satisfied and prideful of his actions.

My chest heaved as I came down from the high, folding off of the wall into his arms. I clutched onto his sweater for support, turning my head to the clock. 6:08

“That was four minutes,” I panted.

“Looks like I owe you,” Noah’s smug smile said it all.

I chuckled, looking up at him, eyes dilated with satisfaction “Oh, what a shame.”

Noah grinned, the whites of his teeth making my heart flutter. He sat on my bed, adjusting himself in his pants before watching me pace around my room, picking out my work clothes.

I opted for leggings and a square-cut long-sleeve. I took the clothes out of my closet, holding them to my chest before turning around.

“Uh…” I looked at the brunette, his hair cascading down his face perfectly, “Do you uhm, can you turn around?”

Noah choked out a laugh, “huh? you do realize that I’ve seen you like, partially naked? And just touched you?”

My face flushed, “Yeah… but still.”

Noah chuckled, obliging as he turned around on the bed to face the wall. I began stripping, pulling my leggings up before changing my shirt. I peered at Noah, noticing his head whip back around.

“Hey!” I laughed, “No peaking!”

Noah turned around once I was dressed, sticking his tongue out playfully, “Whatever do you mean?”

I rolled my eyes as Noah stood up, scratching the back of his neck, “I’d say we’ve at least levelled up to buddies.”

Yea, fuck buddies?

I hummed, “I agree, definitely more than level-two acquaintances.”

Noah nodded at me with a lighthearted glare, “Friends would be too far right now.”

“Definitely,” I mimicked his expression before leading us down the stairs.

“I’m sorry we didn’t get to eat,” I said, “but if you want, you could come to the bar?”

“I’d like that,” Noah bent down to slip on his vans as I put on my black Converse.

I chewed my lip, “Did you want to invite your friends? Maybe talk about the offer?”

Noah stood up, frowning, “Y/N- I couldn’t do that to you.”

“Well, at least ask them, see what they say,” I looked at him with a serious expression, “I wasn’t kidding with the offer. I have the basement finished but unfurnished; and a spare bedroom upstairs. You guys would have your own space.”

Noah stared at the floor, kicking up the side of the carpet nervously, “I mean I’ll talk to them.”

I couldn’t help but smile widely, “Please do. Now lets go or I’ll be late.”

+++++

NOAH

Ruffilo, Jolly, Folio and I sat in a booth at Sammy’s, with the trio observing me intently as I recounted the situation. "She offered us a place to stay for free," I whispered to my companions, stealing glances at Y/N as she attended to customers. Her hair, a lovely shade of H/C, framed her face delicately, and my heart skipped a beat at the sight of her genuine and radiant smile as she served drinks to the woman in front of her. She brought light and charisma into the room with her presence, igniting an incandescence that was hard to ignore.

“No fucking way we are doing that,” Jolly said, glancing at Y/N briefly before folding his arms, sinking into the leather of the booth.

“I mean,” Nick began, looking between us, “This would help us out a lot Jolly.”

“-and Noah,” Nicholas said, “Like we pay roughly 130 bucks a night. That’s $3,900 we’d save him right there.”

All of us peered over at Y/N, and she lifted her head, giving us all a smile.

“Why would she do that for you? For us? What’s in it for her?” Jolly said, skeptical.

I had no fucking idea why she would, but I was desperate for any amount of help I could get.

I shrugged, “I don’t know.”

She was selfless, enigmatic, and completely sublime.

“How long have you known her?” Nick raised a brow, plucking a fry from the plate in the middle of us.

I winced, “Er, two days?”

Folio’s eyes bulged out of his head as he leaned forward, chest pressed into the table, “Ain’t no fucking way this is real. She has to be getting something out of it.”

Jolly snorted, “yea, his dick.”

I scoffed, rolling my head back dramatically, “Oh fuck off !”

“That’s not what the hickey on her neck-”

“Oh, Can it Jolly, have any of you ever thought that maybe Y/N is just a nice person?

I reached for a fry and dunked it in ketchup before taking a bite. "People like us don't deserve kindness." Ruffilo glanced at me, clearly disappointed. "Don't say that. We've done some questionable things, but it's how we survive." "And besides," added Folio, "we can't offer financial assistance. D doesn't even know Y/N exists, so he wouldn't suspect any involvement from us." Nicholas nodded in agreement.

I watched the three of them as they gave me a sullen smile, “I’m worried D will be suspicious that our locations will move though; and that it will put her in danger.”

“She must know there’s a risk, considering you filled her in on everything,” Nick took a sip of his beer.

“Why she’s willing to risk everything she’s worked towards beats me,” I said, sighing heavily.

“Worked towards?” Nicholas asked.

The boys waited for me to answer.

She bargains with the world So everything she wants will come to her With no greed inside her mind She knows what she deserves

“She’s been through some fucked up shit I guess, but she saved a bunch of money and moved here to start over her life. She works two jobs almost every day to afford everything,” I looked back at Y/N for a prolonged period, my heart beating quickly, “She just kept telling me she knows what it’s like, and she wished people helped her.”

“So pity?” Jolly gave me a sarcastic smile, nodding rapidly.

“No,” I defended, “because she is a generous person.”

We remained silent, chewing our food quietly before Jolly spoke.

“Well, I suppose it’s worth a shot,” He said, eying the fries before staring at me, “for Noah.”

“Yeah, for me, but also you guys. She offered it to all of us,” I said.

Nicholas looked over at her warmly, “That’s kind of her. Really kind.”

We fell from sky with grace And landed in her soft and warm embrace She gave her love, her gift of life So we could live with her

I stood up, walking towards the bar, sitting on a stool in front of her. She nodded to another customer before smiling at me, waltzing over.

“So?” She bit her lip, almost looking hopeful.

I picked at the resin counter, my nail grinding within a divot in the material as I distracted myself from her, “How early can we move in?”

“Tonight if you want.”

Y/N and I shared a look before I nodded, giving a gentle laugh, “Okay. Want to meet your new roommates? Considering you haven’t even met the guys you offered your entire life to.”

Y/N laughed, “yea. I’m realizing how crazy I sound the more realistic this becomes.”

I motioned for the boys to come over and they did, each with a beer in their hand, sitting on either side of me along the counter.

Y/N gave them a sunny grin, introducing herself.

“It’s nice to see you again,” Nicholas said politely.

“You as well,” she nodded, before looking at Folio.

“I’m Nick, Nick folio,” He held out his hand, wrapping around her own and shaking.

She then moved to Jolly, who gave her a curt smile. Although he was stand-off-ish, she greeted him warmly.

“Joakim, but call me Jolly,”

“So, tonight?” I eyed everyone, who all turned to look at Y/N.

She shrugged, “I’m off at midnight. I can help take stuff over.”

“Well, we don’t exactly have a lot. We can probably take everything in two trips,” Nick said.

“I can help, I’ll meet you guys at the motel.”

+++++

We carefully packed all of our belongings into our backpacks and suitcases, and my chest tightened as I realized that we were leaving the place we had called 'home' for the past few years.

Nick shook his head in disbelief as he played Tetris with our belongings, fitting them perfectly into our vehicle.

"I have to admit," Nicholas said as he helped Jolly carry out their old guitars, "It will be a nice change to live in an actual house for a while."

“Good point,” Jolly mumbled, “But I’m still suspicious.”

That is why we live like heathens Stealing from the trees of Eden

Y/N made it over to the motel around 12:30, and we packed her car as well.

All of us stood outside the motel, part of us grieving for departing what we’ve always known; the other relishing in gratitude for this new opportunity.

Y/N placed a hand on my shoulder as I stared at the motel door plaintively.

Living in the arms of freedom And everything we touch is evil That is why we live like heathens

I gave her a sorrowful smile before nodding at my brothers, “Y/N will lead the way.”

As I sat in the passenger seat of Y/N's car, my eyes drifted to the window as we drove past towering buildings and bustling streets toward her neighbourhood; our new home. My heart was filled with both excitement and disbelief - how did I get so lucky to have this amazing woman in my life?

Once we arrived and entered the house, Juice, the friendly orange fur ball, greeted us at the door and immediately won over the boys with his playful antics. Y/N proudly gave us a tour of her humble abode before leading us down to the basement. As she had mentioned, it was bare and unfurnished, save for a few scattered cardboard boxes and a pristine rack of guitars that caught my eye. The room echoed with potential and possibility, just waiting to be transformed into our own personal haven.

