#I might even say. 25 is ahead of us

[gremnda]

thank you for 24 people... i feel like just yesterday we had 23 people what ,,,, welcome 1 people

[f1amour]

˖ ࣪ 𖥔 DAYLIGHT — OSCAR PIASTRI

[ social media au ]

pairing: oscar piastri x sainz!reader

face claim ★ paola_cossentino

authors note: this is all fiction not hating on any drivers purposely it is just for the story. thinking of making this a little series if anyone has any requests form this pairing send them my way <3

navigation | masterlist (coming soon)

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yourusername endless bubble baths with lover boy 🫧🤍

➥ view comments below

user1 they say carlos is the good looking one of the siblings but…y/n is a goddess, she wins

user2 it’s almost been a year PLEASE TELL US WHO IT IS

carlossainz55 i would to know as well please. also please block me when you post photos like this.

landonorris same

charles_leclerc same

maxverstappen1 same (i already know)

alex_albon same

user3 she’s been in a relationship for a year and her brother and friends are yet to know is CRAZY

alexandrasaintmleux can’t wait to see you next week!! (and lover boy too i guess🙄)

charles_leclerc YOU KNOW?! TELL ME PLEASE MON AMOUR

carlossainz55 she knows but you haven’t told your family?😔

yourusername can’t wait to see you ��🏼

yourusername replied to carlossainz55 the family knows except you…sorry hermano. you might purposefully crash into him on the track.

lilymhe gorgeous girl ✨💗

iamrebeccad carlos is freaking out now. you basically told him lover boy is on the grid😭

user4 i love how none of the guys know but all the wags know about lover boy

user5 PAUSE. LOVER BOY IS A DRIVER OMG.

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After weeks of speculating who may be the mystery boyfriend of Y/n Sainz sister of Carlos Sainz Jr. it was revealed a few days ago that Oscar Piastri is the guy she has been going out with for almost a year now.

Y/n Sainz is known for her fashion icon status but most known for her songwriting skills collaborating with artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Niall Horan, Sabrina Carpenter, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift. She has yet to release her own music but it has been teased that 2025 might be the year she finally shares her own musical talents.

Y/n Sainz, 25 and Oscar Piastri, 22 arrived to the Melbourne airport ahead of the Australian Grand Prix next week which is the McLaren’s driver home race.

It had become gossip around the paddock regarding who the mystery boyfriend of the youngest Sainz sibling could be as only a handful of drivers were single. Some had started speculating Lando Norris was her new beau seeing as he has a close relationship with her brother but that was shut down when Lando was asked about the rumor in an interview.

It then became a rumor that the mystery boyfriend was Williams driver Logan Sargeant as they had shared a few hugs in the paddock and were seen at the same restaurant at the start of this year. But he has then shut down that rumor confirming he is in a relationship already.

Others started speculating Y/n was seeing Lance Stroll after he left a few likes and comments on her most recent provocative posts. Y/n was the one to shut the rumor down with a simple “lol. no.” on a comment left by a fan asking if she was dating the Aston Martin driver.

Fans started speculating the fashionista & song writer was back with her ex boyfriend, NBA player Devin Booker. They were in a long term relationship for 5 years but were constantly off and on. Fans believed Y/n was making up a cover story so everyone could focus on the drivers of Formula One and who she may be dating out of all of them instead of the fact she got back with her ex.

Y/n’s team refused to comment on the last rumor. The pair did not finish on the worst terms but not in the best either and have tried their best to avoid each other at any events they attend.

Now to the one who was not expected on this rumor mill up until now: Oscar Piastri. The 22 year old had shared his crush on the girl since being a reserve driver for Alpine in 2022. He even follows a few fan pages of the girl and was always one of the first people to like her posts.

Everyone teased him about it and still did during the 2023 season which was when he started dating the youngest Sainz. Y/n has shared a few moments with the McLaren driver but nothing that would alarm anyone into thinking they were seeing each other.

MORE ARTICLES BELOW…

Y/N SAINZ SPOTTED WITH OSCAR PIASTRIS FAMILY ON A DAY OUT AT THE BEACH

CARLOS SAINZ SEEN CHASING OSCAR PIASTRI AROUND THE PADDOCK

Y/N SAINZ AND OSCAR PIASTRI MAKE PADDOCK DEBUT

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liked by yourusername, nicolepiastri, charles_leclerc, mclaren, landonorris, and 457,385 others

oscarpiastri thanks for all the birthday wishes 🎉 special thanks to the gorgeous girl supporting me throughout this race weekend and for the rest to come. i love you to the moon.

tagged — yourusername

➥ comments below…

user1 ITS OFFICIAL OMG

user2 “for the rest to come” they are endgame.

carmenmmundt my favorite couple. happy birthday, oscar!

yourusername my favorite person. forever thankful to you. we would not be here if you didnt set us up that night lol

oscarpiastri thank you, like my star said we’ll forever be thankful to you setting us up

user3 “my star” HES DOWN SO BAD. also carmen set them up?! i love this so much

landonorris happy birthday mate!

yourusername just realizing your poster comes out in the last picture 🤨

landonorris even in photos i will thirdwheel 😌

yourusername i tried adding 23 candles but they said it could create a fire hazard. loser mclaren 😡

oscarpiastri we can have a redo at home anything you want

mclaren we have to keep our papaya queen safe✨

landonorris thought that was me 🥲

yourusername you’ve been replaced 😙

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liked by oscarpiastri, carmenmmundt, carlossainz55, landonorris, nicolepiastri, alexandrasaintmleux, charles_leclerc, and 1,495,538 others

yourusername my lover boy. my sunshine. my daylight. my world. my home. my safe space. all in one. getting set up on a date that we thought was meant to be a group dinner only to arrive at the same time expecting to see our friends but ended up just being you and i all night. it will be my favorite date ever. to know you is to know what love is and to have found a best friend in a lover. you are mine, my sunshine. te amo, oscar🏹☁️🤍🧸

tagged — oscarpiastri

➥ comments below…

user1 1m likes in 5 minutes is CRAZY. oscy/n nation has take over 😌

user2 she made him a playlist of songs that make her think of him AND RELEASED A SONG SHE WROTE AND SUNG. Y/N SINGING DEBUT!!!

user3 she wrote him a song?! what is it called?

user2 daylight! it’s the most romantic song she has ever written. give it a listen trust me you won’t regret it user3

alexandrasaintmleux my favorite couple 💗

liked by yourusername and oscarpiastri

charles_leclerc collab when?

yourusername when and where?😌

lilymhe so happy the guys will stop annoying us to tell them who the bf was

alexalbon yeah i won’t ever get over all the girlfriends and wives knowing about this but not us 🤨

georgerussell63 same

pierregasly same

maxverstappen1 same (again i already knew)

lewishamilton jokes on everyone i caught them making out behind the mclaren motorhome last year, they said i was the first one to know

nicolepiastri thank you for reciprocating his crush on you😂 the family loves you and how great you two are together 💕

yourusername had to make his dream come true🤷🏻‍♀️ thank you for raising an amazing son! i love you and the rest of the piastri family 🫶🏼

carlossainz55 he really makes you happy…

yourusername he really does. it’s all you ever wanted for me, right? i’m not a little girl anymore, carlos. you don’t have to protect me anymore

carlossainz55 i’ll always protect my hermanita but…i can see how much he cares about you. and how much he loves you. i’ll stop chasing him like a mad man around the paddock…for now.

landonorris good. poor lad was starting to almost pass out after he would escape you😂

oscarpiastri my greatest gift i have received is you (and deylight) my pretty girl, i’m forever going to love you until we are old and wrinkly and until our last day on this earth. i will love you in all other universes. thank you for loving me. the love of my life, you are my love and life

yourusername making me cry, osc☹️ hurry up and get to the hotel so i can kiss you

[writingmar]

hi, can I request the combination A2 and F7 for Spencer Reid smut prompts, please?? Thanks <333

'𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.'

𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘥 𝘹 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳

Prompt A2: dryhumping + F7: in a car - (prompts lists)

after a long day of working a case, one of the BAU cars broke down, which means that all six of you have to pile into a five person car. luckily, spencer offers his lap for you as a seat...

wc: 1.1k

content & tw: sensual fluff, public, dry humping.

a/n: this is much tamer than my usual writing but i rlly enjoyed it!

'oh, for fucks sake,' JJ says as she turns the key in the ignition. the car sputters and shakes with all its might but it doesn't start. 'i'm never renting from this company again, this thing has been having issues the entire time.'

'here, let me try,' you say as you bend over the center console to try the key for yourself, but obviously, it doesn't change anything. JJ grabs her phone and calls someone. 'hey, rossi, our car has broken down, could we hitch a ride to the hotel..? yeah, i know, we'll squeeze in... great, thanks, we'll see you in a minute.'

'don't the boys have a five-seater?' you ask as JJ hangs up the phone. she looks over at you with a sweet smile. 'yeah, but like i said, we'll squeeze in. and besides, i've been seeing you eye spencer, and he'll be polite enough to offer you a seat.'

you feel your cheeks heat and tell JJ to shut up, but you know damn well she's right. you have been eyeing spencer for a while. in fact, you've been doing more than that. unspoken moments together in hallways, soft touches during long days which end in secret randez-vous in hotel rooms late at night. during those meetings, spencer shows a different side of himself, the built up sensual tension from the entire day unloading onto you, and you know he loves that day long chase.

when the boys pull up, rossi is in the passenger seat with hotch driving. spencer and derek sit in the backseat. when derek opens the door and moves to the middle seat, you can already hear spencer rambling. 'driving with too many people in the car, particularly with one person sitting on another's lap, poses significant safety risks and is illegal in many places. the likelihood of severe injury or death increases for all passengers when seat belts are not used properly. according to the CDC, seat belt use reduces the risk of death by 45% and the risk of serious injury by 50% for front-seat occupants. For those in the rear seats, the reduction in risk of death is 25%.'

you smile as you hear his voice, JJ already having taken derek's spot, meaning the car is now full. you open the door at spencers seat, 'well, then i guess i'll sit in one of the rear seats, seeing as that cuts my risk of death in half,' you say, moving yourself to sit in spencers lap.

'no, wait, that's not what i meant, i just-' spencer starts to ramble again, his cheeks warming as you sit yourself down on his legs. derek cuts him off and says, 'well then you better hold on tight, pretty boy. be her seat belt.'

spencer looks confused and a bit panicked for a second, but when hotch starts the car, he wastes no time and wraps his arms around you. 'kids, behave back there,' he says as he pulls away.

rossi starts talking to hotch about today's case, a serial killer in the midwest, while JJ keeps derek's eyes on her in conversation. you and spencer are in a little bubble, even with four others in the car, no one is focussed on the two of you.

every time hotch turns a corner or hits a speed bump, your ass moves slightly over spencers crotch, and you feel his arms tighten around you. the drive will be about half an hour, but you can tell its going to be the longest thirty minutes of your life when you start to feel something growing underneath you.

you turn your head to look at spencer, who stares straight ahead. you always wonder what happens in his mind, but especially now. after another speed bump, he closes his eyes and his lips part slightly as you feel a twitch under you.

you start to grin, his desperate attempts to keep himself composed absolutely adorable. you decide to push your luck, grinding yourself down on him subtly. he moves one hand to your hip, grabbing it tightly and stilling you. you're afraid you might have gone too far.

when you look back at him, he is no longer staring forward. his eyes are fixed on you, and he starts to pull your hip back and forth. you open your mouth slightly in a surprised gasp, not expecting him to be so bold.

JJ and derek's chatter beside you, rossi and hotch's in front, and the two of you completely silent. the radio plays softly, and you're sure nobody is actually listening, but you will never be able to listen to this song like you used to before. taylor swift's 'wildest dreams' is now the soundtrack to an intimate moment between you two, and you know you'll remember this whenever you hear it again.

spencer keeps his movements subtle and slow, not pulling any attention to the two of you. the tension is almost palpable, and you truly hope nobody notices, but the people in this car are bold enough to say something if they do.

every soft gasp coming from spencer's lips, ever small furrow as his brow, but especially every bit of movement and every twitch from his cock makes you wetter and wetter, and you know damn well that you won't be alone in your hotel room tonight.

his hand that's not on your hip holds onto you tightly, squeezing the skin on your side as he desperately tries to get you closer, maybe even to get you alone.

the drive seems to last forever, but when the car comes to a halt, it feels like only 5 minutes have passed. you hadn't realised how much you had been pulled into the moment, and judging by spencers sigh, he hadn't either.

'well we made it. go to sleep, everyone. this case is far from closed,' hotch says as you all climb out of the car. you smile at spencer, his eyes still fixed on you. 'get some rest, spence, i'll see you tomorrow.'

derek takes one look at you two and smiles at the floor. as you walk towards the door, you hear derek talk to spencer, mocking your words, 'yeah, reid, get some rest.'

'shut up,' spencer said, his voice cracking slightly on the nerves, but you know that in about thirty minutes, he will be knocking on your hotel room door and he will be everything but for nervous...

[haza1ll]

animation for THE NEON VOIDD BABYYYY

this post is for @sugarpasteltmnt

‼️‼️MEGA YAPPING AHEAD PLEASE BEWARE‼️‼️

this might end up being really long and rambly and sappy but maybe not who knows.( it was) (and also featuring numerous spelling errors i am way too tired to fix and i am not re reading what i just wrote) SO. yknow how when chap idek..25(?) came out and i was all like “yeah so i made this animation for TNV and ill drop it when the fic ends” in your ask box? so. I FINISHED IT RAHHH. technically it has been finished since i sent that ask but ohhh my goodness did it need polishing. i haven’t animated in 4 years before that and omg it felt so good getting back into it but IDFK SOMETHING IS STILL NOT UP TO MY STANDARDS. i feel like i could have done so much more with it and i deffo wanted to but as soon as i told myself “oh yeah this is basically done” art block literally sucker punched me in the gut out of NOWHERE. I COULD NOT PICK UP MY I PAD. I COULD NOT DRAW. I WOULD STARE AT THE WIP ANIMATION AND BE UPSET BC I DDINT WANNA WORK ON IT AHH. that goes with saying. i kept having this thought in the back of my head “you need to finish it. you have a wip sitting. finish it. go do it. what are you doing are you STARTING ANOTHER PROJECT??? anddd yeah i got super distracted with other stuff and other projects and then i started spending my free time rewatching 2012 turtles and omg this summer has been a mess. i have all the free time in the world and i choose to be the least productive as possible with it even though i have a job that lets me literally sit on my phone and do whatever i want if no one is there. (i’ve brought my switch to work numerous times ☠️) what i was trying to get at is the fact that TNV has inspired a lot of the old me to come back and i lowk missed her. i really missed the point in all those words up there but im here now so whatever. BUT. TNV made me make a tumblr account, i got back in to animation AND digital art in general, got back into longfics that are ongoing, AND it also helped kickstart ideas for writing. i’ve got so many stories now!! you are such an inspirational person pastels i just- every time i read a new chapter of yours it made me wanna go get up and do something. i wanted to create something. because at the end of each chapter, i would think- “woah. a person out there just wrote this. they just sat down one day and committed. i wanna do that” so i did that. just huge thank you and shoutout to you pastel. like damn. idk no words from me here. just a bunch of platonic hugs and kisses and thankyouthankyouthsnkuou for this lovely heart wrenching but also sweet story. i love this fandom (tmnt) so SO much and i think it’s so awesome how interactive you are with your own personal NV fans. crazy how we’re all here because of a bunch of turtles. 

STUFF ABOUT THE ANIMATION:

okay i really like to talk and if you let me, i will run my mouth. this is the internet so im gonna do just that. so more words for you to read 😁. AHEM. so like i stated before in the genuinely scary mess of words up there, i haven’t touched animation in a while, like, 4 years a while. yes i’ve done digital art here and there along the years, i haven’t been doing it nearly as much as i need to to use some programs to their full potential. layers are still confusing, and don’t even get me started on multiply and all that jazz. shading never comes out right on digital for me, i gotta work that one out. so, for this animation, i decided to go with a very rough style. nothing needed to be perfect, i just wanted to live my little life of trying to experiment with a bunch of different things all at once in one short animatic. I wanted to do that little ball bounce thing all animation artists start with (i kinda included that with the key). i also wanted to have a go at lip sync (no hate it was my first time) and also timing the animation with the music. i wanted to see how smoothly i could move a figure in and out of and out of the screen as well, which honestly, i think that part might be my favorite. i think i did a good job, and thats what matters. the animation itself lost a bunch of quality on importing it- no clue how it happened but now the ending is grainy af. ignore that pls lol- but it was sitting in my flipaclip for god, i dont even know, 3 months now? i kept going back and forth on if i wanted to share it or not, so im throwing it to the wolves and i guess whatrver happrns happens and im good with that. yay. im actually rrwlly tired now sooo *leaves this absolute pile of words with a video attached at your feet and stumbles away quickly*

also i’ve genuinely never posted anything so i’m learning how to use tumblr too ☠️

[snowysosturn]

Allies or Affiliates? - Chris Sturniolo Part 21

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24 Part 25 Part 26 Part 27 Part 28 Part 29 Finale

Pairing : Y/n x dealer!Chris Sturniolo

Summary : Law student Y/n’s life takes a turn when she reconnects with Chris, her brief teenage flame who is now a dealer for a dangerous Boston drug gang. As their bond reignites, Y/n is drawn into Chris’s tumultuous world, where rival gangs clash and loyalty is everything. Balancing her love for Chris with her own ambitions, can their connection survive the chaos that threatens to pull them apart?

Warnings : MDNI, angst, cursing, death, funeral setting, mention of dead body, grief, sadness

The day had arrived. Chris’s funeral. The thought of it made me feel like I was trying to breathe underwater. I’d spent the last two days in a haze, caught between disbelief and devastation. I kept in consistent contact with Nate, who had been the one to tell me about the funeral being an evening ceremony, explaining they wanted to keep it as lowkey as possible. Especially after the chaos at Danny’s funeral.

I didn’t ask what had happened at Danny’s service in depth, and I didn’t think it was time to ask questions. All I could think about was Chris. His face, his voice, the way he used to look at me like I was the only thing grounding him in this world.

Willow hadn’t left my side since the news broke. She held me the last two nights when the sobs came so violently I thought they might break me in half. Even now, as I sat in front of the mirror in my room, staring blankly at my reflection, she hovered nearby, quiet but present.

“You should eat something” she murmured gently, placing a cup of tea on the dresser beside me.

I shook my head. “I’m not hungry.”

Willow sighed but didn’t push. She knew me well enough to know it wouldn’t help. Instead, she sat on the bed behind me, her presence steady and reassuring.

I hadn’t told Mom and Dad about Chris. Not about his death, not about him at all. Telling them would mean explaining how I got tangled up with someone like him, and I wasn’t ready for that. I could already hear the questions, the judgment in their voices, the disappointment. I’d rather just let them enjoy their holiday.

Chris wasn’t perfect. I knew that. But he was mine.

My fingers trembled as I pinned my hair back, the small motion grounding me for a moment. I caught Willow’s reflection in the mirror, her eyes filled with concern. She stepped out of my room to give me a minute.

The last time I saw Chris was that fateful afternoon at my house. He’d kissed me, told me he’d call me later. He didn’t. I never imagined that would be the last time I’d see him alive.

The most harrowing this was when Nate’s voice cracked as he explained that Chris’s injuries were too severe. Now, there wouldn’t even be a chance to say goodbye properly. The ceremony would be closed casket.

I swallowed hard, blinking back tears as I smoothed down my black dress. The thought of not seeing him one last time felt like a cruel twist of fate.

Nate had offered to come get Willow and I, and the time was drawing close for him to arrive. I tried to pull myself together, but the tears wouldn’t stop, sliding down my cheeks in relentless streams. My chest felt heavy, like it had been hollowed out and filled with bricks.

Willow peeked into my room, her expression soft and cautious, as if she didn’t want to intrude but couldn’t leave me entirely alone either.

“Nate’s outside” she said gently. “Do you want me to wait with you?”

I shook my head, sniffling. “No, it’s okay. You can go ahead. I just.. need a minute.”

She hesitated, her hand lingering on the doorframe, before nodding. “Alright. I’ll be right outside if you need me.”

When she left, the silence in the room felt deafening. I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to will myself into some semblance of calm. It didn’t work.

I moved toward the bed and sat down, my eyes falling on Ralph – the white teddy bear Chris had won for me only days ago. Without thinking, I reached for it, clutching it tightly in my arms. The soft fabric was a small comfort against the ache in my chest.

As I held it close, I caught a faint scent – Chris’s cologne, still lingering on the bear’s fur. My throat tightened, and I buried my face into the plush, breathing him in like it was the last piece of him I’d ever have.

“Chris” I whispered, my voice breaking.

Suddenly, I heard a soft click, followed by a sound that made me freeze.

His voice.

“Off to get some coffeeee for my beautiful girlfriend. I can’t believe I get to call YOU my girlfriend. I’m the luckiest man alive! Love you!”

I pulled back, staring at the bear in disbelief. My hands trembled as I pressed its stomach again, and the same recording played.

Chris’s voice, warm and full of life, echoed in the quiet room.

Tears spilled over again, but this time they weren’t just from grief. They were from the bittersweet ache of hearing him say those words, words that felt like a lifeline and a dagger all at once. I hadn’t even known the bear could do that. Like he’d left this piece of himself for me to find.

