#I BROKE WHAT YOU GAVE ME BUT YOU KEPT GIVING MORE AND IM SORRY FOR TAKING BUT I KEEP WANTING MORE MORE MORE

[angelheartcas]

i think of destiel with mitski and i SOB. I FALL THE GROUND AND SCREAM.

[freshxsturniolo]

im sorry - chris sturniolo x femreader

summary : in which you and chris get into your worst argument yet, to the point you think its all over.

warnings : angst, arguing, fluff.

"do you think you should maybe, slow down?" your friend whispers from the side of you as you finish yet another vodka soda. you wipe at your lip as a small bit of the liquid missed your mouth and turn to her, hitting the glass on the table a little harder than intend.

"my relationship is as good as finished. no. i need another." you say. a sentence that just a few weeks ago would have had you sobbing, but now just made you angry.

you had promised yourself that you would never let any man treat you like you were worthless. you'd never simp for a man so hard that you'd be crying in your bed alone. and yet chris sturniolo had ticked every box.

he was your sweetheart. the first person to show you what true love was. but your too different personalities had finally hit heads. you arguments over the last month where harsh. unforgiving, almost. and yet you still stayed. both of you did.

but tonight had been different. you hadn't spoken in two days, despite living in the same house. he preoccupied himself with work, which was understandable, and you preoccupied yourself with everything but his presence. but when his brother and your best friend nick asked you both over dinner to talk to each other, you world had shattered.

"can you both please just talk this out? i dont know the extent of your argument but this is becoming unbearable."

you had looked at nick with a sorry expression on your face. you did feel bad, the triplets had been more than nice enough to allow you to move in and you hated the hostile feeling you were both bringing to the house, but when you looked back at chris, his eyes on his plate, and he shrugged, you felt your heart in your throat.

when he uttered the words. "i don't think theres anything left to say anymore", your world broke.

you stood up from your chair immediately, a silence around the table that was unbearable, and you kept your eyes trained on your boyfriend. but he didn't look up. you nodded, before you looked at both nick and matt, there eyes on you in a sympathetic glare, and you gave them a smile before you removed yourself, running down the stairs and out into the fresh air. you couldn't even summon tears.

so you headed to the bar. you rang your friend, who was there in a flash, but you were five drinks down by that point and you had no plans to stop.

"you're being ridiculous" your friend said now, holding your wrist and dragging you down as you went to stand up, you stumbled back into your chair and she gave you an eye. "you both need time to cool off."

you scoffed. "cool off?” you say again, looking back towards the bar.

"where is nick? or matt?" your friend says now and you shrug.

"have they not text?" she asks.

"nick followed me out" you say, remembering back to just an hour ago.

the anger that surged through you when hit the fresh air and out into the driveway was unbearable. this had been going on for too long, you yourself could admit that. argument after argument after argument. but for chris to not even look at you, and utter words so heartbreaking in the presences of his brothers without speaking to you privately? you felt embarrassed. angry.

“y/n” you heard nick shout when you were only half way down the driveway, and you turned to him immediately. you were angry but you weren’t going to take it out on him. he was your best friend. he had seen the hurt in your eyes even though you had tried to push it down over the last two days of silence between you and chris.

“please, come back in” he had said, and you give him a sympathetic smile.

“i need to walk this off, nick” you say, and he sighed when he finally reached you. you held out your arms immediately and he was bringing you in for an embrace within seconds.

“do you want me to come with you?” he had said, and you smiled.

“be there for chris”

“what he just said to you in there was uncalled for. matts with him, i want to be here for you”

you smiled. “he’s your brother. and i think he just broke up with me. he can act the tough guy all he wants, i know he’ll want you” you said.

he didn’t tell you but nick was in awe of you. he could see your anger and your upset, could see the way you didn’t know if to scream or cry, and yet your resilience in that moment he thought was admirable. you were completely unaware of the conversations that were happening in the house after that moment whilst you were now sat with your friend, but for the time being you didn’t care.

your friend let out a sigh as you finally scrambled out of her grip, declining your offer of a drink you were going to buy her as you walk across to the bar. it was busy, and you were already swaying from left to right as you used the bar to steady yourself.

“what’s a pretty girl like you doing out here all alone?”

your head whipped up at the sound of the voice. a man you did not recognise leant against the bar at the side of you, his eyes looking you up and down. you knew instantly there was nothing sleazy or untoward about him. his aura gave off nothing but positivity, so you cracked a smile.

“oh, you know. just letting my hair down”

he laughed. “no boyfriend? or girlfriend? sorry, i don’t want to assume”

you smiled. “boyfriend.” you confirm. “no, hes -“

and there it is. the hurt hits you. you look up at the man who's smiling at you, already stepped back an inch after you had told him you had a boyfriend, and the argument springs up again.

"hes not here." you utter, before a laugh escapes you. where was he? you grab your phone from your pocket, no messages having coming through. you think back to the way it was nick that chased you out the door, and not him. and suddenly you feel sick. you look at the man stood in front of him and you utter a sorry before you turn on your heel, heading towards the your friend who's sat watching you from the table you were just at.

"i need to go" you say, and she looks at you for a second before standing up.

"i'll take you" she says. you nod, unable to even thank her with the surge of emotions that run through your body. you had jumped into an uber on the way here and your friend had driven, clearly knowing she wasn't going to end up drinking with you. really, she knew you wouldn't last long before you wanted to head home, so to her this was planning out exactly as she imagined.

you reach the outside of the bar, just a small one not even 10 minutes from the triplets house and the fading sunset hits you, you can feel the lump in your throat. your friend grabs hold of your arm as she pulls you down towards the street and to her car, but when you're half way there she finally speaks to you, noticing that your energy has shifted ever so slightly since being outside and the LA sunshine hitting your skin.

"are you okay?" she asks, and you look away from the skyline to her. and you laugh.

"no. no im not."

she gives you a sympathetic smile. "you're angry, i can tell. but i feel theres more too it. please dont give up on each other."

you nod as you reach her car, climbing into the passenger seat as she unlocks it and gets into the driver side after ensuring you're settled. she gives you another smile before she pulls off into the street, and you try your best to calm down. there were so many things you wanted to say to him. you wanted to scream at him. you wanted to cry at him. you wanted to ask him where it had all gone wrong.

youre so submerged in your own thoughts that you don't even realised when you pull up outside. you jerk your head up and let out a loud sigh, before looking to your friend.

"do you need a minute?" she says. "you look like you're going to cry. dont let him see you cry."

you smile as you reach over and give her a hug. "im okay. i'll be okay. thank you, so much."

you get out of the car and shut the door, double checking your pockets for your belongings. you could tell you were drunk, it had been an hour since you stepped off the driveway and ordered an uber to the bar and you'd drank way too quick, so you gather yourself as your friend drives off. taking a deep breath, looking up at the sky as the darkness finally sets in.

when you feel okay enough, you let out a large breath before turning on your heel, making your way up the drive way. you dont know what you were going to say. you were angry. you were hurt. and you feared when you did see him, you'd finally break down.

reaching the door to the house you unlock it slowly and quietly, needing a few more minutes before you saw anyone, but when you heard the three of them upstairs, you let out a breath. you're not sure what they're talking about, but you can make out the mumble of chris' voice and you turn on your heel, heading towards your shared bedroom, quietly opening and closing the door behind you.

when the door clinks shut, you lean against it, letting out a sigh of relief. but it hurts. you're drunk. you're feeling everything at once and the tears flow. pulling your hand over your mouth to muffle any noise, you make your way to the bathroom.

but he's heard you. the door opens, and his voice fills the room.

"baby" he says. and you snap.

spinning on your heel, you move your hand from your mouth. you know you look a mess. fresh tears on your cheeks. hair in a messy bun. you feel embarrassed that you'd even gone to the bar looking the way you did but in the moment it felt right.

chris' eyes widen when he sees you.

"fuck. baby -"

"baby!?" you spit. "baby?!"

and you see his adams apple move as he takes a gulp.

"please don't-"

"don't what?!" you spit. you take a deep gulp as you compose yourself, wiping under your eyes to take away the tears. you didn't want to argue. you didn't want to cry. but there was something inside you that was raging. "don't what, chris?"

"listen to me, please" he says, and walks over to your, grabbing at your wrists, but you pull them away immediately and head towards the bathroom. he's close behind you. "im so sorry, baby. im so so sorry"

you spin around immediately, and he accidentally walks into your chest. you take a slight step back at the side time as him, and your breath is harsh. "sorry? for what, chris? for talking to me like a piece of shit in front of your brothers? for ignoring for me the last two days? can you even remember what we were arguing about?"

"no but-"

"but what?!" you say, and the tears are falling again. "but what, chris? do you want to break up? do you want this to end? because thats what it sounds like to me and i'd prefer for you to tell me privately that in front of your brothers, because-"

"stop it, y/n. stop it!" he says, and he grabs at your hands again, but you pull them away, stepping beside him to reenter his bedroom. but you come to a stop. because you don't know where to go. you need to have this conversation. you know you do. but you're drunk, you're hungry, you're all of a sudden irritated and overstimulated.

so you cry. again. and you spin around to look at him as he to reenters his bedroom. he's crying to.

"please, listen to me" he chokes.

"i dont-"

"baby, stop it." he says, and he rushes right over to your side, taking your hands in his. you pull them away again, but this time he doesn't accept it.

"fuck, you're killing me." he says, and this time he grabs your wrists, pulling them up and stepping forward, trapping your arms in his hands in-between the both of yours chest.

"get off me" you say, but you don't mean it. you're angry but the first bit of physical touch from him in 2 days feels electrifying.

"no." he says, and you sniffle a cry before looking into his eyes. they too, rimmed with tears. this close you realise that they're too raw, and his lips are too swollen to have only just started crying.

"have you been crying?" you whisper, and he laughs. only slightly, but its a laugh, a smile appears on your face to.

"i love you." he starts. "I know that much is true. i dont know what the fuck has happened to us but i fucking love you. so much it hurts sometimes actually. i think thats why I coward away when we do fight. i cant handle it, y/n. i cant handle when you look at me when you're hurt or upset, it's easier to walk away and let us both cool off. and i know thats wrong, fuck nick and matt have just had my life about it, and im sorry."

you look at him. searching his face. his hair. feeling his hands and body on yours.

"why do we even fight, chris?" you ask now.

"i dont know, baby."

"am i too much? was moving in with you too much?"

he shakes his head immediately. "no, god no please dont think that."

you sigh, and he finally removes his hands from your arms. you take a step back, sitting on his bed, and he comes to join you.

"im so sorry for what i said earlier. i was being stubborn." he says, and you laugh slightly.

"we both were, chris. two days of ignoring each other."

he laughs too, and he places his hand on your thigh. you don't flinch away, but you don't reach for it either.

"do you want to be with me, chris? tell me the truth. because i can't keep being hurt like this. im not blaming you, either. its me, too."

he turns slightly to look at you, and you can see the genuine panic in his eyes. "if you were to break up with me, i dont know how i would survive. i mean it. i dont know why i said what i said earlier. embarrassed maybe, that nick had mentioned it. embarrassed i had let it carry on for two days. i dont know. but i know im sorry. not just for that but for all the times we argue."

the tears have brimmed in your eyes again and you let out a small smile, finally bringing your hand to his.

"I think we are both incredibly stubborn." you start. "and easily hot headed. and you're a social butterfly when i sometimes like to chill."

"i know" chris admits.

"but i love you, so much. i shouldn't have ran out earlier." you admit, and chris shakes his head.

"no. i shouldn't have let nick run after you. it should have been me." he says.

"its okay." you say now.

"do you forgive me?" chris asks, and just his face alone, his beautiful yet saddened face, makes you want to cry.

"yes. and you me?"

he laughs. "yes."

you chuckle, and then you finally lean in, his lips on yours. arguments were normal, you had to remind yourself that. but deep down, you loved this man to death, and he you.

when you finally pull away from your kiss, your first kiss in days, chris grabs your face in his hands. "im going to marry you, one day."

you heart jumps. "that so?"

he nods. "i already told nick and matt."

"when?"

he smiles. "when nick came back and gave me an ear full after speaking to you outside. he told me what you said. the way you were angry but you knew i would want him to be there. and it just blurted out."

you smile, a sense of relief washing over you.

"because i love you, dumbass. even if you do get on my last nerve sometime."

he chuckles, pressing his lips against yours.

"you stink of vodka" he mumbles in your lips, and you smile.

"im celebrating."

he pulls away, giving you another eye. "celebrating what?"

you chuckle. "my man wants to marry me one day." and you crash your lips against his once more.

[lot-of-nothing]

Entwined (Ch. 7)

Melissa Schemmenti x Reader

Weekend getaway :)

Warnings: Suggestive themes aaaaandd a little of that internalize homophobia again

Author's Note: NO BETA BC THIS TOOK ME FOREVER GOOD LORD IM SORRY FOLKS! I moved and started a new job and I leave for Europe in a week so life has been NUTS

Ch. 1 | Ch. 2 | Ch. 3 | Ch. 4 | Ch. 5 | Ch. 6

Melissa led the way through the front doors of the hotel. You could tell she was excited by the highly animated way in which she spoke to you. She used her hands and fingers to gesture to you and she lingered close to you with her last word, “This weekend is about three things: the endless buffet, laying by the pool, and sex.”

The corners of your lips rose as her lips neared your own. There were still a few inches between you, but you knew that was plenty close for a place as public as a hotel lobby, “In that order too?”

Your response made the redhead laugh as both of her hands squeezed your bicep. You lost yourself for a moment while you watched her grin at you. It was the voice of a man that unfortunately ripped her eyes from you, “Melissa?” 

As she turned to face the voice, her red hair flicked over her shoulder with the spin of her head. When her eyes landed on the familiar face of her ex boyfriend, her smile faded, but her tone remained polite, “Hey, Gare.”

A brief silence fell between the former lovers (as did a thick awkwardness), and you waited patiently for one of them to speak up. Gary was the first to break the silence when he noticed Melissa’s eyes wander over to the brunette at his side, “Oh, this is my girlfriend - Lea Ann”

Melissa only nodded, remaining silent and giving a faux smile to the lofty man. It was when he realized Melissa had very little interest engaging with Gary and Lea Ann that Gary decided to turn his attention to you. With a kind smile, he reached out his hand, offering it to you along with his name, “Gary.”

“Y/N.” You return the smile and handshake, surprised at the way his face lit up at hearing your name.

“Mel told me about you when we were dating.” He quipped while wrapping his arm around Lea Ann’s shoulders, hugging her to his side. He seemed genuinely delighted to make your acquaintance - it made you wonder why Melissa refused to commit to something more serious with him.

You folded your arms over your chest, glancing down at Melissa and then back to Gary again, “Did she now?”

Gary was highly enthusiastic with how he spoke to you, recalling memories Melissa had shared with him months ago, “Of course. You were her date to the senior prom after some punk ditched her.”

You couldn’t hide your pleasure in knowing Melissa had talked about you in her previous relationship. You had always assumed she would have kept even your friendship a secret. With a great big smile, you bump your shoulder against hers lightly, “I mean, how could I say no to a face like that?”

Melissa gave a reluctant smile, changing the subject away from your relationship, “What are you guys doin’ out here?”

Gary eagerly squeezed Lea Ann to his side once more and beamed at her. The brunette shifted into his side, wrapping an arm behind his back to better lean against him. It was clear they were enamored with one another, “Early anniversary trip. Lea Ann and I met at Dave & Busters not too long after we broke up. She is real good at skeeball.” 

Lea Ann added to the conversation with a shy voice, “How about you guys?”

“A trip for old times’ sake.” Melissa’s response contained a tone that was anything other than warm. While some might not have noticed, you saw her turn snarky and her nose wrinkled ever so slightly. It was obvious to you Melissa was offended by what she thought was Lea Ann’s ‘nosiness’. The redhead folded her arms over her chest, indicating she was finished with the conversation.

Gary knew Mel well enough to give a curt nod and guide Lea Ann away from you both, “Well, I hope you two have a great time.’

“Yeah, you too.” Your voice fell as they walked away - knowing full well Melissa would be upset at this interaction when you arrived at the hotel room.

—

You shifted awkwardly near the door of the hotel room. Melissa had abandoned her luggage in the middle of the room and tossed her purse on the bed before dropping into the chair into the corner to scroll on her phone. She seemed increasingly detached from you since you had spoken to Gary. 

While the detachment made you furious, you gave her a chance to tell you how she was feeling before you spiraled, “Everything okay?”

She didn’t even look up from her phone when she replied. If anything, she seemed annoyed that you would even ask such a question, “Why wouldn’t it be?”

Biting your tongue, you turn your back to her with a huff and tug open the door, “I’m gonna go downstairs.”

—

You twist the glass of dark liquor in your hand, mindlessly watching the ice swirl about in the liquid. A fire had been lit in your stomach at the realization that nothing had changed between Melissa and you. She still refused to admit her feelings for you or the opposite sex. Of course you were infuriated, but it was more of a rage fueled sadness had you refusing to look at Melissa who sat (im)patiently next to you. 

