#I swear I didn't plan to write so much but I kept having new ideas and new things to say...

[soo-won]

Rereading the beginning of the Eunyung's Home arc right now and yeah...when Eunyung's mom tells him "why don't you just apologize? Why do you bring up the school play event again after so many years?" it really connects with what Eunyung says to Haejoon in ch201, huh. That it would be so nice if he was nice like Haejoon and could accept everything and not be so hung up on things like that. Maybe if he was like Haejoon his relationship with his mother could be better?(I don't think so. but Eunyung maybe does).

But in parallel we also see how this aspect of Eunyung, being hung up on things and staying angry can also be helpful. It's because Eunyung is like that that he doesn't let Haejoon apologize to his mom when he shouldn't have to. It's because he is like that that he makes Haejoon have a medical diagnosis after his homeroom teacher hit him. It's because he is like that the bullying situation in the Marie arc could be resolved as well. As Haejoon says, it's also thanks to Eunyung that he could sort out things with his uncle and receive more allowance. This side of Eunyung that every adults around him try to make him suppress is good and healthy. It's this anger that causes change. It makes things harder for him and it causes more ruckus, sure, but Haejoon's acceptance in these moments is hurtful as well, it doesn't resolve the issue at hand, it just makes him carry all the burden. Haejoon grew up wanting to cause the less problems and worries possible to his mom (and now his uncle) and avoids confrontations with adults as a result (also a direct consequence of when he lost his mother probably), while Eunyung grew up fantasizing about his parents receiving punishments for all their abuse. The consequences were so bad to him when he tried it's the one thing he gave up on though, so it's no surprise he lashes out whenever else he can.

When you think about it it's also connected to their level of trust in adults. Haejoon relatively trusts adults. If you take the New Dorm arc, Haejoon was planning to tell other adults about the situation there, before Eunyung told him not to (pretty violently lol) because he can't trust adults to deal with it or believe them. So Eunyung uses his own way to deal with it and it works! But Haejoon trusts adults to deal with other adults and yeah. That's how it should be and go. But Eunyung presents the "but" of this. That's how it should be, but in some cases it doesn't work because adults are douchebags, and for Eunyung it's the majority of them. Haejoon grew up with a good(even if not perfect) mom getting angry for him so he knows good adults exist. He also was moved by Juwan's mom's kindness as well(even if that makes him embarassed too). Eunyung doesn't, though, so he has to rely on himself and get angry for himself, because otherwise who will?

Writing all this I'm like....yeah No Home is all about balance. Haejoon and Eunyung searching for the right amount of distance and closeness in their relationship. Searching for the balance in their distrust of adults too. Eunyung can't trust adults for very understandable reasons, but the arc with Haejoon's uncle shows us that adults are simply struggling sometimes and trying their best, even if they're clumsy. It's true Haejoon's uncle was drinking, but he's not an irredeemable piece of shit like his father either. But it was a situation where Haejoon couldn't rely on any adults either, after all his uncle is basically his only family left. And that's why Eunyung's point of view was so helpful.

Idk man I just love the hundreds of layers in this manhwa so much. Like it's not just "the best is not to be extreme <3 not too much not too little" it's "sometimes you have no choice but to be too much. Sometimes it's destructive, though. But sometimes it's the only solution. And /sometimes/ you need a bit of the two. Sometimes both solutions work equally well. Sometimes the consequences are bad and sometimes everything ends well" like yeah life really be complicated and unpredictable like that. There isn't one guide to follow and that will work no matter what, you constantly have to adapt to the situations and people around you. Something something Eunyung and his father but if I don't end this post now I never will.

[yandere-sins]

Monstober - Day 4: Harpy

I have a strange relationship with harpies. I really like them, especially since they are the mythical equivalent to my favorite animal—vultures—but also I guess they actually manage to horrify me for some reason... Ah, well, luckily I get a chance to write for them in this challenge :D

Prompt: Day 4: Harpy | Cliff // Flying // Illusion Warnings: Yandere, Fem!Reader, Implied Sexual Actions, Violence (Swearing, Implied Murder, Implied Death, Implied Animal Cruelty, Hunting, Animal/Monster Fighting), Monsters + Descriptions of Monsters, Long Post

"Be careful now, young'un. There's harpies roaming these fields."

Resting your head back, you let the hood of your cape free up some of your sight heavenwards. You watched the clamor of harpies flying high above the field you and the mercenary were crossing through. They were so far away they looked like little specks of feathers against the grey skies.

"Fuckin' breeding season. Every year it's the same shit. They just wait for some poor farmer's son to come out and whisk him away, fuck him till he's sucked dry, and eat him afterward."

Your lips curled into a small smile at the sound of the mercenary's foul choice of words. Although you didn't hire him for his raggedness or the threat of some usually easily slain harpies, you began to appreciate his no-shit attitude the longer you traveled together.

"By that logic, wouldn't you be more in danger?" you asked, referring to the difference in gender you two had. If the harpies were lusting after young men, then you, as a woman, had less to fear, you figured. But at the same time, with his grey hair and long beard, he probably wasn't on the dinner schedule either.

"Don't be so sure about that, young'un. I've seen beasts that were clearly lasses but had pricks closer to that of giants than any man has. Likewise, male monsters tend to prefer to hunt scarier prey than frail women like those from the villages where everyone is skin and bones except the workers. And they keep them as trophies and pets, doing unspeakable things to the men—and have the man do things to them. Monsters are not always what they seem."

"Why would they need a human then?" you questioned his words, but the mercenary only shrugged.

"Maybe they find their own as ugly as we think 'em to be."

You grimaced, unsure how to react to that information. You had always been sheltered by your family, not quite royalty, but wealthy enough that you'd be married off against your will unless you escaped far out of their reach. Luckily, your jewels and gold chains had managed to buy you a decent mercenary to help with your plans of running, finding a new home, and a new life far away from the expectancies.

"Why aren't they attacking us then? Surely, they see us."

"My, you have lotsa questions, young'un. You can't rationalize those monsters. Maybe they like other prey. Maybe they are just waiting for the right moment. Don't worry your pretty head off about why or why not, just enjoy not being eaten."

He clicked his tongue, spurning his horse forward, and you followed, worry tensing your back as you looked up again, noticing how the clamor now seemed much closer. You could even see individual feathers in the mass now. It was questionable whether drawing more attention with faster movement was a good idea. Still, you wanted to trust the mercenary and his years of experience.

"We're close now!" he yelled back to you. "Into the forest, and we'll be out of their sight!"

Pushing your heels into the side of your steed, you two fell into a speedy gallop. The hood of your coat kept falling over your eyes, but you tried your best to stay focused and keep up with your guide and protector. All you had to do to overcome this first hurdle was reach the forest, and you were so close to it, you could already smell the wood.

That was until the sudden sound of screams ahead of you made you push your hood off completely, just in time to see the silver of the mercenary's breastplate sparkling in the light as he wildly squirmed in the grasp of an enormous monster. He was yelling loudly, only drowned out by shrieking and cackling. Another feathery creature swooped down, and it was his horse next that was carried off, neighing and crying out helplessly, your breath hitching with panic as you rammed your heels into your own stead.

You were so close to the woods when a massive bird passed by just in front of your horse, the animal rearing upwards. You tried desperately to hold on, but when something gripped the horse by the neck, a sharp claw grazing your face, you lost your hold out of surprise, your body falling freely to the ground while your poor stead was carried off mercilessly.

Your head pounded with pain as it hit the dirty field, your bones aching as they tried to feather your fall. But luckily, you were pumped with adrenaline, sitting up before you even realized how much it hurt, blood dripping from your cheek.

"Hi."

The woman standing before you smiled, her eyes unblinking as her lips curled upwards. Your whole body halted in its tracks, your breath stopping. You felt yourself relax at the sight of her and then stiffen up completely, goosebumps pebbling your skin as you forced yourself to realize this couldn't be. Whatever she was, she wasn't human, appearing so suddenly. Instead, she must have been an illusion of the harpies—one of them.

She was, at best, a few steps away from you, at worse, too close to be able to escape. Her head cocked to the side just a little too far to be natural as she regarded you on the ground with unbreakable calm. The peace of a predator, someone who wasn't worried about getting hurt. Silently, you cursed your family for denying you to learn how to wield a sword or dagger. Any kind of self-defense, really. "It wouldn't be necessary," well, now it was. There were no signs of the chaos that had just unfolded, the sounds reduced to the wind softly swaying through the early sprigs of oats growing on the fields.

Don't answer, you cautioned yourself, knowing the best survival tactics when dealing with monsters was not dealing with monsters. You were already pretty vulnerable to the creature as it was; you didn't need to agitate her.

"Clever, are we?" she said, her lips splitting to reveal the teeth of the creatures you were most afraid of all of a sudden. Apparently, the harpies were not disinterested in you, something the mercenary probably hadn't thought about as he led you directly through their flock.

"And so pretty," the harpy chirped, her eyes raking over you as she cocked her head to the other side in a snap. "Want to go to the forest? You can."

Suspicion raised inside of you at her offer. Letting you go so easily? Even if she didn't want to take you away for mating, shouldn't her kind be interested in eating you?

"You'll let me go?" you asked, only realizing your mistake when it was too late, and you slammed your hand over your mouth. The harpies grin only widened, her mouth tearing open unnaturally wide.

"Yes, you can go. A darling girl like you shouldn't be around my sisters. They'd love to taste you."

Your chest was heaving heavily with panic as she spoke. You heard her coo sweetly as she watched you, her gaze dropping from your face all the way to your legs as if she were trying to rip you open and spill your guts with just her eyes. Delighted by the sight, hungry. And you felt so vulnerable under the scrutiny, her eyes on you beyond any look anyone had ever given you, dripping with her full attention and desire.

"Come back sometimes, okay? Let's play together? You're so pretty..."

You gulped. Never before had you heard the tale of a harpy letting someone go because they thought they were pretty. You dared to glance by her, looking at the woods that waited for you behind her form. It was so close, perhaps ten footsteps away, before you breached the edge of the forest.

With your breath escaping you, you staggered to your feet, trying to always keep your eyes on her. You stopped mid-movement as you heard the shuffling of her clothes. Clothes that you realized weren't from fabric at all. Just her convincingly placed feathers. It was scary how well she could imitate an ordinary woman if not for her sharp mannerisms and the way she fixated on you strangely. However, someone less aware and less familiar with the threat of harpies could have easily overlooked these features. Fallen for her illusion that only now started to dissolve as she began reacting to you.

Her wings appeared like a brown dress on her, with a mantle over her shoulders to cover up her lack of arms. Her legs were hidden well beneath the "skirt," and her brown locks perfectly framed what could pass as a pretty face in the city you were from. That was until she opened her mouth to shatter that facade.

"What?" she asked. "Do you think I'm pretty, too?"

It felt wrong to agree and give her more of your time than necessary. If she was well-disposed now, you didn't want to draw her ire. But at the same time, not answering seemed like it would cause her mood to sour, too. This time, instead of speaking, you nodded hesitantly, then firmly.

"Ah, I'm glad!" she hooted, and her "clothes" fluttered with excitement, feathers spreading outwards and destroying the illusion of her wings being garments. Something changed right before your eyes, but you couldn't pinpoint it. Even so, you were no longer fooled by her looks. She really was a monster before all else.

"Go," she cooed, leaning forward and hovering above you, her body now appearing much taller than before. "Before I keep you all to myself, you sweet, sweet thing."

Slowly, avoiding harsh movements, you finally came to a complete stand, realizing you were still at least three heads smaller than the harpy. You wouldn't let her out of your sight, and neither did she, you, as you began rounding her at a respectable distance. It wasn't enough distance to make you feel comfortable, as she could probably close it faster than anything else you knew. But it was your best bet.

She lets me go, just like that? you thought, still in disbelief. Feels like a trap.

But soon enough, your back was turned to the forest. A forest that, presumably, would keep you safe from the harpies if the words of the dead mercenary could still be trusted. He misjudged the situation once, but what were you supposed to do? Between the trees, you at least had the size advantage. Her wings fluttered again as she watched, cocking her head, hooting softly. Not moving from her spot.

Five more steps.

Four.

Three—

Your attention snapped away from her the second you heard the shriek of another monster approaching you from the side. You tumbled to the ground, feeling the force of the gust of wind its wings produced as you were thrown further away from the forest and onto the field, claws scratching you, ripping wounds into your sides. There was a match of voices as even more shrieking and hissing erupted, and you buried face down into the mud, shielding your head with your arms as movement and sounds accumulated right above you.

There must have been more than two harpies fighting above you, but you couldn't determine how many there were from your position. All you knew was that their claws sliced through the air just above your back, every one of them trying to get to you. Every one so close to hurting you—or worse.

"MINE!" one of them roared, and more shrieking occurred as a heavy, clawed foot landed on top of your back, pinning you to the dirty ground and pushing the air out of your lungs. "SHE'S MINE!"

The protest was apparent in the cacophony of sounds directed at the harpy above you, but the tumultuous movements slowly disappeared, only one body remaining. And suddenly, everything went dark, the foot on top of you slipping off until two feet were stomped into the ground on each of your sides.

You dared open your eyes again, trying to see what had happened and gauge how dead you were, but it was way too dark to see. A shudder went through what was blocking out the light, feathers fluttering aside just enough to let a spot of light in and show you were still on the dirty field. It made you realize that something was above you, shielding and enveloping you with its body.

"MINE!" the harpy shrieked again, the sound not directed at you, but it still shook your bones. "Mine," she repeated, this time calmer. You couldn't see, couldn't hear what was going on outside. But when her voice calmed, you could finally recognize it as that of the harpy you had spoken to. Even if her shrieks and caws were barely discernable to you, her voice remained the same.

She squawked a few more times into the direction of who knows where, your nerves completely blank as they couldn't get accustomed to the sounds, but now that the situation was calming down, the pain set in again, and you cursed it, willing it away only for it to blow up again inside of you.

Groaning, you braced yourself onto your arms, trying to lift from the ground, only to be met with the sharp sting of your sliced-up side. The wound was deeper than it had felt at first, and you let out a pitiful howl as you agitated it accidentally. You reckoned that your body was not okay after that attack, and you couldn't fathom how anyone could survive and mate these creatures when their claws did so much damage easily.

Turning onto your healthy side was the only thing you could think of to alleviate the pain temporarily, although the movement hurt so much more than if you had remained on your stomach.

"Oh no," the harpy cooed from above, and you spared her a glance from the one eye that was turned upwards. Her wings unfolded from each other, opening enough for her twisted neck to see through the gap, letting in some light and exposing her grotesque but real form. The legs of a bird, feathery and gnarly, the torso of a woman, and the face was a mix of both. No arms, just wings sprouting from her shoulders, and her hair a mess of feathers and twigs, nothing like the beautiful illusion she had shown you before.

"Poor, poor girl," she hooted, her expression ever so slightly drawing together in a meager display of unhappiness. "My sisters are so mean, aren't they? You were just trying to go to the forest."

You didn't acknowledge her with words as you bit your lip to stifle another sorrowful moan. Still, your body contorted, causing you to cry out in pain.

The harpy moved around you, circling you as she watched you restlessly, sweat and tears falling from your face as you couldn't even stop the bleeding with your hands full of grime and dirt. She danced around you awkwardly, keeping her wings up like a shield but letting in enough light to watch.

"You can't go like this now, can you? Can you? Poor, poor, pretty thing."

You heard her sigh, sounding oddly human, then she leaned down, poking you with the top of her wing where the bone spread to form the limb. Shockwaves of pain went through you as she agitated the wound by moving you, and you sobbed into the dirt, not knowing what to do. You couldn't communicate with her, couldn't tell her to fetch you a doctor. But if you stayed here like this, you'd probably be eaten sooner rather than later, and not unlikely by her.

Even as you cried, you used what little strength you had to sit up. The pain was unbearable, even as you clenched your jaws together tightly. But you were grateful when you felt one of her wings sweep beneath your back, helping you up even if it hurt.

"I need to stand up," you explained through sobs and cries of pain, and she hooted in understanding, lending you the firm part of her wings again to hold onto. She wasn't very deft in how much strength of hers you needed to be supported, but she tried to help—she, a monster. The situation was beyond strange and unimaginable, yet you almost felt some gratitude towards her.

"I need..." you gasped as you finally got to your legs. Pain was stealing your air, your mind twirling, and every thought getting more challenging to form. You stumbled backward, but her body caught you, steadied yours with hers. Dizziness raked at your conscience, the blood loss taking its toll. "A doctor. I need... a doctor..."

"Doctor?" she hooted questioningly. "What's a doctor?"

"A human who helps... injured humans. Medizin..."

"Huh?" With her elongated neck, she could easily look at your face even from behind you, but you didn't dare to look up to see how unnaturally she twisted her head back and forth, as she didn't understand. It wasn't that far off that harpies probably didn't help each other heal. They seemed more of the... cannibalistic type when one of them was weak.

"I need... help. I'm sick."

"Oh."

Finally, she seemed to understand, but unfortunately, instead of helping, she seemed deep in thought when the ground suddenly shook, and you had to grasp her wing tightly to keep your balance.

"Not fair!" another creature squawked, the sound almost shattering your eardrums coming from right in front of you. The ground shook even more as more of them landed, confronting their sister and you.

"Not fair! We want the human, too!"

"No!" the harpy at your back barked at them. "She's mine."

"She's not your mate!" they complained. "She's weak and bleeding! As good as dead!"

The harpies fell into a cacophony of chants, some saying "Dead Human!" in unison while the others shrieked, "Eat! Eat! Eat!"

"NO!" the harpy bellowed, shutting the others up fast. You were shocked by the vibrations of her body at your back, but it almost made you smile a little. What a stupid monster without a reason to be this protective. And yet she kept fighting for you.

"Then... she's a mate?" one of the harpies asked, sounding at her wit's end. The other hooted along to the statement, questioning your protector.

"Yes," she announced firmly, and this time, you did wrench your head upwards. She met your gaze with resolution, adding, "She's my mate. I have decided."

"Wha—?" you managed to wring out when one of her feet suddenly dug beneath your arms, clawed toes wrapping around your upper torso. You groaned in pain even though they didn't touch the wound directly as she placed them with intentions, but before you could complain, your feet lifted up from the ground, and you were just beneath the clouds faster than you could speak.

"Wait!" you screamed, struggling only to be hit with more pain.

