#I don’t usually like to post about it on here

[partypolitic]

This post is correct, if you are white and trans then the oppression you face is just ‘transphobia’. If you are black and trans then the oppression you face is both ‘racism’ AND ‘transphobia’. The more minority status’ you have, the more oppression you face: they stack ON TOP of one another. One status (black, trans, disabled, autistic/neurodivergent) doesn’t disappear because you have another one.

However, I would like to talk about WHY white people may have such a hard time understanding this: they are also suffering because they are oppressed and don’t usually realize it. They aren’t oppressed for ‘being white’, as conservative grifters would like you to believe, they’re oppressed for being poor/not wealthy.

A lot of the time there seems to be a knee jerk reaction where (white/cis/straight/men) people get mad at the idea that they have privilege because they are financially struggling. ‘How can I have privilege if I can’t even afford my groceries’ is probably a very common thought when ideas like intersectionality (the stacking of minority status’ effecting people differently) is brought up.

This is because class consciousness is HIGHLY discouraged in America and definitely not taught about (can’t speak for everywhere since I’m not from everywhere) and the myth of meritocracy as well as a belief in their ‘temporarily embarrassed millionaire status’ is STILL incredibly common. Unfortunately for them, things for the poor AREN’T going to get better anytime soon (the healthcare nightmare, tariffs, removal of public services, etc.) and upward mobility (the ability to become richer) is going to shrink substantially.

This means that there are a bunch of people suffering because they can’t afford to live, but also don’t know where that suffering is coming from (the wealthy pocketing a large portion of their paycheck and continuously raising prices simply because they can/ greedflation). This means their anger and suffering can be USED as a weapon by the wealthy to turn them against other, often more, oppressed groups by falsely blaming them for their troubles. This is what is happening right now in America with immigrants.

Class struggle is THE #1 struggle we are all facing. It is THE status that trumps all others as well: if you were both ‘black’ and ‘Jeff Bezos rich’, you would still be able to buy America out, however if you were ‘white’ and ‘homeless’ you’re still going to be spit on and kicked while you are down.

It VERY difficult to see oppression when that oppression is levied against the majority.

That isn’t to lessen the message of this post: the answer to the question “Across cultures black people suffer most. Why?” Is because being black is a minority status and racism exists. To be even more specific: because white people and black people have a long history of being pitted against one another for the benefit of the owning class.

Essentially, I wanted to add that advocating for the teaching of class consciousness can help to open (white or otherwise privileged) people’s eyes to the systems at play here. When oppression isn’t something that happens ‘over there’ or ‘to someone else’ they may start to realize that it’s everywhere and that NONE of it benefits them or is even neutral towards them: it hurts them too.

i dont think whites understand how being white makes literally everything easier.

it effects everything.

being trans is easier when youre white.

being gay is easier when youre white.

being disabled is easier when youre white.

being a woman is easier when youre white.

being autistic is easier when youre white.

oppression is eased when you are white, as you get extra privileges, and your whiteness is seen as a positive characteristic that in some ways counter-balances your other forms of being a minority. whiteness controls everything.

you are automatically way more innocent in your own oppression as a gay, trans, disabled person because of your whiteness.

never forget this.

[pbaz7]

ONE SHOT: THE BEST MEDICINE

paige x azzi

word count: 5.6k

A/N: This is just a cute little fluffy prompt that a few people have given me. Didn’t want to not post this weekend. Let me know what you think 🫶🏼

—————————————————————————

Azzi groaned as the sharp vibration of her phone rattled against her nightstand. Squinting at the bright screen, she barely registered Jana’s name before answering, her voice thick from sleep.

“Hello?”

Jana didn’t waste any time. “Your girlfriend is sick, and I swear I’m about to strangle her in two seconds.”

Azzi blinked, still groggy. “What?”

Jana sighed dramatically and Azzi can hear Paige coughing in the back. “She’s miserable but refusing to go back to bed or take medicine, snapping at everyone like it’s our fault she’s dying of the flu.”

Azzi chuckled, rubbing her face as she sat up. “Alright, tell her I’ll be there soon.”

“She better listen to you or we’re going to be in the portal for another point guard ,” Jana muttered before hanging up.

Shaking her head, Azzi threw off the blankets and got up to brush her teeth. She knew Paige could be the worst patient—stubborn, usually restless, and convinced she didn’t need help.

…

Azzi balanced the bag of soup in one hand and the medicine in the other as she pushed open the door to Paige’s suite. The room was dimly lit, and on the couch, curled up in a ball under a thick hoodie, was her very miserable-looking girlfriend. Paige’s nose was red, her eyes were glassy, and even from a distance, Azzi could hear the slight congestion in her breathing.

Azzi pouted dramatically as she stepped inside. “Hi, sickie.”

Paige barely lifted her head, her voice raspy as she mumbled, “I’m not sick.”

As if on cue, she let out a deep cough from her chest that sounded painful.

Azzi raised an eyebrow completely unconvinced. “Right.” She set the soup and medicine down on the table before walking over, reaching for Paige’s hand. “Come on, you need to be in bed, it's too cold out here.”

But Paige didn’t budge. Instead, she burrowed deeper into her hoodie, mumbling, “Too cold to get up.”

Azzi sighed, tilting her head at her girlfriend. “Paige.”

Silence. No movement. Just Paige pretending she hadn’t heard her.

Azzi huffed. “Alright, fine.” She reached for the bottle of medicine, twisting off the cap. “At least take this—”

Before she could finish, Paige suddenly shot up from the couch, the blanket slipping off of her and falling on the floor in the process. “Nope. Not taking that shit.” Her hoarse voice carried pure disdain as she turned and made a beeline for her room.

Azzi blinked, momentarily stunned at the speed of her popping up, before bursting into laughter. “Oh, now you have the energy to move?”

Shaking her head, she grabbed the soup and the rest of the medicine, trailing after Paige. As she stepped into the room, she kicked the door shut softly behind her, amusement still dancing in her eyes.

Azzi turned to find Paige completely cocooned under her blankets, only her head visible, her red nose and glassy eyes making her look even more pitiful. Azzi bit back a laugh knowing how sensitive Paige got when she was sick. She simply shook her head as she sat on the edge of the bed.

“Come on, baby,” she coaxed, holding up the small bottle of medicine. “This is the only one that’s liquid. The rest are pills.”

Paige’s lips turned down into a deep pout. “No… it’s not tasty.”

Azzi snorted, unscrewing the cap. “It’s not going to be tasty, Paige. It’s medicine.”

Paige shook her head stubbornly, burrowing further into the covers. “Then I don’t want it.”

Azzi groaned, tilting her head back. “Paige, please.”

Paige hummed in response, her eyes closing dramatically, as if that would make the conversation go away.

Azzi exhaled through her nose, giving her a look. “Please, baby. You’re not gonna feel better if you don’t take it.”

“I am fine,” Paige mumbled, voice muffled by the blanket.

Azzi arched an eyebrow. “Really? ‘Cause you sound like you swallowed a cheese grater for breakfast.”

Paige cracked one eye open to glare at her. “Wow. That’s rude. You’re mean.”

Azzi smiled. “I’m just saying. You sound worse than you did in the background of the phone. And the coughing? Baby, it’s awful.”

Paige groaned, turning her face into the pillow like a child refusing to eat their vegetables. “I don’t wanna,” she whined, her voice hoarse.

Azzi softened, rubbing Paige’s back over the blanket. “I know, but you have to. Just one little sip, and I promise I’ll stop bugging you about it.”

Paige peeked up at her. “No, you won’t.”

Azzi grinned. “Okay, maybe not. But I’ll be really nice while I bug you.”

Paige narrowed her eyes, debating. Then, in a last-ditch effort, she tried a different approach. “What if I just sleep it off? I’ll feel better when I wake up.”

Azzi gave her a flat look. “You said that last night, and now you’re actually sick.”

Paige huffed. “It’s ‘cause y’all stressed me out when we were getting on the plane.”

Azzi laughed. “Oh, it’s our fault you’re sick now?”

“Yes,” Paige said decisively, crossing her arms under the blanket.

Azzi sighed, shaking her head. “You are so dramatic when you’re sick it’s actually insane.”

Paige just blinked up at her, silently. Stubborn.

Azzi finally pulled out her wild card, her voice turning more serious. “You know if you don’t get ahead of this, you’re gonna miss a game.”

That got Paige’s attention. She stilled, her brows furrowing as she stared at Azzi. “…What?”

Azzi shrugged. “If you don’t rest and actually take something, this’ll linger. And you know Geno isn’t letting you on the court if you’re anything close to this tomorrow.”

Paige opened her mouth like she wanted to argue, but no words came out. She knew Azzi was right.

A long, begrudging sigh left her lips. “…Fine,” she muttered, rolling onto her back like she’d just been handed a life sentence.

Azzi grinned, quickly pouring the medicine before Paige could change her mind. “See? Agreeing wasn’t so hard.”

Paige scowled. “I hate you.”

Azzi held the medicine out to her with a smirk. “I you too, sickie.”

Paige rolled her eyes but threw back the medicine quickly, making a dramatic face as she swallowed. She handed the little cup back to Azzi, shuddering. “That was disgusting.”

Azzi sat the cup aside, shaking her head. “You’re dramatic.”

She messed around with the rest of the medicine for a moment before handing Paige two pills along with the water bottle from her dresser. Paige took them with much less resistance, swallowing them with ease.

Azzi smiled. “Good girl.”

Paige shot her a glare. “Don’t.”

Azzi smirked but ignored her, moving to the bag she brought with her. “I got you soup.”

At this, Paige’s attention turned toward Azzi’s movements, watching as she pulled out the container and tried to hand it to her. But instead of taking it, Paige mumbled, “Can you feed me?”

Azzi gave her a look. “Your arms still work.”

Paige pouted dramatically. “You have to be nice to me. I’m sick.”

Azzi raised her eyebrows, amused. “Oh, so you admit it now?”

Paige sighed, sinking further into the blanket with a pout. “Only if it’ll get you to feed me.”

Azzi groaned but still got up to grab a spoon. “You’re so lucky I kinda like you.”

Paige grinned triumphantly, sitting up a little and scooting over to make room for Azzi on the bed. Azzi shook her head as she sat beside her, opening the soup container.

“Alright, big head. Open up,” she teased, holding up the spoon.

Paige just smirked. “See? Was being nice so hard? No hurry, I’m starving.”

Azzi shot Paige a look, and just like that, Paige’s smirk disappeared. She sat up a little straighter as Azzi lifted the spoon to her lips.

As soon as the soup touched her tongue, Paige flinched, mumbling, “Too hot.”

Azzi sighed, pulling the spoon back. “Maybe if you weren’t rushing me—”

“I’m starving!” Paige interrupted, slumping back into the pillows.

Azzi rolled her eyes but blew on the next spoonful before holding it out. “Better?”

Paige took the bite, nodding in satisfaction. “Mhm. See? This is what good girlfriends do.”

Azzi snorted. “Oh, so now I’m a good girlfriend?”

Paige batted her eyelashes. “The best.”

Azzi chuckled, scooping up another spoonful and blowing on it again. “Uh-huh. You’re just saying that ‘cause I’m feeding you.”

Paige grinned lazily. “And it’s working.”

Azzi shook her head, amused, as she carefully fed Paige another bite. “You are so spoiled.”

Paige hummed contentedly. “I sure am.”

Azzi gave her a look. “And if I weren’t here?”

Paige blinked at her innocently. “Jana.”

Azzi nearly choked on a laugh. “Jana said she was about to strangle you.”

Paige shrugged. “She doesn’t mean that. She s me.”

“Oh, she definitely meant it.”

Paige stuck her tongue out before lazily leaning against Azzi’s shoulder. “Mmm, don’t want anymore.”

Azzi glanced at the half-full container. “You barely ate anything.”

Paige sighed dramatically. “That’s all my body can handle.”

Azzi gave her a flat look. “Paige.”

Paige nuzzled further into Azzi’s side, her voice growing sleepier. “Mmm. Just wanna lay here with you.”

Azzi sighed, setting the soup aside. “You’re lucky I you.”

Paige smiled as she whispered, “I know. Super lucky.”

Azzi set the soup container on the dresser and gave Paige a soft smile as she reached for the hem of her shirt, pulling it off and tossing it aside. She knew Paige always liked to feel her skin when she was sick—said it brought comfort.

Paige, already settled on the bed, instinctively shifted closer, her body curling against Azzi's side as Azzi laid down. Without hesitation, Paige pressed her cheek to Azzi’s chest, content with the warmth. Azzi wrapped an arm around her, running her fingers gently through Paige’s messy hair.

The room fell into a peaceful silence for a while, broken only by the soft rhythm of their breathing. Azzi’s fingers moved lazily, threading through Paige’s hair as she murmured, “You always like it when I do this, huh? You close your big mouth every time.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Paige hummed lazily, her voice muffled against Azzi’s skin. “It’s... soothing.”

Azzi smiled, the warmth in her chest deepening. “It’s a nice change of pace from you being so dramatic.”

Paige let out a little whine, shifting to nestle further into Azzi’s chest. “I’m not dramatic. I just feel crappy.”

Azzi laughed quietly. “Baby you’re the drama queen of our relationship. I’ve had to deal with that for a while now. Not just when you’re sick.”

Paige lifted her head slightly to send Azzi a sleepy, half-lidded glare. “You still like me anyway so,” she muttered, but there was a smile tugging at her lips despite the exhaustion in her voice.

Azzi chuckled, running her fingers down the back of Paige’s neck. “I do, I do. But I swear, every time you get sick, you act like you’re dying or somebody killed our dog .”

Paige pouted, clearly not having the energy for a witty retort. “I might be dying,” she grumbled softly. “You never know with these things...”

Azzi rolled her eyes, shifting so that Paige was more comfortably nestled against her. “You’re not dying. You just need to rest and maybe close your mouth for once.”

Paige sighed, her breath soft against Azzi’s skin. “I hate being sick. I just wanna feel better already.”

Azzi smiled down at her, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “I know, baby. But you’re going to get better.”

Paige stayed silent for a few moments, just breathing in the comfort of Azzi’s warmth, her eyelids fluttering. After a while, she mumbled, “You’re nice to me when I’m sick.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow, smirking playfully. “I’m always nice to you.”

Paige shook her head, burrowing her face further into Azzi’s chest. “No... not always,” she murmured, clearly fighting sleep. “Sometimes you’re mean.”

Azzi laughed softly, a sound filled with the kind of affection she only had for Paige. “Am I? How so?”

Paige’s voice was so quiet now, almost a whisper. “You make fun of me when I’m weak...”

Azzi paused, her smile softening. She ran her fingers through Paige’s hair, feeling the weight of the words sink in. “You’re not weak, Paige. You’re just... human. And I love you no matter what.”

Paige let out a small, content sigh, the fight to stay awake slipping away. “I love you too.”

Azzi’s heart melted at the softness in Paige’s words. She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to Paige’s forehead. “I know beautiful.”

Paige shifted slightly, eyes fluttering open for a second. “I don’t want to talk anymore,” she said, her words a little slurred from drowsy medicine. “I’m just... sleepy.”

Azzi smiled fondly at her. “You’re so cute when you’re delirious.”

Paige gave a half-hearted protest, but it was obvious her energy was spent. “I’m not delirious... I’m just...” She trailed off, her words losing meaning as her eyes began to drift shut again.

Azzi smirked, brushing a stray strand of hair from Paige’s face. “Just what?” she teased softly, though she knew Paige wasn’t going to respond with anything of value.

Paige’s voice, now more muffled as she nuzzled into Azzi’s chest, barely made it out. “I’m just... not sick anymore... after a nap.”

Azzi chuckled quietly, stroking Paige’s hair again. “Yeah, right.”

Paige’s breathing had slowed to a peaceful rhythm, and Azzi could feel the weight of her body relax further. Azzi held her closer, whispering, “Get some rest, baby. I’m right here.”

Paige let out a tiny, satisfied sound, and her body finally stilled in the comfort of Azzi’s embrace.

Azzi massaged her head for a few more minutes, watching Paige’s steady breathing, the soft rise and fall of her chest. She kissed the top of Paige’s head once more and whispered, “I love you.”

A soft snore was the only response, and Azzi smiled softly as she closed her eyes.

…

Azzi had been lying there awake for a while, absentmindedly running her fingers through Paige’s hair as she slept. It was now pretty late in the day and the room was quiet except for the soft hum of the heater and the occasional rustle of the blankets as Paige shifted against her. At first, Azzi thought nothing of how much she was moving—Paige had been exhausted, and it was normal for her to move a little in her sleep.

But as time passed, Azzi started to notice something was off. Paige was shifting more, her breathing had grown uneven. Her forehead lying on Azzi’s chest, which had been warm before, was now burning up.

Azzi furrowed her brows, brushing her fingers across Paige’s damp hairline. Paige was practically sweating through her shirt, her skin sticky with heat. Azzi tried soothing her again, running gentle fingers through Paige’s hair, whispering softly.

“Shh, baby, it’s okay. Just relax.”

For a moment, Paige stilled, melting back into Azzi’s chest. But soon enough, she started shifting again, her face scrunching up in discomfort, her body restless.

Azzi let out a quiet sigh, brushing the damp strands of hair away from Paige’s forehead before leaning down to press a soft kiss against it. “You’re burning up,” she murmured.

Paige let out a small whimper in her sleep, turning her head slightly, but she didn’t wake.

Azzi frowned, rubbing a soothing hand up and down Paige’s back before finally deciding it was time to wake her up. She tightened her arm around Paige slightly and nudged her gently. “Paige, baby, wake up.”

Paige groaned in protest, her body still heavy.

Azzi kissed her temple before whispering again, this time a little firmer. “Come on, sickie. You’re overheating.”

Paige mumbled something incoherent, her voice thick with exhaustion, but Azzi could feel how warm she was. She needed to cool her down.

Azzi sighed, rubbing small circles into Paige’s damp back under the hoodie. “Paige. Wake up for me please, baby.”

This time, Paige stirred a little more, blinking sluggishly as she let out a tired, hoarse sound. “Mm... wha’?”

Azzi brushed a hand across her cheek, feeling the heat radiating off her skin. “You’re too hot, love. You need to take off your hoodie and drink some water.”

Paige groaned, burying her face back into Azzi’s chest like a stubborn child. “Don’t wanna baby,” she murmured with her raspy voice before letting out some awful sounding coughs.

Azzi let out a soft laugh despite her concern. “I know, baby, but you’re basically cooking in this hoodie.” She nudged Paige’s shoulder lightly. “Come on, let’s get it off, and I’ll grab you some cold water.”

Paige made another sleepy, reluctant sound but finally, slowly, peeled herself away from Azzi’s chest that was a little damp from where Paige was laying. She blinked at her through heavy, glassy eyes before weakly lifting her arms. “You do it please.”

Azzi chuckled, shaking her head as she sat up slightly, carefully tugging the hoodie and shirt over Paige’s head. It was damp from her sweat, which only made Azzi more certain that Paige needed to cool off.

“There,” Azzi murmured, balling up the hoodie and tossing it to the floor before reaching for the water bottle on the nightstand. She unscrewed the cap and held it out. “Drink some.”

Paige took the bottle with sluggish movements, taking a few small sips before sighing and leaning back against Azzi’s chest. “Still hot,” she mumbled.

Azzi smirked, pressing a kiss to Paige’s temple. “Yeah, you are.”

Paige let out a weak laugh, swatting lazily at Azzi’s arm. “Shut up.”

Azzi smirked, brushing her fingers along Paige’s warm cheek. “Do you wanna shower?” she asked gently.

Paige let out a sleepy hum in response, her eyes barely open.

Azzi took that as a yes, pressing a soft kiss to Paige’s temple before murmuring, “Okay, just lay down for a little longer. I’ll get everything ready.”

As she slid out of bed, Paige immediately curled back into the blankets, making herself small against the pillows. Azzi shook her head fondly before heading to the dresser, pulling out a pair of soft boxers and one of Paige’s favorite shirts for her to wear after the shower.

With the clothes in hand, she made her way out of the room, only to be met by Aubrey lingering near the hallway.

“Are you almost done playing nurse?” Aubrey said her arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. “I miss my bookie and I need a hug.”

Azzi rolled her eyes as she passed by. “I’ll kick your knee in Aubrey.”

Aubrey snorted, shaking her head as Azzi disappeared into the bathroom.

Once inside, Azzi set the clothes down and turned on the shower, letting the water heat up. She reached for a eucalyptus shower steamer, unwrapping it before placing it under the stream, watching as it started to dissolve, releasing its scent into the air. The steam quickly filled the bathroom, curling into the air as the eucalyptus aroma spread.

Satisfied with the setup, Azzi grabbed a fresh towel and hung it within reach before heading back to Paige’s room.

She stopped in the doorway, biting back a laugh when she saw Paige had fallen asleep again. She was sprawled out on the bed, her head barely peeking from the blankets, looking utterly exhausted.

Azzi sighed, shaking her head as she pulled out her phone. She took a quick picture, a smirk tugging at her lips. Paige is definitely going to kill her for that later.

Throwing her phone on the dresser, she stepped forward and gently brushed a few damp strands of hair from Paige’s forehead.

“Paige, baby, wake up,” she murmured softly.

Paige stirred, her nose scrunching up as she let out a sleepy groan. “Five more minutes please,” she mumbled.”

Azzi chuckled, brushing her thumb across Paige’s warm cheek. “You literally just agreed to shower. Don’t start backtracking now.”

Paige sighed dramatically but slowly blinked up at her, her blue glassy eyes still heavy. “Mmm, but I was so comfy.”

Azzi grinned, pressing a kiss to her temple. “I know, baby, but you’re all sweaty. You’ll feel better after, I promise.”

Paige pouted but didn’t argue this time, instead letting Azzi help her sit up. As soon as she was upright, she let her head fall onto Azzi’s shoulder with a quiet sigh.

“You’re too good to me,” she murmured.

Azzi smiled, her hand rubbing slow, gentle circles along Paige’s back. “Yeah, yeah. Now come on, before you fall asleep again.”

Paige hummed in response but allowed Azzi to help her up, leaning into her warmth as they made their way to the bathroom together.

Azzi leaned against the sink, arms crossed as she watched Paige sluggishly step into the shower. The steam curled around her, and for a second, Paige just stood under the spray, her shoulders sagging in relief.

But then she turned, blinking at Azzi before sticking out her bottom lip in a pout.

“Come in with me.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “This shower’s supposed to be for you.”

Paige pouted deeper, her glassy eyes now wide as she leaned against the shower wall dramatically. “M’ too weak. I can’t. I need help,” she said while attempting her best puppy dog eyes.

Azzi scoffed. “Nice try, baby—”

Paige sniffled, her lip trembling slightly as she kept her gaze locked on Azzi. With her damp hair sticking to her forehead and her flushed cheeks, she somehow looked even more pitiful than Azzi thought was possible.

Azzi groaned, already feeling herself cave. “You are so damn manipulative.”

Paige only blinked innocently.

Sighing in defeat, Azzi shook her head. “Fine, fine.” She tugged off her clothes, grabbing a hair tie from the counter and quickly twisting her hair up into a bun. “But I swear, if you try anything, I’m leaving you in here.”

Paige barely reacted, her arms already reaching for Azzi as she stepped in.

The second Azzi was in the shower fully, Paige latched onto her, her arms winding tight around Azzi’s waist as she buried her face in her neck.

Azzi huffed a laugh, wrapping her arms loosely around Paige in return. “How am I supposed to help you if you’re latched onto me like this?”

Paige mumbled something against her shoulder, her voice barely audible over the water.

Azzi sighed, rubbing a slow hand up and down Paige’s back. “What was that?”

Paige nuzzled closer, her breath warm against Azzi’s skin. “Just five minutes,” she mumbled sleepily.

Azzi shook her head with a small smile, resting her cheek against the top of Paige’s damp hair. “Whatever.”

Paige’s “five minutes” had turned into something much longer, and Azzi was almost certain she had dozed off for a moment. At one point her breathing had slowed, and she even swayed slightly, forcing Azzi to tighten her hold to keep her upright.

Eventually, Azzi sighed, pressing a kiss to Paige’s damp forehead. “Alright, sickie, time to actually shower.”

Paige groaned, not lifting her head from Azzi’s shoulder. “M’tired.”

Azzi laughed softly. “Yeah, I noticed.” She reached for the shampoo, squeezing some into her hands before gently lathering it into Paige’s hair. Paige hummed at the sensation, her body still slack against Azzi’s.

“Y’know,” Azzi started, working the shampoo through Paige’s blonde hair, “I think you might be the neediest sick person on earth.”

Paige, eyes still closed, barely reacted. “Not true.”

Azzi chuckled. “You literally manipulated me into showering with you.”

Paige cracked one eye open. “I was using my resources.”

Azzi snorted, shaking her head as she scrubbed her fingers along Paige’s scalp. “You’re unreal.”

Paige let out a quiet sigh, tilting her head slightly into Azzi’s touch. “Feels nice.”

Azzi smiled softly, her fingers slowing as she massaged gently. “Good.”

For a few minutes, they stayed like that, talking in quiet murmurs as Azzi washed Paige’s hair. But when Azzi reached for the showerhead to rinse, she suddenly burst out laughing.

Paige frowned, eyes barely open. “What?”

Azzi pointed. “Your nose is running. You look so cute.”

Paige blinked, reaching up sluggishly to swipe at it. She let out a dramatic whine, turning her face into Azzi’s shoulder. “Stop laughing at me. You’re being mean.”

Azzi, still chuckling, rubbed soothing circles on Paige’s back. “I’m literally washing your hair. How am I being mean?”

Paige huffed, but she didn’t argue, her arms tightening around Azzi’s waist.

Once Azzi finished rinsing Paige’s hair, she repeated the process with the conditioner, her fingers gliding gently through the strands. Paige, still half-asleep, barely moved, only murmuring a quiet “thank you” as Azzi worked.

When her hair was fully washed, Azzi grabbed the loofah, squeezing some soap onto it before handing it to Paige. “Alright, drama queen, last step.”

Paige took it with both hands, blinking at it as if it weighed a hundred pounds and Azzi was asking her to do the impossible. Azzi smiled as she watched Paige sluggishly drag it across her arm, her movements slow and lazy.

Shaking her head fondly, Azzi leaned against the shower wall, watching Paige struggle through her own shower routine. “You’re adorable.”

Paige shot her a tired glare, but it held no real heat. “M’not. I’m sexy.”

Azzi grinned. “You sure are, baby.”

Paige rolled her eyes weakly as she continued to wash herself.

As soon as they stepped out of the shower a bit later, Paige grabbed a towel, rubbing it over her damp skin before letting out a pitiful sigh. “Baby…”

Azzi, already drying off, glanced over. “What?”

Paige’s bottom lip jutted out just a little. “Lotion me.”

Azzi scoffed, shaking her head as she reached for the bottle even as she said, “No.”

Paige grinned, completely unbothered. “You will because you love me.”

Azzi muttered something under her breath as she squirted lotion into her hands, rubbing them together before kneeling in front of Paige. “Alright, princess, hold still.”

Paige hummed happily, choosing to ignore the nickname, as Azzi smoothed the lotion over her legs, then up her arms and shoulders. When Azzi got to her back, she let out a small sigh, enjoying the feeling of Azzi’s hands working gently against her skin.

Azzi, however, was mumbling the whole time. “You’re so lucky I swear. What kind of grown woman begs to be lotioned?”

Paige, grinning, tilted her head back dramatically. “A very smart one.”

Azzi rolled her eyes but continued, making sure Paige was moisturized before finally stepping back. “There. Happy?”

Paige smiled, grabbing her boxers and shirt. “Very.”