“You gotta work with me here. It’s one thing to take a weekend away together, but it’s a whole other thing to be tellin’ people that we are a couple.” Melissa sounded colder than she would have wanted, but there was no taking the words back now. You felt yourself growing angrier by the second.

It was clear Melissa didn’t truly understand why you were upset with the entire situation. With a deep sigh, you chose to explain your feelings to her, “I don’t mind that we aren’t official or whatever. I don’t even care that this is so casual. I just can’t be your dirty little secret anymore.”

“It isn’t like that.” 

Her reply was quick, but you weren’t convinced. “Melissa… Anytime someone gets remotely close to the truth, you get all spooked and then I have to deal with the consequences.”

The redhead chewed at the inside of her cheek, unsure of what to say to you. She remained facing forward, her fingers absentmindedly ripping at the napkin placed in front of her by the bartender. Mel furrowed her brow as she spoke, “I’m not spooked. I just don’t want people all up in my business.”

You weren’t convinced.

“Either way... You know how I feel about you... how I have always felt about you, and I-” In an instant, you regret opening your mouth. You could see a faint blush spreading across her cheeks from the corner of your eye. As always, you had gotten ahead of yourself, and now it was time for you to finish explaining your emotions before Melissa found a way to steer the conversation away from the vulnerability it was currently steeped in, “For me, it feels like you’re ashamed... of me, and it’s not a great feeling.”

Melissa glared at you for a few moments, and then you saw her left hand reach out to hold you by the back of the neck to pull your lips to hers. Your heart began pounding in your chest as you felt Mel’s teeth teasing your bottom lip and her right hand creep up to the middle of your thigh.

When she pulled her lips away from yours, her voice was low, “I’m sorry I made ya’ feel that way. I could never be ashamed of you.”

Regardless of the people sitting all around, you dove back in for another kiss. You felt her melting into you. With every second you kissed her, Melissa inched closer to the point in which she had slipped off her chair to stand between your knees. Her hands braced against your thighs and breasts pressed to your chest. 

The redhead was breathing heavily when she finally drew her lips away from yours. She had turned her head to glance around the room in search of prying eyes when you buried your nose in her hair. 

After Melissa’s worries of being watched were soothed by the absence of onlookers, she turned back to you, capturing your face in her hands. She spoke in a low tone which caused you to swallow hard, “Let’s go upstairs, hon.” She took your hand, tugging you along after her towards the hotel lobby. 

The deafening chorus of casino games, live music, and both winning and losing gamblers was all but a mere whisper to you the moment Melissa peered over her shoulder at you with a smile - a smile that only confirmed your long standing love for her.  

When she had you in the elevator, you were up against the wall before the door was closed with her mouth against yours. Mel was busy trailing her lipstick from your lips to your neck as you choked out a dizzied concern, “We are... going to miss our... uh, dinner reservations.”

“Where at?” Melissa was far too busy tasting your collarbone to give much attention to the thought of going out for dinner. She was far more interested in getting you up to your hotel room to get more acquainted with the hotel bed.

“Some fancy steakhouse.” You murmur before returning her fervor. By now the elevator doors were shut and neither of you had given much more thought to pressing a button to get the elevator moving. Instead you were more consumed with the urge to turn the tables on Melissa and press her against the elevator wall. 

Melissa’s hands were woven tightly into your hair as you pinned her to the wall. Your force only propelled her further into the raging desire she felt for you. Mel didn’t need to use any words to convey how much she needed you. Everything about your kisses was sloppy and steeped in desire. 

She allowed one of her hands to wander to the back of your neck as your lips drifted down her neck to her cleavage. The redhead held you tight with one arm while the other clumsily reached to illuminate the button to floor 15, “We can just order pizza.”

Her efforts to get the elevator headed towards your floor weren’t swift enough. The elevator dinged and the doors to the lobby parted, allowing a familiar tall, bald headed man and his brunette girlfriend onto the elevator with you both. 

With the introduction of Gary and Lea-Ann onto the elevator, Mel and you partially parted. She kept an arm around you with a hand resting on your hip and her body was pressed to yours as she suppressed a coy smile. Melissa raised a manicured hand to her lips, attempting to tidy her smeared lipstick with her thumb. All the while she stared at you down like a starved lion. 

Your heart was pounding and you couldn’t take your eyes off her. It took everything in you not to confess your love then and there. She was beautiful like this - seemingly liberated of her shame and enthralled with the premise of being caught in such a public act of affection. 

Gary was obviously confused by your closeness and he cocked his head, needing to double check to see if it was really Melissa who was really pinned into the corner of the elevator by you, “Melissa?”

“Oh, hey.” She cleared her throat and acknowledged him with a wave of her hand. You attempted to move your hands from her waist, but her hand caught your wrist to prevent you from pulling away. 

The elevator devolved into silence as it began moving to the upper floors. You couldn’t see the looks on Gary or Lea-Ann’s faces as you were too busy watching every shift in Melissa’s expressions. You wondered if this would be the end of your relationship. Your heart was pounding and you were growing anxious at the thought of the potential rejection headed your way. The only thing that kept you from completely losing it was Melissa’s manicured hand on the back of your neck, softly twirling your loose locks between her digits. 

Her eyes flickered between the rising elevator numbers, your company, and the elevator doors. Melissa was terrified of who Gary could tell. Through all of her family and friends, she knew this moment could reach someone she knew in a matter of hours. Her personal fears were being slowly subdued by her own willpower. As her eyes drifted back up to your face, they were now filled with a subtle determination to prove herself to you. 

Melissa pushed against your abdomen so you would step aside, but she kept both hands on you as she talked to Gary, “How’s your night goin’?”

“Good. I- I didn’t know you two were-” Gary couldn’t hide an ounce of his confusion at seeing you together. 

“Together? Yeah, well... Now you know.” The redhead finished his sentence before adding her own bit of attitude at the end of her thought. A lump formed in the back of her throat at admitting your relationship out loud, but there was no taking it back now. 

While Melissa was dealing with her own inner turmoil, you were relishing in the fact that Melissa described you two as being ‘together’. You were riding that high even after the elevator stopped on your floor and Mel took your hand to pull you after her. 

It was Melissa who lifted your arm to place around her shoulders when you stepped off the elevator. She also turned back to face her ex boyfriend with a cheeky grin, “Have a good night you two.”

Link to Chapter 8

Taglist: @esposadejoyhuerta, @unicorniusfallapatorius, @sapphicxrat, @earpivore, @jeridandridge @petty-femme27, @darkcolorphantom, @a-queen-and-her-throne, @cosmichymns

[forestshadow-wolf]

Tw: offscreen mcd (Price), suicidal ideation, grief, implied mcd (soap) (at the end)

"Hi, uh I'm looking for someone, I'm told this is where I can find them?" He had to clamp his hands behind his back to stop his fidgeting.

"Well then, let's see what we can do, shall we?" The nice lady who'd opened the door for him gave a kind smile. Too kind for him, but she didn't know that, and there's no joy in taking it from others so he kept his mouth shut and gave her one as well. "If I could just get a name for who you're looking for?"

"Kyle. Uh Garrick. Kyle Garrick, Ma'am" nerves were eating him alive, and he really wanted to be anywhere but here at the moment, but he had to do this.

"Of course, just a minute."

The woman, maybe in her 60s, returned inside. It felt like an eternity, but John had only counted to one hundred and ninety five and a half before the door opened again.

"Hello?" Gaz's voice carried through the door before soap saw him with his own eyes. He looked. Good. Better fed. He cut his hair short. Shorter. And he was. Older. Like he should be. Older but still young. He looked good. Really really good. And happy.

And John was about to shatter it all. In a moment he was going to take away all that happiness. That youth. The civilian. And replace it was an older, battle-hardened, was traumatized soldier. It made his throat dry up.

"Kyle." It was all he could manage. He wanted more than anything to not have to do this.

"Soap!" And then Kyle was wrapping him up in quite possibly the warmest hug he'll get for the rest of his life. He even smelled good. Like- warm and fuzzy something. Not sweat and fear. "Christ, I've missed you man."

"Yeah, you too." It was a weak response as Soap's ever given, but gaz was here and he'd understand. "Listen," he extracted himself from the embrace after a long, reluctant moment, "I- do you wanna go on a walk with me?" He was stalling, and they both knew it.

Gaz followed him out the door and down the road. It was a long few blocks before either of them said anything. Partially soaking in eachother's presence, Partially soap was greiving both the information he had to give and the moment he was in.

" I have some bad news."

"Okay. Yeah." Steady as always.

"Price..." they stopped walking. "I'm sorry, man, Price is... he didn't make it. I'm sorry. Im so sorry. I'm sorry, Kyle." He was rambling, and he couldn't remember who pulled who in, but they were hugging again, and crying. And it was cold and neither of them had coats. And price wasn't here. And he never would be. And soap just couldn't comprehend how it had all gone so wrong so quickly.

They may have made an odd sight, but there was no one out to see them, so it didn't matter anyway.

It was a long while before Kyle pulled back, the had both gotten cold by then. Soap wanted to claw him back in. Hold him just a little longer. Protect him a little more. He had gotten out. How could Soap just drag him back like he is. It was unfair. Soap hated it. Hated himself for it.

"How?" Kyle's vouce was rough, and shakey. Fragile. It broke Soap's heart. But suppose he deserved it.

"There was a bomb. They- the files will say the blast killed him, but-" Soap's voice broke, but Kyle deserved to know. "It was a bullet to the lung. It was agony, Kyle. I'm sorry. I'm sorry I had to. I had to. I- he was in so much pain. I had to, Kyle."

"It wasn't your fault, John. You had to." Kyle cupped his face in firm, but trembling hands, and lifted his face to meet his eyes. And it was that look. That damn look he got every time he stood by Soap's side for every beating and punishment and battlefield. The fierce determination. And it should have been soap comforting his best friend, but instead he was the one being comforted. And it felt so good. "How's Ghost with this?"

"I haven't- he doesn't know yet. We haven't spoken in... a while." An understatement, but it got the point across.

"What happened? I thought you two were inseparable." And they were. They had been. Before everything fell apart. Before everything soap touched in the military started to tarnish. Went bad like rotten eggs. And it left sulfur in its wake. So soap stopped putting his grubbly hands on things.

"He retired, as well." It's true. Four years and ninety-three days, not including this one, Ghost had handed in his retirement request. And it had been approved not an hour later. And Soap wouldn't ruin him if he was far away. So he didn't follow. Couldn't. He heard he'd moved somewhere in the scotland hills. Soap had always wanted to live there. He hoped he was happy.

"You didn't...?" Kyle had a, rightfully, confused look on his face. Soap knew it was compartmentalizing, what he was doing. Filing it away to deal with later. Pulling the more appropriate out. Like Soap and Simon not being in orbit anymore.

".. my life... is out there." It wasn't an untrue thing to say. It's what kept him alive after Simon. But he would've been much more alive without an after Simon. But he kept his distance, for him. Didn't want to watch him curdle into lumps and mold.

"We have to tell him." Kyle's voice was quiet.

"I'll tell him. You shouldn't have to." Soap ignored the thing that remained him he needed Gaz. Needed help hunting the bastard who put Price in the ground. And put him there too. He wouldn't do it. Wouldn't drag Kyle back into it. Won't drag Simon back into it when tells him either. He'll do it alone if he has to. Even if it kills him. Retribution. For killing Price. For not saving him. For not killing the bastard who made him kill Price. For trying to drag Kyle back into this. For breaking Kyle's heart. For daring to go near Simon again. For breaking his heart as well.

It didn't feel right to leave so soon. Not after the news he'd broken. Not with how fresh the wound was. And. He was eager to linger. Always was. Almost never denied himself a linger. Wouldn't now. Especially when he wouldn't be allowed to later.

He took Kyle home. They got in sad and chilly, but they made it. And Kyle poured then drinks when they were settled. And they sat and they talked. And they drank. And the drinks kept coming. And the cried. And hugged. And talked. And cried. And hugged some more.

It wasn't early in the morning anymore when John woke up. His head was pounding, and his heart was heavy. Kyle was sprawled on his couch, and John couldn't leave him like that in his own home. He carried hom to his bed, tucked him in all neat, like his Ma used to do for him when he was a kid. And no doubt Kyle would feel much better when he woke, so John set a tall drink of water and a few aspirin on the nightstand beside him. And John couldn't make him breakfast to say sorry, but he cleaned up their mess from the night before oh his way out, and made sure Kyle would see the note that said he was sorry. For everything.

And when he couldn't waste any more time he was catching the soonest train to scotland. And it didn't take nearly enough time, because suddenly he was renting a car. And then he was surrounded by brilliant green hills. And then he was rolling down an unfamiliar driveway. And the knock on the door feel like signing his own death warrant and he didn't know why?

The door opened less cautiously than he'd expected, and it both hurt and it made him smile. Because it meant that Simon was okay. Better even. Relaxed. But not with John. Never with John. Would be impossible with John's filthy touch.

"Hello?" Simon's voice was gruff, and he looked... softer in a way. Still that battle-hardened soldier, but with a layer of softness well underway.

"Simon."

"Johnny?" Simon, evidently, was surprised to see him. And for good reason. They hadn't spoken in four years and ninety-four days, not including today. Today when John broke that silence. Today when John reset all that progress that Simon had clearly made.

"Can I come in?" He didn't know how to act now. They hadn't spoken in over four years. How would simon react? Was it- did John want to be trappen in Simon's space when he did this? Would it ruin Simon's efforts to be comfortable in his own home by telling him here? Simon stepped back to let him.

"What are you doing here?" Straight to business. Good to know that hadn't changed.

"I have bad news about Price." They both sat down in hilarious synchronicity.

Simon tensed up, full attention on John now.

"He um- we were on an op and... he didn't make it. I'm sorry, Simon. I know how close you were to him. I'm sorry. I-"

"Why are you here, Johnny?" Simon cut him off, and John didn't know how to decipher it.

"I- Price- he-"

"But what are you here?" Oh god he knew. He knew. He knows John was here to drag him back. And he's angry. Angry for not speaking. Angry for the four years of silence. Angry that he finally got out and now John wants him back in. Angry that he finally escaped Soap's touch and now he's back to ruin him again. He knows. He knows. He knows. He knows. He knows. He knows. He knows Soap is back to ruin him. Again. No. Ne can't. He won't. He already decided that yesterday. He wouldn't do that to them. He wouldn't bring them back there. He can do it himself.

"I had to be the one to tell you... I-" I need you. I love you. I'll miss you. Goodbye. He said none of those things. "I'm sorry." Is what came out as he stood and retreated towards the door. He needed to leave behind he tarnished anything more. Before he dragged Simon back into this. Before he rotted everything Simon had built.

"That's not why you're here." Simon stood. Soap froze. Simon's eyes narrowed at him. Scrutinizing. "You're going after whoever killed him." Soap's breath didn't catch in his throat, but his heart stopped. No. Simon couldn't know.

"What? No. No I couldn't. Wouldn't even have the clearance to do that, and plus-" he was already shaking his head, and he retreated another few steps.

"You are. And you were going to ask me to come."

Yes. He was. He was going to rip up and tear apart everything that was Simon Riley and put him in a box and bury him again.

"You didn't ask. Why didn't you ask?" Simon turned his head at him like a perplexed animal. It would be cute if he wasn't reading Soap to filth. "You going to go after him alone." Soap saw the moment realization settled in. And, almost hilariously, horror followed immediately after. " You're going to kill yourself, Johnny. It's a death sentence."

Soap wanted to smile and tell him that was a good thing. Tell him it would only bring good. Soap wanted to show him it would stop the tarnishing and the rotting. He wanted to make him feel the retribution it would be for his sins. One last kill. One last sin. To remember a man who saved so many lives. A man who had changed so many lives. Maybe you can't kill the curse, but you can lock it in a box and bury it in the ground until it's not your problem anymore. It would be a good thing.

"It won't be. I know why I'm doing." Not a death sentence, but a final sacrifice.

"It is. You know it is."

"I have a flight to catch. You look good, Simon, sorry I couldn't see it sooner." But he really couldn't have. He shouldn't have this time either. But he's selfish, and he wanted to experience life one last time. "I'll catch you on the flipside." He gave Simon his last genuine smile, and was out the door.

[sensivs]

EDGING THE HOMIES 🤭

Short stories on how I think how cod men would react to being overstimulated !!

Gaz, Price, Ghost, König, Soap

—————————————-

GAZ

“o-oH fuCk~” gaz moaned out loudly, he was trying his best to keep his voice down since price was right next door and knew that if price woke up from gaz’s loud moans, he’d make it everyone’s problem.

You held his dick in your hands, jerking it as slowly as you could, driving kyle over the edge. He couldn’t take it anymore.

“C-cumming!!!” He whispered as loud as he could, but just as he was about to cum. You let go of his dick.