"Where are you bringing me?" you asked, much quieter now that the situation finally dawned on you. The harpy tugged her legs in, supporting you with the free one beneath your thighs and giving you a place to sit on while also smushing you lightly against her feathery bottoms.

"To the nest. You said you are hurt, so I must clean your wounds, mate. Need to find herbs and food for you. Maybe there's some left from the hunt earlier. Flesh. You are too skinny."

"But... I'm not even your mate! We're both girls!" you complained heavenward, and she clucked, almost as if she was laughing.

"That makes no difference. You are my mate, I have decided."

"Do I get a chance to decide?" you whined, and for a moment, her wings stopped beating, the flight turning into a glide.

Her neck twisted, face turning back to look at you, and your wounds pounded angrily as her grip tightened.

"You are wounded. Do you want to be eaten?"

You gulped. That sounded much like your previous assumptions that harpies were not usually taken on duties to care for others.

"N-No?" you answered truthfully, but it sounded like a question anyway. Perhaps death was better than whatever "mate" was.

Seemingly satisfied with your answer, she turned forward again, resuming her flight.

"Then you are my mate now. You'll like the nest. We can soften it together, and then we can create young. You'll stay there and heal, and I'll bring you food and gather pretty things for my pretty mate."

She looked down again, and her lips split in an upside-down grin, so very similar to that of her human form. She seemed almost... happy. You swallowed hard as she revealed her plans, unable to come up with anything that would change her mind and not drop you from this height. What else was there but to comply with her—for now? Maybe once you were healed and back on steady ground, you could escape her and still make the run you had planned to make anyway. Just now, you had your own family and a monster gnawing at your heels. At least you'd be safe for now, you hoped.

Hearing no complaints from you, her grin widened even more, feathers puffing as if she was proud of her accomplishments.

"My mate," she cooed, and the clouds cleared up, revealing the sundown over the ocean, a couple hundred more harpies squealing and screeching beneath you as you two made your way towards the cliffside. It was too close to the city you used to live in. Back to point zero, now with an additional struggle to manage. But at least here, they'd have a hard time finding you and perhaps an even harder time retrieving you while you could plan your next moves.

It wasn't what you had imagined when you ran away, but you'd have to do with it for now.

Your new home.

[navybrat817]

Christmas Karma

Pairing: Nick Fowler x Female Reader Summary: Nick doesn't appreciate anyone pushing you around, especially when you're shopping. Word Count: Over 1.8k Warnings: Fluff, established relationship, threat of violence, implied explicit sexual content, swearing, Nick Fowler (he's a warning, okay?) being a little grinchy, but we love him. A/N: I present to you lovelies my writing challenge fic and gift exchange for the Thot Neighborhood's Tis the Season to be Thot-y! @angrythingstarlight , I hope you enjoy your fic! ❤️ Beta read by the lovely @sgt-seabass , but any and all mistakes are my own. Also thanks to @sweeterthanthis and @sweetkingdomstarlight-blog regarding this idea. Banner and moodboard by yours truly, divider by the wonderful @firefly-graphics , and prompts at the end of the fic. Please follow @navybrat817-sideblog for new fics and notifications. Comments, reblogs, feedback are loved and appreciated!

Nick wasn't in the mood to be out and about today. He wondered if he could blame his grinchy mood on the cold, but the winter weather never bothered him. It was also a good excuse to keep you close. He could think of plenty of ways to warm you up and wanted to pull you back inside the minute the two of you left your home.

"Sweetheart," he grumbled. "Do we have to go shopping?"

He bought your gifts weeks ago and kept them in his office so you wouldn't find them. You asked him not to go overboard, but he couldn't help himself. You deserved to be spoiled and he couldn't wait to watch your face light up as you opened each gift.

He had a special gift saved for last.

"Nick, you promised," you reminded him when you tugged on his hand. "Just two small things and that's it."

Like him, you had your shopping done, even when he told you he had the one thing he wanted: you. Brushing that off with a giggle, you told him even the man who has everything deserves a present. Your gifts were always thoughtful. A last minute invitation to a neighbor's party, however, threw you for a loop. Not only did you insist on buying a gift for the hostess, but you needed to buy something for one of the games planned.

Which sparked a debate over whether to call the game "White Elephant" or "Rob Your Neighbor".

"Two things and we're really done?"

"That's it. We won't be out long," you smirked when he sighed. The look in your eyes made him want to drag you back inside more. "You can have me all to yourself when we're done. I'll even wear that little blue number you like when we have dinner as a thank you."

Nick ran his tongue along his bottom lip. It was one of the few pieces of lingerie he hadn't destroyed. Not because he couldn't afford it, but because you loved it as much as he did.

"We'll see if you can make it to dessert," you added.

"Tease," he whispered.

You both knew he'd have you bent over the table before the night was over.

All he had to do was make it through shopping.

"You sure this is a good idea?" he half joked as he watched a man fill up the trunk of his car with shopping bags.

"Yes," you smiled as you lightly hit his arm. "Even though I may have underestimated just how packed the parking lot would be."

He circled the lot twice to no avail and finally stopped when a nice guy waved him down and pointed to his car. The space was close to the door, too. Maybe they would be in and out quicker than he thought.

"Just for that, you should wear that new red number tomorrow," he suggested, giving the guy a nod as he backed out of the space and drove away. "My favorite next to the blue."

"See, now you're just looking for excuses to-"

Nick was about to turn into the parking spot when a red beamer nearly swiped his front bumper, drawing a gasp from you as he laid on his horn.

He didn't care that the prick almost hit him, but fuck anyone who scares his girl.

"Are you okay?" he asked, turning to look at you as you swallowed.

"Yeah, I'm fine," you assured him, reaching over to give his hand a squeeze. "Just wasn't expecting that. He came out of nowhere."

"He's lucky he didn't hit anyone," he said, bringing your hand to his mouth as the man got out.

Maybe it was his sour mood playing tricks on his mind, but he swore the smarmy asshole smirked at him before he headed toward the store.

Fucker. All I have to do is swerve and-

"Don't do anything," you said, as if you read his mind. "I don't mind walking. Besides, Christmas karma will get him."

He had to smile as you tried to make the best of the situation. "What exactly is 'Christmas karma'?"

"The brilliant and gorgeous Nick Fowler doesn't know what that is? Please, give me a moment to bask in this glory," you teased, making a show of closing your eyes and opening them again as he chuckled. You enjoyed stroking his ego. "It's karma, but it's wrapped in a pretty bow."

"I prefer you in a pretty bow," he winked.

"You're getting the blue number and possibly the red. Don't push it," you smiled.

He chuckled before he drove to the front of the store. "And I'm not making you walk," he said, putting the flashers on before he got out and went around to your door. "You go ahead. I'll find a spot."

You stopped to give him a kiss once he helped you out of the car. "Thank you. I'll see you inside."

That Christmas karma you mentioned must have been on Nick's side as he was able to find a spot a minute later.

His good deed for not running that prick over.

You messaged Nick to let him know which section you went to as he went inside to find you. He managed to bite his tongue as he dodged people who thought walking with their carts in the middle of the aisle was normal. You would have been proud that he kept his opinion to himself.

He smiled to himself when he saw you carefully looking through one of the shelves, one gift in your hand. The more he thought about it, the more he thought part of his bad mood had to do with the fact that it wasn't Christmas yet. He began to second guess if proposing that day was the right decision. He had complete confidence in the ring. One of a kind and crafted to perfection, just like you. He just didn't want a holiday proposal to be too cliche.

He meant what he said that you were the only thing he wanted for Christmas.

The smile slipped off his face as you reached for a box on the shelf, only to be bumped by the large guy standing beside you. The motion was too rough not to be an accident, but you managed to hold onto the gift as you found your footing. His eyes narrowed as he got a better look at the man who had the nerve to touch you.

It was the asshole who almost hit his car.

A special kind of asshole who apparently liked to shove women out of the way to get what they want.

"Excuse me," you said politely, even though the push wasn't your fault.

"Yeah, excuse you. You wanna hand that over? Now?" the guy snapped, trying to take the box as you pulled it out of his reach.

"No, I don't. I'm sorry," you said, frowning as he blocked your path.

"I was reaching for it and you snatched it. Give it to me," he said, putting his hand out.

Nick saw red as he padded across the floor, a few people moving out of his way. You once told him he had a murderous expression when pushed to that point. With his broad shoulders and fury flashing in his blue eyes, he was sure he looked like he was going to go on a rampage.

He should have just hit the guy earlier and been done with it.

You put your chin up as the man tried to grab the box again. "There are plenty of other gifts you can find," you said, an edge of annoyance creeping into your voice. "Please, excuse me."

"Bitch, give me that-"

"Step away from my wife."

You inhaled sharply at the deadly calm in Nick's voice. He didn't like to shout unless he had to, but the deep, quiet tone wasn't a good sign for anyone on the receiving end. Up close, the guy was smaller than him and all bark.

Or maybe the deadly look of his rendered him speechless momentarily.

"Or what? She took my gift," he accused.

"And you took my parking space," Nick lifted one shoulder in a bored shrug. "I memorized your license plate, by the way. I'm curious if I have someone run your plates if anything would come up. You seem like an 'outstanding parking tickets' kind of guy. Maybe worse. Would be a shame to ruin your holiday."

Even if he had a clear record, he could pay someone off to teach him a lesson.

But the way the color drained from the guy's face, he was in some kind of trouble. "She can keep it."

"You'll pay for it. Both gifts as a way to say you're sorry," Nick demanded, his voice low. "And anything else she wants in this store."

"Just these," you said with a smile before you thought about it. "Oh. And maybe a small donation to them," you added, nodding toward a group in Santa hats near the front of the store.

"Oh, god. Not the carol singers," the man grumbled. "I'd rather punch them."

Nick kind of understood where he was coming from. He grew tired of the same songs after hearing them over and over. But if that was what you wanted, he'd make it happen.

"Nick, you sure you don't want to call the station?" you asked innocently.

"Okay, okay. The gifts and a donation to the carolers. Happy?"

"Very happy," you said as Nick slipped an arm around your waist. "It's the season of giving and we appreciate it."

"Go to the counter. Now," Nick ordered.

You muffled your laughter as the guy took off, both of you following close behind. "You're really making him pay for these? We have the money."

"It's the principle. He's lucky I didn't shoot him for treating you the way he did."

He was still considering it.

"Well, thank you for not killing him. As much as I support you and your endeavors, committing a crime like that in public could get you into trouble and I don't want to spend Christmas alone," you smiled before you cleared your throat. "You called me your wife."

"I did," he said. It slipped out before he could stop himself. "And I didn't hear you correcting me."

"Because it felt nice to hear," you smiled, stopping him before you got to the counter. "But I do need a ring on my finger."

"Maybe Santa will bring you one," he teased.

"Maybe I'll say 'yes'," you said, glancing above your heads where mistletoe hung. "And I think my future husband deserves a kiss before we go home."

He placed a soft and tender kiss on your lips. Maybe a Christmas proposal wouldn't be so cliche after all. Like you said, it was the season of giving and he wanted to give you all of him.

And in the spirit of giving, he wouldn't call the cops until after the holiday to run the plates.

Maybe they'd even put a bow on the warrant.

Hope you lovelies enjoyed this holiday treat. Love and thanks for reading!

Masterlist ⚓ Nick Fowler Masterlist ⚓ Ko-Fi

[annie-creates]

Bundle of joy

Pairing: Lady Lesso x reader

Genre: angst and fluff I guess?

Words: 1300

Note: I'm back! Honestly I didn't think this story would give me such a block for almost a year, as I had no idea what to do with it, but here we are! Here's a continuation of The evil witch. Thank you so much to everyone for sending your requests in in the meantime and I'll write them all I swear! I'm so sorry it took me so long.

Sleepless nights and dark days became Leonora’s new norm. Anywhere she went she could hear your happy laughter and the excited mumbling of your child. Her child. Was it even her child? Biologically sure, there was no denying that now. But would you ever let her near you and your little bundle of sunshine again? Close enough to be your family? However powerful she wanted to feel months ago, she’d trade it for your presence in a heartbeat. That’s why she tried to catch one of the infrequent moments you wondered around the castle without the insufferable princess by your side.

“So are you gonna pretend I don’t exist for the rest of your life?” she didn’t want to have attitude with you from the start but couldn’t stop the snarky tone in her voice.

However startled you were, you kept your composure intact. “Excuse you? Who do you think you’re talking to!?”

“The mother of my child? That is my baby, you can’t deny that.” She was mad and a little hurt you’d keep her from her own baby.

“I’m sorry was it not you who called me a sleep-around whore a year ago and told me to never disturb you again!?” Long gone were the days you let her manipulate and use you.

“Well maybe I got a little carried away…” Leonora admits, turning her voice down. “But you can’t keep me from my own child.”

“Nu-uh, it’s too late for that. I don’t care what wicked plan you have in your head, but my child is never gonna know you as her mother.” you emphasize, leaving her stunned in place as you forcefully pace away from her.

You couldn’t believe the audacity of that woman. Wo did she think she is? Hurting you in your most vulnerable moment, shaming your pregnancy, and then trying to crawl back in the picture almost a year after your child was born? There was no way you were gonna let her waltz back into your life when you had Lonnie by your side, a lady who supported you from day one without even knowing you properly. Yet it didn’t leave your mind that maybe, she deserves to have some, little and unimportant role, in your daughter’s life. She is also her child after all. And your partner was observant to all your worries.

“Is something tormenting your mind, love?” Lonnie asked getting in her side of the bed at night.

You didn’t want to relay your problems on other people, but she proved time and time again she can share your mantle. “It’s Lesso. She demanded access to my daughter…”

“Well, we expected that, didn’t we? She is her biological mother after all.” Lonnie warmly smiles at you.

“Yeah, I guess, but… I don’t know. I don’t want her to hurt Y/d/n like she did to me, or corrupt her for evil, or anything… and I don’t want her filling her head with nonsense, I just don’t know. Can I ever trust her?” you weighted.

“I guess we’ll have to try and see. It could be good for Y/d/n to have her in her life. If you can negotiate some general rules with Lesso.” your girlfriend suggested, giving you the effortless advice as always.

You’ve spent that night dreamless and restless, and many after that. Could you ever forgive the woman you once loved so hard and who betrayed you so viciously? When it was for the benefit of your daughter? You wanted Y/d/n to have everything in the world, but was this too much to ask of you? You decided you’ll try your best to find a way to include Lesso in Y/d/n’s life, even if it meant you’ll have to overcome the fear and wariness. That’s why after a week of careful thinking and options considering, you and Lonnie visited Lesso’s office together.

“To what do I owe the pleasure..?” Leonora had no idea why the two goodies decided to randomly visit her tower but did everything she could to appear like she didn’t really care.

“I have decided you can be in Y/d/n’s life.” you announced matter of factly.

“You don’t say.” she almost mocked you but a spark in her eye seemed genuine.

“Leonora, I don’t know if you have any real grasp of the full extend of the hurt and betrayal you did to me. That is unforgiveable. In fact, I probably shouldn’t even be considering letting my child or myself anywhere need you.” you lecture her.

“I’m sorry, I was just…” Lesso tried to reason with you but you didn’t let her finish.

“You weren’t there for all my morning sickness, growing stretch marks and swollen ankles. You weren’t holding my hand when I was giving all my life into giving birth to my beautiful daughter. So no, she’s not your daughter, and she never will be. But you are related, so if you can keep on good behavior, maybe you can be her fun aunt or something.” maybe it didn’t sound fair but that was all you were willing to give her. She needed to realize she was lucky to be allowed to even see your daughter. “And when she’s older, I’ll of course tell her how she was born, but that’s a talk between me and her.”

“But you’re gonna let this princess parent my child? That’s obscure!” Leonora protested.

“Hey!” Lonnie scolded her but she knew you didn’t need saving from her anymore.

“Lonnie was here for me in the darkest moments, she held my hand through doubts and supported me in moments of weakness. She’s the only reason me and my daughter are still alive.” you give Lesso a fast reality check. “So yes, as long as she’s my partner and friend, she’ll be more important to Y/d/n than you could ever hope to be. If you’re unhappy with that, I’m okay with moving away and never showing up here again.”

“Ugh, fine, I’ll figure. I just wanna see my daughter.” you were surprised how obedient Leonora suddenly was when it came to contact with her child.

“Great, we’ll set up a play date.” you concluded and left her office as fast as you came, releasing a deep breath outside. You partly expected a disaster to strike.

Your worries turned out to be unnecessary as you prepared for a coloring activity with your daughter, Lonnie and Lesso. Leonora seemingly accepted her role as a friend rather than a parent and Y/d/n absolutely adored her. She found every gruesome detail of her stories interesting and each one of her torture techniques fun. She was there for every new milestone or sick fever, telling bedtime stories until the late hours of night. One birthday celebration came after another as your toddler grew into a beautiful confident child with a curiosity as no other.

She’d never believe it was possible for a spawn of evil like herself to create something so good and pure. She had no doubt your daughter would grow up into a beautiful princess like her other mother. Leonora enjoyed every little moment she spent with her daughter as if it was the last minute she had with her, aware that she’ll be grown before she knows it and possibly will not want to have anything to do with her anymore. After all good and evil didn’t blend together well. The last thing she needed was to get back her burning love, the woman she’d burn in eternal hell for. But, after months and years, your love for the princess knight didn’t dissipate and as stealthy as she tried to be about winning you back, she had no luck so far. Five years turned out to be enough for you to say yes to marrying the new woman in your life.

[yuna542]

Connected (OT8 x reader)

Part 15<-

Part 16

Pairing: Changbin x reader

Genre: Smut, Fluff, Angst

Warnings: 18+, Smut, Under 18 DNI!, Suggestive Themes, Swearing, oral (f receiving), pet names

Word Count: 2.6k

Note: Happy Comeback day!! I’m… not well… The Album is so freaking awesome can’t even describe it. Blasting it on full volume since it came out. So I thought I release a new part to honor the day. Soft Binnie is something I always will have a weak spot for. Hope you like it and to add an extra delight to your day. What’s your favourite Song so far on the album? Let me know!

On your first day of your new job as the personal manager of Stray Kids, you didn't expect to be standing in front of the man you made out with last night in a club. But it soon becomes clear that the Stray Kids don't just want you as their manager.

Will this passionate arrangement end your career?