As she pulled her clothes on, she reached for the towel, handing it to Azzi. “Here. Since someone forgot to bring clothes in here.”

Azzi snatched the towel with narrowed eyes. “Someone was too busy taking care of their needy girlfriend and I was even supposed to get in with you.”

Paige just shot her a smug look before walking out of the bathroom.

Azzi followed, wrapping the towel around herself as they made their way back to the room. As soon as they stepped inside, Paige flopped onto the bed, lazily watching as Azzi grabbed her own lotion and began rubbing it onto her arms and legs.

A slow smirk spread across Paige’s lips. “Damn.”

Azzi raised a brow. “What?”

Paige’s eyes flickered over her, gaze appreciative. “You just look good doing that.”

Azzi huffed, shaking her head as she continued. “You’re ridiculous.”

Paige grinned. “Just being honest.”

Azzi ignored her, finishing up before slipping on some clothes. But as soon as she was dressed, she made her way to the nightstand, grabbing the medicine with a smug grin.

Paige’s smile immediately dropped.

Azzi turned, shaking the bottle with a huge smile. “Time for round two.”

Paige groaned, flopping back onto the bed dramatically. “I hate you.”

Azzi smirked, walking over. “No, you don’t.”

Paige peeked her eyes open, already pouting. “I do right now.”

Azzi chuckled to herself shaking her head at the dramatic groan that left Paige’s lips.

"You act like I’m torturing you," Azzi teased, shaking the little measuring cup as she poured the thick liquid into it.

Paige turned her head away stubbornly. "I don’t want it."

Azzi sighed, tilting her head. "Paige Madison."

At the sound of her full name, Paige let out a loud huff, reluctantly sitting up just enough to take the tiny cup from Azzi’s hands. She threw it back quickly, grimacing as she swallowed, before thrusting the empty cup back at Azzi with a deep scowl.

Azzi smiled sweetly. "Thank you."

Paige narrowed her eyes. "I hate you."

Azzi only grinned wider, unfazed. "No, you don’t."

Paige huffed again but didn’t argue, slumping back against the pillows.

Azzi brushed a few strands of hair out of Paige’s face before softly asking, "Are you hungry?"

Paige barely opened one eye, her face still scrunched up from the medicine. "No."

Azzi exhaled, tapping her fingers gently against Paige’s shoulder. "Can you try to eat something for me?"

Paige groaned, shaking her head as she clung to Azzi’s arm. "Don’t wanna. Just wanna cuddle."

Azzi sighed in defeat, but there was a fond smile on her lips. "Okay, pretty," she murmured, reaching for the two pills she had set aside. She handed them to Paige, along with a water bottle. "At least take these first."

Paige wordlessly took the pills, swallowing them with a sip of water before tossing the bottle aside and immediately grabbing at the hem of Azzi’s shirt. She tugged insistently, mumbling, "Off."

Azzi raised an eyebrow but didn’t fight it, pulling her shirt over her head and tossing it to the side. As soon as the fabric was gone, Paige wasted no time in curling up against her, pressing her cheek against Azzi’s bare skin with a content sigh.

"You’re so needy when you’re sick," Azzi teased, wrapping an arm around Paige’s waist.

"Sshh. M’ comfy," Paige murmured sleepily, nuzzling closer.

Azzi ran her fingers through Paige’s damp hair, letting the quiet settle between them. After a few moments, she softly said, "You know, if you ate something, you’d probably feel better faster."

Paige whined into her chest, shaking her head. "Don’t wanna."

Azzi smirked. "You’re impossible."

Paige’s lips barely curled into a small, tired smile. "You still like me so I don’t care."

Azzi pressed a kiss to the top of Paige’s head, her voice softer now. "Yeah, I do."

Paige hummed in satisfaction, her breathing growing heavier as Azzi’s fingers continued threading through her hair. The rise and fall of her chest slowed, her words becoming more incoherent.

Azzi smiled when Paige mumbled something almost too softly to hear. "What was that, baby?"

Paige barely lifted her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "I said… you smell nice."

Azzi let out a small laugh. "Thank you."

Paige lifted her head slightly, her heavy-lidded eyes flickering to Azzi’s lips. Azzi immediately caught on, already knowing what Paige was about to ask before she even said it.

"I wanna kiss," Paige murmured, her voice still raspy from being sick.

Azzi sighed, shaking her head. "I’m gonna get sick, baby."

Paige pouted dramatically. "I’ll take care of you."

Azzi snorted, giving her an unimpressed look. "You can’t even take care of yourself right now."

Paige huffed, her lips twitching slightly. "Well, with you, it’s different."

Azzi rolled her eyes, but the small smile on Paige’s face made it impossible for her to say no. She sighed in defeat. "Fine, commere.”

Paige’s grin widened just before Azzi leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft kiss. It was gentle, lingering just long enough for Paige to let out a small, content sigh against her mouth.

When Azzi pulled back, Paige was already giving her a goofy, smile. "One more," she mumbled.

Azzi shook her head but indulged her anyway, meeting her lips again. This time, Paige took it a step further, sliding her tongue past Azzi’s lips in a way that made Azzi swear she wanted to kill her.

"You’re unbelievable," Azzi mumbled against her lips, but she didn’t pull away—not until she actually needed air. When she finally did, she groaned, dropping her forehead against Paige’s. "I’m definitely going to be sick now."

Paige only smiled, looking far too pleased with herself. "Worth it."

Azzi scoffed, but before she could say anything, Paige was already tugging her into a laying position, wrapping herself around Azzi as she rested her head on her chest.

Azzi sighed, threading her fingers through Paige’s hair again. "You’re such a pain in my ass."

…

The soft glow of the TV flickered across the room as the basketball game played on, the commentators’ voices blending into a low hum. Paige had insisted they watch, using her sickness as an excuse to get her way. Azzi, of course, had relented—because there was no winning against a sick and pouty Paige.

But after some time, Azzi noticed Paige’s breathing was slowing, her body growing heavier against her own. A telltale sign that she was drifting off.

Azzi glanced down, smiling as she saw Paige’s eyes fluttering closed, her lips slightly parted in sleep. Shaking her head fondly, Azzi reached for the remote, turning off the TV. She pressed a lingering kiss to Paige’s forehead, mumbling, “Goodnight, sickie.”

From the depths of sleep, Paige barely mumbled, “M’not sick.”

Azzi couldn’t help but laugh at the blatant lie. “Right,” she murmured sarcastically, closing her eyes.

Before she could fully settle, Paige weakly reached up and pinched her side—a lazy, half-hearted protest. Azzi rolled her eyes, gently swatting Paige’s hand away.

“Go to sleep big head,” she whispered.

Paige didn’t respond this time, already too far gone. Azzi sighed, wrapping her arms a little tighter around her, letting the warmth of Paige’s body lull her into sleep.

Paige, as expected, drifted off first, her breathing soft and steady against Azzi’s skin. Azzi stayed awake a little longer, listening to the peaceful rhythm of it, before finally closing her own eyes, letting sleep take her too.

[skribbledarker]

Back on my bs with another Zosan brainworm…. post Skypiea feels

—

Sanji, after having his “I needed a light” moment and getting shocked head-on by Enel, gains big lichtenberg scars that never fade. They’re darker than his usual skin tone, spiraling down the back of his neck, the entire expanse of his back, then curling around his shoulders and hips.

he hates them. Sanji thinks they make him look diseased, or like Frankenstein, sort of.. He doesn’t think scars are bad or ugly, no. It’s just the way they look on him.

He goes to so many lengths to hide them from the rest of the crew; he takes showers after everyone else is asleep, and his short-sleeved shirts get pushed to the back of the closet.

Chopper’s the only one who’s seen them. well, until Zoro. Somewhere in between when they didn’t like each other and when they suddenly did, the swordsman catches Sanji late at night in the bathroom, shirtless and twisting around himself to look at his back in the mirror.

Somehow, they end up on the floor, Sanji sitting cross-legged on the tile, hunched over with red tipped ears as Zoro sits behind him, taking his time tracing the patterns over Sanj’s skin.

“Do they hurt?” Zoro asks, grazing a calloused thumb over the back of Sanji’s neck.

“Sometimes. they sting when it gets cold.”

Zoro doesn’t say anything for a long time. Sanji feels like a bug under a microscope, just sitting there, being inspected like this. He finds himself zoning out— he doesn’t want to be here right now. This is embarassing.

“I like them.”

“Huh?”

And then Zoro’s hands are smoothing over Sanji’s shoulders, warm and careful like he’s handling a blade. “What, you don’t? It looks badass.”

no, they really don’t. “No. It looks…stupid.” Ugly, is what Sanji wants to say, but he doesn’t. The word suddenly seems a little too crass for whatever’s going on right now.

“Do mine, then?” Zoro counters, and that’s different. Zoro wears his like a collection, each mark a record of battles he’s won and lost and a testament to the shit he’s survived. Sanji hasn’t ever been blemished like that, barring the faint lines on the bridge of his nose still barely visible after eleven years. The scars just look out of place on him. Like they aren’t supposed to be there.

“No, no.” Sanji shakes his head. “Yours are— are badass.”

Zoro pauses again. “They look like vines.”

“Oh, so i’m sprouting greenery like you, now?”

That gets an exasperated huff out of Zoro, and Sanji can feel breath fanning over the back of his neck. “Stop, ‘m serious.”

It’s frightening, kind of, being laid bare under the watchful eye of someone else like this. Sanji can’t even see Zoro (well, besides his hands), but it’s almost like he can— the weight of his gaze falls heavy on Sanji’s back.

“Of course you are.”

A chill slides up Sanji’s spine when Zoro’s hands slide down to his waist, thumbing at the spots where the scars encroach onto his stomach. “ ‘s Pretty.”

Sanji’s throat suddenly feels dry, because the admission of pretty feels less like a descriptor of the lightning bolts spiraling down his back and more about him. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Never thought I’d hear you call something ‘pretty,’ you brute.”

“Maybe you needed to.”

Maybe you needed to. Fuck, Maybe Sanji did.

—

gughhhh this was supposed to be a little drabble but got out of hand so fucking quickly??1!1?1?

anyways i want to shoot both of them dead lololololol

i also love projecting my self-image issues onto Sanji…. my blorbo AHHH

[cceana]

Arcane Highschool!AU 2

characters - vi, caitlyn, jinx, sevika, ekko, jayce and viktor content - 6.1k words, part 1 here, established relationships except for vi's, Star athlete!vi x band!reader, Childhoodbestfriend!caitlyn, New kid!jinx x Class president!reader, Troublemaker!sevika x Tutor!reader, Artist!ekko x Muse!reader, Bestfriend!jayce, and Enemies to lovers!viktor

A/N - lmaoo.. sorry yall for not posting for like a really long time ;-; studied my azz off last week which was def worth it cuz i did so feaking well on that exam hehe. this was lowk rushed bcuz i rlly wanted to post. hope yall enjoy queens (> 3 <)

— Star Athlete!vi and Band!reader

The weeks following that unexpected late-night moment between you two felt different—charged with something new, something unspoken but lingering in the air. It wasn’t just the occasional brush of hands when walking side by side, or the way she’d glance at you across the cafeteria before looking away just a little too fast. It was the warmth in her voice when she teased you, the way she stuck around after practice just to sit beside you while you tuned your instrument.

She never said why she stayed. You never asked.

But you both knew.

It started with one call—past midnight, your phone buzzing against your nightstand.

“I can’t sleep,” she said when you answered, her voice rough with exhaustion.

You could hear the faint sound of cars passing outside, the rustle of her shifting under the covers.

“You’re calling me because you can’t sleep?” you murmured, trying to ignore the way your heart pounded at the thought of her thinking about you this late.

“Yeah,” she admitted. A pause. “Your voice is kinda nice.”

Heat rushed to your face. “Oh.”

“Don’t get a big head about it.”

You smiled, rolling onto your side.

From that night on, the calls became routine. Sometimes she ranted about her coach pushing her too hard. Sometimes you talked about your music, your fingers unconsciously tracing the melodies you’d played that day. Other times, you simply listened to each other breathe, neither willing to hang up first.

one day, she told you about a celebration party her teammates where hosting

She invited you.

“It won’t be the worst thing ever,” she had said, arms crossed as she leaned against your locker. “Just show up for a little bit.”

You’d raised an eyebrow. “Since when did you want me at parties?”

Her lips had twitched, almost like she was fighting back a smirk. “Since I realized you never leave that damn band room. It’s tragic, really.”

So here you were, awkwardly lingering near the kitchen, nursing a half-empty cup of soda while bodies moved and music pulsed around you.

And she? She was in the center of it all—laughing, drinking, surrounded by teammates who treated her like some kind of legend. She belonged here, in the chaos and the noise.

You? Not so much.

You should have left an hour ago, but something held you in place. Maybe it was the way she kept glancing at you between conversations, like she was making sure you were still there. Or maybe it was the warmth in her eyes whenever your gazes met.

Either way, you weren’t leaving just yet.

You had just decided to step outside for some air when you felt a strong hand wrap around your wrist.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

You turned, blinking up at her. She was closer than expected, her usual cocky smirk in place—but there was something else in her expression, something tense.

“Just getting some air,” you replied. “It’s suffocating in here.”

She hesitated, then nodded. “Come on.”

Before you could respond, she was leading you out the back door, weaving through the crowd with ease. The cool night air hit you instantly, a sharp contrast to the heat of the party.

You leaned against the railing of the back porch, inhaling deeply. “Finally.”

She chuckled beside you, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “Didn’t think you’d actually come tonight.”

You shot her a look. “You asked me to.”

She was quiet for a moment, staring out into the night. Then, in a voice softer than you’d ever heard from her, she said, “Yeah. I did.”

Something about the way she said it sent your heartbeat into a sprint.

You shifted, watching her carefully. “Why?”

She exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair. “Because I wanted you here.”

Your breath caught.

She turned to face you fully now, her expression serious—no teasing smirk, no sarcastic remark to deflect. Just raw honesty.

“I know I’m not the easiest person to be around,” she started, voice steady but laced with something vulnerable. “I’m stubborn, I’m hot-headed, and I probably piss you off at least twice a day.”

You huffed out a quiet laugh. “At least.”

Her lips quirked up slightly before she continued. “But you… you’re different. You challenge me. You don’t put up with my crap, and somehow, you still—” She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “I don’t know why, but I can’t stop thinking about you.”

Your heart pounded so hard you were sure she could hear it.

“I keep catching myself looking for you in a crowd,” she admitted, shifting her weight like she was forcing herself to stay still. “I wait outside your rehearsals, even when I could’ve left. I call you at night because your voice is the only thing that makes me feel like the world isn’t spinning too fast.”

She took a shaky breath.

“I like you.”

The words hung between you, thick with weight, with meaning.

“I don’t just like you, actually,” she corrected, her voice barely above a whisper now. “I—I think I’m falling for you.”

You stared at her, stunned, unable to form words.

Her fingers flexed at her sides, like she was bracing for rejection. “If that’s weird, or if you don’t feel the same, just—”

You stepped forward before she could finish, reaching for her hand.

She froze as your fingers slid between hers, as you squeezed lightly.

“You idiot,” you murmured, your chest aching with something overwhelming. “I’ve been falling for you this whole time.”

Her eyes widened slightly, like she hadn’t fully considered that possibility.

Then, after a beat, she huffed out a laugh. “God, we’re dumb.”

You grinned. “Yeah. A little bit.”

For the first time in what felt like forever, she looked nervous. “Can I—?”

You didn’t let her finish. Instead, you pulled her down into a kiss.

It wasn’t perfect—she was clumsy, caught off guard, but warm and sure the moment she realized what was happening. One of her hands came up to cup your face, rough and calloused but impossibly gentle.

When you finally pulled away, she was breathless, eyes flickering between yours.

“So,” she murmured, voice lower now. “Does this mean I can start calling you my girlfriend?”

You rolled your eyes, laughing softly. “You’re insufferable.”

“And you like it.”

You sighed dramatically, pretending to think. “Unfortunately.”

She grinned, lacing your fingers together. “Good.”

And as she pulled you back inside—back into the noise and the chaos of the party—it didn’t feel overwhelming anymore.

Not when she was right beside you.

Not when she was yours.

— Childhood Bestfriend!caitlyn

The days that followed felt like something out of a dream. The kind of dream you never wanted to wake up from.

She had been true to her word—she didn’t want to let you go again. Every morning, you’d wake up to a good morning text, and by the afternoon, she’d have already made plans for the two of you, whether it was a quiet café visit, a stroll through the city, or simply lounging in her estate’s massive library, reminiscing about the past between pages of old books.

She had slipped back into your life as if she had never left it.

And yet, there was something new about this—something deeper, sweeter

Like the way she’d always find an excuse to touch you, whether it was resting her head on your shoulder when she was tired, bumping her knee against yours under the table, or absentmindedly playing with your fingers when you sat next to each other.

Or the way she would wait for you. Even when she was drowning in responsibilities, she would insist on having lunch together, texting you just to tell you something random about her day.

Or the way she’d steal your snacks.

Without fail, if you had food, she would somehow find a way to take at least a bite. “Sharing is caring,” she’d say, plucking a fry from your plate before you could react. And if you tried to call her out on it? She’d just smirk, pop whatever she took into her mouth, and say, “You love me, so it doesn’t count as stealing.”

(And you couldn’t even argue. Because she was right.)

Then there were the nights.

Those were your favorite.

She was always busiest during the day, but at night? That was when she really let herself be soft with you.

Like when you’d both curl up on the couch, watching movies that neither of you paid attention to because she was too busy tracing lazy patterns against your arm, or playing with your fingers, or resting her head in your lap with the most peaceful look on her face.

Or the nights when she’d show up at your door unannounced, eyes heavy with exhaustion but still full of warmth as she mumbled, “Just needed to see you.”

You’d let her in without question, and she’d collapse onto your bed with a tired sigh, reaching for you without hesitation. “Come here,” she’d murmur, voice softer than usual, more vulnerable. And when you settled next to her, she’d just hold you, burying her face against your neck, breathing you in like you were the only thing keeping her steady.

Or—your personal favorite—the way she looked at you.

Soft. Fond. Like you were the most precious thing she had ever laid eyes on.

One evening, as you sat curled up on the couch in her study, she nudged you with her foot. “Hey.”

You looked up from your book. “Hmm?”

She grinned. “Let’s make cupcakes.”

You blinked. “What?”

“I want cupcakes,” she repeated matter-of-factly, already standing up and stretching. “And I want to make them with you.”

You laughed, setting your book aside. “Since when do you bake?”

“I don’t,” she admitted, offering a hand to pull you up. “But I’m a fast learner. Come on.”

You sighed but let her drag you to the kitchen. What followed was absolute chaos.

Flour on the counter, sugar accidentally spilled on the floor, a mess of ingredients neither of you fully measured properly. She kept getting distracted, flicking flour at you, grinning mischievously every time you yelped in protest.

At some point, she wrapped her arms around you from behind, resting her chin on your shoulder as you mixed the batter. “I think we make a good team.”

You rolled your eyes. “That’s because I’m doing all the work.”

She hummed, tightening her hold on you slightly. “And you do it so well.”

Your cheeks burned. “You’re ridiculous.”

“And you love it.”

You sighed dramatically. “Unfortunately.”

She laughed, pressing a quick kiss to your temple before pulling away. “Okay, okay, let’s get these in the oven before I distract you too much.”

Too late, you thought, but you didn’t say it aloud.

Instead, you watched as she carefully placed the tray in the oven, a proud gleam in her eyes despite the fact that neither of you had any idea if the cookies would even taste good.

It didn’t really matter.

Because moments like this—messy, chaotic, ridiculous moments with her—were worth more than any perfect, scripted day.

And when the cupcakes came out horribly burnt, she just laughed, tossed one to you, and said, “Guess we’ll have to try again tomorrow.”

And honestly? You wouldn’t have it any other way.

— New kid!jinx and Class president!reader

Loving her was like standing in the eye of a storm—unpredictable, consuming, and just a little dangerous.

But you never wanted to be anywhere else.

She was everything you weren’t. But in the same way that she crashed into your life like a hurricane, she had also settled into it, leaving pieces of herself in all the places she had touched.

And now, she was everywhere.

You didn’t even know when it happened, but somewhere between her dragging you into trouble and worming her way into your perfectly structured life, she had become a permanent fixture.

No, more than that.

She had become yours.

Your mornings were different now.

Instead of waking up to your alarm and immediately drowning in responsibilities, you woke up to her texts.

chaos incarnate: WAKE UP chaos incarnate: pres, you better not be ignoring me chaos incarnate: hello?? chaos incarnate: fine. i’m calling you.

And then, not even a second later, your phone would start ringing.

You groaned, answering it without opening your eyes. “You’re the worst.”

“Good morning to you too, babe.”

You sighed, rolling over. “It’s four a.m.”

“Yeah, well, I missed you.”

Your heart stuttered, heat rising to your cheeks.

You hated how easily she did that.

“…We saw each other yesterday.”

“And? That was a whole eight hours ago.”

You groaned again, but this time, you couldn’t fight the smile spreading across your lips.

The entire school knew about you two.

Not because you told anyone, but because she made it impossible not to know.

She’d sling an arm over your shoulder in the halls, leaning in obnoxiously close just to see you flustered.

She’d steal your lunch, even if she had her own, just to make you roll your eyes and huff at her—because, according to her, you looked cute when you were annoyed.

She’d sit in on student council meetings—uninvited—kicking her feet up on the table like she belonged there, just to watch you glare at her.

And if anyone so much as looked at you for too long?

She’d pull you closer, smirking as she draped herself over you and drawled, “Mine.”

You pretended to be exasperated by it all.

You weren’t.

One second, she was smirking at you from across the room, her gaze sharp, teasing, full of something wild you could never quite pin down. The next, she was leaning against your desk, spinning a pen between her fingers as she sighed dramatically about how boring the student council meetings were, just to get a reaction out of you.

And sometimes—when no one else was around—she’d be quiet. Soft. Like a storm that had momentarily calmed, if only for you.

It was confusing. It was frustrating.

But it was also thrilling.

You never knew what she’d do next, but somehow, you always ended up right there with her.

“We’re skipping.”

You blinked up at her from your pile of papers. “What?”

She grinned, already grabbing your wrist, tugging you out of your chair. “I said, we’re skipping. Come on.”

You pulled back instinctively. “I can’t. I have to finish—”

“Boring,” she cut in, rolling her eyes. “You work too much. If you spend one more hour staring at those papers, you’ll turn into one.”

You crossed your arms. “And you get into trouble too much.”

She smirked. “Yeah? And yet, here you are, still standing next to me.”

You sighed, but the fight was already slipping out of you. With her, it always did.

She took advantage of your hesitation, intertwining her fingers with yours, and your heart definitely didn’t just stutter in your chest.

“Come on,” she murmured, giving your hand a squeeze. “Just for a little while?”

And just like that, you were done for.

The two of you ended up on the rooftop, the one place where no one ever checked.

She sat on the ledge, legs swinging slightly, looking up at the sky like she had never seen it before.

For a moment, she was quiet. Contemplative.

Then, without looking at you, she spoke.

“You know, you’re the only person who’s ever stuck around.”

The words were soft, but something about them hit harder than anything she had ever said before.

You swallowed, watching her carefully. “You don’t make it easy.”

She laughed, a little breathless. “No. I don’t.”

Silence settled between you, comfortable in a way you never expected.

Then, before you could think too much about it, you reached out, gently brushing your fingers against hers where they rested on the ledge.

She went completely still.

You hesitated, pulling back slightly, but she caught your hand before you could.

Her grip was tight—like she was afraid you’d disappear if she let go.

“You drive me crazy,” she muttered, shaking her head. “You’re stubborn, and you worry too much, and you never break the rules.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Thanks?”

She huffed, exasperated, before turning to face you fully.

And then—before you could react—she leaned in, pressing a soft, fleeting kiss to your cheek.

Your brain short-circuited.

She pulled back, smirking at your stunned expression, but there was something warm in her eyes, something real.

“You’re mine now,” she declared, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

You opened your mouth—probably to protest, maybe to demand an explanation—but she just squeezed your hand again, tilting her head at you.

“…Unless you don’t want to be.”

You swallowed, heartbeat hammering in your chest.

And then, slowly, you laced your fingers through hers properly, squeezing back.

“…I think I do.”

Her smirk softened into something almost gentle.

“Good,” she murmured.

— Troublemaker!sevika and Tutor!reader

You weren’t sure when this became normal.

When tutoring sessions turned into something more—into lingering glances across textbooks, into stolen moments between classes, into a relationship that neither of you ever really talked about, but both of you knew was real.

It had started with her grumbling about the stupid school system, about how she didn’t need to study when she had “better things to do.” But now? Now, she was here—on time, every time, sitting across from you with a scowl like she hadn’t just walked across campus grinning at you like an idiot when she thought no one was looking.

She had changed.

Or maybe she hadn’t, and you were just seeing her differently now.

Either way, she was yours.

And that was enough.

“You’re staring.”

You blinked, realizing that, yes, you were staring, and, yes, she was very much aware of it.

“I’m not,” you lied.

She smirked. “Yeah? Then why haven’t you flipped the page in five minutes?”

You opened your mouth, then shut it.

Damn it.

She leaned forward, resting her chin on her palm, her eyes glinting with amusement. “Didn’t take you for the distracted type, tutor.”

You sighed, closing the book. “Maybe if you actually studied, I wouldn’t have to get distracted.”

She scoffed, leaning back. “I do study.”

You gave her a look.

“Okay, fine,” she huffed. “I study when you make me.”

“Exactly.”

She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue.

Instead, she tilted her head, watching you in that way that always made your stomach do something weird.

“Why do you even put up with me?” she asked.

The question caught you off guard.

Not because you didn’t have an answer, but because she sounded genuinely curious.

Like she didn’t understand why you were still here.

Like she didn’t realize how easy it was to love her.

You frowned. “Because I want to.”

She stared at you for a moment, something unreadable flickering in her expression.

Then, suddenly, she reached across the table, grabbing your hand.

It wasn’t gentle.

It never was with her.

But her grip was warm, steady, real.

“…Good,” she muttered, squeezing your fingers once before pulling away. “You’re stuck with me, anyway.”

You smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Dating her meant learning to navigate her world.

The world of bruised knuckles and reckless grins, of sharp words and sharper instincts, of someone who had spent so long fighting that she didn’t know how to stop.

You didn’t mind.

She never hurt you—not really.

But sometimes, she’d show up to your study sessions with a fresh cut on her cheek, or a bandage wrapped around her hand, or a bruise blooming on her jaw, and every time, you’d sigh, pulling out your first aid kit without saying a word.

She hated it.

“You don’t have to—”

“I do.”

She huffed but didn’t pull away, letting you press a cotton pad to her cheek, wincing when the antiseptic stung.

“Idiot,” you muttered, brushing your thumb over her skin after you were done.

She smirked. “You love me.”

You didn’t argue.

Instead, you leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to the uninjured side of her face.

She tensed for half a second before melting into it, her fingers curling around your wrist, holding you in place like she never wanted you to leave.

“…Yeah,” you murmured. “I do.”

There were other parts of her world, too.

Parts that had nothing to do with fights or scraped knuckles.

Like how she always walked you home, no matter how many times you told her she didn’t need to.

Or how she’d steal your pens just to hear you complain about it, only to return them later with a smug grin.

Or how she’d grumble about studying, but when you fell asleep next to her, she’d pull a blanket over you without saying a word.

Or how she’d stay, even when she didn’t have to.

She wasn’t the best with words.

But she didn’t need to be.

Not when she loved you like this.

“Hey,” she called one day, leaning against your locker.