“Chris..” I whispered again, holding the bear close to my chest. My body shook with sobs, but for the first time in days, they weren’t entirely hopeless.

I wasn’t ready to say goodbye, and maybe I never would be. But in this moment, with his voice wrapping around me like a fragile embrace, I felt a little less alone.

I decided to take Ralph with me, clutching the soft bear to my chest as if it could somehow protect me from the waves of grief threatening to swallow me whole. With a shaky breath, I turned off my bedroom lights and made my way out of the house, the cool night air hitting me as I stepped outside.

Nate’s car was parked at the curb, the engine idling softly. Willow stood by the passenger side, her arms wrapped around herself for warmth. When she saw me, she gave me a small, reassuring nod before climbing into the back seat to give me space in the front.

I slid into the passenger seat, and Nate glanced at me briefly.

“How’re you holding up?” he asked, his voice quiet, almost hesitant.

I swallowed hard, gripping Ralph tighter. “I’m.. here” I managed to say, my voice cracking.

He nodded, not pushing for more. I knew he felt it too – the loss, the emptiness, the weight of carrying Chris’s memory. In a way, we were all each other had left of him now.

The car ride was quiet, the kind of silence that hung heavy in the air, filled with unspoken thoughts and shared sorrow. I stared out the window, the darkness outside making it impossible to figure out where we were going. The streets blurred past, unfamiliar and anonymous, as if the world outside didn’t matter anymore.

Eventually, the car slowed, pulling up in front of a small white chapel. Its modest structure was almost hidden in the shadows of the night, the faint glow of its windows the only indication it was there.

Before we got out, Nate reached into the center console and pulled out something green. He handed it to me – a bandana, worn and soft around the edges.

“Chris always wore this” Nate said, his voice steady but laced with emotion. “He used it to keep his face hidden. Not many people knew what he actually looked like, and he’d want it that way for you too. So when we leave here after the funeral, no one knows who you are, and nothing ever happens to you.”

I stared at the bandana in his hands, my throat tightening. It felt like a part of Chris, a piece of him that Nate was entrusting to me. With trembling fingers, I took it, feeling the fabric between my hands as though it could somehow connect me to him again.

“Thank you” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

As I tied the bandana around the lower half of my face, I reached for the folded paper in my pocket – my eulogy for Chris. I’d written it late last night, pouring every ounce of my heart into it. It was my final goodbye, the only way I could put into words everything I couldn’t say while he was still here.

I glanced at Nate hesitantly. “I was hoping to read this.. but if you think it’s safer-”

Nate shook his head, cutting me off gently. “I’ll read it for you” he said, his voice firm but kind. “It’s better this way, for anonymity reasons. But it’s your words, Y/n. Everyone will know how much he meant to you.”

I nodded, biting my lip to keep the tears at bay.

As we stepped out of the car, the chill of the night settled over me. I held Ralph close, drawing strength from the little bear and the faint scent of Chris that still lingered on it.

This was it. My final goodbye. And even though my heart felt like it might shatter, I knew I had to face it – for Chris, for Nate, and for the love that would always remain, even in his absence.

The chapel was dimly lit, the soft glow of candles casting flickering shadows on the walls. Nate wasn’t kidding when he said it would be a small ceremony. There couldn’t have been more than a 25 people scattered across the rows, their faces somber and heads bowed.

I glanced around discreetly, trying to piece together who these people were. I didn’t see Vince Moretti, which was a small relief. The man’s absence was probably for the best, though it also struck me as strange. For someone who claimed to have so much power over Chris’s life, Vince wasn’t here to honor it. It made me wonder.

My gaze drifted from face to face, searching for any clue that might reveal Chris’s parents. But no one stood out. Either they weren’t here, or I didn’t recognize them. A hit of guilt twisted in my chest. I should’ve asked more about them, should’ve known more about the people who gave him life.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, gripping Ralph tightly in my lap. The weight of the bandana around my face felt heavier than it should have, like it carried all the unanswered questions I would never get to ask Chris.

As the ceremony began, I couldn’t stop the spiral of thoughts in my head. The priest’s words faded into the background as my mind filled with blame as I stared at the coffin.

This is my fault.

I had pushed him to act, to take immediate steps to leave the gang. I’d begged him to make a choice, to do it now before it was too late. And now here we were. Maybe because I made it happen so fast, that this is the outcome.

Tears welled in my eyes, but I blinked them away. I needed to keep it together, at least for now.

Nate stood up, unfolding a piece of paper as he moved to the podium at the front of the chapel. My heart clenched. It was my eulogy, my final goodbye to Chris. I’d poured everything into those words, and now Nate was going to speak them aloud because I couldn’t.

He cleared his throat, his hands shaking slightly as he held the paper. His voice was steady, though, as he began to read.

“I have a note from someone who was very special to Chris that I would like to read out” he said, clearing his throat before he started:

“Chris wasn’t just someone I loved – he was my safe place, my compass when the world felt too chaotic to navigate. He was the person I never thought I’d find again, and the one I never imagined losing this way.

Chris had this quiet charm, the kind that snuck up on you when you least expected it. He didn’t say much when words weren’t needed, but when he did, they stayed with you. He could make me laugh when I didn’t think it was possible, and somehow, in those moments, everything felt easier, lighter.

But Chris was more than the laughter we shared, more than the memories that now feel so far away. He was the late night conversations, the way we would look at eachother and know exactly what the other person was thinking, the feeling of his arms around me that made the world disappear. He was the only person who ever truly saw me – the messy, complicated, and unpolished version of me, and he never looked away.

He wasn’t perfect, and neither was I, but we were perfect together in our own, flawed way. Chris gave me a love I didn’t know I needed, a love I didn’t think I deserved. And even though life was complicated, even though we didn’t always get it right, I never once doubted how much he cared.

I wish I could tell him that now, tell him how much he meant to me, how much he still means to me. I wish I could go back to that last time we were together, hold on a little tighter, kiss him a little longer, and tell him how proud I was of the man he was trying to be.

Chris, you were my everything, and now, I don’t know how to do this without you. I don’t know how to fill the space you’ve left behind. But I promise I’ll try to be the person you always believed I could be. I’ll carry your memory with me in every moment, every choice, and every breath.

I hope you know how deeply you were loved, how much you’ll always be loved. And I hope, wherever you are, you’ve found the peace you couldn’t find here.

Goodbye, Chris. My heart will never stop looking for you.”

Nate looked up while folding over the piece of paper and stepped down from the stand, his face an unreadable mask as he returned to his seat. I watched him, trying to make sense of how he seemed so composed. It surprised me, the way he carried himself as if this wasn’t tearing him apart too.

But then I thought about it – how could he not be numb by now? Losing the two people closest to you in such a short amount of time would be enough to shatter anyone. Maybe this was his way of holding it together, of keeping himself from completely falling apart.

I stole a glance at him as he sat in front of me. His jaw was tight, his hands clasped in front of him, but there was a hollowness in his eyes that spoke louder than anything he could’ve said. He was here, but I could tell part of him was somewhere else, stuck in memories he couldn’t escape.

I wanted to say something to him, but what could I say? There were no words that could ease this kind of pain, no way to bring back what he’d lost, what we’d both lost. So, I stayed silent, gripping Ralph in my lap like it was the only thing tethering me to this moment.

The ceremony finally ended, and the coffin was taken away, but I couldn’t bring myself to go with them. I watched as the others left, their faces a blur of sorrow and disbelief. The heaviness in my chest was unbearable, and the thought of following Chris to be cremated, of truly letting go, was too much. I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stand the finality of it.

So I turned and walked away, out of the chapel, out of the world that felt like it was spinning too fast. I didn’t even remember getting into Nate’s car, didn’t remember the drive home. Everything was a daze, one moment blending into the next, the sound of my own heartbeat drowning everything else out.

When I finally made it home, the house felt colder than I remembered. I stepped inside, greeted by the silence, and for a moment, it felt like I was the only person left in the world. Willow followed in behind me, her eyes full of concern. She was always there when I needed her, but today, I just couldn’t bear to have anyone close.

“Do you want me to stay?” she asked softly, her voice so gentle it almost broke me.

I shook my head, swallowing the lump in my throat. “No it’s okay, I just.. I just need to be by myself for a while.”

Willow hesitated, as if she wanted to argue, but then she nodded, understanding. “Okay. Just.. don’t shut yourself off for too long, okay?”

I barely heard her as I turned away, retreating into the quiet of my room. I closed the door behind me, feeling the weight of the world settle on my shoulders again. I didn’t bother turning on the lights. The room felt smaller now, suffocating. But it was where I needed to be. Alone. With my thoughts. With my grief.

I didn’t want to forget Chris, but I didn’t know how to keep carrying this pain.

I collapsed onto my bed and lay there in pure darkness, my body heavy with grief, as every emotion I’d been holding inside finally poured out. I clutched Ralph tightly to my chest, replaying the sound of Chris’s voice over and over again. Each word felt like a delicate thread tying me to him, keeping his memory alive even as the pain made it hard to breathe.

I stared at the ceiling, lost in a swirl of thoughts that didn’t make sense. I couldn’t understand how everything had changed so quickly. One minute, Chris was here, and now he was gone. The world felt like it was shifting beneath me, a constant reminder that nothing would ever be the same.

Then, out of nowhere, I saw it. A flicker of lights. Fast, erratic flashes coming from outside my window. My heart raced in an instant. The treehouse.

I scrambled out of bed, my pulse quickening, hoping against all odds that somehow, someway, it was Chris standing there.

But as I opened the balcony door, the wind hit me with a chill, harsh and unrelenting. The lights were flickering, not from anything magical, but because the wind was blowing against the wire of the fairy lights that wrapped around the treehouse. It was untouched. Empty.

I stood there for a moment, the reality of it all settling in like a cold stone in my chest. Chris wasn’t coming back. He wasn’t there.

I grabbed my phone, still holding Ralph as if he could somehow fill the space Chris had left behind. The treehouse. I needed to go there. It felt like the only place that could still hold pieces of him.

When I reached it, I crawled under the familiar blankets, the ones we’d spent so many nights tangled in. The ones I’d always imagined would be filled with laughter and love, but now they felt like a graveyard of memories. I opened Spotify and selected the first song that came to mind. Strangers in the Night by Frank Sinatra. Since that night I dreamed that one day, Chris and I would dance to it at our wedding, not knowing that the night we shared it would be the first and last.

The tears came again, overwhelming, hot, and uncontrollable. I cried until I couldn’t keep my eyes open anymore, until the sorrow and exhaustion took over. And then, I drifted off to sleep in the treehouse – alone, with only Ralph and the ghost of Chris’s love to keep me company.

a/n: lowkey sadder than part 20.. hang in there w me though

taglist: @mattybearnard @sturn-33 @ncm9696 @yourfavsturniologirl @crazy4jewel @sodakid1234 @stupendoustreewinner @lovealwayssturniolos @matthewsturniolosss @m4ttsmunch @loveexxx @ilusa @starkeyszn @wonnieeluvvr @dylnblue @valxrieq @maggot3647 @cigarettecemetary @ribread03 @chrisstvrns @bandasaruswrx @noplaceissafeanymore @amexiass @witchofthehour @mattssgf @jetaimevous @v33angel @ivysturnss @urmom69lol @ashlishes @watercolorskyy @sturnioloshottiekay @amelia-sturniolo3 @imjusthereforthesturniolosmut @pvssychicken @alizestvrnss @lvrsturniolo @bernardsbunny @spaghetti835928383 @marrykisskilled @sturnsxplr-25 @bxtchboy69 @vickytaa @anikaistg @matts-girlfriend @lvrsturniolo @sophand4n4 @ilovepurpledragons @mattsside @riasturns @sturnslutz @chrisstxrnsaxe

[goldblumluv]

FIRST TIME HUGH REALISES HE IS ATTRACTED TO YOU

I’ve just finished Flawless and I just love a cowboy romance and a lot of what I’ve read it is grumpy x sunshine. This isn’t a cowboy Hugh story but I like the idea of like a forbidden romance / he shouldn’t like you (but he does) but he kind of acts out to pretend he doesn’t like you.

tags: female reader. Hugh’s POV. Angst. Slow burn. Confusion. Some fluff.

w/c: 4.5k

summary: you are a makeup artist on set of deadpool and wolverine. you’ve actually managed to get assistant head of makeup so you’re quite high up and you do work a lot on Hugh (and a little on Ryan) - instead of extras etc. you’re one month in so you’ve started to build a work relationship with Hugh but it’s starting to get flirtatious and the next level. Hughs POV (I love when books do this)

“More lube” Shawn shouts. She comes running over with a bottle in hand. I can see her cheeks flush pink as she touches me and her breaths become deeper. I must admit I didn’t take my eyes off her as she rubbed across my chest and down my stomach. Luckily, everyone is moving equipment to get ready for this scene, so it feels like it’s just us. She doesn’t even look at me once, so I know she’s avoiding my eye contact. She acts so confident back in the trailer but seeing how innocent she is right now is driving me crazy. Has she not touched a lot of men before? Why is she shying away? When she finishes she playfully slaps me right on the chest, but is giving me the eyes. “All done” she says with a devilish smile. Her back is turned before I could say something; she is giving Shawn the thumbs up to let her know she’s ready so I also throw up a thumbs up. I check her out one last time. As times got on her makeup has got less and her hair is a bit more carefree, and she’s only more beautiful for it. Plus it makes me feel good she’s obviously feeling more relaxed and comfortable. However today she is wearing a tight top plus tight jeans, which only highlight the curves of her body. I change the direction of my gaze quickly because I can feel an erection growing.

After filming, we go back to the trailer. I hardly speak to her. I don’t want to. This is the first time it’s gone from puppy love to Oh, I want to have sex with you. I want to see what you look like naked. And I can’t be having these thoughts for oh so many reasons. We work together. She is younger than half my age. My divorce hasn’t even gone public yet. Can you imagine I’m seen with a 25 year old before the divorce has gotten public? We start walking together whilst she’s telling me how good the shooting went, asking if I hurt. She’s caring and reassuring. She quickly gets out of her phone and picks up her pace whilst I stay trailing behind. Part of me knows she’s doing it cause she feels awkward at my lack of response but her walking ahead, is not helping my cause right now. It’s just us in the trailer. It’s the end of the shoot, so she’s just taking everything off me. The dirt, the lube, the eyebrow gel that colours in the greys in my beard that are probably… no… are older than her. She steps back, “what’s up? you’re being off” “I’m just tired” “hm” She carries on her job. I’m lying through my teeth. The radio is filling the silence between us. I can tell from that murmur she’s defensive straight away, not believing me. “Do you want to get food?” I feel my dick twitch. Is she asking me out? “I think I’m just going go back to the hotel” She is asking me out and I deny her which I hate. “You might feel better if you eat” persuasive. “Honestly I’ll be better tomorrow, I’ve just hit my wall”

I usually help her tidy up at the end of the day. I still do this. If I don’t I know she will be on my back, hurt, upset or confused. “You can go, if you want, I don’t mind” “No it’s fine, you’ll be able to leave quicker if I help” Even though I do have a crush on her like a 16 year old boy that’s just got his first dose of testosterone, I am still 56 and need to act like it. I know how she organises everything. We leave together. We’re staying in the same hotel but how you imagine, me and Ryan and Shawn are up top whilst she’s lower down. Which I believe isn’t fair. I don’t need the biggest room. We take the elevator and when it reaches her floor she fist bumps me, almost like she’s a 16 year old boy as well. I wonder if she feels the same? How do you know? How you do know especially when the girl very obviously does not know how to talk to men?

After a few hours she texts me. This is normal routine again. It won’t be a full conversation, considering we see each other in person nearly every day, so you might as well save the conversation for in person. It’s usually along the lines of she’s listening to a song I’ve recommended or a film I’ve spoke about. And to be honest, I do the same back. I really want to know what inspires her. She texts me a photo of her out for dinner, with a man’s hands. I immediately heat up with jealousy. Who the fuck is that? I’m trying to think of seeing her day to day speaking to any men, there’s a couple on her team. She speaks to Ryan and Shawn. I know she’s spoken to lighting and cinematography and the camera men when she’s asking for their opinions on how it looks. But does she really spend a lot of time talking to a man? That’s not me? No. And we are shooting in England, but she said she’s so far from her hometown and she has no one this way. I want to bite and ask her, but the more that this is entertained the deeper and worse it’ll be. So I don’t.

I start to fist my dick to the thought of her. My plan today is not working, at all. After I finish, I just think about this guy. Which ruins the mood completely. Part of me wants to tell Ryan, but not yet. Especially in the middle of shooting. I don’t want Ryan to also be awkward around her.

The next couple of days are well… awkward. I don’t know what to do. You know the last time I was in this situation? Never. You know last time I was getting feelings for someone? Over 30 years ago. At first, I’m met with a lot of “you’re quiet” which feels like her prodding and asking what’s going on, without saying it. “I don’t like it” she says outright. Yeah, me neither. She doesn’t let my grunts deter her for a while. She could possibly have a conversation with herself I’ve discovered. I found out the guy she went to food with was someone on lighting. Closer to her age. I’ve seen them speak a couple of times and didn’t think anything of it. I thought she was giving her opinion and asking for his. Now there’s another guy in the mix? Jesus Christ. But luckily she blurts out she doesn’t like him, and she’s just someone she’s found as a friend but she doesn’t know if he feels like that. Which eases me a bit, but not entirely. I don’t want him here at all. “Was it a date?” That might be the first full question I’ve muttered and I can see the slight eyebrow raise of shock. “I didn’t think so. We were just texting about food and he asked if we should go get some and I thought I’m hungry so why not. But I didn’t put any effort in. And we went back afterwards. I don’t know if he put effort in” Right, so if I got over myself, that could’ve been us. Whether we went out for greasy food and ordered greasy food to us, I had the invite first.

Tensions are high. She’s meeting my passive aggression with…. Passive aggression. She really does give out the energy she gets. I wish she understood this was for the better. Times of walking to set together is now met with excuses for “I’ll meet you there” and on breaks she finds some of her team to sit with. One day Ryan asks where I’m going and I reply I’m going eat in my trailer. Like that was the plan all along. He looks concerned but lets me do it. How have I messed this up. I sit and eat and just think about how I’ve built up this relationship and pushed her out.

One day she was sitting with Luke- this lighting guy on break. I don’t say anything but I ping with jealousy. At the end of the shoot, I don’t tidy up with her. “Aren’t you helping today?” She asks. “Ask Luke” I say as I walk out. I see her eyebrows furrow as I walk out. “Where’s Georgia” Ryan asks. “She’s got a lot on” “You’re being weird” “I’m not” I say avoiding eye contact. “You won’t even look at me?” “Can we eat in your room” Ryan pulls the same face as her. Trust me to fall for a girl that absolutely mirrors my best mate. “Okay” is all he musters as we get in the same car for once.

“I’ve got myself in a situation and I think I’ve done something I might regret” Ryan nods but his face tells me he’s anxious. “I’ve gotten attached to someone” “Blake?” Ryan asks almost instinctively. “No you fucking idiot. Actually Blake might’ve been socially better” I laugh. “Is it y/n?” Ryan teases. I drop my mouth. “How do you know?” “Who doesn’t know?” I repeat the question back to him in shock. Do people know? “We have eyes… that can see… you two attached at the hip to one another… I know she works with the you the closest but taking breaks together and walking together all the time is not part of the job description” I put my hand on my head and do an exasperated sigh. “Why couldn’t we be friends?” “Hugh… me and you are friends… I don’t see you moping when I need to have a meeting with Shawn so we can’t eat dinner together” I cover my face. I thought it was hidden well. “This can’t be happening” Ryan looks smug in my negative emotions. “Do I think it’s weird? Yes. You could be her dad. But you aren’t and it’s legal. But these really exceptional circumstances. You’re together nearly every day, of course you’re going to get feelings or whatever you called it.” “Do you think it’s wrong she is staff and I’m an actor?” “Do YOU think there is? Because I think there would be more of a power imbalance if this was someone off the street. You’re always going to be seen as a higher power cause you’re Hugh Jackman, but she’s put in so much work to be here. Let her be her own person.” “Why are you encouraging it?” “Because I get to watch you like a lovesick puppy even if you don’t realise what you’re doing so I think you should stop caring what other people might think- if it feels right you should try” “my divorce isn’t finalised yet” “I’m not telling you to marry her, oh my god. *I smile* I’m just saying if you like her.. be more intentional with her” “I think I’ve fucked up anyway” Ryan groans “why?” “I saw her with someone else and got jealous and made a comment” “I KNEW SOMETHING HAS BEEN UP WITH YOU” “I’ve been a prick to her the past week or so and I know I have but I don’t know what to do” “that’s not very nicest man alive of you” that makes me roll my eyes. “She started to give me a boner and that’s a line too far so I wanted to distance myself.” Ryan giggles like a little girl. “So you had a tantrum?” “Not at first, I’ve just stopped talking to her so much so she’s made excuses to not be with me on set. Instead she’s been with Luke. I usually help her clean up and we leave together but instead I start to leave and she asked what I was doing, and I told her to ask Luke to help her.” Ryan’s face flattens. “Why are you acting like that?” “Cause I don’t know what to do” “APOLOGISE” I groan. “I know” We go back to eating in silence. “Just don’t bring any shit onto my film” I salute.