“Holy shit- is that a Martin D-41?” Jolly immediately smiled, walking over to assess the guitars, “and an Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci Majesty?”

“Damn, and a Gibson Thunderbird IV Bass?” Ruffilo joined in on the geek sesh, both of them giddy.

Y/N laughed, “Wow, you must know your stuff. Those were my dads, he was really into music.”

She walked over, grazing her fingers across the strings, “I’ve kept them in his memory, but I have no idea how to play.”

I watched her as she picked up the Martin, handing it to Jolly, “feel free to use them whenever you want; they deserve some love, they were made to be played.”

Jolly’s lips fell open before he smiled warmly, gazing at the guitar, “You’re so fucking cool.”

We all chuckled and I watched Y/N in awe as she interacted with my brothers, taking them in and treating them as if she’d known us all for years.

The stone, the dirt, the dust The unforgiving promise made to us Unworthy of your light, your god, your touch We're guided by the lust

“I only have one blow-up mattress I take camping, but there is a bed in the spare room, and the couch in the living room…” She looked between the four of us until her eyes landed on me.

“Uh,” Her cheeks flushed as she spoke, “we can always share my bed tonight until I can pick up a couple of mattresses…”

We cry the fallen names We cry for those who burned beneath the flame We stand besides the good and brave The broken and enslaved

My face warmed along with her and I coughed, straightening up, “Yeah, no worries.”

The boys watched us, a low chuckle leaving Folio. Y/N grabbed spare blankets, pillows and the blow-up mattress from the closet. She set up the bed, which Jolly dibsed. Nick took the couch, and Nicholas took the spare room down the hall from Y/N’s.

Y/N and I went into her room and she shut the door quietly, turning around, sighing.

“Well,” she blew out a puff of air, giving me a kind smile, “this is interesting.”

I nodded, following her with my eyes as she began getting ready for bed, brushing her H/C hair, and wiping off her makeup for the day. I admired her beauty, staring at her with reverence. She was brilliant.

“I-I can sleep on the floor Y/N. I don’t mind,” I whispered as she slid an oversized t-shirt over her frame, stripping off her work attire.

I licked my lips, swallowing harshly before averting my eyes, reminding myself that now was not the time to get worked up. She had to be at the cafe in a few hours.

Juice purred as he curled into a bed next to her windowsill, eying us from the corner.

Y/N turned off her main light, flicking on a dim lamp that cascaded a soft orange aura across the room before she crawled into bed, opening the covers and patting next to her.

“You can sleep with me, it’s okay.”

My feet shuffled restlessly as I adjusted my hoodie, draping it over the chair by her vanity along with my jeans. Just a few hours ago, I was pressing her against the wall, consumed by passion and filled with confidence. Yet now, I felt shy and vulnerable. It was strange how this simple act of sleeping in a bed with her felt more intimate than the sexual encounter we had shared earlier.

Her love is yours But only if you give your heart to her

I walked over to her, sliding myself between her covers, and lay as close to the edge as possible.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” She mumbled, jumping out of bed and leaving towards the bathroom, returning shortly with a bottle of pills and a cup of water.

She opened the bottle, turned around and placed one on her tongue before taking a swig of water. I watched as she placed her pills on her desk, before hopping back into bed.

That is why we live like heathens Stealing from the trees of Eden Living in the arms of freedom And everything we touch is evil

She crawled underneath the covers, snuggling into the duvet as she lay on her side, facing me.

We remained silent for a few moments before she asked me a question in a small voice, “Is it ok if the light stays on?”

I preferred the lights off, but I wasn’t going to share my preference; I was invading her space.

“I have trouble sleeping,” She whispered.

“Of course it’s ok,” I said, pulling the covers over my shoulders.

“Okay,” her eyes fluttered open and closed, fighting against sleep, “goodnight Noah.”

I watched as her lashes touched the tops of her cheeks, her eyebrows releasing tension from the day, lips parted gently as sleep took over.

My eyes danced across her features, completely captivated. Y/N breathed slowly, and my hand subconsciously reached over, tucking a strand of loose hair behind her ear as I endeared over her.

“you’re my saving grace,” I whispered as I stroked her hair, still completely baffled this was all happening.

I watched her for a moment longer before I turned over, facing the door and her desk. My eyes trailed over to the bottle that rested on her desk, the yellow plastic alluring. Zolpidem. 700 dollars right there.

Destruction. Crime. Greed.

That is why we live like heathens That is why we live like heathens That is why we live like heathens

Chapter 6

Tags:@crimson-calligraphyx @lma1986 @spicywhenspeaking @sammyjoeee @shilohrosechicken

@princessmarshmallowx @laurpartyprogram @cookiesupplier @nojoyontheburn @lacktoesandtoddlerant

@veronicaphoenix @er3nslovergirl @cncohshit @scrumptiousfestivalpost @melcchs

@flowery-mess @mentallynot-here @judging-from-afar @darkmxgician @badomensls

@hoe-for-daddywise @philomenie @xxkittenkissesxx @venturethroughtheveil @thefallennightmare

@blend-in-with-the-madness @reyadawn @deathblacksmoke @anameunmusical @sitkowski

@anything-more-than-human @into-the-grey @amelia-acero @rumoured-whispers @artificialbreezy

[tipsyon-tea]

Blind Spot - Deleted Scenes - Ch 6

Chapter 6 was excruciating. It was meant to be a chance for the Damon and the MC to open up more, but no matter what I tried I wasn't happy with it. I ended up with endless scenes of them having meaningful conversations in the rain that didn't fit the development of the relationship. Eventually I gave up and let the MC do as she pleased.

Technically spoilers for the main story, but the final draft ended up completely different, so also not. I'd be interested to know from people who've read the main chapter which version they prefer.

♪⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅♪

The rain crashed against the world around them, falling in rivulets off the roof of the pavilion onto leafy garden beds. It was everywhere. Sheets of water lashed the city in rolling waves, leaving the air with a chill unsuited to the summer. 

“Can I see?” Damon spoke quietly, his body angled towards her as they sat side by side on the stone picnic table. His much longer legs were bent towards her, crowding close enough to feel a phantom warmth, but never quite touching. She frowned and curled her obsidian tipped claws between her knees, trying to push back the itch underneath her nails. The tension like a second skin that wanted to twist and shape her bones into something unrecognisable.

 “You want to know what my hands look like,” she said, frowning as she considered it. It wasn't so much what he thought of her abilities—she didn't care about that. If he was repulsed, that made everything easier. The issue was the feeling that she was giving away her advantage. Losing the element of surprise, as irrational as it was. The nervous, uncertain energy continued to radiate off him and he hadn’t looked away once since joining her under the shelter. Her neck prickled under the scrutiny, hairs raised around her nape.

He's not a threat, she had to remind herself. He wasn't about to attack her, though she was less worried about that, and more about the possibility he’d try to make a move. 

“You don't have to show me,” he said, waving his hands. She tried not to twitch at the sudden movement. “I was just curious-” He calmed down enough to fiddle with the ends of his hair instead, glancing to and from, “-since it seems like something you struggle to control.”

She withheld the urge to ask why he was sitting so close to her if he knew that. “It's more present when I'm nervous,” she said instead, curling her fingers inside the pockets around her waist.

“You're nervous?”

That’s not it. Her mouth formed a thin line as she looked over the railing of the pavilion into the rainswept gardens. Nervous was for things you wanted to do well at. This was closer to wariness. Apprehension. “I guess.”

Her skin crawled under his stare, squirming with uncertainty as to what came next. She staunchly avoided looking at him, so she could only draw from her periphery if he made any sort of movement. 

“I'm… nervous as well,” he said softly. 

That didn't help. If anything, the edge of anxiety that radiated off him made it worse. Taking a breath, she tried to ward off the lingering malignance. “You want to see what my hand looks like,” she reiterated, not convinced it was a good idea. He'd been the one to ask though, and she didn't see why she should say no. She should show at least a token of trust. 

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she withdrew the hand closest to him. Turning it over to show him the claws seeped in deep purple. He paused, breath caught in his throat as he stared. Reaching out only to hesitate, and she saw his eyes flicker to her for guidance. Perhaps trying to read the frown on her face. 

“I think they're beautiful,” he said quietly. Like he knew the ice was liable to crack. 

