#I drew these really late last night you can tell I got tired on the second one 😭

[andro-dino]

almost forgot to post these here whoops

anyways Sakyo if he looked slightly more like one of his parents than the other

[kdogreads]

You’re My Peace

Chef Luca x f!reader

TW: angsty Luca (before his Carmy epiphany), hurt/comfort-ish, cursing, established relationship

AN: I just love him 🥹 lmk what else reader x Luca should get up to! Thank you for reading 🫶

You weren’t sure what time it was when you finally heard the front door to your apartment open. You’d been in bed for an hour or two, but you couldn’t sleep without Luca softly snoring next to you, looking like your own personal Adonis even in his sleep.

He started rustling around in the kitchen as soon as the door shut, so you decided you’d get up and see what he was doing. Plus, you needed to know why he wasn’t coming to bed.

“Baby, what’s going on?” You ask groggily, startled that every light was on in the kitchen in the middle of the night, “Are you alright?”

“Sorry, my love, didn’t mean to wake you,” He stepped over to you and pecked a soft kiss into your forehead before turning back to the counter.

You stood in silence a moment, trying to make sense of all the utensils and plates Luca was pulling out of the cabinets at 1:30 — no, 1:33, you noticed — in the morning. He’d already been gone all day at school, putting in hours more than required.

“Baby,” You sighed and closed the gap between you, gently grabbing his face and making him look down at you, “Can’t it wait ‘til tomorrow? You have to be tired, Lu.”

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, leaning over you so his lungs filled with the scent of your coconut shampoo. His lips pressed into the top of your head for a moment before he started to speak.

“I’ll be 10 minutes, love, I promise,” He kissed your forehead again, “Then I’ll come to bed.”

You let out a breath you didn’t know you’d been holding, “Jesus, Luca, come on.”

You stepped back as his hands began reaching for the spice cabinet. He shot you an apologetic look before he started grabbing things off the shelf.

“I know, baby, it’s just that Carmy, ah, the bloke I’ve been telling you about-,” He rambled as you searched for any more patience left in your body, “-yeah, he made this, uh, this dish today and I’ve almost got it down—.”

His voice trailed off as he kept opening cabinets and drawers, pulling more spoons and bowls and testing your resilience all the while.

“Luca, please, it’s late—,” You started.

“Really, love, just 10 more minutes.”

“Luca—,” He kept moving, clearly not sensing your impending implosion.

“Baby, come on,” You tried one last time before you couldn’t keep your volume down anymore, “Luca!”

He instantly dropped the wooden spoon in his hand, turning his full attention to you. He never raised his voice at you, and you’d never yelled at him.

“Please, baby, listen to me,” You started softly, stroking his broad shoulders with a gentle touch, “You know how much I want this for you, and I love you so damn much for your dedication, but I need you to be here when you are here.”

Luca let out a shaky breath, his warm hands reaching up to cup your face tenderly. His slender fingers reached into your hair and pulled you up towards him, pressing his lips into yours in a slow, languid kiss.

He leaned back slightly, far enough to slide his right hand down to his chest, clutching it into a fist and circling his heart. I’m sorry.

You mirrored his motions, dropping your hand down to circle your own heart with a bit more fervor. I’m sorry, too.

You held each other’s gaze for a long moment until Luca closed his eyes and leaned his head into your shoulder. His arms wrapped tightly around your waist and pulled you to him like he was afraid you’d disappear if he let go.

Your own arms drifted around his just as tight. One hand was tangled in his messy curls while the other drew pictures absentmindedly onto his back.

“I just thought I could be the best, thought I was the best,” Luca spoke into your neck, his muscles relaxing as your hands danced over them, “And realizing I’m not, that I never can be, it’s just—.”

“A lot,” You finish for him, helping him not have to think.

“A lot,” He mirrors.

“Hey,” You gently pull his face up to meet your soft gaze, “You don’t have to be the best to be really damn good.”

The corners of his mouth twitch up slightly, almost in a smile, “I know that now. I think I just had to— I don’t know, make peace with that.”

You send him a knowing smile as his lips drift to meet yours again, a little deeper this time.

“Plus,” You begin, “If anyone is going to out-chef you, Chef, it has to be Carmy. He’s like, from another planet or something.”

Luca huffs out a laugh and your heart immediately feels lighter.

“Carm is really good,” Luca chuckles, “He’s got something special.”

“Just as special as you have, Lu.”

He kisses you like he’s trying to pour all of his love into you in just this moment. Your mind swirls as his lips leave yours, batting your eyes open to clear your head.

You placed a peck on his firm shoulder and step away to head back to bed. It’s only a few seconds of clanging until Luca is closing your bedroom door behind him.

“Dishes’ll be there tomorrow,” He mumbles as he climbs into bed, his weight practically collapsing into the plush surface.

You slid into place beside him, one leg tangled over his as his strong arms pull you into his chest. Luca’s warm hands sent a shiver up your spine.

“I should’ve just talked to you, my love. I’m sorry,” Luca stroked his thumb over your cheekbone.

“Heard, Chef,” You smirked but meant it just the same, “Can’t scare me off that easy.”

Luca smiled and tucked you into his chest, wanting to hold you as close as he could. His heart beat evened out as he felt your own, strong and steady, drawing him out of his anxiety.

You ran your fingertips of Luca’s toned back as he pressed gentle kisses into your cheek and neck. The two of you shared a comfortable, warm silence for a moment before a thought popped into Luca’s head.

“I thought I had to make my own peace,” He pulled away from you so he could see your face, “But I think you are my peace, love. You are always the answer.”

Your eyes prickled with tears, seeing the truth and adoration in Luca’s gaze. He’s saying all this while you’re trying to figure out how he thinks he’s the lucky one.

You wrack your brain for the right words, but all that comes out is, “I love you so fucking much, Lu.”

Luca stared down at you lovingly, planting needy kisses onto your lips.

“I love you just the same, my peace.”

————

It wasn’t more than a month before a delicate peace dove tattoo showed up on Luca’s forearm. Followed closely by a framed portrait of he and Carmy on the wall in your kitchen.

“Both sent me to war,” He teased when you questioned the timing, “But both brought me peace.”

[vid-writes]

Takuma Ino x Female Reader

I know you guys wanted the Kento fic first but I've wanted to write this for a few days so you get this one first. Don't worry I'm getting to that Nanami fic

There really aren't any TWs other than sexually explicit content so no one under 18 needs to interact with this.

You and Takuma Ino had been together for almost six months now, but you guys hadn't had sex yet. His job as a sorcerer kept him so busy that when he got home, he was always tired and crashed right after he ate dinner. Tonight was one of the nights you were staying over and as much as you enjoyed cuddling with Ino you really wanted to escalate your relationship more.

As you were finishing up dinner, the door to his apartment banged open, and he called out, "Babe, I'm home." You giggled as you plated the food and waited for him to round the corner into the kitchen. When he did, his jaw hit the floor. Instead of the cozy pajamas you usually wear when he gets home this late, you wear a new bright yellow summer dress.

"Welcome home," you said as you rounded the small island in the kitchen and pulled him into a hug. I've missed you." His arms snaked around your waist, and he kissed you deeply.

"I don't know what I did to deserve coming home to you dressed up, but I'm going to make sure I keep doing it," he said as he finally pulled back from his greeting kiss. You smiled and playfully smacked his chest.

"Would it make you feel too terrible if I said this is because of something we haven't done," you whispered as you felt heat creeping into your cheeks. Takuma pulled back more and studied your face for a few seconds before his eyes lit up.

"No, because I actually got a day off tomorrow. I even told Nanami I'm turning my phone off to spend the day with my girlfriend," he said before he kissed you deeply again.

"Well then, let's eat dinner, and whatever happens, happens," you replied as you tugged him by the wrist over to the two-person dining table he had tucked into the back corner of the kitchen.

"So tell me about your day," Takuma inquired as he poured wine for the both of you, making sure not to fill your glass the "wrong way." Once the liquid was millimeters from the brim of your glass, he set the bottle down.

"My day was incredibly boring compared to that of a sorcerer," you teased as you both dug into dinner. A few minutes of comfortable silence ensued as you guys ate, but it soon turned tense.

"My day really wasn't all that great. I nearly let a cruse escape and got lectured by Kento for over an hour," he grumbled after he drained half of his glass of wine. You offered him a soft smile and squeezed his hand, which was resting on the table near yours.

"Now, Ino, you know that doesn't make you a bad sorcerer," you soothed as your fingers drew senseless patterns on the back of his hand. A warm smile crossed Ino's face, and then heat filled his cheeks.

"Can I confess something to you?" He asked and laced his fingers with yours.

"You know that you always can, Takuma, my love," you replied and squeezed his hand.

"I have had sex but only once before, and it was a long time ago," he whispered as he made to pull his ski mask over his face. It was in the key bowl near the front door, so his hand threaded into his hair instead.

"Can I confess something to you?" You asked, and he looked up at you through heavy lashes.

"Always Y/N, my dear," he replied.

"I've had sex before too. A few times with my last boyfriend, but he wasn't any good," you admitted as you felt heat creeping into your own cheeks. He lifted his head with a shy smile on his face, and you returned it.

"I've been scared that you wouldn't want to be with someone who has been with someone before. That's stupid, I know, and we never discussed our histories, but that's just how I felt," Ino said as he rubbed the back of his neck. You laughed softly and drank some more of your wine. This night was going according to plan and not at all at the same time.

"Takuma, I've never cared about that; I just want to share that special connection with you," you admitted. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood up with his hand out to you.

"Then let's go in my room so I can find out if you're wearing panties underneath that pretty little dress of yours," he said as his face turned redder. You put your hand in his and allowed him to pull you to your feet. The answer to his curiosity was dangling on your tongue, but you swallowed it as you followed him to his bedroom.

In the room, Takuma turned to you, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. His bed sat against the wall to the right, and across from it was the door to his bathroom. A few posters hung on his walls from movies or manga, and some other furniture filled his room. It could really use the touch of a woman, but moving in with Takuma was still another six months away at a minimum. Nerves seemed to be making him hesitate, so you grabbed his hand and led him to the bed.

You climbed up onto the big plush mattress with your hand still in his so he had no choice but to follow you up. You scooted Ino, so he sat against the headboard and then straddled his lap, making sure your dress still covered your pussy.

His hands settled on your hips, and you slowly kissed your way from his ear, across his cheek to his mouth. Not wanting to rush him or make him feel like you were judging his skills, you planned to take your time. When your mouth finally met his, you could feel the desire burning underneath his skin. His hands tightened on your waist as he pushed his tongue between your lips. Takuma's taste filled your mouth, and you moaned as his desire flooded another one of your senses. Your tongues licked at each other as his hands slid up and down your sides. Moans slipped from your throat as Takuma sucked your tongue into his mouth, and you scratched his chest a little bit. He sucked your tongue more as his hands slid down to your thighs. Keening sounds of pleasure spilled from your mouth as you scratched down his chest more, and he licked your tongue while still sucking it.

"You really like that," he panted when he finally pulled his lips back from yours just enough to speak.

"I've kissed two other guys, and neither one ever did that. Hell, I've kissed you before, and you've never done that. It felt so fucking good, Ino," you moaned as his hands squeezed your thighs. Blush filled his cheeks again as he pulled back more to look at your face. His eyes searched yours and found nothing but desire darkening them more and more.

"I really want to take this dress off of you, but I don't want you to be unfairly naked if it's all you're wearing," he whispered as his hands pushed the dress up your thighs. You bit your lip as his hands moved the dress up to your hips. Without saying anything, you raised your arms above your head. His eyes danced with conflict before he pulled the dress over your head. And, like he guessed, you were naked underneath. Your small breasts hung freely with hardened nipples, and your recently, but not freshly, shaved pussy was on full display since your legs were on either side of his.

"Fuck I don't know why I waited so long. You're gorgeous all the time, but seeing you naked is damn near religious," Ino murmured as he shifted you off of his lap. He slipped off the bed and stood. Quietly, he faced you and pulled off his shirt. Defined muscles lined his chest and stomach. You only had seconds to take those in because his pants and underwear were pushed off at the same time. His cock stood half-hard in front of him, and your mouth watered. Even from here and half hard, you knew Ino's cock was your favorite kind. Six, maybe seven inches and thicker as you went down more. You might have only had sex with one man, but you never lacked new toys to masturbate with, and being small meant you had a thing for smaller dicks.

"Takuma, promise me you won't let me out of this bed tomorrow," you said as he climbed back on the bed. He laughed and claimed your lips in a deep kiss in response. As he parted your lips with his tongue again, he leaned his weight into you until your back was against the bed. Your tongues danced together as you lightly scratched down his back. His hands brushed the underside of your breasts a few times before cupping them both fully in his hands.

"Your breasts are the perfect size," he groaned as he kissed his way to your ear and kneaded your breasts in his hands. Your nails dug deeper into the skin of his back as he rolled your nipples in his hands. He kissed down your neck and along your collarbone as his weight slowly shifted down a bit. When his mouth claimed one of your nipples, you arched into him.

"Mmmmmm, so good, Ino," you purred as his tongue and fingers worked your nipples into hard points. Your hips rutted up into his as your hands squeezed his ass. He moaned around your other nipple, and your pussy throbbed. Men who made noises were your favorite. So you squeezed his ass again, and he moaned again.

"Please keep making those noises," you nearly pleaded as his mouth left your now-wet breasts and trailed further down your body.

"I'm going to make you make beautiful noises first, dear, and then I promise I'll moan right in your ear the whole time," he murmured as he kissed across your stomach. Your pussy throbbed again, and you nodded eagerly. A sultry smile crossed his lips at the same time he blushed. It seemed you had a thing for shy men, too, because your ex had been overconfident, and you had hated it. Ino's lips met the soft fuzz covering the mound above your core, and you threaded your fingers into his hair.

"Have you ever done this part before?" You asked. He shook his head as the blush spread to his ears.

"That's alright, I don't mind guiding you a bit if you need it," you reassured him as you ruffled his hair. He grinned and kissed your mound again. His next kiss landed squarely on your clit, and your hips bucked up into his face. Gently he pushed them back down and kissed your clit again.

"Lick right there in slow and deep strokes," you guided Ino as your breath started to catch in your throat. His tongue hesitantly licked up your clit, and a near-guttural moan tore out of your throat. "Yes, Takuma babe, just like that. It feels so fucking good."

Feeling reassured by your words, he licked your clit again just as you had instructed, and your moan filled the whole apartment. His fingers dug into your hips as he held you into the bed, still licking your clit slowly and deeply. You were writhing and tugging his hair as you moaned. The heat and pressure of your impending orgasm were building quickly.

"Suck on it to please, babe," you whined as your pussy started to ache from the incoming release. His lips wrapped around your clit and sucked tightly as his tongue continued to work it in deep and slow strokes. Pleasure nearly blinded you as you came hard and fast, hips bucking up so hard that Ino had to dig his nails in to keep you down on the bed. His teeth dragged across your clit as he pulled away from it, still sucking, so when it left his mouth, a whine left yours loud enough to echo.

"Please, Takuma, I want more. Your mouth is so good; you're such a natural at eating pussy," you panted as he licked down your folds. His response was to shove his tongue into your gushing core until his mouth was flush with your lips. A groan from his throat vibrated your pussy as Ino started to tongue fuck you. His lips and teeth moving as if he indeed intended to eat you.

The combination of constant stimulation to your whole pussy made you cum again so suddenly that this time you screamed out Ino's name. Despite trying, he was unable to keep you pinned to the bed as your thighs closed around his head. After a few seconds of grinding your pussy into his mouth, you collapsed into the bed, still writhing. He pulled his mouth away and picked up his shirt from the floor to clean his face.

"Don't even apologize; that was incredibly hot, baby girl," he said as he kissed his way back up your torso slowly. His mouth claimed yours as his cock pressed against your mound. You rutted into each other as your tongues danced together in between your mouths. His cock dragged through your soaked folds, making you whimper in his mouth. The kiss turned fervent as you tried to angle your hips, so he slipped inside of you without notice.

"What do you want, sweetheart?" Ino asked as he pulled his hips and mouth back from yours. Another whine tore from your throat as you lifted your hips to try to meet his.

"Please, Takuma," you pleaded as he pinned your hips to the bed with one hand.

"Please, what, baby girl? You've done so good guiding me thus far; don't lose your words now," he teased as he kissed you softly.

"Make love to me, Takuma," you whispered, and he pulled back further so he could see your face.

"Make love to you, huh? I can definitely do that, sweetheart," he said as his hand moved from your hips and wrapped around his cock. You lifted your hips to meet his and felt the head of his cock push against your entrance. The need to writhe filled your body, but you held still as you locked your gaze with Ino's. He moved his cock inside of you slowly and let go with his hand, which he used to grab yours. Your fingers threaded through his and landed on the bed next to your head. He wasn't pinning you. He was holding your hand.

Ino's hips bottomed out into yours as you both moaned. Neither of you had yet to look away from the other. His mouth claimed yours again as he slowly slid out to the tip and started to move in slow, deep thrusts. Your tongue stroked his slowly as he continued his slow and deep thrusts. This time, the heat and tension in your stomach were building at such a slow burn that you thought it might drive you crazy. He pulled away from the kiss and stilled his movements.

"I love you," he whispered, "and I know you're probably not supposed to admit that for the first time during sex, and I know it's way too-"

You cut him off with a deep kiss as you squeezed his hand, which was still holding yours. "I love you too, Takuma," you whispered against his lips. He moaned softly as his hips resumed their previous pace. Slow and deep. Your tongues tangled again as his other hand snaked between the two of you and rubbed slow circles into your clit. Not deep enough to make your orgasm come faster but just enough that every nerve in your body lit up. You writhed and moaned into Ino's mouth as he continued to make love to you just as you had requested.

His hips never once quickened or stilled as his mouth trailed kisses up and down both sides of your neck. His hand holding yours never left, and the one teasing your clit never let up. Seconds felt like hours. Minutes felt like days. All of it was heaven on Earth, and Ino was worshiping you like you were holy. Your mouths met again as the tension in your stomach broke, and you came so hard you saw stars behind your closed eyes. Walls clenched and body shaking, and yet Ino's hips never stilled. His fingers on your clit never deepened. The orgasm seemed to last forever.

"I know you're not on any birth control, and I should have worn a condom. Should I pull out?" Ino whispered in your ear.

"Takuma, please cum where ever makes you feel most comfortable," you panted out as his hips struggled to maintain rhythm.

"Then I'm going to unload right here in your warm and sinfully wet pussy," he said as his mouth claimed yours again. Tongues danced as his fingers on your clit deepened and quickened. It seemed that Ino was going to make you cum again before he did. The orgasm built and hit all so fast that you nearly missed him cumming at the same time as you. Hips stuttering as he came inside you in thick hot ropes as the pulsing of your pussy tried to drive him out.

"I really do love you," he panted as he pulled out and nuzzled into your neck. His weight draped over you like a warm and sweaty blanket, but you didn't mind.

"I really do love you too, Takuma," you said as you kissed his hair.

Buy me a coffee?

[alwaysonthemend]

A Lazy Night | JTK

Author’s Note: Request from bestie @iheartjakekiszka for a fluffy Jake fic. I made myself Very Sad with this one because soft Jakey makes me want to sob bc I can’t have him. Alas… Anyways, I hope you enjoy! Unbeta’d so apologies for any mistakes. Now please excuse me while I go drink wine and think soft Jake thoughts. 

Summary: Jake and the band have been working non stop on their new album. But, with a long weekend on the horizon, you decide to give Jake a night of relaxation and rest. Lord knows he needs it. 

Content Warnings: Literally none. Just fluff. 

Word Count: 1968 

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

Meeting Jake Kiszka has been the best thing that ever happened to you. From the very first time you met him, you had immediately known that he was the one. There was something about him that drew you in, and there was no going back. 