The next day in work, it isn’t even icy. It’s worse. She’s totally professional with me. She never wasn’t in the first place, but we have no general conversation. Whether it’s in front of the team or when we’re alone. It’s only “look down” “look up” “twist your neck for me.” All work related. Who knew I’d crave a conversation about your weirdest dreams or something more ridiculous. When we’re alone I try to address it. “I shouldn’t have said that.” She looks me dead in the eye. “Okay” “that’s it?” “What do you want me say?” “Don’t you want to know why I said it?” She holds her hands up “your business is your business” Suddenly she’s gone from asking me all these questions and feeling like a safe space to nothing. That comment hurts the most. It’s gone from being a team to nothing. Someone knocks asking if I’m ready. “You should go” she says. I would almost prefer her to be pissed at me. Make a scene. Cause this only makes me doubt she doesn’t feel anything to me. “Are you going see him later?” I ask. “No?” She replies like I’ve asked her the most stupid question. “I told you it’s just friends, if you think something else that’s on you” “are we friends?” “That’s also on you” She’s being too easy. “So we need talk about it” “You need get to set” “aren’t you coming?” “Nope” she smiles. I groan. It makes her laugh. “Go” I do as told.

The next few days are the same. Only work talk. “I feel like I need explain” “You don’t” “can I… for my peace?” Ryan would rip into me if he heard me like this. Even I smile at how I’m pleading. “Not at work” “Will you meet me at my room?” “You want speak to me… you come to my room. Also you haven’t even apologised for being rude yet.” I touch her arm, and she lets me. She always gives me physical touch; not sexual but I’ve noticed when she’s trying to be genuine and reassuring she does gently touch you, and I know she would like that back. It brings her to attention. “I’m sorry” she winces “it’s a start” I’m so happy she’s not completely righting me off. We’ve had a conversation before how she finds it easy to de attach herself and doesn’t give second chances. I know I’ve still got a foot in here, and I know I really need to make it up for her. I think… I know how I acted would’ve hurt her worse than what I said, over the fact I’m jealous.

I haven’t seen her for a couple hours. I actually go try to find her. I’m walking up and down trailers. Shawn asks what I’m doing and I just smile at him dumbstruck, and he gives me a knowing smile back. “Good luck” Oh I’m not used to this at all. This is scary. I can hear shouting from the editing. Y/N storms out shaking. I grab her elbow to stop her, so she has to speak to me. “What happened?” “He’s a stupid fucking cunt” She grabs her arm back. I walk in the trailer. Before I even say anything “Tell your child bride that she doesn’t know better than people that have trained in this” I walk out instinctively. I was going to ask him calmly what has happened. I feel sorry for her, she does love to talk to people. She’s soft. But I also know sometimes she gives unwarranted opinions, even if it’s delivered in a lovely way, and some of the 40 year old men do not appreciate it. I’m shaking. First of all, to reduce her like that? Ridiculous. You don’t speak to anyone like that. Especially, even if this is old fashioned, you don’t scream and shout at a woman and one younger than you at that. I go find Shawn and Ryan and they fire him on the spot. I feel small, telling Shawn and Ryan about this, but it’s not my film. I don’t have that power. But they do it, no trying to compromise, which I appreciate. “Tell her we’ve sorted it and we won’t let anyone be bullied” I go straight to the makeup trailer. It’s locked. I know she’s in there. I knock and no reply. “It’s me”

She opens up. I just pull her into a hug. She kind of resists at first; not putting her arms around me. But she does after an initial second; sink into me. “He’s gone” “what do you mean?” “He’s fired” She lifts her head to look at me. She’s been crying but has stopped by the time I got here. Her eyes are glassy. There’s a quick flash of annoyance but she blinks it back, “thank you” I can tell she’s trying. I know part of her wants to know why I did that; the same part that struggles to let someone help her. But she’s let me help. I’ll make sure to bring this up later. She puts her head back on my chest and I’m sure she can hear how fast my heart is pounding. “Do you want to go home?” “Not really but I can’t lie my heart isn’t in it today” “go home” she looks back up confused “who will do the work?” “Give me the numbers of people on your team and I’ll sort it.” “Also who made you boss?” She smiles. “I’m not the boss but it’s a perk when I’m best friends with them” She’s thinking of a response “you don’t need to carry the world on your shoulders” “okay” she grabs her personal items after sorting out her cover. “Do you want to go to my room?” She pulls her face and laughs. “No” “you don’t want to relax in a big bed and a big bath?” “I do” She looks at me deep in the eyes. Trying to read me. I just hold my key out. We’re both looking at each and smiling for about… 3 seconds.. but it feels like forever. I also think sex would be less intimate than this. She’s looking right into my bones, trying to read me. I am reading her. I know her better than she thinks. I don’t think she’s ever had someone she can rely on, and I want to do that for her. I think her confidence is almost a facade, or an aid, for how much she’s done alone and I think she’s never really had someone she can trust. That’s why she can detach herself easily. That’s why I saw a flash of anger at me getting involved. But I can see she’s trying to give me a chance. And I ruined it the other day by having a tantrum. I don’t want to be another person she pulls down her walls for and then has to put them back up. When she takes my keys, I let out of a breath of relief. I know I still have more work to do.

I text her to let her know I’m on my way. Ryan asks how she is. “She’s okay I think, I’ve let her in my room” He teasingly slaps my chest, knowing what he’s implying. I smile. “No, well I wish, but not after today.” “So are we not acting like 16 year olds anymore” “No” I deadpan. I knock on and I can hear her unlock. Her hair is natural. No makeup whatsoever. In a robe. She looks angelic. Then I start to think what’s under the robe. I let out a deep breath. “Have you got clothes on under that” I cringe as I say it. She throws her head back and opens her robe. She’s in pyjamas. A long t shirt and shorts. Not form fitting but my eyes trail up her legs” “don’t worry- you told me to relax so I am” She starts to walk off and I follow. “This room is lovely” “it is but it’s not necessary” she doesn’t say anything. I get on the bed and she follows. “I’m sorry for acting how I did, I let my jealousy get the better of me” “didn’t know you’d have feelings at your age?” I smile “yes, your heart doesn’t stop” I can tell she feels better in herself with these smart ass comments. “What are you jealous of?” She asks smugly. Knowingly. I stutter on my words. “You said you wanted talk about it.” “I have a crush on you” There’s painful silence. I’m looking at her with yearning in my eyes. I end up covering my face, exasperated by her silence. “I’m too old to feel like this I know” She does an evil laugh. “Is that why you’re jealous? Of him?” I nod. “I’ve told you we’re just friends” “I know but you look happy together” “God forbid” she jokes. “Come on you’re meant to be listening right now” “I am!” “Also he’s good looking, age appropriate, why would you not like him?” She gets a serious look on her face. “I feel a way for you too” I think I sit up slightly too eager. “- but I don’t appreciate how you acted at all. Especially at your age. That wasn’t okay. Even if you didn’t want to help, I didn’t like the walking out on me with a snide comment. You need to speak to me.” I salute. “I know and I’m sorry, I knew that would’ve hurt the most. I won’t do it again. I think how I handled it was to be honest, based a lot on I don’t understand what I’m feeling and I didn’t know how you felt so it really won’t happen again” “do you feel better knowing I feel the same?” I lie back on the bed. My back hurts. “I feel more comfortable and confident now to not be a prick”

I open my arms to a hug. She sinks into me. It feels natural. Also I’m realising we’re cuddling on a bed. I’m controlling my dick. Think of ugly sad things Hugh. Who knew at this age I’m still ready to go. But not today. My hands are under MY robe that’s she’s wearing, rubbing up and down her back. Starting to feel the gentle curve of her ass and where her breasts are pushed slightly out. “I hated not speaking to you” “I didn’t like it either and I can tell you how sorry I am” her confession makes my heart flutter. “If it helps I don’t really know what I’m doing either- I’m not very good at being with someone… or even getting close to that” “I don’t understand why” “Uhm��.. this is a conversation for another time… but I don’t think a lot of people are attracted to me” It hurts she doesn’t see how attractive she is. “I don’t really ooze sexiness” she says looking at me with the same eyes I would love to see in between my legs. “I’m awkward and I’m not funny- people my age just want to have sex and I want a relationship where they’re my best friend” “all these reasons make you special to me” “do I say thank you?” We both laugh. “I don’t know” “what happens now?” “Well Ryan has said we can’t bring shit back onto the film set so we just carry on as we were” this whole conversation she was on my chest, which made this slightly easier. She suddenly sit up on her hands “what does Ryan know?” “Will you be mad?” “No…” she leaves a pause. “Well I told him everything… well my side. That I’m getting feelings for you and I don’t know what to do so I’ve acted out” “what did he say?” “Everyone knows anyway” “Whaaaaaat!” “Yeah apparently we’re not very good at hiding how we feel.” “Well I thought I knew how you felt but then you didn’t speak to me for a week so I thought you were confusing” “I had no idea how you felt until you blushed when touching my stomach” she goes back down to cover her face. “Don’t tell me anymore” I cackle. Y/N admits she’s not used to this and I need to be patient with her. “You need be patient with me. I don’t know what I’m doing. God, ignoring the circumstances of this, my divorce isn’t even final, that’s a whole seperate ballpark. What if someone sees us? I don’t think we should set any times or goals or anything but now it might be easier.” “I didn’t even think about paparazzi or that side.” The tension is the air is thick. I act like nearly 60 year old man I am. “We don’t have to think that far yet though, you might be sick of me by then. We should just enjoy it for what it is right now” She goes to say something and stops herself “Okay sir” This makes me grab at her but I quickly stop. That’s not what a polite gentleman would do. “What were you going say?” “You might decide you don’t want me” “Spending nearly all week with someone, you get to know them quickly and decide how you feel about them and I don’t think I’ll decide that.” She lifts her head back up. Reading my face. She goes back down. “Okay” we stay like this for a while. “Do you want me to go?” I tap her so she sits up. “No, stay.”

We get up and order greasy food. We lie back on the bed full. “Wait… you shouldn’t have had that” “it’s okay I’ll go harder at the gym” She laughs. We’re watching a quiz show. “What happened earlier?” I ask. I was looking at scales and I noticed an error. A genuine error. I tried to tell them but I suppose they were stressed and bit my head off. So I bit his head off.” “If I didn’t get involved, what would you have done?” She shrugs “nothing” “I know it’s hard for you but I never want you go through anything alone, especially not anything like that. I’m here to help” She registers my face. “Okay” She then snuggles up to me. With every touch and comment that is slightly more vulnerable, I feel pride. Like I’ve accomplished something. I know it’ll be a long journey but I’m happy she is seeing me as a person she can trust. She doesn’t have to carry everything alone.

[erinsreadings]

CUPID'S HOUR

status? closed

hello, lovers. i started this little game to celebrate the end of the year & welcome in even more love for 2025 as we close out the year. a moment to reflect on the love that has already shaped us, the good & the bad, & to welcome in & explore the possibilities that lie ahead. i want to say a huge thank you to everyone who follows, reblogs, and hearts my posts—you truly mean the world to me. your support is deeply appreciated, and it inspires me to keep creating and sharing. i hope you all enjoy & make sure to read the rules below before participating

much love, the lovecaster

please follow the rules (listed below) to participate →

i. you must be following me, so no anon asks please

ii. reblog or like this post.

iii. only one ask per account! any additional asks regarding the game will be deleted.

iv. send the emoji that corresponds with the reading you want and your initials.

v. tell me what you want from love - whether from yourself, friends, lovers (old or new) & maybe even why if you feel inclined. also, you must include what you love about my page.

vi. asks that are missing the above requirements will receive a response of "game request denied".

vii. please be patient! i'm working & a full time student going through finals, so i don't have a lot of time. i will leave the game open for the next 14 days or until i reach 25 asks! I will finish them before the new year.

vili. feedback is required! - good to know if my intuition and interpretation of the cards was accurate!

lovely options →

SYMPHONY OF ARROWS 📟

the message you need to welcome more love in for the new year (mostly for singles or after a heartbreak) & what path leads you to the best love for your life

LOVER'S SERENADE 🎼

a channeled letter from your current partner (even in separation) or future spouse & even a song

BREAKING NEWS: LOVE UPDATE 🎙️

(not for singles) i'll tell you what's happening next in your connection & any important messages from your person, maybe even something you should know

CUPID SHUFFLE 💗

three songs to describe love for you in 2025 & why & what their message is

EROS 444 📡

i'll tell you if you'll likely be in a relationship next year & the significance of the relationship, lessons you might learn

have fun everyone ! ♡

[aishangotome]

Azel Radwan: Dramatic Ending Ch. 25

Dramatic Ending Ch. 24 Premium Story

Thank you @passthechloroform for providing the video for this chapter!

♡———♡

The moon set, the sun rose, and began to set again.

On the day of the end –– I was walking through the wilderness with the Owner.

We pressed on, using a stole to protect ourselves from the desert path we had become so accustomed to.

Emma: It’s come into view.

At the end of our hurried journey was an oasis bathed in the twilight.

A settlement had been built around a large spring, and people were going about their daily lives.

Perhaps because this place was far from the city, the news of the end hadn’t reached it, and it was peaceful.

Akatsuki: The map says it’s further ahead.

Emma: Um… Is it that building?

We stood before a relatively luxurious building in the settlement.

There were no guards in sight. I inserted the key I had been given earlier into the lock and opened the door ––

Clavis: Haha, that makes it 49 wins and 49 losses, doesn’t it? I never thought you’d be this good at card games.

Luke: I’m getting tired of this.

Clavis: We agreed on the first to 50 wins, didn’t we?

Luke: Never heard of it. Sleeping would be more productive than entertaining you.

Clavis: Don’t say such sad things. Is it okay for your brother to cry?

Luke: You’re annoying…

Luke: Wait, why are you here, Emma?

(Thank goodness… It seems like they’re both safe.)

Luke, who had thrown his cards on the table, rested his head on the back of the chair and looked at me.

Clavis didn’t seem particularly surprised either, greeting me with his usual suspicious smile.

Clavis: An envoy of the Living God?

Emma: Correct. I have a message for you two.

*flashback to last night*

Azel: I’ll give you this.

In an indescribable atmosphere, somewhere between sorrowful and embarrassed, Azel dropped a key into my palm.

Emma: What’s this key for?

Azel: Haven’t you forgotten about the guests from Rhodolite?

Emma: …!

Azel: They’re in a building owned by the Tourism Bureau, some distance from here.

Emma: …Didn’t you say you weren’t aware of the movements of foreign guests?

Azel: I said I wasn’t aware of “everything,” not that I didn’t know where they were.

(He played dumb when I mentioned Silvio.)

-

Azel: Perhaps they were individually asked to do some errands.

Azel: More precisely, not “them,” but maybe just Luke.

Azel: Perhaps their disappearance this time is related to that.

-

Emma: About Obsidian…

Azel: That’s true. If Obsidian interfered with the end, my plan would be ruined.

Azel: Prince Chevalier is sharp. He sent the suspicious guests to a remote location just to be safe.

Azel: However, they haven’t made any particular moves since being confined.

Azel: I thought Luke might do something… Well, if it’s just a false alarm, then that’s fine.

Azel: I have to thank them for also playing the role of dispersing the city’s soldiers.

Emma: …With this key, I can save them, right?

Azel: That’s right. Leave as soon as the sun rises.

Azel: You should be able to reach your destination by nightfall.

Emma: Does that mean…

(Even though the apostle’s problem has been solved, I can’t see it through to the end?)

I clenched the key so tightly that it dug into my skin.

Azel: If you don’t go, I won’t guarantee the safety of the guests.

Emma: …To think you would take them hostage at the very last moment.

Azel: You wouldn’t abandon them, would you, kind Miss Emma?

Emma: At least tell me why.

Emma: Why can’t I stay until the end?

Azel: …

Azel took a breath and averted his gaze.

Azel: The end sounds nice, but what I’m about to do is a grand death.

Azel: Unless you have the noble hobby of wanting to see blood, it’s best to avoid it.

(…!)

Emma: Even though you… hate blood…

Azel: It doesn’t matter once I’m dead.

(…It’s not a beautiful death that might scar you.)

The tears that had finally subsided threatened to spill again, and I furrowed my brow.

Azel: By the way, you don’t have the right to whine.

Azel: I haven’t used your “Special Service Ticket to Grant Any Wish,” have I?

Emma: …Can I cry a little more?

Azel: You never run out of tears, do you?

A hand reached behind my head and pulled me closer, my forehead pressing against Azel's chest.

I felt like I had been given permission to cry as much as I wanted, and my vision blurred even more.

Azel: You should go back with the Rhodolite bunch.

Azel: Akatsuki alone would be enough, but you can never have too many bodyguards.

Emma: …Those two… haven’t fulfilled their purpose yet.

Azel: Then tell them this.

*back to present*

Emma: “The tri-nation alliance begins with the end of Tanzanite.”

Emma: “The country you should be investigating is not this one, but another.” …That’s what he said.

With a tingling sensation in the back of my nose, I closed my eyes and relayed Azel's words exactly.

Clavis: That’s quite a kind warning from Azel.

Luke: That God, he tricked us, but he’s awfully sweet to you.

Clavis: This is love.

Luke: Alright, alright. That’s all you’ve been saying.

Luke: What are we going to do now?

Clavis: If we’re taking God’s message literally, it’s “get out of the country now,” right?

Clavis: We’re at a disadvantage right now. It’s a fact that we’re involved with Obsidian.

Clavis: This is probably where we should back down.

Luke: Well, that’s a reasonable judgment.

Clavis: But Luke, if you haven’t finished your business, you can still stay.

Luke: ………… No.

Luke: I don’t have any business. Let’s get out of here.

(It’s all going according to Azel's plan.)

(…Don’t think about it, Emma. I cried enough yesterday to last a lifetime.)

Emma: We’re going to head to the port and return home. Are you coming too, Prince Clavis and Prince Luke?

Luke: We are.

Luke got up from his chair and suddenly noticed the bag I was carrying.

Luke: Hey, have the contents of your bag changed?

(Ah…)

*flashback*

Luke: I told you I would carry it for you, Emma.

Emma: Thank you. But this is my first trip, so I want to carry the luggage myself.

Emma: Selling books in a foreign land, buying them…

Emma: I’m really looking forward to seeing how much the contents of my bag will change between when I leave and when I return.

*flashback over*

Emma: …Yeah.

(The books in my bag were replaced as I carried out the Owner’s errands.)

(But more than that…)

I unconsciously touched the unicorn earring cuff.

The parting gift that Azel gave me is worth more than what can fit in my bag.

Emma: It’s changed.

(The weight of my bag is completely different now compared to when I came here.)

(That’s how many memories are packed inside.)

Clavis: Haha, it’s not often that you have such a hard-earned experience that you cry your eyes out.

Clavis: I hope it will become a good treasure for you in the future.

(…Clavis and Luke might have an inkling of the reason for my tears.)

Emma: You’re right.

Emma: …I’d like to cherish it.

-

We borrowed camels from the settlement and headed for the port through the desert.

It was the Owner who first noticed the anomaly.

Akatsuki: …The sky.

(The sky?)

When I looked up at the sky, I immediately understood what the Owner meant.

Emma: The moon…

The beautiful full moon that illuminated our journey gradually lost its light and was covered by a red shadow.

The surroundings were engulfed in a faint darkness, and we silently gazed at the sky.

(“When the moon disappears… the people will awaken from their long dream”…)

(Just as prophesied… the moon has disappeared.)

The sound of my heartbeat echoed in my chest, heavy and sharp.

Clavis: Oh, so this is the so-called end.

Luke: That’s pretty convincing.

Akatsuki: …Indeed. God calculated this.

Emma: Calculated?

Akatsuki: For several years now, God has been asking me for various astronomical books from all over the continent.

Akatsuki: His purpose wasn’t the wisdom of divination, but probably the records of the moon.

Akatsuki: Based on past records, he calculated the exact time the moon would become like this.

(Can he really do that…? …Azel is truly extraordinary.)

Clavis: As expected of God. This isn’t something a mere mortal could do.

Clavis: Such a perfect disappearance of the moon is a rare sight.

Clavis: It’s the perfect prop to make people believe in the end.

(Right now, Azel is…)

The red moon looked like blood.

I couldn’t bear it when I imagined Azel, the incarnation of the moon.

A single tear escaped and fell onto the dry sand.

Fortunately, no one noticed my tears in the moonless desert.

(Please…)

(May the people awaken from their eternal dream, just as Azel wished.)

-

––During the long voyage, I had a dream.

Emma: …This place again.

The dreamland I stepped into after a long time was still the same half-baked world, with only a few roses blooming here and there.

I felt like there were more roses than in the scenery in my vague memories, but that was all.

I casually walked to the end of the path and stood before the oak table.

(I don’t remember it well, but… I should have met someone here several times.)

I looked around, but there was no one in sight.

The lonely rose garden swayed in the wind, carrying faint sounds.

(…The incarnation of the moon is also the God of dreams, right?)

(I wonder if I can meet him. Even if it’s only in a dream…)

Even though it would be an illusion that disappears like a bubble when I wake up, I found myself sincerely wishing for it as the days passed.

(I haven’t actually seen Azel's death with my own eyes, so honestly, it still doesn’t feel real.)