Your eyes were fixated on the email on your display. You had to send a fully comprehensive description of the styling concept by the weekend so that the outfits for the kids could be planned by the stylists.

This involved seven different songs for the comeback that would be the focus and for which there would be music videos.

First of all, the outfits for the shoots were prepared and then you had to decide on stage outfits with the guys.

To sum it up: It was a ton of work and the stress made your heart skip a beat every time a new message popped up on your phone.

Then again, there were definitely worse environments to work in. For right now, you were lying on the couch in Chan's studio. He himself was sitting at his computer, working on a beat for Changbin and Hyunjin's part in one of the new songs. He kept playing bits of it, incorporating new elements, and discussing details with Hyunjin, who was sitting next to him writing lyrics for his own verse.

Changbin was also completely engrossed in his cell phone screen, writing rap lines for the song.

Only he was lying between your legs, his muscular shoulders right beneath your thighs and his head leaning on your stomach. He had come in and had simply laid on you, with the reason it would be more comfortable and he could concentrate better.

You had been working in the studio like this for hours. Changbin hummed the melody over and over again to bring it into harmony with his lyric ideas and the vibration passed directly to your body.

It was pleasant to cuddle with the muscleman like this, though it became increasingly difficult to concentrate on your work.

The words blurred before your eyes again and again when Changbin moved and your skirt slid up further each time and he ran his hands over your bare skin in thought.

His big arms were tight around your thighs and suddenly, as you were about to start writing a new page, his hand stroked up the side of your leg and reached the hem of your skirt. Immediately something in your lower abdomen tightened and you just tried to ignore his hands and remain professional.

He didn't even notice what he was doing. So it would be embarrassing if anyone found out you were turned on just by being around him.

Slowly, his warm hand stroked back down until it reached your knee, giving you a brief second to exhale. He quietly rapped the lines to himself, typing in improvements, and already his hand was moving back up your leg. His hair tickled your inner thighs and your phone almost fell out of your hand when he let his hand slide under your skirt.

While he was still completely unaware of what he was doing to you, you could only stare at his large veiny hand, which looked so much bigger compared to yours and which had now wandered so far up your hips that it pushed up your skirt and exposed your pink panties.

Briefly his fingers pinched your hipbones before making their way back down. By now you couldn’t even try to waste a single thought on the stupid styling concept. Changbin's body weight rested comfortably on yours and his hand continued to relentlessly touch your aroused skin. You briefly glanced at Chan and Hyunjin, but both had headphones on by now and were engrossed in working on their screens. Only the song could be heard softly echoing through their headphones across the room.

Changbin corrected a line on his phone and again ran his hand up your leg. At the mere sight of his broad shoulders, strong arms, and hands, you grew hotter and your body tensed. When his fingers dug into your skin again under your skirt, near your ass, a soft hiss escaped you. Then Changbin paused and glanced over his shoulder.

"Are you okay, sweetie?", he asked, as if his fingers weren't just under your skirt, teasing you constantly.

With red cheeks, you just nodded and stared at your phone. In the corner of your eye, you saw a smug grin before he went back to his lyrics. It seemed like he could read all your dirty fantasies right in your eyes, so you prevent eye contact.

But only a few seconds later, his hand was on the back of your knee, he turned his head a little and brushed your inner thigh with his lips casually.

Your head fell back onto the couch. God you were so wrong! He knew exactly what he was doing and he enjoyed every bit of it.

Again, a hiss escaped you and that was the confirmation he needed. Naughty thoughts pelted him and the mere sight of your naked skin made him forget his rap lines immediately. Seemingly incidentally and surely without intentions, he kissed the same spot on your inner thigh.

Your hands gripped the phone tighter and you automatically squeezed your thighs together due to the enormous heat rising between your legs. His lips were just centimeters away from your center, where you wanted them so badly.

It was pure torture and he knew it.

Because he noticed how your body tensed under him, how you convulsively tried not to press your legs further together and how your breathing stuttered.

That's when he placed more kisses along your inner thigh, until you couldn’t stand the tension anymore.

"Binnie!", it broke out of you breathlessly as he clasped your thigh tightly with his hand and he began to suck on your sensitive skin. With a questioning look, he glanced over his shoulder.

"Please don't. I can't concentrate...", you sighed, closing your eyes to avoid looking into those seductive chestnut brown eyes.

"What? I wasn't doing anything", he said sanctimoniously, turning around so that he could now look you directly in the face, chin resting on your stomach and smiling such a hypnotic smile that you had to hold a hand in front of your face, so he wouldn’t see how turned on you were.

"Bin, I really need to work“, you whimpered, and a chuckle of laughter rolled through his body. The vibration transferred directly to your lower belly and made everything even worse for your throbbing core.

The mere sight of his pretty face with the fluffy hair framing it right between your legs was too much to handle.

"Then do that and don't get distracted."

A cruel glint entered his eyes and just as you had typed the first word, you felt both his hands closing tightly around the outside of your thighs. Your skirt had slipped so far over your hips by now that Changbin had a clear view of your panties.

"You wear such cute panties every day and I'm only seeing this now?", he suddenly began, and you looked alarmed at Chan and Hyunjin, but they didn't notice.

Now the phone slipped out of your hands when you felt his mouth right next to your desperate core, kissing the skin on your inner thigh. Slowly he worked his way up further and his tongue drove you completely crazy. At the edge of your panties, he suddenly stroked his thumb right over your covered middle, which had completely soaked the fabric of your panties hours ago.

"Fuck. You've been so wet all this time?", he asked then and you squirmed as he pressed his thumb directly on your clit.

"You're so needy just because I touched your leg?"

You couldn't answer. His fingers at your entrance were making the heat unbearable.

"Binnie, please!", you begged, even though you didn't know what for.

His dimples were stunning and you forced yourself not to press your pelvis against his hand.

"It's hot when you beg. Want me to help you, babygirl?", he teased, taking the phone from your hand and placing it on the floor with his. A desperate gasp wriggled from your throat as his hands pulled you closer to him by the hips as if you weighed no more than a feather.

"Binnie I really need to work."

It was a last desperate attempt to resist, but in truth you wanted nothing more than Changbin's face buried deep in your cunt.

"I think Chan will allow you to take a break... Right, Hyung?"

He said the last part louder and directed at the person behind you. To your surprise, the other two were already looking over at you with audacious grins on their faces. Hyunjin had leaned back, obviously enjoying your helpless expression, while Chan laughed in response to Changbin's question.

"Don't stop, Bin! I love those pretty noises our needy girl makes."

"Would definitely sound good on a track“, Hyunjin added, and you immediately blushed. When you looked back at Changbin, he was glaring at you with a satisfied grin.

"See? Those two also think you deserve it. I need to make sure you're not feeling stressed anymore."

He had crawled up to you by now and was spreading kisses and lovebites on your neck. His broad shoulders hovered above you and you couldn’t resist his engaging charm anymore. With nimble fingers, he unzipped your skirt and pushed it up even further and opened the buttons of your blouse so that your bra sprung out.

Hyunjin and Chan kept looking over at you, but continued to work on the side as Changbin took care of you. He inhaled deeply the scent of your skin, the way the tip of his nose brushes against your chest sending shivers down your spine.

When Changbin was satisfied with the hickey he had added above your right breast, he moved his head back between your legs. His biceps tensed seductively as he positioned you. That's when he started rolling your panties off your hips, and when he had it in his hand, he called out to Hyunjin:

"Catch!"

So he did. With a amused grin, he shoved your underpants into his pocket and you were sure you wouldn't get them back anytime soon. But your mind went blank anyway when you suddenly felt Changbins cold tongue against your cunt. He buried his face between your legs without a second to spare.

You thrusted your hips against him, as he went in way more faster than you thought. His tongue penetrated you and you couldn't hold back the sounds.

The Rapper was good at a lot of things, but you didn't think anyone could possibly be so good at giving head. His strong arms held you straight down on the couch, and your hands gripped his curls roughly. And he moved his tongue as if he knew exactly how you liked it.

You were grinding down lazily onto his face and letting out noises that were fucking sinful but so lovely for him to hear. The hand he gripped your thigh with tightened to keep you to him, his goal of your orgasm in mind.

His hand has snaked to grope the soft skin of your ass.

"Binnie, please... If someone comes in“, you tried to say, but your shaky voice threatened to break as the knot in your stomach tightened. That's when he pulled back, with a cheeky smile he licked your salvia from his lips and leaned his head against your thigh.

"Do you want me to stop?"

The sudden emptiness and tearing away of your high, made you regret your words directly. Quickly, you shook your head.

"No. Bin, please! Go on! Please, Binnie!"

"Thought so," he teased.

You buckled your hips when he unexpectedly thrusted his middle and ring finger inside you, walls welcoming and clenching around them so tightly Changbin almosts came right into his pants.

"All day I've been thinking about your sweet cunt“, he said and you heard Hyunjin giggle contentedly.

"She tastes like heaven, doesn't she?"

In response, he brought his fingers to his mouth to suck you from them. This was so sexy that you could only stare at him. His hair was messed up and his lips puffy and glistening from your juices.

Changbin nodded:

„She's addictive."

And started pumping his fingers inside you again.

"You're all we fucking need. We don't want anything else but you, you know that babygirl?", he clarified and that made your heart pound. It was only the feeling of his tongue back on your clit that snapped you out of your trance. Your head thumped back against the couch behind you, fingers tightening in his endearingly soft hair and you felt him push your leg on his shoulder to spread you without needing his hands.

You arched your back dazed by his motions, a soft moan rose from you as he found that spot again. The one that turned you into a lustful mess and shot you into another atmosphere. His tongue was relentless as he matched the new faster pace by entering two fingers as he suckled on your clit, and he was humming out in satisfaction, the vibration against you cunt.

You didn't even remembered that Chan and Hyunjin were also in the room, too lost in the feeling to realize you were chanting Changbin's name like a prayer, mixed in with a few swear words and some pornographic noises.

"Such a filthy fucking mouth," Hyunjin said. "How does someone so pretty sound so dirty?", Chan asked with a dirty smile, enjoying the show. Both of them were still working on the screens, but couldn't ignore the sensual sounds and Chan started to palm himself through his shorts, as your moans made him instantly get hard.

That was the moment your orgasm rolled over you. Changbin continued to work you over and had you right where he wanted you. With Hyunjin's beautiful eyes intently on you and Chan barely managing to keep his length in his pants, you gripped Changbin's hair even tighter and your whole body tensed as he worked you through your high. The intense eye contact with the other members seemed straight out of an erotic film.

You couldn't help but pull him back up to you and kiss him deeply. A messy, dirty kiss where the desperation flowed through you both like an electric wave. Both of you buzzing. Your hands flew to his belt and you tugged him closer with it. He leaned over you, his hands were tangled into your hair as he continued licking into your mouth, and he groaned deeply.

„If you won't stop soon, I'm gonna join."

It almost sounded like a threat from Chan.

"Then there's no one working here today, that's for sure", Hyunjin agreed, and that brought back some of your mushy mind. There was still so much to do and you were lying here letting Changbin eat you out.

In fact, he also finally broke away from you and let you breathe a sigh of relief. Your legs were still weak and he climbed off of you with one last kiss on your nose that was almost cute.

Slowly you straightened up and started buttoning your shirt again.

"So, still stressed?", asked Hyunjin amusedly, and you could only shake your head wordlessly. Changbin helped you stand up and conscientiously zipped your skirt. Then he brushed a strand of hair from your face and smiled warmly. You felt protected and cared for, even though that was actually your job.

You remembered that Hyunjin had your panties.

"Jinnie, can I have my panties back?"

He pretended to think and pulled you on your thigh closer so you were standing between his legs.

"I'll keep it for today... If you're good, you might get it back."

As he looked up to you with a cheeky smile and those shimmering eyes, that reminded you of obsidian, you almost forgot, that you were actually at work.

->Part 17

——————————————————————-

© Sky-yuna — 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝.

Taglist (closed):

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[onthinice-k]

Little Do You Know - F. Andersen

It’s finally done! This fic was written for the Winter Fic Exchange 2k24 hosted by @wyattjohnston and is for @mp0625. It was a nice challenge to write a reader insert for the first time, I had a lot of fun creating this story and I hope you enjoy readiit just as much!

Also, everyone be warned, I didn’t look at a single calendar or any actual game scores. I just did what felt right and hoped for the best. Also, don’t think too closely about the reader’s job. I have no idea how it actually works, I just put a lot of imagination and confidence into writing it. There also is a guest appearance of Seth Jarvis.

Summary: Suddenly working for the Carolina Hurricanes wasn't how you'd thought your year would end. Everything that followed was just as surprising.

Pairing: Frederik Andersen x f!reader (no mentions of y/n)

Words: 11.9k (I’m sorry, this was planned to be like 3k words at most?? I have no idea what happend)

Warnings: a few swear words? Reader is described as shorter than Freddy, otherwise no physical descriptions. It might sound just a little angsty at the beginning, but it's really not; mostly fluff and maybe some light hurt/comfort

.

.

Jane's grin should have been enough to make you suspicious.

It was one evening, after another long shift at work and overtime that you would probably never see the pay for.

Even without looking at her, you knew the look Jane would give you. One of those pitying ones that made you a little more defensive than you should’ve been - a constant reminder that perhaps the year hadn't exactly been perfect.

But that didn't automatically mean Jane was right. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, you had once tried to tell her once. You were happy. No, really.

Sure, the breakup at the beginning of the year had been long and accompanied by a lot of shouting and tears. At the beginning you had been so sure that he was the one - only to be disappointed once again a few months later. But you could always use that as a learning experience, couldn’t you? Jane didn't know what she was talking about when she’d said that you seemed lonely sometimes. Better alone than with the wrong person, right?

And sure, the water damage to the apartment wasn't ideal either. But at least the only thing that couldn’t be saved was the kitchen. Everything else just needed time to dry and, well, maybe a new coat of paint. Two weeks later you had managed to find a new place to move into with your best friend, Jane.

Maybe she wasn’t entirely wrong about your job being more than miserable. Seemingly endless overtime and the salary just enough to make ends meet.

Maybe Jane had a point, even though you hated to admit it.

You weren't unhappy per se. But maybe, just maybe, there was still room for improvement.

And now it was December.

Jane had gotten a telltale glint in her eyes when you both realized that. Less than four weeks left to end the year on a good note.  Or maybe you should just wait for the next one and hope it’ll get better. So, with a shrug of your shoulders, you'd put the thought aside for the moment.

Her grin should’ve made you suspicious. But instead, it was already forgotten by the next morning.

–   

"Jane!" Your voice was far too loud considering she was sitting barely a meter away.

"Hm?" Jane looked up from her book, confused, maybe a little worried. You weren’t paying enough attention right not to get a good read on her expression.

You couldn't believe your eyes. Even after reading the text for the third time, you wanted to pinch yourself. Hard. This had to be a strange dream.

The words blinking up at you from the screen seemed unbelievable.

"Did you- Did you submit my application with- to the- the Carolina Hurricanes?!"

Jane seemed to process your words in her head. Then understanding began to spread across her face.

Your mouth kept opening and closing, but no words came out. You didn't even know what you would have, should’ve, said. What was a normal response in this situation?

Jane straightened up a little and leaned toward you. She was looking over your shoulder at the laptop.

"Oh, they were faster than I expected."

"How... What..."

Sure, you'd complained to her just the other day that the youth team you'd applied to had suddenly realized they didn't have the budget for a full-time position after all. The interview at the equipment store on the other side of town left a lot to be desired after their first question was how much overtime you could put in per month.

But this? You’d never have expected that.

"Are you crazy?" Your voice was still unexpectedly shrill.

“It’s not a rejection letter”, she sounded a little too proud for your liking.

You squinted your eyes at her.

“Then I would’ve killed you. After burying myself out of embarrassment.”

"Oh, come on. You have to admit, it sounds perfect for you," Jane simply shrugged her shoulders. Leaning back again, she looked a lot calmer than you felt.

Nevertheless, you did have to admit that it sounded almost perfect. Often you had helped out with the equipment in small teams in the past and had always enjoyed the work. It was close to the action without being in the foreground.

But still.

"I can't believe you." You slumped back against the couch and ran your fingers through your hair. "This is crazy. You’re crazy..."

Jane sighed. "Hey, if you're not interested, don't answer." Then she turned back to her book.

She made it sound so easy.

"I didn't say that!" you defended yourself immediately.

Jane snorted, then at least a brief twitch of the corner of her mouth.

–  

Your hands were shaking as you pushed open the nondescript door. It had all happened so fast.

Someone had called you the very next morning.

It was all so unbelievable that you could barely remember the phone call.

 "It's a temporary position, but it needs to be filled quickly," the man on the phone had said, that much you could recall - immediately followed by the question of when you could start.

Apparently, someone had gotten sick after they were already understaffed and so they urgently needed someone to fill in.

Your experience at the small hockey center in your hometown had probably paid off after all. While growing up you had helped the coach, who trained the children’s hobby group, with the equipment.

In return, he always gave you old skates and sticks that were once forgotten by someone and never got picked up so you could try them out during your own team’s training.

Maybe they also decided on you because they just didn’t have many applicants with previous experience of any level available at such short notice. But who knew. And really, you didn’t really care either way.

Especially as just a few hours after the call you were now following hurriedly written down directions through the corridors of the arena that you had previously only seen as a visitor. 

Anthony, whose first words had been "Call me Tony", had been awaiting you already. His tour of the most important rooms was not only packed with way too much information but also constantly interrupted by other people’s questions and demands.

Nevertheless, Tony remained friendly and patient with them as well as you, even when you had forgotten which direction you had come from for the third time in a row. Once or twice, he might even have stifled an amused grin.

"Let me just show you the storage rooms and then..."

"Anthony," an older man interrupted from the side. He had his arms crossed over his chest and a grim expression on his face.

An official-looking ID was hanging around his neck.

Tony grimaced at the use of his full name.

"What is it now?" he asked, barely able to hide his annoyed voice under a wavering polite smile. It was the first time you'd seen Tony anything other than friendly today. It was almost weird.

The man didn't really look at Tony, but rather past him, even though the words were clearly directed at Tony. "The sticks are all mixed up." The accusatory tone in his voice was clear, as if Tony had personally caused the mess.

"We don't know what belongs to whom."