Because of this, you couldn't help but to divide your life into two halves. There was Before Meeting Jake and After Meeting Jake. The before had been okay. You had a successful job – however boring it was, and you were happy. You’d had a handful of relationships – though few of them ever lasted long. But life was good. Boring, but good. And then Jake waltzed into your life. And only after did you ever realize how empty the before had been. Jake was your light, and you couldn’t fathom how you had ever managed without him in your life. He made falling in love easy. Jake had entered your heart quickly and made a home there. 

The only downside to being in a relationship with Jake was the distance. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder and you couldn’t agree more. While you're proud of Jake and the fame that he and Greta Van Fleet had acquired, you can’t help but miss him when he’s on tour and desperately wish that he would come home. But his time away only makes the times that he is home that much more special. 

Unfortunately, despite Jake not currently being on tour, it still felt like he was never home. The boys were busy putting together their new album, and so Jake was either at the studio with them or running around doing interviews and photoshoots. You got to see him at night, of course. But often, despite his tiredness, he would stay up much later than you to go work on his ideas for new songs. You had work in the morning and so – no matter how much you wanted to, you could rarely stay up late enough to fall asleep with him. 

Tonight was probably going to be one of those nights. It’s already 10 PM and Jake was only just walking through the door of your house, guitar case in hand and eyes excited but tired. 

“Hey, Jake.” You say, rising from your place on the couch to go and greet him. He places his guitar case on the ground and wraps his arms around you, squeezing tight. 

“Hey, babe. I missed you.” He nuzzles his face into your neck, pressing his nose unto your skin, eyes closed. You breathe in his scent, immediately taking comfort in the smell of vanilla and something else that you couldn't define as anything other than just “Jake.” 

“I missed you, too. You look tired.” You pull away from him, noting the tightness around his eyes and the tension in his shoulders. 

“I am. But it was a good day. We got a lot done, so me and the guys decided that we’d take the rest of the week off.” 

“Really? That’s awesome! And I’m off tomorrow anyways so we can have a whole three days to ourselves!” You exclaim, practically beaming with excitement. Jake gives you a soft smile, touched by your desire to spend time with him. 

“Thank God.” He says, walking over to the couch and collapsing into it. “I feel exhausted. I love working on music and we’re having a lot of fun. But holy shit…” He leans his head back on the back of the couch and closes his eyes. “I feel like I could sleep for ten years.” 

“You probably need to.” You tell him, walking over to the kitchen. “Did you eat already? I can fix you something if you’re hungry.” 

“Nah, I’m okay. I’m too tired to eat.” 

You tsk as you grab two wine glasses from the cabinet and grab a bottle of red wine from the counter. You pour yourself and Jake a generous amount. 

“That’s not very healthy, Jakey.” You say, walking back into the living room. 

“And wine is a better alternative?” He chuckles, taking the glass that you offer him to take a sip. 

“Better than nothing, I suppose.” You take a seat next to him, happy to just share the space with him. “So, tell me about the album? How’s it going?” 

He grins, his eyes lighting up. No matter how tired he is, he’s always excited to talk about music. 

“It’s great! I think we’re really making something special. It’s a little different from what we’ve done before, but I think the fans will like it.” He takes a thoughtful sip. “I think… It's just different enough that it’s fresh and exciting. But similar enough to Garden’s Gate that the fans will still like it. We’re trying to toe the line as much as we can – keep what’s worked in the past without getting repetitive, ya know?” 

You smile at his passion. Seeing the man you love get to do something he enjoys so much, with thousands of fans who adore him as much as you do – it’s an amazing feeling. 

“Whatever you guys do, I know it’s going to be amazing. You all are so talented. The fans will love it no matter what.”  

He finishes his glass of wine and places it on the coffee table. 

“Thank you, y/n.” He leans back onto the sofa and a grimace flickers across his face. It’s so fast you probably would have missed it had you not been studying his face so closely. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Yeah, babe,” He says, giving you a crooked grin. “My back is just a little sore. Spending a lot of time crouched over a guitar.” He laughs, but you recognize the tightness around his eyes to be pain, not just tiredness. You place your own glass on the table next to his and stand up, offering him your hand. 

“Come on.” 

“Where to?” He asks, already standing and taking your hand. 

“You’re gonna lay down and I’m going to give you a massage.” 

His eyes fill with a mischievous sparkle. 

“Not that kind of massage, Jake.” You scold, leading him up the stairs to your bedroom. “An actual message that will hopefully help your back.”

“Fine.” He sighs, smiling at you as you drag him to the bed. 

“Take your shirt off and then lay down on your stomach. I’m going to make it a little more comfortable in here..” 

“Yes ma’am.” Jake takes off his shoes and shirt and watches you as you move around, lighting the candles that you have scattered across the room. Jake sinks into the bed just as you turn off the overhead light, the only light now coming from the soft glow of the candles. 

“Y/n?” Jake asks as you walk into the bathroom to grab some lotion. 

“Yeah, babe?” 

You walk back into the bedroom to see Jake laying on his back, eyes soft as he looks at you.

“I should have eaten dinner like you said because I think that wine went straight to my head.” 

He giggles, and you notice the flush that’s overtaken his cheeks and chest. You just laugh and shake your head, taking a moment to admire him in the candle light. His hair is pulled back in a loose bun, with little wisps falling out and framing his face. It looks so soft and you want nothing more than to run your fingers through it. Your eyes move downwards, again noting the flush on his chest before your eyes find his soft stomach – no doubt your most favorite thing about him. If he wasn’t so tired and the mood was a little different you’d take the opportunity to bite him. Instead, you walk softly over to the side of the bed and nudge his shoulder. 

“Roll over on your stomach, baby. Just relax.” 

He complies, and you climb up onto the bed. You nudge his legs apart and you gently sink down and straddle his waist.. You squirt some lotion onto your hands and warm it up between your palms before splaying your hands out on his shoulder blades. Immediately, Jake lets out a sigh of relief and you can feel him relax further into the bed. You begin to message him, and you can clearly feel the knots in his upper back and shoulders. 

“Jesus, Jake. No wonder your back hurts.” You say, working your hands down his shoulders and kneading your fingerstips into his biceps. “You’re so tight back here.”

“I know.” He mumbles, voice muffled by the pillows. “It’s been hurting for a while but…” He trails off and sighs as you find a particularly tense knot in his back. 

“You should have said something and I could have helped you sooner, babe.” You say, sliding your hands down farther to his lower back. 

“Didn’t wanna bother you.” He says quietly. 

“Jake…” You say, reaching out to turn his head towards you. His chocolate eyes are glassy with sleep and wine. “That’s what I’m here for. I want to help you.” 

He gives you a lazy smile. 

“I know. But I still feel bad.” 

“Don’t ever feel bad. I love you. And I love helping you in any way I can.”

He huffs a laugh and lowers his face back down into the pillow. 

“I love you too, y/n. So much.” 

You continue your massage on his back, slowly but surely working out the knots and tension. You relish in the feeling of his skin underneath your hands. He’s warm and his scent is so comforting. You feel more at ease than you have in months. Eventually, you hear his soft snores and you rise carefully from his back. You pull the covers over him and take a moment to watch him. The tightness around his eyes is gone, replaced with a softness that you hadn’t seen in a while. His mouth is slightly parted, and his lips look so soft. It’s moments like this that make all of the absence worth it. One moment with Jake like this is worth all the hours of missing him. You’re overcome with a feeling of complete unworthiness. You can’t believe a man like this has fallen in love with you. Of all the people in the world, it’s you that he allows himself to be this vulnerable around. You feel like if you think about it too long you might cry so you shake your head and begin to quietly walk around your bedroom to blow out all the candles. Jake doesn’t stir as you walk to the bathroom to put the lotion away. You walk as quietly as possible back to the bed and crawl in next to him, pressing your back to him and closing your eyes. 

‘Mmmm.” He mumbles, cracking his eyes open. “y/n?” 

“Go back to sleep, Jakey.” You whisper. 

He mumbles something unintelligible before rolling onto his side to face you and slinging his arm around your waist. He pulls you tight against his chest and presses his face into your hair, breathing in deeply. 

“Don’t deserve you.” He whispers. 

“You deserve the world, rockstar.” You’re met with nothing but his soft snores. 

You smile and close your eyes. 

[oh-no-its-bird]

YOU!!!!!!

[Grabs you by the collar and shakes you]

Youuuuu...

I was scrolling around at way too late at night and saw one of your posts, and I love your posts, so I went to your blog, and bing bada boom, I see the Izuna in Wonderland post and I read through it. I enjoy the writing and the ideas and the art (how dare you be good at both writing and art (affectionate)) and I reach the end and that last drawing.

The one where Madara is like "oh yeah only the Senju could heal u so we have a peace treaty with them now-" That fucking drawing of Madara, has grabbed my by the balls and refused to let go, what the fuck.

He looks so fucking soft and sleepy but like in an unhealthy sick Victorian child way. He looks like he would tell me not to go to school tomorrow bc he likes me but I'd go anyway bc what he really means is like hey take a mental health day bc school is hell, he's just too sleep deprived to realize(care) how evil he sounds. He looks like he either has hair the texture of burnt straw or the fluffiest softest hair imaginable, no in between. He looks like he gives great hugs but could (and would and has) also use those hugs to suffocate someone to death. He looks like a sneeze could kill him and also he is the creator of every virus known to man.

It's the fucking soft yet untamed hair, the creasing and maybe slight puffiness around his eye, the slight coloring (redness I assume) to his nose, the sweat that might be nervousness, might be him having literally worried himself sick at his brother's side and now he has a fever.

I already liked the way you drew Madara, I like all your Madara drawings, but for some reason, this one broke something in me and I can't stop myself from wanting to write fanfiction while spinning this specific Madara around in my head like a rotisserie chicken. Idk if what I'm saying makes sense, it's late, I'm tired, I barely slept last night. I just want you to know that this Madara drawing now lives in my head rent free and if I ever get around to writing the various TobiMada fics in my head, this is how I will imagine him.

Also, love how draw Hashirama too. He looks like a Mii character that got ROM hacked to have a Battle Cats face. And also how grumpy and low effort Tobi looks in here too, his more detailed design is great too. Also I like how you draw Izuna- BASICALLY, I LOVE ALL YOUR CHARACTER DESIGNS, THIS ONE JUST BROKE ME FOR SOME REASON. I'M GONNA STOP WRITING NOW, I NEED TO SLEEP.

I'm fucking crying actually thank you??????? Nicest thing anyone's ever told me about my stuff, I'm gonna explode wtf

Also I can tell you haven't slept in a while so oh my god go do that

Pls take this quick Madara in thanks, I tried to do my best to draw him how I did in the Izuna in Wonderland comic but idk if I did him justice

I've been struggling to find a good way to draw him consistsntly, so I will internalize what u have told me and try to keep that sickly Victorian man energy going forward

[storyofmychoices]

Yoga & Pancakes

[Beckett Harrington x Emma Carlyle Masterlist] 

Pairing: Beckett Harrington x Emma Carlyle (F!MC)

Other Characters: Shreya Mistry, Atlas Ernhardt

Book: The Elementalists

Word Count: ~900

Rating/Warnings: teen, suggestive language

Submitting to: @choicesmonthlychallenge ; @choicesficwriterscreations

Synopsis: Emma, Shreya, and Atlas run into Beckett at breakfast and Emma discovers a new Attuned food.

"Let me guess—" Emma began, quieting Shreya's excited tone. "Some famous Attuned chef I've never heard of but who probably catered an event for you has prepared some incredibly magical treat for breakfast?"

Shreya pressed her hands to her hips, her smile falling slightly. "You make it sound so utterly dull." 

Emma opened her mouth to apologize, but Shreya continued. 

"You've been spending far too much time with Atlas. We've got to get you back to society."

"It's not me." Atlas shrugged. "Don't worry, Emma's still the sunshine of our group. She's just a little cranky this morning... she didn't get much sleep." 

"Is everything alright?" Shreya looked over her friend, beginning to think of healing spells. 

"I'm fine," Emma insisted, brushing off Shreya's worry, shooting her twin a quick don't you dare glance. She looped her arm with Shreya's pulling her forward.  "Now, let's go see what is so special about breakfast today. You were telling me about the chef and his specialties?"

"I wasn't but now that you asked—" Shreya began rambling off facts about the chef and private events she had catered. 

Emma smiled and nodded along, trying to keep her eyes open when she was desperate for a nap. Not looking where she was walking, she bumped into a tall student in line in front of her. "I'm sorry—" she began, recognizing his dark blue blazer before he even turned back.

"Emma?" Beckett couldn't help the smile spreading across his blushing freckled cheeks. "I did not think I would find you here. I thought you were  sleeping in."  

"Oh, yeah," Emma's cheeks warmed as her gaze shifted to Atlas for some help, but she merely found her twin smiling in amusement, watching their awkward encounter. 

"Why would you be sleeping in?" Shreya questioned with concern. "Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"Oh, I think she's feeling just fine," Atlas smirked. "Just a little worn out from some early morning—or was it a late night—'yoga'." She added air quotes to the last word.

The hue across Beckett's face darkened at Atlas's words. 

"And here I thought 'yoga'"—she offered, using air quotes again, "—helped you relax, you seemed quite exhausted but very dreamy—" she mimed gagging, "—when you returned this morning at... what was it... 4:30 am?"

Emma chewed her lower lip. 

"Oh! OH!" Shreya's lips drew into a knowing smile of amusement. "No wonder you're tired. Keeping our girl up all night, Harrington? Impressive! I didn't think you had it in you. I bet you two worked up an appetite."

"I beg your pardon?" He didn't think his face could flush any darker.

"Okayyyy," Emma tried her best to move them along. "Look, we're next. Oooo, pancakes. I love pancakes. Pancakes are so delicious. Did I ever tell you the time when I was six and my parents made me pancakes shaped like a bunny for easter? Oh and they cut up bananas on the pancakes and added chocolate syrup, there's really no end to what you can do with pancakes. Strawberries on pancakes are also delicious. Did you know, pancakes—" 

The trio stared at her, Beckett in relief and Shreya and Atlas with amusement, her rambling words trailing away. 

"Would you like to say pancake one more time?" Atlas teased. "I don't think you've said it enough."

The cafeteria worker handed Emma a tray with 3 large, fluffy, circular pancakes. A look of disappointment fell on her face. "Huh, I expected more. They look just like tuneless pancakes."

"Oh, they're so much better!" Shreya announced gleefully as she guided them to a booth on the side.

"So when do I find out what makes these pancakes magical," Emma questioned. "If I eat them will confetti rain down? Will I make weird noises?"

"Not this time," Shreya replied. "These are no ordinary pancakes. They're shape-shifters. Watch this." She focused on the pancake on the top of her stack, concentrating on a single image in her mind. Slowly, before their eyes, the pancake transformed into the shape of a blossoming orchid. 

"Woah!" Emma marveled. "How?"

"It's a centuries-old recipe passed down. The chef has yet to reveal the secret, but I've been working on wearing her down. She can't say no to a Mistry forever."

Beckett didn't dare contradict her. Usually, he'd love bragging about his superior knowledge—it was rather a simple spell. He had learned it at the age of five— but right now, he didn't want the conversation shifting back to him or Emma. 

Emma focused on her pancake, her gaze momentarily shifting to Beckett, admiring the way the glowing sun kissed his face through the ornate stained glass windows. The pancake transformed into a heart, with a B + E appearing at the center. 

"Bleh—" Atlas choked, before picking up her pancake, which she had turned into a mace, dipping it in syrup, and biting off the end. 

"What are you going to make?" Emma questioned curiously of Beckett.

"I can think of something he could turn it into for her." Shreya wagged her brow, enjoying as the pair blushed. "Thinking about last night, Harrington? Be careful or you never know what might appear."

"Gross," Atlas mumbled through a mouth full of pancakes. "I'm trying to eat. I don't need any graphic "yoga" depictions popping up on the nerd's plate. It's bad enough I've seen them kiss. I can't stab my eyes out with a pancake dagger."

Shreya laughed, holding her hands up in a peaceful truce. Her mind quickly returned to the shopping trip she had scheduled next, the pancakes on her plate following suit, one turning into a long gown and the other a shopping bag. 

Emma and Beckett breathed easier as the conversation shifted. Laughter bubbled between them as the morning sun shimmered around the space. Despite the teasing, their free hands tangled together beneath the table. 

This is just a silly little idea that popped into my head. It's not edited, so please forgive any mistakes.

My Atlas is demiro.

[samieree]

Hello! I'm here with another shot with Heimdall 🥰

Requested by anonim, I hope you all gonna like it ♥

Heimdall x reader (female)

You just found the item Odin asked you for. You come back from a mission that took you much longer than you thought it will, and Heimdall seems angry about it... You already had a specific relationship and spent the night together from time to time, but what is he up to now?  And you?  Is it just "friendship" with benefits for you, or did you see something more in Heimdall?

~

The task that Odin gave you wasn't complicated, but it took you a lot of time. You would never expect that finding a single artifact in Midgard could be so time consuming.  You've been living in this winter-covered world for about eight weeks now, but finally… You finally got what you came here for.

Now just find Huginn where he was supposed to be waiting for you and you can go back to warm Asgard...

Walking through the forest you better covered yourself with a warm, fur coat.  It was windy and snowing all the time.  On your belt you had both the artifact you obtained and the sword you kept your hand on all the time in case someone attacked you. You've already had a close encounter with someone's knife, luckily it was quite blunt… Thanks to that, you only had a shallow gash on the side of your cheek, not a deep gash across half your face.

 You were slowly approaching your destination, but suddenly you heard some sounds of fighting deeper in the forest.  Grabbing your sword tighter, you decided to check it out - after all, you've already spent eight weeks in this cold, another fifteen minutes won't make a difference, will it?

 It turned out that near a house, a strange boy was fighting with Hel-Reavers. You thought that since you came, you would help him.  So you drew your sword and together you quickly dealt with everyone.

 "Thanks for your help, em..." he said when it was over and you were holstering your gun.

 “Y/n.” You gave your name, smiling slightly.  “And you? And what are you doing here?”

 “My name is Loki. And... It's complicated.  I need to get somewhere.” He explained, clearly not sure if he could trust you to tell you everything.

“Me too, I need to get home.” You sighed softly, looking around.  Why did you come to help him?  Because you have such a good heart?  It seems so… You were about to throw some farewell text when suddenly you heard cawing and a raven flew out of the house you were fighting next to. “Huginn?  What are you doing here, you were supposed to wait for me to take me back to Asgard!”

“Wait, you live in Asgard? Really?  That's where I was going!”

“Really? Why?” Loki didn't have time to answer you, Huginn explained everything to you.  You've only been gone eight weeks and Odin's already bringing in more people to do work for him? “Let's go, I'm sick of this cold.”  You shivered as the icy wind blew once more.

Loki got a little closer to you and after a while Huginn transported both of you to Asgard.  Happy that you finally felt the warmth of the sun again, you took off the hood from your face, but your joy did not last long, because instead of familiar houses and cities, you saw... fields and a huge wall.

“Seriously, Huginn? I know you can take us behind the wall!”  The raven answered you briefly, no, and began to fly away. “Hey, wait! I'm not done talking to you yet!”  but it was too late, you were forced to get behind the wall by yourself.

You turned to Loki, who finally had a chance to see your face in all its glory and seemed to associate you with something.

“Oh yes, that y/n!  How could I not figure it out?”  You rolled your eyes.  He probably recognized you just because of them, and more specifically because of their completely black color.

“You'd better save your strength, because we've got quite a long way up.”  You sighed softly, looking at the huge wall once again. It will be a long and demanding climb…

* * *

As you predicted, it was a very tiring climb, but you finally saw your destination.  Loki was practically at the top, you had maybe two meters to climb. You had already smiled to yourself that you were finally at home again when you heard a familiar voice.

 “Hello.” You paused for a moment to look up. You saw none other than Heimdall with his smirk on his face.  He held an apple in one hand and held Loki's wrist with the other.  “So… What part of the enormous wall made you think: 'Oh, visitors must be welcome'?"  Then the stones under the boy's feet fell off and he was only holding on with one hand, and of course Heimdall was holding him.

