#I got to join your life for a brief and wonderful moment | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

leia-writes · 5 months ago

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hi! i had a dream about this recently and was wondering if it would be anything you'd be interested in writing :)

it starts off with the reader and in-ho going through a really rough break up but they still have feelings for each other. right before the s2 games started, in-ho went to a bar and saw reader there and her job is to perform live music, so she sings about in-ho and their breakup, not realizing that he was actually there

Maybe You'll Be There

hwang in-ho | front man x reader

ao3 link

masterlist

song inspiration: maybe you'll be there by etta jones

note: thank you so much for your request!!

warnings: angst

word count: 2,678

posted on: 1/22/2025

“Get out.”

You glared through teary eyes at In-ho, who was standing in the middle of your apartment with a bouquet of flowers. He sighed and dropped his arms in frustration, a few petals and leaves falling to the floor.

“I said I was sorry. I really am.”

“How many times have I heard that? You’re a broken record at this point.” You turned away from him and began cleaning up your kitchen. It took everything in your power not to break down crying right then, but you were just so tired of doing this with him.

“I know. I messed up again. I’m sorry. Please.”

You sighed, dropping a glass into the sink. It clattered noisily as you turned towards In-ho. “Please what? Please forgive you for the thousandth time? Please forget how you ignore me whenever something important happens for me? Please let you play with my emotions?”

He stood there silently, trying to mask the shame spreading across his face.

“Which one, In-ho?”

He clenched his jaw, looking away from you. He still wouldn’t say anything. With every passing second he was silent you could feel your heart breaking even more.

You scoffed. “That’s what I thought. Get out.”

He gave you one last look, tears starting to form in his eyes. You’d never seen him cry, never even close to it. You wanted so badly to run to him, but you had to be strong this time.

You watched him as he set your flowers down on the table and walked to your door. He looked at you once again. For a brief moment you hoped he would say something, anything to make it right again.

Instead, he left, closing the door behind him.

~~~

You cried in bed that entire night. It was supposed to be a good day - you had just performed a full-blown concert all by yourself for the first time ever. Even though you worked for a very dark and secretive organization, you always made it a priority to pursue your passion for music. As time went on, you started gaining a reputation for being an outstanding jazz singer, and you found yourself wanting to move on from your high-stress job and live a more normal life.

After winning the squid games you participated in a couple years earlier, you soon found yourself working for the same organization alongside In-ho. Despite his cold exterior, you got along well. You had been dating almost a year before you started running into problems.

In-ho worked as the Front Man for a while before you joined him. You had only been working with him for a couple years, and you didn’t really have the same connection to that place like In-ho had. You both went through something extremely traumatic by playing and winning the games, but it seemed to bond In-ho to that place when you couldn’t care less. In-ho seemed constantly tormented by his decisions, as if he didn’t want to be there but couldn’t help himself.

As you started becoming more popular, you didn’t feel the need to work for them anymore. You wanted to leave many times, but In-ho always convinced you to stay. He promised over and over that you two could make it work, splitting time between the island and your apartment. And he promised he’d be at every one of your performances.

A promise he was never able to keep.

There were so many nights like that night, where In-ho would show up late in the evening, well after your performance, begging for forgiveness and promising to be better. You’d cry in front of him, break his heart a little, fall for his sweet words, and then make up as if nothing happened. Then you’d have another upcoming performance that always happened to conflict with work, and fight endlessly about how you navigate your relationship. Repeating the same vicious cycle over and over.

You couldn’t stand to keep breaking your heart like this. The love you felt for him was undeniable, something you felt you’d never get over, but the pain was just too much. Tonight was your final straw.

The next day, you finally quit your job and started your new life.

~~~

In-ho waited outside the lounge, the cold, night air whipping across his face. His hands were awkwardly stuck in his pockets as he scanned the people around him, looking for her. He was reluctantly waiting to meet someone on a blind date, set up for him by an acquaintance.

He didn’t want to be there at all, but figured he needed to start putting himself out there. Or at least that’s what everyone else was trying to convince him to do. After looking around for another brief moment, he spotted her approaching him.

She was beautiful. But she wasn’t you.

Ever since your painful breakup, he was tormented by thoughts of you. He couldn’t help but remember you in the little things around him, even now a year later. It was a constant reminder of his failings, how he ruined one of the only things that was good for him and made him truly happy.

He knew he was pushing you away the more you wanted to quit. He knew he was hurting you every time he missed a performance, ignored a call, prioritized anything else over you. He knew you’d be better off without him and his baggage.

In fact, it seemed true. Ever since you had finally broken up, he saw you rise to a whole new level of fame. You were constantly putting on performances and releasing new music. He tried his best to ignore any news he heard about you, but in moments of weakness couldn’t help but look you up and try to get a glimpse into your new life.

She approached him with a smile and they entered the lounge together, sitting at a small, intimate table for two. The atmosphere couldn’t have been any more romantic - warm, low lights, candles and a rose on the table, drinks and conversation flowing with ease around them. He couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt, as if he was doing something wrong.

A waiter approached the table and took their drink order. Upon returning, he excitedly pointed to the currently empty stage.

“Are you here to see the show?”

They looked blankly at the waiter, and she asked who was performing. In-ho felt his blood run cold when he heard the waiter say your name.

You.

You were performing at the lounge tonight.

He gave a polite smile as he internally screamed. “Oh, we’re just staying for a drink, so we’ll probably miss it, won't we?” He glanced at his date.

She scoffed. “What? Of course not, we can’t miss this! I didn’t even know she was playing tonight.”

The waiter smiled. “It’s a special one-night performance, just for us. This is where she had one of her first solo performances!”

The waiter and In-ho’s date chatted briefly as In-ho tuned out all the noise around him. The one night he tried to get you off his mind, he found his way into the one place in the entire city you’d be. He felt his heart rate quicken and his head start to spin.

Suddenly he was pulled from his thoughts. “Are you a fan too? You seem the type,” his date asked.

He snapped out of it. “Oh, uh,” he cleared his throat and sat up straighter. “Yes, I am.”

She smiled. “Great! We can’t wait.”

The waiter smiled and left. In-ho and his date casually sipped their drinks while making small talk. His eyes would dart wildly near the stage, anticipating when you’d appear on stage, wondering if you’d be visible nearby.

“Are you alright?”

In-ho brought his attention back to his date, who had a concerned look on her face. He smiled. “Oh. Yeah, sorry. Uh… just a bit nervous, I guess.”

She smiled and sighed, relieved. “Oh god, me too. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

He laughed softly, but couldn’t ignore the uncomfortable feeling he had inside. He looked around, noticing how busy the place was getting as your performance was about to start.

“Want another drink before the show starts?” he asked. The waiters were incredibly busy, and he needed an excuse to step away.

“Sure. Just the same. Thanks.”

He quickly got up and walked to the bar. It was filled with people getting their last minute orders in, but he took his time getting the attention of the bartender. Anything to delay having to go back to the table and put on a facade. How was he supposed to act once you began performing?

As he was waiting for the drinks, you arrived on stage. The entire place erupted with applause. In-ho wanted it all to not be real, just a dream he could wake up from at any moment. He wanted to look away from you, to keep his focus on the drinks he was supposed to be getting, but he couldn’t stop himself from turning to you.

It was as if all the air in his chest escaped at once. You were standing at the microphone looking like an angel. The lights had dimmed in the room, with a single spotlight illuminating your face. You scanned the room with a soft smile on your face.

“Wow. Thank you all for coming. I’ve never seen this place so packed!”

A quiet laughter sounded from the audience as you continued. “As some of you may know, this is the spot where I had my very first solo performance ever, almost a year ago now. I have so many memories in this place. Some good, some bad, but… that’s life, isn’t it?”

You paused to take a deep breath. “Tonight I’ll be singing some of your favorites, some I even performed here that first night. And I even have a new special song I’ll be performing at the end for you. I hope you enjoy.” You smiled as the band started, the crowd applauding again.

In-ho stood still, frozen at the bar as you began singing. He immediately recognized your first song, remembering so vividly even now how you practiced it and played it for him over and over. He didn’t even notice when the bartender gave him his drinks.

Instead, he stayed there almost your entire concert, completely mesmerized by you. With the songs he recognized, it was like watching his memories in a movie in front of him, as if he was experiencing those feelings again just like before. And with your new songs, it was like getting to know someone he’d never met. He saw the parts of your life he had completely missed. It created a deep sense of loneliness and longing in his heart.

Before your last song, he finally became aware of himself and brought the drinks to his table. His date looked surprised.

“Oh. I thought you ditched me.” She scowled.

In-ho gave her an apologetic look. “I’m so sorry. The drinks…”

“The drinks didn’t take that long.”

In-ho sighed. “I know. I’m sorry, I got distracted.”

She sighed, taking a long sip of her drink. “You know, it’s fine. I was warned you might be like this, anyways.”

He was taken aback for a second. “What?”

“Your friends, they all told me they basically forced you into this.”

He scoffed. He wanted to defend himself for a moment… but they were right. He stayed silent.

“I just thought you’d have better manners than this,” she said, rolling her eyes.

He wasn’t sure what to say. Before he could think of something, you spoke before your last song.

“I want to thank you all for being here tonight. It means the world to have your support. Thanks to you, I’ve been able to make my dreams a reality. I’d like to thank you by playing a brand new song, just for you all. I wrote this recently, but it’s about what some of my life has been like this past year.

“Like I said before, some good memories, and some bad. I wrote this to reflect on some of those bad memories, and hopefully let go of the pain with them. I’m sure some of you can relate, right?”

Many in the crowd nodded. “This one is called Maybe You’ll Be There. Thank you.”

As you began your song, In-ho’s blood slowly ran cold. He knew after the first verse you were talking about him. He studied your face as you sang, watching how your eyes would subtly flutter at particularly emotional moments. It was something most people wouldn’t pick up on, but he knew you. He still knew you so well.

Your voice filled the space with ease as you reached more intense moments, gracing the ears of the audience with your rich tone. Once you reached the last verse, a tear fell down your cheek in perfect timing. In-ho’s heart strained in his chest. He wanted nothing more than to run to you on that stage and wipe the tear from your face, and do anything to make you happy again, anything to make the two of you whole again, anything to heal the wound that festered over the last year.

He almost cried listening to the final words of your song, hearing how you wished he would come back. After everything you had gone through together, and all the time you spent apart, you still missed him. His heart broke - he didn’t deserve you, and you deserved so much better than him. And you said it yourself, that you hoped you could finally move on after releasing this song.

