#I like UMP too

[nshtn]

oh boy oh boy the riddler's got a scar-l!

[shardsofchaos]

there is nothing funnier than getting ready to go to sleep and seeing a notification that a player from my baseball team just got kicked from the game

[whytheylosttheirminds]

Don't Call Me Kid - Chapter 7

(Rafe Cameron x Reader series, 6.7k words)

series summary: You'd had a crush on Rafe Cameron since you were six years old, but he friend zoned you at every turn. Once shy and insecure, you found new confidence and self-love after high school. When your high school friends go on a reunion beach trip, Rafe finally sees what he lost, but he isn't going to give you up without a fight.

tropes: unrequited crush, glow up, she fell first/he fell harder

series content: some angst, eventual fluff, slow burn, tomfoolery and shenanigans, drinking, fem!reader has occasional insecurity and body image issues

⇢ series masterlist

additional chapter cw! non-descriptive mentions of vomit

A swing and a miss, again.

Rafe’s game was all over the place, he hadn’t been able to focus in batting practice all week, and now it was the bottom of the ninth in Academy’s rivalry match against Kildare County. He was down in the count when he asked the ump for a timeout.

He had resisted the urge to look in the stands the whole game, afraid he knew what he would find, or rather, what he wouldn’t.

You usually sat behind the dugout, wearing his old jersey that he’d given you after his record-breaking freshman season, and his number in black eyeliner on either cheek. Sometimes, it would take a few days for it to wash off, and you’d show up to school with the hint of his number still faded on your skin. 

No one - not his coaches, not his teammates, certainly not his father - could read him like you could. Sometimes he’d pop his head out of the dugout between innings so you could tell him his swing was a few seconds too early for the pitcher’s fastball, or that he needed to stop chasing the backdoor slider. You were never wrong.

They’d tease him in the dugout, tossing sunflower seeds at him and taunting, “what is she, your hitting coach or your wife?” Then he’d ignore you for a few innings, though he almost never got on base without checking in with you first.

Your absence from this game was glaring, one of those same teammates taunting, “can someone please get Cameron’s hitting coach on the phone for fuck’s sake?” after his third strikeout.

He’d brushed it off, but now the game was on the line, and he realized he’d endure any amount of teasing if it meant looking up and seeing you in the stands.

He stepped out of the batter’s box, took a deep breath, and craned his neck to your usual seat, hands gripping the bat tighter when his fear was confirmed - it was empty.

He struck out, and they lost the game.

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It’s actually about to happen, the moment you’d wished for on every star, every eyelash, every birthday candle since you were six years old. The moment you never thought would actually come. You’ve played this scene in your mind a million times, what your first kiss with Rafe would be like. None of the many versions took place in an alley behind a Florida nightclub, but none of them were real either, so now was not the time to be picky. 

Rafe’s thumb was still lingering on your bottom lip, the rest of his long fingers caressing your jaw. 

“Can I? Please?”

“Yes.”

He smiled, dimples creasing his cheeks so handsomely, and leaned in. You realized you were holding your breath as you awaited the first brush of his lips against yours.

It never came. The door to the club slammed open, making you both jump. Your already thumping heart flew to your throat as Kelce stumbled out the large metal door.

“Woah, sorry,” he jumped back, smirking at the sight of you and Rafe pulling away from each other quickly.

“What could you possibly need from me right now?” Rafe said, jaw clenched and eyes narrowed in warning.

“I came out here to find her,” Kelce pointed at you. “So calm your ass down.”

“What is it, Kelce?” You asked gently, hand on Rafe’s arm to hold him back as he started stepping menacingly toward his friend.

“Something’s wrong with Carter,” Kelce said.

“What?!” Your face flooded with concern, you started toward the club, and Rafe didn’t stop you, knowing the sound of your sister’s name dashed any hope he had of keeping you in this alleyway.

“What happened?” You asked Kelce as you brushed past him back into the crowded club, Rafe following behind the two of you.

“I don’t know, she got into an argument with Top and then she stormed off,” Kelce shouted over the thundering music as he struggled to keep up with you.

You scanned the whole club, but couldn’t find her, just Topper ranting emphatically to Tom in the corner, and Sabrina and Maddie on either side of the bathroom door, trying to talk to someone on the other side.

Kelce and Rafe were lost to the crowd as you beelined toward the bathroom, forcefully pushing angry clubbers out of the way to get there. You didn’t care, you were locked-in on finding your sister.

“Is she in there?” You asked as you approached the bathroom.

“Yeah,” Maddie confirmed, looking worried, and a little queasy. “But she won’t let anyone in.”

“She’s so wasted it’s crazy,” Sabrina added with a hiccuping giggle.

You ignored her lack of concern for your sister and banged loudly on the door.

“Car? It’s me,” you shouted, “you gotta let me in, alright? I just want to make sure you’re okay.”

After a moment, and the thought that you’d break this fucking door down if that’s what it took, the handle finally turned. She opened the door just a crack to let you slip through, and closed it back firmly behind you.

Sabrina wasn’t wrong, Carter’s intoxication was written all over her face. Flushed, clammy skin and bloodshot eyes. She threw her arms around you, squeezing tight enough to knock the wind out of you.

“What happened? Are you okay?” You asked nervously.

Before you got an answer, she was on her knees in front of the toilet bowl. You rushed to grab her hair and hold it back, getting it all out of the way with just seconds to spare before she got sick.

Thinking through the day's events, you realized no one had eaten much before you left the house, and you knew this group well enough to know it didn’t take much for them to get hammered. What you didn’t know was that while you were distracted with Rafe, the rest of your group was in the club throwing back drinks and racking up tabs like the world was ending.

Rafe was having a similar realization out on the floor, trying to wrangle everyone to the front door where he had a pair of cabs waiting. He physically dragged Topper away from the bar as he demanded another drink, the bartender shouting that he was cutoff. He led Maddie and Sabrina away from some sketchy looking guys who were inviting them back to their house boat, which they proudly advertised held gallons of their homemade moonshine. He stopped Tom from sucker punching a guy who booed when the DJ played a Drake song. He lost Kelce twice.

Once he had finally corralled everyone into the cars, he convinced the drivers to hold up so he could come back and find you. He stood by the bathroom door until you appeared behind it, jumping at the sight of him standing so close.

“I got cabs waiting,” he yelled over the music, eyeing Carter sprawled out on the dirty bathroom floor behind you.

“I can’t get her up,” you told him defeatedly, eyebrows knit together with worry. “She’s not doing good.”

Rafe brushed past you without a word or a second thought, and leaned down to scoop Carter up with ease, fireman carrying her out of the club like your own personal Superman. You followed closely on his heel, feeling guilty that you were thinking about how strong his shoulders looked and not how concerned you were for your sister. 

You opened the door so he could lower her into the first cab, which only had enough seats left for you and her. Once you slid in behind her, leaning her head against Maddie, who was already dozing off with her forehead pressed on the window, Rafe made sure you were settled before closing the door.

He motioned for you to roll down the window, ducking down so he could lean on it.

“Yo Rafe let’s go man!” Topper yelled from the cab behind you before Rafe could speak.

“Give me a fucking second!” He yelled back.

Forearms against the window sill, he leaned in close enough so only you could hear.

“Just, um, don’t stop thinking what you were thinking in the alley.”

Your lips twisted into a smirk, “couldn’t if I tried.”

He gave you a wink before hurrying back to the other cab.

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You didn’t stop thinking about it. You didn’t stop when the cab driver took the wrong turn and made the trip twice as long as it should’ve been. You didn’t stop when Carter asked the driver to pull over every five minutes so she could hurl on the side of the interstate. You didn’t stop when you finally got Carter up to her room, ranting incoherently about her argument with Topper. You didn’t stop as she kneeled in front of the toilet bowl again and you held her hair back, attempting to soothe her with gentle shushes.

You should’ve been focused on your sister and the awful night she was having, but you couldn’t stop thinking about the shape of Rafe’s mouth.

The thing that finally pulled you from your thoughts of him was a sight you hadn’t seen in almost a decade; Carter started to cry. 

Carter never cried, she was your rock, the shoulder for you and all her friends to cry on. She didn’t cry when she fell off the monkey bars in third grade and broke her arm, or when she was rejected from her dream school, or even when your parents got divorced. But here she was, on the cold tile of the Airbnb bathroom floor, bawling.

“Hey, hey, woah,” you said, alarm ringing in your mind as you rushed to sit beside her on the cold tile floor. “What’s going on?”

“I’m such a mess,” she gasped between sobs.

“Well, for starters we need to get you a makeup wipe,” you countered.

“No I mean, like, emotionally,” she wiped her tears with the backs of her hands, only for a new round of drops to fall and further streak her mascara down her skin.

Your sister spent her life running from difficult emotions. It was something you tried to gently point out to her many times, but she’d typically push it away with a sarcastic joke or just ignore you altogether. 

You started therapy about a month after you got to college, taking the university health center up on its free psych eval offerings for freshmen. You’d shown up to your therapist’s office every Wednesday at 2:30 since then, religious about not missing a session. 

You recommended Carter do the same, but she’d just brush you off with a teasing, “nah I don’t need all that, I’m supposed to be the normal one, remember?”

Taking the hint, you stopped bringing it up after a few months. But now, with Carter’s tears pooling on the floor of this Airbnb, you wished more than ever that she’d listened to you.

“Well, that’s okay,” you gently brushed the hair from her shoulder. “It’s okay not to be okay.”

Carter laid her head on your criss-crossed lap and let the tears fall harder. You rubbed her back and continued to reassure her all was going to be okay, waiting until the tears began to slow and her breathing steadied to broach the subject again.

“Do you want to…” you swallowed, preparing for her to brush you off again, “do you want to talk about it?”

She was quiet for a long moment, you sighed in acceptance that she would pick the ignoring you route this time. 

Then, in a small, feeble voice, she whispered, “it’s too scary.”

“What is?” You whispered back, hand resting on her arm for comfort, praying she wouldn’t get spooked and would keep talking. 

“Loving him,” she confessed.

Your heart nearly burst. You didn’t need to ask who she was talking about.

“Topper, you mean?” you responded.

She nodded slowly, “it was easier when I didn’t love him. I’m supposed to be leaving in a week. I’m supposed to be on to my next big thing, and all I can think about is what the best time to facetime him is if I’m six hours ahead. I should be thinking about me, but all I want is him, and that’s fucking terrifying.”

The thought sent her into another round of sobs, tears soaking the skirt of your dress. 

“I know it feels scary, and new,” you tiptoed to your point, “but…have you ever really not loved him?”

She thought over your words, but the alcohol and drama of the evening was starting to pull her into a restless sleep.

“I’m gonna miss you,” she mumbled, half-asleep already. “So much.”

“Let’s just get you into bed, yeah?” You said, pulling her up off the floor. “We can talk tomorrow.”

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In the darkness of Carter���s room, your phone lit up on the nightstand.

You pulled your arm from under her slowly, praying not to wake her up now that she was finally snoozing peacefully, though her deep snores were occasionally interrupted by shaky breaths, the aftershocks of her sobs. You’d gotten both of you changed and into bed with some difficulty, a strategically placed trash can next to her side of the bed just in case. You reached over to check your phone, turning the brightness down so as not to disturb her.

You had a text from a number that wasn’t saved in your phone, starting with the same 252 area code as yours. You didn’t need to ask “who’s this?” because you’d know that seven digit combination on your deathbed. Deleting his contact from your phone had really been more of a cathartic exercise than anything else.

‘She asleep yet?’ 

‘I think so but it’s been rough, what about Top?’

‘Same, but he’s out like a light now…and snoring like a jet engine.’

You stifled your laugh so Carter wouldn’t hear, keeping your movements slow as you climbed out of her bed and padded towards the door. Wincing at the squeak of the door hinge, you pulled it slowly closed until the handle clicked. 

Down the hall, the same click sounded from Topper’s door. Rafe stood with his hand on the doorknob, listening for any signs that his exit woke the sleeper inside.

His eyes flashed up to meet yours, and you shared a knowing, nervous smile. You each walked a few steps towards the other, Rafe immediately picking up on the water pooling in your eyes. You’d held it together up until now for Carter’s sake, wanting to be strong for her like she’d always been for you, but now the heartbreak of seeing her so upset was finally settling in.

“Hey, hey,” Rafe whispered, lengthening his strides to close the gap between you faster. “What’s wrong?” 

He ducked to search your face for a second, your small sniffles breaking his heart. When a tear slipped from the corner of your eye, he pulled you in by your shoulders, wrapping his arms around you in a hug. You let your arms circle his waist, not taking the time to worry if this was strange or if you were okay being this vulnerable with him, just reveling in the comforting smell of him and the rise and fall of his sturdy chest under his t-shirt.

A few more tears slipped out, but with his hand rubbing soothing circles on your back while you breathed him in, your sadness faded slowly into a calm reassurance.

“You good?” He whispered, his chin resting on the top of your head.

You pulled back just enough to look up at him, arms still wrapped around his torso.

“I just didn’t know she was so sad,” you explained, your lip trembling slightly at the thought of your sister, with all her strength and tenacity, slumped over on the bathroom floor. “I should’ve been paying closer attention. I came on this trip for her and all I’ve been doing is thinking about myself. I’m so selfish.”

That thought caused more tears to roll down your cheeks. Rafe placed a palm on either side of your face, his thumbs reaching out to swipe away the salty drops.

“You,” he said firmly, his voice just above a whisper now, more concerned with making sure you heard what he had to say than making sure not to wake anyone, “are not selfish.”

Once your tears were dried, he lifted your face towards him so he could look in your eyes. You ever-so-slightly nuzzled your head into his palm, wondering if he could even feel the gentle way you were surrendering to him. His soft grin told you he could.

“He’s a mess, too,” he nodded back toward Topper’s door.

“I love them, but those two are exhausting,” you chuckled softly. 

Even as the conversation lightened up, his hands didn’t fall from your face, and your arms stayed firmly in place around him, just holding each other as you whisper-laughed about the antics of the whole group this evening.

“Sabrina said you had to chase Kelce half a block,” you giggled, and he’d never felt so relieved to see someone’s tears give way to laughter. “Your dad instincts really kicked in there, huh?”

“I don’t know,” he smiled, his eyes creasing with the upward tick of his lips, “the way you basically parted the crowd to get to Carter? Topper might have competition for house mother. Maybe we’re the real mom and dad.”

You snorted at that.

“What?”

“Nothing,” you blinked back, “just funny that you’re already talking about being parents when you haven’t even kissed me yet.”

Rafe nodded, tongue darting out to lick his lips, feigning seriousness, “you’re so right. We should probably do something about that.”

“You should probably do something about that,” you taunted.

His persona cracked and he laughed, eyebrows raised.

“Oh yeah? Should I?”

You nodded, cheeks flushed, eyes sparkling at him as he leaned forward, eager to recapture the moment that had been so unceremoniously stolen from you a few hours ago.

Just before your lips touched, a vile retching noise came echoing down the hall from Topper’s room. He was vomiting again, and the romance was zapped from the air.

Your head fell back in frustration, groaning.

“You wanna go for a drive?” Rafe offered, hand sliding down your arm to find yours, fingers lacing together like they belonged there.

You nodded quickly, a smile replacing your annoyed frown. He led you down the stairs fast and you padded behind excitedly, giggling at his speed and urgency. 

“Shit,” he paused before reaching into the bowl on the kitchen counter where everyone was keeping their keys. “I forgot Sabrina blocked me in.”

“We’ll take Carter’s jeep,” you offered, fishing around the bowl until you found her fuzzy pink keychain. “She parked on the road.”

“She won’t mind?” He asked.

“I have a feeling she’s gonna be out for a long time,” you pointed out. “I’m driving though.”

“Just like old times,” he grinned, your heart doing cartwheels at the memory.

Fingers intertwined, you let him pull you away from the house, and the risk of any more interruptions.

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The sky glowed with that pre-sunrise blue fog, turning the world around you into a collection of navy silhouettes. The only shape you cared about seeing was the faded profile of the man in the passenger seat next to you.

Though the air still held the chilly nip of dawn, it was warm enough to roll the windows down, which was always your preference. Your hair whipped around you in a frenzy of wind. You could feel his eyes on you as you drove, but you didn’t look back, suddenly filled with nerves, butterflies crowding your stomach and doubt flooding your mind. You just kept driving, suddenly terrified of what would happen when you stopped.

After a few minutes of unreturned eye contact, Rafe finally tore his gaze away from you, poking around Carter’s car to have something to do with his hands. He opened the glove box, and the middle console, fidgeting with every little button and knick-knack he could find.

You smirked at his restlessness and kept driving straight, not entirely sure where you were going. Rafe opened the sun visor above him, gasping at what he found.

“No fucking way,” he laughed with a disbelieving shake of his head, “Carter has CDs? Still?”

He pulled the sleeve of CDs from the visor’s clip, inspecting them closer. 

“Wait,” a slow smile bloomed on his face as he observed knowingly, “these are yours.”

“How’d you know?”

“Because they’re the same ones you had in your car in high school.”

“Didn’t think you’d remember,” you scoffed.

“I remember everything about you,” he said, like it was the most obvious and casual admission anyone had ever made.

Even with the cool morning air blowing in through the window, the car suddenly felt too hot. Too hot and too small. Your chest and neck bloomed with a nervous blush as your breath quickened. How were you supposed to respond to that? 

Rafe kept sorting through the CDs, nodding at each one in recognition, leaning back in his seat as if he hadn’t just dropped an atomic bomb into the conversation.

You needed to fill the silence before he noticed the tornado of anxious thoughts tearing through your mind. 

“You gonna pick one?” You urged him, eager for the sound of familiar music to erase his words that hung in the air between you.

He finally made it to the back of the plastic sleeve, to a familiar silver disc decorated in sharpie in your handwriting; your favorite homemade mix that you’d played every single day from ages fifteen to seventeen.

You’d titled it “car mix,” though a more accurate title would be “Rafe’s mix.”

Sometime during your freshman year, you’d spent a whole day sitting in front of your computer, meticulously sorting through songs that made you think of him, or that you wanted him to listen to, hoping he would hear them and finally understand you somehow. It was a love letter without words, and he’d heard it a thousand times, but you doubted he ever really listened. Par for the course.

“I think that one got scratched,” you tried to discourage him from playing it, the flashback to your desperate, lovestruck younger self a little too much to handle at five a.m.

Rafe turned it over in his hands, inspecting it for those so-called scratches, finding nothing satisfying.

“Looks good to me,” he disagreed, popping it into the CD player and beaming bright as the first song began to play through the speakers.

“Oh my god,” he laughed, “it’s like we’re in a time machine.”

You agreed, the familiar opening notes of the first song you’d picked for him sent you flying back in time, to a girl you thought was long dead, and the boy next to her, whom she’d loved to her grave.

Chills shot up your spine, a warning shot before the tears that were beginning to gather on your lash line. You pulled the car quickly to the side of the road, sand flying up with the screech of the tires. You realized then that you’d somehow found your way to the public beach, the parking lot empty and sandy shore free of any sunbathers or surfers.

Rafe turned the music down, looking at you quizzically as your foot slammed on the break. Before he could ask what was going on, you were pulling the keys from the ignition and throwing off your seatbelt, hopping down from the driver’s seat and slamming the door behind you. He scrambled for his door handle as you started walking quickly toward the water and away from him.

The salty air was so thick you could taste droplets of seawater on your lips before you were even halfway to the shore. The waves crashed violently, remnants of the week’s storms throwing the water back and forth until it was foaming and angry.

Angry. You were as angry as the sea, sand kicking up with each stomp of your foot as you hurried as far away from him as you could possibly get. His long legs were already catching him up to you as he chased you down, calling your name.

Despite your efforts to outpace him, you could feel him gaining on you, nearly at your heel by the time your toes touched the water’s edge. Flight would not be an option, it was time for a fight.

“You remember everything?” You whipped toward him, nearly knocking him over with the force of the glare that met him. You stalked toward him, catching the way he backed up just a step before squaring his shoulders and planting himself until you were nearly chest to chest. “What the fuck am I supposed to do with that, Rafe?”

“What are you talking about?” He asked desperately, scrambling from the whiplash of your sudden outburst. “What the hell just happened?”