(Since I can’t get any information about Tanzanite while I’m at sea…)

(I cling to the hope that maybe he’s still alive.)

(...)

(Is that why I’m seeing strange hallucinations?)

I felt like… I saw familiar hair growing from the rose hedge in the distance.

It was an unnatural sight, as if someone was buried there.

(No way, that can’t be true. No one would dive into a rose hedge.)

(But… this is a dream, isn’t it?)

(Anything can happen in a dream.)

(...............)

Emma: That’s… really absurd, isn’t it!?

When I called out into the distance, the hedge shook noticeably.

I hurried over and peered in, and there was a suspicious man with his back hunched.

Emma: …What are you doing, Prince Azel?

Azel: No…

Azel: …You’ve mistaken me for someone else.

Emma: I’ve been wanting to see you for so long… and you say I’ve mistaken you for someone else?

Azel: You have. I’m not your acquaintance.

Emma: …It’s alright, it’s not embarrassing, so please come out.

Azel: Don’t grin… Please don’t grin. I beg you, my spirit will die.

(It really is Azel.)

(…Since this is the dream world, it’s okay to be a little forward, right?)

I hugged Azel, who finally emerged from the hedge, still covered in leaves.

Emma: Why were you hiding?

Azel, without chasing me away, awkwardly looked to the side.

Azel: What if I was just in the mood to?

Emma: You get into a rose hedge because of your mood?

Azel: …Is there something strange about that?

Emma: Everything is strange.

Azel: …

Azel: It would be awkward to meet so easily after making you cry so much.

(I see… That’s so like Azel.)

Emma: I’m happy.

Azel: Is that so?

Emma: Are you blushing?

Azel: Yes, that’s an insult.

Emma: You’re being childish.

Despite his prickly words, Azel put his arm around my back.

Being embraced like this vividly reminded me of our last parting.

(If dreams are a mirror reflecting my heart, then surely the Azel I’m seeing now is also a convenient illusion.)

(But even so…)

Emma: …Hehe.

Azel: What’s so funny?

Emma: I just thought it was funny how realistic the “it would be awkward to meet” part was, even though this is supposed to be a dream.

Emma: It’s as if the real Prince Azel is here–

Azel: That’s impossible. I’m dead.

My words were denied without a moment’s hesitation.

Emma: Let me dream, even in a dream.

Azel: Haven’t you dreamt enough already?

(…Does this mean that my understanding of you is so deep that I can dream of Azel, who is no different from the real one?)

(I don’t want this dream to end.)

The more I realized it was a dream, the more likely I was to wake up, so I tried to numb my thoughts as much as possible.

The silence, broken only by the rustling of leaves, enveloped us for a while.

Azel: Hey… Can I talk about a hypothetical situation?

Emma: …?

Azel: Suppose I’m still alive and dreaming somewhere.

Azel: Maybe our dreams are mixed together, and that’s why we were able to meet like this.

Azel: Assuming that’s the case, what would you do if you found me next time?

Emma: Of course, I’d demand compensation.

Azel: …Huh?

Emma: It’s a natural claim since you made me cry so much.

Emma: It would make paying off the remaining debt a lot easier.

(Though I have a feeling that if I’m with Azel, I’ll soon be in debt again.)

Azel: What if that debt was gone?

Emma: I’d be happy to have it paid off, but I don’t think that will happen.

Azel: Why?

Emma: Because you’re good at making me go into debt, Prince Azel.

Emma: I feel like I’ll get another invoice.

Azel: …

Azel: Would you dutifully pay off a new debt too?

Emma: Of course.

Azel: Even if it’s a scam?

Emma: …I’d gladly accept it.

Emma: Because…

I lifted my face, which had been pressed against his chest, and peered into Azel's eyes, which had a clear outline despite being in a dream.

Emma: If I were to go into debt again, I think it would be Prince Azel's way of saying “stay with me.”

Azel: ............

Azel: That’s not true.

Emma: Even if it’s not… I still want to be with you from now on.

Emma: There’s no other reason for me to pay off a scam-like debt.

Azel: …

(You’re so easy to understand.)

Azel, his cheeks flushed, lightly pecked my lips as if to distract me.

(…This is a… dream, right?)

(But if he’s really… really alive ––)

Azel: ………… Sigh.

Emma: Why are you sighing?

Azel: It’s nothing. Just…

Azel: Don’t forget the offerings.

-

After returning to Rhodolite, my daily life at the bookstore resumed.

I switched with Rio, who had been looking after the store, and the events in the Land of Illusions became a distant dream.

But –– I occasionally received suspicious letters.

The letters, with no sender’s name, described the current state of Tanzanite and always ended with “don’t misunderstand.”

Written in illegible handwriting except for the first letter of each sentence, these letters prevented the illusions from fading into a dream.

*flashback*

Azel: Tanzanite itself is a dream to you.

Azel: When you wake up, you’ll forget everything and return to your everyday life in Rhodolite.

*flashback over*

(Even though you said that…)

(…Even though you said “goodbye” to me.)

(Your words and actions never match.)

(You’re so stubborn.)

-

––And then, six months later…

Emma: Here we are!

Using every trick in the book, I was once again lured to the desert country, and the first place I headed to was the solitary castle.

When I looked back, Kamal, who had guided me to the gate, was waving.

I waved back and stepped inside the familiar solitary castle.

(In Tanzanite, it seems God really did die.)

(That day of the end… Azel was killed by someone on stage.)

The people still respected God.

However, it seems they had accepted the reality of not being able to rely on divination and had begun to seek knowledge.

The letter mentioned that a new bookstore had opened, along with a map.

It included the usual phrase: “You must be interested. You should visit it sometime.”

(I’ll visit that bookstore later…)

There was no sign of anyone in the entrance.

Even when I stepped into the corridor on the right…

Even when I peeked into the kitchen, the master of the temple maintained his silence.

(To think you’d go out of your way to write so many letters and then decide to be absent.)

It seems the people who accepted God’s death no longer visit this temple.

However, there were clear traces of life in the kitchen.

A mountain of fresh ingredients caught my eye, and I could almost hear a hallucination telling me to “hurry up and cook.”

(…It can’t be helped. I’ll use that tactic.)

-

I knocked and entered Azel's room.

I looked right, I looked left, and after confirming that there was no one around, I put down my bag and took out the offering.

What I had prepared were simple meat skewers made using the castle kitchen.

As I opened the package, a delicious aroma that stimulated the appetite filled the room.

Emma: Well then… Let's eat!

???: No, wait, that’s absurd!

(Ah, he was easier to lure out than I thought.)

Azel, who seemed to have been hiding in the shadows of the room, jumped out and snatched the skewer from my hand.

Even though it was the first time we had seen each other in a while, it didn’t feel like it had been “a while” for some reason.

(Is it because I’ve had dreams about Azel several times…?)

Azel: Is it customary to eat offerings in Rhodolite?

Emma: Of course not, but I was about to tearfully eat it to lure out the Prince Azel who can't be honest.

Azel: Who "can't be honest"? I'm a ghost now, so I can't just appear before you easily.

Emma: So, Mr. Ghost can eat offerings?

Azel: I can. Didn't you know that?

His face looked somewhat awkward, and even though I knew he would sulk, I burst out laughing.

Emma: There are a lot of inconsistencies.

Azel: …Shut up.

Azel held the skewer in his hand, but his eyes were fixed on me.

Despite eagerly requesting the offering, his current interest seemed to lie elsewhere.

Azel: I can't believe you actually came.

Emma: After all that appealing for me to come, I couldn't not come.

Azel: Who made such an appeal?

Emma: Prince Azel did.

Azel: I don't recall doing that.

Emma: I even brought all the letters.

Azel: I don't know what you're talking about.

Emma: …I thought you'd say that, so I won't mention it any further…

Azel: …

Emma: I do think you could have told me from the beginning…

(If I had known that dying was just a “pretense,” I wouldn’t have cried my eyes out.)

Remembering the sorrowful farewell, I couldn’t help but complain.

Azel: Could I really say “actually, I’m not going to die” in that sorrowful atmosphere? Of course not.

Azel: Besides… I didn’t intend to see you either.

Emma: But you called for me?

Azel: I didn’t call for you, it was unavoidable.

Azel: …You said you wanted to be with me, didn’t you?

(I… think I did…)

(…It’s hazy, but I think I had a dream like that.)

Azel: You heard my wish. So, I have to hear your wish too for it to be a fair trade.

Azel: This is my pride as a creditor, and it certainly doesn’t mean I wanted to see you.

Despite saying he “didn’t want to,” Azel moved closer to me, not to the skewer.

(Logically, I think Azel believes that the fewer people who know the truth about God’s death, the better.)

(Especially since I have connections with the princes of Rhodolite, there's also the risk of other countries finding out.)

(But his heart hasn't caught up, so he's always inconsistent.)

When I accepted the kiss, Azel put down the skewer and began to greedily devour me.

Even though his words said the opposite, I could hear his heart saying "I wanted to see you."

Azel: Could you put up some resistance? I won't be able to stop.

Emma: That's… impossible. I don't dislike it…

Azel: ......

I was pushed onto a nearby bed and assaulted with kisses once again.

(…S-So obvious, and yet… so stubborn…)

When I opened my mouth, our intertwined tongues brought with them unfamiliar sensations.

I was engulfed in conflicting emotions: embarrassed yet blissful, my body burning hot yet not wanting it to stop.

Large hands casually unbuttoned my blouse, loosening my clothes.

Emma: Is this okay?

Emma: …I’m expensive, you know?

(If you’re going to do this…)

(…I will never let go. I won’t let you go.)

At my words, spoken with a hint of warning, Azel's eyes widened for a moment, and then he gave a mischievous smile.

Azel: In that case, allow me to tell your fortune once again.

Azel: This time, not with the Standard Plan, but with the Professional Plan.

(That’s…)

(Just how much will the invoice be?)

––The curtain of night fell, and the divine moon ascended into the sky.

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

(Huh… That’s…)

It seemed I had fallen asleep, and I was wrapped in a blanket as if to protect myself from the cold.

When I sat up, I saw Azel sitting on the edge of the bed.

(He was awake the whole time.)

(…He seems to be lost in thought.)

I wrapped the blanket around myself so it wouldn’t fall off and crept up behind him.

Just as my finger was about to touch his shoulder, his mystical eyes caught me.

Azel: …What is it?

Emma: I was trying to surprise you… That’s a shame.

Azel: ………… Sigh.

(That’s strange…)

Emma: Why are you so sulky?

Azel: I’m not sulky.

Emma: Yes, you are.

Azel: …

I hugged Azel from behind as he turned away sulkily.

(He seems more awkward than in a bad mood…)

The silence stretched on, and I poked his cheek with my finger as if to urge him to speak.

I poked and poked him meaninglessly, partly to get back at him for all the times he had done the same to me, and finally, a deep sigh escaped Azel's lips.

Azel: …I just don’t understand.

Azel: I don’t like you or anything…

(He’s still saying that.)

Emma: If you tell me we’re “not lovers” after this, I’ll cry.

Azel: .......

Emma: Are we not?

Azel: ………… We’re not… Maybe…

(He finally admitted it.)

Even though Azel's “affection” is obvious, it always takes a lot of effort to get him to say it out loud.

Emma: In that case, there’s something I want you to say.

Azel: No.

Emma: I think you already know what I want you to say…

Azel: I don’t.

Emma: .......

I continued to poke and poke his cheek, and Azel's brow furrowed.

Azel: I’ll never say it, not even if my mouth is torn apart.

Azel: That I love you, or anything–

Emma: …Ah!

Azel: Ah, no, that was…

Emma: That was?

Azel: …

Azel: ............

Azel: It’s not true, but it’s not untrue either, damn it.

(Someday, I want Azel to know that love isn’t “violence.”)

(Love may be something that torments people like a curse…)

(But the happiness of this moment is definitely love too.)

.

.

.

Dramatic End Ch. 25 His Side Story

If you’d like to support my translations, feel free to buy me a coffee here! :)

[jeankluv]

Birdie - Satoru Gojo | Chapter 21

words: 3,9k

summary:While everyone adored him, you stood apart in your feelings. It wouldn't be accurate to say you hated him, as " hate " was a strong word, rather, you harbored a profound dislike towards him. The problem was he knew that and his irritating presence seemed to persistently cling to you whenever he crossed your paths. Now, you found yourself paired with him for your semester project, and the thought made you wish to hurl yourself out of the third-floor window. Three months of working alongside him loomed ahead. Adding to the discomfort, you were currently under the scrutiny of hundreds of eyes, each gaze feeling like a murder attempt. It seemed everyone coveted the opportunity to collaborate with Gojo Satoru, except for you.

warning this chapter: injuries, hospital, abusive behavior

tags:modern au, college au, fem!reader, academic rivals, he fell first, fluff, old money Gojo Satoru, abusive parents, slight slow burn, Satoru is a softy, secondary couple (Geto Suguru x oc), a bit of angst, no use of y/n, hurt/comfort, eventual smut, Gojo plays basketball, Gojo needs a hug

notes: hi, I’m even embarrassed of posting after so long but I’m sooooo busy and I don’t find time to write. Also I said Birdie was going to last till chapter 30 but tbh I think it will reach at least chapter 25, we are in the final part of the story for Satoru and Birdie. The final part of this chapter and the next one are going to be somehow the breaking point for the story. I don’t want to extend the story bc it would feel repetitive and I don’t want to add drama to this story bc it was never my intention with this one, this one was more like a college romcom.

jujutsu Kaisen materialist | ao3

materialist | previous chapter | next chapter

“So are you sure you won’t be able to go?” Kyoko asked you.

“Yeah…” You said leaving the books on the table. “Haibara’s sister can’t go, she is getting ready for her college exams and Haibara has the match.” You shrugged. “I told Satoru and even though he is a bit sad, he says that once the summer breaks begins he will make sure to spend time together.”

“Is he taking you somewhere?” Kyoko smiled. 

“He doesn’t want to tell me, but I think he is planning something with Suguru…” You looked at her, closing your eyes a little bit. “So tell me… what do you know?”

“I don’t know much, but I saw on Suguru’s phone something about Okinawa.” She smiled. “Have you been to Okinawa?”

“No, but it’s beautiful, right?” 

“So beautiful.” She smiled. “Ah! If they are taking us there I might actually pass away, this would be our first trip together as couples.” 

“And also for the two of us together.” You pointed out. 

“It’s true! I’m so excited!” She said with a big smile. “I’m so happy for us.” She said in a nostalgic tone. “I’m so happy to see you opening more, and to see this romantic side of you.” She said. 

You rolled your eyes. “You are just exaggerating things.” 

“Not at all.” She smiled. “And I will see it right now, look who is coming.” 

Your head turned and you saw Satoru coming to where you two were.

“There is…” Kyoko said. “That light that you get when you see him.”

“Kyoko shhh…” You said embarrassed.

Satoru then sat next to you, leaving a soft kiss on your cheek, making you flushed.

“So cute.” Kyoko said with a mocking tone.

“Enough!” You said back.

“But she is right, you are so cute.” Satoru said. “Suguru is not…”

“I know, he is busy. But it’s okay because I’m enjoying seeing my best friend all embarrassed.”

You rolled your eyes as you shook your head. “And why are we still best friends?”

“Whatever…now Satoru why don’t you tell us about Okinawa?” Kyoko narrowed her eyes as she looked closely to Satoru.

“What about Okinawa?!” His voice came out a bit pitchy, it was clear he knew.

“Yeah…” This time you spoke. “Tell us.”

“I don’t know what you two are talking about!” He stood up. “Let’s go, you need to work.” He said leaving both our you there laughing.

“We will have to look out for bikinis.” Kyoko joked.

“I will see you at home.” You waved at her goodbye as you started to walk towards Satoru.

As usual the ride to your work was filled with laughter and new conversations between the both of you, sometimes you wished those rides could last longer because you wanted to know more about Satoru, hear him laugh all the time. Just simply spend time with him. 

Maybe Kyoko was right, maybe you were losing it due to how in love you were.

“Thank you for taking me to work.” You said taking your bag.

“You are my girlfriend, it’s what I should do.” He said.

“Yeah, but there is no need ‘Toru…” You responded.

“Whatever, I know tomorrow you won’t be there.” He looked to the back seats, searching for something. “And it makes me sad, because I wanted to see you with this and I wanted everyone to see you wearing it, but here you have it.” He gave you a bag.

“What is this?” You said with a small smile on your lips and looking at him. “Oh! Satoru!” 

“It has my name on it.” He smiled proudly.

“But I won’t be there.” You said, with a sad smile and touching his name on the shirt.

“It doesn’t matter, I want you to have it.” He said. “You can always wear it while you are working. That way everyone knows who is your favorite player.”

You smiled, ready to tease him. “Then, you got the wrong name.” 

“Huh?” 

“It should say Nanami here.” You tried not to burst into laughter as you watched his expression.

“Oh birdie, don’t tease me or else, you will be late for work.” He grabbed your chin and looked at you with desire.

You smiled and kissed his cheek. “Thank you. I will make sure to wear it.” 

“Okay.” He then kissed your lips. “I will see you.” You hummed in response. “Love you.”

“I love you too.” You said leaving the car and waving at him goodbye. 

You watched as Satoru disappeared in his car down that street. Tomorrow was a big day for him and the entire team. You couldn't be there to support him physically, but you hoped that wearing his shirt during the game while you worked would serve as a lucky charm.

Satoru Gojo POV

Satoru moved his arms as he warmed up. There were about 15 minutes left before the match started. Normally he didn't get nervous, but at that moment Satoru felt something strange. Something that had been bothering him since that morning.

His phone vibrated on his pocket, making him drop his arms to the side and taking the phone out.

A smile appeared on Satoru’s face as soon as he read the notification that popped out on his screen.

It was just two words and one emoji, but it was enough to make him happy and for that strange sensation to disappear from his check. 

“Good luck 🫶”

He stayed staring at that screen for quite some time, finally your classes were ending next week. The project he fight so much to get paired with you, was due on Wednesday and after that you were both free from your classes until the next course, the last one. 

You still needed to work during the summer, but Satoru had everything planned, he was going to make sure that was the best summer for both of you. 

With his blue eyes still locked on the screen he started typing: I wish you were here—

“How cute, the captain all flustered by someone.” Satoru stopped typing as soon as he heard that voice.

“Sukuna…” He said looking at his ex colleague standing in the door. “This is not your team’s room, leave.”

“Why? Can’t I say hi to my dear captain?” He said with a smirk. “I heard you got a girlfriend and that she is not coming today.” 

“That’s none of your business.” Satoru turned around, breaking the eye contact with Sukuna. 

“I hope that’s not a distraction for you.” He kept on talking. “I won’t hold myself up.”

“Sukuna leave…” Satoru said between his teeth. “Or you want what happened last year to happen again?”

“Don’t play silly Gojo.” Sukuna walked towards Satoru. “And don’t threaten me, I won’t be nice today.”

“Ryomen, what are you doing here?” Yaga appeared on the door.

“Oh coach!” Sukuna acted surprised. “Just wishing Gojo good luck for today’s match.” He smiled, as if he was innocent. “Anyways, I will leave you alone, see you in a few minutes Gojo.” 

With that Sukuna disappeared from the room, leaving Satoru and Yaga alone. “Gojo…”

“Nothing, you know Sukuna, he only came here to bother me.” Satoru said. “He is still mad about what happened last year.”

“You know it was not your fault Sukuna was kicked out right?” Yaga said, approaching him.

“Doesn’t matter anymore, now there is a match to win. It’s the end of the season, remember coach?” He smiled passing by Yaga’s side. 

Before Satoru knew it, the clock had started ticking and the sound of shoes, hair and the screams of the fans filled his ears.

Satoru moved fluidly around the court, leading his teammates and setting up plays with precision. His blue eyes always following the ball. The pace of the game was intense, each possession feeling like a battle as the score went up point by point. 

But Sukuna was relentless. Every time Satoru touched the ball, Sukuna was there, pressing hard on defense, Satoru had noticed how his eyes sparkled with mischief and some darkness in them. But Satoru remained composed and continued with the game, keeping his cool even as Sukuna’s taunts echoed around him. 

“Are you sure you’re focused, captain?” Sukuna taunted as they collided mid-game, their shoulders colliding with a force that made the crowd gasp. “Or are you too distracted thinking about your kitty?” Sukuna laughed mockingly. 

Satoru didn’t answer, instead he headed for the basket, evading Sukuna and scoring a perfect shot. The crowd erupted into an uproar and his teammates cheered, clapping him on the back, but he could still feel Sukuna’s gaze on him. Satoru couldn’t hide his anger, his fists and jaw clenched, as he remembered how Sukuna had referred to you. 

During a timeout, Suguru pulled Satoru aside, his voice low but firm. “Don’t let it go to your head. This is just another game. Focus on your game plan, not Sukuna.”

Satoru nodded and took a deep breath. “I’m fine, Suguru…” But he wasn’t, he could feel the familiar spark of rivalry growing. A part of him knew that Sukuna was trying to distract him, but another part, one he couldn't ignore, was determined to show Sukuna that he couldn't be defeated. 

As the final quarter began, the game was very evenly matched. Both teams were racing with adrenaline from one side to the other, exhaustion taking over as each second passed.

But then everything shifted.

Satoru had the ball in his hand when he felt how Sukuna came running to him. Sukuna launched himself at him from the side, his shoulders slamming hard into Satoru’s ribs. 