Gaz whined, tears spilling out of his eyes, he wanted to cum so bad but you wouldn’t let him. “Pleaseeee babe, please just let me cum please I’ll never tease you ever again just please let me cum”

He continued to whine until you had the change of heart and started jerking him off once again. The room filled with “ah~” ‘s and “fuck~” ‘s until gaz finally came into your hand.

You both then cuddled:)

PRICE

“Fuck, you can’t do this to me sweetheart” price let out breathy moans, just wanting to feel the sweet release of cumming.

You chuckled, “your cute when your not bossing people around, I wish I could keep you like this forever”.

Price through his head back, just wanting to feel anything other than overstimulation, either it would be pain or the feeling of finally being able to cum.

You had put a vibrator on your husband’s dick and tied his hands to his back, restraining him from trying to get himself to cum.

He begged you to take the vibrator off, the faint “zzzzzzzzz” sound was driving him absolutely mad. “Just a few more minutes”.

You guys then went on to have very rough sex ;)

GHOST

“Y/n you fucking idiot, aH~! I need to fucking cum!!” Ghost was currently have his dick sucked by you. The feeling of your mouth around his cock felt so good.

But you wouldn’t let him cum, why? Because you two were on a serious mission and you knew that ghost was VERY loud when it came to orgasms.

You continued to suck the poor man off until his mask was wet with tears and sweat. He couldn’t take it anymore, he absolutely NEEDED to cum.

After the mission he proceeded to give you the most worst punishment in the whole wide world..

NO SEX FOR A WEEK (obviously he broke his own rule cuz you’re just so unrinstable) 😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

KÖNIG

There König was, moaning his fucking ass off. He was so loud you worried that your neighbors would not be able to get any sleep that night.

But this was your idea, so you had to stick with it. You bounced on top of König like his dick was the last you’d ever have.

“anG~! CaNt taKe muCh mOre!!” König screamed as he tried jerking his hips up more, trying to get himself to cum.

But then just as he was about to cum, you pulled him out. You then heard little sniffles coming from in front of you.

You looked up to see it was König crying :(. You freaked out a bit and tried comforting him the best you could, you consoled him, you gave him kisses on the cheek and forehead.

Turns out he was really looking forward to cumming inside you:(((.

So you let him cum inside you and then you two cuddled <3333

SOAP (OMFG I MISSED SOAP IM SO SORRY MALE SOAP LOVERS)

“Y/n! This is way too risky!” Soap whispered as he tried to hold back a groan, “it’s fine, plus, it’s just a little risk~”.

You teased the tip of soap’s cock, rubbing your thumb across the slit. Soap let out a small “oh fuck~” as he quickly covered his mouth.

Ghost was sleeping peacefully a foot across from both of you, his loud dad snores being the only thing heard inside their tent.

You felt soap’s cock twitch in your hand, you knew his release was coming but you decided to be a dick and directly put your thumb over his tip.

“What the fuck y/n! I was about to cum!!” Soap whined as silently as he could, “haha, I know~ that’s why I did it”

After a few minutes you let him cum.

He then fucked you as hard as he could, making sure you kept quiet while he was doing so >;) !!

———————————

I hope this wasn’t too shitty

Some of this I wrote when I sleepy and I barely proofread anything i make so..

Yea i hoped you all liked it:)))

IM SO SORRY JDJDKANSD I DIDNT REALIZE I FORGOT MY SOAPY POOKIE BEAR PLS DONT BE MAD AT ME SOAP FANS

[jqmalikhsgib]

quest

seven

warning: mentions of sexual relationships

when you parked your car at the coffee shop emily told you to meet aaron your heart pounded. you had no idea what was coming. all you knew was he was upset.

he had every right to be. you kept his kids from him. you didn’t even let him explain what emily saw. come to think of it, you didn’t even let emily explain.

as soon as you heard her utter the words ‘i saw hotch and haley in his office’ you ended the call. you couldn’t hear anymore. but knowing what you do now, you felt you deserved everything coming to you.

spotting aaron sitting at a table you take a deep breath and head inside. you sit right across from him and give him a small smile.

aaron hands you a cup. “decaf still, right?”

you hum as you take a sip. “thank you.”

the two of you sat in silence for a minute. it felt longer though. you missed him. everything about aaron you missed. you missed the way he smelled, his beautiful smile, the way he made you laugh, the way he listened. you missed his touch.

his touch,

god did you miss the way aaron touched you. rather it would be as simple as holding your hand or the way he would hold you when you fucked.

aaron could be a gentle lover. he would whisper sweet nothings in your ear as he made love to you. tell you how beautiful you were and how good you were to him.

but he was also rough! if he got a little jealous or you two argued about something so minor, he’d fuck you like you meant absolutely nothing to him! and you loved it.

you tried not to think too much about it, but you noticed he has been working out. his muscles were bulging more than before.

you also noticed he still wore his wedding band. something you felt a sense of pride in. despite being divorced he still showed everyone he was taken. even if it weren’t true.

you did the same. you loved aaron. knowing you could never move on from the man that gave you the best years of your life and the three, four babies you adored! nothing would ever change that. if wearing the ring meant you would never be with anyone else again, you were okay with that.

“should we start?”

you didn’t know what to say. just humming as he cleared his throat.

“i made a promise to you i would love you unconditionally. i married you because i meant every single word. and i would never intentionally hurt the woman i love. i broke that vow by having an emotional affair with my ex wife. i hugged her for too long, held her hand, kissed her cheek, even cuddled her from time to time. but i never went as far as sleeping with her. and i wouldn’t have blamed you if you wanted to divorce me after knowing the truth. instead you left. part of me kinda happy you did. foyet was after me and my family. it’s one of the reasons why haley and i reconnected. i needed him to see he could never break this family up. fortunately he didn’t know about you,”

“what do you mean?”

“i made sure the team kept you hidden from the moment we met. i didn’t need anyone to know i had remarried. if i could go back i would have done the same with haley.”

you wanted to hold his hand. you knew he was still grieving. haley was his first everything. completely losing her destroyed him. on top of losing you all in the span of a few months apart. he went through hell for the longest.

“after foyet died i tried finding you. i even tried to get penelope to trace you. she declined. i was very pissed i almost fired her. but she wanted to protect you. i couldn’t be mad at that,”

“aaron, im sorry. i—i thought with me out of the picture you’d be better off. i wanted you to be happy. i knew it would have been a hard decision if i stayed. i didn’t want you to choose me because i was pregnant. i wanted you to choose me because you loved me.”

“they’re my kids too yn! mine! you left knowing this. knowing that you were carrying our babies. i didn’t get to be there for them. i didn’t get to hold you hand while you gave birth, wake up all hours of the morning to feed them or change them, watch them start to crawl, watch them walk for the first time, i miss two birthdays yn!! two. you made that decision for me. you made the decision to leave and take our children with you. i—knowing this, finding this out from jj, i didn’t know how to feel.”

you turned your head guilty. you couldn’t look him in the eyes. you knew as soon as you did the tears would just come pouring out.

the two of you stayed silent for awhile. aaron clears his throat before speaking.

“i promised jack i would bring you home. please don’t break his heart again.” aaron states. he leaves money on the table before leaving you alone with your thoughts.

when you arrived at your sister house you sigh. all you wanted to do was hug your babies. you missed them and needed a little comfort right now.

the moment you saw them playing with their cousins you smiled. they were the cutest. you always wanted them to know their older cousins.

“mamma!” izzy was the first to spot you. she waddles her way towards you.

“izzy!” you copied her.

“miss mamma.” she smiles at you.

“miss you too baby. you and your siblings.”

“up, mummy!” aurora raises her arms.

you gently pick her up. you missed when you use to be able to carry all three of them at the same time. now they were bigger and a lot heavier. you could only pick them up in twos.

you kiss aurora’s cheek as you son walks over to you. he pulls on your shirt. you bend down to his level and set your other two babies down.

“hows my shy boy?”

he shrugs his shoulders. you frown. you really wished he was a little more outgoing. but you couldn’t blame him. you were just as shy growing up. you still are.

you kiss theo’s cheek gently. “mama missed all three of her babies.” you hug your kids tightly. not too tight. but enough.

“mama! you being silly.” isabella laughs.

“oh, am i?!” you start to tickle them. she giggles uncontrollably. you laugh before kissing them on the forehead.

“why don’t you go play with your cousins while i talk to your aunt, okay?”

your three mini me’s walk over to their cousins as you walk towards your sister.

“so, how’d it go?”

you sigh. “as good as it could. he wants me to move back home.”

“you have a life here though. he can’t expect you to pack your bags and move three two year olds!”

“i don’t know abby. i did take two years away from him and the triplets. plus i have a son back home who misses me.”

“well are you two gonna at least work your shit out? because if not then what?”

you shrug. “i gotta at least try, yeah? you didn’t see abby! we both still have our wedding bands on. legally we’re divorced but mentally and emotionally we’re still married. i have to fight for my marriage.”

“i understand little sister. i just worry. with everything that just happened i don’t want you to spiral. plus, i just got you back. i don’t want you to leave.” abigale pouts.

“i know. but ill be back to visit!”

“promise?”

“swear it.”

you two continue to talk. catching up on everything you missed before you headed out to figure out your move.

aaron had came by the next morning to help you pack and to meet the kids for the first time. he was nervous and excited all in one.

he knew what it was like to raise one child for nine years. now he was transitioning from one to four. he still couldn’t believe it.

he was a father of four. four beautiful kids who he adored. he already loved his babies. he couldn’t wait to raise them with you. and hopefully work your shit out to have more in the future.

when he arrived you weren’t shocked at all he had went shopping. he spoiled jack so much you just knew he’d spoil your other three.

“hi.”

“hey. come in! the kids are in their pen.” you opened the door wider to allow him inside. aaron smiles as he walks to the living room.

he got a bit of a glimpse of them the other day. seeing them face to face like this made him gasped. all three, beautiful as ever. you two made the cutest little babies.

“izzy, theo, roe! id like you to meet someone.” the three of them look up at their mom and sees a tall man. they had no idea who he was but he looked friendly.

“who’s that mamma?” izzy was the first to ask.

“remember how i told you daddy was off being a super hero and catching the bad guys? how he’d be back to take us home? well, he’s back. and he’s right there.”

“papa?” theo questioned.

aaron bends down. “that’s right! im your dad little buddy.”

“daddy!” izzy walked over to aaron and hugs him. aaron chuckled as he holds his daughter.

“love daddy.” aurora states.

aaron wanted to shed tears in that moment. but he held himself together and hugged all three of his kids as they walk over to him.

“goin home to brudder?” theodore asked.

“yeah. going home to brother.”

slow burn but not too slow because i don’t have the time for the shit! i want them together!!!!!

but how did you guys like this part? i think it’s cute! had to put the babies in there. they’re adorable

peep aaron already planning to have more kids with the reader!!

if you wanna be added or unadded to the taglist please let me know

taglist:

@ivebeenthearchersstuff @shergoretzxx @slut4ethan @rosiehale23 @madesavage05 @whotfskai

[ohdeersthings]

Storm

Katsuki Bakugou x Ex!Reader

Summary: He's been cheating and youre feeling the best feeling of all..Anger

Warnings: Breaking stuff, violence (towards objects never physical to a person), hot ex reader, swearing

He must've forgot who the fuck he was dealing with.

Bakugou fucking Katsuki really must have a screw loose if he thought he could get away with lying, cheating, and straight up being an asshole.

The sneaking around your house that you both shared. Catching whiffs of perfume too overbearing to be your own, making you gag and your nose runny.

You gave him a chance to come clean, asking him one night when he came home, turning the lamp on. He froze as he caught you smiling, a small cup of whiskey in your hand.

"Who were you with?"

"You really think that of me huh?" He scoffed, trying to gaslight you for asking him a simple question, "Katsu, I never mentioned you were doing something.." you swirled your liquor and took a long sip, eyes darting to his and you watched him like a Lion stalking a Mouse.

"Promiscuous," your voice was like a sticky sweet honey, daring him to act a fool.

"Forget it, I'm going the hell to bed,"

And like that, you had him hook, line and you were going to sink him.

~.~

Of course, before you could be the one to end it. He decided to get a step ahead and you came home one day to him throwing your stuff out onto the street, a girl clinging to his arm.

"We're over, I shouldn't have to settle for some entitled bitch asking me, the Number 4 Hero, shit and getting pissy if I don't wanna answer," he snapped, but he tried to ignore the small twinge of fear when your emotionless gaze bore into him.

"Oh really?" Was all you asked, head tilted, eyes moving from his to the girl on his arm. She appeared to be about your age, maybe a couple younger.

"Sorry sweetie, if you can't keep up with the best then someone else will," her cheap lipgloss wasn't helping her already cracked lips. Her fake giggle was like listening to a pick me girl record, which is basically all she was.

A pick me bitch.

"Since everything is in my name, get your shit and leave," Katsuki smirked, trying to puff up to show his dominance. Oh you'll show him dominance alright.

"Fine, but I have one more thing I need to grab," you shoved past him, the new girls squeak of surprise when she stumbled, her heels too skinny to handle the weight change.

You walked into the hall closet, grabbing your bat.

"Don't touch anything!" His voice yelled into the house but the next sound following had him growling, curses flying out of his mouth as he heard crashes and glass shattering.

You swing the bat and broke the TV you paid for. The China cabinet that was a gift from his parents for Christmas from when they went to visit China on vacation.

Cups and plates crashed around you as you continued to swing, the girls high pitched scream making your ears ring as you dodged Katsuki who was cussing you out.

You ducked under his arm and got outside, your bat coming down hard on his precious Buggati. A birthday present to himself, that he bought on your fucking birthday.

"BITCH! FUCKING STOP!" He screamed as your cracked the windows, shattering the tail lights.

"But I'm not touching anything," you growled, throwing the bat in his direction as he dodged, unluckily being missed by the bat. "IM FUCKING DESTROYING IT!"

You brought out your pocket knife that you kept on you for safety and slashed 3 of his tires, jabbing it into the metal of the car. Puncture marks left as Katsuki finally found some ounce of motion to run over and snatch the knife out of your hand.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM!? GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!"

"Hope he wrapped it up sis cause he's got the clap! And I know I didn't give it to him!" You called over your shoulder, flipping them off as you sauntered to your car as you listened to the screaming that was now happening up the drive way.

"Have fun Katsu~" you blew a mocking kiss as he screamed about his car while he was getting hit by the pick me bitches hands.

[thoughtsforsoob]

i have a prompt !

taehyun + wrapping his scarf around the reader <//3

A/n: this is a really cute idea here! Im gonna try my best to write this as sweet as I can! This was honestly giving me attack on titan vibes (Eren and Mikasa :0) please enjoy and feel free and requests anything you’d like in the future! (Okay so for the translation bit, I wanted to add a little note for those who have never been on the trains in Japan/korea…ITS ALWAYS LIKE AN OVEN IN THE STATIONS AND IN THE TRAINS THEMSELVES. Its truly an unforgettable experience…)

You and Tyun made plans to hang out in the evening. He had invited you to go get some coffee and pastries from a new pop up cafe in the city and then to go on a walk. You were so excited to go out with him that you decided to go out a little earlier than the planned time and buy him a little gift for planning this outing. When you left, it was still really nice out so you only brought a cozy hoodie and warm clothes. No gloves and no scarf since you had no idea what the weather had inshore within the next few hours. 

You get taehyun a little keychain for his bag that had a cute T charm on it, for his name. You had thought of getting one with you initial but it would make others wonder about the significance of that letter so you opted to not do it. Once you paid and were on your wait to the train station to get on your way to the cafe, you noticed how the weather started to turn into a bitter coldness, the sky turning grey even though it was only 3pm. You felt yourself shiver and quickly scurried off into the train station and were warm once again. 

Upon exiting the station and going back outside, you were met with even colder weather. Your ears and nose were starting to feel exceptionally cold.

Taehyun finds you inside of the cafe with a war, drink already in your hand. He walks up to you with a frown, “You didn’t wait for me?” You shake your head at him, “Sorry. It’s just so cold out and I didn’t even think to dress up warmer. It was so nice out when I left.” He was very understanding and immediately went to bring a drink for himself and some pastries for you both to share so he could come back and help you warm up.

You two stayed in the cafe for about 2 hours and when you both decided you were ready to leave, you grimaced at the idea of going back out into the cold. You felt silly for not bundling up and taehyun poked fun at you as well for not bundling up. He stopped the you told him the whole reason and gave him his little charm. He attached it to his bag right away and thanked you with a big warm hug. 

Once you two were outside, you two started to walk out by the river, obviously feeling more cold because of the water. You huddled up to him as close as possible and looked up at him. His heart broke when he saw how red your face was getting. He pulled his arms away from you and pulled off his scarf. “Hyun. What are you doing? You’re gonna get sick!” You chided at him and he just kept going, wrapping the scarf around your neck. He hated seeing you in other other state but happiness and this cold was not making you happy. “Well, maybe if you weren’t so clumsy I wouldn’t get sick. Hm?” He of course didn’t mean what he said. Taehyun loved taking care of you, even if it meant putting himself at risk. He just loves you that much but he would never admit it out loud. He trusted in you to know he cares about you more than anything else. 