He was genuinely so clueless as to the reason for your sudden shift in mood, reeling like he was mentally still back in the car listening to music, eyes scanning your face as he tried desperately to catch up. You almost took pity on him. Almost.

“I can’t,” a lump lodged itself into your throat and you bit your lip for a second to hold it down, “I don’t think I can do this.”

“What? Can’t do what?” He begged for clarity.

You just shook your head, a final plea to your own tears not to fall in front of him, but they betrayed you, one single drop slipping down your face. You turned from him quickly as a final ditch ending to hide them from him, and stepped away further down the beach.

“No, no wait, please wait,” with two easy strides he was close enough to touch you, wrapping his hand around your wrist to turn you toward him. “Don’t do this to me. You said you’d remember the alleyway, we were so close. We are so close.”

“Are we?” You challenged him. “If we’re so close then why can’t I even ride in the car with you without feeling like I can’t breathe? You don’t get it, Rafe. You don’t understand that every memory feels like a fucking sucker punch.”

“Then let’s not focus on the memories,” he suggested, “I just want to be with you right now.”

“Why now?” You burst out, another tear breaking through the barricade and sliding traitorously down your cheek. “Why not then?”

They were the two questions that plagued you since you saw him on the beach. You felt you knew the reason. You looked different, he was attracted to this version of you. Even though it would hurt like a bitch, you really wished he would just admit it, that he only wanted you because of how you look now, so you could finally just hate him and move on.

Instead, he continued his time honored tradition of giving you the exact opposite of what you wanted.

He looked straight at you, no waiver in his voice as he said, “because I wasn’t ready for you. I wasn’t good enough.”

It was the perfect answer, and your worst case scenario. Heartfelt, honest, a hot knife to the wall of ice you’d worked so hard to build between you and him. As he’d done so many times before, Rafe melted you.

Soft eyes, you tilted your head as you studied him, “and you are now?”

“No,” his laugh surprised you, scoffing as if it was the most ridiculous question in the world. “But I’m smarter. Smart enough to know that I’ll never be good enough for you. Who could be?”

The last chips of ice melted away entirely at those words, the image of his sweet smile when he said them etched itself on your heart in a way you knew was completely permanent. 

As so often happened when you were at a crossroads with your own mind, you heard Carter’s voice ringing through your thoughts. Though this time, it wasn’t a quippy comment about Rafe, or a catchy mantra to encourage you to hold your head high. Instead, you heard her weak, cracked voice as she cried on the bathroom floor just hours ago; “it’s too scary.” 

Suddenly, you knew exactly what she meant.

Your every instinct was to pull away from him, hide away the vulnerable thought to avoid any risk of him making it worse. But as he looked down at you, the first traces of sunrise streaking across the horizon, casting a gold-pink glow on his cheekbones, something in the back of your mind was saying you could trust him.

“I’m scared,” you all but whispered.

Rafe lifted his hand slowly, as if you were an elusive, wild thing that would run off at any sudden movement. When you didn’t flee, he took the chance to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, voice dropping low as he said, “I know.”

“How am I supposed to know you won’t hurt me?” 

Your deepest fears continued to flow out of you, into his waiting hands, praying he wouldn’t let you slip through his fingers.

“I don’t think you will until you give me a chance to prove it to you,” he countered.

You knew he was right. Holding him at arm’s length would never get you the answers you needed from him. You’d never know if he had really changed unless you got close enough to relearn him, and you’d never know how he really felt about you unless you gave him a second chance to show you. You aren’t generally opposed to second chances, more likely to give them out then, say, your sister is.

“You know what Carter would say?” You chuckled darkly, unable to detangle your sister’s voice from your own conscience even if you wanted to. “That you don’t deserve any more chances.”

“That might be the first thing I’ve ever agreed with her on,” Rafe was quick to acknowledge. “But you know what else she’d say?”

“What?” You asked with raised brows, skeptical that he had any clue what Carter would actually say, and knowing she would hate that he was claiming to.

“That you deserve a chance.”

Funny thing is, that’s exactly what Carter would say. She didn’t really know how badly you wanted him, that you were starting to suspect you might just be happiest when you’re with him, but she always encouraged you to do what made you happy, even when it was something she didn’t understand.

“And if I’m what you want then I just happen to be the luckiest idiot in the world, because I want you too. You have no idea how badly.”

The tide was coming in, the very edge of each wave nipping at your toes before being pulled back out to sea. Rafe’s confession made you feel so unsteady, you wondered if you’d crumble and get pulled out right with it. Your mind reached for anything to ground you before you drowned in him completely.

“Why?” You asked him, needing his answer like a port in the storm.

“Why?” He repeated, either confused by the question or by the need for it. Somehow, both possibilities annoyed you.

“Yeah, tell me why you want me,” you placed your hands on your hips, shoulders squaring up with him in challenge. “And you’re not allowed to use the word beautiful, or cute, or call me baby.”

“This kinda feels like a test,” he laughed, scratching the back of his head.

“Yeah? Maybe it is,” you huffed. “And this time there’s no cheating, no open book. And no me to slip you the answers.”

“Can I get a few minutes to review my notes?” His cheeky pout was so cute you worried you were about to fold right there on the spot.

“Fine,” you allowed, “you get one minute to think about it.”

He feigned worry, faked stress, biting his thumbnail and looking out over the waves as if he actually had to think it over.

In reality, he was more prepared for this test than any he’d ever taken in his life. He’d spent years thinking about this moment, about what he would say, what he could say that would possibly be enough. 

While you waited for him to speak, you mirrored his stance, facing the water with your hands wrapped around you.

Rafe turned his head slightly to take in your profile, the sliver of daylight creeping over the horizon making your features glow so romantically.

You could feel his eyes on you, but you tried to focus on the count in your head, dutifully keeping track of the seconds until his allotted prep time was up.

Evidently, he didn’t need a timer, his voice broke the silence before you had even gotten to forty-five.

“Y’know, I got a walk-on tryout invite for baseball at Chapel Hill,” he started. 

You resisted the urge to look at him or respond, despite your mind racing to connect the dots between that statement and the challenge of explaining why he wants you.

“I was…so shitty,” he laughed at the memory, “I mean just awful. Striking out in the cage, my fielding was all over the place, I dropped a fucking pop fly. I’ve made that play a thousand times and the one time it counted, I dropped it. I mean, you wouldn’t have even recognized me out there. And the best part was that my dad came to watch. He bribed an old alum buddy to get him into closed tryouts just to watch me absolutely shit the bed.”

His smile faded.

“It was the worst day of my life. The coaches didn’t even call me themselves, they sent me an automated email to tell me I didn’t make the team. They were nice enough to send me some film from the tryout, though. I must’ve watched it a hundred times. I was spiraling like a bitch, just full on meltdown. I watched that film over and over, like some kind of torture. When I watched it, I just kept wondering how that guy could’ve ever been considered good.”

He turned to you, looking down at you intensely, hesitating for the first time since he started talking.

“I know I fumbled you. I knew it from the second it happened. And,” he swallowed hard, struggling with the next part. “I knew you were in love with me.”

Your head snapped to the side to look at him, face beat red.

“I was an idiot, but I wasn’t blind,” he continued before you could interject a defense. “The problem was never that I didn’t know, it was that I didn’t know why. But the way you looked at me, I don’t know, it made me feel like I must be like, somewhat good. Why else would you care about me if I wasn’t? But then when I was fucking rotting in my dorm watching that film over and over it dawned on me…you didn’t love me because I was good. I was good because you loved me.” 

Breath escaped you, eyes glossy as you let those beautiful words sink in, but he wasn’t done.

“I thought it was just a lucky break that I got you for four years. And of course I fucked it up, I fuck everything up. After those tryouts, I had nothing, no one. I failed my classes, dropped out of rushing a frat, I stopped talking to everyone. Shit, even my sisters were calling me to see if I was okay. I got it together eventually, kind of, but it’s never been the same. I have never been the same…since you. But then I saw you on the beach the other day, and it kind of hit me. The biggest loss wasn’t your love for me, or my fielding skills, or the bullshit frat parties. It was my best friend. You were my best friend. You were - you are - my favorite fucking person. When all that shit happened, you were the only one I wanted to talk to, and I couldn’t, I didn’t deserve to. But god, I’d give anything, anything, to have my best friend back. You don’t have to…be with me. I understand if you don’t want to. But please, can we just be friends again?”

You blinked up at him as he finished his monologue, all his words swirling around your head like cartoon birds, dizzying and all consuming. You wished it really was a test, cause then you’d have a printed copy that you could study and analyze and go over and over with different colored highlighters.

But it wasn’t a test. It wasn’t a metaphor. It was just you and the boy you love standing on the beach at sunrise, looking at each other like you were the only two people on earth.

“No.” You said, shaking your head.

His eyes blinked rapidly, trying and failing to hold back his emotion. Before he could spiral any further, you added,

“I don’t wanna be friends.”

His eyes flicked over yours for just a second, double checking, asking you silently if that meant what he thought it did. You gave him the slightest nod, as if to finally say “yes, Rafe.”

Rafe’s hands landed firm but gentle on either side of your face, pulling you towards him. Your lips met in a symphony of passion and affection and need and a mutual sigh of fucking finally.

He tasted better than you’d ever imagined, a sweet rush to your head as his tongue parted your lips slightly. He pulled back just an inch to let his uncontrollable smile break against yours, laughing into each other’s mouths in disbelief and pure, unadulterated joy. Once he was satisfied that you understood how happy he was, he pulled you back in. 

If the first kiss was a spark, the second kiss was a goddamn explosion. He kissed you like the tide kisses the shore in a hurricane, his tsunami waves crashing into you over and over again. His tongue took over, claiming you, taking up space in your mouth like he never planned to leave. His hands drifted, one to the back of your head, laced in your hair, the other on the small of your back, holding you against himself. Your hands snaked up his arms, savoring every inch of him until you reached his shoulders. You linked your arms around his neck, pulling him down to you as you stood on your tiptoes to meet him, finding middle ground for the first time in your lives.

After a while, your lips parted, both of you desperate for breath, the lack of oxygen dizzying.

“So,” he smiled, hand still cradling your head and his thumb sweeping over your bottom lip, “did I pass?”

“Hmm,” you pretended to consider it, “A minus.”

“What? You must be grading on a curve,” he shook his head.

“Maybe you could do some extra credit,” you flirted.

With a sly smile at that, he returned his lips to yours, and you forgot a time when you didn’t know what it was like to kiss him.

Time passed, the sun rose, night bloomed into morning, and Rafe kissed you for what could’ve been a lifetime. With each minute that passed with his lips on yours, you felt all the bad memories fade to gray, the past washing away with the crash of the waves, leaving only him. 

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄

Carter’s Jeep sat parked on the side of the road, the interior dark in the early morning light, except for the phones buzzing uncontrollably on each seat.

On the passenger's side, Rafe’s phone blew up with texts from Topper. The most recent reading ‘dude, we’ve got trouble at the house…’

On the driver’s seat, yours lit up with twelve missed calls and a single text from Carter,

‘Don’t come back.’

(chapter 8: part one)

a/n: please note, the taglist for this series is currently closed. For updates, follow @whytheylosttheirminds-works and turn on notifs 💕

[baelabong]

ꜱᴀᴀɴ? (ᴡᴏɴʏᴏᴜɴɢ x ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ)

rq: yessiree @geeminz

pairing: ump (international student)wonyoung x La Salle fem!reader

Plot: y/n being hotheaded after school. Almost screams her head off at some poor girl. Thank goodness Wonyoung’s beautiful face calmed the crazy girl

Note: ik this isnt that good or well written but i couldnt think of a cute interaction 💔💔

It was just another hectic afternoon along Taft Avenue, where the relentless Manila heat made everything feel ten times more chaotic. The sidewalk was a river of students—some in the distinct green and white of De La Salle University, others in the maroon of UP Manila—rushing to their next classes, ducking into nearby coffee shops, or hailing jeepneys.

You—Y/N, a third-year student at La Salle—were trying to navigate through the throng with your arms full of books. The weight of your bag was digging into your shoulder, and the sweat was starting to form at your temples. The last thing you needed was another reason to be late for class.

As you weaved through the crowd, someone brushed past you with just enough force to make you lose your balance. The collision sent your books tumbling to the ground, and you felt a spark of irritation flare up inside you. You turned around, ready to go off on whoever it was that had caused this mess, fully expecting to see some careless brat who couldn’t be bothered to watch where they were going.

But before you could unleash your frustration, you found yourself looking at a girl around your age, with a UPM lanyard around her neck and a concerned expression on her face. She immediately bent down to help gather your scattered books, her movements quick and efficient.

“I’m so sorry!” she said, her voice laced with genuine worry. The sound of her voice stopped you in your tracks—it was soft and sweet, the kind of voice that could melt even the hardest heart. Any anger you felt immediately began to dissipate as you watched her carefully stack your books.

You took a deep breath, trying to suppress the last remnants of your irritation as you knelt down to help her. “It’s… it’s okay. I wasn’t really paying attention either,” you said, though you knew that wasn’t entirely true. The truth was, you were caught off guard by her unexpected kindness, and it left you feeling disarmed.

Once the books were gathered, she stood up and handed them back to you, her smile gentle and sincere. “I’m really sorry about that. I should’ve been more careful.”

For a moment, you just stared at her, trying to reconcile the image you had in your head—the bratty student you’d been ready to snap at—with the sweet, apologetic girl standing in front of you. You were about to brush it off, when you realized she was waiting for you to say something.

“Uh, thanks,” you mumbled, still trying to process the sudden shift in your mood. “It’s no big deal, really.”

She smiled again, this time a bit more relaxed, and held out her hand. “I’m Wonyoung, by the way. I’m sorry we had to meet like this.”

You shook her hand, feeling that same strange spark you’d felt earlier. “Y/N,” you replied. “And yeah, it’s… not the best first impression, I guess.”

Wonyoung chuckled, a light sound that made you feel strangely at ease. “Well, at least it’s memorable, right?”

You couldn’t help but smile at that. “Yeah, I suppose so. Are you heading to class too?”

“Yeah,” she nodded, glancing at her watch. “I have a class over at PGH, but I’m running a bit late, as usual.”

“PGH? So you’re a med student?” you asked, genuinely curious.

“Something like that,” she said with a small smile, but then her expression shifted slightly as if she remembered something but not before you said“Wonyoung… that’s an unusual name. Are you an international student?”

She blinked, caught off guard by the question. It wasn’t often that people asked about her name so directly. “Yeah, I am. I’ve been here for a while, though. My parents moved here for work when I was younger, so I guess you could say I’m a local now.”

“That’s cool,” you said, and she could see the genuine interest in your eyes. “It’s always nice to meet people from different backgrounds. Makes this city feel a bit smaller, you know?”

She nodded, feeling a strange warmth in her chest. There was something about Wonyoung that made you feel at ease, like you could talk to her for hours without running out of things to say. But as the pedestrian light turned green and the crowd began to move, you realized you couldn’t stand there chatting all day.

As you both started walking, you found yourselves naturally falling into step with each other, the conversation flowing as easily as if you’d known each other for years. You talked about everything—school, the challenges of being a student in Manila, even the best places to eat around Taft.

When you finally reached the intersection where your paths would diverge, Wonyoung hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Hey, I know this might be random, but would you want to grab a coffee sometime? I mean, if you’re not too busy with school and all.”

You felt your heart skip a beat, surprised by the invitation but also excited by the possibility. “I’d like that,” you replied, your smile widening. “I’m usually at the café near DLSU after classes. Maybe we could meet there?”

“Sounds perfect,” Wonyoung said, her own smile brightening. “I’ll see you then, Y/N.”

With a final wave, Wonyoung headed off towards PGH, while you continued on your way to class, a spring in your step and a smile on your face.

[frogchiro]

Please please I'm begging on my hands and knees for my slasher!Graves because I just read it and I'm so unwell about it 😩🙏🏻

I can totally see Slasher!Graves as a type of guy to kill any man who even tries to look at his pretty little darling. And I have feeling he definitely intimidates her on purpose just to see her squirm and shiver, watching her from the shadows and stealing her panties and whatnot ughhh

Oh he definitely does!! I mean, who wouldn't be intimidated by him. He much older, 40 already, not to mention that something in his blue eyes is just...off to you and he's an old perverted fuck to :((

When he found out that you were renting out a room on old Mrs. Marjorie's farm he had mixed feelings. Sure you could stay in that dingy old motel just outside the town but it was far away, not to mention not a suitable place at all for a young lady such as yourself.

Staying with old Marjorie was a frankly much better option since it was safe and you worked for a living on the old woman's farm which made Philip's heart stutter a little and cock harden, such a hardworking girl you are.

The one problem was Marjorie herself. She was an elderly woman but incredibly strong and resilient for her age, she owned a much smaller farm which mostly consisted of a peach orchard, a few chickens and two cows. She's widowed, never remarried and never had children and even with her strength and health of an ox he guesses she took you in as a helping hand, but the thing is...The old hag is for some reason very protective of you so Philip had to be extra careful whenever he wanted to interact with you, but truth be told you didn't make it any easier.

You were a skittish thing, shy and easily flustered too and when he swung by the orchard the first time, all big and burly and proud like a prized stallion he saw clear as day that you were intimidated by him which Graves ate.up.

Now whenever he sees you running errands in town or you're working on the farm he makes sure to "accidentally" just happen to run into you and ump his charm up to the heavens; lowering his voice into a seductive low gravely drawl, flexing his broad shoulders and well-build biceps under the plaid shirt he had on, moving his strong hips a little in a way that made you stutter and shiver. But he just can't help himself! It's only natural that a man like him would go wild for a lady like yourself, your pretty tits almost spilling over the neckline of your dress and Philip feels his blood rush to his cock, oh what he wouldn't do to that soft body of yours~

It's only when the old had calls you back into the house and sends a glare his way is the spell broken and Graves almost bares his sharp teeth in annoyance, if it was anyone else other than the woman they'd be rotting in the middle of his corn field getting torn by coyotes or long gone after a visit to the pig pen.

The only consolation are your cute frilly panties that he managed to snatch from the drying line outside, your sweet scent still lingering on them despite the sharp bit of the wash machine powder. It's on that evening when he sits naked in front of his fireplace back on the ranch, panties to his nose as he jerks his thick cock roughly when he decides that he needs to see you squirm more, even if that means you'll start seeing a dark figure just outside in Mrs Marjorie's orchard <3

[wren-dy-flowergarden]

TWST (Mafia!AU + Bodyguard!AU)

If you realize the characters have no relatability to each other (other than the twins), you are correct. Because I just used a "spin the wheel" to pick characters to write lollllll.

Since I am trying to get back into writing, requests are OPEN. No limit. Pls fill it with what you like, no promises I will write everything though :D

I also wanted to write something more dark...pls read tags just in case!

TW: !yandere content, possessive behavior, mentions of slight blood, dark underlying themes, reader is a jewelry heiress, not be'tad

Mafia!AU Floyd Leech

Mafia!Floyd Is a little too good at his job. Frankly, his boss gets quite frustrated with the amount of bodies brought home. It says dead or alive doesn’t it? Why should it matter what happens to these small frys. 

So when he sees your pretty face on the next hit, he licks his lips in delight. What a treat. Though, the boss did say to keep this one fresh. Little blood is not bad, too much, and it causes some problems. 

So when Floyd sees you on a park bench across the street. You’re…normal compared to the others. They are greasy, bastards flaunting around their beer bellies with women cradled in their arms compared to the pen in your hand tapping against white paper. 

Floyd wants to see where this will go. His boss said to handle you with ‘care’. The moment you see him, you freeze almost like a fish out of water, or maybe like those small shrimps he sees in the fish tank run for cover as a predator approaches. Nothing like those pompous asses who wanted all fight, no talk.

You are so much fun! As Floyd smiles, holding out an eraser. 

“You dropped this little shrimpy.”

Mafia!AU Idia Shroud

Mafia!Idia never, ever, ever works in front of the house! No! Never! He rather stayed in the operating room filled with the comfort of blue light from his multiple monitors. Never missing an angle, never missing a moment, eyes glued onto the screen, because that is what he is good at.

Not when he has to escort you into their headquarters. Also, why the hell are you here? You are just the rich, tiny, heiress of a multi billion xx company; couldn’t you be placed with someone more- energetic (not chronically online person who never sees the sun). 

