#I had an encyclopedia except it wasn't even an encyclopedia

[swan2swan]

Yes. You were. Because 40+ years of lore has made it abundantly clear that you cannot just Tinker Bell your way into having magic superpowers.

Child, when I was studying the Lore, there were three movies. And maybe some books. You sit down and speak respectfully to your elders.

[incognit0slut]

The Last Laugh

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

Spencer is forced to share a room with his rival. This is part two of Lose Control but can be read as a standalone.

warnings: sexual tension, a lot of banter, female oral, edging, rough sex, unplanned creampie (is that a thing?) words: 5,3k a/n: someone requested a part two with a one-bedroom trope and since this is one of my favorite stories, I had to do it

...Thinkin' you're winnin' with all of your grinning but I got the last laugh...

"I'M NOT SLEEPING WITH REID."

The idea was absurd. Ridiculous. Insane. Out of all the people in her team, why was she paired up with him?

According to Garcia, the only choice she had to spend the night in this remote town was with the person she least wanted to engage with. Did Garcia not know how much she had been trying to avoid him? How much she had been attempting to act as if the mere proximity with him wasn't making her lose her mind?

"Why not?" Garcia asked, handing her a key. "He's not that bad of a roommate, well, if you overlook his tendency to share random facts in the middle of the night, then he's really not that bad."

"Do you not hear yourself?" She steadied her gaze to her friend. "You want me to share a room with the person I hate the most?"

Garcia rolled her eyes. "You guys really should stop with this nonsense. You're both grown adults."

"I'll treat him like an adult if he starts to act like one." Her eyes drifted toward the man of the hour, standing at the other end of this old-looking hotel that seemed too close to falling apart, engaged in conversation with Luke. She then glanced back at Garcia. "Why can't he share a room with Luke?"

"Because I'm sharing a room with Luke."

She shot Garcia an incredulous look. "You're rooming with Luke? Since when?"

"Since always. We're buddies, remember?" She cocked an eyebrow and Garcia sighed. "Don't look at me like that, we're just friends. Besides, you and Reid are the only ones left without a roommate. Consider this your opportunity for personal growth or whatever."

"Personal growth? More like a crash course in patience. And what's the deal with Reid anyway? Why does he always have to be the exception?"

Garcia leaned in, her tone conspiratorial. "Well, let's just say Luke and I enjoy our peace. Reid, on the other hand, is like a walking encyclopedia. I figured it's your turn to experience that charm up close."

She scowled, a mix of annoyance and resignation on her face. "Charm? That's a generous way to put it."

Garcia stared back with an air of nonchalance that only seemed to amplify her exasperation. "Look, it's only one night. What's the worst that could happen?"

She shot her friend a withering glance as if the absurdity of the situation needed no further clarification. "The worst is that I might end up committing another crime in this town before the night ends."

Garcia raised an eyebrow, her amusement evident. "You're exaggerating, Reid is harmless. Plus, all the other rooms are fully booked. Consider yourself lucky we even found a place to stay."

"Lucky is not the word I would use right now."

"Just try to survive the night without killing each other," Garcia chuckled, ignoring the glare shot towards her way. "Give him a chance."

Her incredulous stare intensified. "A chance? Garcia, the man tried to argue with me about the most efficient way to organize my desk. And you know what's ironic? His own desk is a complete mess."

Garcia sighed, her playful demeanor softening. "One night, Y/n, that's all I'm asking."

She pursed her lips together. She could go on about how bad it would be to share a room with him, but the thing was, it would raise questions she did not want to answer. There was a limit to how much her disdain could stop her from entertaining the idea, and her avoidance, she realized, was more than just mere hatred.

Annoyed that she couldn't do anything to escape the situation, she shot a disapproving glance at him, who was still engrossed in conversation with Luke. With a resigned shake of her head, she turned back to Garcia.

"Whatever." She sighed, begrudgingly accepting the key Garcia handed her. "But if he starts reciting facts about, I don't know, the history of dental floss or something, I'm blaming you."

Garcia laughed. "Fair enough." She shoved her shoulder playfully. "But who knows, maybe you'll discover he's not as bad as you think."

That was the problem. Spencer Reid, in her eyes, was starting to... change. And she hated that. Why was the man she had never bothered to befriend occupying her mind more than she wanted him to? Was it because she now knew what it felt like to have his body pressed against hers? What it felt like to have him grunt in pleasure right in her ear? Just because they had sex?

Nope. Nuh-huh. She wasn't going to think of him differently tonight—or ever, for that matter.

She gave Garcia one last glare before making her way across the creaky floorboards toward him. Noticing her presence coming close, Spencer looked up and a slight tension filled the air as his gaze locked with hers. She quickly shook her head.

"You're sleeping on the floor," she declared with a point of her finger when she reached him.

A small amused smile played on his lips. "We're sharing a room?"

"Unfortunately," she grumbled. She then focused her attention on Luke. "Do you want to switch roommates?"

Luke chuckled. "I'm afraid I'm stuck with Garcia. Besides," he patted Spencer on the shoulder, "Don't act like you're not eager to spend the night with him."

Her eyes went wide. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Luke simply shrugged with a mischievous glint in his eyes, and walked away, leavingher staring at Spencer with a mix of confusion and suspicion. "What did you tell him?"

Spencer frowned. "Nothing." He sighed when her stare didn't back down. "Nothing, I swear. Luke tends to have his own way of interpreting things."

She narrowed her eyes, not entirely convinced, but decided to let it go for the moment. She turned on her heels, not waiting for him as she walked to their destinated room. She felt his presence close behind her but kept her mouth closed.

Spencer, on the other hand, found the situation amusing. He really shouldn't find any entertainment in her visible annoyance towards him, but he did. He couldn't help but notice that despite being angry, she still looked unbelievably attractive. The scowl on her face, her pursed lips, her chest heaving in anger. He took a step closer.

"This must be hard for you," he commented.

"What is?" she shot back, maintaining her brisk pace.

"Staying the night with me when you've been avoiding me."

Her jaw tightened. "I haven't been avoiding you."

"Really? So you haven't gone out of your way to avoid looking in my direction ever since what happened?"

Her steps faltered for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure, refusing to show any vulnerability. "That doesn't mean I've been actively avoiding you. It just means I have better things to do than engage in pointless conversations."

Spencer raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in his eyes. "Pointless conversations, or conversations you're trying to avoid?"

She shot him a sharp look but didn't respond. "You know," he began again. "You do seem to be acting differently ever since that day."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Spencer couldn't resist a faint smile at her denial. "You really don't know what I'm referring to?"

She huffed, not giving him the satisfaction of a response. The narrow hallway seemed to amplify the unresolved tension between them as they stopped right in front of their room. She could feel his gaze on her, and it only fueled her annoyance.

She tried to ignore him by unlocking the door, but as she pushed it open, she felt his presence looming behind her. His proximity was so close that she held her breath as he gripped the edge of the door in front of her. His breath brushed her neck and her eyes involuntarily fluttered close when his other hand slowly rested on her waist.

"Should I help you jog your memory back?"

Her eyes shot open. She shoved him aside and stepped into the room. "No funny business, Reid. Keep your dick in your pants tonight."

His laughter lingered in the air as he followed her inside, closing the door behind him. "The question is," he taunted. "Can you keep it in my pants?"

She scoffed. Who was he and what did he do to the Spencer she once knew? The guy she remembered lacked any humor and always kept his distance from her. It was hard to believe a simple encounter—could you call sex as simple?—had turned him so crude, or maybe, she considered, this was his true self all along.

She decided to ignore his words as her eyes scanned the cramped room, containing only an old dresser, a nightstand, and a queen-sized bed, which she pointed at assertively. "That bed is mine."

His brow furrowed. "Why do I have to sleep on the floor?"

"You want me to sleep on the floor?" Her hand gracefully moved to her chest in a dramatic gasp. "Where is your chivalry, Dr. Reid?"

"We could share the bed."

She simply stared back at him, her eyes narrowing with a mix of disbelief and incredulity. Spencer, unable to resist stirring the pot, shot back with a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Come on, it won't be so bad. Did you know that the concept of sharing a bed has been a cultural practice for centuries? It symbolizes unity and—"

"Reid," she interrupted, shooting him a pointed look. "If you're trying to annoy me, you're doing an excellent job."

He grinned, clearly enjoying her irritation. "I'm just stating a fact. Sharing a room, sharing a bed—it's all deeply rooted in human history."

She sighed, rolling her eyes. "I highly doubt our situation is deeply rooted in anything other than poor hotel arrangements."

Spencer chuckled, undeterred, his laughter resonating in the dimly lit room as he took a step closer to her. The worn-out floor creaked beneath his feet, echoing the subtle tension that lingered in the confined space of the room. "You never know. We might be making history right now."

She shot him a skeptical look, her gaze unwavering. "I doubt historians will be interested in this disaster."

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you always this skeptical, or is it just reserved for me?"

"It's just reserved for annoying people," she retorted, not missing a beat. She took a deliberate step closer to him, the air thick with a blend of tension and... something else. Her heart quickened as his gaze swiftly swept over her lips before dragging back to her eyes.

"Really?" He closed the distance between them, and she held her ground, tilting her head back to meet his gaze due to his towering height. A subtle trace of his scent hung in the air, his presence enveloping her. She felt a sudden shift in the air, her senses heightened, and her eyes traced the contours of his face—the sharp angles of his jaw, the warmth reflected in his hazel eyes. She also could sense the initial surge of longing coursing through her body.

Shit.

"Believe it or not," he added, his voice a low murmur that resonated in the confined space. "I find your company quite fascinating."

"Fascinating?" She responded, but it came out more breathless than she had intended. She took a deep breath, trying to act as if his close proximity wasn't affecting her. Her pulse, however, betrayed her composure. And it was evident in her voice. "T- That's a stretch."

"Really?" His lips curved into a subtle smile, catching the shift in her demeanor. "I think there's a small part of you that's enjoying this."

"Enjoy what? Your random facts and annoying habits?"

Spencer leaned forward. A tension crackled between them, and it swam in his eyes and played on his lips. It pulled at her chest, making her heartbeat flutter in her throat, and to her surprise, he extended his hand, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. His touch left a searing sensation on her skin.

"Admit it, you're starting to see a different side of me."

She shook her head, refusing to acknowledge his point. "One night doesn't change anything."

"You're right." His hand made its way to the back of her neck, pulling her closer to him. "It can change everything."

Before she could register what he was doing, he closed the distance between them, holding her still as his lips crashed on hers. A thousand things flooded her mind all at once—each of them revolving around him. The way she melted into him felt oddly natural. The way his hands began to roam her body, the way her mouth opened for his tongue, the way her kisses became hungrier, also felt natural.

Which was bad. Really, really bad. This wasn't supposed to happen. One time, she could call it a mistake. But allowing him to have his way with her for the second time... there was no one to blame but herself. She should push him away and set the boundaries she was supposed to set the moment he invaded her personal space. But it was hard to think rationally when he tasted so good.

It was hard to stand her ground when his teeth softly nibbled her bottom lip. It was hard to think straight when she was already pulling hard at the locks at the base of his neck as his tongue explored her mouth, blindly walking her back until her back was pressing onto the wall.

"Look at you," he laughed against her lips. "You're not pushing me away."

"Shut up," she hissed, trying her best to keep her tone icy. But then again, it was hard to stay angry when he was touching her like this. His greedy hand traveled up her thighs, massaging the plush flesh. His fingers finally found the hem of her pants, and he swallowed her moan when they dipped underneath the material, slipping right underneath her panties.

Her breath hitched when two of his long fingers slide between her folds, spreading her slick before finding its rightful place on her clit. Spencer didn't hesitate when he started rubbing at her nub, smooth and deliberate, it made her toes curl and her body jumped in a moment of surprised bliss.

Her sound of pleasure was music to his ears, urging him to satisfy her even more. He was quick when those same fingers dipped inside her core, her inner walls tensing at the sudden yet pleasurable stretch. There was a distinct sound along her needy whines, wet and slapping as his palm makes contact with her clit every time he was knuckle-deep inside her. Her head fell back to the wall, mouth agape, face flushed—a sight Spencer secretly wanted to commit into his memory.

Without even noticing it, her hips started grinding to chase his fingers, desperate to reach that familiar pleasure twisting in her core. Her movement didn't go unnoticed by him, an amused, deep chuckle reverberating from his chest while he pulled his fingers out of her, rubbing her clit aggressively, knowing it would make her reach her high faster.

"You're going to cum, aren't you? This quick?" She glared at him through half-lidded eyes, not giving him an answer. His smile widened at her resistance. "Do you think I should let you?"

Her heart quickened its pace, knowing well enough what he was about to do. He was going to tease her, or as she liked to think, he was going to torture her by not giving her what she wanted. Her theory was proved right when he leaned down, his face inches away from hers, a sly smile on his lips.

"Beg me."

She quickly shook her head. A hand snaked up her back until it found the base of her skull. His fingers brushed through her strands before gripping hard, sending a jolt of pain down her spine as he yanked her head back.

"Beg me."

"Fuck you—ah!" A sudden pressure of his fingers sent pleasure shooting through her, pushing a moan from her that filled the room like a ringing bell—a bell that signaled the fact that despite how much she knew she shouldn't, she was already surrendering to his touch.

"No?" He taunted, his breath brushing against her ear. "Then I'm not letting you cum."

And just like that, the pleasure rippling through her body was ripped away.

He swiftly pulled his hand from under her pants with a smirk she wanted to wipe off before turning his back to her, leaving her all flustered. She took a moment to collect herself, her mind racing to grasp the situation. She loathed him. She really did. She despised the way he was so full of himself.

With a determined exhale, she shook off the flustered feeling that lingered. He may have momentarily unsettled her, but she was not one to let her guard down easily. She was not going to let him get under her skin. If he could make her sexually frustrated, then so could she.

If he was going to play dirty, she was going to get filthy.

Her shirt was the first thing that came off. Then she unbuttoned her pants, pulling them down over her legs. Dear god, she was going to regret this, wasn't she? But she couldn't stop. Not when the rustle of her clothes echoed in the quiet space and Spencer turned around, jaw slacked, a startled expression crossed his face as he watched her.

"W-What are you doing?"

There. That was what she wanted. That priceless, wide-eyed, disbelief face. She had to keep going.

"Taking matters into my own hands."

Her hand reached around to unclasp her bra before she intentionally took her time sliding the straps down her arms, enjoying the way his jaw clenched as you did. Eyes still focused on him, she tossed it to the side. Her hands lowered afterward, and an audible gasp escaped his lips as she slipped her fingers into the waistband of her underwear, sliding them down her legs.

"You're always so smug," she murmured, taking a step forward, closing the distance between them. "Thinking you have control of me."

Right hand reaching up, her fingertips just lightly swept the length of his stubbled chin, just below his lips. The corner of his mouth only drew up further at her touch. She smiled at his reaction, and her fingers dropped down to grip his chin firmly.

"But I can satisfy myself just fine."

And then she pulled away, the smirk now missing from his lips as she backed out of his reach. She then settled on the bed, and with her eyes never leaving him, she spread her legs wide open. She watched as a breathless sigh escaped his lips and smiled triumphantly, especially when the bulge growing in his dark pants was impossible to ignore.