[versipellesh]

𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 // 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐮𝐞

summary: for a series of events has lead you half way across the country searching for a new place to call home, stumbling into Jerusalem's Lot a wolf has found its home

word count: 8305

warnings: Susan and Reader having a fruity interaction that's it guys,, also not beta read,, im not nervous to have one

an: so we begin this journey, this is more of just world building then it is anything. we will fully get into fully in the next chapter. i wanted to give some backstory to the reader but not a whole lot

Your boot tapped rapidly against the polished tile floors of the Greyhound station. Eyes flickering around the space as people went about their business. So many lives were passing by you as you stood in line, so many normal people. Your eyes traced people in seats, their scents all mingling in your nose as you shouldered up the duffle bag that was hanging off your shoulder. You kept your head low as your hands shaking held tightly onto the cash in them. Your palms were sweating and you weren't sure why. Why were you so nervous, this was meant to be a new start for you. Getting your feet under you after the accident but for some reason there was this deep pit in your stomach, something trying to claw its way out of you.

You took in a shaky breath and briefly shook out your hands. You leaned to the side to eye the line that was up to the counter before your eyes glanced at boarding signs. 

Pocatello, ID to Portland, ME – 3 day trip

That seemed about right to you, it got you the hell out of town and far far away from this place. There was no going back home after what happened, no family left to go too. Not after what had happened and finding out what it had caused in you. They were safe this way.

You took a steady breath in as you repeated the words in your head. This we're going to be alright, you were going to be okay. The thought replayed over and over in your head as you shuffled forward with the line. Your family would eventually move on with time, they had thought you died anyways. It maybe made this transition all the bit easier didn't it? Still hurt like hell knowing they had returned home and you had stepped into a world you were still getting your footing in figuring how to navigate it.

The steady chatter of people echoed in your ears as you tilted your head down. You watched as your ribcage rose and fell with each breath. You were alive. It felt good to be alive after all of this. Your eyes flickered down to the white bandaging that peeked out from your jacket, your face twisting into a grimace, the sudden flood of phantom pains in your arm had you recoiling. You could feel the hot, rancid breath. The feeling of teeth sinking deep into supple flesh and the sound of bones cracking under the weight of teeth. The heavy rake of claws embedding themselves into your flesh as you and your attacker tried to almost become one. Your eyes squeezed close as you tried to flush out the memories and center yourself back into the current.

“You alright hun?”

The voice broke you out of your trance, eyes shooting open almost in a startled panic but you remembered where you were. The concerned glance of deep brown eyes looked at you. The soft wrinkled face between small circle framed glasses and the gentle smell that came with the stranger. The smell of flowers, honey and cinnamon flooded your nose as you felt your shoulders almost relax on instinct. The old woman, shy of probably her mid 60’s, the wrinkles on her face told a story of a life well lived. She gave you a feeling of comfort that you had been missing as of recently.

“Y-yeah, sorry I just zoned out.” You stuttered out to the woman.

You watch as a look of washed over the woman’s face. It was the look of a mother who had often known when her children had lied to save face. You felt like you were under a microscope as this woman seemed to have a read on you that you didn’t quite understand. You watched as she seemed to study you and before anything someone behind the lady cleared their throat. Your eyes met with the other person and the tilt of their head and your swiveling on your heels to see that the line had moved and you were next.

You scampered forward juggling your few belongings as you made your way up to the counter. The woman behind the desk was young like you, maybe a few years older than you but you couldn’t be sure. Her jaw moved in a methodical way as she chewed her gum, slightly disinterested eyes stared at you. 

“Where too?” The attendant chirped in a fake cheery tone.

“Portland, Maine. One way.” You said as you placed your money down on the counter.

The attendant stared at you for a moment, you watched as her eyes glossed over you as if apriasing you before she loudly smacked her gum. She took the money off the counter counting it out before taking what was needed from you. You watched as the woman got your ticket, the heavy sound of the machines working before she was slipping the ticket on the counter with the extra change.

“That bus doesn’t leave until late tonight. There’s a diner across the street and we got a lounge.” The attendant said she made a half attempt at motion across the station towards the lounge.

You gave a half nod of your head and small muttered thanks as you collected your money and ticket before moving out of the way. You stepped out of the way, your fingers running over the ticket and the weight of something felt like it had lifted just a little bit. Your fingers ran over the ticket, slightly smearing some of the fresh ink before you looked about. There was still time to blow and the bus didn't leave until later. You could feel exhaustion creeping into your system and maybe it was best to sit down for now and maybe get some sleep. Your boots dragged against the checked tile floors as you made your way over to some of the benches that were posted up against the wall. You stuffed your cash into the pocket of your jacket before folding your ticket and tucking it in your breast pocket. Your duffel bag slipped from your shoulder as you sat down moving about before your arms wrapped around it and head leaned on it. You brought your legs up to your chest and buried your face into the fabric of the bag. You took in a deep breath and let your eyes flutter close as you sought out the sweet reprieve of sleep.

You didn’t wake up until a couple hours later from a restless sleep. It was always that kind of sleep that never felt fulfilling and empty in a way. It was starting to become normal for you at this point, to close your eyes and be filled with a dark, inky void only to wake up feeling just as tired or even more so. As you slowly lifted your head that familial scent from the woman clouded your senses as you sat up. You rubbed your eyes for a moment and yawned before slouching into the bench shifting your duffel bag lazily to sit in your lap.

“You’re new to this, ya?” Her voice asked.

You glanced to the side to see the woman who had sat next to you with her own bags. She had been busy reading next to you and that’s when you realized that she had placed one of her shawls over you when you had been sleeping. It took you a minute to process what she was saying to you through the sleepy fog.

“New to what?” You asked.

“You know. New to this, I can tell. I can smell it on you.” The old woman said as she gently closed her book.

She watched as your eyes narrowed for a second before that flicker of realization hit you like a train. She was one of them and she knew what you were. Your eyes went a bit wide and you remembered that you had to settle down for a moment. You gave a hesitant nod of your head to her answer and slowly pulled the shawl off of your shoulders as you nervously glanced away.

“That obvious?”

“No but I can smell it. The change in you.” She murmured as she looked at you.

Something in you felt like bristling when she said the words she had. You weren’t sure how she knew what had happened to you but it made you uneasy for a moment. No one else besides Lawrence seemed to know what you were and if anyone did they didn’t say anything to you. 

“I’m so sorry honey. You don’t know much about this way of life do you?” She added as she looked at you.

The way the woman looked at you could only be described as maternal. It made you feel safe and protected for the first time in the last month. It was like someone was seeing you for the first time and wasn’t telling you to hit the ground running to hope for the best. You slowly nodded your head again in answer to her, you didn’t want to mutter the words out. It only made your situation more of reality having to confront it like that and you weren’t sure you were ready to confront the beast in the mirror just yet.

“You can call me Helena. I would say I’m like you but not exactly, we are just a bit different but ever the same family under the moon, ya?” She asked you with a gentle smile.

“Yeah.” You found yourself saying to her.

You gave Helena your name and told you what little you wanted to give to her about what had happened. You had watched the expression on her face shift as you told her your story and why you were leaving. She never looked at you with a look of pity or sadness when you told her. She didn’t seem to mourn for what you had been to what you had become but took it as it was. Like it was a simple matter of fact of what had happened. In exchange, Helena had told you that she was born with it, that this is how she had always known life. She told you about her husband and children, how they had grown up and left home as well. That she was on her way back to Maine from a trip to Idaho to see her eldest son and her grandchildren. That’s when you found out you both were going to the same place and when she offered to explain more to you. That she didn’t have all the answers for your particular predicament but she could share wisdom that anyone like you two should know to navigate a world that just laid beneath the surface of what people perceived.

The hours had waned on as you sat next to Helena and talked to past the time. You had gotten up at some point and gotten food for the both of you while you waited. The sun had come and set by the time the bus for you both had been called. You picked up your bag and one of hers, the two of you in tow as you wanted to join the line to board. Helena seemed to take the lead, you trailing after her like a puppy following its mother. The thought made a smile break out on your face, maybe that’s what it was after all. You both got loaded up into the bus taking seats towards the back. You helped her get baggage set up before the two of you got settled in for the long ride across the country.

You settled into your seat next to the window, eyes glancing out the glass as you looked up. The silver beams of the moon shone down and it set something down your spine. You couldn’t tell if it was terror or anticipation. There was war raging inside of you now, the constant of wanting to reject what you had become and others that wanted to embrace what you were. You felt your eyes slowly start to drift shut as your head leaned against the cool window.

The next time you were waking up was when the bus was pulling into a stop to refuel and it was sometime in the afternoon at this point. The bus had mostly been vacant at this point as people took the hour or so to stretch their bodies and get some decent food. Your eyes were blurry from sleep and you stretched your legs out a bit as you shifted in your seat. You saw Helena standing outside smoking. You watched carefully for a moment as the woman stood out there before you were pushing yourself out of your seat and stumbling your way out of the bus. Your boots hit the asphalt as you stepped out. You stretched out a bit more as you took in the warmth of the sun on your skin for a moment. The heat seeped into your skin as you stood there before it seemed to be a bit too much and you shucked off your jacket. “Finally decided to greet the waking world with your presence?” Helena chirped with a raspy laugh.

You couldn’t help the small giggle that had left your throat as you nodded your head and wrapped your jacket over your arm as you had stalked closer to her. You came to stand at her side as you took in the fresh air of Colorado felt like it had opened your lungs up a bit and it was nice.

“Yeah, sorry. I’ve been sleeping a lot since this.” You told her as you made a motion to the arm that was bandaged up.

Helena looked over as she took a drag of her cigarette, you couldn’t help but find the smell of it intoxicating. It wasn’t like the cigarettes that your grandfather used to smoke, this had a sweet and narcotic aroma to it that you couldn’t help but make your mouth water almost. You were so distracted by the smell that you didn’t notice Helena take your arm in her hands, they were strong and sturdy still yet the skin on them had started to sag. She was covered in freckles and her hands shook slightly as she held your forearm. You didn’t even stop her when she unwrapped your arm and just watched as the bandages fell away. You didn’t freeze like you had before looking at it. You stared at it for a moment as she seemed to take it in before she turned away from it.

“It’s healed well. It’s passable as a dog attack. Here.” Helena said as she held out a cigarette for you to take from her.

“I don’t smoke.” You stated.

“Not your normal type of cigarette, honey. Just trust me on this.” She said as she motioned to it.

You took the hand rolled cigarette from Helena, your fingers gently holding it before you placed it between your lips. You watched as she pulled a lighter and lit the end of it on, you watched as the embers flickered awake. You took in a deep drag. It was a bit reminiscent of the times you had sat around with your friends from school passing a blunt around. You took a deep inhale and the sweet taste filled your mouth and lungs. You pulled the cigarette from your lips and exhaled the smoke as it bellowed from your mouth. You felt your body relax, it felt as if you had gotten a full night's rest and the ache in your body from the last change didn’t seem like it had ever been there to begin with.

“I feel better.” You told her as you took another drag of the cigarette feeling the sweet smoke fill your lungs before you relaxed.

“It’s wolfsbane. Despite what you’ve been told ‘bout stories about us. It doesn't hurt us. Some kind of pain reliever. Never got a thorough explanation on it but it’s good to think about when you are on your own.” Helena told you.

You sat there for a moment as your eyes trained on the cigarette between your lips. Wolfsbane. For some reason you felt like laughing about the circumstances, this kind of stuff should have been poisoning you but again then everything wasn’t as it seems was it. You made a small mental note of that when you got to where you were going. Grow wolfsbane, a pain reliever. Add it to the list of things that Helena had been giving you throughout the trip. She had been giving you more than Lawrence. He had definitely tried to give you what you could but he also didn’t want you around. You remembered his words when you woke up in his cabin.

‘Our kind doesn’t work well with others. We are better off as loners. Leave the pack thing to the wolves.’

You mulled over those words for a moment as you looked at Helena. She had told you there was a slight difference between you and her. She could go freely as what she was, no forced changes or uncontrollable urges at times. What she was came as natural as the wind and rain but you. You weren’t natural even by their standards, you were a slave to the silver moon. You worked on her time and learned to make your life around her different phases. But here with Helena in that moment you thought about the man who had saved you from the monster that changed you. For a moment you considered maybe he was right but the feeling in your chest told you otherwise. You were different but it didn’t mean you had to go alone in this matter either, no matter what you were going to be a pack animal, it was ingrained into your genetic code. Even with it being altered by a virus you could have never fought off but only embraced it.

“C’mon, the bus is getting ready to leave again.” Helena said as she finished up her cigarette before putting it out with her heels.

You gave a nod of your head and took another deep drag before doing the same and tailing after her. You didn’t feel like slipping on your jacket to hide what you were. The hours you had spent in the care of Helena you felt like we're finally getting your footing in things, finally understanding how you were supposed to do things maybe. You made your way back onto the bus as people slowly trickled back in and went to get settled in once again.

The trip was a long one trekking across fifteen states by bus alone. This was a first for you seeing so many places in one go. You and Helena had bonded over the close capacity and in that time you had run into others like you. The others you met were different from Helena, a family woman, these ones seemed a bit more free spirited. They carried a similar scent to Helena, something natural and light. They carried scents that felt natural to where Lawrence had something that felt almost strange and foreign the more you recalled it. These people formed a little group with you and Helena, they were headed to New York. It was something that had made you giggle a little bit. It was odd to think of your kind occupying the city but hey let them do you. It was the first taste of what it was like to have a pack, something you didn’t realize that soothed some part of your soul.

You watched as scenery had passed by your window as the trip had worn on. Your camera had finally found its way out of your bag and for the first time in a while everything felt like it had gone normal again. You had never seen so many people as you had on that Greyhound bus, how some came for a little bit and others for longer like you and Helena. They didn’t seem to mind when you took photos, capturing moments in time of travelers on their way to destinations that you didn’t know where. They were fleeting in your life but it gave you a sense of normalcy that you had once had before it all had happened.

You arrived in Portland, Maine four days after you had left Pocatello. The atmosphere here was different and so was just everything else. It was a bit of whiplash but the steady hand from Helena steadied you as you both had gotten off the bus. You waited with Helena for her husband to pick her up from the station. You felt something break just a little bit as you had walked her out to her husbands truck and helped get her baggage into the truck. It felt like you were saying goodbye to your mother, a part of you whined as you didn’t want to leave. Maybe she said that and that is why she had slipped you the house phone number and address, along with the kind words of my door is always open to you. As you had watched her leave in that truck you didn’t realize that you had started crying, using the sleeve of your jacket to wipe away salty tears before you had turned to stalk back inside.

Through blurry vision of remaining tears you had found yourself at the desk asking for a map. You had looked over the worn map, fingers drifting over the paper as you tried to figure where to go from here now. Your eyes wandered over the names of small towns until your fingers had stopped on one. You traced out the words ‘Jerusalem's Lot’ before you seemed to tap it as you seemed to decide that’s where you were going.

“Hey, can I get a ticket to here?” You asked the attendant over the desk

The middle aged woman on the other end looked from her magazine, one that you were pretty sure was some gossip type of thing. You could see the grays sprouting against her blonde locks that had recently had a perm done on it. You watched as her eyes narrowed behind cat eye glasses as she looked at where you had been pointing at the map. She looked a bit surprised as she looked at the map and then back at you.

“The bus doesn’t head out that far. You are gonna have your thumb your way there.” She told you. The way she said it was a bit odd, like she was judging you for something but you couldn’t be sure. It was probably the way you looked, you hadn’t properly slept in sometime and definitely could use a shower.

“Shit, really?” You asked back. There wasn’t much surprise that you would have to hitchhike the rest of the way.

“Yeah, small little place out that way. The bus isn’t going that far out.” She explained to you. You let out a bit of huff under your breath and nodded your head.

“I could take you halfway and then you’d have to get there the rest of the way.”

Her voice had gotten your attention when she had offered to take you at least half way. It did save you from having to climb into a car with some guy and she didn’t seem that vicious, not like you couldn’t have handled your own with her either.

“Hmm, yeah that would work. Thank you.” You said as you tapped the desk and nodded your head. You folded back up the map and placed it down. You heard her say something in acknowledgement before you had headed to go sit down for a bit before you would be heading out with her.

The lady had kept her promise and had gotten you half way out there before you had gotten out at a gas station. You had waited around for sometime at the place trying to pick up a ride as you milled about at the station. You finally picked up a ride with elderly couple in the back of their pickup as well. Your bag sat between your legs as you leaned back against the bed of the truck. Your hair whipped up in the air as the truck roared down the highway, the smell of summer racing by that made your shoulders drop a bit. The old couple had let you out on the road just outside of Jerusalem’s Lot. You had hopped out and hauled your bag over your shoulder as you started on your way into town.

You could help the small amused laugh as you had past the Welcome to Jerusalem’s Lot sign. The dark wood was slightly faded out in some places to the point the sign more read Salem’s Lot before seemed a bit better condition than one side. It almost felt fitting for you, what would be a town of Salem without something strange going on. It got a rise out of you as you carried on, occasionally snapping pictures as you headed your way in. Not a car had passed by you as you had gotten into town, boots getting off of decaying asphalt to sidewalk as you prowled into town.