 “Leave him, Heimdall.”  You said as you were practically on top, all you had to do was pull yourself up.

 "Who do my eyes see?  Y/n herself! Did you train or race with this kid?”  You rolled your eyes and pulled yourself up, finally sitting on top of the wall.

Your relationship with Heimdall was… complicated.  You didn't seem to like each other very much (at least he didn't like you) and you actually loved to tease each other on a daily basis, especially him you. You had peace for too long?  You could be sure he was about to show up next to you with some unflattering comment, ready to ruin your day.

But on the other hand... Well, that's where the complexity of your relationship started.  He seemed to despise you differently than the others because you had a kind of… arrangement and sometimes you spent nights together in yours or his room.

Maybe it was a stupid move on your part to get into this arrangement, but hey - you liked him overall, so why not?  Besides - you never told him, but you also didn't rule out that he figured it out himself - you saw possibly more in him than everyone else.  That was the reason why you often ignored his comments or didn't take them personally, because you knew how Odin treated him and everything around him was overwhelming.

Maybe… You wanted to be the one person in his life he could trust? Who would like him no matter what?

 “I prefer to train in the evening, it's cooler then.”  you replied, taking a deep breath after the hard climb.  “Honestly, I think Huginn just took offense at me.”

 “Oh, yes. He said you threatened to rip all his feathers off.”

 “I didn't say anything like that!”  you shouted back. You may have thought about this from time to time, but you certainly never said it. And the damn bird can't read minds like Heimdall, can it?

 “Hey,think you could pull me up or…?” Loki spoke suddenly, reminding about himself.

 “No, I don't think I will. I think maybe I’ll drop you”

 “Pull him in, he's the All-father's guest.”  You said as you stood up after your short rest.  “Huginn told me. Let's go.” You didn't wait for them anymore, you just headed straight forward.

 But you heard Heimdall's heavy sigh behind you and how he pulled Loki up after all, just like you said.

Lost in your own thoughts, you didn't pay much attention to how Heimdall treated Loki in his traditional way.  When you were already down in the city, you said that you don't need a ride to the All-father's house, after all, you have legs, they haven't given up yet after climbing.

Besides, on the way you could say hello to all the Asgardians you know and watch the Valkyrie’s training for a while.  As soon as you see Thrúd, you'll have to ask her how her training is going, after all, she dreamed of becoming a Valkyrie. Oh how glad you were to finally be back home...

You slowly went to the All-father's house, where something was going on... You saw Odin himself, involved in this action, he was talking to Loki.  Beside him were Heimdall and Thor, the former covered a little in some mud.

You already knew that this asshole will probably get himself into something as soon as you left.  You might have guessed from the way he spoke to Loki…

You sighed heavily and walked over to this little gathering, after all, you had a case with the All-father of your own.

“What are you up to? Dismissed! Go!”  he said to Thor, who just muttered something under his breath and happily left.  “And you - clean yourself up.”  He turned to the blonde here.

 “But... All-father…”

 "All-father?"  You chimed in too, joining the conversation.  Odin looked at you for a while, then returned to Heimdall for a moment.

 "Heimdall, will you just relax? He wasn't going to barge in here and kill me the first thing.” he still didn't seem convinced, whatever it was… “What, that’s not good enough for you? Get outta here.”

 For someone, Heimdall's expression as he left might have been simply disbelief and mild disappointment, but you saw something more. You saw how sad he was, you might even venture to say that he was very close to crying.  He already seemed to be getting worse at his father's treatment as he tried to do his best and prove his worth. But now…

 You had to admit that you felt sorry for him.

 “Y/n, you don't even know how happy I’m to have you with us again! I see you've made it, and you've already met my guest Loki.” Odin turned to you, smiling slightly. In your hand you already held the pouch with what you set out on the mission for.

 “Yes, we met in Midgard.” You replied, handing him the pouch with the artifact.

“Perhaps you'd like to show him around a bit with me?” You looked at the two of them quickly thinking about this proposal and made a decision.

“I would love to, but forgive me All-father… These last eight weeks have been very tiring.  I wish I could finally get a good night's sleep in a safe place.”  You smiled slightly and Odin nodded understandingly.

You nodded at him and walked towards the house. You weren't even lying, you really wished you could finally rest.  Most of all, of course, you were glad that Asgard was warm.

In your room, you immediately unhooked the sword from your belt, the weight of which you had become accustomed to on your hip.  You looked at yourself in the mirror and realized it was definitely time to comb your hair and change into clean clothes.  You dreamed of throwing yourself on the bed and going to sleep, but instead you pulled yourself together and after a short rest you left the room. You headed to the Mead Hall, because there you expected to meet the person you wanted to talk to.

 “Oh, you haven't left for another few weeks yet?”  Even before you turned to where the voice came from, you knew exactly to who it belonged.  You moved a little closer to Heimdall, who was sipping mead, leaning against the wall.  You turned to him and leaned against the wall too.

 “I doubted it for a moment, but it seems like you really missed me.”  you smiled.

“I? Missed you?”  He chuckled briefly and took another sip.  “I'd sooner fatten like Thor than miss you."

You raised an eyebrow and stepped a little closer to him, reaching out to pat his belly, but he caught your hand just in time, giving you a meaningful look.

“It's going to take you a while, babe.”  You didn't care that he stopped you because you used it to intertwine your fingers. “Are you mad at me for being gone so long?”  you asked, lowering your voice a little. He studied you intently for a while, paying attention to every feature of your face, but he lingered the longest on your cheek cut, you could feel it.

“I don’t want to talk.”

 It hurt.

For a moment you wanted to speak again, say that you see how he feels, that if he needs someone, you are next to him. You can be a support for him, he can trust you, you’ll always listen to him.

But you didn't say any of that.  You were afraid you'd make him even angrier after he was already annoyed by the situation between him and Odin.

 “We'll meet tonight…?”  you asked uncertainly, looking at Heimdall, but he just looked away.

You nodded and sighed softly, starting to walk away, but suddenly he gripped your hand tighter as your hands were about to fall apart.

“If you want, then... You may come…” he said quietly, looking at your still connected hands.  You smiled and squeezed his hand for a moment before walking away.

* * *

You've been standing at his door for a good few moments and wondering how you're going to start a conversation at all, so that he would listen to you, let you explain that he can't hold everything inside of him forever. How to keep him from interrupting you by reading all your intentions in your mind at once?

You took one last deep breath and stepped inside, finding Heimdall in the middle of unraveling his braids.  He was standing in front of the mirror, so you walked over to him and stood right behind him, wrapping your arms around his waist lightly, hugging to him. Looking at your reflection in the mirror, you also noticed cotton wool and a bandage lying on the table next to the bed, which surprised you.

 “Did you do something to yourself, Mr. Perfect? You got a bump and I didn't see it?” You asked in a playful tone, ruffling his already loose hair.

“It's not for me.”  He replied without much emotion, removing your hands and walking to the table.  “Sit down.”

At that moment, you remembered the wound that you had on your cheek all the time and you still haven't been able to take care of it.  You had no doubt that he had noticed it, but that... He will want to bandage it for you? You didn't expect it, but it made you feel good...

“I'm not nice, I just can't look at it.” You smiled anyway as you sat down on the bed.  Heimdall sat next to you, brushing your hair from your face to behind your ear, and began to gently disinfect the wound using soaked cotton.

Even though you already knew how he can be, it still surprised you how gentle he can be.  Once upon a time, you'd expect him to throw mud in your face or something instead of tending to your wound.

The first time you met his delicacy was the first time you were close, at the very beginning of your complicated relationship, the first night together. Since then, you've started to wonder what he really is like. That's when you wanted to get to know this asshole better, you started to be interested in his behavior and what caused it.

As you got to know him better, you understood.  He saw the worst in everyone and had no one to lean on, say everything, talk about everything. And then you wanted to become that person in his life.  You wanted to gain his full trust, to be always there when you saw that he needed it. Even if he didn't seem to notice or ignore it.

You just loved that damn man, and even if it was just unrequited love until the end of the world, you weren't going to leave him.

“Stop…” It was only when he spoke that you remembered that you don't even know when he reads your thoughts and when he doesn't. You instantly felt yourself blush.

“I…” you started but didn't finish as he abruptly stood up, throwing a used piece of cotton on the table. “I just…”

“Stop.  Just stop.”  You looked down and nervously flexed your fingers. Applause for you, sitting centrally in front of him, you mentally admitted that you love him. If he hadn't figured it out before, or had guessed but ignored it, now… Now you saw his true reaction to such a confession from you.

He didn't want it. It hurt like nothing else before, you felt tears starting to gather in your eyes.

“I hate to say this, but…” he began, but you didn't look up at him, even as he crouched in front of you. “You’re right.”  He finished and took you by your hand and stroked it gently with his thumb. Then you looked into his purple eyes, in which strangely you didn’t find any anger or disappointment. “I was worried because… Because I think I need you, y/n…”

You stared at him, surprised at first.  Heimdall, the same mischievous Heimdall admitted, that he needed you, that he wanted you in his life, that he was worried about you.

You slid your free hand slowly through his hair, running it gently through it a few times.  You smiled softly at the memory of how many times you had tied his soft hair into braids...

“You can braid them whenever you want, sunshine.”  You smiled a little more as you heard him call you that, the first time he'd called you like that since you came back.

Suddenly, he got up from the ground and leaned over you, knocking you onto the bed.  You wanted to kiss him so much when your faces were so close, but you had to ask something first.

“Is it private or still part of the deal?”  You placed your index finger on his lips to stop him from kissing you.

“Do we still need a deal?”  You smiled and let him kiss you, entwining your hands in his hair and wrapping your legs around his hips.

 Your nights together will never be the same again. They will be much better.

~

-> general masterlist -> God of War: Ragnarök masterlist

Just finished this and now I'm going to write a second part of Heimdall x reader (Greek Goddess) 😏😘

[moonmeg]

Hold up! Did I miss something?! At some point I think I remember that you said that Ian might have a partner in the future. But now in the last ask you just casually revealed teir name! Did I miss something? Did you already talk about a partner or will that be in the future? I miss Ian anyway so I'm thrilled.

After a busy day Ian, once again assigned market-duty for he's the best salesman in the family, packs up all products.

He sold majority of what they had to offer. His charisma was a fantastic aid in the sale. Any of his siblings would've been thrilled had they achieved this. Ian, however, saw no reason for feeling that. It was always the same. Majority sold, conversations with the people, smiling and pretending all is well, unrequited love and just another "great night". He was so tired of it.

Blair fell in love young and was happily married for over 20 years now. Same with Neil. Keith had a loving husband. Maisie too. Heck, even Edan was a sort of father to that lonely girl he found in the hay after a storm. They all had something he didn't and it became more and more difficult to fight his envy. He didn't want to be that kind of brother. He wanted to be supportive and joyous. His siblings were happy...

Maybe he just wasn't meant for it. Maybe he'll never be good enough to be more than just someone to keep the bed warm. Maybe he should just give up at last. He was in his mid-thirties by now. How much more hope can there be left?

He sighed as he placed the last box on the wagon.

"Wait!"

Ian turned around. The call came from an approaching black haired person. Although the hair seemed more blue-tinted in this light.

"Wait! Oh no, please don't say I'm too late!", they came to a halt.

"For the sale?"

Catching their breath they didn't answer right away. They cleared their throat and looked up at Ian, immediately mesmerized at the sight

"Wow- I mean-", another throat clearer, "I'm new here and heard about this stand and I meant to get my groceries but damned little me of course got caught up in something else and then of course I mixed up your closing times and I'm so late now, aren't I?"

Ian couldn't form and answer in his mind. He simply stared perplexed, trying to process the flood of information this stranger just shared.

"Damn it!", the stranger cussed out frustrated.

After a moment of silence Ian met the icy blue eyes of the stranger. He wanted to say something but caught himself thinking about the beauty those eyes had to them instead.

The stranger sighed and already opened their mouth to speak but Ian interrupted.

"We're here everyday. Ye can come by tomorrow."

"No, no, you misunderstand. Today was my only free day for buying groceries during opening hours."

"Oh."

"Well, maybe you can tell me if there's some other place I could-"

"There's some stuff left. If ye tell me what ye need I'll pack a bag for ya.", Ian gestured at the wagon.

"You would?" the strangers eyes lit up, sparkling at Ian like a sky of stars.

"Aye. I only need to know what ye want.", Ian gave his typical cocky grin.

The stranger searched their pockets hurriedly before handing Ian a piece of paper with a list. Ian began to read the products from top to bottom and drew a spell circle to insert all items in a bag. He let the bag float over to the dark haired stranger and let them take it.

"We dinna sell herbs so that's missin' but otherwise here ye go.", he commented.

"That's fine! You did more than enough already! Thank you so much!"

"Ah not worth a mention."

"No, I mean it!", the stranger beamed, "How much do I owe?"

Ian eyed as they brought out a small linen bag of snails. The metal coins clinking inside upon any movement. Accepting the payment now would mean redoing the snail log and possibly even recalculate the change box. He really didn't want to do that now and delay his return home further. Moreover though, there was something about this dark haired stranger with the icy eyes and sunshine smile before him. He couldn't quite explain it but he thought them likable. He'd sworn off romance but who said anything about romance. It could just stay a nice acquaintance. A friendship in the best case.

"It's on the house.", Ian smiled.

"What?", the stranger stared with big eyes.

"Welcome to the town."

Ian gave no room for argument. He climbed the wagon and already took the reins in hand. Perplexed by everything that was happening the stranger called out a "Wait!".

"Mr. Bower, I assume? I-"

"Ian."

"Ian, I... I don't know- I...", trying to sort their thoughts and form a coherent sentence the stranger yielded to a sheepish smile, "Thank you. Just... thank you."

Ian smiled.

"Ye're more than welcome, ...?", he raised his eyebrows, gesturing he wanted the name of the stranger too.

"Oh, right, sorry. I'm Val."

"Ye're more than welcome, Val. Lovely makin' yer acquaintance.", Ian winked in his usual manner before slowly bringing the wagon to move.

"Yours too!", Val called out.

This wouldn't remain their last meeting.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Although Ian was incredibly cautious to not catch feelings the more time passed, it would remain just an attempt. He didn't want to end up in the to-him dreadful situation of only being desirable for intimacy without commitment. He wanted the commitment and was at a point where intimacy was connected to rejection. It happened often enough he'd develop feelings, be intimate with his crush in hopes there might actually be romance involved but his love would always remain unrequited. So he avoided it entirely at some point. When he noticed Val and him got closer, (joke) flirted and Val began to mean something to him, he told them that if they didn't want more of him than that intimacy it would be better they stop seeing each other.

Confused, Val reached his hand and assured Ian they haven't even thought about him in that sense. Val wanted to be with Ian too but in a different way. They actually wanted to commit and be Ian's romantic partner before a sexual one.

They got married fairly recently. Makenna was 20, Feya 18, and Micah 15 (they are now 21, 19 and 16)

Also! Ian and Val allowed to bring a +1 and you can guess three times who Micah took as his +1 and faced boyfriend allegations with the entire reception through :D

[ladyloveandjustice]

My Favorite Books I Read in 2022

I read a TON of books in 2022- roughly 62, (and 54 separate graphic novels/manga series, but we’ll cover that in another post).  You can see them all here- the print books start with Hench.

This was thanks to how I started listening to audiobooks while doing chores/working out in addition to reading, and some downtime at the office where I checked out low effort reads. So I thought it would be fun to just give some very quick overviews of the best books I read this year.

First up is:

 This is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar 

Deliciously lyrical and lovely, this novella tells the story of two dangerous women who are rivals on the opposite side of a war fought through time-travel- they taunt each other through letters and ever-so-slowly fall in love. I failed to finish this when I attempted it a couple years ago, I wasn’t in the best place and while I knew the writing was great, I had a hard time processing all the information. I’m really glad I gave it another shot with the audiobook- the narration is wonderful and drew me right in. I would to each letter and then read it in print, tasting each word again like a drop of sweet, dark syrup. It’s got a wonderful fairy-tale element despite being a sci-fi and the colorful picture it paints of time-travel and the ever shifting identities and forms the characters take on is worth getting lost in.

Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik

I listened to this on audiobook, and it was a great experience. I still have an image in my head of huddling in bed late at night, the narration like a dark, icy wind rattling the windowpane, yet each sentence cradled me and made me feel even cozier under the covers. Based on Polish folklore, the narrative follows a girl who tires of how the villagers spurn and scorn her family for being Jewish moneylenders, so she decides to take matters into her own hands- but her business saavy and talent for multiplying silver catches the attention of some fearful supernatural beings who want to cut a deal. Her story intersects with two other women- one a princess on the run from a demon, one a girl with a family in debt and a cruel father. It’s a sharp and biting fairytale with a lush sense of a setting. I had a few matter-of-my-own-taste quibbles with the ending, but it was a wonderful winter journey.

One Last Stop and I Kissed Shara Wheeler by Casey McQuiston

One Last Stop follows a college girl new to NYC who gets in a romance with a woman who seems to be mysteriously bound to a the subway- and bound to the wrong decade when she should be in the 1970′s! This is a full on mega-cheesy, tooth achingly sweet romance, but for once it’s kinda laser-targets at my gay, awkward self, so I actually really enjoyed it. I wasn’t even bored by the sex scenes and liked reading them, which is unusual for me.

I didn’t enjoy I Kissed Shara Wheeler quite as much, but it’s still worth a mention. The protagonist is a gay girl trying to adjust to existing in a Bible-Belt school, who receives a kiss and a mysterious letter from the supposedly perfect fundie popular girl Shara Wheeler- right before Shara disappears. It’s a YA, and it does a good job capturing what it’s like to be a teen-in-denial of how much they love mess when it comes to love interests, and touches on some of the struggles being queer in the conservative area, while striking down the idea everyone should just move to New York for salvation.

The Deep by Rivers Solomon

This novella tales the tale of Yetu, a member of an undersea race descended from pregnant African women who were thrown off slave ships. She is tasked with carrying the memories and pain of all the generations of her people. It’s an affecting and gut-twisting examination of generational trauma and how one copes with it- is it possible to carry all that agony, or is it best to forget? The narration was a bit dry at times, but it’s a story that stays with you.

I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

Heartbreaking but at times darkly funny, McCurdy’s memoir about her relationship with her abusive mother and struggles with child stardom is worth all the hype, in my opinion. The writing is punchy  and the story is told in short vignettes that make for an addicting read/listen. McCurdy does a great job communicating the degrading horror of both familial abuse and exploitative studios, while sardonically highlighting the absurdity the abuse thrives.

Otherside Picnic Vol 7: Funeral of the Moon by Iori Miyazawa

Otherside Picnic truly has my heart. The stories themes of healing from abuse and trauma come to a triumphant crescendo in this volume where Sorawo decides to deal with the Satsuki problem once and for all. It actually inspired me to write a whole article about the themes surrounding trauma, abuse and recovery in this series and how wonderfully they’re handled, which should hopefully be out it couple months!

Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Cows. Free Mustache Rides. Barbie. Nona is impossible to spoil. I got even more hype for The Locked Tomb series after re-experiencing the first two installments in the excellent audio books narrated by Moira Quirk, and Tamsyn Muir cracked my brain open all over again. We get to see a little bit more of what life is like outside the Nine Houses in this one. I found it a little more plodding than the previous two, but it’s still a great installment of my current favorite book series. I’m probably going to listen to the audiobook version soon, which considering I only read it a few months ago, that tells you just how much I enjoyed it.