With her gaze lingering on his steadily growing erection, she trailed her hand down her stomach, the tips of her fingers paused just over her clit. "What's wrong, Reid?" She hummed out, watching his chest heave. "You seem to be speechless."

Because he was, how could he not be when the pad of her middle finger slowly started to lightly circle over her clit. He watched as she teased herself, fingers gliding between her folds, gathering her arousal before slipping a finger inside. She gasped, the wet sound was audible even to her own ears as she gradually pumped her finger in and out.

He took a step closer, and her fingers moved faster as his eyes raked over her body—her luscious breasts fully exposed, legs spread apart, fingers between her thighs. A faint moan fell out of her, her eyes partially closing all the while her fingers never ceased their movement, vigorously thrusting into her cunt.

She then proceeded to put on a show for him, throwing her head back and rolling her hips. He was standing close to her now, eyes focused on her body, his tongue sliding along his lower lip. Her cunt immediately clenched at the sight of him, a bulge straining at the fabric of his pants. The sight sent a surge of warmth through her body, spreading from between her thighs to her cheeks as her fingers quickened in pace and her legs spread farther for him to see.

He was trying to hold himself, it was obvious in the way he held his composure. But then she watched with satisfaction as he stalked towards her, and just because she wanted to fluster him, she couldn't help herself from letting out a needy whine as she slipped her fingers out before rubbing her clit desperately, her eyes boring into his.

"Spencer," she moaned.

That was precisely when he lost it. He didn't even hesitate. He marched straight to her, and her finger stopped in its movement as she watched him settle between her legs, sinking to his knees. He wrapped his arms around her thighs and roughly yanked her over the edge of the mattress, and she fell on her back with a squeal.

"You're a goddamn tease, you know that?" He sneered, his warm breath brushing over her heat. "Fine, I'll let you win this time."

A gasp escaped her lips when he wasted no time leaning in, burying his head between her thighs. He wasted no time as she grabbed onto the sheets, feeling his tongue draw circles around her clit before flicking up and down at a rapid pace. Her thighs tighten around his head. and her whole body trembled beneath him, encouraging him to move his tongue faster.

His fingers dug into her thighs, holding them apart as he took his time. Ever so slowly he licked up her slit, gathering her juices on his tongue until he reached her clit, groaning every second of the way until she was shivering beneath his touch. She was breathless, mind buzzing and the room spinning as he thrust his tongue into her warmth, face becoming so deep between her thighs that heat rushed through her body.

When her thighs trembled and threatened to close, he made sure two heavy palms kept them open long enough for his tongue to drag deeper inside her. With a roll of his tongue, he was lapping at her walls, swallowing every drop until the second he heard her begin to whine.

It was embarrassing, letting him hear how worked up she was. But she couldn't help it, not when she was losing control of her mind and body. Her hips were starting to buck to meet his tongue. Her jaw slacked. Low moans spilled from her lips as he continued to ravish her, and her fingers dug into the sheets beneath her to hold onto her sanity as waves of pure overwhelming pleasure took hold of her.

"Oh my god," she whimpered, voice two octaves higher before growing silent. She was so, so close to the edge, his tongue relentlessly sucking her clit, licking, swirling over her entrance until her mind fell blank from the bliss. The heat began swelling from between her thighs, tension tightening and all she did was screw her eyes shut.

But seconds before the pleasure was nearly too much to bear, he suddenly pulled away.

"Reid!" She hissed, looking down between her legs. "You're fucking annoying."

He looked up at her with a teasing glint in his eyes, then his mouth parted a second before his tongue swiped over his lip to taste the remnants of her arousal. "What?"

Unbelievable. After pulling that stunt, he had the audacity to feign innocence. She huffed and opened her mouth to retort something but when he started to undress himself, she couldn't think of anything. Her mind was too busy taking in his slightly toned arms, his broad chest, his slim waist, and that patch of soft hair trailing down his stomach, disappearing underneath his pants.

And that was gone too, and now he was standing without any shred of clothing, and it then dawned on her that they were both very much naked. Their first time in that dusty storage room happened too fast that they didn't bother taking off their clothes, but now she had the time to sink in the way he looked wearing nothing but a smirk.

"I didn't bring a condom," he said as he climbed onto the bed. Like that was going to stop them, it didn't stop them before and it most definitely won't stop them now.

"It's fine," she mumbled just as he settled between her legs again, but when his eyes lit up at her words, she smacked his shoulder. "But you're still not finishing inside me."

He merely hummed a reply. Then seconds later he was lining up the tip of his cock with her entrance. His eyes meet hers as he teased her, and she noticed the smirk appear once again on his lips. She pushed her hips toward him, gripping his arm irritatedly, and released a breathy 'hurry up' before she could change her mind.

He wasted no more time pushing himself into her without warning, earning a gasp while he stretched her completely. He pressed his body into her, allowing her lips to collide with his and moan into the kiss when she felt him pull away just enough to slam back into her with one harsh thrust. His hands suddenly reached for her wrists, and he gripped them above her head, pushing them onto the mattress.

His eyes darkened as he looked down at her, and she quickly shut her own as he pumped himself into her cunt over and over again. His motions were aggressive, sloppy, and wild. The moment a particularly deep and brutal thrust hit her at the right spot was the moment she finally gave in to weakness as she let out a loud moan, her mind going blank to everything but the pleasure he was giving her.

Then he pulled back again, and his thick cock slid out of her partway, glistening with her juices, splitting her pussy apart around it before snapping forward, his hips going at a brutal pace, making her whole body bounce from the contact.

"God, you feel incredible," he groaned out just as she gasped from the intense pressure of him inside her, head falling above her, jaw slacked, sweat dripping down his temple. Her eyes fluttered open before exhaling a heavy breath, feeling him tightening his grip on her wrists. "We need to do this more often."

Though she didn't say it, she agreed with him. And it pained her to even consider making this a habit. But it was tempting. It was so tempting that the thought of having him inside her anytime and anywhere had her clenching around his cock, earning a low grunt deep within his chest.

Then something snapped inside her. She had started off holding back, keeping herself in check against the rising wave of sensations. But then, in a moment that felt like a long-awaited release, she decided finally to let go when he continued to hit that perfect spot inside her, and she almost felt ashamed at the noises she was making. She wasn't as vocal when she was alone, nor with other men, yet the man she claimed to hate earned every whimper, every desperate moan.

Hearing her cries urged Spencer even more. He leaned over to her and pushed himself deeper, earning a gasp from her as her legs fell apart even further, letting him sink himself as deep as he could. He pushed her hands above her head and hovered above her, letting his temple fall against hers as his hips rutted violently.

The pressure rose and the tension coiled in the pit of her stomach. Sweats beaded over her skin just the same as him, crying out for him, moans mixing with filthy noises of him thrusting into her wet cunt. His powerful thrusts then quickened, causing her to grow weak her body began to quiver in his grasp.

She cried out, wanting to warn him she was growing close to the edge, her mind growing numb, everything around her fading into black. But didn't give her the chance to speak before he pressed his mouth on hers in a heated kiss, all sloppy and wet and desperate, latching on her lips with so much fervor.

She felt him everywhere. On her lips, biting on her soft flesh. On her breasts, his chest rubbing against her hard nipples. And between her legs, his cock stretching her deliciously, a pleasant feeling that had her whining against his mouth.

But before she could whimper anything else, the pleasure erupted inside of her, red hot heat unraveling to every limb. Her release was a fiery blast—white-hot and overwhelming, turning her into the image of destruction. Her hair stuck to her skin, her back arching off the bed, feeling overwhelmed as his cock hit her deeper. She succumbed to the bliss, eyes shut tight, and her furrowed brow as she surrendered through her orgasm. 

He held her tighter, pumping himself into her as she finally let go, calling out his name in a breathless whimper. She came so hard her legs were shaking uncontrollably, but he didn't stop. He pounded into her harder, reveling in the way she fell apart for him.

"I-I'm close," he grunted. "Where... where do you want me to—"

"Inside."

He looked down at her, trying to hold himself to not combust right there and then. "Are you—" he groaned when she clenched around him. "Are you sure?"

She was already too deep in her climax that any worries faded away. It was like time slowed down, and all that mattered was the intense sensations taking over her body. It was wrong, but it was what she wanted. She wanted to be full of him.

"Yes. Please, just—please," she whispered. "Cum inside me."

It was enough for him to let go, chasing his own pleasure inside of her, hitting deep within her walls as her own arousal dripped out around him. The slick and messy noises mixed with his groans filled the room, heat continuing to rush to her face as her entire body became overly sensitive.

With one final, sharp inhale, the bliss took hold of him. His hips slowed as he began to release inside of her, filling her up with a few huffs and grunts, creating a bigger mess between her thighs. He thrust one last time as the last few drops spilled from him, continuing to press his body against hers as closely as possible.

Then everything went silent except the sound of their ragged breathing. He pulled out of her with a heavy sigh, just as spent as her, breathless beyond belief. He collapsed on the bed, his chest rising up and down as he tried to gain some sense of control, his mind trying to grasp on the euphoria that happened moments ago.

"Well that was—"

She quickly nodded beside him. "Yeah."

Spencer turned his head towards her, and she could already feel him gloating that before he had the chance to say anything, she covered his mouth with her hand. "Do not say anything."

His reply was muffled underneath her palm, and she didn't understand what he was trying to say. She didn't even bother wanting to listen to him anymore. So she got off the bed, wincing when she felt the mess dripping down her thighs as she walked over to the bathroom.

"Where are you going?"

"Taking a shower," she called out. "I feel... sticky."

She then heard some rustling and she turned to see him hopping off the bed, following behind her. She narrowed her eyes. "Where are you going?"

"I feel sticky too."

"Spencer."

His lips twitched into an amused smile. "You called me Spencer."

She groaned and turned around. "We're not showering together, Reid."

"Why not?" He pressed, following her behind. "I promise to be on my best behavior."

She looked at him, assessing the way he was practically begging with his eyes. She was pondering whether it was a good idea to spend more time with him in an enclosed space. Probably not, but considering all the filthy, nasty things they had done, sharing a shower seemed harmless. 

"Alright, fine," she caved in, letting out a sigh. "Just keep your hands to yourself."

He nodded eagerly, but she should've thought better when the spray of water finally hit their bodies and he closed in around her, burying his face in the crook of her neck as he held her waist. Then he pressed her against the cool tiles of the bathroom wall, and it was safe to say that he could not, as a matter of fact, keep his hands to himself.

Not that she was complaining.

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a/n: I know this was supposed to be enemies to fuckable enemies but they're really starting to grow on me, they kinda cute

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[loverslodge]

our secret

summery: you and steve have a secret and it's about time you let everyone in on it

pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

warning: smut, fluff, slight angst, swearing, bad writing?

A/N: i love a cuddly steve. also, this is in the same universe as 'very discreet' but it can be read as standalone.

“Hi Captain. You didn't get your New Year’s kiss. You won't mind if I give you one, now would you?” A drunken woman stumbled upon him, puckering her lips.

Steve moved away and sighed. He did tell Bucky and Doll to come clean but now he thinks he should have done the same. Tony had invited single women purposely to get two super soldiers laid but not everyone knew the truth. While Bucky planned on revealing today, Steve was taking his sweet time.

Steve’s hand goes on the chain around his neck where hung his own wedding band. He twirled it around his finger and slipped it back in his shirt. He was going to be here to support Bucky and Doll and then return home. He missed you. As plain as that. So did Doll and Bucky.

After the party, Steve got on his bike and drove back to his home. He loved calling it home because it's where you were. He opened the front door to see all lights were off except the bedroom. He smiled. You were asleep. He knew that. He knew how sleepy his sweetheart was.

He moved around the room quietly and quickly. You stirred and sighed but didn't open your eyes. You were a light sleeper. Even the slightest of noise would wake you up. Not that Steve wasn't stealthy, you were just too aware of the surroundings. Steve once joked that you would make a fantastic stakeout agent. You had waved it off but you were very close to considering it.

Steve slid in the bed and sighed. “I'm sorry for waking you up, sweetheart. I tried to be very quiet.” He kissed your neck and pulled you against his chest.

“Not your fault. I keep telling you. Now please let's sleep?” Your groggy and whiny voice got him to pull closer than ever and bury his face in your neck. You sighed and went back to sleep, finally feeling safe in his arms.

……………………..

You were running from shelf to shelf, rearranging the books that some college kids had messed up. You were so close to hitting them with the thickest encyclopedia but sorting to violence was the day you were keen on having.

At the end of the hall, you saw a shadow but you thought it must be a customer in need of privacy. You went back to arranging. Just as you reached the almost secluded corner of the bookstore, a hand reached for your waist and pulled you against the broad, thick chest. Your gasp almost turned to a scream till you saw you grabbed you.

“Steve! You asshole! I could've alarmed people! Are you crazy?” You hit Steve on the chest with your fist and he laughs.

“I am crazy in love with you, yes. And seeing that I am Captain America, I'm sure people would have deemed you the safest in the world.” You wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face with a kiss. But you held off. You wanted to pretend to be mad at him. So you decided that it was time to tease.

“Yeah but who's saving Captain America from me?” You pull him closer by the collar of his henley and brush your lips against his. Just as he dips to catch your lips with his, you pull away and make some distance between the two of you. You turned around and started working again.

Steve was shocked. You do tease sometimes but you never completely backed off before. You would always come back to kiss. Steve felt ignited by this. He loved that you teased and moved away. Because now he had a chance to get back to you.

You and Steve did have a little playful relationship. It was innocent of course. He could never be this way with anybody. You had opened him up to a new way of loving. He thought there was a partnership but it always had a hierarchy. But you taught him that it was more of a companionship, a friendship with so many additional perks. So many of the playful interactions led you both to where you are now.

As soon as you put the last book from your hand back on the shelf, Steve pulled you to a shadowed, secluded corner of the store. He pushed you against the wall. Your eyes went wide seeing his blue eyes turn dark. He had a playful smirk on his face but you knew that you weren't going to get out of this one with a simple ‘i love you’ kiss.

“You have learnt new ways to tease me. Let's see who saves you from Captain America.”

Steve crashes his lips against yours and pulls you into his chest. Your hands that were held by Steve against the wall are free and so you snake them around his neck, pulling him closer. Wetness pools on your underwear as Steve decides to take charge of your body. He holds your thighs and you jump to wrap your legs around his waist.

He trails his kisses down your neck and chest, marking your skin as his. You trail kisses down his neck and do the same, gaining a silent moan. You are grinding against him, making him growl. “You never let me tease you, sweetheart, do you?”

A breathy chuckle leaves your mouth. “Not when you take me in your strong, muscular arms.” You pull him in for another kiss while he undoes his jeans and boxer to pull himself out.

His one arm holds your waist and the other moves your panties to the side. He lines himself up to your lips and strokes himself against your wet petals.

“Steve please. Just take me.” You moan softly, trying to keep your whine quiet.

“Oh I will take you, sweetheart. I know youre all mine to take.” He plunges himself in you without warning making you moan loudly which was muffled by his shoulder.

He doesn't give you time to adjust this time and keeps on thrusting in and out. He was harder, faster. Just how you like it. He could always tell when he needed to go harder on you and this was one of those times.