Although it pained him greatly, and forced him to defy the longing he felt in every fiber of his being, he knew you’d be better off without him. And so, after your performance ended, he politely excused himself from the date and went home.

~~~

You entered your apartment later that night, pleasantly exhausted. It was late, but you were still buzzing with emotion. You hadn’t expected to become so emotional while performing your new song. It had been a long time since you cried on stage, but singing that song brought back so many painful memories that you couldn’t help yourself. Despite that, you were proud of having such a vulnerable moment become something beautiful.

You collapsed on your couch with a glass of wine, too tired to get changed just yet. The silence enveloped you. You remembered a year ago, the last time you saw In-ho in your apartment. The somber look he gave you as he left. The ensuing rush of tears and pain that you couldn’t keep in that night.

And the painful ache of longing you’ve had ever since then.

You sighed deeply, finishing your glass of wine and willing yourself to stand up. Life goes on, you told yourself. You were well-acquainted with the act of ignoring your feelings and pressing forward. No matter how much you wanted In-ho to appear in front of you, it wasn’t going to happen. He never once tried to get you back in the entire past year. Maybe now you could finally let go.

As you walked to your bedroom, you heard a light knocking at your door.

You stopped. Were you hearing things? The following silence was filled with tension.

You were about to dismiss the noise and continue walking when you heard it again, this time louder. Your heart was beating through your chest.

Slowly, you walked to the door. Your heart leapt, as if you knew who was behind the door. You weren’t sure whether to cry, or get excited, or get angry. A flurry of emotions filled your mind as you grasped the door handle, turned it, and pulled the door open.

You froze at the man standing in front of you. His grief stricken face. Flowers in his hands. The way he breathed a sigh of relief.

The way your heart breathed a sigh of relief.

In-ho.

#squid game #fanfiction #squid game fanfic #hwang in ho #hwang in-ho #hwang inho #front man #frontman #frontman x reader #front man x reader #hwang in-ho x reader #hwang inho x reader #hwang in ho x reader #reader insert #x reader #fem reader

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perlelune · 1 year ago

Text

Dollhouse | Rafe Cameron | ii.

The moment your mother marries Ward Cameron should have been the moment your life changes for the better. A fresh start out of the Cut for the both of you. And for the first seven years of living with the Camerons, everything truly is perfect.

Warnings: DUB-CON, NON-CON, Pogue!Reader, Stepcest, Secret Relationship, Manipulation, Jealousy, Drugs, Drinking,

This is a dark story. Heed warnings before reading under the cut.

𝖘𝖊𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖘 𝖒𝖆𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖑𝖎𝖘𝖙

You let your fingers wander over the edge of the car window, a big smile spread across your face. The gentle breeze flutters across your skin and birdsong fills your ears. You bask in the warmth of the sun and the comfortable feeling sitting inside your chest. The morning was spent visiting the university you’ll be joining in the coming fall. You were given a tour of campus and all the historical buildings you’ll get to wander through soon. It filled you with anticipation, getting that brief glimpse into college life. You’ve been in Outer Banks your whole life and while it’s pretty much a paradise, you’re looking forward to experiencing something new and exciting.

Dad insisted on driving you since you don’t have your license yet. The two of you constantly got wrapped in animated chatter on the way to and from campus. While it’s hard for Ward to watch one of his baby birds leave the nest, you appreciate how supportive he’s been overall. After long hours coaxing him with Mom of course. Dad was skeptical at first. He even suggested you take a gap year to mull it over, like Sarah did. But you and Sarah are like the sun and moon. She’d be the sun of course. While your big sister is content running off with the Pogues on wild adventures and setting aside college for now, you can’t picture yourself doing that. You’re a Cameron, but you’re not Sarah Cameron. With her sweet disposition and golden mane, your sister could probably get away with murder by batting her lashes and flashing her signature sunny grin. Things are different for you. Very different. You haven’t forgotten where you come from, much as everyone in the family pretends you’re just as quintessentially Kook as the rest of them.

Tucking a stray strand of hair behind your ear, you pivot to Ward.

“Thanks for driving me, dad.”

He beams, his blue gaze drifting away from the road as it lands on you.

“No problem, sweetheart. It’s an amazing school. Great program. Campus looks good too. I know you’ll fit right in.”

A wave of warmth blows through you. “Thanks.”

Sighing, you turn to the epitome of gloom and petulance in the backseat. His arms are folded over his broad chest, his irate blue eyes glued to the window. Your brother’s been cranky all morning. Any trivial inquiry or mundane remark set him off. He barely uttered a word to Dad and graced you with nothing but stubborn silence. It’s blatant he isn’t handling the prospect of your imminent absence well. The silence concerns you a little though. Rafe isn’t one to chew his words or swallow them. So whatever resentment he harbors about your decision to go away for college must run deep. It casts a veil of despondency upon an otherwise wonderful day.

Of all people, you’d expect your big brother to support you the most.

His sour-faced demeanor never relents, even when Ward stops the car in front of Tannyhill. Dad sighs as he parks the truck. He’s already lectured Rafe twice on the way back. You note the disappointment etched on his face, the way he squares his shoulders and readies him to march towards his son and lash out at him again. You put your hand on his shoulder and shake your head. The last thing you need is your brother and father at each other’s throat again. It’d be nice to linger in the exhilaration the campus left you with a little longer.

“It’s fine, dad. Let me talk to him,” your say.

Dad’s shoulders sag. He yields, heading inside the house and leaving you with Rafe. You lean next to him on the truck, head tilted in concern.

“Hey…You haven’t said a word since we came back. What did you think?”

When he fails to reply, his face taut, your frustration swells. “You’re the one who insisted on coming.”

It’s when he snaps, the vein in his forehead pulsing. He swivels to you.

“I just don’t understand why you have to go to a school so far from us, y’know? A five hour drive, really?”

Your brows crumple to a frown.

“Rafe…”

He cuts you off with a mirthless laugh, annoyance flashing in his blue eyes. “And the way you kept gushing about college parties and college boys…” His jaw ticks. “I just don’t like it.”

Rafe pauses, licking his lips and humming as if lost in the depths of reflection. “I think…”

When he trails off, you urge him to go on, impatience clear in your tone, “What do you think?”

He shrugs before casually stating, “I think you’re gonna land yourself into trouble like the airhead that you are and come crawling back home.”

Your face comes ablaze at his words. You punch his shoulders as tears rush to your eyes.

“You can be such a jerk sometimes.”

You stomp away from him, ire radiating from you in waves. He catches up to you with ease. An apology creeps on his face, his fingers clasping around your arm.

“Wait, princess.”

He impedes your path, forcing you to halt in your tracks. He puts a hand on his chest, his expression earnest.

“Look I’m just trying to look out for my little sister here, okay?” A hint of sadness seeps through his tone. “I thought you at least appreciated that.”

Your shoulders slump.

“I do, Rafe, but…I’ll be gone soon. I need you to accept it.”

“I just think it’s too soon.”

“Rafe, I’ll visit. So often that you guys will get sick of me,” you say, your tone reassuring.

The suggestion does little to assuage him, his eyes rolling in annoyance.

“You could take a gap year like Dad said. It wouldn’t be a big deal. You’re a Cameron.”

You nibble your bottom lip. You’re keenly aware Rafe will abhor the words bubbling in your throat before they even leave your mouth.

“Well, not exactly...”

He snickers. “It’s those Pogues…they got in your head, didn’t they?”

Your brows furrow. In your brother’s eyes, everything’s always a Pogues’ fault. He’s never been too fond of the fact that you still hang out on that side of the island sometimes. The phrase ‘You’re a Kook now princess, act like it.’ has left his mouth a numberless amount of times in the past seven years whenever he found you drifting a little too far from the family.

“What? It’s got nothing to do with my friends, Rafe,” you retaliate.

Your gazes clash, a silent war of unwavering wills as your brother looms over you. He works his jaw and unleashes a long exhale.

“So you’re just gonna leave us? It’s final?”

Reluctance drips from your clipped tone. “Yeah, it’s final.”

“I see.”

He gives a sluggish nod of acknowledgement before rushing inside the house.

You trail behind him, panic fluttering through your chest.

“Rafe…”

His back remains turned. Your stomach sinks, his staunch ignorance driving a blade through your heart. The last thing you want is to be away from Rafe, away from your family. But college matters to you. Why can’t he see that?

Mom stands by the counter, dumbfounded by Rafe’s furious stride up the stairs.

“What’s gotten into him?”

A deep sigh ripples through your lips as you meet Mom’s concerned stare. “You know Rafe…”

You turn to her.

“You wanted to talk to me, mom?”

She beams at you. You straighten your spine.

Mom texted you on the way back. She mentioned Sarah would be here too, causing your suspicions to hit a peak.

Nearly every talk with Mom devolved into a firm reminder to behave in a manner befitting a Cameron, befitting Ward Cameron’s daughter. Your mother’s foot never eased off your neck in the last few years.

Nothing besides perfection is allowed.

Perfect grades. Perfect smile. Perfect behavior. Not a single blight or misstep shall ruin the blended nuclear family image Mom and Ward strive to project. Dad might be more subtle about it, but you know his expectations of you align with Mom’s.

Whenever Sarah slackens, the burden passes on to you. You’re supposed to set an example for Willa and Wheezie to follow.

Mom glances between you and Sarah, the latter already sitting on a stool by the counter. It’s clear your sister would rather be anywhere but here. Likely hanging out with John B or some other fun thing. “To both of you, actually.”

You and Sarah exchange a look, one you have countless times before. The quiet acceptance that you’re both about to be lectured by Alice Cameron.

Resigned, you plop down in the stool next to Sarah’s.

Excitement oozes off Mom’s voice as she starts speaking.

“You remember when I told you about the Calliopean Society Debutante Ball?”

Sarah’s lips twitch as she tamps down a grin. “You mean the one you’ve been massively subtle about?”

It’s true. For months, Mom has dropped heavy hints regarding her desire to see both you and Sarah become debs. Even amongst Kooks, being picked to represent the institution is seen as the highest honor. Only a handful of young women from prestigious families in North Carolina are picked, ones whose families have made significant contributions to the county.

A series of events antecedes the ball, including but not limited to Midsummers, a variety of tea parties and galas. The whole thing is archaic at best and cringeworthy at worst.

You’ve tried to get Mom to relinquish the idea of you joining it. But she’s been relentless. The symbol of status it epitomizes isn’t something she’ll let go off so easily.

Not when she’s tried to make everyone on Figure Eight forget where she comes from. Mom would do anything to bury any hint of her past as a Pogue.

You bump Sarah’s elbow, berating her with a frown, “Sarah.”

She chuckles and stands a bit straighter.

Mom sighs at her antics, her forehead creasing.

“Girls. I need you to focus.”

“Sorry, Mom.”

“Sorry, Alice,” Sarah echoes.

Mom marks a dramatic pause, causing dread to tickle your insides. If she’s this excited, it’s almost a given that you won’t be.

Indeed, her next words confirm your inkling.

“Well, I managed to slip in both of your names in the short list while attending the Midsummer’s committee,” she says.

You wince. ��Mom…why would you do that?”

Her elation doesn’t waver. “They’ve never had a young woman like you in their ranks and they’re trying to be more open-minded this year.”

“Mom, this is old-fashioned and gross. The girls are presented like broodmares to be sold.”

Her brows knit. “That is not what this is. Being chosen is an honor.”

Sarah rolls her eyes and you purse your lips. Mom squints at you, folding her arms.

“I want you two to participate in all the events leading up to it.”

Sarah blinks in disbelief. “Come again?”

“Isn’t Midsummer enough?” you refute.

It’s bad enough you’re not given much of a choice in attending the stuffy event. The fact that Mom wants you and Sarah to take it one step further is wild.

“Do you know how many girls would kill to be in your place, sweetie?” she laments, looking straight at you. “It’ll be an opportunity to bond with young ladies your age.”

This doesn’t stir you. You doubt you have much in common with the kind of girls picked out as debutantes. This was probably the same crowd you’ve exerted great effort in avoiding at the Kook school.

“Kie will be there too, but only if you go,” you specify.

This catches your interest, mostly because of how absurd that statement is. You’re pretty sure Kie would likely chop off an arm before agreeing to be a debutante, even if you did it too.

Sarah’s eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

“Kie? No way, you’re making this up.”

A mischievous smile unfurls on Mom’s lips.

“Well, it wasn’t easy to get her to agree but her father threatened to stop paying for her unlimited data plan.”

Oh so it’s like that? Kie’s parents resorted to blackmail. Makes sense. You just can’t picture your rebellious friend agreeing to this without an incentive. You surmise threatening to cut off her only means of constant communication with the Pogues might sway her mind a bit.

“Yeah that…tracks.”

“Can you do it, please?”

Your shoulders sag. “Mom, I really wished you stopped trying to impress those women. You do realize they’ll always look at us the same way, no matter what we do.”

Mom’s face dims at your words. An instant wave of guilt fills you. You should have kept your mouth shut. She tosses her hands in the air.

“Fine. I never ask you girls for anything, but okay.” She starts frantically cleaning the kitchen, loud clangs echoing as she grabs random pots and pans from the oven and cabinets. “When I was your age…” You suppress an eye roll. Here we go. You and Sarah trade a knowing glance. Anytime she starts a sentence that way, you know you’re doomed. “I’d have killed to get an opportunity like this...”

Mom continues rambling about how privileged and spoiled you and Sarah are, how she was never given those kinds of chances. She mentions her rough upbringing and hammers in the sacrifices she made to raise you. She reminds Sarah all the times she showed up for her and that she loves her the same way a mother would. You spot the exact moment your sister breaks. By the end, the guilt both Sarah and you feel is palpable, its weight clogging the air.

“Ugh…Fine, we’ll do it,” Sarah relents.

Mom’s sour face immediately shifts to a triumphant expression.

As the evening rolls around, the sky shifting to duskier hues, an unexpected presence slips through your bedroom door.

You sit up, your pink headphones tumbling down to your neck.

“Rafe!” you exclaim, eyes widening in astonishment.

A lopsided smirk unfolds on his face at your reaction. He slowly closes the door and strolls to your bed. The mattress bounces when Rafe tosses himself on it. He drags his fingers along your sheets for a while, the golden family ring on his finger glimmering dully. You wait anxiously with your legs crossed.

After what seems an eternity, blue eyes swing upward as he sighs.

“I’m sorry I was a jerk earlier,” he blurts out. He licks his lips and holds your gaze, his fingers wandering to your knee. Rafe’s deep voice lowers, oozing sadness. “I just know everyone in this house will drive me crazy if you’re not there.”

“There’s always Sarah.”

That draws a burst of laughter from him. He shakes his head.

“I’m gonna pretend you didn’t just say that.”

Your face breaks out in a grin. Throughout the years, it’s always staggered you how different the dynamic between you and Rafe is different from his relationship with Sarah. Everything’s a competition for Rafe when it comes to Sarah, starting with the ceaseless quest for Dad’s approval. Meanwhile, since that day at the wedding, Rafe has never failed to be there for you. He’s been the best big brother, attentive and kind. While on the exterior he could be a jackass to everyone, including your Pogue friends, he’s never been that way with you. You could talk to him about your problems, however trivial they may be. He’s the one who made you feel most welcome at Tannyhill, impugning every presumption you harbored about what having Rafe Cameron as your brother would be like. And now you can’t picture your life without Rafe in it.

“It’ll be fine. We’ll text. I’ll call you every week.”

“Won’t be the same.”

You take a deep breath.

“For the record, I’ll miss you too. A lot.”

“You better.”

You chuckle.

“Hey, I never gave you your birthday gift…” Rafe says, fishing for something in his back pocket. A sly smirk tugs his lips. “I wanted to do something a little different this year.” You’re filled with shock when he produces a little bag full of white powder.

You blink rapidly as he holds it up. You’ve seen him take some at parties, sell it to his guests. Once or twice, you got curious and asked to try. He vehemently turned you down, insisting he’s not about to let his little sister get fucked up…despite spending the whole night getting fucked up himself.

“Really?”

Rafe’s smirk broadens. “Really.”

Excitement flushes through you. You can’t deny you’ve always wanted to know what it feels like.

“You like…never let me try before.”

He laughs, shifting closer to you.

“Because I was trying to keep my sweet little sister pure. Can you blame me, princess?” he says, fingertips tracing your knee.

You swallow thickly, your face heating when he places the little pouch in your hand.

“I actually have no idea how to…”

“I’ll show you, of course. It’s my job as your big brother to teach you everything.” His voice dips to a velvety bass as your eyes lock. “So let me pop your cherry, princess.”

When you stare at him, slack-jawed, Rafe snorts.

“It’s just a phrase, relax.”

Amusement dances in his blue eyes at your clueless expression. He grabs a paper from his pocket and begins rolling it.

“Here, I’ll show you how it’s done.” He gently swipes the pouch and takes your hand, opening your palm to pour just a tiny amount of the white powder in the middle. “Let’s just keep this a secret between us, okay?” His eyes twinkle. “I don’t want Alice to think I’m… corrupting you or something.”

#rafe cameron #dark!rafe cameron x reader #dark!rafe cameron #rafe cameron x reader #rafe cameron x pogue!reader #outer banks fanfiction #obx fanfiction #rafe cameron fanfiction #rafe cameron imagine #dark rafe cameron #pogue!reader

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rabesbabe · 6 days ago

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Moonlight on the River

Ava Starr x gn!Reader

☁︎ summary: You never thought it’d be possible to find a family and people you trust until you joined the Thunderbolts. You cared for everyone on the team like you’d known them forever, and most seemed to feel the same. However, the one member you felt the most drawn to seemed to avoid you like the plague.

☁︎ A/N: happy pride month <3 this fic is definitely angstyy I got a little carried away lol. reader has illusion powers but it’s only brought up like once or twice. and of course my requests are open if you have ideas for a yelena or ava fic !

It was uncomfortable—the whole situation. Leaving your life behind to be a part of some team you never agreed to be on, having to work with people you’d barely known before the day you all saved New York, and being known to the public as some “hero”. It all took some adjusting. But, as time went on things eventually got better.

You and Yelena became closer, bonding over being youngest siblings and your shared love of everything adrenaline-inducing. You learned to get used to Bob’s strange personality, often creating illusions of anything and everything just to make him smile and pull him out of his head. And Alexei became an unconventional father figure to you. Bucky was Bucky, slightly shy and mopey. But you both cared for each other. Lately, you’d even started getting along with Walker. When you both realized you shared a love of film, the heated arguments you once got into went away. And they instead turned into small debates over directors and your ratings on letterboxd.

Things were almost perfect. But there was one ghost that always haunted your mind. The first time you met her was of course, in the vault. Before you went in Valentina gave you a brief rundown on who your target was. “Ava-Starr most commonly known as ghost, a self-centered, ruthless, mole whose powers allow her to phase through basically anything and become invisible.” Valentina’s description of her made you cringe at the time. The curt words she used could’ve just as easily described you. Deep inside you knew something about this mission felt off. Valentina was never one to tell the full truth. But you went in anyway, desperate for a clean slate just like everyone else.

As you entered, you noticed a man in hospital attire wandering aimlessly. Nearby, a woman with a blonde shag haircut sat looking unimpressed, while a guy you recognized as the failed Captain America paced back and forth. Confused, you wondered what was happening; this wasn’t the plan Valentina had told you about. Then, finally, you spotted her. You swore it was a trick of light or something. At first, she was feet away from you, taking weapons off a dead taskmaster casually. And then, she disappeared into thin air— and suddenly reappeared in front of you, her blue eyes scanning you curiously. “Someone’s late to the party.” She said, her thick accent lacing her words with sarcasm.

Since that moment you swore you were doomed. And it only got worse when the New Avengers formed. You were completely entranced by her. The way her brown hair fell perfectly over her shoulders, the adorable nose scrunch and smile that lit up her face whenever Alexei said something odd, how smart and witty she was—those were the things that captivated you. Ava was someone who didn't trust easily and preferred to keep to herself, much like everyone else on the team. So when she seemed wary of you at first, you assumed that, over time, she would warm up to you as the others did. Eventually, she did become more comfortable with everyone—except for you.

It was hard to ignore the slight twinge in your chest when you’d see her with your teammates. Whether she was laughing with Yelena, swapping shield stories with Bucky, or even just hanging around Bob while on her phone or reading a book. It was like she’d grown close to everyone else and somehow missed the memo when it came to you. As the days went by the more intentional it started to feel.

On one occasion, you had walked into the living room planning to sit on the couch and fill out the paperwork Valentina had sent you. As you entered the living room you noticed Yelena and Ava were in there as well. Not thinking much of it you sat down on a lounge chair near Yelena. You didn’t fail to miss the way Ava seemed to start phasing slightly. “Ah perfect Y/N,” Yelena said at your entrance. “Ava and I were just talking about how we’re so tired of pretending to like the food John cooks every night. We’re going to sneak and get takeout from the Chinese restaurant down the street for the team. Want to come with?” She asked with a genuine grin on her face. You laughed at the implication that John’s food was bad (it was) and of course said yes. When Ava heard your answer her normally calm demeanor quickly switched into an uneasy one. She looked at Yelena with an unreadable expression and said, “You two should go I’ll stay back.” And before Yelena could question her she phased invisible and disappeared.

It’d happen all the time. You’d walk into a room Ava was in and her mood would completely change. She’d either go silent suddenly dismissing whoever she was talking to, or she’d just leave altogether quietly phasing out. It was getting to the point where everyone else started to notice.

On an unusually calm evening when the team had no absurd request from Valentina like you often did. You John, Bob, and Yelena were sat watching some Russian movie Yelena had put on. “I wonder where Bucky, Alexei, and Ava are.” Asked John while throwing popcorn up and trying to catch it in his mouth. Yelena looked up at him internally cringing at the fact he hadn’t caught a single piece yet and replied, “Alexei is off printing out more shitty ‘merch’ as he calls it,” Rolling her eyes at her Dads antics. “Bucky is probably somewhere moping about Sam being mad at him. and I have no idea where Ava is.” Before John was able to give a response Bob suddenly spoke up, ”Ava’s probably just avoiding Y/N like always.” You immediately shifted in your seat suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “What?” You ask Bob. He seemed to have realized what he said and avoided your eyes like a guilty puppy would. You looked at everyone and they all seemed to be suddenly uncomfortable with the topic at hand. “You guys think she does that?” You ask brows furrowing. John stopped throwing popcorn around and just looked at you sympathetically. “She definitely does,” Yelena answered bluntly no longer focused on the movie in front of her. She was the only one who knew how you felt about Ava. And It’s not like you didn’t know any of this before. It just hurt more hearing it out loud from other people. “But why? I haven’t done anything to her.” You asked upset. Yelena just shrugged, faking nonchalance. She looked at you as if she knew something you didn’t.

From that point on you realized you were probably never going to figure out the mystery of Ava Starr. You decided to get over yourself and your feelings because obviously, she wasn’t interested. A few days after that, you awoke in the night from a bad dream. Your eyes were glazed over as you attempted to push down a sob. The last thing you wanted to do was wake someone up. It’s not like this was an uncommon occurrence for you. It happened a lot. Especially on the nights after a mission. You knew you just needed to get some air to clear your head. You went to the bathroom washed your face with cold water and headed outside.

Nightmares have tormented you your whole life. Threatening you with memories you try your best to hide away. As the cold wind hit your face you allowed a few tears to fall. Just as you buried your head into your arms you felt a hand softly brush against you. Instinctively, you sprung up ready to defend yourself. But instead of being met with an attacker, you saw a timid Ava standing in front of you wearing a sympathetic expression. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.” She said taking a few steps closer to you. You quickly wiped your tears and backed away from her just nodding your head in response. Her mannerisms were shy and gentle but her face was painted with worry. “Are you okay?” She asked, her blue eyes staring into yours. You looked at your fidgeting hands avoiding her strong gaze and sat back down. “I’m fine,” you replied your tone harsher than you meant it to be. Ava sat down next to you. “Well, obviously you’re not if you’re sitting out here crying at 4 am.” She countered trying to lightly joke with you. You were already not in a good mood and the last thing you needed was her pitying you. “I said I’m fine Ava drop it.” You replied. Your voice was slightly shaky. She looked into your eyes her brows furrowed and subconsciously started phasing at your words. “You don’t need to suddenly act like you care. Just go back to avoiding me and pretending I don’t exist.” You got up and left without a second thought.

Part of you knew you were too harsh, but the other part of you felt like she deserved it. The rest of the day you tried to forget about the situation altogether. You decided to focus on other things. Bob seemed quieter than normal so you tried your best to cheer him up with illusions. You created images of rainbow butterflies, stars, and much to Bucky's dismay an illusion of him as a hulk. Then, Alexei roped you into watching old videos of him as the Red Guardian back in Russia. Surprisingly he looked kind of cool. You’d never tell him that though. Later in the day, you and Yelena attempted to help John improve his cooking skills. After many failed attempts you finally ended up with a decent meal.