Tony sighed. "Of course, you don't", he muttered so quietly that only you could hear the words. However, the other man would have been able to see the hint of an eye roll hadn’t he turned away again, apparently to grumble at the next person.

"Don't let Mike intimidate you," Tony explained, turning back to you, "in case he ever snaps at you. He likes to feel more important than he is." He rolled his eyes with a wry grin.

Someone hesitantly tapped Tony’s shoulder. This time a young man, who looked like he'd just graduated high school.

"Sorry, I know you're busy - I don't mean to interrupt - but, uh, a strap on a goalie pad broke."

Anthony ran a hand over his forehead. "Another one? Shit."  He exhaled noisily. "That's the third one in two days. It has to be a production error. Has the manufacturer responded to the complaint yet?"

The boy's eyes widened, and he shrugged his shoulders helplessly.

Mike called impatiently for Anthony from the next room. Torn, he turned briefly at the voice, then looked back at the boy next to him. "They probably need the goalies for training right now?"

The boy nodded shyly: "They said it was urgent."

Anthony sighed again.

Then he looked at you with a wry grin: "Looks like you'll get something to do sooner than expected."

He got handed a paper from someone walking past him. While searching for something on it he continued talking.

"We only have a few pads left in stock. The new order hasn't arrived yet and we need the ones we still have for the game tonight. Do you know how to sew?" He looked up.

"A little?" Your grandparents had taught you a long time ago, but it wasn't something you had to do regularly in your daily life.

"Great, that should be enough for now. It doesn't have to be pretty, as long as it does the job."

Anthony patted you on the back approvingly. Then he left you standing alone in the hallway, his exit accompanied by another long "Anthony" yell.

You were left standing there. Uncertainly you looked at the young man next to you.

He shrugged his shoulders just as unsure. He murmured quietly: "In that room over there." With a finger, he pointed at a door.

Well, then you should probably get to work. 'That room over there' really wasn't hard to find. It was only a few meters away.

What you didn't expect, however, was to almost walk into a huge man as soon as you entered the room. You always knew that hockey players tended to be quite tall, but it still took you by surprise.

You had to tilt your head back to look the man in the face. Of course, having lived here long enough you knew all the players on the team, at least by name. You weren't some crazy fan but at least invested enough to watch the games whenever you had the time. For your last birthday you had even gotten tickets to watch one live in the arena. It had been great.

Now you were faced with a certain goalie. Stubborn ginger strands fell into his face, his cheeks slightly flushed from training or the cold. Television did not do him justice at all.

Stay professional, you had to order yourself. This was your job. You couldn't mess it up, especially not on the first day.

Frederik looked up. He ran his eyes over your form for a moment. Then he tilted his head. "You're not Tony," his voice sounded unexpectedly soft.

"Oh, uh, no. I'm new here. First day today." Wow, very smooth. Good job.

If Freddie thought the same, he didn't let on. Quite the opposite. He openly watched you, his mouth twisted into a crooked grin. "Well, in that case. Welcome."

You mumbled a "Thank you."

A brief silence filled the room. While you reminded yourself to get yourself under control, you could still feel his appraising gaze on you - not hostile, just curious.

"How do you like it so far?" You could see little lines forming around his eyes as he smiled at you.

"I mean, a map would be helpful. All these corridors are like a labyrinth," you tried to joke.

Freddie laughed. "Oh yeah. You don't want to know how many times I got lost in here at first."

Maybe he was just saying that to make you feel better. However, you decide not to question it and just let the words calm you down a little.

"Are you almost done?" a woman poked her head into the room. Her stern features were emphasized by her narrow glasses. She reminded you of a strict principal scowling at running students.

You were almost certain you'd seen her in the corridors earlier today. Maybe Tony had told you her name and position, but if so, you'd already forgotten again. For the first dozen names you had made an honest effort to memorize them. The numerous ones following after that were buried in the sea of information that had poured in on you in a very short space of time.

"Oh yes, almost done," you grinned at the woman as convincingly as possible.

With a skeptical look, she let her eyes wander back and forth between Freddie, you and finally the pad, still hanging down loosely on his leg.

"Hurry up”, she ordered. You nodded dutifully.

When she had disappeared again, you breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes had literally bored right through you and left you feeling a little uncomfortable. Freddie had squirmed under her eyes just as much.

You didn’t want to risk her turning up here again.

"I think I'll go and get some stuff. To fix that."

Freddie nodded patiently.

Huh.

Well. There was just one problem.

"You wouldn't happen to know where they store needles around here, would you?"

Again, the corners of his mouth pulled to the side in amusement. "Aren't you the one working here?" He was obviously just teasing you, but your cheeks immediately felt a little warmer, nevertheless.

"Right."

In the end, Freddie did help by searching through the drawers in the small cupboard behind him while you examined the rest of the room.

Once needle and thread were found, the work was done quickly. The strap was tight again. It should hold on for the next few hours at least. The stern-looking woman had walked past the room a few more times – more than necessary in your opinion – as you had noticed out of the corner of your eye. However, she had not re-entered the room.

Freddie and you had had some simple conversations on the side so the work had gone by quickly. He had asked your name and where you came from.

All in all, your first job could have gone a lot worse. You were almost a little proud of yourself.

Maybe this was all quite doable after all.

-

It was terrible.

You couldn't remember the last time you'd walked so much, feeling your feet ache with every more step you took. By the time just half of your shift had been over, your legs were already heavy.

Once the game had started, the processes seemed a lot more structured.

The rather hectic running around of the afternoon was replaced by a lot of counting and carrying things from one place to another.

With all the work, you almost missed the end of the game completely.

However, the disappointment was hard to miss. It put deep creases in everyone’s faces; reflected in the way shoulders slumped and voices were muffled.

Losing again after a long winning streak probably always hit everyone hard.

Tony and you got handed the equipment to be washed and dried.

At least one thing hadn't changed though. All sorts of people still wanted something from Tony. He had mumbled to you "I'll be back in a moment", only to definitely not come back after a moment.

Afraid of getting lost for good, you decided to wait here for him anyway.  

Everyone around you seemed to have clear tasks that they were silently following. It was almost strange to see the corridors so quiet, in contrast to a few hours earlier.

No matter where you stood, you had the feeling that you were interfering with the routines of other workers and so you gradually ended up further and further to the end of the narrow hallway. Not knowing exactly where you were was nothing new today. However, this time you were pretty sure this corner hadn’t been in Tony’s tour. 

One by one, players came around a corner. They walked past you individually or in small groups. Very few of them probably really noticed you. Their mood was also noticeably subdued.

You weren't entirely sure whether you were happy to see Freddie again as he slowly stepped around the corner, or whether you would’ve preferred not to see the disappointed look on his face.

You gave him what you hoped was an encouraging smile.

For a brief moment, the corners of his mouth lifted, a hint of a crooked grin as he had almost passed you, but as quickly as it had appeared, it vanished again.

He exhaled forcefully. The heaviness in his eyes returned.

With a long breath, you watched his slowly shrinking figure.

No longer could you stand being in the hallway. You had seen enough disappointed faces for one day. A door caught your eye. It was held open by a chair jammed into the doorway. The cool light falling through the opening was brighter than the ceiling lights.

You dared to take one last look over your shoulder, Freddie had already disappeared from your view. And there was still no sign of Tony. So, you crossed the corridor with slow steps.

The door led directly to the spectator stands. It had apparently been opened after everyone had left the arena.

You let yourself fall against the door frame.

After a quick glance over the seating area, your gaze fell onto the ice surface. Your heart ached in your chest. Before, you hadn't realized how much you missed being on the ice yourself - or you had successfully pushed it to the back of your mind. Only now, when you were so close to it, did the longing come back to you in full force.

"Do you have skates?" The voice so close to your ear made you jump. Lost deep in thought you hadn’t noticed when Tony had appeared next to you.

"What?"

"Do you have skates," he repeated more slowly, "I have to be honest. I'd be a bit disappointed if I had to find out like this that you don't own any." He flashed an amused grin at you.

You frowned. "Yes, of course. I mean, I have relatives in Canada. They'd probably disown me if I didn't."

"Then what's stopping you from taking a few laps on the ice?"

He shrugged as if it were that simple. It couldn't be that simple.

"What? But no, I can't do that..." You found it difficult to find the right words. You didn't even know what you were trying to say yourself.

"The way you look at the ice longingly, it'll melt away otherwise," Tony teased.

You couldn't help but roll your eyes. "No, but really. Is that allowed?"

"Yep," Tony pointed over his shoulder. "Back there on the list are the times when the ice is free. As long as you don't mind the ice not being fresh, of course."

You could hardly believe what Tony was telling you. There was actually a possibility that you could skate on the ice? It’d been so long since you had skates on your feet. It’s been even longer since you’d last held a hockey stick.

When you thought about what it would be like to practice again after so long, a yearning overcame you.

"Nobody else usually uses it on Mondays and Wednesdays." Tony gave you a significant look.

-

The ice had obviously been heavily used. It couldn't have bothered you less.

The first step on the ice was shakier than you expected. And it still felt so relieving. Like rediscovering one of your favorite childhood sweets years later. Or finding change in your pockets that you’d already forgotten about.

Your face beamed with joy, becoming more relaxed with every step. After two laps around the arena, it felt as familiar as before. Your chest rose and fell at a fast pace.

Even after another ten minutes, you were still alone on the ice. When Tony had said no one else usually used the free ice time on Mondays, he hadn't been exaggerating.

You were still a little unsure before, but now you took the stick you had brought with you and a few pucks that were still in a bucket on the side from the last training session.

The last time you’d played hockey was even longer ago than the last time you’d skated. So, it wasn't surprising that you missed the net a lot the first few tries. The times you did hit the goal, however, felt all the better.

The skillful shots from your youth, when you still had time to go to training regularly, no longer worked nearly as well. In the past, you could’ve done them blindfolded.

Adult responsibilities however got in the way at some point, so you were glad that you were still able to attend a hobby group at least once a month until last year. And it paid off. After a short time, the stick no longer felt so strange in your hand. Maybe Hockey was a bit like riding a bike. You would never quite forget how to do it.

You almost missed the other person coming onto the ice.

Even without his number on his back, you could’ve identified him without a doubt. To be fair, there probably weren't that many people walking around in professional goalie gear. Especially those with access to the ice and a Canes logo on their chest.

Without a doubt: Frederik Andersen had just stepped onto the ice. The exact ice you were standing on.

Uncertain you looked back and forth between the exit and him. You were sure you hadn't misread the time on the list. The clock on the wall also told you that you hadn't just been here much longer than you thought.

Still, should you leave the ice? If he was here, he probably wanted to practice. You'd just get in the way.

After the game on your first day on the job, the Canes lost two more games. And as always happens, critical voices immediately got loud on the internet. Even if you hadn't looked any further, you could imagine what they said about Freddie – hopefully, he followed the media team's advice not to read any of it.

Freddie looked at you for a moment. Then he crossed the ice. However, instead of heading for the other half of the ice as you’d have expected, his path led straight into the net on your side.

Fascinated, you watched as he stretched and moved in quick order. Finally, he straightened up again, leaned forward and tapped the ice several times with his stick.

You looked at him in confusion. But when he then flicked a puck across the rink towards you with his stick, it was a more than clear invitation.

In this moment you were so glad to have had some time to warm up before he arrived.

Your first shots at the net were careful. And apparently, they were way too predictable and easy for Freddie, as he blocked each of them with ease. He didn't even look strained in the slightest.

You took it as a challenge.

The next shots were more confident. You even started to skate a few steps towards the net on each of them, instead of standing rigidly in the middle of the ice.

However, after a lost puck on the way to the net elicited a playfully disappointed shake of the head from Freddie, you made it your mission to mix in a particularly bad shot every few tries. Freddie’s reaction made it more than worth it.

If you looked very closely, you imagined you could even see the smirk under his mask every time.

In the end, you didn't know how long you’d played for.

When Freddie pushed his mask up, a few strands of hair were sticking to his forehead. His features were more relaxed than any of the last times you'd seen him here. It looked good on him.

As you went your separate ways again, he gently nudged you with his shoulder. The smile lingered on your lips for a long time.

– 

"Do you think the small suitcase will be enough for three days?"

Jane looked at you over her shoulder. "Are you going on a trip? Without me?" She clutched her chest dramatically.

"There are a few away games coming up. And I'm supposed to come with them”, you explained. Your nerves must be written all over your face.

"Not that I think I'm really going to be that much help.", you added.

You had only just started to feel like you were slowly getting used to the work in the arena. By now, you could count on one hand how many times you got lost in the seemingly never-ending hallways of the arena in a shift. Even all the tasks no longer appeared as overwhelming as they did at the beginning.

Still, it had taken you days to even come close to finding your way around the arena. Even now, you kept discovering new rooms that you had never seen before.

Now, arriving in a completely foreign arena? You'd never seen how away games were run behind the scenes. And now you were supposed to help out yourself. Over the last days carefully established routines to make work easier would have to be broken again.

"Oh yeah, I totally forgot that you're super important now," she teased.

As if. "Hardly. More like the assistant to the assistant."

As you turned back to your bedroom, Jane called after you: "I’m sure it won't be as bad as you think."

Packing took longer than expected. This was probably partly due to the fact that you kept placing stuff in your suitcase just to take it out again minutes later. Should you pack a fifth sweater after all? Would one spare pair of pants be enough or maybe take the black ones with you as well?

By the time you had loaded your bags into your car, you were on the verge of being late. Enough time for you to arrive on time, not enough to get stuck in traffic or spend ages looking for a parking space.

However, you didn’t even get that far.

Your car made a tired stuttering noise before it fell silent again. The same sound was heard on the second attempt. By the third turn of the key, your fingers were already getting clammy.

"Damn it. That can't be true now." Try again. This time the engine only made a muffled scraping sound.  "No, no, no!"

You dropped your head against the steering wheel. Frustration rose up inside you.

Another sharp turn. Your hand clutched the armrest. You preferred not to look too closely at the speed limit. Jane ignored your pointed glances toward her anyway - and today, at least, you were almost glad of her habit of speeding.

The bags on the back seat were a heavy reminder in the corner of your eye.

You almost felt like you were back in your teenage years, being driven around by your parents and older friends. Then the airport finally came into view.

Jane parked and let you out. A car honked behind you. Quickly you thanked her and got out of the car.

You didn't know how, but you were still on time.

–    

After the flight, it was a blessing to arrive at the hotel room.

The room was small, had a strange orange wall color and a dubious stain on the floor that you strictly avoided stepping on. But at least you had the room to yourself. Reason enough to breathe a sigh of relief.  

In the evening, you fell into bed early, exhausted from the day. Sending a photo of your room to Jane would have to wait until tomorrow.

The next morning, you were awake long before your alarm clock. You didn't know who exactly was in the room next to you, but whoever it was had started snoring loudly at some point.

Even after a while, you couldn't fall back asleep. You were slow to pull yourself out of the warmth of your bed, but happy to escape the constant noise. So, you got ready for the day.

When you arrived in the breakfast room with a sectioned-off area for the team and players, the buffet had only just been opened. Apart from you, there was only one other person here so far, who ignored you as politely as you ignored them.

Most people would probably eat later. The game wasn't until late afternoon, so there was no rush to prepare, and morning skate wasn't scheduled for a few hours, as you’d heard.

With a full plate, you sat down at one of the many empty tables. While you ate, you checked your messages.

Jane had texted you last night to tell you that she’d taken your car to the mechanic. Already, they had sent you an email with a list of what needed to be repaired. Your hope that it would only be just a minor repair instantly vanished as you saw the length of the list.

You gulped a second time at the amount at the bottom of the mail.

Shit. That would easily consume an entire month's salary. You dropped your forehead to your hands.

"Does breakfast in general make you unhappy or is it this one in particular?" The chair next to you was pulled back. A certain ginger goalie fell into the seat.

You couldn't suppress a faint snort.

"I wouldn't count my car as breakfast," you tried to joke. Just the thought of your car made you grimace again.

"Oh," his brow furrowed gently. "That doesn't sound good?"

"Yeah. I mean, it has made a weird noise for a while now, should’ve known something like this would happen eventually. I just hoped to have a little more time before having to get it repaired."

Groaning you let your head fall into your hands again. Freddie shook his head, an amused glint in his eyes.

Then he seemed to have another thought.

“Wait, so how did you get to the airport?”

“Oh, I had someone drive me.” You turned your head to look at him.

“Boyfriend?" Maybe it was just hopeful wishing, the way Freddie's eyebrows drew down a touch further. “I mean, not that it’s any of my business.”

"My roommate, Jane." After short consideration, you also added: “Don’t think my ex would’ve even bothered to drive me.” You couldn't see Freddie’s face at that moment as your eyes were drawn to a new incoming message. Just Jane complaining about the weather.

“That sounds like there’s a story.”

You snorted. “Not a good one.”

Freddie seemed to get the drift. He did however furrow his brows slightly and asked slowly: "Wait, how are you getting home then?"

You could almost have sworn that Freddie was sitting closer than at the beginning.

To be honest, you hadn't really thought about it yourself. "Probably an Uber or...?" you mumbled but didn't finish the thought.

Someone from the marketing team - Angela? Angelica? Angeline? - sat down on a chair opposite you.

The conversation was paused for now. Instead, the blonde woman chattered away happily as you just nodded at the appropriate times.

You hadn't noticed when the room had started to become so crowded.

–  

When they’d said: "I have an exciting task for you today", you hadn't thought that cleaning helmets would be a big part of it.

Being allowed to take on more tasks on your own was wonderful. And you were grateful.

There were various parts on a few of the helmets that needed to be replaced or checked. By itself a nice and relaxing work. However, having to polish helmets had always been very low on your list of favorite activities. And today you had to clean every single one after the repairs.

One by one, some players arrived to collect their helmets for training themselves. Others were picked up and taken away by staff on their way past. By the time the last helmet was shiningly clean, there were only three left on the table next to you, waiting to be picked up.

And, well, one of them was a beautifully painted goalie mask of a very specific goalie.

Another player came to collect his helmet. You immediately suppressed the disappointment that welled up in your stomach when you realized who was coming through the door. Or rather, the disappointment at who it wasn't.

He was friendly, exchanged a few brief words with you and finally thanked you before disappearing again.

And then, Freddie came into the room. You almost missed it over your struggle of trying to get a new rag from the top shelf.

“Let me help you”, the deep voice from behind surprised you.  