You raised a brow. “What?”

She didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she shifted, suddenly looking a little… awkward.

Which was weird, because she was never awkward.

You frowned. “Are you—”

“I got you something,” she blurted out.

You blinked. “You what?”

She huffed, shoving something into your hands.

It was… a necklace. Simple, understated. Something you would actually wear.

You stared at it, then at her.

“…Why?”

She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms. “Because I wanted to.”

You looked down at it again, running your fingers over the chain.

It was nice.

And it was from her.

Your heart did that weird thing again.

“…Put it on me?” you asked softly, handing it back.

She blinked, like she hadn’t expected that, before scoffing. “You really like making me do things, don’t you?”

You smiled. “Yes.”

She muttered something under her breath but moved behind you, fastening the clasp.

Her fingers brushed against your skin, and you shivered.

“…There,” she murmured.

You turned back to her, letting her see the way you were smiling. “Thank you.”

She shrugged, but her ears were red.

You grinned.

Then, impulsively, you reached up, cupping her face in your hands before pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose.

She froze.

“…You absolute menace,” she muttered after a second, her voice half-choked.

You laughed. “You love me.”

She groaned. “I hate you.”

But the way she grabbed your hand, lacing your fingers together as she pulled you down the hall?

That told a very different story.

— Artist!ekko and Muse!reader

The world felt different when he painted you.

Maybe it was the way his eyes softened as they traced your features, the way his lips quirked up ever so slightly in that absentminded, faraway smile. Or maybe it was the way he became so completely immersed in the moment, like nothing else existed except you, him, and the quiet hum of creation between you.

You weren’t sure when it had started—when you had become his muse, when his hands had memorized the slopes and curves of your expression more intimately than you ever could. But at some point, it became normal to sit in his studio, to let him paint you while the sun spilled golden light across the room.

At some point, it became home.

"Stay still," he murmured, his voice soft but firm.

You huffed but obeyed, shifting just slightly to get comfortable. “You know, I’m starting to think you just tell me that so I don’t walk away.”

He smirked without looking up. “Would it work?”

You rolled your eyes. “Obviously.”

He chuckled, dipping his brush into a fresh stroke of color. "Then I don’t see the problem."

You watched him work, watched the way his fingers moved with practiced precision, his brow furrowing in deep focus.

It was so like him—to get completely lost in his art, in the way he captured emotions in strokes of paint. You weren’t even sure he realized how much he gave away when he worked. The quiet admiration, the unwavering patience, the unspoken tenderness in the way he committed you to canvas.

The thought made warmth curl in your chest.

He loved you.

Even in the moments when he didn’t say it outright, you felt it.

“…You’re staring,” he noted after a moment, amusement dancing in his tone.

You smirked. "So?"

"So," he mused, dabbing a final stroke onto the canvas before finally looking at you, "stay still."

You scoffed but didn’t argue.

His gaze lingered, studying you like he was committing every detail to memory.

Then, suddenly, he set the brush down, wiping his hands on a cloth before standing up and making his way toward you.

Your brows furrowed. "Are we done?"

He hummed, stopping right in front of you. "Almost."

Before you could question him, he reached out, gently swiping his thumb across your cheek.

You blinked.

“…Did you just wipe paint on me?”

His lips twitched. "Maybe."

Your jaw dropped. "You menace—"

He laughed, grabbing your hands before you could retaliate. "It’s barely anything!"

"You smudged me!"

"You’ll live."

You gasped dramatically. “I can feel it on my face—”

"Would you like me to fix it?"

You squinted at him, suspicious. "How?"

He smiled. "Like this."

And then, before you could react, he leaned down and pressed a kiss to your cheek, right where the paint had been.

You froze.

Your heart stumbled over itself, warmth blooming beneath your skin.

"...That doesn’t count as fixing it," you mumbled, embarrassed by how breathless you sounded.

He pulled back just enough to meet your eyes, his smile soft, fond.

"I disagree."

Loving him meant understanding the way he saw the world.

The way his hands itched to create, to turn fleeting emotions into something tangible.

The way he’d go silent for long stretches, caught up in his own thoughts, before suddenly dragging you into his latest project with that spark of inspiration in his eyes.

The way he loved you—not just with words, but in the way he painted you, over and over again, like he was trying to keep you forever.

And maybe, in his own way, he was.

One night, long after the city had gone quiet, you found yourself back in his studio, curled up on the couch while he worked.

You weren’t posing this time.

You were just there, watching as he sketched in his notebook, his focus unwavering even as the hours slipped by.

“…Do you ever get tired of painting me?” you asked suddenly.

He paused, looking up at you.

Then, without hesitation—"Never."

You stared at him. “You say that like it’s obvious.”

"It is obvious," he said simply, setting his notebook aside as he moved toward you.

You let him sit beside you, watching as he reached for your hand, tracing absentminded patterns along your fingers.

“…There are infinite things in the world to paint,” he murmured, his touch feather-light, reverent. “Landscapes, emotions, stories… But you?” He lifted your hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss against your knuckles. "You are my favorite."

Your breath caught.

You weren’t used to this—to his quiet, devastating sincerity.

He didn’t always say how he felt outright. He spoke in colors, in soft touches, in lingering glances over paint-stained canvases.

But this?

This was something else entirely.

“…You’re ridiculous,” you muttered, feeling your face grow warm.

He smirked. “And you love me for it.”

You rolled your eyes but didn’t deny it.

Instead, you tugged him closer, resting your forehead against his.

For a moment, neither of you spoke.

You just existed—wrapped in warmth, in paint-stained fingertips and whispered affections between the silence.

And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

— Bestfriend!jayce

There were moments where you still couldn’t believe this was real.

That after years of laughter, inside jokes, stolen hoodies, and whispered dreams of the future, you had ended up here—curled up next to him, his arm lazily draped around you, as if this had been inevitable from the very start.

In a way, maybe it was.

Loving him never felt like a sudden thing, never like some grand revelation that struck you out of nowhere. It had crept in slowly, weaving itself between every late-night conversation, every lingering glance, every touch that lasted just a little longer than it needed to.

And now? Now it was second nature.

He was yours.

And you were his.

“You’re doing that thing again.”

You blinked. “What thing?”

He smirked without looking up from his book. “The thing where you stare at me like I put the stars in the sky.”

You scoffed, shoving him playfully. “Get over yourself.”

He chuckled, finally turning his attention toward you. “Not denying it, though.”

You rolled your eyes, but the warmth creeping up your neck betrayed you. “Maybe I was just zoning out.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Or judging you.”

“Doubt it.”

You sighed, dramatic. “God, dating you is exhausting.”

“Right?” he teased. “Can’t believe you fell for me.”

“Yeah,” you muttered. “Can’t believe I did, either.”

His expression softened at that, his teasing smile melting into something fonder.

Then, suddenly, he reached out, brushing a stray piece of hair from your face before letting his fingers trail down, tracing the curve of your jaw.

“…Lucky me,” he murmured.

Your breath caught.

For a moment, neither of you spoke.

You just sat there, the warmth of his touch seeping into your skin, your heart stumbling over itself at the way he was looking at you.

Like you were something rare.

Like he had been waiting his whole life for you.

“…You’re such a sap,” you whispered.

His lips twitched. “Only for you.”

The thing about dating your best friend was that nothing really changed.

Not in the way you expected, at least.

There were still late-night fast food runs, still study sessions that turned into existential conversations, still a constant presence at your side whenever you needed him (and even when you didn’t).

But there were differences, too.

Like how he held your hand without hesitation now, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Or how he hugged you longer, pressing his face into your shoulder like he needed to be close to you.

Or how he kissed your forehead absentmindedly whenever you did something that made him proud, as if he didn’t even realize he was doing it.

Or how he whispered, "Love you," so casually, like he had always been saying it.

Like he always would.

“Okay, real talk,” he said one night, sprawled across your bed like he owned it.

You hummed, flipping a page in your book. “Mm?”

“If we weren’t dating, would you still have a crush on me?”

You blinked, giving him an unimpressed look. “What kind of question is that?”

“A valid one.”

You sighed, setting your book down. “We are dating.”

“But if we weren’t,” he pressed, propping himself up on his elbows. “Would you still be into me?”

You narrowed your eyes. “What kind of answer are you looking for?”

“The truth.”

You stared at him, trying to figure out what he was really asking.

Then, with a smirk, you shrugged. “Dunno. You’re kinda annoying.”

He gasped. “Rude.”

“But,” you continued, reaching over to poke his cheek, “I’d probably be in love with you anyway.”

He grinned. “Knew it.”

You rolled your eyes. “Shut up.”

“Hopelessly in love.”

You groaned. “Why do I even like you?”

He laughed, grabbing your hand and lacing your fingers together.

“…Because we were always meant to end up here.”

Your breath hitched.

The words were simple, said so casually, but they settled deep in your chest, spreading warmth through your entire being.

Because he was right.

Every moment, every choice, every little thing that led to this—it had always been leading you here.

To him.

To this.

To something more than forever.

— Enemies to lovers!viktor and reader

It still surprised you sometimes—how things had changed.

How the cold rivalry that once existed between you had melted into something warm, something constant, something that made your chest tighten in the best way whenever you so much as thought about it.

About him.

Once upon a time, you and him had been at odds with each other, a battle of sharp words and stubborn ideals. He was relentless, fiercely determined, a mind constantly working ten steps ahead. And you—well, you were the opposite. Passionate, chaotic, diving headfirst into the unknown with little concern for anything but discovery.

But now?

Now he was yours.

And God, you loved him.

“Stop working,” you whined, dramatically flopping onto his desk.

He barely spared you a glance, eyes still locked onto the notebook in front of him. “Can’t.”

“You always say that,” you huffed, watching as he furiously jotted down another equation, his pen moving like it had a will of its own.

“Because it’s always true,” he shot back, voice carrying that familiar unwavering certainty.

You rolled your eyes. “Five-minute break.”

“No.”

“Two minutes?”

“No.”

You sighed, tilting your head at him. “What could possibly be so important that you can’t take two minutes to—” You peered at his notes and blinked. “Wait. Is this…” You trailed off, recognizing the layout of a physics equation, the bold scrawl of hypotheses scattered between calculations.

He finally glanced at you, the sharp glint of his focus not dulled in the slightest. “I had a thought earlier and needed to get it down.”

You stared at him. “You had a thought so urgent that you couldn’t even pause for two seconds?”

“Yes.”

You exhaled, shaking your head. “You’re crazy”

“And you’re distracting.”

“You love me, though.”

A flicker of something softened his expression. He didn’t answer immediately, just studied you with those impossibly sharp eyes, the ones that always seemed to be unraveling the mysteries of the universe—except, in that moment, they were solely on you.

“Yeah,” he murmured eventually, the intensity of it making your breath catch. “I do.”

It was rare, hearing it outright like that. He wasn’t one for grand proclamations, but when he did speak—when he let himself be honest—it always hit you like a tidal wave.

You swallowed, warmth pooling in your chest. “Then take a break.”

He sighed, exasperated but amused. Then, to your utter delight, he set his pen down.

“Two minutes,” he relented.

You grinned, holding out your arms. “Hug me.”

He stared. “…Are you serious?”

“Absolutely.”

For a moment, he just looked at you, like he was analyzing the request for its deeper meaning. Then, without another word, he leaned forward and pulled you against him.

You melted instantly, nuzzling into the crook of his neck. His arms were strong, steady—the kind of embrace that felt unshakable, like he would hold the entire world together if it meant keeping you safe.

“…Better?” he murmured.

You nodded against him. “Much.”

His fingers lingered at your back, just the faintest trace of hesitation before he fully gave in, relaxing into the embrace.

And neither of you let go.

Dating him had been an adjustment.

He wasn’t the kind to wear his emotions on his sleeve. He was driven, always looking forward, always chasing after the next big thing. His brain never stopped, his heart never wavered, his ambition burning like an unstoppable fire.

Which meant he showed affection in his own way.

Like the way he never actually said I love you, but instead muttered things like, don’t forget to eat or stay inside, it’s cold.

Like the way he pretended to be annoyed when you interrupted his work, only to immediately pull you back when you tried to leave.

Like the way he sighed every time you teased him, only to let you lace your fingers with his under desks, his grip never faltering.

And the thing was?

You wouldn’t trade it for anything.

One evening, you were in the library together, him completely immersed in his research while you doodled aimlessly in your notebook.

The silence was comfortable, the kind that had become second nature between you.

Then, suddenly—

“…You make me reckless.”

You blinked. “Uh. Excuse me?”

He didn’t look up, his fingers tapping idly against the table. “You make me reckless,” he repeated, almost contemplative. “It’s irritating.”

You squinted at him. “Are you… saying you love me?”

He hummed. “Statistically, it would be hard to deny.”

Your heart stumbled over itself. “Oh my God.”

He finally looked up, arching a brow. “What?”

“You just confessed your love for me like it was a scientific fact.”

“…And?”

You let out a laugh, completely endeared. “You’re unbelievable.”

He rolled his eyes but didn’t look annoyed. If anything, there was something fond in the way he regarded you, something soft in the way he reached out, tapping his fingers against your wrist.

“…You already knew,” he murmured.

It wasn’t a question.

Because of course you knew.

You had known for a long time now.

But hearing it—even in his own, methodical way—still sent warmth flooding through your entire being.

You smiled.

“Yeah,” you whispered, reaching for his hand, lacing your fingers together. “I did.”

And if he squeezed your hand just a little tighter?

Well.

You didn’t mention it.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

tbh I don't know why everyone is so surprised that Riddle didn't pick Trey to be his Vice. I always thought that idea was contradictory to the version of Riddle that we see leading up to his overblot.

[You can see my thoughts on the book 7 chapter 12 part 2 update here!]

To quickly explain for those who don’t know: the recent update informed us that Trey was voted by his dormitory peers into the vice dorm leader position. He was not, in fact, hand selected by the newly appointed dorm leader Riddle.

I don’t really blame people for being surprised. Based on the presentation of Riddle and Trey in book 1 and what we knew prior about how vice dorm leaders are picked, the lore we learn in book 7 almost feels like it’s trying to convince us of another narrative historical revisionism, ayo/j. Let me try to explain what I mean.

Firstly, we have to remember that we spent a lot of book 1 with Trey, not with Riddle. We had lunch with Trey, we made a chestnut tart with Trey, we confronted Trey in the library, and we fought OB Riddle with Trey. We also see the camera cutting away to multiple instances of Trey trying to smooth things over with Riddle. And Trey is the one with warmth and fondness for his relationship with Riddle. Because we spend all this time with Trey (who is still attached to Riddle) versus Riddle (who is supposedly distant and detached), we get the impression that the two are closer than they truly are prior to Riddle’s OB. This impression is further strengthened by the presence of Chenya, another friend who paints their shared childhood in a largely positive light.

If you pay attention to how Riddle speaks to Trey throughout book 1 (pre-OB), Riddle does not speak warmly at all. He is usually speaking from the position of a ruler to his second-in-command and much of his dialogue with Trey is him commanding Trey to do X or Y. There’s no reminiscing about old times, no Riddle lording their childhood friendship to guilt Trey into falling in line, no leniency with Trey, nothing that would imply a connection beyond a professional one. Riddle basically treats Trey the same as Cater, his other third year minion at the time—and Riddle isn’t close with Cater at all. The one major exception I would say is right before Riddle OBs, in which he demands if Trey is also betraying him. Again, because we have spent so much time with Trey, we see Riddle from his perspective. We are more likely to view Riddle’s demand as him being hurt that his childhood friend is turning on him versus viewing Riddle’s demand as being hurt that his right-hand man who has been following his orders right up until now refuses to obey.

Really, it feels like less of an issue of fans not picking up on Riddle and Trey being alienated in early book 1 and more of an issue of how book 1 is framed. So much of it is colored by Trey’s (ironically) rose-colored lenses, so we as the viewers who are exposed to it are far more likely to see their friendship as persisting and Riddle having a soft spot for Trey as well. (Riddle is more patient later in the main story too, Granted that book 1 was so long ago, fans may remember the more patient and empathetic post-book 1 Riddle and may judge him based on that metric rather than the book 1 metric.)

Another major aspect as to why people are surprised that Riddle didn’t personally pick Trey as his vice dorm leader is because we literally didn’t know about any other methods to become vice dorm leader??? 😭 Like. I’m pretty sure that the only method we knew of before was to be picked by the dorm leader. I guess people noticed Riddle and Trey were childhood friends and assumed Riddle picked Trey because of familiarity? This is also the case with several other dorm leader/vice dorm leader duos, so this conclusion isn’t based on nothing.

Trey doesn’t strike a lot of us as a particularly… ambitious person?? He often expresses that he doesn’t like getting involved in conflicts or when people cause problems for him, which would be common occurrences for someone in a position of power like the vice dorm leader seat. You’d think Trey would actively want to avoid those responsibilities. Most of us probably didn’t think he would accept the position of vice dorm leader unless the person picking him for it is someone he cares about and/or feels like he has to support—which Riddle is. A ton of his behaviors in book 1 supports this, from doing Riddle’s dirty work and sharing that he harbors guilt over the past + struggles to speak against Riddle because of that.

Book 7 tells us what was technically true of Riddle’s perspective and treatment of Trey early in book 1. We just failed to see it before because of the lack of information and overwhelming bias at the time.

[wooataes]

Real Eyes, Fake Lies (Part 11)

Pairing: soulmate!Lee Jihoon x Fem!Reader

Word Count: 2.8k

Warnings: Hanahaki!AU, angst, all hurt no comfort, swearing, tears, the usual 🙂‍↕️

Summary: What do you do when you find out the one person that was created by the universe to be yours doesn’t want you back?

A/N: It has been WAY too long since I've updated this story and I apologise for that 🙂‍↕️ I finally feel like I've gotten my life back on track to finally be able to post a long awaited update!! Thank you to everyone who still reads and enjoys my fics, it means a lot ! 🥹 - Tae 💜🌸✨

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“Do you know what’s wrong with him?”

“His girlfriend left him, genius. What do you think is wrong with him?”

Jihoon rolls his eyes. His housemates have as much subtlety as an earthquake. Their naturally loud voices seep through the closed door of his bedroom as he stares at his ceiling, a sigh leaving his lungs in the darkness as the outside voices drone on.

“Hyung,” Mingyu sighs. “It’s been over a week now… Should we call someone?”

“Who would we call?” Junhui retorts. “His soulmate? Because up until last week, I thought his soulmate was Ji-ah.”

The mention of her name creates another pit in Jihoon’s stomach. He hates it. He wishes he could just get over the stupid emotions that run through his veins at the mere thought of his not-soulmate, now also not-girlfriend.

“His parents are hours away and he has no siblings that we can contact.” Junhui continues, frustration laced in his voice. “I don’t know who we could call.”

“Doesn’t hyung have a cousin who-”

“I can hear everything you guys are saying. You know that, right?” 

Jihoon’s hard voice carries through the door, his housemates falling silent on the other end.

“Jihoon-ah.” A deep voice mutters, causing him to tense up. He knows that Wonwoo knows how to get through to him. “Can we talk?”

After a long pause, Jihoon’s bedroom door slightly creaks open. “Wonwoo, I told you yesterday,” he stares at the ground, refusing to make eye contact with the older man. “I am fine-”

“You are not, Jihoon-ah. And we both know it.” 

“How do you know?” He snips.

“You haven’t left your bedroom since Ji-ah left you last week.” Jihoon sucks his teeth at her name.

“I never left my bedroom before she left me.” He hisses back.

“Yes, you did.” Wonwoo retorts back. 

“When? To go on dates with her?” he barks. “To take her out? To go visit her family? Well, guess what? She is gone, Wonwoo, so I have a whole lot more free time and I choose to spend that time at home.” his voice cracks slightly, bottom lip shaking as he moves to close the door once more, his frown deepening as Mingyu grabs a hold of the door before it closes.

“Hyung, we’re sorry.” Mingyu’s voice is softer now as he looks at him with sad eyes. “We’re so fucking sorry that you’re going through this but we are here for you and want to be there for you.”

“I don’t need-”

“Please don’t push us away.” Wonwoo frowns, his hand resting over Jihoons. “Jihoon-ah…”

Jihoon shakes his head quietly, a small hiccup leaving his lips. “Wonwoo, I promise, I’m fine.” He gently lets his hand fall from Wonwoo’s as he moves to shut the door to his bedroom once more, wiping the stray tears that threaten to spill from his eyes.

“I truly don’t know what to do, guys.” Jihoon winces at the defeated tone of his older housemate’s voice as he climbs back into the comfort of his bed once more, hoping to forget about the world around him for a little bit longer.

Jihoon heaves a loud sigh as he steps into his first Film Studies class in nearly two weeks, slumping down in his chair, rubbing at his temples slightly as Professor Park begins his usual droning on. He really should be listening to the lecture at hand, but he can’t bring himself to. Not when he can feel the eyes of multiple people in the class lingering on him. He’s sure that word has gotten around now about his very public dumping and the fact that Ji-ah was obviously never his soulmate. He hates that he can feel the sympathy radiating off of his peers, and even off of you, his real soulmate, sitting directly beside him with your stupid perfect hair and stupidly neat notes that you wordlessly offered him to help catch him up on the classes he missed. He accepts them graciously, spending most of the lesson copying your notes into his notebook.

“Professor,” a deep voice from the back of the room calls out near the end of the lesson, drawing Jihoon from his thoughts. 

“Yes, Jaebeom?” 

Your soulmate glances at you at the sight of your body tensing up at the mention of the newcomer’s name. He tilts his head slightly as he feels nerves begin to bubble in the pit of his stomach from you, causing him to raise a brow. You take a slow breath before scribbling idly on your page again, indifference on your face, but Jihoon knows it’s a front. 

Why are you so tense?

“About the extension on our group project?” Jaebeom’s voice lulls out in a drawl, a clear cockiness hidden in his tone. 

“Ah yes,” Professor Park hums, nodding his head. “I know some of you have gone ahead and already submitted your essays and presentations to me, and I’m thankful for you guys for getting these to me on time and even earlier. For the remainder of you all who have yet to submit your projects, I’ve extended the deadline by two weeks, due to an unavoidable event I must attend.”

Jihoon hears his classmate’s sighs of relief, and in turn, he breathes out as well. He knew he had neglected his end of his project with you for the last week, and he feels grateful that he can make up for it.

“I do hope the rest of you,” Professor Park sends a look to the back of the room, “get this done in due time. Class dismissed.”

Jihoon wordlessly offers your notebook back to you, a frown forming on his face when he sees you duck your head, letting your hair fall over your face. He glances to see a taller man wearing low jeans and a beat up baseball cap on his head march- no, strut down the stairs to reach the door, sauntering out with what Jihoon can only describe as a sleazy grin on his face. Once he steps out of the room, you immediately collect your things, bow your head to Jihoon with a little smile, and jump up to leave the classroom.

“Professor,” your soulmate approaches the teacher. “I appreciate you extending the deadline-”

“Oh, Jihoon-ssi!” Professor Park smiled. “Are you feeling better? Miss Choi told me that you were unwell when she submitted your project to me last week.”

“Oh.. Yeah, I’m feeling alri- Wait. Submitted?” Jihoon blinked.

“Yes,” he smiled. “Both of your arguments had wonderful points to pit against each other. Well done! I will be posting your grades in a few weeks!”

You finished off the project for him? Why are you so… nice?

“Uh… Thank you, Professor.” Jihoon bows his head in thanks before slowly stepping out of the classroom, starting to walk in the direction of home, the sound of thunder rumbling in the distance.

Jihoon takes a deep sigh as he finds himself sitting down at the park bench that is so familiar to him now, letting the raindrops land on his clothes and face as he tilts his head back.

“Jihoon-ssi?” your voice is quiet over the sound of the loud rain, but Jihoon could hear you. He always does. He blinks as he feels the heavy raindrops that land on his hoodie abruptly stop, looking up to see a pastel umbrella being held over his now drenched body. “What are you doing out here?”

Jihoon shrugs quietly for a moment. “I… don’t know.” He glances down at the wet sleeves of his hoodie. “Just.. Thinking.”

“Well, I think you should think away from a torrential downpour next time,” you quip with a little smile, hoping the joke makes him crack a smile.

“Nah,” he hums. “It’s comforting, the rain..” 

“Comforting?” You echo, tilting your head innocently as he hums a confirmation.

“Mm. Rain doesn’t have colour.” He glances at you for a moment, slightly amused by the cluelessness on your face as you just blink at him. “Ah, it’s silly, really,” he continues. “The sky doesn’t have colour when it rains, it reminds me of what the world looked like before everything changed. Everything is so different now.”

“You’re right.” You agree quietly. “Everything is different.”

“Thank you,” Jihoon mumbles after a brief silence. “For helping finish off the project while I was… y’know.”

“Oh, that?” You shrug. “That was nothing. You had all the arguments, I just articulated them for you. Figured that you already had enough on your plate so I thought you wouldn’t mind if I submitted a little early to get it out of the way for the both of us.”

“How do you do it?”

“Huh? Do what?”

“... Live.” Jihoon’s voice is barely above a whisper as you settle down on the park bench beside Jihoon, still holding the umbrella over his head. “How do you just live life so damn happily while you feel like absolute shit all the time? And don’t deny that you don’t, I have felt every single emotion you have felt for weeks now.”

You pause for a moment, looking up at the sky before humming. “I suppose I just got used to it.” You shrug. “It kind of just became like a background noise for me. It’s just always there.” 

“Even when the pain is doubled now? Because of me?”

You shrug once more. “It’s not something I haven’t dealt with before. I can feel the pain for both of us, Jihoon-ssi. It’s okay.” You give him a little smile. “I have had a lot more practice at loss than you have.”

Jihoon feels the irritation bubbling up inside him slowly.

“What is that supposed to mean?”

You blink in confusion as you glance at him. “Huh?”

“I have experienced loss too, you know.”

“I know that, I just-”

“I am more than capable of feeling these emotions too.” He frowns.

“I know,” you emphasize, “I just wanted you to know you don’t have to face them on your own.”

Jihoon scoffs quietly. Who does she think she is, giving him advice on how to deal with his emotions? “I know that too. You don’t need to point out the obvious, Choi.”

“Do you know that?” You retort, raising an eyebrow. “Because from what Mingyu told me, you’ve barely left your room until this week.”

“Ugh,” Jihoon groans, leaning his head back. “Am I not allowed to have time to myself?”

“Of course you are,” you sigh. “But you’re also-”

“You know, you should think about facing your emotions on your own instead of relying on everyone else around you.” Jihoon hisses at you with a glare as you freeze with wide eyes. 

“H-huh?” He can feel your doubt seeping into his veins.

“Your brother, his soulmate, Soonyoung, Seokmin,” he rambles. “They’re always at your beck and call when they could be living their own lives with each other and not have to worry about you every five fucking minutes like you’re their child.”

“I…” You balk, Jihoon wincing at the feeling of your stomach twisting inside him. But he doesn't care, he wants you to hurt as much as he does. It’s your fault he doesn’t have Ji-ah anymore, afterall.

“Just go away!” He barks. “When will you realize that your help isn’t needed?! You’re not needed! I lost the one girl I truly fucking loved because of YOU! Why would I want you around?! Leave me alone already!”

After a long silence, Jihoon finally turns his head to look at you, staring at him for what seems like hours with the same look that you had on the day you brushed hands for the first time. That isn’t what frightens your soulmate, though. What frightens him is the fact that he can’t feel anything inside him anymore, besides his own pain.

“... sorry, I’ll leave you alone.” You mumble robotically, delicately placing the umbrella beside him before rising and walking through the heavy rain in the direction of your house, letting the rain run down your clothes.