You guys were just planning to put it in the fridge and let everyone eat whenever they saw fit. But Alexei barged in with other plans. He squeezed Yelenas' shoulders smiling like a kid in a candy store. “My beautiful daughter and you both have made this wonderful dinner and you guys want to just put it in the fridge?” You and John just nodded not sure what he was getting at. “No no no. We must eat it at the table. Like a real team would!” He walked past you and grabbed plates and drink glasses. “Here super soldier,” He said pushing plates into John’s hands. “Help me set the table. Yelena, you find us a drink for while we eat.” She rubbed her temples as if he was giving her a headache but followed suit and grabbed drinks from the fridge. “And Y/N, go get the rest of the team and tell them dinner is served!” His idea wasn’t all that bad. And you would’ve loved it if it didn’t mean you had to knock on Ava’s door and speak to her. After what happened the night before she was the last person you wanted to see.

Following the Russian's orders you began searching for the rest of the team. Finding Bob was easy. Recently he was always playing some sort of game on the PC Yelena got for him. You knock on his door and see him doing exactly what you expected, “Alexei is making us do a team dinner.” You say knowing you didn’t need to elaborate any further. Bob just put down his controller and got up to head to the kitchen. Easy enough.

Now you needed to find Bucky. Most of the time he was in the team gym sparring or on a Zoom call trying to settle all his old congressman affairs. You decided to check the gym first and there he was. Hitting a punching bag like it owed him money. “Bucky!” You yell not sure if he can even hear you over all the punching. He looks over his shoulder his face serious until he sees it’s just you. Grabbing a towel to wipe his sweat he walks over. “Everything okay Y/N?” You nod slightly smiling because you know he’s not going to like what you’re about to say. A questioning expression covers his face but he doesn’t say anything and waits for you to speak. “Alexei is trying to do a team dinner. He wants us all in the kitchen soon.” You smile at him. “Right. And I'm guessing I have no choice but to be there?”He asks rhetorically while hanging his head in slight annoyance. You just laugh at him on your way out. “See you in 5!”

Now, was the part you were dreading. As you stepped into the elevator, you tried to ignore the anxiety that washed over you. You start imagining yourself at Ava’s door and her slamming it in your face after she realizes who it is. God, you loved Alexei but his timing couldn’t have been worse. The elevator let you out and you began walking down the hallway towards the brunette's room. You were seriously starting to consider just knocking, yelling out the words “Dinner!” “Downstairs!” “Now!”, and then running into the elevator before she could open the door. But you decided to be mature about it. (You had no choice she could phase through the wall anyway and see you).

You stood at her door for longer than you should’ve before you could work up the courage to knock. “What’re you doing?” You heard an accented voice ask as the door in front of you swung open. Inwardly you cursed yourself for taking so long. You step back and see Ava looking at you curiously. It almost made you mad how beautiful she seemed to always look. Here she was standing in front of you in sweatpants and a tank top and somehow she still looked perfect. Ava cocked her eyebrow at you a small smirk on her lips and you realized a little too late that you were staring. “I was just coming to tell you that Alexei is making us have a team dinner. Everyone’s probably in the kitchen now.” You said speaking too quickly. She simply nodded and walked past you towards the elevator. You just stood back awkwardly not sure if you should follow her. “There’s only one way down isn’t there?” She asks stopping and looking back at you. You feel like an idiot and quickly catch up to her.

The elevator ride was awkwardly silent. You wanted to speak up and wracked your brain for anything to say to her. But it seems she had the same idea and beat you to it. “Look,” She said turning to face you. “I just wanted to say that-“ And before she could finish her sentence the elevator bell rang and the door opened. “Ah, there you both are!” Yelled Alexei as he greeted you at the door. He practically dragged you and Ava over to the table. Yelena gave you a questioning look as you took your seat. The glass of vodka in her hand looked rather full.

“Took you both long enough. You know super soldiers need to eat more than the average person. I’m starving.” John said rubbing his hands together over his plate. “No one cares that you took the leftovers of some serum you found on the floor, John.” Quipped Ava. Yelena laughed a little too loudly. “You both did take forever though.” She added, her words slightly slurred. “I was starting to think you were skipping this dinner for another type of meal.” Ava’s eyes widened and she almost choked on the water she was drinking. Bucky's eyebrows looked as if they were going to fly off his forehead. “Alright, that’s enough of that.” He said grabbing her glass before she could protest. You wanted to crawl into a hole and die. “Great. Can we just eat? Please?” You swore you were going to murder the blonde the next time you were alone with her.

Thankfully, the rest of the dinner went smoothly. There were no more uncalled-for comments by Yelena. And besides the awkward glances you and Ava shared now and then everything was fine. After dinner, you showered and changed clothes. You needed some quiet and decided to go to the tower's library and read for a bit. The library there had a special feeling at night. You loved how the moon's light shined through the windows and the fact that no one else came in so late. You had the whole area to yourself.

After a while of reading you swore you were hearing noises. Like footsteps in the hallway near the library. No one else was awake so you just assumed you had just imagined it. That was until a nervous-looking Ava phased out of the wall and stood in front of you. “Fuck! Ava, what the hell?” You say jumping out of your skin when you see her. She tried her best to not laugh. “Sorry, I swear I wasn’t trying to scare you.” She says smiling guiltily. “You have to stop doing that. One day I might actually have a heart attack.” She laughs a little at your words sitting down next to you on the library’s couch, “Can’t have that can we?” You just smile a little and shake your head. A beat of silence passes over you both. Unsure of what you should say or do, you pretend to be interested again in the book you’re reading. You can feel Ava's strong gaze on you. And the feeling of her watching you makes you more nervous than it should.

“You know I never got to finish what I was going to say to you earlier.” She finally mutters, her voice barely above a whisper. Softly you sit up more and turn towards her. For the first time in a while, her eyes look away from yours. “On the rooftop. What you said…” You feel your heart tug at your chest. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you, Ava.” You say regret lacing your voice. She looks up at you her eyebrows furrowed. “Maybe. But you were right.” Her words catch you off guard but you listen nonetheless. “I do avoid you. But it’s not because I don’t like you Y/N.” You couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated like before. “Did I do something wrong?” She runs her hands through her hair and you notice it again. The way shes phasing. “Sorry,” She says sighing. “Harder to control when I’m nervous.” You shake your head. “You don’t need to apologize.” Without thinking you place your hand out in invitation. Her eyes meet yours hesitantly but she places her cold hand over your warm one. And Her phasing calms a little. You nod to encourage her to continue speaking.

“Y/N, I grew up not knowing what it meant to have a family. To have friends. All I knew was pain because of what I could do.” You listened intently careful to not interrupt her. “The only people I knew were doctors who poked and prodded at me, and “shield” agents who trained me to use my powers to hurt others. But then you guys came along. And for once I felt like maybe I could learn to trust.” A small smile spread across your face at her admission. “And with everyone else came you. You genuinely cared about me, about the team. You were able to make everyone feel like they deserved to be here despite whatever they had done before. And somehow you could look beautiful while doing all of it.” You looked at her in disbelief. You were glad the library was dim because she couldn’t see the way your cheeks flushed a dark red at her words.

She shook her head and sighed before continuing. “I couldn’t talk to you without my heart feeling like it was going to beat out of my chest. Fuck I mean I can’t even sit in the same room as you without my suit or I’ll start phasing. So I decided it’d just be easier to stay away from you completely. Then I wouldn’t have to deal with it at all.” You squeezed her hand affectionately and gave her a playfully annoyed look. “And this whole time I was so sure you hated me.” She hid her face with her hand guiltily. You grab her hand and move it away so you can look at her. You admire how her sharp features are being highlighted by the moonlight. Making her somehow even more beautiful. A deep blush finds its way onto her face as she shifts closer to you. While wrapping her hand around your waist her eyes search yours for any sign of disapproval. When you give her a shy smile she closes the gap between you two. Soft lips pressing against yours. You both were gentle at first. Slightly unsure of what the other wanted. But as Ava cupped the side of your face and brought you closer, both of your movements became messier and less calculated. She sighed against your lips before you finally had to pull away for air. You let her brush her fingers against your face. “I’m sorry. I really am darling.” She says. And you kiss her once more erasing all her guilt.

On an unusually calm evening when the team had no absurd request from Valentina like you often did. You John, Bob, and Yelena were sat watching some Russian movie Yelena had put on. “I wonder where everyone else is.” Questioned John as he threw popcorn up and tried to catch it in his mouth. Yelena looked up at him internally cringing at the fact he hadn’t caught a single piece yet and replied, “Alexei is off printing out more shitty ‘merch’ as he calls it,” Rolling her eyes at her Dads antics. “Bucky is probably somewhere moping about Sam being mad at him. and I have no idea where Ava is.” Before John was able to give a response Bob suddenly spoke up, ”Ava’s probably just avoiding Y/N like always.” You immediately shifted in your seat suddenly feeling uncomfortable. “What?” You ask Bob. He seemed to have realized what he said and avoided your eyes like a guilty puppy would. You looked at everyone and they all seemed to be suddenly uncomfortable with the topic at hand. “You guys think she does that?” You ask brows furrowing. John stopped throwing popcorn around and just looked at you sympathetically. “She definitely does,” Yelena answered bluntly no longer focused on the movie in front of her. She was the only one who knew how you felt about Ava. And It’s not like you didn’t know any of this before. It just hurt more hearing it out loud from other people. “But why? I haven’t done anything to her.” You asked upset. Yelena just shrugged, faking nonchalance. She looked at you as if she knew something you didn’t.

You stood at her door for longer than you should’ve before you could work up the courage to knock. “What’re you doing?” You heard an accented voice ask as the door in front of you swung open. Internally you cursed yourself for taking so long. You step back and see Ava looking at you curiously. It almost made you mad how beautiful she seemed to always look. Here she was standing in front of you in sweatpants and a tank top and somehow she still looked perfect. Ava cocked her eyebrow at you a small smirk on her lips and you realized a little too late that you were staring. “I was just coming to tell you that Alexei is making us have a team dinner. Everyone’s probably in the kitchen now.” You said speaking too quickly. She simply nodded and walked past you towards the elevator. You just stood back awkwardly not sure if you should follow her. “There’s only one way down isn’t there?” She asks stopping and looking back at you. You feel like an idiot and quickly catch up to her.

After a while of reading you swore you were hearing noises. Like footsteps in the hallway near the library. No one else was awake so you just assumed you had imagined it out of sleepiness. That was until a nervous-looking Ava phased out of the wall and stood in front of you. “Fuck! Ava, what the hell?” You say basically jumping out of your skin when you see her. She tried her best to not laugh. “Sorry, I swear I wasn’t trying to scare you.” She says smiling guiltily. “You have to stop doing that. One day I might actually have a heart attack.” She laughs a little at your words sitting down next to you on the library’s couch, “Can’t have that can we?” You just smile a little and shake your head. A beat of silence passes over you both. Unsure of what you should say or do, you pretend to be interested again in the book you’re reading. You can feel Ava's strong gaze on you. And the feeling of her watching you makes you more nervous than it should.

“You know I never got to finish what I was going to say to you earlier.” She finally mutters, her voice barely above a whisper. Softly, you place your book down and turn towards her. For the first time in a while, her eyes look away from yours. “On the rooftop. What you said…” You feel your heart tug at your chest. “I shouldn’t have yelled at you, Ava.” You say regret lacing your voice. She looks up at you her eyebrows furrowed. “Maybe. But you were right.” Her words catch you off guard but you listen nonetheless. “I do avoid you. But it’s not because I don’t like you Y/N.” You couldn’t help but feel a bit frustrated like before. “Did I do something wrong?” She runs her hands through her hair and you notice it again. The way shes phasing. “Sorry,” She says sighing. “Harder to control when I’m nervous.” You shake your head. “You don’t need to apologize.” Without thinking you place your hand out in invitation. Her eyes meet yours hesitantly but she places her cold hand over your warm one. And Her phasing calms a little. You nod to encourage her to continue speaking.

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kendraontmblr · 7 months ago

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hiyaa! I was wondering if you could write something about not having seen carlos for weeks and when you finally join him for whatever tournament he cannot behave, not even in public so let alone in your hotel room 🤭🤭. If that’s okay with you🙏🏼

A/N: hi anon ! ooo, this is gonna be so good. i’m assuming you want some spiceeee. so i got you 🤭 this is my first time ever writing something like this. so hopefully i could give you what you wanted. let me know what you think ! mwah

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CRAVE YOU - C. ALCARAZ

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Pairing: Carlos Alcaraz x Fem!Reader

Word count: 1.5k

Warnings: [18+] mature content, has sexual themes, romantic undertones, and explicit scenes.

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Weeks had passed since you’d last seen each other—weeks of training, tournaments, and distance. The anticipation of finally joining Carlos at his latest tournament had your heart racing. He’d been teasing you with late-night messages and playful words, but it wasn’t the same as being near him.

Text after text kept popping up on your phone, each one adding to the heat between you. “I miss you so much, amor” and “Can’t wait to see you,” he’d say, teasingly followed by, “I don’t think I’ll be able to control myself when I see you, cariño.”

You reread each message, the anticipation growing with every word. Your lips parted slightly, and you bit down, a smile tugging at the corners of your mouth. It had been so long since you two were together, and you could already feel the heat of his presence, knowing when you finally came face-to-face, he wouldn’t hold back.

Carlos had personally invited you to this social event, a gathering filled with players, their partners, sponsors, media personalities, and other important figures from the tennis world. It was an opportunity for everyone to unwind, network, and celebrate the tournament in a more relaxed atmosphere. While the event was bustling with conversation and laughter, all you could think about was the chance to finally be with Carlos after weeks of distance—away from the courts, the cameras, and the constant pressure of the sport. The exhaustion of your grueling schedules made it nearly impossible for you both to find time to be together, but tonight, you finally had this moment.

As you entered the event’s venue, your eyes locked across the crowd. His smile was everything you needed, but it was the way he studied you, the intensity of his gaze, that sent shivers down your spine. The buzz of conversations and soft clinking of glasses surrounded you, but his attention was solely on you. Despite the noise and movement around you, it was as if you both were in a world of your own, and that magnetic pull between you only grew stronger. The distance between you was too far but still close enough to make your pulse race.

You made your way through the crowd, and in an instant, he was by your side. He pulled you into a warm embrace, mindful of the public setting, his lips brushing softly against your cheek. The moment was brief, but his whisper in your ear—softly telling you how much he missed you—sent a rush of warmth through you. He was careful, but there was no hiding the intensity behind his touch and the longing in his eyes.

As you mingled among the crowd, you found yourself engaging in light conversation with other players and their partners. The WAGs were a welcoming group, sharing laughs and stories about their experiences on tour. You talked about everything from life on the road to the latest gossip in the tennis world, all while sipping on drinks and enjoying the elegant setting.

The entire evening, Carlos was subtle— trying to hold back, or at least, he tried. His hands were on you at every chance he got—resting on your back, grazing your waist, and brushing against your arm, each touch a silent promise of the tension building between the two of you. As you both mingled with other guests, the sound of laughter and clinking glasses filled the air, but it was hard to focus on anything else but the heat between you. Carlos was talking to a few sponsors, his attention divided, but you could feel his gaze lingering on you from across the room.

And as time went on, his patience began to slip. The lingering touches grew more urgent, more demanding, like he couldn’t keep himself in check any longer. It was clear—he was on the edge, and so were you. The room buzzed with conversations, but it felt as though you both were in a world of your own, every shared glance and fleeting touch intensifying the magnetic pull between you.

He would press behind you, his chest lightly brushing your back, and You could feel him—his heat, his desire. Your stomach erupted with butterflies, each movement sending a wave of anticipation through you. His lips lingered on your shoulder, and as his breath danced across your skin, you shivered, both from the warmth of his touch and the depth of the connection between you. Around you, the party continued with people chatting and the hum of music playing softly in the background, but none of it mattered. “You smell so good,” he whispered low, his voice sending a rush of heat through you once more.

“Behave, Carlos” You warned, your voice a mix of amusement and desire. But you weren’t really trying to stop him. He knew it, too, just a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. The guests around you were oblivious, absorbed in their conversations, but it didn’t matter to Carlos—he was all in.

You tried to ignore the heat building in your chest. Carlos leaned in closer, his lips brushing against your ear, and whispered, “Dame un beso… [Give me a kiss].” His breath was hot against your skin, making your pulse race, and you felt the space between you close even further. You could feel the pressure building, not just in your body, but in the air around you.

You hesitated for a split second, the pull between you two undeniable, before you leaned in, capturing his lips in a slow, teasing kiss. His hands roamed, one resting firmly on your waist, pulling you closer as the kiss deepened. Each touch, each whisper, was a promise of what was to come, and you couldn’t help but lose yourself in it.

Every now and then, you’d catch him tugging at the strap of your dress, his fingers grazing your skin, ensuring you felt the tension building between you. His fingers brushed the strap of your dress, letting it slip off your shoulder. The playful edge in his touch made your heart race even faster, but you couldn’t stay in the moment for long. Other people were nearby, oblivious to the tension between you, but you both knew—this wasn’t over.

Later, as you sat beside him, Carlos’ team and a few close friends nearby, he got even bolder. His hand rested on your thigh, gently at first, before it started inching higher, just barely brushing the top of your thigh. You shifted slightly, aware of his proximity, and whispered under your breath, “You should behave, Carlos.” His eyes darkened with a mix of challenge and desire, but he didn’t stop. He was enjoying the game. The subtle game of patience he was playing—and you were losing.

When the day finally came to a close, and you were alone in the hotel room, the tension between you both finally broke. Carlos wasted no time closing the door behind him, his hands on you the moment you were inside. No more subtle touches—he was feral, unable to control himself after so long apart. He tightened his grip, pulling you closer, his breath warm against your ear. “You’re mine now,” he murmured, voice laced with possession. “No más [No more]. No more waiting.”

Carlos’ lips found yours almost instantly, urgent and hungry, as if he were making up for lost time. He kissed you deeply, the kind of kiss that made the air between you thicken with desire. Pulling back just slightly, his breath hot against your ear, he muttered, “Te he echado tanto de menos… [I missed you so much] you have no idea what I’ve been thinking about,” his hands now gripping your waist as he pulled you closer.

You let out a shaky breath, a small smile tugging at your lips as your hands ran through his hair. “I think I have an idea…”

He smirked, his eyes wild with longing. “You have no clue, amor… I’m going to make sure you feel it.”

Carlos captured your lips again, the kiss deeper this time, a silent promise of what was to come. Slowly, you both moved together, his hands guiding you toward the bed, the back of your knees brushing the edge of it as he pulled you closer, not breaking the kiss. Both of you were consumed by the heat building between you.

You pulled away slightly, your eyes glinting with a playful challenge. “You’ve been misbehaving all evening, Carlos,” you teased, your voice low and mischievous. You ran your fingers through his hair, tugging him closer. “I warned you, didn’t I? That you’d have to pay for all that teasing.” Your eyes never left his as you sank slowly onto the bed, your fingertips trailing down to his belt buckle. Carlos’ breath hitched at the touch, his chest rising and falling, as he looked down at you.

Spreading your legs just enough, you whispered, “Get on your knees, Carlos.”

His gaze darkened at the sound of your request, a smirk playing on his lips as he sank to his knees. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, cariño,” he muttered, his voice thick with desire. His large hands found your thighs, spreading them further as his gaze intensified. “But I’ll make sure you remember every second.”

────────

a/n: part 2 ??????? 🤭 | PART 2

with love always,

kendra

#carlos alcaraz #carlos alcaraz x reader #carlos alcaraz imagine #carlos alcaraz fanfiction #tennis #tennis imagines #carlos alcaraz smut #smut #hopingthereisnomistakethistime

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aboutcustardcreams · 2 months ago

Text

The Weight of Silence

Summary: You and Rio have a chat, then strike a sort of deal, deciding to keep Agatha out of it... for now.

a/n: I know, I know, it's been way too long, and I'm really sorry. Life got in the way—first busy, then sick, then busy again. But here I am, still alive, and I truly hope there’s still someone out there who’s interested in this story o3o

previous chapter

You thought that was the right moment. Rio sat beside you, watching Agatha tuck in her son. Your eyes flickered from that scene to the woman by your side. A soft smile tugging at your lips as you reached out a hand toward her, your fingers lightly brushing on top of hers. Rio had felt your eyes on her, before you touched her. She knew you were thinking– she presumed you were waiting for her to say something, anything.

A wave of fondness darkened her cheeks when she was met with your loving gaze. “You okay, sweetheart?”

You nodded your head slowly, the smile still on your face, though tight, a bit forced, but not untrue. "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Of course." She replied in a breath.

Rio eyed Agatha. She assumed you would want her to join you two, but when you gave her hand a squeeze, she realized that wasn’t your idea at all. Her brows furrowed at the light shake of your head.

“Just you and me,” your voice trailed off. “If you don’t mind.”

A soft, surprised ‘oh’ slipped past Rio’s lips. “S-sure, that’s fine by me.”

Rio swallowed thickly, as she watched you stand up. “Good.”

She nodded once more before rising to her feet. There was nothing wrong with having a word alone with you… was there? To be completely honest, the idea terrified her, she feared the pull of the Fates would be even stronger.

“Let’s go that way…”

Before moving away from the fire, you caught Agatha’s gaze from where she lay on her side next to Nicky, just a few feet away. You smiled at her, while she only frowned. Knowing her, she was probably wondering where you two were sneaking off to. Nicky flashed you a quick glance, his eyes bleary and endearingly adorable. It was only a matter of time before he drifted off. You wiggled your fingers in a small wave and mouthed, ‘be right back’, to which he responded with a sleepy smile.

Had it not been for Nicky curling up tightly against Agatha’s side, you knew she would have gotten up and followed you.

She cast a glance at Rio. The Green Witch caught the plea in those blue orbs, even without a word being spoken on her part. Rio felt as if Agatha feared she would do something to you, something bad, something that would break her apart, and the worst thing was that she was right, because eventually... But not now, not yet. She offered her a quick smile before following you into the forest.

“What did you want to talk about?” Rio asked as you stopped and leaned against a tree.

You tilted your head and looked at her. Really looked at her. You didn’t answer immediately, too distracted by the storm of emotions she stirred inside your chest. You had missed looking at her like that. Admiring her. Your other wife. “It’s so nice to see you again, you know? Be together again. It reminds me of the old days–”

Rio looked down for a moment and smiled, a brief, hesitant smile, the tip of her shoe digging into the soil underneath her. Among the three, you were the sentimental one, that one person that with words could turn her world, their world, upside down just like that. "You say that now. But soon, you and Agatha will find another reason to hate me.”

You shook your head at her words, then stepped closer. Her words made an odd pang rise in your chest. Was that really what she thought — that you and Agatha had harbored hatred for her? Fair enough, because for a little while, you did. At least you thought you did. But that was a lie. A complete fabrication of your mind.

“No. No, it’s not like that.” You reached for her hand, intertwining your fingers with hers. She exhaled a shaky breath, clearly unconvinced, because she still remembered the way you had pushed her away the night she took Nicky. The same night she swore she wouldn’t.

It had been her fault, really. She had lied, and you and Agatha had seen through it before she could even make it true. So what else could you have done, if not hate her for it?

“I’m sorry, okay?” Your voice softened. “I should never have held any resentment toward you. It was just… hard to accept, especially when you said I couldn’t bring him back, that I wasn’t allowed–”, you lightly shook your head and inhaled softly. It didn’t matter anymore. Why? Because you still did it. You did it and succeeded. “I acted like a bitch to you, and I regret it. I will regret it every day.”

Rio’s eyes softened, a light smile spread across her lips. She never once thought you acted like a bitch, never once blamed you for your feelings. “Silly, silly woman–” a scoff slipped past her lips as her hands found your shoulders and gave them a squeeze. “You did what any mother would do. You fought for your child.”

Arching an eyebrow, you gently corrected her and said, “our child.”

She let out a low chuckle at that. “Yeah, yeah I know that.”

“Answer me on this, okay?” you murmured, feeling your heart pound wildly in your chest as you leaned closer, so close you felt her breathing crashing against your face. Soothing. Inebriating. You inhaled as she hummed, encouraging you to ask your question.