Her fingers twitched, lip curling back, but his hands still hovered. Inches from clasping her own. She managed to keep the change restrained, fingers bleeding darker in colour, but it barely scratched the surface of their actual form. She pressed her lips shut to hide the sharpening teeth.

Nothing about this was pretty, unless he was deluded. Everything was a snarling mix of uncertainty and conflicting instincts, no peace brought by the rain to sooth her. There was no point taking the first step if she despised how it had to end-

He seemed to decide she was okay with it, and both his palms wrapped around the sides of her claws to cradle her hand. They were warm and soft. Shorter than hers—how he didn't fear her she didn't know—but gentle. His thumbs brushed soothingly along the sides, and she had to force the deep breaths through her teeth.

This couldn't be all he wanted.

“I-Is, uhm, is it always this close to the surface?” he spoke again, stumbling more than she expected. She glanced up to see why and actually took in his expression—even through the monochrome shadow of the clouds, she could see the nervous flush of his cheeks. He could be sick or upset or infatuated for all she knew of an expression like that. The idea he could look at her—claws out like she was ready to attack him—and be enamoured seemed the most absurd. 

“It’s more present when I'm nervous,” she said, voice rough. True of most Huevari like her. It was a sign any sane person would take as meaning ‘back off’, but he either had no clue of the threat or chose to ignore it, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

”You don't have to be nervous,” he said, sounding twice as uncertain as she felt. He traced small circles against her palm, which made the hair at the back of her neck stand on end. “I like you and… I want you to know that something like this would never change that.” 

Not the problem- She tried not to bristle, reminding herself the point was to make it work, not send him conflicting messages. The sentiment behind it was nice. Sweet. Probably romantic in any other scenario—except she didn't care what he thought of it. Her concern was everything to do with how far he would push her. 

“What do you mean by ‘like’?”

“Huh-?” He glanced up, reddening under the scrutiny. “C-can you explain that a bit more?” 

“Like, in what… sense.” She frowned, struggling to put the thing that had evaded her this whole time into words. “Whether you meant my personality. Or the idea of dating. Or if you meant you liked how I looked, or a casual sort of thing…” 

Her head spun with thoughts of what his intentions were. What he wanted out of this if she said yes. How he'd feel when he found she had nothing but issues to offer. She probably imagined the way his grip tightened around her palm. 

“I… don't mind answering, but-” Looking up, she was in fact correct. His shadowed eyes seemed darker than usual, gazing down at her with a gravity that seemed more appropriate for the issue he’d been ignoring. “Please, can you just-” He struggled for what to say, holding her hand tighter between his own. “Tell me what it is you're thinking first? Anything? I want to know if I'm doing this right.”

Her mouth opened, then shut again as she tried to pin down anything that would actually make sense. “Give me a moment,” she said, taking a deep breath in. Out of interest, she tugged her hand back, wondering if he’d let go. His grip only tightened, far more noticeably than it had before. Making it clear he was keeping it in his grasp. 

She found she didn't mind. The rain drummed against the tiles of the pavilion, filling the silence with the patter of water against leafy fronds. She could sense his agitation growing as her non-response stretched, but he remained dutifully silent. Which was arguably worse than if he interrupted her. 

“I guess, I…” She spoke, simply to ease herself into it. His thumbs pressed into her palm to hold it in place, and she let her fingers curl over, the sharpened edge of her nails grazing against his much softer flesh. “I have a lot of thoughts. Too many. They keep assassinating each other over which one gets to go first.”

“Take your time,” he said softly, and her tentative grin fell as he ignored her attempt at injecting some humour. Her gaze flickered from their hands to the fabric covering his chest, wondering how many shapes would be in one diagonal row across his shirt, and what was wrong with her to take this long over a single question. 

“You asked what I’m thinking. Right.” She needed to take a breath to recover her thoughts, eyes shifting several different places as she turned the words over in her mouth. “I just- I guess I don’t know what you want out of this. What it is you like about me, your idea of dating. If you just liked how I looked, or if this is a more casual sort of thing…” 

She risked looking up to see his expression, surprised when she saw his frown had disappeared completely. He stared down at his lap with wide eyes instead, taking a moment to digest his own thoughts. 

“I see… I suppose you're right. I wasn't very clear.” He glanced up at her, this time with a softer smile. Moving slowly, he tugged her hand closer towards him. 

She stiffened, her other claws scraping grooves in the stone table when he brought her captured hand up to his face, staring at her over the top of her serrated fingers. 

“I like everything about you,” he said, his breath warm against her skin as his eyes creased up with the smile their hands hid. “The more I discover, the more I like. And as for dating…” He looked bashful for a moment, glancing away. “It’s uhm, definitely not casual. What I want is the opposite of that.”

Vague, again. 

But if he was looking for something serious, that was a start at least. She felt her stomach was all twisted in knots with the turn their conversation had taken. Tense in a way that wasn't entirely bad, but it didn't help her with fighting back the claws on her fingers. 

“Right,” she said. He looked at her with wide, imploring eyes as he tightened his grip around her hand, like his whole world would fall apart depending on what she said next. “I guess, the ‘opposite of casual’ fits pretty well for me too.” 

She managed a strained laugh, and this time he laughed along, the sound of it soft against the lessening rain. She glanced out across the gardens to see the onslaught had eased to a steady patter.

♪⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅♪

[doyelikehaggis]

25 Days of Sleighpairs: Quinntana | Quinn Fabray x Santana Lopez (Glee) + “Shopping”

It wasn’t meant to escalate quite so far. Really, Santana had never expected that one drunken fumble in a hotel would be enough to turn Quinn's head. She thought they'd forget all about it and go back to "hating" each other like normal.

Instead, they'd kept in contact. Like, a lot. More than they ever did in high school, which was really weird, but it was also kind of nice. Santana had visited Quinn's dorm a few times, too. That was something a little more than just nice. She had no idea what was going on, but she figured it would end the second that Quinn found herself a new man to latch onto. They didn't talk about what they were doing or "what they were" and that was absolutely fine.

Until Quinn said, "I was doing some shopping, and I figured you were going to be busy Christmas day, so, I wanted to give you your present early."

"You got me something?" Santana said, stunned as she pushed herself up onto her elbow. Her heart was also racing in panic because she had talked herself out of getting Quinn a gift, thinking it was inappropriate in the little grey area they had found themselves in.

"It's not much," Quinn said with a shake of her head, highlighting her new haircut; she cut it short again, falling just below her chin. It looked really good. She eyed Santana's expression and grinned, her eyebrows furrowing. "Relax, it's not a ring. I told you, I'm not the U Haul type."

"Alright, first of all, that's incredibly offensive. And let's not pretend you weren't considering marrying Sam while we were still in high school. Yeah, he told me about that."

"Completely different," she argued.

Santana rolled her eyes but didn't press her on the how and why it was different. She wasn't sure she actually wanted to know; she didn't mind whatever it was they were doing and the fact that it would definitely end with less than a moment's notice, she also didn't want to psychoanalyze something she was actually enjoying. Feelings ruined things. She knew that all too well.

She waved a hand to say, come on, then, and Quinn retrieved a small white bag from under the bed. Santana immediately grabbed it and peered inside before pulling out the sleek black box. Inside was a simple yet surprisingly beautiful heart-shaped necklace inset with shining stones.

"I don't..." she shook her head and clamped her mouth shut, trying to block out the words that flowed in. "I don't know what to say. It's beautiful. Thank you."

She didn't admit that she hadn't gotten her anything. Instead, she promised herself to go out as soon as she left and pick something up. She could always make the excuse that she wanted one last "visit" before she had to return home to Ohio to see her parents. Quinn was planning on staying at Yale for the holidays, seeing as how she hadn't properly spoken to her parents since leaving. From what Santana knew, the truth was that she had barely spoken to them at all since Beth was born.

Immediately, guilt flooded her. Should she invite her to spend Christmas with her and her family? It would be a little weird, but... it had to beat spending it alone, thinking about everything she didn't have around her.

Just as she opened her mouth to pop the question, Quinn spoke again.

"I have another present for you, actually." Her sheepish smile had transformed into something wicked. Santana could imagine it was a look that went down well with all the guys back in high school, and she certainly wasn't immune, either. "Sort of."

"You're spoiling me, Q. Careful, there's still time for me to get that U Haul."

Quinn laughed, and that definitely went down well. Her laugh had always entranced Santana, all the way back to when they had first met in elementary school and she had fallen just a little bit in love with her because she had heard that laugh.