“Fuck.” Jihoon sighs heavily and buries his face into his hands, squeezing his eyes shut as he hears your footsteps move further and further away.

He needs to apologize. He knows he does. He knows he said those words out of anger and hurt, and he knows you definitely didn’t deserve it. 

But why can’t he find it in himself to go to you and do it? You’re literally two tables away from him right now.

Jihoon, he scolds himself, it’s been days. You need to man up and tell her you’re sorry. 

Could he be worrying a little now because since he confronted you, he has felt no emotions whatsoever from you? Has he finally lost the tether from you?

“Hello you!!” A loud, cheery voice snaps him into reality. He blinks as he stares at his cup of ramen in his hand, fidgeting on the hard steel of the cafeteria chair underneath him, trying to figure out where the loud voice had come from.

Seungkwan makes his way over to where you’re sitting, draping himself over your back. Before he can ask how you are, you jolt up quickly, scooting away from him like you’ve been burned.

“Hey.” You give him a little smile, pressing yourself up against the wall. “Where’s Hansol? You should be with Hansol.”

Seungkwan’s face contorts slightly as he sticks his lips out in almost a pout. “He had to run to make his next class… Bug, what’s wrong-”

“I actually have to run too, Kwan.” You stammer out quickly, grabbing your backpack and stepping out from behind the table. “Talk later?”

“But, you haven’t even touched your lunch…” his voice fades out as he watches you rush quickly out of the cafeteria, surprise etched on his face.

Jihoon watches on, just as surprised as Seungkwan as he reaches the table with him, Soonyoung and Seokmin.

“Okay, what the hell was that? What happened to Bug?” Seungkwan immediately questions Soonyoung, who upon further inspection, looks just as out of it as you are.

“We don’t know,” Seokmin speaks for his soulmate. “Every time she’s at home, she stays locked up in her room and only leaves to cook dinner for us and clean up. She didn’t even come down for movie night the other night.”

Your soulmate’s eyes widened slightly as Soonyoung took a deep breath. “Something has happened and she won’t tell us what. She doesn’t even speak when she’s at home anymore.”

“We’ve tried to talk to her, get her to come out of her room, do anything, but she doesn’t budge. I’m getting worried.” Seokmin bites his lip.

“I don’t know what the hell has happened to our Bug. She is literally just doing fucking chores and whenver one of us tries to hang out..” your best friend rubs at his temples. “She keeps insisting we hang out with our soulmates. With each other. I don’t know why the fuck that doesn’t mean she can’t hang out with us too.”

Jihoon feels sick as your housemate’s words sink in to him.

When will you realize your help isn’t needed? You’re not needed!

Fuck.

“Jesus Christ, Jihoon-ah.” Wonwoo breathes out when Jihoon finally steps through the door. “You were supposed to be back four hours ago. What the hell were you- Jihoon-ah?” 

His eyes widened at the sight of his housemate stepping under the lights of the hallway, lip trembling and hair sticking in six different directions. Jihoon truly didn’t mean to take so long making it home. He supposes he lost track of time wandering campus with his racing mind.

He knew his words had gotten to you. At the moment it felt good, for you to feel the pain he did. But now? Seeing his friends, your family agonizing over how detached you are? 

What has he done?

“Jihoon…” Junhui looks on worriedly, reaching forward to slip the backpack off his housemate’s shoulders.

“I… I knew what I was getting into when I chose to date her, Wonwoo.” His voice quivers as he stares at the ground. “I knew that she already had a soulmate, but… I-I didn’t think…” 

“Of course you didn’t.” Wonwoo agrees.

“She told me that he had moved countries years ago… There was no chance he’d come back…” a small tear slides down his cheek as his housemate hums in acknowledgement. “And when I… when I found my soulmate and I-” Jihoon chokes back a sob. “And I rejected them to keep a hold of Ji-ah…” His soft cries echo into the quiet hallway. “I… I felt their heart break inside of me, I’ve felt their pain for weeks a-and now I feel their pain on top of my own and… fuck, I broke her, man.”

“Oh, Jihoon…” Junhui sighs sympathetically as Wonwoo pulls Jihoon towards him, bringing his head into his shoulder as his arms wrap around his back in a warm embrace. 

Jihoon pauses for a moment. He blinks once, twice, and a third time before he lets out a soft sob, his hands gripping onto Wonwoo’s shoulders desperately as he buries his face into the soft fabric of his shirt.

“Hyung,” he chokes out. “I r-really fucked up.”

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[katyawriteswhump]

love and other catastrophes at the omega cafe (1/8)

So I posted about this idea before here, (and was overwhelmed by the response—thank you!) but basically a cat café opened near me and inspired this:

Summary: Steve is a runaway Omega who gets a job at an Omega café, where he’s basically paid to curl up and purr in Alphas’ laps. It’s legal, and he earns a living, rents his own place. He’s getting along fine for a packless Omega. Then Alpha rockstar Eddie Munson turns up for an hour of ‘kitty’ petting, and shatters Steve’s fragile little world…

Rating: M (will be E); No major warnings; Tags: omega steve, alpha eddie, a/b/o dynamics, fluff and angst; (It won't get tooooo angsty, I promise, and I should probably write a shorter version, but this seemed to want to get bedded in for some plot, so...) read on A03 and thank you @lexirosewrites for being so patient with my weird belated questions about what do with my idea!

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛

Chapter 1

Steve clocked in with Carol at the coffee counter and cosied up on a beanbag waiting for the first customer to arrive. He couldn’t stop yawning and struggled to keep his eyes open.

He didn’t usually work the Monday morning graveyard shift at ‘Kitties’—otherwise known as the Omega Café. Carol usually put him on the weekends, which were their busiest times. Plenty of Alphas—and sometimes Betas—were free then, to pass an hour with a cute Omega purring in their lap.

For a cost, naturally.

Steve, though, had called in sick yesterday and needed to make up his lost earnings. He’d been in heat. So, three days of cold sweats, congealed slick, and crippling cramps. At least the blockers he used for this job curbed his desperation to be fucked. All the same, a dull gnawing pain in his pelvis persisted, he’d barely slept and…

…Ugh, this beanbag was, if anything, too inviting and soft.

He’d gotten his most comfy, stretchy shorts on, his most butter-soft collar, and an only-slightly-cropped-at-the-midriff vest. His feet were bare, which was fortunate. Right now, only his icicle toes were keeping him awake. He was tempted to grab one of the many fluffy blankets scattered around the café, pull it up over him and snooze.

He was torn between asking Carol for a double espresso or napping—to be fair, it was unlikely anybody would join them till noon—when the bell on the door tinkled.

So much for a peaceful snooze.

Fortunately, rather than a hungover Alpha, Robin burst in. On spotting Steve, her shoulders sagged with obvious relief. She hurried up to the counter and presented Carol with her Apple-Pay. “Flat white with an extra shot, and an hour of kitty cuddles, please.”

“Sure.” The payment bleeped through, and Carol turned to grind the coffee beans. She never bothered with great customer service for Steve’s best friend. That said, customer service wasn’t Carol’s strength at the best of times. Steve liked that about her. For an Omega, she was a bitey feral, and she sure had their boss, Tommy, under her claw.

Robin sat down at a table, pulled a cushion onto her lap. Steve shuffled over on his knees and laid his head on the cushion:

“Jesus, Robin,” he whispered, as she started to pet his hair. It was usual practice for Omegas to wait till the customer spoke first, but this was, well, Robin. “You don’t have to pay to see me, you know that?”

“Apparently, I do, Dingus! I’ve been going out of my mind! Why didn’t you return my, like, billion texts?”

“Shit. Sorry.” Her fretful pettings only made him feel more guilty. “I’m out of data, and you know how shit Wi-Fi is in Sunshine Village. Plus, I had really bad cramps this month—I could barely crawl out of bed this morning.”

“Yeah, I guessed that. God, I’m sorry, too.” She slowed her strokes, as they both relaxed a little. “I worry about you all the time, living there. Working here. I wish I could take you home with me. Damn, I should rent somewhere you’re actually allowed to live.”

“No way. I’m fine, Robin. Seriously, I’ve landed on my feet. I like having my own little home. The heating is working in my block this week, and this is a pretty cushy gig.”

Steve didn’t even say that for the benefit of Carol, who’d just dumped Robin’s coffee on the table, slopping half of it into the saucer.

Steve had arrived in the city four months ago, down to his last few dollars. He’d soon realized that acceptable Omega jobs—teaching assistant, nanny, seamstress, junior positions in retail and catering—would all require handing over too much information about himself. He’d also swiftly discovered that Sunshine Village, the district he’d heard about where single Omegas could live unmolested, was little better than a slum.

He’d been caught between the terrifying choices of fleeing back home, starving, or sex work. Then he’d stumbled across this place.

If Tommy had checked the fake name Steve gave, he hadn’t cared. Steve got paid in cash after each shift and earned enough to rent a small place in the Village. Which, despite its shabbiness, turned out to be full of friendly, supportive Omegas.

It all meant he didn’t have to worry about Robin being evicted from her pleasant ‘beta’ neighbourhood for harbouring an unregistered Omega.

Robin chatted on, while sipping the remnants of her coffee and petting Steve idly. While she complained about how unfair the world was for Omegas—they’d met when Steve had turned up at an Omega soup-kitchen she volunteered at—her speech also underlined his point.

His life could be a shitload worse.

This morning, he was being paid for his best friend to give him much-needed bodily contact in a no-strings-attached fashion. While he didn’t have to force fake purrs for her, like he did for the majority of customers, soft sleepy purring happened anyhow.

After Robin left for work, the café was empty again. Carol made them both hot chocolate then turned her attention to doing her nails. Steve breakfasted on an out-of-date lemon muffin, which was still nice and gooey in the middle, then slipped out to the washroom for the second time since Robin left. He needed to re-check his hair.

He was reapplying his eyeliner, when he heard the bell tinkle again.

So much for the ‘graveyard’ shift. He pinched his pale cheeks, bracing himself to face whoever wanted to cuddle him next.

A high-pitched squeal from Carol pierced Steve’s hearing—one that was probably only audible to other Omegas.

And the scent snatched his breath.

The Omega café was flushed with scent-neutralising air fresheners, for obvious reasons. Whoever this Alpha was, his musk was potent enough to punch straight through. It nearly floored Steve with low notes of leather and woodsmoke, and high notes of… Christ, Steve didn’t know what that was.

Plums? Fine Californian wine?

It set his mouth watering, for all of a split second.

Carol! Was she okay?

He rushed from the washroom and peeped from behind a thick velour curtain.

Carol was fine. She was taking payment from an Alpha with long, slightly-frizzy retro hair, a jean jacket—who the fuck wore those?—and dark soulful eyes.

Steve’s heart rate spiked.

The Alpha was pretty damn good-looking, and young too, maybe only a year or so older than Steve.

He was also faintly familiar.

Did Steve know him from back home? Would he recognise Steve?

“So, how does this work?” asked the newcomer. His drawling accent sent a shiver down Steve’s spine that wasn’t entirely unpleasant. His voice was as sexy as the rest of him… and that definitely wasn’t a North County accent. Steve relaxed slightly, ogling the guy who was literally setting both his and Carol’s legs wobbling.

“You pay up front for an hour of kitty cuddles,” she said. “You have to order a minimum of one drink, and all new customers must read and sign our rules and disclaimers.”

“Ma’am, it’s Monday morning.” The Alpha sounded wearily amused, gesturing to the three-page fine-print document she shoved across the counter. “Do I really have to read all this?”

“How about I summarize for you.” Yup, Carol was being helpful and polite. Either someone kidnapped the real Carol, or this Alpha really was special. “You’re not about to go into rut, I take it? Because if you are, Sir, I’m really, really sorry—we can’t take that risk here, or we could get shut down.”

The Alpha shook his head. While Carol reeled off a few pertinent points—“no scenting, obviously. No kissing,”—his gaze snapped onto where Steve skulked, half-hidden behind the drapes.

Steve jumped back out of sight.

“Soooo,” said the Alpha, when Carol finally stopped talking. “To summarise—I can stroke the pussies, but I can’t stroke the pussies?”

Carol giggled. Though they’d all heard that joke, and every variation on it, at least a billion times.

“Pretty much,” she said. “We’re absolutely NOT a brothel. And don’t expect cat-ears and whiskers and all that jazz. Thursday is usually full-costume night, and… erm, right now, we only have one kitty, and he seems to have strayed. Boy kitty okay with you?”

“Yes, thank you, Ma’am,” said the Alpha.

“Cool. I’ll go coax him out with a saucer of milk or something.”

She found Steve backed up against the dingy back-corridor wall, knees basically jello. “Get out there! Christ, you do realize who that is?”

Steve shook his head, throat too tight to speak. He honestly didn’t know what was wrong with him. Alphas moseyed in and out of this place every day. He was usually able to keep himself together.

“It’s Eddie Munson! Lead singer of Corroded Coffin? Super-hot and super-famous bad-boy Alpha rockstar? Jeeees, you really did live in a box till you got here, didn’t you? Look, get out there—before I tell him boy kitty is off the menu, grab my skimpiest bikini, and burrow into that scorching lap myself.”

She nudged him through the curtain. Eddie Munson had already settled onto one of the cafe’s roomiest couches, arms splayed along the back.

Legs splayed too.

Eddie glanced up and those gorgeous eyes raked Steve, head-to-toe, stripping him so bare he might as well have forgotten his shorts. The Alpha’s grin spread slowly, revealing glinting incisors, and creasing up into the sexiest dimples Steve had ever seen.

Steve wasn’t sure how he made it across the room. Somehow, he did, shuffling the final few feet on his knees.

“Hello, Kitty,” said Eddie. Possibly taking pity, he closed his legs. He shoved his thighs forward so Steve could easily lay his head in them.

Steve did so, facing out across the café. His heart skittered like a little prey animal’s. It was only then that he realized Eddie hadn’t placed a cushion on his thighs. Well, if Carol hadn’t highlighted that part of the rules, Steve was hardly in a position to do it now.

Eddie didn’t mess around. Strong fingers plowed straight into the springy mass of Steve’s hair. “What’s your name, Honey?”

“Uh… St-steve?”

Who fucking stammers answering his own name?

“Hi, Steve. I’m Eddie.” He leaned a little closer, hot breath joining those strong fingers to send Steve even deeper into fluster. “How do you put up with the stink in here? I mean, I get it. All those Alpha-Omega scents battering each other would make this place a real fleshpot. Shame, though. I bet you smell real sweet. I mean, I think I get a whiff of you, even now.”

“You get used to it,” squeaked Steve, cutting that line of conversation off pronto.

“You get used to the diabolical plinky-plonky piano music too, Steve?”

“Honestly, I don’t even hear it anymore.”

To be fair, Steve didn’t hate the perpetual loop of movie theme-tune classics for exactly that reason. Even the smoochiest love songs—like the instrumental version of “Everything I do, I do it for you,” currently playing—didn’t mess with his emotions in the way music so often did.

Eddie snorted a dry chuckle, leaning back against the cushions again. Steve’s eyes fluttered closed.

“You’re right, Steve,” drawled Eddie, massaging deliciously into Steve’s scalp, “it’s pretty easy not to hear it. You have got the cutest purr.”

Steve’s eyes flew wide. He hadn’t even realized he was purring yet! Yeah, he could fake purr, but he’d been too befuddled to get to that. Now, he shook with loud rattling purrs that he could barely control.

Omegas purred when they were happy and relaxed, and also when distressed, to comfort themselves. He’d been reduced to that over the weekend. These purrs, though, grew couch-quakingly loud and felt different from anyway he’d purred before.

“You okay there, Honey?” Thank heavens Eddie was nice, though that made Steve’s weirdness all the more inexplicable. Eddie ran the back of coolish fingers down Steve’s burning cheek.

“I’m sorry,” whispered Steve. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” His hormones must still be doing weird things after his chemically fucked-up heat.

He probably should’ve called in sick today too.

“Don’t apologise,” Eddie said. “Look, it’s freakin’ Monday morning. I’m the weirdo Alpha checking this place out. You’re just doing your job, and you’re mighty fine at it, I’m sure.” The words washed through Steve, their brutal truth leaving an awkward residue. “Listen, I’m just gonna sip my coffee and chill. You reckon you can chill too, little kitty?”

“Yes, Alpha,” murmured Steve. The preening growl that jostled from Eddie was enough to make Steve desperate to obey.

He didn’t usually call anybody Alpha on the job. It wasn’t strictly against the rules, but unless a client demanded it—and only the real a-holes did—the kitties avoided it.

Eddie, though, had dragged it from Steve before he could think about it, much like those purrs.

And much like how, a minute or so of petting later, Steve found himself purring effortlessly, and totally relaxed. He wasn’t even stressed by the fact that his cheek rested dangerously close to Eddie’s Alpha dick. Which appeared to be ballooning slightly beneath his thick pair of sweatpants.

This was exactly why the cushions were compulsory. Though Steve barely had time to worry.

“Steve,” said Eddie, fingering around the edge of Steve’s collar in a fashion that literally made Steve’s eyes cross with yumminess. “Are there any rules against you getting in my lap for proper cuddles?”

“No. Absolutely not.” There really wasn’t, though of course, it only worked with the larger Alphas. There’d been no way Steve could’ve fitted into a Beta like Robin’s lap, for example, without some level of squishing. Eddie was, to be fair, not the largest Alpha around, but he was certainly large enough.

After some not-too-awkward manoeuvring—and guided by Eddie’s hand in the small of his back—Steve soon found himself sitting across Eddie’s lap. Eddie scooped him close, and his arms curled around Eddie’s neck.

He stared point-blank into the fathomless depths of Eddie’s dark eyes. Nope. Too much. He dipped his gaze, then squeaked. Now, he fixed on Eddie’s jawline and throat, dusted with scruff, and which drew him like, well, catnip.

Steve inhaled oaky-smoky plums and… Holy crap, what even was that? He was in serious danger of burying his face there and violating the no-scenting rule himself.

Once again, Eddie sensed his discomfort and guided Steve’s head down onto his shoulder, holding him there. “Hey, any chance of another coffee,” Eddie called to Carol. “Extra-large mocha with marshmallows, please, Ma’am? Think I might be settling here for a while.”

After that, Eddie appeared to go out of his way to make Steve even more comfortable. Perhaps noting Steve’s squirmings over getting too close to his scent gland, he slid a thin throw cushion beneath Steve’s cheek. He then settled them both back against the comfiest, most enveloping part of the sofa. He pulled one of those fluffy blankets up over them both. Soon, a floaty weariness, bone-deep but pleasant, overcame Steve.

Even his ovaries had stopped bugging him. God, this was nice. He really got paid for this? Damn, he’d fallen on his feet and Eddie smelled divine. He couldn’t help but daydream about that huge Alpha dick nestled stupid-close to his pussy, with only two layers of fabric between them. He was too sleepy to get too excited, tho’. He soon floated on the surface of a calm ocean, safe and serene…

When Steve began waking up, a honeyed glow saturated his head and heart and previously aching pelvis. He couldn’t remember his dreams, but they must’ve been good ones. He felt complete and happy and… he flicked his eyes open. Oh shit! The cafe buzzed with conversation. Several other kitties had come on shift and were snuggling with Alphas.

He’d fallen asleep on a customer’s lap.

Steve’s focus snapped onto the clock behind the counter, where Carol and her assistant, Chrissy, who also did kitty duties, were rushing around making lunches.

1.57 pm.

He’d been asleep on the job for nearly three hours.

Asleep in the lap of…

“Hey there,” drawled Eddie, “somebody’s a sleepy kitty.”

Steve daren’t look up. Was Eddie pissed? He didn’t sound it.

Steve opened his mouth. Shut it again, dabbing the corner. His head had slipped off the pillow and rested against Eddie’s chest. The Alpha’s booming heartbeat mingled with an amused chuckle.

Steve wasn’t laughing: “Oh shit, I’m so sorry. I drooled on your t-shirt!”

“I know.” Eddie’s low rumbling sigh was one of the most contented sounds Steve had ever heard. “You gonna charge extra for that, Honey?”

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛ I have got quite a bit of this fic drafted, so hopefully more soon. If you’re enjoying, please let me know, or like and reblog... it means a lot to know somebody would like to read more *purrs hopefully* and thank you soooo much for reading this far 💚

[mononijikayu]

don’t they know it's the end of the world (cause you don’t love me anymore) — geto suguru.

You blinked, the knot in your chest tightening as you took in his face, his solemn expression that didn’t match the usual carefree look he wore. Was he already saying goodbye in some way? You shook your head slowly, the smile coming to your lips, though it carried a mixture of sadness and certainty. "Sugu, how could you even think about that?… I could never forget about you."  “It can happen, you know. Life happens.” He smiles in a small timid manner.   Your voice was soft, but there was no doubt in it. "No, you’re wrong. You’re the most important person in my life. How could I forget someone like you?"

GENRE: alternate universe - canon divergence;

WARNING/S: gen, afab! reader, angst, fluff, friendship, friends to lovers, eventual romance, slice of life, conflicted feelings, hurt/comfort, sad ending, physical touch, pet names (sugu, buttercup) mentioned character death, depression, mourning, loneliness, pain, grief, internal conflict, post-hidden inventory at the end, letting go, break up, meeting each other again, depiction of childhood, depiction of romance, depiction of internal conflict, depiction of complicated relationship, depiction of loneliness, mention of grief, depiction of depression, mention of internal conflict, non! sorcerer reader, sorcerer! suguru;

WORD COUNT: 10k words

NOTE: im soon back at university, so im rush writing everything and so im exhausted all the time too. so if im not updating, its because im probably regretting my life decisions. though, in any case, i will still publish as much as i can. im about two/three finished with valentines fics, but im tortured by sukuna because i have a standard with him and i can't escape it. anyway, i wrote this for suguru's birthday. he would have been thirty-five today!!! i hope you enjoy this fic!!! i love you all!!! see you on the sixth!!! <3

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IF YOU COULD DESCRIBE WONDER, IT WOULD BE BEING BY SUGURU’S SIDE. No one else could understand it, you like to think. What the two of you had, it was certainly a language made for two. It was a life that was built for the purpose of being known by you both. And you like to think that he feels the same way too.

You and Suguru had been together since you were kids, bound by an unspoken connection that neither of you ever questioned. Because, there was nothing to question about it. Nor could words even describe it all. It was too unique, too intriguing. And yet, it only belonged to the two of you.

It all started on a warm afternoon at the school playground, where laughter and shrieks filled the air as children ran around in endless games of tag. It was a long while ago, and yet it felt like yesterday to you. You could feel your eyes twitching as you watched from where you stood, permeating with desire and anxiety. 

You had been standing alone for a while, just a bit near the jungle gym, watching all the kids giggle and run about, with the zeal of youth dashing along with them.

As you watched them there with eager eyes, you kept wishing you could join in too, you wished you could run amok with joy too. But that heavy weight of fear blossoms your hesitation. It held you back from a lot of things, including making friends.

Yet, why wouldn’t you feel like this? You were new in town, and you didn’t know these kids. You didn't know any life lived in this place before you had come. Everything was new for you, as much as you were sure it would also be new to them. 

How would they even react to you, knowing you aren’t a familiar face they were already comfortable seeing? How would you interact with them, anyway? It’s not like you could just jump in and smile and just jump in easily? This is a sea and if you plunge so deep, you could drown. And you didn’t want that to happen. Not here, not when you were starting a new life. 

But then, that’s when he found you.

"Why are you just standing here?" a voice asked.

You turned to see a boy with dark hair, a little messy from running around, and warm, curious eyes. He wasn’t out of breath, despite the wild chase of tag that had just ended. His hands were shoved into the pockets of his tiny shorts, and he looked at you like he was trying to figure you out.

"I….I don’t know how to approach them." you muttered, kicking at a loose pebble. "I’m not sure how to come and tell them I want to play too, so I….."

Suguru blinked, then without hesitation, he grinned and reached out a hand to you. "I see…..Then let’s play together! I don’t care if you’re slow. I’ll just run at your speed, if that would make it easier on you."

Your eyes swiftly widened, surprised by the easy kindness in his voice. "Really?"

"Yeah!" he said enthusiastically. "I’ll even let you tag me first."

That was the beginning of everything, that was certain.

During recess, the world belonged to just the two of you. You ran hand in hand across the playground, unbothered by who was faster or slower. You hummed little tunes under your breath, and he giggled at the way you always skipped a step ahead before doubling back to him. You hopped, he ran, and sometimes, in the joy of it all, you tripped over each other’s feet and tumbled into the dirt.

And if one of you scraped a knee? The other sat down beside them without hesitation. If you fell, Suguru would plop down next to you, crossing his arms stubbornly. “I’m not playing if you’re not playing. That’s just how it is!

And you would do the same for him, because what was the fun in anything if he wasn’t right there beside you?

Nothing was ever quite complete without each other.

It wasn’t a good day unless you were together.

Even as you grew older, nothing changed.

The playground turned into quiet walks home, but your hands still found each other without thinking.

"You still hold my hand like we’re kids, Sugu," you teased one afternoon, fingers laced together as you walked home. The sun hung low in the sky, spilling warm golden light over the quiet street. Your shadows stretched long behind you, linked together like a promise.

Suguru glanced down at your hands, his grip tightening just slightly. "Yeah? You don’t like it?"

You smiled, squeezing back. "I never said that, you know!"

His grin was soft but sure, a mirror of the way he had always been with you. "Good. Because you’re still my favorite person."

And really, wasn’t that all that mattered?

══════════════════

IF YOUR BIRTHDAY COULD BE A HOLIDAY, SUGURU WOULD MAKE SURE OF IT. Your birthday has always been special, you know that much. But now more than ever, especially because, for as long as you could remember, Geto Suguru had been by your side for most of it. Now, it was even more special than before. 

The years blurred together in a collage of memories: the laughter, the excitement, the simple moments that felt so big when they were shared with him. There were so many pictures, pictures of the two of you, year after year.

You were always together. His presence in every single one, a steady anchor through the passing time. One that was the only constant throughout the world that keeps on changing.

Whether it was the early mornings, when you both rushed around the house, throwing together last-minute gifts for each other in the midst of the chaos of birthday preparations, or the quiet evenings spent chatting under the stars, those moments were always colored by Suguru’s unique way of making everything feel more important. 

He never treated your birthday like just another day. To him, it was an event, something that deserved to be celebrated with the utmost care. After all, it was the day you were born—the day you were with him. And to Suguru, that meant the world.

He didn’t just show up for your birthday. 

No, he took it as seriously as he would a test. 

He planned it meticulously, down to the smallest detail, as though the day had to be perfect.

"I thought you might like this, buttercup!" he’d say with a grin, always just a little too proud of whatever thoughtful gift he managed to get you, even if you’d both picked it out together the day before. "I’m pretty sure you’ll love it." 

And every time, no matter how simple the gift, the thought behind it always felt like the most meaningful gesture.

On your birthday mornings, you’d wake up to the smell of something delicious.  The pancakes, bacon, whatever it was that he knew you’d love, always cooked with that special touch that made it taste even better. He would rush in, hands full of wrapped presents, bright eyes sparkling like a child eager to see your reaction. 

"You ready?" he’d ask, bouncing on his heels.

You couldn’t help but smile at the sight— Geto Suguru, the one who always had his life together, who always so composed, turned into a ball of excitement for just one day.

Even in the evenings, as the day began to fade and the sky turned dark, you would find yourselves sitting together outside, wrapped in blankets under the stars. He’d listen to you talk about the year that had passed, what had changed, what had stayed the same while you both sat in comfortable silence, the kind only the two of you shared.