He let you muffle your moans, whines and gasps on his shoulder as he took you against the wall. You left an array of kisses on his neck and sucked a few more areas to leave more marks. He had opened your shirt just enough to bring out your nipples. He sucked on them, making your pleasure increase more.

“Steve, I'm cumming please.”

“Cum for me, sweetheart. I've got you. Come on. Cum with me.” He increased his pace and his thrusts got sloppier. You brought your hand down to your clit and rubbed it to simulate you harder. With one last thrust, you both gushed over each other. While his thrust slowed down, he did not stop. You whined.

“Steve. What are you doing?” You tried to get down but he did not relent. You groaned and arched your back against the wall as you felt the pressure start to build up again.

“I'm not done with you yet, sweetheart. You left me alone in bed this morning. This is for that.” He picked up his pace again.

You arch your back and hold on to the wall as he pushes into you again and again. Your moan accidentally slips out and you hold your hand against your mouth. Steve pulls you back to his chest and puts his lips on yours as he reaches his end as well.

With breathy grunts and moans, you both come back from a high with you ruining his jeans with a squirt and him ruining your pussy. You both stay in that position for a while till your panting seizes.

“Steve, I swear to god if you let me go and I fall, I will beat the shit out of you in front of everyone.” He lets you down and your feet wobble. He holds on to your waist tightly as you try to regain the footing. He chuckles.

“I will never let you go, sweetheart. I don't want you to go and fall for others. I only want you to fall for me.” He leans down and pecks your lips.

You swat his chest playfully and he chuckles again. “You're such a dork.”

“I love you too, sweetheart.”

………………….

Bucky and Doll were at the door when Steve opened it. He let them in and greeted Doll with a hug and Bucky with a back slap. You walked out of the kitchen and ran to hug her. Bucky envelops you both in a hug and kisses your forehead. Steve takes the wine bottle from Doll’s hand and puts it on the dining table.

“I see our husbands had the same idea this evening.” You point at Doll’s neck and she turns into a blushing mess. Doll also points at most of your marks that were showing around your neck and you laugh your blush off.

“I'm not eating in the kitchen then. I don't want Steve all over my food.” Bucky chuckles and earns a hit on the head by Steve who sees you putting your head in the freezer to hide yourself.

“Well, I cannot exactly help myself when my wife is baking. She’s all kinds of adorable.” Steve stares at you as you are working the kitchen and the dining area with Doll.

“So, punk, how are you explaining your absence from the compound? Since you still haven't told them.” Bucky takes a sip from the beer that Steve had brought out for the two of them.

“Nobody really notices me gone. I have maintained my elusiveness.” Steve bragged with a smirk.

You call them both to the dinner table and all four of you sit and enjoy the dinner. The conversation flows from joking to serious to joking and the shared experiences between two super soldiers.

“We don't need to be here, doll. I swear it's like the two of us are the third and the fourth wheel when it's the two of you.” You point at Bucky and Steve, who laugh along with Doll.

After finishing up washing the dishes, the two super soldiers join you and Doll in the living room. Bucky sits on the sofa with his arms around Doll’s shoulder and Steve pulls you on his lap.

“Woah! You still have guests over Steve, you can't do this in front of my innocent Doll.” Bucky points and you swat in the air, pretending to hit him. Steve’s laughter vibrates through your body, sending tingles all over.

“I'm not innocent Bucky.” Doll, very quietly says and you laugh even louder.

Steve loved seeing you like this. Laughing with the only family he has. You have been getting along so beautifully with his brother and his sister-in-law, he couldn't help but be even more in love with you. He always thought that you would cast him and Bucky out when he had first met you. But you have always surprised him. You embraced Bucky and welcomed him in without a second thought because you trusted Steve.

“On a serious note, don't you think it's time you tell everyone on the compound about the two of you?” Bucky puts his beer down and looks at Steve.

Steve gulped. He knew Bucky would bring it up now that his secret was out. But he did not expect him to do that in front of you. Alone, he could convince Bucky but in front of you, he thought you would take the hiding in a wrong way. Before he could say anything, your reply shocked him.

“Bucky, I trust Steve. If he wants it to be a secret then let it be. Honestly, I do understand where he's coming from. If he tells them about me then he’ll have to share me and I'm definitely sure I'm not ready to be shared.” You leaned in to kiss Steve’s cheek.

“I get it. Trust me, sweetheart, before I told them about me and Doll, I was skeptical too but as you know, it all ended well.” Bucky brings Doll closer to him.

“Bucky, the difference here is I don't live on the compound. Your secret got out because you couldn't take the relentless push for you to date. That's not the case with Steve. He has been discreet before all this happened.” You took a sip from your wine glass.

“Ok. I won't go on. But just be careful. I willingly told people and I don't want the nosy ones walking up to your doorstep to discover that he has a completely separate life, away from them.” Bucky relents.

“They might be nosy but they're still family, Steve. They have been with you through everything.” Doll takes the final sip from her wine glass and sets it down. “I know you want to stay in this bubble longer but Steve, just picture yourself in their shoes. Wouldn't you be hurt to know if one of them had a secret this big?”

“Woah, doll. That's the most I've heard you speak and that's coming from me.” Bucky kisses her forehead and you all chuckle.

Bidding them goodbye, you and Steve finally get ready for bed. You know Steve is thinking hard on what Bucky and Doll said. He talked to you about Bucky’s situation before you persuaded him to talk to the two of them to reveal their marriage. Now, here you were, not following the same advice.

Once you and Steve were settled in the bed, you turned to him. “Steve, you know there is no pressure, right?”

He sighed. He had been thinking about this for a really long time but every time he entered the apartment and saw you, he would go back in the bubble, not wanting to burst it.

“I know, sweetheart. But Doll is right. I would be hurt too. They didn't make a big deal out of Bucky being married because they expect that from him. Me, my life has always been an open book to them. My secret will hurt them more.”

“It's okay, Steve. We will make a new bubble. And as far as I know, Natasha will help us keep our bubble.” Steve smiled at you.

He pulls you in his arms and deeply kisses you. You moan against his lips. He pulls you on top of him and you lean against his chest, snuggling into his neck. He tightens his hold on you.

“Let's stay like this tonight, sweetheart. I will be bursting the bubble tomorrow.”

……………………..

“So, what's up with the meeting, Cap. Do we have a mission we don't know about? Did I fall asleep again?” Sam swivels in the chair.

“Do you always dream about being in a meeting, Birdbrain?” Bucky sits next to Steve and drags Doll’s chair closer to his.

“Tell your husband to shut up, Doll. I will attack him with Redwing.” Sam looks at Doll who just rolls her eyes and looks at Nat who smirks.

Tony saunters in the room, last as usual and Steve sits up straight. “Finally! Now we can start discussing why the hell is Cap so wound up after lunch.”

“I'm not wound up.” Steve shuffles.

“Of course you're not. Because you have regular sex.” Tony quips sarcastically and everyone in the room laughs. Bucky laughs exceptionally loud and Doll hits him on his thigh to keep him quiet.

Suddenly, the meeting room opens up and you stumble in with your hands full of boxes. Everyone goes quiet and Steve rushes to your side to help you with the boxes. You smile sweetly at Steve but refrain from kissing him in front of everyone.

“What’s with the boxes, sweetheart?” Steve pulls out the boxes from the bags.

“Well, I wanted to make a good first impression and I've heard Mr. Stark eats donuts so I assume cupcakes and donuts would be a good idea.” You smoothen your dress and Steve offers his seat for you to sit down, while he stands. He puts his hand on your shoulder and you look around sheepishly.

“Don't tell us you are married too, Cap.” Sam laughs and others join in, except you, Steve, Bucky and Doll.

The laughter dies down with a sudden pause and Steve looks around in embarrassment.

“What the hell, Steve! I thought we were your family!” Tony bounces off the chair and points accusing finger at him.

“I was going to tell you all-” Steve begins but is cut off by Natasha. “Tell us when? After you popped a baby or two? How long have you been married?”

“It's been a while.” You politely interject.

“What do you mean by a while?” Sam looks at you and everyone is waiting for you to answer.

“Well, we, uh, got married six months before the fallout so…”

“Is this why you have been cutting back from the missions?” Natasha asked and Steve nodded.

The entire room was thrown into chaos. Everyone was yelling and accusing. Steve shrunk against the wall. You had never seen him so devastated before. You rise from the chair and pull him to sit on it. He sighs and rubs his face. You pull his face against your stomach and stroke his hair to calm down.

“That is enough! So what if he didn't tell you? Can he not have a private life? Does he have to share everything?” Your anger rose. They were hurting your husband and you were not going to stand for it. “He is tired. He deserves a peaceful life and I'll be damned if anyone accuses my husband for choosing himself. Do not make this into a huge deal. If any of you were in this situation you would have done the same.”

You look around the quiet room. You look at Doll and Bucky who give you a small smile of support that makes you want to continue. You are still holding Steve and stroking his hair as he tries to hide his tears. You can feel the wetness of his tears through your shirt and your grip tightens on him.

“I understand that all of you are hurt by this. This is a huge secret he kept but he did it for himself. When has he ever done anything for himself? I'm proud of having all of you as my husband’s family but I implore you to understand the reason why. Think of it from Steve’s perspective and not yours.”

Steve has calmed down and little but still refuses to meet anyone’s eye. You settle on Steve’s lap and he pulls you closer, hiding his face in the crook of your neck. He inhales your scent deeply and you feel his body relax against yours. You wanted to coo at him and tell him everything is fine. Hell! You wanted to kiss him all over and make him feel better but now was neither a good time or place.

Steve, while hiding his face, couldn't exactly keep it under control. You always had a calming effect on him but nipping at your neck made him feel better even more. He angled his face and started leaving open kisses on your neck and sucked at a few areas. He tightened his grip around your waist to pull you closer. You held on to his hand and shoulder, concentrating on everyone’s face in the room. You were pretty sure Steve was leaving marks all over.

“We're sorry for lashing out.” Natasha was the first one to speak. “It's just, with the history we all have with Steve, we thought he would tell us if something major did ever happen with him. I'm glad you understand how shit the situation is.”

“For what it's worth, I didn't know about any of you till after a year of fallout. He went under hiding in our then shared apartment with Bucky and Doll in tow. He wanted me to meet you all but the circumstances never felt right. I'm sorry. I should've pushed him into opening up to all of you.” You profusely apologize and everyone’s eyes soften at you.

“Looks like Cap finally found someone who can handle him. Look how snuggled up he is. I guess he finally found the person who will defend him.” Tony pointed at Steve with a smile, who was still attacking your neck, hiding behind the curtain of your hair.

Bucky, who was sitting right next to you, lightly punched Steve on the shoulder to make him look up. Steve stirs and kisses your cheek before looking up at everyone. It looked like everyone was conversing with their eyes and Steve slumped back in the chair with a relaxing smile on his face.

“I'm sorry for not telling you all sooner.” Steve finally voiced his apology.

“It's okay. Your wife apologized in a much better way than you. We forgive you. Just, don't ever try to hide life altering decisions like this again.” Sam nods and takes a cupcake.

Everyone jumps on and grabs a cupcake or donut and chatters away the rest of the day, trying to get to know you better. Steve still hadn't let you get up from his lap and you were more than comfortable to ask him to. You finally saw a more relaxed Steve and your smile widened seeing him in his playful and teasing element.

There was no denying the fact that you married the love of your life and you will always defend him, even if you have to go against the world.

............................

open for request

[anastasiabowe]

𝙅𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙈𝙚 — It's just Nanami and Yuji against the world.

note: I was rewatching JJK since my Crunchyroll subscription ended 2 years ago, and it's ON NETFLIX and I totally forgot about the relationship Nanami and Yuji had (and I personally think Nanami is a father figure but I digress) so I HAD to share this lol. Also Yuji is a baby :p

𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙒𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨: Nothing!

Nanami never asked to be a dad. To be honest, the idea always scared him. He hated the thought of changing diapers, buying formula, buying clothes every other month, etc! He hated the drool, the smells, the noises babies made, but when he had the blessing to meet 6 month year old Yuji, none of that mattered anymore. He knew he wanted to care for him.

The first few weeks were TOUGH. Nanami knew he didn't have the nurturing mother capability, and knew he also didn't know what to do. Yuji cried all the time and he didn't know why, his diaper would be changed, he just ate, he just woke up from a 3 hour nap (probably more than he needed) and yet he would cry.

Countless nights Nanami laid awake listening to the heart wrenching yet annoying cries of Yuji. He knew Yuji was taken care of yet he didn't know what else could have been bothering him. So the very next day, Nanami took him to the doctors only to find out Yuji was teething. He kept crying because he was in discomfort, so Nanami hit the first once upon a child he could find and found toys and other gadgets to help Yuji, and they worked! Nani got a good 8 solid hours of sleep until a new problem arose.

Yuji got sick. Yes, Yuji got the common cold yet nanami felt like it was yellow fever. Every cough, sneeze, hiccup, Nanami panicked.

"Achoo!" Yuji sneezed and Nanami dashed from the kitchen straight to the living room (which isn't very far). Nanami scanned the poor boy's slightly reddened face from him coughing and sneezing. Nanami felt up the boy's poor head for the, God knows how many times. Nanami brought his hand to his chest to feel how Yuji breathed which was thankfully normal. Yuji only laughed into a cough at how silly his daddy was acting.

"Dada funny!" He clapped his hands.

Nanami felt his heart flutter at his little boy, and he didn't feel too worried about him after his little check up. Nanami felt so happy seeing his little Yuji happy and couldn't contain the tears brimming his eyes. Yuji only looked up at him in confusion but then quickly got caught by Gracie's Corner which he was preoccupied with before his dad's check up.

Nanami soon embraced the single dad look. He'd go on runs with Yuji bundled up in his stroller, he would show Yuji off to his friends whenever they hung out at his house, and everyone fell in love with Yuji. His contagious smile, cute little salmon hair, wide eyes, there wasn't a single person who could look at the little cinnamon roll and not smile. Nanami also became the world's #1 dad. Nanami would be the first person any of the mothers at the daycare would go to for baby advice because nanami was basically the encyclopedia of babies. Want to know what foods are best to feed babies who just began to eat real food, hell give you recipes and affordable but healthy and nutritional brands.

There wasn't a single thing that could have separated Yuji from Nanami, except you, but that's not important in this part of the story. Yuji was Nanami's reason to go to his lame ass job and deal with his boss. Yuji was Nanami's breath and heart. Nanami couldn't even imagine himself without the little kid. And the older Yuji got the more Nanami became happier. Nanami was a whole new man because of Yuji, and honestly, no one complained.

Even though Nanami wished he had a s/o to help raise Yuji, he knew Yuji didn't care. As long as Nanami had Yuji and Yuji had Nanami, nothing would stop them from being happy. It was really Nanami and Yuji against the world. And what Nanami liked to tell Yuji a lot:

"It's just you and me against the world."