As you made your way in, you noted the way people had gone about their days. Some had glanced over at you and you could see the skepticism in their eyes. It was a small town and strangers coming in by foot wasn’t exactly normal. You brushed it off as you walked through the town. You passed a place called Dell’s tucking it away to come by when you had gotten settled into things and took in more as you passed through. You took in the hardwood store, a vacant building that was up for sale and just more things that had come to be known for a small town as well. Nothing seemed out of place and you weren’t sure what else to expect. This was a place placed out of time, people who had probably lived here for generations and never once left the Lot.

You kept on your way until your boots stopped in front of a place. You tilted your head to the side slightly as you read it. ‘Crockett’s Southern Maine Insurance and Realty’. That was definitely a good start. You shifted your bag over your shoulder a bit before you head inside. You pulled the door open and a little bell chimed that made your ears hurt as you slowly let your bag drop to the ground as you hesitantly headed inside. You got the smell of a fake flowery smell that made your nose cringe a bit and followed it a bit deeper into the building before you caught the culprit.

There sat a girl at the receptionist’s desk with a dirty blonde bob. She looked around your age and seemed a bit bored as she was engrossed in a book. You waited there for a moment before she rattled off what sounded like a bored yet overly practiced greeting for her job.

“Welcome to Crockett’s Southern Maine Insurance and Realty.” She said flatly as she flipped the page of her book.

“That sounds a bit forced.” You laughed softly as you looked around for a moment before you looked at her.

Her eyes were gray, one that you didn’t see often with people but they reminded you of the moon. The little streaks of dark colors in them are just like craters in the moon. You shook your head a moment and a small flush to your face as you realized that you had been staring a bit longer then you probably should have but she didn’t seem to notice, still reading that book of hers.

“You could say that. Hey you ain't from around here are you?” She said, the second part coming a bit more lively as she looked up and saw you.

“No, I’m not. Looking to move in.” You told her with a click of your tongue as you stood in the door frame.

“Move in?” She asked with a slightly raised eyebrow as she set her book down and rested her arms on the desk.

“Why is that surprising?” You retorted back to her with an easy smile. The way her eyes shifted down to those sharp canines of yours that glinted a bit before she looked away.

“I don’t know, aint people our age kind of looking to get out of these places?” She pointed it out to you. She definitely had a point about that, people like you and her were more often trying to get out of places like this than moving into them.

“I guess? I like the small town things, uh,” You stuttered out as you tried to figure out the best way to phrase it. Your small pause must have been taken by her as you were trying to get your name which she gave to you.

“Susan. Susan Norton, you can call me Susie.” She said she held out her hand to you.

Your eyes fell to her hand before you reached out to take her hand into yours. Yours was a bit rough then hers and nails a bit longer and definitely not coated in polish like hers. Yours spoke of a wildness that was not always associated with domesticity that seemed to come off of Susan in that moment. Your grip was strong as you shook her hand before you pulled it away as you heard the sound of a chair movie and the sound of dress shoes hitting the carpet. You shifted your weight to the man who was coming out of the office across the way from Susan’s desk.

It was a balding man with salt and gray peppered hair. He wore a dull colored suit, equally dull colored slacks, shirt and then bit too bright of a green tie. His eyes were dark and face wrinkled from the years of aging. There was the faint smell of what you knew as cheap cologne and cheap cigarettes that clung to the man. He gave off this air of what you could only describe as a rat and you weren’t sure as to why but you had to guess ever salesman just had that energy of a leech.

“Susie, I don’t pay you to ya- Oh hello there! I’m Lawrence Crockett and you are?” His voice made you want to recoil, it was baritone but it also felt so tacky. You weren't too pleased the way he had addressed Susan but the way he covered himself as he had addressed you.

“A client I would hope. Looking for a place to stay maybe on the south side of town?” You told him as you folded your arms and looked at the man.

The squirrelly character of a man seemed to share a look with Susan as they both looked at you for a moment. Your eyes met theirs and you could see that they were a bit surprised by the suggestion. There wasn’t a whole lot on that side of town but the woods and the low income side of the town.

“I like my quietness.” You told them firmly as you looked at both of them. You didn’t really care for the look, you wanted to be near the woods and if it came with an unsavory part of town or what they thought of it then so be it. You knew damn well looks were more than what they were.

“Uh, we come on in. Let me take a look at what I got available.” Lawrence cleared his throat and ushered you into his office.

You shared a look with Susan that was something like best of luck with the endeavor. It made you smile a little bit as you went into the small office. You took a seat in the cheap chair across from his desk that creaked under your weight. You watched the realtor shift around his space with eyes that seemed to probably make him a little bit more uneasy then he already was with you. Some people seemed to have that sense with you, something Helena had explained to you as a gift. They had a way of seeing over on the other side. Some had it a bit more clearer than others while some could just place it as there was something off or wrong about you. You had come to notice that was the case with some people. They would just be skittish around you, like some deep part in their head knew you weren’t entirely human anymore.

“Let me see, let me see.” He muttered to himself as he had sat down in his chair and was going over his desk to find the listings for the south side of town. You watched as he had shuffled around through files and you noticed one for a brief moment of an old Victorian house. You tilted your head to the side and read the words. ‘The Marsten House’. It mildly peaked your curiosity for the moment before your heard movement behind you. You watched as Susan had come into the room with the said listings that Mr. Crockett had been looking for it. She gave you a small smile as she set the files down on the desk in front of him and you watched as the man stopped his fruitless search when they had been placed.

“Here Mr. Crockett.” She said to him with a bit of a condescending chirp to her voice that had you stifling a laugh behind a bit of cough that she seemed to catch onto. You watched as Susan left the room before her boss even bothered to thank her for them.

“I’ve got three places out that way. They are all gonna need a little TLC but you seem like the capable type.” Mr. Crockett explained to you as he laid out the files of the house that were up for rent.

You shifted your chair forward closer to the desk so you could get a better look at your possible options that were being presented for you. The houses were all a bit different from each other and out of the three there were two that seemed in less move in condition then one. The one that seemed to be alright. It was in a second empire type structure with a black roof, white paneling and red brick foundation. It was surrounded by the woods and a small road led out to the main one from the brief pictures that were supplied. It was perfect for you, it would work good for what you needed and offered privacy that you wanted.

“I’ll take this one.” You said as you took the file out and placed it on the top of the others. Mr. Crockett looked at you with a look that held skepticism that you probably weren’t capable of handling a place like this yourself.

“Are you sure?” He asked like he was trying to give you a sense of doubt.

“Yup, how much is the down payment?” You told him back firmly. This was going to be the one and you weren’t going to let some realtor change your mind on things.

“Well about $108 on a monthly payment but I also need a security deposit which would be about double that. Should be $322 for the first payment.” He said as he cleared his throat and began to take out the necessary paperwork for you to fill. You had pushed out from your chair for a moment, the sudden action made the man jump a little bit as you had moved out of the room. You could feel Susan’s eye on you as you made your way to your bag and crouched down next to it. You pulled the zipper back and rustled through your clothes before you had pulled out a yellow envelope. You pulled out the stash of cash you had on you and counted out what you needed and what you were going to have left. You made a mental note of needing to get some form of job before your funds ran dry. You had stood back up and made your way back into the office.

“Here. I’ll take the key.” You said as you handed over the money in cash onto the man’s desk. He watched you for a moment as he took in how much you had just put down and that you were asking for the key. He cleared his throat before he motioned to the papers that needed your attention.

“I need you to sign a couple things and I’ll get Suze to take you over there.” He said as you grabbed a pen and went over the papers that he had put out. Some of it had gone over what you needed to do to get the electricity and heating up and going when you got over. You signed your name neatly on the little lines that had been asked of you. Once you were done you were handed two keys on a key ring. You felt the brass against your palm before you looked at the man.

“Isn’t that a bit of inconvenience to her?” You asked him as he rounded his desk and got to walking you out of his office.

“Nah she would be more than happy too. Won’t you Suze?” Mr. Crockett had said, snapping Susan out of her reading again.

“Happy to do what?” She had asked him with a bit of a confused look. You gave her a bit of an apologetic look and shifted uncomfortably for having someone pretty much give you a ride that one party didn’t even really seem to want to do.

“Take our new client to her new home?” Mr. Crockett said as he clapped you on the shoulders. You had to resist the urge to bristle or swivel to shove him off. Sometimes those little territorial traits could be the hardest to control. You took a steady breath as you heard Susan let out some annoyed noise and stood up from her chair, grabbing her purse and keys.

“Yeah, sure.” She said as she rounded her desk and headed for the door.

You shouldered your way out of Mr. Crockett’s grasp and after Susan. You had briefly glanced back at the man but said nothing as you had picked up your bag by the door and stepped outside after Susan. You followed her out to her car, a Chevrolet Vega, that seemed to be in pretty decent condition. You couldn’t help but marvel at it for a moment as you kicked yourself in gear as you quickly made your way across the street. You watched as the dirty blonde got into the driver’s seat and waited for you to climb on in. You didn’t hesitate to climb on to the passenger side and drop your bag on the floor.

The car roared to life as Susan started the engine up of the Vega. You could feel the rumble through your body as the car kicked into gear as Susan got you two on your way to your new home. You rubbed your fingers over the keys that you had been given by the realtor. You watched as the sleepy town rolled on by as Susan drove you through the Lot. You craned your neck as you watched the town dump roll by and the desolate graveyard up the hill just a reach off from the Martsen house that stood like a decrepit scarecrow that overlooked crops. Soon the brief image of the house was cut off as the woods crept their way into few as they had taken a turn towards the south side of town.

The town looked so peaceful in the summer, the hot breeze from outside filtered in through the cracked windows as you two rolled on by. You felt your eyes close for a moment for a moment as you took in a breath and let your head rest against the window. You could feel Susan’s gray eyes on you as she seemed to take you in. You didn’t seem to mind all that much as you felt things start to settle after months of the unknown yet there was this strange little pity that stayed there. A clawing and biting urge of that things weren’t going to stay this way for long but you pushed that off as you felt your eyes slowly close for a moment.

You were jolted awake as you felt Susan’s gentle hand met your shoulder. You startled her making her jump as well as you both nervously laughed off the small interaction as you both shifted in seats. You didn’t met Susan’s eyes for that moment as you tried to figure out the words to say to her as you sat there in her passenger seat. You grabbed a hold of the straps of your duffel bag for a moment.

“You didn’t have to take me. I could have walked it.” You shyly said to her as you brushed some of your hair out of your face as you stretched out from the small brief nap that you had fallen into in her car. You looked over at Susan who had looked over at you before she shifted her gaze away for a moment.

“It’s fine, I need the fresh air. Can’t believe that you picked that one?” Susan had said for a moment before she had looked back up at you. Your eyes met for a moment as you tried to process what she was asking her. She was wondering why you had picked this one and you didn’t want to give her the real reason as to why.

“Why?” You asked back. You watched as Susan seemed to fumble with some explanation to give you onto why she was asking her question. She seemed to realize that you weren’t from here and you weren’t aware of the town’s history.

“It’s got a direct view of the Martsen House. The people who had owned it prior said they could see stuff up there. The lady swore she saw someone staring at her from the window up there.” Susan explained to you as she watched your head work overtime to take in what she was telling you. You knew that small town’s had their stories, the legends that were carried on and passed out to children. Places that people whispered in hushed tones that had teenagers sneaking up to get a feel for the real thing.

“No way.” You muttered out as you met to pop open the car door of the Vega and stepped out. Susan seemed to watch you with a gaze that made you not uncomfortable in your skin but appreciated and made your face heat up.

“Yeah, I guess you got to learn about the Lot.” Susan joked as she watched you grab your bag from the floor of the Vega and hold it for a moment as you held the door ajar for a moment as you carried on the conversation.

“I do.” You told her as you shifted your weight for a moment.

“Here we are through. The Martsen House’s shadow.” Susan joked as she motioned to the house that was now going to be yours to look after. It looked like a shell of something that had lacked some life for awhile. You could make out plastic covering on some of the furniture that sat inside of the house. You couldn’t remember seeing anything about it being furnished but you weren’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth.

“That’s ominous.” You laughed softly at Susan’s joke about the house that you are about to go into.

“Yeah but hey you don’t feel phased by ominous things.” Susan pointed out that you had nodded your head in agreement.

“Eh, it depends. Again thanks for bringing me here.” You told her for a moment as you brushed it off. You gaze turned back to the house and then to the clearing through the trees. She wasn’t really kidding when she had called it the Martsen House’s shadow. Through that clearing the old house stood on the hill, in direct line of the living room windows. You watched for a moment as you just stared at it and thought about what Susan had told you. You knew well enough now that the supernatural was not simply just stories that were to give someone a good scare or air caution, they always held some truth to them. You couldn’t totally discount that maybe the prior owners of your new home had seen something.

“Anytime. I hope that it suits you well.” Susan said as she broke you out of your thoughts and turned the car back on. You could feel the vibrations of the car through the frame and closed the door with a small thud. You were about to head in when Susan’s voice had stopped you in your tracks.

“Hey, uh, maybe you would like to hang out this Friday. You are new and all, maybe you could use a friend.” Susan asked as she leaned a bit more to the passenger side of the car. You thought about her offer for a moment before you smiled softly at her.

“Need a new face to talk to that doesn’t do town gossip?” You joked.

“God yes please.” Susan laughed back as she nodded her head. You watched as her eyes had crinkled just a bit as she seemed to genuinely laugh but also genuinely happy to have the company of someone new. You couldn’t fault her for that, you felt it too.

“Okay, I’ll see you Friday, Susie.” You told her as you wrapped your knuckle against the frame of the door and backed off so she would have room to get out of the old driveway.

“See you then.” Susan said as she waved you goodbye.

You watched as Susan Norton pulled out of the driveway and down the way back to the main road. You waited until you heard the engine fade out and the sounds of the forest came to life. Something in you stirred, you felt a sudden jolt of energy go through your system as your legs carried you forward. Your boots crunched against dead leaves that had fallen from their place on the looming trees that surrounded the clearing of your new home. The old porch creaked under your weight as you went up it and juggled for the keys in your hand. You slid them into the rusty lock, it took a moment for the lock to shift before it finally gave way. The front door opened with a creak that had you closing your eyes.

“Oil for hinges at the top of the list.” You muttered out as you stepped into the house.

You looked around as you dropped your bag next to you as you kicked the door close with your foot. You looked around at the inside of the house, you could see the dust dance around in the light that shined through the windows. Mr. Crockett was not kidding when he said that it would need some TLC gifted to it. The house hadn’t seen a living person in almost over a year and it showed from all the dust and plastic covered furniture. You let out a sigh as you rested your hands on your hips for a moment as you took it all in before you let out a huff and shucked off your jacket to get started.

You had spent your afternoon getting the house in somewhat of a livable space. It had taken a couple of hours to understand how to get power to the house and accidentally shock yourself once. You had declared the basement the most horror movie thing you had seen and that with it having cellar doors it was probably a good place to make your spot for when the full moon came calling for you. The water heater was a completely different beast itself and you’d have to get someone out there to take care of it, suffering with cold showers was going to have to be managed until you could. Not that you could complain, the upper floor of the house was hotter than hell and that made the main floor and basement the only comfortable spots in the old house for you to be around. You had dragged one of the old mattresses from upstairs down into the living room and pulled the curtains a bit as you had set up.

By the time you had gotten the place into a somewhat livable space you sat out on the porch shirtless in a bra and your jeans. You had since ditched your boots to walk around barefoot for the moment. You sat on the porch steps as you took a drag of some of the wolfsbane cigarettes that Helena had given you and stared up at the sky. The pastel hues of the sky as the sun began to set painted the sky as your eye strained to see the one thing in the sky. There the moon hung, almost spilling over with silver as she stared back down at you, her moon lorne child. You let out a sigh and stretched out a bit before getting up and heading back inside as you could feel the familiar aches bloom in your body.

tags: @rhettmotel @lewmagoo @delopsia

[w2soneshots]

Hate -W2S

words: 0.7k+

warnings: angst with happy ending, break up, mention of drug use, social media hate.

summary: you and Harry go through a break up and the fans aren’t kind about it.

Liked by y/nfanpage21 and 7,674 others

sidemenupdates: y/n seen today for the first time since her and Harrys breakup!

-comments-

y/nfanpage21: She's so pretty🤍

user98025639: I hope they get back together :(

ihatey/n: I'm so glad they broke up Harry deserved so much better than her

user46807521: I hate her

Since me and Harry broke up a few weeks ago I’ve been receiving an obnoxious amount of hate. I would usually just ignore it, but while trying to recover from a difficult break up (especially since we were together for three years) It has started to get to me. I got a call from Talia who I've kept in good contact with. "hey babe, how are you?" She asked once I accepted the call. "Im alright." I said. "are you free today?" She asked. "Um- ye?" I replied. "Im coming over I’ll be there in 20." She said and before I could say anything she ended the call.