“Nicky is safe, right? He’s not in any danger anymore.” Despite being rather confident about it already, your voice came out quite shy and insecure.

Rio swallowed hard, licking her lips before answering. “Yes. You saved him, mi amor. And you did not do just that — you gave him magic.” Her eyes brimmed when she said that. “I felt it when I stood close to him earlier. You gave him a piece of you, didn’t you?”

You nodded your head, with a smile. A more relieved one. "Yeah. It will take a while to fully manifest, but it will." you admitted quietly. “I wanted to give him the best chance in life, and I thought by giving him magic– which has always been his right to possess, I– well, I think I did it, didn’t I?”

It genuinely was all that mattered to you. That he could live a normal life, like any other boy his age. Grow up, fall in love, have a future. Be a witch.

“Of course, you did it,” her hands cupped your cheeks, the moment she noticed the sudden vulnerability in your eyes. As if you were afraid of the way she would react once she found out about it. “You did good, I promise. You did incredible,” she cooed, her voice was warm, unwavering despite the clear emotion filling it. Her throat tightened at her next words. “You will need to teach him how to master his silver.”

She mentally cursed herself because what the heck? The moment his magic emerged, the Furies would already have you. That was the truth.

“Yeah–” you nodded your head, without much enthusiasm. You weren’t stupid, not really. You could read those you loved pretty well, and those included also a certain ancient cosmic entity such as Lady Death. She had no secrets to you. Not really. Not for long anyway. “You’re a great teacher, too. Both you and Agatha.” A pause. “You know,” your voice trailed off, “just in case.”

The crease between Rio’s brows deepened. “I– listen, I need to tell you something–”

You shook your head gently, your hands gripping around her wrists as her fingers lingered on your face, and brushed over your cheekbones. “I know,” you said. You really didn’t, no– but it wasn’t hard to figure that your actions had consequences. And those consequences were just waiting to be paid.

“I don’t understand,” she stuttered, clearly taken aback. “What do you know?”

You grimaced, waving your hands in front of her, as if trying to shape your words into something she’d understand. “Whatever you have to do. Whatever you said was going to happen to me if I saved Nicky– do it. It’s okay. I accept it.”

If Agatha could hear you now, she’d probably slap you in the face, or worse. “Just please… don’t leave Agatha and Nicky if something happens to me.” You said ‘if’ though you meant ‘when’. “But pinch them in the side if they grieve for me too long–” the smile that tugged at your lips was in stark contrast with the sadness in your eyes.

Rio’s thumb brushed over your bottom lip, as her eyes flickered from that juicy spot to your eyes. With a slight shake of her head, her voice came out both firm and urgent. “I don’t know what you think is going to happen to you, but you’re not going to die. I’m not taking you,” she let out a tired sigh, as she took into your confused, adorable expression. “I have no interest in taking you–“ a pause, a small grimace, partially amused. “I mean not like that.”

An incredulous chuckle bubbled out of you. “Oh- You’re not?” You asked, eyes widening a bit.

She sighed again. “No, I am not,” she repeated, hoping it would stick to that stubborn head of yours. If ripping out her own heart, right here and now, could spare you from the punishment you were destined to endure, Rio wouldn’t hesitate. Could Death die? Probably not. Surely not. Immortality really sucked sometimes. Many didn’t know– didn’t even presume she had a heart that beat. But Death did have one. The only difference among hers and others was that her heart carried the pain of all living forms, plus hers. That’s why it was so heavy sometimes (most of the time).

Your brows furrowed, when a tear slipped from Rio’s thick lashes, making you wonder what was troubling her so much. “And yet– you’re crying. Why?” you asked, wiping at her tears with your fingers. The more you touched her face, the more your gaze lingered, the more Rio felt like crumbling. Cosmic entity, her ass.

She let out a weak, humorless laugh. "You're so damn clever, aren’t you? Brave, intelligent, annoying—”

“Uhm, thank you?” you half-joked, though your voice wavered, your own eyes stinging with unshed tears. If Rio was crying it meant that you were still doomed and even if it wasn’t death, it didn’t mean it was any less concerning.

But it was okay. You were ready. And you wanted her to understand that.

“I’m sorry- Didn’t mean the last part,” she shook her head, and inhaled shakily. You mouthed ‘it’s okay’, voice soothing and reassuring. “I just– I wish I could do more. I wish I could stop this,” she waved her fingers, without addressing the issue with words, simply because she couldn’t find the strength to do so. You saw the struggle in her eyes, the panic rising. “You don’t deserve any of this, you hear me?” Her voice wavered, but her conviction didn’t. “Don’t you ever let yourself believe, even for a second, that you do–”

You started playing with the tips of her hair, winding the strands between your fingers, in a way you hoped it would soothe her. You had accepted your fate, whatever that was, so why couldn’t she?

“How much time do I have left?”

Rio paled and flinched as if struck by an invisible blow. “I… I don’t know,” she admitted, her voice so fragile, so painfully honest, that it sent a chill down your spine.

You pulled away, with a nod, then averted your gaze. The best you could do would be make the most of the time you had left with your family. Make memories.

Rio said you wouldn’t die, which meant you’d have to endure something else entirely. And a part of you thought that meant being separated from your family. You couldn’t think of anything worse than that.

“I fear what the Fates will do if I let too much time pass.” Your eyes locked with hers, when she spoke. She was doing it again, breaking the rules for the sake of her family. Rio was giving you time, just as she had given it to Nicky. Your heart couldn’t be fuller. “So I say about a month, before—”

You lifted a finger to her lips. “Don’t tell me. Please…” To know what awaited you wouldn’t make it any easier, so why suffer in advance?

She wasn’t convinced it was a good idea, but nodded anyway. It was your decision after all. She folded her arms over her chest. “If you’re sure…”

“I am,” you insisted, voice light. “All I needed to know was that I will not die. The rest— whatever it is — I’m sure I can take it.”

“The punishment is meant to last three years,” Rio added nervously.

You gave her a curt nod and clasped your hands. “Okay. Good, I guess. Magnanimous of them,” you added, light sarcasm filling your tone.

Rio rolled her eyes, with a scoff. “I wouldn’t use that word to describe the Fates,” there was a slight smirk on her face that eased the weight on your shoulders, even if just a bit.

But gods– Rio resented them and she would have for the rest of her… eternal life. “This punishment— it is serious, I won’t lie about that, but not impossible to bear, especially for someone like you.” She admitted.

You gave her a sincere, appreciative smile in return. “Oh I know that. I’m a second class kind of green witch after all, am I not?” You joked.

Rio groaned at your antics. Of course, you remembered her calling you that. Of course, you’d use it against her now. Her gaze softened, the moment the sound of your laughter mingled with her brief, low chuckle. “You know I never believed that, don’t you? You’re much more than that.”

You pursed your lips, waving at her. “Now you’re talking as if I’m gonna die tomorrow, so you want to make amends with me,” you huffed.

Death frowned, “That’s not true! I was just being sure you knew how I really felt.”

“I already do. I always did.” Your voice lowered a bit on the next part. “Don’t treat me differently from now on just because of…you know…”

“I wasn’t doing that,” Rio shifted, noticing your suddenly vulnerable demeanor. “I’ll still make your life a living hell, mi amor.”

When you chuckled, Rio’s heart soared. You knew there really was no bite to it. “Two can play this game, you know that,” you playfully nudged at her.

The other witch rolled her eyes, with a hum. “That’s all I ever want,” she whispered, tone gentler, “a fair competition.”

You nodded, then looked away for a moment. Pursed your lips, deep in thought once again, before speaking.

“Let’s keep this between us. I don’t want Agatha to know about any of this — even less our son.”

She frowned, taking a step forward. Her fingers ran through your hair, as she asked, “are you sure you’re willing to lie to her?”

You were quick to reply. “It’s not a lie,” you pointed out. “Look, we will tell her, just not now. Agatha needs to relax and be present for Nicky. The worst is over but that doesn’t mean our son doesn’t need protection anymore. He’s just a kid, and soon enough his magic will manifest. He needs his mom.”

He needs you too, Rio wanted to scream, but held back.

“Plus we do have a full month together, don’t we? I won’t waste it by being sad or preoccupied with what’s to come and neither should she.”

“You don’t have to pretend with me, you know,” Rio muttered, not believing for a second you were okay with that.

“Pretend, what?”

A sigh. “To be okay.”

“But I am okay.” You insisted.

“Amooooor–”

You chuckled at her whiny tone. “I mean it, Rio. I am.” You knew she needed to hear those words more than you needed them to be true. “Sure, I would do without this punishment, mind, but I’m okay. You said it yourself, I can handle it.”

Rio wanted to burst into tears, but she held back. She was supposed to be of support for you, and yet you were the one giving it to her. “Don’t you ever change, amor,” Rio pulled you closer to press a lingering kiss on the crown of your head. “I like you just the way you are,” she whispered against your hair, voice filled with emotion.

“Only like?” You asked, teasingly, nuzzling against her neck.

Lady Death pulled away and laughed softly. “Course not,” she pointed out. “I love you.”

Your cheeks reddened right away, and your eyes softened. It still felt like the first time you heard those words. “I love you too.”

She playfully wiggled her fingers against your cheek. A soft giggle escaped you before you could stop it, the ticklish sensation made your head loll to the side. Grinning, she leaned in closer, her lips hovered just inches from yours, as she took in your magic eyes— eyes that she could never get enough of. “You look so much like Nicky when you’re all squirmy,” she murmured, delighted.

“Shut up,” you huffed, though amused.

She arched an eyebrow, “make me–”

“You’re just so desperate to kiss me, admit it.” You teased.

Her tongue peeked out from her mouth, as she grinned. “Is it so obvious?”

“A little,” you admitted. “You can do it, you know– Instead of acting all innocent.”

She let out a low dark chuckle at that. “Ah, but I do love to be courteous, mi amor.”

You groaned playfully then pulled her in, your hands around her neck, hers around your waist. When your lips crashed against hers, Rio responded to the kiss with a ‘mmph’, fingers tenderly brushing the skin around your hips. Your eyes fluttered close and your whole body tingled.

When you pulled back, because contrary to her, you needed to breathe, her eyes were darker.

“Oh, how I’ve missed this,” Rio whispered to you.

You swept your tongue over your bottom lip, to have a second taste of her. “We should go back to Agatha.”

“Yes, we should,” she replied, though she didn’t exactly take the initiative.

“You’re not moving,” you pointed out.

She laughed richly. “Neither are you,” she added, and you whined. Not a childish whine, mind. It sounded more like a needy, hot… utterly irresistible kind of whine. Rio’ grew a mischievous smirk as she captured your lips for another kiss. You whimpered, the moment the Green Witch wrapped her teeth around your bottom lip, sucking on it, before pulling, ever so gently, and let it go with a pop.

“Rio…”

She huffed out a chuckle at your tone.

“So this is what you two went off to do, huh?” It was Agatha. Her voice, sharp, a bit judgmental, caused you and Rio to snap your heads in her direction. “And I thought we needed to have a talk first. How silly of me to presume we had unfinished business–”

“Aggie,” you tried, raking your fingers through your hair as to shake you out of this sudden arousal. You stepped closer to her. “We did talk and everything’s fine. It really is. We can move on–”

It didn’t come as easy as you thought to look into her eyes and lie to her face. But you meant it when you said you wanted to keep it a secret for a while. Your entire family needed some peace and quiet. Some normality.

Agatha frowned, as her gaze flickered from you and Rio alternatively. As a mother, she worried. As a wife, she worried. Agatha Harkness simply worried and you couldn’t help it, or could you now? “Is it really?”

“...Yeah,” Rio sighed. Her heart ached for her, but she had to respect your wishes.

“Can we just– make a fresh start? Us three, and Nicky? I know you want it, too.”

“You want my approval so you can go back kissing Rio like a starving wolf?”

Rio laughed softly, and you snorted. “She’s our wife, Ags.”

“Not for seven years, she wasn’t,” she huffed, and just like that, Rio’s laughter faded. Your stomach clenched.

“She’s here to change that,” you insisted. Gods, it was getting harder to keep your tears at bay. Because you needed Agatha to believe that. You needed her to trust you and Rio, to be willing to move forward, to choose joy instead of resentment. To choose life for a goddamn time. “Give her a chance like I did, please– We both know she deserves it.”

Rio moved so slowly, Agatha didn’t even realize she did. She felt her fingers curl around hers, and clenched her eyes shut with a sigh. Agatha didn’t pull away, and that was something, a sign, a silent welcoming.

“Please, Agatha. Let me in–” she croaked.

The purple witch shivered, the moment you too took her hand in yours. “Please, Aggie.” Both of you looked at her with insistent, pleading, stunning eyes.

“Is Nicky safe?” she asked, and Rio nodded right away.

You nibbled the inside of your cheek, wishing, praying even she wouldn’t ask further questions.

“Is she?” She eyed you, concern filling her eyes.

You knew it wasn’t right to lie to her. But what other choice did you have?

Rio bit down her bottom lip, while nodding. “Yes, my love. She, too,” she said with a small smile.

Agatha studied the two of you for another moment, mulling over her words and yours. As if to make sure she wasn't missing anything. You wouldn’t lie to her face like that, would you?

“Okay,” she finally gave in. Rio should have felt relieved, yet all she felt was her stomach twist violently.

You weren’t doing much better but you’d make up for her. You’d create unforgettable memories, making sure they spent the best month of their lives.

You pressed closer and tugged at her clothes. “Thank you, Ags.”

She hummed, bent down only slightly to peck your forehead. “Don’t thank me yet. I can still change my mind.” You knew she didn’t mean that, so you chuckled.

Rio joined too. Agatha exhaled softly, stroked your hair tenderly, before eyeing her other wife. With a slow, deliberate motion, she beckoned Rio closer. For a moment, the Green Watch thought she would tell her something like ‘I watch you’ or ‘I don’t trust you yet’ or ‘Another misstep and I kill you’, instead she said, “It’s good to have you back,” she whispered, cupping Rio’s cheek lightly.

Gods– this was going to be much harder than she thought.

A short whimper tumbled from Rio’s lips. “It’s good to be back,” she echoed, with a glimmer in her eyes.

#agatha harkness #rio vidal #agatha harkness x reader #kathryn hahn #aubrey plaza #agatha all along #wlw #lesbians #agathario x reader #agathario #nicholas scratch #mcu #rio vidal x reader #rio vidal x you #agatha harkness x you

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leloudlizbirb · 4 months ago

Text

Another snipit of a long since unwritten chapter/idea from my fic

Dash held the raised roof tightly as he looked down, legs ready to push off towards a free fall. He closed his eyes and took a few breaths before moving forward.

Just as he was about to let go, a voice called behind him, “You know, most suicide survivors say they regret trying the moment they let go.” This caused Dash to catch himself before he lost grip. The voice was familiar enough for him to turn around and face his unwanted observer.

A set of blue eyes stared back at him as Dash spoke a bit shakily, “W-what?”

“Mind if I join you?” The closer his observer got closer, the quicker Dash realized who he was talking to. He knows it is. He's a few inches taller than he was in there senior year at about 5'9”, a bit more toned, and white hair growing on the back of his head, but it was obvious.

Dash just huffed at Danny and turned away, to which he interpreted as a yes. There was a brief moment of silence between them when Danny swung his legs over, the silence only breaking when Dash sighed, “I injured my back and got cut from the team.”

“Bone or muscle injury?” Danny asked.

Dash glared at Danny, wondering why he cared, but all he was greeted with was caring blue eyes. Dash looked away as he continued, “It doesn’t matter. It’s not too serious at the moment, and it doesn’t bother me too much, but from what the doc was saying. If I continue playing, I-” Dash stopped and tightened the wall around his fingers.

Danny was patient however, moving a bit closer and waiting calmly and quietly for Dash to continue.

After a bit, Dash swallowed and continued, “If I continue playing, it may cause permanent and serious damage.”

“And so you were cut from the team?” Danny asked curiously, “You could have been a coach’s assistant or something.”

“Yes, well,” Dash huffed, “I thought of that too. Apparently, seniority overrules talent here. Who knew.”

Danny huffed and stifled a laugh. Dash huffed too. He didn’t mean to make it funny, but it did seem a bit ridiculous in retrospect. He is only in his second year, and most of his team, -former team-, were just as or more talented than he was.

After another brief moment of silence, this one a bit calmer than the last, Danny asked, “So… what now?”

“I…” Dash looked down the building wall to the concrete below. It seemed a lot further down now than it was when he first arrived on top of the building. “I don’t know. My scholarship is all but over, a-and I can’t play football again.” Dash held back a sob. His voice broke as he said, “You were right the last time we saw each other. I…I did peak in high school, I just didn’t realize it.” Dash closed his eyes, sighed, and turned to look at Danny. He began to apologize, “I’m sorry I bullied you in high school. I never realized how much you were going through, with your parents, with…everything. It must have…I’m sorry.”

Danny’s calm eyes turned to concern, then to regret. This time, he turned away. “We all say and do things we regret.” Dash watched as he rubbed the palm of his left hand and practically glared at it. With a sigh, Danny continued, “I know how you feel, though. Your purpose…going away and not seeing a reason for living.”

“The ghosts stopped attacking,” Dash stated the obvious. “Why…?” Dash looked at Danny in confusion, “why are you telling me this?”

“I don’t know,” Danny said honestly, “Maybe I needed a rant. Maybe it was because you’re sitting on a rooftop about ready to jump over being cut from the team. It’s all to say, you aren't alone, and there is more to you than just football.”

Dash shrugged nervously, “I mean, is life so much better?”

“Probably not,” Danny said with a shrug, “but where's the fun in being dead?”

Dash grumbled and rolled his eyes.

#danny phantom #dc x dp #dc x dp crossover #chapters that never came to be #Honestly I'm not sure if I'll ever use it #The Ghost Warlock #dpxdc

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russellsppttemplates · 1 year ago

Text

It's like we won't even be there (Lewis Hamilton)

Mercedes has three power couples

Note: english is not my first language. After a long time, I'm finally posting this request.

Thank you so much to everyone who likes and reblogs, your feedback is appreciated 🤍 and I'm taking requests so if you have any ideas or concepts you want to share, feel free to do so as I'll try to get to them the best I can!

my masterlist

Tw: mentions gender inequality, misogynistic ideals

Tag list: @myloverjk-blog

"Everyone on social media has an inkling that you're bringing someone to the race. Is it your belle, Mr. Hamilton?", you teased your boyfriend as he got ready for bed.

You had arrived in Abu Dhabi a few hours earlier, caught a cab to the hotel where your boyfriend had been resting before media day.

"Is that so?", he wondered, "I haven't told anyone outside the team. And even them, I told them you would be joining as my guest, only a few people actually know about us", he assured.

"I don't mind it, we'll have to be public at some time. Three years dating outside of the public eye, plus another year of what the kids call soft launching, whatever happens this weekend, happens", you tranquilized him.

This had been an ongoing conversation for you for as long as you've dated. His lifestyle came with many implications, particularly not always being home and public eye. You also spent a lot of time focused on your job, building the company now associated to your name to the people in the finance business, so the latter question was the biggest one. While you were successful, it hardly impacted your life when it came to the public eye or social media. You had your accounts, sure, but they were private and they never got in the way of your job.

"I just don't want people to lash out on you", he replied, sitting next to you on the bed, his fingers tracing shapes in your hand, "I've seen how brutal they can be, I've felt how brutal they can be, and I don't want that for you. They'll gossip because that's how things work, but I don't want them breaking the respect line.", Lewis stated.

"Lew, I understand and appreciate your concern, but I'll be fine. I have you, our families, our friends, I'm going to be just fine. I don't know how they'll react, so I'll work with whatever happens", you smiled, snuggling into him as he caressed your face.

"Good morning, Y/N! How have you been? I haven't seen you in so long!", Carmen said as she hugged you once you arrived in the hospitality, Lewis kissing your cheek briefly before he headed for his meeting.

"Hello, gorgeous girl! I've been good, and you?", you greeted her with a kiss on each cheek after saying goodbye to Lewis.

"Same old, busy but managed to come and support G this weekend. You, however, seem to finally let it out", she smirked, walking with you to the coffee station and serving yourselves, sitting in the balcony as you overlooked the track.

"There's no point in keeping it a secret, I guess. We did it for a while, and this past year we both realised that we want to be able to go out and not be worried someone will see us and whatever consequences it could bring. We're adults who hope other adults will behave like such", you smiled.

"A hard thing to do sometimes, for them at least", you heard a female voice coming closer to you, "I don't believe we've met before, but Toto said you were hanging out here", the blonde woman said.

Suzie Wolff had been someone you looked up to since you were little, so this was a proper fangirl moment, "sit, sit! This is Y/N!", Carmen introduced after giving her a brief introduction.

"I keep missing you whenever you join us for the races!", she said, "the pandemic didn't help, and lately I've been so busy with the F1 Academy that I've hardly been to races myself", she reasoned, beginning the start of a conversation that was only interrupted for lunchtime.

"Press usually have a field day with powerful women related to this sport. You should be able to get away with it because you don't work for racing, but they love going on and on about how we got to where we are because of who we date", Suzie shook her head.

"Absolutely, because George is very interested in Family Offices and he got me my job", Carmen rolled her eyes, "you try and give that guy math stuff and you see how it turns out! Besides, not many people actually knew who he was, they're not very into motorsport, only a couple of them!", she teased.

"Agreed! The only way I was able to have my own company was because I name dropped Lewis, who I didn't know at the time. He doesn't know his numbers all that well. It's so easy for them to point fingers, but it's really just because they hate to see a powerful woman get the job done", you offered, seeing your partners arrive to the table along Laura.

"Social media is going crazy about you, Y/N!", Laura, one of the team's social media managers said while you had lunch, "there's people who spent the whole morning trying to find out who you were and they were faling to find your accounts. Apparently, they were looking in model agencies and such until someone pointed out you studied at the same university as them, and it's pointed them in the right direction I'd say?", she shrugged her shoulders, showing you her phone as she scrolled through media, "they're still trying to find out more, but they only have a few articles from your company and a picture of you when you graduated that is on the university's Wall of Fame!", she made you giggle, fondly looking at the wall of pictures you saw everyday on your way to lectures.

"Are you on the Wall of Fame and didn't tell us, Y/N?", Carmen exclaimed at the new information, "it's barely anything, I'm still there probably because someone forgot to remove the picture", you blushed, suddenly feeling like the table's attention was on you.

"Why would they take out the picture of the most beautiful woman with the most achievements?", Lewis charmed, holding your hand in his as he smiled.

"Are you guys ready for the race? If all goes well, we can get back to the points!", Suzie cheered as she handed you and Carmen your bottles of water.

"Lew has been beating himself up a lot lately, hopefully everything works in their favour", you held your hands together after setting the water bottle on the counter.

It was very touch and go, but the boys ended up with good results given the position they started in.

"Congrats, my love!", you said in Lewis' ear as he squeezed your torso over the barrier, delighting the sight of everyone who was watching and seeing the happy couple, "couldn't have done it without you, gorgeous girl", he yelled back, stealing a kiss before running to the mechanics.

"I'm just going to check where Suzie is and then we can go for dinner, guys", Toto stated, squeezing George's and Lewis' shoulders before checking is phone to see if his wife had seen the text he sent about said dinner.

"The F1 Academy paddock is closed, you can see it from here that nobody is there", George pointed out as his boss frowned.

"I would help you, but I have to go and look for Carmen, too", George scratched his cheek as they walked along the corridor, seeing Lewis open his driver's room door and slumping his shoulders slightly, "Y/N is not here either".

"Where have the Mercedes missus gone...?", Toto muttered.

It didn't take then long to hear the mix of your three giggles coming from the lounging area, the three of you sat in the smaller sofas around a coffee table, hot drinks in your hands as you discussed something avidly but in a relaxing way still.

"Are the three of you willing to have dinner with the three of us? We'll still let you speak between yourselves, okay? It's like we won't even be there!", Toto joked.

#lewis hamilton imagine #lewis hamilton x reader #lewis hamilton fanfic #lewis hamilton fluff #f1 x reader #f1 imagine #f1 fanfic

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theheartbreakprincesss · 1 year ago

Text

red lips and rosy cheeks, a criminal minds imagine

pairings: fem!reader x bau!team (platonically of course) and fem!reader x spencer reid (if you squint a little)

word count: 800ish

warnings: none i think. no use of y/n because i don’t really vibe with that. no angst, a little fluff, maybe? it’s mostly just funny i think. also not beta-read, or like we say in ao3, no beta we die like men.

author’s note: i have been binge-watching criminal minds for a couple weeks now and of course i’m obsessed with it, and this visual of spencer becoming a little flustered over seeing his crush all dressed up popped into my mind. it’s my first time writing an imagine with the reader as the main piece in the story, so idk be gentle with me? i also never wrote for criminal minds and i’m only in season 4. i just wrote this instead of sleeping or actually writing my other fics. sorry if this is terrible anyway. i’m open to feedback! thanks for reading <3

Working for the FBI could be a handful, sometimes, but the job had its benefits. You could catch criminals and help people, make a difference, you know? But something you would never expect to count as a benefit was the possibility of being called in the middle of a date.

You didn’t even want to go on that date, but your long-time friend Emma had insisted she knew a guy that would be perfect for you. Emma knew you since you both were undergraduates working on their degrees, so you had figured it wouldn’t hurt to give the guy a chance.

It wasn’t your best moment.

Not that the guy turned out to be a psychopath or something like that. But the ice of your drink had barely started to melt when it became clear that Sean wasn’t the guy for you, and by the end of your martini, you could see that Sean was too self-centered and trying too hard to be something he was not, with the fake watch and the well-pressed but clearly cheap suit and exaggerated tales of his life. An hour into the date and you were begging to the universe to offer you a way out of that bar.