The force of the blow was intense, unexpected, and he immediately felt blinding pain shoot through Satoru’s body. He staggered, his vision blurred, and within seconds he collapsed to the court, overcome with pain. His head hit the ground, and Satoru started to feel how everything around him began to darken and his name was being called in the distance.

Your POV

You look at the clock that was on the wall as you waited for the lady to give you the money. The match was probably over by know.

You were anxious to know the result and excited to see Satoru’s smiling face telling you they won. 

Your eyes were again on the old lady who was in front of you and who carefully was counting each penny she had on her hands to give you the payment. 

“Here you go.” The old woman said with a smile. 

You offered her a polite smile and gave her her bag with what she bought. “Thank you for coming.” 

The store was once again empty, it was just you and the sound of the machines that store the food as a distant sound. You pulled your phone out from your pocket, expecting excited messages from Satoru and from Kyoko. But you were met with a black screen, your old phone was dead, it ran out of battery without you noticing it. 

A sighed escaped from your lips as you went to the employee’s room and searched for the cable to charge your phone. 

Leaving aside the present you were going to give Satoru once he was there you carefully connected the phone and left it on the side when you heard the noise of the door opening.

Maybe it was him. He came?

You stepped outside the room, expecting to see the white hair of Satoru shining brightly under the lights of the store. But your smile quickly dropped when you saw Haibara and Nanami’s face.

Normally you would be excited but the look on their faces was telling you otherwise.

Before you could speak, Nanami spoke. “Something happened.” 

Something cold run through yourself as Nanami’s words sank on your chest. “What…?”

Haibara called out your name as he approached you. “You need to leave with Kento. I will stay here don’t worry.” 

Your mind was raising, confused and with thousand of questions popping. Nanami took your arm and without a word he guide you to his car. 

“Wait…” You said before entering. “What happened? What’s going on?”

“Hayashi didn’t send you a message?” Nanami asked.

“My phone died, it ran out of battery… doesn’t matter! Why did Kyoko send me a message? What is going on?” You exploded.

“It’s Gojo.” You knew you were losing your strength. “He had an accident during the match.” 

An accident? What?

“He is at the hospital right now…” He continued, but you could only hear him far away from you. Until he called you back. “Geto and Hayashi are there and our coach is also there. But Haibara and I came to pick you.”

“Is he… is he okay?” You trembled, scared of knowing the answer.

“I don’t know, he didn’t look good when they took him out of the match.” The air that was on your lugs once again disappeared as you listened to Nanami’s words.

“But how…? How did it happened?”

“It was a player from another team, he had problems in the past with Gojo and… he took it out today with Gojo.” Nanami explained. “He was unconscious when they took him, Geto asked as to come here for you and take you straight to the hospital.”

You nodded, shaking as every word started to process one by one in your mind. “Yeah… we should get going.”

The car ride was silent, your leg moved up and down as you felt how the suffocating knot that had formed in your stomach now settled in your body, practically leaving you without breathing. You had too many questions, but none of them came out of your lips, it was almost as if you didn't have enough strength to articulate a word.

The ride seemed endless, each second felt longer than the last. Every breath felt shallow and your mind was racing, like you were one of those Formula 1 cars, you were terrified to know its condition and completely angry towards the person who had done this to Satoru.

You felt Nanami’s eyes staring at you and then his voice echoed in the car. “We will be there soon… Captain Gojo is strong…” He whispered the last part as if he was a reminder for himself too.

You slightly nodded, still anxious and distressed. 

When you arrived you didn’t even wait for the car to stop before exiting and running towards the entrance of the emergency room. Nanami’s voice called your name but you didn’t pay attention to him, you searched for some familiar faces, you needed to know his state. See him.

The pulse in your heart went straight to your ears when you saw Kyoko and Suguru’s silhouette not far from where you were. You were afraid of getting closer and hearing what they knew. 

“Oh…” Kyoko gasped when she saw you. “You are here!” She hugged you. “I tried calling you but it said it was off.”

“My phone, it ran out of battery…” You whispered against her. “Kyoko, what…”

“He is stable now…” Suguru spoke this time, his voice was shaky. “They gave him painkillers for his rib and the contusion on the head was not serious. He will be okay.”

You nodded. “How did it happened?” You asked Suguru.

“It was an ex-team member… he… he got in a fight with Satoru last year and after that he got kicked out of the team.” Suguru explained. “And today…” 

“Is he crazy?” You said. “Hurting someone over a…”

“It’s okay…” Kyoko tried to calm you down.

“You can go in.” Suguru said. “I’m sure that he will be glad to see you once he wakes up.”

As you followed Suguru’s steps to the room where Satoru was, Kyoko never once let your hand go. Giving you the support you desperately need it. As you stood in front of the door, you opened with shaky hands and entered it. It was completely quiet and Satoru was in the hospital bed, sleep.

You felt the sensation in your stomach growing bigger as you got closer to the bed. Studying his face, you noticed how it was paler than usual, you felt a pang of sadness as you noticed that.

Satoru was always smiling, cheerful, radiant and now… he was there, in a hospital bed, unconscious. 

Your trembling fingers touched his white snowy hair. “Satoru…” You gently whispered, hoping for your nickname you used to hate so much to come out of his mouth.

But nothing happened, the only sound in the room was the monitors tracking his heart rate. You held his hand and sat next to him. 

Minutes started to pass as you kept on waiting for him to come back to you. You leaned forward, resting your head on the edge of his bed and closing your eyes to breathe in his familiar scent, calming your nerves. Despite the worry that was gnawing at you, the steady beat of his heart brought you a small comfort, a reminder that he was still there.

Last time you were in a hospital was when your grandma was about to pass away. You never liked hospitals, those white walls reminded you of back when you were little after the accident with your mother. Now you knew what happened and that dislike was only bigger. 

It was like you were always in a position where you had to see your loved ones suffering. Suguru said he was going to be okay, but despite that you were scared, scared of the possibility of losing him. 

You knew that your love was going fast but for some reason you felt like it was meant to be, that it was the type of love you would find in books, in films, in songs. 

“Satoru…” You whispered once again, squishing his hand. “Please come back, come back to me.” 

Your eyes began to grow heavy as the door softly opened, a man and a woman entering the room. Their expressions were neither warm nor eager, but reserved, almost cold. You swallowed hard as their gazes fell on you, you felt like they were analyzing you completely with those looks, they were almost telling you that you didn't deserve to be in that place. You didn't hesitate for a second to know who they were, they were Satoru's parents, but unlike Satoru, the gaze of those two people lacked warmth. Their gazes moved to stop at your hand that held Satoru's. 

The woman's eyes narrowed slightly and her lips pressed into a thin line as she watched you at her side. 

"Are you... Satoru's friend?" His mother finally asked, with a sharp tone that almost froze your blood. She barely waited for your nod before pressing her lips together even more. “I didn’t expect my son to have *guests*,” she continued, a subtle disdain in her voice. “Especially considering the kind of company he usually keeps.”

Her husband nodded slightly, giving you a subtle look. “I’m sure you’re… worried about him.” He said. “But this is a family matter. You’d better leave.”

The disdain was clear in his words, and the pain of it cut deep. Satoru’s parents clearly saw you as an outsider, someone who didn’t deserve to be here during such a crucial time. You hesitated, looking back at Satoru, unsure if you should let go of his hand. 

But the sight of him lying there, pale and vulnerable, hardened something inside you. Satoru had been there for you when you needed him most, you weren’t about to leave now, especially not when you knew of the abusive behaviors of those two people towards Satoru. 

With a calm breath, you looked up and met the icy gaze of his mother. “With all due respect, I’m not leaving. Satoru means a lot to me and I’ll be here when he wakes up.”

You held his hand a little tighter, feeling both protective and defiant. You would stay, no matter what they thought. Satoru was there because of someone else's cruelty, and you were determined to be there when he opened his eyes, to be the face that reminded him that he was loved, even if his own parents couldn't see the strength of the bond you shared.

His father laughed slightly, a laugh that could be straight from a villain. “Don’t tell me you are the real reason why our son is refusing to leave that stupid degree…”

You blinked slowly, as your mouth parted trying to talk. “What…?”

This time Satoru’s mother moved closer to you, with her arms crossed in her chest and her lips still in a thin line. “We told Satoru he should focus on the family business, think about what the family needs and he still refused and acted like a little kid. But apparently he prefers to throw that away for…” She took a lock of your hair and looked at you with those cold eyes, which although in color resembled Satoru's, everything else was completely unknown. “For someone like you.”

You felt how you were getting slapped across the face with those sharp words. “I’m sorry, but with all the respect. Satoru is his own person, who is capable of making his decisions and chooses what makes him happy. If you pay attention to him you would know he…”

Satoru’s father's laugh cut you off, leaving you muted as that laugh filled the room. “You are playing with fire, you know? Satoru has the potential to be one of the best lawyers and own the market within a few years, and position our family at the top. But you appeared and as stubborn he is now suddenly he is not listening to us. And look at him, here laying down in a hospital bed because he was probably too distracted thinking about you to pay attention to the game.”

The blood on your veins started to boil as those words hit you. “Satoru is doing what he wants, which makes him truly happy. He is not someone to bow for someone else's desires.”

“People could never understand what it means to be part of a family like ours.” This time his mother spoke. 

Your heart pounded with anger on your chest, you didn’t want to show them any weakness but it was becoming harder with each passing moment. 

“You came to the party with our son right?” His mother spoke once again. “It was not difficult for us to track you down…” Your eyes narrowed. “No family, works in a grocery store and you are on scholarship.”

“I have a family…”

“Dead…”

If you could describe what you were seeing at that moment it was red, just red. Your whole self was full of anger, your heart was racing on your chest, while you were trying to calm yourself down. 

This time Satoru’s time spoke. “You think he will thank you for this someday? For being the reason why he is wasting his potential.”

It was one after the other, one punch after another. You always felt you were a strong person, who didn’t let yourself bow down for anyone, but at that moment you were feeling like they threw you at the lions and there was nothing you could do. 

You strongly closed your eyes, trying to stop any tear that was trying to come out.

“Leave…” A voice sounded in the room and you felt how your heart started to warm again, as if was coming back to life.

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[qqueenofhades]

Having seen what's currently happening in Venezuela, I feel so terrible for everyone to tried to vote Maduro out, and I worry about the US election. Will Trump and the GOP be able to do the same thing??

I agree that what's happening in Venezuela is bad and scary, but it's also not unexpected (unfortunately), and it doesn't correlate to the US election. It is very much a cautionary tale for us, but in the case of what could happen, not what has happened yet (and which we could and MUST still avoid). Here's why I think that.

First, Maduro is the heir of 25+ years of dictatorship (first the Chavez regime and then his), and that political machine has had a full generation to fix/control everything in Venezuela just as they want it. They've collapsed the economy, driven mass emigration/purges/brain drains, installed corrupt systems and destroyed civil society, staffed the government with cronies who will only ever do what Maduro personally says -- etc. In other words, exactly what Trump and the Republicans aspire to do here in America, but with 25 years' head start, so all those fixes are well entrenched. Outside observers were also warning well ahead of the Venezuelan vote that even an overwhelming majority for the opposition candidate might not be enough, because Maduro and co. can just fix the result however they want with imaginary fantasy numbers. (See Putin's "win" in the Russian presidential "election.") Because dictators all draw from the same playbook regardless of their professed ideological temperament, they always use the same tools.

Next, voting in Venezuela is all-electronic, which is obviously the easiest kind of voting to jigger, and which means that whatever the people actually select has little to no relevance to what gets published, recorded, or proclaimed. Now, despite the Republicans' constant screaming about ELECTION FRAUD, the 2020 elections in America were widely hailed as the safest, most accurate, and fraud-free in the nation's history. (For that matter, multiple investigations afterward have re-confirmed this, and the tiny handful of cases of election fraud that were found were committed by, you guessed it, Republicans.) This did not happen because of the Orange Fuhrer and co., who were busy trying to commit election fraud on their own behalves, but because America, however flawed, is still a participatory liberal democracy and citizens have the right to engage and to do so in a meaningful fashion. We had the entire investigation about how Russia meddled with the election in 2016, and changes were made. Cybersecurity experts were brought in; redundancies and failsafes were introduced; etc., and even the Russian campaign focused on psychological influence rather than actually, physically changing already-cast votes, because that is very, very hard to do in America. We are not an all e-voting nation; there are paper trails, hard-copy ballots, hand recounts, poll observers, election lawyers, and multiple other safeguards that exist. The Republicans have been attacking them as hard as they can, but they're still there.

Thirdly, the Evil Orange tried to fix the elections when he was the sitting president (don't forget the infamous "find me 11,780 votes" phone call to the Georgia Secretary of State that got him slapped with felony charges), but he couldn't do it even then. He also tried a coup as the sitting president, with full discretion as to whether, for example, the National Guard should be deployed to the Capitol on January 6, and that didn't succeed. As such, when he's a disgraced jobless felon who is not the commander-in-chief of the American military and holds no official or political role, he's definitely not getting it done now. There were reforms made to the Electoral Count Act to prevent another January 6, Biden and not Trump would be the president at any other attempted attack on the counting of electoral votes, and I can guarantee Biden would not sit around for three hours watching Fox News and cheering the rioters on if such a thing happened again. Trump has been threatening violence again because that's the only move in his playbook, and he wants to intimidate people into voting for him out of fear that he'll attack them if they don't give him what he wants, like any other psychopathic bully. But that does not mean he actually has the tools to successfully carry it off, and honestly, motherfucker? Try it one more fucking time. I double fucking dog dare you. Biden has 6 months left in his term and total immunity, according to your own SCOTUS. So.

Basically, Venezuela has already been a banana republic for 20+ years, the dictator has had a full generation to destroy it/remake it/turn it into his personal fiefdom, he allows elections only because he already knows they won't change anything or actually remove him from power, and that is precisely what Trump wants to do in the US -- but, and this is crucial, has not done yet. Which is why it is so, so important to Orange-Proof America and get rid of him once and for fucking all on November 5th. We can do it. So yes.

[indigosabyss]

Okay, I've gotten my hands on AvenAca Infinity #25, hideously late, and now I'm analyzing the events like CRAZY.

Ik ik everyone's already zeroed in on Tommy and the powers he has otherwise never displayed, but I can't stop thinking of what he's done and said so far.

An important distinction has to be made that these twins are not the reincarnated Tommy Shepherd and Billy Kaplan. They are the souls of Tommy and Billy Maximoff, bits of Mephisto's life force cut off, reformed and then cast aside, eventually to reincarnate years before they were born. Meaning what they know and are capable of will vary greatly from their reincarnated selves, even if the base connection remains.

(The age and appearances of the incarnations of the Infinity comics interest me bc they were dissipated as infants afaik, and they both had auburn hair - except for the one time where one was blonde, but they definitely weren't ten-ish years old rocking the black and white cuts. But that's not the point right now)

Right now, I'm thinking of this version of Tommy, who so far has appeared in the MVI #8 and AvenAca Infinity #24-26. And I can't help but notice that he seems to know a lot more than Billy.

Where Billy thinks that Mephisto is after them bc "they were born bad", Tommy says to Shela that "they think only my brother is the special one". He knows that Mephisto's interest in them is that they become (are???) the Demiurge. Or some level of power that makes them desirable to capture.

Back in MVI #8, we see further links to that, when America Chavez tells them about her home realm, and Billy comments that he and Tommy could probably make something like that, only for Tommy to quickly shush him.

Am I reading too much into it, or has he put together why people might want to capture them and is trying to cover it up? Billy doesn't think much of this confession, but Tommy shuts it down fast anyway.

Moving on from the implicit, let's look at his plan when the issue opened with him suggesting they split up.

Apparently, no one they've encountered so far had the ability to notice them except for agents of Mephisto. That's why Bri scared them (and also why I think this happens before MVI bc that was not the reaction they had to Chavez). But Tommy then breaks off to double back and revive Shela, knowing she would be able to see him and help him??? I feel like the time manipulation powers played some role in that.

His monologue to comatose Shela is driving me especially insane.

The italicized "fast one" is clearly meant to be a jab at him being a speedster, but he hasn't used his speed powers in this incarnation even once! He says they all think he's silly, but I doubt the demons are the ones throwing around playground insults. He has got to be referencing the future here, as he does with Shela's capabilities, so there's more than enough evidence that he's taking a couple peeks into what lies ahead.

And once Shela's awake, his word choice is very deliberate. He jumps straight to it, and knew she would follow. More foresight? Possible, given how he felt free to monologue at length before waking her up, and then suddenly he had no time to waste.

There's a lot of interesting things here that he hints towards knowing and deliberately hiding. And what interests me most is that he doesn't tell Billy any of this. Kid's having an existential crisis at a variable but very young life stage, and dude is just. Not sharing stuff.

Or maybe he did. Maybe he tried to explain them being a Demiurge. Maybe that was what made Billy think they were born bad. And now he's being more vague to protect Billy.

It's just an interesting role to see Tommy in, as the one who knows more than the rest, the one who's taking point, when in most of his superhero career he's having to play catch up, brought into the fold too late.

There's also his reincarnated self's repeated insistence that he wasn't at all magical to take into account, since we know his old self his powers, but why would the reincarnated version? Does he have even an inkling????

[petrssecrethideout]

I'd hoped I would get at least a few days of peace after having to move back in with my dad, but within a few hours I heard honking outside the house. I waited for it to die down as I unpacked my stuff, before going outside to see the one person I couldn't face.

I knew Hunter better than anyone, but now i barely recognized him. the man in front of me had hundreds of pounds on the man I left, his bulk replaced with cut muscle. He had grown a beard too, changed his haircut. He looked so good it made my stomach turn.

"Took you long enough," Hunter said, lounging in his truck bed. I could see the flare of his lats even as he relaxed. "What the hell were you doing?"

"Unpacking," I said trying not to show any guilt or discomfort "What do you want?"

Hunter responded by tapping the tailgate, a motion that just meant to come sit down. I did without thinking, just like i had seen him do for me. It was the most common thing we used to do, besides almost get caught fucking. It was just nice to... talk.

Now, I could feel the body heat radiating off of him as I leaned back against his arm, feeling his bicep against my back. I'd never been so close to so much muscle in my life. I was in awe, mostly just confused on how it happened. I looked down to see his shorts, the only thing he was wearing, were much shorter than I was used to. He used to be afraid of wearing anything that cut off above the knee, too afraid of "looking gay". He must've changed a lot.

"So, how have you been?"

"Pretty good," Hunter said his accent just as thick as ever. "I got a job down at the the steel factory that pays pretty well, and I'm going to the gym again. I think I might be the biggest guy there now."

"I'll say! How the hell did that happen?" I exclaimed.

"Well," Hunter "One of my buddies told me about this Mutant Juice stuff, and I just thought it was some kinda hoax, but it was fucking crazy. Expensive as hell, but I think I'm getting my money's worth. I thought I'd just stop after a round or two, but at this point I think I'm just gonna keep growing until it stops working. Just get real fucking big, bigger than anyone else around here. Maybe I could even be on the ads for this stuff, flexing all of this muscle wearing almost nothing. I think I'd look pretty good like that, don't you?"

He knew what he was doing, and it was working. I needed to feel him, to hold him, to rip those shorts off and just have him again, but something still stopped me.

"You like all of these muscles?" Hunter said, reading my expression. He slowly bounced his pecs. "You always did stare at me a lot. God, did I love it. Still do. Something about the looks you give makes me feel like a fucking beast."

I could feel my dick straining my pants, begging for release. I couldn't do that, not yet. I had to find something else to talk about.

"How's your family?" I asked, veering the conversation away form anything too horny.

the words poured out of my mouth, but it immediately got Hunter to stop bouncing his pecs. Something in his expression changed, he looked... pissed.

"We haven't talked in almost a year. After you left without a word I told them, and... it didn't go well. I got a place of my own after a while." Hunter said

"You weren't..." I could feel my own heart shattering. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. I was the weird one, the freak. His life was perfectly mapped out, just like all of the men around here that had come before him. A decent job, a christian marriage, kids before 25. He had a happy life ahead of him, and I selfishly ruined that.

"I didn't stop being gay when you left. Even if that's what you wanted." Hunter said, his voice filled with a cold anger. "I was just...alone."

I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes. I tried to blink them away, before I felt his arm wrap around me and pull me towards his torso. the feeling of being in a hug of his was enough to get me to cry.

"I missed you." I said.

"I missed you too." Hunter replied as he sniffled from crying. "Y'know, for someone so smart I don't know why you sent that letter. Dear Hunter, I love you, I'll never forget the time we had, but please forget about me. I can't ruin your life. What the hell did you think was gonna happen?"

"I was trying to be all poetic, and self-sacrificial, and... yeah it was bullshit but I thought I was corrupting you. I still kind of do."

"You ain't doing shit. All you did was help me figure out who I actually wanted to be, which is gay and fuckin' massive. I'm just glad I can finally do both of those things now without anyone telling me I can't."

My head nuzzled into his neck as I thought about the man I was currently holding growing even larger. My hands couldn't even fully reach around his back as it was, what was I going to do if It got even wider?

"I'm glad to have you back, even if it won't be forever." Hunter said.

"Maybe next time you could come with me?" I asked, a question I knew would get shot down the last time we talked. He loved his family, and his hometown too much to ever leave, but he had changed a lot since I left.