I quickly tidied up my apartment, threw on a sweat set and brushed my hair into a ponytail. Talia arrived outside my apartment just under 20 minutes later along with a bag of groceries. She immediately brought me into a hug then went over to my kitchen and started unpacking the food. "You didn't have to do all this T." I said. "Are you kidding, I’m your best friend. You did the same for me when me and Simon were on a break." she said and continued to fill up the fridge. I smiled "well, thank you." She smiled back at me and said "right, let's go." My brows furrowed "what, go where?" I asked. "Shopping."

We spent the rest of the day buying new clothes and we also had some lunch. I thanked Talia profusely for taking my mind off of everything and cheering me up, but she joked saying "I just needed an excuse to by some more clothes and Simon is really boring to shop with." which made me laugh. She dropped me off outside my apartment and I made my way through the building while carrying multiple bags of clothes and new makeup.

Once I put everything away I made myself some dinner with the food that Talia brought me. After eating I sat watching Friends when I got a phone call from Freezy. "Hello?" I said through the phone. "y/n, listen we've tried everything but he's in a really bad place. I- I think he's been using again." I sighed "I'll be over in 10." I said. "See you then."

Just like I said I was at their apartment in just over 10 minutes. The door was unlocked so I opened it to see Cal (Freezy) sat on the sofa "thanks for coming, I know he's not really your responsibility anymore." he said. "I still care for him though Cal." I said and he nodded. I made my way towards his room soon after. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

He lay on the bed asleep in a pair of sidemen joggers and hoodie. "Harry?" I whispered and placed my hand on his shoulder, rubbing it lightly. He stirred slightly and mumbled "fuck off Cal." I sighed "Haz, It's me y/n." He immediately lifted his head to look at me. He didn't waste a second by pushing himself off the bed and pulling me into a tight hug. I could hear him sobbing slightly and my heart sank "shh, Im here, shh." I whispered rocking us back and forth lightly. "Im so sorry." he whispered into my neck. I just gave him a squeeze and then he pulled away. "I want to give it another go, I'll make time for you, I- I promise." he said. Me and Harry broke up because I felt like we weren't spending enough time together, were both very busy but I felt like he wasn't really trying anymore.

I nodded silently. "I realised the past couple of days how much I need you and all the things you do for me, I just- I- I understand if you don't want that but-" I cut him off by pulling him into a kiss. "I wouldn't want anything more." I said smiling.

[sfthyuka]

SCORE MORE , WIN HEART

Synopsis : after taking a break from school, you're back in time for the club selections, sadly your usual Fashion designing club gave up your seat to another girl and there are no openings in any other club but fear not the principal has one position for you, be the manager of the football team, aka the group filled with drop dead gorgeous boys who for some reason can't leave you alone, especially that 6ft Black haired boy.

Pairings : jock!Ni-ki × fem!manager!reader.

parts : pt 1 . pt 2    [ongoing] 

Genre : fluff, angst, bullying, oblivious reader, niki being bold bold, over protective players over their managers, strangers to friends to lovers, violence, broken bones.

masterlist

You stared at dismay at Hyein who at least had the decency to look apologetic as she nodded " Im sorry Y/n, we didn't really expect you back.. " she trailed off , uncertain what she could say to justify why.

Right you didn't expect me back this year

You bit back the remark, sighing as you looked at her " it's fine, I'll just check with the principal and see. ". Hyein smiled and walked back inside leaving you alone. Your smile dropped as you turned around.

You opened your locker and delicately kept your camera inside, now you probably had to use it outside school, you would deal with it later, you had to sign up to at least any club to get the extra credit you missed due to being absent.

" Mr. kang, it's me Y/n ". You said as you meekly opened the door to the brightly smile welcoming you in.

Mr. Kang gestured to the seat in front of him and said " well i suppose it didn't work out? ". You nodded " is there any other club i could join?  I really do need the credit". You asked as he pondered over it. There was a tense 5 minute gap as he thought over it before sighing and shaking his head. 

" Sadly Y/n, there isn't I'm afraid ".

You gulped as you wondered what you would do. You weren't a top scorer student , having grades good enough to be at least in the top 20 in your class, Suddenly Mr. Kang spoke up " well i had this special request and if you take it, I'll give you the credit and whatever you want and to be honest i trust you and you are a capable person."

sadly you were tempted by the credits which you so desperately needed.

Extra credit?? You were not giving this up

" okay i guess i could sign up for it ". you said , unfortunately sealing your future for the rest of your school life unaware how much this would change your life. 

" Great! Well head over to Kangta's room and tell him i sent you for the football teams manager. "

Manager- wait did he just say-....’

and so here you were , in front of his office , knowing once you knock on the door . there would be no coming back . You groaned internally , the only reason why you were here was one the very tempting offer and two you really had no better things to do other than roam around during after school . You sighed and firmly knocked on the door , hearing a muffled come in.  

“ Mr.kangta? its me Y/n , the principal sent me.” you said as you nervously stood in front of the coach who looked at you , his expression filled with hope and expectation “ really- he sent you?”. 

you frowned “ yeah- why?”. he chuckled “ well i mean you seen the team , girls who come here are on their personal agenda and Mr.Kang sure spoke highly of you Y/n , i hope you are here to sign up?”.  well screw his face , his hopeful expression made it extremely hard for you to say no. you awkwardly scratched your head and nodded “ well yeah i'm here to sign up unless-?”.

he beamed “ excellent choice Y/n , well there's no practice on Mondays , its a free day so we’ll start from tomorrow , practice starts at 3 , i hope you’ll enjoy the football team .” 

you went in search of your friend , desperate to tell someone. 

“ you are KIDDING me !.” eunseo screeched as you broke the news to her on wednesday , she looked almost offended you did not tell her yesterday , you awkwardly shrugged “ i mean it's not such a big deal , its just a football team.”

Eunseo choked “ Y/n , its not just a football team , i mean yes but y/n the schools most drop dead gorgeous boys who are literally greek gods are there and you are saying its just a team.” she exclaimed as you paused .

“ I guess they are good looking.”  Eunseo sighed and looked around and leaned in “ Try to get me Jay’s number will you?”.

“ Eunseo!.” you scolded her as you glanced at your watch , “ well i have to go , ill see you later.” you waved at her and walked away , hearing a distant “ tell me how it went!”.

Never in your life had you imagined you would ever be a manager ,you wondered what they could have told about you to make you sound so capable . You walked out into the ground , your eyes scanning the ground scattered with boys , either busy warming up or talking around. Your eyes fell on a group of boys sitting near the goal post and seeing them you immediately realised who they were .

The famous boys who you- you paused when you realise you don’t even know their name properly . Or who it was. The entire female students at your school would be disappointed in you and would have disowned you. 

“ Y/N!.” you froze as you felt everyone's glance on you as they watched their coach jog towards you , giving you a firm slap on your back and ruffled your hair. An action that almost feels like a habit for him. He coughs and looks around .

“ well what are you looking for , come here!” . within seconds almost every scrambled together and stared at you in interest . You smiled softly as Mr.Kang patted your shoulder and introduced you.

“ Welcome Y/n , your manager.” 

There was a pin drop silence before you felt yourself being pushed forward , and the next you being surrounded by boys asking you questions from everywhere. You gulped and tried your best to answer them or at least trying to understand what they were asking. 

“ GUYS! GIVE HER SPACE.” a boy said as he tried pulling everyone back , and they all listened to him.

maybe he’s the captain?

“ Hi y/n , im Yang Jungwon , sorry .” he glared at the boys who looked everywhere else except him. he sighed and looked at you “ I hope you’ll stay and do your work properly.” he said and turned around . You blinked before walking towards the coach to know what you had to do as their manager. 

You quickly noted your jobs and asked “ Jungwon mentioned that he hoped i would stay? Was there anyone before me?”. Mr.kangta looked taken aback and shrugged “ There was one girl and she suddenly left no explanations , i never really talked much to her to be honest .” 

you hummed and stood up “ all right then , let me fill up these bottles first.” you picked up the bottles and filled it.Noting the names on the bottle. You had to admit after you were done filling the bottles and placing it on the table , you watched Heeseung and Jake [ you hoped ] were playing , you got distracted .

“ Watch yourself.” a deep voice spoke up behind you , you took a step back looking at the tall guy behind you, he raised an eyebrow and extended his hand out , grabbing the bottle from your hand “ that's mine.” He looked at you and turned around.

And fuck did your heart just skip a beat?

At least two days had passed and by far no one in the team had approached you to talk , which wasn't really that upsetting  but you were kinda bummed out hoping you might make some friends . Well you could have approached them but seeing their pretty blank faces made you rethink twice.

At least Jungwon and Sunoo talked to you , barely but it was a start nonetheless. The rest of them collectively ignored you. Or kept their interactions minimal . You wiped your sweat as you sat down . Okay was it you or did your jobs suddenly increase . From filling the bottles to grabbing some shoes to running across the school. you were exhausted but hey at least this was some exercise for you to keep fit. 

“ Man if i wasn't late , i could have joined the photography club “. you complained unaware of the male next to you.

“ You didn't wanna join us?”. you gasped and almost cursed what was up with these people sneaking up on you. 

“ I mean yeah jake , what did you think i was your fangirls or what?”. you asked , genuinely curious. The sheepish expression on his face confirmed it as you chuckled “ Well understandable but to be honest i only knew who you were exactly after i joined the club and that's because of the jersey.” you admitted.

you stood up and picked up your bag “ Anyways i really have to go , ill see you around jake , bye!.” you waved at him and walked away. 

he stared at your disappearing figure , chuckling as he buttoned up his shirt. You were interesting and jake had hoped you were different. 

“ She didn't even notice it .” 

The next day to say you were surprised was an understatement , you saw Heeseung and Jay in the corridor and heeseung high fived you and jay smiled at you , exchanging pleasantries.  

“ Y/n please tell me i saw it right but did you just talk to Jay and Heeseung!?”. Eunseo practically screeched in your ears as you rolled your eyes . “ i mean i am their manager .” Eunseo complained as she said how calm you were. 

You quickly went to the club room , you did notice something you really wanted to touch up and restore its beauty to it. Pulling it out of the box , you grinned as you quickly folded it as small as you could before delicately keeping it inside your bag. It was a well known fact that the tournament was going to start and you thought you would repair it before it. 

“ Oh hey there Jake.” you greeted the boy who was leaning on the wall , he grinned at you. 

he deserves the praise 

“ hey Y/n , what's your plan for lunch?”. he says as he puts his arm around your shoulder . If you were taken aback  , jake paid no attention to it. You internally screamed in your head as you replied back “ me? well nothing to be honest , my friend can’t usually make it .” 

Jake grinned “ Great ! join us for lunch !.” 

well this was awkward 

somehow you were sitting between Sunghoon and Ni-ki  , two extremely tall guys , honestly hard to read and come on , an ice prince on your left and a intimidating boy. You sipped your juice trying to focus on what sunoo was talking about it. Heeseung occasionally met your eyes and winked at you causing you to look at him confused before brushing it off as friendly winks.

“ Y/n , what do you have after school?”. Jay asked as he leaned on the desk . You raised an eyebrow “ i have to go to the art store for some things , why?”. Heeseung nodded “ Do you want to hang out with us?”. You stared at them and pointed at yourself “ Me?”. 

“ Yeah if you don’t mind?”. jungwon added in. You smiled in apologetic manner and turned down the offer “ Maybe some other time , like tomorrow after practice.” Unaware of the surprised glances thrown at your way , you stood up and said “ So ill see you later guys.” 

This time it was Ni-ki who spoke up “ Well i guess You were right Jake Hyung.” Jake laughed and leaned back on his chair with a i told you so expression . And extended his hand as jay grumbled and slapped the money in his hand. Jake blowing him a kiss as he kept it inside his wallet. 

Buying the necessary supplies , you stare at your bags in regret. Maybe you had overestimated your purchases, there was no way you could carry this all together with your bag and the weight of the banner already pulling you down. You bit your lips in sadness as you folded up your sleeves , ready to lift it. Maybe you should have left the banner back at school and taken it back tomorrow , allowing you to work on it during the weekend. 

You managed to reach a quarter of your way back home. Seriously regretting it , you groaned as you complained “ why did i even do this today.” 

you really had not planned out your journey. Suddenly you felt the things in your hand being lifted and taken away . your eyes widened as you looked at the boy in front of you walking , he glanced back and asked you in his deep voice, sending waves of electricity through your spine.

“ You coming?”. 

[dragonfelling]

Snippet Sunday

This ones a tad old but has to do with what im working on right now. I've gotta move it into the Amara Doc :D

Just something cute -

Jeremias was having trouble trying to work up the courage to ask.

The Gala was so busy, and every time Jeremias felt it in his gut that he should approach Amara the moment was stolen away by another person talking to her or offering her a dance.

He stood by the wall as he usually did, brooding and stuck in his own mind over such a simple thing. Amara and him had been sleeping together for heaven's sake. They kissed in the halls when nobody was looking. But… they hadn't gone public yet. 

The only one who really knew was Felix. The old man was very aware actually and kept coming in during comically bad times. 

He asked Felix to teach him Midonian Waltz. He never learned from his father after all. 

He thought about learning Anemoian dance but he wasn't sure who to ask. Mavros was clumsy. Iasis was scary. Jan was scarier. An external tutor would be difficult to get his hands on on short notice.

Not to mention it would take more than a few lessons and memorization. Midonian Waltz was simply easier to learn than the footwork of Anemoian gala dance. (Think merengue)

Jeremias wore gorgeous apparel. He didn't risk another scare by Josef by wearing particularly Anemoian clothes again, but he did let Rrynn do some basic  makeup on him in a style typically worn by Anemoians, a basic red line with the white wing. 

The tailor dressed him in Seanes' old gala clothes. It was Jeremias’ request actually. It was what Seane wore to the last Gala he attended before his death: the one celebrating the victory against Midonia. The tailor had gone back to the beautiful vest under the requests of Jeremias. He lightened the blue and added touches of silver filigree to a new white undershirt's cuffs. He modified the mourning flower motif present on the chest of the vest to include both Midonian flowers and changed the buttons for decorated silver instead of fabric. It was quite a bit of modification but he could tell this meant something important to Jeremias. This was a way of taking back something.

Looking in the mirror when the tailor was done, Jeremias looked quite pleased. He tipped the tailor very well for his work, paying way more than the commission price. Jere had inherited his father's vast wealth and he didn't hesitate to spend it on a petty slight against him.

When Jeremias broke from the wall to come to Amaras side, he was given some strange looks by the magistrate and her adult son chatting with the princess. 

“Deeply sorry. Do you mind if I steal Miss Amara away?” 

The Magistrate gave a harder look, and  frowned up at the doctor, before giving a dismissive wave. 

“Don't be long, we were discussing something.”

“Of course Lady… Very sorry I’m not sure I know your name.”

“Lady Ianthe Hoxha. Magistrate of Anatoli.” 

“Ah yes, Lady Hoxha.” 

Jere gives his head a momentary bow before Amara turns to walk Jeremias off to the side.

She gave a puff of air and shook her head, “Thank you… She's very insistent on speaking with me about her son. This is the third time she's approached me.” 

Amara reached to push some bangs back out of her face, the hair slipping from its braid some time earlier that night. She then sipped from her glass of wine. It seemed trade with Midonia had resumed as normal now. 

Jeremias takes a sip of his own Anemoian whisky. He looked to the ground, kicking the toe of his boot against the ground lightly as he leaned his bicep against the wall. 

He peeked over his shoulder to see if anyone was staring before taking the loose hair to tuck behind her braid for her. 

“Sorry I didn't pull you away sooner.”

“Don't worry much about it. I think she's trying to convince me to spend time with her son. Ugh.” 

Jeremias raises his head to gaze over her shoulder in order to take a look at the young man. He looked confident, and spoke with his head up high and back straight. 

He looks back to Amara, suddenly very aware of his slight hunch. He sat up more, cheeks rosy. His voice stays a flat tone as he mutters, “Ah. I see. He looks like a tool.”

She tries not to laugh, looking over her shoulder for a moment then finally letting it out.

“Yeah. Oh gods, he's such a dick head.”

“Amara-” he clears his throat, forcing himself to look up into her eyes.

“W-would you dance with me?”

Amara made another little chuckle into her next sip, smiling up at him behind the glass. 

The second of no response felt like forever, Jeremias could feel his heart shudder. 

“I don't see why not. I didn't even know you could dance.”

Jere made a sigh of relief, feeling the tension in his shoulders relax some… at least until he thought about people watching them. 

“Well… Felix taught me. He showed me Midonian waltz last week.”

“He took time off to show you?... Huh.”

“He had a couple hours free. I’ll warn you, I'm still not very good. I read a book about it again before the Gala started” 

Amara snorted and grinned up at him, “Seriously? A book?”

Jere took another sip of his drink, looking away. He couldn't help but to also smile though at how ridiculous that must seem.