Loveless by Alice Oseman

A YA following a university girl on a journey to realizing she’s aromantic-asexual.  Her fears and feelings of alienation drive her to make some bad choices and risk losing what’s really important. This book almost felt too painfully real- I’m not aromantic, but I came to terms with being asexual in college, and struggled in a similar way. I still struggle sometimes. But while the relatability was almost painful, I felt a deep kinship with this book, and these messy, silly teens and their messy, beautiful friendships. Asexuality is still so rarely talked about and represented that I’m really glad this is out there.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala

A haunting YA horror, the story follows Mars, a genderfluid kid who was chased out of a fancy rich-kid summer camp that enforces a strict gender binary. His sister remained at the camp and hung out with a group of beautiful, popular girls nicknamed the Honeys. After she ends up dead under suspicious circumstances, Mars goes back to camp to find the truth, but now he himself is hunted. With spooky and visceral prose, some pointed and well deployed social commentary, and an A+ atmosphere, this was a great October read. 

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

I’d been stinging from disappointment from some books I’d been anticipating but found myself trudging through at times, so this page-turner was a breath of fresh air. The book is about a woman interviewing a movie star from the golden age of cinema known as Evelyn Hugo, only to find that her life was full of secrets and her seven husbands are far from the most interesting relationship in her life. The prose might be too simple for some, but I think it made sense in the context of a woman narrating her life to someone, and it made it very accessible. I knew the main 'twist' of the story, but there were lots more twists it pulled off well. I appreciate that Evelyn was so flawed, and that the book wasn't afraid to let the reader wrestle with a lot of the bad things she did while still showing areas where she deserved sympathy. There were a lot of parts I wish the book could have gone more in depth with (though in the context of a woman telling her life story, it did make sense she didn't in certain areas) and that the viewpoint character was a little more developed, but overall I really enjoyed this as a quick read.

Norse Mythology By Neil Gaiman

A great primer on Norse myth- there were only a couple of these I knew in detail, with a few other I knew about vaguely, and I found it to be a really entertaining and accessible read. Probably not as useful for a Norse Myth know-it-all, but it did a good job piquing my interest.

Bonus reads- these weren’t quite five stars, but were interesting enough to be worth mentioning!

Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith

In Hell, there’s a library for unfinished stories. The problem is, the characters sometime escape their stories and cause mayhem. It’s up to Hell’s librarian to wrangle them. This had a killer premise and likeable characters, but I found the narrative a little detached and thought it tried to do a little too much at once. Still definitely worth checking out for fans of stories about stories.

 Carmilla by J. Sheridan Le Fanu

I read Dracula this year, but I found the classic lesbian vampire story held together a bit better overall, even if the ending was really anticlimactic. I loved the titular vampire. You can check out my reactions here!

T.J. Powar Has Something to Prove by Jesmeen Kaur Deo

This was a really sweet little YA story about an Indian-American girl dealing with the stigma around her body hair. I did find the debate parts a bit dull though, despite the fact I was in debate in high school

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

 A story steeped in Jewish folklore where two siblings inherit a Baba Yaga house. I found the middle a bit of a slog (and there were a few characters who didn’t have a real reason to be there) but the ending came together really well.

Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots

A temp worker in the henchmen-for-supervillains business gets injured by a hero, and nursing a grudge, uses her statistics know how to destroy the superheroes in creative ways. Her talent catches the eye of the premiere villain, and she gets in deep. It was a really creative concept and biting look at the gig economy and the world of celebrity, and I enjoyed a lot of it! While the heroes are assholes, the stuff the villains do to them (and especially their families) can get pretty uncomfortable, which I found interesting in a morally-grey way but I did wonder about the weird fixation the book had with kidnapping children. I know it’s a go-to for supervillains, but it’s still weirdly overused. And while I don’t mind body horror, the ending was so fixated on it that I actually had to flip ahead to get through it, it was so repetitive and a little bizarre. Still, it stuck in my head and I’m down for a sequel.

---

It was a good year in books and I’m looking forward to the next one!

[cupid3clipse]

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title : “late night readings”

summary : after johnny’s death ponyboy realized how much he actually liked reading to people; it made him feel closer to johnny in spirit.

warnings : none

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it was routine, you and ponyboy would hang out almost as soon as you two woke up until the night where you two would just soak in each other’s warmth talking about things while his fingers would play with a strand of your hair while yours would play with the drawstrings of his blue plaid pajama pants. you and ponyboy had been dating for at least 6 months now having known each other for a year ever since dally and johnny’s deaths, you had really been the first person to come up to ponyboy to share your condolences for his recent losses he had never seen you before and he wondered why you would care until you told him about how you used to stay at the same place dally would and you two would talk through the party until you got tired so it was evident that two got close during those long talks. pony was only slightly stunned that you meant basically the same to dally as johnny did. after then you two got close, hanging out often, going to the movies, walking through town until the sun started coming up and it didn’t take long for pony to gain feelings for you.

the idea of ponyboy reading to you came up while you were looking through his pile of book as you listened to whatever story he was telling you about when you interrupted turning in your heel to look at the brunette boy who was currently sitting on his bed playing with a yoyo he stole from two-bit, “sweetie.” you called looking down at the back of the book cover reading the summary of the book hearing him hum making you look up walking over to his bed. “you think you could read this to me?” you asked sweetly seeing him looking at you through his eyelashes before speaking “lemme see honey.” he reached out his hand looking at the book once you handed it to him, he hadn’t read it before so he figured why not. “sure thing sweetheart, we can do that.” he smiled at you and that’s how you guys started this daily read. days like today you would end up at his side as his arm wrapped around your shoulder and your head slightly rested on his chest messing with either his drawstrings or you nails, his voice was soothing you tonight like a lullaby it must’ve been the lack of sleep that morning that drew you to fall asleep. it took a little for ponyboy to notice you fell asleep until he moved his arm to turn the page and he noticed your eyes shut he started at you for a while admiring you a small smile fading to his face, pony shut the book setting it next to his bedside table and he turned off his light laying next to you his arm wrapping around you pulling your back to his chest as he focused on your breathing and heartbeat as it lured him to a peaceful sleep..

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a/n : hope you guys liked this feel free to give criticism or suggestions for new ideas, sorry it’s been so long since i last posted i’ve been trying to focus on school lately hope you guys understand <33

[futurebellyache]

Everything for Addison

This is a continuation of this story

Though all votes were made here

Though if you prefer, there is a short summary below.

You watch the chat scroll by. People took sides. Cathy fans made their case to those who entered late. They'd all be getting off thinking about your shameful death in that bitch’s gut. Stephanie fans said it was morally the best choice. Doing a favor for your sweet sister. The few Jennifer fans made their vote but wouldn't explain. They weren't numerous though. But besides her, it seemed pretty even.

But the voices crying for Addison were loudest. Most numerous and often with the longest explanations. There was something about that pink-haired boy that had them intrigued. And honestly, you understood why. He'd been stuck in your mind ever since then. Seeing him appear from seemingly nowhere was almost a blessing.

If he had given you a wonderful night before, maybe your final night would be even better. You can't help but imagine the cute sway of his rump. You doubt you'd ever be able to untangle whatever his mystery was normally, perhaps becoming part of it was the only way to get a clue. The thought itself has your heart racing, you tell the group your choice and close it for the last time. Nothing they said mattered now. You knew what you wanted to do..

Hey Addison.

I'd love for you to have me.

Where should we meet?

I never really got an address from you or anything…

:)

A smiley face. That was all he left you with. It was a confirmation… you think. You're left rather confused. Perhaps this was all part of his game? You… Don't know. But as an hour drifts by with you idly passing the time as you wait for the boy to deliver your end… You get terribly antsy. No regrets, but your heart just can't handle another day at work. Another day with that absolute mistake of human named Cathy…

The sun sets and there's no word from Addison. And the account tied to it had no clues. Your heart drops as you wonder if you'll have to pick another pred. Picking a second person to end you really didn't have the same allure. You weren't sure if settling for your end was how you wanted to go.

But you're tired. You drop your weary body into bed, your idle mind pondering the mystery of Addison. Maybe tomorrow. He did disappear, maybe this time he would just appear before you. Who knows, maybe you'll just wake up in him. That would be exhilarating.

Your eyes drift shut, and all is still…

~~~~

You can feel it. A warmth laid across your torso. It's hot, almost as if boiling. Though you do not burn. It's heavy, your body struggles to breathe under it. And the sounds… it's groaning and simmering. Something sloshes within it as its mass struggles atop you..

These are the first things your mind senses as you wake up. The second is the sudden cry from the weight pinning you down.

"You pink-haired bitch. Let me out and I'll fuck you up! You can't do this!"

You never thought hearing somebody cry like that would be so cathartic, because you recognize the voice. It's Cathy.

You finally open your eyes to see that face that almost felt perfect as it looked down at you. His pink hair draped his head slightly, creating a window that drew your eyes toward his sly smile. He was sitting right on top of you, your waist to his. And between you was his gut, an immense and lumpy orb of flesh. Inside, the bitch from work, Cathy, was fighting for her life. And from what you could tell, the inside of that tummy was horrendously painful.

"FUCK FUCK FUCK AAAHGOD. WHY ARE THEY SO POTENT? OH FUCK MY HAND!"

Addison pushes a hand in on his stomach, right on the bulge you recognize as her skull. He forcefully grips it, there's a deep gasp as his intent to crush her skull is made.

"You may think this is the worst I can do to you in there… If you don't quiet down, I'll show you a new kind of hell. Now shush, Puppy just woke up."

Puppy… he had called you that during your night together, hadn’t he? It had seemed like such a minor detail looking back, though hearing it now made your heart sway. His eyes affectionately watch you as his hand releases the far less talkative Cathy. A true rarity for her. That spiteful woman now obeying the whims of a clearly far more dominant predator. His eyes lock on you, they’re confident, lustful, but compassionate. The sensation you get from him is different than that night. Almost… motherly? This sensation deeply confuses you.

"I hope you don't mind, Puppy. But I had to… dispose of this woman. As a gift. For the weary soul who gave themselves to me…"

He sways his hips from side to side. You gasp, and he gasps with you, as your cocks are pressed together against the bottom of his belly. The warmth and intimacy of your erections has you two almost hypnotized in each other's eyes. You want to touch him, you need to-

You try to reach forward, but your arms won't reach and you hear the rattle of chains. Your hands are bound with what you think are handcuffs, likely wrapped around your bedframe.

"I'm sorry, Puppy. I had to make sure you wouldn't get cold feet. You did offer yourself to me… And I intend to claim you. But, not before you watch me remove one of God's mistakes from this planet. Though perhaps my worry was for naught, judging by how warm and excited your cock feels… Perhaps you are quite eager to find yourself inside of me. But this is fun in its own way~"

He leans forward, rolling atop his gut and crushing Cathy in between you two. She desperately screams and pushes for space that can't be found as Addison pushes down around you. One arm on each side of your head as he looks at you with an impassioned gaze. You really can’t see anything besides him at this angle. He encompasses your world. And you can’t look away. He has you enraptured.

"Let's fuck her until her body cracks and breaks. Twist our hips atop her meat slushy. It won't even take long, I took a pill to speed up digestion. A special pill. One that'll turn her all to shit. I didn't want her gross body ruining my perfect form. But it only affects the digestive acids. My tummy still needs help breaking things apart… so let's get to work, Puppy~"

You can't refuse him. For a number of reasons at this point, but mostly because you don't want to. As his hips start to raise and crush down on the crying Cathy, you can't help but reciprocate. Your own hips twist beneath the bulge as you thrust into the digesting mass to get yourself off. Your dicks may no longer be touching, but you feel his desire purely through the way he gazes at you. You see his complicated emotions for you. The compassion to devour somebody you'd hated so much. The love for you to end them. But it's all mixed into the tragic end you'll face inside him. His beautiful face, the ass you wish he had sat on top of you, and this gut that was so viciously tearing apart the woman you despised. Feeding yourself to her felt so ridiculous now. You felt vindicated in your choice. Nobody else would have done this for you. Your dicks press into her already soft body. It gives way more than you expect. She long gave up on words once you two started to grind around her. Every thrust from you two elicits a new round of cries. A new flavor of misery. You break her mind as her body threatens to unravel. The stomach is so hot, that pill must have made it an acidic hellscape. You delight in her suffering, every pleading cry has you pushing your hips that much deeper into her. The thought that you were going to crush her between your cocks was wondrous. The perfect end to your work rivalry. Every rotten moment she had thrust work onto you. Every horrible day she took credit for the work you did. How she had gotten a promotion while you had been passed up. It had all been meaningless. This was her comeuppance. Her final reward.

Addison watches you gasp in pleasure. His smile is wide, he seems genuinely endeared to you being so joyed to fuck somebody out of existence. You two physically feel her body weakening. The fatty bitch losing body mass and solidity. You both seal your eyes and put your whole body into fucking her into paste. You're ready to cum. You can feel that hot load ready to ruin his perfect pale skin. You just need that moment. That crunch.

It all happens so suddenly. A cry cut short. You two gasp as her body loses all consistency. Several loud cracks and snaps. Bones shatter and flesh squelches. Addison falls closer as the mass between you breaks apart. His face is right in front of your, and in one swift motion his lips find yours and you two kiss. And just like your lips, your dicks find each other beneath the stomach folds. Two warm rods leaking precum and threatening to splurge all across your bellies. There is no further noise from the woman inside. She is absolutely just meat. And soon, just shit. Each thrust breaks just a bit more of her. You thought you'd cum the moment she died, but she hardly mattered anymore. Addison was so close, his eyes only inches from yours. And you were drawn into his eyes. The way he looked at you. The way he handled his pleasure. You could feel them all swirl into a mix you couldn't look away from. His tongue swirled with yours. His lips pressed against yours. In a way, you already felt like one unit. You could feel every undulation of his stomach atop you. Every quiver of his dick next to yours. You are in unison. Not a word needs to be said as your pleasure reaches its peak. Thick ropes of cum splatter your guts as you cry out in sync. Straight into the other's lips as you don't break your kiss for a moment. You shiver together, in one brief euphoric moment. You're swept away by him. Just like that first night, so long ago.

His lips separate from yours, a thin string of saliva still connecting you to him. You lay, gasping and gazing into each other's eyes.

"You really are so wonderful, Puppy…" He runs a hand through your hair, a small compassion as he savors that sweet moment with you.

"How about we go again… This time I'll let you cum in my rump. I know how much you wanted to last time… Oh… looks like somebody is raring to go. She's going to take a while longer in my guts. Let's have our fun before you join her, okay Puppy?"

Your own cock is already regaining its strength. He smiles, pleased at how aroused you are. What remains of Cathy will be fucked into a pulp through the midnight hours. Your cock eager to help obliterate her.

You share a wonderful and lust filled final night with Addison.

~~~~

Sun streams into your room through the blinds. You're covered in cum. His and yours. Your belly is splattered with white splatters, spread across you from your constant grinding.

But now, a chamber pot lies between your legs. An odd-looking thing that looks almost like it belongs to a different era. Addison himself brought it, and he was now hunched over it, staring down at you as he gently toyed with his dick. It was struggling to keep it’s firmness considering just how many times both of you had cum.

"This has been such a lovely night, Puppy. But bitch is now ready to leave. And I think I've done enough to her. Watch me dump her, and think about how by the end of today, this'll be you~"

He hardly waits a moment, he pumps his cock as the first remnants of Cathy crinkle from his asshole into a log. You watch as it travels down, dangling until it disconnects from the rest. Disgusting farts that fit the person they're made from taint the air around you. The scent of waste is thick, but you can't be disgusted by it. It's all Cathy, and it's wonderful seeing her like this. But it also comes from Addison. And you've become addicted. He's just so overwhelming. He toys with your heart and leaves you craving him. You doubt you could survive another goodbye from him. No. Leaving with him is the only way.

You eagerly watch turds tumble from him. Watching them past his legs and erect cock. He takes his own pleasure and how much you enjoy seeing him shit out a whole woman. The small potbelly of shit still in him rapidly deflates as more ex-woman emerges from his rump. True to his word, you can't tell if an ounce of fat was added to his frame. And you had gotten quite familiar with the curves of his body. Your inability to touch had left you with quite the lecherous gaze.

"You almost look jealous, Puppy. It really turns me on… You know I'm gonna crush you like we did to her, right? I don't have a partner, but I’m sure your bed will help me turn you to mulch."

His smile is wide, he can't hide how much he's looking forward to churning you. And frankly, you can't hide your erection at how much you crave it. While his ass spews shit, his cock splits another bout of seed across you. It adds to the rest of his semen that he's marked you with. His legs almost buckle with the motion. But he holds strong. And as the last coiling mass of waste leaves his rump, he wipes himself clean of Cathy forever. He tosses the prepared toilet paper into the pot and seals it up.

"I'll throw her away later. Toss her out, she isn't worth holding on to. She deserves to be forgotten… But you, little Puppy… You are mine. And I can hardly wait another moment. Come here… let's get you home."

He puts the chamberpot away. Where hardly matters, because he leans down so close. Your bodies slide across each other, lubricated by both your cum and his. You're excited. Even after a long night with him, cuming constantly, you're still so excited. He's peppering you with kisses, hands exploring your body. Taking note of you. You before the end. Your end inside of him. Addison. You want it so bad. Teasing you with his gut all night. Showing you what you'll be. You can't go on living without it. How did you even make it this far? He kisses you. A passionate and deep kiss. It's everything. He shuffles above you, his hands freeing yours from the handcuffs he'd trapped you with. An unnecessary step considering you never had any intention to run from him. His lips guide you, your heart swoons. They stretch and take in your face. Your whole body moves with the deep kiss. The enveloping kiss. He moans at your taste, you feel so unique. So loved. His insides become your world. Your everything. You don't dare fight as he brings you inside. His hands guide you, take a few final moments to touch you. But you aren't going far. Even when you're gone, you'll always be right beside him. That extra layer of fat atop his rump that makes his seats that much cozier.

It's not long before you're curling up in his gut. Immersed in his most intimate warmth. The gut groans around you as he devours more of you. Your flesh delights him. He audibly slurps you up. You feel a hot presence being pushed down by your weight. Once more, his gut will smother his cock. This euphoric day isn't over yet. You aren't yet a slurry. You have until then to drive this boy into a new world of pleasure. You grind your body as best you can atop his dick. Soft enough to smother but not hard enough to crush. You hear him gasp in delight around the last of you. He's eagerly swallowing you, delighted to see what you can do to please him now.

As you slide in, your cock finds a hole. The entrance to his intestines. You won't fit yet… but your cock does. It's warm and holds your dick so tight. Even his insides do their best to pleasure you. You cup his dick perfectly. Working it and pumping it in between his own pumps from the other side. Your world spins around as you settle in a new way. You think he's sitting back on your bed. One last swallow brings your toes into his esophagus,. You're now gathered entirely inside him. A new presence pushes his dick into his belly right back. You work with him to jack him off. Using his own tummy fat as a glove to help him reach another climax. You hear him gasp in pleasure, his mind over flowing with the sensation of cuming. You imagine him squirting more seed atop his pale belly. Your home. Even as you feel his ropes splurt out, you don't step. You keep going. You keep fucking his insides, you keep one hand on his dick through the stomach walls and the other exploring his stomach folds. An internal massage. His confidence from earlier is gone. Now he is behest to his prey. You make him cum beyond what he thought he could. Squirting every ounce of seed onto himself or your bed. He grinds his dick against you, against the bed. Whatever his mind can focus on. He fucks you against the mattress. Your body softens as the hours tick by. You don't melt as she did. It's gradual, and gentle. Though still physically demanding. You hardly notice as you lose your sharp edges. Your flesh is soft. You're one bad hump away from being meat. And one fatal climax does it. One more white splurt shoots from his cock as he grinds you against the bed with enough force to destroy you. Shattering bones and flesh squelching. You are gone. A nutrient paste left to be absorbed by the cute boy you fed yourself to. You died with no regrets. You left an incredibly satisfied femboy behind. He passes out from exhaustion. The night was very physically demanding. And he had no chance at battling the food coma you would give him.