How the hell is he supposed to start a conversation with you? Boss said to be an excellent host–why is he the one hosting the hostage!? You walk with more poise than him, your heels clicking on the floor as he shuffles. 

You are pretty though… Small lips, big doe eyes with furrowed eyebrows taking in your surroundings. Even your bare shoulders, exposed thin collar bone with dazzling gems draped across your neck, are shivering whether because of the cold?

Be a good host…be a decent host, Idia repeats in his head. The next thing he knows he is throwing his long jacket at your head where you make a noise similar to an ‘ump’. 

“W-w-wear that till we m-meet the boss! Hostages can’t get s-s–sick.”

Bodyguard!AU Jade Leech

Bodyguard!Jade where his smile leaves goosebumps on your skin. It's the way his eyes glimmer, his teeth a bit too sharp to be normal, the way his body lurks over you like a second shadow waiting to swallow you whole. 

But…he is good at his job– ridiculously good for a man your father found off the street on a whim. The way he is diligent in his motions, gently offering his hand as you exit the limo his gaze piercing through every paparazzi, a gloved hand guides you by the small of your back through the entrance.

Your bodyguard Jade who lowers himself to the ground before you to place designer heels on your feet. It would be a lovely gesture if it weren’t for the small red marks underneath the sole…

Jade is good at his job. He keeps you protected, prudent of your lifestyle and satisfied; but, there is this feeling where you feel almost…smothered? No–submerged by his attentiveness as if you are barely keeping your head above water before a predator pulls you down.

He is right in front of your face as you wake up from your daze. His off set eyes shine in amusement as he offers his gloved hand which you take in habit. It feels damp.

“It’s almost time for your debut. Shall we?”

Bodyguard!AU Silver

Bodyguard!Silver makes you realize you are more of a bodyguard than him. At least you can stay awake. When you find him huddled against a corner of your workplace for the nth time in the last week, you break down and buy a blanket. His porcelain face makes no change as you carefully drape the plush wool over his back. Long eyelashes and smooth snow hair cradles his features. 

You're about to brush a stray hair from his cheek but before even a finger graces him, your back hits the concrete floor. Wrists tightly pinned over your head. Your heart is beating in your chest, maybe from the surprise, maybe from the way silver eyes pierce into yours as he asses you with sleep in his eyes. It’s over in an instance as your bodyguard's face filled with shock and embarrassment as he releases you, apologies spilling out of his mouth. 

You rub your wrists. Usually that will be an immediate fire for you. Hurting clients, sleeping on the job; but, Silver is unusually fast. Faster than any of the previous bodyguards your father had hired for you. And his eyes…iridescent opal, it is as beautiful as the jewels you collect. 

Your hand to cradle his face, there would be some bruises forming across your wrists but nothing a pair oIn a soft voice y lace gloves could fix. You tell him it's alright, accidents happen, that one miniscule mistake isn’t enough for you to eget rid of him. He breaths out, anxiety still shakesungs as he gulps, nodding his head pure opals staring right at you,

“I’m sorry, it will never happen again my lady” 

[atlafan]

“You’re not the third base coach, you know?” Layna teased Harry. “Well, you could coach people on third base, but that would be an adults only thing.”

“We have been to every single one of your nephew’s little league games this season. This is a big game, I’m paying atten-that was a ball, ump!”

“You’re going to embarrass him.”

“Plenty of other parents are-good eye, Joshy! It wouldn’t kill you to show your support.”

“Alright.” Layna clears her throat. “Down by the bay, where the watermelons grow…” the other players on the bench start singing along, and Harry rolls his eyes. “Did you even play sports growing up?”

“Of course I did.” Harry scoffs. “I played soccer, baseball, and I ran cross country.”

“Ooohh, a jock.”

“I wouldn’t put myself in that category. I didn’t do well in my classes, so I let myself be a good athlete. Oh, that call was bullshit. That’s a ball!”

Josh frowns as he comes back over to the bench, pulling his helmet off. Harry goes right over to him, and takes a knee to be at eye level.

“Hey, don’t let it get to you.” He assures the young boy. “That umpire needs better glasses. He probably knows the coach on the other team. You did great up there.”

“I should have swung. Grandpa always says to go down swinging.” Josh pouts.

“Next time you’re up to bat you can do that. Shake it off, yeah? No matter what, Auntie Layna and I are taking you for pizza and ice cream afterwards.”

“No way?! Just us three?”

“Just us three.”

“Cool!” Josh heads over to his coach and his teammates, feeling much better about his strikeout.

Harry makes his way back over to Layna and puts his arm around her shoulders. She looks up at him, grinning.

“What?”

“Nothing.” She giggles and buries her face in his chest. Harry laughs softly and curls his finger under Layna’s chin so she’ll look up at him. He shuffles them over to the side of the bleachers so they’re not front and center in everyone’s view. “It’s nothing.”

“Just tell me. Make fun of me for being like a baseball dad.”

“I wasn’t going to. I got that out of my system before.” She bites her bottom lip as she looks up at him. “You’re really part of the family.”

“I like your family. Well, not so much your parents, they’re in sane. But your brother’s kids are cool.”

“They love you.”

“I like being involved. I should volunteer next season.”

“It would take you an hour to get out of the city every day to make it here in time.”

“Meh.” He shrugs. “The coaches clearly aren’t teaching them fundamentals. They’re not boosting their confidence.” Layna giggles into his chest again. “What is it?”

“Nothing.” Her arms a wrap around his neck. “I just love you.”

“I love you too. Now tell me why you’re giggling. I’m obviously doing something.”

“I was just thinking…you’re going to be a great dad someday, and I really hope it’s to my children.”

“Who else’s father would I be?”

“I don’t know. You could decide you don’t like me anymore.”

“Not possible.” He looks around before sneaking a kiss. “Let’s go have sex in the car.”

“Harry!” She squeals. “We can’t.”

“Obviously not here, we’ll drive somewhere.”

“We can’t just leave. We promised pizza and ice cream.”

“You can’t just bring up wanting me to be the father of your kids and not let me do something about it.” He pinches her hip. “That’s a paddlin’.”

“Noooo, don’t be mean to me, daddy.”

“Now you’re really gonna get it.”

“After pizza and ice cream, I’ll let you fuck me in the car before we drive home.”

“And then?”

“And then you can fuck me all night long and make the bed shake and I’ll be a good girl and take everything you give me and thank you for it.”

“That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.” He grins wickedly. “Consider the paddlin’ rescinded.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

No Complaints Blurb

[saltofmercury]

I love your writing so much that I check if you posted anything new right after I wake up and before I go to bed 🥹 I have a little request for you, if you don’t mind. I would like to see König’s POV of anything. It would be great to read fluff (or angst 😭), for example him feeling like a teenager when he’s around reader at the beginning of a relationship, you know, butterflies in his stomach, bit of anxiety, trying to act cool and look best OR if it’s angst then maybe something about him being jealous, because he finally found someone who gets him and who attracts other people (even just in a friendly way!), so he kinda doesn’t know how to control his feelings, BUT he’s working on it? (your König goes to therapy sooooo you know we love self aware king). Idk, but I’m begging on my knees to get into König’s mind 🧎‍♀️

Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba-thump.

The yellow blob bounces from the ground to the wall back to the massive hand. The ball moves so swifty, it's blurry and looks stretched in his peripheral vision.

Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba-thump.

He’s pretty sure he should cancel, there were never third or fourth dates. Usually by the end of the night it was a mutual decision that it would be best to not continue dating. But if there’s anything keeping him on the fence it’s you.

Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba-thump.

He reflects on the small moments he’s saved and logged into his brain. For example, last weekend when you had been sharing a dessert and you saved the last piece for him.

“Please! It’s too sweet for me.” You had said while scrunching up your nose. You placed the piece of cake on his spoon, went back to sipping your coffee.

It was a small gesture but it was a clear indication to him at least, that you were caring, willing to share.

There was another time he knew he wasn’t making eye contact with you, he mentally killed himself for it.

“Just look at them for three seconds…” he replayed the demand in his head.

“Three seconds….”

He couldn’t do it. It wasn’t until you had pointed out the birds in formation flying overhead.

“Hey look at those guys!”

Your head shot straight up, along with your left arm, and he caught the perfect opportunity to look at you. He thought maybe you would look back at him, but your concentration went to the birds.

He stared at you. The curve of your nose, how your eyes widened, your smile perked up on the corners of your mouth, but your gaze stayed on them.

Birds… he thought. you’re his bird.

He found himself smiling. He likes spending time with you. He likes hearing about your day. He likes making you laugh and hearing you gasp when you hear stories that he tells about being away.

Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba-thump —

He catches the ball with his left hand.

He wonders what you’re doing today. He knows your schedule already. He knows that you head off to work, you have a sandwich and a soup for lunch everyday, you make an afternoon coffee to keep your energy level up. He already knows how you take it too —extra sweet with hazelnut flavored creamer, no extra sugar, preferably hot in the morning and iced in the afternoon.

He likes knowing the little things about you.

Like how many pet animals you had as a kid.

How you don’t sleep with socks on.

You brush your teeth on the left side of your mouth and not the right side.

There are also things he’s seen that he’s taken mental note of.

Like how you eat your vegetables before you eat meat on your plate.

How you blink slowly when you're getting sleepy. There’s even times your lip curved just a little bit to the right when you get excited about something.

Small things he’s picked up, locked into a file in his brain and loves.

Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba — thump-thump-ump

He stops, hears wheels on the gravel crunch outside his house.

He stands up from the living room, walking towards the front door. He only catches a glimpse, realizing the color of your hair, leaving a package on his doorstep.

He doesn’t open the door, but can hear you giggling outside and then running back to your car before driving away.

A smile curls up his face, he catches it, and gets embarrassed.

Once the coast is clear, he feels the ping and vibration from his phone, checking it.

“I was driving by and someone left something on your doorstep!”

He smiles at your text.

“Oh really?”

“Yes!”

“Funny… I saw someone giggling outside driving your car and had your hair color too.”

“So weird!”

He puts his phone down, he’s smiling. Opening the door, seeing the small cream colored package on his porch. Picking it up gently; he brings the package inside.

A small hint of worry comes to his head. What’s inside the package?

He sees it’s sealed with thin, clear tape. He grabs the knife out of his sweatpants, flips it open, quickly swiping the knife against the tape.

The scent hits him. It’s sweet, and vanilla?

He opens the package and there are four cupcakes inside. Perfectly frosted, decorated with rainbow sprinkles. There is one word written on each of the cupcakes.

“Happy. two. month. anniversary!”

Fuck. He can’t help the smile that appears on his face. He’s never celebrated any anniversary before and now he feels stupid that he didn’t even remember.

He quickly texts you back—

“You didn’t have to do that.”

“Buuuut how else are we supposed to celebrate?”

His tongue licks his bottom lip, attempting to hide the smile that keeps appearing. At this rate, his cheeks are going to be sore from all this happiness.

“Can I see you tonight?”

“Yes. Your place or mine?”

“Yours.”

*

There’s a small hesitation when he reaches the door to your apartment. He leans against the doorframe after the first 3 knocks. He hears you running from the living room to the door, where you take 3-4 breaths? He counted three for sure. Then you collect yourself and slowly walk to the door.

Once opened, he prays mentally that you don’t notice how fast his heart is racing when he envelops you in a hug.

“Hi!” You chirp at him, he can see how far your neck cranes up to see him.

He bends down to kiss you, pulls up his face mask.

His heart keeps pounding on his chest, it’s so loud, thumping in his ears. Please don’t let her hear or feel it.

You bring him towards the couch, laying on him immediately. He likes that you’re so comfortable with him. You don’t hesitate with him.

“Well?” You ask.

“Well what?”

“What’s up? What’s new? Why are you nervous?”

He covers his face with his enormous hand, blushing instantly.

“How do you know?” He says sheepishly.

“What? That you’re nervous? You’ve been red since you opened the door.”

He doesn’t know if this is going to last long, part of him hopes that it does because he can’t grow tired of hearing you run towards the door when he comes by. He can’t get over how you greet him with so much love, and he can’t get over meeting someone so… so special like you.

[smok3r7]

Christmas Getaway // One-shot

Joel Miller x Softball coach F!reader

Explicit, 18+

My series Masterlist & My Main Masterlist - My Ao3

Summary: You met Joel by coincidence. You picked up a little side job to be a high school softball coach for fun, and Sarah was one of your top players. Sarah introduces you to Joel after the first game and both of you hit it off immediately. The three of you grow closer throughout the year and end up spending the holidays together on a getaway trip. Joel treats you to a nice night.

Word count: 6k

Warnings: Age gap (28/40), NO outbreak AU, sexual tension, dry humping, oral (giving), fingering, possessive dirty talk, unprotected p in v, cream pie, squirting 2x, overstimulation, porn w/ plot, mutual pinning

—Hi babes🩷 I hope every one has a wonderful holiday season, I love you all! I’m thankful for you all who have given my writing a chance and I’m so thrilled to be putting out more for you guys! Hope you like this little personal piece I had😚

—

“GO ALL THE WAY SARAH!!” You scream as you frantically swing your arm in a circle telling her to not stop, second and third base are loaded and Sarah just hit a line-drive between second and third base which whizzed by shortstop AND the left-fielder. The two girls on base run home and Sarah is halfway to third when you hear a deep southern voice boom from your right, “GO BABY GO!!”

Too focused on Sarah to look at the mystery man, you notice an outfielder throwing the ball to the pitcher and Sarah just rounded third base. You’re sweating from the nerves and from the scorching Texas sun just beating down on you. The girls in the dugout behind you are incoherently screaming, the pitcher releases the ball to the catcher at home, however, Sarah is the fastest on the team! “SLIDE! SLIDE” you scream but there’s an echo to it, it’s the same smooth voice that makes you weak in the knees.

Sarah slides into home base and collides with the catcher, you wince as dirt and dust are all that’s visible to the naked eye. The cheers have turned into dead silence, the heavy breaths of players and family members is all that could be heard. All your team needs to win is this one run, Sarah’s run, otherwise it's a tie. Your heart is about to lunge out of your chest, you’re repeatedly muttering to yourself, “you got this girl! You so got it Sarah! You’re safe!”

The Umpire puts his hand up as he swats the cloud of dirt away from the air, you see Sarah’s body on the plate with the catcher on top of her but the ball isn’t in her hand, you smirk as you see the ball on the ground next to the catcher's head. The Ump swipes his hands and grunts, “SAFE”.

The crowd behind your players start to hoot and holler, your whole dugout roars and runs out to Sarah. But you’re the first one to her, as she stands up and throws her helmet to the ground next to her, “WE WON!” She shouts with almost a disbelief tone.

You pick her up in a hug and spin her once then set her back on her feet, “BECAUSE OF YOU SARAH!” She’s smiling ear to ear as she looks at you, by now the whole team is surrounding Sarah. The mixture of laughter, tears, and shrieks erupts from the team of teenagers. The first game of the season is off to a pretty good start, your body is warm on the inside as you see your players bounce with excitement.

“SARAH, SARAH, SARAH.” A chant echoes behind you, you turn and see the family of your girls entering the field with smiles and claps, but this one man in front sticks out to you. He’s wearing a fitting Texas Longhorn football T-shirt, that looks worn, with an orange & black flannel unbuttoned over it, a pair of dark blue jeans with what look to be work boots, but what catches your attention is his beautiful face. His short but curly chocolate and silver hair and his thick but kinda patchy beard, with his trademark brown eyes match together almost too perfectly.

“DAD! I DID IT!” Sarah breaks away from her teammates and sprints towards this man who you’ve been eyeing, and she practically knocks him to the ground as she jumps and wraps herself like a monkey around him like he’s a massive tree. “Yes you did baby girl! I’m so proud of you!” You hear him chuckle as he hugs her tightly, you don’t realize that you’re staring and smiling. Until Tiffany, one of your players, booty bumps your hip and whispers, “That’s Joel, Sarah’s dad. You two would be pretty cute together.” You laugh at her and tell her to knock it off, now turning and looking at your girls you yell, “Okay all my ladies, meet me in center-field!”

After praising the girls about how well they played today, you reminded them that the season will be tough and to not let today make them cocky, but to continue to learn and have fun with it! “RedHawks on three! ONE, TWO, THREE, REDHAWKS!” The huddle of the team yell in unison with their hands in the air! The girls all scatter to their belongings then to their families and as you’re walking back to the dugout to collect your things, you hear Sarah yell, “Hey coach! Wait up!” You turn around and see Sarah with Joel, Sarah wasting no time introducing you, “Coach this is my Dad, Dad this is my coach!”

“Nice to meet you…Sarah’s Dad” You reply with a chuckle, you reach your hand out to shake his, the large hand completely covering your small hand as he shakes and smiles, “It’s nice to meet you Sarah’s Coach!” And you two have hit it off since that moment in the middle of February, at your first game of the season.

—

It’s now mid December, the twenty-third to be exact, you and Joel have been officially dating since July. You still have your own apartment, which you rarely stay at now since Joel and Sarah begged that you stay with them, but you insist on having it available because you like having your own space once in a while, but you also want to have a backup just in case. Joel has brought up the idea of selling it but you refuse, only because this relationship is fresh and you don’t want to be stuck with nothing if it goes bad.

Especially with the holidays coming up, which always seemed to be the downfall for you. For example; Thanksgiving was boring like the last five years, until Joel and Sarah invited you over for their celebration with his family. You felt so loved, which you haven’t felt from your own family since they discovered you dropped out of college. They were not thrilled to hear that, you immediately became the disappointment of the family, even though your brother, who’s five years younger than you, had just had a baby out of wedlock. But somehow you still took the cake as the awful child, you didn’t care at this point, they were all pieces of shits anyway.

“What do you think darlin’?” Joel’s voice breaks your train of memories, you got so distracted you honestly don’t know what he and Sarah were just discussing. “Um, say that one more time, I'm sorry!” You reply as you take a sip of hot chocolate and set it on the table next to Joel, Sarah just made it for you all after Joel put dinner away. “We were talking about how we should go out to Tommy’s lake house for Christmas weekend, we’ll have to leave tomorrow, just so we can get away!” Sarah chirps from her seat on the other end of the couch from you and Joel, who are snuggled underneath a warm quilt blanket.

“Yes we so should! I’ll just have to stop by my place and grab some things!” You happily smile at Sarah, who is now jumping from her seat with joy. “YES! Finally another girl I can hang out with there!” The three of you laugh for a minute and she quickly says, “Wait…I’m gonna go pack!” She sprints upstairs before either of you can say anything. “That girl, she is something else.” Joel chuckles to himself as he takes a sip out of his navy coffee mug.

“Just like her father, always up to something.” You reply with a smirk as you lightly elbow his side, “Makes sense why you fit right in with us.” He whistles right back with no hesitation, that’s one thing you love about Joel, how he can come back with jokes and not be offended. You hum as you move in closer to his side, he lifts his free arm and puts it around your shoulder as you lean into him.

Looking around the living room, you feel fuzzy on the inside, almost like a little girl during Christmas. The decorated tree is filled with Sarah’s baby ornaments, Joel’s favorites, and now, with Joel and Sarah insisting, some of your own favorite ornaments. Your eyes then move to the fireplace and mantle, you were proud of yourself, Joel wasn’t much of a decorator, so you took the opportunity to spruce up his house more than just a tree and some lights.

You put a light blue cloth over the top of the white wooden mantle, a little over a dozen little trees in a couple clusters in each corner, and a string of white lights - this little touch made the fireplace and living room feel more festive, Joel and Sarah loved it.

“I think a getaway isn’t a bad idea,” Joel states, you two still looking at the tv which is playing a rerun of an SVU episode, “Tommy’s got a pretty cool spot about two hours out of town, he bought it for himself on his twenty-sixth birthday.” You’re looking up at him now, you love when he talks about his family, it makes you happy that he still talks with them.

“Well,” you start as you sit up and swing your leg over his hips so you’re now sitting on his lap and looking into his eyes, “If you insist,” even though you already decided to go in your head, you wanted to play with Joel a little bit, “I do have a hard time saying ‘no’ to you Miller.” You’re playing with the curls on the back of his neck as he wraps the blanket behind your waist and it’s so big that Joel has some draped by his legs.