He probably could’ve stepped around you and still reached the pile of rags easily enough. However, Freddie appeared behind you, not quite touching you, but close enough that you could feel the heat coming from his body.

Even after grabbing the desired item, he didn’t step back a whole lot, stayed close. If you would’ve wanted to you could’ve taken a step to the side. There was more than enough space and even if there wasn’t you knew Freddie would’ve moved immediately and apologized if you’d asked. But you didn’t.

You stayed exactly where you were.

The air between you felt almost charged. You wanted to see what Freddie’d do. You didn’t get the chance to.

The moment was over as quickly as it had come when the door was pushed open. You both jumped.

Until now you’d only seen Seth Jarvis occasionally from a distance in the hallways. Apart from that, you haven't had much to do with him yet.

The first thing you noticed about him today was that he was already holding his helmet in his hands. It was hanging over two fingers as if he had forgotten he even had it. You dimly remembered giving it to one of the employees not long ago.

You looked down at him once with furrowed brows. The rest of his equipment looked complete too and in working order.

Freddie huffed.

Seth's gaze flitted back and forth between him and you. A far too pleased grin began to grow on his face.

For a few seconds, his gaze stayed wandering between you two.

Finally, you broke the silence when it didn’t seem as if he intended to say anything.

"Is there… A problem with your helmet?"

Seth blinked at you. Then he followed your gaze down to his hands.

He shook his head, almost confused by your question. "No, everything's fine."

Okay? Then he probably hadn’t returned for that.

"Then... Anything else I can help you with?" you continued to ask.

He looked down at himself once more and seemed to think for a moment. Freddie started to speak, a meaningful glint in his eyes: "I'm sure it isn't-"

Somehow that just made Seth’s mischievous grin reappear.

He interrupted Freddie: "Hm, I don't know," he thought slowly, "My shin pad has been kind of weird these last few days and…"

Freddie scowled at him. But Seth didn't let it bother him at all. On the contrary, his grin widened a little more.

Amusement flashed in his eyes. There seemed to be some kind of silent communication between the two.

Finally, Seth concluded: "But it's not really that bad.”

So, you were back to square one.

"Then, anything else I can help you with?"

Seth’s answer came too quickly: "I guess I forgot why I came here. Can’t have been that important."

Turning around, however, took him longer than it should have, and you were pretty sure he did it on purpose. At the door, he threw another grinning look back.

Finally, you two were alone again.

You continued blinking at the door. What was that?

"I should probably see what he's up to," Freddie sighed but offered no other explanation. Nevertheless, he made no effort to leave.

Instead, almost absentmindedly he traced an invisible line in the table.

It took you a moment to notice - he lingered.

You didn't know what to do with the realization. Staring at Freddie the whole time only made you feel stranger. Whatever this conversation just was already left you almost dazed, so you picked up the last remaining helmet beside Freddie’s mask again.

You already knew it was spotless. Not for nothing had you spent so much time cleaning it earlier.

Just to have something to do, you picked up another cloth and set to work again.

Freddie watched you silently. There was something comfortable, almost familiar about sharing the silence.

When the last helmet was finally picked up by another employee, it was the signal for Freddie to leave.

You handed him his mask as well. Your fingers touched too long to be just a coincidence. It made your heart beat loudly in your chest.

For a moment you hesitated. Then you raised an arm briefly to his shoulder and gave him a quick squeeze. "Good luck!"

Before you had a chance to regret your decision, you went back to your work.

–   

The high spirits of some of the players you spotted hours later in the hallways told you how the game had turned out, even though you’d been too busy to watch.

You didn't think Freddie would send you more than a quick smile as he walked down the corridor. Two others caught up with him. One of them, easily recognized as Seth Jarvis, and one of the rookies. Seth said something to Freddie, then pushed him to the side straight at you, laughing with one hand behind his back.

With a slight color in his cheeks, no doubt still from the game, he took a few steps towards you. Smiling, he raised an arm. He waited a moment, as if offering you a way out. Instead, you gladly took a small step in his direction.

His arm wrapped around your shoulders. You were pressed firmly against Freddie, who murmured a quiet thank you against your hair. Then, he let go of you all too quickly.

What exactly he was thanking you for you didn’t know. You also didn’t get the chance to ask.

As they passed you, the other two players behind Freddie greeted you cheerfully. You didn't even know other players knew your name. Seth looked almost as amused as earlier today.

– 

By the last day of the road trip, you could no longer stand being in your room. Something about the specific shade of the wall color made your skin itch if you looked at it for too long.

It was unexpected how much you missed home. Even after just those few days in hotel rooms.

Maybe it was having to live out of a suitcase because it wasn't worth putting your things in the closet when you might be traveling to the next city that same night or the next morning. Or maybe it was the way you were constantly surrounded by the general working atmosphere.

You couldn't put your finger on it. What you could say, however, was that you couldn't wait to get home. 

Just one last game.

After dinner, you couldn't bring yourself to go back to your room. Instead, you explored the common room reserved for the team and staff.

Through the window, you could see some players playing with a ball in the backyard below. At a table in the corner, various people were playing a card game you had never heard of.

In a quiet area, you settled down with a book.

Everything was ideal for reading. It was quiet enough; the sofa was comfortable and you were wearing one of your coziest sweaters.

Still, you couldn’t concentrate on your book. Your thoughts wouldn’t calm down, leaving you feeling restless. Every few minutes you shifted in your seat.

You would have liked to fast-forward the day so that it would finally be evening, and you could go home. If it was up to you, you would have already been on a plane.

Every time someone walked past or entered the room, you unconsciously raised your eyes. And every time, you were annoyed that you had lost the line in your book again. Not that you could remember much of the story anyway. Your attention wasn't quite there.

However, it also meant you noticed when Freddie entered the room.

He stopped several times to talk to people. When he was only a few steps away from the sofas, he looked back and forth between them.

Before you could think about it too long, you slid a little to the side, as if an invitation. There was more than enough space next to you for him to sit down without you touching. However, you left the final decision to him.

You didn't have to wait long. Freddie plopped down on the couch - just a touch closer than usual, but still far enough away that you almost questioned if you were just imagining it. Not that you were complaining.

He opened the book he'd been holding under his arm.

Not exactly subtle, he kept watching you out of the corner of his eye. As soon as you lifted your head, however, he immediately averted his gaze.

Actually, you didn't want to ask. You weren't sure you wanted to hear the answer. What if it was a problem just you had. But still.

After another moment of thought you blurted: "Do you ever get tired of away games?"

"Huh?" He looked up, apparently not having anticipated such a question.

Well, there was no turning back now anyway.

"Like, traveling around all the time, being away from home so much?" you tried to explain.

His answer came easily. "Oh, absolutely. I used to hate it so much. Now it’s not as bad anymore. I mean, some days I would still be rather at but, ehn." He shrugged his shoulders.  

Only after a moment did you ask further, having the feeling he wasn't going to add anything more.

"Used to? What changed?"

"Mainly the team. Getting to know the people you spend the days with has been incredibly helpful. It feels less like a business trip and more like… Like a school trip when you were younger." For a moment he got a far-away look in his eyes as if lost in thought.

Your gaze glided across the room. ‘Business trip’ summed up pretty well how it felt to you. Even though you've had superficial conversations with a lot of people, you probably didn't know any of them nearly well enough to put them anywhere near the friends category.

But of course, you’d also noticed how many of the others were always planning activities in groups or just talking and joking over the meals.

You exhaled briefly.

Freddie watched you for a moment. He tilted his head, then continued slowly. His words seemed measured: “You know, the first road trip after my trade here was particularly hard."

You hadn't even thought about that. Your stomach tightened at the thought of how Freddie must have felt.

"Of course, at most everything is the same, but it still feels so- so unfamiliar. You don't know who's sitting next to whom on the plane. You don't know who's a good roommate and who might snore loudly or leave their things everywhere. And all these little rituals and changes that might not even exist at home games."

"But it got better?" You looked at the hands in your lap.

"It really does. The first few times the unfamiliarity, it's so exhausting. But with each more trip, it becomes more and more of a habit."

After a beat of silence, Freddie added slowly: "I don't want to lie to you. Sometimes I'd still rather stay at home. Home games are definitely more enjoyable, as far as that goes. But they're exceptions, just like everyone has bad days."

Encouragingly, he gently pressed his shoulder against yours. The brief touch turned into a long moment, somehow your whole sides touching. Your arm rested against his, your legs just a few inches away.

After a few moments, when he still hadn't slipped away again, you let yourself relax against him. Gradually you could feel Freddie’s muscles losing their tension as well.

"What about Denmark? Do you ever miss being there?" you asked into the silence between you. Freddie looked out of the window.  

"When I was younger, I missed it a lot more than I do now. I haven't lived there for so long now that I hardly know any different."

Your eyebrows drew together. You didn't know whether the statement reassured you or whether it made you want to give Freddie a long hug. Somehow it sounded so sad.

"I can still visit it regularly. And it's not as if my family would ever let me forget the language." He pointed to the book next to him.

You hadn't looked at it closely before. But now you noticed that the title consisted of large - obviously Danish - words.

"Just sometimes..." he shrugged his shoulders unsure. Then he picked up his book again with a sigh.

This effectively ended the conversation. You wanted to ask more, but the far-away look in Freddie’s eyes stopped you. Now you felt bad. Making Freddie sad hadn’t been your intention.

As if he could read your mind, he knocked his elbow against yours gently. You took a deep breath. Returning the gesture, you began reading again as well.

While your earlier worries had calmed down for the time being, now, with every breath you took, you were made aware of how close you and Freddie were sitting to each other.

You didn't want to have to get up again.

–   

The flight home was uneventful. A general tiredness hung over everyone.

You yawned again as you finally stepped outside into the cool night air.

The tiredness made you inattentive and you flinched when someone unexpectedly appeared next to you.

By now you didn't even need to look at him to recognize Freddie. Just his stature and the hint of ginger hair were enough.

He casually reached for your bag and took it from your hand.

Baffled, you almost stumbled over your feet, looking up at him.

"That's my bag."

"Yep," he said with a grin. He had slowed down to give you a chance to catch up. "At least I hope it’s yours and not some random one you just took."

You rolled your eyes. “Then what are you doing with it? Now that we've established that it is my bag."

"I'm giving you a ride." He stated casually, then started walking again.

If you hadn't been so exhausted, you would have at least tried to protest out of politeness. 

Nevertheless, you couldn't help but at least tease tiredly: "Maybe I've got another ride by now."

"Is that why you have the Uber app open?"

You looked down at the phone in your hands. Huh, you couldn't say anything against that.

Freddie became serious for a moment.  "Hey, if you really don't want to, I'm happy to just wait here with you until your Uber arrives. But the offer stands."

"You really don't have to," spoke the good manners out of you. Your parents would have been proud. Even to your ears, however, it sounded very half-hearted.

Freddie stopped. You almost ran into him. Since you managed to stop just in time, you were now standing right in front of each other instead. If you had leaned forward just a little, you would have been touching.

For a long moment, Freddie held your gaze.  "I know I don't have to. But I want to." The sincerity in his words made you swallow. For a few seconds, you stood in front of each other, looking at each other. You could have sworn Freddie's eyes flickered down your face for a moment.

But then he just cleared his throat and started walking again. You ignored the small spark of disappointment in your stomach.

You were sure that Freddie purposely made himself taller as he looked down at you and joked: "And no offense to you, but you're really not big enough to be threatening."

"Hey! I can be scary if I want to be."

"Uh-uh. Whatever you say."

You stuck your tongue out at him, even if he couldn't see it, as he opened the trunk.

For some reason, you had expected the car ride with Freddie to be awkward. Instead, comfortable silence spread between you. After you had told him your address, he navigated the car slowly through the dark streets.

You watched the streetlights pass by the windshield for a while.

"So, do you give all the poor stranded newbies a ride?" It could be taken as a simple joke. You tried to keep your voice carefully neutral. Still, the mood in the car shifted. It wasn’t uncomfortable, but rather more serious than before. It felt important.

"Would you believe me if I said I was just being helpful?" Freddie didn't even sound like he believed the reason himself. It wasn't a straight answer, but it wasn't an immediate deflection either. You could just accept this as the answer and move on, just, you didn’t want that anymore.

"Normally? Yes. But when you say it like that? Not really”, you still kept the tone light.

"Yeah... My sister is the only one in our family who is a good liar. As a teenager, I always envied her for that. She could outsmart our mother every time."

A small smile graced your lips at the story. You could literally see it in front of you, a young Freddie stammering as he tried to come up with a story about why he was home late.

Freddie parked the car in front of your house. He continued to look straight ahead. In the dim light, you couldn’t be sure, but you could have sworn his ears were turning red.

"I mean, it really wasn't a big deal. And you're not the worst company either."

"Such a high compliment," you grinned, "Not the worst company."

Maybe his cheeks had gained a little color too.

"But really, thank you, for the ride. It probably wasn’t on your way."

"It was nothing, really. And maybe it was also a little selfish." He said it into the quiet of the night as if it were a precious secret. He turned his head towards you and looked straight at you. There was warmth in his gaze, perhaps a spark of hope.

"I like- I like spending time with you."

You couldn't help but smile at the words. Freddie smiled back.

Very slowly, one of his hands moved towards your face, as if he was giving you time to object. You immediately leaned into the touch as he cupped your cheek.

He stroked the corner of your mouth with his thumb. The hairs on the back of your neck stood up. One of your hands rested on his forearm.

"Good thing I like spending time with you too," you whispered softly.

Afterward, you couldn't remember who moved first. Freddie's face came closer towards yours. Your free hand buried itself in his shirt, the other one letting go to run through his hair.

As soon as your lips met, time seemed to stand still for a moment. You forgot all your previous thoughts. The only thing existing was the feeling of his lips pressing gently against yours.

Soon, the sweet kiss turned deeper. The angle wasn’t great, but you made it work.

When you finally broke away from each other, you didn’t move far. Your forehead rested against his, you could feel his breath against your lips.

A small giggle escaped you. Your eyes met. It made Freddie’s smile widen, before his hand slid into your neck to pull your lips to his once again.

– 

It was pure coincidence that you had packed your skates.

After a morning of unpacking deliveries and doing inventory, you were ready to just go home and curl up on your couch. Only Sarah, with whom you had shared the work, had made it more bearable. Before, you had only known her by sight. Now you couldn't remember the last time you had made friends with a colleague so fast.

She was also the first who saw the note on your locker. With a raised eyebrow, she watched as you read it. Your expression had apparently told her enough because she didn't question your decision to stay in the arena and instead said goodbye with a wink.

The note was pretty inconspicuous.

'Meet me on the ice?’

It was the thought of who the message was probably from that made your heart skip a beat.

When you stepped onto the ice this time, Freddie was already skating slow circles across the rink. You were delighted to realize that you could be faster than him in full gear and after several hours of training.

It was a moment of being inattentive – and maybe also you getting tired after a few laps – that he took advantage of. With a gentle push, cushioned on all sides by his pads, he pushed you against the glass.

With your back against the glass and his arms on either side of you, you stopped.

"Hi." You grinned up into his face. Through the mask, he grinned back just as widely.

"Hi."

"What a coincidence to see you here."

"What, were you expecting someone else, skat?" The way Freddie emphasized the last word told you he knew exactly what that would do to you. Your heart melted.

"Writing notes. Pet names. Is this becoming some high school romance novel?"

"I don't even know what you mean, elskling." You could hear the amusement in his voice. Before you had a chance to answer, Freddie had already pushed himself away.

He positioned himself in the net and leaned down. It didn't take you that long to get used to shooting again.

–

With your skates in hand and a pleasant exhaustion making your legs heavy, all you wanted to do was grab your stuff and finally head back to your apartment.  

As you turned the corner, you almost ran into someone. You only just managed to stop in time.

"Oh, I wasn't expecting you to still be here. Didn’t you finish several hours ago?" Tony looked down at you. In one arm he carried a pile of sticks, in the other a large folder overflowing with notes.

"But, oh wait, it's actually good that you're here."

The next words made your heart stop for a moment.

"I just need to talk to you for a minute."

When had that sentence ever been followed by something good?

You couldn't say for sure how long Tony had been standing here. Maybe he had just seen you with Freddie. Before that, you hadn't even thought about whether that was allowed. What if both you and Freddie got into trouble for it?

Or even worse. What if he found out about you and Freddie off the ice? You had only briefly skimmed the contract when you’d signed. You had been far too fascinated by this world, which was secret to every normal fan, to care about that stuff. Not that you’d even expected something like this to happen.

Now you were desperately trying to remember if there was a paragraph about whether relationships with players were allowed at all.

"I won't keep you long," Tony finally snapped you out of your thoughts.

"Brynn - that was the one who was ill. You were his replacement, I don't know if you ever heard his name." You couldn't remember it, but you'd been told so much in the first few days that you could very well have just forgotten it again.

"Anyway. Brynn will be back tomorrow," Tony's face stiffened, "So technically, we don't need any extra help anymore."

"Oh." Of all the fears that had been running through your mind, that hadn't been a scenario you’d considered. You had known from the start that it would only be a short-term job. But you’d have never expected it to be this short.

Tony smiled somberly. "I'm really sorry. I didn't think it would be so quick."

"Yeah, of course. I mean, it's great for Brynn." You weren’t lying. Obviously, it was good to hear, that he was healthy again. But at the same time, knowing you’d lose your job made your heart ache. Even in the short time, you’d grown to love it.

"Yeah," Tony nodded a little absently. He looked conflicted. "Okay, so. Technically I'm not supposed to say anything yet, but... my boss is retiring in the next few weeks. His replacement should be decided by the end of the week. We've had a few conversations and let's just say... I feel like I've got a pretty good chance of getting the role."

"That's really great for you?" you said slowly. Not that you weren't happy for Tony, but your enthusiasm was limited after you'd practically been fired just a minute before.

"That means there's a job opening to be filled." He looked at you meaningfully.

It took you a moment to finally understand. "Oooh."

"Yeah," he nodded, now with a hint of a grin on his lips. "I could put in a good word."

"Really?"

Tony nodded. You had to suppress a loud cheer.  

–

It was a strange feeling. Last away games you’d wished so desperately to be home again. This time you wished you could join. Having to sit at home and having to say goodbye to Freddie sounded almost worse.  

"I'm going to miss you for the next few days."