"Sure. we'll do it together."

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

Carpe Noctem 25

Warnings: dark elements, noncon, age gap, gaslighting, manipulation, violence, blood, other dark elements. Proceed with caution. (short!reader)

Note: Please let me know what you think as it helps me a lot with ideas and I love interacting with you all.

Part of The Club AU

“I think they’ll make great specials,” Cole says as he carefully uses tongs to set the desserts in the display, “you’ll have to write out a list of ingredients we need. Oh, and your receipts.”

“They’re in my bag,” you flick your lashes as you resist a yawn.

“Great,” he hands the tongs to Peter, “grab ‘em and lets go make an inventory.”

Peter takes the tongues and meets your eye. He arches a brow to say, ‘I told you’. You really don’t think much of it. Cole just seems a bit eager and a touch distractible.

You grab your bag and follow Cole to his office. He enters ahead of you and rounds the desk, swiveling the chair to the side, “sit.”

“Oh, it’s fine–”

“Really, I’ll be up and down,” he insists, “I want you to make your list. Oh, and the receipts…” he lets go of the chair and opens the drawer, “I’ll add it…” He takes out a binder with pages jutting out and strips of receipt dangling from the side.

“Uh,” you go around the other side of the desk. You sit as you watch Cole with his messy binder. That can’t be his filing. “Is that–”

“Everything, yeah.”

“Cole,” you lean your elbow on the desk and press your palm to your neck, “you need to back that up. Please tell me you have it on your laptop.”

“Huh, oh, no, it’s fine. Everything’s here. I’m a paper guy, you know?”

“Yeah? Look at this place. When’s the last time you had a fire inspection? The light switch in the bathroom crackles when you turn it on,” you say.

“Well, I wouldn’t know where to start getting this on the computer,” he stands straight, “I send emails at most.”

“Hmm, there are programs… I can show you. I worked as a secretary a few years ago. Wasn’t my favourite but I picked up a few tricks.”

“You? A secretary?” He grins, “what about the daycare?”

“That was after. I worked a desk to get through school.”

“Hmm, we’ll have to see. You might have to take the lead on the whole back up situation,” he slides out a lined pad from inside the binder, “here, make the list and we’ll go over what we already have after.”

“Right, sounds…” you pause and seal your lips against another yawn, “good.”

“You okay?” He asks, surprising you as he touches your shoulder, rubbing just a little.

“Yeah, yeah, fine,” you reach for a pen and he lets go. “Baking too longer than I thought.”

You laugh off the half-lie and incap the bic. You set to jotting out each ingredient as Cole watches. He finally backs off, sniffing as he checks his watch. You glance up as he gets to the door. He smiles at you and you give one an awkward one in return.

He leaves you and you hunch forward. You lean your head in your hand, dragging the nib lazily. Your eyelids begin to droop as you try to remember every little teaspoon. You haven’t slept well since… well, you didn’t even sleep much with Johnny.

You stop to rub your eye, shoulders stiff, slouching lower and lower. Your weight centers on your elbow as you droop lower and lower. You don’t feel the impact on the desk as you fold over and your cheek hits the paper. Your snores swallow you up into sleep, a coaxing rumble for your fatigue.

☕

You grumble as a pang ripples up your neck and between your shoulders. At first, the world is distant and hazy. You search for the last memory you have of consciousness and sit back so fast, you trigger that same stabbing pain again. 

You reach to touch your neck as you come face to face with the office. And Cole. He sits calmly in a chair, one pulled in from the dining area, as he balances the binder on his lap. He glances up with his eyes, keeping his head bent.

“Morning, sleepy head.”

“What? Morning? How long…” you choke on your words and wipe your dry lips with the back of your hand.

“It’s just after closing. Don’t worry. Not a whole day.”

“What? Why wouldn’t you wake me up?” You try to stand and slip back down, tamping down a grunt as a nerve behind your shoulder blade zaps.

“You looked peaceful. And tired. Besides, I’ll still pay you. We’ll count all the time you took baking as overtime–”

“Why– Cole, that’s very nice but… I don’t wanna take advantage of you.”

“You’re not. You’re saving me. You have the best ideas. Specials and seasonal goods, and you’re going to teach me how to use Excel.”

You nearly laugh. This is absurd. Are you still dreaming?

You reach for your purse and find it open. You dig out your phone and check the time. Holy shit. It’s after seven.

“Hope you don’t mind, I just took the receipts out myself,” he holds up a handful, “didn’t touch anything else.”

“I… I forgot. That’s fine,” you push yourself up with all your strength, ignoring the plucking in your neck. You snatch up your purse and walk stiffly to the other side of the desk. “I have to go.”

“Oh, of course, you good to drive?”

“Uh, yeah, I’d say I’m well rested,” you scoff as you grab your jacket from the rack.

He stands as you don’t even try to put the jacket on. That’s just going to hurt even more. You face him as you fix your grip on your purse.

“I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.”

“No worries,” he puts the binder in the chair and stands straight, “really, I don’t mind. It was kinda nice… comforting. I’m usually in here alone.”

“Ah, yeah, I guess, sorry but I got a drive ahead of me,” you try to smile, “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

“Sure,” his cheeks twitch, “tomorrow.”

You nod, regretting that careless gesture. You scurry to the door and he follows. You look over your shoulder, confused. Another mistake.

“Gotta lock the door behind you,” he explains.

“Oh, yeah, right.”

He follows you through the front, desolate and silent. The dark windows are jarring. You lost a whole day. It’s entirely upending. You turn back the latch but Cole reaches around you to open the door himself. You step outside and pause on the stoop, angling your whole body back to him.

“See ya, Cole.”

“See ya, h– uhhh, tomorrow,” he sputters, blanching as if he’s been caught, “can’t wait.”

You hold back a snort. He’s awkward but that’s reassuring. He’s not pushy like Johnny or Lloyd, he’s just a bit lost. Just like you.

[celtigxr]

THE PINK DREAD - CH. 25 (Masterlist)

Chapter Summary:Daemon and Alicent try to give Valeana advice. Spoiler: she does not listen to either of them. Word Count: 5464 CHAPTER WARNINGS: AnnoyingUncle!Daemon. I only proof read this chapter once, so there's probably going to be more spelling/grammatical errors than usual.

Series tags: Aemond x Plus size!OfC, Aegon x Plus size!OfC, Celtigar!ofc, Plot with Smut, mdni 18+, Aemond End Game, Angst, Comedy, The Dragons Don't Dance, slow burn, friends to enemies to lovers, enemies to friends to lovers.

Credits: Lace Banner by Aquazero, pearl divider by Pommecita

Notes: I'm going through a lapse in muse lately, but I'm trying, really. So updates will be weekly, or every ten days depending on how things go.

Daemon Targaryen was hit with an overwhelming sense of nostalgia at the sight before him. If he squinted, it would have been like staring into a window that framed the past. Perhaps the gods did have a sense of humour, because the parallels were just too perfect. 

Aemond and Daemon.

Valeana and Lysa. 

She was nearly the spitting image of her mother, had she had Lysa’s slimmer frame and wheat coloured hair. Daemon only met Valeana a few times, maybe less, though he never had a good look at her. She was younger than she was now, more fuller in figure, ashen from the lack of sun. He didn’t see Lysa in her until the day he returned to King’s Landing. 

“We were just having a reprieve from the ball,” the girl answered, sending a quick look at Aemond, who looked as if Daemon insulted his mother. 

Daemon wanted to laugh at her answer, “I can see that. You two look quite reprieved indeed.” 

Aemond’s nostrils flared, “What are you doing here, uncle?”

That had to be the first time Aemond Targaryen had ever spoken directly to him. They never met, not formally at least. Daemon was too busy in the Stepstones and then in Pentos to even look upon him as a child, let alone as an adult. 

“For the same reason,” Daemon replied coolly, still leaning against the archway at the foot of the stairs. “A reprieve from the ball.” 

“Then we shall leave you to your peace, Prince Daemon,” Valeana rubs her hands together before putting something into her skirt pocket. “Prince Aemond?”

The one-eyed prince didn’t say anything, just kept his eye on Daemon, waiting for the slightest movement to give him reason to lunge at him like a guard dog. He made a low growling sound in agreement, his elbow extending for Valeana to take. When her arm wove through it, Daemon immediately saw the way his nephew’s shoulders broadened, as if he had just won a great prize. 

“And where are you two intending to go?” 

Aemond stiffly turned to Valeana, his jaw taut with irritation and impatience. Perhaps it came with age, or because he was a father of two girls, but nothing was more amusing to Daemon than cockblocking young men that were keen on debasing a woman’s skirts (as ironic as that was). It was especially entertaining that it was his green nephew, sired by that snake of a woman. 

“To retire,” Aemond bit out his reply. 

“Is that what the kids call it these days?” 

“Oh, gods,” Valeana bowed her forehead into Aemond’s shoulder before forcing herself to look at Daemon. “Aemond is just going to escort me back to my apartments. Nothing untoward, Prince Daemon.” 

“Was ‘nothing untoward’ going to happen in this cellar had I not interrupted?” He didn’t give them room to reply as he sauntered closer to the couple. “Need I remind you, Lady Valeana, that you have an agreement with my step-son, the heir to the heir. You are supposed to be courting him.” 

She glared up at him shamelessly, just like Lyra used to do when no one was looking.

Daemon tutted, “Your father would be greatly disappointed in you when I tell him where his daughter was, and with whom. I dare say, ol’ Barty might go ahead and take away his promise of choice.”

He was sickly satisfied at her reaction. Caught between her anger and her fear of her father. Valeana leaned into Aemond’s arm once again, who in turn pulled her closer, all the while keeping his eye trained on his uncle. If Daemon was a sentimental man with a soft heart like his brother, he might have cooed at the lovers and let them go on their merry way. 

But he wasn’t; he was far more ambitious than he was empathetic. Even if the two mirrored his past so symbiotically, he almost wished he hadn’t interrupted just so he could bear witness to that treasured memory in real time. 

“I’ll escort Lady Valeana back, nephew,” Daemon continued before he did get sentimental. “It is just as well; your mother has been asking for your whereabouts. Something about a Baratheon girl.” 

Aemond’s lip thinned just before he made a threatening step forward, only to get held back by the ivory anchor at his arm. 

“Aemond,” she said softly. The younger prince looked down at her, the muscles in his jaw relaxing. “My father cannot know.”

He considered her words for a moment before nodding stiffly, “I will call on you.” Aemond’s hand hovered over her cheek, only stopping when he re-remembered that they now had an audience of one. He ended up letting his hand fall to his side, and giving her one last look before turning around to give his uncle one last glare. Keeping eye contact, Aemond strode by him, shoulder nearly checking him from the sheer proximity. 

Daemon’s smug smile did not wipe from his face as he nephew passed by him and bounded up the stairs two steps at a time. He hummed his amusement, and then brought his attention back to Valeana, who stood with her arms crossed, and green eyes venomous and lethal. 

He just smiled at her, irking her even more. 

“My Lady,” he offered her his elbow. 

Grumbling, she walked by him, marching up the stairs, muttering about how her mother should have slapped him harder. Daemon simply followed after her, keeping her in his crosshairs and ensuring she didn’t flee after her lover. 

Once they were in the corridors above, Daemon easily caught her stride, “The apple does not fall far from the tree, I see.”

His comment earned him a confused glance, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Formalities already forgotten. Perhaps the apple did fall farther from the tree, but he blamed that on her hot Valyrian blood. “Lysa Lannister also coveted the affection of royal blood. How far down are you planning to go? Should I worry for Lucerys or little Joffrey?” 

If eyes could slap someone, that’s exactly what she did to him, “You know nothing of my mother, and if you do not wish to feel another bite of a bejeweled slap across your cheek, I suggest you keep her name out of your mouth.” 

If Daemon was any other man, he would have bristled at her words, but instead he just laughed; louder than a hummed chuckle, softer than a loud guffaw. His hand went to his cheek, reciting the twenty-five year old memory in his mind. 

“I still have a scar from that, just above my left eye.”

“I can assure you that I can continue where my mother left off.” 

He peered at her interestingly; she was bristly walking, trying to keep a foot ahead of him, but failed miserably.  He was much taller than her, making his long languid strides match her pace with ease. 

“I would watch your tongue if I were you, Lady Valeana. One day I will be your king.” 

“Consort,” she shot him a look over her shoulder.

That wiped the smile off his face. His tongue rolled around in his mouth, a bitter taste of the truth that the closest way for him to reach the Throne is by being a consort to his niece. Not even his own sons would inherit it. Daemon had half a mind to slap the Celtigar girl across her face for reminding him of his place. 

He didn’t, for the sake of his wife. For the sake of his brother. For the sake of Lysa’s ghost. 

“I know plenty about Lysa,” Daemon’s voice was low as he acknowledged her previous statement. “More than your father. Certainly more than you.” 

“You’re assuming my knowledge of the woman who sacrificed her body and soul for me? My father has told me everything about her; he wanted me to know her as if I had personal memories of her.”

“Lysa lived in the Keep years before she started courting your father, or even met him,” his lips were in a thin line, eyes forward as they made it to Maegor’s Holdfast. “There are things that Lord Bartimos was not privy to, and I daresay he would not wish to know if presented with the option.” 

Her brow was still furrowed in indignation, but his words casted a frown upon her face. He could see it in her profile, the thoughts rolling around in her head like a collection of marbles. 

“What things?” 

“In another life, Lady Valeana, you and Clement would have been my children,” his confession startled her enough to falter her step and whip her head in his direction. “Had it not been for my grandmother’s insistence on marrying me to the Bronze Bitch, and your mother’s relentless stubborn devotion to Aemma Arryn.” 

Alysanne’s marriage arrangement with Daemon and Rhea Royce was politically sound from an objective point of view. Rhea was set to inherit her own title in Runestone, Daemon was third in line and effectively not set to inherit anything. This would have given him land and title, and would turn the second most powerful family of the Vale into a Targaryen dynasty. Lysa Lannister wasn’t to inherit anything, but she was the only female Lannister born in generations, until Jason’s daughters. She had a hefty dowry that could buy land if he so chose. But that was not the reason he wished for her hand, oh no. 

Daemon was absolutely obsessed with Lysa Lannister. She captivated him as much as she infuriated him, and the truth was he didn’t have an answer as to why that was. 

Turning to her, he allowed himself to openly examine Valeana’s features, grasping onto all the similarities, and ignoring the Valyrian attributes she inherited from her father. Peridot eyes and all. 

“Your mother refused to marry, not until Aemma died. She refused every eligible lord and knight in the Seven Kingdoms, claiming that her duty as the Queen Consort’s Lady-In-Waiting was more important than being a wife and mother. And for some reason, when she did decide to become one, she chose your father over everyone else.” 

Over me. 

Valeana let out a long groan, instantly reading into the subtext of Daemon’s little diatribe of being rejected by her mother. This isn’t the first time she has heard a lord tell her about how he tried to woo her mother only to be jilted politely in preference of being perpetually unwed – until Bartimos Celtigar came in with his jewels and his gold. 

“Prince Daemon, I am already juggling three princes, I do not need another, especially someone who is married, and so old—”

“I’m not old–” He instantly snapped back, but quickly switched off his offended tone. “And if I wanted you as my bride, I would not have wedded Leana. Your father would have no qualms betrothing you to me if I had asked–”

“I was five!”

“And that would have not mattered after ten years— what am I even bloody talking about?”

“How you wanted to wed me when I was five!”

“I did not– Hmm,” His hand swept over his face in frustration, a barely contained growl muffled in his palm. “You are more infuriating than your mother.” 

“Then why did you want her in the first place?” Valeana stopped walking when they reached her floor. Her family’s apartments were not long from there, but she did not wish to have Ser Steffon bear witness to this conversation. 

Daemon’s lips pouted in thought, one hand on his hip, the other on the pommel of Dark Sister, always attached to him wherever he went. 

“I wanted her because she infuriated me,” he finally said, voice low. 

Valeana raised her eyebrows, “And she did not want you, because she did not love you. That is why she chose my father.” 

At that, he tilted his head, “You really think your mother loved your father?” When she didn’t answer right away, too long to formulate an answer to what should have been obvious, he continued. “She loved someone else, someone she could not have. That was the real reason she didn’t accept anyone’s proposal. It was not until she could not handle her own loneliness did she decide to finally look for a husband. Your father offered her contentment, a life of comfort and ease, and in the end she chose to settle. That is the truth that your father would not want to hear.”

Valeana was silently digesting, though not entirely freely. He could see the defiance in her eyes, the clear unwillingness to believe a single word coming from his lips. He knew that feeling well, when he saw the truth before him the first time; it tore his innards out like an army of crabs feasting on a corpse on the barren lands of the Stepstones. 

“Trust me when I say this, Lady Valeana. Your mother would’ve wanted you to wed Jacaerys Velaryon. She would’ve wanted you to be the wife of Aemma and Viserys’ grandson.” 

She stared at him long and hard, the crease between her brow never wavering. Her mouth went from a frown to a tight line as she lifted her chin up, very distinctly Lannister in its nature. 

“No,” Valeana shook her head. “You really don’t know my mother, Daemon. She would have wanted me to marry for love, or not at all.”  

Valeana’s morning began blessedly late, as did everyone else’s she’d wager. Fast was broken in silence; Barty and Ursula were hung over, Shyla looked as if she was keeping a secret she did not want to share, Arthor seemed the same way, Clement  scarfed down food as if it would be his last meal, and Floris… Seemed rather content, bizarrely. Especially since Valeana recalled her being contrite for the entirety of the ball. 

It was just as well, Valeana much on her mind. Aemond leased her dreams that night, as well as all the things that could have happened under Balerion’s nose. Some of it didn’t make much sense, but she remembered being nude before him, hiding her intimate parts from him. Then he would respond by undressing himself in front of her, eye patch gone, hair undone, all without shame. Her mind stirred at that point and suddenly she was slimmer, younger, with golden hair instead of silver. Aemond before her had two eyes, shorter hair, youthful, and definitely not himself. 

Then the room filled with salt water, and she was submerged in an ocean, completely alone. Her hands reached out, clawing at the surface as a black mass flew in the sky above. Then… she woke up.

Valeana looked down at her breakfast: eggs, toast, and herb & honeyed bacon. Resting her chin on her fist, she moved the contents around her plate with her fork. Instead of swallowing down food, she tried to swallow down the pit of dread lodged in her throat. 

On the morrow, she will have to spend part of her day with Jacaerys, an obligation that she must entertain. Valeana knew the dark-haired Prince was not what she wanted, even if he could have been worse. He wasn’t that bad when he was a child, unlike his brother, and at the very least he had grown handsome. It still would be a short courtship, no matter how much her father and Daemon wanted it. Val simply could not see herself falling for Jacaerys, even if they had all the time in the world. 

Then there was Aegon, a surprising yet not unwanted addition in her life. But presence simply just makes her life so painfully complicated. His drunken confessions, lewd and scandalous as they were, took root in her privy parts vividly. Valeana never had a voracious appetite for carnal pleasures; she was a maid, whose experience of her own pleasure has always been curious fingers whenever she felt lonely, felt the need for romance that she was convinced was not in her future. Though even before then, she couldn’t deny that his companionship had become a balm in her life recently. What he did for her would not be forgotten, and that made the notion of even tossing him away for Aemond feel traitorous and unfair. Even if their arrangement was constructed with that goal in mind. 

But giving up on Aemond after last night… that felt like she was spitting in the face of the gods themselves. Surely, they were the ones that put them together in the first place, and they had always intended to keep it that way, one way or another. The image of Aemond on his knees, sapphire and amethyst eyes, his hands upon her in desperation, his kisses on her brow and hands, his gentle laughter in her ear… it all pulled on her heartstrings like a lyre. She could not give him up now, now that he was finally back in her arms; now that she found her Aemond.

Her mind also drifted to Daemon, and all the things he said about her mother. Valeana doubted much of what he said, but she also doubted her own confidence in how much she really knew her mother; how much her father knew about her. Val supposed that the only person that would have the answers for her questions was… The King. Of all people alive, he knew her the longest, outside Daemon, who already showed his biases with a decades old grudge over a rejection. There wasn’t even a Lannister relative alive that was old enough to remember Lysa, so Viserys was truly her only option. 

Fitting the Queen for her dress offered Valeana a respite from her thoughts. The distraction was a blessing, now that she was able to concentrate on something more productive than matters of her indecisive heart. Rosy had come with her, her ever faithful assistant to these things. She tended to like doing the more tedious tasks, so Valeana had her cut the scales from the fabric that would cover the skirt of the dress. In the meanwhile, Valeana worked on the bodice, making sure it fit Alicent snugly so that the scales that she planned on sewing would appear more like a second skin rather than fabric. 

“You have quite the eye for detail, Lady Valeana,” Alicent commented as she watched her map out the designs using a chalk pencil. 

Val smiled up at her, a genuine one, despite being marred by stress, “You flatter me, your Grace.” 

Alicent had not been one for conversation ever since Valeana revealed her leg to her. There was a point in which Valeana wondered if she even remembered that she commissioned this dress from her, but her doubts were proven wrong when requests were brought to her by servants inquiring about the progress ever since Alicent returned from Dragonstone. 