He mindlessly massages his belly in his sleep. A pure smile on his face. He had made another meal happy. What a wonderful night. His eyes gradually closed. A full night of fucking has him extraordinarily exhausted. His eyes shut, as his belly simmers your remains into a nutrient slurry. You still had a long journey ahead of you.

~~~~

The running water soothes Addison's weary body, especially where he ached from the positions he held last night. It was a delightful way to wake up after sleeping for… well nobody was keeping track. It seemed to be long enough to turn you into a dense mass held in his colon. He uses your soap to wash all the cum off him. Making sure to give his rear an especially good wash. He can feel how his rear jiggle and sway with his hip movements. It makes him smile.

He gets all fresh and clean and dries himself off with your towel. Though, calling it yours is a tad funny to him. He pokes the lump that's left of you in his digestive system. You were hardly capable of owning anything in this state.

He wanders around your apartment naked. He knew his own clothes wouldn't fit anymore. And he hadn't planned a new outfit. Perhaps he would stick around and order a new wardrobe on your dime. It only seemed fair to him after you'd thickened his rump out of all his pants and skirts. Even his shirts would ride up across his tummy. Though… it may make him look pregnant. And that filled him with a wonderful feeling of satisfaction. He really wants people to give up their seats for him on the train, thinking he was carrying around a baby. He wonders if there were any fun tricks he could play on people doing that… Fun ideas for the future.

He grabs your phone from your desk, and avoids laying on your bed. It's a bit too cum stained to be cozy anymore. A small toot escapes his rump. A little hello from his puppy. He steps back into your bathroom, and plants his rear end onto the toilet bowl. As your new brown form emerges, he immediately inputs your phone password and begins scrolling through your life and your secrets. He takes his time letting you out. Constantly watching your body splash into the toilet waters and reappear as he looks at your hidden porn stash and your selfies. Looking at the man he'd turned into his current bowel movement. He was feeling horny again. He almost wanted to get off, but he thinks his balls might be empty… It would be a bit of a pain to reach completion. No, he will just let the waves of pleasure tease him.

Your body is smaller than the massive chamerpot of Cathy.. She really did end up almost entirely as shit. But his body tried to keep you. Your nutrients plumping his body. And your remains now plunked from his asshole into the cold toilet waters beneath his thighs.

He opens the camera app. And starts photographing the experience. One with the view between his thighs. Your shitty remnants gathered at the bottom of the porcelain bowl. His semi erect cock pressed against his thigh so he could see between them. Another with his cock pressed into his tummy. The new belly you'd given him. He adored the way his dick pressed into the fat. He could feel its warmth as the pleasure grew. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to finish after all…

He held the camera up and pointed it directly into his maw. The final image he'd share. A welcome into his temple, for any weary travelers who need a final rest like you had.

He opens your Facebook, and immediately posts them with a message attached.

We had a lovely time last night. Truly unforgettable. Though he didn't come out looking too pretty… Though he looks pretty on me. Anybody else willing to take the dive? I have one happy customer who adored their trip.<3

As the last of you settles into the toilet waters, Addison watches the comments come in.

Stephanie

Big bro :( I'd been dreaming of having you for years… Well, you do look cute on him. Don't suppose I can have you instead?

"Pft, as if. You aren't cute enough to have somebody like me. And you aren't the type I consider for a puppy. Too needy."

Stephanie

I knew he would make a dreamy meal. Can you tell me about it? I really wanna hear about his final moments. If they were exactly as wonderful as I thought they'd be.

“Ooohh… That sounds fun.” He throws her a quick opener and decides to follow up later once she's responded. He knew a bit of her, from his investigative efforts on you. She seemed a tad dangerous. But perhaps that danger would be fun. Somebody as kinky as her could be a delightful time.

But alas, every ounce of you has plopped into a pile beneath his rump. He wipes himself clean and waves goodbye as he pulls the flusher. The worthless parts of you swirl away, to join the rest of the dung in the city. Addison is a bit sad to see another Puppy go. But alas, they always say goodbye just like this. He steps outside the bathroom and starts to plan his next move. He could probably stay here for about a week. Enough time to eat what's left of your food and for a delivery of cute maternity clothes to come in. Maybe even a bit of fun with Jennifer. Though he still wants to feel that out. See if she intends to dump him like he dumped you.

He gathers a bag he'd left on your desk when he'd snuck in and grabs a laptop out of it and opens it up atop your kitchen table.

In a few clicks, several different phone screens appeared before him. Some idle, some active. Everyone has a different nickname, all of which involve Puppy in some way. He clicks a few times and removes one from his feed, yours. He wouldn’t be needing it anymore.

"Which of you will be my next Puppy… I think I don't need a food puppy for a while… Maybe a toy puppy. Somebody who can help me work the last puppy in. Or work off the tummy… I'll probably get tired of the maternity thing by the time they're mine. Then we can have plenty of fun till I gotta do it again…"

He idly watches them, before opening your phone and doing some online shopping on your dime.

You joined the mysterious Addison as another one of his puppies. Hopefully, you found peace as he fucked you into mush. Though, more likely, you died a horny mess. Perhaps that is its own peace.

[middleearthpixie]

Seven Days ~ Chapter Thirty-One

Firefighter Frerin Durin died in a fire set deliberately. But after he helps his brother, Thorin find happiness, Frerin is offered a second chance. He has to prove himself worthy by righting the one major wrong in his life. Otherwise, history will repeat and he will die for good this time. The catch? He has seven days in which to do this and isn’t even certain what his major wrong is.

At least, he doesn’t know for long. 

Syd Prescott has known Frerin since high school. She spent one night with him and then he vanished from her life. Now, he claims he wants to make it up to her, to right was he realizes was his major wrong. But can she trust him? And can he prove to her that she can before it’s too late? 

A/N - Thank you for your patience during the last four months. I hope you enjoyed this story... 💜

Pairing: Modern!Frerin x OFC Syd Prescott

Characters: Frerin, Syd,

Warnings: none

Rating: T

Word Count: 577

Tag List: @mrsdurin @i-did-not-mean-to @lathalea @linasofia @fizzyxcustard @legolasbadass @kibleedibleedoo @xxbyimm @arrthurpendragon @exhausted-humxn-being @rachel1959 @laurfilijames @sketch-and-write-lover @sherala007 @enchantzz @knittastically @notlostgnome @myselfandfantasy @medusas-hairband @guardianofrivendell @jotink78 @frosticenow @quiall321 @dianakc @msjava1972 @glassgulls @evenstaredits @heilith @asgardianhobbit98 @albionscastle @absentmindeduniverse @way-too-addicted-to-fandoms

If you’d like to be added (or removed) to the tag list, please just let me know!

Previous chapters can be found here.

December 31st

Friday, 11:58PM 

The breeze blew warm across the water, rippling the surface into small waves and where the water met the sand, the sand gleamed pale pink. Syd had never seen pink sand before, and no matter how many times she watched the water wash over it and turn it pink, she found it beautiful. For the first time since laying eyes on Tori in a smoke-filled warehouse, Syd felt completely at peace.

Finally.

Of course, it was too dark to really see the sand turning pink, but she didn't care. It was a gorgeous night, with a thousand stars sparkling overhead like small, perfectly cut diamonds. A light breeze ruffled through the skirt of her gauzy white sundress and the wet sand was cool beneath her bare feet, her sandals back up where the dry sand began.

Frerin came up behind her, easing his arms about her waist. “Where are you?”

“I’m right here,” she told him, leaning back against his chest. “It’s not Aruba, but it’s perfect just the same.”

“You ever been here before?”

“Bermuda? No.”

“Me, neither. I think it’s perfect, too.”

She turned toward him, draping her arms about his neck. “We did it.”

“How pissed do you think everyone will be when we tell them?”

“Who cares?” 

He smiled as he bent to kiss her, and as their lips met, she tightened her arms about him, threading her fingers up into his wavy dark hair as his tongue slipped between her lips to caress hers. Somehow, she didn’t think she’d ever get tired of his kisses. Of the feel of his hands curving over her ass to give it a teasing knead. Of the way those hands tightened on her to pull her flush against him, where he already rose against her. 

They’d arrived in Bermuda the previous day, and that morning, in a quiet civil ceremony, she and Frerin got married, and as far as Syd was concerned, it was the most perfect wedding ever and she didn't care if they ever went back home. 

He drew back, his eyes glittering in the moonlight. “We should head back. It’s almost midnight. I planned to have you naked a minute after the ball drops in New York.”

“Now that sounds like the perfect way to ring in the new year.”

“I thought so.” He smiled as he lifted her easily and she wrapped her legs about his waist. “I love you, Syd.”

“I love you, too, Frerin.”

He kissed once more, deep and slow and as he drew back, fireworks burst across the sky in a brilliant display of gold, pink, and green. “Happy New Year, Mrs. Durin.”

“I love how that sounds,” she murmured, linking her fingers at the back of his neck. “So, why don’t we go back to our room and celebrate the new year, your birthday, and our wedding night the way they should be celebrated?”

“You read my mind, honey. I think I’m going to like being married to you.”

He set her down then and as their fingers linked and she gazed up at him, she remembered the first time he ever spoke to her, the first time he ever kissed her, and the first time they were together. In the span of seven days, she found everything she ever dreamed she would and as Frerin tugged her into his arms once more, everything was just as it should be.

The End

[spacesquidlings]

Beads and Threads

Description: A spur of the moment idea to make beaded bracelets drags Rowan and Gavin from bed early. And while they had been resolved to spend their afternoon crafting, the mischief in Gavin's smile is boundless, somewhat derailing their plans. Not that it matters much, so long as the time spent is with each other.

Pairing: Gavin/Bai Qi x OC (Rowan)

Warnings: Slight suggestive content

Notes: If you're thinking to yourself, is this inspired by making friendship bracelets for the Eras tour???? You would be correct it's all I can think about. Also I'm convinced Gavin would be INCREDIBLE at crafts. A real crafts master. He definitely has a membership card at Michaels.

***************************************

A spur of the moment idea had turned into a morning wandering around the craft store and stopping at a coffee shop for snacks and drinks before returning home.

Slumping down onto the couch, Rowan clutched her drink to her chest, sweet steam still curling from her coffee. She sipped slowly, sighing as warmth spread through her veins.

“Tired already?” Gavin took a seat beside her, letting her stretch her legs out across his lap. He was smiling, his hair a mess from the wind that had kicked up while they’d been out.

The once beautiful, crisp spring morning had quickly devolved into a storm, heavy, dark clouds quickly cutting off the buttery sunshine. The wind had picked up quickly, tossing leaves and flower petals and street debris against them like ammunition. They had barely made it home before the clouds had torn open and freezing rain had poured across the world.

The furious drum of rain against the windows and the roof seemed to blanket the world. Her thoughts seemed quieter, her words seemed quieter.

“Hey,” Gavin murmured, his voice muted beneath the sound of the storm. “Come back to me.”

She huffed, smiling gently. “Sorry. I really do feel a little tired.”

“Well we were running around for quite a bit this morning.” He set his cup down on the side table, taking hold of her legs and drawing her closer. “And you got up a lot earlier than usual.”

She frowned. “And whose fault is that?”

He chuckled, pinching her thigh. “Maybe you wouldn’t be so grouchy if you’d gone to bed earlier.”

“I was busy.”

His brow arched, looking very skeptical of her argument. “Busy with?”

She pouted, looking away. “Stuff.”

Another pinch to her hip this time, Gavin trying to draw her attention back towards him. “What kind of stuff?”

He hummed, looking far too amused as she squirmed, trying not to meet his gaze. She wasn’t about to tell him that she’d been up late catching up with a webcomic she’d fallen behind on. Absolutely not. She wouldn’t hear the end of it for ages.

Gavin hummed louder, the sound drowning out the rush of the rain for a moment. He sipped his own coffee, watching her over the rim with his brows still raised.

“What?”

Suspicion crept up her spine, tendrils tangling in her nerves. “You’re being too quiet.”

“You know you left the browser open on your computer last night,” he said, by way of explanation as he set his cup down again. His brows drew low, although the corner of his lips quirked up. “You must have forgotten because you were so tired.”

Inwardly she swore, realizing she’d been had.

“It must have been a really interesting story, if it kept you up so late.”

Rowan pushed her bottom lip out further, wrinkling her brow, hoping his desire to tease would crumble if he saw her pouting.

But instead Gavin seemed unfazed, tapping her bottom lip with his index finger. “You’ll have to tell me about it. I want to know what kind of story keeps you up that late.”

Huffing, she tried drawing her legs up to her chest so she could scoot out of his reach, but Gavin was far too fast. He grabbed her ankles, pulling her closer again before dragging her fully into his lap.

“Don’t go.” His voice was low, warm as newly brewed tea, as a blanket straight from the dryer. Comforting and gentle, wrapping around her and reaching into the marrow of her bones. She felt his smile against the side of her throat as he nuzzled his face against her. “I’m sorry for teasing. I just want you to take care of yourself.”

She reached up, running her fingers through his hair, her eyes growing heavy as his warmth seeped into her bones. “I sometimes go to bed on time.”

His laughter against her skin tickled, and she bit her lip as giggles bubbled in her throat.

“What’s so funny?” She tugged on his ear, earning another stream of warm laughter. She wiggled, unable to contain her snorts.

Gavin peeled away, resting his chin on her shoulder as his golden eyes met hers. “I’m thinking I’m going to have to find a way to entice you to come to bed earlier.”

She scoffed. “Like what?”

He grinned, mischief sparkling like stars in his eyes. He lifted his head to press a kiss to the curve of her jaw, warmth pooling in her belly as he traced his lips down her throat. “I can think of a few things.”

Rowan giggled again, nerves flaring like butterflies flying skyward. Her heart stumbled, fluttering like hummingbird wings. He was holding her too tight to push away, her earlier fatigue washing away as it was replaced by something only Gavin was capable of conjuring.

But just as quickly as he’d brushed his lips against her skin, he pulled away once more. He was beaming, even as she gaped at him, her mind hazy but for the ache the little space between them left in her chest.

Pouting again, she focused on a spot behind him, refusing to meet his gaze. “You said you were sorry for teasing me.”

“I was.”

“Clearly you’re not that sorry.”

He was smiling again as he brushed her hair to the side to kiss the nape of her neck. “I’m not.”

Rowan smacked him, earning a shout of laughter as Gavin’s head bounced back, his eyes glowing as he met her gaze again.

“You deserved that,” she grumbled, flicking his forehead.

His only response was to smile, his expression far gentler than was probably warranted. He took her hand, brushing his lips against her knuckles. “As you wish.”

There was truly no winning for her. He would apologize for teasing her only to tease her more. And he would smile at her so gently, so innocently, it was near impossible to be mad at him. Then he would do something so sweet and genuine that she would feel herself melting, her annoyance crumbling.

She poked his cheek with her free hand, frowning. “You’re lucky I love you.”

“Your love is the most precious thing in the world to me.”

“Alright.” His eyes were bright as stars now, glittering with mischief. His once innocent smile was anything but now; instead his lips were curved up in a devilish grin, his ears and cheeks flushed.

“You’re having too much fun,” she grumbled. “Let me go.”

Now Gavin was the one pouting, his arms tightening around her waist even as his eyes continued to twinkle. Some days she really could not believe this man. Had he really been the standoff-ish, slightly grouchy, shy man she had met so long ago?

Surely he was not the same as this confident, dorky man who was ceaselessly teasing her now.

“I just got back from my mission yesterday,” he whined, fixing her with a pout that would crumble any resistance she had. “I missed you so much, I was away for so long.”

She grit her teeth, feeling herself melt beneath his stare.

Gavin sighed, nuzzling against her throat once more before she could respond. A gasp fell from her lips as she felt his teeth grazing her skin, the sharp nip bringing her quickly to her senses.

“Gavin.”

He hummed, the only indication he gave that he’d heard her.

“Gavin, let me go.”

He paused, breath ghosting against her skin. There was a beat, as though he were considering her words before he responded with a firm “no.”

“What?” She couldn’t believe what she’d heard.

“I don’t want to.”

“Gavin, I thought we were going to work on that craft.”

He huffed, annoyance clinging to his words. “In a little while.”

She squirmed in his grasp. “How long is a little while?”

“You’ll have to be patient to find out.”

She groaned, giving up the fight against the steel of Gavin’s embrace. She wasn’t going anywhere.

But Rowan couldn’t help melting a little, warmth like morning sunshine spilling through her. Like she was a flower in the spring, growing taller and brighter as her cells absorbed the gentle light.

Some days Gavin refused to show any weakness at all, but there were others when he acted childish and silly, demanding to be babied if only for a little while. She was sure he had pushed himself too hard during the mission, in an environment where any weakness could mean disaster. He was the commander after all, the only things he could be in the field were powerful, commanding.

Right now, he probably needed to be babied, needed to let that armour fall away. Needed to be anything else besides a commander, a powerful evol agent who completed his missions with brutal efficiency.

Right now he needed to just be her Gavin, her Babey.

Although she would certainly exact a little revenge for how he’d been teasing her. But she would save that for later.

For now she just ran her hands through his hair, massaged his neck and shoulders. Every few moments he would brush his lips to the crook of her neck where he had buried his face, but for the most part he had stilled after his initial bout of teasing, seeming content to be as close as he could.

“You’re a huge babey, you know that right?” She flicked his ear gently, earning a long sigh that tickled her neck.

“Just the absolute biggest,” she continued, tightening her arms around him. “My big babey.”

She could feel his quiet laughter as it reverberated through her, as his shoulders shook beneath her hands. She ran her hand up and down his back, adding a little pressure when she reached his shoulders. He murmured something that she didn’t quite catch, lips ghosting against her skin.

Nuzzling her face against the top of his head, Rowan smiled. She was only mostly teasing him. He really was a big babey, but she didn’t mind. She loved when he was snuggly like this, when he was needy just for her touch, when he whined because he wanted to be held.

It was so cute, and she could feel her heart pressing against her ribs, threatening to explode from the overload of cuteness. She had the overwhelming urge to kiss his face until he was tomato red, to bite his throat until he was covered in little marks of love.

But she abstained, which she thought showed incredible self-restraint. Instead she quietly murmured into his hair, telling him she loved him, that he was her precious love, that he was her babey. She continued to rub his back, hoping it helped even the littlest bit, made him know he was very, very loved.

The heaviness in her eyes returned, stretching over her like a growing shadow as afternoon gave way to dusk. Her eyelids drooped, her body feeling leaden. Gavin was so warm against her, the steady beat of his heart lulling her mind. His breath still tickled, but even that was comforting, a reminder that he was safe and he was here with her.

She must have dozed off, because the next thing she knew she was curled up on his chest, her head tucked beneath his chin.

Frowning, Rowan shifted, peeking up to see if Gavin was awake. His eyes were closed, but his arms tightened around her almost instinctively at the sudden movement, holding her tighter against him.

Her face was half smushed against his chest, the smell of his soap twining with the detergent she’d gotten on sale filled her nose, making her smile. He always made a big dramatic show when he would come back from long away missions, telling her how glad he was that his clothes and his soap smelled nice and everything felt nice and soft now that he was home. But she liked it too; she hated how tired he always looked when he returned, how often he was bruised and grimy after coming home. She liked that he smelled like home, like somewhere he was safe.

“What are you doing?”

She looked up again to find him peering down at her, a small smile on his lips. His voice was rough, gravelly, sleep still clinging to him.

She smiled back, nestling closer against him. “Just thinking.”

“What about?”

She smiled wider. “About you.”

His brows shot up, colour staining the tips of his ears. “What about me?”

“It’s a secret.”

His smile turned mischievous, and he pinched her cheek. “You know I’m a professional at interrogations.”

“You’ll never make me talk, officer!”

“Then I’ll have to detain you,” he laughed, rolling onto his side, squishing Rowan between his chest and the back of the couch.

“I’m innocent!” She smacked her palms against his chest, trying and failing to wriggle away.

“Then talk!”

She squealed as he tickled her sides, unable to escape. “I’m innocent! I have nothing to confess!”

“Hmmm…” He smirked, brow arching. “Sounds like something a guilty person would say.”

“I’m not! I’m not guilty!”

“Then tell me what you were thinking about!”