Freddie came up behind you. His arms wrapped around your waist and pulled you against his chest. More than willingly, you let yourself fall against him.

He looked at you questioningly over your shoulder. "You're not coming?"

Then it seemed to come back to him too. "Oh, right."

It had taken you almost two days to tell him about the conversation with Tony. You were unsure how to. Plus, an annoying voice in the back of your head that would convince you that Freddie wouldn't care at all.

In the end, you blurted it out one afternoon. In your head, you stuck your tongue out at the nasty voice when Freddie immediately took you in his arms and asked how you were doing.

Even now, he gave you another apologetic hug.

Only one more day until the day Tony would hopefully call.  

The timer beeped. Sighing you peeled yourself from Freddie to take the tray out of the oven.

You sat it down on the counter next to the first, a lot less successful attempt.

You had wanted to do something nice for Freddie, had read up on Danish pastries the day before and after long contemplation finally saved a recipe on your phone. You didn’t know how to pronounce Brunsviger properly, but the pictures had looked great and the recipe seemed easy enough.

You still didn't know exactly where things had gone wrong. Although you had assured Freddie that he really didn't have to – and really, shouldn’t – he had tried a forkful of it anyway. As expected, it wasn’t good. Still, there was a traitorous wetness in his eyes and a long hug.

For the second attempt, Freddie hadn't left your side and guided you through it.

You left some on the counter for Jane. A silent apology for the last time you’d had Freddie over. You might have forgotten to tell her beforehand.

Or maybe, tell her about this at all. There just hadn’t been a good opportunity, especially also constantly having to think about your job.

On this day of all days Jane had come home a lot earlier than you anticipated. For a few seconds, she’d just blinked at you two sitting on the couch, you with your legs in Freddie’s lap.

Then, with a tight voice, she had asked: “Do you have a moment.” Her head nodding to the kitchen.

It had made you feel a little guilty how shocked she looked. Her first words being: “Is that Frederik Andersen in our living room?”.

Obviously, she was happy for you, after the first shock wore off.

The piece of Brunsviger was gone the next morning as you brought Freddie to the door.

"You're gonna be great," you told him goodbye.

The hug was long. Neither of you wanted to be the first to leave. In the end, it was time that drove you apart. If Freddie wanted to get to the airport on time, he had to hurry.

–   

Of course, you watched the games. The first game was great, the second one maybe even better. It was also the first time since the new job that you were actually able to give the games your full attention again. Even if you hadn't really noticed it before, you had missed it a little.

You had a good time. When Freddie had a particularly good save, you wrote him a message. You knew he would reply after the game in the flustered way he always reacted to compliments.

The phone call one evening still took you by surprise. A smile spread across your face. "Hey."

"Hej."

Before you could even reply, you heard a voice in the background.

"Hey, Freddie, what got you smiling like this?" You didn’t recognize the voice but you also didn't have to in order to understand the clearly teasing undertone.

The rustling from the line told you that Freddie must have covered the microphone for a moment. The muffled words he threw back sounded a lot like an insult. The response was laughter.

"Talking to your girlfriend?" came another voice, also obviously meant to tease.

Freddie didn’t reply. You could only imagine his facial expression.

Apparently, it was an interesting one. They probably also had expected some kind of denial.

Now there were several voices talking excitedly over each other.

"Wait what?" - "Wait are you serious?" - "Since when?"

"You can't just say that and leave! You have to-"

Then the voices in the background suddenly disappeared.

"Sorry, I just need to change rooms for a minute”, he said a little sheepishly. "They might have found out that we've been talking."

"Do you mind?" You chewed on your lower lip as you awaited the answer. Freddie didn't sound too worried, but still, probably better to ask.  

"Eh, not really" Then came the cautious question from him too: "Does it bother you?"

You took a moment to really think about it. Maybe it should have bothered you. Especially considering the fact that this was still so new with you two. Still, you couldn't find it in you to worry about it right now. You were far too happy for that.

"No. It probably had to come out somehow. Even if it was quicker than I thought. For hockey players, they're surprisingly smart."

Freddie's laughter rang out from the line. It made you miss seeing the little crinkles form around his eyes. "I'll tell them you said that”, he warned.

"Tony called today."

"Tony? From equipment?" Immediately you could hear Freddie perk up.

As if you knew another Tony.

"Uh-hu. You still have space in your car for one more person?" You let yourself fall backward onto your bed as you gave him a few moments to understand what you were saying.

A few seconds of silence and then a cautiously hopeful: "Yeah?"

"Just so I’m not almost late again, obviously." The corners of your mouth slowly began to pull into a grin.

"Really? Does that mean...?" The joy in his voice only made your grin widen.

"I'm employed. Permanently this time. Not just temporary."

Even as you heard the news from Tony himself, you could barely contain your happiness. As soon as you'd hung up, you'd jumped so loudly that even Jane had come out of the next room.

"That's fantastic!"

You couldn't even put into words how incredibly happy you were just then. The only thing that would’ve made the moment better was if you could have hugged Freddie at that moment.

–  

Before you knew it, the day of the third and final game of the road trip had arrived. As you watched the game on the side while you prepared your dinner, you had a good feeling.

The first period wasn't ideal, but it wasn't disastrous either. The second period started with a goal for the Canes. You jumped up and down enthusiastically, broccoli in hand.

After that, it was all downhill. At the end of the second 20 minutes, the Canes were already 2 goals behind. Two more goals followed. Freddie got pulled in the last 5 minutes. You could almost feel his frustration through the screen as he went down the tunnel.

At that moment, you wished you could’ve been there. How much you would’ve liked to give him a hug and tell him that everything would be okay.

You hesitated for a moment before sending a text. You definitely didn't want to annoy him. A text could never really express the comfort you wanted to give him, but it felt even worse not to write anything.

You tried not to think too much about it when you still hadn't heard back after half an hour. He was probably busy with his post-game routines. After all, they were set to travel back today and arrive late tonight. Surely, he would reply on the plane.

–  

It was pure coincidence that you were looking at your phone at that exact moment. Of course, you hadn't been checking for new messages every 5 minutes all evening. Who would do that? Definitely not you. (There were at least 6 and a half minutes on average between each time you checked your phone.)

So, it was definitely a complete coincidence that you were able to read the text the minute it flashed up on your phone.

It was just two short lines. An address.

It wasn’t even a question if you should go. Before you could even really think about it, you had already grabbed your jacket and put on your shoes.

As you closed the front door, your cell phone beeped with another message.

‘Only if you want to. Might not be in the best mood tonight.’

An obvious offer of a way out. As if you hadn't been waiting for this the whole evening. As if the thought of seeing Freddie again in just a few minutes didn't give you butterflies in your stomach. 

Your heart broke a little at how uncertain the texts sounded, as if you hadn't missed him for the last few days.

Excitement tingled in your fingers as you finally stepped into the elevator to Freddie’s apartment. It had been a short drive.

The door swung open. Freddie was standing in front of you. For a moment, you just looked at each other silently, then he literally pulled you against his chest. More than willingly, you sank into his arms.  

You buried your face in his sweater. The warmth of his body and his familiar scent enveloped you. You could’ve stayed like this forever.

Freddie pressed a gentle kiss into your hair before holding you just a little tighter.

It was the rumbling of his stomach that finally separated you. Even though Freddie was reluctant to let you go, you shooed him into the apartment. He shouldn't have to starve because of you. Who knows when he’d last eaten before the flight?

Freddie apparently understood what you wanted from him and so he led you through the entrance area into the open kitchen. There was already a pot on the stove, some kind of pasta in it. Next to it was a pan of chopped vegetables.

While he took a large wooden spoon and stirred it slowly, you jumped onto one of the counters and sat down. Given your height and the height of the counters, which were definitely adapted to Freddie, it wasn't as easy as you thought, but the twitch in the corner of Freddie's mouth made it worth the effort.

From your position, you could watch Freddie. How his movements were all a little too choppy and the tense line in his shoulders. How he put the spoon down too hard on the counter. How he didn’t raise his eyes.

"It wasn't your fault." You said quietly.

Freddie exhaled in disbelief. He didn't look up at you.

Only when you reached out a hand for him did he come closer. He propped himself up with his arms on both sides of you, resting his forehead against your shoulder.

"Even though you might not believe me just yet, it wasn't your fault," you repeated, hoping that your words would get through to him eventually.

One arm wrapped around his shoulders, the other you let run slowly through his hair.

"You did everything you could. It just wasn't your game. Can't win them all."

He let it pass for a moment, then took a deep breath. He turned his head. With a quick kiss against your neck, he pulled away from you.

"Thank you." He couldn't quite meet your gaze, but you still saw his words for what they were. Not just a thank you for right now, but the texts, the coming over, all the times before that.

"Nothing to thank me for," you confirmed. Freddie shook his head lovingly.

Nevertheless, he probably decided not to disagree for the moment. Instead, he took a plate from the cupboard. Silently he held it out to you, but you shook your head. You’d already eaten.

While Freddie ate, you sat beside him on the sofa. Your legs pressed together with soft music playing in the background for company.

When Freddie got up to take his plate back to the kitchen, you watched him.

Until he came back you hadn't moved from your seat, but apparently, Freddie was no longer satisfied with your previous seating arrangement. With a little shifting around, he finally settled behind you.

His legs were on either side of you, his back against the couch cushions, your back against his chest. One of his arms was wrapped around your waist, drawing slow circles into your side. The other hand was intertwined with yours on your lap.

Your words were quiet. You talked about the last few days, hockey the topic you both ignored. While you told him about the cute dog you'd seen while going grocery shopping, Freddie about something funny one of his teammates had done at team breakfast.

So much more important than your conversations, however, was the fact that you were together at that moment. You enjoyed the closeness; the body heat that radiated from him and slowly made you sleepy.

Every once in a while, Freddie took turns in gently kissing your temple and your forehead. Each time you sank a little more against him.

– 

"Happy New Year," Freddie murmured. His arms around your waist pulled you closer to him.

"Happy New Year," you whispered back against his lips. With your hands on the back of his neck, you reached up for a kiss.

Even after all these years, you still weren't tired of it. Hopefully, you’d never be.

[mooneyloveydovey]

Traitorous Limelight (Hugh Jackman/Fem!Reader)

Do go easy on me, it's my first fic and I don't typically write in this style. If anyone has any critiques for me, feel free to message me about it! Otherwise, enjoy <3

CHAP. 1: Where Is Your Boy Tonight? No Warnings...yet.

You two were the perfect couple, or so it seemed. 13 years of a blissful relationship between you and Hugh until it came crashing down in a thunderstorm of confusion, hurt, and anger. It was a sunny Friday morning when you decided to break things off with him, and it was eating you from the inside. The morning prior, Hugh had come to you with some fantastic news. He had finally landed an acting gig- and he was ecstatic. It wasn't like you weren't happy for him either. He'd been fully transparent with you since the get-go that he had dreamt of becoming an actor, and you were always in full support. The only issue? You knew damn well he was going to make it big. Everyone who met him always used to tell him how much star power he had, including yourself. That was what scared you the most because it wasn't that you didn't trust him; you did. But that irritating voice in your head kept harping on you about how he might change due to the spotlight—or even that he wouldn't think you were enough for him anymore. That was why you had to do this: break things off before they get worse. Run away.

The two of you lived in a shared studio apartment in Sydney, and although you both struggled to make ends meet, it was good enough to have each other, no matter where you were. As the sun fell below the landscape, you were pacing the small place with your arms crossed over your chest. Hugh would be home any minute, and he had planned on going out for dinner as a celebration. You'd decided to take this step to end things at that moment. You wore an off-white pleated floor-length gown that wasn't too casual nor too formal- classic.

A sharp buzz from the Nokia in your hand snapped you out of your little trance.

The only sounds in that small, stony parking garage were the hollow clicks of stiletto heels on the pavement, the grumbling purr of Hugh's car, and the shaky sigh that escaped your cherried lips. Ever the gentleman, your lover eagerly hopped out of the vehicle- letting out a low whistle once he closed the door. "Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes?" The smirk on his face told you everything you needed to know, and you hated how well you could read him, at least until your eyes shifted slightly. Did he rent a suit? "Who are you, and what have you done with my fiancé? He doesn't wear suits. Ever." You felt guilty about making Hugh laugh. Like you were holding a piece of candy in front of a baby about to take it away. "What can I say? It's a special occasion, and who would I be if I showed up in work clothes?" He shrugged, a smile returning as he led you to the passenger side door, opening it for you.

The ride to the restaurant was a relatively silent one from you, short answers and all. Hugh must've known something was wrong as he'd been exceptionally touchy with you. He always was when you were acting differently. Luckily, the trudge from the parking spot was better than you both had previously thought. The short walk through the urban streets of Sydney was a nice break from reality as you gazed upon oncoming traffic and the twinkling city lights.

As you both rounded the street corner to lead up to the large stone building, Hugh laced his fingers with yours, lightly brushing over your engagement ring. "How did I ever get so lucky with you? I swear, you make me feel like I could climb mountains." He spoke warmly, and your heart clenched in pure guilt. He had no idea what would happen, which made it so much worse. Golden speckles of light danced across your faces like burning embers. Hugh commented how they reminded him of fireflies, and it regrounded you once more. His voice tended to do that.

A younger blonde lady greeted the two of you and brought you to your table- one Hugh had reserved. The table faced a memorial park covered in captivating flora that immediately drew a breath from you in awe.

There was no denying how beautiful this restaurant was—and it made your stomach churn even more at the thought of such a heinous thing happening in this ethereal place.

Sitting in your seat, you didn't even make eye contact with Hugh as you buried your head into the menu. You continually told yourself how it would hurt less if you didn't look at him. Of course, you'd be wrong. "Are you feeling alright, flower? You've barely looked at me this whole time. Have I done something wrong?" The pet name could've brought you to tears- reminding you of when you met. He'd brought a bouquet of roses to the wrong door in the 9th grade, and you'd answered in your pajamas. You tried to tell him it was okay, but he insisted on buying you coffee as an apology. The rest was history.

A hand waving in front of your face snapped you out of your little trance, followed by a stiff chuckle across the table as you blinked in surprise. "Hello? Anyone home?" Hugh teased, sitting back with a playful grin on his face. "I can't do this." You answered frantically, standing from your seat, practically shaking.

"Can't do what? You're starting to scare me. Take a breath, okay?" He tried reaching for your hand to ground you, but you quickly snatched it away. "Hugh- I…I can't marry you." The words barely even left your mouth before the tears started flowing. You had promised yourself that you wouldn't cry before him this morning, but life had other plans. It was well deserved for him to be confused, and his face spoke for itself. "As…shocking as this is, we don't need to get married right now. We have all the time in the world, and I don't mind waiting for you to be ready." Of course, he'd say something like that. He didn't deserve this at all.

"No- Hugh, I'm done. We," You gestured between the two of you. "Are done. Take the ring, sell it- I'm sorry." In no more than a blink of an eye, you'd taken off your engagement ring and were now booking it out of the restaurant and hailing down a cab.

Now, almost 30 years later- the last thing you remember from that night was the rain falling from the sky and the taste of rainbow sherbet ice cream. You hated that dream; it replayed in full detail once in a blue moon- but it still got to you. Rolling over to check for your boyfriend, George, only to find a cold side of the bed. This was familiar; he'd been doing this for the past month or two.

Today was the first day of shooting for this new rom-com in which you'd gotten the lead. Needless to say, after waking up alone for the third time this week- you were less than thrilled to go and pretend to be in love with some stranger.

You stepped out of your car and walked inside the studio, wearing a modest white shirt and jeans, trying not to draw any attention to yourself.

In all honesty, everything had been going great. You met with some of your co-stars, having friendly conversations to fill the time. Speaking of time, your fellow lead was 20 minutes late. It wasn't until you heard the door slam shut that you finally turned your head—your jaw practically dropped to the floor as you saw the man's face.

"…Flower?" He'd seen you, too.

[whumpwritings]

Home Sweet Home?

@whumpsday has this excellent ongoing story, Kane and Jim, which I have read many times (master list here). A while back he posted an AU where Kane's friend Bellamy saves him from the hunters (here) and it made me wonder how it would go if Bellamy tried to save him from Jim instead. Last Friday I decided I should just write it. And, because I have no chill, it is 11,531 words long.

Hilariously, on Sunday @whumpsday actually posted a version of this idea as well (see here). I'm so glad I'd already started writing or I'd have chickened out. His version is set much closer to the beginning of the story. I didn't tie mine to any particular story events, but I was envisioning it being set closer to the events of Basement or Heat Wave (or a bit after that) when Kane and Jim have had time to build a routine.

Because this is an AU fanfic I may have made errors in the lore and unfortunately Bellamy is a bit OOC to make the story work. Please indulge me.

Home Sweet Home?

Summary: Bellamy tries to do a nice thing and everyone has a bad time about it.

Words: 11,531

Content Warnings: recapture, PTSD triggering, begging, vomiting, it as a pronoun (briefly), panic attacks, interrogation, kidnapping

Apparently, tumblr will only let me have one 'read more' link per post, so please be aware this is a VERY long scroll.

******

Bellamy wasn’t supposed to be there. He tried to remember how he got involved in this at all as he stared at the blank and bloodied hunter at his feet.

Things had gotten a little out of hand.

The hunter had been caught near the border, that much he knew. The vampire who’d caught him wanted the finder’s fee more than a personal bloodbag. The farms pay very well after all and keeping a personal human was logistically challenging.

Bellamy had been passing by when the kerfuffle at the gate started. The finding vampire’s persuasion slipping. (He didn’t seem to be very good at it, Bellamy thought). The realization growing over the hunter’s face. His desperate struggles.

It was a sight to see, so he stopped. A spectacle’s a spectacle, even if this was sad. The farms usually kept any…unpleasantness behind closed doors.

Bellamy had recoiled when the intake worker waved him over. He’d been so tempted to refuse to be an extra pair of hands for this. Helping the farms was not something Bellamy was at all interested in. Frankly, he was rooting for the human.

But then the hunter said, “Fuck you, you deserve to be in our fucking cells alongside that other fucking leech!”

What could he say? Bellamy loved a mystery. Almost as much as he loved drama. A captured vampire? One who was kept alive? Who? Why?

Bellamy couldn’t help but imagine Kane for a moment, slain on the border. Probably not by this individual human, but by hunters like him. His heart sank. Had they called him a leech while he lay dying? Perhaps this human, out of all of them, deserved less mercy than he generally held for the species.

