#I FORGOT. I FORGOT THAT THE UM. NORMAL HUMAN MAN SKIN IS THE DISGUISE

[bmpmp3]

wait im losing my mind over the newer frimomen SV illustration

his wig.................................

[thiswasinevitableid]

Okay well then!!!! I am very glad and excited to share my most recent idea I had while rereading Yeti Hunting again!! And the new Incubus one too!! They're almost exactly the same idea, just different flavors I suppose. Also Joe is trans in both the ideas but that's less to do with the ideas themself and more to do with just me projecting on him sgfjgsjfhsjdh

Okay so it's like a reverse au so Stern is some kind of cryptid, but as far as Barclay knows they're just two good human friends (but maybe they wanna be a little more than friends...). And then one day Joseph goes into heat and tells Barclay he's sick to try to keep him away, but Barclay being the sweetest man alive goes to his house with fresh soup to take care of him and Joe seems really panicked about Bar being there and tries to make him leave but he is CLEARLY unwell and Barclay is very stubborn when it comes to helping people he cares about and so he plants himself down on the couch and says he's not leaving until Joe tells him what's wrong and Stern tries to hold onto his human form but it's taking too much focus and energy and whoops Barclay finds out his friend not human and currently in distress and so horny it hurts and if he can help his friend and fuck him at the same time, well then that's just a win all around (bonus points if at the end Barclay is kinda sad because he thinks Joe just needed somone to fuck him, not nessacarry Barclay, but Joe frantically assures him that he is SUPER into him and if it were anyone else he would have kicked them the hell out and probably skipped town bc he couldn't trust anyone else with a secret like this).

Or!! (This is where the incubus part comes in) Joe is an incubus and currently hiding out in his human disguise at the Amnesty lodge and it's going fine for a while, but then he starts talking to and getting to know the really hot chef. And they slowly start growing closer and closer. And maybe in this world, the power an Incubus gets from sex depends just as much on their desires as it does the human's. And this has never been an issue for Stern before, but now he's falling for Barclay and wants him and no one else so he's getting less and less energy from his encounters and Barclay is worried about him because he doesn't seem like himself anymore. Almost as if he's... dulled? When Barclay looks at him the blue of his eyes seem muted and his general aura seems... gray. And it all comes to ahead when Joe finally stops insisting he's fine and after dinner one night he asks if he can speak to Barclay privately, and he comes clean about everything and Barclay, while a little shocked, rolls with it very well and cups Joe's face in his hands and kisses him softly and it like,,, you should have come to me sooner, I'd do anything for you,,, and yeah it's really tender,,,,

Okay that's it I'm sorry it's so long and probably incoherent. I tried to use at least little formatting to make it better but it's a tumblr mobile ask, I'm not sure even the new paragraphs will translate over. The general idea is that they're close friends and Stern is Not Human and Barclay finds out under less than ideal circumstances :3 I know these are far from original or unique but I just wanted to share my ideas with you bc you're the inspiration for a good 70% of my private writings, but if you like them enough and ever feel like doing something with them that'd be cool ;3

Here you go! I went with scenario one. Content Note: some “mating” talk and mild subdrop at the end (which is, of course, taken care of)

The two canvas bags are ready to burst. Barclay peers into them, contemplating the addition of another box of tea, in case Joseph doesn’t like the other two. Mama was cagey when he asked, he doesn’t know what’s ailing the other man, only that he’s sick. 

Joseph manages Amnesty Lodge, where Barclays’ been a cook for the last six months. Barclay was initially wary of him; his cosmopolitan bearing and clean-cut appearance is so out of place in the rustic mountain town of Kepler that the logical explanation is he’s one of those city types who fell on hard times and got stuck here. 

It took less than forty-eight hours for him to prove Barclay wrong. Polite and polished, efficient and stunningly good in a crisis, Joseph handles the day to day chaos of the lodge while Mama, the owner, took care of the big picture stuff. His friendly greetings and consistent compliments about Barclays cooking gradually turned to afternoons spent at a table with his work so they could talk during lulls in business. 

When Joseph leaned against the counter, sleeves rolled up, laughing as he helped Barclay tidy the kitchen, the cook rushed headlong into his crush and never looked back. He regularly dreams of blue eyes and a movie-star face, finds his day doesn’t really start until Joseph pokes his head in to say good morning. 

He’s been without that greeting for two days now. Joseph never misses work, and his sudden absence worried Barclay enough that he checked with Mama to be sure the manager was okay.

“Joe’s fine big fella, just under the weather is all.”

The one time Barclay got sick, Joseph brought him tea and soup himself, checked in on him every hour, and--if Barclay’s fever addled brain is to be trusted--fluffed his pillows. It’s the least Barclay can do to drop off snacks and be sure his friend is okay. 

It’s a short drive to cabin Joseph calls home; he used to live at the Lodge, but as it got more crowded, he moved to his own space so those who needed a cheap, safe place to stay could have one. 

His knock on the door is answered by a brisk, “Who is it?”

“Barclay. I, uh, I brought you a get-well gift.”

Joseph opens the door to the cabin and to an entire new universe of fantasies. His normally slicked-back hair falls, relaxed, across his forehead, his loosely tied blue robe shows a tantalizing V of skin, and the dreamy-sleepy expression makes his face even more kissable. 

“Hi.” Joseph takes a step forward, taking the bags and bringing his face achingly close to Barclays’. Then he freezes, reversing into the house, “I, um, it was very sweet of you to bring all this. But you need to go.” He takes another step back, then doubles over with a groan. 

Barclay hurries across the threshold, setting the bags on the floor and steadying him over to the couch.

“Fuck, do you need me to get you like a heat pack, or a puke bucket?”

“No, no I just need to lay down, and for you to g-” he shudders, curling in on himself and tipping sideways. 

“Joseph, you’re really sick, I’m not gonna just leave you here. I mean, fuck, what if it’s your appendix or something?” He sits down next to the shaking man, rubbing his back comfortingly. 

“It’s not, I promise. Oh lord” he whines, looks at Barclay with frantic eyes, “I hope you can keep a secret.”

“Of course I can. Whatever I can do to help, I want to.” 

“Careful with those promises, big guy.” The nickname comes out in a growl as Joseph stands, undoing his wristwatch. 

“Oh FUCK!” Barclay scrambles back, almost falling over the arm of the couch.

There’s a monster where Joseph just was. Years ago Barclay saw a Maned Wolf in a zoo, and he’d swear that’s what he’s looking at now were it not for several glaring issues. First, it’s standing comfortably on two legs. It’s paws are more like hands, able to hold the watch and adjust the collar of its shirt. And he’s never seen a wolf, maned or otherwise, with spines down its back and a whip-like tail.