She managed to grab his hands, drawing them to her chest, fingers interlocking with his to stop his torture. His eyes widened, the flush of red on his ears slowly seeping down to his cheeks, creeping down his throat and beneath the collar of his shirt. She pressed his hands a little closer to her chest, her heart thrumming wildly from laughing so much.

“Gavin?”

He blinked, stuttering out a nervous “yes?”

She shifted closer, so close their noses bumped against each other, their breath mingling together in the sliver of space left between their mouths. “I’m not telling.”

She hadn’t even been thinking of anything that bad before, but there was something about the flush that raced across his face, the pink of a morning sky deepening to the crimson of wildflowers unfurling beneath the sun. Something about his eyes widening and his breath rushing from his lips. He was certainly different than he’d been when she’d first met him, much less reserved when they were together, but he was still so easy to fluster.

All she really had to do was get close to him, lips little more than a breath away, and watch as the colour rose in his face. As he swallowed nervously, his mouth pressing into a thin line as he scratched awkwardly at the back of his neck.

And he was always so cute, it was hard not to tease him, even just a little.

His breath hitched, drawing her from her thoughts. His eyes were focused intently on her lips, his hands clutching hers rather tightly.

“Gavin?” But he didn’t look like he was listening. The colour in his cheeks remained, but his eyes were glowing now, barely a scrap of nerves remaining.

“Gavin?” She tried again, but he was far too focused. One hand extricated itself from her hold, gently grasping her chin.

“Do you know what happens when people we’ve brought in won’t talk?”

His voice was sweet as spun sugar, dripping with honey. It was soft as morning light, as feather down. But his grip on her chin had tightened, like iron.

“Kiss their cheek and send them on their way?”

He chuckled, but his eyes were dark. “Nice try.”

“Good thing I’m not one of those criminals.”

His lips parted. His eyes, depthless and ethereal, fixed once more on her own lips. “Don’t be so sure.”

Her voice was shifting higher, turning shrill. Her heartbeat was uneven, stumbling in its haste. “I haven’t done anything wrong.”

“You’re obstructing justice.”

“What justice?!”

She tried to laugh, but it sounded hollow, fake. Her belly was twisting itself into knots, her lungs constricting as she tried and failed to draw in air. And Gavin’s voice was so warm, so heady. More intoxicating than a rich red wine. It was so easy to be drawn in, to melt into his embrace.

A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “I think I’ll have to try other means of finding out the truth.”

A knock at the door wrenched them from the moment, the buttery, heady moment washing away like sand beneath ocean tides.

Gavin’s head whipped to the side, a scowl so furious on his face it could have decimated mountains.

His hand fell away, and he murmured to her to stay where she was before heading towards the front door as the bell rang again. She could have sworn some of the plants they’d perched in windowsills withered as he passed by, but perhaps that was her imagination playing tricks on her as she tried to regain her composure.

With the heat of Gavin’s body and his unflinching stare gone, Rowan felt her sense returning. It wasn’t particularly fast, more of a trickle where a crack had formed in a dam. But slowly she felt the flush in her skin cool, her heartbeat slow.

She shook her head a little, slipping from her perch on the couch to kneel on the floor so she could arrange all of the supplies they had bought that morning. She really did want to take a nap, but she had a sneaking suspicion that if she did they wouldn’t be getting any crafts done for the rest of the day.

Rowan stood to stretch out her arms and her back. Moving around would certainly help to banish the lingering fatigue, and the afternoon air was just crisp enough to help clear the rush of heat that had muddied her thoughts.

She grabbed a few pillows and blankets to sit on, arranging them in a nest on the floor. By the time Gavin returned she was sitting in the midst of a comfortable pile, elbows propped on the table as she sorted through the beads and strings they had purchased.

“I told you to stay there.” He was clearly trying to sound serious, to deepen his voice until it scraped along her senses. But all it sounded like was whining, his bottom lip falling into a pout, shoulders slumped as he set a package down on the table.

Rowan drew the package towards herself, pretending to ignore his sweet pout. “I wanted to get started on the bracelets.”

He crumpled at the corner of her blanket nest, his head flopping onto the table. His expression shifted, a full puppy-dog pout now, no longer a thinly veiled one. His eyes were wide, his brows drawn together. A long, low sigh spilled past her protruding bottom lip. She resisted the urge to reach out and flick it with her finger, if only barely.

“Didn’t we want to make some bracelets for fun?”

“We did…”

“So shouldn’t we make them, then?” She straightened the skeins of thick thread they had purchased, the back of her mind trying to decide which colours she would use. “Before we get too tired.”

He huffed, still pouting, silently pleading with her. It was a stark contrast to how he’d been only moments before. Then, heady and intoxicating as wine; seductive and alluring, an enchantment cast to ensnare her heart and mind. And now, a little pathetic and sad, like a wet puppy; sweet as sugar and very, very needy.

Rowan didn’t give in; couldn’t. She knew her Gavin too well, knew he would be able to enchant her again far, far too easily. So instead she only pressed a kiss to his cheek, asking if he would help her try out the different patterns for braiding the thread. And Gavin wouldn’t refuse her, not if she pressed enough kisses to the corners of his lips until he smiled again.

“Fine,” he relented, eyes falling half closed as he smiled. “You win. But I’ll get you back for this.”

“There’s nothing to get back, babey,” she said, feigning innocence. “I’m just so excited to make this craft with you.”

Gavin snorted, his eyes promising that he very much did not believe her. But he didn’t need to believe her, he just needed to smile and help her with this craft before they inevitably did fall asleep in the late afternoon.

“So you’ll help me?” She plucked up a bag of beads, wiggling it in front of his face. The circular beads were pearlescent pink and orange, and they shimmered in the light, reminding her of stars in a vibrant painting of the night skies.

His smile softened, and he straightened. “Anything for you.”

From there things were simple. Rowan organized the beads into the patterns she wanted for the bracelets. Gavin took up the threads and began weaving them in different braided patterns, seemingly creating them as he went.

“You know you’re really good at that,” she said, pausing in her organizing. His fingers were deft, quick. It was like watching magic being conjured, the colours of the threads blurring between his fingers as they quickly twined together into kaleidoscope shapes.

Gavin’s answering grin was far from the bashful look he had once given her when she’d praised him on his crafting ability. Now he looked smug, pleased by the simple praise.

“There’s a lot more I can do with my fingers,” he teased. He reached out to pinch her cheek, but Rowan batted him away, scooting further from him lest he try to grab her.

His comment had done its job, though. She felt her face burn, so hot it felt like a million matches had been lit beneath her skin. She ducked her head, hoping the fall of her hair would mask her blush as she hurried her movements, plucking beads with letters and beads that looked like miniature disco balls.

“Rowan?”

She refused to look at him. Refused. She could not let him see how such a small comment had gotten to her, had burrowed beneath her skin and reignited the fire she had hoped had been quenched earlier.

“Why won’t you let me see your face?” His voice was so soft, sweet as honey in her tea. And his touch was even softer, little more than a featherlight touch of the tips of his fingers against her cheek as he brushed her hair back. As he tucked it behind her ear. As he smirked, trailing his fingers down her flushed jaw.

“You’re so pretty,” he murmured, little more than a low hush that dragged claws down her spine. He stroked her cheek, eyes like molten gold. “This might be my favourite colour.”

Rowan considered her options carefully. She could try and run, but then she would abandon her craft. And Gavin would most likely chase her. And he always won.

She could smack his hand away, maybe pinch his cheek in return. But there was no guarantee that wouldn’t instigate something else. He could grab her wrist, draw her into his lap. He could carry her away to their room and once she was in his arms she was always all too willing to let him have his way.

There was, of course, a third option. But it was silly, and he might look at her like she was insane. But perhaps it was the best option she had.

So she scooped up a handful of beads, chucking them at him as she leapt to her feet.

Gavin sat, utterly stunned, staring down at the beads she had thrown at him.

“That’s for trying to distract me!” She cried, tossing another fistful at him. “When I wanted to do this craft with you!”

He laughed, shoulders shaking as his head fell back. Buttery sunshine gilded his features, and she imagined the moment as a painting. Titled something like ‘Happiness.’ It would be hung up on some gold-encrusted wall with crown molding on the ceiling and swathes of tourists milling around. Some in awe, some bored, some in tears at the joy on Gavin’s face. Surely there was nothing so pure, nothing so beautiful. It rivalled the sun and every star combined.

Perhaps it would be fashioned with beads, not just paint. Customized gold and silver and gemstone beads, carved to the artists’ specifications. Then the piece would glitter, for this moment glittered like it had been wrought with starlight.

Then again, no piece of art could compare to this breath of a moment. To the warmth in Gavin’s face, the colour rising to his cheeks. His adams apple bobbed as he swallowed, his head still thrown back as he fell against the side of the couch. One hand was pressed against the tabletop, fingers splayed against it as though to steady himself so he didn’t topple over completely. He snorted, a sound she had heard so many times before and yet could never stop finding delight in.

Gavin, who acted as if he were cold and imposing, dissolving into laughter and uncontrollable snorts because she’d thrown a few handfuls of beads at him to distract him.

She couldn’t help, but smile. Laugh. How could she not when there he was, beautiful and warm. Never had she imagined herself like this, dancing on her toes as she waited to see if he would leap up and give chase. Listening to his laughter arc through the room like beautiful music. Warm spreading across her chest, loosening her limbs, blurring the edges of her mind. 

Never had she imagined she would be so happy in such a scene, and yet how could she not be? Just looking at him was enough to warm her heart, listening to him talk brightened her day. She looked forward to her moments with him, even the little ones. Late night showers where he spilled all the gossip from the day. Early morning cuddles before he had to pry himself from her arms when he promised he loved her, he would always love her. Spare days off together where they could do anything they dreamed of.

The warmth in her body spread, and she felt a little drunk, although the only thing she’d drank was some water earlier that morning and then the fancy coffee Gavin had bought her.

She giggled, unable to help herself. She jabbed a finger at Gavin, fighting the smile at her lips. “That’s for trying to tease me!”

“I would never.” But his own smile betrayed him. Because he had, and he would certainly tease her again.

“Now you should clean that up!” She snapped, trying her very best to seem commanding. She hoped she did. Although her voice was a little wobbly, a little shrill. There was still laughter in it, and her cheeks ached from her smile.

But Gavin only nodded his head, smirking. “Yes ma’am.”

“I’m going to get some water.”

“You really should drink more water, pumpkin,” he started, looking up from his task. But he didn’t get a chance to finish his lecture before she pointed at the mess of beads again.

So he shrugged, that infuriating smile still on his lips. “As you wish, love.”

“I’m not getting water anymore, either!” She winced at the sound of her own voice, more shrill than she had hoped.

Gavin huffed, his eyes slowly narrowing. “You really should, pumpkin. Coffee isn’t enough to refresh yourself.”

Rowan stomped away before Gavin could chastise her any further, thinking maybe she would walk right out the door to the nearest Starbucks and buy herself the biggest size they sold.

That was not what she did, though. Instead, Rowan boiled the kettle and steeped a warm mug of tea. She didn’t actually want any coffee, but she did want something warm. Something she could cup between her hands and feel warmth spread from her palms through the rest of her body.

She stirred the tea bag, watching as the water darkened from a pallid amber to a deep soil brown. She could hear Gavin humming in the other room, and she paused her stirring to listen close, savouring the sound. It was warm, with just a hint of sweetness softening the edges. She didn’t recognize the melody, but it was strangely delicate, like fragile flower petals embroidered with spider-silk. Her toes curled, heat blossoming like flower petals unfurling in her belly.

She scooped out the teabag, spooning in sugar and milk. Her heart was pressing against her chest, as though a string had been hooked through its chambers, dragging her back towards Gavin.

“What are you humming?” She called, emerging from the kitchen with her tea, forgetting her previous ire. She nestled into the pile of pillows and blankets, arm bumping against Gavin’s.

His brow was furrowed, the corner of his bottom lip drawn between his teeth. The tips of his ears were the red of cardinal feathers, but he did not shy away. Instead his brows only furrowed more, his eyes narrowed.

“You know, I’m not actually sure,” he admitted. His expression softened as he met Rowan’s eyes. “It was just in my head.”

“It’s awfully pretty.”

A smile touched his lips. “It reminded me a little of you.”

“What does that mean?” Her ribs felt like they might crack beneath the pressure of her heart, although she didn’t fully understand what he meant. She tried puzzling out his words, picking apart the meaning. But she couldn’t quite understand it, and in the end she was stumped, frowning as he deftly braided threads together.

“Gavin?”

But he didn’t answer, not at first anyways, looking smug as he continued humming.

“Gavin.” She pinched his side this time, earning a yelp followed by laughter.

He took her hand rather than batting it away, gently pressing the bracelet he’d been working on into her hand. “Alright. It makes me feel warm, which is why it reminds me of you.”

Gavin wasn’t a man of many words, but when he found them they were always the sweetest, most gentlest things she had ever heard. She had to turn around quickly, her face burning like she’d been standing under the summer sun for far too long.

He clicked his tongue, grasping her chin to turn her head back around. “Don’t look away. I love you.”

“But I don’t know what to say,” she squeaked, clutching the bracelet to her chest. “And I feel silly.”

“Silly that I love you so much?” He leaned closer, his breath ghosting against her lips.

She shook her head. “No. Just…” For a moment the words didn’t come, so preoccupied was she with the sudden nearness of his lips. “I just feel silly that I never know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.” His voice was a low murmur, a gentle caress down her spine, across her nerves. Her hands tingled as he took them gently, cradling them in his. “I just want to see your face.”

“Okay.”

“You have to promise.”

A smile curled at her own lips now. “I promise.”

He kissed her then, as though sealing the small promise she had made to him. It was gentle, less needy than before. She felt fuzzy, her mind nothing but golden bubbles. A cool wind caressed her cheek, tangled in her hair, although the windows were closed.

Gavin sighed as he pulled away, not sounding like he wanted to end the kiss at all.

“We should continue the craft,” he said, sighing again. He started to pull further away, hesitated. Then his lips brushed the corner of her lips, the edge of her jaw.

“Now we can continue the craft,” he amended, seeming satisfied.

“We couldn’t start it before?” She brushed his bangs back, hoping her voice sounded teasing rather than whisper-thin.

“I just wanted to make sure of something.”

“Which was?”

He cupped her chin in his palm, pressing his lips to her brow. “I’ll tell you later.”

“I think you just wanted an excuse to kiss me.”

“So what if I did?”

Rowan smirked as Gavin resumed his post, finishing up the last of the bracelets. He watched her from the corner of his eyes, their warm amber aglow. It was as if he was saying yes, yes he did make up an excuse to kiss her. But what was she going to do about it?

She decided to do nothing, at least for now. Instead she focused on organizing the beads, trying to decide on different patterns she wanted to do. Dandelion coloured hearts and translucent stars mixed together with onyx polyhedrons. Chunky white beads with letters spelling out little phrases or song lyrics or shared nicknames. Marigold and tangerine and bronze beads spreading out around ‘pumpkin.’ Magenta and carnation and salmon beads lining ‘babey’ and ‘my love.’

Some of the bracelets had no words at all, just a cacophony of beads, like they were toddlers being introduced to making friendship bracelets. Some were all one colour, some with splashes of cerulean or indigo between the crimson and the cerise beads.

It didn’t take particularly long to make one single bracelet, so they made many. So many that there was a pile when they were done and Rowan’s tea had long since gone cold and their fingers ached.

Rowan perched in Gavin’s lap, having given up on distancing herself from him. He was too enticing, too comfortable and warm. And he smelled so nice and she loved to listen to his heartbeat, loved to feel the vibrations in his chest as he hummed that tune neither of them could place. He massaged her hands, chin propped on her shoulder, breath tickling her ear as he spoke.

“What do you want for dinner tonight?” He tilted his head, his teeth nipping at the shell of her ear.

“Cake.”

He snorted, pressing the pads of his thumbs into the spaces between her fingers. “We can’t have cake for dinner.”

“Not with that attitude.”

Gavin sighed, as though mildly put-out. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Keep massaging my hands?”

“As you wish, my love.”

She closed her eyes, nestling a little closer. “We could make something simple. Like tacos.”

“You think that’s simple?”

“Well it’s not hard.” She cracked open one eye to peer at him. “We just have to cook up the meat and then cut up all the vegetables and things.”

“What about the guacamole?”

Now she was the one sighing. “Last time, you added too many chili flakes.”

“It wasn’t that bad.”

Both her eyes were open now, and she craned her head to the side until her nose bumped against his. “Gavin, even you were coughing.”

He didn’t even have the good sense to look guilty. Instead, there was nothing but mischief in his eyes. “We could try making it again.”

“So you’ll make guacamole but not cake?” She popped out her bottom lip, putting on her best puppy-dog pout.

Gavin ran his index finger over her bottom lip, smirking. “I never said we couldn’t also make cake.”

“It was implied.”

His answering laughter was soft, a warm rush of air from between his lips as he stroked her bottom lip. “Now you’re making things up.”

“Am not!”

“You are!”

“I’m not!”

His hand fell away, and he leaned his brow on her shoulder, eyes closing. “Alright, you win. But we can make a cake if you want.”

“I want cinnamon buns too.”

He opened his eyes just enough so that they were little more than amber slivers watching her. “You’re awfully greedy today.”

“Maybe I’m just trying to take advantage of this extra time I have with you.”

“If you’d wanted to take advantage of the time you could have napped-”

“We can do that later,” she said, cutting him off before he could continue. She knew there would have been no napping, as much as he griped about wanting a nap. And even if they had fallen asleep, she knew she would have woken up with his hands all over her.

It wasn’t unwelcome, and she did want to spend a very long time tangled together with him, his heartbeat against her cheek, beneath her fingertips. But she also wanted to do so many other things, and she knew if they started with that there wouldn’t be time to do anything else.

He closed his eyes, admitting defeat. “Whatever makes you happiest, pumpkin.”

“Spending time with you makes me happy.”

“So we will make our own guacamole?”

“Will you make cake and cinnamon buns with me?”

He took her hands, bringing them to his lips and pressing kisses to her fingertips. “I’ll do anything if it makes you happy.”

Her attention fell on the bracelets then, piled high to the side, the rest of their supplies spread haphazardly across the table. “Anything?”

“I don’t know if I like that tone, but yes, anything.”

Rowan stroked the corner of his lips, delighted by his response, despite the slight reluctance. Perhaps even because of that reluctance, because he knew she was about to ask him to do something very, very silly.

She wriggled out of his grasp, stretching her hands across the table to grab the pile of bracelets and drag them closer. “Okay, you need to wear them.”

He chuckled, sorting through the different bracelets, lifting them to the light to consider the patterns of beads before setting one down and picking up the next. “Which ones?”

“All of them!”

He snorted. “That’s a lot of bracelets.”

“What’s the point of having them all if you don’t wear them?”

Gavin laughed, eyes flicking skyward. “Will they even all fit on my arms?”

Rowan took hold of one of his arms, sliding a bracelet on. “Only one way to find out.”

He laughed again, eyes falling closed. But he did not stop her, letting her shove as many bracelets as she could onto his arm until he looked like his arm was trapped in the midst of a glittery, magical girl transformation. She could almost imagine more colourful bands running up to his shoulder and along his other arm. And then poof he’d be wearing some bright bodysuit made of glitter and starlight.

Giggled, Rowan grabbed Gavin’s other hand, preparing to cover it in bracelets next. The mental image she’d conjured was so funny she wished she had any art skills because she would draw it in a heartbeat. Although maybe she could commission someone to draw it, ask them to make sure to dump eight bottles of glitter on the finished piece to really make it shimmer like her daydream.

“What’s so funny?” Gavin encircled her wrist, halting her movements before she could slide on any more bracelets. He was grinning, mischief dancing in his eyes, in the crescent moon of his smile. “Tell me.”

She considered telling him, but she also knew he would certainly think she was a lunatic. “If I do, you’ll think I’m crazy.”