His hands are resting on your thighs while his thumbs rub small circles on the inner part close to your purring pussy, causing drops of arousal to soak your panties, “Why would you want to say ‘no’ to a fun time?” Joel’s words flow out of his mouth like silk, you hate that he knows the effect he has on you, yet you couldn’t ask for anything better.

Your face heats up and you slowly roll your hips onto his cock, Joel chokes back a moan - honestly you had the same effect on him, which you loved. His eyes are locked on your covered cunt that is grinding on his restrained cock, you tug his face up by his hair and kiss him with teeth and tongue. “Dad do yo-“ Sarah walks around the corner and sees you two practically going at it, “Get a room you guys, jesussss.” She blinds her eyes with her hand and laughs as you scramble off Joel’s lap, almost falling onto the floor before Joel catches you.

“Weren't you packing?” Joel questions with a half serious, half joking tone to it as he pulls you back onto his lap, but now you’re laying on his chest. Sarah starts to rebuttal but Joel cuts her off and you can’t help but laugh at the situation, she just just caught her dad and he is slowly losing his patience. His hands are stroking your back which tells you, he wants you, bad.

“I was just gonna ask if we’ll be there just for the weekend or the week?” Sarah scoffs as stands there, “Just the weekend, the two of us still have jobs dear. Now go finish, we’ll watch a movie in a little bit.” Joel responds as he looks at her with a painful grin across his face, you can tell he is struggling to hold it together. “National Lampoon's??” Sarah chirps up, you look at her and go, “Duh!” She does a fist pump and a little ‘yessss’ as she runs away to her bedroom.

“Really? Lampoon’s?” Joel chuckles as he looks down into your eyes, “It’s only the best Christmas movie ever…besides the Grinch.” You remark as you put both hands flat on his chest and rest your chin on them and continue to talk about each movie. You honestly loved Lampoon’s and the Grinch, you grew up watching them and as you’ve gotten older, they’ve become a lot funnier.

Joel, still stroking your back, just looks at you as you rave about these two hilarious movies, you don’t notice but he’s in complete awe of you right now. In his mind he’s thinking about how you’re the one, the one for Sarah, and the one for him. You have him wrapped around your little finger and you don’t even notice it, Joel would do just about anything for you, he really does love you. He’s gonna make you his little wife someday, a mom to Sarah, and who knows, maybe a baby of your own with Joel.

“Hellooo?” You’re now waving your hands in front of his face, “Is Joel Miller in there?” You laugh at him staring into space, after you were done explaining your thoughts you had asked Joel what was his favorite, but all he did was stare at you when you asked. “Sorry darlin’, just got lost in thought. What did you ask?” He asks as he moves a piece of hair behind your ear, his warm touch on your face makes you melt. God you love this man so much, and he doesn’t even know the half of it.

You laugh as you ask him, “I asked what’s your favorite Christmas movie?” He throws his head back onto the couch and chuckles, “You’re gonna laugh, Sarah thinks it’s ridiculous.” You now wrap your arms around his torso and turn your head to listen to his heartbeat, “So what? I just went on and on about mine. I still wanna know yours.” You mumble as you take a whiff of him and you smile, he smells like a mix of hot chocolate, cinnamon, and sweat. You are actually addicted to the way he smells, you wish you could smell like him all the time, so everyone knows who you belong to.

“Well, I love the original Charlie Brown: Christmas. It was Sarah’s favorite when she was a toddler, it was on repeat all the time, so it’s just got a special place in my heart for my little girl, who’s not so little anymore.” Joel confesses with a hint of sadness towards the end of his sentence. Your smile fades a little bit at the bittersweet memory, but you still chime out, “I think that’s precious. We should watch it while we’re away, all three of us.”

Joel now has his muscular arms wrapped around your body and his lips on top of your head, he leaves a couple kisses then mumbles, “I would like that, more than you know.” You leave a couple kisses on his chest and you softly reply, “It’s a date then.” Joel hums in your hair and you two stay latched on to one another for what seems like eternity, both of you slowly putting each other to sleep by the rhythm of your breathing.

—

“Are we there yetttt?” Sarah drags out with a groan from the back seat of the truck, you roll your eyes and chuckle at her for, yet again, asking how much longer. The three of you are about ten minutes away from Tommy’s lake house, but Sarah has asked throughout the entire trip which ended up taking longer than two hours because of Christmas Eve traffic, but you can’t really be upset, she’s just really excited.

Joel, on the other hand, was getting very irritated each time she asked, only because he knows that Sarah has been here many times and knows how long it takes, even counting holiday traffic. You could obviously tell he was upset but Sarah had no idea just because she never sees her dad upset, what a blessing that is. “GPS says about ten minutes left until we’re there! You can wait just a little bit longer girl!” You turn around in the passenger seat and inform her before Joel lets out the irritation that now has turned to anger, out on Sarah, you understood his frustration but she doesn’t need to feel the wrath of it.

Sarah cheers and then puts her headphones back on and goes back to doing whatever she was doing on her phone, you chuckle under your breath and turn back around. “Thank you.” Joel mumbles as he puts his calloused, yet still soft, hand on your inner thigh closest to him, still looking out at the road in front of him. “Of course.” Is all you say as you stare out your window at the beautiful woods you’re driving through - you’re absolutely floored by the beauty of it all, you honestly didn’t know Texas had parts that looked like this. The last couple minutes of your drive are silent other than the radio playing random Christmas songs, you’re so excited to get away from the city for a weekend, the holidays even.

Joel makes a final right turn down a steep dirt track hill, which is bumpy to say the least, but it’s surrounded by the tall trees you’ve been enthralled with. Your stomach is in knots, you’re not sure why, probably just really excited for something out of your norm. “Well darlin’, welcome to the Miller family lake house.” Joel smoothly tells you as he makes a slight left turn and you finally see what these two have been raving about. “Holy shit.” Is all that comes out of your mouth, which drops at the sight of this magnificent home in front of you.

It’s almost like a fucking mansion, no it IS a mansion, it looks like it could be four homes in one. The beautiful dark gray paint and matching roof with cream colored shutters and gutters that match together perfectly are what initially draws you in, but what makes it, are the windows. The massive floor to ceiling glass throughout almost the whole home nearly brings tears to your eyes, It's so beautiful. You’re still breathless as Joel parks the truck and you step out the passenger seat, you strut down the couple steps in front of the house and walk down the dock that has a pontoon boat with two jet skis next to it.

You reach the edge of the dock and gaze out at the beautiful water that now starts at your feet and you catch how the sun setting casts a reflection that is just breathtaking. The sky is a mix of purples, pinks, and oranges that mix like a Bob Ross painting, it almost doesn’t seem real. A cool breeze blows by, making you wrap your lace black shawl tighter around yourself, not the best idea to wear shorts and a tank top.

Turning your head to the right, you notice there’s even a little section of beach that looks to be on Tommy’s side of the property. There’s a line of lake houses on either side of his, but this one was the only one that stuck out to you. You can't believe that Tommy bought this, or even that you’re allowed here.

Suddenly, a pair of hoodie covered arms wrap around your waist and a familiar scratch of a beard cradles in your neck, you lean back into the known touch and hum. “What do you think?” He asks between warm kisses to your soft spot, “It’s- I’m-,” still at a loss for words on how this is possible, you stutter, “This place is incredible.” Joel’s warm breaths on your neck from him chuckling sends a shiver down your spine, the tiniest things he does have such an impact on you. “I’m glad you’re able to be here, I love that Sarah and I can share this with you.”

You open your mouth to thank him for being so generous to you, but before you can, Sarah’s loud voice from the house behind you yells, “You two love birds gonna come help or what?!” You look up at Joel and you both start to die of laughter, Sarah always had this timing, every damn time. In your fit of laughter he ends up turning you around and deeply kisses you, causing your laughter to come to a halt. You kiss him back with intensity, so much so that your mind convinces you that you two are the only things floating in space right now. You truly love this man, you love everything he does to and for you - Joel is everything you’ve been looking for.

Joel pulls away from your lips with a pop, leaving you feeling dizzy and hungry for more. Staring into each other's eyes and foreheads resting on the others, Joel coos, “We should probably go help before she gets bitchy with us.” This makes you throw your head back and laugh, “Fucking teenagers.” Joel puts his arm over your shoulder and you two walk back towards the truck to unload the gifts and your luggage. “Fuckin teenagers is right my dear.” He repeats your words with a chuckle in his chest that echoes across the top of the water.

—

After the three of you emptied the truck of your belongings and you all picked which room to stay in, you had made dinner. Sarah put in a special request for your classic breakfast for dinner, cinnamon french toast with sausage and bacon, something so simple but delicious. You had the time of your life cooking, the kitchen was actually insane, the white marble countertop made your knees weak, the tall white cabinets that matched the drawers on the island made you drool. The sink and stove was a stunning stainless steel with gold trim, this place was literally your dream home.

Dinner had been made and put away, Joel cleaned up the kitchen while you and Sarah put simple lights on the tall tree that was in the spacious living room. It was around two AM by the time she was satisfied with how the tree looked with the lights and presents underneath, you three decided to plop down on the white leather couch and turn on “A Charlie Brown Christmas”.

After the movie finished, you notice Joel and Sarah smiling ear to ear. “Good idea on watching this dad, definitely a good one. But I’m gonna go out on the beach for a little bit before bed,” Sarah announces as she gets up from the couch, “Love you guys and Merry Christmas.” She kisses the top of your head then Joel’s, you can’t believe it. “Love you too.” Joel and you both repeat in a heartbeat as you turn your head to look at her, she’s smiling at you as she opens the slider and walks outside.

“Did you hear that?” Your ears perk up from the voice next to you, you smirk as you turn your attention back to Joel, getting nose-to-nose with him and you whisper, “She said it!” His large hands are running up and down your thighs that lay over his perpendicularly, still staring down one another and giggling, he swiftly picks you up bridal style and starts to head for your guys bedroom for the weekend.

—

Joel’s leaving kisses to your neck as he climbs the white oak staircase and rounds the corner, his beard scraping that sweet spot that makes you crave more as he passes the bathroom and reaches the dark brown wooden door. He smoothly turns to his side and pushes the door open, you’re greeted with the smell of cinnamon and a woodsy kind of scent which makes you feel right at home. “Now,” Joel starts as he sets you down on the firm mattress, pulls his black tshirt off, and stands between your legs, you’re now eye level with his cock - mouth salivating as you see how hard he is for you.

“You’re gonna be a good girl for me, right?” Joel seductively asks as his right hand grips your chin and makes you look up at him. “Yes sir.” You purr as you set either hand on his thighs, just starving to get a taste of him in any way. He bends down, still gripping your chin, and plants a needy kiss on your lips, but before you can reciprocate, he pulls away and stands back up now letting go of you, “It’s all yours then darlin’.”

A smirk grows on your cheeks as your hands leave his thighs and onto his belt, you excitedly undo it, his jeans unzipping and falling to the ground not far behind. Only his dark green boxers hold his throbbing cock from your watering mouth, you glance back up to his face and Joel has this smirk where he looks like he’s gazing at an angel. Knowing that he’s looking at you like this, makes your pussy flutter and arousal drip into your panties. Still sitting on the bed and looking up at him, you slowly move your head closer to his cock and leave kitten kisses along the outline, causing him to jump and let a moan crawl out his throat.

“Quit playing games sweetheart.” He threatens under his breath, you leave one more kiss at the tip which is peaking above his waistband, causing a shot of pre-cum across his slit. Before he can say anything else, you slide his boxers down his thick thighs and watch as his cock bounces onto his tummy, his pre-cum leaving his happy trail wet. You spit into your palm and softly grab his leaking, red-flushed cock letting a big drop of spit fall from your mouth onto his tip and you start to stroke him. “Mhmm” Joel hums above you, you love when he’s vocal, gives you a boost of confidence in yourself.

After a few strokes, you put your hot mouth centimeters away from his pleading cock, you slowly bring your other hand underneath to lightly jostle his balls at the same time you slide him in your mouth. Causing whimpers to escape Joel’s mouth, your jaw having to unhinge so he can fill you completely, drool is spilling from the corners of your cock-filled mouth. “Oh yeah- that’s my pretty girl. Taking all my cock like the good girl she is.” Joel moans as he starts to rock his hips into your face, his cock now hitting the back of your throat which makes you gag on him, but that doesn’t stop you or Joel. Tears start to fill your eyes and roll onto your cheek, but from pure pleasure, you love when Joel fucks your face and uses you however he wants.

Both of your hands back on his thighs to steady yourself as he fucks your mouth and groans, “Love when you’re stuffed with my cock, makes you dumb in the head afterwards.” After a few more pumps he drags himself out of your mouth, a string of saliva connecting your plump lips to his throbbing tip as you pull away. You are in a complete daze, Joel was right, you are dumb in the head afterwards.

“Look at you, cock-drunk just off of that.” Joel taunts from above, you tilt your head up while leaning back on your hands and you bark back, “Is that right sir?” Before you finish your sentence, Joel is on top of you, ripping your tank top off of you and your bra right after, then his warm mouth is smothering your tits with bites and kisses. Your moans echo off the walls in your enclosed bedroom, both of your legs bent to allow Joel to slide your panties and shorts off.

Your hands search for any part of Joel so you can scratch or pull something, you want to leave reminders of tonight on his skin. “Look at you. My pretty girl is all wet for me already, does sucking me off turn you on that much?” Joel growls as he brings his fingers to your slit, he swipes two of his fingers starting from your asshole and ending at your clit. This gets you every time, your body does a slight shake from the sudden contact on your pussy. “Fuck!” You cry out as your back arches off the sheets under you, “Yeahhh…you love it.” Joel huffs as he brings his fingers back to your throbbing cunt, he circles your clit, then his middle and ring finger tease your pulsating hole.

“C’mon baby, I need you so bad.” You plead with him as you look in his eyes over your warm face and bring your hands to scratch his beard. Your hips are thrusting into his fingers to try to get him deeper, but Joel chuckles at you and goes, “That’s what you get for teasing me sweetheart.” You groan out of frustration at him and not being filled by Joel. You’re about to whine some more until your walls suddenly feel full as Joel’s fingers spread you open, his fingers hit deeper than your own ever could. “Yes. Yes.” You whisper over and over into his mouth as you hold his face to yours, Joel just smirking as you crumble into pieces in his hands.

As Joel continues to work his fingers in your tight cunt, you get this sudden urge to pee, you start to panic a bit, “Baby, stop - I think I’m gonna pee.” But Joel doesn’t let up, you're trying to claw away from him but his hold on you is too strong. “Joel - FUCK!” You sob when all of a sudden you arch your back and tilt your head back, you feel this gush release out of you and Joel is still working his fingers as clear liquid flies all over. You’re crying from the pleasure but also the pain from him circling your clit slowly, as he purrs, “That’s my girl, look at you. Making a mess on my fingers.”

Trying to catch your breath you laugh, “Holy fuck…I’ve never done that before..” Joel laughs with you as he rubs your skin from your thighs to your neck, “I’m gonna have to get you to do that more often.” Your ears are ringing as you hum in agreement, not being able to answer Joel with words. You lay there with your eyes closed trying to recoup yourself, as you hear him chuckle, “Woww, my girl is calling it quits already?”

One thing about yourself that Joel loves, is how cocky you get in bed, you always talk the biggest game yet, you’re usually the first one to tire out - you never quit though. Your eyes shoot open and you see his face inches away from yours, “I am not a quitter.” you confidently bark. “I didn’t think so.” Joel kisses you tenderly, you both moan into each other.

Still sensitive, you jolt as you feel Joel lineup his pulsating cock to your spent cunt, “A little jumpy huh?” Joel, drunk on your scent, says, “Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you darlin’.” Your fingers dig into his skin leaving crescent moons on his shoulders as he splits you open with his cock, you shout at the sudden intrusion in your sore pussy. “Oh sorry, did I say care?” Joel grunts as he finds a rhythm, which is a pounding kind of rhythm.

There’s so much you want to tell him but you physically can’t, all that leaves your throat are mixed whimpers and moans. “You like when I use you like a toy, don’t cha darlin’?” Joel bites as he grabs one of your peaked nipples and starts to pinch it, this causes you to yelp and that sensation creeps back into your body, your walls start to squeeze his cock. “Ooh, someone likes it, I feel your tight pussy suffocating me baby.” Joel growls and he brings his other hand between your bodies, stopping right above your aching clit. “Let me hear you say please, then you can let it all out sweet girl.” You hate when he does this, because he knows a part of you physically can’t speak, but you’ll be damned if he wins this time.

His cock then hits your cervix in a way that makes you holler, “please baby, please! Let me cum, pleaseee!” His fingers immediately fall to your clit and he rubs small yet effective circles, that’s all that it takes for your orgasm to rip out of you. Your voice breaks and your body goes stiff as liquid spills out of your cunt again,“That’s my gi-“ Joel chokes as he cums with you in your velvet walls. Joel’s body slumps on top of yours as you groan from his weight crushing you, “Get off meee.”

Joel laughs into your chest and rolls over on his side of the bed, as he catches his breath he jokes, “What? You don’t like being crushed?” You slap his chest and tell him to shut up, he chuckles as he gets up, puts his boxers back on and walks over to your side of the bed with his arms out. You just look at him, unable to speak from the two orgasms he pulled out of you, he shakes his head and coo’s, “C’mon darlin’, get you to the bathroom while I change the sheets.”

Grabbing Joel’s hands, you almost fall over as your feet hit the wood floor but Joel is right there to grab you. “Don’t even say it.” You sternly say to Joel, who is smiling like a kid with candy. He brings you to the bathroom connected to the bedroom, sits you on the toilet and walks back out to grab you a shirt to wear to bed. He walks back in with one of his shirts and slips it on you, he kisses your lips and walks back to the bed to change the sheets. You begin to pee, and you lean forward with your elbows digging into your thighs and your hands hold your intoxicated head up as your eyes close and a smile grows on your face as you sit there waiting for Joel to bring you back to bed.

Joel clearing his throat makes you open your eyes and you see him leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed with this loving look on his face. You show your teeth with a big smile, put your arms up, and playfully whine, “Hi babyyy!” He just shakes his head and laughs at how cute you are after sex, “Hi sweetheart, you ready for bed?” You hum in agreement and nod your head, ready to lay in his arms again. Joel walks over to you, helps you stand, and walks with you to the bed with fresh gray sheets.

You slide in and get right underneath the comforter as Joel slides in next to you, he then pulls you in between his legs as you lay on your stomach with your head on his chest and your arms wrapped around his torso. He starts to stroke your back with his soft fingertips, his heart beat calm and finding the rhythm with yours, “Merry Christmas beautiful. I love you entirely.” Joel whispers into your hair with a kiss, you smile and somehow muster out, “Merry Christmas Joel, I love you more.” You feel his chest flutter from your words to him, you smirk as the two of you fall into a deep sleep.

[doctorwhoisadhd]

"stare into the sun" was the motto of one of the teams, the hellmouth sunbeams (formerly moab sunbeams)

solar eclipse was a weather (weathers determined what mechanics could occur during any given game) during a solar eclipse game, rogue umpires could incinerate players

during a supernova eclipse game (basically the sun exploded. well ok one of the suns. don't worry about it), rogue umpires could incinerate teams. unlike player incinerations, which were relatively common, full-team incinerations only happened twice outside of prehistory, to The Breath Mints. and my team, the fridays (both in season 24)

also in season 24 it was revealed that it was not the umpire aspect of "rogue" umpires that meant they could incinerate players, but instead the "rogue" aspect

pre-history was the era of blaseball before blaseball was able to be viewed by fans [kayfabe: pre-history was written by the devs (and was partially a fictionalized version of test seasons before blaseball entered beta). the "return" of blaseball was the actual beginning of when it went live so people other than the devs could watch it.]

the Hall of Flame was where incinerated players went. there was a squid god called the hall monitor (also known as binky to fans) who watched over them

basically solar eclipses were widely feared across the league because people (reasonably) didnt like it when their players died. i personally am comparatively really irreverent about them because the fridays are the team with the LEAST incineration related trauma. and then we got full team incinerated and ended up being pretty irreverent about that too. so im an outlier. most teams actually did a lot to avoid incineration and there are a FUCK ton of garages songs about incineration and players who got incinerated (for example: song for a fallen player, solar eclipse, york silk (rest in violence), tiana cash, rogue ump, she's dead and im someone else, ship of theseus, etc etc etc etc. there are tons.)

so yeah feel free to ask any questions even if its just like "can you talk more about x" because i love blaseball and talking about blaseball and i WILL explain because i love explaining things

[atinylittlepain]

No Surrender

no outbreak!joel miller x fem!reader

Hungry Hearts masterlist

wordcount | 2K

warnings | smut, angst, the usual

a/n | a short but sweet epilogue to this treat of a story. thank you to everyone who has followed along with joel and cherry <3

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

“Strike!”