"Trust me, you'll like it," she said, and reached down to pull out another bag.

Santana immediately recognized the pink and white stripes and the black writing. She raised an eyebrow, and Quinn's expression had lost all of the former cheerleader innocence now.

"I figured you might want to... unwrap it now."

"Oh, I definitely do."

"Then" - Quinn slipped off of the bed, taking the Victoria's Secret bag with her- "you stay here, and I'll be back in a minute."

Santana grinned back, her stomach fizzing with that familiar excitement. She watched Quinn disappear into the bathroom, her heart thumping in anticipation of her return. She shot her parents a text to let them know she'd back a day later than planned, then waited while she tried to think of what to buy for her.

It was going to have be something that didn't feel over the top, but she knew it had to be something good, too - especially when she laid eyes on the white slip of lace and not much else.

[gummydummy19]

Guns and Roses

Summary: You’ve been nagging your mobster boyfriends for a gun for months, but they won't budge. After yet another fight about the matter Bucky takes it too far and it's up to him to apologize this time.

Content Warnings: smut, dom/sub dynamics but honestly it's all over the place, age gap, powerplay, brat reader, swearing, mob themes, angst, polyamory, mean dom Bucky (he's a tiny bit toxic but we love him), soft dom Steve, switch Steve, orgasm denial, angst, ignoring boundaries but regretting it, fluffy ending

A/N: inspired by the show “Bones” (iykyk) ALSO I make all my moodboards myself so please don't use without credits <3

P.S: besties, THIS IS FICTION. Boundaries should never be ignored irl!

Word Count: 5.4k+

“I said no, end of story”

"But, Buck!"

He turned around and gave you a stern glance. You know what that glance meant. Don’t push it.

“No.” He said.

You huff an angry breath through your nose and cross your arms.

“Maybe she has a point, Buck?” Steve chimed in.

“Christ, Steve, not you too. We can't get her a fucking gun it's too dangerous. She's not trained she doesn't know how to use it. She could get hurt! What if she gets injured? I swear if anything ever happened to her, Steve, so help me god I-"

"This is ridiculous, I'm a grown woman! If I wanna buy a gun, I'll buy a damn gun!" you yell out.

A huffed out a condescending laugh "Sweetheart, you can't even keep a plant alive." he mocked.

"Buck!" Steve intervened, signalling he crossed a line.

"Screw you, James." You yelled.

'You're an ungrateful brat, you know that?' Bucky spat, 'We work day and night to protect you, but it's never enough is it?'

'That's not true!' you yelled back.

You tried to sound as intimidating as he sounded, but you couldn't help yourself taking a few steps back as Bucky towered over you.

You thought your back hit a wall, but when you felt two soft hands trail your arms, you realised it was Steve's hard chest. His gestures were soft, keeping you grounded.

You had been begging your maffia boyfriends for a gun for ages, but they wouldn't budge.

Steve had always been the softer one. Bucky had a temper, but he would never actually hurt you.

'You think you're a big girl, huh? Think you can handle waving a gun around?'

'Don't you patronise me, asshole.'

Bucky's eyes shot wide and his nostrils flared. He grabbed your face and squished your cheeks together.

'Alright, that's enough of that. Get on your fucking knees.'

You were about to snap back something but Bucky knew what a spitfire you could be.

'Now.' He sternly said before one single bratty word could leave your mouth.

'I'd do as he says, if I were you.' Steve whispered in your ear before pressing a soft kiss against your neck, making Bucky role his eyes.

Reluctantly, you did as you were told, trying to ignore the increasing wetness between your legs.

Bucky looked down at you.

'It's not gonna suck itself, is it?'

'Are you trying to make me bite ur dick off?'

Steve chuckled at that, earning another seething glare from his best friend.

'Oh relax, Buck.' Steve said, leaning over you to press a kiss on Bucky's neck. 'We both know she's all bark, but she never bites'

You heard Bucky groan as Steve got behind him and nibbled on his pulse point.

As much as you loved being a brat, you adored pleasing Bucky more than you'd ever admit, so you nuzzled against his thigh as you pulled down his zipper, earning another groan from Bucky.

'Hmm...that's a good fucking girl.' he groaned out as he felt your mouth wrap around his cock.

One of his arms reached down to rest against the back of your head as the other one reached over his head to tangle in Steve's hair.

You sucked on his shaft eagerly as your hand played with his balls.

'Fuck, baby, stopstopstopstop,' He moaned as he pulled you off his cock just in time.

You glared up at him proudly, making him grin.

'Yeah, yeah...get up.'

You gave the head of his cock one last kiss before slowly standing up, making sure to leave some soft nibbles against his skin on your way.

You were about to press a kiss against his lips when a firm tug on your arm made you spin around.

'My turn' Steve said, before kissing you deeply.

'Hmm, Buck, she tastes like your cock.' he groaned as he broke the kiss.

'Yeah? You like that, you dirty dog?' Bucky grinned

'You know I do, punk' He said, pulling Bucky closer by his tie to bring him in for a messy kiss too.

'See, the problem is that you don't taste like mine.'

'Hmm, that does sound like a problem, doesn't it?'

And with that, Bucky dropped to his knees, making quick work of pulling out Steve's hard member.

'Oh fuck...babygirl, c'mere...' He moaned, pulling you in for another kiss as Bucky sucked on his cock.

Before long the 3 of you had stumbled to the bed. A big mess of tangled limbs and wet kisses.

'Oh, please, fuck me daddy!' you moaned as Bucky teased your pussy with the head of his cock.

'If I do will you shut up about the damn gun?'

'Oh come ooonnnn!' you whined, trying to push yourself back against him, but Steve tightened his grip on your hair

'Uh uh, be a good girl.' he scolded, making you look up.

'Open.' he said, and you immediately opened your mouth for him

He gripped your cheeks and a thick drop of spit fell from his lips straight into your awaiting mouth. You moaned at the vulgarity and swallowed.

'There you go, see, you can be a good girl if you want.'

'If somebody doesn't put a dick inside me within the next 15 seconds I'm gonna-'

'What? huh? You're gonna do what?' Bucky teased, leaning close to you, his sweaty chest pressing against your back, hard cock still nudging at your sopping entrance, making you whimper.

'You aint gonna do shit, babygirl.'

'Come on, buck, pleaaassee.' You whined 'It's not funny anymore.'

Steve noticed tears of frustration welling in your eyes and he shot Bucky a look saying you've had enough teasing.

Bucky pushed in without a word. Slow and steady.

'holy shit....' You breathed out when he was fully inside you. Very snug and very deep.

'You drive me fucking insane, you know that?' Bucky whispered in your ear, 'I love you so fucking much, sometimes I think I'm gonna have a fucking heart attack.'

Before you could even reply he started pulling out and fucking into you again with slow, deep strokes.

Steve grabbed your face and kissed you messily as he jerked himself off.

After a couple minutes you felt Bucky's hands slide up from their place on your hips and reach your breasts. He grabbed them firmly and pulled you back, so you were leaning against his chest.

'Stevie, c'mere'. he groaned as he dragged Steve closer for a kiss, keeping one hand on your hip and the other tangled in the blondes hair.

You felt Steve's dripping cock against your belly and couldn't help but reach down.

Steve groaned in Bucky's mouth when he felt your hand squeeze around his cock and moved his thumb to your clit to return the favour.

You let out a loud moan feeling Steve touch your sensitive clit and squeezed around Bucky cock.

'Oh fuck baby, do that again.' the brunette damn near whimpered in your ear.

You would do anything just to heard that sound again.

You squeezed down on Bucky's cock and you sped up your motions with Steve.

'Fuck, fuck, fuck, baby open your mouth!' he groaned, and you did, barely in time to catch all of Steve's hot cum.

'Holy shit, Stevie...' Bucky moaned, 'How do you always cum that much?'

Steve chuckled and dropped his head on your shoulder, continuing to play with your clit as he whispered foul things in your ear.

'You're such a good girl, making me cum that hard, swallowing it all, hmmm, got my seed in your belly while Buck rearranges your guts, huh? You like that, pretty baby? Huh, you little cumslut?'

'Fuck, I'm gonna cum like this...' You moaned, feeling yourself get closer to the edge

Between Bucky fucking you deeply and Steve rubbing your clit you were surprised you hadn't exploded already.

'Don't you dare!' Bucky growled.

'W-what?...'