"Make a wish, okay?" he’d say when it was time to blow out the candles, the way he’d always said it every year. But there was something about the way he said it then, with that little smile on his face, as if he already knew your wish without needing to hear it.

Suguru didn’t need grand gestures. For him, it was always about the little things, the way he made sure your favorite song was playing when you entered the room, the way he’d insist on carrying your cake even though it was ridiculously heavy, the way he refused to let anyone else help you with the birthday prep, because it was his job to make sure everything was just right for you.

And he didn’t think it was just about the day itself. To Suguru, your birthday wasn’t just a celebration of your life; it was a reminder that you existed, that you were here, and that the world—his world—was just a little bit brighter because you were in it.

Every year, as he gave you your gift, no matter how big or small, you could always see that gleam in his eyes. The beautiful gleam that said. "This is important. This is you, this is us, and I’m going to make sure you feel special, because you are."

For Suguru, your birthday wasn’t just another day in the calendar. It was the day you were born—his day to remind you just how much you meant to him, and to celebrate the fact that, all these years later, you were still by his side. 

And when you looked back at all the memories, all those years of birthdays spent with him, you couldn’t help but smile. They weren’t just your birthdays, they were his to celebrate too.

He celebrated them just as fiercely, just as passionately, as if it were his own day to remember. Because, to Suguru, every birthday spent together was a blessing. And he never took that for granted.

But this year, it felt different.

Not because of the cake or the candles. Not because of the way your friends sang off-key, their voices melding into a perfect disaster. No, this year was different because, when the party had quieted down and the night was winding to a close, Suguru handed you a small, neatly wrapped box.

He was sitting beside you on the couch, his beautiful lilac eyes watching you closely as you held the box in your hands, the soft rustle of paper the only sound between you. You could only look at the beautiful box in front of you for the longest time. He clears his throat.

“Are you really not saying anything?”

You looked at him suspiciously, fingers hesitating over the ribbon. "You didn’t have to get me anything, Sugu."

"I wanted to, buttercup." he said simply, nudging the box closer. "Go on, open it."

So you did.

Inside was a delicate silver bracelet, the light catching on the fine chain, making it shimmer. But what caught your attention was the tiny charm hanging from it—a miniature book, small enough to rest in the center of your palm, its metal etched with tiny details that made it look like it had real pages inside.

You blinked up at him, surprise evident in your expression. "Sugu…"

He looked uncharacteristically shy, rubbing the back of his neck. "It’s nothing fancy, but… I thought it’d be nice. Y’know, for us."

"For us?" you repeated, tracing your fingers over the book charm.

Suguru nodded, watching your reaction closely. "Yeah. Because we always read together. Because of all those afternoons spent sharing a book, arguing over who gets to turn the page first—"

"You always turn the page too fast, you know." you interrupted with a pout.

"And you always get distracted by random things in the margins, buttercup." he shot back, smirking. “We’re both not good at it.”

You huffed. "That’s called appreciating the details, Suguru."

"Sure, sure." he laughed, shaking his head. "Anyway, that’s the first one."

You tilted your head. "First?"

He reached over, taking your wrist gently in his hands as he fastened the bracelet around it, his touch careful, warm. "Every birthday from now on, I’m giving you a charm. One for each year. Something that means something to us."

Your breath caught for a moment.

"You’re serious?" you asked, looking up at him.

Suguru met your gaze, his expression unwavering. "Completely." Then, with a lopsided grin, he added. "You’re stuck with me for a long time, you know."

You couldn’t stop the smile that spread across your face. Everything about you just felt warm, especially when you looked at it, knowing he put a lot of thought on this beautiful present. The bracelet felt light on your wrist, but the promise it carried felt heavier. This was solid, real, unshakable. Just like your relationship with him, ironclad for all your lives.

"Good." you said, squeezing his hand before letting go. "Because I wouldn’t want it any other way."

And back then, with Geto Suguru beside you, his promise wrapped around your wrist and his warmth wrapped around your heart, you believed it.

You really, really did.

══════════════════

ALL BIRTHDAYS ARE HAPPY, WELL THEY SHOULD BE. But this morning, this birthday of yours, it was not something that just truly felt odd. You had tried to put it off, knowing that it wasn’t the right place or time to talk about it. You could feel it, you know you do. Something was wrong with your best friend. 

Geto Suguru had been unusually quiet all day, even when he was trying to be casual and jolly, smiling at you. But you knew there was something going on and you couldn't put your finger on why. The excitement of the day had dulled a little, as the two of you moved through the motions of cake and presents, but something in the air felt different.

It wasn’t until later that afternoon when everything changed.

You had walked him to the train station, like you always did, ever since he moved to another part of the city. Though this time, there was an unspoken weight that drowned between you, a heaviness that neither of you could shake. Geto Suguru, usually so confident and carefree, seemed distant, his usual smile a little more strained.

"I got in." he said, as the train pulled up to the station, his voice barely above a whisper, yet somehow carrying the weight of his words.

You paused, unsure of what he meant at first. "Got in?"

He nodded, his eyes avoiding yours for a moment before meeting your gaze. "To Jujutsu High School. I’m going to Tokyo."

Your heart skipped, the reality of the situation sinking in like ice water. 

He was going to leave you, you were going to be separated. 

Your Suguru was heading to Tokyo to train, on the other side of your world.

For the first time in years, you wouldn’t be by each other’s side every day. The thought was almost impossible to process. Not when you had been together for so long, just being bubbles in each other’s circle. Your lips parted, you wanted to say something. But you didn’t know what. You were too stunned to speak. 

"Wait, you’re leaving? When?" you whispered, your voice suddenly became small. 

“Tomorrow.” He whispered, his tone almost blossoming with shame. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I don’t….I didn’t want to ruin the time and I didn't think it was going to come any time soon, but it just….”

"But… but today’s my birthday, Sugu."

Suguru gave you a sad smile, his hand reaching out to ruffle your hair. "I know. I’m sorry. But it’s not goodbye forever, okay? We’ll keep in touch, I promise."

You nodded, but the lump in your throat made it hard to speak. Suguru was your rock, your constant. The thought of him being so far away, in a completely different city, felt like the world was shifting beneath your feet.

He took a step closer to you, lowering his voice. "I didn’t want to leave without giving you something special." He pulled out a small box from his pocket, holding it out to you. 

You took it from his warm hands, your eyes brimming with questions. When you opened it, a soft gasp escaped your lips. Inside was a new charm for your bracelet—a delicate purple colored buttercup, its petals etched with such fine detail that it looked almost real. It was beautiful. And soulful. Almost glistening as brightly as his eyes.

He smiled gently, a warmth in his eyes as he slipped the charm onto your bracelet. "It’s a buttercup," he said softly. "My nickname for you. So I thought…I thought it would be perfect."

You stared at the charm for a moment, the lump in your throat thickening. "You still call me that…"

Suguru’s smile grew tender. "Always will. And whenever you look at it, I want you to think of me, okay? Think of me often."

You blinked away the tears threatening to spill and smiled back at him. "I will, Sugu. I promise."

He pulled you into a tight hug, holding you close for just a moment longer than usual. "Take care of yourself, alright? And don’t forget—I’m just a train ride away. Osaka is not that far. So when you need me, call me. Okay?"

“Okay.” You squeezed him back, trying to imprint the moment into your memory, trying to hold onto the feeling of him next to you. "I won’t forget. I’ll think of you every day."

Suguru pulled away slowly, his fingers brushing the side of your face. "I know you will."

The train’s loud engine roared to brutish life, and the sound of the wheels on the tracks made your chest tighten even further. You watched Suguru stand by the window.

His beautiful face illuminated by the soft afternoon light as the train slowly started to pull away. Your feet felt rooted to the ground, your mind racing with so many things you wanted to say, things you didn’t know how to say.

But before you could stop yourself, something inside you snapped. You took a step forward, then another, and then you were running, your heart pounding heavily in your chest, your breath coming faster as you pushed yourself harder, faster, chasing the train like you could somehow outrun the fear that gripped your heart.

"Suguru!" you called out, your voice shaking, but loud enough for him to hear.

He turned around in surprise, his eyes wide as he saw you running toward him. The train was moving faster now, but he didn’t hesitate. You could see how his face lit up with a mix of disbelief and hope, his hand pressed against the window.

"Sugu!" you shouted again, your heart racing even harder, your legs moving as if they had a will of their own. The distance between you seemed so large, but you weren’t going to stop.

He leaned closer to the window, his hand now reaching out, as if trying to touch you through the glass. You could see the concern on his face, his bright lilac eyes filled with an emotion you couldn’t quite name, but it made you move faster, faster than you thought you could.

When you finally reached the side of the train, you stopped just short of losing your breath. You pressed your hands to your chest, feeling your heart pounding, and you looked up at him, eyes shining.

"I love you, Suguru!" you blurted, the words spilling out before you could stop them.

For a moment, there was nothing but silence. Geto Suguru froze, his eyes wide in astonishment, as though he hadn’t expected you to say it—that particular thing, not now, not like this. You watched him, your heart hanging in the air between you, waiting for his reaction, wondering if you had made a mistake.

But then, his expression softened, and a smile broke through the surprise. It wasn’t just a smile you see. It was his smile, that beautiful smile that only belonged to you. The one that made everything feel like it would be okay, no matter what. He nodded slowly, a little chuckle escaping his lips as he leaned closer to the window, as if pulling you in even from a distance.

"I love you too, buttercup!" he said, his voice full of warmth, his eyes soft but certain.

And just like that, everything that had felt so heavy was lifted, the weight of the unspoken tension, the distance between you, all of it faded into the background of that moment. You smiled back at him, breathless but relieved, and the world around you seemed to slow down.

The train started to pick up speed again, and Suguru gave you one last look, his smile still lingering as he waved.

"Take care of yourself, okay?" he called out, his voice carrying over the noise of the train.

"I will!" you said, a smile tugging at your lips. "I’ll always think of you."

And with that, the train pulled away, leaving you standing there, heart full, the buttercup charm on your bracelet gleaming softly in the fading light. 

That train carried your heart with him.

But you were sure that you held his heart here too.

You looked at your buttercup charm, smiling.

“Come back to me soon, okay?”

══════════════════

THERE WAS SOMETHING ABOUT HOW MUCH HE HAD CHANGED. And all he could do was wish that you didn’t see it, that you would never find out the truth. All he could pray for was that you didn’t notice the light in his eyes dying or the bitterness of the taste from the curses he was forced to consume still on his tongue.  

Geto Suguru has always been a powerful force of nature, a rock withstanding everything in his way. In a way, he was also your rock, your steady presence in your life. No matter what was happening around him, he was there, unwavering, holding everything together with that quiet strength of his. 

But recently, something in him had started to shift. Something he wasn’t prepared to admit to just yet. Ever since Amanai Riko’s death, the change had been subtle at first, there were those small signs that he was struggling, pulling away just a little more each day. But now, as the days passed, it became harder to ignore.

Geto Suguru was slipping.

And he didn’t know how to stop it.

He didn’t know how to be more than this.

He didn’t know the way out of it.

He found himself lost in a fog of thoughts he couldn’t quite articulate, his emotions tangled in a web he couldn't find a way out of. The burden of loss weighed heavily on him, crushing him in ways he didn’t know how to handle. But he couldn’t—wouldn’t—let you see it. Not today. Not on your birthday. Not on your last day together.

He had made it a point, from the moment you walked into the room, to be the Suguru you knew. He plastered on that familiar smile, spoke to you like everything was fine, and made sure the day went on like any other. 

But the moment you looked away, or when you laughed, or when he caught you looking at him with that softness in your eyes, a heaviness settled deep in his chest. He wanted to say something, to tell you what was really happening, but the words felt like they were caught in his throat, unable to escape.

You had no idea what he was battling inside.

And he couldn’t bear to burden you with it—not on your special day.

It was the evening, the sun sinking low in the sky, and you both sat together on the balcony of his apartment, watching the colors in the sky shift from gold to deep blue. The breeze was warm, and you had your head resting on his shoulder, the same way you had for years. You both sat there in a comfortable silence, but Suguru’s mind was anywhere but there.

"I’m really glad we could spend the day together, Sugu." you said softly, your voice like a melody that brought him back to the present. “Thank you for coming to visit me, even with your busy schedule.”

Suguru nodded, his smile barely there as he kept his gaze on the horizon, afraid if he looked at you too long, you would see the cracks he was trying to hide. "Me too, buttercup." he said, but even to his own ears, the words didn’t sound right. They didn’t carry the weight they should have.

You could feel the subtle shift in his energy, the way he wasn’t fully present. He wasn’t the Geto Suguru you knew, the Sugu who would always make you laugh, who would hold you close and whisper silly things to keep your spirits high. He was distant, almost like a shadow of himself. And you knew he hated it, even without saying it to you.

"Sugu." you said quietly, sitting up to look at him, your hand gently touching his arm. "You okay?"

Suguru flinched, the question catching him off guard. He gave a small, forced laugh, trying to brush it off. "Yeah, I’m fine. Just tired, I guess. I’ve….been very busy."

But you didn’t buy it. You knew him better than anyone else, and you could see the lie in his eyes. But he wasn’t ready to talk, not now, not on the day that was meant to be yours, not on the day that he wanted to protect you from his own chaos. He didn’t want you to see him like this, not when everything was supposed to be perfect.

He wanted to be strong for you, wanted to be the Geto Suguru you deserved, the Geto Suguru that you love, the Geto Suguru you knew. But the weight of the world felt like it was crushing him from the inside, and he didn’t know how to hold it together anymore. 

You reached up to touch his cheek, the gesture so simple but full of the warmth you had always shared. "Sugu… you don’t have to hide from me. Not now. Not ever."

He froze at your touch, his lilac eyes shutting softly, even for just a brief second. He wanted to let it all go, wanted to break down in front of you, but he couldn’t. Not like this. Not today. He swallowed hard, the words choking him before he could even say them.

"I’m fine." he repeated, but there was no conviction in his voice. “Really, buttercup. Don’t worry so much about me, okay?”

You didn’t push him further, but the sadness in his once bright eyes told you everything you needed to know. He was breaking inside, but he didn’t want you to see it. He didn’t want you to know. He didn’t want to talk about it just yet. He wasn’t ready. Not yet. And especially not on your last day together.

"Okay." you whispered softly, leaning back against his shoulder once more, both of you falling into silence again.

But Geto Suguru knew. He knew that you would always see through him. And as you sat there, so close, yet so far from what was really happening, he couldn’t help but feel like he was losing grip on everything. He thought he was losing himself, you, on the life you had dreamed of sharing.

And so, the night passed in a quiet sadness, Suguru’s heart heavy with emotions he couldn’t quite express. Tomorrow, he will leave. Tomorrow, everything will change. He knew that all too well. By sunrise, you wouldn’t recognize him anymore. By sunrise, he wouldn’t be your Sugu anymore. 

But for tonight, he would hold onto this—hold onto you, and pretend that everything was okay, just for a little while longer. He thinks he could pretend one last time and keep you with him, enjoying the need of warmth that only you could understand.

The evening air was still, the world outside quieting as the stars began to prick the darkening sky. You sat together for a little while, as you waited for the train to come. Geto Suguru’s silence was heavy, but there was a soft, almost palpable tenderness in the way he was beside you. It was always that way, when he was beside you. Even when you were kids.

But the silence was a new thing. This silence was so loud, and yet so deafening. Yet you also didn’t bridge the gap. At least not tonight. He didn’t need it right now and you can tell. You just took a deep breath and waited, staring off the train tracks. 

Your Suguru seemed lost in his own thoughts, his calloused fingers absentmindedly tracing patterns on the railing in front of you, his lilac gaze ever so lost in the faraway space. To the place you could not follow.

But you knew it was just his way of trying to hold everything in. Then, after a moment that felt like eternity, he broke the quiet, his voice soft but steady, like he was trying to make it sound casual when it wasn’t. 

"I got you something, buttercup." he said, his hand reaching into his pocket. You looked up at him, noticing the faintest tremor in his fingers, but you didn't comment on it.

He pulled out a small, carefully wrapped box, offering it to you with a look that was a mix of hesitation and something deeper, something he couldn’t quite put into words. "I know it’s not much, but I wanted to give you something… meaningful. Like always."

You took the box from him, your little heart fluttering a little in anticipation, not knowing what to expect. Slowly, you unwrapped it with much care, your tender fingers gently peeling back the layers until you saw what was inside.

It was a charm, delicate and beautiful, with a tiny forget-me-not flower carved into its surface. The petals were soft, yet detailed, their edges just slightly raised as if to give them life, to make them feel real. The forget-me-not. It was simple but meaningful, and somehow, it felt like it held everything unsaid between you two in one small, fragile flower.

Suguru’s voice broke the moment, barely above a whisper, but heavy with emotion. "I want you to always remember me, buttercup." he said, his gaze meeting yours, his eyes dark with something you couldn’t place. "No matter what happens, no matter where life takes us, never forget about me."

You froze for a heartbeat, confusion washing over you at his words. Never forget about him?

The thought didn’t make sense. Geto Suguru was more than just a memory; he was the person who had shaped so much of your life, the one who had been there for you through everything. He was your everything. How could you forget him?

You blinked, the knot in your chest tightening as you took in his face, his solemn expression that didn’t match the usual carefree look he wore. Was he already saying goodbye in some way?

You shook your head slowly, the smile coming to your lips, though it carried a mixture of sadness and certainty. "Sugu, how could you even think about that?… I could never forget about you." 

“It can happen, you know. Life happens.” He smiles in a small timid manner.  

Your voice was soft, but there was no doubt in it. "No, you’re wrong. You’re the most important person in my life. How could I forget someone like you?"

Suguru’s lilac eyes softened at your words, the weight of the moment easing just a little as you spoke. His chapped lips parted slightly, as if he wanted to say something more, but he only let out a quiet, relieved breath, his shoulders relaxing for the first time that evening.

He reached out, gently placing the forget-me-not charm on your bracelet, his fingers lingering there for a moment longer than necessary. "I just… I need to know you’ll always remember. Even when we’re apart.”

"I will, I promise." you said, your voice firm, the sincerity in your words reaching the deepest parts of him. "I’ll always think of you. Every single day, every single hour. Even the seconds. I’ll always remember you, Suguru. You’re too important to forget."

“Is that so?”

You hummed, smiling at him. “Hm. Because I love you.”

For a brief, tender moment, Suguru’s eyes seemed to shine with something that wasn’t just sadness but relief. It was as if the weight of the unspoken fears, the guilt, and the pain he’d been carrying had finally started to lift, just a little. He smiled, a real, heartfelt smile that reached his eyes.

"Good," he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. "That’s all I need to hear."

And there, under the stars, with the sound of the world fading into a quiet lull, you both sat together. You didn’t need words to fill the silence that had settled between you. The charm on your bracelet was a promise, a symbol of everything you had been through, everything you had shared, and everything that was still to come.

"I love you too, buttercup." Suguru whispered, his voice barely above a breath, but the words carried so much weight, so much meaning that it felt like the whole world had shifted in that instant.

You didn’t hesitate, not for a second. "I know, Sugu. I know." you replied, a soft smile tugging at the corners of your lips, a smile that only he could make appear. 

It was a statement, but one that wasn’t born out of arrogance. It was the truth. The truth that had been there all along, between the quiet moments, the shared laughter, the years of growing together. He was your constant, just as you were his.

And you had always known, known in the very marrow of your bones.

he loved you too. More than anything in life. More than the universe could know.

Suguru didn’t immediately respond. He simply stared at you, his gaze softening with an intensity that almost made it hard to breathe. He shifted closer, his hands rising slowly, as if afraid that if he moved too fast, you would vanish in an instant. His fingers brushed against the curve of your jaw before they settled on your cheeks, warm and grounding.

His touch was gentle, the weight of his hands steady against your skin, as though he was afraid to touch you too hard, afraid that any sudden movement would make you slip through his fingers.

His gaze never wavered from your face, and for a long moment, it was like the world faded away. There was nothing but the two of you, him, close enough for you to feel the warmth of his presence, and you, feeling like the universe had shrunk to this moment.

Suguru’s eyes searched for yours, his expression both tender and filled with something deeper, something that only someone who had loved you for so long could understand. It was as though he was memorizing every detail of you.

The way the light caught in your eyes, the curve of your lips, the soft flutter of your lashes when you blinked. He took in your features like he was afraid they would slip away, like time was running out and he couldn’t afford to miss a single second of it.

His thumb traced the outline of your cheekbone, the movement so soft it almost tickled, but it was full of reverence. As if you were something sacred to him, something irreplaceable. As if you were the most important pearl of the world, shining in front of him, making him your sea. 

"You’re so beautiful, buttercup." he whispered, and the words held so much more than just a compliment. It was the way he said them, as if he had seen every side of you—your strengths, your flaws, your heart—and still, in every corner of it, you were beautiful to him. 

The simplicity of the words took your breath away, and for a moment, you didn’t know how to respond. You just looked at him, feeling the weight of his love like a gentle embrace, like it wrapped around your heart, holding it safe in his hands.

You didn’t need to speak to feel the truth of it all. This moment, this space between you, felt like the entire universe had conspired to bring you to this point, where everything you had shared and everything you had yet to share hung in the balance of this silent exchange.

Suguru leaned in slightly, his breath warm against your skin. You could feel the way his body was still, but there was a pulse of something deep inside him, something he wasn’t fully ready to let go of, not yet. And in that breathless, delicate space, you let your own heart speak.

"I love you, Sugu." you whispered back, your voice trembling just slightly, but filled with a certainty that made everything else fade into the background.

His hands cupped your face a little tighter, his thumbs stroking the soft skin of your cheeks as if you were the only thing that mattered in the world. "I’ll never forget you, buttercup." he murmured, almost as if he was saying it to himself, but you heard it. “You’re everything I am. Everything I breathe.”

The weight of it hung in the air, and though his words were bittersweet, you felt a flicker of hope in them.

"I’ll never forget you either." you whispered, your voice steady and sure, despite the turmoil swirling within you.

Because you knew that no matter where life took you both, Suguru would always be a part of you. No amount of time or distance could change that. “You’re my everything too.”

You leaned into his touch, your foreheads pressing gently together, the warmth of his hands grounding you both in the moment. His lilac eyes closed for a beat, a soft sigh escaping him as if he, too, was trying to hold on to this feeling, trying to commit it to memory just as you were.

And for that brief moment, there was no goodbye. There was only the now, the shared stillness, the love between you both, wrapped up in the quiet understanding that no matter what happened, you would always carry each other with you.

He moved his face closer, his lips brushing softly against your forehead. The kiss was light, like a promise, a silent vow that this love, this sacred bond between the two of you, it would never truly be broken, no matter the miles between you.

Suguru’s lips linger on your forehead for a moment longer, a soft, lingering warmth that makes everything else feel distant, as if time had slowed down just for the two of you.

The world outside the station, the sound of the train tracks, the noises of the city, the ticking of the clock, everything seemed muted, fading into the background as you both existed in this fragile, perfect bubble of quiet.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes soft but laden with an unspoken weight. He looked like he wanted to say something more, something important, but the words never quite formed. 

Instead, he just studied your face, as if he was trying to memorize everything about you. Every little memory of you, your bright expression, the way your long hair fell around your face, the way your eyes held a kindness that had always been there, even in the most difficult of times.

“I’ll miss you.” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion, a subtle crack breaking through the calm facade he’d been trying so hard to maintain.

You nodded, your heart aching as his words sank in. The truth was, you would miss him too, more than you could ever put into words. You couldn’t even imagine what life would be like without him so close, without his constant presence to steady you.

The thought of the distance between you both made the space around you feel colder, as though the warmth of his touch was already slipping through your fingers.

“I’ll miss you too, Sugu. More than you know.” you whispered back, the truth of it making your voice tremble just slightly.

He smiled, a sad, bittersweet thing, his thumb tracing the outline of your jaw once more, slow and deliberate, like he was savoring every moment.

"Just remember, buttercup." he murmured, his eyes soft but intense. "No matter where we are, no matter how far apart we get, I’ll always be with you. I’ll always be there, in everything we’ve shared."

"I know." you said, nodding again, a small smile tugging at your lips. “And I’ll always carry a piece of you with me. In my heart.”

Geto Suguru’s breath caught at your words, his eyes glistening as if he wanted to say something more, but the emotion was too much, too overwhelming. Instead, he just leaned in and kissed your forehead once more, gentle but full of all the feelings he couldn’t quite express.

“I’ll be waiting, buttercup.” he whispered, his voice low, but there was a fierce determination behind it. “No matter how long it takes. I’ll be waiting for you.”

You looked up at him, your heart full, eyes brimming with something that could have been tears if you let it. You didn’t speak for a moment, just held his gaze, feeling the weight of his words settle into you like a warm, comforting blanket.

Finally, you smiled through the lump in your throat, the quiet sadness blending with something softer, something hopeful. "I’ll come back to you, Sugu. I promise. So come back to me too, okay?"

The words hung between you, a promise sealed in the silence that followed. 

He can’t promise something like that to you, not like this now. 

By sunrise, he can no longer come back to you, never again.

And yet, he still does, he lets this promise be unfulfilled.

He lets this moment be a little white lie to keep your smile.

Suguru nodded, a small, hopeful smile on his lips, but his eyes, those dark, familiar eyes, held a quiet ache. He didn’t say anything else, just stayed close, his hand still on your cheek, his presence steady even though the moment was winding down. The night was still, and it felt like time was slipping away too fast.

“I should go, buttercup.” Suguru said, his voice tinged with reluctance. "But I’ll see you again, right? You’ll visit me when you can, won’t you?"

You nodded, already knowing how much this meant to him. You smiled tenderly at him, you smiled at him like you loved him. You smiled at him like he deserves to have it. And yet he doesn’t. The devil does not deserve such a thing.

"Of course I will." you reassured him, reaching up to touch his hand, the one that had stayed on your cheek. "I won’t let you forget about me."

His smile grew just a little, and for the first time in what felt like forever, there was a glimmer of peace in his eyes. "I could never forget about you."

And with that, he gave you one last kiss on the forehead, light and full of everything unsaid, full of everything you would carry with you in your heart. He pulled back slowly, his hand slipping from your cheek to your hand.

His fingers lingering for a moment longer, as though reluctant to let go. Then, with a final, lingering look, he turned and made his way toward the door. He didn't want to leave. He didn't want this to be the last time. But he had to. He had to go.

He let himself step into it, the door closing softly behind him. For a moment, you felt the weight of the world shift. The quiet that followed his departure felt louder than any noise, and yet, somehow, you knew you’d be okay. You’d carry him with you, just like you promised.

The night grew darker, but the small forget-me-not charm on your bracelet caught the light, reminding you of everything you had shared. It was more than just a memory, it was a piece of him that you could hold on to, no matter where life took you both.

Geto Suguru was always going to be a part of you. And no matter the distance, no matter how much time passed, you would never forget him. He was the most important part of your life, and that would never change.

Two days later, you got the call.

He had gone missing, his parents were gone.

And you?

You had lost the love of your life.

That was his goodbye.

══════════════════

epilogue

A LONG TIME HAD COME AND GONE, BUT IT STILL FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY. Seven years had passed since Geto Suguru’s defection from the jujutsu society, since the time he turned away from everything he once held dear. Time had blurred the edges of the past for everyone except him. 

He had tried to move on, he knew he had to. He had all but tried to bury his memories deep enough so that they no longer haunted him. But there were days when everything came rushing back to him.

The horror on his parents faces that night, their deaths at his own hands, the ones he had betrayed, the village consumed by blue flame. And then there was you, the love he had lost and left. The one he had let go and fly away.