Thankfully the universe seemed to listen to your plea, and you let out a relieved sigh when you saw Garcia’s name on the screen as the phone rang. Apparently, Hotch wanted everyone at the office right that moment.

That hurry was what prompted you to go into the BAU headquarters straight from your date, thinking that a stop by your apartment to change would take too much time and that you could take the clothes out of your go bag and change out of your outfit once you got there.

“Hey there.” you greeted as you walked into the bullpen. “Is everyone here yet?”

“Rossi and Prentiss are on their way.” Morgan said from his desk. “Wonder boy is getting coffee.”

“Oh, okay.” you mumbled, moving to take off your coat and wondering if you would have time to wipe off the red lipstick before the briefing.

“Damn, pretty girl.” you heard Morgan say, that suggestive tone in his voice that annoyed the life out of you. “Did we interrupt something?”

“Only the most boring date I have ever been on.” you scoffed, nervously fixing your dress. It wasn’t inappropriate or something, just very different from what you used to wear. It had been Emma’s idea, actually, to pair that black sleeveless dress with knee-high boots. “He spent the entire time talking about himself.” you rolled your eyes.

“Oh, look at you!” Garcia exclaimed as she got into the bullpen. “You look like a million bucks, darling.”

“Thank you, Pen.” you said. “What’s the case about?”

“A woman went missing in Indiana this morning in the same way three more disappeared in the last month before they were found dead.” JJ told, walking out of her office. “Oh, hot date tonight?” she asked.

“Disappointing, actually.” you laughed. “Can we not talk about it?”

“Talk about what?” you heard Spencer’s voice from behind Penelope.

“About her date.” Garcia said. Spencer joined them as they all stood near your desk, two coffee mugs in his hands. His messy hair was the first thing you noticed, looking like he had been dragged out of his bed. He handed you the second coffee mug, the one with little cartoon kittens stamped on it, then his eyes really focused on you.

“Oh, thank you.” you mumbled, taking a sip of it.

“I– yeah, I…” he stammered, eyes moving up and down, up and down.

“Are you alright, Doc?” you asked, using the nickname you had given him a few weeks into working together.

“Ooh, I think you broke pretty boy.” Morgan laughed.

“It’s probably the red lipstick.” Garcia pointed out, joining Derek in his laughs. You waited for one of Spencer’s famous info-dumps, where he would talk about how red lipstick used to be made out of crushed beetles in Ancient Egypt or something, but he was still silent, lips parted like he meant to say something but couldn’t figure out what.

“Do you need me to reset you or something?” you were now having a bit of fun with it. It wasn’t like you were trying to be mean, but both of you had been dancing around unspoken feelings for a while now.

“I… you look pretty.” Spencer finally managed to say.

You put the mug to your lips, trying to hide the blood that was rushing to your cheeks as Morgan whistled.

“Go on, wonder boy.”

“Derek? Shut up.” then, you looked at Spencer again, who was timidly smiling at you.“Thanks.” you mumbled.

Spencer looked at the mug on your hands, focusing on the stain of your lipstick on the rim of the mug.

“Uh, did you know that the first known red lipsticks were created by crushing gemstones in Mesopotamia over 5.000 years ago?”

•

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babyboyhotchner · 4 months ago

Text

BABYGIRL ⋆ CASEY NOVAK ⋆ ALEX CABOT

YOUR HONOR, OUR BABYGIRL

description: casey asks if you'd be interested in alex joining you both. pairing: casey x alex x fem!reader. wc: 5.3 idea thanks to @bensonswifey ! this can be read as a standalone from PRINCESS NOT PROOF READ

The soft glow of the bedside lamp casts warm, golden light over the bedroom, its reach barely extending past the heavy curtains that keep the outside world at bay. The city beyond hums faintly, muffled by distance and fabric, the occasional honk or distant siren a gentle reminder that life continues beyond this cocoon of warmth and quiet.

Casey’s arms are wrapped securely around you, her body radiating heat beneath the covers. The scent of her shampoo lingers in the air, something faintly floral and undeniably her. Her breath is steady, a rhythmic rise and fall beneath your cheek as you nestle closer against her, the slow, absentminded motion of her fingers tracing circles along your shoulder lulling you toward sleep.

“You’re quiet tonight,” she murmurs, her voice low, almost drowsy but still edged with that ever-present awareness she carries, even in the most intimate of moments.

You exhale softly, eyes fluttering shut. “Just thinking.”

Casey hums in acknowledgment, her hand slowing slightly before resuming its lazy path over your skin. For a moment, she says nothing, simply holding you, letting the quiet settle between you both. But then, there’s a shift—almost imperceptible, but you feel it. The way her body tenses just slightly, the way her fingers still against your skin before she presses her palm flat against your back, anchoring you.

“I’ve been thinking too, princess,” she finally says, her voice careful, measured.

Something about her tone makes your drowsiness wane, a flicker of curiosity stirring in its place. You shift slightly, tilting your head up to look at her. Her green eyes, normally sharp and unwavering, hold something else now—something thoughtful, hesitant in a way that Casey Novak rarely is.

She smirks, but it’s softer than usual. “Don’t freak out.”

You arch a brow. “That’s not a great way to start a conversation.”

A chuckle vibrates against your cheek, and she dips her head slightly, pressing a brief, reassuring kiss to your forehead before pulling back just enough to meet your gaze. “Just hear me out, okay?”

You nod slowly, curiosity now fully replacing whatever remnants of sleep had been clinging to you. “Okay…”

There’s a beat of silence, a fleeting moment where she almost seems to reconsider, her fingers tracing lightly down your arm before she finally exhales and speaks.

“What if we added Alex Cabot to the mix?”

The words hang in the air between you, heavy and unexpected.

Your brows furrow. “Alex Cabot?”

Casey nods, watching your reaction carefully. “Yeah. You know—blonde, sharp-tongued, way too good in court for anyone’s comfort…”

You blink, trying to process what she’s just said, wondering if exhaustion has somehow made you mishear her. But no—she’s looking at you expectantly, as if waiting for some kind of reaction.

“You’re serious?” you ask slowly, propping yourself up on one elbow, searching her expression for any hint of amusement, any sign that she’s joking.

She shrugs, entirely too casual. “I am.”

A slow heat creeps into your chest, something a little like disbelief mixed with confusion. “You… want to bring Alex Cabot into our relationship?”

Casey tilts her head slightly, considering her words. “I want to talk about it. See what you think.” She watches you closely, gauging every flicker of emotion that crosses your face. “She and I talked a little last week—casually. Nothing major. But it got me thinking.”

Your mind races, trying to recall any recent interactions between them, any subtle indications that something like this might have been brewing beneath the surface.

Casey shifts onto her side, propping her head up on one hand, her other resting lightly on your waist. “She’s… interesting,” she continues, and there’s something unreadable in her expression, something careful and deliberate.

You exhale, still trying to wrap your head around where this is coming from. “Interesting how?”

A smirk tugs at the corner of Casey’s lips. “Come on. You have to admit she’s gorgeous. And smart. And if we’re being completely honest here, you’ve noticed the way she looks at you when she thinks no one’s watching.”

The words send a ripple of something through you, something you can’t quite name. You open your mouth to protest, to refute the idea, but the moment you do, memories come rushing forward—small, fleeting moments you hadn’t given much thought to before. The way Alex’s gaze lingers just a fraction longer than necessary when she speaks to you, the way she always seems to find a reason to stand just a little too close.

Casey watches you carefully, clearly reading every thought that flickers across your face. She reaches out, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear, her touch gentle but firm. “Relax,” she murmurs, amusement lacing her tone. “I’m not saying we decide anything right now. I just wanted to put it out there. Because I trust you. And I trust us.”

Her words settle over you, sinking in deep, leaving something unfamiliar in their wake.

You don’t know what to say.

Because no matter how much you might want to dismiss the idea outright, a single undeniable truth lingers in the back of your mind.

This conversation isn’t going away anytime soon.

◦◦,°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°,◦◦

Three long days.

That’s how much time had passed since Casey had so casually—too casually—suggested bringing Alex Cabot into the mix. Three days of trying to focus on work, only to have your mind circle back to that conversation at the most inconvenient moments. Three days of seeing Alex in court, the sharp blue of her gaze locking onto yours across the room, her perfectly tailored suits, her effortless confidence—three days of wondering if she had any idea that her name had been whispered between Casey’s lips in the intimate quiet of your bedroom.

And now, after a grueling day in court, you finally step through the door of the apartment you share with Casey, sighing in relief as the weight of the day slips from your shoulders.

The moment your designer heels hit the hardwood floor with a soft thud, you roll your neck, trying to work out the stiffness from hours spent in the courtroom. The day had been relentless—back-to-back hearings, endless legal arguments, and the kind of exhausting mental chess that left you drained in ways even a strong cup of coffee couldn’t fix. The worst of it had been a particularly brutal cross-examination, where the defense attorney had been all too eager to twist your words into knots, forcing you to stay sharp, to counter every move with precision. It had left you with a headache that had been brewing for hours, a dull ache pulsing at your temples.

Your dress, a sleek, form-fitting number in your signature pinkish-purple, suddenly feels too constricting, the fabric clinging just a little too tightly after a full day’s wear. You reach up, rubbing absently at your neck where your necklace has left a faint indentation against your skin. You love dressing well, love the way people notice when you walk into a room—how Casey’s eyes always darken just a little when she sees you like this—but right now, all you want is to shed the weight of the day and fall into her arms.

The scent of garlic and butter drifts through the apartment, warm and inviting, and you follow it like a lifeline, moving toward the kitchen. You find her standing by the stove, barefoot, dressed in a loose, off-the-shoulder sweatshirt—the same NYU Law one she’s had since her law school days—and a pair of black leggings that hug the curves of her hips and legs. Her auburn hair is gathered into a loose bun at the nape of her neck, a few strands escaping to frame her face as she focuses on whatever she’s cooking.

You pause for a moment in the doorway, simply watching her, taking in the way she moves—effortless, familiar, completely at ease. The sight of her is enough to ease some of the tension still coiled in your muscles.

Without a word, you step forward, closing the distance between you, slipping your arms around her waist from behind. She’s warm, solid, and the second you press yourself against her back, you feel some of the exhaustion begin to melt away.

Casey lets out a soft hum, her free hand instinctively coming to rest over yours, fingers lightly tracing your knuckles. “Long day?” she murmurs, her voice low, familiar, soothing.

“The longest,” you admit, pressing your lips to the exposed curve of her shoulder. She smells like lavender and something faintly citrusy, a mix of her lotion and the lingering traces of her shampoo. You kiss her again, this time just beneath her jaw, relishing the way her breath catches slightly.

“Mm,” she hums, tilting her head slightly to give you better access. “You win your case?”

“Eventually,” you murmur against her skin, trailing slow, deliberate kisses along the side of her neck. “But the defense put me through hell first.”

Casey chuckles, low and throaty. “Sounds like you earned some serious stress relief.”

You smirk against her shoulder, tightening your hold around her waist. “That an offer?”

She laughs, reaching behind her to playfully swat at your hip. “It’s a fact. But if you keep distracting me, dinner’s gonna burn.”

You glance at the pan she’s tending to, something rich and creamy bubbling gently, the aroma making your stomach tighten with hunger. “What are you making?”

“Chicken alfredo.” She pauses, then adds with a smirk, “And garlic bread, because I know how much you love it.”

You smile, pressing your face against the back of her neck, breathing her in. “Have I told you lately that you’re the best?”

“You could stand to say it more often,” she teases, reaching for a wooden spoon to stir the sauce.

You stand there for a long moment, simply holding her, absorbing her warmth, letting the comfort of her presence soothe you. But even in this quiet, this intimate domesticity, the thought that’s been lingering in the back of your mind for three days refuses to fade.

You tighten your grip slightly around her waist before speaking. “Casey?”

She hums in acknowledgment, still focused on the stove.

You hesitate, gathering your thoughts. “I’ve been thinking.”

That gets her attention. She stills for a fraction of a second before setting the spoon down, turning just enough in your arms to glance at you over her shoulder. Her green eyes are sharp, assessing, but she says nothing—just waits.

Taking a slow breath, you steady yourself. “About Alex.”

There’s a flicker of something in her expression—surprise, intrigue, something unreadable—but she masks it quickly. “And?”

You wet your lips, fingers tracing idle patterns against her hip. “And… maybe we should invite her over for dinner and drinks.” You pause, choosing your words carefully. “Just the three of us. To talk. To figure out a way forward.”

Casey studies you, her gaze unreadable as she absorbs what you’re saying. Then, slowly, her lips curve into a smirk—not smug, not triumphant, just knowing.

“So, you’re not shutting the idea down,” she murmurs.

You roll your eyes but can’t stop the small smile that tugs at your lips. “I’m saying we should talk about it. No assumptions. No expectations. Just… a conversation.”

Casey tilts her head slightly, considering. Then, with deliberate slowness, she leans in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss to your lips. When she pulls back, there’s something amused in her gaze, but also something thoughtful.

“I’ll text her,” she says simply, turning back to the stove as if she hasn’t just set something in motion that could change everything.

You swallow, exhaling slowly.

No going back now.

◦◦,°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°,◦◦

The evening had begun with a polite formality, the kind that always lingered in the air when something—someone—was between you and the people you cared about. Casey, calm as ever, stood in the kitchen, finishing up the last few touches on the meal. The dining room had been set meticulously, with a crisp white tablecloth, matching napkins folded perfectly into delicate triangles, and the warm glow of candles flickering in the center of the table. You had arranged everything yourself, wanting it to be perfect. Your dress, a pastel pink shift, was flowing yet form-fitting, and your heels, a soft blush, tapped quietly against the floor as you adjusted the last candle. Everything needed to be just right.

It was a calm evening, but the air was thick with anticipation. The dinner was supposed to be a neutral conversation, an effort to bring Alex and Casey closer, yet the weight of your thoughts pulled at you from all directions. What would happen tonight? How would this unfold? It was hard to push aside the knot in your stomach that was more about what could happen than about the meal itself.

A soft knock at the door pulls you from your thoughts.

You exchange a quick glance with Casey as you make your way to answer it. She was wearing her usual effortless look—a loose green blouse and black slacks—but somehow still looked like she’d stepped out of a magazine. Her auburn hair was pulled back into a simple ponytail, but a few stray curls framed her face in a way that always made your heart skip a beat.

Alex was standing in the doorway when you opened it, just as you expected—sharp and polished. She wore a tailored navy-blue dress that hugged her frame perfectly. The delicate silver necklace she wore gleamed faintly against the soft light from the hallway, and her blonde hair was styled in gentle waves, barely moving as she shifted her weight. Her lips curled into a small smile as you greeted her, but it wasn’t just any smile. There was something else there, something unspoken.

“Wow,” Alex said, her voice light but genuine. “This looks incredible. And you two, as usual, look…” She trailed off with a slight smirk, her eyes lingering on you for just a beat longer than necessary.

You feel the heat rise in your chest, an unexpected flutter catching your breath as you realize just how aware she is of the way you’re standing, the way you’ve positioned yourself in front of her, and just how aware you are of her eyes on you. Casey, of course, catches it too, and she raises an eyebrow but says nothing.

“We tried,” Casey says, her voice warm as she gestures for Alex to come in. “Come in. Dinner’s almost ready.”

Dinner, in all its simple elegance, was served. The table was adorned with roasted vegetables, creamy mashed potatoes, and seared chicken breast with a delicate garlic sauce. The aroma alone had your stomach rumbling, but you could feel the nervousness building between the three of you. At first, it was all surface-level conversation—the weather, work, the latest case you’d been dealing with—but it wasn’t long before the wine began to flow, and the atmosphere began to shift.

Casey, always the one to take charge of the conversation, filled your glass first, then Alex’s, before taking her own glass and raising it.

“To new beginnings,” she toasted, her voice smooth and confident, as though she’d done this a thousand times before.

You both echoed the toast, and the first glass of wine made the tension ease ever so slightly. But the second glass—well, it made things a little less formal, a little more relaxed.

“So, Alex,” you began, pushing the nerves aside as you took a sip of your wine, “I have to know. How did you handle the trial last week? I’ve heard some rumors that it was… a bit chaotic.”

Alex let out a laugh, the sound light and airy, and there was a playful glint in her eyes. “Chaotic? That’s an understatement,” she said, leaning forward slightly, her fingers brushing the rim of her glass. “It was one of the most ridiculous defense strategies I’ve ever encountered. They kept trying to paint the victim as the villain—ridiculous, right?”

Casey chuckled from across the table, clearly following along. “You know, I think I would’ve gone insane dealing with that. I’d have lost my temper within minutes.”

“Oh, you would’ve,” Alex said, laughing. “I had to bite my tongue more than once. But I kept it together, just like you taught me.”

At that, Casey’s gaze flickered over to you, her eyes catching yours in a way that made your pulse pick up. “Yeah, just like she taught you,” Casey added, her voice carrying a certain undercurrent that you couldn’t ignore. It made your breath hitch ever so slightly.

The wine poured freely, and by the time the third bottle was opened, the conversation had shifted, and the mood had lightened even more. The once-awkward silences were now filled with easy laughter, teasing glances, and subtle, almost imperceptible touches.

It was Alex who broke the ice this time, swirling the wine in her glass with a calculated yet playful tilt of her head. “So, Casey,” she said, her voice low and teasing, “You’ve been giving me advice for years, but you never mentioned how… charming your girlfriend is.”

Your heart skipped at the word, but you didn’t miss the subtle emphasis Alex had put on it. Casey smirked, leaning back slightly in her chair, her eyes flicking toward you before answering.

“I like to think she’s even more charming when she’s got a glass of wine in her hand,” Casey said, her voice smooth but laden with an unspoken challenge.

You couldn’t help but smile, the tension of the evening slowly shifting into something lighter, something electric. Alex’s gaze stayed fixed on you as she leaned forward, her voice playful, but there was an edge to it now. “Is that so?”

The unspoken words lingered between the three of you, heavy with a kind of subtle invitation. Your gaze flickered to Casey’s face, then back to Alex, and for a moment, the room seemed smaller, the air thicker. There was no mistaking the attraction now—the way Alex looked at you, the way Casey’s fingers drummed on the table, the playful tension that had woven its way into every exchange.

“You know,” Alex said after another sip of wine, her voice lighter now, teasing, “You two must be an interesting pair. I imagine there are… stories.” Her eyes sparkled as she leaned closer to you, the subtle flirtation more evident with every word.

Casey chuckled, but there was a knowing smirk on her face. “Oh, there are plenty of stories, trust me,” she said, her eyes now glinting with the same playful energy.

You felt the heat rise in your chest again, but this time, it wasn’t from nerves—it was from something much deeper. Something undeniable.

The conversation continued, now laced with playful innuendos, subtle touches under the table, and glances that made your heart race. The three of you seemed to orbit around one another, the attraction simmering just beneath the surface, the energy thick enough to taste. You found yourself caught between them—every flirtatious comment, every lingering glance building something more, something you hadn’t fully understood before tonight.

As the evening wore on and the wine flowed, you realized this was just the beginning. The easy banter, the shared laughter—it was all there, but now, it was laced with something more. Something more dangerous. And for the first time in days, you felt like maybe this—whatever this was—was exactly where you were meant to be.

◦◦,°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°,◦◦

The air in the bedroom was heavy with anticipation, the low hum of desire filling the space as you lay completely bare on the bed. Alex and Casey loomed over you, fully in control, their confidence palpable as they directed every movement, every sound, every ounce of pleasure you felt.

Alex was settled between your legs, her hands firm as they gripped your thighs and spread you wide. She didn’t wait to tease or coax; her tongue dove into your dripping folds with precision, her lips wrapping around your clit as she sucked hard. A sharp gasp escaped your lips, your body jerking against her hold, but she pinned you effortlessly.

“Stay still,” Alex demanded, her voice sharp and commanding, muffled slightly as her tongue flicked over your swollen clit. “You’re going to take everything we give you, understood?”

You nodded frantically, unable to form coherent words as your hips instinctively rolled against her mouth.

Casey chuckled from her place above you, her hand gripping your jaw and tilting your face to look at her. “Good girl,” she murmured, though her tone held a teasing edge. “So eager, aren’t you?” She leaned down, her lips brushing yours briefly before she slid the strap of her harness over her hip, adjusting it.

With calculated movements, Casey positioned herself above you, the strap-on hovering just over your lips. “Open,” she commanded, her green eyes flashing as she smirked down at you. You obeyed without hesitation, parting your lips to take the tip into your mouth.

Casey let out a soft moan as she pushed further, her hand tangling in your hair to guide your movements. “Look at you,” she purred, her voice dripping with satisfaction. “You love being used, don’t you? Taking my cock like a good little slut.”

The words sent a shiver of heat through you, muffled whimpers escaping as Casey began to thrust into your mouth, her pace slow but deliberate. Her other hand moved to your throat, her thumb pressing gently to feel the bulge as you took her deeper.

Alex, still between your legs, pulled back briefly, her lips glistening with your slick. “She’s so wet, Casey,” Alex said, her voice filled with smug approval. “Dripping all over the sheets. I don’t think she can get enough.”

She punctuated her words by sliding two fingers into you, curling them perfectly as her tongue returned to your clit. The wet sounds of her mouth and the obscene noises from your throat as Casey fucked it filled the room, your muffled moans only spurring them on.

Casey tightened her grip on your hair, pulling your head back slightly. “Are you gonna cum all over Alex’s tongue like the desperate little thing you are?” she taunted, her pace quickening as she thrust deeper into your mouth. “I want to hear you choke on it while you fall apart for us.”

Alex groaned against you, the vibrations sending a new wave of pleasure through your core. “She’s close,” Alex muttered, her fingers pumping into you harder, faster, as her tongue circled your clit relentlessly. “Cum for me, sweetheart. I want to taste every drop.”

Your body tensed, the overwhelming sensations pushing you to the edge. With Casey’s cock fucking your mouth and Alex’s relentless attention between your legs, the tension snapped, and you came with a muffled scream, your entire body trembling as pleasure overtook you.

Alex didn’t stop, her tongue working you through the waves of your orgasm, while Casey stilled for a moment, her cock filling your mouth as she grinned down at you. “That’s my good girl,” she cooed, brushing her thumb over your cheek. “You look so pretty when you’re completely wrecked.”

Your body trembled, still riding the aftershocks of your orgasm, but Alex and Casey weren’t finished with you. The bed shifted as Alex moved, her piercing gaze locking onto yours as she wiped her glistening lips with the back of her hand. Meanwhile, Casey wasted no time, her strong hands gripping your hips to flip you onto your stomach before pulling you up onto your knees.

“Don’t think we’re done with you yet,” Casey murmured, her voice dripping with authority. You felt the cool press of the strap-on against your entrance, and then she slammed into you without warning, drawing a cry from your lips. The force of her thrusts was relentless, her pace unyielding as she held you steady, driving deeper with every stroke.

“Fuck, you’re so tight,” Casey growled, her hands digging into your hips to keep you exactly where she wanted. “Taking me so well, like the perfect little slut you are.”

Your moans filled the room, muffled as Alex climbed onto the bed and hovered above your face. She cupped your chin, tilting your head to look up at her. “You know what to do,” she said, her tone calm but firm, her confidence radiating as she straddled your face.

You didn’t hesitate, your hands coming up to grip her thighs as you pulled her down to meet your lips. Her taste was intoxicating, her arousal dripping onto your tongue as you licked and sucked, desperate to please her. Alex let out a low moan, her head tilting back as she began to grind against your mouth.

“Just like that,” she praised, her fingers threading into your hair to guide your movements. “Don’t stop until I cum all over that pretty face of yours.”

Casey’s pace quickened, her thrusts slamming into you with an intensity that made your arms tremble as you struggled to hold Alex in place. “Look at you,” Casey taunted, her voice rough with arousal. “Eating Alex’s pussy while I fuck you. You’re so fucking perfect like this, completely at our mercy.”

Your muffled whimpers vibrated against Alex’s core, drawing a sharp gasp from her. “She loves it,” Alex said, her tone smug as she rocked against your tongue. “Don’t you, sweetheart? You love being used by us.”

Casey leaned over you, her hand snaking around to toy with your clit as she continued to pound into you. The combined sensations were overwhelming, your body tightening as another orgasm built rapidly.

“She’s gonna cum again,” Casey announced, her grin evident in her voice. “Do it, baby. Cum all over my cock while you make Alex fall apart.”

Your body obeyed, the overwhelming sensations cresting as you let out a muffled scream, your juices squirting in hot, rhythmic bursts, coating Casey’s thighs and the sheets below. The release left your legs trembling, barely able to hold yourself up as your walls pulsed around the strap-on.

Alex gasped, her hips bucking against your mouth as she followed, her thighs shaking as she ground against your tongue. “Good girl,” she murmured, her voice trembling as her orgasm washed over her. “So good for us.”