'Tell me the last word has been said about that fucking gun.'

'You can't be serious!'

'As a damn heartattack, Doll'

'Bucky!'

'I'd agree if I were you, Princess.' Steve chuckled, 'I can tell just from looking at him he's close'

'Fuck, please let me cum! Steve! Bucky!' you begged

'Promise us you'll let the gun thing go!'

'Fuck you!' you screamed out, praying to God they were bluffing, but as the words left your mouth, Bucky pulled out and finished against your thigh.

'NO!' you yelled as you felt your orgasm drift away and you were furious.

'I told you I was serious.' Bucky chuckled a little out of breath

'You asshole!' you pushed his shoulder and scrambled away.

'Hey, watch your fucking mouth!'

'We don't fucking do orgasm denial!' You yelled

'I gave you a fair fucking warning!' Bucky yelled back

You grabbed Bucky's discarded shirt and wiped his cum of your skin, throwing the dirty fabric at his face.

'She's right, Buck.' Steve chimed in. 'We don't do orgasm denial. Are you okay, baby?' he asked, pulling you close against him.

'Hmm,' You sighed as you sagged against him. 'Bucky is a big fat fucking meanie.'

You were sat in between his legs with your back against his chest, as he peppered kisses against your cheek

'Yeah, he is, princess.' He agreed, 'C'mere sweetie, open your legs for me.'

You did as he said, enjoying how warm Steve was, inside and out.

Steve's large hands roamed your body before one of them settled in between your legs, gently playing with your puffy folds while pressing kisses on your shoulder and neck. He continued whispering praises in your ear, softly working up the stimulation so as not to overwhelm you after your drop.

'Doing so good for me, pretty. Such a good, good girl. My perfect baby...does that feel good? Hmm? Am I making you feel all better?'

Steve's sweet words and gentle movements were like magic. You felt like you were climbing and falling all at the same time. It felt amazing, but still, there was a gnawing feeling in your stomach.

'Buck needs to leave...' you mumbled as your head lulled back against Steve's shoulder.

Steve kept his fingers moving over your clit in a slow, steady rhythm, but his kisses stopped for a second as he lifted his head to look at you.

'Baby, we don't do that...' he gently reminded you of your number one rule since the three of you got together: Never leave someone out.

Every time there was a sexual encounter in your relationship, it was always the three of you together, never just two. You had all agreed on this rule very early in your relationship, to avoid conflict.

Of course, you all loved each other equally, there was never any doubt of that. The rule was put in place because the first weeks of your relationship had proven it to be necessary.

You'd have sex with Bucky all afternoon, and when Steve got home from work you were both too exhausted, leaving him high and dry.

The week after, Steve would have you choking on his dick all morning, and by the time it was Buck's turn, your jaw was aching so bad that you could barely give them a proper kiss for days.

Finally, the three of you had decided good communication and a couple ground rules were a must if this was gonna work, so you decided from then on, all sex would include all three of you.

Plus they balance each other out so perfectly, you had to admit you always came the hardest when it was with both of them.

The only exception to the rule was when one of the boys was away from home for a business trip, the other could fuck you if and only if they asked permission first and send videos or skyped while it was happening.

You never had any problems ever since, until now. Bucky had broken another ground rule: no orgasm denial, and you wanted him to be punished.

'We don't do denial either.' You said firmly, 'Bucky leaves or I leave and take care of myself, and neither of you gets to touch me for a month'

'You don't make the rules here, brat.' Bucky growled, clearly offended.

'If I did you'd just break them!' you spat back, closing your legs to hide your body from him, suddenly feeling like he didn't deserve to look at you.

'Listen here you-'

'Go take a shower, Buck.' Steve interrupted him, covering your body with his large arms when he saw what you were doing.

'Excuse me?' Bucky questioned

'Go shower, we'll be there in a bit.' He explained calm yet firm.

'Steve, you can't be serious?'

'As a damn heart attack,' you said, throwing Bucky's words back in his face.

Bucky looked at you, at Steve, and back at you. His eyes narrowed the tiniest bit as they held an emotion somewhere between defeat and rage.

He got up from the bed without saying a word and walked to the ensuite bedroom, slamming the door behind him, making you flinch a little in Steve's arms.

Steve rolled his eyes at Bucky's theatrics, 'don't worry about him, you know what a hothead he is.' he said, pressing a firm kiss to the side of your head as his hands started rubbing up and down your figure.

'He's a fucking asshole, that's what he is.' you grumbled, earning a small chuckle from Steve, who has gone back to pressing kisses wherever he could.

'Hmm...you still love him, tho.'

'Yeah, well so do you...'

'I do, I love you both more than anything,' he admitted, gently prying your legs back open and trailing his fingers back to his favorite spot on earth.

'He loves us too, he loves you, I love you...with so much of my heart I it overwhelms me sometimes,' Steve mumbled, rubbing your clit at a steady pace,

'Hmm..' you moaned, clutching Steve's bicep as his other hand found your entrance, tracing your soaked slit before sliding in one, thick finger, immediately curling it against that spongy spot inside of your pussy.

'He..ah, fuck....he has a-a fucked up way of sh-showing it...'

'That he does...but you know how to set him straight, don't you?'

'Shit...Stevie don't stop...please...please don't stop doing that...'

'Yeah? You like it when I play with that desperate pussy? You're so fucking pretty, baby. So hot when you get all sassy, you know that? How hard it makes me when you open that bratty mouth of yours...drives me fucking insane...'

There was a neediness to Steve's voice, it almost sounded like a..whimper.

'Oh...Stevie...pleaaasseee...need to cum so bad...please, pleassee...' You begged

'I bet you do, baby...Bucky left you so needy for me,....think he can hear you from the shower? Think he's touching himself just listening to me playing with that drenched pussy?

You knew Steve was a big softie, with you and with Bucky. He wanted to be loyal to Bucky. He wanted to include him even if he wasn't there.

Steve was a switch, but he was always dominant with you. Not like Bucky tho, Bucky was mean and rough while Steve was more of a pleasure dom, ready to give you everything your heart (and pussy) desired.

'Bucky doesn't deserve my pussy...' You moaned, creeping closer to the edge

'Bucky's been a bad boy hasn't he? Do I deserve your pussy baby? Hmm?'

Your mind got clouded by Steve's change of dynamic. You had always been a massive brat and you thoroughly enjoyed powerplay, but you were a sub at heart. And the closer you got to an orgasm, the more submissive you became.

'fuck...yeah, Stevie....you've been so good to me...always so good to me...'

He worked your pussy like a fucking instrument, knowing exactly what spots to hit. He kept you on the edge, careful not to push you over. You became more desperate by the second. Steve's gentle touches started to bring more frustration than pleasure. You needed to be squeezed and manhandled, you needed to get called a desperate fucking whore...

'Yeah, baby? Am I doing good?' Steve whined, 'Am I being a good boy?'

'Nghnnn noooo no no...' you mumbled, trying to move his hand to your throat, desperately bucking against him, needing to be handled rougher...

'Need more....pleaasee...need...need..'

And just like that realization dawned on you somewhere in your clouded brain.

You needed Bucky.

'Need Bucky, baby? Want me to call him? Want him to make you cum really fucking hard?'

'Pleaaseee please, Buckyyyy!!' you begged, so close you could almost taste your orgasm

Steve was about to call out for Bucky, but the second his name left your mouth the door swung open.

'About fucking time.' Bucky growled

'Look at that, huh? Pussy so fucking desperate for me, can't even cum when I'm not in the room.' His hand found your neck and he immediately squeezed it perfectly as his other hand tangled in your hair, pulling it softly to make you meet his gaze.

'Such a good fucking slut, huh? My dirty little whore...aww fucking look at you...Are you crying? You wanna cum that bad, baby? Is that it? Wanna cum for Daddy?'

You nodded furiously, tears rolling down your cheeks as Steve finally picked up his pace.

'Look so fucking pretty like this, drooling like a fucking whore...'

'Please, please, please daddy let me cum, please!' you begged, praying to everything good and pure he would say yes as you felt a warm wave flowing through your body.

'Cum for us, now! Fuck yeah just like that...'

Your face scrunched up as you let out a pornworthy moan, thighs shaking in Steves grip as his skilled fingers toyed you through your high

'Fuck, yeah, that's a good fucking girl, my good slut, huh? Fuck...'

Bucky praised. His filthy words making your stomach flutter.