He held her arm tighter, reaching out with his free hand to pluck up a bracelet. He gently slid it over her hand, letting it fall over her arm. “Try me. I want to know.”

“Promise you won’t think I’m crazy?”

“I promise.”

“Alright well…” She described the image that had been conjured in her mind as he slipped more of their bracelets over her arm, the beads cool against her skin. His eyes widened slowly, but he didn’t say she was crazy, just as he promised. Instead he only chuckled, brushing his lips against her palm before continuing his work.

“Well if I looked like that, then I’d need a partner,” he said, slowly rolling a golden bead between his thumb and index finger. “Don’t magical girls usually work in teams?”

“They do.” She bit the inside of her cheek as he shot her an impish grin. “But I don’t exactly look like a magical girl.”

“Not yet,” he laughed, pushing the bracelet in his hand over her wrist. “Give me a few minutes here though, you and you will.”

True to his word, a few minutes later, Rowan’s arm had morphed into a twin of Gavin’s, both of them looking as though they were caught in the midst of a magic transformation.

“There, now we match,” he announced, looking pleased.

She lifted her arm, twisting it back and forth, watching as the light gilded the cacophony of coloured beads. Some seemed to glow, others cast miniature rainbows across the room. “You don’t think it’s silly?”

“Of course I think it’s silly,” he said, poking her side. His tone was light, teasing, gossamer butterfly wings billowing in her stomach. “But that’s what makes it fun.”

She leaned back against the couch, her head falling back on the cushions. “I bet you’d make a really good magical girl.”

Chuckling, Gavin copied her, lounging against the couch beside her. “Really?”

“Well you’re already halfway there with your evol.”

He snorted. “I think you’d make a cuter magical girl.”

She arched a brow, peeking at him from the corner of her eye. “Now that I find hard to believe.”

“They’re all supposed to be cute, aren’t they?”

“Yeah, it comes with the magic,” she said, lifting her brow higher.

Gavin’s hand hovered just above her cheek, so close she could feel the pulse thrumming in his wrist. The pad of his thumb grazed her skin, so soft it was barely there. “Well you’re the cutest person in the world.”

Heat flared in her chest, and although he was barely touching her she found she couldn’t move. She was rooted to the spot, like an enchantment had been cast and she was frozen, caught in between the breaths of this second.

His words hadn’t even been that romantic. But then again Gavin didn’t have to be particularly romantic. The things he said were simple, but she could feel the emotion in them, the weight. They were like a caress, or an embrace. They filled her heart until it overflowed and her nerves short-circuited and all she could feel was the bubbling of love and contentment and warmth spreading through her.

So she found herself fixed, caught in his spell.

His eyes narrowed as he gazed at her, sparks alighting as she watched an idea form in his mind.

“Wait here,” he said, standing quickly. He froze, turning back around, mouth quirked up even as his brows furrowed. “And this time don’t move.”

“I won’t make any promises.”

Clicking his tongue, Gavin shook his head. “What am I going to do with you?”

She hummed, stretching her legs out in front of her. “Keep me? Love me? Tell me I’m your beloved?”

“All of that is true.” He chuckled, arms crossed. His eyes seemed to darken, something heady filling his gaze. Even his voice lowered, softened, once more a featherlight caress that sent goosebumps racing across her arms. “But I was thinking of something different.”

Her voice was little more than a squeak as she spoke again, the weight of his gaze pinning her in place. “Weren’t you going to get something?”

His brows shot up, eyes bright once more. “That’s right. But stay here.”

This time she did stay in place, although she was tempted to move around. To tuck herself into a corner in another room just to see what his reaction would be.

She would save that for later, though.

When he returned, Gavin was brandishing the polaroid camera she’d bought him for his last birthday. It was the soft blue of a morning sky in the spring, a watercolour blue that streaked overhead as a crisp breeze stained the air with the smell of cherry blossoms.

She laughed as he flopped back down to the floor beside her, wiggling close and tucking his head beneath her chin.

“That tickles!” She tried shoving him away as his hair tickled the sensitive skin of her throat and jaw. It was a fruitless endeavour, and Gavin’s laughter wove through the air alongside hers as he wiggled his head again, tickling her all the more.

She was gasping for breath as he snapped the first photo, bright light flashing in her eyes as a sharp click was nearly drowned out by their joined voices arcing against the walls and ceiling. She watched the film pop out from the top of the camera, and then Gavin was plucking it away and tucking it to the side, face-down to finish developing.

“Let’s try another one.” He straightened, free arm wrapping around her waist gently now, as though she were something delicate, made of gossamer and spider’s silk. As though she were more precious than gold and diamonds and sky sapphires and forest emeralds and bloody rubies.

Rowan leaned against him, nestling as close as she could. She made sure to brandish her arm of bracelets, figuring it would be important to document them in some way.

Gavin took photo after photo until he’d used up all the instant-film he had. He had them pose in goofy positions, had them snuggle close, even went so far as to kiss her over and over until she was a blushing, giggling mess. And then he took a photo of that too.

He’d become quite the amateur photographer, forever going out of his way to take as many photos whenever they were out as he could. Some were goofy and blurry, their eyes bright red from the camera flash. But others were beautiful, catching joy and awe and love.

They’d scrapbooked them all, every photo he took, because Rowan adored each and every one of them. There hadn’t been a photo she’d been able to part with, not when Gavin was always beaming when he took them. Not when he was so proud of himself every time he caught what he considered a ‘perfect’ moment.

“Can I see them?” She asked, gesturing to his pile of photographs as he fiddled with his camera, popping in a new square of film.

“They’re not done developing yet.” His smile was wide, his cheeks and ears flushed. He set the camera to the side, flipping up one of the first photos he’d taken to get a peek before setting it back down.

“Gavin.” She wiggled her shoulders as she whined, hoping to weaken his resolve. “I wanna see.”

“And you will, pumpkin,” he promised, catching her pout in a gentle kiss.

“I want to see them right now!”

He chuckled against her lips, stroking her cheek. “Not yet.”

Wrinkling her nose, Rowan drew back, fixing her very best glare on him. Not that it seemed to have any affect on him, his smile only widening. “But I’d like to see them now. It doesn’t take that long for the film to develop.”

“Maybe I want them to be a surprise.”

“For what?!”

He shrugged, clearly trying his best to look enigmatic. Mysterious, even. But Gavin wasn’t enigmatic or mysterious. He was Gavin. He was her Gavin, the man who had spent nearly an hour in the Lego store a few weeks ago. Who’d asked if they could buy matching headbands when they’d gone to Disney. Who was forever plucking stuffed animals away from her to wiggle himself into her arms instead, insisting that he was much better for cuddling while she laughed.

So his smile only came off as satisfied and utterly delighted as she sputtered, failing to convince him to reveal the photos.

“It’s a surprise, pumpkin. You’ll just have to wait.”

She threw herself back onto the floor, stretching her arms over her head. “I don’t want to wait.”

“What if I make it worth your time?”

She propped herself up on her elbows, frowning. But his expression was nothing but pure, angelic innocence. Which made her even more suspicious. Gavin was no devil, but he was certainly not a pure, innocent angel either.

“What are you plotting?”

He beamed brighter. “Well we could go to the grocery store, pick up the ingredients for dinner and for all the desserts you’d like to bake.”

She drew her brows low. That all sounded wonderful, but surely there was a catch.

“Ingredients for cake? Any cake?”

“Whatever kind you’d like.”

“And for cinnamon buns, too?”

The tips of his ears were still flushed pink as newly bloomed peonies. It further solidified her suspicions, even as he continued nodding, looking almost innocent.

“We can get whatever you’d like, my love.”

She hummed as he continued to smile, regarding her with a gentle look that normally would have turned her into a puddle of her former self. And it was melting her slowly, her arms holding her up already so weak she was certain they would give out on her if he didn’t catch her safely in his arms.

“What’s in it for you?” She had to look up at the ceiling, tracing the patternless bubbles of the popcorn ceiling with her eyes. The house was older, and they had yet to shave the texture off, although she made a mental note to start looking into that soon.

“Just getting to spend my afternoon with you.”

Now Rowan did look back at him, cutting him a sharp glare. Her stomach flipped, wispy butterfly wings taking flight as she met Gavin’s eyes, their warm amber a heated, devastating gold.

She gave a halfhearted kick against his side, earning a low chuckle as she scooted further away, lest she be caught in his enchantment. Although she wasn’t sure there was any amount of space she could put between them that would keep her from being caught. She was a mermaid trapped in a fisherman’s net, and all she could do now was wait as she was slowly reeled in.

“What’s the real catch?” She sat up so she didn’t have to worry about her arms giving out, snatching up a pillow and clutching it to her chest like a shield. Not that it was a particularly useful shield, not when he was already so good at making her heart flutter like hummingbird wings.

“Well…” He trailed off, reaching for her legs and dragging her close once again. He balanced her calves in his lap, running his hands up to her thighs and down once again. “There is one catch.”

She knew it!

“I’m listening.”

He continued running his hands over her legs, his expression a little more serious. “Well I want it to be a bit of a surprise, but I have the next week off, and I have something special planned.”

That was not at all what she thought he was going to say. She found herself instantly intrigued, and she leaned forward. “Something special?”

He laughed. “I can’t reveal too much, not yet anyways.”

“You have to now!” She moved forward, settling fully in his lap, hoping her proximity would convince him to divulge the details of this special surprise. “Please, babey? Please?!”

He shook his head, smiling wider, all mischief and delight. “All I can say is that we’re going to go on a trip somewhere to see something.”

Somewhere? To see something? She was left with more questions than answers, but it was clear Gavin was not going to divulge anything more.

“But…” He trailed off before continuing, the blush in his cheeks deepening. “First we should head to the grocery store, and get working on all these treats you want to make.”

He tried lifting her from his lap, but she refused to budge, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her forehead against his. “Gavin! You have to tell me!”

She could feel his smirk against her lips as he breathed. “No I don’t.”

“I thought you loved me.”

“I love you with every part of my being.”

She slumped against his shoulder, not wanting his lips to tempt and distract her. “Then you’ll tell me what you’re planning!”

“I can’t do that, pumpkin. I’m not finished with all the parts of the surprise.”

“You know you’re horrible.”

He pinched her cheek, chuckling. “No I’m not. You think I’m handsome and kind and you want to spend all day with me.”

“No I don’t.” She squeezed her eyes shut, not wanting to see the shine of his eyes.

“You said so yourself this morning!”

“No I didn’t!”

He pinched her side this time, trying to get her to open her eyes. “Yes you did. When you were lying on top of me, begging me not to go on my run this morning.”

She winced. He was, unfortunately, very right. She had said all those things that morning, wanting a few more precious minutes of morning cuddles before he went to work out.

“Well I take it all back!”

“You can’t take it back.”

“I just did.” She cracked her eyes open just enough to glare at him, to stick her tongue out at him before peeling away from his shoulder.

He wrapped his arms around her before she could escape, drawing her close once more to press a soft kiss to her cheek. “I promise you’ll find out soon.”

“I had better.” She huffed, although didn’t fight against him. “And you’d better make sure you bake all those treats with me tonight.”

“I’ll do my best.”

She patted his arm, signalling that she wanted to get up. “Then we should head out to the grocery store so we can get everything we’ll need. We’ll be up all night if we wait around.”

“Yes ma’am.” He stood, offering her his hand.

She took it, although couldn’t help frowning as he gave her a satisfied smile. “What are you so happy about?”

“Can’t I just be happy to spend the day with my wife.”

She bit her lip before her knee-jerk response slipped out, settling on what she hoped was a look of disbelief. And clearly it did work, because Gavin started chuckling, drawing her close to press his lips to her brow.

“I also think it’s a little funny that I was able to distract you so thoroughly from the photos by mentioning the surprise.”

Only then did the memory of the polaroids photos they had taken not ten minutes earlier lance to the forefront of her mind. She swivelled around, staring down at where they still sat on the table.

“I still want to see them,” she announced.

“I know you do.”

She furrowed her brow, unable to step closer to the table as his arms held her back. “Do they have anything to do with your other surprise?”

He shrugged, a mischievous and deeply frustrating smile playing at his lips. “Who knows?”

“You know.” She jabbed her finger against his side. “You know, Gavin!”

“Well I’m not telling.”

Rowan ground her teeth together, prying herself free from his embrace to stomp away.

“I bet I could find a way to distract you from both things!” He called after her, laughter in his voice. He was teasing her! Teasing her while her mind scrabbled over everything she knew to try and figure out what he was planning, why he was being so cryptic.

“I don’t believe you!”

He looped his arm around her waist, catching her easily. She huffed, figuring she should have at least sprinted from the room to make it harder for him to catch up.

“But you don’t know what I was thinking of doing to distract you.” His voice was low, warm and heady as he hinted at what he was hoping to do.

“If it’s trying to mess with me and telling me about another surprise, then I don’t want to hear it!” But she couldn’t help smiling despite her words, a shiver racing down her spine as he slowly stroked her hip.

“That’s fine, I won’t tell you about it then,” he teased, dropping his lips to her ear, his breath brushing across her skin, raising gooseflesh. “But I can promise it will distract you for the rest of the night.”

“Make me dinner first,” she said, turning her head to face his, their noses bumping together. “And all the desserts I want, and then I’ll consider it.”

She was too close to actually see his smile, but she could feel how it softened, so close it brushed against her own as he spoke. “If it makes you happy, I’d be more than happy to do that.”

“Perfect, then we’ll need to get the grocery bags.”

She extricated herself from his arms to search out where they had tossed the grocery bags, humming to herself.

“What if we just got takeout tonight? To save time for baking?” She called, turning away from the closet she’d been sure the bags were in.

Gavin appeared a moment later, brow arched. “I thought we were trying to eat healthy.”

“I mean how healthy are tacos anyways.”

He shrugged, brushing a kiss to the side of her head as he passed. “They won’t take too long. And I love cooking with you.”

She reached deep into the closet, spotting a swath of green too bright to be either of their coats. “Are you sure? Even though we’re going to be doing baking, too?”

“I’m sure.”

She snagged the patch of green, three more grocery bags falling over as she yanked one free. She lifted it above her head like a trophy. “Hah! Found them!”

With the bags found, and next their grocery list written and safely tucked into Gavin’s wallet, they were ready to go.

“Do you think we’ll have time to stop at the mall, too?” Gavin asked, swiping the car keys from the kitchen table.

“Probably.” She slung her purse over her shoulder, hand on the door-handle. “What did you want to get?”

He looked away, scratching at the back of his neck. “Well there was this lego set that came out pretty recently I was looking at.”

“We can do whatever will make you happy.” She stepped forward to cup his face, drawing it close to press a kiss to the corner of his lips. “If it makes you happy, then I’ll go with you anywhere.”

He covered her hands with his, sighing softly. “I’m happy just being with you.”

“But you still want the lego set?”

He chuckled, pecking a kiss to her lips. “I do, yes.”

She took his hand then, as they headed back out. Delighted to have this day together, to know she was going to have the next week together, just the two of them, off doing whatever surprise Gavin had hidden up his sleeve.

Little crafts, taking photos together, going grocery shopping, all of it was so small and mundane, and yet all of it was so precious to her. All of it made her happy, so long as she had him beside her.

She lifted his hand, pressing a kiss just below his wrist, copying the move he so often did to her. Because she loved him, because she was happy being with him, because she loved the way his face flushed. 

“Then let’s go,” she said, brushing another kiss to his hand; his palm this time. “If it makes you happy, then it makes me happy too.”

[eightysixed]

She didn’t know why she was meeting him again, especially here. It was so dirty. For someone who was so clean that not even dirt stuck to the bottoms of her 4-inch Sophia Websters, she was finding herself enshrouded by the filth of this parking lot. A homeless looking man was staring at her. She tried not to show disgust, but her upper lip curled, and she tapped her toes impatiently waiting, in the cold and just-rained backlot waiting, waiting. Not sure what she was even waiting for. 

She couldn’t remember when she’d seen him last without blood on his face. He liked that, though, revelled in it. The more blood the better, of course that was always the way. 

A car drove past with headlights on and she backed up to avoid the splash of a puddle, pressing herself closer to a doorway that would at least partway conceal her. She didn’t want to be seen tonight, or any night really that she was meeting him. He drew crowds, large ones. And married women were not supposed to be seen in surreptitious parking lots at one in the morning. 

“You couldn’t wear anything less conspicuous?” he said, and she immediately swivelled to the voice. She saw the cherry flare up ember-orange before she saw his face. It was hooded. 

“And you couldn’t wait until too fucking late,” she responded. Now people were definitely going to notice them. She pulled her coat closer. “I don’t like this.” 

“Does he know you’re out so late?” 

She rolled her lashes skywards, heavy and thick as bear fur. She was close to leaving, so close, one heel turned slightly at angle, as if she was ready to sprint out of there at any sign of something. There were plenty of signs already. 

“I mean it.” 

“He’s out of town.” 

“Oh. Is that why you came?” 

The smoke smelled nasty and she wanted to pluck the cigarette out of his hands and stomp on it. She was not a violent person, though every now and then she got pushed to it — everyone did, that was human. But ten seconds in his presence and she was thinking the worst things. 

“I...forget it. Don’t know why I came.” She swallowed the ‘came’. Huddled her arms tighter like she was cold and looked anywhere but at his face. There were goosebumps under her trenchcoat, but not from the rain.

“Uhuh. Look, if you wait five more minutes, we can get out of here.” 

“I don’t have five more minutes.”

“You came here to tell me that?” He broke into a smile. She had missed it.

“Yes, actually.” No, she hadn’t come here for that. She had come here for the other thing. But looking at him, she knew. This was it. “I came here to say there won’t be any more. No more.” She tried to stop herself from having a panic attack, but it was hard. She was the kind of person who wore her heart on her sleeve, on both sleeves, and her pinafore, and everywhere else that was visible, every stitch of fabric. She couldn’t hide as much as a there-and-gone guilty twitch. 

“You don’t sound so sure.” 

Fuck this motherfucker. Fuck all the misery he had brought upon her just by virtue of being himself and everything he stood for. 

But maybe she could be convincing, for once in her life. Sometimes she could be scary. She was going to channel that. She kept her eyes open, poised, a fox stood on all four haunches ready to dart — or attack. “I am. In fact, I’m going to leave now, and you’re not going to call me, you’re not going to text me, you’re going to forget I exist and that’s how this is going to go.” 

“Wait, what?” Now he looked confused, and she could see that she got him. He flicked the cigarette aside, and it landed in a puddle. Another car drove by. She turned her back to it. “You’re serious now.” It was a question and statement all at once. 

“Yes. I’m tired of your fu—I’m tired of this shit, and I’m done with it. I’m just done. That’s it. Okay? That was all.” 

He could see the hurt on his face, she had broke through and gotten to him. Maybe it hurt her even more than she was hurting him right now, this much she could also tell, because she could see him building up the walls, every second that went by, that he looked at her. It didn’t take all that many seconds before the wall was impenetrable. But even there, behind that wall, she could see it. The well of a tear that would refuse to fall. He never let anybody see him cry, not even his own reflection.

“Yeah? Alright,” he said, nodding. He licked his lips and looked up, looked like he was about to take off for the hills and never come back. She didn’t know what she was doing, just that she had to do it. In an eve or two she’d call Neil, cry to him yet again. He’d invite her over and pour her a large goblet of Merlot from the grapes he grew in his garden, and she’d talk and talk and vent and pour all of herself down the drain and he’d comfort her with his words. Neil was always good like that. It wouldn’t help, but it sure would soothe. Not that anything was soothing her in this moment right here. She prayed to every spirit out there that she wouldn’t cry. 

“You never wanna see me again? I can do that. Easy. Say no more, your highness.” He laughed in that really sick way she hated. Just before the wedding, he’d done that too. “You’ll never see me again.” He decided to make good on that promise starting now, and before she could even say another word more, he had vanished. 

She had no business standing there any longer, someone was bound to find her, some nosy late night jogger, they were always all over the place in this town. She had crossed the length of the parking lot before she knew she had. 