From the shadows, Suguru watched you kneel before the graves, the sun hanging low in the sky, casting long shadows across the quiet cemetery. You were gentle with the flowers, your movements soft as you arranged the bouquets on the gravestones, your fingers careful as they brushed away the dust that had accumulated over time. 

He had never imagined, in his darkest moments, that he would see you here—so close, yet so far away from everything he had become. But there you were, tending to the graves of the parents he had killed, as if it was something he had never been able to do. You were doing it for him, in a way, even though you didn’t have to.

He had heard the stories about it all. He had to keep his tabs on you, he just couldn’t stay away, even now. Throughout the years, he heard whispers of how you had married, how you had continued on without him, a life of your own.

He had known that it was bound to happen, but it didn’t make it any easier. To see you with a ring on your finger, a life that no longer had a place for him, a life that had moved on while he stayed stuck in his past.

The soft rustle of the wind moved through the trees, and that was when you turned your head, your eyes meeting his. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still. You blinked, as if you weren’t quite sure you were seeing him, but then there was no mistaking it.

Geto Suguru was standing there, just outside the cemetery gate, watching you with that same quiet intensity that had always been his. The world seemed to hold its breath as you slowly rose to your feet, the weight of his gaze pulling you in.

He didn’t speak at first, not knowing what to say. 

After all this time, what was there left to say?

He had left you and you had suffered.

What could someone who broke their promise say?

You walked toward him, your expression unreadable but steady, your steps purposeful. As you got closer, he noticed the glint of sunlight on your finger, and his breath hitched before he could stop himself. The wedding ring.

It was a beautiful thing, one could say. But when he looked at it, it was all but a bitter ugly, disgusting thing. It was a reminder of the life you had. A life he had never been a part of, a life he had given up on when he made the choices he did. 

You stopped in front of him, your gaze unwavering. You looked at him for a long moment, your eyes searching his face, almost as if you were still trying to figure him out after all this time. "I didn’t think you’d come back here." you said quietly, your voice thick with something he couldn’t place. Maybe it was sorrow. Maybe it was a relief.

Suguru felt a pang in his chest, but he swallowed it down. "I didn’t think I would either." His voice was rough, almost foreign to him after so many years of silence, but the words still carried weight. "But... here I am."

Your gaze flickered to the bracelet on your wrist—the one with the forget-me-not, the buttercup, the book charm. It was a silent progression that told a story. A long forgotten story, one that only you and him could remember. It was at one point his story. His presence, his absence, his love. And now it wasn’t. Not anymore.

That Geto Suguru is dead.

All that remains is an imposter.

All that remains is a devil.

"I never took it off." you said, a small, sad smile playing at the corner of your lips. "You told me to never forget you. I thought I would, after all these years... but I never could." 

Your fingers traced the charms lightly, the memory of the years that had passed between you both lingering in the air like a ghost. "I couldn’t take it off, Suguru. Not even when it felt like I should."

He couldn’t quite hide the sadness that flickered in his eyes at your words, but he didn’t look away. He had been the one to leave. He had been the one to make all the wrong decisions, and yet, somehow, you had never given up on him. You had never completely forgotten him.

Suguru reached into his pocket slowly, his movements deliberate, as though he were unsure of his next step. He pulled out a small charm, delicate and beautiful, white chrysanthemums this time, it was an offering of something new, something that said goodbye and hello being said like it was the same word.  He held it out to you, his eyes never leaving yours. 

"For you." he whispered, his voice barely audible, but full of all the unspoken feelings that had built up over the years. "I know it’s too late. But I want you to have it."

You took it from him, your fingers brushing against his for just a heartbeat before you looked down at the charm in your palm. The white chrysanthemums were soft, intricate, and they reminded you of the fleeting nature of everything. It was full of the memories, the love, the pain.

You smiled, a bittersweet curve of your lips, your heart heavy with a mixture of emotions that you had long buried. "Sugu….Suguru." you began, your voice steady but thick with something he could almost taste. "For so long, TYou wanted to be remembered. But now... you want to be forgotten."

His heart clenched at your words, but he nodded slowly, as if he had already known, as if it was something he could never change. "You deserve better than to remember a ghost of someone long gone, buttercup." he said, his voice soft but full of the kind of finality that only a ghost could understand. "You deserve a life that’s yours, not one haunted by me."

The distance between you seemed so vast in that moment, even though you were standing right in front of him. The years had stretched that gap wide, and yet, in this final moment, you both understood each other completely. 

You stood there, the weight of his words heavy between you both, as the space around you seemed to quiet. The cool breeze rustled the trees, the only sound in the air, but even it felt like a distant whisper against the rawness of the moment.

You opened your mouth, a million things on the tip of your tongue, but none of them felt right. Your heart was full of so much you couldn’t put into words. A thousand emotions flooded your chest/

And yet, you felt an aching kind of clarity in his request. You hadn’t expected it. You hadn’t expected him to say those words, to say that he wanted you to forget him. To leave him behind as if he were nothing more than a faded memory.

He stood before you, his back slightly turned, but he didn’t move away. His eyes, those dark, familiar eyes, were locked onto the distance, as though he was already gone in his mind, already on his way to somewhere far from this place, from you.

You swallowed hard, your gaze flickering over his face, trying to catch any hint of a smile, of the warmth that had once been there between you both. But it was gone. Everything had long perished to nothing.

The man in front of you wasn’t the same person you had known all those years ago, and deep down, you knew that neither were you. You had both changed, time had done its work, and the world had swept you in different directions.

"So, if I see you again—" you started, unsure of where to take the conversation, unsure of whether there even was a conversation left to have.

Suguru’s smile was sad, almost imperceptible, but it was there, and it tugged at your heart more than anything else. “Pass by, buttercup.” he said, his voice so soft, so worn. "Don’t look at me. You shouldn’t remember me. Just...."

Let me go. He thinks to himself. Don't love me again.

The simplicity of his request hit you harder than any words of anger or resentment could have. You shouldn’t remember me. He was asking you, begging you, to forget him. As though he was a shadow, a passing thing, unworthy of your attention, of your love, of your memories.

For a moment, you just stood there, your heart pounding in your chest, your mind spinning with the weight of it all. You wanted to shout, to argue, to tell him that he was wrong—that you couldn’t just erase him from your life like he was nothing.

But the silence in the air, the finality in his tone, made you hesitate. It wasn’t anger you heard in his voice. It wasn’t even regret. It was something else entirely. it was something deeper, something rooted in the pain he had carried all these years.

“I can’t just forget you.” you whispered, the words slipping out before you could stop them. The truth was raw and simple, and it echoed in your chest as it passed through your lips. "I’ve carried you with me for so long, Suguru. I can’t just erase you from my life."

Suguru turned his head slightly, just enough to meet your gaze, his eyes dark and filled with something you couldn’t quite place. It wasn’t guilt or anger, but something quieter, something softer, as though he was bracing himself for the weight of what he had just asked you to do.

"You don’t need to carry me anymore." he said, his voice barely audible, each word dragging with the weight of a thousand regrets. "I don’t deserve to be remembered. Not by you. Not by anyone. I’ve become someone else, someone I never meant to be." 

His eyes drifted to the ground, and for a moment, he looked almost... defeated. "I hurt too many people, and in the end, I hurt you too."

Those words hung in the air like a star waiting to fall from the sky but they didn’t sting, nor did they cause you any pain. Instead, they felt like the closing of a door, the end of a chapter that had been written in too much pain. You felt your heart ache, but you understood. You had mourned it long ago and this was just the end. The final bow.

You understood because, deep down, you had always known this moment would come. You had always known that one day, Geto Suguru would fade from your life, not because of time or distance, but because he had made himself into something unrecognizable.

You stepped closer, closer than you had been in so many years, the distance between you two now defined not by physical space but by something more profound, something that time had created. Your hand reached out but you stopped. You had to. You knew you can't do this. You purse your lips into a flat line. 

“I see.” You whispered, barely audible over the deafening silence between you. It was as if the world had swallowed your words before they could reach him, and the weight of it all pressed down on your chest like a heavy fog.

"I'm sorry." you murmured, feeling the familiar sting of regret in your heart. 

But the words felt useless now, just as they always had when it came to him. Too many apologies, too many unanswered questions. It was all too late. Geto Suguru shook his head ever so slightly, his dark lilac eyes never leaving the distance beyond you, his voice low but firm. 

“Don’t apologize to me.” he murmured, the edges of his words soft but carrying a weight that made your heart ache. "I should apologize…"

His eyes finally met yours, and for that brief moment, you saw a flicker of vulnerability, something raw and unguarded that he had never allowed anyone to see.

“Buttercup, I’m letting your hand go.” he said, and his voice cracked on the last word, like it pained him to even say it.

You could feel the tears pricking at your eyes, threatening to spill, but you fought them back, the lump in your throat making it harder to breathe. It was too much. Too much to lose, too much to let go of. 

“I know.” you replied, your voice barely a whisper as if saying it out loud would make it all more real. The finality of his words clung to the air, and you wished you could take them back, take him back, but the truth had already been laid bare.

“Goodbye, buttercup.” he said, the words both tender and final, and they fell like a stone into the abyss between you.

“Good… good-bye, Suguru.” you managed to choke out, your voice shaking but steady enough to carry the weight of the moment. Your lips trembled, but you didn’t dare look away from him. There was nothing more to say, nothing more that could fix the pieces that had been shattered between you two.

Geto Suguru gave you one last look. It was so brief, so fleeting, like the last ray of light before the darkness settled in. His gaze lingered on you, a final connection between two souls that had once shared everything but now, they were a thousand miles apart. 

He didn’t say anything else. 

He didn’t look back, not once. 

He simply turned, his figure growing smaller and smaller as he walked away.

Your heart tightened, but you didn’t move. You couldn’t. There was no running after him anymore. He had already made his choice, and you had to respect that, even though it felt like a piece of you was being torn away with every step he took. 

His footsteps were quiet against the earth, a soft rhythm that carried him further into the distance, further away from you, from everything you had ever known. And you stood there, frozen, unable to move, unable to make sense of the emptiness that filled the space where his presence used to be. 

You watched him disappear into the horizon, the last connection between you both unraveling like a thread slipping through your fingers. But this time, you didn’t chase after him. You didn’t need to. You didn’t have the strength anymore. 

There were no more promises, no more hopes of reunion. This was the end of the story that had once been yours, the final chapter in a love that had burned so brightly but had faded into the past. The world had changed, and so had you.

You would never see him again. He would never hold your hand again, never smile that gentle smile that had always made you feel like you were home. And you could feel the weight of that truth pressing down on you, but it didn’t break you.

It was the end of that world. Of the two of you, of the way you had been, of everything that once felt like it was meant to be. And so, you let go. You let go, even as it hurt, even as it felt like the most impossible thing in the world.

You couldn’t love him anymore. Not like you used to. Not in the way that kept him a part of your every thought, every moment. You couldn’t carry that burden with you forever, and you couldn’t make him stay.

As he disappeared completely from sight, you finally exhaled the breath you’d been holding, a quiet sigh that seemed to carry away the remnants of him still lingering in your chest. It wasn’t easy. It would never be easy. But it was the only way forward.

You took a slow step back, your feet heavy with the weight of all the years you had spent loving him. You weren’t sure what the future held, but you knew one thing for certain. You had to let him, or you'll both suffer more.

[lucysarah-c]

I'll just say, I may be here posting about Mounting Spring, asks etc... But I'm cooking... I'm cooking something everyone asked me for lol

“I like this! This 3D flower pattern is so on trend right now.”

Levi’s eyes were glued to the screen as a freshly painted nail was shown up close.

“Oh, hi! Thank you,” her voice popped up again, and like an animal in pure confusion, he tilted his head to the side.

What are those things popping up? He was completely lost.

“Isn’t it too late for coffee?” she read aloud before grabbing her cup and taking a sip from the straw. “There’s no such thing as too much black or too late for coffee. Plus, it’s girls’ night! What’s a girls’ night without iced coffee or a glass of wine?”

This feels wrong now, Levi thought, taking a sip of his own drink, lazily sprawled on his bed. But when she started showing off her pajamas, that’s when he lost it.

Holy shit... it’s the little shorts doing it for me.

“This is why kids these days have their eyes glued to this shit,” he muttered, almost offended— as if his own mouth wasn’t slightly open and his eyes weren’t stuck to the screen as she vibed to the song playing in the background.

“Have you ever tried… this one?” She winked at the camera, arm in the air, hips moving in a way that Levi quickly guessed was meant to simulate riding. Over the kitchen island.

…I’m definitely not better than a 12-year-old boy.

The chat flooded with messages about how much they loved the song.

Whose song is this?

“Oh! I love that! Ugh, my heart is divided, I want all of them to win! Birds of a Feather is so good, but Hot to Go?” she gushed, listing more names Levi didn’t recognize.

Who are those?

“And the dance?”

What trend? What song? What dance?

Levi felt lost. Completely lost.

“Oh, thank you for the donation! Here, a heart for you!”

She pressed two fingers together in the shape of a heart. Levi tilted his head again, frowning.

How the hell is that a heart?

But before he could keep questioning his entire existence—or, perhaps, his age—her expression shifted. The usual bright smile faded as she read something from the chat.

“Look, if you’ve got a problem with me, just keep scrolling, buddy. Can an admin ban him from the stream, please?”

That made Levi do the exact opposite. He scrolled up through the rapidly moving chat until he found the comment in question. Some idiot had said she owed it to him if something happened because of what she was wearing and doing on screen.

“What’s your fucking problem, dude?” Levi whispered, clicking his tongue. “If a woman has never even touched you, don’t say it so loudly.”

His fingers moved on their own, pressing the guy’s username, looking for a way to reply—until he suddenly let the phone drop onto his chest and stared at the ceiling.

“I need to calm down,” he muttered. Being in this live stream was already too much for him. Getting into an online argument was not the way to go.

How long had he been watching? He wasn’t sure. But in that time, he’d learned that ASMR meant tapping on objects with freshly done nails and whispering, that people voted on live which designs she should do next, and… a whole lot more.

“Say you can’t sleep, baby, I know. That’s me, espresso…”

She sang along to the music, and he felt hypnotized.

“…Did I just spend two hours of my life on this?”

The “Love ya!” came through the speakers as she blew a final kiss before ending the live.

“For fuck’s sake…” Levi muttered, almost offended. “You can’t be that stupidly cute.”

Maybe pop songs were popular for a reason. Maybe that’s why Levi never downloaded any apps on his phone or used it for anything beyond strictly necessary texts. Because explain to him why the hell he was humming at work.

“Since when do you know Sabrina Carpenter?”

Hange appeared out of nowhere, catching him off guard.

Levi had to come up with an excuse. Fast.

“What? Is it illegal for me to know new songs?”

“No…” Hange dragged the word out, squinting at him in suspicion. “But since when do you?”

“Give me a break. I’m not that old. I can get to know new artists,” he brushed it off while brewing himself a tea.

Hange let it slide, but their mind was already working, scheming. They kept talking, mostly about work. But as Levi finished his tea and was ready to leave, Hange casually dropped:

“Espresso?”

Levi frowned. “What?”

Hange repeated the question immediately, as if he hadn’t heard them the first time. But of course, he had.

“Fuck no. You know I hate coffee. Black tea,” he grumbled.

To his shock, Hange chuckled, shaking their head, biting their lip as they held back a knowing smile.

“Aww, Shortie… don’t give yourself away.”

“Huh?”

“Espresso. That’s the song you were humming.” Their grin widened. “I’m starting to think you’re not just listening to new artists—you’re watching new people.”

Levi stiffened.

And for the first time, he couldn’t hide the subtle embarrassed blush creeping up his face.

“Get off my ass,” he muttered, already walking away.

But Hange wasn’t done.

“And I think it might be Erwin’s cute little influencer friend!”

I won't say anything else, let the readers figure it out.

[thesilvertheorist]

• tangled up •

Carl Grimes x gn!reader

plot: [fluff] you're sat listening to music, he ends up getting tangled up in your headphones.

tags: fluff, sfw, established relationship, happiness (eee), alexandria era, pre n*gan, post eye-loss <3

word count: 1182

Masterlist

You finally had a day off. No duties to see to, responsibilities to handle, babysitting to oversee…a rare privilege for you as of late. Rick and the council had been pushing you and the others hard, even Carl was being pushed to his limits with the workload – and that’s saying something. Needless to say, this small break in your schedule was a glimmer of hope among the pile of dogshit that was the overarching task of securing Alexandria’s perimeter and ensuring the self-sufficiency of the community.

Frustrated that you’d woken up as per your stupidly-set body clock as opposed to enjoying a nice lay in, you followed your morning routine as you usually would: quick shower, dental hygiene, combing the knots out of your hair so it dries as you like it. Puzzled as what to do with your newfound spare time, you searched your brain for ideas.

You could re-read all of your comics and books…not really as enticing the seventh time around. You could see if Carol would finally teach you her ‘three ingredient cookie’ recipe…hmmm no – cooking on a warm day like today sounded like hell. What about updating your shabby journal…eh, that could wait a few days more – what were you going to write? ‘I have a day off and I don’t know what to do with it.’… hardly introspective or poetic, definitely authentic though.

That’s when your brain lit a spark: CDs!

Whilst out on runs over the years, you made a point of collecting interesting CDs that people had left behind. In one house, you even found a portable CD player – one of the handheld ones with a headphone jack and crunchy small speakers. You were eternally grateful when Daryl found some earphones for you when raiding an old store, unopened and everything!

Your CD collection had grown over the years, you treasure them almost as much as you treasure having water in the summer or firewood in the winter. Ranging all the way from pop music (mostly Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Shakira) to rap (Eminem and 50 cent) to heavy rock (Blink-182, Green Day, The Killers), (you even have a Nirvana CD) and your absolute favourite – ‘Favourite Worst Nightmare’ by the Arctic Monkeys, a super rare find around this part of the country! They’re your prized possessions, these albums. Finally, something to do on your time off.

Content with your idea on today’s activity, you collect your CDs, the player, and your earphones and head out of the door towards your favourite tree in town. It provides the perfect amount of shade for you to sit there comfortably all day without getting burned but enough dappled light for you to feel the warm sun on your skin.

On your way over, you spot Carl – your boyfriend, walking towards you. How has Rick not caught him slacking off? Still, you walk over to him, unable to wave as your hands are full of music.

“Where’re you goin’?” he asks inquisitively, a small yet familiar smile creeping across his lips.

“Some of us have the day off,” you say gesturing (rather haphazardly) to yourself, “and we want to spend it under our favourite tree”.

“Hmm, well, lucky for some” your boyfriend retorts, rolling his eye at you, putting his hands in his pockets.

You kiss your boyfriend on the cheek before walking past him and towards your spot. Wondering how long it’ll take Rick to realise that Carl is missing, you make your way onto the grass and over to your tree – planting yourself down under it pondering if you too, could take root here.

You bask in the warm air as It breezes past you gently, taking in the smells of summer. Allowing music to fill your ears, you let yourself close your eyes, grounding yourself with the familiar feeling of the grass under your hands and the tree bark against your back. Relaxing, at last.

Time passes in a weird warp as you sit there, songs repeat as you refuse to bring yourself to change the CD whirling around in the player on your lap. You’ve absolutely no clue what time it is, nor do you really care all that much. That is until you feel someone’s footsteps vibrate the ground ever so slightly under you, feel the air change in your environment as the breeze carrying itself across you is blocked. Looking up reluctantly and rather offended, your eyes focus in on your boyfriend stood over you, smiling down at you.

“Hey sleepyhead, relaxed enough yet?” he laughs out as his hand meets the top of your head.

“You’re lucky you’re you and not anyone else, I hate people interrupting these songs” you smile back to him, taking out your earphones to hear him better.

Carl sits down next to you, placing his hat to one side yet still within reach in case the steady breeze drops, and allows himself to see what you see, to feel what you’re feeling, to ground in the way that you’re grounding. After taking a moment, he turns to you and looks through the CDs at your side, asking you if he can listen to one along with you. You gently accept and allow him to pick the next track – something you’d never allow anyone else to do.

He reaches for your earphones, finding them a little tangled up as the two of you have been reaching across one another ever since he sat down. He tries his best to undo the small knot in the wires, getting overly frustrated when he can’t – handing them over to you for help as he rests his head on your shoulder. Getting a little pouty when you undo the mess of wires almost immediately, he leans further into you as you both take an earphone each, letting the track play.

A few songs in, you feel him shift against you, noticing him place a kiss on your cheek in the same way you’d done to him earlier in the day. You turn your head to kiss him back as the music plays in your ear, feeling as though the world consists of just you and Carl in a small, musical bubble. The two of you kiss again and again and you reach to put your hand on the back of Carl’s neck, accidentally tangling the earphone wires yet again. Uncaring, you continue to feel this moment for what it is: perfect.

You and your boyfriend share laughs over the re-tangled wires, sharing smiley kisses with one another as your hands argue through fixing the knots. The remainder of your afternoon is spent with your boyfriend under this tree. He even falls asleep on your shoulder as music rings softly in his ear. Neither of you even notice when Rick storms over looking for Carl (who seemingly didn’t tell his dad that he was taking a break), but – in true Rick fashion – he takes one look at the sight of you two relaxed under that tree, that he gives you until the sun starts to dip in the sky before allowing anyone to bother the two of you.

[blue-aconite]

"Would you please just kiss me?" With Jake Seresin!

I would apologise for not posting sooner but we all know how life gets. Without further explanation, here's your blurb ♥️ Thanks @a-reader-and-a-writer for looking this over!

Blurb Night Masterlist

It’s been over half an hour since she left the Hard Deck, wandering out onto the beach and walking along the shore. She hadn’t gone far, close enough that the light coming out of the windows was still visible but far enough that she could no longer hear the people out on the patio. 

The sun disappeared some moments ago and the moon is taking its place, casting a cold grey light over the sand. 

“What are you doing out here?”

She keeps her eyes on the waves, tracing the overlaps and motions, even as she answers him. “Thinking.”

She’s hoping the short answer will be enough, that he’ll go back inside and leave her alone but fate has other plans. She should have known it wouldn’t be enough. Like a dog with a bone, Hangman wasn’t the one to let things go. 

Her hope is further crushed when he comes closer, taking a seat in the sand next to her. He’s close enough so that she can feel the heat emitting from his body, his cologne invading her senses. Not in an unpleasant or unwelcome way, just in a way she hadn’t expected. 

“You know, there’s a party going on inside, yet you’re out here alone, thinking.” Hangman says, leaning back onto his elbows and stretching his legs out. She doesn’t look away from the water but his movements can be seen in the corner of her eye. 

“Which is exactly why I’m here. Too loud to think in there. Out here though? It’s quiet, simple.” She murmurs, drawing her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them.  She can feel his eyes on her, watching her. “What do you want?”

Hangman takes a moment to answer, as if he has to decide what to say. “I just wanted to make sure you’re alright.”

“I’m good, thanks.” She’d rather lie than tell him what’s really bothering her. There’s no reason for him to know. He wouldn’t even understand.

Unfortunately, Hangman sees right through her. “Could have fooled me.”

He pulls himself upright, matching her position. It’s odd seeing him look so vulnerable, smaller than he usually presents himself to be. 

When she doesn’t reply, he hesitantly continues, as if he’s afraid she’s going to run off if he pushes too far. “You can talk to me, you know. If something’s bothering you. You’d probably prefer Phoenix or Bob but I don’t see them running out here to check on you.”

She rolls her eyes at the last bit. Even when he’s trying to comfort her, he can’t help but take a shot at their teammates. It’s all in good nature nowadays, but it’s so predictably Hangman that it makes her smile. His concern is touching but she still keeps her guard up. 

“There’s nothing to talk about,” she pauses slightly before adding, “but thank you.” 

Hangman shifts, turning his body sideways so he is closer than before. “I think there is something to talk about, you just don’t want to.”

If getting on her nerves is his mission, he’s succeeding at an alarming rate. Gone is the gratefulness at his earlier offer. “And pray tell, Hangman, what would that be, hm?” She spits out, unsuccessful in keeping the annoyance out of her voice. She knows it isn’t fair to react this way, not when he’s been nothing but kind to her but anything to steer him away from the conversation she doesn’t want to happen.

Hangman holds his hands up, as if to placate her. “Maybe the fact that you’ve been avoiding me ever since Payback’s birthday? The fact that whenever we’re off base, you slink away to sit somewhere by yourself? Or maybe we should talk about how we kissed and you refuse to talk about it?”

Fuck.

The last part of his rant makes her tear her gaze from the water, swirling around in the sand to face him. They end up close, too close, but neither moves. “You remember that?”

It’s a weak response, she knows that but it’s the only thing she can come up with. 

The look in his eyes portrays disbelief. “Of course I remember. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you were drunk? And you didn’t talk to me for the whole day afterwards, so I figured it was just something.. -”

“I didn’t talk to you because when I woke up, you were gone. I wasn’t going to hunt you down over something you clearly regretted but I still think we should talk about it.”

She knows they need to address the whole situation but as he speaks, she can only focus on one thing. “You think I regret it?”

Now he’s the one refusing to meet her eyes. “What was I supposed to think? Like I said, you’ve been avoiding me ever since, so I figured you were just trying to let me down easy without having to say something, which is a shitty move by the way, even for you -”

“Let you down easy?” She’s full of bewilderment at this point and while she knows what he’s insinuating, she can’t make herself believe it. There is no possibility, she’d been telling herself for months. 

“Oh, spare me. You can’t honestly make me believe you don’t know. I think I’ve been very clear about my feelings for you.” Jake declares, a distinct look in his eyes as he straightens up. But the vulnerability on his face betrays his emotions, even if his voice stays strong. 

She feels like she’s falling, a wide black abyss consuming her entire being. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought she’d find herself in the situation. “You have feelings for me?”

She’s well aware that she should probably try to unearth more but she’s still not entirely sure she isn’t hallucinating. This can’t possibly be happening.

Jake laughs incredulity. “Are you telling me you actually don’t know?”

“Well, you never said anything!” She implores.

“I didn’t think I had to! It's pretty obvious.” He responds, shrugging his shoulders like he didn’t just drop a major bomb on her.

She throws her arms out, almost whacking him in the face. “OBVIOUS? How about you use your words instead of just thinking I can read your mind? I had no idea!”

“Why would I kiss you, if I didn’t like you?”

She stares at him blankly, at a loss for words. Everything she had wanted since her stupid crush had manifested itself was happening but for some reason, she couldn’t respond in the proper way. How many times had she wished he would reprecipitate the feelings she had developed for him during their time together? How much had she beaten herself up over kissing him back at Payback’s birthday almost a month ago, knowing that he didn’t feel the same, knowing it was the alcohol? 

She’s vaguely aware that he’s speaking again but her mind is racing, as is her heart, and she blurts out the only thing she’s thinking about. “Would you please just kiss me? Again?”

[joelalorian]

Under False Pretenses - Chapter Six

Stepdad!Dave York x f!reader | wc: 5769 | masterlist

Summary: A challenging mission, whirlwind marriage, and an unexpected yet captivating stepdaughter push Dave York to the brink as secrets, feelings, and loyalties collide.

Warnings: Explicit, 18+ mdni. Stepdad trope. Unspecified age gap. Feelings are acknowledged. Soft, sexy, and intense Dave. Domestic Dave. Good Dad kink. We like thick thighs in this house and so does Dave. Nicknames and terms of endearment. Mummy is a whole lotta bitch. No use of y/n. We finally have the sexy times! Dry humping, oral, unprotected P in V.

a/n: work is going to be insane this week so posting this earlier than planned. hope you enjoy the hell out of it!