The creature runs a clawed hand through the fur at the top of it’s head, the way Joseph does when he’s nervous,  “So. I can’t tell you everything, at least not right now. What I can tell you is that this is the form I was born into, somewhere far away from earth.”

“Okay.” Barclays brain grinds like a broken ice machine as a familiar voice speaks to him from a fanged mouth. 

“I, um, I’m what humans call a Chupacabra. To answer the usual questions: no, I’ve never been to Puerto Rico. No, I don’t eat goats. And no, I’m not going to eat you.”

“Okay.” His heart is still racing, but not from fear, which is the most confusing was this could have gone.

Pointed ears flick, worried, “Are you in shock?”

“Kinda, yeah.” He nods as Joseph sits next to him with a heavy sigh. 

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you to find out this way. I took the next few days off to avoid this exact scenario. I figured I wouldn’t see you, but forgot how thoughtful and caring you are.” Claws gently stroke Barclays hair, “my wonderful Barclay.”

He’s about to bring his hand up, cup those strange fingers to his cheek and whisper “always”, when Joseph pulls away. 

“I, I’m sorry. Again. I always get too handsy when I’m in heat. That’s the second worst side-effect, after the fact that being in my disguise is untenable when I’m in the thick of it. It’s like wearing a wet, wool sweater made of nausea.”

“....Hold on, you had to take time off work because you’re horny?” 

“Almost. Heat doesn’t come that often for me, which means whenever it happens, it’s intense. I have a hard time eating or sleeping, I can’t focus, and I spend most of the week masturbating. Which is not as fun as it sounds; I’m not even at the height of the damn thing and last night I humped a pillow on the kitchen floor while dinner reheated.”

Barclay groans, tries to hide it when the ears swivel his way, “Uh, guess I’m glad I brought you lots of food so you remember to eat. Shoulda, uh, put some lube or something in there as well, huh?” 

Joseph chuckles, “My nose tells me you put molasses cookies in there, so I’ll let it slide.”

“There anything else I can do to help?”

“Well…” he shakes his head, “never mind, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“Do what?”

“My heat is more manageable when I have a partner. Fucking someone relieves things more effectively than masturbation does. But I can’t-”

“I can help with that.” The offer is out before his brain catches up with his mouth. 

“Barclay, my kind have a very, um, involved mode of, um, well, I guess you foreplay. As, as much as I’d love for you to be my mate” he winces, “see, that’s what I mean. I say things like that, most of them not even possible given the fact you and I can’t reproduce.” 

“Uh, does it help if I say hearing you call me that is really hot?”

Blue eyes widen, and a tail traces up Barclays leg, “Only if you mean it.”

“I do.”

A narrow, long tongue flicks into the air, “In that case, big guy, how about we have a little planning session over dinner?”

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

Barclay parks in the driveway, next to Josephs’ sedan. He heads past the house and down a short slope to a creek, the twilight sky casting the forest in eerie grey-blue. There’s a tire swing leftover from a previous resident, and he idly pushes it back and forth as he waits for the game to start. 

“It’s like hide and seek” Joseph wipes his mouth, cleans cookie crumbs from the table, “We start outside, move inside, and you go as long as you can without me catching you. After all, I want a mate who can hold his own.”

He stuffs his hands in his jacket pocket to warm them. A yip bounces out from the trees behind him. When he turns, he quickly spots glinting eyes and bared fangs hidden in the undergrowth. 

Sprinting towards the cabin, he realizes Joseph laid a trap for him from the start; by asking him to begin at the creek, he’s forcing him to run uphill to safety, slowing him down. He lets his lizard-brain, concerned only with the fact that something dangerous is chasing him, take over and drive his legs as fast as they’ll go. The back door is locked, he double-checked that on the way down, so he doesn’t waste his time trying it, races to the front of the cabin and slams the door shut just as something huge rounds the corner after him. 

The nob jiggles, his pursuer testing the lock and discovering the thrown deadbolt. Barclay uses those few seconds to secure the windows on the first floor, throws his jacket down into the cellar as a failsafe, and bolts up to the bedroom. His hammering heart insists that locking that door is not enough, so he crawls into the closet and shuts himself up among the meticulously organized shirts and slacks. It’s not enough space for him to stand, so he tucks his knees to his chest and waits. 

“What happens if I, like, completely outsmart you.”

A toothy smile, “I wouldn’t worry about that if I were you.”

Each of the downstairs windows rattle in turn. Then the scratching starts, claws on wood coming closer with each breath. Joseph is climbing the wall up to the bedroom window that Barclay knows for a motherfucking fact he did not secure. 

A shuff as the window slides open, the cryptid landing with remarkable stealth on the bedroom floor. Barclay tracks him by the light coming under the closet door, his mouth covered so his breathing won’t give him away. The shadow pauses, sniffs, and then the bedroom door opens and shuts. Barclay’s not moving until he hears the front door do the same. 

Just as his legs start to protest being smushed up against his chest, the door reopens. Snuffling signals Joseph closing in, and an instant later the only light coming in is from the far ends of the door. Slowly, his last line of defense rolls to the right, revealing the creature crouching on the other side.

“Not a bad effort, big guy. You actually confused me for a minute with the scent trail of your coat downstairs.” Joseph reaches for him and Barclay, remembering that he’s not supposed to give up until he’s pinned, leans away. 

“That’s how my mate wants to play?”

“J-just following your instructions, babe.”

An intrigued purr, “I guess you are. All the more reason you’re the perfect partner for me.”

The words Barclays dreamed of hearing for months distract from the claws closing around his ankles. He lets out an undignified yelp when Joseph pulls his legs straight out and drags him out of the closet. Once he’s free of the forest of clothing, the cryptid picks him up and drops him on the bed. He moans and Joseph snickers, joining him on the bedspread. 

“Fuck, Joseph, no one’s ever been able to do that before and it’s so, so fucking hot.” He arches his back and shifts his limbs to help Joseph undress him.

“It’s because you’re the perfect size; big and strong, large enough to give me a decent cuddle when I’m human, but still small enough to be an easily subdued mate.” He gets the humans’ jeans and boxers off, hesitates, and then tosses them on the floor with a pained expression, “I’ll fold those later.”

“Gonna hold you to that. Also, wanna point out that it wasn’t that easy to subdue me.”

Joseph nuzzles his cheek, claws caressing his thighs, “Barclay, I was jogging while you were sprinting.”