He bend down between the mess of tangled legs and started pressing kisses against your wet thigh, pulling Steves fingers out of you.

you let out a small moan at the feeling, looking down to see Bucky staring at your wet, puffy folds, using Steves's hand to robe around your entrance a little bit.

You though he would never stop staring at your pussy, until suddenly his lust-blazed eyes shot up, staring directly at your own. He slowly took Steves slick-covered fingers in his mouth, licking them clean while he never broke eye contact.

'Good boy, Stevie, making her cum like that.'

You felt Steve's dick twitch behind you at his praise.

'Thank you, sir...' he whined

'Move down a little, and put her on your lap.' Bucky commanded and Steve obliged almost immediately, shuffling down the bed a little to he was almost laying down, his shoulders still propped against the headboard.

He pulled up from between his legs, making you sit on his lap but he struggled to manouvre you around his rock hard cock.

'C'mere...like this...' Bucky explained, moving the both of you to his will.

You were practically laying back against Steve, your legs wide open, hooked over his thighs as his cock throbbed against your entrance.

'Would you look at that,' Bucky started, 'what a sight for sore eyes..'

He reclaimed his position between your legs. One of his hands gently traced up and how your inner thigh as the other did the same to Steve's leg.

You let your head lull back against Steve's hard chest while Steve's hands roamed over your body. One of his strong arms stretched over your belly, holding you close against him as his other arm curled across your chest with the same purpose.

You were relishing in Steve's warmth when he moaned suddenly, making you look down.

Bucky had wrapped his mouth around Steve's tip, sucking on him like it was his favorite piece of candy. You reached your arms up above your head, tangling in Steve's hair behind you,

'Fuck, Stevie you're so pretty....' you whined, making the man shudder beneath you

'He is, isn't he?' Bucky mumbled, taking Steve out of his mouth for a second, stroking and squeezing his wet, swollen tip.

'Look at that, princess, you're dripping all over his cock,'

Before you could look down, you felt Bucky lick a stripe up your pussy, collecting all the wetness that was trickling out of it.

'Taste so fucking good.' he groaned into your folds, making another moan tumble from your lips.

'Fuckfuckfuuuckk...ngggnn..' Steve whined at a particularly hard squeeze

'Wanna shoot your load in this wet fucking pussy Stevie? huh? Wanna make a mess?

'Please!' You and Steve moaned simultaneously, making Buckky grin

'Bunch of dirty sluts...'

Bucky pushed Steve's cockhead into your sensitive hole. Because of the position, he couldn't get very deep, but his tip was nestled right against your sweet spot, making you keen.

'Fuuucckk...' Steve moaned as you squeezed around his head so tightly it almost slipped out, but Bucky was making sure that didn't happen.

'Fuck yeah, baby, make that pussy strangle his cock...'

You started rocking your hips a little, the best you could. You didn't have much room but the tiny amount of friction was driving you both insane.

'Hmmm, just like that...good fucking girl, our little cockslut, aren't you?' Bucky spat, before licking a stripe all the way from Steve's balls, past where you two were connected, straight to your clit, where he attached his lips and started suckling and nibbling the sensitive bud, of course making you squeeze harder around Steve.

You started moaning like a whore while Steve whined and gasped in your ear. One of Bucky's hands stayed playing around your stuffed hole, making sure Steve stayed right where he needed to be.

'Want me to fill up your little hole too, Stevie?'

'yes yes yes please sir!'

'Hmm,' Bucky responded contently, running his fingers through the mess dripping out of your cunt before tracing them down to Steve's asshole.

He started with one finger, poking around a little until he finally connected the pad of his fingertip with Steve's prostate.

'SHIT!' Steve moaned out, bucking his hips up a bit, making his tip hit your g-spot a little more violently.

'That's it...that's the spot isn't it, Stevie?'

'Y-yes! Yes, sir...right there...please..."

Bucky added another digit and started fingering Steve's ass until he found a perfect rhythm, making sure to hit Stevie's spot every single time before connecting his mouth back to your clit.

He ate you out with vigor, focusing on your clit and sometimes letting his tongue lick past the part where Steve's cock disappeared into your tight and dripping pussy.

The closer you got to your orgasm, the tighter you squeezed around Steve's sensitive cockhead, and the more Bucky fingered Steve's sweet spot, the more he bucked against yours.

It felt like a neverending cycle of insane amounts of pleasure and you know both you and Steve were trying to prolong it as long as physically possible.

'I want you two to cum at the same time, think you could do that for me?'

'Yes, daddy,' you moaned

'Yes, sir' Steve added

'Good fucking sluts,' Bucky groaned, before attaching his lips back to your clit

'm'so close, Stevie, please fill me! I need it!

'fuckfuckFUCK! m'gonna cum baby...gonna cum so fucking hard...'

'Cum!' Bucky growled into your pussy, and you didn't have to be told twice.

'Yes please PLEASE cumming, I'm cumming!' Your hole contracted around Steve. His hands grabbed your hips hard enough to leave a bruise, partly to pull you down and partly to keep himself grounded as he shot his hot cum up into you.

'ARGh shit!' he swore, biting down on your neck while you felt him twitch inside of you.

Bucky let the both of you come down from your high as he places gentle kisses and traced soft shapes all over your and Steve's legs

'good girl...' he kissed your thighs

'Hmmm...n'good boy..' he whispered to Steve and he gently pulled out his fingers before giving one last command.

'Eyes on me, now,'

You and Steve immediately obliged, despite your exhaustion. You lifted your head a little and peeled open your eyes, to see Bucky guide Steve's softening cock out of your pussy. You both keened a little at the feeling, but neither of you had time to whine because Bucky stuck out his tongue and licked up the tiny stream of white seed running out of your abused hole.

'fuck...' he mumbled, 'tastes so fucking good...'

You and Steve could do nothing else but watch with droopy eyes and Bucky cleaned you up. When all of Steve's cum was swallowed, he turned to Steve's cock, licking up every single drop of arousal and cum he could find, earning another whine from Steve.

When he was finished, Bucky helped you slide off Steve's chest. He laid you down on your back and gave Steve a soft, slow kiss. You heard his praise, calling Steve a good boy and telling him how much he loved him.

It didn't take long for Bucky to turn to you, maneuvering so you were laying in between them.

You immediately clung to Steve, part of you still angry at Bucky.

As you laid your head on Steve's chest, Bucky came up behind you to snuggle. He pressed kisses against your bare shoulders and neck, wrapping his arms around you.

He could be so gentle. So soft. So sweet.

'M'sorry...' he mumbled in between kisses.

You didn't have the energy to say anything back, but you didn't push him away, and when his hand found yours, you didn't stop him as his fingers tangled with your own...

The next morning you woke up to wet kisses being pressed to your cheeks. The amount of scruff scratching the soft skin of your face was a dead giveaway that it was Steve.

'Stevieee...' you whined, although the smile on your face could not be hidden, 'S'too early...'

'Early?! It's eleven O'clock, you brat!' he chuckled, making you giggle

'Yeah, well you guys had me up until way past my bedtime and I need my beauty sleep.' you countered

'Is that so?' he smirked, leaning over you, 'I'm gonna need a reminder of what exactly it was that we did because...,' he leaned in closely, hot breath tickling the shell of your ear, 'I seem to have some trouble recalling it all...'

'Hmmm...I guess that's what happens with old age, huh Stevie?'

'Excuse me?!'

With a scowl on his face, he was quick to dig his fingers into your sides, making you squeal out.

'Nooooo, Steve, that tickles!! Stop it!! STOOPPPP!!' you trashed around trying to escape Steve's wrath, but to no avail...

'How's this for old, huh?'

'I take it back! I take it back!! I'm sorry, please stop! I TAKE IT BACK!'

Every the softy, Steve finally led up, staring at your exhausted form in contentment.

'Hmm, that's what I thought.' He grinned, pressing a satisfied kiss on your cheek before dropping down next to you

'How did you sleep, pretty girl?'

'Good, I always do when I'm here.'

'Are you okay?' He asked earnestly, 'We didn't get a chance to talk everything through last night so...talk to me, pretty.'

'So you do remember last night then?' you grinned

'Baby,' Steve warned, knowing you were trying to distract him.

You huffed, sitting up next to Steve.

'Why do we have to talk about it?'

'Because that's what we do, sweetheart.'

'Where's Buck?'

'Downstairs, making breakfast.' Steve replied, 'He thought it would be better if I came up here to wake you.'