Casey slowed her thrusts, savoring the way your body clenched around her, a satisfied chuckle escaping her lips as she pulled out. She leaned down to kiss the back of your neck, her fingers lightly brushing over your oversensitive clit, making you jolt.

Alex slid off your face, her breathing heavy as she looked down at you with a smug smile. “You’re such a good little toy for us,” she murmured, her fingers brushing tenderly over your cheek.

Casey’s fingers traced lines of fire down your sides while Alex knelt in front of you, positioning the vibrator that she had taken out with an almost calculated precision. "Keep your eyes on me," she ordered, turning it on with a low hum that vibrated through the air and straight to your core.

The first touch of the device against your clit made you jolt, a sharp gasp escaping your lips. Alex grinned, pleased with your reaction, as she held the vibrator in place, watching you squirm beneath her control. “That’s it. Just feel.”

Casey’s grip tightened around your wrists as she pressed her lips to your ear, her voice soft but firm. "Don’t hold back. We want to hear everything."

The sensations came in waves, each one building on the last as Alex adjusted the pressure, her eyes never leaving yours. "You’re gorgeous like this," she murmured, her free hand sliding up to cup your breast, her thumb flicking over your nipple in tandem with the vibrations below.

Your moans grew louder, spilling from your lips uncontrollably, and Casey chuckled darkly behind you. “You’re being so loud, sweetheart,” she murmured, her voice a mix of amusement and warning. Her hand shifted, releasing your wrists only to wrap firmly around your throat.

The pressure was perfect—not enough to scare you but just enough to send a thrilling jolt through your body. "Let’s see if this quiets you down," Casey whispered, her thumb brushing gently against your jaw as she tightened her grip.

The combination of Alex’s relentless control and Casey’s dominating touch left you trembling, gasping for air between waves of pleasure. Alex tilted the vibrator slightly, her precision sending shockwaves through you, and her smirk widened as she watched your body respond. “That’s it,” she murmured, her voice dripping with control, “take everything we give you.”

Casey’s hand on your throat kept you grounded, her firm grip a reminder of her authority as her lips brushed against your ear. "You’re perfect like this," she whispered, her voice steady and commanding.

The intense sensations continued unabated as the vibrator buzzed mercilessly against your over-sensitized clit, Alex's deft fingers never ceasing their relentless stimulation. Behind you, Casey's grip on your throat remained firm, her breath hot against your ear as she whispered filthy encouragements.

"Look at you, dripping all over her hands, her toy," Casey purred, her voice dripping with dark satisfaction. "Such a pretty little thing, coming undone for us."

Alex glanced down, watching your essence gush out around the vibrator, coating her fingers and dripping onto the bed. She smiled wickedly, her eyes glinting with lust and something almost feral. "That's it, you. Cum again. Drench us with it."

Casey's fingers crept lower, teasing your entrance, feeling the slick heat pouring from you. She pressed a single finger inside, pumping it slowly, matching the rhythm of the vibrator against your clit. "Fuck, you're so tight," she groaned, adding a second finger, stretching you around the intrusion.

Alex leaned in, her lips brushing yours, her tongue delving into your mouth. She swallowed your cries, your whimpers, as she kissed you deeply, passionately, her fingers never stopping their relentless stimulation.

Casey's other hand slid up your body, cupping your breast roughly, kneading the soft flesh. She pinched your nipple hard, rolling the stiff peak between her fingers, sending jolts of sensation straight to your core.

Lost in a haze of pleasure, your body shaking and trembling, you could only cling to them as they pushed you ruthlessly towards another peak. The vibrator, their fingers, their touches, their kisses—it was all too much, and yet not enough. You wanted to beg them to stop, to never cease, to ruin you for anyone else.

"Come on, you," Alex coaxed, her voice low and rough with arousal. "Give us one more. Squeeze the life out of our fingers, baby."

Casey's grip on your throat tightened slightly, her hips grinding harder against your backside. "That's it, sweetheart. You're ours. Only ours."

Dizzy with sensation, you teetered on the brink, your body coiled tight, ready to shatter. And then, with a silent scream, you did. Your sex

Your inner walls clamped down hard around Alex's fingers, fluttering and spasming as another intense orgasm ripped through you. A fresh gush of liquid flooded out, drenching Alex's hand and the vibrator, dripping down your thighs to pool on the bedsheet below.

"Fuck yes, that's it," Alex groaned, feeling your pussy clench and quiver around her digits, your juices soaking her. She pumped her fingers faster, fucking you through your climax, drawing out your pleasure.

Behind you, Casey held you tight, her grip on your throat and hip unyielding as she felt your body shake and tremble. "God, you're exquisite like this," she rasped, her voice thick with desire. "Coming so hard, drenching us, giving us everything."

Alex pulled back slightly, taking in the debauched sight of you—hair mussed, lips kiss-swollen, skin flushed and glistening with sweat. She grinned wickedly, your essence dripping from her chin. "Look at the mess you've made, you. Such a naughty girl, coming all over us like this."

Casey chuckled darkly, nipping at your earlobe before soothing the sting with her tongue. "Don't worry, sweetheart. We'll clean you up, taste every drop." Her hand slid from your hip to your sex, fingers gliding through the slick mess, collecting your release.

As your climax began to ebb, Alex turned off the vibrator and withdrew it, setting it aside. Casey's fingers left your dripping sex, trailing up your body to join Alex's in cupping your face. Both women leaned in, their lips meeting yours, sharing the flavor of your pleasure in a deep, filthy kiss.

Together, they lowered you back onto the bed, their bodies blanketing yours, their touches soothing and possessive. Alex and Casey exchanged a look over your trembling form, a silent communication passing between them. Then Alex smiled down at you, slow and satisfied.

"Such a good girl," she purred, stroking your cheek. "You did so well, baby. Came so beautifully for us."

Casey nodded in agreement, her hand sliding down your body, coming to rest low on your belly. "You're perfect, you know that? Ours now, completely and utterly ours."

#aesthetic #princesscore #alex x casey x reader #alex cabot #casey novak x reader #casey x reader #casey novak #alex cabot x casey novak #casey novak x alex cabot #alex cabot x reader #wlw #wlw post #lesbian #gay

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the-s1lly-corner · 2 months ago

Text

Part of their Family (Slender Mansion x Reader Chapter 2)

the poll for chapter 1 has been completed, and thus your first choice has been made! I think what I'll do going forward is put a poll at the end for chapters that call for a choice to be made... speaking of... youre going to have a VERY important choice to make at the end of this.. it appears you got too comfortable in the murder mansion notes: gn human reader, headcanon heavy, ben is not a physical entity most of the time, bro got sent to the flip phone, congrats youve decided to go play games with jeff ben and toby! nina eventually joins in with snacks! what can go wrong!... hopefully no one gets bored...!, there is indeed a choice to be made at the end of this chapter, also if anyone has any tips on how to write tobys dialogue and tics id love some pointers- i personally hc him with a stutter (caused for several reasons + we self projecting) and im mostly basing the stutter off of my own but like. yk??, not beta read we die like men word count: 7.5k cws: canon typical violence and murder, on screen violence

You come to a decision as you shut off the water of the shower. The air smelled vaguely of dampness and soap. The bottles weren’t scented, at least not with anything strong that you could really pinpoint. A shiver is bitten back in the moment between stepping out of the shower’s lingering warmth and wrapping yourself in one of the soft towels folded neatly within a small cabinet. For a brief moment the thought of where to put your dirtied laundry crossed your mind. Perhaps you could ask Splendor when you were able to catch him. He could still be playing with Sally… but popping your head in to ask now felt risky. You weren’t sure if the little girl would let you go easily. You had promised her with little intent of actually keeping it… and the knowledge was starting to fully sink in as you dried yourself off.

A faint billow of steam pushed out into the room as you opened the bathroom door. The sound of life outside became simple common noise as you closed the distance to the door- the moist sound of your bare feet lightly sticking to the wooden floor below far more noticeable to you in the moment. There was nothing more that you wanted now than to be fully dry… but a towel could only do so much.

After a moment’s hesitation you sit on the edge of the bed you’ve been lended- towel still wrapped firmly around your middle to keep from soaking the sheets under you. Making your bed didn’t even occur to you this morning… doing it now seemed pointless. Maybe one day if you decide to linger here in this place for a little longer. The palms of your hands find themselves to your covered thighs and run along the fuzz of the towel. Soft and fresh- washed somewhat recently. It didn’t smell off- like how cloth sometimes got when left hanging in a closet for months untouched. In fact you don’t recall seeing any dust in the room when you first entered it… not that you were actively taking everything in at the moment.

In fact, upon a more steady mind you found that the room was actually a lot nicer than you had thought. The walls were clean and unmarked outside of the tiny holes you’ve noticed. For a fleeting moment you wondered if you’d be allowed to stick your own posters and decor up. The idea was shaken for the time being. The wallpaper was still intact. The creaks of the mansion settling and the general style of how it was built told you it was up there in age- but everything inside nearly looked brand new. The desk pushed against the wall nearby was nearly completely bare save for some faint scrapes and marks along the legs. Even with a fresh coat of paint the indents were obvious.

Someone had lived here before you, and they left their mark.

You shimmy around on the mattress- sinking slightly into its dip. Broken into from its previous owner. You wondered if they’d ever come back- and what that would mean for you if you were still hanging around.

The way you had to fight with the covers of the bed to tear them away enough to crawl under them reminded you heavily of how beds were made in hotel rooms.

A faint sigh slips through your lips, and for the first time since your life fell apart you took a deep breath. Ribs popped and cracked slightly under the shift of your lungs and muscles before falling into something more comfortable- the tension slipping itself along your spine. Another breath, another crack muffled under the veil of flesh.

It didn’t look so bad with the morning light casting itself across the room through the tiny gap of the window’s curtains… and without giving it much thought you rise back to your feet to the window and curl your fingers around the edges of the fabric. Soft but enough weight to keep the covers in place against any drafts that managed to slip through any cracks of the mansion's walls. Black seemed to be a default here.

Being on the second floor you weren’t all too concerned with anyone outside seeing you- nevermind the fact that you were greeted with thick forest right outside. The woods didn’t look so scary and disorienting in the daylight. It had felt like it would consume you before, but now…

The branches swayed gently against the wind- glistening slightly. It must have rained earlier. A hand pulls itself away from the curtain and keeps the towel clinging to your body steady as you allow your eyes to scan around the immediate area. No matter what you were going to do, you needed to at least figure out what was around you.

You hadn’t even memorized the layout of the mansion… much less been shown around properly.

Sudden movement caught your eye as a thin figure emerged from the trees. Hatchet in hand, Toby shuffled across the grass into the clearing surrounding the building. Muddied streaks now decorated his jeans- alongside grass stains and loose leaves. The other two masked men that he left with soon followed- both still in the same state as when they left.

“Not a single drop of blood,” You thought.

You’d… have to ask someone what their names were. Surely you’d be forgiven for not instantly remembering everyone.

Jeff must have been an exception… maybe…

The towel is gripped tighter in your fingers- and nearly tightened harder when Toby suddenly lifted his face and looked directly at your window. Important parts hidden or not a mortifying wave of heat rolled over the back of your neck and shoulders- infecting it with an almost tingling feel as you scrambled to shut the curtains. You managed to rip them shut, but not before you caught Toby raising his hand to wave up at you.

You hiss softly as you release your grip and back away from the window. One could only hope that he wouldn’t bring it up later- even worse if he had decided to prod about it during your hangout with him and Jeff… if they would still have you.

Making a break for it now was probably the worst idea- Toby’s comments during breakfast rang slightly in your mind. There were people looking for you. Not just the police… and they were comfortable enough to wander in the woods… and staying inside would probably draw someone’s attention- especially now that you had properly made your presence known and part of the mansion during breakfast.

…Maybe… by the sounds of it the mansion had its own recluses hidden in its walls somewhere.

And playing with Sally now felt… a little overwhelming. Though you were sure spending your time with four people at once was going to be just as if not more overwhelming.

Standing here rethinking your choices wasn’t going to do anything other than give you a headache… and you were beginning to grow cold.

With that you push the towel to the side and make a grab for your clothes.

They were nothing special. Jeans, a t-shirt, and a coat. Save for the stretching around the collar of your top and other mess ups that Splendor couldn’t mend… he had cleaned and patched it up well. You’d have to thank him later the next time you see him… you weren’t sure if you’d be able to handle wearing someone else’s clothes that didn’t quite feel right against your body for much longer.

The top is tugged up to rest slightly bunched at your waist and the coat left bunched up on the bed. You could hang it back up or just keep it on hand, or maybe-

Someone knocks on your door for the second time today and your attention is snapped back to the moment. You weren’t back home no matter how being back in your own possessions made you feel. Your hands give one last shift against the fabric before you turn back to the door and answer- maybe a little too quickly because even Toby looked surprised.

“Oh good you’re not still n-naked,” He let his bare hand fall to his side- he had taken off his gloves to reveal pale fingers, bits of irritated skin from who knows what… the tips were stained a faint pink- actually. He seemed a little flushed all over… his now damp hair was enough to fill in the answer. His goggles were nowhere in sight. His dull brown eyes relaxed.

You force your mouth to remain neutral as you shift between your feet.

“You weren’t meant to see that-”

He instantly shrugged. “Not like I saw anything- no big deal. If it would make you feel better I could do the same. Make it even and shit-” His lips tugged into a grin. The hole in his cheek allowed for clicking of his teeth and shifting of his tongue to sound clearer. You weren’t sure if the clicking noise was satisfying enough to drown out the squish of spit in his mouth.

You must have made a face because suddenly he snorted. “Kidding k-kidding-! I’m not a…” He trailed off and side eyed you as he shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

“Didn’t take you for the type to stand butt naked in front of a window.”

“I wasn’t.” Your jaws clacked together. You decided to just let it go- Toby already looked satisfied with his own conclusion and you weren’t much in the mood to argue to change his mind. He didn’t see anything, anyway, not that there was anything to put on display. You made a note to yourself to not do that again- second floor or not you could still be seen apparently. Even if it was still early in the day. The sun had already climbed its way up the horizon but the life inside the mansion was hardly buzzing.

“Whatever.” You muttered as you shifted in the doorway. A stretch of silence passes between the two of you… and you can see Toby fidgeting his hands in his pockets.

“Anyway-” Toby finally broke the silence. “I was gonna ask if y-you wanted to come play? It’s just going to be me… Jeff and Ben- well.” He paused. “I guess you already know. You actually c-came to breakfast this morning-” one of his hands freed itself from its pocket and ran itself through his flattened hair- then waved dismissively in the air. “Whatever- you get it-”

His hand suddenly froze in the air before tensing- “Actually. Nina’s still here, did you wanna go with her to get some shit?”

His hand lowered back down but not before gesturing to some door near the end of the hall. Your eyes follow- a near eye bleeding pink with stickers of God knows what plastered all over the wood.

So they were allowed to decorate their doors, too.

That would make things easier if you needed someone in specific. Actually… you take the chance to glance over the others. Most were bare like yours. Some decorated. One that caught your eye was a plain door… painted the same way as most of the other doors but deep claw marks ran across the wood. The knob looked loose.

Toby followed your gaze.

“That’s Jack’s-” He shimmied his body at an angle to give you a clearer view. Across the hall from your room to the right. “Eyeless Jacks-” He specified after a second. “Hates being called that- don’t tell him we still call him EJ behind his back-” He snickered. You didn’t return his humor. This must have been the Jack that was mentioned this morning- the one who didn’t come down.

Toby’s eyes darted to your face.

“If you’re thinking of introducing yourself- don’t. He doesn’t like people- hermit,” He spoke quickly and dismissively. “Kind of an asshole, too- buzzkill, moody, jerky-”

You got the sense Toby didn’t much care for him.

“Might take-a chunk outtaya,”

You only hum in response as Toby brings himself back to his original topic. “Anyway- Nina-”

“I don’t feel like going out today- I mean… seems kind of dumb to go out when you’re… you know…” You trail off. You felt dumb for even verbalizing the obvious out but Toby didn’t seem all that bothered by it.

“I mean maybe for you- for the time being at least. Most of us aren’t really from around here and make sure not to get spotted toooooo badly, but,” Another shrug from him. “Don’t really blame you for staying inside. It's cold as hell out anyway.” Toby’s feet shift against the wooden floor.

“What games do you guys have, anyway?”

Toby’s mouth kind of sucked in on itself. “Well we did have more of a… selection but Ben…” his mouth then stretched thin. “Has a tendency to mess things up- We do have a copy of minecraft… Jeff’s been meaning to go snag some replacements but you know,”

You didn’t know.

Your face scrunched up.

“Jeff said he beat Ben at something-”

“They sometimes do some PVP in game. Between you and me it's annoying as all hell. We’ve nearly lost so many worlds over Ben throwing a fit or everything just getting destroyed.”

You were sure there was more to it but from how Toby spoke it sounded like normal antics.

“If you’re more interested in the building side of things you should probably get as far as possible-” Toby trailed off as a door a few rooms down to your left creaked open. Similar to Jack’s door there were gashes in the wood- resembling cuts from a blade rather than claw marks. A familiar pale face poked itself out from the dark room.

“You really need to work on your volume dude.” Jeff attempted to narrow his wide eyes at Toby. All that he accomplished was a vague scrunch across his brow that only made him look angry. Jeff’s light blue eyes flicked between the two of you as Toby made a sort of sputtering sound.

“I’m not that loud- I’m still working on it.” Toby muttered as he put his hands back into his pockets- thumbs sticking out and running against the denim. A loose sigh blew out of the slits in Jeff’s cheeks. “Uuh-huh yeah.”

Toby’s nose scrunched.

“You going with Nina or-” Jeff started but Toby quickly cut him off. “I already asked them, they’re not.”

You chewed on the inside of your cheek as the tension flared for a second. “Well, did you ask if they’re going to play? I need to know so I can get shit set up for them.” Jeff’s teeth clicked together sharply as his gaze hardened on the other man. A half eaten breakfast could only pacify him for so long it seemed. You find yourself nearly squirming against the thicker air.

“I mean, if you guys have the space for it. I don’t mind just watching- or not if you-”

Jeff waves you off, and pushes the door to his apparent bedroom open. It’s dark inside save for the glow of a tv somewhere inside. For a brief moment you wondered if the mansion somehow still had a connection to the internet if it had electricity.

Power and water.

No way in hell they were paying bills. If they had any.

“I already let slip to Ben that you might join us and he’s been nonstop yapping about how hes going to kick your ass- honestly I was this-” Jeff slipped out the hand that wasn’t gripping the doorknob to nearly press his finger and thumb together. “-this close to unplugging him.”

“Surprised you haven’t.” Toby snorted. The air seemed to lighten up at least.

“I heard that!” another voice suddenly cut through the air in a crackle- somewhere behind Jeff and out of sight. The burned man threw his head over his shoulder. “Good!” He snapped back before snickering under his breath. Jeff shifted to open the door all the way- and stepped to the side.

“Let’s get you set up then,” Jeff’s eyes fixed on you for a few seconds before settling on Toby. “Go tell Nina she can get a move on now-”

Toby nodded, but didn’t budge. “You want your usual?”

Jeff’s reddened lips twisted and pressed against each other in thought. “Tell her to throw in some peach rings too.”

“Gross.” Toby stuck his tongue out.

“Oh fuck off.” Jeff rolled his eyes. The door is pulled in a little wider. “I’m not gonna bite you like-”

“I already told them about EJ,” Toby cut Jeff off again. If Jeff didn’t look so annoyed that his joke was stolen the way his eyes slowly slid to Toby would have almost been funny. The stare didn’t faze Toby who simply asked you what snacks you wanted.

“Uhm…”

Jeff’s fingers drummed lightly against the doorway as you suddenly blanked out on what snacks were.

“Plain chips and a coke are fine? I mean I’m not… really hungry right now..?” You finally get the words out. A non offensive choice, as if there was a reason to be scared of spilling your preferences in front of these people. You couldn’t go wrong with plain chips anyway.

“Basic bitch answer.” Jeff scoffed- but there was some playfulness in his tone as he rolled his eyes. Toby muttered an acknowledgement before finally walking back down the hall to Nina’s door. You weren’t given the chance to watch the interaction unfold as Jeff cleared his throat. An apology squeaks through your mouth as you unroot your feet from the floor and step into his bedroom.

Jeff’s room was dark- the lights were off except for the glow of the tv, moved onto the floor to allow everyone to sprawl around across the floor. He had a rug, you noted. Various items and clothing laid tossed about the room- sloppily shoved into corners and along the edges of the walls. Posters of bands plastered the walls- slipknot, my chemical romance… and a poster for some animated metal band you’ve only caught glimpses of at three in the morning during all nighters. You must have stared for too long trying to read the band’s name because Jeff mistook you for a fan.

“Who’s your favorite?” His eyes zeroed in on the poster. You sort of awkwardly fumble with your hands for a second. The words stumble out clunkily. “Oh- no- no I’m not… I don’t.. Listen- never watched the show-”

A pause.

Jeff smacks his lips together. “You should give it a try, you could borrow my set… maybe we can watch it together, I’ve been meaning to bust it out anyway.” He looks at you for a long time.

“You seem like the type to rock with Pickles,” He finally turned away from the poster and settled himself on the floor- picking up one of the gaming controllers in his hands. You nodded along as if you had any clue of what the fuck he was talking about.

“Who’s your favorite?” You subconsciously ask as you join him on the floor- about two feet away from him. You take one last look around the room… and notice it was just the two of you. The owner of the voice that chimed in earlier was nowhere to be seen. You jump slightly as the controller is pressed against your upper arm.

“Here. We’re making you your own account so you don’t have to leech off of someone else.” Jeff shifted his legs to make himself more comfortable. It was only then that you realized just how long they were- he was a lot taller than you first thought. Hunching over must have hidden most of it. “Nathan’s my favorite, by the way,”

You hum in response… if you ever did watch the show you’d keep an eye out for… whoever those two characters were.

You punch in a half thought of username and choose an icon.

“Loser.”

A voice suddenly crackled through the speaker of the tv- the noise making you nearly jump out of your screen. “You’re almost as bad as Jeff.” It continued. It was a boy’s voice- young… you couldn’t tell if the crack was from the voice itself or from the static as it snickered.

“Xx_killer.blades_xX-”

“ITS BETTER THAN NINTENDOKID97” Jeff suddenly barked loudly over whoever the other person was.

“I WILL CUT YOU.” It snapped back.

“AND I’LL UNPLUG YOU.” Jeff snarled. You kind of just sat there awkwardly as the two bickered back and forth. You take it upon yourself to browse through the other accounts signed into the console as Jeff argues with the tv.

“Who the hell is sugar.daddy.fourtyseven.” Your face scrunched up- almost disgusted as you looked at the default icon. The two fall silent. Jeff’s mouth stretches into a thin quivering line. The speakers crackle with a stream of wheezing.

“We told LJ it meant someone who gives out candy-” Jeff said through clenched teeth. He didn’t know if he still wanted to be angry or join in on the other party’s amusement.

The TV crackled again. “I still can’t believe he actually fell for it-”

Jeff shook his head and ran a hand over his face. “Fucking… idiot…”

His head suddenly whipped back to force the hair out of his face. A slight roll of his neck offered a string of cracks and pops. “That’s Ben, by the way,” Jeff jerked his head to the… tv…

“Is this like… voice chat- or-”

“God I wish-” Jeff scoffed. “He’s like. In the console.” He picked up his own controller- but not without looking at the bedroom door. “Toby must’ve went with Nina or some shit.”

You didn’t really care where either of them were right now. You were personally stuck on the console comment.

“What do you mean he’s in the console?” Your eyes flicked between Jeff and the console in front of you. It buzzed oddly- the noise faint. It could’ve easily been chalked up to age.

“Easier to just.” Ben was the one to answer you as Jeff busied himself with launching minecraft and sifting through an enormous list of worlds. Most named with a random string of words, and others with a glitching pattern. “Physically get in, than to physically get out,”

The screen blips for a second- earning a hiss from Jeff.

“He’s a ghost.” He said shortly as he found a world that caught his interest. “And he’s good at the whole haunting thing- fucking brat.”

“I can fry the console right now if I wanted to,” Ben shot back.

“You wouldn’t. You’re the one who whined I go steal one.”

Again you sit there awkwardly as the pair have a small squabble. Your hands find themselves to your knees and gently pat the caps before falling still as they both calmed down. “Just. Play nice- don’t be a dick it’s their first time.” He huffed.

The words sounded clumsy as they fell from Jeff’s jaws… being mindful of others didn’t seem to come easy for him. Ben only gave a groan in response and whined about him being no fun- but the glitches and blips shooting across the screen calmed themselves a little as the world finished loading in. You join a second later in the middle of the world’s chaotic spawn.

It looked… decimated.

Craters were littered everywhere and any nearby structures were totally destroyed. There was a stack of blocks nearby that roughly resembled something phallic.

You waste little time in putting space between you and spawn.

“I’ve got some food for you if you want any-” you steal a glance to Jeff’s half of the screen as he- at least you assumed he was- rushed back to his base.

…

Only for him to swear loudly at the sight of it completely blown up.