“That’s alright, Els! Shake it off, babe, you got this!”

“C’mon, kid, just like we practiced. All in the hips.” Before she steps back up to bat, Ellie shoots a rather pointed look their way, her shoulders rising and falling with a huff.

“Shut up, please.” Cherry laughs while Joel grumbles, not too surprised by the kid’s abrasive command, though still a little taken aback. 

“At least we got a please out of her.” Joel nods, only half paying attention to Cherry’s quip as he watches the next pitch, a ball that Ellie doesn’t bite at, smart. Their team needs a strong hit, Sarah on third and another runner on second, two outs and all tied up. 

“Strike two!” 

“Oh, c’mon now, that was way inside.” He mumbles it just loud enough that the parents sitting in front of them on the bleachers turn over their shoulder to stare at him, Cherry offering them an apologetic smile before turning her attention to him. 

“Joel, don’t start. Do you want a repeat of last week?” Last week, both Ellie and Sarah wouldn’t talk to them the whole car ride home from the fields after he and Cherry both got asked to wait in the parking lot when they got a little too heated with the ump about Ellie’s contested slide into third.

“I blame you for that one.” Cherry’s face screws up, her hand that had been resting on his thigh laying a mean squeeze that makes him laugh.

“Me?”

“Yeah, you’re the one that started it.”

“Well, you’re the one that finished it, Miller.” Somehow, even after a year, they’re still disgusting for each other. At least that’s what Sarah calls it, Ellie usually agreeing with a grimace and a fake gag. But they’re too busy on the field right now to comment on the smacking kiss Joel steals from Cherry, her frown going slack before crooking into half a grin. 

“How could I not, Cher? That ump was calling my woman’s judgment into question.”

“Your woman, huh?” A quick flush of heat in his cheeks when she says it like that, all simpering low. His cheeks smart with his grin.

“Yeah, that’s right.” 

“How very paleolithic of you.” Before he can jostle her a little for her snark, the crack of a bat hitting a ball pulls their attention back to the field. Both of them are instantly on their feet when they see the perfect zip of Ellie’s hit. Yeah, maybe a little obnoxious, the way they alternate between cheering Sarah on into home and yelling for Ellie to steal second. But it is their girls, after all. 

…

Not that he would go around admitting this to anyone, but Joel has gotten pretty good at cooking tofu. Two pans on the stove, one with chicken and one with the aforementioned protein, he stirs while Cherry chops up veggies for the tacos beside him. 

“Don’t think I haven’t noticed that all the boxes we just brought over were only Sarah’s.”

“Don’t worry about it, I’m all ready to go. The movers are coming on, what? Wednesday?” She stops chopping, shooting him an exasperated look.

“Monday, Joel, the movers are going to be at your house at nine sharp on Monday. Which, by the way, is two days from now.” 

“Right, I knew that.” She huffs, a murmured uh-huh as she goes back to chopping. Honestly, he’s not sure why she’s so worried about it. Over the course of the last year, it’s just been one big and slow move-in to the point that one evening last week when he and Sarah actually were at their house, he found himself without a toothbrush, having made a permanent home for it on Cherry’s bathroom sink. Really, the movers are just for the few big things they’ve still yet to haul over. Sarah’s bed, which is going to go in what was the guest room in Cherry’s house, walls now painted purple after a quick weekend project and ready for its new purpose. A couch and a flatscreen that’s going in the basement, and yes, he’s already looking forward to football season. And his bookshelf, an open wall in Cherry’s room for its new home, though she’s been adamant that anything with her name on it needs to go in a box somewhere that she can’t see it. Writers, he muses, never without their quirks. 

“Phone’s ringing, Cher.” And it never seems to stop. He swears he could hear it ringing from across town with how used to that sound he has gotten. But she’s been putting it on silent more often these days, and right now, she waves her hand in her phone’s vague direction, a despondent little sound in the back of her throat.

“I’m not answering that, it’s the fucking weekend and I just sent in the first draft to her. And anyways, she’s gonna be in town next weekend, did I tell you that?” She has, probably ten times, but he doesn’t tell her that, just nods, giving her hip a squeeze as he reaches around her for the spatula.

“What’s her name again?”

“Maria. And I was thinking, you know, maybe you could invite Tommy over for dinner the same night that she’s visiting.” Her words slant a little with her hardly-contained grin, and he finally pieces together why she’s been mentioning her editor’s visit so frequently to him.  

“Oh yeah, you were just thinking, huh?” He hooks his arm around her waist, the end of his words getting pressed into the shell of her ear as she squirms in his hold, trying to bite back her smile. 

“I’m just saying. She’s thinking about moving to Austin.”

“Is there a big publishing business in Austin?”

“No, she wants to give that whole remote thing a go. The wonders of modern technology and all that. I tried that new Skype thing out last week for an interview though and it gave me the biggest headache ever. I doubt that’ll last very long.” He hums, letting Cherry go to finish cooking the food on the stove. 

“I’ll invite him over, Cher, but I ain’t gonna promise you that he won’t make a fool of himself. She’s probably way out of his league.” 

“Hmm, we’ll see. I think someone a little more serious would be good for him.” 

He’s used to this now. He might even take it for granted. All the ways that they have configured their lives around each other. Lucky, he thinks, that Ellie and Sarah get along like they do. Lucky that Sarah likes her and Ellie tolerates him, though he thinks the kid’s not giving him enough credit when she says that with a dramatic sigh. Lucky too that two decades felt like nothing compared to all the good they get to have together now. 

A family, he thinks, because what else would he call it? Hers and his sitting down at the table on their back porch for dinner. And yes, it’s theirs now, or as good as, even though the movers are still two days away. 

Sarah and Ellie talk about their class schedules for the new school year. Lord help them all, sophomores in high school. Apparently he said that thought out loud because Ellie screws up her face at him around a bite of taco.

“Well, what were y’all like in high school?”

“Oh my god, Els, did you just say y’all?” Cherry can barely get the question out behind her laugh, and Ellie rolls her eyes so hard Joel thinks they might get stuck like that.

“Hey, she’s just practicing the local customs. But I’m also curious, for the record, about what you two were like in high school.” Ellie nods along to Sarah’s addition, already a team, he thinks. Again, lord help them all. 

“Well, your dad had a bit of a reputation on campus for getting into trouble.” 

“Hey, I was never as bad as Tommy.” He puts all of his energy into the look he gives Cherry, pleading for her to not take this where he thinks she’s taking it. She just grins over the rim of her glass. Sarah and Ellie meanwhile, seem rapt to hear more.

“Maybe so, but I’m guessing you haven’t told Sarah about what you did at homecoming in eighty-three?” 

“Oh Jesus no, and I’m not going to, and neither are you, thank you very much.” Sarah and Ellie take up a chorus of boos at that, Cherry shrugging her shoulders at him, though he doesn’t let her smugness off easy, squeezing her thigh beneath the table as he gets a story of his own ready for takeoff.

“You had a reputation of your own, didn’t you, Cher?” Her face falls just as his lifts with his grin, looking at the girls again, their attention recaptured. 

“This one right here was something of a heartbreaker. Wouldn’t give the time of day to any of the poor boys that trailed after her. Little did they know she was actually a grade A nerd.” A cheap shot maybe, Cherry shoving at his shoulder as Ellie snorts at her mom, enough for him to be pretty pleased with himself.

“I’ll have you know that I wasn’t giving any of them the time of day because I wasn’t interested in any of those poor boys you’re talking about.”

“No? Not even Mikey Donahue?” Cherry scoffs, a wave of her hand, forget it.

“Especially not Mikey Donahue.”

“That right?” “Mmhmm.”

“And how’d that work out for you, Cher?” 

“I’d say it worked out pretty well, at least in the end.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Oh god, they’re being disgusting again, that’s our cue to leave.” He doesn’t pay Sarah’s gripe any mind, nor Ellie’s groan of my eyes, it burns! By the time the sliding door of the porch closes behind their girls, he’s already leaning in for a second kiss that Cherry meets with a soft hum. 

“You better not tell them about homecoming in eighty-three.” Her brow crooks, nails scratching lightly at his scruff where her hand is settled along his jaw.

“Or else what?” He sighs, like he’s really considering his options, another squeeze to her thigh before he answers. 

“Or else I’ll tell them about the time you peed your pants in Sunday school.” Her smile simmers, her ankle hooking around his, a little tug for him to scooch his chair closer to hers. 

“Hmm, I think homecoming in eighty-three is still worse.” 

“I was trying to be generous, Cher. I could tell them about the time you got sent to the principal’s office for telling Maureen Henderson to shove her nail file up her—” Cherry gasps, quick to clamp her palm over his mouth, though she jerks her hand away when he starts to laugh.

“I never liked her.”

“No, you sure didn’t.” 

“She liked you though.” It’s silent for a moment, Cherry’s smile sliding into something a little more shy as Joel leans into her side, trying to catch her downturned gaze.

“That’s not jealousy I’m detecting is it?” The heel of her palm shoves into his chest with a huff, but he doesn’t budge, just crowds in closer, his arm curling around her shoulders. 

“Uh, considering I’m the one you’re breathing your pickled jalapeno breath on right now, no, I am not jealous of Maureen Henderson.” 

“I didn’t really care for her either.” That gets a smile out of her, the slightest curl of it enough for his to split even wider.

“No?” 

“Nah, I was waiting on someone else anyways.” She leans back to get a better look at him, doing that now familiar thing of pressing two of her fingers into the patch in his scruff, always right there. 

“Hmm, how’d that work out for you?”

“Pretty damn good, at least in the end.”  That gets him another kiss, Cherry just as quickly flitting out of his hold to start cleaning up the table after dinner, another routine he’s happy to settle into with her. 

Yes, maybe it’s strange, still awkward at times, figuring out how this family fits together. Yes, maybe there’s still hurt, two decades worth of it to answer to, to soothe in each other. But he knows that this is theirs, movers be damned. It’s always been theirs. And yes, maybe he also knows that there’s a small velvet box tucked into what is now his sock drawer up in their bedroom. He thinks he knows what her answer will be to that velvet box tucked into his sock drawer. 

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

taglist: @spookyxsam @libbylou223 @angel-in-beskar @starstruckunknown-princess @casa-boiardi @tieronecrush @swiftispunk @beskarandblasters @trulybetty @amanitacowboy @pr0ximamidnight @wannab-urs @jksprincess10 @suzmagine @everything-isfucked @lanabobana @kittenlittle24 @sarap-77 @officerrrfriendly @val-srz @bitchwitch1981 @redwoodsanddaffodils @themothersmercy @romanarose @lost-inhawkins @youcancallmeelle @hollywoodcaligirl @harryleatherfit @fifia-writes @brighttears @lokanda @hardlystrictlystarwars @sarahxxo3 @harriedandharassed @anoverwhelmingdin

[mayapapaya33]

Ok wow, I could tell Ayden was DnDsus to the Dawnfather pretty quickly, but damn is he leaning into it beautifully. This is fantastic. I'm mid Downfall ep 2. Again, watching people be like Father? What? I thought he WAS the Dawnfather! Who is the Dawnfather's father? Is so fucking funny. I'm an atheist and I'm picking up what they're putting down, come on guys. Father, Son, Holy Ghost, all that jazz. Though in this case it's just the Father and the Sun, bad ump tish. They're Gods, it's metaphysically complicated lol. (Obviously it's not a direct copy, and people shouldn't Christianize the Dawnfather TOO much because there are major differences, but aspects are definitely present).

I'm enjoying all the performances tremendously. I am so glad we're getting this peak at the Dawnfather in particular, because people's really shallow interpretations have been super annoying. Dawnfather bad, grr. No, Dawnfather complicated. Dawnfather put in super difficult position and forced to make hard choices. Dawnfather interesting.

Also, the thought that some of the stuff we've seen from people representing the Dawnfather could actually be the Lord of Lies fucking with him is so great, I love it. I wonder if many people have thought through the implications of that on their perception of the Dawnfather through the 3 campaigns. How much of this is the Dawnfather's will, and how much is Asmodeus' followers undermining him at every turn. How much of it is the Dawnfather being forced to make difficult choices to save the Gods (and possibly the mortals as well; tbd whether Predathos is a messy eater) and how much is Asmodeus purposefully leading the Dawnfather's acolytes astray?

[sentientgopro]

If there's one thing I wanna bring with me from Reddit, It's r/legoguns.

Now that I'm getting off reddit, there's one thing I wanna bring with me and it's this subreddit and idea, it doesn't seem to really exist on Tumblr. Here's some of my designs, and some of the best of other people's, with credit. All of mine can be realistically built with full functionality (mag release, charging handle, etc.)

MK18 of mine

Okay, when i first posted i forgot a "keep reading" button lmao. Heres 1 image as an eyecatcher though. 29 more to go.

Different kinda M4 built on same reciever

PPSH41.

Onto other people's far superior stuff.

"3rd version of my AUG" by u/vipeDoesStuff

"Messed around with the idea of a Nine- Tailed Fox issued M4 rifle" By u/Foxlegofirearms

"glOwOck" by u/VipeDoesStuff. Pure perfection.

"Lego AWM!" By u/JimsLegoGuns. Also on YT under the same name, has some tutorials that are a great place to start when learning the general conventions of designing these things.

"The Stoner Family" by u/FoxsLegoFirearms

"My custom UMP-45 haven't posted the irl version" By u/_xMr__

"4 generations of Aks" By u/FoxsLegoFirearms

"Sig Sauer M18" By u/VipeDoesStuff

"Finally made my 3a1 Carbine IRL" by u/JimsLegoGuns

"Glock 17" by u/VipeDoesStuff

"Glock 19 gen 5 MOS and a custom knife. Kinda EDC- ish." By u/jacqo_B

"Family photo (yes I like John Wick)" By u/FrostTGA

"TTI Pit Viper" By u/FrostTGA

"Contractor .308 from Payday 2" By u/VipeDoesStuff

"You want to see what 4 years of researching, time, effort, learning and pain looks like? Here you go." by u/FoxsLegoFirearms

"Lego P90" by u/edups2

"Some BO2 builds from a while ago" By u/edups2

"The 7 Gun" By u/BallsHD4K60fps

"Cock 19, sadly no balls" By u/BallsHD4K60fps.

"LEGO M4 MW SKELETONIZED" By u/edups2

"Lego Call Of Duty Zombies Ray Gun" by u/NickBrick

Aand thats image limit. Damn, I got carried away with that. Ive been picking very specifically too, there's ALOT of better stuff than just this that ive missed. Just take a little look through the r/legoguns sub. Anyway, I'm hoping these are gonna get some new people interested in this sorta thing, or increase the amount they're being posted on Tumblr. Lego guns sounds ridiculous but once you see how good they can be, it starts making more sense. So, I'm gonna tag this with #Lego guns in the hopes that it catches on. Thanks for reading. Including all Migration tags too, and 196 bc why not.

[gachawolfiebloom]

SMG4 Tale

Chapter 1: Falling Down

What was supposed to be a nice day for a hike in the forest had turned into a constant headache thanks to Mario's whining and complaining. Five minutes in and the Italian was throwing out the common excuses of

"Mario's feet hurt!"

"Mario is-a too tired! Someone carry him!"

"Mario's hungry! Can we go back to the castle?"

"Go on...without...Mario...*cough*"

This was all just because Mario hated getting his exercise and would rather watch TV or eat a plate of spaghetti than go outside. Smg4 was absolutely fed up already as he groaned and told his best friend "Mario, we've only been walking for five minutes." Meggy sighed and tried to convince him "Come on Mario. It's not that bad. It's good to get the fresh air in your lungs and look at nature."

"Pffff what is Mario? A caveman?"

To be honest, Smg4 wasn't sure about this either. It was nice to spend time with his friends, but he could be working on his latest video right now. Those memories of being chased around in the woods at night, only to find out the watermelon man was Melony's dad. And all those horror games Mario forced him to play where they would throw the classic situation of walking around in a spooky forest with nothing, but a flashlight.

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Meggy suddenly stopped and said "Uh Smg4...has this mountain always been here?" The other two came up to see what she was looking at. There stood a giant mountain that looked oddly familiar, but Four couldn't remember from where. "I don't think so. It seems a little tall to be from around here." Mario approached the mountain and began kicking the base, screaming "Move you stupid rock!" You're blocking the way!" Meggy looked around and said "It's too wide to go around so I guess we'll have to climb it."

"Uggggg Mario doesn't want to!" Smg4 motioned "I second that. This thing could take hours to climb." Meggy didn't listen and started up. "Come on guys. Let's just check it out for a second. If it's too tall we can just head back." The boys watched her, still unsure as Four sighed. It wouldn't hurt to take a quick peek...right? He carefully followed Meggy behind with Mario's brain still stuck on a loading screen.

"Hey! Wait for Mario!" Both had already taken off. Didn't this seem a little weird? Climbing a strange mountain that didn't belong. Maybe they should have just booked it out of there, but these intrusive thoughts of Four were telling him to make his way up there. Mario tried to catch up with his friends, refusing to be left out. He then noticed a sign that was poking out of the ground on one of the cliffs and Mario stopped.

Mario's face began to melt into panic as he studied the message. The walls felt like they were closing in, until everything went back to normal and Mario shrugged. "Sorry Mr sign, but Mario doesn't like to read. Oh well." He continued on his merry way while the sign said "WARNING: Do not go into the cave at the top of Mt Ebott. Those who climb this mountain have never returned. I repeat, DO NOT GO INTO THE CAVE AT ALL COSTS!" Meggy and Four were almost to the top at a steady pace while Mario was racing to beat them.

He used the umping abilities he developed over the course of many games to quickly get to the top. "Hey! Don't leave Mario-" All of them were looking down a giant opening in the ground. "Ooooo look! A strange hole in the ground!" Meggy was curious, wondering "How far down do you think it goes?" It seemed foolish to test it. I mean there was some vines and small cliffs you could use to climb down a little. You'd have to be someone really stupid or gullible to even try to go down there. Then Mario got an idea. An awful idea. Mario got a wonderfully, awful idea.

"I don't know and I don't want to find out." Four then noticed that Mario was looking at him with a conniving grinch face. "Mario dares Smg4 to climb down that hole."

"WHAT!? NO! WHAT HAPPENS IF I FALL!?" Meggy nodded and said "He's right Red. That's not very safe." Mario didn't listen and began teasing Four to get him to go down. "You're being a whiny baby Smg4. Just climb down to that platform...unless you're too scared." Now this was Four's weakness. That and a million other things. But every time someone challenged or pressured him to do something, he never missed an opportunity to prove them wrong. "I'm not scared!"

Mario was not thinking of the dangers at all and continued with the banter. "Oh lookie Meggy! Smg4 is scared! He's too chicken to climb down!" Mario began mocking him by making chicken noises and laughing at him. "You're afraid of the dark! You're afraid of heights! You're afraid to go alone!"

"No..."

"Stop it Mario!"

Neither of them were paying attention to her as Four wasn't sure what to do. It was made pretty clear you would be stuck if you fell, but all Mario was asking him to do was jump down to a platform that was a few meters away. The teasing and laughter got the better of him as he told them "Fine! I'll prove it! Watch me!"

"What are you doing Smg4!?" Meggy questioned as he reasoned "I'm not going to let him call me chicken! Let me just get it over with and then we'll leave." Four grabbed a nearby vine and started climbing down. His friends watched him, Mario in excitement and Meggy in concern. Carefully he swung over to the ledge that was pointed out to him and he leaned his back up against the wall. A few minutes later, he called out "Alright! I did it! I'm coming up now!" Meggy breathed a sigh of relief as Four started heading back up.