“You coulda caught me right awaAAy ohwhatthefuck.” Tingling heat glides down his throat as Joseph licks a stripe along the skin, “fuck, it, it feels like the time I tried hot wax.”

The cryptid sits up slightly to look at him, “Is that a...good thing?”

“Fuck yeah. I really fucking liked it but it was fucking murder with the chest hair.”

Joseph runs his claws through the hair in question, “I like it.”

“I know, I saw you eyeing me that one time I used the springs at the lodge.”

“You can’t prove anything.” Joseph leans back down, curling his tongue around Barclays left nipple. The sensation makes him buck his hips, which Joseph correctly takes as a signal for more. He moves to the other side, takes his time teasing it and licking down the sensitive center of Barclays chest. Noses his stomach, nips his sides, and slides the alien heat of his tongue into the crease of his thighs. 

“Y’know I, ohfuck, I assumed from all that talk yesterday you’d get right to fucking me.”

Joseph kisses the inside of one thigh, “I, um, I thought about it, almost ripped your jeans to shreds and took you on the floor. But I wanted to be sure you were turned on. You’re not just a warm body, Barclay. You’re my mate. That means your pleasure matters as much as mine.” He licks up Barclays’ cock, hardened from rubbing against the soft fur of his belly, and sighs, “and what a mate.”

“Fuck” he squeezes his eyes closed because if we watches that mouth saying everything he wants to hear in between sucking his dick, he’ll cum in ten seconds flat. 

A final lick to the tip and then Joseph hops off the bed, “Did you prep the way I told you?”

“Uhhuh.” 

“Good.” Joseph returns, sets several items he can’t see by his feet, “that’ll make things easier. First things first” he produces a cock cage, sliding it into place, “these are a few things I smuggled over from my original home. This is enchanted, so it can go on an erect cock but still prevent the wearer from cumming until it’s removed.”

“That’s just cruel, babe.” He sits up on his elbows to kiss Josephs snout, earning him a pleased yip. 

“If you cum too fast, I won’t be able to properly breed you.” He winces again, “sorry, I sound like one of Indrids romance novels.”

“Again, gorgeous, I find it really fucking hot.”

The spines on Joseph’s back ripple, “You think I’m gorgeous? Like this?”

“I do. Also kinda scary, but in a hot way.” Now it’s his turn to cringe, “see? I sound like cheap porn written by an eighth grader when I’m horny. The way you sound is fine.”

Joseph lovebites his ear, then retrieves the other two items from the end of the bed. 

“And how does this look, big guy?”

“Like it’s either going to kill me or make me cum like a dozen times.” He furrows his brow at the strap-on. It’s narrower than the average human dick, with a pointed, slightly up-curved tip. What’s worrying him are the spikes. 

The entire shaft is coated in short protrusions. They don’t end in points, thank god, but if they’re at all stiff this is going to be miserable. 

“Here” Joseph waves him over, “touch it.” He guides his fingers along one side and the spines bend fluidly under his touch, and now all he wants to know is how they feel inside him. Joseph also moans, bucking his hips so the toy slides along Barclays palm.

“It’s, ohlord, also enchanted so that the wearer feels it as an extension of their body and can cum with it. Also, please decide in the next thirty seconds whether you want to be on your back or your stomach.” Amber pre-cum drips down Barclay’s fingers. 

“Stomach is better for meWHOAH, ohfuck, okay we’re doing this.” Now flipped on his belly, he raises his ass. The cryptid kneads it appreciatively before holding it open and sliding his cock in with once, graceful thrust. 

He bottoms out with a groan, which is more articulate than Barclay is managing to be as the spines rub and glide inside him, finding every patch of nerves, every angle to drag against in just the right way. Joseph hauls him onto his knees and then he’s off, growls and yips filling the as he fucks him. Barclay only just registers the bed banging into the wall so forcefully the headboard is cracking when claws sink into his hips and Joseph pulls him all the way onto his cock and pulses into him. 

“Holy fuck that was fast.”

“I, I didn’t jack off once today. Didn’t want to waste it, wanted to save it all for my perfect mate.” He’s thrusting again, not as hard but twice as fast, “shit, you feel so good, big guy, please tell me Mama okayed your time off for tomorrow.”

“Wh-why are we talkingAHnnn, about this now?”

Hot breath tickles his ear, “Because now that I know what’s like to cum in you, I don’t plan on cumming anywhere else for the next day and a half.”

“Ohfuckme” Barclay groans happily into the pillows as Joseph empties into him, cries out when his tail whips across his calf.

“Shit, did that hurt?”

“No, no it felt good, fucking-A babe every fucking part of you is amazing.”

The cryptid whines, pleased, and wiggles his hips, giving Barclay an idea. 

“That’s, uh, that’s why I want you for my mate, because you’re so fucking goo-mmph” his face presses harder into the pillows as Joseph pins his shoulders down and fucks into him, snarling “yes” over and over again. When he finishes this time he hunches over, nipping Barclay’ shoulders and neck. 

“You catch on quick, big guy.”

“Thanks, babe. Uh, are we gonna switch it up at any point or am I staying like this until tomorrow night?”

“No, we can fuck however we want. After” a fuzzy hand rubs circles on Barclay’s abdomen, “I’ve cum in you enough times that I can feel it from out here.”

Barclay moans, tightening around him as his hips snap once more, already imagining being full and fucked out. Maybe it’ll take all night. He’ll be limp if it does, but right now nothing sounds better than melting into the bed while Joseph fucks his ass like it belongs to him. 

After forty-five minutes, his cock is aching, his mind holds only thoughts of how good it feels to do as Joseph tells him, and he’s been cum in so many times that wet, obscene sounds accompany the cryptids thrusts. Said sounds pale in comparison to Josephs’ voice, which is spinning increasingly impossible scenarios the longer they’re in bed. 

“I hope they take after you.” Joseph murmurs. 

Barclay just manages to turn his head, “Who?”

A muzzle playfully nudges his cheek, “Our kids.”

His heart seizes and shakes at the words; they both know that’s not what will happen. Joseph warned him he might say things like this, said he could tell him to knock it off if need be. 

“Maybe they’ll, ahnn, they’ll have big, beautiful brown eyes and bigger hearts, just like you.”

He doesn’t want him to stop. Every thrust hits deeper, every point where their skin meets buzzes brighter when he talks like this.

“H-hope at least one looks like you, blue eyes.”

A guttural whine, tingling heat as Joseph laps tenderly at the back of his neck, “We’ll just have to see, usually we’re born in threes so, soOH, oh I’m close, shitshit” 

“That’s it babe, fill me up, c’mon, c’mon I want it so bad, Joseph, baby, please.” 