“Alright, big guy,” she reaches to take his glass, putting his and her own down on a table. Both were nearly finished.

Jere reaches for her hands, letting her lead him to an open area between the crowd. 

Jeremias put his hand behind his back and gave her a bow as Felix instructed. Her smile brightened, and she gave a curtsy.

She lead as they began to dance. Her right hand on his left shoulder blade and left hand in his right. Jere put his left hand on her shoulder and squeezed her hand.

She kept the footwork slow so Jeremias could ease into their dance.

It took for a moment for Jere to figure out where to start, getting confused as Felix had taught him how to lead the dance, not how to follow. He got tense again, eyebrows furrowing and frowning at his boots in concern she thought that he may be stupid.

“Relax. I step forward, you step back.”

Jere nodded, taking a deep breath and slowly mirroring her.

Jere counted in his head as they followed the box step. He gave her a wide berth of room between their bodies, and looked down between them to watch his feet.

1. Right foot back.  2. Left to the side. 3. Right to left foot. 4. Left forward. 5. Right to left. 6. Left to right foot. 

And repeat. And repeat. And repeat.

When Amara felt he was starting to get into the swing of things, she lead him to waltz in a slow turn. Their steps followed the sound of the mandolin and hurdy gurdy, accompanied by a woodwind and drum.

She took an extra step back to spread the distance between them, before stepping forward to come closer. She raised his hands, and spun him back close. He did the same for her, and they ended up standing closer now as they waltzed. Jeremias had his forehead almost touching hers. 

He could feel eyes burn into the back of his skull. Eyes of the woman and her son that he pulled Amara from.

He figured it wasn't only them. He imagined the squint of Xavier. The judgment of Iasis. The dismay on Saria’s face. 

Why is she leading?

This is not Anemoian.

Who do you think you are?

“Smile, McCullough. You have that look on your face again.”

“Sorry.” He blinks, smiling for her, “I just think I'm being looked at.”

“You are, sure, but just keep looking at me. I'm the only important thing right now.”

He took a puff of air and tried to ignore the thoughts digging at him. He looked into the green of her eyes and focused on them instead. If they were to harass him later, he’d deal with it then. He could always deal with the consequences of reckless fun in the past, this was no different. 

His forced smile became genuine, and his body relaxed. 

She spun him again, and he spun her back. 

As the song came to an end, it took a lot for both of them to part from each other's arms. 

Jeremias gripped her shoulder, daring to bring his lips closer… before letting go, frowning and making huff. Not yet. He wouldn't cause a scene.

He drops his voice to a whisper, “Come by tonight?...”

Amara nods, her tone just as hushed, “of course,” Before parting ways with him to return to the crowd. 

Jere turned his head to look at the crowd where he last saw the Magistrate staring. It didn't look like they were there anymore.

He could feel his whole body flushed warm, sweat beading on the back of his neck and forehead. His stomach tingled, hot with flustered nerves. He ran his fingers through his hair,  before deciding to head out for some fresh air and some smoke in his lungs. 

[xoxoxoz]

hiii how are you? :) i hope you’re doing welll ! ngl but im missing your updates a lot :( hope to hear from u again !

— jeemin anon :D

Omgggg hi Jeemin anon😭🫶🏼

I’m so sorry, I was stacked with studies the past week because of my exams.

Here’s a draft I kept. Just for you🩷🩷

Bang Jeemin x F!Reader

📝: Jeemin broke up with you the night before prom after a terrible argument, and your new prom date stood you up. You deemed it was the worst moment of your life, but Jeemin decided to return in order to fix what she started.

⚠️: lovers to strangers to lovers, a bit angsty, happy ending

You looked up from your cup for the nth time and looked at the opened gymnasium doors with hope, thinking Sunghoon would be come running in.

Yet it wasn’t.

Your heart grew heavier by the minute and your friends came to check on you again after spending a few minutes with their own prom dates. Moka held Chanelle’s hand while she rubbed your shoulder.

“Y/n, he’s not coming” Moka whispered.

You fiddled with the empty red cup in your hands and sighed knowing that she was right.

“He wasn’t worth it anyways. You look like an absolute 10 tonight” Chanelle commented to cheer you up but all you could give was a half smile.

“I knew he’d bail. He’s a dickhead” Yunah scowled which earned her a nudge from Jiwoo.

“Watch your language, Noh Yunah”

“But I’m serious! I’ve warned him to not hurt Y/n and he did anyways. I’m giving him a piece of my mind later”

You turned around to face them, tears already streaming down your face. “I’ll be okay…”

“I’m sorry about Jeemin, Y/n…” Jiwoo sighed.

The name alone gave you terrible flashbacks from the previous night when Jeemin decided to end the relationship after a disagreement she had with you. She had opened up that she received a scholarship to leave Seoul and pursue her Uni studies in Australia but you weren’t willing to accept a long distant relationship. Jeemin even insisted on having you move with her but leaving your hometown just like that didn’t seem so easy.

That’s when Sunghoon decided to step in as your prom date but he didn’t even pick you up, let alone arrive at the event. It felt like your world was falling apart.

“This night couldn’t get any worse, could it?” You sniffled and accepted the tissue Jiwoo prepared.

Moka looked up and her eyes suddenly widened, shaking Chanelle’s hand to gain her attention on the same thing. “No way..”

Yunah looked too and a smile slowly crept up her lips.

You finished wiping you tears, in hopes that it didn’t totally ruin your makeup. But then a heart warming voice filled your ears.

“You look so beautiful, Princess”

You spun around so fast, it almost gave you whiplash. Jeemin stood in front of you, wearing a black dress that matched your white one and her smile made your ears turn red. “Jeemin?”

Jiwoo signalled for the others to leave with her, allowing you to have some privacy with the taller girl.

“What are you doing here?” You asked in a tone of anger. “Aren’t you supposed to be catching your flight to Australia or something?”

Jeemin looked down with shame. “I cancelled it.”

“What?”

Her eyes returned to you. “Look, I know you’re still mad at me and you have every right to. That night we argued, I thought you’d be happier for me that I even received that scholarship because I’ve told you about my dream so many times. Then once I got home, I realised how stupid I was for focusing so much on my own happiness that I forgot to prioritise our relationship first”

You crossed your arms and looked away but Jeemin was quick to grab your chin and face her again. “Please look at me, pretty girl. I’m so sorry for fighting. I should’ve thought about your feelings first, and I promise I won’t let this happen again in the future. Give me that chance to love you properly and keep you as mine”

Jeemin’s hand moved from your chin to your cheek and you immediately leaned into her warm touch as more of your tears began to fall.

“Don’t cry please, Y/n”

“No I should be sorry, Jee. You’ve been dreaming of this for so long, why should I stop you from achieving it? I was just so worried about what would happen to us and I keep predicting the worst” you cried into her arms.

Jeemin held you close and stroked your hair like she usually did to comfort you. “If dropping this scholarship means being with you forever, then so be it. My happiness is always with you and I wouldn’t have it any other way”

“No Jeemin, I have a better idea” you said and looked up at her. “Take the scholarship and I’ll go with you”

“Y/n you don’t have to do that”

“No I mean it. It’ll be a big step for me to make the sudden decision but as long as I’m by your side, I know everything will work out in the end”

The taller suddenly captured your lips, her hands resting on your sides lovingly. You were quick to accept her kiss and it felt like forever since you last tasted them but you were happy to know that your night got better.

You got your girl back and you weren’t going to let her slip away.

Jeemin pulled away and rested her forehead against yours. “Be mine again, Y/n. We’ll be okay this time, I swear it”

“You’re the only person I want Bang Jeemin. My future pharmacist” You giggled as you touched noses.

“And you’re my one and only…future nurse” She replied sweetly.

“Wait but how about your flight? Won’t you miss it?”

Jeemin shook her head. “I’ll email them and ask if we can fly over next week instead. I have my ways, baby”

You allowed her to rest her chin in your head. “Alright I trust you. My night was going crappy”

“Oh I know. The moment I cancelled my flight, I drove to your house to talk but Yunah called me to say that some dude stood you up at the prom so I got dresssed and came here as soon as I could”

“Thanks for saving me—“

“Yo you’re just gonna steal my date like that?” Sunghoon appeared, grabbing your waist to pull you into his arms.

“Get your hands off my girlfriend”

“Yeah right. She wouldn’t have accepted my promposal if you were”

Jeemin clenched her fists. “You stood her up anyways, dickhead. You may have been her prom date, but she’s been my girl for 4 years, so back off”

“Tsk, let’s get away from this chick, Y/n” Sunghoon scoffed.

You surprised him with a hard punch to the jaw, making him fall on his ass. You dusted off your dress before returning into Jeemin’s arms. “There’s a lot of things wrong with you Sunghoon. Go fix it before trying to woo another girl. You messed with the wrong one”

“That’s my girl” Jeemin smirked and kissed your temple. “Let’s enjoy our night, Princess”

“Gladly”

As you and Jeemin walked away, Sunghoon was still processing the punch as he touched his bleeding lip. Yunah, Jiwoo, Chanelle, and Moka reappeared around him like a cage, staring him down like a prey.

Sunghoon looked around cautiously, fear evident in his eyes. “U-Uh…”

“While our little Y/n-ie goes to enjoy her night, we’re gonna give you a lesson for ruining it in the first place” Moka chuckled sarcastically and cracked her knuckles.

“You promised me you wouldn’t hurt her, Sunghoon” Yunah growled, scaring the boy even more.

“W-Wait a second”

They in fact did not wait a second.

And spent the remainder of the night beating his ass.

[moody4world]

Tears cleanse the heart pt2

A/N: AAHHH FINALLY A PART 2, im sorry for the long wait :/ here’s the link for pt 1 to refresh your memory.

PT1

Label owner!jack x upcoming artist!reader

If someone asked you last year how your relationship with Jack would be now, you would have never guessed it’d be this way. The Jack you met that night at the industry party was a completely different person from the one that you now know.

After coming back from the restroom, the man Drama had been talking to approached you and simply said “I’m Jack” while giving you the most hypnotizing smile and offering you a hand, which you took and said. “The name’s y/n” Jack nods and says “Drama told me a lot about you and I was thinking you’d be perfect for my label. Since you’re looking for one, i’m sure we can agree on something y/n”

The two of you conversed all night and Jack even flirted here and there but you just chucked it up to his personality. The two of you made plans for you and your managaer aka your cousin to come to his office the next day to look over a contract and get signed to his label right away.

“Mo we have a meeting at 2pm with him to sign this contract but i dont know if it’s what I want” “Girl why are you overthinking this?! It’s THEE Jack Harlow hello????!” “That doesn’t mean anything to me though and you know that. I have absolutely zero knowledge about label owners. MY concern is them limiting my creative freedom Mo” “y/n Jack likes you, maybe even more than just an artist from what i’ve seen so just go with it and everything will be alright” Mo shrugged.

Walking into the giant building only made the moment more surreal. You walked up to the front desk with Mo in tow.

“Hello welcome to Churchill Records how may I help you?” “Uh hi, we’re here to see Mr. Harlow?” “What’s your name sweetie?” “Oh my bad it’s y/n” The assistant starts to look for your name in the system but seemed to be having a hard time finding it.

“Here it is! you said y/n, correct?” “Yeah that’s me.” “Okay then, take a seat on that sofa right there and i’ll just give Mr. Harlow a call and tell him you’re here.” “Okay thank you so much”

You and Mo took a seat on the sofa and waited like you were asked. Mo being the impatient woman that she is kept checking her watch every 3 seconds, rolling her eyes and huffing. After the third huff you couldn’t take it anymore. “Mo can you stop?” “Y/n who does he think he is having us wait all this time? We got shit to do.” You looked at Mo with a ‘really?’ face knowing all too well that you did not have any other meetings today. “You’re hungover from last night aren’t you?” You could see her about to get defensive when the familiar voice of Jack himself interrupted you guys’ mini argument.

“There she is!” More like there HE was. Jack looked more attractive than you remembered from last night and no it wasn’t the tight fitted suit and the silver watch and the shiny rings. Sure those added to it but his energy was so captivating. Maybe it’s cause he was in his element, i mean this is the Churchill Records HQ after all. He had his arms open wide to receive you and Mo. Jack gave you a tight hug and good God did he smell good. You didn’t even notice that the two of you were hugging for a bit too long or the fact that jacks hand was a bit lower than what is deemed professional until Mo cleared her throat loudly. You quickly broke away from the hug and introduced Mo. “Oh sorry this is my manager and cousin, Monifa or Mo for short.” Jack shakes Mo’s hand and the two of you follow him up to his office. The elevator ride was awkwardly quiet but thankfully fast.

Once in his office Jack offered you and Mo to take a seat across from him and so you did. The office walls were covered in golden and diamond records and shelves full of awards. “Okay so let’s get down to business. I got the contract ready, just like we discussed yesterday i just need you to sign it and we’re set.” Jack immediately took out a contract of four long pages and a copy sliding them towards you along with a pen. Mo grabbed the pen right away with no hesitation, making you very nervous. “Woah woah wait Mo, we should read it first.” you suggested apprehensively. Both Mo and Jack found your reaction a bit dramatic but only Jack tried to hide it.

“Look y/n. You are extremely talented. You’ve got a beautiful voice, a great ear for music. Your beats, your instrumental skills are out of this world good. You’re doing an amazing job at promoting yourself but you can only do so much with the amount of recourses and connections you have on your own. With my help, it can only get better from here. America knows you but the world deserves to know you, hear that beautiful voice and experience your talents. Having tiktok hits is cool and all but i can get you to the grammy’s y/n. You’re too beautiful to let all these opportunities go to waste. You were born to be a star y/n, trust me.”

“Y/n i already told you, this is THEE Jack Harlow. He knows what he’s doing.” Jack simply nodded in agreement to what Monifa said while not taking his bright blue eyes off of your concerned brown ones. With a small sigh you grab the pen and sign. One page after the other. Giving away one piece of freedom after the other.

Everything that came after that seemed like a dream. Major photoshoots, interviews, red carpets and award shows. More hits, more recognition and more love. Not just fan love but romantic love as well. You know you shouldn’t have but you had caught feelings for Jack and needless to say, he had caught feelings for you too. You were at his luxury condo more than you were at your own apartment. The two of you were inseparable to say the least. Yet sadly, dreams don’t last forever.

Jack would be your date to red carpets and award shows but never confirmed any suspicions or rumors of you guys dating. Jack claimed he wanted to maintain his professional image and dating his newest signed artist would tarnish his reputation. He would treat you like any other one of his artists in public but behind closed doors you were his everything, sometimes at least. Constant gifts, private baecations, surprise bouquets and the list goes on. It all seems like unicorns and rainbows but that was just the good days. All of those things were simply used to distract you from the real him. After signing the contract, Jack became the main one in control of your career. Needed to be styled? Jack. Needed a music video director? Jack. Needed a producer? Jack. Needed a co-writer? You guessed it, mother effing Jack.

Any mainly male position in your team was done or taken by Jack. At first you chucked it up to him being involved and making sure things were going how he planned but as time went on it only became overbearing. Brent Faiyaz contacted you for a collaboration and you were over the moon. All your excitement was turned down when Jack denied the request once you told him about it. Jack knew that Brent has been one of your absolute favorite artists for a long time and it’s been a dream of yours to collab with someone as talented as him.

“I don’t care if you make that pouty face y/n, no means no.” He said seriously, barely batting an eye at how your once excited expression completely did a 180. And that’s when you lost it. “Why don’t you ever let me collab with the people i want? You’re so controlling and overbearing, you know that?!” Jack simply kept writing in his planner and ignoring you, only causing you to get more angry. You snatch his pen out of his hand and continued with your fed up rant. “You never listen to what i want, you always ignore my ideas and you treat me like absolute dog shit when we’re in private unless you want something from me. At first I thought it’s because you want what’s best for me but you only care about your damn self. You’re a selfish piece of shit Jackman!”

Thats when Jack aggressively got up from his chair, banging his palms on his desk and yelling at you causing you to flinch in fear. “YOU DON’T KNOW A SINGLE THING OF BEING SELFISH. EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE HAS BEEN FOR YOU AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME Y/N?!”

You were frozen in complete fear. Jack had never and i mean NEVER raised his voice at you before. Tears brimmed your eyes as you stared at the man you once saw as your prince charming but now all you could see was the dragon trapping the princess in the tower.

Jack immediately regretted what he had done once he noticed the fear in your eyes. He slowly walked around the desk and pulled you into a hug. He could feel you getting tense and that only broke his heart. The last thing he wanted was for you to fear him. But at least now he knew you wouldn’t dare to question him again. After the incident you had called Mo as soon as you got in the car. The tears you tried so hard to hold back came rushing down as soon as she picked up your call. “Hello? y/n are you crying? What happened?” All you could do was sob. “Mo i can’t do this. I really don’t like this anymore.”

Monifa huffed at your cries since it was not the first time you called her crying with these exact same sentences. “Y/n you do this every month. You wanted to be a celebrity didn’t you? Nobody said it was easy.” “Mo this isn’t like the other times okay. Jack yelled at me and i’m really scared.”