[nutteu]

Gold-digger Oliver

[rambling compilation]

inspired by that one post about oliver fucking every catton available except for felix (still can't stop laughing about it, will find the post later) (EDIT, I FOUND THE POST: HERE). but here we go:

What if, Oliver was a gold-digger, and what if this wasn't his first rodeo? Like, he had done this before and that was why it was easy for him to understand the whims of the wealthy, the filthy rich, because he had experienced how it felt like being an arm candy for some elder man, hiding this from his parents and accumulating wealth and properties he had gotten from his previous sugar daddies and mommies. Especially, he understood how bored and lonely they were, and he learned how to shape himself into something they liked, something they could play with to pass time. It wasn't the first time he had ever been someone's toy, and he didn't mind the notion. Let them think that way, as long as Oliver got what he wanted.

So, with his previous knowledge, he played chess with Sir James, talked about the goddamn ceramic and artifacts scattered all over the estate; had a tea party with Elspeth and Pamela, before she left, dialed up the compliments to the nine because he knew that it would be easier to get Elspeth's attention and interest. It was easy enough, because Sir James was lonely, and Elspeth wanted to be seen and appreciated, made her feel she was still in her youth, brimming with beauty and unattainable to those who desired her.

All the while, he approached Venetia when she offered herself, pushed it further by interrogating her about what she liked, what she wanted to be; ate her out and let the blood stain his mouth, his fingers, and let the memory linger as he pushed more food onto her plate; lay his head on her chest, counting the heartbeat as she told him some complicated equations that they solved together as they giggled and teased each other. And of course, Farleigh and all the chips on his shoulders, his prickly nature which Oliver unearth with brutality and insistence; jerked him off and whispered encouragement, assurance, praises as Farleigh came on Oliver's fingers, let himself submit underneath Oliver's touch as Oliver rode him until he was spent; spending the afterglow trading cigarettes and insults, talked about rich people and how ridiculously out of touch to reality they were, Oliver teasingly offered a sliver of truth to Farleigh about his past with the rich and smiled as Farleigh gaped and laughed; waiting for the sunrise as Oliver promised him a place in the house after he got his name in the inheritance and Farleigh wouldn't need to beg with a bowl anymore.

He charmed everyone and even got Duncan softening a little at him after he offered to cook his own meals, talked about the layout and the history of Saltburn with him, be at awe for Duncan's impeccable schedule and his brutal way of wrangling problems before lunch time. Oliver befriended the maids and other helpers, memorized their names and where they came from, so they wouldn't bat an eyelash if he were to own this estate someday.

Everyone and everything was within his palms, dancing to his tune, except for Felix, who increasingly grew upset because he finally found out that Oliver not only had bedded Venetia, but Farleigh as well, and his parents were smitten by Oliver's encyclopedia of a brain and his endearing twitch of nose, the summer in his eyes. It was just a bad form, that Oliver came by his invitation, yet leaving him out of the loop Oliver had created with literally everyone in this estate but Felix.

Ah, but Felix didn't want Oliver, did he? He called him Ollie, kissed his cheek and his forehead, whined at him and took all of his attention, but he didn't want Oliver. He was just upset that everyone had gotten the attention of his toy, and none was left for him anymore. It wasn't fair, was it? That Felix was the one who brought Oliver here, yet it seemed that everyone had gotten their private time with Oliver, everyone, except for him. So, like he always did, he threw a tantrum, and Oliver sighed in exasperation and tried to fluff it up with Felix, playing into his savior complex by saying that he wouldn't have had this chance of being in Saltburn and knowing everyone if it weren't for Felix. So, really, thank you, Felix, and perhaps, we can spend some time together, yeah?

And Felix, still a little miffed but was willing to go along with Oliver's idea this time, nodded and started planning, getting all excited when he thought about bringing Oliver home, because his mum had called and she sounded sober as well! It would be a surprise for Oliver, that was for sure, and no one else had thought of it, because they only cared about themselves and not to Oliver. Felix was the only one he could call friend, the only one who cared. So, Felix told him to dress up, smiling at the sight of Oliver giggling shyly, and sang until his throat hurt as they drove by the roads.

That was, until Oliver realized where they were going, and begged him to turn back, to stop. Felix thought that maybe Oliver was afraid of reliving the traumatizing memory of his family's downfall, to face his drunken mother and the tombstone of his father. He smiled to himself and reassure Oliver that it was fine, that he'd be there with Oliver and that Oliver could lean on him, could depend on him, for the onslaught of bad memories and pain.

Until-- Felix's world collapsed into itself as Oliver curled into himself, faced with the genial and worried faces of Mr. and Mrs. Quick. Felix almost couldn't speak, his mind a tornado of questions and anger, of regret and disbelief, of rage and disappointment. They still went back to Saltburn, for the sake of the fucking birthday party, but the road to the estate was spent in excruciating silence, interjected by Oliver groveling and apologizing, and Felix stone-walling him because he couldn't think right now, couldn't think past the torrent of hurt that he felt so acutely in his chest.

He left Oliver to his own device once they arrived at Saltburn, ignoring the pang of something when they were greeted by Elspeth, and her face fell when she saw how close to tears Oliver was. How could anyone still wanted to pity Oliver, after what he had done, after the lies he had spewed out so easily to Felix? Or was it just that obvious to anyone but him, but they were too polite to tell that he was a dumbass who got manipulated so easily? Well, no more of that. Felix didn't care about Oliver anymore, everyone could take him because Felix wanted nothing to do with that wretched guy anymore.

Except that he still felt a burning rage within his chest when he saw Oliver being consoled by his parents, saw him smile shyly and hold Elspeth's hand in his, accepting the pat on the side of his face from James. What the fuck did Oliver do to make people this... malleable to him? This- this devoted? God, was Felix like them too, before he knew the truth?

He was hurt-- Oliver was his best mate, and he had lied, and it seemed like he wouldn't get retribution for his sin because everyone was too busy babying him within an inch of his life. Even Venetia and Farleigh only sighed and exchanged looks ladened with secrets as Felix told them the reason he was so agitated before the party. He had expected them to be upset in his behalf, but all Farleigh said was, "Well, it's Oliver, what can you do about it? And I don't think it's about you, Fels. Have you seen your parents with him? Even if you told them the truth, I doubt they'll kick him out of Saltburn."

The worst thing was, that it was true. Because the hours leading to the party, Oliver was stuck to Elspeth's side and occasionally glancing at him, before his gaze skittered away. Felix couldn't believe the audacity of this small, twitchy man. How dare he lied to Felix and not reap what he sow? How dare he bewitched the whole estate and had them by his side, no matter what he did? How dare he have someone else to console him and not Felix? Wasn't he his friend, the one who brought colors to his life, excitement to the dull everyday's life? Was he not the person Oliver was supposed to be faithful to, loyal to a fault? Then what the fuck was Oliver doing in Venetia's room, chuckling gently as she brushed his face with make-up? Had everyone gone crazy except for Felix?

What the fuck was happening?

The scene in the maze still happened, but instead of killing him, Oliver just closed his eyes, let the bottle fall and whispered the last 'I'm sorry' to Felix, before going back to the party, so he could tell Venetia and Farleigh to console the upset Felix. I'd like to make it that Venetia and Farleigh weren't on a witch-hunt for Oliver because, yes, they were charmed, but they also knew what Oliver really was and was entertained by his audacity in swindling Sir James and Elspeth into becoming another one of his walking wallet, making them putty underneath his hands. Of course they were worried about Felix, but really, it was so easy to see and Felix should've seen that coming, no matter how harsh and cold it seemed.

And so, Oliver wasn't kicked out from Saltburn the next morning, spending his breakfast trading stock predictions with James and ignoring Felix's burning stare in front of him. He still got the Cattons' attention and, eventually, money, even if Felix wasn't one of them. It was alright, this was something Oliver had done before, and he knew how to play it even with a few pieces gone from the board. He could still do whatever he wanted with these filthy rich people, and it was okay that Felix hated him. At least, Felix would still be here, confined within the estate and, later on, the campus, where Oliver would be there as well.

Slowly, he'd try to reconcile with Felix, because he, too, knew what Felix truly wanted. Perhaps, later on, he'd change his plan, according to the chess board, take off some figures out of the board and continuing his plan to make Felix forgive him. But not now, when he had other agenda, and he was confident that his name would be within the Cattons' will by next summer. Of that he was sure.

(No happy ending for Felix because he ought to suffer once in a while, also because I got too lazy typing this lol. Hope you enjoy!)

[madhatterbri]

Console | N.J.

Summary: Hi, I adore your blog! Could I request a Nick Jackson imagine circa NJPW. 2018 before his and Matt’s match against the Golden Lovers? Maybe Y/N consoles him after their loss of the match and friendship. Maybe fluffy-smutty? Friends to lovers trope, possibly? Thanks so much! 💞

Author's Note: Thank you for the kind words. 🫶 Thanks to supahkixbabe for being a Young Bucks encyclopedia. ❤️

Requested by anon

Nick Jackson Masterlist

Taglist: @theworldofotps @smallestsnarkestgirl @bullet-clubs-bitch

Y/N sat in the Young Bucks locker room in silence. The brothers just came back from a match against Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi. They lost the match, but that wasn't the reason behind their pain. They were mourning the loss of their friendships.

"I, uh, I think I'm gonna go for a walk," Matt announced to the occupants of the room. Before Nick or Y/N could walk, he was out the door. Nick sighed and leaned back on the couch. Y/N sat next to him.

"I'm sorry," she apologized.

He smiled sadly. "All part of the wrestling business,"

Silence took over the room again. She hated seeing them like this, but especially Nick. When their friends betrayed they, he took it the hardest. Her train of thought came to a screeching halt when he decided to talk again.

"You won't leave us, right?"

Y/N shook her head. She couldn't even if she tried. Her crush on the younger Jackson brother wouldn't allow it. A life without the Jackson brothers sounded awful. A life without Nick would be impossible. "I couldn't ever live without you guys,"

"Do we mean that much to you?" He asked hopefully. Nick knew they did, but he had to hear it. Y/N was happy to oblige.

"Of course. I couldn't imagine a life without you... guys," she added quickly. Nick's interest peaked at the hesitation.

"How much do I mean to you?"

Y/N felt her breath catch in her throat. She side eyed him, hoping that he wouldn't catch her change in behavior. Her stomach tied in knots. A nervous laugh was all she could produce before she found the courage to speak. "Alot, Nicholas,"

Nick smiled, and they looked into each other's eyes. The same blue eyes she would get lost in time and time again. Except this time, they were getting closer to her face. He stopped unsure if this was really happening. To both their shock, Y/N leaned in the rest of the way. Their lips connected for a brief kiss. They pulled away.

"Should we have done that?" Y/N asked nervously. She stood up from the couch. The last thing she wanted to hear was that this was a mistake. A rush feeling on his part because of his current state. "You are going through a lot. I should go find Matt,"

"Don't go, please," he begged. His hand wrapped around her wrist. Nick pulled on it gently to urge her to sit back down. "That was something I've been wanting to do for a while,"

The room felt hotter. She figured it was the thermostat. There is no way the human body can produce this much heat. Y/N sat down a little closer to him this time. More than anything, she wanted this to happen. "I've wanted to do that too,"

“We’ve known each other for so long," Nick started. He licked his lips nervously as he thought of what to say. "I want to be more than friends,”

"Nick?"

"Yeah?"

"What took you so long?"

Their lips locked again. This time, they didn't immediately separate. He cupped her cheek with his hand. Y/N nervously moved to straddle his waist. When he didn't shy away, she felt her confidence grow. With a leg on each side of him, they continued to kiss. His hands gripped her waist before sliding up her shirt. Her hands wrapped around his neck. Her shirt was up to just below her bra before the door opened.

Matt stood there with a wide grin. Y/N blushed and immediately went back to the couch. She adjusted her shirt to cover herself once more. The older Jackson was going to have a field day with this.

"Do I have to give you kids the talk?" He asked. Y/N wished the floor could swallow her. Nick blushed yet had a big grin on his face.

"I think we are okay, Matt," Nick chuckled and kissed Y/N's burning cheek.

[nahokura]

Oooh I have a prompt! If you are still taking them.

Aziraphale gets obsessed with how sexy Crowley’s tummy is. His shirt slides up when he asks him to get a book on a top shelf and Aziraphale is super turned on by it and the ginger treasure trail and he keeps trying to find ways to see it until Crowley starts getting suspicious he’s acting weird. Feel free to add an embarrassing flustered Aziraphale hehe. First time smut/getting together is encouraged!! Sorry I’m obsessed with the idea of his hot gorgeous stomach so I’m projecting lol. Thank you if you choose to write it!!!! I hope you post all yr prompt fill fics

WITH PLEASURE!!!

Themes: light Smut, funny, fluff, comfort

Tw: Porn w/ plot? , First time, Dom!Aziraphale, Sub!Crowley, handjob

English isn't my first language, I'm sorry for the mistakes!

I also didn't write for a long time, so the writing might not be the best one you've read, but thank you if you take the time to read!

Aziraphale loved to stare at Crowley and that wasn't a secret, except to Crowley. Every time the ginger was in sight, he would immediately turn his head to him, have a little smile but quickly hide it, then he would go back to his usual hobbies, while sometimes glancing at Crowley.

The demon was oblivious to this, well, he did stare back anyways, so he didn't really pay attention to it.

Aziraphale was having a hard day, there were more customers than usual, and that's why he called Crowley and asked him to help him. The demon said no at first, but he couldn't resist so before Aziraphale hung up, he groaned, and said okay.

The angel eyed Crowley as they both worked. Crowley was getting the books for the customers, and Aziraphale was replacing them in the shelves so the bookshop stayed nice and tidy.

After a little time had passed, unfortunately they hadn't talked too much because of the customers, at least, they had stared at each other.

A customer came inside the shop, he looked around and saw the dictionaries that were on the highest shelf, because no one, actually bought dictionaries. He tapped Aziraphale's shoulder, and asked him politely to get it down, and the angel's voice echoed through the bookshop:

«Excuse me...Um, Crowley! Could you come give a book to one of our clients, please?!»

Crowley pratically shoved the book against the chest of the customer he was talking to, and he walked to the angel, a long groan leaving his throat. Aziraphale moved out of Crowley's way, and spoke again:

«This one...Ah! Yes! The biggest one!»

He flashed a big smile at the customer and explained about how he got the book, because the person asked it, and Aziraphale didn't like to lie. Even while talking, he glanced at Crowley, and inserted comments, apologizing for his grumpy behavior. When he looked back at Crowley and pointed him with his finger to talk about him to the client, he stopped in his track. Crowley was trying to get the book, obviously, but he was on his tip-toes, and the shirt that usually was stuck in his pants had gotten up a little bit, showing the start of the demon's slim waist and a ginger trail going from his pubic area to his belly button. Aziraphale's mouth stayed open for a bit, heat pooling in his stomach before he regained his composure and kept his conversation with the customer going as if nothing happened. Crowley got the book and handed it to the customer and gave him a forced sympathic smile.

«Here's your...Encyclopedia. Take good care of it and please, return it in time.»

The sympathy in his voice was definitely forced, Aziraphale could hear it, but he didn't make any comment about it. He simply agreed to what Crowley said as the customer left. Before he could leave for another client, Aziraphale discretely miracled a duster and handed it to him. Crowley arched an eyebrow.

«I'll take care of the customers now! Oh, and there are a few books that I need you to place in lower shelves, if you might, pretty please.»