There’s a howltrill as cum spurts into him, Joseph panting as he smooths his hand around Barclays side.

“There, that’s done it.”

Barclay whimpers as he pulls out, his mind and body pulled tight, certain that if he doesn’t cum soon he’ll propose marriage instead and that’ll be a fucking disaster. 

Joseph carefully rolls him over and unlocks the cage, “Do you want to cum?”

“More than anything. Oh!” he’s unprepared for Joseph to sink down on his cock, “oh fuck, yeah, wanna cum so bad babe please, I’ll be so good, be such a good mate if you just let me cum in y-fuuuck” A trio of sensations levels him as he climaxes; his vision whites out, his hips jerk more violently than they ever have before, and a line of cum drips down his leg. 

Somewhere far away, Joseph says, “I think we’ve earned a break.”

He nods, body limp as the cryptid climbs off him. Then he’s falling, spinning helplessly down in a pit of realizations. 

Joseph didn’t mean any of those things he said. His friend needed a mate and Barclay, lovesick fool he is, was eager for a chance to play pretend that he didn’t think about what would happen when the game ended. Even if Joseph keeps him here through tomorrow, the next time they meet at the Lodge he’ll act like nothing happened. 

Fuck, Barclay didn’t even get to kiss him during all this, and now he’ll never get the chance, never, nevernever-

“Shit, I should have put a towel or a spare blanket down. Now I’ll have to strip the bed before I can--Barclay? Oh, oh baby, what’s wrong?” A hand pets his face and he turns away from it, refusing to open his eyes. Joseph takes his hand instead, “it’s okay, I’m here, whatever you need I’ll-”

“Don’t. Don’t say that. You can’t give me what I need, it isn’t your fault I, I know I’m not really your partner and I, I…” he sniffles, wipes his palm under his eye. 

“Barclay, look at me please.”

Reluctantly, he opens his eyes just in time to see Joseph dip down and kiss him. It’s awkward, their mouths not made to fit together, but he savors it all the same because it’s Joseph, his Joseph, kissing him like he hoped he would. 

“My heat can make me say some ridiculous things. What it can’t do is make me feel affection where none exists. In fact, the reason I wasn’t able to keep my disguise on yesterday is because being near you meant being near the mate I wanted most in the world. I, um, suspected you might share my feelings, but I didn’t want our first interaction as boyfriend to be me asking if you wanted to spend a day or so with me while I was in a sex haze. But then you offered to help, and I wanted it so badly that I barreled ahead without making sure you understood that this was me declaring my feelings. I’m sorry.”

Barclay climbs into his lap, not caring about the mess he makes in the process. The cryptid laughs, hugs him close.

“I, I shoulda said something sooner too. Not that I regret how we spent our first date.” He kisses Josephs chin.

“Me neither, though I don’t think it quite counts.” He rubs their foreheads together, “can your boyfriend take you out to dinner on Friday?”

Barclay grins, looks into loving, blue eyes, “Yeah, he can.”

[writersrealmbts]

Different Skins

Description: You’re awoken in the night to find seven strange (and oddly suicidal) men in your home--who apparently are magical creatures in disguise? Now you have a Dragon, Werewolf, Elf, Mermaid, Unicorn, Fairy living in your home and an enchanter that visits now and then. What could go wrong?

Warnings: N/A

Posted: 08/23/2019

Tags: bts x reader, ot7

It’s not angst, it’s not fluff: 3,468 words

A/N: This was something that I wrote while sitting in a tent in the middle of a parking lot surrounded fireworks. I just thought it’d be fun! Again, I left it open for continuation.