All was going well until he felt a tug on his foot. "Huh?" He looked down and saw his foot caught in a vine on the ledge. He struggled, but it was really tangled and the plant had a strong grip. "Uh...timeout guys. I've got a problem here." Meggy bended over and saw the issue. She facepalmed and said "I knew this was a bad idea."

"Wut?" She pointed a finger in the Italian's face and said "Because of your stupid dare, Four is stuck!" Mario looked down, noticing Four tussling to pull the vine off. "Uh oh..." Meggy wanted to slap herself again, but consoled Four's nerves by telling him "Hang on Four! We'll find something to pull you up." They began tying vines together to make a rope. Four kept struggling when he thought he heard a snap. His eyes widened and he looked down to see the vine he was caught in was starting to break. "Hurry guys! I don't know how long this vine will last!"

"And...done!" The two of them thew the rope of vines down and called out "Grab this!" Four reached his hand out to grab the rope, but it was too late. The vine had snapped into pieces and Four lost his balance, sending him falling down the hole. "SMG4! NOOOOOOO!" Mario cried out, extending his arm. Meggy held her hands over her mouth in horror. They were speechless, tears fighting to get out.

Meggy's trembling hands clenched into fists as she swung around and yelled "MARIO YOU IDIOT! THIS IS ALL YOU FAULT! IF YOU HADN'T MADE THAT STUPID BET WITH HIM, THEN FOUR WOULD BE OKAY! BUT HE'S GONE NOW! HE'S GONE AND-"  Mario took back the dumb things he said in great regret and said "Mario's so so sorry! He just meant it as a funny joke! He didn't mean to make Smg4 fall! Pinky swear!" Forcing Four to do something so stupid and reckless. How could he have done that to his best friend?

"Smg4 will be okie dokie right?" She sniffed and said "I don't know Mario." She carefully got up and said with a croaking voice "But maybe we can still save him. Let's go home right now and get out friends to form a rescue party." Mario definitely agreed to that plan, ready to fix this mess, but he still found himself just staring down the hole. Who knows what could be happening to Smg4 right now. Whatever it was, Four was going to be incredibly pissed once he got out. Meggy could sense Mario's deep worry and placed a hand on his shoulder. They started to head down the mountain as Meggy called out "Don't worry Smg4! We'll get you help! Just stay right there!"

...

"Ugh...what happened?"

Four opened his eyes as he felt a slim ray of light on his face. It took him a while to gain back his memories, but then it all came flooding back to him. Mario had dared him to jump down and he had stupidly agreed. God, what was he thinking? Why didn't he think this through? Sitting up, he felt something underneath him. A bed of beautiful golden flowers on a patch of grass. Is this why he didn't die? I mean, the fall was pretty far down. Four observed more of his surroundings and saw a hallway past the flowers. The added darkness made it a little creepy.

"Oh absolutely not! I'll take my chances climbing out of here instead!" Four instantly sprung out of the bed that had saved his life. Not even one bit of gratefulness. He was probably too blinded by sheer panic. Desperately, he tried grabbing onto the wall and scrambling his way up in hopes of escaping, but he kept slipping off. It wouldn't work anyway. The opening was way too far away for someone to climb their way to escape. His next option...screaming!

Hey began yelling as loud as he could "MARIO!? MEGGY!? ARE YOU THERE!?" No response. Maybe someone else nearby would hear him. He began calling out the names of his other friends, wishing anyone would answer and help him. "SMG3!? TARI!? SAIKO!? BOOPKINS!? BOB!? SOMEONE!? ANYONE!?" He kept screaming to the point that his voice became quite hoarse. Slowly he rested his head against the cold, cavernous wall and whimpered. He slid down to the ground and buried himself in his knees, whispering "Please...someone...help me..."

Suddenly...he heard...a voice?

Smg4 tilted his head up and glanced down the hallway, hearing someone mumbling. He couldn't quite make out who it was, but at least it could be someone who would help him. He stood up and forced himself to go through the dark hallway. As he got closer, the mumbling got louder.

"Finally...someone has finally fell down..."

"The final pure soul I need...."

At the end of the hall was a huge doorway that held a room with nothing, but a small patch of grass in the middle. Four peeked his head around to see an ominous figure standing on that little spot and worked up the courage to investigate. "Uh...hello?" He reached his hand out shakily to the person while he thought "Is this a bad idea?"

The guy looked behind him as he jumped back in surprise. Four pulled his arm back, but he still couldn't see the stranger clearly because of the lighting. "Who are you?" Finally, the person sighed and stepped out into the light, offering a warm smile. Four was suddenly taken aback as he instantly knew who this was.

"NILES!?"

Niles waved and said "Howdy new friend! I'm Niles! Niles the Meme Guardian! Well, actually an artificial one, but it's fine!" His smile looked a little fake when he said that last part. Smg4 was at a lost for words as he stuttered "B-But w-we defeated you! I thought you died!" Niles looked at him confused and said "You must be new here to the underground. Aren't you?"

"Um...I guess so?"

Niles made a playful shrug and said "You must be so confused." This time Four shot back in a more stern tone "Actually, I have no idea what the heck is going on here!" Niles thought to himself for a moment and told Four "Someone must teach you how things work around down here!" He looked around as if he was checking to see if anyone was there when he knew he was the only one. "I guess you're stuck with me! Ready?"

"NO!"

"Here we go!"

He snapped his fingers and Four suddenly felt a strange feeling inside him. He looked down and saw a heart that was glowing bright red in his body. "What the hell!? What did you do to me!?" Niles ignored his anger and pointed at it. "See that heart? That is your soul. The very culmination of your being!" Four looked at him in displeasure and rolled his eyes. "Yeah. No kidding Sherlock, but why is it glowing?"

Niles ignored him again and continued on. "Your soul starts off weak, but you can grow strong if you gain a lot of LV." Four started to ask him "What does L-" but Niles already knew what he was going to say and told him "What does LV stand for you ask? Why LOVE of course!" Four gave him a deer in headlights look when Niles inched closer to him, making things really awkward. "You want some LOVE don't you?" Four began to tense up. Was Niles seriously hitting on him or was he just having a weird dream because of the fall?

"Don't worry! I'll share some with you!" Niles gave him a playful wink and made a stance like a video game character posing. Okay...things were getting really freaky now. He then created a bunch of glowing balls that was most certainly meme energy. "Down here, LOVE is shared through these little round orbs." Was Niles playing him like a fool? Smg4 was a meme guardian too y'know.

Niles directed the spheres around him and instructed the blue eyed man "Move around! Get as many as you can!" Smg4 was beyond confused on why Niles would try to get him to interact with his meme energy, but he shrugged it off. Eh...why not? Hopefully it would transport him out of this hellhole. He reached out and touched one, but was immediately shocked by a course of pain. "OW!"

Niles started laughing and said "YOU IDIOT! In this world, it's kill or be killed!" Four became incredibly panicked when he saw Niles' eyes turn to red and he flashed an evil smile. Four tried to run back out the door, but multiple orbs blocked his path. "Why would anyone pass up an opportunity like this!?" The balls of evil energy closed in on Four, surrounding him until he was trapped with no way out. "DIE."

He laughed manically as the orbs drew closer and closer. Four couldn't bear to watch this and shut his eyes tight, screaming out "SOMEONE HELP!" The spheres were about to attack him when out of nowhere they just...disappeared? Niles tilted his head in confusion while Four opened one eye to see what happened.

Just then, another seeping ball of light came from behind Niles and knocked him into the wall. Four kept staring at the unconscious man before a girl emerged from the shadows. "What a terrible creature, torturing such a poor, innocent boy..." Smg4 whipped his eyes around when he recognized that voice. "Ah, do not be afraid sir. I am Melony, the caretaker of the Ruins." Four was instantly overjoyed that one of his friends had finally come to save him. He rushed up and threw his arms around her, crying "Melony! I'm so glad to see you!"

She warmly smiled at him and said "Of course. I pass through this place everyday to see if anyone has fallen down." He slowly let go as she told him "You are the first one to come here in a long time." Four's smile soon faded when he realized something. "How did you get down here?"

"What do you mean? I've lived her for ages! But that's besides the point. Come! I will guide you through the catacombs." Melony turned around and signaled him to follow her with a wavering hand. "This way." She went through another doorway in front of her as Four ran after her. "Wait!"

Little did Four know, this was the beginning of a long journey...

[fogwitchoftheevermore]

@mcyt-aro-week days 1 and 2 because i missed yesterday.

prompts: unconventional relationships / trope subversion, loveless / AU (blaseball au)

(remaining post under the cut)

"God, at this rate I'm never saving anyone's life ever again," Gem sighs as she puts her phone on Do Not Disturb.

"What do you mean?" False asks.

They're at a coffee shop in Houston. The Sunbeams had just finished a series with the Spies and were going home that night, while the Mechanics started a series with them tomorrow. False had decided to arrive a day early so her and Gem could do this, and after the terrible games both of their teams had had, False was particularly thankful for it.

Generally, she was thankful for Gem. About two weeks prior, False had been pitching a game in the Hellmouth, and the umpire had gone rogue. It was the ump at home plate, and it had been making a beeline for her when Gem had come sprinting out of her dugout and pushed False out of the way with more force than she'd expected the woman to hold. Gem had then tackled the umpire to the ground, taking the flames herself until they burnt out and could be safely removed from the field. Gem had barely seemed phased after the fact, just shook the dust off her uniform and walked back to the dugout. It was about as terrifying as it was impressive, and when Gem hit the game winning run off her at her next at bat, False couldn't find it in herself to be anything but impressed.

"My twitter mentions are blowing up, I think some fan or paparazzi saw us here and assumed we were on a date." Gem rolls her eyes and takes a long sip of her tea.

False can't help the snicker that comes out at Gem's words, but Gem doesn't seem particularly amused. "Wait, seriously?"

"Yup, this happens to me all the time," Gem says. "Everyone's got this image of us Fire Eaters being like, knights in shining armor, so every time I save somebody's life I have to deal with the internet being literally unusable for a few weeks if I want to avoid speculation about my relationships. Oh, and that's all the press will want to talk to me about after my games."

"Oh," False says, taking a long sip of her tea. She doesn't make much of a habit of looking at social media, and she has suddenly never been more grateful. "And this happens every time?"

"Every time! It's like they're trying to dissuade us from actually doing it or something. I'm not gonna stop, but like, sometimes I really want to. Can't they just ask me about the actual game one of these days?"

False lets the table fall quiet for a moment. She's thinking. For her entire career, she'd been a notoriously private person, both in her personal life and to the public. She'd been working on the personal life part for a long time, at the behest of her therapist, and she likes to think she's made some improvements. As for the public sphere, well, they weren't entitled to know anything about her. But- False takes a look at Gem, who's eyes are quickly flitting around the shop, like she's keeping an eye out for any cameras or fans looking too long in their direction. Maybe just this one thing...

"I think I might have an idea."

[something-tofightfor]

On Deck Part 6: Checked Swing

Pairing: Jack Daniels x Female Reader Baseball AU

Word Count: 11,132

Rating: NOT safe for work. It's a smutty one.

Summary: You're in Texas, and that means confronting a hell of a lot of thoughts and emotions when it comes to Jack.

He might be on the away team, but his fans - and family - love him just the same ... and they take notice of you, too.

To your surprise, it's Jack that takes the first leap when it comes to what you are to him - and what he wants, both now and in the future.

Author’s notes: 

This chapter really digs into what it could be like for someone to 'date' an MLB player, even casually - and what it could (and would) feel like to have a ton of realizations about each other in a very short amount of time. They're still getting to know each other, but I'm going to be honest: things are spiraling, and neither of them are really prepared for it.

(On Deck universe masterlist for all the extras!)

While there are a lot of baseball references within this story, you only need to know the basics to enjoy it and understand what's going on - we're not getting overly technical here.

As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out. Thank you so much for being patient with me; I promise updates on this will be coming more regularly.

When a batter “checks” their swing, it means that they stop the bat’s motion before letting the end of it fully cross home plate. The outcome is decided by an umpire - the batter has no say in the call. It’s not an ‘official’ term used by the umps. Instead, it is used casually by players, commentators and fans and can be summed up simply: the player stopped their swing before going too far on a pitch they were uncertain about. 

Even though you only had a carry on, there was no way you could take it into the game with you. You were running late, but you still needed to make a pit stop at Jack’s hotel before you went to the stadium. So, as you eyed the time on the Uber’s dash clock, you sat in silence and tried to calm yourself down. 

The hotel is close. I’ll be fine. 

When the driver let you out, you thanked him before heading into the lobby and straight to the front desk, inwardly cheering at the fact that there was no line. The process was smooth - you gave them your ID, explained that you were there to pick up the second key to Jack’s room, and only moments later you were riding the elevator up, bag slung over your shoulder. 

You didn’t know what you expected when you walked inside, but it definitely wasn’t an almost untouched room. The only signs that Jack had even been there were his suitcase pushed into the closet, toiletries on the bathroom counter and an unzipped duffel bag at the foot of the partially unmade bed. He slept on one side. 

It made you smile, and after giving yourself a few more seconds to look, you took your bag into the bathroom and focused on getting ready. 

You didn’t have much time, and so you only changed your clothes, splashed your face and fixed your hair, deciding that the important thing was getting to the game, not looking perfect. He knows I just got in. He knows I’m rushing, and who knows how far away I’ll be sitting since this was so last minute. 

You stowed your bag in the closet next to Jack’s, and made sure you had what you needed for the night before leaving the room again. While riding the elevator down, you ordered another Uber - thrilled to see that there was one close, and it was nowhere near as expensive as you imagined it would be. 

And that was because you hadn’t realized that it wasn’t a 7:10 game … it was an 8:05 start. Which means I have time. You relaxed completely at that new information, and when you settled into the back seat of the car for the short ride, you were grinning. 

It was still cutting it close, especially with the crowd, but you picked up your ticket at 7:32 and were inside and on your way to your seat - Section 5, Row 7, Seat 5 - five minutes later. There were a ton of people to navigate through, but you made it without issue, plopping down into the chair and eyeing the field. 

Some of the home team’s players were still warming up, but you were stunned to notice that the visitor dugout was on the third base side of the field. That meant that Jack was likely only feet away from you, and he didn’t even know it. Or maybe he did. You watched some of the Statesman players moving around and tossing balls back and forth … and then you saw Jack, Ginger a few steps behind him as they walked onto the field. 

Loud whistling caught your attention. When you turned toward it, you saw a man and a woman a few rows ahead and almost an entire section over from you standing and clapping, both of them wearing Jack’s jersey. His parents. 

There were some good-natured boos and banter from the others in the section, but the couple ignored it, the man cupping his hands around his mouth and yelling Jack’s name. It made you laugh out loud. Even though you knew that you were nowhere near that point with him, you realized that you wanted to meet both of them, if only to learn more about their son. 

Jack only turned around when he and Ginger stopped walking, and you watched as he honed in on his parents, pointing at them with one finger and then waving, his teeth visible as he grinned. 

You wondered if he knew where your seat was, or if it had been an accident that you were seated so close to his family. I’ll ask him. I’ll… Your mind went blank when Jack’s head turned in your direction and he stopped moving, his grin widening. Well, he knows where I am now. But more than that, Jack’s reaction to seeing you solidified that he’d truly wanted you there, and that was all you needed to know. 

You nodded once, fighting the urge to wave. That’s too much. Too obvious. Jack looked away first, returning his attention to his trainer. You finally looked away from the field, too, pulling out your phone and sending a text to Erin. 

Guess where I am? 

There was no response for the next few minutes, and it wasn’t until after the opening ceremonies were over and the teams took the field to begin the game that you felt it buzz in your pocket. 

New Orleans? Where else would you be? 

You snapped a picture of the outfield and the open roof, the scoreboard visible in one corner, and then sent it with no explanation. That got a quick reply, your friend’s words making you laugh out loud. 

What the FUCK? Did you follow him to TEXAS? 

You typed a reply out, giving her a quick rundown and let her know that you’d tell her more when you could. 

No. I don’t want to hear a thing until you’re on your way home. Be safe.

That didn’t surprise you - Erin loved gossip, but she’d never want you to cut your time with someone short for the sake of telling her about it. Especially not someone like him. 

Jack was hitting fifth, so you had time to spare before he was up. You used it to look around, taking in the entirety of the stadium. 

It was beautiful inside, even though it was completely different from the one in Louisville, and while you liked the fact that it was air conditioned, you wished that the roof was all the way open. Maybe one of the other games will be. But after a few minutes, you found your attention drawn back to Jack’s parents, and let yourself look at them. 

You saw the resemblance immediately, especially in Jack’s father’s profile. They had the same nose and a similar smile, both men broad in the shoulders. Mr. Daniels was hatless, his hair longer than his son’s and streaked with silver in a way that made you bite your lip as you imagined Jack getting to that point. It’ll be years, but … 

They looked happy together, the man’s arm around her seat back as she pointed out different areas of the stadium, and that also made you smile. You wondered how many different places they’d seen him play throughout his career and which was their favorite. They seem so supportive.

You were curious to know what they thought about watching him as a member of the visiting team, and even though you’d been familiar with them from Jack’s own posts and previous interviews you’d watched, seeing them in person - after getting to know Jack a little - was exciting. There was no guarantee you’d ever get to meet them, and so even though you tried to pay attention to the game, you also watched the Daniels’, leaning back in your seat and getting comfortable. 

Looking in their direction gave you a chance to look at Jack, too, eyes on him as he waited at 3rd for game action. 

It didn’t happen in the first, and when he jogged off the field between innings, you tried to remind yourself that you couldn’t cheer for him in the same way you did when you were at home. Not only would it draw attention to you in a sea of the opposing team’s fans, you knew it would also potentially draw his parents’ attention. And I don’t want to do that because I don’t want him to think I overstepped and tried to talk to them. 

When Jack walked up to the plate during his first at bat, you were surprised to hear scattered applause and cheers that weren’t from his parents, and after quickly taking a photo of the scoreboard, you tucked your phone away and stared at home, watching as Jack dug in. He swung and missed once and then didn’t swing at the next pitch, Jack’s father clapping and cupping his hands around his mouth to yell good eye! at his son. 

“Wait for your pitch, Jack.” You spoke under your breath, nodding. “Wait for it.” He dug in again, and even from the distance, you could see his shoulders rise and fall as he took a deep breath before the next one came his way. 

He swung hard then, making contact, and even though you were unfamiliar with the stadium, the sound was one you knew well. You shot upward and onto your feet, cheering for Jack as he began to round the bases, and clapping your hands together as you raised them over your head. There were others cheering for him, too, including his parents, and out of the corner of your eye you saw them hugging as they celebrated. 

When he rounded second base and headed for third, he pointed at the stands, smiling broadly at his parents, who were still on their feet … but then Jack’s attention shifted to you briefly, your eyes locking with his as you nodded twice, widening your smile, and kept clapping. It was quick, but it was enough, and your already rapidly beating heart slammed against your ribs. Oh, Jack. 

You sat down when he touched home and headed back for the dugout, the smile still on your face. It faltered briefly when you saw Jack’s mother turn around in her seat, her eyes on you. Act normal. Don’t draw any more attention to yourself. And so you took a deep breath, looking up and at the scoreboard … but when you looked back at home - and the next batter - Mrs. Daniels was still eyeing you, a curious look on her face. Shit. 

There was nothing you could do but acknowledge her, meeting her gaze and smiling. It’s not my fault. It’s not like I’m going to speak to her. It’s fine. You focused on the batter, and to your relief she faced forward and then leaned over, talking to her husband, but neither of them looked at you again. 

You’d failed in your attempt to go unnoticed, but at least there had been others in the stadium cheering for Jack, too - and it wasn’t just the three of you. The thought comforted you, and when, a few minutes later, your stomach growled in hunger, you stood up calmly and gathered your stuff. It happened and there’s nothing I can do about it. 

There was still plenty of game left - which meant that there was more than enough time for you to go and find something to eat. 

— 

The room was cold when you got back, though the lights were still off, aside from the one in the bathroom that you’d left dimmed. 

You didn’t bother turning any others on before you took off your shoes and unbuttoned your jeans, dropping your bag and the room key onto the TV stand. It only took you a few seconds to decide that you did, in fact want to lay down on the still made side of the bed to wait for Jack. He invited me here which means I’ll be sleeping in the bed with him, so getting in now isn’t a big deal. 