Given the obvious hunter attire, the farm intake attendant had insisted on asking the human questions. Perhaps it knew the movements of other humans near the border. Such information could be useful. When Bellamy offered to keep him talking, the worker had accepted, and they’d retired to a small room off the gate. And now he was looking into the persuasion-calmed eyes of the human and wondering how his day had turned out like this.

“It’s resistant to persuasion I swear!” The finding vampire kept complaining as though that was the problem.

The intake worker just rolled his eyes at Bellamy before making the first vampire wait outside. He’d had Bellamy ask the hunter a series of questions about the border. His hunting associates. Their plans and movements. Any new tools. The worker took notes while the human droned. Finally, finally Bellamy got to ask the question that had brought him here.

“The vampire in your…cells, is it still alive?”  

Bellamy saw the worker scrunch up his nose in disgust. Who cared about a vampire weak enough to be caught by humans?

“Dunno, we gave it away.”

“What did you do to them before they were sent away?” Bellamy asked since the worker was starting to look impatient. That made him click his pen. Techniques were something worth noting. The life of a weak vampire wasn’t.

The human began the most horrifying list Bellamy had ever heard. His wildest nightmares were never this vicious. His imagination couldn’t have conjured the dreadfulness necessary. The worker’s pen moved rapidly as he took notes with wide eyes.

“And then we strung him out in the sun on this rack. We told him we’d come get him at nightfall, but we lied. The guys thought it would be funny to tell him that so he’d think an end to the pain was coming when it wasn’t. We left him for a week instead. The next time we hung him out for a little tan Chris told him that if he was silent the whole time, we would bring him back in at nightfall. He always screamed when he sizzled though…”

Bellamy swallowed hard.

“Why would you do this?” He asked before he could help himself.

“It was fun. It was what a leech deserved for all the pain they cause.”

Bellamy noted with bitterness how the hunter couldn’t seem to separate this one vampire from the actions of vampire society as a whole.

“Well now,” the worker snapped his notebook shut. “This has been enlightening. I think given this one’s…resistance to persuasion he’ll have to be moved to the Awake section. I wonder how many of these techniques could be adapted to use on humans? I’m particularly interested in this choking device he mentioned. Perhaps with acid to simulate the effects of silver?”

The worker gave Bellamy a sadistic smile that he was meant to share. Just two psychopaths with an inside joke. The torturer becoming the victim and having his methods used against him. How droll! Bellamy managed to choke down his bile long enough to produce an unconvincing smile.

“Just one more question. When you sent the vampire away, where did you send it?”

“Gave the bloodsucker to his victim. Famous guy. Almost no one comes back once the leeches get ‘ya, but Jim Lieberman did. He deserved to end that fucker himself. Well,” the human chortled, still bespelled, “and the leech gave less sport after a few years. Less fun that way.”

Bellamy’s whole body went cold at the name. Caroline. He needed to talk to Caroline.

“Thank you for your assistance today, sir. In recognition of your help, we’d like to give you this gift certificate. It’s good for a month supply of blood packs.”

Bellamy took the envelope out of the worker’s hands numbly. “I must be getting home now,” he heard himself say. “Have a lovely evening.”

Bellamy didn’t remember walking out of the office. He didn’t remember the trip home or coming in the door. The next moment he had he was sitting on his kitchen floor. Caroline kneeling beside him, a look of concern written all over her face.

“Years ago, we went to a party and met Kane de Sang,” he said softly. “His human asked you to call someone for him. Did you end up doing so?”

“Yeah, sure. Oh Bel, what’s going on?”

“What was the name of the person he had you call?”

“Elizabeth Lieberman.” Bellamy supposed it had been a weird enough occurrence for the details to stick in her mind even all these years later.

“And his name was Jim, right?”

“Yeah, her brother. He just wanted me to make contact. Pass along a message. What’s this about, Bel?”

“I think…I think Kane might be alive. Or…if he isn’t, I know who killed him,” Bellamy whispered at his hands. Caroline clapped her hands to her mouth. She didn’t need to ask to know what he was going to do next.

~

It actually took weeks. Bellamy was nearly out of his mind with stress as he tracked down the house of Jim Lieberman. Procuring a phonebook had been risky and, as it turned out, fairly useless. Unlisted.

Hunters near the border had been more forthcoming. Liberal use of persuasion certainly helped. Frustratingly, they never seemed to know exactly where Jim lived now. Tidbits of information leaked out though.

There was a book about him. About surviving Kane. People admired him for it in human society.

His sister was a hunter and some of them had met her in passing. She lived close to the border for work.

All the hunters who knew about the situation assumed Jim killed Kane once he had been given to the human. They all seemed to think this was justice.

More than one confessed to having met the vampire without persuasion. One was able to confirm that he’d called himself Kane. Bellamy hadn’t needed proof exactly, but it helped lighten his burden to know he was on the right track.

He asked each hunter who had met Kane what they’d personally done to him. He wouldn’t make the mistake of treating every human as though they were responsible for his friend’s pain, but he would find out which ones were.

Those ones died bloody.

~

Elizabeth Lieberman’s house wasn’t as hard to find as he’d feared. He observed it carefully over several nights, retreating over the border before daybreak each time. No sign of Kane or any other captives. No sign of her brother. He’d tried to follow her car once, but he was no tracker. It wasn’t like he was practiced at any of this.

On the fourth night of hunter house watching, Bellamy saw the pink-haired person leave alone. They were dressed as a hunter, and they usually came and went with Ms. Lieberman. Bellamy assumed this was a colleague. Maybe they would know where their hunting partner’s brother lived? Or have clues Bellamy could follow?

It was the work of a moment to slip into the front seat of the hunter’s car.

“Drive away,” he commanded to the startled human. Driving under persuasion was probably unsafe, but the road had few cars. It was after dusk in a border town after all. He directed the human until they were on a wooded lane, far from any houses. “Pull over.”

“Where does Jim Lieberman live?”

The hunter rattled off an address immediately. Bellamy blinked. He dove for the glovebox and was pleased to find what he needed. With paper and a little pencil in hand, Bellamy asked again.

Bellamy swallowed hard. He had what he needed. Finally. But there were more questions to ask.

“Do you know of the vampire that was given to Jim?”

“Yes.”

“Is he still alive?” Bellamy’s voice broke on the last word. His persuasion wavered for a moment under the onslaught of his emotions, but he held it with difficulty.

“Yes…are vampires technically alive? Like the old movies would call them undead, but my science teacher in school said they’re just a different species…He’s whatever he was before though.”

Bellamy stared at this strange human. What an interesting mind. He had never had one muse while under persuasion before. For a second, it distracted him from the momentous news just imparted.

Kane was alive. Alive. Not slain all those years ago. He still had a chance. But there was more information to glean here before he made his move.

“What have you personally done to Kane?” He asked, steeling himself for the answer. These were always the most monstrous of tales. He would have nightmares once this was over for sure. Hell, he’d already started having them.

“I beat him at Uno,” the hunter said. “I let him win at Monopoly. He had a good grasp of real estate and he seemed like he could use the confidence boost. But there are no friends in Uno.”

Huh. That was…unexpected.

Bellamy felt suddenly cheered by the turn of events.

He had a location. Kane was alive. Kane was alive.

Maybe this hunter could drive him to Kane? No, running would be faster. It didn’t sound like they were culpable for the atrocities his friend had experienced. To be sure though…

“Did you hurt the vampire? Did you hurt Kane?”

“No…no need. Jim had things well in hand.”

Bellamy frowned. That didn’t sound as good. Still. Bellamy hated to kill. Until recently he’d never taken a life. It didn’t sound like this was one he needed to take at least. And if Kane said they were one of his tormentors, well, Bellamy could always find them again.

“Forget what questions I’ve asked you.” He had to put more oomph into this command than most. It wasn’t good for a mind to delete memories, but it shouldn’t do lasting damage to their brain. He couldn’t risk the Liebermans getting tipped off. He couldn’t risk Kane.

Bellamy dropped the persuasion once he was out of reach getting out of the car.

“Holy fuck!” the hunter yelled as they came to, already scrambling for the weapons at their belt.

“Thank you for the ride. You’ve been most helpful,” Bellamy said, leaning through the car door. “I hope you have a pleasant rest of your evening.”

The hunter stared at him incredulously before he vanished into the night. Jim’s house was further from the border. He had to move if he was going to get there and back before daybreak. Bellamy ran faster than he ever had in his life.

~

Jim stared at the garbage bags Kane had neatly piled by the door during this afternoon’s chores. Kane had seemed nervous about him opening the door while he was still upstairs, even in the next room. The sun was so close. So, Jim had put it off. He meant to take them out earlier, before full dark. But he got busy and forgot. Only they needed to go out. They were in the way, and they kind of smelled. If they were a touch stinky to him, he wondered how bad they smelled to Kane’s superior senses. Probably awful.

The garbage cans were just outside. Around the corner of the house. It wasn’t far. He was home. It was safe here. They weren’t that close to the border. Surely, he could manage taking the garbage a few steps away from his door. He wasn’t some baby, scared of the dark. He could do this.

Only, when he went to heft the bags, they were so much heavier than Kane made them look. Duh. It would take two trips. Jim suppressed a groan.

~

Bellamy crouched in a tree near Jim Lieberman’s house. No sign of Kane. Although someone was walking around inside. Someone was home.

The way here had been more perilous than he’d expected. Apparently, this area was well-patrolled by hunters. He’d had to skirt around a few groups. Hopefully, Kane was up to travelling, or this might get complicated.

The door to the house opened. Jim Lieberman stepped out onto the lawn, something in his arms. He was older than Bellamy remembered. It was strange watching the way the years gradually left their mark on Caroline, but this was even more jarring. Humans changed so rapidly.

There was nothing for it but to ask, Bellamy supposed.

~

Jim felt the crawling sensation of being watched as he walked towards the bins, huffing a little.

It’s all in my head, he thought to himself. Just the hypervigilance talking.

Still, as he put the lid back on he chanced a glance at the woods at the edge of the lawn. Nothing. Just limbs creaking in the light breeze. The feeling was so intense though. He walked quickly but stiffly back to his door. Trying not to sprint.

A weight lifted from his shoulders as he closed the door behind him. Nothing bad happened. Nothing bad was going to happen. He was home.

Jim felt silly. He was glad Liz wasn’t here to see him fussing over walking ten paces from his door. Honestly, he should be able to do better than this. This was pathetic. He was pathetic. Jumping at shadows.

He resolutely picked up the second bag of garbage, thankfully much lighter than the first. He could do this. He opened the door with one hand and looked straight into the eyes of a vampire.

Jim had time for a single moment of pure terror before his mind slipped away.

~

Bellamy only had one question for Jim. “Where is Kane?”

Jim blankly pointed at a door made of silver. It was locked, but it was more of a latch situation than one where you needed a key.

“Open it,” Bellamy said softly.

Kane was already waiting at the bottom of the steps, frowning towards the door. He’d probably heard something was happening.

“Bellamy?” His voice came out high pitched with shock. It was the sweetest sound Bellamy had ever heard.

Then Kane’s eyes rolled up into the back of his head. And. He. Just. Crumpled.

Bellamy was at his side in an instant, cradling his friend to his body. Kane was alive. Alive. Now he just had to get him home.

Bellamy carefully picked him up. He was far too light. He felt thin in Bellamy’s arms. Insubstantial. Not how Kane should be.

He scanned the room for anything of note. It looked almost like a bedroom, if one ignored the silver door and the restraints sitting by the stairs. No torture devices though. Perhaps a positive sign? After the horrors he had heard, however, Bellamy was not willing to make assumptions about how Kane had been treated here. How he had suffered over the years! It was too much to bear thinking about.

Nothing stood out as an object he needed to take with them. Maybe the papers on the desk? Bellamy wished Kane would wake so they could discuss it. Discuss anything. Everything.

Like what Kane wanted done with the human still standing, hypnotized in his own kitchen.

Looking at this cell, Bellamy didn’t think Jim fell into the same mindset as the hunters who had confessed to him so far. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t hurt Kane. At the very least, he was keeping him against his will.

Kane deserved to have his say against his captor. But Kane wasn’t awake just now to have that moment. That closure. The angry, bitter Kane he’d seen at the reunion would want revenge. But time had passed. Things could be more complicated than Bellamy knew.

All Bellamy knew was that he wouldn’t take that choice away from Kane. Whatever was going to happen next had to be because it was what Kane needed. After all Bellamy now knew he’d suffered, Kane deserved that much agency.  

Jim’s terrified face appeared in his memory. Begging for help. Begging for consideration from the first kind vampire he’d met. Jim probably didn’t deserve what Kane might do to him. Probably.

Without input from either of them, it was impossible to do anything here. It would have to wait.

The sun would rise, and they would be trapped here for another day unless they moved now. They had just enough time to get back to Vampire Territory if they hurried. But Kane was out for the count and the woods were full of hunters.

Bellamy tapped his foot impatiently. He could wait out the day. Hopefully Kane would wake up, and they could plan together. But his friend was angry and impetuous and might refuse his help. Jim’s hunter sister might come to visit. Or other human visitors. They would be trapped by the sun and unable to escape if set upon before night fell again. Kane was too fragile and too important for such a conflict. No, they needed to leave.

Bellamy eyed the keys by the door. They could take a car. Running would be faster, but not if he were carrying Kane and dodging hunters. Bellamy was useless at driving though. It was impractical when he could just run normally, so he’d never really gotten good at it. Caroline enjoyed driving, so occasionally they would go out in a car. But she would drive. This did not solve his problem.

Jim could drive. He owned the car after all. A car with a human driving wouldn’t stand out as much as two vampires running through the woods for sure. Jim and Kane still needed to have a conversation. So, Jim would come along. Solved.

Bellamy was pretty sure he could convince Kane to return Jim to Human Territory once they’d talked. So long as he really wasn’t as bad as the other hunters…and if he was, well.

“We’re going for a drive.”

~

Jim woke up in his bed. No…not his bed. Not the one in his room, in his house, in his home. He woke up in his bed back in the human quarters of Kane’s house.

Oh, so it’s going to be that dream, he thought. Still half-asleep, Jim furrowed his brow at a hole in the wall. He didn’t remember that one. Kane always had him plaster over the holes he punched in the walls. This one was un-mended. It was also dusty. As in, there was dust in the hole like it had been punched years ago.

Jim rolled over. His pillow was dusty too. The bedspread under his hands, coated in a layer of grime that came off on him as he moved. Jim sat up slowly. Dread pooling into his stomach. The floor had dust bunnies. Kane would have never allowed it to get like this when he lived here. He would have been ordered to clean it.

The bed creaked in a terribly real way as he tentatively put his feet down on the very real feeling floor. Jim pinched himself as hard as he could. Still here.

Jim leaned over the side of the bed as all the dread in his stomach came pouring out his mouth in waves of vomit.  

He was back.

~

Kane was dreaming of home. Home in the hateful house, in the hateful territory, with no one and nothing.

Except not so much. In this dream, Bellamy was sitting beside his bed, stroking his hair.

“Bel?”

“I’m here, darling. You’re safe.”

Kane let the words wash over him. This was going to be a good dream. He sagged back onto the silk sheets, relaxed for the first time in so long. His eyes slipped shut again.

~

Jim heaved until his stomach had nothing left, then he heaved some more. Finally, belly aching fiercely, he curled in on himself, pinching his arm over and over. He had to wake up. This couldn’t be happening.

His breath came faster and faster until it wasn’t coming at all. He sat up, gapping like a landed fish, heart pounding. His vision blackened around the edges until darkness took him.

~

Jim woke up on the floor of his room in Kane’s house. He sat up in panic, but the room was empty. He gingerly rose to his feet, checking himself for injuries as he went. He was as whole as he’d been at home…so far.

His head hurt as he strained to remember. Making dinner at home. Locking Kane in for the night. Routine good nights. Nothing had felt amiss. Taking…taking out the garbage.

The vampire on his stoop. Holy shit. Oh, God. He’d been taken. Right from his house. His knees went out from under him, and he ended up on the floor again with a thump.

That’s going to bruise, Jim thought, feeling a little hysterical. If he really was back under a vampire’s thumb, bruised knees would be the least of his worries very soon.

Nausea roiled him again, but there was nothing left in his stomach to lose. He needed to think. He needed a plan. Panic couldn’t keep him safe here. He needed to find a way to be safe.

The room hadn’t changed much since the last time he was there. His things were as he left them. The few books he’d been allowed stacked by the bed. The record player sat in one corner. The walls had a couple of new holes that he didn’t remember. Probably Kane having a tantrum after he’d escaped. The dust made sense if no one had been here since Kane…

Who had taken him? The vision of the vampire on the stoop swam in his mind’s eye. He had only seen him for a moment before the hypnosis had sunk in, and the horror of it all was making it hard to think clearly just now. His memory felt blurry.

Why take him back to Kane’s rather than to their house? Another shudder of horror ran through him. If this was supposed to be psychological torture, it was working.

Jim pushed himself off the floor. He needed out of this room. He couldn’t feel his body, but he could see himself moving towards the door that led into the kitchen. The light bulb flickered when he hit the switch but didn’t immediately go out. That was good. This room had no windows. If he were plunged into darkness just now, Jim knew he would flip.

This room was the same. Dusty. Unused. Small signs of damage. The kitchen table had been kicked into splitters at some point. Another reminder of the power of Kane’s rage Jim did not need to see right now.

He dug through the debris for something—anything—to use as a stake. The wood was rotten soft though and most of the pieces were small. He found one that might work at the very bottom of the pile. He poked at the end experimentally. It bent a little.

Jim suddenly pictured trying to stab Kane, old Kane, in the heart and having the wood bend rather than impale him. He dropped the stake like it burned him. Too risky.

Jim staggered to the door that led into the vampire’s part of the house. He knew it would be locked. It was never left unlocked. But everything else here was surreal so maybe…

It was more that he had to try. He would never forgive himself if he didn’t at least check and it turned out he had a chance. He reached towards the doorknob—

“Which arm did you use to open the gate?”

Jim flinched and spun wildly to look at the room. Empty. Still empty. But he’d heard…It was Kane’s voice. But Kane from back then. Tears slid down his face.

He wasn’t here. He wasn’t.

But he was…somewhere. Actually, that was a great question, where the fuck was Kane? Still in his basement at home? Wondering where breakfast was? When Jim was coming down?