The angel's words were fast, almost slurred, and the ginger didn't even had time to say anything that he was handed the cleaning device. His eyebrows furrowed at Aziraphale's behavior, and he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. He didn't complain, he just wanted the day to be over soon, and maybe drink with his angel to celebrate the end of it. Aziraphale stared as he walked to another customer, it was a chance that he could do two things at a time. Crowley didn't tuck his shirt back into his pants, and the blonde truly thought that it was a real miracle. Crowley could feel Aziraphale's eyes, and while he was picking up books and dusting the now empty shelves, he turned his gaze to Aziraphale, and despite his glasses being on and his poor eyesight, he could see his head turned to him. The angel looked away to concentrate on the client when Crowley looked at him, and the wheels worked inside the demon's brain. He looked down at himself, and noticed how his shirt was slighty raised. He got back on the flat of his feet, and he put the book back into the shelf, making sure that the author's last name started with the letter "T".

The last customer left the bookshop, and Aziraphale, with a sigh, closed the door and turned the sign over to indicate that the shop was closed. Crowley was laying on the couch, his legs spreaded awkwardly on both of the arms of the couch. He made sure that his happy trail was visible, he wanted to be sure that it was what Aziraphale was staring at. Crowley broke the silence first, making the angel turn over:

«Why was there so much people today?»

Crowley groaned and shifted, his right ankle going to his left knee. Aziraphale stepped closer to the couch Crowley was on. He was focused on the books Crowley stored for him, just to make sure that with everything that was going on at the same time, the ginger put them at the right place, so he answered without looking at him:

«Perhaps the bookshops close to mine were closed for some reasons.

–Well, I hope for you that they will all return the books, because if one of them don't bring one back, honestly, I wouldn't be surprised.»

Aziraphale finally looked at Crowley, and he gave a soft smile. Without even wanting it, the demon was showing that he cared, more than he wanted to. Crowley stared at Aziraphale for a moment, and his eyes followed as the angel's gaze fell to the hair on his tummy for a second, before he looked back into Crowley's eyes, trying to hide the fact that his blue orbs had wandered to another place. Crowley couldn't hide the smirk that tugged at his lips, and with his big mouth, he couldn't help but point it out in the most gentle tone he could:

«You're looking down, angel. Aziraphale's eyes widened, he feigned innocence, and he was failing beautifully.

–Wh- No! No, I'm not, it would be nonsense to...

–Oh, you were definitely looking.

–I was not!!!»

Aziraphale insisted, his cheeks puffing as they were getting tinted with a gorgeous tint of pink. Crowley laughed hoarsely, and couldn't help but tease him further, after all, his reactions were immaculate.

«Why would you deny it? I saw you, caught in the act. Several times!

–It's all in your head, Crowley.

–Oh, come on! We're in a relationship, I won't judge you for looking at my bottom!

–I was not looking at your bottom! I was looking higher!»

Crowley's grin widened, and Aziraphale realized the mistake he just made. He whined with embarrassment:

«Oooh, dear...!

–Told ye, angel. Caught in the act.»

Aziraphale stayed silent for a moment, and Crowley started to get concerned. He knew that the angel could get sensitive sometimes, and he didn't want to make him sad. Crowley used the arms of the couch to help himself standing up, and with a sigh, he crossed his arms and apologized:

«I'm sorry, Aziraphale. I pushed it a little far by teasing you, I shouldn't have.»

The only thing that came out Aziraphale's throat was a cough, and it was Crowley's time to look down.

The two beings never had sex, they made their relationship official not that long ago, but nothing really happened. The kisses were quick, because they never had the time to prolong it, but it never went further.

They were touch-starved.

Six-thousand years yearning for each other and now that they were officially together, nothing happened yet and it was torture for the both of them, because it was obvious that they craved the touch of the other.

Aziraphale pushed Crowley back against the couch, his hand firmly pressing against his chest as he straddled both of his thighs. The demon was taken aback, he noticed Aziraphale's hard-on and everything clicked in his mind. It was probably the real reason of why he was so embarrassed, because he had being turned on the whole day and Crowley teased him at the worst time. His hands went to Aziraphale's hips, and he held them tightly. He was still timid about touching him, his hands were shaking, and he had no clue of what to do with them. The angel leaned in, and he whispered, so low that if there still had been customers, Crowley would've had trouble hearing:

«Can I kiss you?»

Crowley frowned, what kind of question was that? He couldn't hold it anymore, he needed to feel Aziraphale close to him. He needed to feel his touch , he needed their bodies to mingle together.

«Don't hold back.»

When Crowley finished his sentence, Aziraphale's lips crashed against his. The kiss was messy, desperate. They had both closed their eyes as they tasted the feelings of the other on their tongues. Aziraphale's shaky hands unbuttoned Crowley's short jacket so the access to his tummy would be easier. Crowley helped him by sitting up and taking off the clothes that were covering his upper body. His breath was ragged, and he lifted a hand up to take off his glasses and abruptly throwing them on the floor. Aziraphale's hands fell to Crowley's waist, he groped at it, and rubbed his tummy with his thumb. God, he wanted to worship his body. Crowley slumped back into the couch with his face flushed, and Aziraphale got off his thighs to drop on his knees before Crowley. The ginger almost moaned at the sight, and he covered his face with a hand as Aziraphale started to kiss his tummy, his lips planting kiss everywhere, especially around the trail of red hair. His teeth sank into his hip, eliciting a low groan from Crowley. Aziraphale tilted his head up after leaving the purple bruise on his hip.

«Would you look at me, please, Crowley?»

Crowley couldn't help but obey, he looked back at Aziraphale through heated eyes, and the angel smiled at him.

«Very nice. I just want you to look at me when I want to say how pretty your whole body is.»

Crowley nodded as he mumbled under his breath. He couldn't get a single word out, he felt too overwhelmed by Aziraphale's presence, and all he could focus on was the fact that his lover left a mark over him. It was a simple thing, but it made the butterflies in his tummy crazy. Aziraphale's hands slid down to Crowley's thighs, making his breath hitch. The angel slowly unbuckled his belt, unbuttoned his leather pants and gently pulled them down, encouraging Crowley with his eyes to arch his back a bit to help him take them off along with his underwear. Aziraphale swallowed and took a shallow breath, closing his eyes to compose himself. Crowley was burning everywhere, his face and his whole body. He felt like he was going to burn, literally. He didn't dare to look at Aziraphale as he wrapped a hand around Crowley's hard cock, pumping it up and down gently at first with his eyes closed. He half-opened them, and he was pleased to see that Crowley was already whirthring beneath his touch. It was obvious that he waited for this, that he was hungry for Aziraphale's touch. Aziraphale ran his thumb over the head of Crowley's member, and it made the demon's thighs jolt. His breath was heavy and he was holding his whimpers in his throat, and Aziraphale was determined to get the noises out of him. His hand worked faster around Crowley's dick, then he rubbed rapid circles with his palm over his tip. He repeated the process until Crowley whimpered, even as he tried to keep his moans manly, he failed and the moans turned into ragged low whimpers.

«Does it feel good? Aziraphale asked softly, his blue orbs never leaving Crowley's yellow eyes.

–Ngk...Yes...Feels good. Crowley breathed out.

–Good.»

Aziraphale covered the hand that was working on Crowley with his other hand, warming his cock even more. Crowley whined and bucked his hips up, his vision blurring by moments. Aziraphale jerked off Crowley without stopping, his movements were rapid, and he didn't show any signs of stopping down.

«Angel...»

Crowley grabbed the arms of the velvet couch with both of his hands and chased his release, his moans grew short and breathy, and he ended up chasing his own release.

«That's it, Crowley, you're doing good. You're almost there.»

Aziraphale was not certain, because he was making someone cum for the first time, but he could feel Crowley's dick throb, and his desperate breathing was also a sign that he was very close. Crowley closed his eyes in pure bliss, Aziraphale's praise only fueled his pleasure, and he couldn't believe that it felt so good. His heart pounded hard into his chest, and his thighs shook. He didn't know what was happening to him, but he understood when he ejected his release with a loud curse and his lover's name on his tongue:

"Oh fuck! Aziraphale!"

The angel slowed down his movements as his hands got coated with cum. He licked his lips who suddenly felt very dry, and he looked at Crowley, who was whining as he kept cumming. He bucked his hips up to ride out of his orgasm, and he caught his breath, who was still very loud. Aziraphale stood up, his knees ached slightly, but he wanted to make sure that Crowley was okay. It was a godsend that he always kept a box of tissues on his desk. He grabbed one and cleaned his hands as best he could, then he turned back to Crowley.

«Are you feeling okay? Aziraphale couldn't hide the concern in his voice.

–I'm fine... I'm fine... Crowley reassure him.»

Aziraphale leaned down to kiss Crowley on the cheek, and he couldn't help but also kiss his lips. Crowley willingly leaned into the kiss.

"What about you...? Crowley asked, his head tilting to the side.

–What about...- What? Aziraphale was oblivious. His own erection was straining in his pants, but he didn't know at all what to do, and he was too flustered to ask Crowley to return the favor. Crowley patted his lap, his gaze caring.

–C'mere angel, 'm gonna take care of you.»

[anneapocalypse]

Canon review for fic purposes is ever ongoing and rewatching the cutscenes where you first meet the Scions I am struck by how... simplified, I guess, Minfilia's introduction of the Archons is.

Tell me, does the name Sharlayan ring any bells? It used to be one of Eorzea's six city-states, and was situated in the northwest of Aldenard. The Sharlayans were the keepers of wisdom both old and new. Their mastery over magic and aether was unsurpassed, and even the Garleans knew to fear them. Among their number, there were a noble few who devoted their lives to safeguarding the future of Eorzea. When the realm began its descent into chaos, and their countrymen fled for the motherland, they alone chose to remain here. These noble men and women were called the Archons. Those same brave souls stand before you now.

Like it's not not true but it also really does not convey the lore that we get later or (to the best of my understanding) what actually happened in 1.0. When she says "When the realm began its descent into chaos, and their countrymen fled for the motherland," that sounds like she's talking about the Calamity, except the exodus from the Sharlayan colony actually happened in 1562 of the Sixth Umbral Era, 15 years before ARR (Twelve preserve me, the dating system gives me a headache).

For context Urianger is 29 in ARR, meaning that at the time of the exodus he was approximately 14 years of age. :P I think needless to say, he was not one of those who "chose to remain here" when his countrymen fled; he was still a kid at the time, and only joined Louisoix's Circle of Knowing as an adult (unless there's some absolutely buckwild Urianger lore I'm unaware of and Alphinaud wasn't actually the youngest kid to enter the Studium). Lyse is 25, and Thancred is 32. Y'shtola's age seems to be subject to some canon discrepancies according to the wiki, but she's at most no older than Thancred.

But Minfilia's intro really makes it sound like it's these Archons, in this room, who stayed in Eorzea when the exodus happened, and it's just really weird. I also don't know why they made it sound like "Archons" refers specifically to Louisoix's group (when it does not), and didn't just reference the Circle of Knowing. It's not like that was later backfill; I'm pretty sure that was in 1.0.

All of which led me to wonder: what about Moenbryda?

And this led me to her wiki page, upon which I realized I've apparently been laboring under a misconception this entire time. I had thought Moenbryda and Urianger grew up in Old Sharlayan. But this is straight from Encyclopedia Eorzea:

...eventually the two grew close, and were often found in the Great Gubal Library reading tomes and eating cockatrice meatballs (p. 191).

That's the colony, not Old Sharlayan! So, were they both born in the colony? It certainly seems like Moenbryda was, as her bio begins "Born in Sharlayan..." and in earlier canon that's always used to refer to the colony, and since they met as children, presumably they both were.

Both of them would have moved to Old Sharlayan at 14 when the exodus happened, and then they both went to the Studium, so that's all fine.

Here's where I have questions!

After striking a talent in aetheric research she became an Archon and was in the Circle of Knowing, however, Louisoix told her to stay in Sharlayan, an order she followed with great difficulty.

Which Sharlayan?

At this point I'm just not sure how literally to take Minfilia's introduction. So many other pieces of canon state that no one stayed in the colony after the exodus except Matoya, so by "chose to remain here" I assume that Minfilia doesn't mean the colony but Eorzea generally. By the time Moenbryda was an Archon and part of the Circle of Knowing, there was no more colony for her to stay in. But it also says "stay," not "go back."

So are we meant to understand that the Circle of Knowing were traveling back and forth between Old Sharlayan and Eorzea for some time in that decade before the Calamity? Or, given that Alphinaud has dialogue about Urianger being frequently present in their home when they were growing up, did Louisoix in fact go home with the Exodus, and only return to Eorzea years later? I feel like that must be it, even though it makes Minfilia's introduction a pretty drastic oversimplification.

It's early game exposition, so I can let it go, but I just have to remember not to really treat it as reliable canon.

[gaysullengirl]

𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐞 𝐛𝐥𝐮𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧. five things

❝ i hate it here so i will go to secret gardens

in my mind ❞ -taylor swift, i hate it here

   Isabelle Cruz absolutely despised five things.

One, failure. The feeling like she was never doing enough followed her around like a stray cat, mostly she hated the idea of being a failure to herself but the idea of other people being disappointed in her made her shudder.

Two, being perceived as weak- or being perceived at all.

Three, germs. Isabelle didn't care to relentlessly research articles about germs until she meet Spencer. She adored his ramblings except for the ones about germs- sometimes he was like a human germ encyclopedia.

Four, losing freckles during the winter. It was awful for the memory of each freckle to gradually disappear, Isabelle still mourned the loss of her favorite freckle, which was just underneath her left eye.

Five, feeling numb- which was unfortunately for her happening right now.

The sound of a gunshot rang through Isabelle's ears as sat on the curb just across the street from an unsub's house.

"First time you've ever shot an unsub?" Morgan curiously asked her.

"No." She responded, not even turning her head towards him.  

"Then what's the problem?"

'I don't know' Isabelle wanted to say but didn't, instead she continued staring at scene in front of her.

The front yard of the house was taken over by police officers and agents scattering in and out of the house.

"We caught him and saved David." Morgan said, hoping it would comfort Isabelle.

But it didn't, yes they caught the awful man killing children and yes, they saved a little boy, David.

But somehow she still she wasn't content.

It didn't feel right to be content.

Isabelle noticed Spencer walk to Morgan and whisper something to him but she didn't bother looking- or listening to their conversation.

Spencer sat down next to her and watched the scene with her.

"What are you thinking about?"

Isabelle stayed silent for a moment, debating if she should lie to him or tell the truth.

She sighed, "I just feel stuck, like I'm a security guard watching my entire life play out in front of me on tapes and I'm just- observing my own life."

"It's normal to feel like that after moving, humans tend to want what we can't have- and one of those things is control." He stated.

This was why Isabelle adored Spencer's ramblings, her brain made her think she was the only one going through something and therefore she'd never recover, but Spencer somehow managed to co

for her with facts and statistics.

"Why are you thinking about this right now?" Spencer asked.

"I always think about it- it takes up like 90% of my brain function."

"You've always spent too much time up here." Spencer responded, pointing to his head.

Isabelle just scrunched her eyebrows.