“Miss?” An unfamiliar voice called her. “Miss?” It called her two more times before she stopped in her hurried catwalk, turned on her heel to look. He caught up to her. “You dropped this.” 

The white tie belt had slipped from her trenchcoat and now it was dirty, brown and wet. 

“Thanks,” she said, taking it from the chubby hands. He stared at her for longer than was probably appropriate. 

“Is everything good?” She nodded.

*

She tried not to make a scene at the train depot but it happened anyway. Sat opposite a mother and son with a panda backpack, the sweetest child that usually, under better circumstances, she would have smiled at. She would have unclipped one of the butterflies from her shoe and given it to him. But now all she was did was bury her head in her hands. Someone came over to check on her, one of the weary attendants that swept the perimeter. “You alright, ma’am?” Attracting too much attention when she wanted none, the story of her life. But perhaps the way she was hunched over, he thought she was drunk, or out of it somehow. It was raining outside now, hadn’t let up since before she got in the uber to the station. 

“Yes. I’m fine.” She thanked him. The concern stayed etched on his face, but seeing her upright, he eventually left. He too, had things to do. Outside it rained, and inside it rained as well, the rain creeping into the platform past the arches that protected and sheltered the rest of it from the elements. Had it worked? She wasn’t sure. There had been so many ‘last times’. This one felt more final than most. She needed it to be true. 

Hey...are you awake? Sorry I know it’s late. Ignore this if you’re sleeping or half asleep. Haha. 

She sent the text to Neil. Then she regretted it. Maybe Curtis would’ve been a better idea. He wouldn’t ask questions. While she pondered over what she had done and what couldn’t be undone, what should have been or should not, her phone reminded her why she hated them and believed they were satan incarnate.  A new memory for you! On this day, 2 years ago:  

She opened it. She dry swallowed. She wanted to throw her phone onto the train tracks just as a train passed by. But no train was in sight, not even hers, which was due. The wait felt excruciating and unending.

[igot-the-juice]

The Scarred - Chapter 9

Masterlist

Summary - Penelope Miller works at a florist shop in Gotham, barely getting by in the corrupted city. Her life is shrouded by trauma and judgement with little light to find her way with. However, when a certain painted face starts making himself known to her, things take a turn.

“You okay, Penny?” Emma questioned, seeing the woman in question begin to nod off. She quickly sat up and rapidly blinked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just didn’t get much sleep, that's all.” She responded, which wasn’t really a lie at all. Liam had tried to convince her to call in to take the day off, but Penelope couldn’t do that to Emma. That and she worried it would come off as suspicious since she rarely ever does it, and even more so given recent events that have been occurring at the shop itself.

“Is something bothering you, hun?” Emma asked gently, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

“No, I’m okay,” She turned to face her. “Promise.” She smiled, and thankfully it was returned before the older woman walked away. Penelope let out a sigh of relief, massaging her temple.

They received more customers than usual that day, thankfully. It helped to both keep her awake and distract her from her thoughts, which grew to be a harder task as of late. By the time the work day drew to a close, Penny was practically sleepwalking. Zombified and depleted of energy, she waved off Emma in a goodbye before she turned to leave.

As she passed an alleyway, thinking all was well and would finally return home to relax, she gasped when something snatched her jacket and pulled her in.

“I did some thinking - y’know?” A familiar voice tossed up her stomach with nerves. She turned to look up at the painted face that greeted her - however much of a greeting it was.

“You scared the hell out of me!” She whisper-yelled in exasperation, her adrenaline throwing all caution to the wind regardless of who was in front of her.

“I think you oughtta have these than myself.” He continued on, completely ignoring what she said. She looked down and saw the handgun and knives from last night.

“You couldn’t have done that last night rather than snatching me and giving me a heart attack?”

“You’re alive, aren’t cha?” The Joker dismissed as if it was the most simple thing. Penelope couldn’t help but roll her eyes to his amusement and he hummed.

“Gettin’ a little bold after last night, don’t cha think?” His voice was flat, yet somehow still held a joking undertone. Penelope grew fidgety, mentally slapping herself for forgetting who she was talking to.

“I’m sorry, it’s been a long day.” She nearly whispered with a downcast gaze.

“Ah, I’m just messing with ya, doll!” The Joker cackled. “But seriously, take these, I don’t want em.” She greatly hesitated before gently taking them from his hands, looking at them for a moment and putting them in her satchel.

“Thank you -“

“I’m going to give a wild guess and say you don’t have a single gun at your place?”

“I mean, I don’t, but -“

“Ah-ta-ta-ta.” He cut her off, placing a finger over her lips.

“Don’t got time for chit-chat, toots, but uh -“ He looked around for a second before leaning in closer to her as if he was telling a secret. “We can save that for later, hm?” He winked with a click of his tongue and gave her a couple of small pats on her head before turning to leave. “Don’t wait up for me!” He hollered over his shoulder and disappeared off to who knew where with a skip.

Penelope just stood in the alleyway confused as ever for the umpteenth time. If she wasn’t awake before, she definitely was now. She turned to make her way back to the main sidewalk, this time bumping into someone else.

“Oi, there ye are!”

“For fuck’s sake!” She gasped once again, hand over her chest. Liam frowned and steadied her.

“First of all, that’s my line. Second, the hell were ye doin in an alley?” He gently coaxed her to start their walk back to their apartment complex.

“Too tired to explain right now.”

“Alright, fair enough. Guess it’s not a good time to say ‘I told you so’ then?” Penelope gave him a side eye and he held up his hands in defense. “Okay, okay. Quiet time it is.”

When the two of them reached her apartment and stepped inside, they were quick to get comfortable and relax on the couch. The TV hummed in the background at a low volume, soothing the two of them as Penelope began to fall asleep in Liam’s lap, the latter playing a game on his phone mindlessly.

No matter how close the woman was to sleep, though,, her body fought back. Her mind raced with scattered thoughts, a heavy sigh leaving her lips catching Liam’s attention.

“What’s on yer mind, lovin?”

“Too much.” She answered simply. Liam took his turn to sigh.

“Still too tired to talk about it?”

“The Joker is supposed to be dangerous…” She whispered mindlessly. Liam tensed at first and put down his phone. She continued once he began to caress her hair. “And yet I can’t shake that I feel safe with him.” Penelope turned in his lap, head facing up at him as she stared at the ceiling. “I don’t know how else to describe it. But something about him just feels so familiar, Liam. Like a reminder of something I can’t remember.”

“Aye. I know the feelin’, believe me.” He shifted as he thought. “If he wanted ye dead, he would’ve done so already. It’s a gruesome thought, but I believe it’s the truth.” He looked down at Penelope who met his gaze of understanding.

“But what if he has an ulterior motive? What if he’s just using me?” She watched as Liam began to shake his head.

“He doesn’t seem the type. Not patient enough from what we’ve seen on the news. Seems to me that if he wants something, he just goes fer it. The man won’t take ‘no’ for an answer.” There was a moment of silence, the two of them sitting in contemplation, coming up with scenario after scenario where something could go wrong. But none of them seemed realistic in comparison to what had happened so far.

Days passed with no contact from the Joker or his men, much to her surprise. Days turned into a couple of weeks. Penelope just assumed that he was either too busy or got bored of her. She wasn’t sure which would have been a better explanation.

In a way, she missed his odd encounters. Before him, her life was boring, for lack of a better word. It was the same routine over and over and over. Granted, Liam tossed things up from time to time. But she eventually grew used to that, as well.

Penelope decided to switch things up herself after some days. She found a target range not too far away where she could continue her practice with the knives and handgun, Liam joining her from time to time.

It wasn’t until a while after that he came up with an idea.

“Come on.” The Irishman dragged the woman by her wrist to what looked like a gym of sorts.

“Liam, what’re we doing here -“

“You’ll see, ye twat, just come on.” As they entered the building, he scanned them in and took her upstairs, the smell making her nose twitch in discomfort. Once they reached the top, she was welcomed to an empty matted room. Her eye widened in surprise, unsure of what Liam was getting themselves into.

“The hell is this about?” He clicked his tongue in disapproval.

“Take off her shoes and coat and you’ll see. Stop asking questions, dammit!” He chuckled as he got ready himself and walked onto the mat.

Soon after she followed, giggling at the feeling of the mat beneath them like a child on a trampoline.

“Oi!” She snapped her head up to where he was and stood in front of him. “I figured since ye got them fancy knives and gun, we teach ye some real self defense, yeah?” Penelope’s eye shot wide open.

“Self defe -? You do realize I only have one arm, right?” Liam shrugged.

“All the more reason ye need it.” Penelope sighed and glanced away for a second, then took a deep breath.

“Okay fine, I’ll play.” He nodded with a reassuring grin.

“Right, Penny. First rule: self-defense isn’t about strength. It’s about leverage. Ye don’t need two arms er perfect vision fer this. It’s all about knowin’ how to use what ye’ve got.”

Penelope nodded, her single eye narrowing as she focused on him. Her missing left arm had made her hesitant, and the burns that marked her left side were a constant reminder of her limitations. But she needed to do this.

Liam stepped closer and motioned for her to raise her remaining arm. “Let’s start with balance. No matter what situation yer in, ye need a strong foundation. Feet shoulder-width apart. Right foot slightly behind, heel up. Keep that center of gravity low, but don’t lock yer knees.”

Penelope followed his instructions, her movements stiff but determined. She felt a slight shift in her body as she adjusted her stance. Liam circled her slowly, nodding his approval.

“Good. Now, if someone comes at ye from the front, yer not going to overpower em, but ye can use their own momentum against em. Grab my wrist with yer right hand.”

Penelope hesitated for a moment before grasping his wrist. Liam, much taller and stronger than her, didn’t resist at first, but then slowly applied pressure, mimicking an attacker’s force.

“When someone grabs ye, ye won’t have the leverage to just pull away,” He explained. “But what ye can do is use yer entire body to redirect the attack.” He gently guided her to pivot her hips and pull him off balance. “See? Ye use yer hips and shoulders to create force. That’s what keeps ye grounded and throws em off.”

Penelope felt the shift in weight and how Liam’s body tilted slightly as she pulled him off-center. Her eyes widened in surprise, a spark of confidence growing inside of her.

“Now, what if someone tries to take ye down?” Liam asked, stepping back and raising his hands as if to simulate a grab for her. “Yer instinct might be to pull away, but that just puts ye at a disadvantage. Instead, ye drop yer weight. Lower yer center of gravity, and they won’t be able to lift ye.”

He demonstrated, lunging toward her in slow motion. Penelope took a deep breath and bent her knees, dropping her weight as Liam had instructed. She felt him try to lift her, but she remained planted, like a rooted tree.

Liam grinned. “That’s it! Perfect. And while they’re strugglin’ to get a grip, that’s when ye go fer yer next move. Elbows, knees—anything hard and sharp. It’s not about bein’ clean. It’s about surviving.”

Penelope smirked slightly at that. “So… you want me to fight dirty?”

Liam’s eyes twinkled. “In Gotham? There’s no other way.”

He motioned for her to step back, giving her space. “Now, let’s try it with a punch. Someone’s swingin’ at ye from the right. What do ye do?”

Penelope tensed. Her left eye was no longer, and her missing arm meant her range of vision was limited. But Liam had thought of that.

“Ye can’t block with yer left, so ye have to move. Slip to the outside of their swing, stay low, and use yer shoulder to knock em off balance. That’s where yer right arm comes in.”

He swung at her slowly, exaggerating the motion so she could practice. Penelope sidestepped, dipping her head and bringing her right shoulder up to mimic the block.

Liam nodded in approval. “Good! Now follow up with yer right elbow—hard to their face er throat.”

Penelope did as he instructed, bringing her elbow up in a quick motion, though she hesitated at the last second. Liam chuckled. “Don’t hold back next time. You’ll need that speed and precision.”

They spent the next hour going over similar moves: how to throw a knee into an attacker’s gut, how to pivot and drive her elbow into someone’s ribs, how to avoid attacks from angles she couldn’t see. With each move, Penelope grew more confident, her hesitation slowly melting away.

Finally, Liam held up a hand, signaling for a break. “Yer gettin’ there, Penny. Ye’ve got the instincts. Now ye just need to trust yerself.”

Penelope wiped the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand, breathing heavily but feeling more grounded than she had in a long time. “It’s… a lot to take in. But I want to keep practicing.”

Liam clapped her on the shoulder. “And ye will. Just remember, yer not as vulnerable as you think. Ye’ve been through hell and came out the other side. That’s more strength than any move I can teach ye.”

Penelope gave him a small, hearing him say something so endearing a rarity coming from him. Her eye glimmered, practically glazed over with emotion. “Thank you, Liam.”

More days passed. And more. But it wasn’t boring anymore, no. Liam and Penelope had been practicing her self-defense as often as they could without straining themselves, and eventually he decided to teach her offensive attacks as well should they be necessary.

It was obvious to her that he genuinely cared for her and her safety, understanding that he wouldn’t always be there to protect her. That much was clear. Though it was a welcomed respite, the Joker still lingered in the back of her mind.

No matter how long it had been since he visited, she couldn’t help but think that their encounters were far from over.

[madame-mongoose]

Sun did not like you. You were an insult to his very being. You were clumsy and annoyingly happy all the time and stupidly oblivious to him wanting you out of his daycare. He did not like the way you seemed endlessly eager to please, or the stupid little smile you got when you did something right, or the way you seamlessly interacted with the children.

He did NOT like you. To say otherwise would most definitely be a lie.

He did not like you. But he wasn't heartless. So when you started showing up with progressively darker bags under your eyes after staying late so many shifts, he decided that night he'd talk to Moon about helping with cleaning up the daycare so you could get more sleep.

He did not like you. He just couldn't have his assistant falling asleep on the job. Obviously.

He also saw how exhausted you seemed when you thought nobody was looking, leaning against your mop with a miserable expression. Not just from the lack of sleep, and he refused to acknowledge that he knew perfectly well why that was. He intended to ask you if you were okay, he really did. But there was always something or other that called for his attention.

It was getting to the point where Sun wondered if the world just didn't want him to talk to you that day. Maybe because it knew how stretched thin and close to breaking you were.

As the last child was dropped off, he finally had the time to talk to you. He approached you, watching you struggle to carry a few boxes filled with art supplies from the supply closet. The words to ask if you needed help were on the tip of his metaphorical tongue when your fingers slipped, and the boxes tumbled out of your arms and crashed to the ground, scattering markers and crayons and various other things across the floor.

He didn't think, and before he could swallow them back, the words tumbled out. "Goodness, Sunshine, you really can't seem to do anything right, can you?"

He saw the way your face crumpled in shame, tears flooding your eyes. Guilt flooded him, and before be could apologize, you fled out the Daycare gate, rushing up the stairs and out of the Daycare. Sun wanted to slap himself. He'd made you cry. He kept telling himself he didn't like you, so why did he feel so GUILTY?

He hated the feeling. It squirmed uncomfortably in his chest. He rubbed his faceplate, having a sigh as he stared down at the scattered things. You would come back eventually. You had to. He had to apologize.

You would be back.

In the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to tidy up the place a bit for you... It was the least he could do.

He waited for you to come back, but you didn't. The final hour of your shift came and went, and by that point he'd done everything on your nightly chore list out of guilt stress kindness. You'd be back tomorrow, and then he would apologize.

When the lights turned off and Moon awoke, he was surprised to find the daycare oddly quiet. You were usually stumbling around doing your chores when he woke up. Sun... Where's the assistant?

Sun really didn't want to explain what had happened, but when Moon pushed again, he relented. I... may have said something very insensitive today.

When do you not?

I made them cry. They left and didn't come back for the rest of their shift.

Moon was silent, his own worry starting to seep into his joints. You had been looking rather tired recently, despite his insistence that you sleep and your assurances that you would when you got home. But they could still fix this. When you came back tomorrow, they'd both apologize.

They should make you something. Something nice and genuine. Something appreciative. Moon pulled out a piece of thick, pink-colored paper and carefully selected a crayon from the box on one of the little tables. You would be back tomorrow, Moon told himself as he drew you and him on the card, writing 'I'm sorry' at the top.

Draw me too.

Why should I?

Because they're my assistant! And I want to apologize too.

Make your own card then.

Sun silently fumed. Moon added some glitter glue and gold star stickers, finally seeming satisfied with it after he'd added almost every craft item they had in stock to the thing.

It was messy, but it clearly had a lot of effort put into it, not like Sun would let him know that.

Fine, two could play at that game. He could make a way better card for you than Moon.

When the lights in the Daycare turned on an hour before your shift, Sun wasted no time rushing back to the arts and crafts area to make a card of his own. He also picked the pink construction paper, drawing himself and you smiling side by side. He doodled little flowers in the corners, quietly fretting over his creation as he oh so carefully added glitter glue to it. It still felt too bare, so he added a fake feather, a gold star that he put on drawing-you's chest, and a few mini pom poms. Perfect.

Right on cue, he heard the telltale sounds of the daycare shutter squeaking open fifteen minutes before the start of your shift. He nearly jumped for joy, bounding over to the ball pit and waiting for you to come down. Instead of you sliding down the slide, though, he saw someone else open the gate and go down the stairs.

He resisted the urge to frown at the other staff member as they opened the gates to the daycare, and they did not look thrilled to be here. They were holding a clipboard for some reason, and Sun reluctantly walked over to them. He forced a cheery smile onto his face. "Well heee-llo! My friend, would you happen to know when my dear assistant is coming back?"

They raised a brow, but then shrugged and glanced down at their paper. "That's actually why I'm here. Do you know why they left only partway through their shift?"

"W-well, they, er.... weren't feeling well! So I sent them home early!"

"You don't have authorization to do that."

If he could, his eye would be twitching right now. "Are you saying I should have made them stay here despite them being physically ill?"

"This is their job. They can't just run out when they get a stomach ache."

Irritation flared through Sun. Even though you hadn't been sick, he was appalled Management would make you stay if you were ill. He gritted his teeth, trying to keep his tone light. "Oh, well, I just wanted to make sure Fazbear Co didn't get a lawsuit handed to them for neglecting their workers!"

They frowned a little, but didn't say anything to that. "Well, Management sent me to inform you that you no longer need an assistant and you'll go back to your solo act."

Sun didn't have a heart, but he swore something short circuited for a moment. "What??"

"Yeah, apparently Management got a call yesterday from the assistant that said they'd fallen ill from stress and exhaustion, so they reconsidered making you have an assistant and decided you no longer need one, and they've been let go. That's pretty much all they wanted me to say."

They turned and left out the daycare gate again, muttering about how they weren't paid enough to run errands for Management.

Sun sat down heavily on the floor, an overwhelming wave of guilt washing over him as their words echoed in his mind. You wouldn't be coming back. You didn't even still have a job at the Pizzaplex anymore, they'd fired you. He was never going to see you again. He'd never get the chance to properly apologize and make it up to you. Neither of them would.

As the children started coming in, Sun was grateful for the distraction. Through the whole day, he missed the pleasant buzz of your chatter and seeing your smile when you interacted with the children. The day dragged on for what felt like an impossibly long time, and Sun sat on one of the play structures after they'd all left. He couldn't bring himself to clean up. He wallowed in misery until the lights went off, and Moon came out.

He was silent. He'd watched what had happened, heard everything. His chest felt much tighter than normal. Sun.... They have to come back. They have to.

I don't think they will. Not on their own.

If they won't come back on their own, maybe Management will.

Why would Management bring them back?

Because we are going to pester them until they do. If we have to throw the world's angriest animatronic tantrum to see them again, we'll do it.

... Okay.

They'd get you back. They had to. They had to apologize, to fix what they'd done.

No matter the cost.

Oh my god this is so extremely well written @sycopomp look at thisss