'Is he angry with me?'

'Of course not, sweetie, why do you think that?'

You shrugged, not really knowing what to say.

'Are you angry with him?'

'I was,' you replied honestly, 'Now I'm just embarrassed'

'Why's that?'

'Because...you guys are so powerful, everyone fears you, everyone takes you seriously.'

Steve stayed quiet, glad you were finally speaking truthfully.

'Sometimes I just feel like...like I'm a weak link, a burden, some girl attached to you guys giving you headaches.

'Baby, you could never ever be a burden to us, we love you and we love protecting you, it's our job.'

'It's not though!' you spoke up a little, 'Not really...but I made it your job. I just thought that if I could protect myself you guys could finally worry less...work less...'

Steve's face softened at that.

'Oh, honey...' he took your face in his large hands, 'You didn't make us do anything. We love you. We are in love with you. And even if you were locked away in the highest tower with the largest amount of guns we would still want to protect you.'

You stared up at Steve with wide eyes, trying not to fill them with tears as you took in his words

'And I'm sorry we've been working so much, baby,' he whispered, pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

'Also, and I want to make this abundantly clear, I have never met anyone in my entire life who is stronger than you. You are powerful and we take you seriously.'

Your eyes dropped down at those last words, not going unnoticed by Steve.

'Is that what made you feel embarrassed? Bucky denying you made you feel powerless, that's why you sent him away, isn't it?'

'I didn't want him to go, I really didn't, I just...'

Steve noticed you were having difficulties finding your voice again.

'Wanted to reclaim your power?'

You nodded, grateful he understood.

'and that is super valid, baby. Bucky shouldn't have done it, he knows that. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.'

'I'm glad he came back though...' you admitted, making Steve grin 'And just so you know, I saw right through that little act, Rogers. I knew what you were doing.'

He laughed at that, 'Well, it worked, didn't it?'

'It did, yeah' You admitted, comfortable sagging against him

'Can I admit something?' He asked

'Sure, Stevie, what is it?'

'I'm a little embarrassed too...'

You pulled back a bit, looking at him with a confused frown on your face.

'What? Why?'

'Because...you've never seen me like that...that,uh...so, so...'

'Subby?'

'Yeah, I guess so...'

'Well, I thought it was really hot.'

'You did?' Steve frowned.

you nodded, 'I like that you're dominant with me but submissive with Bucky. It made me feel less alone? weird? I don't know the right word for it...'

'Hmm...' Steve nodded understandingly, 'Being able to let yourself go, to show a side of yourself not a lot of people get to see, I think that's pretty damn powerful'

'That's why neither of you should be embarrassed'

You both turned to see Bucky standing in the doorframe with a big platter and a bouquet of fresh roses.

'How long have you been standing there?' you asked

'Let's just say I hope you like your eggs a little cold.' he replied, not moving. He was waiting for you to tell him he could come closer. giving you the power.

'Well get over here then.' You said with a faint smile

He sat down on the bed, placing the platter on the bed next to you and Steve. It looked delicious, as did he.

He took the roses and placed them carefully on your lap, giving you an apologetic look.

'I never ever wanna embarrass you. Not ever. If anything, I'm the one who should be feeling ashamed, and sweetheart, let me promise you right now that I fucking do.' He said

'Also,' Steve jumped in, 'we got you a gift'

That took you by surprise, you looked back and forth at the both of them.

'What? You didn't have to do that...' you said, watching Bucky pull a box out of his pocket.

'Yes, we did.' He said, handing it to you, watching your face with focus as you opened it.

Inside was a beautiful necklace, delicate with a small pendant hanging in the middle.

A gun.

It was a little gun charm hanging on the necklace.

You couldn't help the massive smile tugging at your lips, immediately spreading all over your face.

'I acted like a fucking pussy.' Bucky said, 'All I ever want is to keep you safe. I let my pride and my ego get into my head and I crossed a line and I'm so, so sorry for-hmfp'

Whatever words he wanted to say after that got swallowed by your kiss. You tried your best not to squish the roses as you tangled your fingers in the back of Bucky's hair. When you pulled back, you pressed one last softer kiss to his lips before whispering 'I love you so fucking much, sometimes I think I'm gonna have a fucking heart attack'

Bucky chuckled against your lips, remembering when he said those exact words to you last night.

You reached over to put the roses on the bedside table before pulling in Steve for a kiss, pulling at his hair and at his heartstrings as you mumbled; 'And I love you...with so much of my heart, it overwhelms me sometimes...'

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[spindle-girl]

Eclipse X.5

Ashley's new hq, fight with New Wave, alone moment with J, and meeting with Edict sometime between Worm and Ward

“Money opens doors.  I can’t tie up my funds.  The Clockwork Dogs are too dangerous,” she said.  “I can’t throw all of you at them and expect it to be fine.  We’ll need the money to hire mercenaries. ” “You attacked Blastgerm when we thought he had twenty capes.  Why the doubt now?”

daw, she likes them

“I also got two pairs of shoes,” J said.  “If you want to sit on the bench, I can get a pair out for you to try on, while we wait for A and B.” “Geez, J,” Nick said. J looked over at Nick.  “What?” “It’s weird,” Nick said.

this dude needs to understand the master-butler relationship they got going on

It was J who dropped a bag, lunging forward, to put himself between her and the others. “It’s okay!” J said, “Please!” “Insubordination!” “It was aimed at me,” he said.  “They said I’m your bitch.  Its fine!” ... “I am, kind of.  I don’t mind it.  It’s whatever.”

so what's J going to do that's meant i've never seen anything about him before?

There was a long, hanging moment where her thoughts didn’t seem to progress, and she couldn’t formulate the sentence in her head. Had she been more focused, it might have been easier. “Many of you are teenagers,” she said.  “But this isn’t your high school.  I pay you to work under me, to fight for me, and sometimes you’ll bleed for me.  The person standing next to you could be the person who saves you from bleeding one drop too many.  Show each other some fucking respect.”

Ashley needs to give herself more credit. that's a pretty good speech, especially with the fog she's in

Angel slugged the heroine. Fist to face. She backed off, shaking her hand. It wasn’t because the heroine was tough, it seemed. Only because delivering a punch that solid hurt.

i don't know which New Wave (probably Photon Lady) this is but Angel for Number 1 Hench!!!!

“Given the prospect of having to deal with me?  Surrender,” she said, with a smile. “You’re proposing I stop picking on her, half my age and a third my weight, and I pick on you, half my age and, what, a quarter of my weight?”

that's not what she said Manpower (i'm assuming)

“Do you really want to test it?” she asked. “Sure,” he said.  “Why the hell not?”

god, could you imagine if she just obliterated him here? terrible for Ashley's mental health, but it'd be so fucking funny. what are you gonna do, stab me?

i'm getting flashbacks to Glory Girl insulting Tattletale for pulling out a gun at the bank

“That went through my field like it was nothing,” the woman said.  “You can’t take that hit.” Damsel smiled, as the man’s expression went cold.

lmao eat shit Manpower

Brandish didn’t give further chase.  Ashley reached the car, glancing back at the other blinded heroes, the scene with the money she hadn’t been able to claim.

ah darn it. oh well, getting away from most/all of New Wave, even with help, is still impressive

This was closer to the feeling she had on the bus, but it was a darker feeling.

so just to be clear, Ashley is 100% feeling shard influence, yeah? cause that's the assumption i'm working with

No words.  If he was going to do something, he would do it in a way that showed respect and no hesitation. ... Her eyes were open as the lipstick kissed her lips.  It moved slowly, pulling at the surface of the lip.  He was ever so careful to avoid a mistake there. His face was very close to hers for this part.

huh. this is actually pretty well written romance

Armored and administered to by her squire, she left the hotel room, with him a step behind. The assistance her assistant provided her was abnormal, perhaps, but… she felt more human than she had in a long, long time. She had hands again- they just weren’t her own.