"I remember one time you were staring at the wall and I asked you 'what's on your mind?' and you told me you were yearning for your childhood."

"That's a reasonable thing to yearn for." Isabelle defended.

"I'm not saying it's not, I'm just saying you think too

much."

She scoffed, "Really, you're saying that to me? Spencer Reid is telling me I think too much?"

Spencer just shook his head slightly and smirked.

୨୧

The next day was filled with paperwork, paperwork, and paperwork.

It was the thing Isabelle hated most yet loved most about her job.

In the moment, it was hell, her hand cramping, racking her brain trying to remember what happened because she somehow already forgot.

But later, reading the reports, remembering the stories was something she could talk about for hours.

It was like opening an old journal that had sat collecting dust, reading over the things that caused so much anxiety at the time, which were now mundane.

"Hey do you wanna go to a bar with us?" Spencer asked and Isabelle smiled, "Yes I would love too, who going?"

"Me, Derek, Penelope, Emily, and Jj."

"Okay, just give me a sec-" Isabelle was cut off my her phone ringing.

'Unknown Number' It read, she clicked accept and brought the phone to her ear.

The only sounds that could be heard were heavy breaths, her eyebrows curled into confusion and she hung up.

"Um yeah, I'll be there in a sec." She told Spencer.

"Who was that?" "I don't know, it was just breathing must've been a butt dial or something."

authors note!

hope u enjoyed! :)

[sir-yeehaw-paws]

how does anyone say this guy isn't gay look at that FACE

I KNOW YOU sent this as a joke but HONESTLY some of the DEEP DENIAL I have seen in *coughing* some communities regarding him and the other characters is TRULY astonishing. It ends up being so pathetic and rooted so deep in homophobia, biphobia etc that it just cycles back to being pathetic and kinda sad.

I'm not intending to turn this into a rant, but to me-and to pretty much any queer MGS fan (or LGBTQAI if you dislike queer) it's....obvious. He doesn't fool (us) for a hot second. It's not even a debate. Yet to deeply toxic dudebro *and other toxic het communities, or just the same 'uber masculine' gaming communities that haven't left the mindset of the 90's yet that used to print naked women in magazines just to appeal to them (Link to a video from Caddicarus here that goes pretty good into how atrocious some of this shit got in regards to magazines) he's gotta be ANYTHING but gay.

I genuinely didn't think it was still going to be an issue-but I have seen it still up for debate as early as 2022 and people so desperate they will argue against Vamp being bi even tho Snake LITERALLY SAYS SO in the text. But Snake could've just 'been joking with Raiden'.

We've all seen the posts, we've all seen the stuff, and while it's largely so pathetic it's not worth dwelling over except for amusement-it's kinda sad too.

NO, we never just plain old get "Ocelot is gay" In text but I wanna explain something else too.

I'm *for tumblr anyway* an old man. I'll be 32 years old at my birthday this year. When I was in HS, meterosexual was still a thing. "Gay" was the biggest insult you could be called. A friend had to TELL ME I was bi because I HAD NEVER heard the term.

Gay marriage was legalized in Canada when I was 14-the same year Brokeback Mountain came out. I remember watching the first legally married gay couple on tv and my uncle gagging. When I was much younger, and a teenager, the 'gay character' wasn't called 'gay'.

Instead, they didn't like the opposite sex. Instead, random jokes were made about them being 'abnormal' or 'eternally single'. Instead, incredibly subtle nods were put in to make references to things you would generally only understand as 'this character is gay' if you were an adult with at least SOME exposure to it.

Ocelot, is *in my opinion* absolutely written that way. If you go through the series, there are as many 'hints' and 'nods' and little references that all point in that direction. Is it a cop out? Depends on how you look at it (keep in mind gay marriage still isn't legalized in Japan) I'm not here to discuss another culture though that I'm not a part of-I'm a white Canadian man; I have no say on what is or isn't appropriate for Japan. But I DO remember how homophobic the world used to be-and at times can still be.

The dude bro's making arguments against Ocelot being gay-denying it so hard they turn blue, are usually guys my age or older. I am NOT excusing them-we've got the internet now, 'gay' stopped being an insult a decade ago, it's time to grow up. But I do know how gay characters were written at the time-Ocelot's a perfect example.

Sure, Vamp is stated to be bisexual in 2001. THAT WAS NOT THE NORM AT ALL. And Volgin being Raikov's lover was made obvious in those textual clues-but still only ever stated outright in the original MGS4 Encyclopedia.

I wish these dudes would open their minds a bit (I'm also generalizing a bit, it's not just men in denial). But at the end of the day, it will never not be interesting to me how obvious Ocelot is to us, but not to them.

(THIS GOT OUTTA HAND SORRY-)

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for getting my brother's pet killed?

I swear on my life it was an accident. TW for animal death.

A year or so ago, me and my brother, S, set out to start a journey to become the champion of the region, and to do that we needed to both get what are essentially pets. Then we get the title of "trainer" and these pets end up being battle partners. It's enriching for everyone involved, but especially the pets themselves.  Some people don't keep their pets in the holding capsules they come in because they want to be around their trainer all the time instead, and S had a situation like that.

He named his pet Miki, and we set off. After we had our journey, he became the champion and I decided to focus on filling out what's essentially a digital encyclopedia of these pets. I had every one of them logged except the kind Miki was. The system for the encyclopedia is really weird, so you have to have the pet recognize you as its trainer for as short as a single moment for it to be properly logged. Otherwise, you just have a picture and a species name.

I asked S if we could trade real quick just to log Miki, promising I'd give her back to him afterwards, and after some nudging he agreed. Things were going fine, and then the cables of the trade machine must have gotten wrapped around her neck as they moved or something? I don't remember specifics, but Miki's neck just... SNAPPED. She was dead, like, immediately. And even if she wasn't, the care trainers can get for their pets is horrifically underdeveloped in this region, so there was no way she would have survived even if we had rushed her to a center. There was no shot at her living.

S hasn't spoken to me since. He hasn't really spoken to anyone, actually. Just stays in his house all day and grieves. Me and the rest of town have tried our best to comfort him to no avail. He's only gotten worse, really -- hair's all messed up, eyes are all bloodshot, probably starting to waste away by now since I don't know if he ever gets any food when he needs it, et cetera. The grass is going wild in his yard, too, so I know there's some sort of dilapidation somewhere in that place. It's devastating to see whenever he actually leaves his house, which is usually just to go to the graveyard-tower thing in and mourn Miki.

I never meant for it to end up like this, and every night I have horrible nightmares about it. Most of them involve him breaking into my home while I sleep and either strangling me to death or snapping my neck. I can never tell which. It's probably just paranoia, but I'm worried that he's actually gonna do it someday. After all, he's clearly still upset at me, and I can't blame him. I just wish I could actually get through to him that it was an accident.

AITA?

[siennadraws]

❝  every time you walk away you take another piece of me with you.  ❞

for Keshet and Adam because LOOK it's perfect

Ok, so... It is perfect. So much so that I wrote more than 1k words. I'm so normal. Thank you, Leo!!!

spoilers for book 3 under the cut!!! beware

Ever since the kiss, things have been... awkward. Extremely so. If the Chamber Members had to witness it, Keshet thought, they wouldn't have asked her to join the Unit full-time.

Not that she regretted the kiss or the promotion. Not at all, she only wanted the tension to dissolve away.

Keshet let out a sigh at the thoughts distracting her from the book on her lap. It was a genuinely interesting book, an encyclopedia on the supernatural world. Now that she was officially a member of Unit Bravo, her research couldn't be limited to the scope of whatever case fell on them- Nate recommended this series to start.

But of course, everyone had to go on patrol, except for Adam. And now the two of them were together, alone, in the Warehouse's library. Keshet couldn't move a centimeter without being drowned by the thought of him noticing it.

You'd think doing someone against the wall would make him looking at you less nerve-wracking. Keshet's eyes shoot up at the memory.

His lips looked even more inviting, now that she knew the taste of them and how perfectly they fitted against hers. Her eyes traveled downwards to his neck. She had kissed him there, but what sounds would she pull out of him if she grazed her teeth into the soft skin? Finally to his center, in the haze of the kiss she had barely processed how she had pulled his hips to hers, only noticing it by the small relief it afforded to the burning between her legs.

She shook the thoughts off her head. But too late, her heart was already thundering in her chest, and Adam's eyes were fixed on hers. He was blushing.

"Is everything alright?"

Keshet cleared her throat, nodding at the question, "Yes, my mind just... drifted."

"You should take a break, you've been here for hours."

"I really am fine, Adam. You don't have to worry."

She could almost hear his eyebrow rising, and she bit the inside of her lips to stop a grin from spreading.

"You know it's my job to worry."

"I know. And I'm grateful for it, but I'm actually enjoying the book- I just got distracted."

"Even if you are fine, you should still take breaks."

Keshet slumped her shoulders- he was right. She did need a break. She'd been forcing herself to concentrate on the same paragraph for the last quarter of an hour, and she could feel hunger starting to gnaw on her gut.

She groaned, "All right- I'm gonna eat something."

She stood up, and after carefully placing the book on the table she started making her way to the door. In the blink of an eye, Adam was beside her.

"I shall accompany you."

Keshet couldn't help a grin from forming this time, nodding as she opened the library's door.

Despite the fluttering in her belly, awkwardness settled around them both as they made their way to the kitchen.

She chewed on her cheek- she was good at talking, and she was good with people. But whenever she thought to open her lips to talk, her mind came blank.

Had she always been terrible at talking? Were people just somehow charmed by some kind of awkwardness she just found out about? Keshet shook off those thoughts. She was just in an awkward position she wasn't exactly familiar with.

She rolled her lips with a sigh- they'll work it out.

They finally arrived at the kitchen, the smell of the herbs on the window sill reaching Keshet before she even entered it.

"Doesn't it bother you?" she asked, nodding at the pots.

"Natural scents are less taxing on the senses."

"That's interesting- it's the chemicals, right?"

Adam wrinkled his nose, "Yes."

"I'll keep that in mind then."

He smiled warmly at her, dimples and all, and it was like the floor was swept from under her feet. Even as she grew more and more accustomed to its sight, it still looked so ethereal, so much like it was plucked out of a dream. And she saw it.

Keshet let out a shaky exhale, waking herself up from her trance. She could feel the heat gathering in her cheeks.

"Right- umm... food"

"I can make the tea for you, while you prepare the rest," he offered.

"Are we starting to form a habit, Adam?"

"You are part of the Unit. It's only natural that our routines start to include you."

"That's not an answer, you know that," she chuckled, and so did Adam, shaking his head.

Keshet grabbed the bread from the cupboard, and in a comfortable quiet, both started preparing the food.

As she spread the jam on the toasted slices of bread, she couldn't help but smile. There was nothing special about this. Just two people making tea and toasts. She smiled wider.

"Here," Adam handed her the tea. Their fingers brushed sending a shiver down her spine. Her voice was nothing but a murmur when she thanked him.

Keshet leaned back against the countertop as she ate. She let a sigh of contentment then, she was hungrier than she thought.

"One would think you're eating something lavish," he sounded amused, passing her a bowl of dates and leaning next to her.

"Feels like it," he let out a snort at her response, "I'm serious! I really like how you make my tea."

"I do it as you told me to."

"It still tastes better when you do it."

A soft smile lifted Adam's lips, and Keshet could feel his fingers reaching hers through the countertop. The world seemed to stop, time itself. The only measure was her heavy breaths as his eyes fell on her lips, and hers did the same.

"I suppose I'll endeavor to make your tea more often."

He leaned closer.

They were just talking about tea, why was she like this? Her heart was thundering.

"I'd like that."

She would, she wanted more of this. More of nothing seemingly important, she wanted to watch him make tea, and after drinking it, she wanted to clean her cup while they talked about nothing special. She wanted him to peck her lips when saying hello or goodbye.

She wanted to kiss him. And he was so near their noses touched.

In a flash, Adam was beside the dinner table, swallowing in dry.

Keshet's face fell. How many times was this going to happen?

As he started to move to the door, words fell from her mouth, "Please, don't leave. Don't just walk away every time something like this happens! Every time you do that is like you take another piece of me with you. I-"

Keshet took a deep, shaky breath, trying to shrug off how her throat tightened, "You don't need to do anything else if you stay. You know I'm taking your lead on this, and I'm not used to doing that, but I know this is hard and you're struggling with it. I don't- what you want, that's my priority, even if that's nothing, especially then, especially if you're just not sure. You make me feel so safe, I want to do the same for you."

She gritted her teeth as she waited for a response. He slowly turned around, his face mirroring her pain.

Her eyebrows lifted up as he walked towards her, silence filling the kitchen completely. Gently, he took the empty cup from her hands.

"I'll stay."

[bansept]

The Child of God

Part 6

I had some free time today, so I thought about adding this new chapter! A little heads-up: Bruno is his adult self in this story. It would be impossible for Dio, even in this AU, to allow a child to look after his son. Nope nope. I usually like to keep the ages and the overall characters as canon as possible, but we have an exception for this story.

I hope you guys will like this!

Bruno was a strange, kind human.

Of course, kindness wasn't something Giorno had grown used to back when he was still with his parents, they would never be kind, never look after him, never smile at him. The evil woman wouldn't care about him, and the evil man would beat him for any reason. Now that he was living with his real father, he understood the concept of kindness, but only applied it when necessary. His father had servants, meaning he was above them. Why was it necessary to be kind to them? Giorno had looked up to his father the moment he met him, although he had been scared. His father kept him close, and he knew it was because he was his only family, therefore he could be loving, and sometimes kind and joking, but only because Giorno was his son. It didn't feel right to be good or kind to a stranger.

Yet, Bruno was soft, generous, and attentive to the boy the moment he entered the room. It felt bizarre.

Dio had returned to his side of the villa, hiding from the sun. He had given Bruno a piercing look before going, and Giorno knew the human in front of him would immediately get impaled if anything were to happen to him. Bruno had bowed to the vampire again, turning away to place his hands on the back of a chair. Giorno kept staring at him from his spot on the sofa, waiting to see what the man would do. The black-haired man scanned the place carefully, his eyes quickly returning to the seated boy.

"How old are you, Giorno?" He asked, his blue eyes kind. Again.

"I just turned 5." Giorno answered shortly before he climbed off the sofa, walking calmly to the library to pick up the book he and Father had started reading together.

Bruno looked shocked to see the little blond boy carry a huge encyclopedia around, placing it on the sofa and climbing back on to open it expertly, opening the heavy book and going back to reading without looking up at his tutor. Average children didn't quite know how to read at 5, especially complicated words in old books like the one Giorno was holding. He cleared his throat gently, walking up to the child.

"I see you enjoy books." Giorno didn't answer. "I am guessing you take after your father. He seems like a man of great culture." At this, Giorno raised his head again, squinting at the man.

"Do you?" Bruno chuckled, earning him another, harder, squint from the child.

"I used to. But now I prefer to see the things I've read in books in the real world."

Giorno stopped squinting to glance at the exquisite drawing of animals in the book, then back at Bruno.

"You know, those particular insects you're looking at can be found right outside?" Bruno said with a teasing voice. Giorno smiled for a moment, before staring at the man.

"Show me!"

"I will, once you say it politely."