“This skin is itchy,” A deep voice complained. “Stop! You can’t put your hand in the fire: it’ll burn and then it will feel even worse.” A deep throated hum of disapproval. “And you, you don’t have gills in this form so stop trying to drown yourself,” The same chastising voice scolded. You rolled over in your sleep, trying to push out the sounds. “Now, we need to keep it down so we—WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU’RE GOING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED!” You jumped and your eyes opened wide as a crash reverberated throughout your house. You scrambled out of bed and into the living room. The coffee table was in pieces underneath two strangers and the window was open. “You can’t fly in this form! Oh man. Would you guys listen? We’re just borrowing this space, we can’t wake…up…the…” The scolded had stood up and seen you. He gulped. “Owner.” “I don’t have a horn, where’s my horn?” A different man came out of the bathroom in a panic, feeling his forehead. “And my tail!” “Bigger issues, dude,” Scolder hissed, shoving the person who he had tackled into the table into the panicker’s arms. “Um, hello, I’m sorry to be intruding in your house but—aah!” You swung the baseball bat at him again. “Get out! Get out! Get out!” “We can’t! I’m sorry! Please let me—ow!—Explain!” The scolder pleaded as you swung at him. “A little help, guys?” One you hadn’t seen caught the baseball bat as you swung. You automatically kicked at him and he yelped and jerked the baseball bat from your grip. You quickly snatched the golf-club from the wall next to the bathroom and swung. There were screeches of panic as they avoided you. Then four of them were stopping you, starting with a tan one, followed by the one who can’t fly jumping on your back, the panicker stopping you from falling over, and a completely new one prying the golf club from your hands. The last one looked at the club and shivered. “You’re supposed to say ‘Fore’.” You tried to wiggle out of the grasp of the three people holding onto you. “Guys, maybe just hold her by her arms so she doesn’t bludgeon me while I explain?” The scolder said, sounding exasperated again. “He almost knocked her over!” The panicker continued to hold you up until after the flyer was off of you and sticking his tongue out petulantly at the scolder. The tan one chuckled. “She’s fierce, I like it.” You tried to break free, but the one who had caught the baseball bat earlier had your one arm and while you were distracted by that discovery the panicker had kept hold of your other. “Shut up. Now, look, I’m sorry about intruding in your house. It wasn’t my first choice. And I’ll reimburse you for the coffee table and whatever was on it. But in all the world, this is the safest place for these guys according to the oracle. They need a place to hide, and if the oracle’s records are correct, you come from a long line of warriors and protectors.” “What the hell are you talking about?!” You snapped. “Look, I know it’s hard to believe but those fairytales that you all tell each other are true, every creature in them is real. These are those creatures. Dragon, fairy, elf, unicorn, merman, werewolf, and then me, an enchanter.” The scolder shrugged. “I’m charged with protecting them, which is why they’re all in human form. Well, I mean, Jungkook’s already in human form a lot of the time but for now he’s more like a were-husky instead of a werewolf.” “You’re insane,” You said, staring at him. “Look, I’m Taehyung and as crazy as it seems, it’s true. You’re y/n. Your parents were protectors before they died. You were very young.” “Don’t talk about my parents,” You warned, glaring at him. “Don’t you remember having siblings growing up? Never playing alone? They were the ones your family protected.” “I said, don’t talk about them.” “Look, whether you believe me or not, I need you to protect these guys. Keep them hidden. I can enchant your cupboards, fridge, and freezer to have whatever food you need so you won’t have extra expenses there and after we get safety locks on the windows so Jimin doesn’t try to jump out and ultimately get himself killed things should be relatively easy. And I can pay you.” You hesitated, a biting remark on your tongue. Today had been your last day at your job, and you had yet to find another job. And your gut was screaming at you that he was telling the truth. That you could trust him. That you knew him. And you needed that money. “How much?” You asked. “Two hundred dollars a day.” “And how exactly should I hide them from my aunt?” He shrugged. “She mixed up the dates and forgot to visit.” You frowned. “Excuse me.” “At least, that’s the story. And now she can’t get away because the dates she requested were denied. Her schedule won’t free up until after these guys are safe again. Not that you actually wanted her to visit. You two don’t get along well.” “You know what, one, that’s creepy as hell. Two, three hundred a day or I take a golf club to everyone’s heads. And any damage to me or my house, you pay for.” “Agreed. Now can I introduce them without you trying to kill me?” You nodded sharply. “You’re lucky I’m broke.” He nodded, looking nervous. “Very lucky, apparently. Um, Yoongi, the wall behind you. Don’t let her get to it.” You glanced toward where he was looking and saw a very pale man take up the position in front of the sword you had hanging on your wall. “Right, could you tell your goons to let go of me, maybe?” He shifted his feet again, fingers fiddling with each other. “I’m not sure you won’t start swinging again.” “I told you, I’m broke. I need the money. Now, tell them to let go or I’ll feed them nothing but rice and beans the whole time they’re here.” Golf club guy looked desperately at Taehyung. Baseball bat guy and the panicker released you before Taehyung could say anything. Taehyung shivered. “Okay, um, let me introduce you then?” You nodded, pulling a different sword from behind the bookshelf and unsheathing it. His eyes widened, and everyone froze a little. “You were introducing everyone,” You prompted, casually adjusting your grip on the sword. “Um, right, um,” He said, glancing at the one that had tried to fly. The flyer nodded and came over, hugging Taehyung’s arm. “Um, this, um, this is Jimin. And guarding the other sword is Yoongi—” “And what are they supposed to be?” “Oh, right, well, Jimin is normally a fairy. With wings. And Yoongi…well, he’s a merman….” You blinked a couple times. “So he was the one that tried to drown himself and Jimin was the one that tried to jump out second-story window?” Taehyung gave a weak smile. “Yeah, again, I’ll pay for a new coffee table.” “Four more people to introduce.” “Right, um,” He muttered, looking at the remaining men. “Well, Hoseok, he is, well was, a unicorn.” You looked at panicker as Taehyung gestured to him. “Explains the skittishness. So you’re normally a horse?” He almost looked insulted. “Unicorn.” “Same thing.” “I’m magical.” “Were.” “What?” “You were magical,” You corrected. “Now, you look like a human. If you were a horse to begin with.” “Unicorn,” Taehyung corrected. “Anyway, um, the guy holding the golf club is Seokjin-hyung. He’s an elf.” Seokjin nodded to you. “Namjoon was a dragon,” Taehyung said, gesturing to the tan one, then to the baseball bat guy, “And Jungkook is a werewolf.” You nodded. “Do you believe me about any of them?” Taehyung asked, deflating a little. You pointed at Jin. “He has pointy ears, so I’ll tentatively believe that he’s at the very least extremely unusual.” “Alright, well, then…why don’t I show you?” You noticed that the other guys got even more tense and even Jimin started backing away. “Show me?” “Yeah, I’ll turn one back so you can see.” Namjoon was opening the window again, and Yoongi was looking back into the bathroom with a look of deepening regret. Jimin was hiding behind Seokjin, and Hoseok behind Jungkook. “Can’t do Hoseok and Namjoon because they’re too big, how about Jimin?” Taehyung turned toward the supposed fairy. Jimin’s eyes got huge and he hid completely behind Seokjin. “You know what, how about we just leave it at I tentatively believe you and you leave them alone because they look a little too freaked out for it to be something as simple as showing me,” You said, tapping the flat of your blade against his chest and making him back away from Jimin. He looked surprised. “Um…yeah…okay.” You lowered the sword again. “Okay. Now, what time is it?” “Four,” Taehyung answered hesitantly. You took a deep breath to stop yourself from trying to impale the most direct target. “You couldn’t have brought them here at a decent hour of the day?” “I think that would go over even worse, your senses might be heightened during the day allowing you to form a coherent plan of attack, which would have led to the successful bludgeoning of Taehyung,” Namjoon said, closing the window again. He regarded you with a mysterious smile. “That’s kind of the point,” You said, offering to hit him with the point of the sword. He pressed himself against the wall, eyes widening. “She’s very quick.” “And you’re without armor or weapons,” You added. “Definitely a fighter,” Jungkook murmured. You lowered the sword. “Okay, first things first, second floor is my floor. My bedroom, my bathroom, my space. That bedroom can be used by someone, and I have two more bedrooms downstairs. I don’t care how you guys divide them up, but I suggest you do so without fighting. One of you, not Yoongi, is going to go drain the bathtub and please remember that I have to pay a water bill. Jimin, we don’t climb out windows, we don’t jump out windows, we don’t try to fly when we don’t have wings. Namjoon, you will burn if you touch