Another bickering match between the two ensues. They… argued a lot. Something about a wolf caused this from what you could gather as you kept putting distance between the main area.

That’s how it was for the next hour or so- although it did ease up as Jeff calmed down. Ben had even been nice enough to drop some supplies for you… how he had found you so easily, and so quickly…

You weren’t even sure if the ores he gave you were legitimate but he was insistent you took them.

As the hour crawled by you shifted your legs to fight back against the cramp settling in your joints. You were going to hate standing up when it was time… the stumble and limp already passed through your mind… but it was something to worry about when it happened.

“Really gotta invest in some bean bag chairs… been meaning to get some buuut,” Jeff clicked his teeth and shrugged. “They’re a bitch to try to steal, they’re not exactly discreet.”

You only hummed… before…

“Do you guys just… steal everything? Like food and stuff?” You pull your eyes from the screen to glance at him- but only for a moment as the hissing of a creeper stole your attention back to the game. A sort of hum comes from Jeff.

“Not everything- I mean a lot of stuff is definitely stolen but like,” He put the controller down and motioned around in the air. Neither of you seemed to know what he was trying to do there. “It’s like… most of it just kind of-” He makes a popping sound with his lips. It didn’t come out right thanks to his cuts.

“-Appears. At least the raw stuff. Nina’s mostly the one stealing the… non-raw stuff. Cereal, syrups. If we’re just going off of necessities,” And he shrugged again. “No clue how it works but you get used to it. Mansion’s weird as hell but it’s not the weirdest thing out here.”

“Because fruity pebbles are a necessity,” Ben snickered. Save for some trash talk and jabs he had mostly fallen into peaceful silence as he focused on the game.

“I’m more of a frosted flakes guy personally… gotta get Nina to snag some next time she goes out on a restock run,” Jeff picked his controller back up and returned to finish rebuilding his base. Though… by the way he did it half assed you had the feeling he was going to relocate soon.

“Basic bitch,” Ben snickered.

“You look like you used to bring baggies of lucky charm marshmallows to school.” Jeff shot right back, and after a pause. “And had them stolen,”

A long pause.

“Now that was uncalled for…”

Whether he was leaning into the joke or actually hurt was hard to actually tell. If it was for the bit, Ben was good at sounding like a kicked puppy without needing to show his face.

Then it fell back into a somewhat comfortable silence. Joysticks clicking softly as they’re used, and buttons pressed filled the quiet.

Time seemed to roll right on by, one hour became two… the door to Jeff’s bedroom finally opened to let in a sliver of light.

“Think f-fast chucklenuts-”

Followed by a bag of peach rings hitting Jeff in the back between his shoulders, and falling to the ground with a plasticy thud. Nina snorted over Toby’s shoulder, her own arms full of various bags and drinks. “Sorry it took so long- Toby didn’t know what he wanted-” She squeezed in by the man. “Here,” She shimmied her arms around awkwardly- some items falling clumsily to the floor but she did eventually manage to get you your chips and coke. Behind her Toby started accusing her of being the one that was indecisive but she didn’t really give him a real response.

“Got these for Ben for when he feels up to coming out,” Nina shoved her hands into her pockets and out dumped a bunch of sour warhead bags. The static crackled from the tv.

“No way you actually got them-” Ben finally broke his concentration from the game. The screen warped slightly before calming.

Nina snorted. “Told you I would. Just needed to find a place that actually carried them,” Nina set the rest of the snacks on Jeff’s desk… he had one too, but it was… so much more cluttered and messier than yours. It was in dire need of a repainting. “I’ll be right back Imma go grab my laptop,” Nina suddenly spun on her heel.

“You’re not gonna play?” Jeff called over his shoulder. Nina shouted back about wanting to write as her footsteps rapidly got further away. Jeff snatched them from Toby- sprite and hot fries, alongside the peach rings that slid down his back. Toby settled himself somewhere behind you, between you and Jeff, as the burned man slid him a third controller. Toby himself had gotten a dr pepper and pringles. Sour cream and onion. As well as all sorts of candy and… dr pepper cotton candy. You didn’t even know that was a thing.

Good for him, you guess.

A minute later Nina came back clutching a rather old looking laptop covered with stickers. Most faded or scratched, some brand new. You swear you heard it crackle when she pulled it open and made herself comfortable in a corner of the room.

And it remained like this for a few more hours before Toby broke the silence.

“You sure you’re not gonna p-play?” Toby leaned back to stare at Nina. She only waved him off. “Nah… gotta write, I’m already behind.”

“Nina… you kill people I don’t think people are going to be worried if you take a few extra days to update your little fic-”

“It’s not a little fic-” She snapped over Toby before calming down. “I just think it’s fun okay?”

Nina cracked each of her knuckles and got to typing for a few seconds before stopping… and her eye landed on you. She had caught your stare. “Don’t look so interested, I’ve already got a beta reader-”

“Yeah and it’s Splendor. He literally says everything you put in front of him is good. Not really critical of him-” Jeff stuck his tongue out as he gathered his in game belongings and began to leave the biome he was in.

“He’s just a fan,” Nina huffed as she returned to writing. “Speaking of Splendor,” She said as she wrote. “If you need anything in particular you should probably go to him- or Slender… Splendor’s better though since he’s more… present…”

Toby nodded. “Slender’s usually in his office or somewhere in the woods most of the time… Splendor’s like-”

“A babysitter.” Ben whined.

“You. Don’t need much babysitting- there isn’t really much to sit-” Nina grinned. That only made Ben whine a little more. “He made me sit and play with Sally a week-”

“On the flip phone?” Jeff snorted.

“Yes on the fucking flip phone!”

“I’ll… keep that in mind- I still need to thank him for cleaning my clothes up-” You tugged on your stretched collar for emphasis.

“Oh! Ohoh!” Nina suddenly leaned forward and set her laptop to the side… you caught a glimpse at the tab currently open… you pretended you didn’t recognize the website. You weren’t sure you’d hear the end of it from anyone in the room if you showed any signs of being familiar with it.

“You should ask him if he can show you around the mansion too- I mean you could totally ask us but like… Splendor’s like- a lot more thorough than the rest of us!” Nina scooted a little closer with a smile. “I mean- not tonight-”

“-it’s already that late?” Toby craned his neck to look at the window in Jeff’s room. The curtains needed changing… torn. Or maybe he made them look like that on purpose?

Warm orange light was already seeping through the holes. “Damn…” Jeff huffed. Then he suddenly slapped his knees on his thighs and rose to his feet.

“Well I think I’m just about done with playing- I think I’m gonna go outside for a bit-”

“Think I’ll come w-with. Your room smells rank-” Toby did not give any reaction as Jeff swatted his shoulder. Nina’s laptop crackled slightly as she folded it shut- “Well if you two are going I’ll tag along- need to charge my laptop anyway… forgot to plug it in last night..” She grumbled as she dipped out the room.

You shifted around on the floor slightly.

“Why don’t you come with us? You look like you need to actually get some fresh air… or whatever..” Jeff stared down at the back of your head. You could feel him shifting around behind you.

“Smooth.” Toby muttered under his breath. A soft thud that earned no reaction. You shift your jaws around before putting the controller down. “Yeah- yeah sure… I guess I haven’t actually been outside yet, huh?”

The joints of your legs sharply ached for a few seconds and threatened to throw you back onto the ground as soon as you tried to stand back up…

The TV crackles.

“Can I come with..?” The screen flashed as the game saved and closed. Nearly all of the confidence that Ben had carried all day had been put out just like that… and it wasn’t really until now that you realized just how young he sounded.

For a moment he reminded you of your own younger brother who would shyly ask if he could come hang out with you and your friends. In that moment you wanted nothing more than to at least try to sneak home to make sure he was okay.

Jeff made an odd noise in the back of his throat… and after a brief moment of hesitation…

“Yeah yeah sure- just-”

The console suddenly shut off- and a second later the outlet it had been plugged into, alongside a charging phone- sparked. “You’re going to knock out the power if you keep rushing around like that…” Jeff muttered under his breath as he shuffled to the phone and unplugged it.

Your face scrunched.

“Ben can’t like. Walk around on his own most of the time-” Toby whispered in your ear as Jeff checked through the phone. A dry “ah” is all you give him in response.

Nina rejoined the four of you in the doorway.

“Come on- if we’re lucky we can come back before Splendor’s done cooking dinner-” She grinned as she stepped aside to let everyone out. You’re the last to leave the room, and you hang towards the back of the group as everyone makes their way downstairs. Sounds of the kitchen were the only other signs of life- Splendor cooking you had to assume.

“Come on-” Jeff waited outside the front door. You pull your eyes away from the entrance of the kitchen and follow him outside. His hand held the phone out- like he was taking a call on speaker. Ben had said something you couldn’t catch over the breeze. You should have grabbed your coat. It was too late for that now as everyone stepped forwards to the treeline.

The setting sun painted everything in a range of orange and red. Focused rays cut through the gaps between the trees and burned your eyes. The mansion almost looked colorful in the light.

And it was massive. Once more the fact it hadn’t been found yet thanks to its sheer size puzzled you.

You speed up your pace to keep up with everyone else as you all push through the bushes.

“Did you find any stragglers this morning or are they finally starting to calm down?” Jeff shoved his free hand into his pocket. Toby only offered him a shrug.

“We found tents but we didn’t actually f-find anyone. T-tore down everything to send the message.” Toby rolled his head around to pop away any stiffness in his neck. “They’re… not really thinning down. More like moving around. They really want to find you, man,” he threw you a glance over his shoulder before he turned back… before he spun around on his heel to walk backwards.

“You’re gonna break something like that-” Nina frowned.

“I hope the bone pops out-” Ben suddenly piped up. No one laughed and he awkwardly complained about no one finding it funny before he went quiet.

“Like I c-care. Just means I won’t have to do anything for a bit-” Toby grinned, though his steps steadied themselves- more calculated. Less careless. “So like,” He finally looked back at you. “There’s like posters everywhere of you all over town- you must’ve really fucked someth-thing up. Heard some douche mention something about expecting a cash reward-”

“There isn’t actually a reward, they just think there should be one-” Nina corrected.

“At least not that I could tell,” She added under her breath.

Your insides twisted somewhere at the pit of your stomach. Against everything you kept your face neutral. “Oh, really?” You managed to not croak out as your throat tightened.

You need to get used to this. This was how things were going to be from now on.

“You still gotta tell us what happened-” Jeff snickered.

“Cut them some slack they just got here-” Toby bickered back.

“It’s probably something lame like pushing someone off of a roof or something. Or maybe just manslaughter. Weak shit.” Ben added. Toby waved the unseen boy off.

“Don’t mind them they’re f-fuhcking nosey,” He grunted.

“Which reminds me, I should lock up my laptop.” Nina giggled. “I can’t lie I was tempted to search your name up buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut-” She flipped her hair to the side as it slipped over her eye. “You’re right here and it’d feel weird,”

You all walk deeper into the woods. The ambience of rustling leaves and critters scurrying around swallowed everything up. The mansion was long out of sight now.

Even surrounded by others who you didn’t quite call friends and within some light, you still felt like the threes were going to swallow you alive right there on the spot.

“I mean you don’t gotta spill the beans yet- if anything waiting adds to the drama of it-” Nina waved herself off as she darted a few meters ahead. She ducked down and looked through the grass… and pulled a bracelet out of the dirt with a coo.

“Oh I can definitely make something with this,” was all you heard as she stuffed it into her pocket.

You only hoped that the owner was still alive somewhere to miss the lost item.

“I think I’mma go sweep through to see if I can find any goodies before it gets too dark- you’ve been slacking on your promise Toby-” She pouted as she scanned the immediate area for anything shiny stuck in the grass.

“...Sorry for not stopping midchase to make sure someone didn’t stop something?”

Nina playfully scoffed but said nothing more as she darted to the right- her steps fading away rapidly as she made her exit.

“She looked like she wanted to scurry away the second we got out… kind of surprised she stuck around for so long-” Jeff whistled. On purpose or not, though..

A habit for her, then.

A few more minutes pass in silence as you push deeper into the woods.

“Splendor’s probably-” Toby started before Jeff’s arm suddenly cuts in front of him to keep him from stepping any forward.

“What’s going on-” Ben piped up only for Jeff to shut off the phone and shove it into his back pocket. In an instant it felt like the noise of the forest muted itself. You followed Jeff’s freed hand as he pointed ahead.

Two tents. Some bags strewn about the small clearing.

One man standing with his back to your group, hunched over on the ground fiddling with something. Lighting a fire, maybe.

“We gotta deal with that… too close to the…” Toby trailed off under his breath as he stared hard in the man’s flannel covered back.

“Two tents- probably more than one of them-”

“I’ll check the other tent then- no big deal-” Toby felt around his side before hissing. “I forgot my fucking hatchet-”

“They’ve got an axe over there just use theirs- dumbasses left it out in the open so whatever happens is on them-” Jeff hissed as he tugged into his hoodie pocket and tugged a small pocket knife into view.

The glint of golden sunlight on it only made you feel sick.

“I’ll rush ‘em-”

“Now wait-” but Toby didn’t have enough time to force Jeff to stay where he was. The burned man already broke ahead and dashed through the bushes separating the clearing from your current position. It all happened so quickly. One moment the man was silently crouched and the next he was screaming and trying to wail on Jeff. The blade plunged somewhere in his front- Jeff’s body was kind enough to obscure the impact from your eyes. You tried to look anywhere but the chaos in front of you.

Toby lightly shoulder checked you as he swore under his breath to make a grab for the nearby axe laid lazily to the ground. Some grass blades were sent flying from the sheer speed Toby had ripped it from the dirt- before he dashed to the nearest tent and knocked it down.

No one was inside, so he made quick work of the second.

It was empty as well- but the owner of it… or perhaps the first tent… made themselves known as they screamed at the scuffle in front of them.

A woman around your age- and now that you looked at the man as he thrashed under Jeff you noticed he looked older.

You force the implications out of your mind as you stand rooted to the spot.

Your sense of sound did return to you in the form of a sharp ringing in your ears as you stood there useless.

What could you even do? You were expected to join in, but there was a large part of you that still screamed to help the pair of campers.

The axe is suddenly thrown- missing the girl by a few inches. She bolted back into the trees- the shouts of the man just barely intelligible enough to you to translate into a plea to run.

“TOBY-” Jeff shouted.

Toby didn’t give him a response as he sprinted to the axe and tore it out of the tree’s bark. A second later he broke into the woods and disappeared from sight.

Jeff continued his struggle with the man- who all things considered was putting up a decent fight. He was larger than Jeff, but the stab wound was already stealing away his strength as Jeff forced him deeper into the ground below.

And with a look that only dripped sadistic amusement Jeff snapped his head over his shoulder to stare at you.

“Comere-” He beckoned you to come closer with the blade- now stained red instead of the sun’s golden light. He hissed as he slammed the man back down under him.

And against everything in your mind screaming at you to stay put you force yourself to take a step forward. The moment you were within reach Jeff pulled himself off the older man- but not without slamming his shoe into his side to keep him in place, knocking the air right out of him.

The knife was pressed into your hands. The handle was uncomfortably warm.

“Figured since you’re new you should finish it,” He snickered as he backed up to give you space. You remain frozen for a few seconds.

“Don’t tell me you’ve got cold feet,”

Jeff sounded harsher… sharp enough to make your knees buckle under your weight as you settle over the man.

He looked old enough to be your father and the pit in your guts grew sicker.

You accidentally make eye contact. Brown eyes filled with terror met your own fear filled gaze. The light warped against them- his eyes were watering. Fear or pain. Both were likely. His throat visibly spasmed under the skin as he tried to gurgle out a plea.

For himself, or for “the girls”. The only two words you managed to pick apart.

Girls. Plural.

The word was enough to make the killer behind you swear. And almost comically Jeff leaned down enough to pat your shoulder and whisper in your ear. “I’ll leave you to finish this- Toby’s not as good at this as me,” Jeff chuckled under his breath. The sound was vile.

And just like that he left you there with the man still writhing and trying to crawl away from you.

Broken pleas and cries slipped in through the sickly thick air as the blade shook in your hand.

You didn’t have to kill him. You could let him go.

But the risk of Jeff coming back to the body was there…

And as you stared down at that terrified face you had to make a choice before the man found his strength again to fight back.

Do you kill him… or do you let him go?

#x reader #canon x reader #canon x you #creepypasta x reader #creepypasta x you #creepypasta imagine #crp x reader #crp imagine #ticci toby x reader #jeff the killer x reader #nina the killer x reader

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painted-flag · 9 months ago

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OF FLOWERS AND DEATH - aemond targaryen

Chapter 4: A Night of Song and Dance

☾⋆⁺₊✧ dark elf!Aemond Targaryen x f!human!reader series. ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series masterlist. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ word count: 4k ✧₊⁺⋆☾ series warnings: 18+ depictions of violence/gore, eventual smut, warfare, sickness/disease, some moments of misogyny, and mentions of alcohol consumption. ☾⋆⁺₊✧ your perception of elves and their stoicism changes upon seeing the way they celebrate.

Settling into life in the castle over the next few days had been made surprisingly easy. Your routine was what held you together. In the mornings, you would break your fast with Amara and Liriel. It took you a little while to warm up to them, and even still you do not reveal too much about yourself. You are still determining whether or not they report your conversations back to the king or any of his advisors. While they were pleasant and treated you with kindness, falsity could still be on the horizon.

You would then spend a brief period in the mornings reviewing the patients and checking them for any advancements in their condition. After making those rounds and reporting to Daeron, you would sequester yourself to the library until noon. The amount of subjects and languages would never fail to awe you. Many of the books looked centuries old and a part of you was nervous handling them for fear that they would tear.

Your eyes would begin to ache with the amount of scanning you would do. Lunches were spent in Helaena’s company, with Daeron joining briefly before quickly returning to work. Of all the people in the castle, Helaena was the one you trusted the most. She was always kind, though not much of a talker. Still, it was nice to sit with someone and eat and not have to worry about holding a proper conversation.

After lunch, you would go back to the patients and start laboratory work with Daeron. You had been showing him how to make your concoction with the moonweed and he was still generous with his compliments on your work. While you taught him, you found yourself learning far more from his experience. It was truly a gift to have the opportunity of working with someone like him. However, during all of this, Aemond’s words still haunted you.

I do not like to be disappointed.

That fact loomed over your every moment, every interaction, and every breath. You had a year. Only a year to somehow solve the greatest mystery that had faced the realm in the last millennium. The absurdity of it all almost had you laughing, yet the weight kept you rooted in reality.

It was the morning of a new day and you had been in the library for a good few hours working away at some new texts. You would occasionally write down information in your notebook. You slouched in your chair with your right elbow on the wood table and your cheek resting against your palm. It was a wonder that your eyes were still open. You got little rest that night, having tossed and turned into the early hours. Most of the information in front of you was things you already knew and you were starting to wonder if the library would have anything new to offer.

One of the entrance doors to the library swung open. The person, an elf with silver hair that just brushed his shoulders, stumbled in. One hand gripped the doorknob tightly to maintain his balance while the other clutched a mug. His eyes scanned the area with disappointment.

“This is not the kitchens…” A lone hiccup came from his mouth. The man was dressed in all green, with black and gold embellishments. The front of his tunic had gold thread stitched into some design that you could not quite see from the distance between you two.

His eyes then found yours and both of his eyebrows shot up in shock, “What in the seven… are you real?”

“Am I real?” You questioned back. You placed down the quill you were using. The man stumbled forward and placed his mug down on the table. He uncharismatically swung his legs over the long bench and sat down across from you. He rested his right elbow against the table and pointed at you.

“Yes, are you real? Or am I seeing things?” His questions perplexed you. Why would he be seeing things? You took in his elvish features and rendered that he was drunk - well, beyond drunk. You had never seen an elf dunk nor did you think they could. They seemed too poised to participate in such matters.

“I am real.” You looked back down at the parchment in front of you. It was covered in some description of a random plant with various sketches of it. Not what you were looking for, but had stumbled upon it nonetheless.

“Good. I feared that I had sunk too much in my cups and became mad.” He sighed before picking his mug up and gulping down another sip of what you assumed was some kind of wine. The smell of fermented grapes hit you, though it was not much of a bother.

“Yes,” You scanned him up and down with your eyes, “Wouldn’t want to get drunk, now would we?” Your question echoed with sarcasm but seemed to go unnoticed by the elf.

“Are you..” He paused for a moment to get his bearings, “Are you the human that my sister told me about? The one that is working with the healers.”

You gave him a quick nod, “Yes. I am that human. Do you mind? I am trying to work.” While in any other case, you would not mind meeting new people here, you had started to become restless in the last few hours and were in no position to try your hand at pleasantries.

“Oh, it is rude to speak to a prince like that.” He drank from his mug again. You sat for a moment and mulled over his words. Prince? Damn, how big is this royal family? You don’t recall a brother being mentioned in your conversations with Daeron, as most of them revolved around work. With Helaena, you two just sat in silence occasionally speaking about whatever insect she happened to be fascinated with that day.

“Who are you? And how many people are in the royal family?” You asked.

“I’m Aegon. I’m the eldest, followed by Helaena, then Aemond, and lastly Daeron.” He explained. However, his explanation only made you more confused. Aemond was king, yet was the third born.

“Then why aren’t you king?” You had completely forgotten about the books spread out in front of you, determined to understand the workings of such a mysterious family.

“You wound me,” Aegon covered his heart in feigned distress before recovering, “Helaena did not wish to sit on the throne. Aemond challenged me for it. I, being the idiot, agreed to a duel.” Aegon then reached to his shirt and pulled the collar of his tunic down. There, on his pearly skin, was a nasty scar that ran down from his collarbone and disappeared under the fabric, though you assumed it went down much farther.

“He was always the better fighter,” Aegon muttered. He released his hold on his shirt and adjusted it to cover himself again. His hands wrapped around the wooden mug, but did not sip from it.

This gave rise to a question you had been mulling about the entire time you came here. It was always at the back of your mind, but you had been far too afraid to utter it - especially to the wrong person. However, it had been stewing for far too long and you could not resist.

You lowered your voice to whisper, despite it only being the two of you in the library, “Is that how the king lost his eye? In your duel?”

This question seemed to wipe any trace of drunkenness off of Aegon’s face. He sat up straighter and glared at his mug. He lifted his gaze to meet yours and there was an intensity in his eyes near paralyzing. It was not directed at you, but whatever or whoever was behind such malice would surely be dead.

“No,” His voice was full of condemnation, “It’s best if you do not ask such a question for your safety.”

A few moments pass, and just as you are going to continue reading, Aegon spoke, “Are you coming to the celebration tonight?”

“What celebration?” You brought your attention back to him. You had not heard anything about a feast, but then again you do not keep up with any news regarding the castle and court. It was none of your business. You were here to work, not gossip.

“Every week, there is a party held in one of the halls. To sing, dance, drink, and ultimately mingle. Think of it as a way to destress.” Aegon informed. To you, a party was anything but a way to relax, but you were curious about how elves did party. If it was anything as entertaining as watching Aegon stumble into the room moments ago, you would not mind attending.

“Think about it, little human,” Aegon got up from his seat and grabbed his drink, “You are more than welcome to join.”

He left you to ruminate. You went back to your work in silence again, but your curiousness was peaked. Perhaps it would do you some good to relax for an evening. You had done nothing but work for hours tirelessly every day. It would not be so bad, as to spend a night drinking and dancing.

Your day of work had passed and you found yourself in the familiar path of being escorted back to your room by two guards. They switched each day, so you had not bothered to get to know them. You wondered what the rotations for guards were in a castle as big as this. While you had only seen a small fraction of it, on account of you only being let in permitted spaces, it seemed ginormous.

When you got back to your room, you opened the door to see Amara and Liriel waiting on one of the couches. You were confused, as normally they would visit you after dinner for a short period to undress you and undo your hair. When they spotted you walking in, they each got up. Amara ran off to an adjacent room that had your bath while Liriel approached.

“Quickly, we have to get you ready.” Liriel wasted no time in grabbing your hand and dragging you to the vanity. She sat you down in the chair and began to undo your hair from the day. Amara walked back out of the room, a silken dress in hand. It happened to be your favourite colour and the fabric sparkled like gemstones.

“Ready for what?” You questioned.

Amara set the dress on gently on one of the couches, “For the party tonight.” She said it like it was the most obvious thing, yet that unsure feeling crept back to you. You had mulled the idea over for the day and concluded that it may not be best for you to join in.

“Oh, I don’t know if I should go.” You spoke. Liriel ceased her ministrations on your hair and Amara froze as well.