Giorno's excitement cooled down when seeing the man had closed his arms on his chest, prepared to wait a long time. Was it necessary for him to be polite even to his tutor? He remembered the way his father was still polite to the servants, how it showed he was indeed better than them, but also had great manners. The blonde boy nodded at Bruno.

"Please, show me where to find the insects."

Bruno smiled widely, standing back up and holding out a hand to Giorno to help him down. The boy didn't take his hand, handling the height of the sofa with ease, and hurriedly placed the book back in its designed place in the library, trotting back to the standing man. The two walked to the gardens that were illuminated by the late morning sun. Thankfully, the weather was kind and warm for April, allowing the trees and flowers to slowly burgeon, the grass waking up from its winter state. Giorno wasn't cold for now, his little dark pants and long-sleeved t-shirt covered him enough for Bruno not to worry.

For the next hour, Bruno showed Giorno the different few things he knew about insects and animals: where did they live, why they hibernated, why did they look like that, and why some were bigger than others. Giorno faked his disinterest for a minute only, incapable of resisting sitting on the ground to try to pick up some of the few insects that were still out, including snails, that he mischievously placed on Bruno's hand when he wasn't looking. The gasp of disgusts he got out of him was quite funny.

"Those ants... There's the Queen, who's very big, and then the soldiers, and the workers!"

"Yes, they all work for the Queen. She's their leader."

"Oh, so it's like Father." Giorno looked up with a smile. Bruno raised his eyebrows in thought.

"I... Guess we could say that."

.

.

.

By the time the day was over, Bruno had understood and noted that Giorno was a very intelligent boy, curious of the world around him. He was calm and didn't throw tantrums, as if they were above him. Giorno didn't seem to care about hurting feelings or sugar-coating his words, often asking the man why his vest was the way it was, why did he have tattoos, why was he so annoyingly kind, and so on. He was 5, so Bruno didn't take his words too seriously.

Giorno was by the fire in the evening, waiting with patience for his father to enter the room, which wouldn't take very long by now. Bruno was taking care of his own meal, having been instructed the boy would eat with his father only, and so the young man was free to go to his own room and spend the evening the way he wanted.

Dio opened the door silently, and Giorno stood immediately, running up to him with the biggest smile on his face.

"Father!" He exclaimed, Dio staring down at him and rubbing his hair gently.

The tall, bulky vampire didn't utter a word to the child, simply pushing him lightly to the table, indicating him to go eat. It was already too late for the boy to stay up. Giorno understood and graciously sat down, a servant already garnishing his plate with various vegetables and some meat. Dio sat by his side, his eyes focusing on the little human, nodding at him to start eating. It seemed Giorno was in a good mood.

"I saw a lot of the animals from the encyclopedia today! Lots of insects! They were right outside, in the gardens." The child spoke excitedly, yet still careful to not speak with his mouth full.

"Good." Dio simply said. If it wasn't for his son's love for animal life, he would have ignored the words stumbling out of his mouth. And after all, he was still very young. "Eat now, Giorno. We will talk about your day later."

Giorno's smile faded a little, disappointed to not be able to discuss more with his father, but he quickly shook his head. Father was right. It was night, and he'd be able to spend some time with him after supper. He returned to his plate with enthusiasm, eagerly waiting for the moment he'd see his father smile just for him.

Dio stood up soon after, asking his son to get ready for bed. He'd have some business to attend to before joining him. Leaving the room to his servants, the vampire silently walked up to Bruno Buccierati's room, situated in the sunniest part of the villa, now bathed in the blue light of the night. The man was unpacking his light suitcase, humming to himself, unaware of the presence of his host and master. Dio sat down on the simple chair in the room, the wooden frame creaking from the massive weight put on it. Bruno immediately turned around, his stand appearing behind him.

Dio smiled maliciously, his orange eyes shining in the night.

"Tell me, Buccierrati, how did this day go?" His tone was smooth, almost friendly.

"Master Dio... Your son is a very clever boy. I believe he will make you very proud of him." Bruno answered with a smile, trying to stop his skin from crawling from the supernatural chills emanating from the man in front of him.

Dio's smile crumbled. He glared at the young man.

"Of that, I was certain the moment he was born." He stood up, towering over the human with ease. "Giorno will do great things. For that, he must be strong. Starting tomorrow, you will do what it takes for him to increase his strength, mental and physical."

"Master, he is just a boy..."

Before Bruno could finish his sentence, Dio was already lifting him up to the ceiling by his neck, choking him with ease. The human called his stand, only to find it impossible to move as if time had stopped.

"My son will not be weak because of you. Starting tomorrow, he will train his body, train his mind, and when he will be ready, he will receive his Stand." The blonde man, if he was still a man and not a god, clearly spoke. Sweat was dripping on Bruno's forehead. "His youth is none of your concern. You swore to serve me if I helped you with this Passione gang of yours. One mistake from you, one misstep, and you will experience a fate worse than death."

The man was turning pale from the lack of oxygen, his face drenched, his vision troubled. Dio let him go, his body falling on the ground like a sack of potatoes. His breathing returned after a few tries, only to realize he was alone again. He didn't dare feel relieved.

---

Funny thing tho, I looked it up on the Internet, and Queen ants have drone ants, which are made for mating. We could be saying Dio has lots of drones too, since this man fucked everything with a vagina. Also Dio being bad was very nice to write hehe

Part 5 // Part 7

[trinity-mia]

a story as endless as the ocean

the lightning thief

0.7 some minor explanation

warnings : cussing

word count : 4.4k

0.7 Luke Gives Me Some Much Needed Context in a World Where I Need a Whole Encyclopedia to Understand Everything that is Going On

News of 'Allie Jackson' being in camp spread around quickly.

Luke led me all around camp and everywhere I went people would stop whatever they were doing and whisper among themselves. I wouldn't be able to hear most of what they said, but if I got lucky I'd catch a few bits and pieces. 

Most ranged from, "Holy SHIT, it's Allie Jackson," to, "I heard she fought the Minotaur. How badass is that?!" The only person in the whole camp who seemed to have a problem with my arrival was Annabeth, who I had yet to see again. 

Luke showed me a few places: the metal shop (where kids were forging their own swords), the arts-and-crafts room (where satyrs were sandblasting a giant marble statue of a goat-man), and the climbing wall, which actually consisted of two facing walls that shook violently, dropped boulders, sprayed lava, and clashed together if you didn't get to the top fast enough. He showed me the mess hall, which was an outdoor pavilion framed in white Grecian columns on a hill overlooking the sea. There were a dozen stone picnic tables. No roof. No walls.

I was going to ask where we ate when it rained, but then I thought better of it. I'd just stepped into a world where the Greek gods were real; I doubted they needed to worry about the 'little' things like the weather. 

Then he took me to see the canoeing lake, the stables, the javelin range, the sing-along amphitheater, the archery range (which made me very excited and I'm sure Luke could tell), and the arena where Luke said they held sword and spear fights (this also made me excited, so much to the point where I didn't even wonder what kind of twisted summer camp had a sword and spear fighting arena). He took me to the armory, where he said all of the weapons and armor were held and that Chiron would get something that'd work for me later today.

Finally, he formally showed me the cabins. There were twelve of them, nestled in the woods by the lake. They were arranged in a U, with two at the base and five in a row on either side. And they were, without a doubt, the most bizarre collection of buildings I'd ever seen. 

Except for the fact that each had a large brass number above the door (odds on the left side, evens on the right), they looked absolutely nothing alike. Number nine had smokestacks, like a tiny factory. Number four had tomato vines on the walls and a roof made out of real grass. Seven seemed to be made of solid gold, which gleamed so much in the sunlight it was almost impossible to look at. They all faced a common area about the size of a soccer field, dotted with Greek statues, fountains, flowerbeds, and a couple of basketball hoops.

In the center of the field was a huge stone-lined fire pit. Even though it was a warm afternoon, the hearth smoldered. A girl about nine years old was tending the flames, poking the coals with a stick. I smiled at her and made a mental note to talk to her by the end of the day, if she was still there.

The pair of cabins at the head of the field, numbers one and two, looked like his-and-hers mausoleums, big white marble boxes with heavy columns in front. Cabin one was the biggest and bulkiest of the twelve. Its polished bronze doors shimmered like a hologram, so that from different angles lightning bolts seemed to streak across them. Cabin two was more graceful somehow, with slimmer columns garlanded with pomegranates and flowers. The walls were carved with images of peacocks.

Cabin three wasn't high and mighty like cabin one, but long and low and solid. The outer walls were of rough graystone studded with pieces of seashell and coral, as if the slabs had been hewn straight from the bottom of the ocean floor. It reminded me of home, for some reason. I could've sworn I felt connected to it, but Luke dragged me towards the canoeing lake before I could think about it further.

I jumped up and sat on the railing that overlooked the lake. I thought over everything in my head. I'd met a few people; I'd found Silena Beauregard again, who was still as likable as when I first met her. Turns out, she was the half-sister of one of my co-workers, Vanessa Frost. Nessa and I had met on the set of Inception together and, while we didn't see each other much anymore, we'd become fast friends and always tried to get on the same movies and T.V. shows. I hadn't seen her in almost a year, so our reunion was very nice. 

Then, I finally ran into Danny, who had almost tackled me to the ground and startled the hell out of Luke. Danny had stopped attending Camp Half-Blood almost a decade and a half ago, when he turned 20 and decided he'd try his hand at surviving out in the world and college. He'd become my manager right out of college because I'd just turned six and my mom had started getting overwhelmed with the amount of casting calls and acting offers I'd been getting. He took a lower rate since he was so new and mom didn't have much money, but overtime he'd sort of become a surrogate father to me. He told me he was glad I hadn't died and gave me my phone and credit cards back. Luke seemed very confused at the device, so I asked why.

"Normally demigods don't use phones. You managed to get to sixteen without many monsters attacking you and you were using a phone? That's crazy," Luke replied.

"Oh, it's something me and Beckendorf have been working on," Danny said. Beckendorf, for the record, was a son of Hephaestus and Danny's half brother, who I'd met just a little after Danny found me. "Her public image is of utmost importance, so she needed to have a phone, mostly in order to keep in touch with her fans and promote what projects she has coming up. Only problem was: we suspected she was a demigod, especially after she used her phone and almost got attacked by four hellhounds. We'd asked her mom and she confirmed it, but convinced us not to take her here and wouldn't tell us who her father was. So me and Beckendorf managed to make a phone that attracted fewer monsters. It's not foolproof, but it works fairly well."

I'd met a girl named Katie Gardner, a daughter of Demeter, when we were walking past the strawberry field. She was super nice, and told me she'd help me out if I ever needed it, which I was thankful for. We clicked just as easily as Silena and I, and it was great since they were good friends, too. 

Then there was Will Solace, a happy-go-lucky seeming son of Apollo (he was the one who'd healed the back of my head and pretty much everything else I messed up, so I made sure to thank him for it) and Malcolm Pace, a son of Athena, who, thankfully, wasn't insufferable like his half-sister. I'd practically run into another girl, Brylie Vegas, a younger one, around fourteen, who was a daughter of Hermes. She had recognized me as soon as we almost collided and had basically broken her back to keep from bumping into me. She was sweet and shy, so I made sure she didn't feel uncomfortable before Luke told her he had to continue showing me around. 

I did see Clarisse around once or twice, but we never were able to stop and talk for more than a few seconds. 

Luke let me think for a few seconds before speaking, which was something I liked about him; he had tact. 

"Is there a headache forming yet?" he joked, leaning up against the rail beside where I was sitting. 

"Oh, there was a headache as soon as I woke up," I replied, giving him a small smile. "As far as all of—" I titled my head looking for the right word and ended up waving my hand in the direction we'd come from— "this... it's not as bad as I think it should be. I feel like if Danny had dragged me here a few years ago I'd be flipping my shit and calling everyone out, saying they were kidding and stuff like that. I might've even thought Danny had just pulled a massive prank on me, killing the Minotaur or not. I'd have thought I was going insane."

"I get that. I was thinking about how you were taking this better than most. You're not the first person we've had to react like you are, but it doesn't happen very often."

"Like I said, too many things started adding up. I can't really deny things when they're standing right in front of my face, you know?"

"Yeah, I do," He replied. "So, do you have any dire questions that need to be answered?"

"What's the deal with the whole Minotaur thing? Didn't Theseus kill him like... centuries ago in the Labyrinth? How was he... I don't know, back?" 

"That's pretty simple, kind of. Chiron calls them archetypes. They get killed, but they don't ever die for good. They get sent to Tartarus and start reforming. There's never a set time that they're down there, either. If you're lucky, they could be stuck reforming for decades; if you're not, it could take a few days." 

I nodded. "Okay, I can wrap my head around that." I paused. "Why does Athena have children? I thought she was supposed to be a maiden goddess like Hera and Artemis."

"She is," Luke confirmed. "That one's also pretty simple. When she meets someone with a high intellect who she takes a liking to, she talks to them for a while and then imagines what their child would look like. So her children are basically born from her thoughts, like she was from Zeus'."

I gave him an odd look. "That's..."

"Weird? Kinda gross?" he suggested. 

"Well, I was gonna say 'traumatic' but, yeah those work, too, I guess." He laughed and nodded at me to continue. "Okay, kinda off-topic question, but are we allowed to leave? And like... what happens if you choose not to leave during the winter?"

"Leaving is more or less suicide, depending on how good you are and if your scent is powerful enough. Once you reach a certain age, Chiron and Mr. D let you leave more often than not, but the younger ones have to have specific instructions. Even you and I would have to get a quest or something to have a good enough reason to leave. As for our education, Chiron teaches us everything if you choose to stay. Which a lot of people do, considering most of us have awful home lives." He looked at me. "But again there are exceptions— like how Danny can go to the mortal world to be your manager. You'd probably have some of the same exemptions because of your job." 

"That's why I was asking," I told him, nodding. "Alright, this is my last question, I promise. I'm starting to feel annoyed for you," I joked. 

Luke smirked at me. "Don't worry, Angel, I could listen to you talk all day."

I shook my head, trying to fight a smile. "Why are some of the cabins empty?"

Luke took a deep breath and released it before he answered. "Cabin Two belongs to Hera," he started, obviously choosing his words carefully. "As the goddess of marriage, all her children are Zeus'." I nodded as Luke went on. "Cabin Eight is Artemis' cabin. She doesn't have kids but her Hunters stay there when they come to visit camp."

From his grimace, I guessed that he had bad memories of the Hunters, either at Camp or out.

"Then there's One and Three," he explained, looking apprehensive. "They're for Zeus and Poseidon. The Big Three aren't supposed to have children anymore."

"Why not?" I couldn't stop myself from pushing. "From what I can remember, a good majority of the Greek myths are based off of Zeus' children. And Poseidon had his fair share mentioned, as well."

He nodded to me like I'd answered my own question. "That's pretty much why, kind of. Officially, their children are too powerful. We inherit powers from our parents' domains and Big Three kids are the strongest demigods, like the Three themselves are the strongest gods. Zeus' kids could call down lightning strikes or cause tornadoes. A son of Poseidon caused the Long Beach earthquake in 1933, killed 120 people. And supposedly his descendant was accused of causing the 1906 one as well. And Adolf Hitler was a son of Hades, and that's enough said about that. Supposedly they're too powerful to control themselves."