You stretched out, pointing your toes … and only minutes later, the day caught up with you - and you were fast asleep. 

The shifting of the mattress woke you up, but it wasn’t until you heard him say your name that you opened your eyes. Jack was leaning over you, the room lights still mostly off. “Hey there, darlin’.” It made you smile, and before you could stop yourself, you reached for him, the palm of your hand curving against his cheek. 

“Hey, Jack.” Murmuring the words, you closed your eyes. “Missed y-” Shit. You cut your words off and reopened your eyes, hand frozen in place against the side of his face. He was smiling, though, and before you got too lost in your swirling emotions, he leaned down, brushing his nose alongside yours before pressing a quick kiss to your lips. 

“I’m real glad you made it.” He sat back up, taking your hand in his and squeezing. “Thought you might miss out on the game tonight, but then I looked up and saw you right there watchin’ me.” 

“Yeah, that was…” You sighed and then sat up, leaning against the pillows without letting go of his hand. “How stupid does it sound if I tell you that I liked knowing that you saw me?” You were still waking up and trying to catch up with the conversation, but each word came out stronger than the last. Because I mean them.

“Not stupid at all.” He laughed, the sound quiet. “I like hearin’ it.” That didn’t shock you, but Jack scooting closer to you did, and so did his lips trailing over your cheek and toward your ear after he’d leaned forward again. “Your flight OK?” 

“It was fine.” You hummed, squeezing his hand before you pulled yours back. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep, I just -”

“You had a long day.” He backed away, chewing on the inside of his cheek. “I get it.” The two of you stared at each other in silence for a few seconds, but before you could speak, you yawned, both hands rising to cover your face. Shit. “I’m gonna get ready for bed. You should too.” 

“No, Jack. We don’t need to…” He stood, his smile widening. “What?”

“It’s almost midnight. I’m tired. You might not believe it, but I’m not out partyin’ until the sun comes up when I’m in different cities.” He put a hand on his hip. “Especially when I’ve gotta say goodbye to my parents before they head out in the morning.” So that means he’s waking up early. 

“Do I need to get up tomorrow and leave before they come up? I don’t want to -”

“No. They’re staying in this hotel too, so I’m just going to go and meet ‘em before they check out. You can sleep in.” He smiled again. “We’ll order breakfast when I get back.” It felt normal - almost too normal, if you were being honest - but you didn’t want to question what Jack was saying. He isn’t. He sounds sure. “Give me five minutes.” 

You nodded and he grabbed the duffel bag, turning to head for the bathroom. When the door shut, you moved too, climbing out of the bed and quickly moving to the closet and your bag. But when you opened it, you froze, staring at the contents. Shit. Scrubbing a hand over your face, you groaned.

When you’d packed for New Orleans, you hadn’t counted on spending time with anyone in your hotel room, which meant that your pajamas were lacking. “Fuck it,” you whispered, pulling the ratty, oversized tee shirt from the bag and holding it up. There’s nothing I can do about it now. 

You changed in the closet, replacing the clothes you’d worn to the game with the shirt and then eyeing yourself in the full-length mirror on the opposite wall. It reached your thighs, but it showed off entirely too much to be considered appropriate, and you were worried Jack would think you were trying to suggest something with it. I’m not. I just - 

“Well, shit. Look at you.” You turned your head and saw him in the bathroom doorway, shirtless and in a pair of low-hanging sweat shorts. Maybe it’s not me that’s underdressed. “I wondered what you wore to bed.” What? He stepped into the hallway and toward you, grinning. “I mean, I know you didn’t sleep in anything at my place, but that was because you didn’t really have any other option.” Jack gestured to you with one hand, the other one rising to rub at the back of his neck. “This is … better.” 

“Jack? I don’t… I figured you’d like …” You were rattled, unable to get out a full sentence at first. “I didn’t pack any actual pajamas, because I didn’t think that I’d be seeing anyone overn-”

“This is better,” he repeated, stopping in front of you and reaching out to slip an arm around your waist. “Because it’s you.” You understood what he was saying, but that didn’t make it any less shocking. Why would he care so much? Jack leaned closer, eyes on you. “Bathroom’s all yours. I’ll pick somethin’ to put on TV.” 

Dumbly, you nodded and when he backed away, you headed into the smaller room. While you brushed your teeth, you stared down at the countertop, gaze moving between his things and yours on the counter. You tried not to think about how much you liked seeing them together, or how quickly his response to seeing you standing at the foot of the bed when he came out of the bathroom had warmed you. It was more than just sex, sure, but that still didn’t mean that you could get ahead of yourself. Because that’s dangerous.

Stepping back out into the bedroom ruined everything, though. 

Jack was in bed, the blanket pulled down and pooled at his waist as he leaned against the pillows along the headboard. The lights were off, which made the glow of the TV dance across his features. For long seconds, you stood and stared at him, trying to commit the sight to memory. “You should take a picture, it’ll last longer.” He turned his head, the smirk on his face visible even from the distance. “Ain’t that what they say?”

“I seem to remember you telling me that pictures were absolutely not allowed.” Crossing the room, you used one finger to tap the side of your head. “So I’ll just have to keep it all up here.” As you approached the bed, Jack stayed silent and pushed the blankets down before patting the space next to him with one hand. 

You climbed in beside him, leaning back - and felt that same arm go around your shoulders, pulling you closer while you tugged the blanket back into place. “You always play by the rules?” He kissed the top of your head and you laughed, closing your eyes. 

“I do when I don’t want to fuck things up.” Reaching over, you squeezed his knee. “And I would very much like to not fuck this up.”  It was the closest you’d come to admitting that you had actual feelings for him, and you hoped that you hadn’t overstepped. But Jack’s response - his fingers tightening on your arm and his quiet sigh as he urged you to stay by his side - told you that you hadn’t. And that’s good. That’s really good. 

The two of you watched the TV in silence for a little while, and you were pleased to see that he’d chosen a movie that you loved, turning the sound down low. As you relaxed, you angled your body toward his, moving your arm so that you could drape it across his waist. You began to doze off, eyes drooping as you got comfortable beside him. The faint scent of Jack’s body wash coupled with his deep, even breathing soothed you, and the slow motion of his fingers as they ran up and down your arm did, too. I could get used to this. 

“I think we should change those rules a little bit.” He spoke quietly, the path of his hand never faltering. “If you want to, that is.” You shifted so that you could look up at him, finding that Jack’s chin was tucked against his chest, his eyes focused on your face. “And I have something to admit.” What? “I took a picture of you sleepin’ before I said anything to wake you earlier.” 

“What?” You pulled out of his arms, sitting straight up and blinking rapidly. “Jack, that -”

“I know.” He sat up, too, scrubbing his hand over his jaw. “I broke my own damn … but I’ve gotta be honest with you, this is new for me. Having someone waiting in my bed when I get back from a game doesn’t ever happen. You just looked so …” He trailed off, frowning briefly. “I liked seein’ it. Taking a picture felt right and I didn’t stop to think about what I was doin’.” 

It wasn’t what he was saying - it was the meaning that lingered between the words that really got to you, and so without pause you shifted, rising onto your knees and then moving to straddle his lap. His lips parted but Jack reacted, too, both of his hands moving to your hips and settling there, his eyes locked with yours. But I don’t want to play my whole hand yet. 

“That was your rule” You rested one hand on his shoulder, using the other to trail your fingertips over his collarbone. “It was never mine.” His lips twitched, but Jack didn’t reply, giving you a chance to finish. “You take all the pictures you want, Whiskey, and if I’m allowed to take a couple of you, then …” You shrugged and then inhaled deeply, holding it. “Then I’m gonna take you up on that.” 

It took only seconds for his grin to widen, and Jack’s hands slid lower, fingers tightening against your thighs in the same moment that he leaned in to kiss you. But it wasn’t a fast or desperate kiss; instead, it was a relieved one, Jack’s mouth finding yours and lingering. 

You sighed against his lips, the hand on his shoulder gliding around so that you could curl your arm around him and the other palm flattening against his chest, his heartbeat steady beneath it.  

That time, it was you that chose to deepen the kiss, pulling back enough that you could part your lips before initiating another one, his full lower lip caught between yours. He liked that, a groan vibrating out from his throat and one hand sliding around further to follow your curves, urging you forward and closer. 

As you scooted toward him, his other hand moved up and beneath your shirt, trailing up the center of your back before it came to rest there. But when you tried to take things further by rocking your hips forward, Jack pulled away, shaking his head slowly. What? Why? “Not tonight.” It deflated you - the words dousing the mood more swiftly than you’d thought possible. “Didn’t have you fly out here just for sex. It can wait.” He licked his lips, narrowing his eyes. “You’ve been runnin’ around all day, you’ve gotta be exhausted.” 

“Yeah, I am. But I want -” He cut you off with a quick kiss, the edges of his teeth dragging against your lip. Jack, that’s not fair. 

“I’m not goin’ anywhere, and neither are you.” He said your name, nodding. “You can have your way with me first thing in the morning if that’s what you want, but right now?” He leaned in, kissing your cheek before he rested his forehead against yours. “I’m just looking forward to sleepin’ next to you.” 

It was there again in that admission - the confirmation that both you and Jack were rapidly passing the point of no return when it came to letting actual feelings get involved in what was happening between you. At least it’s not just me. “You could have waited a couple more days, you know.” You bit your lip, reaching up to drag your fingers through his hair. “You’re coming back to Louisville the middle of next week, and -”

“I didn’t want to wait.” He pushed gently on your hip, urging you to climb off of him. “And you were already only a couple hours away, so it made sense to ask you to come out here.” Reluctantly, you laid back next to him though you were pleased to see a slight tenting in his shorts - evidence of the fact that even though he’d been able to stop things from going further with you, it hadn’t been simple. 

You both stretched out, Jack pulling the blanket up so that you were covered to the shoulders. “I was surprised you asked.” You tried to get comfortable, sighing as you shifted your hips against the sheets. “But this is a hell of a lot better than sleeping alone.” 

Jack reached out, slipping an arm around your waist. “I sure as shit hope so.” It made you laugh, but his next words silenced that sound immediately. “I didn’t get much sleep last night because I was thinking about you bein’ here.” Even in the low light from the TV’s continued glow, you could see the apprehension in his eyes when he said it. Oh, Jack. 

“I kept you awake?” You didn’t miss the opportunity to tease him, though, moving even closer and hooking one leg over his. “Hard to believe, Jack. We’re basically in your back yard. There’s plenty of other stuff for you to thin-”

“I was also thinking about what it meant that I couldn’t sleep becausea you.” He closed his eyes and took another breath, his fingers pressing against your back when they curled inward. “What all of this means, and to be honest it scares the hell out of me.” The time for joking was over, and you knew with certainty that the way you answered him and steered the conversation would determine whether or not whatever was happening between you continued. Or if it ends right here. 

“It scares me, too, Jack.” You paused, thinking. “And I know that we sort of talked about this at your place, but …” You closed your eyes, giving yourself a few seconds. “It doesn’t have to mean anything serious. That’s not why I …” Slow down. “If us being friends complicates this too much, it’s better that we know it now, right?”

“That what you think is happenin’ here?” He moved his hand to your side, resting his palm against your ribs. “It’s too complicated because we’re not just stickin’ to sex?” His voice was steady, but you could feel how tense he was. “Us actin’ friendly and not just sleeping together is the problem?”

“It’s not a problem, no.” You bit down on your lower lip. Tell him the truth. “I’m attracted to you, Jack. And I know it’s a really limited experience pool, but sex with you has been fucking great.” He smiled at that, Jack unable to keep from reacting to your words. “But if you asked me to choose right now if I wanted to be friends with you or keep sleeping with you? I’d pick being your friend. It would hurt a little to know that you were with someone…or someones else, but …” 

“But?” You saw the tip of his tongue as it flashed at the corner of his mouth, the lines between his eyes deepening with his frown. “There more to that sentence, or?” 

There was a lot more, and you didn’t quite know where to start. I didn’t think we’d be having this conversation tonight. Ever, actually, but especially not tonight. “But you’re a good person. And if I could only pick one of those options, I’d choose the one I assumed would be more permanent.” That was the truth, especially with his schedule. A friendship with Jack seemed like it had the potential to last longer than being the focus of his attention, and when push came to shove, that was what you wanted. 

“I don’t want you to choose.” He reached up, twisting his wrist so that he could stroke the side of your face with his knuckles. “But I also don’t want you to feel like … I donno. Like I’m leadin’ you on?” He pulled his hand away, moving it back to settle it on top of the blanket and near your waist. “I’d hate knowin’ that you felt that way, because it’s not what I’m tryin’ to do.” 

“No one’s leading anyone on.” You smiled, heart thudding against your ribs. “I think we’ve both been very clear about our expectations for this.” Nodding, you closed your eyes and paused, only opening them when  you were sure of what you wanted to say. “But in case I haven’t been?” 

He watched you almost warily, waiting. And it took some effort, but you forced yourself to speak again, hoping that your words put him at ease. 

“I like you, Jack, but I don’t view this as a relationship. We’re friends that have sex when it’s convenient and we’re in the same city.” This is going to hurt. “I don’t expect exclusivity. If you want to sleep with someone else, I understand. If I want to do the same, it’s fair game. I’d just ask that you have the courtesy to put some time between anyone else and me, because I -”

“Of course.” He looked slightly offended, his head moving back and forth against the pillow. “I’m not that much of an asshole to go runnin’ between women like that.” That made you smile as you agreed, but Jack wasn’t done. “And that’s all great for now, and it makes me feel a little bit better, but…” He trailed off, looking away from you for a few seconds before he met your eye again. “I think I’m scared because a real big part of me is thinkin’ about what could happen later… or what I might want later if this was a relationship.” 

That revelation stunned you. You were focused on trying to ensure that you didn’t fuck anything up in the present and Jack was at least partially concerned with something that could happen in the future. And what he wants, or what he might want, or…  oh, God this can’t be happening right now.

“We can figure that out when and if it happens.” You squeezed his arm, the muscles in his bicep firm to the touch. “I understand that this with you is different than it would be with someone that had a traditional job. I get it. We’ve only known each other for a couple weeks. It’s not like I’m planning the color couch we’ll have in our house or choosing names for our kids. This is supposed to be fun, right?” He nodded. “Then let it be fun. No pressure on either of us, especially when the season’s over so soon. Maybe… maybe at some point it’ll get there, but -” 

You stopped as a yawn crept up on you, forcing your eyes closed before you turned your head toward the pillow to finish it. I’m too tired for this. “Maybe I am an asshole.” He sighed. “You’re fuckin’ exhausted and I’m laying here buggin’ you about my own bullshit. I’m sorry.” 

“Don’t apologize.” You chuckled, blinking slowly as you met his eyes again. “It’s not bullshit. No matter what happens with us, I think being honest about it is important.” You yawned again, Jack chuckling at the sound. “Thank you for inviting me here. Thank you for actually talking about this like an adult. Thank you fo-”

“You gonna keep thankin’ me, or can I kiss you goodnight?” Your eyes flew all the way open at that, and you found that Jack’s smile was back, the look in his eyes warm. “Because I’d really like to kiss you goodnight.” 

He was changing the subject, and that was fine by you if it meant that Jack was going to kiss you again. 

Instead of giving him an audible response, you reached up to tangle your fingers in the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him closer. He took the hint and rolled toward you, but instead of pressing his lips to yours, he started at the corner of your eye and then moved down to your cheek, the soft scrape of his mustache following the path of his mouth. 

You felt his hand move off of you and to the bed, giving him leverage - and when Jack’s teeth grazed your chin, you tipped your head back, sighing. He took the hint, lips pressing to the side of your throat before they moved to the hollow of it. He paused there, and then you felt the drag of his tongue along your skin, the sensation making you gasp out his name. He liked that - Jack’s hum of approval a low, rumbling vibration as he kissed his way up and back toward your mouth. 

He didn’t just kiss you then, though. Jack stopped and whispered your name, waiting until you’d opened your eyes and looked at him to nod once, shoulders rising and falling as he took a breath. What is he doing? “You’re welcome, darlin’.” 

There was no opportunity for you to reply before his mouth was on yours, Jack’s lips parted in a mirror of your own. He used the opportunity, slipping his tongue between them and meeting yours head on. The intensity of the kiss took you by surprise, and you sunk into the bedding as Jack pressed forward, his bare chest against your covered one. 

When he pulled away, you could see that he was breathing hard, a wild look in his eyes. You liked the look - liked the fact that just kissing you for a few minutes could rile him up so much, and for a brief moment, wondered what he saw when looking at you. “That was one hell of a kiss, Jack.” He winked at you, and then leaned down to press a softer one to the corner of your mouth before he pushed away and then laid down, still facing you. 

“Sure was.” You rolled onto your side and faced him, too, sliding your hand beneath the pillow and under your cheek. “One hell of a kiss for one hell of a -”

“I’m already in bed with you. No need for the cheesy pick up lines.” He laughed, his hand gliding up and between your bodies and then under the pillow to move into place atop yours. That made your eyes widen, but Jack only smiled as his fingers dropped between yours and then curled to squeeze. 

“One more thing, and then I’ll let you sleep, I promise.” You nodded, heartbeat still racing. “This is just this right now, right?” You agreed, murmuring a yes. “I don’t want either of us to act like that’s all it’s ever gonna be.” What? “I’ve never been lookin’ for anything serious, but that doesn’t mean I’ve sworn it off.” Oh. oh, you … Jack. “So if you don’t feel like that’s something you might want with me, the sooner I know, the better.” 

You were stunned into silence, Jack’s words replaying in your head as you attempted to absorb  them. Are there people out there that really wouldn’t want more with him? Has he ever said this to anyone before? And if he has, how recently was it? I don’t … oh, fuck. How do I respond? 

“I’m …” You closed your eyes, taking a deep breath. “I’m open to figuring out if that’s what this is with you, Jack.” You exhaled, the sound shaky. “It’s kinda fast to even admit that, but -”

“Not if both of us are on the same page about it.” He leaned closer, though he didn’t take his eyes off of you. “And it sounds like we are.” You agreed, nodding and letting your eyes close. “Now get some sleep. Mornin’s gonna come real quick.”

You agreed, and after he gave your hand another quick squeeze, he released it, his hand moving from yours to your hip. He didn’t have a chance to pull you closer because you moved first, inching toward him and scooting down on the pillow so that you could tuck your head against his chest. 

Neither of you spoke again, but when you felt his hand against the skin of your back, Jack’s arm pushing your shirt up to expose it, you weren’t surprised. You’d both move during the night, it was almost a given, but for the moment, you were content to be so close. 

—

He woke you up the following morning with lips pressed to your temple and a hand on your shoulder. “Just lettin’ you know I’m leaving.” His voice was quiet as Jack spoke, and when you cracked your eyes open, you saw that the lights were still off in the room. 

“What time is it?” You sighed and stretched, moving closer to Jack without thinking. “Feels early.” 

“It’s only 8.” He kissed you again. “My momma sent a message and said they’d be in the lobby in fifteen.” Groaning, you reached for him and were surprised to find that Jack was still shirtless. “Stay here. I’m gonna go with them for breakfast, but I won’t eat much. We’ll still order when I get back.”

“No. Eat.” You closed your eyes, turning your face toward the pillow. “‘M fine.” He laughed and squeezed your arm before sitting up and letting go. 

“You still gonna be in bed waitin’?” You nodded without opening your eyes. Where else would I be? “Good.” The mattress shifted when he got up, but you didn’t move, already dozing back off. And when the door shut behind him a few minutes later, your breathing was deep and even - and you didn’t hear it. 

But you felt it when Jack got back into bed, his arm wrapping around your waist and pulling your body so that you were pressed against his chest. You let him, content to melt into the broad expanse of man as you came back to consciousness. “You smell like bacon, Jack.” 

“I had some.” He laughed, his fingers curling slightly against your belly. “Wasn’t smoked but it was still good.” That made you chuckle, too. I like this. It was Jack that spoke first, saying your name and then shifting his hips slightly. “I’ve got to be at the stadium around 3:15 today, so we’ve got a few hours. What do you want to do?” We have options? 

Rolling over to face him, you met his gaze, frowning. “What do you mean?” 