A silence reigned in your car as Mo kept quiet, only your occasional sniffles being heard. “Well did he hit you?” If Mo was in person right now she would’ve seen the shock and confusion on your face towards her reaction. Did she really just ask that right now…

“No…” “Then girl suck it up, he’s your label owner and according to the contract that YOU signed, what he says goes.” Oddly enough, the beep you heard after her reply hurt you more than the words Jack threw at you only a few minutes ago. A couple weeks after your contract signing you noticed your relationship with Monifa getting weirder and weirder. The two of you were practically sisters with how you were raised. You looked up to her in many ways especially since she was a few years older than you. You don’t know where things went wrong but she was no longer the nurturing and caring big sister figure she once was to you. Instead she was cold, distanced and always defended Jack’s actions claiming it’s part of your contract.

Speaking of said contract, you never even got the chance to read it. As soon as it was signed Mo had stuffed your copy in her purse and you never saw it again. In retrospect it’s odd but in that moment it hadn’t raised any suspicions.

As time went on you only became more compliant and submissive to Jack’s orders. Whatever Jack says, goes but oddly enough you only became more clingy to him. Monifa was your only family in Atlanta and that relationship hasn’t been the same. You felt lonely and Jack was the only one there to help. Jack thought that this is exactly what he wanted. For you to only have and depend on him and nobody else but he quickly realized that he was wrong.

[peachesofteal]

bro.... dead disco.... sorry this is like. really long lmao. I actually cut it down! It was 3 pages in google docs originally lmfao. you’ve broken me

i cried. i had my sad playlist on already and 'jacob and the stone' was playing..... BAWLING!!! go listen to it and then imagine reading when she and simon were just sitting, quietly holding eachother, knowing it was gonna be for the last time, while listening to THAT 😭😭😭

you did such a magnificent job with this chapter. no better way to end it. sorry 2 the haters but im gonna go out and say that this WAS a happy ending! Bittersweet of course, but it was the best ending we could have hoped for darling to get. yea, they didn't end up together but thats NOT the 'bad' ending! I think it would’ve been the ‘bad’ ending if she didn’t leave, and never gave herself the opportunity to grow as a person and flourish under her own making, and either left later with many more years invested or just perpetually stayed in this cycle. leaving is so hard and it takes a tremendous amount of strength, yall. like.... she did it 🥹 she's gonna get better, even if it has to be without her boys at her side

thinking back to their entire dynamic, darling was only happy and healthy when they were there with her. it never gave her a fighting chance. she DID benefit from being with them, knowing such sweet boys and experiencing being loved so deeply, but i do feel like she outgrew the relationship in a way. 

she's kinda like a tomato plant. it can't properly grow without scaffolding, but its back in the dirt when you yank it off the stakes. it can never flourish. The boys got tomato-darling out of the dirt for a bit, but she needed new scaffolding that wasn't dependent on things (or people) that wouldn't always be there. to keep growing, the structure had to be built herself. it gives her a new level of control and confidence and pride i think, not having to rely on outside help, knowing you have the means to take care of your own base needs (not that support is bad! but it was dependence)

for what its worth too, i think the secrets they kept (the marriage thing, the one night stand that was actually 2 nights, the 'secret' conversations they had with just a glance that she was never entirely privy to) were also something that perpetually kept her 'othered' in  the relationship, and thats REALLY hard to overcome. i dont think the boys quite had the awareness they thought they had to give this relationship a fair shot, since they didn't seem to see from her perspective why that would be so difficult for a partner until the end (even then, i think johnny still lacked the insight that this is how she felt every single time they left for deployments)

i think its a good thing that they ALMOST made it, too. they were a week away from the month of no-contact. if they'd only made it a week in, then you could chalk it up to not trying hard enough, but if they were so close and johnny STILL couldn't hold back for just a few more days, thats a codependency for sure, and if they had just eked out the last few days, then maybe they would’ve tried to go right back to the status quo and Darling would still be stuck in the rut

simon's one last act of service to make her dinner broke my heart. he's so willing, even in the worst of circumstances, to do what he can for her because he loves her so much, and he damn well knows its the end of it for the three of them. he loved her so so desperately :(

“A man who knows what's coming. Who's always been able to see inside you, and yet, still makes you dinner. Still cares for you in the way he knows how. “ like set my heart on fire too while ur ripping it out of me, man 💀

I think simon’s last words when they were talking at the kitchen table really perfectly sum things up. They finally understood the pain of separation, the dependency, and see how much turmoil it caused Darling, and how unfair it was. Even if she was asking them to be selfish, it WAS selfish to stay

“The guillotine waits in the wings, a final chorus cut off by a symphony.” i just really liked this line. They both know its still coming, but they want to delay it just a little bit longer

When she ran down the hall, and he indulged in one last kiss but forced himself to put the distance back between them and leave…. damn…….

The next morning, when she went to the apartment, I think it was smart of darling too, to notice that she shouldn’t feel complete only when she has her partners there together at that moment. They should add to, not make up a life. 

“It’s beginning to become overwhelming, and in the throes of your building panic, you glance wildly at Simon. He stares back. Nods.” Heartwrenching that at the end, darling and simon communicate through a glance while Johnny is left out of the exchange. It hurt so much seeing that Johnny didn’t quite get it like they did. He was still bargaining, thinking his messup was the cause of everything, and not seeing the big picture. sweet boy :(((( i do hope he doesn’t resent simon or darling in the grief of it, blaming them for not trying as hard as he was, desperately begging to stay together at the end

AND SIMON SAYING HE WAS PROUD OF HER!!!! RAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH

“You, who is stepping forward without darling.” its sad to think that this nickname almost became a burden to bear. She’s no longer their darling, now she’s just… her ❤️

In hindsight, i think i always knew it was going to end like this. The first oneshot (before it became a bigger full fic) ended with her leaving, and i think i was so attached to them working through it because i didn’t know how much healthier of a dynamic they could have, and thought these guys were it. But having read the dynamic you’ve written in simple math, its apparent how much more in tune with things they can be (moral greyness asides lmfao) johnny in particular is so tuned into bunny and simon, and here he still doesn’t quite get it. SM simon takes control with seemingly a lot more experience and instead has the fight of getting bunny to relinquish the control, sure, but its in a way that it feels temporary. DD simon went about it in a way that never got darling to a place where she could take care of herself BY herself, forcing her to be dependent to keep up the same standards. I think at some point you said that SM and DD aren't the same universe, but SM is basically the more experienced, reliable, mature version of DD, and after hearing that I’ve had very open eyes to it lol. I love them both, but its ok for them to have room to grow

i have more thoughts but theyre still scrambled into incoherent yelling and tears so i will spare u those lmfao

idk where the epilogue will go, but i have a feeling they’ll all be better for it, and could be maybe friends someday

as someone who has thought of themselves at times as difficult to love due to struggles i can't necessarily control, this story gave me a lot of hope that i COULD find someone who could love me not just despite my problems, but love me WITH my problems. i think thats an extremely special story to have, so again, thank you for writing this ❤️

I agree this was really long but I loved every sentence and have always loved your analysis of stories and characters. I agree this was the happy ending and I'm sure the epilogue will provide some closure (with lingering questions though). Your tomato plant analogy is perfect, and I think/know Darling will grow and flourish on her own.

The nuances of the chapter, Simon cooking her one last meal, taking care of her one last time, I think those were final things that made her really believe and realize she had to step out on her own, because you're right, they were all too codependent and Simon thrived taking care of Darling, but at what cost?

Anyway thank you always, it's been such a joy to share this story with you and hear your thoughts. I always look forward to them.

[spacecadet-ticklesinspace]

Triple Threat

Summary: Harry tried to hide a cold and it did not end well---well, sort of.

(More tickle stories will be posted soon after I finish a few things at work, but enjoy some Harry whump with over protective dad Norman until then ❤️ :))

It took Harry a moment to understand what the voice was saying to him.

"M-mr. Osborn? A-are you okay?"

Harry tried to answer, but the dizziness made his stomach roll.

A hand touched his shoulder then immediately pulled away. "Mr. Osborn! Y-you're burning up!"

Harry tried another attempt at answering, but he couldn't get a word out around his coughing fit.

"I-Im going to get someone." Footsteps started taking off away from him. "D-dont move!"

With the intern gone, Harry leaned against the wall. Evrything ached and he felt as if he was dying. Yet he tried pushing upwards to get himself standing before the dizziness made it difficult.

He thought he heard voices coming back, but everything sounded muffled.

As the younger Osborn pitched forward, hands came out to steady him. "Harry!"

"D-dad---," Harry squeaked through his sore throat.

"What's wrong? Are you sick? Did you fall?"

"I-I found him like this s-sir."

"I believe you Miss." Norman's other hand pressed against his son's forehead. "Thank you for all of your help. I'll take over from here."

With that, Norman led Harry downstairs.

"Talk to me Harry. What's going on?"

"M'fine."

"You're burning up, you can't stand without tipping over, your face is extremely pale and flushed, and your voice sounds horse when you talk. Clearly something's wrong."

"I--I'm sorry---," the younger Osborn broke into another coughing fit.

"We all get sick son. I'm just worried about you is all."

"St-still."

Norman helped Harry into his car. "Let's get you home."

"Okay."

After ensuring Harry was buckled in, Norman closed the car door and jumped into the driver's seat. "Still need those symptoms."

"Dizzy. . . Pain. Throat . . . Ears. Chest tight. . . H-hot."

Harry had to give his dad credit. He tried to look calm throughout the ride. But even in his fever ridden mind, the younger Osborn could see the white knuckle grip his dad had on the steering wheel and the worried glances he gave as they sped way above the speed limit on the way home.

The entire way, Harry fought to stay awake. He wanted to assure his dad he was okay so he would actually relax. However, his fever pulled him into sleep despite the pain and chills he was experiencing.

Meanwhile, Norman Osborn was an internal wreck!

Harry had seemed off the past few days, but he had been helping Otto with an upcoming project down in the lab while Peter was out sick. He had assumed it was just allergies mixed with exhaustion and even Harry had agreed.

Yet, here his son was, dying in his front seat!

Well---dying might be a strong word, but it sure felt that way to Norman's overprotective brain. So as soon as they were parked at home, Norman pressed two fingers just under Harry's jaw to check for a pulse.

"Still there." The older Osborn then moved his fingers down the sides of his son's throat. "Throat feels swollen though."

It took a bit of doing, but finally Norman got Harry upstairs and into a change of clothes. However, the sight of a rash creeping up his son's neck that he hadn't noticed around the collar of his dress shirt sent him into another panic.

That's when his phone rang. "Hello."

The phone kept ringing. Norman hadn't even picked it up yet.

He answered it this time. "Hello."

"Mr. Osborn?"

"Peter. Is everything okay? I can't talk much right now."

"Is everything okay on your end? We saw you leave with Harry."

"He's sick and I can't figure out with what."

"Hold on." There was a shuffle and Peter's voice came back a second later. "Okay, I have you on speaker."

A new voice entered. "Norman?"

The older Osborn huffed. "I don't really have time for a social call."

"I know." There was the sound of Otto shuffling some things around. "Do you want me to come over and take a look at him?"

"Why?"

"Didn't you know Mr. Osborn?" Peter piped up. "Otto has his medical degree."

Norman's eye brows shot up. "What?"

"Yeah!"

". . . When?"

"I had to do something in college." Otto sounded as if he were walking back and forth. "I was bored."

That comment pulled a smile from Norman. "Show off."

"Paid off in the long run. Someone has to keep these three alive."

"Hey!" Peter exclaimed.

Otto chuckled. "Lovingly, you three often have problems with self-preservation."

It sounded like Peter let out a huff, but it wasn't out of anger or annoyance.

"I can come over as soon as you need me Norman."

The older Osborn nodded. "Now would be great."

"On our way."

The call ended immediately, but Norman knew it was just so they could get here. While he waited, the older Osborn shifted Harry around to make him more comfortable.

In less than ten minutes, Otto had arrived with Peter.

Norman gently shook Harry awake. "That was fast."

"Would have been here sooner, but someone had to obey the speed limit," Otto teased.

Peter smiled as he rolled his eyes. "Getting pulled over by the police would have taken even longer."

"Fahair Ihi guess." Otto set a bag on the bed. "Hello Harry."

Harry lifted his hand in a small wave.

"Alright, one of you two start giving me symptoms to work with."

"Dizziness, fever, cough, swollen and sore throat, complaints of ear pain and chest tightness, and the formation of a rash on his neck and chest," Norman listed before Harry could even think of speaking.

Otto's eyebrows knitted together as his eyes clouded with worry. "That's an . . . interesting list of symptoms."

"Why? What does it mean?"

"Not sure just yet." Otto fished a set of latex gloves out of his bag. "But we'll figure it out."

After putting on his gloves, Otto started by examining the rash on Harry's chest and neck. "Does it hurt at all son?"

Harry gave a shrug.

Meanwhile, Peter also put on a pair of matching gloves. He looked like he'd done this countless times before.

"Hmm," Otto hummed as he gently felt along the sides of Harry's throat. "Definitely swollen. . . Light please."

Peter fished a small pen flashlight out of the older scientist's bag.

"Thank you," Otto replied as he took the flashlight then gently placed his fingertips on the side of Harry's face. "Open for me please."

The younger Osborn opened his mouth and let Otto shine the light inside.

"Very interesting."

Peter started and leaned over Otto's shoulder. "Are those his tonsils?"

Norman tensed.

"Mh-hm." The older scientist also adjusted so he could see the roof of Harry's mouth before pulling away. "You said chest tightness and a cough too?"

Norman nodded.

"Stethoscope."

Peter handed Otto the device.

"Thank you." Otto placed the stethoscope in his ears. "Harry, take a deep breath for me."

As the younger Osborn complied, Otto took a listen to his lungs.

"Good. Now, give me a cough."

It took a moment, but finally Harry broke into a coughing fit.

The older scientist was still for almost a minute as he listened, then he raised one eyebrow.

"What?" Norman moved a step closer. "What's wrong?"

Otto held up his hand as he took out the stethoscope. "Harry, have you coughed up anything?"

The younger Osborn nodded as he coughed.

"Did it have a color to it?"

Another nod and a grimace.

"Thought so." Otto switched out his stethoscope for an otoscope. "Turn your head for me please."

Once Harry had, Otto used the otoscope to peer into the younger Osborn's ear. He then had Harry turn the other way to repeat the process on the other ear.

Norman noticed Harry flinch a bit. "Otto."

The older scientist handed the otoscope to Peter before grabbing a thermometer and placing it under Harry's tongue.

Norman couldn't wait any longer. "Otto, please. What's wrong with him?"

"I can promise you it's not some sort of rare, strange disease if that's what you're thinking." Otto took the thermometer when it beeped so he could read it. "101. Not bad, but not the best."

"Why's that?" Peter asked.

"High fever means a worse infection. Not good for strep throat, a double ear infection and what sounds like acute bronchitis."

Peter's eyes widened. "Wow."

"How?" Norman added.

"Welcome to the complexity of the human body." Otto removed his gloves. "My guess is the 'allergies' he's had the last few days has actually been a cold."

Harry looked away from the older scientist.

In response, Otto smoothed down his hair. "All that matters right now, is getting you better.

"How did he get so bad so fast?" Peter asked.

"When your immune system is weakened other sicknesses can creep in. That's why they want you to rest and keep things sterile in doctor's offices. This way other things can't make you worse."

"Makes sense."

Otto turned to Norman. "Amoxicillin should treat the strep throat and ear infections while a medication like cough syrup should help treat the bronchitis."

"How long will he be in recovery?"

"A week at most before he's able to return to work. Probably a little more for the ear infections."

Norman turned to his son. "I'm not letting you out of my sight the entire time."

Harry gave a weak thumbs up. When Norman Osborn got into overprotective mode, there was nothing Harry could do or say to get him out of it. He would just have to go along with it until his Dad was covinced he was in fact fully better.

And the coughing fit he broke in to did not help his case.

Peter patted Harry's leg when he was done. "Good luhuck."

The younger Osborn stuck out his tongue at Peter.

"Alright yohou twoho." Otto repacked his bag and handed Norman some things. "Amoxicillin, cough syrup, and cough drops. Keep fluids in him and keep his head and shoulders propped up to help ease any coughing fits."

The older Osborn took the packages. "Thank you Otto."

One of Otto's actuators ruffled Harry's hair. "Anything for our son."

Harry blushed at the affection.

After Otto relayed all the instructions Norman needed, he and Peter headed back to Obscorp to finish up with some work.

Once they were gone, Norman turned back to Harry. "You are confined to this bed until further notice, and you are going to rest."

The younger Osborn slumped.

"Don't worry." Norman sat down on the other side of Harry. "We'll make the most of it."

Harry tried to push his Dad back. "Contagious."

"I'm willing to risk it." Norman settled back into his spot. "If it means getting to take care of you."

Harry blushed even more at the affection, but he couldn't hide the smile on his face.