There was a beat of silence in the room, the only noise was Rosy’s snipping of scissors and the birds chirping outside the slightly ajar window. Then the Queen broke it after spending several seconds watching Valeana work. 

“May I ask you something, Lady Valeana?”

Val looked up, surprised by the request when she needn’t ask permission. But at the same time she wanted to deny her, because she had a good list of possibilities of what Alicent could possibly ask of her, none of which she had a desire to answer.   

“Of course, your Grace,” Valeana replied anyway. 

“This business with Prince Jacaerys…” She trailed off, eyes flickering to the girl, and then down at her diligent hands as it worked the fabric. Alicent was afraid to tread on these waters, it sounded like. Almost as if she wanted to inch closer to something more delicate, rather than simple curiosity. “Is it something you want?” 

Valeana ran her tongue around her teeth before sucking against them in an attempt to stall. The answer was no, obviously, but she did not know if it would hinder or benefit her if she told Alicent the truth. With the tensions between the greens and blacks, Valeana toed the line between the two families, not knowing what side she should choose.

“It never matters what a daughter wants,” she decided on answering truthfully, without being direct. It didn’t entirely feel safe confiding in a woman who very well may be her political enemy in the future. Or future mother in law. 

Alicent accepted the answer, even hummed in agreement. She allowed the silence to settle for a moment again, but Valeana knew the questions were not over. Eventually, the Queen broke the silence again when she inhaled, the words finally finding her. 

“It came quite a surprise to me and his Grace that upon our return, we learned that our eldest son has been courting you, Lady Valeana.”

There it was, the real thing she wished to talk about. Val hadn’t even thought about what the Queen and King would think about her and Aegon together, if it was something they considered, if it was something they wanted. It would surely benefit the green’s cause, though Valeana suspects that Alicent still wanted Aegon to marry his sister. Which left… Aemond. That was why the Queen had tried to talk her into forgiving Aemond when she first arrived. Gods, how that felt like it was eons ago. 

“It was as much of a surprise to me, your Grace,” Valeana trained her eyes on her work. She felt Alicent was particularly good at gauging someone’s thoughts with just her eyes. They were so large and doe-like, which reminded Val of Aegon, the puppy-dog that he was. “Prince Aegon and I were not exactly friends as children.” 

“Which is why my husband and I thought it a strange development, one that no one foresaw,” Even if there were just the three of them in the room, and Rosy was on the far end, sitting on a settee, Alicent spoke in a little over a whisper. “Whatever did he do for you to overlook his past transgressions?” 

“Well,” Valeana collected her thoughts when she turned away to grab a needle and red thread, “He apologized sincerely, and he also has been nothing but kind, caring, helpful… and eventually affectionate.”

Alicent looked utterly unconvinced. The image that Valeana just wove with her red thread was of a complete stranger that had been calling himself Prince Aegon, playing her for a fool. 

A thin eyebrow was raised at that, “Kind, caring, and helpful?” she repeated the words, foreign descriptors of her eldest son. “Excuse my skepticism, but I’ve only known my son to be the very opposite.”

Valeana shrugged bashfully, “A moon ago I would’ve agreed with you.” She paused briefly in thought, then added: “But if it comforts you to know, your Grace, Prince Aegon is still just as cheeky as a monkey.” 

Alicent smiled in spite of herself, “That is comforting. I was afraid he was swapped with an imposter.”

Val bit her tongue before she could say, “Would that be a bad thing?”

The Queen cleared her throat, the tell tale sign of someone gearing up to say something difficult to say and hear. “I wanted to say, Valeana, that…knowing Aegon, I… I think it is within your best interest to not pursue things further with him.” 

Valeana glanced up at her for a moment, then back at her work. She decided not to say anything just yet. Alicent appeared to have much on her mind, and the younger, subordinate lady didn’t want to appear dismissive over her apparent worries. She was a mother, afterall, even if popular opinion dictated that she put the title of Queen before the other. 

“I will be plain with you. I owe you and your dear late mother that. I watched you grow up since the moment you were born within these very walls, and I would not wish to bear witness to another one of my sons hurting you again.” 

Val’s hands stopped working as she listened to Queen Alicent’s words closely. It was true that she knew the woman since birth, but Valeana had very few fond memories with Alicent. There were few sporadically, but she always seemed to keep Valeana at an arm’s distance, almost like she couldn’t trust her existence. She wasn’t cold, but she wasn’t warm. Not to mention, Valeana still remembered how much she advocated for Aemond not to get punished for what he had done. 

“You feel that he intends to take advantage of me,” it wasn’t a question. Valeana could feel Alicent’s eyes penetrate her profile once she resumed her stitching. 

“You must know it is in his nature to do such a thing,” the woman bowed her chin in an attempt to capture the younger’s eyes. “Aegon has an… appetite for chaos, as much as he has one for drink and pleasures of the flesh. I fear he may be using you as a weapon against Aemond, simply out of entertainment.”

And this is the man you are trying to put a crown on? Another thing Valeana had to bite her tongue for. 

Val forced herself to smile up at her reassuringly, “I’ll take your warning to consideration, your Grace. I only hesitate because he has not shown that unscrupulous side to me. It has only ever been the very opposite.” 

The ends of Alicent’s mouth tightened, but she nodded nonetheless, “I only wish for you to be careful.”

“I will, your Grace. Your concern is appreciated and noted.”

“And–” she inhaled, squaring her shoulders, “I hope that you may extend Aemond the same courtesy of forgiveness as you did Aegon, in time at least.”

The memory of last night was still fresh in her mind, like that blessed dream that had her wake up with damp thighs and a sense of carnal hunger. Her cheeks pinked at the memory of Aemond’s gentle kisses on her palms and head, reverent in contrast to his devouring kisses on her breasts so many nights ago. 

It was hard to stop herself from smiling, and albeit small, Alicent noticed it immediately. 

“My relationship with Aemond is… complicated, your Grace,” Valeana carefully spoke, deciding to tiptoe around the truth. She wasn’t entirely comfortable sharing the breadth of the story just yet. “But… the steps towards reconciliation have taken place.”

“You speak true?” Alicent’s doe eyes glittered hopefully, “When did this take place?”

Valeana bit her lip, an attempt at reigning in her smile from becoming a full grin. She wanted to bury her face in the fabrics of the half-finished gown, embarrassed of the glow upon her face. Alicent was the first person that she had told this to, even a fraction of it. 

“We had a long discussion sometime during the Ball last night,” Val confessed, surprising herself for doing so. “It is still early days, your Grace.”

Alicent’s brow twitched slightly as she tried to recall a moment in which that could have happened at all. There was one when she could not spot Aemond in the crowd, sometime after she had dismissed Valeana to reprimand Aegon for his drunken display. A great, albeit silent sigh caused her shoulders to sag, as if a large weight of stress had been lifted off them. 

“Oh, my dear Valeana, that brings me much happiness,” Alicent pulled her little seamstress to her in a hug. Valeana’s eyes bugged out of her head, body stiff under the embrace of the Queen. “It brings me much peace.”

The rest of the day went by in a blur. After she had finished up with Alicent, she had brought the dress back to her family’s wing to finish a few adjustments. That evening she shared her supper with Ellyn, Wylla, Shyla, Catelyn, and Sharis and Malora Tyrell on the terrace above the training yard. There were men still down there, even when the sun was setting, trying to get as much training done before the beginning of the tourney. The seven girls simply watched in silence, sipping wine and eating grapes and berries. When the wine started to ease their sensibilities, they started to wolf whistle at every man who removed their shirt to combat against the evening humidity. 

Valeana squinted down at the men, not recognizing a single one. One of them walked around languidly with confidence, his brown hair was braided down to the nape of his neck, the sides shaved, giving him a rugged appearance despite his shaven face. His tunic was loose on him, covered in dirt and a bit of blood from the sparring. He was the loudest of them all and the most boisterous when it came to his audience of women that were seated above the yard. He would grin and bow at them after defeating his opponents, blow kisses and throw winks. The Tyrell sisters were absolutely smitten with him. 

“Who is he?” Valeana asked, narrowing her eyes at him. He seemed familiar, but from this height, she could barely make out his face through all the dirt and sweat. She took a sip of her drink in contemplation.

“Dalton Greyjoy.”

And then she spat out her drink. 

While Ellyn, Wylla, and her sister laughed – being the only three people present that knew the lore – Dalton turned to look up at the commotion, his intense steely blues on Valeana in an instant. At the sight of her sinking into her chair like a dying python, he grinned and laughed, giving her a small wave. 

Cat laughed in confusion, “Do the two of you know each other?” 

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Valeana pulled a cushion off the sofa and put it in front of her face. 

Suddenly the girls started to wolf whistle again, and Val – out of morbid curiosity – moved the pillow away from her face to take a look. Dalton had finally pulled off his filthy tunic, exposing his lithe and muscular frame, littered with aged white scars, and black tattoos that she couldn’t quite make out. 

He grinned up at her with that shark grin of his, “What are you lookin’ for, Celtigar?!”

Val’s eyes narrowed annoyingly, then looked over at her sister who was giggling like a maniac. Suddenly numb to her embarrassment, Valeana sat up in her seat and peered down at him over the balustrade in clear distaste. 

“Bruises!” 

He threw his head back and laughed loudly. Then he turned around to face back towards his audience. To her absolute horror, Dalton shimmied down his breeches to expose his pale rear end. 

“All cleared up, I’m afraid!” 

The girls screamed and whistled, and Valeana sank down to the floor, face as red as the crabs that marched across her house’s banners. 

Valeana called it a night shortly after that, dragging a reluctant Shyla with her.  As they got dressed and clambered into their beds, the exhaustion of the last few days slowly seeped into her bones. Shyla was the first to pass out, as usual, but despite her body’s fatigue, Valeana had a difficult time shutting off her mind. Eventually sleep started to creep up on her, with her final thoughts lingering on the wish to not have to bump into Dalton “The Red Arsed” Greyjoy again. 

Just when her mind is pulled under the surface of her subconscious, Valeana could feel a dip in her bed. Too tired physically and mentally react, she simply remains still, trying to cling to sleep, convincing herself she just imagined it. 

“Valeana,” She could hear her name being called next to her ear, but she was convinced it was simply auditory hallucinations produced by exhaustion. 

“Valeana, wake up.” 

She made a loud snore when she inhaled violently, which made the voice chuckle softly next to her. Then, just when she thought the mysterious voice left her, something pinched her nose, causing her to gasp through her mouth and jostle up from her pillow. 

In her delirium, she did not notice anything immediately, not until her eyes focused on the body laying next to her on her bed. Shock jolted her awake immediately, her mouth opened to scream, but a firm hand covered it.

“Sh, sh, sh,” he said, putting a finger to his lips. “It’s just me.” 

Val’s eyes settled into a glare, her lips curling into a snarl when his hand dropped from her mouth. 

“Aegon, I am going to kill you.”

He laughed softly, “All in due time.”

“What are you doing here? How are you here?”

“Get up; put your robe on.” 

She eyed him suspiciously, “...Why?”

“Strap on your peg leg, Crab Cake, and get your pretty little arse out of bed. Then I’ll tell you.” 

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX SNEAK PEAK

He decided to chuckle nervously again, wondering if she was joking, almost praying that she was. “Mayhaps we should call it a night. You are forgetting yourself, Crab Cake.” “I’m not,” was her immediate reply. “I’m… I’m curious. And I want to see… I want to try.”

Notes: So before you ask -- yes, there will be a prequel MINI series about Lysa Lannister, staring our favourite perverted uncle. Won't be out for a while, but you're gonna be seeing the ground work in the next few chapters regarding her mom's past. For those that are waiting on the Fem!Aegon one shot, please be patient with me, I keep on rewriting the last section of it. I'm not super satisfied with it yet. I don't want to give a definitive date, because I don't want to make promises I can't keep.

Tag: @queen-of-elves, @keylin1730, @anakilusmos, @weepingfashionwritingplaid, @sugutoad, @desireangel

( if you wish to be tagged for this story, just give me a reply! )

Please do not re post, redistribute or plagiarize my work. The only other place this story is posted on is ao3 under the same username.

[ihavethedreamies]

Hard to Swallow | Easy to Expert (3 v6)

Lee Yongbok (Felix) & Seo Changbin - Stray Kids

Rating: M (18+) MDNI

Word Count: ~3.7k

Felix/AFAB!Reader/Changbin

Genre: Reader-Insert, Smut, Fluff

!!This is smut…if that much isn't clear you should probably leave now!! MDNI!

Warnings: She/Her Pronouns used, Swearing, Kissing, Lingerie, Multiple Partners, Oral (M! Receiving), Deepthroating/Face-Fucking, Threesome, Double Penetration, Anal Play, Sex Toys - Butt Plugs, Anal Sex, Changbin has a Big Cock (duh), Cockbulge (duh), Breeding Kink, Unprotected Sex (Bad Idea, Don't Do It)

Disclaimer: I do have the whole cock-bulge thing in this. I understand this could be a bit offensive to some who are on the heavier side (I am in that group as well). Sorry if this doesn't align with your body type, this is just a work of fiction.

Author's Note: This series has seriously devolved into pure filth. I am writing these one after the other and the clear decline in purity is obvious, helps you know whose I wrote when. This one is second to last, and might actually be a little better than the one before it but…we'll see...

PS. I wrote the first A/N before I wrote Bang Chan's, and now that I have...this one is worse.

Edit (8/25/24): I changed the text/chat pictures to just text.

-> Series Hub <-

-> Part 1 <-

-> Part 2 <-

-> Ver. I.N. <-

-> Ver. Seungmin <-

-> Ver. Hyunjin <-

-> Ver. Han <-

-> Ver. Lee Know <-

-> Ver. Bang Chan <-

I am cross-posting this on Archive and Wattpad. Please reblog! If you know anyone that would like this or future fics but they aren't on here my name and icon are exactly the same on the other sites. Happy reading!

"So, (Y/N) has an idea-"

"Okay, I'm in." Changbin didn't even let Felix finish the sentence.

"You have no idea what I was going to say."

"If it involved (Y/N), I'm in. What is it…?" Changbin put his phone away, leaning in as he rested his elbows on the table. No one else was in the classroom yet, but Felix still quieted his voice.

"She wants a threesome-"

"Yes."

"I know. But she requested you specifically."

"Me?" Changbin giggled like a child, "she wants me?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'm going to send you an address. Go there and ask for the item code I will send too." The older guy pulled his phone back out and typed away on it. Felix furrowed his brow, a little concerned that Changbin already had something like this planned.

"Oh, don't worry. I've had this ready for the next girl I get but none of them would have fit. (Y/N) will though." He smirked and your boyfriend's phone buzzed. He opened the message and instead of saving it, he forwarded it to you. Felix had already given you his card so you could go buy a set of lingerie if Changbin agreed. He had planned on you getting a frilly pink set, but if Changbin had a request then so be it. He added after the forward that if whatever it was did not, please you, to go ahead with the initial set.

"Can’t fucking wait, tonight?" The man bounced in his seat, once again like a child. His mannerisms did not fit him, not with his build and bulk.

"I was thinking next week, but I can see if tonight works." Felix texted you the question as well.

🐤: Changbin-hyung said yes 🐤: Wants you to go here... 🐤: Location Sent! 🗺️ ☀️: ✅ 🐤: ...and ask for item #823. 🐤: If you don't like it just get what we decided. ☀️: Okay! 🐤: He wants tonight... ☀️: Hm, okay. I'll have to go to the other store to get a matching plug. 🐤: just use my card, I'll get him to pay me back ☀️: Sure thing! 💝

The address was not too far from where you were meeting your friends for lunch so you would stop by on the way home. When you got there and requested the item, the clerk came around the counter to assist you. It was a lingerie store you had been to once before, but never got anything. It was a little higher than your price range and you made sure to remind Felix to get paid back from Changbin. The clerk measured you quickly just to get your rough numbers so she could pick a good size.

"Please wait here." She smiled, bowing slightly then went to get the item. The place was bigger than you thought from the store front, and you wondered how the hell Changbin found this place, let alone to knew what he wanted you to get. The worker came back and presented the set to you, already hanging in a bag, she would have to just zip it up. You balked at the set before you. You were expecting black leather or even latex. Maybe red or dark purple? Fishnets? No. The lingerie looked like it was supposed to be for a bride, but it was a pale blue instead of pure white. When the clerk rang the item up you almost choked on nothing, and reluctantly pulled Felix's card out of your bag. Why the hell was it half-a-million won? When you checked the register, the set was listed as Mulberry Silk Bridal Lingerie Set. Really Changbin? Trying not to seem so awkward after you paid, you bowed as you took the clothing bag from her and scampered out of the store. You still had it slung over your arm when you walked into the much more familiar adult store you and Felix frequented. The cashier didn't even acknowledge you as you headed straight to the section you needed. You were supposed to get a tail that looked like a unicorn's, braided fake hair of pink, blue, and purple. There was also a matching headband, but it didn't fit the elegance of the lingerie. Humming in thought, you ended up going with a tail plug that was made to look like a tiger's, white with black stripes. There were matching ears and you used Felix's card again, the grand total being about 30,000 won. A much more reasonable price.

"What the actual fuck Seo Changbin?" you muttered, going to stand in the full-length mirror. You had prepared yourself, accordingly, slipping the tail plug in before you put on the rest of the set. The panties weren't the same kind that Felix and you normally picked out. It was a thong, not crotchless, and you had to fenagle it to accommodate the plug. You literally got out your sewing kit, luckily having a spool of white thread at the bottom. Carefully you ripped the seams out and resewed the thong strap so you could slide the tail through. You hated ruining such an expensive piece of clothing but at least it was just the thong.

Looking in the mirror you huffed, but had to admit you looked good, like a snow tiger. The top was a corset that luckily laced in the front and had short ruffles of silk at the bottom. The corset didn't have an attached bra, it curved to rest under your breasts though, lifting them up. That was where the support was because the bra was barely that, only the edges were actually silk with some boning, but the rest of the material was sheer. The thong was made of silk as well and there was a garter belt included as well. You had clipped them to the sheer thigh-highs after you extremely carefully rolled them on. There were ruffled silk bracelets that you tied on each wrist. After seeing the ensemble, you knew your black choker would be a stark contrast, but it ended up working well with the white tiger set you had. Moving into different poses, you looked yourself over in the mirror. In the background you heard the keycode being pressed into your door and the two men shuffling in.

"Wait!" Felix called, sounding annoyed and the heavy footsteps immediately halted.

"Take your shoes off," your boyfriend scolded, and you giggled softly.

"What the hell did you make her get?" You heard your boyfriend coming down the hall and stepped back from the mirror to stand at the foot of your bed. Changbin didn't answer, but he got to see when he entered your room.

"Shit." Your boyfriend sighed. He wasn't sure how to feel about it. It was clearly a bridal set, at least it wasn't white though. You did look amazing however, and he loved that his black choker pulled out the stripes on your tail plug and your headband.

"Fuck me~" Changbin practically moaned coming in to the room as well. He desperately wanted to scoop you up, but he held back. He was getting the privilege of Felix letting him fuck his girlfriend, he would hold back.

"Rules?" You prompted Felix who came to stand beside you. He glanced at your back to see the rest of the set and made you spin slow so Changbin could see too.

"Yes~" The other man nearly hissed.

"Rule One!" You started.

"No kissing her on the lips." Felix's arm wrapped around your shoulders, his index fingers tracing your pout. You sucked the digit into your mouth playfully which made him smile.

"Two!" you said when your boyfriend took his finger back.

"You have to listen to me." Felix continued and Changbin nodded in acceptance.

"Three…"

"Only I get to take her ass." Your boyfriend finished the prompt and once again got a nod.

"Valid. Probably break her anyway." The older man acquiesced. You had a feeling about that, and you still had never seen his dick.

"Fourth! No cumming down her throat." Your boyfriend held his fingers up. He didn't get a nod from that one, his friend's face hardening a bit, but you continued.

"Finally! You don't need to use a condom, but you can't come inside." You finished.

"Why?" He looked at you, his gaze less playful than before, his tone sharper. Felix was worried about this.

"She likes it too much, so only I can. In her cunt and her throat." The man next to you hardened his tone as well and Changbin scoffed. He took his ball cap off, throwing it to the side, shaking his head and running his hand through his curly hair. You watched enthralled as he unzipped his sweatshirt and discarded it too. His black t-shirt was so tight it was like he had it painted on and you had to admit your mouth watered thinking of finally seeing him without it. He was proud of his physique but only really showed off his arms. Your boyfriend rolled his eyes playfully as you gaped at his friend and began to discard his own clothes.

"I will follow your rules…" Changbin started, undoing and removing his belt, he threw it too hard and it left a scratch on the wall. He smirked at your gaze, slowly pulling his shirt out of where he had it tucked in but didn't do anything more.

"But I want her to swallow my cum, and I want to breed her." He asserted, pulling the shirt off so roughly you heard some seams pop. Your whole body flinched when you finally got to see him, and you didn't hold in your whimper. He chuckled cockily and Felix licked his lips in thought. He knew you would LOVE it, and that is why he wanted to say no. On the other hand, just because Changbin would cum inside you, that didn't automatically mean he could make you fall over the edge too. You cast a glance at your boyfriend, trying not to plead with your gaze. But holy shit did you want that. Before Felix metaphorically broke your dam, you had never been one for anything kinky, but now…To be double sure you took the pill and was even considering getting a IUD just in case.