“There is no possible way we will let you miss this. It will be fun, we swear.” Liriel reassured you. She began to fiddle with a bunch of oils and scents laid out on the vanity desk.

Amara helped Liriel, picking up a bottle and receiving a nod from her partner, “This one will do. Anyways, you have to go, it will be magical.” Amara began to apply the oil to your skin, infusing the most wonderful flowery scent to invade your senses. You instantly liked it and took note of the bottle.

“I met Amara at one of these parties,” Liriel began to brush out your hair, “It was magical, truly. I saw her and just knew there was no other. A short while after we were wed.” She looked as though she was in a trance, reimagining that day. You had discovered quite recently that elves have impeccable memory and a string of envy hit you at that. What you would give to remember what little moments you had with your mother.

“What are elvish weddings like?” You asked. Amara began to look through a jewelry box. You were not given any jewelry upon your arrival, but the two elves had gifted you a bunch of theirs as they had so much it did not matter.

“Well, the celebrations are long, about a week. However, the ceremony is rather short. We each cut our palms with steel and hold on to one another. Some words are recited and it is sealed in a kiss.” Liriel explained. She had finished your hair and moved over to collect the dress.

Amara moved in front of you to put on the accessories, “In elvish marriages, our souls are bonded. We feel our partner's emotions and are more in tune with them. When you bind souls, it is like your body is born anew, a feeling like no other. I had a scar on my arm and it went away.” Amara adjusted the necklace to fit perfectly and stepped back, admiring the work done so far.

You were led out of your seat and towards Liriel who handed you the dress, “When one elf partner dies the other dies. It is seen as a good thing for us, as no one could see a life without their partner. It does not mean it has to be romantic, the bond could be platonic as well. Here, put this on. I bet it will be perfect.”

You thank Liriel and enter the room with your stone bath. You mulled over the information you just gained as you changed out of one dress and into another. The concept of marriage in elf culture is intense. In your world, it was the simple act of exchanging rings and some vows. Matches were often arranged and not entirely pleasant. Here, it was the literal binding of souls.

To think that two people could be so tied to one another to feel their emotions and die together, was a level of commitment that fractured your concept of the word. You shrugged on the fabric while still contemplating. Regardless of discovering a cure, if you somehow made it out of this kingdom alive at the end of the year, would there be a possibility of discovering a love like that? You had admittedly never given much thought to it.

There was little time in your life for those pursuits. When you were young in the capital, there were boys you would play with, but it was all childhood innocence. You were still young when your father moved you two out to the countryside. In the village, the selection for people was low, and the quality even more so. You had dedicated yourself to your studies and would have most likely rejected any potential suitors had they asked.

You emerged from the room in your dress to meet the excited squeals of Amara and Liriel. They each fuss over adjusting the silk until it looked just right.

“No time to waste,” Amara looped her arms with you and Liriel and walked you two out of the room.

There was no sight quite like the celebration hall. It was lit up with torches and jars of fireflies. Solf banners covered parts of the trees and dark stone that made the walls. It was crowded with elves. Some sat at tables while most stood and mingled or danced. There was a large band playing music you had not heard before. It was as joyous as tavern music but had more elegance to it. Ultimately, you did not regret attending after seeing what the night had in store.

You had little time to continue to take the room in as the call of Daeron and Aegon shook you from your reverie. You turned to see the two waving you over with excited looks on their faces. Amara and Liriel dragged you to the elves standing by one of the bar tables that held numerous kegs of wine. Your two companions bowed to the royals.

“You decided to come.” Aegon swung one of his arms - the one not holding a chalice of wine - over your shoulder. He handed you the wine and turned behind him to get another.

You held the drink up to your mouth and caught a whiff of its scent. Cherry, with hints of honey, hit your nose. The intensity of it made you cough lightly, to which your new friends all laughed.

Daeron moved forward and tugged you from Aegon’s hold and beside him, “Be cautious with the wine, it is far stronger than any human brew.” He warned as he took a sip from his own cup. You decided to be brave and take a sip. Almost immediately you were sputtering. It was like the first time you had ale as a child and found yourself coughing up the liquid. Daeron patted your back with a laugh.

“Seven hells, that warning was not enough.” You spoke.

“You’ll get used to it,” Daeron took another gulp and wiped the edges of his mouth while scanning the room. Aegon, having downed another cup in that time, spotted some of his other friends from across the hall and proceeded to stumble his way to them. You watched on in amusement and wondered if you would ever see him sober.

Amara and Liriel moved to the dance floor as a new song began. You watched the loving gazes they gifted one another and soft touches. It was always a pleasure to see two people in love, but something about it stabbed a small part of your heart and you did not know why. Daeron placed his cup down on a table and moved in front of you.

He held his hand out, “Would you mind joining me in a dance?” You looked at his open palm and thought for a moment. You are not the best at dancing, but what little wine you consumed had already begun to affect you.

“Alright, but if I break your foot that is not my fault.” You placed your hand in his and he led you to the dance floor. One of his hands moved to your waist while the other stayed holding your hand. The two of you moved with him leading. You would glance at your feet every few seconds to make sure you did not fumble. When you looked up, Amara and Liriel passed by in their dance, giggling away.

“They look so happy.” You noted.

Daeron nodded and spun you around, “They make a fine couple.”

You pause for a moment before opening your mouth, “Have you met anyone?” Daeron’s face turned red, the rosy colour spreading across his cheeks. During your discussions while working, he had yet to speak on his social life. The two of you had bonded over some common interests outside of healing, but there was rarely any time to have long conversations.

“She is a member of the royal hunting team. Sometimes she comes in with cuts or bruises from some hunt. I, uh,” Daeron stutters and falts in his steps for a moment, “I get to treat her.”

“Then why haven’t you asked her?” You questioned. Daeron shook his head at your words as if it were a funny joke.

“If you could see her, you wouldn’t. I can barely keep from making a bumbling fool of myself, let alone work up that kind of courage.” Daeron spun you around again as the two of your bodies moved with the other dancers in a circle.

You looked at the elves all around, watching them drinking and laughing. Your head swivelled around and spotted more happy couples, “Would you rather spend your life cursing yourself for missing the opportunity to ask her?”

Daeron thought over your words and you could see him working through it. In a quick turn, you almost stepped on his feet but managed to save yourself, however, Amara and Liriel were beside you and caught your fumble. They sent quick nods of encouragement to you and you gave them a small smile in return.

“I suppose not.” He reluctantly agreed.

“Are,” You paused for a moment and wondered if you should ask the question, “Are any people in your family married?”

Daeron laughed, “Ah, well, Aegon is too busy with his cups to pursue such an idea as romance and Helaena has never expressed much interest in it at all. Though, I suppose that is rather lucky to dodge the keen sting of heartache. As for me, well, you know it all now.”

“And the king?” You made eye contact with Daeron to ask that question, though you are not entirely sure why you would care. Aemond was nothing but cruel, in the brief moment of exchange between you two, and you had a hard time picturing any being tolerating him enough for romance. You did not think he had much of a heart to participate in that matter, to begin with.

Daeron laughed even harder then, “Oh, gods, no. My brother is not interested in any of that.”

“I thought so. Someone like that does not seem capable of it.” You let slip. You wished to swallow your words. How could you so openly insult the king, in front of his brother no less?

“Aemond is not as bad as your kind make him out to be,” Daeron defends, “I must admit he may not be the most sensible, but all he does is protect our kind.” You took in his words and began to question the validity of the stories told to you in your youth. You learned from the history books of his cruelty and prowess on the battlefield.

“What about,” You lowered your voice slightly, “The Great War?” It had ended centuries ago, but the scars from such gratuitous violence still cut and the blood still stained the minds and hearts of everyone. Daeron’s eyes darkened for a moment as if recalling it himself. You knew he would have been alive during that period and it once again hit you how odd it was to be among elves. They lived so long, and everyone in this room was guaranteed to be many centuries, possibly even a millennium, older than you.

“All that my brother did was to defend our lands. What about your people? Are you telling me they did not do terrible things to protect themselves?” Daeron seemed almost lost in his memories and you instantly regretted why you had been so combative.

“I’m sorry, Daeron. I did not mean to attack your brother like that.” You apologized.

He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, “It is alright. That is of the past and our kind’s need to stop and move on for the sake of the future. You do not need to worry about Aemond hearing this, he never comes to these parties.”

You agreed with his reasoning, but his comment on the future threw you off, “If we have a future. With this taint…” Your voice trailed off.

“We can fix it. I know that.” Daeron offered an encouraging smile before twirling your body around which made you slightly dizzy.

“I just wish I had my father, he would know what to do.” You had briefly spoken to Daeron about your father's disappearance and your belief that he was still alive. It was a feeling, deep inside your heart, that he still lived. You knew he was alive, you were his child and still felt that connection.

“Enough with the negative topics. This is your first party here, let's not ruin it.” Daeron and you made your way off of the dance floor and towards the crowds of elves mingling about. “Now, what would you like to do?”

You hummed at his question and turned around to watch what others were doing, “I think I should like another taste of that wine.” You met his gaze with a mischievous glint in your eye.

Daeron chuckled and patted you on the back, “Ah, that we can do.”

The two of you ventured over to one of the many kegs to get another cup of wine. That night, you experienced the first moments of pure excitement during your stay in the kingdom. You, Amara, Liriel, Daeron, and Aegon partied into the late hours of the night, not stressing about the current weight of your dying world.

Just for a moment, the rift between elves and humans meant nothing.

Chapter 5: The Young Elf Preview

“If I am nothing but a silly little human in over her head, what threat do I truly pose, your grace?” While your words had been aggressive, you coated them in the most flattering voice you could muster; the call of an innocent animal hiding their violence.

Aemond regarded you for a moment as you stood there. You adjusted the weight of the books in your hands. He still was giving you a look that deeply unsettled you. You felt like a bug under his gaze, though you knew he would not treat you as gently as Helaena does to her insects. Aemond would not hesitate to squash you under his foot.

“All humans are a threat.”

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bunnyluvx · 9 months ago

Text

spring is my favorite season.

featuring: niran pruksamanee (lifeweaver) x m!reader.

summary: you learn new things about yourself after a late-night study session with your best friend.

warnings: n/a.

tags: vishkar student niran and reader | best friends who should definitely kiss | serious pining from niran | oblivious reader | domestic fluff

a/n: HEYYYY GUYS!! i didn't realize that july was the last time i posted eyfubino i am so sorry. i struggled with finding an idea for a new fanfic but i finally got one!!!! im honestly really happy with how this turned out, i have been wanting to get into overwatch for a really long time and i finally have it on my switch so i have been going CRAZY. everything may not be completely accurate with this so please forgive me if i missed something with the story. as far as i know, ow lore is really screwy so everyone has kind of made their own story and this is a brief look into my interpretation of things before niran joined overwatch. hope you guys enjoy!!!!!!!

date started: 8:01PM, september 7th, 2024.

date finished: 8:27PM, september 11th, 2024.

wc: 2.9k

ao3

Quiet swarms throughout the hallways of the building. Vishkar's dorms are surprisingly relatively peaceful. Though they don't come without their commotion, it brings enough solace to its residents so that they can go about their business uninterrupted. You disturb the silence when you exit your room, the door clicking closed at your side and your key sliding into the lock to secure it. Once finished, you walk three doors down and knock. You carry an armful of books and papers, resting the stack on your hip while you wait for the door to open. You barely have to practice your patience, for the door swiftly clears your path and your vision is greeted with a new sight.

On the other side is a tall young man with tan skin, long white hair tied up into a bun on the back of his head. Wearing a loose, white button-up shirt, black pants and a smile stands Niran Pruksamanee, your best friend. You met in one of the school's labs when you were working on your respective projects, and he was curious about yours, so he asked you about it. You discussed your works, exchanged contact information and the rest is history. The friendship that you have developed with Niran is one that you have needed all of your life. Throughout your years, you have wondered if anybody was going to care for you as much as you did for them, to match your energy in all things. You have not wondered that since you found Niran. He is your person, through thick and thin, and you could not want anyone else.

"You're here! It's about time." The man greets you, stepping aside while keeping the door ajar. "I thought that I was going to have to start without you."

You roll your eyes playfully, a crooked grin on your face as you walk in. "Yeah, yeah, relax, drama queen. Your gracious king has arrived."

The door closes behind you as you kick off your shoes, replacing them with a pair of blue slippers that Niran bought just for you. When you turn around, Niran's hands rest over his heart, his eyes turned up away from you. "Oh, my dearest, I have missed you so! I could have withered away from the ache alone! Wherever have you been?"

You decide to play into the charade, a little smirk playing on your lips as you take one of Niran's hands and pull him closer to you. "So sorry to keep you waiting, darling, I was asleep in the royal chambers. Could you ever forgive my tardiness?"

Eyes slightly widen and the smile falters from his lips in surprise for only a moment before his face relaxes and the smile returns. "Perhaps. But only if you prepare our feast tonight."

You break your character with a chuckle and release his hand, letting yours drop to the side. "Fine. Let's go."

With that, you both walk to Niran's room. You bump the door open with your hip, Niran heading to the door opposite to his room to grab a chair for you to sit on. You move to the desk and carefully set your stack of belongings onto the desk that sits directly across from the entrance, turning around to meet your best friend's eyes to ask, "Where's Satya?"

When you turn around, the white-haired man has already entered the room with your seat, rolling it behind you and taking a seat in the chair that already stood in front of the desk. "She is in the labs. She won't be back for awhile."

You glance at the seat that Niran pulled up for you, eyes looking back to him. "You're sure it's okay if I use her chair?"

Niran waves off your concern, leaning back. "Of course it is! Satya won't mind as long as we put it back when we're done with it."

You nod before turning to look at Niran's desk. It's littered with papers, stationary items messily placed into organizers and two lights resting near the corners of his desk on the edge. Your dearest friend has never been very put-together when it comes to his study spaces. You can tell when he has been working on something for days at a time without sleep when his room looks like a tornado went through it. Luckily for him, you are always there to remind him to take breaks to take care of himself.

While he does that, you clean and organize his desk, slipping papers into folders and setting them aside. You always make sure to label them too, so that when he returns to his work, Niran will know where everything is. You also cook for him, run him baths, do his laundry, anything that needs to be taken care of is a task that you are willing to take on. He always tells you how grateful he is when you're done too, and despite you telling him not to, he manages to somehow return the favor.

"Let's clear all of this up first, then we can get started." You instruct, moving to slide some of the papers towards you to pick up.

Niran salutes to your command and responds with, "Yes Sir!"

This makes you laugh, and together, you remove all of the unneeded materials from the desk to make room for both of your things. Working together makes it go much faster, and you're both able to start working before you know it. In between the focused silences, you converse and laugh over the latest gossip that you've overheard from other students. How it is that being around Niran makes your ability to focus so much better and so much worse at the same time is beyond you, but spending time with him like this is something that you always welcome.

Almost two and a half hours pass before you check the time, reading seven-thirty PM. You figure that you both could use a break, plus you need to fix dinner up. You practically have to drag Niran away from his task, but once you did and got him onto the couch, he didn't put up a fuss. You decided to make Tom Yum soup, something for the both of you to enjoy and that will leave you content for a few hours. The scent catches NIran's attention, moving his head up from his phone to you in the kitchen. "Is that Tom Yum?" He asks curiously, a smile gracing his lips.

"Yup. Figured it will motivate us." You confirm, stirring the large pot that brews before you.

A few brief moments of silence follow with your reply, which you find odd, until you feel strong arm come around your waist from behind. Your study buddy's chin rests on your shoulder and his eyes close, his voice rumbling a hum from low in his throat. "You know me so well."

Displays like this aren't exactly uncommon in your relationship. Holding hands while walking, draping arms around shoulders or waists, sitting in each other's lap, cuddling and napping, name it, you've probably done it together. Most of the time, you don't think about it too much, as you do not have shame when it comes to the way that you love your friends and how you express it. But there are times with Niran, that it feels different. Keeping you close to his side around strangers, or holding you tightly when you lay on top of him are examples that come to mind. Not to mention the fact that both of you refer to each other as soulmates, and gush for hours about each other to your friends. You would never tell Niran this, of course, but he seems to have no problem letting you know how much he adores you.

You know that your best friend is pansexual, but never once have you thought that he could have any feelings for you. If he had romantic feelings for you, then he would have told you by now. Your communication with each other is very open and straightforward, so if he had something to tell you, then he would. You yourself have always been straight, as far as you are concerned, so there is definitely nothing going on between the two of you. But if that's the truth, then why does your heart feel like it's about to leave your body??

You are frozen where you stand, your cheeks becoming brightly colored as the familiar sensation of the man's arms encases you in a protective warmth. Your eyes are blown wide, and your lips press together tightly. You've noticed recently that whenever he hugs you, your heart thrums a little faster in your chest. You brushed it aside, thinking that it was just excitement from the dearest person in your life showing you affection, but this is an entirely new level. You feel like you're in middle school, holding hands with your girlfriend in the halls for the first time. Everything in your body is screaming things that you can't understand, and your brain feels foggy. You have never reacted so extremely to his hugs before, so why is it now that you feel like you are about to combust where you stand??

Niran takes notice of the tension in your body quickly, lifting his chin from your shoulder to look at your face and ask, "Are you alright?"

You blink free from your daze, and glance at the man behind you. "I-I'm fine!"

A small frown tugs on his lips as he sees that you are very clearly not fine. "Are you uncomfortable? I can stop if you do not want me to do this."

Your cheeks only become brighter as you turn to him, his arms momentarily sliding off of your waist when you scramble to answer, "N-No! Nononononnononnnonnono, I am not uncomfortable at all! It's fine, Niran, really."

The man tilts his head, frown still curled in a pout on his face. "You're sure?"

You nod to him, a wobbly smile twitching on your lips. "Y-Yes! Yes, everything is fine, I promise."

Deciding to trust your words, NIran nods. "Alright, but you are more than free to tell me to get off if you want me to, okay?" He reminds you, wanting to ensure your comfort with him.

You nod again. "I know. I will, I promise." You reassure him, only then does he become content with your answer and step forward to return your back against his chest and his arms around your waist. His chin props itself onto your shoulder, and you quietly return to the pot in front of you.

The silence lasted long enough for the blush on your cheeks to dissipate, tension mostly leaving your muscles. The butterflies in your stomach persistently flutter around, but you try to play it cool. Niran does not make this easy for you, a smirk curling onto his lips as he lifts his chin from its resting spot a little as his eyes meet yours from the side. "Don't tell me that you're falling for me."

A cruel soul your friend is, for the butterflies in your stomach spread throughout the rest of your body. Your shoulders rise from the tension, and your body whips around to face his. "Niran!!" You exclaim, the heat rising in your face drastically.

Your reaction makes him laugh, arms hovering over his stomach before one moves so that his hand rests on his hip. The other rises to his chin, metal fingers gently stroking it as he looks away to pretend to be pondering. "Hmm, well..it was only a matter of time, I suppose. Everybody falls for me eventually. I'm not surprised."

You laugh at his confidence and gently push him backwards before turning back to your shared dinner. An open-mouthed smile stretches its way onto his lips as he watches you, an amused huff passing through his nose before he folds his hands behind his back and steps forward. "So? Are you?" He questions further, a mischievous grin on his face that says that he's trying to pull more reactions out of you.

Instead of answering his question, you turn off the stove and grab two bowls from the cabinets next to you. You pour out two servings and hold one out to him. "Here, eat." You redirect him, the tan man letting out an elongated sigh before taking the bowl you offer to him and stomping to the couch.

You chat throughout the meal, and you swear that a conversation with Niran is never a conversation without laughter. He always knows the punchlines to make and just how to make them so that you'll remember it for weeks afterwards. Not a day goes by where he does not make you giggle at least once, and every time he is able to draw one from you, he feels accomplished. If making you laugh is the only thing that he will ever do right in this world, then he's okay with that.

After finishing dinner, you both return to studying. You worked relentlessly for hours, only taking one break to grab a snack and water without counting bathroom breaks. What happened while you were preparing dinner remained in the back of your mind the entire time that you worked. If you could have stayed in his arms like that forever, you would have without hesitation. His embrace brings a comfort that you long for every moment that you are not in it, and you believe that nothing can compare to it. It is warm, loving and everything you could ever want. None of this means that you're falling in love with him, though, right? His teasing rings around in your brain ruthlessly, a question that you're sure wasn't meant to be taken seriously, but now, it has seeped well past your physical body and latched onto your conscious.

Your head spins non-stop the closer all of these thoughts were to the front of your mind, so you decided to work even harder to try to ignore it. When Niran noticed that you were starting to get sleepy and almost nodding off to sleep, he told you to sleep in his bed. You insisted that you were fine, that you didn't need to sleep, and as much as he wanted to pick you up and throw you onto the bed to make you sleep, he resisted and decided to let you meet the consequences of your actions when you would wake up tomorrow with a sore neck and back. You eventually did pass out over the desk, head tucked in your arms snuggly.

Niran didn't notice that you had passed out until almost an hour after, his eyes drifting up from the book in his hands to check on you. Seeing you all tuckered out over his desk brings a smile to his face. You have always pushed yourself far past your limits, much like him. Maybe that's why the two of you are so good for each other, and why he likes you so much. You are one in the same, and you always take care of one another. When he needs someone to ramble to, you are his person, and when you are feeling down, he is the one that picks you up. More than anything, he loves you, and knowing that you are in it for the long haul brings him more joy than he could ever express to you.

He has been in love with you for a very long time. The teasing, the "jokes", the attention and affection that he gives you are very real, and he has been waiting for you to realize his feelings for a very long time. He hasn't told you yet for that reason, not to mention how funny he finds your obliviousness. The man sets his book onto the desk and stands from his seat, grabbing a big, fluffy blanket from his bed and returning to his seat. He slides right next to you and wraps the blanket around both of your shoulders comfortably. His arms rest crossed on the desk and adjusts the blanket on his shoulders a little before tucking his head against them closely, brown eyes taking the time to admire your sleeping face. Nothing could wipe away the lovesick smile on Niran's face as he is blessed with this moment, where he gets to cherish the peace that is designated for just the two of you. Curse the heaviness that weighs into his eyes as they slow to a close, for he wanted to look at you just a little bit longer before falling asleep.

You do not expect what you see when you awaken the next morning. Your eyes peel open to a familiar face, fast asleep directly in front of yours. It takes you a few seconds to realize how close Niran is to you, your spatial awareness clouded by sleepiness. But oh, once you recognize that there is no space between your faces, your cheeks are set ablaze. You are wide awake now, eyes blown completely open and body still as stone. Your instincts tell you to back up, but you are far too flustered to bring yourself to move. There's also part of you that doesn't really want to move. You have been in close proximity to Niran when you have cuddled before, but now, you can take the time to gaze at him uninterrupted. His sleeping face is relaxed and his hair falls into a pool of angel wing white behind his head. Compared to the smug persona that he dresses himself with on a daily basis, he looks serene in this moment. Oh, how you wish that you had the ability to stop time, because if you could, you would pause everything just so that you could look at him more.

…Fuck.

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