hot things and it will hurt like hell. I’m not dealing with it, don’t make me deal with it. Yoongi, you have to hold your breath under water or you’ll drown. Hoseok, we’ll try to keep you on a vegan diet but frankly I’ve never made vegan food so it’ll be a learning curve. Jungkook…I don’t know. Don’t wolf out on me. And Seokjin, really? I almost hit your friend with a golf club and all you say is that I’m supposed to say, ‘Fore’? Priorities, man.” The last just shrugged. “We’ve actually only just met a few days ago.” “Can I just ask what we’re hiding these guys from?” You asked Taehyung, resting your free hand on your hip. “Um…I’ll get you their files after I report that they’re safe. They are safe, right?” “You’re the person I’d like to skewer most at the moment, so let’s go with yes,” You replied dryly, letting the tip of the sword rest on the rug. He looked unconvinced. “They’re safe. I’m going back to bed. You’re going to report so that you can actually tell me what I’m protecting them from.” You rolled your eyes, and moved to grab the sheath. “I’m sleeping with the sword next to me, but I’m going back to sleep, even if it takes me two hours.” “You actually believe him?” Yoongi finally spoke, his voice soft and deep, and with a slight lisp. “Enough. I believe him enough. Now, you go report. The rest of you be quiet, don’t die, and let me sleep.” They nodded, all watching you somewhat warily. Taehyung bowed slightly, then whispered to the boys, “I’ll try to be back soon.” Then he disappeared with a flash of purple light. You shuddered. “I’m not sure if I would call this a dream or a nightmare.” “Um, where are the bedrooms on the first floor?” You blinked at Hoseok a few times and sighed. You weren’t going to get back to sleep, really. You were just trying to kid yourself. “Do you guys have any belongings?” Seokjin and Jungkook shrugged a bit, while the others shook their heads. You sighed a little. “I suppose I’m probably lucky Hoseok even has clothes since he was a horse before this.” “Unicorn! And Yoongi was the one they struggled to get to wear clothes.” “It looks like sails and netting,” Yoongi grumbled. “That’s valid,” You agreed. “But seriously, aside from them terrifying Yoongi, who was the hardest to get to wear clothes.” “I’d still say Yoongi, the others just decided that if they had to wear clothes they should look nice and then realized that it wasn’t going to happen. And Taehyung sort of magically put the clothes on Hoseok and Namjoon during their…transformation,” Seokjin explained. “Jungkook and I are used to it. Jimin just doesn’t like that his clothes in this size aren’t as comfortable as the clothes when he’s small.” “He’s still short,” Jungkook hissed teasingly. Jimin made an indignant sound. “Snack size,” Namjoon agreed. Everyone looked at him and he cleared his throat. “Not that I eat humans, or fairies, or anything humanoid. Usually things like deer, cows, ho—homeless…goats…yeah, goats…oh, and fish!” You shook your head. “Should have stopped after goats,” You muttered. “Come on, downstairs everyone. Might as well make breakfast since we’re all awake and you guys can tell me a little bit about yourselves. Other than what you ate.” “I’m supposed to be running my shop,” Jimin said quietly, the pout evident in his voice. “I’m supposed to be running away from hunters…actually, you know what, forget the horn and the tail. I’m good. Let’s hide forever.” Hoseok kept a good few people between him and Namjoon. “Well, maybe not him.” “Hey, I didn’t ask to be here. I’d much rather be at home, decorating.” “And where do you call home, Namjoon?” You intervened, seeing how quickly their conversation might devolve. “Oh, it’s a nice little volcanic island, not too hot, not too cold, decently close to the mainland where there’s tons of prey and only a two day flight from the nearest kingdom when I need to work out some frustration or add to my hoard.” “Charming. And you, Jungkook? Where are you from?” “We just called it the pack territory….” He answered a little shyly. You nodded. “What’s it like?” “Nice….” “Wow, sounds like heaven. You describe it so well.” Jimin giggled. “What about you Yoongi? Any great descriptions of where you’re from?” “It’s darker, and colder. We used sunken ships and magma to shape the cities. The surface reef is full of hiding places.” He glanced at you, then shrugged. “It’s boring to me.” “Sounds interesting to me. Jimin? What about you?” “There’s this forest we live in, near a field of flowers, and I live in a cherry tree on the edge. My shop is in an apple tree, though. We sometimes make big trips to the town nearest us and pick up little things that they won’t miss. It’s fun. Like a game of hide and seek.” You tilted your head. “Like…buttons?” “What are buttons?” You showed him the buttons on your shirt. “Buttons. Hoseok?” “Um…well, the fields were full of flowers and tasty things…and the forests were good to hide in…and the mountains…it was so beautiful. And my family was there, and my friends. It was great. It was perfect,” He was whispering by the end of it. You nodded. “It sounds nice.” “It sounds really nice,” Seokjin added, and patted Hoseok’s shoulder. “What about you Seokjin?” Jimin asked, his voice still softer. “I’ve been living in different safe houses for a few years now,” He answered nonchalantly. “Before that it was a forest.” “Oh,” Jimin whispered. “Sorry.” Seokjin shrugged. “I still talk to my family. They’re all safe. That’s what’s important.” “Right, and we’ll make sure you’re safe. Okay, so, breakfast.” You frowned as you tried to think of something they all could eat and came up pretty blank. Hoseok would need a specialist diet, and you weren’t sure what the others needed. “Any dietary restrictions?” “Too many greens make him gassy,” Seokjin said, wrinkling his nose at Namjoon. “Okay, so Namjoon needs mostly meat, Hoseok needs a vegan diet. Jungkook?” “I can eat some fruits and vegetables, but meat is preferable.” “Rice?” Jimin grinned. “Yes! I love rice! A few grains make a great dinner.” “Well, you’re going to need more than a few grains of rice to fill your stomach now. Do you eat meat, Jimin?” “No…only the occasional aphid…” He looked away, rubbing and worrying at his fingers. “Okay, what about eggs? Cheese? Milk?” “Yes please.” “Okay, so vegetarian but not vegan. A vegetarian, a vegan, a carnivore, at least one omnivore…Seokjin?” “Omnivore.” “Yoongi? What was your diet?” “Fish, kelp, sometimes birds if we can catch them. Crustaceans.” “So, sea food mostly. I’m putting you as an omnivore. So three omnivores and three with specialist diets. I’ll try to make sure meals are…all encompassing.” You sighed, and paused outside the refrigerator. “So, maybe oatmeal? Do you guys think Hoseok might be able to drink milk?” “In his human form he should be able to…I think. I mean, if it’s really really pure milk.” Seokjin said thoughtfully, positioning himself so that he could “So…fresh from the cow or goat?” “Or horse,” Jungkook muttered. “Magic fridge, right?” Yoongi said, dryly. You opened it and saw a glass jar that hadn’t been there before. “Kind of scary. Okay, oatmeal it is. Hopefully it’s okay for Namjoon too.” He made a strange humming sound. “Well, I’ve sampled some fields before and corn is okay as a side dish.” You nodded again, not having any other response. You weren’t about to tell them that you actually hated oatmeal. Then they might not eat it and you’d really be screwed. “Well, it looks like I have some sausage so I can do some of that for you guys too.” You pulled out the package, looking at it skeptically before starting to cook. You weren’t a great cook by any means, but you could cook oatmeal (working at a summer camp you learned a few basic meals, and the kids always seemed to eat more on the days you made the oatmeal) and other basic meals. Enough to survive. “So, you guys have only known each other a few days?” “Yeah, but Seokjin-hyung was the only one besides Taehyung-ah that could communicate with everyone in our…original forms,” Jimin explained. Seokjin shrugged. “I have language magic.” “Ah, thank you, that’s my next question: do any of you have magic abilities, in this form? I know Jungkook can shift into a…canine, and Seokjin, you probably still have your language magic?” Jungkook shifted into a rather large husky and whined, immediately shifting back. “Not cool….” He shuddered, rubbing his arms and shoulders. You let out a breath laugh of relief. “Thank god your clothes magically reappear.” “Oh, yeah. Taehyung-hyung gave them to me.” You set the sword down so that it was leaning against the cabinet next to where you were cooking. “All of you trust Taehyung, then?” “Well…trust is a strong word,” Hoseok said almost sheepishly. “Or at least, let’s not say that we trust him implicitly.” “Speak for yourself. My life sort of rests in his hands. And has for a few years now. Sweet kid.” Seokjin gazed out the window, his shoulders drooping slightly. Jungkook nodded. “He’s got a good smell to him. Honest. A little scared and stressed, but nice. Kind of sugary smelling.” His nose twitched. You stared at him until he noticed and got a scared look. “What?” “No offense, but you remind me more of a bunny than a wolf.” You turned and kept cooking. Someone snorted and another chortled. “Do not,” Jungkook finally protested. You grinned and giggled, stirring the oatmeal before flipping the sausage patties. You set a timer and turned around and took in the faces of your six new roommates. “I guess having you guys here won’t be too bad. And the money will be good. Let’s agree to try and get along, yeah?” They nodded their agreement. None of you knew that this would be the start of huge adventure.