"She has a creampie kink, not breeding. You can cum inside, she's protected." Felix agreed to Changbin's terms but added a caveat.

"Rule one was no kissing her lips. I'll let you do what you want, but you cannot kiss her anywhere. You can't eat her out either." You looked between the two of them, waiting for the other man to answer. He didn't love those stipulations, but it would be worth it if he could fill you up.

"Fine." They shook hands and Felix gave you a positive hum and you scurried forward, hands running all over Changbin's now bare torso. He was delicious and you desperately wanted a taste. He just stood there, letting you do as you pleased, just watching as you fell to your knees. Your fingers hooked in the loops of his jeans, which were hugging his thighs perfectly, and he sighed as your hot little tongue licked up from under his belly button to as high as you could go kneeling.

"Shit (Y/N)~" He hummed, not even helping you as you undid his pants, having to tug to get the denim to unpeel from his legs. You whined, letting him get the pants off his ankles and they were shoved to where his shirts and belt lay. Felix watched amused as started to kiss Changbin's thighs, as thick as your head. He chuckled as you nibbled his inner thigh before kissing the impressive bulge held back by his boxers. He hardened further at the touch and licked over the fabric as well, your cunt already pulsing at the thought of him filling you. Giving him a coy look he smiled, "Go ahead, princess." So, you did. Slowly, like unwrapping an expensive gift, you pulled his tight briefs down and off, his cock bouncing in the air. You gaped and he smirked. He was only half hard but…You swallowed hard, wiggling your jaw back and forth, wondering if you could fit him or not. Not any longer than Felix, maybe even a bit shorter, he was THICK. Changbin just watched as your hand came shakily to encircle his cock, your fingers unable to touch. You mewled, then wrapped your other hand around him as well, pumping them as you licked around the head. His whole body seemed to quake with his groan. When he was fully hard you swallowed again. Glancing back at your boyfriend who was standing near the bed, mostly naked himself, he nodded. Changbin grinned at the round ears on your headband and the tail flowing out behind where you kneeled. However, seeing you in the pale blue silk he picked out was definitely the best.

"Go on, princess." He urged and you breathed hard through your nose, adjusting your pose, opening your mouth as wide as you could. It seemed he wasn't that thick, but your jaw did still protest some. You moaned when the taste of his precum hit your tongue and he groaned too. Leaving one hand at the base of him, the other went to lay on his hip, sliding up and over the v-line of his torso.

"So good~" He praised as you huffed through your nose, tongue swirling over just his tip still. He knew he could cum alone from that, but he knew you could do more. When the plug inside you buzzed on you whined, and Changbin saw Felix messing with his phone. You focused, trying to keep your lips over your teeth and took his fat cock deeper. When the head hit the back of your mouth, you did gag slightly, not accustomed to his girth. He tasted amazing and you were eagerly anticipating him painting your throat white. You swallowed a few times, trying to relax the muscles, but pull back some to take a deeper breath. After another measured breath, you swallowed him back in and descended further. He groaned dramatically as your throat fluttered around his dick, you were gagging slightly, tears springing to your eyes. Despite the struggle, you still wanted desperately for him to fit inside all the way at least once. Pulling back, sucking as you went, he sighed, watching intently as you took another deep breath before going back down. You whined as you managed to get him completely in, swallowing over and over trying not to gag too bad. You had no way to get air in, so you didn't even try, but your nostrils flared as the tip of your nose touched his pelvis.

"Fuck! (Y/N)~" How bad Changbin wanted to grab your head and pump his hips, but he didn't want to hurt you. When it was getting too hard to last without air, you pulled your head back just enough that you could suck in more oxygen through your nose. Felix watched, amazed that you fit his friend's huge cock in your mouth. Drops of drool and pre splattered on the floor in front of you as you bobbed your head, letting Changbin's cock bury completely every once and awhile when you tolerated. Felix knew his friend had the stamina of an ox, but he looked close to cumming already. Of course, his sweet (Y/N) sucked dick like no other.

"Ah, I'm close princess." Changbin huffed out and you braced yourself on the floor. Felix recognized your stance immediately.

"You can thrust but don't go too deep till you finish." Your boyfriend instructed the other man. He nodded, and his strong hands went to your head.

"Ready?" He asked and you hummed, teary eyes meeting his. He swore under his breath and did as he was allowed, starting to pummel your poor throat with his cock. More tears spilled from your eyes, the obscene sound caused by your drool and his precum echoed through your bedroom.

"Okay, one, two-" Changbin didn't get the next word out before he filled you full, cumming down your throat. Your eyes rolled back, cunt clenching and you lost count of how many times you had to swallow to get everything he gave you. You didn't cum, but Felix wasn't overly keen about how turned on you did get. Just when your vision started to swim, Changbin pulled out and you swallowed a few more times. Your throat hurt, sorer than when Felix did the same thing. Your boyfriend came to you with a bottle of water. You gulped some down, the cool liquid soothing your throat but also helping wash down the thick cum still in your mouth.

"Fuck." Changbin huffed simply.

"You okay, love?" Felix made sure you nodded, letting out a hoarse, "Yes." You glanced to the other man and your eyes widened. His cock hadn't softened at all and was still covered in a thick layer of fluids. He stroked over it with his hand, smiling at the slick.

"Hurry up, 'Lix. I need her cunt." Changbin stared at you, his gaze fiery. The playfulness and glee from before were gone, covered by molten lust and you shivered a bit. With what he just did to your mouth, you were worried about your pussy.

"Come here, love." Felix led you to stand and go over to the bed. Changbin followed and as he got on the bed, sitting at the top in the middle. He leaned back casually into the headboard, motioning you closer. You crawled on after him and straddled him, your legs spread much wider to accommodate his thick thighs than with Felix.

"Who do you want inside first?" your boyfriend asked and you pondered a second. You could handle the stretch of Felix's dick in your ass easier and get used to it faster than you probably could with Changbin in your cunt. Because of that you thought the latter should go first. The elder man's cock was still painted with your spit and his cum, your core dripping so much, you knew no lube would be needed. He positioned you so the tip of his cock rested at your entrance. He grunted at how hot and wet you were, losing patience.

"Go." Felix gave him the okay and Changbin's hands on your hips led you down. Your jaw fell open, your breath hitching as he stretched you open. Felix wasn't small by any means, but everything about Changbin was girthy. You shivered as he filled you, not even fully inside yet, a small bulge protruded from your lower stomach. Your body shivered, breathy moans leaving your lips as he bottomed out. Your cunt fluttered around him, more of your slick dripping down to smear over his groin.

"Shit, princess." He chuckled, holding you to him when you fell forward. He could feel the plug in your ass through the walls of your cunt, and he hadn't even noticed it was buzzing still. You whimpered softly when the vibrations ceased, Felix coming up behind you. He wrapped his hand through the tail of the plug and pulled softly, easing it out of you. You sighed, letting out a squeak as Felix dripped more of lube onto your ass, smearing more on his cock. He couldn't believe the sight of your tiny cunt stretched over Changbin, trying desperately to hold him in. He was a little miffed that you were so close already, but he knew he would throw you over the edge when he buried his own cock in your ass.

"Ready, love?" he asked, thumbs rubbing circles over your hips. You let out a small noise Changbin couldn't discern, but Felix heard you loud and clear.

"Breathe." He didn't even have to lead Changbin to rub your back, helping you relax. Your boyfriend started to ease into you, and you focused on the hand rubbing over your spine, breathing hard. The stretch set you on fire, your cunt fluttering. Felix bottomed out and you twitched aggressively, and when he grinded slightly into you, you fell apart. He smirked, grunting hard at the squeeze. Your ass was always tight anyways, let alone with his friend's cock splitting you in half. Your teeth had sunk into the muscle of Changbin's shoulder, and he hoped you left a mark.

"I'm not gonna move. Fuck her ass full of your cum then I'll blow her back out." The older man held you close, your orgasm dying but you still shivered. You had no more strength. Felix made sure you were okay with it and interpreted your little whimper as a positive. He nodded and started with short but deep thrusts and Changbin grinned at how your pussy clenched around him, even able to feel your boyfriend fucking into you.

"Fuck, you're milking me, love." Felix's deep voice rumbled through you, and you whined.

"'Lix~" You moaned, and he huffed with a grin. Two more thrusts and you squealed as he painted your ass white with his cum. You came again, Changbin recognizing the clenching of your core.

"Ah, fuck…" Felix groaned, pulling out of you.

"Off." Changbin motioned to him, holding you closer and he scrambled to the side, still out of breath. He barely got off the bed before Changbin rolled forward, you under him, immediately holding you in a mating press. You squeaked at the move, your knees at your ears as his hands gripped your thighs, so tight you knew it would leave bruises.

"Hold on, princess." He warned you and you scrambled your hands, digging your white painted nails into the sheets. The headboard banged against the wall as he took his first thrust and your head fell back, nearly falling over the edge of the bed. You back arched, silent screams wracking your lungs. The noises Changbin were making sounded more like a beast than a person's and your head lulled to find your boyfriend. He was watching with slightly wide eyes, his cock already starting to harden again.

"Okay, princess, I'm gonna breed you~" The man utterly destroying your poor pussy made two more hard thrusts, then he pumped more of his cum into your protected womb than he did down your throat. You shivered, but you didn't cum again, still looking at Felix. He smirked at your gaze, nodded and you let yourself fall over the edge as well. Changbin noticed and marveled at the level of control Felix had over your body. You lay there panting under him, nearly blacked out.

"Don't let her go, 'Lix. I'll snatch her up otherwise~”

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[yoomiwrites]

Salty Rush⁵

Summary: Some time ago, Reader was a partner of Akainu, a comrade he could rely on. Reader betrayed the navy, became part of a pirate crew...And finally the two face each other again.

Note: Wow- 25 reactions that quickly?? For Akainu?? That's sick! But here we go! Once more, the next chapter will come after we reached 20 reactions OR at friday. Happy sunday!

We walked in silence after that, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between us. I followed a few paces behind Sakazuki, watching his broad back as he navigated the narrow, twisting paths of the cavern. The warmth of his presence lingered on me like an echo, but the distance between us was growing again, invisible but unmistakable.

The brief connection we had shared moments ago was already fading, replaced by the same cold, unyielding wall he always carried with him. I could see it in the stiffness of his movements, the way his shoulders tensed with every step. It was as if he had caught himself slipping, letting the mask crack for just a moment, and now he was determined to seal it shut again.

I didn’t say anything at first. I didn’t know what to say. The air was thick with everything unsaid, with the years between us and the gulf that had grown in that time. But the longer we walked, the more I could feel the tension gnawing at me, an itch I couldn’t scratch. It was like the weight of everything was pressing down on me, and I couldn’t stand it any longer.

“Sakazuki,” I said quietly, my voice cutting through the silence.

He didn’t respond, didn’t even glance back. He just kept walking, the heat radiating off him in that controlled, simmering way.

I quickened my pace, coming up beside him. “You’re pushing me away again.”

Still nothing. His jaw was set, his gaze fixed ahead, as if he hadn’t heard me. But I knew better. I knew him better.

“You don’t have to,” I continued, my voice soft but insistent. “Not here. Not now.”

He stopped abruptly, his fists clenching at his sides, and for a moment, I thought he might actually turn and face me. But instead, he stood there, tense and silent, the space between us a chasm that felt impossible to cross.

I swallowed, feeling my throat tighten. “Just… treat me like before. At least now. At least here.”

His silence stretched out, suffocating, but I wasn’t done. I couldn’t be.

“I know what’s going to happen,” I said, my voice trembling just slightly. “I’m not stupid. As soon as we get out of here—whether it’s execution or you doing it yourself—you’re going to kill me. It’s only a matter of time. So, what does it matter if, for just a little while, you let things go back to how they were?”

He still didn’t respond, but I saw the way his fists tightened, the way his posture stiffened even more, if that was possible.

“I’m not asking for forgiveness,” I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest. “I know that’s not possible. But can’t you at least treat me like you used to? Like I’m still—”

“Still what?” he finally cut in, his voice low and sharp. “Still your friend?”

I flinched at the bitterness in his tone, but I didn’t back down. “Yes. Like you used to be. Before everything fell apart.”

His eyes flicked toward me, dark and unreadable, and for a moment, I thought I saw something there—something softer, something that reminded me of the man I used to know. But then, just as quickly, it was gone, replaced by that same cold, unyielding mask.

“You gave that up,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless. “The moment you walked away.”

I shook my head, frustration bubbling up inside me. “I walked away because I had no choice. You know that. You knew, even back then, that things weren’t right. That the Marines were—”

“It doesn’t matter,” he cut me off, his voice hardening. “Duty is duty. Justice doesn’t care about what you think is right or wrong.”

I scoffed, shaking my head. “Justice? Whose justice? The kind that crushes people like us under its weight because we weren’t born into the right place, the right family? You’ve always known that no amount of hard work could beat talent, Sakazuki. You worked harder than anyone, and it’s still never been enough.”

He didn’t respond, but I saw the flicker of something in his eyes—a crack in that impenetrable facade.

“Hard work can’t beat talent,” I repeated, softer this time. “And the system we’re part of, the system you’re defending, it’s built to protect those who were born into it. You and I… we had to fight for every scrap, and now you’re fighting to protect the very thing that would throw us away the second we’re no longer useful.”

His lips pressed into a thin line, his jaw clenched so tight I thought it might break. But he still wouldn’t look at me.

“I thought… I thought we were fighting to make things better,” I said, my voice faltering slightly. “But all we did was reinforce the same broken system. You know that as well as I do.”

For a long moment, he didn’t move, didn’t speak. The silence between us felt like a living thing, oppressive and unbearable. And then, finally, he turned, just enough for me to catch a glimpse of his face.

“You should’ve stayed,” he said, his voice barely more than a whisper. There was something raw in his tone, something that made my chest tighten.

I stared at him, not sure if I had heard him right. “What?”

His gaze was fixed on the ground, his fists still clenched at his sides. “If you’d stayed… maybe things would’ve been different.”

I blinked, the weight of his words settling over me like a blanket of cold.

“Stayed?” I repeated, my voice trembling. “You wanted me to stay?”

He didn’t answer, didn’t meet my gaze. But he didn’t have to. The silence spoke for him.

I had never known. Never known that he’d wanted me to stay. That, somewhere in that cold, calculating mind of his, he had actually wanted me to be there with him. That my leaving had mattered to him in some way, even if he’d never shown it.

But even now, even as that truth settled between us, I knew it didn’t change anything. Because Sakazuki was who he was, and the world he lived in didn’t allow for anything other than duty and justice. Whatever we had been, whatever we could have been… it was buried beneath layers of duty, of pain, of sacrifices made in the name of a cause that neither of us truly believed in anymore.

“I can’t go back,” I whispered, my throat tight. “Neither of us can.”

He finally looked at me, and the weight of his gaze was almost too much to bear. His eyes were dark, full of things unsaid, full of everything he wouldn’t allow himself to admit.

“You’re right,” he said quietly. “We can’t.”

And with that, he turned away again, the distance between us growing once more.

We were closer than we had been in years, and yet, we were still so far apart.

The air in the cavern had grown heavier, or maybe that was just the exhaustion that had seeped into every bone in my body. It was impossible to tell how long we had been walking—hours, maybe more. My stomach churned, empty, and my legs ached with every step, but I forced myself to keep going. There was no point in complaining, not with Sakazuki nearby, his presence cold and unrelenting as always. If he was feeling any of the strain, he wasn’t showing it. Typical.

But me? I was slipping. My steps were slower, clumsier, and more than once I stumbled over loose stones, barely managing to catch myself before hitting the ground. The wound on my side throbbed with every movement, sharp pain shooting through me, but I grit my teeth and pushed through it. Sakazuki didn’t need to know. He didn’t need to see me weak. Not now. Not after everything.

I had managed to hide it for so long already, he didn't need to know.

I stumbled again, this time catching myself against the wall. My fingers brushed the cold stone, leaving a smear of something dark behind. I glanced down, my vision swimming slightly. Blood. It was still bleeding.

Damn it.

“Having trouble keeping up?” His voice cut through the silence like a blade, sharp and unforgiving.

I looked up, glaring at his back. He hadn’t even turned to look at me, hadn’t slowed his pace. He just kept marching ahead, as if the weight of exhaustion and pain didn’t affect him at all. I wanted to snap back, to tell him to shove it, but the words stuck in my throat. I was too tired for that, and he would see right through it anyway.

“I’m fine,” I muttered, my voice strained.

He snorted, a sound halfway between amusement and disdain. “You’ve gotten weaker,” he said, still not bothering to look at me. “Hardly surprising. You’ve been living on the run for years. No real structure, no discipline. It’s bound to happen.”

I bristled at his words, my fists clenching. He was mocking me, like he always did, but there was something in his tone that stung deeper now, especially when I couldn’t deny it. I had gotten weaker. I wasn’t the same as I had been when we trained together, when we fought side by side. But it wasn’t because I had run. It wasn’t because I had left.

I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could say anything, I stumbled again, harder this time. I didn’t catch myself in time, and my knees hit the rocky ground with a dull thud.

“Shit,” I hissed through gritted teeth, clutching my side where the pain flared up even worse now. I could feel the warmth of blood soaking through my shirt, sticking to my skin.

For a moment, there was silence. And then I felt his eyes on me.

Sakazuki had stopped walking. He was staring at me now, really looking at me, and I could feel the weight of his gaze even without meeting it. I kept my head down, trying to push myself back to my feet, but my body wasn’t cooperating.

“Y/N.”

His voice was low, sharper than before, and when I glanced up, I saw the way his eyes narrowed. He was watching me carefully, his gaze hard, calculating. And then, slowly, he stepped closer.

I stiffened as he approached, every instinct telling me to push him away, to tell him I didn’t need his help. But my body betrayed me, too worn down to fight back.

“What?” I muttered, trying to sound annoyed.

He crouched down in front of me, his eyes locked on mine for a second before they drifted to my side. “You’ve been bleeding.”

I shifted, wincing as the pain spiked again. “It’s nothing. I’m fine.”

He ignored me, his gaze lingering on the dark stain spreading across my shirt. “From the fall,” he muttered, more to himself than to me. His expression shifted slightly, the corners of his mouth tightening. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

I forced a weak laugh, trying to brush it off. “I didn’t think you cared.”

That seemed to pull his attention back to me. His eyes flicked up to mine, and for a brief second, I thought I saw something in them. Concern, maybe. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by his usual cold indifference.

Without another word, he reached out, his hands brushing against the hem of my shirt.

“What the hell are you doing?” I flinched, instinctively pulling back.

His grip was firm, though not rough. “Stop moving.”

I stared at him, confused, as he lifted my shirt enough to expose the wound on my side. His hands were steady, his touch impersonal, though I couldn’t help but feel a rush of heat at the sudden closeness. He didn’t seem to notice—or care.

He frowned, inspecting the gash that ran along my ribs. It was deep, the edges jagged, and the skin around it was swollen and angry. It looked worse than I had realized.

“You should have said something,” he muttered, his tone sharp with disapproval. “This is infected. It’s going to get worse if we don’t do something.”

I swallowed, trying to mask the pain. “I’m fine,” I said again, but my voice sounded weaker this time, less convincing.

He didn’t respond. His fingers hovered over the wound, and I felt a sudden surge of heat radiating from his palm.

I blinked, confused. “What are you—?”

“I’m going to close it,” he said, his voice matter-of-fact. “I can cauterize the wound with my Devil Fruit. It won’t be pleasant, but it’ll stop the bleeding and prevent further infection.”

I stared at him, a mix of confusion and disbelief washing over me. Was he… actually helping me? I opened my mouth to make some joke, to lighten the tension. “Wow, Sakazuki, are you actually worried about me?”

He scoffed, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced up at me. “Don’t flatter yourself,” he said, his voice cold. “I just don’t feel like dragging around a carcass for proof.”

I laughed, despite the pain. It was ridiculous, but somehow it felt like the Sakazuki I remembered. The one who hid behind harsh words, even when his actions said something else.

“You’re all heart,” I muttered, wincing as he placed his hand over the wound.

“This is going to hurt,” he warned, his tone flat.

Before I could respond, a wave of heat seared through me, sharp and intense. I grit my teeth, biting back a scream as his powers worked to seal the wound. It felt like fire under my skin, the heat burning away the pain for a brief, agonizing moment before it dulled to a slow, steady throb.

When it was over, I collapsed back against the wall, breathing heavily. My shirt was damp with sweat, my body trembling slightly from the shock.

He stood up, stepping back and giving me space again, his expression unreadable. “It’ll hold for now,” he said gruffly. “But you’re still weakened.”

I glanced up at him, managing a tired smile. “Thanks. I guess I owe you one.”

He huffed, turning away. “Don’t get used to it.”

I watched him for a moment, my chest still tight with a mix of pain and something else. Something I couldn’t quite name. There was a strange feeling in the air, a sense that things were shifting, even if he didn’t want to admit it. Even if I didn’t want to.

But as he moved ahead, putting distance between us once again, I couldn’t shake the feeling that, despite everything, we were still tied together in some way. Bound by the past. By the things we never said. And by the things we still couldn’t say.

For now, it was enough. But the question lingered in the back of my mind.

What would happen when we finally found a way out?

And more importantly—what would he do when he had to decide between duty and whatever it was that still connected us?