"So, what, they all just collectively decided to not have children anymore? I wouldn't think that would hold up in the long run."

"Well, sort of. After World War II, which had Hitler for the Axis Powers, and Roosevelt, a son of Zeus, and Churchill, son of Poseidon, for the Allies, leading it, the Big Three took an oath on the Styx to never sire any other demigod children again."

Finally, his wording processed in my brain. "And the unofficial reason?" I asked.

Luke shot me a wry grin. "Caught that huh? Yeah, that's not the real reason. If it was, they probably would've tried centuries ago. The only heroes recorded to have fought gods or Titans and lived, sometimes even defeated them, were Big Three kids, after all. Really, what happened was the Oracle made a prophecy. A child of the Big Three would either save or destroy Olympus, and Western Civilization with it once they turned twenty. That's why they made the Oath. And because of that, they aren't supposed to have kids anymore."

"But they didn't keep it," I guessed carefully. "You said that they aren't supposed to have kids anymore, not that they don't at all."

"Clever girl. You could be a child of Athena if your hair wasn't so white and your eyes were grayer. All of her children seem to have those features," Luke told me. "I don't think that fits quite right, though."

He flashed a grin at me but it disappeared as soon as it arrived. Pain and grief were in his eyes as he continued, trying to keep as emotionless as possible. 

"About nineteen years ago, Zeus had an affair with a TV starlet named Beryl Grace— I wouldn't be surprised if you've heard of her."

I had, of course. Beryl Grace was a Hollywood tragedy. Danny used to tell me her story to scare me into making sure I stayed responsible, no matter who it was that offered me something. Still, I let him explain it to me. 

"They ended up having a daughter. Thalia. She ran away from home when she was nine. Camp sent a satyr to get her to safety, but she'd teamed up with two other demigods. Their combined scent was too strong, and Hades was enraged by Zeus breaking the Oath. They were attacked constantly and the satyr eventually made a wrong turn. They got to the hill but they wouldn't have made it over the border. Thalia made the others go ahead while she bought them time. As she was—" He faltered in his monotone telling of Thalia's fate before forcing himself to continue. "As she was dying, Zeus turned her into that pine tree. Her lifeforce strengthens the barriers. Keeps all of us safe."

I studied him for a minute in silence before speaking tentatively. "You and Annabeth were the demigods she teamed up with, weren't you?" 

It was a statement, not a question. Luke nodded, looking pained. I didn't say 'I'm sorry', knowing from experience how much it doesn't help. I just took his hand and sat in silence with him as he weathered the renewed storm of grief.

"Why tell me all of this?" I asked eventually. I thought it was a valid question. He didn't have to tell me the unofficial parts of the— well, it seemed wrong to call it a story when Thalia had died because of it. History, then.

He turned to look at me and I was startled at the intensity of his blue eyes. I could practically see the different shades in them.

"I'm not a son of Apollo," he told me. "I don't see the future. But I do have good instincts. And they're telling me that it's important that you know this, and as soon as possible, too."

I bit my lip, dread coursing through me at the thought of this information being relevant to my future. My mother's voice, echoing a long-forgotten conversation I'd eavesdropped on a year and a half ago, sounded in my head. 

"She's not here right now. She's probably on her way back from the airport. Even if she was here, I wouldn't give up my baby! How can you ask me to?" 

"I'm asking you to for her sake!" the man's voice snapped back, though it didn't have the bite in it that a statement like that usually would. "If you keep her with you, they'll find her eventually. It's only a matter of time."

"She is barely even with me. She's been in Georgia for the past month filming Marvel movies and in a few days she leaves for London for Fashion Week. Three months she goes on tour for her new album, with too many more things in between that I can't even say 'no' to— what more can you ask of me?" 

"Even so, every moment she's here, she's in danger. You told me years ago that you'd let her go when she was 10. What happened to that?" My mother hadn't replied so the man continued, "Zeus' daughter is dead, which means I have nothing to use against him to settle his anger when he finds out about Allie—"

"That's my daughter you're talking about!" Mom interrupted, sounding horrified. "How can you think of an innocent girl as leverage?"

"She's not leverage, but I am thinking of Allie. Sally—"

"No, I won't. I'm done. Leave, you only put her in more danger by coming here. If you stay any longer they'll be drawn here sooner rather than later."

I never figured out who she was talking to and never told her about it— so I pushed all memory of it to the back of my head and never thought about it again. Or, at least, I hadn't thought about it again. 

"I really hope you're wrong about that," I told Luke hoarsely after the sound of a conch shell being blown returned me to the present. How the hell I knew it was a conch shell is beyond me, but I decided I didn't really care. He straightened, offering me his hand to help me to my feet.

"Me too. Come on, that's the call for dinner."

As the pavilion came into view, I saw torches blazing from the columns and a central fire was burning inside a bronze brazier the size of a bathtub. Each table had a white cloth with purple trim. I liked it, it had a friendly, comfortable air to it.

Everyone in Cabin 11 lined up behind Luke and followed him to our table where we were served our dinner by wood nymphs. I wasn't surprised that the food itself was Greek-style healthy food. I had BBQ, grapes, apples, strawberries, cheese, and fresh bread. I was positive this was something my dietician would have approved of, so I wasn't too particularly worried about eating all of it. Actually, I'm sure he wished I'd eat this every day and nothing else. 

Luke leaned over to whisper into my ear. "We have to sacrifice a bit of our meals to the gods before eating," he explained softly to me. "I'll show you."

I took the few seconds I had to look around at everybody. In all, there were maybe a little over a hundred campers, a few dozen satyrs, and a dozen assorted wood nymphs and naiads.

I saw Grover sitting at table twelve with Mr. D, a few satyrs, and a couple of plump blond boys who looked just like Mr. D. Chiron stood to one side, the picnic table being way too small for a centaur. As I scanned the room I caught the eyes of a few people I'd met earlier today, and they all smiled at me, which made me feel a lot more comfortable. 

Luke led me up to the brazier with our plates. For a second, I was sure that I saw the same young-looking girl sitting in the flames but when I blinked, the image was gone again.

Luke pushed a small portion of his meal into the fire, saying "Hermes," in a clear tone. I stepped up beside him, hesitating for a moment before pushing in some of my own food.

"Hestia and Hermes," I muttered. The brazier had reminded me of Hestia, whom I'd always liked the most in the myths, or history books I suppose. And seeing as I was staying in Hermes' cabin, it seemed like basic politeness to give him some too.

"Most people just direct it to their parents," Luke commented lowly as we wandered back to the table.

I jutted out my chin stubbornly. "It takes more than conceiving a kid to be a parent, Luke," I replied. "If he acknowledges me, I'll sacrifice to him, too. Don't see the point of doing so before that."

He glanced down at me, a smile playing on his lips. "Angel, you are definitely gonna be a breath of fresh air around here."

I smiled and as soon as we sat down we were joking around and talking with everyone at the Hermes table. They wanted to know a lot about me, most of which didn't include the 'celebrity' part of my life, which I was thankful for. After being slightly overwhelmed all day, it was nice getting to talk with them. 

I had somehow ended up on Luke's lap after he insisted that it would be much more comfortable than getting my hips crushed on the seat, so after a few jokes, I moved. When I did, Brylie, the girl I'd almost ran into earlier, basically begged me to let her braid my hair. I didn't complain much, considering I really needed to do something with my hair. Once she finished her dinner, she was content as she waited for the rest of us. 

When everybody had returned to their seats and finished eating their meals, Chiron pounded his hoof again for our attention. 

Mr. D got up with a huge sigh. "Yes, I suppose I'd better say hello to all you brats. Well, hello. Our activities director, Chiron, says the next capture the flag is Friday. Cabin five presently holds the laurels." 

A bunch of excited cheering rose from the Ares table. Clarisse was the loudest, but didn't seem to mind at all. 

"Personally," Mr. D continued, "I couldn't care less, but congratulations. Also, I should tell you that we have a new camper today. Angie Johnson." 

Chiron murmured something."Er, Allie Jackson," Mr. D corrected. "That's right. Hurrah, and all that." Chiron murmured something again. "And he wishes me to tell you all not to harass her with questions and such." He rolled his eyes dramatically. "Now run along to your silly campfire. Go on." 

Everybody cheered. We all headed down toward the amphitheater, where Apollo's cabin led a sing-along. We sang camp songs about the gods and ate s'mores and joked around, and the funny thing was, I didn't feel that anyone was staring at me anymore. I felt that I was home. 

People still came over to me and wanted to talk, but it didn't make me feel weird like it did when I was walking the streets of Manhattan. These people were now technically my family. I'd only been there for a day, but it definitely wasn't as bad as it could've been. 

Later in the evening, when the sparks from the campfire were curling into a starry sky, the conch horn blew again, and we all filed back to our cabins. All of the Hermes cabin (save for a few of the younger ones, like a six-year-old girl, Julie Dixon who was very obviously a daughter of Athena), decided to stay up and get to know me. They asked a lot about my hobbies outside of acting and singing and modeling and stuff like that, which made me happy. I didn't feel singled out, or anything, which was one of the first times I could say that without lying. 

I asked all of them questions, too, and we all became super close in a single night. We laughed and it was only when someone thought they heard Chiron making his way towards us did we finally go to sleep. 

I hadn't realized how tired I was until I'd finally laid down and listened to the ocean. I felt my muscles relax and I knew I'd like it here. 

My last thoughts were of my mother and if I'd ever see her again. Considering the underworld was a real thing, I guessed I would. I hoped wherever she was, it was paradise. After everything she did for me and everything she sacrificed for me, she deserved it.

*    *    *

previous | next

SERIES M.LIST | MAIN M.LIST | TIPS

[two-calicos-in-a-trenchcoat]

Looking at your score for the "have you done antiquated things" thing made me understand that not everyone born 95-00 was indeed born 95-00 (if that makes any sense?) Your score of 9 surprised me because I'm only 23 and I got 4.

Lol yea I mean like ive seen/been exposed to most of those things. I just haven't necessarily used them

Watched my grandparents make calls on the rotary phone. Liked to stim with the dial while watching TV in their room. But i wasn't really old enough to be making phone calls.

Didn't really use the computer much on my own until I was 7 or 8 and my mom had a laptop and I mostly just played educational games on CD-ROM before that so while I'd seen floppy disks we weren't really using them in my house

Im not sure id seen a vinyl record in person til I was maybe 10. I knew what they were from movies and stuff but nobody I spent any amount of time with had any (tho apparently my moms cousin who's only about 10 years older than me collects them but I never really went to his house so I didn't know that til a few years ago lol)

Ive listened to cassette. My grandparents had a radio in their home office that played cassettes and I used to listen to Rudolph the red nosed reindeer on repeat for hours on it when I was little (and yet no one wondered if I may be autistic lol.) But ive never recorded anything on cassette.

I am very glad we never had dial up in my house. My noise sensitive ass could not have handled that lol. I know what it sounds like. I know it made an awful noise. I would not have been a fan.

I dont know if I would have sent postcards even before 2000.....every time I've bought a postcard its because I wanted it for me lol. With the exception of the wooden one I got as a souvenir for my friend when I went to Colorado (tho I do wish id gotten one for myself)

My dictionary was a childrens dictionary i got at school. Dictionaries and encyclopedias just aren't something my family would have...we read a lot but those would just take up shelf space lol

Ive never personally paid with a paper check but I have received paper checks as payment at work and i know how to fill out a check.

[sarah-dipitous]

Hellsite Nostalgia Tour 2023 Day 40

Roadkill/Age of Steel

“Roadkill”

Would I Survive the First Five Minutes??: one time I was driving down to Louisville and my gps told me a shortcut that took me through some backroads The Deer Hunter lookin place instead of the highway….I did feel like I was in an episode of spn. But I didn’t get distracted like these two, so I might be alright

How’s this guy gonna leave his wife? girlfriend? in their totaled car in the middle of the woods with not even a text or voicemail to tell her where he went on their ANNIVERSARY

I don’t think you should go into the spooky house in the woods unless you actually live there

Love that everyone is going to sound crazy to everyone else in this scenario…like, we’re joining Sam and Dean already in the middle of their investigation.

MAYBE DONT TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE ROAD DEAN

Omg…I too would be backing away slowly if I saw the entire arsenal the Winchesters have in their trunk, but, man, I think I’d start running if they told me they were ghost hunting…lucky for them, Molly has had to plead to them to be believed

Dean’s bluntness and Sam’s empathy are a good combination actually

I don’t know that I’d let Molly walk behind me if I knew she was in the kind of danger she’s in…she’d be right at my side

We’re getting philosophical up in this bitch this afternoon

Oh they KNOW what happened to her husband???

God I hate jump scares…even when I know for sure they’re coming because they’re playing House of the Rising Sun

“You’re like a walking encyclopedia of weirdness.” What does that make you, Dean?? You’re one too

“thank god” “call me Dean” bestieee please (though to be honest, it’s the kind of stupid remark I’d also make in that kind of situation)

There are 10 minutes left, this can’t possibly be over….wait what??? How…how long was she there? Is…is SHE dead? Is MOLLY ALSO A GHOST?? Omg…how horrific to have to relive a night like that every year

I really do resent how good some of these episodes can be…

“Been On My Mind…”: the only characters they interact with are an already married woman and the ghost, so………no

"Age of Steel"

Did I even mention Ricky in the last episode?? Because...it's very funny to see that actor being something of a hardass after watching him be Mickey for a season and a half.

Love that Ricky just has the most parking tickets and that's got him on some most wanted list...truly love that for him

Is this the moment Mickey starts getting some self respect? well...alternate-self respect? becuase Ricky told him he wasn't so bad

Did the cybermen just kill Ricky??? RIP

These little punk rebels are adorable, and they care so much about each other (as they should and would). It's just sad that there are so few and one of them just died...

YES YES YES!!! YOU DID IT!! You gained self respect!!

Half expected that cyberman to turn its head as they passed....because that would of course happen.

And this, kids, is why you stick to wired headphones. Get rid of your air pods now, guys

Even though you see the people right before they turn into cybermen, they're already being controlled and are very robotic, it's easy to think of them as sci-fi fodder, but listening to the cyberman whose emotional inhibitor gets turned off or destroyed...talking about how she's getting married and is worried that her fiance might see her before the wedding...just destroyed me

And then having Mickey straight up looney tunes trick the cyberman to disable the transmitter. Brilliant

This dude has factories on all seven continents?? Why've you got them on Antarctica my dude??

"I'd call you a genius, except I'm in the room." love when he's like that.

Don't they call Ten something like "the one who regrets" in the 50th anniversary special? Is that why he's always telling all his enemies and everyone he fails to save "I'm so sorry." I swear they call him the one who regrets and Eleven the one who forgets...and I'm gonna go crazy til we get tho that point.

Characters who learn to operate vehicles from video games are underrated. Except Mickey's not so bad at flying this zeppelin where as Spinner shouldn't have been allowed on the road...

I'm so proud of Mickey...(wait, then how DOES he come back later?)

Okay but low key I want the adventures of Mickey and Jack liberating the world from the clutches of the cybermen. Just think it would be neat.