–

Next.

Masterlist  -  ot7 Masterpost

[the-lupine-sojourner]

Love in a Latte [Doctor!Human!Markus/Barista!singlemom!OC]

This was supposed to be for @writinginstability‘s 500 followers challenge, but I (to be honest) completely forgot to post it, then spaced it altogether til now! I am SSOO sorry! ;^;

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy! 

God Bless and Good Day!

~The Lupine Sojourner

It was as if the sun only came up when he walked through the door that day. I swear, every single customer was incredibly rude and short with me, no matter how polite I was.

Then along came this amazing man. Perhaps it was simply that he was the first person to genuinely smile back at me.

Or perhaps it was the heterochromia, the left eye sapphire blue and the right eye reminding me of amethyst or jade.

Whatever it was about him, it was like a breath of fresh air and the entire room seemed lighter. “Hello.” I greet. “What can I get you?” I ask, like always. He stifles a yawn in his hand.

“Sorry, um...I would like a, ah, medium vanilla latte, if you don’t mind.” I nod, suddenly eager to make sure that lovely smile stayed on his face.

“Absolutely.” I reply. “Anything else?” He yawns again.

“Sorry, again. Uh, n-no.” I ring him up and tell him the total. He nods, trying to disguise another yawn as a sigh and hands me a $20. “Keep the change.” He adds with a wink, then goes to sit and wait for his caffeine. 

Blushing profusely and hoping the manager didn’t suddenly decide to come out of the office, I slip the change into my pocket, grab the cup, and begin making the vanilla latte. On impulse, I added the classic leaf art, but small enough that I could also put in a smiley face. Blushing again (if I had ever stopped blushing), I set his cup on the counter with the lid beside it and waved him over. “You’re really quick.” He muses, then his eyes go wide as he takes in the latte art.

“I’m sorry!” I squeak, trying to keep it quiet, entirely mortified with myself. “I’m not good at it, but I try.”

“No, no!” He’s quick to assure me, but I don’t entirely believe it. He’s just too nice to admit it’s horrible. “It’s lovely. I just haven’t had latte art to start my day in a while. It’s great!” He says, blowing on the coffee and sipping at it. No one was in line, so I watch and wait for his reaction.

“I swear this is the best latte in Detroit.” He breathes, his eyes, those delightfully unique eyes, alight with joy. I exhale a breath I barely remember holding and grin.

“It’s just that we get good coffee beans and roast them slow.” I whisper, daring a wink. He laughs, and it’s like a cool summer breeze.

“Thank you. Now, I have to go to work for twelve hours.” He grumbles good-naturedly. I can’t help myself and open my mouth.

“Where do you work?” I ask. He smiles.

“The hospital. Detroit Receiving Hospital.” He replies. I smile.

“Oh, sorry. Um…” He scratches the back of his head.

“Right. I’ll be going now.” He mumbles, then turns awkwardly and leaves. Then turns at the door.

“Thanks again, ma’am.” He calls, waving and heading out. I then felt guilty about low-key flirting with him without even introducing myself. I suppose I figured he’d read my nametag.

But now he was gone and I’d likely not see him again. Ah, well. My stupid brain had gone and gotten attached to him and he was gone.

Regardless, I had to pull myself together; I was almost due to go home and be with Lachlan the rest of the day. North couldn’t handle him all day.

=#=#=#=#=

Turns out, he was something of a regular, but I didn’t work but a few days this week, since I’d worked nearly every day the past week. It was a trade-off that worked well.

Anyway, there I was, Thursday afternoon, almost five days since I’d seen Mystery Man last. And there he was, once more lighting up the room with his smile. “Hello again.” he greets. I smile.

“Hey there!” I return, immediately wanting to abandon ship and bury myself in embarrassment. I’d just made an utter fool of myself! “Medium vanilla latte?” I ask coyly, trying to recover myself, at least a little. The guy grins.

“Sure thing…” He sneaks a none-too-subtle peek at my name tag. “Alex.” He says, reaching into his wallet phone case and retrieving a debit card. “I didn’t have cash.” He confesses meekly. I roll my eyes.

“Either way works.” I point out, chuckling and swiping the card. He shrugs.

“I suppose, but I liked tipping you.” I blush.

“O-oh, I don’t think it’s ‘tipping’ if you ‘tip’ more than the drink is worth.” I counter automatically, then blanch in horror. “I mean- -”

“Relax, I getcha.” He says, then frowns. “Oh, geez!”

“What?”

“My name’s Markus. I’ve completely spaced it til now!” It’s finally his turn to look mortified and five shades, at least, redder than normal, though his dark skin made it hard to tell exactly. I flush. That was precisely the kind of name I’d expect. He seemed professional and upper class in a way, despite his energetic, goofy-at-times personality...like a Markus. I grin.

“Nice to meet you. Now, I’m gonna get your drink.” I reply, forcing myself to walk away. I could feel his eyes on me the entire time. I nearly dropped the cup so many times, it was sure to ruin whatever reputation I had with him and my coworkers. Markus is patient, but I hated making anyone wait. I have to take several breaths before attempting a tree as the latte art. It actually turned out okay. Markus’ entire face lightens, softening at the sight of my shitty tree latte art.