“I mean …” His smile widened. “We can go back to sleep. We can wake up an’ order breakfast. We can wake up and watch somethin’ on TV. It’s not even 10 yet, so we’ve got a while.” He paused, and then you watched his lips shift into a smirk. “Or, I could have breakfast in bed.” 

It took a few seconds because you were still waking up, but when you realized that he was talking about you, you groaned and then pushed away from him, covering your face with one hand. 

“Even for you, Jack, that was bad.” He laughed and then you did, too, the sound turning into a sigh. “Fuck, that was -”

“Enough to convince you to say yes?” You opened your eyes and saw that he was watching you intently, his head propped up on one hand. “I was only half kidding.” 

It was tempting. You could tell that he wanted you, and that feeling alone was almost intoxicating, Jack’s attention first thing in the morning something that you never would have thought possible only weeks earlier. “That sounds nice, Jack, but …” Reaching out, you trailed a finger up his arm, wrinkling your nose. “I remember you telling me that I could have my way with you this morning.”

“I did say that, didn’t I.” You nodded, watching as he took and held a breath, his eyes never leaving your face. “I’m not gonna tell you no.” That was all the permission you needed, and so you sat up and inhaled deeply. Alright. 

“Take your shirt off.” You gestured toward him. “And then sit up, like you were last night.” 

He did what you asked, and only a few moments later, Jack was shirtless and leaning back against the headboard, his uninjured arm bent and tucked behind his head. “What now?” You eyed him carefully, thinking. 

“I should go and brush my -”

“Fuck that. Get over here.” He unbent his arm and reached for you, fingers curling around your bicep. “You’re fine.” You climbed back onto his lap and settled in, knees on either side of his thighs. “You wanna kiss me?” You nodded, running the fingers of one hand through his hair. “Then what’re you waitin’ for?” 

It was surreal to you that Jack was giving you permission to treat him like that morning was routine between you - that it wasn’t only the second time you’d woken up to each other, or the first that you were staying in bed instead of getting up immediately so that you could leave. But it’s happening, so… 

Leaning in, you met his lips with yours, sighing. His hands moved to your hips, fingers dipping beneath the hem of your shirt to settle against your body - and when his grip tightened in response, you stopped overthinking. 

You kissed him harder, rocking your hips forward, and when he groaned, you used the parting of his lips to your advantage. It was easy to kiss him - easy to get lost in the way his mouth moved with yours, and the way it felt to have him beneath you, the warmth of his body comforting. It didn’t take much before you felt him stiffening through the shorts he wore, Jack moaning against your mouth when you ground down against him. 

“Are you sure, Jack?” You questioned him when you backed away to catch your breath, and there was no mistaking the reply, his eyes flashing as he said yes, head moving up and down in agreement. 

When you climbed off of him and settled in on the blankets beside his legs, you didn’t pause before you reached for him, the elastic of his waistband making it simple for you to pull the shorts - and the underwear beneath it - down. He helped by lifting his hips from the mattress, and then once you’d worked the clothing down to his knees, Jack kicked it the rest of the way off, leaving himself completely naked in front of you. 

You reached out slowly, dragging the edges of your nails up the inside of his thigh. When you wrapped your fingers around him, Jack’s eyes closed and he swore, a quiet thunk reaching your ears when his head made contact with the wood behind him. That made you smile, but it didn’t cause your focus to waver. 

Instead, you took a breath and began to stroke his length, Jack hard in your hold and even harder with each pass of your hand. Ok. Here we go. Without breaking stride, you leaned in and then bent forward, breathing out before you kissed Jack’s thigh, giving him warning. He hummed, one of his hands moving to rest against your shoulderblade, but he didn’t speak up or push you away - and so you continued. 

You worked your way inward and toward your hand, and when you glanced up, lips hovering inches above him, you saw that he was watching you, his eyes so dark you couldn’t tell where the iris ended and pupil began. “Please.” 

It was only one word - but it was filled with trust, and so without prolonging things any further, you lowered your head and took him into your mouth for the first time. 

He hissed when your lips closed around him, his fingers curling against your t-shirt, but since he still didn’t ask you to stop, you kept going. 

It was a leap forward, and you knew it. He did, too, if the look you saw in his eyes before you closed yours was anything to go by. 

He filled your mouth, and when you sunk down lower, the flat of your tongue pressed against him, Jack grunted as his hips jerked forward, pushing himself deeper. You were ready for it, rearing back just enough that you didn’t choke, but you didn’t pull off of him. I can handle it. 

You squeezed him at the base, the heel of your hand resting against the coarse hair there, and when you sighed, eyes squeezed shut, you felt Jack relax, his grip on your shirt loosening, too. As you bobbed up and down his length, your hand stroking what wasn’t between your lips, you wondered what he liked - wondered if he wanted things straight to the point or if he liked it slow and messy, giving him a chance to relish the warmth of someone’s mouth. 

With a quiet pop you pulled back, opening your eyes and glancing up. “J -”

“Your goddamn mouth.” The hand not on your shoulder moved, rising so that he could use his fingertips to tilt your chin up. “I shouldn’t have made you wait.” You sucked in a breath, lips parting. What? “Y’alright?” 

“Yeah, I…” You trailed off when he slowly dragged his thumb over your lower lip, his eyes following the movement. “I was just going to …” You kissed the pad of it, closing your eyes to steady yourself before opening them as you spoke. “I was going to ask what you like, Jack.” 

The question surprised him; you saw his eyes widen, and when you began to stroke him again - slowly, your hand gliding fluidly up and down - you took a deep breath, waiting. He was breathing hard, and you watched his jaw work as he eyed you, head tilted to the side. His hand moved back, stroking over your hair. 

“It’s been a minute.” He sniffed, hips shifting upward and pushing himself further into your hand. “But I liked what you were doing.” Jack’s lip curled when your thumb passed over his tip, circling slowly before your hand moved back downward. “That alright?” 

You didn’t speak, instead nodding as you lowered your head again and took him back into your mouth. That time, you focused your attention on the place your finger had just been, tongue moving in a series of quick, deliberate licks while your hand continued to move beneath it. 

He hissed out your name, hands falling away from you to fist the blankets, his muscles going rigid. It emboldened you, and when you braced yourself on his thigh, fingers curling in against his skin to give you more support as you continued, you pushed everything else out of your mind except Jack. 

You wanted to make him come. 

You wanted to push him over the edge with only your hand and mouth, and you wanted the satisfaction of doing so at his request. Your gaze rose, expecting to find him with his head tipped back and his eyes closed. Instead, he was watching you, chest rising and falling rapidly as he breathed out through his parted lips. 

When you caught his eye, he didn’t look away. That sent a flood of warmth throughout your body, the heat settling low in your belly. He closed his eyes first, muttering the word fuck and bringing one hand back to rest against your shoulder. You moaned around him, closing your eyes, too, and when you felt his muscles begin to tense again, you sped the movement of your mouth up and added a slight twist of your wrist as you stroked him. 

He was close - you could tell by the changes in his breathing, and as you prepared yourself, you were stunned to hear Jack say your name again before asking you to look at him. “Gonna come.” He swallowed, the motion turning into a groan. “Gonna come hard. You ok with that?” You nodded, flicking your tongue against his slit and then squeezing with the hand wrapped around him. “Oh fuck.” He jerked his head back and you heard the thud as it connected with the headboard again, but you were too focused to pay it much mind. 

You moaned, sinking down as far as you could go before returning your attention to his head, hollowing out your cheeks and then swirling your tongue around him, letting out a contented sigh as you savored the taste. 

He cried out and it took you by surprise, Jack pulsing in your hand twice before he came, his hips once again rising off of the bed as your hold tightened slightly. You tried to swallow, but were positioned awkwardly, resulting in Jack’s release leaking past your lips and down his length. You kept your mouth on him but slowed the motion of your hand as he finished, sliding your lips upward so that you could clean him with your tongue. When Jack managed to speak your name, his voice was low and somewhat strained. 

You looked up again and saw that he was smiling, eyelids hooded. “C’mere. You’re done.” I guess I am. Slowly, you released him, unable to resist giving him one last flick of your tongue that resulted in a quick hiss, though he didn’t stop smiling. Your hand was a mess, and when you pulled that away, you brought it up and into your eye line, considering. I could just wipe it off, but … 

That wasn’t what you chose. Turning your wrist, you brought it to your mouth and sealed your lips around the skin between your thumb and first finger, sucking the remaining fluid from your skin with another sigh. He swore at that, and when he reached for you, you let him pull you closer, both of his arms going around you as he tucked you against his body and tilted his head down to kiss the top of your head. 

“You’re fucking incredible, d’you know that?” Draping an arm over his belly, you didn’t reply, instead turning your head inward and kissing the center of his chest. If you say so. “You good?” You nodded, closing your eyes and taking a deep breath as you tried to keep from overreacting. 

Both of you were quiet for a little while, the low thrum of the AC unit the only noise in the room - but it was you that spoke first. “Never been woken up like that before, Jack.” He laughed, one of his hands sliding down the side of your body and over your hip, his touch comforting. “I liked it.”

“I did too.” He kissed you again, and then said your name, the sound quiet. “It’s not fair, though.” 

“What’s not?” You didn’t look up, instead opening your eyes to watch as your fingertips trailed over his skin, using one of them to travel between the freckles on his abdomen. “I have no complaints about -”

“It’s not fair,” he continued, the hand on your hip moving up and then down, his fingers slipping beneath the elastic of your underwear and then around so that he could squeeze you. “That you get to have all the fun.” What is he … oh, shit. Jack’s hand moved lower, between your legs. “Fuck, you liked that, didn’t you?” 

If you could feel the stickiness between your thighs, you knew that Jack could too, and when you mumbled out the word yes, he sighed deeply. Too much. I liked that too much. You weren’t expecting him to pull his hand away and pull you closer with it, or for him to use his other hand to guide your chin up, raising your gaze so that you could look him in the eye. And you were completely unprepared for the expression on his face - a mixture of excitement and fear, his eyes blazing. “Jack?” 

“Get up here.” You moved instantly, scooting up a few inches, and when he kissed you, you felt your chest grow tight. 

It was one thing to sleep with him based on mutual attraction. It was another to have him invite you out to a different state to spend a weekend with him. And it was a third, entirely different thing to have him break a rule for you that by his own admission was created to keep distance between him and the people he slept with - and then immediately have him pull you close and kiss you afterward. 

And even as it deepend, Jack’s tongue stroking against yours as his hand slid to the back of your neck to support the position you were in, your mind was working overtime trying to make sense of everything that you were feeling - and what it might mean. 

You couldn’t ignore it forever, and knew that you’d have to confide in Jack before you got in too deep. It was only fair, since he’d been so honest with you the night before. But maybe I don’t have to now, you thought as his hand slid down your thigh and toward your knee. He said he might be open to more, and I don’t … I don’t want to ruin this yet. 

Jack urged you to raise your leg and settle it atop his, and when he dragged his hand back up the inside of yours, you realized exactly what he was setting up. You shivered when he reached your inner thigh and then whimpered against his lips when his fingers made contact with the damp material of your underwear. You felt him smile, but he didn’t break the kiss. Fuck, Jack. 

Your hips flexed forward and Jack took the initiative, sliding his hand up and over your abdomen and then down, making its way between your skin and the fabric. Oh, God, he - 

It was you that bit down on his lower lip when his fingers sunk into you for the first time, but he didn’t stop with the sudden burst of pain. Instead, Jack curled his fingers as he thrust his wrist forward, changing the angle and filling you further. You gasped at the feeling, and then it was Jack that closed his teeth around your lip and tugged, pulling your attention back to the kiss. 

“I hope you slept well,” he mumbled, his lips moving against yours. “Because I’m just gettin’ started with you, darlin’.” 

— 

By the middle of that night’s game, you were almost positive that the trip to Texas was one of the best decisions you’d ever made. 

You and Jack hadn’t gotten out of bed until that afternoon. After dozing off once he’d gotten you off with his hand and waking up a little later, he’d given you a hands on demonstration of just how much better his arm felt while supporting his weight above you. 

And when you’d finally left the bed and headed into the bathroom, emerging from it with one of the hotel’s fluffy robes securely tied at your waist, you’d found him heating up a plate of his mom’s cooking for each of you. It was delicious, and while you ate, he’d told you a couple stories about his younger years, most of them centered around the types of meals she’d brought to share with the team. 

While he showered, you lounged on the bed and flipped through the TV channels, trying not to think too hard about how easy it felt to be with Jack. That failed miserably when he emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and his damp hair dripping down his neck and onto his chest. You’d seen the look in his eye when he caught you staring, and it hadn’t taken long for the towel - and your bathrobe - to disappear, tangled together on the floor. 

After he’d left for the stadium, you finally got it together, opening your laptop and booking your flight home for the following day. It felt wrong to do so, but when you typed in the numbers from the credit card Jack had left for you to use, it felt like another puzzle piece falling into place, the realization that you’d already leapt past the point of just being a hookup a little more believable. 

But during the game, as you watched him from one of the seats that had been occupied by his parents the previous night, you let yourself enjoy it all without worrying 

He knew where you stood, and you had a better idea of what he was looking for - and how he viewed your situation. He’d made you feel thoroughly wanted from the moment he’d spotted you from the field the night before. Jack had assured you that he wanted you to watch him play again that night, and the frequent glances over while he was on the field solidified it. 

You weren’t his girlfriend. You weren’t in a relationship with him. There was no guarantee beyond that weekend that he’d want to spend so much time with you. But I’m here now, and we’re having a good time. That’s what matters. 

The Statesman lost the game, but you were already on your way back to the hotel by the final out, your Uber driver cheering quietly when the last out was made. And when Jack got back to the room almost an hour later, you were already in bed again, the blanket around your waist and a rerun playing for background noise while you scrolled on your phone. 

He paused in the hallway, leaning against it with one arm raised over his head and just stared at you, brow furrowed, his other hand in his pocket. “What, Jack? Why are you looking at me like that?” 

“I’m just thinkin’ about how the next time I walk into a hotel room, it’s gonna be empty.” He stepped closer, undoing his belt and tossing it onto the armchair. “And you’re gonna be back in Louisville.” Hmm.That’s quite the admission. 

“Well if it makes you feel any better, I’d much rather be in a hotel with you than at home and working, so…” You shrugged, setting your phone down on the side table. “Both of us are going to be disappointed after tomorrow.” 

He undid the zipper on his pants and let them drop to the floor, stepping out of them before he pulled his shirt off and headed for the bed. He’s still got the chain on. Jack crawled to you and then leaned over, no hesitation before he pressed a kiss to your lips. “Disappointed is right.”  

“I’m sorry you guys lost today.  It was a tough game.” You didn’t want to change the subject, but it was the only way to ensure that you didn’t say something you’d regret. “How early do you need to be on the bus tomorrow?” 

“Too early.” He sighed, lowering his head before he moved away and laid back, looking up at you. “It’s a 1 o’clock start.” It meant he’d be waking up early - and that you’d be saying goodbye sooner than you would have liked. “You probably think I’m boring as hell, invitin’ you out here and then going to sleep so early without -”

“You’re a professional athlete, Jack, and it’s almost the end of the season. You might not be in playoff contention, but -”

“Ouch.” He lowered his head and rested it against your shoulder, the golden pendant swinging forward and making contact with your arm. “You had to remind me.”

“I’m sorry.” You ruffled his hair with one hand, focused on the way his lips lingered. “But other teams are, which means that everything’s still full steam ahead. I didn’t come out here thinking we’d be up until 2 am partying. I came here to see you, and if that means being in bed early and watching TV with you, I’m alright with that.” 

He looked like he didn’t believe you, but without saying anything, he sat up and leaned over to kiss you again. It didn’t take you by surprise like it would have a week earlier. What did stun you was the way he kissed you - like he’d been doing it for forever - and how much of a response your body had to him. I can’t help it. 

When he sat upright again, Jack sighed, his hand dropping down to take yours. “Saw you booked your flight.” He laced your fingers together, palms flat. “You’re leavin’ before the game?”

“I had to. The only other flight back was late, and I didn’t want to risk not being home in time for work.” You shook your head. “Thank you again for offering to pay for that. You didn’t need to; it was really strange to use your -”

“Of course I needed to.” He frowned, arching a brow. “Why would you pay to go home from somewhere I invited you?” Because I don’t want you to think that I expect you to pay for anything for me. “But you’re welcome. I hope you booked yourself a good seat.” 

You hadn’t. You’d booked a regular, no frills ticket, and hadn’t even thought twice about doing anything else. Admitting that to him got you a good-natured eye roll, but it wasn’t until you were both laying down and facing each other that he spoke again.  

“Gimmie your phone.” What? “Someone’s got to break the ice and I don’t think it’s gonna be you.” You rolled over and reached for it, unlocking it before you handed it over. Jack moved to lay on his back, head propped up by a pillow. He studied the image you had set as your background for a few seconds and then used one finger to swipe and tap.

“Jack, what are you doing?”

“I have a picture of you, but you don’t have one of me.” 

“You’ve sent me pictures of -”

“That’s not what I mean.” He glanced over. “And you know it.” He raised the phone and aimed it, and you watched as he took multiple pictures of himself over the next few seconds. What is he doing? “How’re these?” He handed it back to you, turning onto his side and propping himself up on one elbow. 

You swiped through them, teeth digging into your lower lip. They were all great - even though they were dimly lit. You could also tell that he was in bed, and shirtless, the gold around his neck bright in the glow of the TV. You knew what it looked like and he knew it too, and when you opened your mouth to answer, you didn’t get a word out before he said your name, cutting you off. “What?” 

“D’you want to take one together?” He inhaled deeply, holding his breath as he waited for your answer. What? 

“Right now?” He nodded slowly, exhaling. “But neither of us are dressed, and -” 

“Nobody but us will see them, right?” You nodded, heartbeat quickening. “Then what does it matter?” He had a point, and you really had no solid excuse to turn him down. And I’d love a picture of us. You sat up and closed your eyes, looking down at where he laid. “That a yes?” 

“It is, Jack.” He sat up next to you and wound one arm around your shoulders, easing you closer as the two of you leaned back and against the headboard. While he took a few shots, you tried not to let the uncertainty you felt show in your expression - or in your posture. Taking pictures of each other was a big step on its own, but taking photos in bed - even though you were fully clothed - was yet another leap. 

“Think I got a good one.” He turned his head and kissed the side of yours. “What do you think?” 

“I think,” you spoke as you swiped through them. “I think that they’re all good, Jack. Do you want me to send any of them to you?”

“All of ‘em.” He moved his hand up and down your arm, squeezing your shoulder. “Maybe not the ones of just my own face, but…” He chuckled, shrugging. “It’ll be nice to look at those and remember the first time you came to see me play.” 

“The first time?” Turning at the waist, you faced him. “You think there’s going to be a next time?”

“Probably not this year.” He scratched at the side of his head, wrinkling his nose. “Season’s almost over, but yeah. Maybe next year you can come out to spring training or something.” It was at odds with what you’d talked about earlier. He was planning things in the future, though nothing was certain between you. Jack was acting as if he expected the two of you to still be in contact months down the road, and in a position where you flying out to spend a few days with him wouldn’t seem unreasonable. So maybe he really is thinking about more. 

“Getting out of Kentucky and going to Arizona in February or March? Count me in.” You laughed, quickly putting all of the pictures into one text and sending it to him before you leaned over and put your phone back on the table. “I had a lot of fun this weekend, Jack. I hope you did, too.” 

You settled back in, rolling over to face him, but Jack didn’t lay back down. Instead, he tilted his head forward, looking over at you. “I did.” He began to chew on the inside of his cheek, brow furrowed. What did I say? “I’m gonna go and get ready for bed.” He gestured to the bathroom. “You need in there?”

You told him no, watching as he got out of the bed and crossed the room. Jack reached for the light switch inside the smaller space, but paused and then looked back over his shoulder at you before stepping inside. “What’s that look for?” 

Some of the tension in the room eased with your question, and the rest of it disappeared when he spoke, his smirk visible even from a distance. “Don’t fall asleep while I’m gone, alright?” 

With a laugh that turned into a groan, you pulled the blanket up further. This is how it’s going to be for a while. I guess I’ll have to get used to figuring everything out as we go. “I won’t. But if I do… you have my permission to wake me up, Jack.” 

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