Series Masterlist

Chest heaving, Dave slowed to a walk along the frigid shoreline, his sneakers crunching the frozen sand. The steady roar of waves crashing ashore, the sharp bite of winter air in his lungs, none of it was enough to clear his mind. Five miles at an eight-minute pace – usually enough to drown out the noise in his head – had done nothing to shake you from his thoughts.

He kissed his stepdaughter. Slept with his stepdaughter…

Not in the biblical sense, but literally. Last night, with you curled up in his arms, was the best fucking sleep he’d had in years, decades even. You’d fallen asleep against his chest, breathing even and steady, and your body fitting against his like a puzzle piece he didn’t know was missing.

Dave barely remembered slipping into your bed. What started as a conversation about everything you’d been holding in – your frustrations, your doubts – had ended with his arms around you, his lips pressed to your temple as you drifted off. He hadn’t thought about Lisa once.

Why would he when he had you in his arms?

The pull to stay in bed with you that morning was almost impossible to resist. Even as the first rays of dawn broke through the curtained windows high up the wall, bathing you in the softest, ethereal glow, he hesitated to leave. You looked so peaceful, lips curved into the faintest smile, eyelashes fluttering against your cheeks as you dreamed. It tugged at his hardened heart, leaving him almost afraid to shatter the spell.

Dave kissed your forehead tenderly before finally slipping out of the room, his bare feet soundless on the carpet. He knew if he didn’t leave then, he never would at all.

And now, here he was, running himself ragged in the biting cold, trying to convince himself this wasn’t insane. That he could somehow compartmentalize this – keep the lines clean and unblurred. He was good at that, compartmentalizing.

It had been a survival skill, his ticket through years of bloody assignments and moral ambiguity. That skill alone kept his marriage to Carol stable and his family safe with plausible deniability of his darker deeds.

But this? Starting something with his stepdaughter, of all people? This was uncharted territory, even for him.

The vibration of his phone pulled him out of his spiraling thoughts. Fishing it out of his pocket, he frowned at the screen. Roger.

Roger: How did your meeting with Anna go?

Might as well get this over with, Dave thought, hitting the call button instead of texting back.

Roger answered on the first ring, his voice oily with satisfaction. “Anna’s taken with you, York. Insisted on moving the meeting to tomorrow instead of next week. You must have made quite the impression.”

Dave exhaled slowly, willing his irritation to stay buried as he ignored Roger’s remarks. “Fine.”

“I’ll book a hotel for you,” Roger added cheekily. “Give you a chance to… cement her trust after the meeting.”

Over his dead fucking body, Dave thought. Jaw tightening, he responded in an icy tone, “I prefer the café if you don’t mind.”

Roger’s chuckle echoed down the line, grating his ears. “Suit yourself, York. Shame to waste this opportunity. Women like her don’t grow on trees.”

This conversation was already his blood pressure to rise. “I’m a married man, Roger, or did you forget that fact?”

“We’re all married men, York. What the wife doesn’t know won’t hurt her. It’s a motto to live by,” the other man replied.

The truth of that statement was not wasted on Dave as his thoughts immediately turned back to you. Hitting the end call button without saying another word, the conversation ended as abruptly as it began. Dave clenched his phone in one hand, the waves crashing endlessly behind him matching the sudden building headache.

By the time he reached home, the kitchen buzzed with life. The smell of pancakes and syrup mixed with the aroma of coffee filled the air, mingling with the sound of laughter – your laughter – rising above the exuberant chatter of his daughters.

Dave’s lips twitched into an involuntary smile, but it faltered when his gaze shifted to his wife.

Lisa sat at the island, nursing a steaming cup of coffee in an oversized mug, her expression sharp enough to cut glass as she glowered at the scene before her.

The girls were doubled over in giggles as you balanced a piece of pancake on your fork like a morsel from the finest meal. “I swear, I could eat pancakes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!” you declared with infectious enthusiasm.

Dave leaned against the doorway, taking it all in. The warmth of the scene, the way his daughters looked at you like you hung the moon, giggling maniacally – they hadn’t done that with anyone since Carol passed – and the way you smiled as though nothing bad could ever touch you. It was a stark contrast to the cold knot in his stomach from everything pressing down on him.

Lisa’s eyes flicked to him, her glare shifting from you to him in a blink. “Nice of you to join us,” she muttered with a razor-sharp tone.

He didn’t respond immediately, his gaze lingering on you a moment longer before he straightened. “Went for a run,” he said simply, walking past his wife to grab a glass of water.

“I can see that,” she shot back. “How very… productive of you, especially after a night out with the boys. You must’ve had fun. You didn’t come home last night.”

Dave didn’t take the bait, his focus was on draining the glass of water before refilling it. He grabbed a pancake from your plate with a wink as he strolled from the room, calling over his shoulder, “I’m going to shower.”

It was going to be a long fucking day.

You were just clearing the table from breakfast when Dave returned dressed in dark jeans and a light blue sweater, his socked feet silent on the wood flooring as he entered the kitchen.

You noticed him immediately as if sensing him before hearing or seeing him. His soulful eyes flickered toward you with something unspoken shining in them. It wasn’t just the casual acknowledgment of your presence. It was deeper than that. A thread of awareness that tightened whenever you were near each other. You knew because you felt it, too.

Grateful that your mom left to go shopping and the girls played with Ranger in the living room, you enjoyed the private moment with Dave. You didn’t have the chance to talk to him about last night yet. You wanted, needed to, but suddenly the nerves kicked in.

“Have a good run?” you asked keeping your voice light and easy, though your hands stilled where they were piling dirty dishes next to the sink.

“Yeah,” Dave replied, his tone much softer than it had been with your mother earlier. “Beach is damn cold, though.”

You hummed, biting your lip as you glanced at the girls – they were glued to the TV as another Disney movie played – before stepping sideways to stand closer to Dave than necessary. You needed to feel his heat, feel him. The proximity made your pulse quicken, a rush of heat blooming in your chest and traveling upwards toward your neck and face.

“Did you want coffee?” you questioned, a breath above a whisper, tilting your head as you reached for the nearly empty pot. “I saved the last bit for you.”

Dave turned to you, eyes like raw umber searching yours before shaking his head, his damp hair flopping over his forehead with the motion. One large hand reached up to sweep his fingers through the locks, slicking it back into place. “I’m good, thanks.”

For a moment, it felt like the kitchen faded around you.

Neither of you moved, the air between you charged with something you both felt but hadn’t dared name yet. Your fingers brushed his as you moved the coffee pot, the brief contact enough to send a shiver down your spine while dumping the remaining contents down the drain.

Without uttering a sound, Dave helped you rinse and load the soiled dishes and flatware into the dishwasher. As the last plate was placed in the bottom rack, you turned to grab a dish towel, only to find Dave standing closer than before. His broad frame filled the small space between you and the counter, his proximity sending a flicker of electricity through the air.

“Thanks for helping,” you said, voice soft yet filled with nerves. Your limbs were practically trembling with the electricity arcing between you and him.

Dave’s lips quirked into a small, almost hesitant smile. “Didn’t seem fair to leave you with all the cleanup after you did all the cooking.”

Folding the dish towel over the edge of the sink, you avoided his gaze. “Doesn’t mean I’m not used to it,” you replied lightly.

“Doesn’t mean you should be.”

When you looked up, his eyes were on you – dark and steady, filled with a tenderness that made your heart stutter.

“Dave…” you started but lost your words as he stepped ever closer.

His hand reached out, hesitating for just a fraction of a second before his knuckles brushed your cheek. Your breath hitched, the skin-on-skin contact causing the world to tilt on its axis. His hand shifted, the pad of his thumb running along your jawline in a gentle, grounding touch.

The last of your resolve, and nerves, wavered under his mesmerizing gaze, the nearness of him making it nigh impossible to think clearly. “What are we doing?” you asked, voice trembling along with the rest of your body.

Dave’s lips curved into the faintest smile, yet his eyes remained steely. “Something we probably shouldn’t,” he admitted, his voice a deep rasp barely louder than a rumbling whisper. “But I don’t know how to – don’t want to – stop.”

Neither did you.

The space between you disappeared in a heartbeat, his lips finding yours in a kiss that was equal parts hesitant and fervent. The dam finally broke after months of increasing tension and building feelings.

His hands cupped your face, grounding you as he deepened the kiss, his body pressing lightly against yours and his broad form blocking any view of what you were doing from the girls. You melted into him, your hands roaming the solid warmth of his chest, fingers curling in the soft fabric of his sweater.

It wasn’t rushed. It wasn’t frantic. But, damn, was it intense. It was deliberate as if Dave wanted to memorize every detail of the way your lips moved against his, the faint hitch in your breath, the way your fingers trembled slightly as they fisted in his sweater. He moved you backward along the counter into the hallway until you both stood in front of the door to the basement, never breaking the dizzying kiss.

He tasted of mint and something so uniquely him when you licked into his mouth. The flavor had you melting against his body.

When Dave finally pulled back, you followed, lips eager to continue. He rested his forehead against yours, staring into each other’s eyes with a level of intimacy you never experienced before. Both of you were breathing heavily, the charged silence between you broken only by the hum of the dishwasher and the girls’ laughter in the background.

“This is crazy,” you murmured, though you made zero effort to step away.

“It is,” Dave agreed, his solemn voice rough but steady. “But it doesn’t change how I feel. How I can see you feel about me.”

Heart thundering in your chest, his words sinking in with a weight you weren’t sure you were ready to carry… yet you couldn’t, wouldn’t disagree.

“What do we do now?” you asked with a barely audible voice, dazed eyes darting back and forth between his own.

Shifting you slightly to the side, he opened the basement door and turned his head toward the living room. “Girls! We are going to do some work in my office. Stay here and finish the movie, we’ll be back up in a bit.”

“Okay Daddy!” Alice called out before quickly laughing at something that happened onscreen.

You stared at him in wide-eyed shock. What was happening?

“Come on,” he said, chuckling softly at your expression before taking your hand to lead you down the stairs.

He wanted to take you to your bed instead of his office as he told the girls, but Dave knew you had no guarantee of the time or privacy needed for what he wanted to do to you, for what you deserved for your first time together. So, he bypassed your bedroom with nary a glance, leading you into his office.

His dark eyes searched yours, pupils growing larger by the second as he closed the door behind him, turning the lock with a subtle ‘click’.

“So, this is the mysterious, private office of David York,” you snarked, attempting to downplay your nerves as you glanced around the room.

A large mahogany desk occupied one wall upon which two large monitors and a laptop sat. A worn leather loveseat backed up to another wall. A large gun locker, safe, and file cabinet were placed along the wall opposite the door. There were no windows and just one exit.

“I wondered what you were hiding in here.”

Dave watched as your fingers ran along the metal of the gun locker. “It’s not much, but it’s somewhere safe to keep records and weapons without nosy little fingers touching things they shouldn’t.”

Your hand snapped back as if stung and he chuckled. You wanted to see the arsenal in that cabinet, imagining weapons of all types, but you didn’t pry. Not this time. You sighed, wondering what came next. Picking up on your hesitancy, Dave took your hands in his.

“I need you to know something.”

You swallowed thickly, curious and hopeful yet fearing what he was about to tell you, and merely nodded for him to continue.

“I didn’t plan this,” he began, quiet but firm. “I didn’t plan to feel this way about you. But I do and I don’t want to stop.”

Your heart raced as his words sank in. Opening your mouth to respond, Dave continued before you could utter a word.

“This thing between us – it’s not going to be easy. You know that, right?” Again, you nodded, and he added, “There are things… I haven’t always been a good man and there are things I can’t, won’t tell you. If you don’t want this or decide at any point that you don’t want to continue, you’ll have to be the one to end it, understand? I won’t be able to.”

The sincerity in his voice took your breath away. The world narrowed to just the two of you, alone in his basement office, and everything else – the doubts, fears, complications, his marriage to your mother, all of it – faded into the ether. Something a lot like that four-letter word you knew it was too early to acknowledge or give voice to fluttered in your tummy like a kaleidoscope of butterflies.

“I won’t be able to, either,” you admitted breathlessly, the admission causing an almost feral look to cross Dave’s face before he pounced.

With quick, desperate movements, his hands slithered around your wide hips, pulling you with him as he fell backward to sit on the leather loveseat. Strong hands guided you to straddle his lap, thighs snug against him as the hardness of him pressed against the crux of you. The feeling was divine.

“I wish we had time for more than this,” Dave murmured against your lips as he kissed you soundly. “But with the girls upstairs and your mom due home at any time, we can’t risk it. Not if I want to take my time with you.”

It was the truth, and you knew it. However, it didn’t stop the wave of disappointment from washing over you. Fighting to keep it from showing on your face, you ducked your head into Dave’s neck where you pressed open-mouth kisses against his salty skin.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t make each other feel good, Firecracker,” he insisted, catching on to your disappointment. “We’ll just have to keep our clothes on and be quick about it, is all.” His fingers digging into your hips, Dave ground you down against his cock, the jeans doing little to hide just how hard he was, how hard you made him.

The fullness of him pressed against you just right, sending jolts of pleasure through your core. “Ahhhh, Dave,” the sound slipped from your lips like music to Dave’s ears.

“Like that?” he purred in your ear, his breath sending a shiver down your spine. “Making me feel like a fucking teenager again, dry humping like this. Use me, Firecracker. Make yourself feel good.”

Dave’s hands slipped beneath the hem of your shirt to caress your breasts as you moved your hips against him. Muted mewls and moans filled the air in the room as you ground yourself against him, the layers of clothing doing little to dampen the pleasure as your clit rubbed along the seam of his jeans and the hardness beneath it.

It didn’t take long for you to approach the edge with Dave’s fingers plucking and twisting your nipples, his mouth alternating between nipping at your neck and licking into your mouth, the hard press of him rubbing against you deliciously.

“Does that feel good?” he questioned, his hands moving to grip your ass after one more sharp tug at your nipples. “Are you going to come for me? You’re so wet I can feel you through all these layers between us.”

Dave was right, you were drenched and only getting wetter as your orgasm approached at breakneck speed.

“Come on, my little Firecracker. Come all over me. Make me go upstairs with a visible wet spot on my jeans and have to change.”

The thought of him walking past your mom with the essence of you staining the front of his pants sent you plummeting over the edge, coming with strangled moans as you fought to keep quiet lest the girls hear something.

“That’s it,” Dave encouraged, his hands on your ass guiding you to move against him faster, harder. He gazed at you with blown pupils. “You’re so beautiful when you come for me. I love the feel of your juicy ass in my hands as you move on top of me.”

“Dave!” you cried breathlessly against his mouth as his hips jolted upward and you felt the hard pulses of his cock beneath you as he came in his pants with a growl.

“You just made me come in my fucking pants, you vixen,” he said once you both caught your breath again. His voice held more teasing than bite and you chortled giddily.

“That’s fucking hot,” you replied, sitting back on his thighs to get a glimpse of the mess you made together.

“Think so?”

“Oh, hell yeah!” you admitted emphatically. “No one’s ever done that for me, so it’s extra special.”

“I’m glad I could be of service then,” he teased, kissing the tip of your nose. “I like having firsts with you.”

The sudden slamming of the front door followed by the clacking of heels on the wood flooring sounded above you. The two of you froze, staring wide-eyed at each other.

“Shit.” The bubble burst with the knowledge that your mom arrived home and you slid from Dave’s lap. “You should probably get upstairs before she comes down here looking for you.”

“Yeah,” Dave sighed, staring at the mess staining his lap before standing. He tugged his sweater down fruitlessly, the material too short to cover much. Giving up, he flashed you a bashful smile. “Not sure how I’m going to explain this if she sees me.”

You shrugged. “Just tell her to mind her own damn business,” you retorted, spinning on your heels to go take a shower.

Dave stood watching you longingly for a moment before deciding to make a run for it. He could hear Lisa talking to the girls, the sharp pitch of her voice carrying down to the basement, and knew he could sneak out to the garage and then into the laundry room to change really quick.

The rest of the day was a bit awkward, neither you nor Dave was sure how to act around one another in front of your mom and the girls, trying your best to act as you normally would. Everything felt exaggerated after your moments together that morning. So, you focused mostly on the girls and Ranger, playing fetch and chasing each other around in the chilly backyard while Dave stayed inside with your mom, talking about work, holiday preparations, and other trivial matters.

He couldn’t keep his eyes from gazing at you during lulls in the conversation, longing to be out there with you and his girls, but he didn’t want to push his luck with Lisa. She was up his ass enough already; he didn’t want to give her more reason to nag him.

The next day, Dave entered the café, careful eyes scanning the room until he spotted Roger and Anna seated at a corner table, looking cozier than business associates normally do. Roger’s grin was as smug as ever, but Anna’s expression was sharp, her green eyes assessing Dave as he approached.

“You’re late,” she said smoothly, her tone edging more toward playful than accusatory. “It’s rude to keep a lady waiting.”

Dave blithely ignored her comment, sliding into the seat across from her. “Traffic,” he replied curtly, his tone betraying no emotion.

Roger leaned back in his chair, swirling the coffee in his cup. “You’re lucky Anna was so insistent about moving this meeting up. There’s been movement.”

Dave’s jaw tightened, yet his expression remained neutral. Movement was good, but he mustn’t let his eagerness to bring this op to a close show. He had to play this carefully to maintain his cover. “What’s the latest?”

Anna leaned forward, her red-painted nails tapping against the table as they inched closer and closer to where Dave’s forearm rested. “We’ve made progress. My counterparts have vetted you and like what they saw. The deal with our…” she glanced at Roger before continuing, “mutual friend is moving along nicely.”

“Mutual friend,” Dave repeated, his tone skeptical. “You mean the military asset you’ve been dangling like a carrot? The one you refuse to tell me anything about?”

Anna’s predatory smile didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Patience, handsome. All will be revealed in good time.”

Roger chuckled, clearly enjoying the building tension between his new friends. “She’s right, York. You don’t rush these things. Especially when you’re the new man on the team.”

Dave’s gaze flicked to Roger, barely contained irritation bubbling beneath the surface. He knew he was walking the knife’s edge, yet still he pushed. He needed to establish that he was not fucking around. “And what exactly are we waiting for? Another week of vague updates? For one of the agencies to catch onto what we’re doing?”

Anna’s green eyes glinted with amusement, but her tone turned icy. “Careful, Dave. Impatience can get you killed. Or worse, caught.”

The tension at the table turned palpable, but Roger cut through it with a lazy smile. “Relax, York. We’re all on the same team here, working towards the same goal. Isn’t that right, doll?”

She didn’t respond immediately, clearly unamused with Roger’s nickname, her gaze remaining locked on Dave. Finally, she leaned back, a devilish smile gracing her painted lips. “Of course. We all want the same thing.”

A chill ran down Dave’s spine, his mind racing with possibilities as he forced a tight smile. They – or at least Anna – were clearly holding something back, and he needed to figure out what it was. Fast.

As the conversation shifted to logistics for their next meeting, Anna checked her calendar as Roger rattled off dates and times, Dave’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it, his focus remaining on the business at the table, even as growing unease oozed in his chest.

The meeting ended with Anna brushing her hand over Dave’s arm as they stood to leave. “Until next time, Handsome,” she purred, her gaze lingering on his before darting down with a satisfied smirk as if assessing his bulge. He wasn’t the least bit hard, but he was a shower, not a grower, and he knew it looked impressive. She looked like she wanted to say something more, but Roger ushered her away.

Dave waited until she and Roger were out of sight before pulling his phone from his pocket and heading for his SUV. The message sent blood rushing south as he raced home.

After the exhilarating time spent together in Dave’s office, you couldn’t stop thinking about him. You were distracted all day Sunday while he was out – a work meeting that couldn’t be avoided, or so he told your mom. You took the girls and Ranger to the park for something to do, staring at your phone while they played.

You must have typed out six different messages, deleting each one before settling on a sexy photo you took of yourself in bed yesterday morning. You wanted to have something to commemorate the first night you and Dave spent together and a photo of you in a barely-there tank top, hardened nipples peeking through, bedhead, and a sleepy smile the morning after was the perfect way to do it. You couldn’t wait to see how Dave reacted to being sent such a pic.

The delay in his response made you regret sending it though. Chewing your nails down to the quick, your eyes darted between where the girls played and your phone, willing Dave to respond. Just when your nerves were at their peak, the message status changed to ‘read’, then dots appeared as he – finally – typed a response.

Dave: Don’t tease me, Firecracker

You: I’m not teasing I’m giving you a preview

Dave: Oh?

You: You know where to find me when you’re ready

Shoving your phone in your pocket with a satisfied smile, you called out to the girls and Ranger. It was time to go home.

Once the girls were home and settled, you slipped off to your room to pamper yourself. You took a long, relaxing bath with the lights off and a lavender-scented candle burning. You plucked and shaved all the necessary bits, exfoliated, and moisturized until your skin gleamed. Night settled over the house by the time you went back upstairs to heat leftovers for dinner.

Your mom went out with some friends, Dave informed you before putting the girls to bed leaving Ranger to watch over them, his eyes communicating what his words didn’t say. Tonight, he was yours.

You ate quickly, knowing you’d need the fuel, and cleaned up before heading down to your room to wait for Dave to join you. Part of you couldn’t believe what was about to happen. The other part of you dithered over your clothing.

You had on an oversized tee shirt and a robe, no bra or panties. Not exactly the sexiest attire for your first time with Dave, you thought.

If the goal was to get naked, you wondered how much clothing mattered.

There was an element of sophistication to Dave. Would he prefer you in some sexy negligee?

A sudden idea struck you and you darted up the stairs to the laundry room to grab one of Dave’s dress shirts before rushing back down to your room. You just finished buttoning the shirt where you could when Dave came down the stairs.

The startled yet appreciative look in those big brown eyes told you the shirt was the right choice.

“Fuck,” he breathed, stepping slowly into your bedroom, shutting and locking the door behind him, just in case. “You look fucking gorgeous in my shirt.”

Neither of you could stand it anymore, the heat between you growing too overwhelming to fight or hold off. You crashed together in a clash of lips and teeth, tongues tangling as you licked into each other’s mouths like it was your last meal.

“Do you have any idea how often I’ve thought of you… of doing this with you?” Dave’s raspy voice rumbled against your neck as he peppered the sensitive skin with open-mouth kisses.

“I’ve thought about you, too,” you admitted breathlessly. “I, uh, even touched myself to the thoughts.”

A fire blazed in those dark eyes as he growled, “Tell me.”

Powerless against him, you did just that. Telling him about the very first time, how you knew your fingers would never compare to his, how you imagined he would touch you with equal parts softness and unbridled need, how you thought he would rip your orgasm from you with fierce, single-minded determination, how you would beg for it to never, ever end. But you didn’t mention anything about watching him in the hot tub. You weren’t sure why.

Dave’s mouth roamed your body as you spoke, tugging layers of clothing off both of you as he went. When you were both naked, soft heated skin pressed against slightly rougher heated skin, you added, “Another time, I used my bullet vibrator as I imagined going down on you. I came to the phantom feeling of the weight of your cock on my tongue, the pulsing of it as you came down my throat.”

“Jesus Christ, Firecracker,” he groaned, pressing his hips down more firmly against yours. “You’re fucking killing me.”

“Well, we can’t have that,” you teased, drawing a rumbling laugh from deep within Dave’s chest. “No, we cannot,” he agreed, slithering down the length of your body, large hands squeezing your wide hips and thick thighs as he went, delighted that he finally gets to touch you like this.

“Let me show you what I’ve thought about, my sexy Firecracker.” He looked up at you with a boyish grin, hair flopping down over his forehead when he settled with your thighs over his shoulders. “I need to know how you taste.”

Words failed you as Dave tipped his face down, dark eyes locked on yours as he licked a stripe through your folds with the flat of his pink tongue. Holy fuck. You never saw anything so fucking sexy as this man staring at you from between your thighs while he feasted on your pussy.

Lifting his head ever so slightly, he moaned. “I’ve imagined this so many times, wondering what you’d taste like.” Another lick, a little suckle on your nub. “My imagination is nothing compared to the real thing. You are fucking delectable.”

Dave ate pussy with the same intensity he maintained during missions – single-minded focus, expert precision, and refusing to stop until the objectives were met. You came three fucking times on his tongue, his fingers providing an assist for the last one. Bordering on overstimulation, your eyes watered, and tear tracks ran down your cheeks as your chest heaved.

Aftershocks were still rolling through you as Dave slithered up your body to kiss you, his chin glistening with your juices. His tongue dipped into your mouth, feeding you the taste of yourself mixed with his unique taste and you moaned softly against his lips.

Your palms glided down the smooth muscles of his shoulders and back, grabbing handfuls of his ass to press the full weight of him against you as the kiss continued. You loved the feeling of his broad chest pressed against your breasts, his hands gripping your hips and caressing your face. When you snaked one hand between your bodies to feel the thickness of his cock, Dave pulled back.

“No, sweetheart. I’m too worked up. This will be over before it starts if you touch me right now,” he admitted in a raspy, stuttering voice. “I want to come in your pretty little pussy the first time, ok?”

Overwhelmed with need, you nodded, and Dave grinned down at you. “Cock drunk already, are you?”

Swatting at him, you whined, “I just need to feel you. Please, Dave.”

He paused, staring down at you. “Do you… should I wear a condom?”

“No. I want to feel all of you. I’m clean and on birth control, I promise.” You pawed at him, trying in vain to pull him onto, into you fully.

“Me, too,” Dave admitted, sinking into you, finally.

Ohhh. You could barely breathe as he fed you his cock, the sheer size of him taking your breath away. There was a slight pinch of pain at first, your body out of practice when it came to penetration, but the way Dave moved against you, inside you, had you moaning in no time.

“That’s it. There’s my little Firecracker,” he encouraged you when your moans increased. “It’s ok, you don’t have to be too quiet.”

“Dave,” you drew out his name in a long mewl, fingertips clawing at his back when he hit that spongy spot inside you. “Fuck. I didn’t know it could be this good.”

He kissed your face – forehead, cheeks, and the tip of your nose – before smiling down at you with glazed eyes. “It’s all you, baby. You feel so good like you were made for this cock. I could live here, inside this tight fucking pussy for the rest of my life.”

Dave continued thrusting his hips in the perfect rhythm, occasionally grinding his thumb down against your clit as the wave of pleasure began to crest. He talked you through it with debauched praise, letting you know how good you made him feel, how he never wanted this to end. You came first, crying out his name like a siren song until his thrusts stuttered and his cock pulsed, filling you with ropes of cum as he moaned your name in your ear.

Afterward, you cuddled together – it still surprised you how much Dave liked to cuddle with you – talking and chuckling in low voices, enjoying the private moment. Eventually, Dave cleaned you and himself up before going upstairs for a snack. Your mom came home, tipsy from a night out, and Dave helped her up the stairs to bed before telling her he had work to do in his office.

When he reached the bottom of the basement stairs, Dave veered towards your room and climbed back into bed with you, curling his body around yours. He was right where he wanted to be.

tbc

Chapter Seven

tag list: @imdrinkingpedro @lillaydee @ppascalrain @yorksgirl @missladym1981 @baronessvonglitter @slimybeth69 @mellymbee @untamedheart81 @inept-the-magnificent @wannab-urs @thundermartini @peelieblue @harriedandharassed @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @sunnytuliptime @vie-is-punk

[belle--ofthebrawl]

Femslash February Day 3! Mountain wingmanning at a lesbian bar (his greenhouse) (Sfw!)

Ok look, I don't know how many consecutive days of writing and posting I have in me. But I'm going to try my hardest to get so much Femslash out this month. I'm not following any set prompt or challenge list. Just my heart. And my pu-

"I need help." Mist says. 

Mountain sets down his carefully trimmed bonsai and looks at her over the rim of his glasses. She's fresh from the lake, with clothes sopping wet from being tugged on right away. Her fingers twist around a tarnished old pendant (skull, eyes set with emeralds). And, most intriguingly, the barest hint of a blush on the apples of her cheeks.