“I don’t know why, but I actually missed your latte art. The other baristas don’t bother.” I blush harder than I should and grin wider than appropriate, but I can’t bring myself to care.

“I’m so glad you like it!” I chirp, clapping, then instantly remember where I am and what I’m supposed to be doing; not making a fool of myself in front of a customer, regardless of any attachment I may foolishly have developed. I sober myself and begin wiping down the counter for what must be the hundredth time today. Markus smiles, then goes to set his bag down, drawing out a sketchbook. “Got the day off?” I ask. It was an incredibly slow day today, and I use my boredom as an excuse to continue talking.

“As a matter of fact, yeah. I usually work on-call. I live really close to both here and the hospital, so I can come and go whenever they need me. Also helps that I’m good friends with the Chief of Surgery.” He explains with a wink, sipping his coffee again. This man, Markus, must have some superpower or something; the power to make me blush practically on command. I tuck hair behind my ear in a nervous tick.

“Well, I’ll leave you to - -”

“Mama!” I flinch at the boy’s volume, but grin at him as he runs up to the counter, barely missing Markus. Right. Lachlan was being dropped off to wait for me. It was a half-day for me, so I was almost off.

“Lach, you know you can’t shout in here.” I scold. He nods meekly.

“Sorry, Mama, but Aunt North and I were just at the park and I found a really cool frog!” I grimace, sticking out my tongue.

“Don’t tell me you brought it here.” I grumble. Lachlan shakes his head, giggling.

“No! We have it in a box in Aunt North’s car!” I face-palm.

“That’s kinda the same thing.” I grumble. Markus laughs, and Lachlan seems to just now notice him.

“Oh!” He squeaks. “I’m sorry, sir! I didn’t see you!” I was godmother to an amazing child, I realize, for the millionth time since...since Daniel died, caught up in a hostage crisis that went south. He and his wife had been killed, along with nearly every other hostage. Markus, however, kneels down and smiles at Lachlan.

“It’s alright.” He assured Lach, who steps aside.

“Did you want Mama?” He asks. Markus clears his throat, standing and...is he blushing?

“Ah, I, uh,” He sighs. “No. I have my coffee.” Lachlan nods in reply, then grins.

“Wanna see my frog?” He asks giddily. Markus chuckles, and before either North or I could protest, Lachlan is tugging Markus along. Markus himself smiles back at us as he’s marched outside. I sigh heavily.

Thankfully, not many people were here to witness that.

“Who’s the cutie?” North asks teasingly. I blanch.

“J-just a customer.” I reply weakly, then clear my throat. “He’s something of a regular.” North nods.

“You ask him out yet?”

“North!” I snap, swatting at her arm, but miss as she’s across the counter. She cackles and moves out of range.

“It’s true!” She replies. “Everyone can see it!” One of the employees, Josh, had just come out of the back.

“Wait, what’s going on?” He asks.

“Nothing!” I exclaim, mortified. North’s grin spells my doom, however.

“Alex and the regular Lachlan’s looking at a frog with.” North counters before I can shut her up or cut her off. Josh looks out the window, grins, then turns to me.

“Honestly, subtlety is really not your strong suit at all, Alex.” I blush horrendously.

“Josh!” I whine, hiding my face in my hands.

“Go on. I’m your replacement.” I sigh in defeat, handing him my apron and cap.

“And here I thought we were friends.” I pout dramatically. Josh laughs.

“I am, and I want you to be happy.” He retorts, pushing me out from behind the counter. I head into the back, clocked out, and headed outside.

“Alright, kiddo. Let’s see this ‘really cool frog’.” I call. Markus grins as I walk over. Before I realize what’s happening, Lachlan positions me so I’m all but ground against Markus’ chest, pointing into a small cardboard box to reveal a neon green frog that croaked a few times before Lachlan tried to hand it to me. I shake my head. “Lachlan, honey, you know I don’t want to hold amphibians.” I remind him gently. Lachlan then offers it to Markus, who sighs and holds out his hands. North comes out, and ruffles Lachlan’s hair.

“Hey, kid. We’re gonna take the frog back now.” She says, and Lachlan nods, taking the frog back and plopping it back in the box. The pair are gone almost before I can say goodbye.

“So...he’s your son?” Markus asks, and I wonder why there’s sadness in his eyes.

“In a way.” I reply softly, sighing. “I’m his godmother.” I elaborate. Markus inhales, wincing. He’d caught my subtle explanation.

“I’m so sorry.” He murmurs. I sigh.

“He was almost two. His parents got caught up in a hostage situation that didn’t end well.”

“Oh, Alex.” Markus murmurs, and I find myself drawn to him once more, those teary eyes of his seeming to suck me in and hold me tight even as I let my arms wrap around him. “I wish there was something I could do.” He whispers, and I could tell he’d give me the sun, moon, earth, and stars, if he could. I draw back, smiling and wiping the tears away.

“Getting along with Lachlan is a start.” I reply, unsure why I was trusting this man, virtually a stranger still, with such personal information. I did know, however, that those beautiful eyes don’t deserve to hold tears. Suddenly, he’s leaning in, and I panic, leaning back.

“Unfortunately,” I squeak, panicking, “I’m really not good at kissing!” Dear God, what was that?! I scold myself internally. I have never wanted to be suddenly swallowed by the earth more than right now. “I mean, I’ve never done it, and I- -Mmhh!” He cuts me off by gently pressing his lips to mine. I fall deeper into the kiss than I mean to and it takes serious willpower to slowly draw away. By the time I’ve finally broken the kiss, however, I’ve forgotten why. “Wow…” Is all my intelligent mind can come up with. Markus bites his lip, bashful.

“I’m sorry.” He murmurs, head hanging in shame. “I shouldn’t have just kissed you like that. I’m sorry.” He stands and makes to leave, but I grab his wrist.

“Did I say I didn’t want it?” I ask rhetorically. “Did I resist?” Markus blushes another few shades darker.

“I still should’ve asked.”

“Well...I guess, but I’m saying you can kiss me now, if you want.” I reply, smirking. Markus slowly sits back down.

“Are you sure? I mean, we hardly know each other.” I grin.

“Watching you play with Lachlan gave me a pretty good idea. Most guys I meet tolerate Lach, but not many actually play with him, much less genuinely care about him.” Markus looks sunburnt with the intensity of his blush.

“How- -how can I not? He’s a sweet kid.” I grin proudly.

“Yeah, he is.”