:)

“I have memories that aren’t mine,” Ashley said.  “The memories are as clear as any of my own.  I know a lot of things, but I’m trying to think of things that only you would know, so they can confirm.”

shards can be funny little guys. i can't imagine this is fun for a lot of people even when dead

“But this memory being in the mix and Edict’s power don’t have anything to do with that.  Maybe this an avenue to pursue, on why this memory bleed happened, but I haven’t had the opportunity to be one hundred percent me for a long, long, long time.”

i can imagine so many ways this kind of thing would be terrible for some people. Edict and Ashley aren't even nemeses, they just fought sometimes

End notes:

i'd say it's nice to see Edict survived the apocalypse, but i don't really care all that much about her tbh. neat might be the right word

[valeisaslut]

hi! i'm usually a quiet reader but i can confidently say collide is one of the best works of fiction i've ever laid my eyes on, so i absolutely needed to reach out and give you my most sincere compliments. your writing style is remarkable, especially considering you're not even a native speaker, and i hope you continue to pursue your passion. no matter where it leads you in life, which i hope is far (in whatever way you deem fit), may your creativity never cease to exist and evolve.

i was just listening to one of my favorite artists to ever set foot on earth and i thought the lyrics could be applied to ellie and reader's dynamic, specifically from the latter's point of view. i'll take the freedom to quote the lines that might apply to them the most in my opinion, correcting the pronouns to enhance my point.

*"sleeping naked when it gets too hot"* - it made me think about how many times they've held each other both figuratively and literally bare in hotel rooms, where it would get too hot to handle anything (even the thinnest layer of fabric) but their skin separating them.

*"i watched her show her love*

*through shades of black and blue"* - how ellie opened up her heart to reader and decided to strain every part of herself that told her not to, all the while going through one of the hardest battles against both herself and addiction, which has slowly bruised her to the point of becoming impossible to hide. it also made me think about the marks her hands would leave on reader's body throughout their intercourses, showcasing the depth of her emotions in a way words never could've.

*"starting fights at the bar across the street*

*like you do"* - that's literally ellie. no cap.

*"the neighbors beat on the walls*

*while i'm face-first in the bed*

*show me how much i mean to you*

*while i'm lying in these sheets undressed"* - these lines are pretty much self-explanatory. i simply couldn't *not* think of them.

*"i'd hold the gun*

*if you asked me to"* - how reader would quite literally kill for ellie, or even sacrifice her own self if that meant going out knowing that the person she loves the most in the world is safe.

*"trouble's always gonna find you, baby*

*but so will i*

*crying only because i'm happy*

*hold me across every state line*

*i'm never gonna leave you, baby*

*even if you lose what's left of your mind*

*'cause you know i'll be right there beside you*

*riding through all these western nights*" - reader is always willing to be there for ellie. no matter how hard it gets, trying to put up with the frenzy that the life she chose entails and her lover's self-destructiveness, she'll always be by her side to hopefully mitigate the dread.

*"crying in the light of the TV static*

*i'll still be alright*

*clinging onto you like some love-blind addict*

*i'll be screaming your name*

*past the gas stations, trailing down the interstate*

*please, don't love how i need you*

*and know that one day, you and i could be okay"* - this reminded me of reader going through a hard time after realizing that love can't always be enough. but also, deep down, hoping all that consuming affection and care will, sooner or later, make things just a little more *bearable* for ellie, even if it's through indirect help (her contacting joel). believing that the woman she's loved unconditionally will get to see a *future*, one way or another. that there's a future where *both* of them get to live with less of a burden on their shoulders.

the song in question is Western Nights by Ethel Cain, just in case you wanted to check it out yourself. sorry for the long message, but i hope it brought you some joy and encouraged you to never stop believing in yourself and your undeniable talent. <3

oh my god. i just sat with this message and let it wash over me like a wave. truly. i don’t even know where to begin—the fact that you took the time to write this, to tie such a stunning piece of music so carefully to ellie and reader’s relationship, to speak so kindly about my writing… i’m honestly floored!

western nights is already a song that guts me, but reading your interpretation of it through the lens of collide? it cracked something open. every lyric you picked felt like it had been written for them. you saw them in those words, in the aching and the intimacy and the quiet devastation of loving someone so much it hurts—and you articulated it with such tenderness and insight that i felt like i was reading a secret chapter of my own story.

“i watched her show her love through shades of black and blue” — you got ellie. that’s her love language, whether she wants it to be or not. and that line, paired with the marks she leaves (physically, emotionally, spiritually), hit like a knife.

“i’d hold the gun if you asked me to” — this IS reader. the devotion. the ride-or-die energy. the desperation to protect ellie from a world she keeps throwing herself into.

“please, don’t love how i need you” — that one broke me. because that’s the part of their love that hurts the most—the need. the way it twists into dependence. and yet, still, that hope for someday. for okay. that’s collide’s heartbeat.

and beyond that… your words to me? they made me cry. truly. i’m not a native speaker, and this story has stretched me in every way—creatively, emotionally, even physically. sometimes i doubt myself so deeply i feel like disappearing. but then a message like this comes along, and it brings me home to myself again.

thank you. for your heart. your thoughtfulness. your quiet presence that still means so much to me. this was more than just a compliment—this was a gift. and i’m keeping it close forever.

🤍

[bonny-kookoo]

is seven days yoongi's oc also inexperienced? how do they meet bonbon? seven days yoongi is such a dream i wanna be his baby too 🥺

Seven Days Yoongi's oc was inexperienced when they met. Now she's certainly not haha

"You can stay and watch the soundcheck if you want." Your friend says, as she picks up her keys. "I'll have to get back to work. Text me when you leave and get back to your hotel though!" She says, hugging you once before she disaappears.

You've never been this close to a stage, so in between the whole hassle going on around it.

Walking around, you find a nice spot to watch the band prepare, one of the bass players starting a random beat you nod your head to while you lean on the edge of the stage, looking around.

It's then that you notice someone squatting almost in the middle of the stage, his head turned towards you, nodding along the same beat with a slight smile on his face as he clearly watches you. It flusters you, and causes you to tense up, instantly stopping all movement as you watch him stand up and slowly walk towards you.

When he leans down again, he watches you for a second, intrigued by your contradicting body language. You hold eye contact, the rest of your body trying to act tough and confident. But he can spot your hands fidgeting, the way you chew the inside of your lip, how you correct the placement of your feet.

Interesting.

"Is there something you need?" He asks you, and you're taken aback by his rather low voice, before you shake your head.

"No- my friend works here, she's.. Kim Hara? She's one of the safety team.." you try and explain and justify your presence, and he seems to think for a second before he nods.

"She never told me she's got such pretty friends." He flirts, and you're completely caught off guard by that. "Sorry, I'm usually not like this. Apologies to your boyfriend." He jokes, and you lean back a little, letting go of the stage.

"Ah well, thanks for.. the compliment?" You say, or almost question more so. "And, there's no boyfriend so, yeah.." you say, and he can see how uncomfortable you seem to become.

"I'm really sorry if that gave the wrong message." He says more seriously now, voice sounding a bit kinder. "I don't take on groupies or anything like that. Was just.. curious, since I've never seen you around before." He says, and you seem to relax quite a bit at that.

"Oh I'm not part of the crew." You shake your head. "Just.. IT stuff. Hara said you guys had some last-minute technical issues and no one was able to figure out what was up so.. I jumped in, cause I'm staying in a hotel here close by." You shrug, explaining your situation.

"I assume you fixed it then, considering all is working now." He chuckles, sitting down with his legs dangling off the side of the stage. "You gonna be here tonight?" He asks, but you shake your head.

"No, I didn't buy tickets." You say sheepishly. "I.. like your music, but I also like being able to afford food." You joke, and he laughs.

"Thats understandable-" He agrees, watching you while he plays with his microphone. "-and a very good choice to make." He nods, making you smile, a lot more comfortable now- before you tense up again.

"Oh God you're supposed to be rehearsing right?" You suddenly remember, stepping away from him. "I'm sorry- I should leave anyways, it was really nice meeting you though!" You thank him, bowing politely.

"Hey, before your run off-" he asks, reaching out his hand to wave you closer so he doesn't have to shout. "-is it okay if I ask Hara later for your number?" He wonders bluntly, and you tense up again.

You're really jumpy. He wonders what must've happened to you to make you act like everything's constantly a threat.

"I- yeah? I mean okay, but, didn't you say you didn't" you wonder, and he nods.

"And I meant that." He agrees. "But I'm also just a guy who's spotted a pretty girl right now, and I wanna get to know you if you're okay with that." He says, and you're hesitant.

That's Min Yoongi. Rapper, singer, producer, artist- an entertainer. The man he wants you to think he is, might jot be who he really is down the line. And yet there's something about him, something about this simplicity in which he handles this whole ordeal that just draws you in.

Maybe you could give him a chance.