(And slung over her shoulders what is quite possibly the largest pike he's ever seen in an impressive display of prowess but that is neither here nor there. She's not asking for help with the fish.)

"I understand." Mountain replies, having seen that same look on Aether after he met Dew. 

"There was an Air sunning herself on the dock," Mist says. "I've seen her around but I don't know her name."

“What did she look like?” He asks patiently. Cirrus had a fondness for hellebore and datura, but she was usually practicing keyboard with Zephyr this time of day. He glances at a pot of white lilies and nods to himself, even before Mist tells him.

“Big.” Mist says. “Big body, big poofy hair, big sunglasses. I think I splashed her when I jumped out of the water.”

It's the most flustered he’s ever seen her, the way she paces back and forth, trailing her hand in a tub of water lilies.

"I had the fish. In my mouth. When I jumped up on the dock. And I scared her. And I didn't apologize cause my mouth was full of fish. I just walked away and acted like nothing was out of the ordinary."

“Joe cool.” He says suavely and earns a flat glare. He meets it with his own carefully blank face until Mist rolls her eyes and flicks water at him.

“I know her.” He says as an olive branch. “Cumulus. She'll be a backing vocalist and keyboardist on our next tour. Real sweet.”

“Is she the type to be bothered by how I acted?” Is Mist’s next question and Mountain thinks about it. Plenty of ghouls became “domesticated” once they were up top, vastly preferring the convenience of Abbey kitchens and a set menu to a more traditionalist approach like Mist enjoys taking.  From what he's seen, Cumulus had adored the luxuries of the Topside like bubble baths and ice cream. But she still politely asked to have raw meat whenever she ate in the cafeteria. She enjoyed organs and eyeballs, cutting daintily into her meal and chewing methodically before swallowing.

He spares a glance at the pike. It's a decent size, almost as tall as Mist’s scant five feet and from the looks of it, hadn't gone down without a fight. It might be good sliced into fillets with lemon pepper and celery salt. He doesn't think Cumulus has tried raw fish yet.

“You’ll be fine.” He says. “So. Let’s start with the focus of the bouquet.”

“Don’t you start with that flower language.” Mist warns him. “I think it’s ridiculous. I just want something pretty for her to look at without any second meanings for her to guess. I don’t like codes.”

“Alright.” Mountain says, humoring her. “So, lets just start with flowers that remind you of her. Take a look at what calls you.”

Mist beelines for the lilies and Mountain smiles to himself. Mist isn't the type to be sentimental and he hardly expects her to verbalize her thought process. It would be more practical than poetic anyway because that's just how she was. He just guesses and watches and waits while she goes from flower to flower, brow furrowed in thought. 

“I like these.” She says about a pot of bullthistle he’s been nurturing from seed. It's on it's second year and growing tall, fine shoots that promise to bear nasty, thorny leaves. He's got an idea about how the species might be used to strengthen the borders of the abbey but he's worried about how fast it spreads. So it sits, with its purple crowns atop tiny thorny heads. 

“Thank you.” Mountain says. “For the bouquet or just to admire?”

“Just to admire.” Mist admits. Shifting her weight to still keep ahold of the pike, she thrusts her bouquet before him for inspection. Dominated by the lilies, she's added sprigs of lavender and fat peonies. Ferns have been tucked here and there to break up the flowers and Mountain gives her a silent thumbs up. There's no doubt Cumulus will love it.

"Thank you." Mist says gratefully. “I…I really appreciate it, Mountain.”

“Go get’em tiger.” He says as she nods to herself and heads out to find her girl, toting a gorgeous bouquet and her freshly slaughtered kill.

And no sooner do her footsteps fade when Mountain picks up another pair heading to the back of the greenhouse.

"I'm sorry." He says to the bonsai. "We're just doomed to always have interruptions in our alone time, it would seem."

The bonsai forgives him. It was a patient tree. It could wait a little longer.

"Mountain?" Comes Cumulus' frantic voice. "Mountain, you have to help me."

She bursts into the greenhouse, a gorgeous mess of floppy curls and chiffon as she presses her hands to her rosy cheeks. Her sunglasses are askew, her hat is about to fall off and he's never seen her so far from neatly put-together in her entire time with them.

"There was a water Ghoulette." She begins softly. "Caught the biggest fish I've ever seen. So stoic! Such a huntress!  Mountain, I think I'm in love."

"I understand." He says soothingly. "Why don't you take a look at those water lilies while I grab some thistle? Wouldn't want you hurting your hands."

[cjlouwho]

Why don’t you want to be here when the show comes back??? Genuine question because I’ve been having these feelings too but can’t place them.

*this is just me complaining, feel free to ignore*

It’s a myriad of things really… I’m still bummed about bucktommy, and how they screwed up Buck’s bi storyline. I’m just not interested in his story right now, and I have no desire to see him in even more pointless relationships.

There are so many fights that happen! Everywhere! About everything! I’m convinced 75% of this fandom hates the show but, for some reason, doesn’t know how to stop watching. The people I follow are lovely, and I’ve weeded out all the arguers, but you still see it. And it’s impossible to find the perfect way to block it out.

I don’t have any desire for bts stuff. This is already happening, and I have no idea why but it stresses me out! I usually love bts, but this show ruined the excitement of it for me. And now that there’s not one main source for bts, everyone is posting it and it’s impossible to filter. This is in no way shading anyone who posts bts, post whatever the hell you want, these are my issues!

And then there’s people who say they have inside sources, and there’s people getting leaks, but everyone is vague about it and it’s kinda ridiculous. If you’re gonna mention having spoilers, then either discuss them or don’t mention it at all. Sorry, it was so much better during Glee when spoilers were tossed out like candy and you knew everything about an episode two months before it aired 😂

And the whole thing overall bums me out because I found 911 during the worst time of my life and it really saved me, and I joined in the fandom because I wanted to not be lonely, and now I’m getting told that buddies talk shit about me, bucktommies talk shit about me, and I can’t even begin to understand why. I’m a literal no one with no connection to the show, and what I say doesn’t mean a thing. Idk sometimes being a part of something can make you feel even more alone.

Anyways… yeah, I don’t wanna be here much once it starts up again lmao

[athenagc94]

Dear Daddy Long Legs - Chapter 5

Jason Todd x Fem!Reader

Also posting on AO3 which you can find here.

Might have to take a few days off so I can catch up on some writing. I am very happy with the direction this story is taking. (If you couldn't tell, this is more of a slow burn piece because I can't imagine Jason as anything but someone who yearns.)

TW: Minor depictions of violence

First | Prev | Next

Chapter 5

You dropped your letter off the following morning before heading to your first class of the day. The first two weeks at Gotham University passed in a blur as you tried to orient yourself. You liked school when you were a kid. It distracted you from the harsh realities of the world. College was a different beast entirely, especially one as prestigious as this.

It was hard not to feel othered here. Other students came from old families, ones with money and prestige. You recognized some of their faces from interviews or social media. It was their seats that went vacant in class. They had nothing to prove. There were no consequences when you had money to throw at a problem.

You settled in your seat of your history class. From Goddesses to Witches: An Overview of Women’s History. With a title like that, how could you not sign up for it? There were a lot of cool classes here, and you wanted to take them all, but there were only so many hours in the day.

The blonde who usually sat on your right had already arrived. Her purple hoodie was branded with the University logo, though you don’t recall the school store selling purple apparel. She offered a friendly smile as you sat. You failed to return it as you sifted through your bag.

Sure, you wanted to make friends. It would be nice to find like-minded people who liked to discuss classic literature and the relevance of the oxford comma, but you weren’t entirely sure where to start.

Returning a smile might have been a smart move, but the moment had passed. Your table mate shifted her attention to her phone, so you decided to do the same.

A text awaited you from your manager: Rosa quit last night. I need you to come in tomorrow night to cover a party.

You suppressed a groan. Seriously? Rosa had wanted to quit for a while, but now it fell to you to pick up the slack. You shot back a quick text though you knew it wouldn’t make a difference: I have a night class.

Bubbles appeared instantly.

Shit.

His response was exactly what you expected: I wouldn’t be asking if we had options. I hired two new waiters that need a veteran to show them the ropes. You’re the best I have.

Flattery would get him nowhere, but you’d be stupid to turn down an extra shift—especially as an event lead. That role usually went to Rosa who had a kid to consider. Now, the title would shift to you, and the boost to your salary would reflect it.

With a defeated sigh, you replied: I’ll be there.

I’ll send you the details tonight. You’re a lifesaver, he shot back.

Hardly, but you weren’t about to argue. This decision was entirely selfish on your part. If you did this, you’d have a valid argument to ask for Christmas off in a few months.

Your professor arrived and class began. As she talked about your assigned reading, which you’d already finished and annotated the night prior, your mind wandered as you considered your options. Skipping one class wasn’t the end of the world. It was a philosophy class that didn’t count toward your major, but allowing this set a dangerous precedent. Your boss got what he wanted this time. What would stop him from trying again?

Some students might get away with skipping class, but you weren’t one of them.

Glancing back at the blonde, you noticed meticulous notes she’d started in glittery purple ink. She was also in your philosophy class, though you didn’t sit next to each other.

In hindsight, maybe you should have returned that smile.

Your fingers drummed the table. It’s not like you were asking for a lot if she was already taking notes. She might be cool to talk to, to hang out with. Friendships had blossomed for less.

Or maybe you were asking for too much?

Ask for notes and leave things there. After years of doing things for yourself, it felt like cheating to rely on the kindness of a stranger like this. Not to mention, you were a little rusty at making new friends. The ones you had came from work and the shared trauma of working in catering.

Do you even know how to make friends?

You warred with your pride until the professor dismissed you. The blonde hopped out of her chair, swung her bag over her shoulder in one fluid motion, and hurried out before you mustered the courage to speak. You were moving before you realized it, abandoning your bag to hurry after her.

“Hey! You in the purple. Wait up.”

It wasn’t the best identifier, but she stopped anyway, peering over her shoulder. Her surprise gave way to something friendlier as she grinned. “That’s me.”

You approached, your heart pounding. “So, I hate to ask this, but I got called into work tomorrow night. Since you’re in my philosophy class, I was wondering if you could take notes for me?”

“Yeah, no problem,” she said as she pulled out her phone, “What’s your number? I can text you a picture of them once class let’s out tomorrow night.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary. I can just grab them when I see—”

“Don’t sweat it. Professor Edwin is an ass. He failed me last year because I slept through our final exam and refused to let me retake it for partial credit. Like, come on man, it’s not my fault I overslept. I’m not going to let anyone fall victim to his shit if I can help it.”

How did that make him an ass? You almost asked, but she shoved her phone in your face and continued, “I’m Steph, by the way. Pre-med.”

You introduced yourself as you punched your number into her phone. “Writing and Classics,” you offered as you handed her phone back.

“Radical.” She gave you a quick once over. “I’m thinking red.”

“Huh?”

“That’s what color I’ll write the notes in. Something about your aura just screams it, ya know?”

You did not. “Black ink is fine too.”

Steph looked at you like you had just suggested slaughtering a small child instead. “Absolutely not. Why would I do that when the world is such a colorful place? I know we live in Gotham, but that doesn’t mean we have to abstain from happiness.” Her phone beeped in her hand, and she gasped. “Crap, I gotta get to class, but I’ll send you a text later.” She hurried off, leaving you to stare after her in disbelief.

Huh.

Maybe making friends was easier than you thought.

***

Your manager failed to mention the party was at Wayne Manor.

Deep down, you knew it didn’t matter. You had catered dozens of his parties over the years, but that was before you accepted his money like a sellout. How working for him was any different, well, you weren’t exactly sure—it just was.

Anxiety bubbled in your belly as you lit the food warmers on the banquet table along the far wall of the sitting room. Every so often, you’d glance over your shoulder like you expected Bruce Wayne to step out of the shadows and yell at you for skipping class.

This was stupid. Bruce Wayne had no idea who you were beyond a name on an application. He didn’t care that you skipped class. Students skipped all the time. Hell, your first letter probably hadn’t even reached his desk.

Still, a small part of you disliked the power he had over you.

“Excuse me.”

You nearly jumped out of your skin as you whipped around to face the elderly butler who’d let you in that evening to set up. He quirked a wispy eyebrow, almost amused.

“I apologize. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Master Wayne asked me to check in with your team to ensure you have everything you require.”

Heat bloomed in your cheeks as you tucked your lighter away. “I’m good on the food end, but I should check with our bartender to make sure. How many guests are we expecting again?”

“Fifty, ma’am.”

“Perfect. I’ll be right back.”

This was a more intimate affair than what you were used to, but intimate usually meant easy.

You tasked the new hires with preparing platters of hors d’oeuvres in the kitchen. They arrived in ill-fitting uniforms and messily knotted hair. They also seemed more interested in their phones than listening to you. If they made it through tonight, you’d be impressed.

Catering was lucrative, especially when the owner never turned a job down. Not a single one, even if the client was far from reputable. Staff turnover was unreal because of it, but you didn’t mind if you got paid at the end of the night (and the mob paid very well for discretion). You had a rule. Keep your head down and do your job. People largely ignored you as long as you did.

It was the same here, among the Gotham elite. No one looked at your face or bothered to learn your name.

You ducked inside the kitchen where Mark, the bartender, sorted through a crate of liquor. Several platters of half-finished hors d’oeuvres sat on the counter, but the new hires had disappeared.

Your eye twitched. “Where are they?”

Mark looked up from his crate. A few strands of strawberry blonde hair fell into his eyes. He ran his fingers through his hair and held the pose to show off the carve of his bicep. It was a well-practiced motion that made the ladies swoon. You have been one of those ladies before you learned he used that move on everyone.

“They mentioned a smoke break and left out the back.”

You scoffed. “Great.”

“Starting to feel a little sympathy for Rose, aren’t ya?”

“Shut up.” You crossed the room to lay out the platters yourself. “Do you need anything? The butler asked.”

Mark whistled softly. “I wish I was rich enough to have a butler.”

“Who knows? You might finally get a sugar momma if you play your cards right.”

“That’s the goal. You could find yourself a sugar daddy if you tried.”

“Hard pass.” You’d accepted enough charity in your life. No one but the Red Hood knew about the scholarship, and you wanted to keep it that way. Accepting handouts went against your morals, and you didn’t want people calling you a hypocrite—even that was exactly what you were.

“I should go track those assholes down,” you grumbled as you finished one of the platters, “I don’t think they’ll last an hour.”

Mark snorted. “Have a little more faith. I bet they can make it to the end of the night.”

You wiped your palms off on the front of your apron. “I don’t bet on anything.”

“Lame.”

You left out the back door to search for your servers. What were their names again? Brian and Jon? That sounded right, but if it was wrong, you weren’t going to feel bad about it. They had spoken less than a dozen words to you since arriving at the manor. You rounded the corner to find one of them with a burning cigarette hanging from his lips.

“Where the other one?”

Jon/Brian (you couldn’t be pressed to tell them apart) glanced up from his phone, his blatant disregard for the job palpable. “Brendan took a lap to stretch his legs.”

Brendan. Fine. Brendan and Jon.

“He’ll have a chance to stretch his legs once the party begins. Find him and get your asses back inside.”

“Bitch,” he grunted as he flicked his cigarette at her feet. He stalked off to find Brendan.

Men, you seethed to yourself as you stomped out his cigarette.

At least Rosa was fun to talk to. That and she made sopaipillas for your birthday. Shame she had to go and quit on you.

You returned to the kitchen as the butler stepped inside. He noted the half-finished platters with an unimpressed sniff. “Would you like some help? Our guests are due to arrive any minute.”

Your shoulders sagged. “Yeah, that would be great.”

An hour later, the party was in full swing, and you were counting down the hours before you could go home and work on your readings for class. You wove through the guests with a full platter of bacon-wrapped water chestnuts balanced in one hand. Some people grabbed them before you had a chance to offer, while others waited for you to present them with a vacant smile and a pleasant, “Would you like one?”

It was automatic at this point. You didn’t think. Jon and Brendan on the other hand…

You searched for them in the crowd, but it was difficult with all the bodies crammed in one room. Fifty people were just shy of too many people for the spacious sitting room, but no one else seemed to mind. You shared a look with Mark, who mixed drinks at the bar in the corner.

You motioned to the crowd, and he shrugged, already guessing your question. He hadn’t seen them either.

Perfect.

Your boss would have hell to pay in the morning because this was ridiculous.

A man knocked into your shoulder as he passed, nearly spilling your platter in the process. You swore as dove to save it. As you did, your attention snagged on familiar tattoo that painted the guest’s knuckles a deep crimson. You’d seen it before, but only ever on the east side and when you did, you knew it was time to run the other way.

A member of the Blood Knuckles—here at Wayne Manor.

Your mind raced as you made a beeline for the bar. Mark passed a glass of red wine to a woman with flushed cheeks. She giggled at nothing as she dropped a crisp twenty in his tip jar.

When she stumbled off to join her partner, you set your platter down and said, “Head back to the kitchen.”

His brow furrowed. “What?”

“Just do it. I can explain everything later. I need to find the—”

A shot went off behind you. Screams rippled through the crowd as you hit the ground. The Blood Knuckle stood with his back to you. He raised his gun to the ceiling, shards of crystal raining down from the chandelier. Three more men removed guns from their waistbands, each donning the brand of their gang.

 Bruce Wayne stood near the fireplace, a trembling hand raised as if he were soothing a wild beast. He wore his usual black on black, his jaw set with a severe expression as he stared the gun down its barrel. “Woah there,” he said as he tucked a younger boy behind his back, “We don’t want any trouble.”

“Neither do we. Well, not with most of you anyway.” He turned his attention to but an aging man in the corner with thinning hair. “Oscar Franz, our boss has business with you.”

Oscar staggered back, the color leeching from his face. “W-Who sent you?”

“Oh, I don’t kill and tell.” He leveled the gun at him. “But we have a few questions first.”

Your ears rang as you scanned the room, weighing your options. If only you’d noticed sooner, you might have gotten Mark and you out of the room before the Blood Knuckles revealed themselves. They usually kept to their territory, so seeing them this far outside of East Gotham unsettled you. They weren’t usually hitmen, and you weren’t too keen to watch a man die before your eyes tonight.

Slowly, you got to your feet and used one hand to flip your platter. It clattered noisily to the ground, drawing the attention away from the target. The hitman locked eyes with you, and you recognized him instantly.

Brendan—now dressed in a tuxedo to blend in with the guests. How had you missed the tattoo before? Did you even get a good look at his hands?

Your manager would hire gang members by accident. To think, you could have been having a deep philosophical discussion about morality and the error of humanity instead. Now, you had to face the reality of your morality as he trained the gun on you.

A laugh bubbled in your throat as you lifted your hands, feigning innocence. And here you thought he was just a shitty server. This made a lot more s—

You sensed someone behind, but it was too late. Jon cracked the butt of his gun on the back of your head and the world went dark.

[jaeyunjakesim]

Sweltering -SJY

Cw/ Jake x f!reader/ established relationship/ m.dni/ car sex/ quickie/ oral f.r./ handjob m.r./ no protection/ alcohol mention/ swearing?/ not proofread/ lmk if I missed anything

// you pick up Jake from the Prada afterparty… things get stuffy //

Wc/ 2k

An/ my first work posted here! Lmk if you like it <3

It’s sometime past 11 at night, but god it’s sweltering outside. The boys spent the night at an after party for Prada while you stayed in a hotel room, only getting updates on them by checking fansites for pictures. Jake was largely not allowed to check his phone for public appearances like this, but it was still only slightly upsetting to you that you had to learn about his whereabouts from a third party.

However, it was now twenty minutes ago that you received a text from Jake asking to pick him up, which worried you. The wording wasn’t like him, too stilted for the way he usually spoke to you, even if it was only a quick text.

You know they have a ride back, probably a limo or something similar to pick them up, but the text was too off-putting for you to ignore, and you left as soon as you read it. You round a corner and park behind the building they’re in, shooting a text back to Jake that you made it.

Two minutes later a back door opens and you see your boyfriend and Jay walk out, Jake obviously drunk. You meet them in the middle,

“Is everything okay?” You try to leave the worry out of your voice, failing. Jay has an arm around Jake’s shoulders, not exactly holding him up but close enough to it. He sighs, holding up Jake’s phone in a way that makes you feel stupid for not realizing it wasn’t your boyfriend texting you at all.

“Yeah, everything’s fine. Just too much to drink. He wouldn’t stop asking for you. Can you take him back? He’s a little less than press presentable.” You melt a little at his words, finally making eye contact with your boyfriend.

Calling the look Jake gives you puppy eyes when you finally focus on him would be an understatement. His cheeks and nose are bright pink, and his eyes are shiny with intoxication, his perfect lips falling into a pout. Before you can even respond to Jay he’s reaching out for you, out of Jay’s grasp and slipping clumsily into your arms. You laugh at him, so so smitten.

“I’ll take him off your hands. Go back to the guys. Thank you for texting.” Jay nods wordlessly, handing you Jake’s phone before turning back. He’s probably thankful to be free of responsibility for a while.

Jake’s arms are wrapped around your neck, clinging to you like you’re going to run away. He must be pretty drunk then.

“I missed you.” He mumbles into your neck. You kiss his forehead gingerly, pocketing his phone with the arm not holding him up,

“I missed you too, baby. Did you have fun?” He nods, face still stuffed into your neck,

“I need you.” You try and pry him off you so you can get back into the car, but he’s stronger than you even drunk, and he won’t move.

“I’m right here, Jake. Let’s go back to the room okay?” He whines at this, grip around you becoming even tighter.

“No baby, I need you need you.” You still don’t quite get what he means until he starts placing open mouthed kisses on your neck. Your hands fall to his waist.

“Jake we can’t, we’re in public.” You try and walk backwards towards the car, but he once again keeps you in place. He whines again into your throat and moves one of your hands below his belt buckle so you can feel him, his bulge prominent immediately. He sucking delicately on your neck and whining into your ears and your resolve is fizzling out quickly.

“Please baby, it hurts. I’ve needed you all night.” His whines are getting more and more desperate, and you both know you can’t resist him. In one motion you remove his mouth and hands from you, grabbing his wrist and yanking him towards the car.

You both climb into the back row of the car, sweating from the hot evening air. Jake doesn’t waste anytime pulling you into his mouth, plush lips against yours. His skin is on fire and he tastes like alcohol but he’s so addictive, and you can’t get enough. He looks so stupidly good in all black, his shirt already undone by two buttons and his hair disheveled in a way that makes you want to pull at it.

You knew he was drunk but it’s only obvious now how far gone he is by the way he’s kissing you, all tongue and teeth and it’s driving you crazy. Jake is always clingy when it comes to you, but drunk Jake? All bets are off. He becomes attached at the hip to you as soon as he’s got a few beers in him, and you can tell by his desperation and how hard he is he’s definitely had more than that tonight. He pulls back a fraction of an inch, both of you breathing heavy.

“Baby, I need to taste you.” He barely lets himself finish speaking before he’s pulling ungracefully at the waistband of your jeans and unbuttoning them. He pulls them down in tandem with your panties with a desperation you rarely see in him, pushing your legs open determinedly.

He’s always a people pleaser, even drunk, and he refuses to give you anything but his full attention when he goes down on you. he nips and licks at the inside of your thighs, looking at you with pupils blown wide.

You hear a mumble of “you look so good, baby,” before he loses his patience entirely and starts pressing his tongue flat against your core.

His hands on your hips are gentle but his mouth is mean, nose pressed into your clit as he laps up your wetness, already addicted to the taste. you’re hands on instinct weave their way into his hair, pulling on the dark locks. He groans against you in response, the pain and your high pitched whines only egging him on.

His thumb is rubbing slow circles into your hip, trying his best to go easy on you but it’s so so hard to hold back when he’s this horny. All night the only thing he’s been thinking about is your mouth and your pussy and how tight you are when he presses in for the first time, the night going from enjoyable to pure torture without you pressed against him. He moves his mouth back to press a kiss to your slit, reveling in the wetness of you before wrapping his lips around your clit and *sucking.* You cry out immediately at the stimulation, only at your resolve to be more weakened when you feel Jake’s finger pressing into you, your eyes pricking with tears at the pleasure. He starts pumping his finger into you at a brutal place, your brain almost going completely blank at the sensation. Almost.

“J-Jake, if you don’t slow down I’m go-“ He puts another finger in you, and you can feel the coldness of his rings when he presses them all the way into you.

“Jake!” You whimper pathetically, Jake knowing every little thing to please you. He creates even more suction on your clit and you’re so *so* close before you’re finally regaining enough willpower to push him off you. It’s a testament only to your desire to feel him inside of you that you relive yourself of his mouth and fingers, already uncomfortable at the loss of sensation.

When you make eye contact with Jake he looks upset, a kicked puppy who doesn’t know what he did wrong. His lips are red and swollen and his chin is covered in your slick, his eyes pleading with you to let him continue. You almost coo at him, so eager to please he forgets about his own arousal, and you try to console him.

You push his hair out of his eyes, “You did so good, baby. But I wanna feel you.” He moans in frustration, undoing his belt and pushing his slacks down, palming himself through his boxers.

And the way he looks right now is so irresistible you can’t help it when you sit up to pull him in for a kiss, tasting yourself on his lips, your hands going down to replace his own. It doesn’t take long before he’s melting into your mouth and your hands, breathy moans being swallowed up by your kiss as your hands push his boxers down. You glide gently up his length, teasing him just a little because you know how sensitive he must be. His cock is already so wet, even without much effort from you, always so needy. He’s immediately putty in your hands, any ego he had before pouring into your mouth with his kisses.

His breath hitches when you tighten your hands just around the head of his cock, torturing him only for a moment before you’re back to stroking him gently.

“Good boy,” you say as you guide his head into your neck, his pathetic little noises only growing louder. “Always so good for me Jake.” He’s suckling into your neck again and you’re sure it’s going to leave marks but you don’t care, your hands moving faster against him. You know he’s already hard enough but Jake is almost never this submissive with you. You can’t resist him like this. But after only a few moments of your hands against his length he’s mewling into your throat, and you want to reward him for how patience he’s been all night.

“You ready, baby?” You say, giving him no time to answer before you’re positioning yourself and sinking down onto his length with no warning. He makes a noise in between a moan and a gasp, already struggling with how warm and wet your pussy is around him. You give him no time to adjust either before you’re bouncing up and down on his cock at a brutal pace.

All he can do is take it as his hands fall to your hips, powerless against you. He’s whining and whimpering pathetically, the alcohol making him so much more sensitive than normal, the wet sounds your pussy is making only sending him closer to the edge. His hands have barely ventured under your shirt when you notice his eyes struggling to stay open, so fucked out already.

You don’t let him catch his breath before you’re leaning into his ear, “Come on Jake, come in my needy pussy. Want you to fill me up good.” Your words and the way your walls tightened around him is what finally sends him over the edge, moaning your name as he comes inside you, pleasure almost immediately giving way to overstimulation. The feeling of him filling you up is what pushes you over as well, coming all over his cock.

You pull off him shortly after, laying back against the leather seats of the car with him against your chest. He’s still leaving kisses along the parts of your neck he can reach, ever affectionate in his altered state.

You’ll have to drive back to your hotel soon, where you’ll deal with a drunk, stubborn Jake who wants nothing to do with showering or skincare and only wants to fall asleep with you in his arms, but you know trying to move him right now is mean. And until you can coax him out of the back of the car and into the passengers seat you’re content feeling his lips against your skin and his mumbles of affection to you, grateful to Prada for the open bar tonight.