Liz would find him, Jim comforted himself. When Jim didn’t answer the phone for a bit, she would come around to see what was up. She would find Kane. He wouldn’t be trapped in the basement, slowly starving.

Jim left the door untouched for the moment. He would try again when his arm stopped shaking. Instead, he went to the fridge.

Unsurprisingly, it was empty. Cleaned out at some point. Still running though. The building had power at least. Why he couldn’t say, he was just grateful. He checked the cupboards. A few tins and boxes of dried goods. Very expired. Maybe if he was desperate and no one came…

Jim’s eyes slid to the door again. He needed to know. He rubbed his bad arm as he walked towards it. Kane wouldn’t need to know he tried the door. No one was even here to see him do it.

Jim touched the doorknob. He swallowed hard and twisted. It rattled. It didn’t turn.

A sob choked him. Jim squeezed his eyes tightly but the tears escaped nonetheless. Right. He was locked into the human quarters of Kane’s house. Just like he’d been for five years. Just like he was in every goddamn nightmare.

He resisted the urge to crawl under the bed. It didn’t help. Kane—or his new mystery vampire master—would just drag him back out. No, he needed to be smart about this.

Jim jammed himself into the corner of the room as hard as he could. He drew his knees up under his chin and buried his face. He would be smart about this once he could stop crying.

~

Kane woke up again. This time was more confusing. The sheets were still silk. Bellamy was still sitting by his bed. His bed. In his house. In Vampire Territory. He felt the first pang of alarm go through him.

“Good...” Kane trailed off, hoarsely. What time was it? Was it a good morning or a good night or…?

“Hello there.” Bellamy smiled gently down at him. He sounded real. “Back with me, darling? I must confess, I have no idea why you’ve been unconscious this long, or truly why you lost consciousness in the first place. I suppose it was a shock seeing me. It’s been a while.”

Kane let those words wash over him, only semi-taking them in. Back with us. A shock. Seeing Bellamy.

“You…you were on the stairs. The basement stairs in Jim’s house. You were in Jim’s house!” The alarm pang was now a clarion call echoing in Kane’s brain. He couldn’t think through it.

“I came as soon as I could. I swear to you, darling. The moment I knew there was a chance you were alive, I was on my way. I am so sorry that I didn’t know about your situation earlier.”

Kane’s eyes filled with tears. His friend had come for him. Even after decades of hostility and silence. Even after all the things he’d said during their fight at the reunion. God, and his situation—

“Bellamy, you were right,” Kane blurted. “You were right about everything. Humans. Vampires. Me. I was a monster. I deserved what I got.”

Even as he said it, Kane could picture Jim shaking his head. Jim’s voice in his head telling him torture was wrong, even for him. No one had more right to hate him than Jim, and even he thought what Kane had been through was too much, taking things too far.

Bellamy shook his head ardently. “No! No, my friend, you didn’t deserve that. No one does.”

“You know?” Kane hated how small his voice came out. How he automatically shrank into the bedclothes.

Bellamy nodded mournfully. “The hunters I questioned gave me some details. Not all that you’ve suffered, I’m sure, but enough to know that the monsters in this situation don’t have fangs.” Bellamy hesitated before adding, “I’m sorry I learned of your experiences without your permission. It was not my intention to pry.”

Kane huffed out a bitter laugh. Privacy was something he hadn’t been afforded with the hunters. Anyone and everyone could watch what they did to him. It was a spectator sport. Not a secret. Still. Having another vampire know felt…strange. Like he wasn’t wearing enough clothes. Kane reflexively pulled the blanket closer to his body. He always felt better covered.

“If we could keep the details between us, I’d prefer that,” he said finally.

Bellamy immediately crossed his heart. “In the interests of full disclosure. I first heard the story from a bespelled hunter. He didn’t name you, but I pieced together enough to guess. A worker from one of the farms also heard the story, but he wasn’t paying much attention to your part of it. He just wanted to know what weapons they’d used.”

A bitter knot formed in Kane’s chest. It was good that it wasn’t a public story in vampire territory—another thing to mock him with— but it was also a reminder that vampires didn’t care about what happened to the weak. And Kane had always been weak. He knew that now more than ever.

Bellamy cared though. He cared enough to put the pieces together. He cared enough to track Kane down and stage a rescue. He cared enough to keep his secrets. Kane’s eyes filled.

“Oh, darling, I’m so sorry,” Bellamy murmured.

Kane couldn’t help it. He reached for his oldest friend, desperate for connection. Bellamy scooped him into his arms like they were seventeen again. Kane bawled into his shirt, wailing with abandon.

~

Jim lifted his head from his knees at a faint sound from above him. Crying? Maybe? He shuddered. If there was truly someone else in the house, he was running out of time. He needed a plan.

Jim tried to think. Attacking was suicide, and he wasn’t ready for that. Escape was impossible for the moment. The door was locked. He had no idea what time it was. He was days away from the border and very likely to run into another vampire while on the run. He’d been insanely lucky the first time. Maybe he could try again but not right this moment.

Jim swallowed hard. If he couldn’t escape, then maybe he could negotiate. There were a lot of small things that would make being here…more bearable was not the phrase for that. Less of a screaming horror?

Perhaps his new master would be reasonable, Jim thought dully. He was a trained bloodbag after all. He knew how to behave. Jim flinched at the very thought.

Then he flinched again when a new thought followed on its heels: why wasn’t he still hypnotized? Did it just wear off? Would the vampire come back, and Jim’s mind would just be gone again?

His breathing began to speed up again in panic. He pictured the zombified humans at the reunion, shambling mindlessly after their masters. The conversation about long-term effects of persuasion. After a few weeks under, there might not be much of him left to come back.

Jim wiped angrily at his eyes. He couldn’t lose it. Not now.

Kane’s brother had wanted him at the reunion. Wanted him because he was un-hypnotized. Because he was still capable of fear and pain.

The bile rose in his throat again. If that was why his mind was his own just now…he was in for a painful captivity. Then again, if it meant he kept his mind…

Jim weighed both sides. Both options sucked so much. None of this was fair.

It was probably too much to hope for that the vampire would let him use a blood-draw kit to feed them. Jim felt woozy at the thought. Maybe, maybe they would let him use a knife rather than bite him. Watching him slice himself might count as entertainment. He clutched at his neck. He just couldn’t bear being bitten all the time again. Or at all.

Okay, okay. Jim squeezed his eyes shut. Focus. Small things he could ask for. Negotiate for maybe. Kane had always been reasonable about some things. Food, for instance. Maybe the new vampire would be as well. No need to panic yet.

What could he ask for?

~

Kane’s sobs subsided eventually. He lay, cradled in Bellamy’s arms. Feeling safe, fully safe. When had he last felt like that?

Kane’s eyes drifted shut. That much emotion was exhausting. A shudder ran through him.

“Are we in my house?”

Bellamy cleared his throat awkwardly. “Yes, I—I bought it after you…um, died. It’s not very well taken care of. I’m sorry for that. I couldn’t bear to be here, but I couldn’t bear to leave it with your family either.”

Kane leaned back so he could look at Bellamy’s face. “Died? So, they think I’m dead?”

Bellamy nodded gravely. “You were believed killed in Human Territory. Many are after all,” he added quickly.

Kane appreciated his friend’s attempt to soften this. He assumed everyone would think he was dead. It was a little humiliating that the last chapter in his story was being killed by humans while incompetently trying to kidnap one without persuasion. The Kane from a decade ago would have been mortified. But now…he’d had so many greater humiliations. He just didn’t care. Okay, a small part of him twinged, but it was easy to suppress.

“I’m sorry,” he said instead. “Bellamy, that was the one thing I wanted to tell you these past few years. You were right about everything. I was an ass, and I’m so sorry.”

The tears began to pour down his face anew. Bellamy clutched him closer, rubbing circles into his back. A comfort which made Kane feel like he was about to shatter.

“I’m sorry too,” Bellamy whispered back. “I shouldn’t have pushed you that day. I knew how much a reunion like that must have meant to you. How stressed you must have been. It was the wrong time to rehash old arguments. I lost my head.”

Kane gave a watery laugh. “Can we start over?”

“Why, yes, good sir,” Bellamy put a false joviality into his voice. “So lovely to meet you. I’m Bellamy Verta.”

“I’m Kane—” he broke off, unable to finish. He hadn’t been a de Sang in…well, had he ever really been?

“Wonderful to meet you, Kane.” Bellamy saved him, his eyes kind and knowing. Kane’s lips wobbled. He was a mess.

“I should get up. What time is it?” Kane blinked around for a clock. He was reluctant to leave this intimate, dream-like bubble of Bellamy comforting him. Bellamy being here at all. But it was exhausting, feeling all these things he’d tried not to feel over the years.

“Middle of the afternoon, I’m afraid. We got to the house around daybreak, and I had to hustle us inside.”

Kane felt cold. He’d been that close to being outside during the day? A bubble of hysteria welled through him. He pushed it away as hard as he could. Bellamy didn’t let that happen though. Bellamy kept him safe.

Kane opened his mouth to thank him when his eyes landed on a familiar green jacket. He pointed at it wordlessly.

“Oh that? I took it off you before putting you to bed. It didn’t look comfortable to sleep in.”

Kane’s heart sank.

That’s yours to keep, alright?

Sure, Jim had given him. But it was his father’s. A precious possession.

Kane’s eyes filled again. Jim was so generous. He’d been nothing but kind to him. He deserved the world. Not for a vampire to steal his deceased father’s possessions. He still remembered how upset Liz had been when she’d first seen him in it. She’d capitulated once Jim argued for him to have it, but he remembered the fury in her eyes that he was even using it.

And now he’d run off with it, without even asking. It…it needed to go back. The thought hit him like a train. He needed to return it to Jim at the very least. He needed to thank Jim for all his kindness. Again. As many times as it took. He needed to make things up to him.

The thought occurred to him that he didn’t really want to be back in Vampire Territory. The safety of a land with no hunters appealed, to be sure, but he wanted to be safe with Jim. Somewhere free of the judgement and scorn of his family and peers. He was better off dead to them. Jim’s presence had almost become a safety blanket for him, and it felt weird to simply leave. This had been such an overwhelming moment—waking up in his house with Bellamy—that it had taken his mind a bit to catch up.

Bellamy was looking between him and the jacket with concern.

“Jim,” Kane whispered. He was unable to finish the thought. There were so many things he needed to say about Jim—to Jim— he couldn’t figure out how to begin.

“Oh!” Bellamy’s face lit up. “He’s here! Downstairs. When you’re ready to face him. I’ll come along for support if you like. He can’t hurt you; I promise.”

Kane sat up abruptly. “Jim is here?”

~

Kane’s hands shook as he unlocked the door to the human quarters. It creaked ominously as he swung it open. Bellamy gave him a supportive thumbs up from just out of view. It kind of helped. Bellamy had never been featured in his nightmares.

But this was a nightmare.

Jim was huddled in a corner, trying to make himself as small as possible. Kane knew that position intimately. He had dust in his curls. Tear-tracks were visible on his dirty face. He stared at Kane with wide, shocked eyes.

Kane had sworn he’d changed. That this would never happen. Yet here they were.

Then, to Kane’s abject horror, Jim began to crawl. Slowly, jerkily, he moved to kneel in the same place where he used to always await Kane’s breakfast bite. Jim tilted his head to the side, assuming the position.

Kane could see his full body shaking even from the doorway. Jim’s heartbeat was racing. Jim was afraid. Afraid of him. He hadn’t changed at all. In spite of everything, he hadn’t made anything right.

~

Jim was floored. The familiar click of the lock was enough to send him spiralling. But the sight of Kane in the doorway? That was the last thing he expected.

It was almost on autopilot that he moved to where he was expected to be when his master came to see him. It felt like a dream. He was literally living one of his nightmares.

Kane took a half-step towards him and that was all it took for him to snap out of it. In a reflex born of years of trauma response, one hand flew up to clutch his neck protectively. Trying to block the site of his scars. His soon to be torn open scars. A sob tried to burst out of his chest at the thought.

His other arm wrapped around his torso, attempting to protect himself from the blows to come. He was with Kane, with Kane. Oh, God.

He knew he needed to drop his arms. Not fight this. Not put up a resistance. He needed to demonstrate he could be a good bloodbag, and quick, or he would be in for a world of pain. But he couldn’t make his arms move. He clutched at his neck hard enough to bruise. It wouldn’t stop his hands from being ripped away, but he just couldn’t. He couldn’t.

~

Kane could see Jim’s chest begin to heave as he started hyperventilating. The room spun for a moment. This was always how it went in this nightmare. Jim, in his house, in pain, terrified and hating him. Then the hunters came. Kane would try to protest. Say he was making it right, taking Jim back. They never believed him. He always ended up having to go back to his cell. To the burning.

Kane stumbled backwards. Away from Jim. Away from the vision of what would happen to him next. He couldn’t be here. This couldn’t happen again.

~

Jim watched with wide eyes as Kane wheeled around and disappeared back the way he came. The door to the vampire side left hanging ajar in his wake. Jim tried to get his gasping breath under control. He couldn’t afford to pass out again so soon.

Another face peered around the doorframe at him. The vision of the vampire from his stoop collided with a memory and suddenly he knew who had taken him. (Them?)

The handsome vampire from the reunion. Kane’s friend. The one he’d been so furious with. The one that had a human who was there by choice. Jim swallowed hard. Maybe he could work with this.

The vampire looked between Jim and wherever Kane had gone to. “Well, this is terribly awkward.”

Jim blinked back tears, unable to respond. The situation as he knew it had just altered completely. He was back in Kane’s house, with Kane. The last memory he had of Kane in this place was him standing in the shade of the house screaming at him. Ordering him to return. Telling him what he’d do to him if he didn’t.

He hadn’t.

Jim’s body was shaking violently, and he couldn’t seem to get it to stop. Mentally, he reordered the list of requests he’d managed to come up with for his captor. Assuming his captor was reasonable. Keeping his ankles moved much higher all of a sudden.

Jim sucked in a breath, then another. Kane was different now. Right? It wouldn’t necessarily go back to how it had been. Things had been chill between them for some time. Maybe even friendly. To himself, sometimes, Jim could admit he and Kane shared a bond. Few other people could understand what they each had gone through. It was a weird bond, born of horrible circumstances, but it was something.

Or at least, Jim had thought so. Would it survive this though? Would Kane take the opportunity to go back to how things were now that he was in control again?

Jim could argue that he hadn’t done anything particularly terrible to Kane while he was captive in his basement. Maybe the new version of Kane would be more amenable to requests?

The only other vampire in the equation was one who seemed to like humans a little. Or at least, was less openly cruel with them. He didn’t really know the guy after all. But that was promising.

“I don’t think I’ve seen Kane that overwrought before,” the vampire said conversationally. “And I’ve seen him plenty worked up over the years.”

Jim’s mouth moved wordlessly. He didn’t know what to say here. His ankles, his life, his sanity was resting on how well he navigated this next conversation. And he had nothing.

“Please,” he said finally, his voice already breaking. He didn’t know what he was pleading for. Mercy? Nothing had happened yet. But God, it could. And he didn’t know how to live with that.

The vampire scrunched up his nose. “Perhaps it’s best if you come to the living room. We can all have a chat there more comfortably.”

Jim pushed himself to his feet with a wobble. His body knew a vampire’s command even while his brain was still playing catch up. He was grateful when the vampire turned to lead the way rather than make him walk past him. A shudder wracked his body at the very thought of being that close to a strange vampire. Again.

Please, please, please. Jim chanted in his mind. I can’t do this again. I can’t go back to before.

~

Bellamy had no idea what to do with this. Mr. Lieberman looked petrified. He’d expected Kane to take the lead here, to tell them what he needed out of this situation. Kane had melted down instead. So now, he had to direct this somehow. Gods, how he wished Caroline were here. She was good at this sort of thing. Or, better than him at any rate.

Luckily Jim seemed content enough to trail behind him. He seemed like a reasonable person. Rather scared just now, but that was understandable. What Bellamy really wanted to know was what Jim—or the others—had done to make Kane react like this, and how could he make it right.

“My goodness, darling,” Bellamy gasped as he came into the living room. Kane was curled into a ball on the couch, mumbling under his breath. Bellamy could hear him clearly, but they weren’t really words. More like sounds with an aspiration to be words one day. Kane stared forward, unseeing. Lost in whatever vision his mind had conjured.

Bellamy took a seat on the other side of the couch from Kane. Jim sank to the floor on the other side of the coffee table, semi-kneeling. He hugged himself tightly and watched the two vampires with round eyes.

“Well, I must confess, I’m not sure how to proceed here. I’m Bellamy. We met before, but you might not remember.”

“At the reunion, sir,” Jim said softly. “You had a human who was unhypnotized.”

“That’s right. My darling roommate, Caroline, was good enough to accompany me to the event. I’m glad you got a chance to meet. And your name is Jim, yes?” Bellamy figured some small talk might ease the tension. Provide time for Kane to return to earth.

“Yes, sir.” The human’s eyes flicked from him to Kane and back. “May—may I ask h-how we came to be here, sir?”

“Yes, I suppose you would have questions.” Bellamy resisted the urge to correct Jim’s formal language. Kane had been insisting ‘his human’ speak like that at the reunion, so perhaps it was a habit best left for now. “I heard my dear Kane might be alive, so I came to check. I’m sorry I startled you so much. Normally, I would ask permission before using persuasion, but I’d had a bad run with hunters in the area. I was worried to start a conflict with you, one that would perhaps draw attention. You understand, right?”

Jim just watched him with those big eyes. He swallowed and nodded, jerkily. He reminded Bellamy of a puppet on strings.

“Well, after you were under, I went to see Kane. I’d planned to wake you up once I’d discovered how he was. But he, unfortunately, lost consciousness upon seeing me, so I was unable—”

“Wait, Kane passed out?” Jim’s brow furrowed. “Has that happened before?”

He directed the question to Kane, seeming to forget his terror in his concern. Kane did not respond. He simply began to rock back and forth.

“O-kay,” Jim said.

“Yes…so Kane was unconscious, and I had to make a decision. So, I brought you both back here where we could be safe while we sorted it all out.”

Jim stared. Bellamy twitched in his seat. Mentally, he was willing to concede that while he and Kane were safer here, Jim certainly wasn’t. That was a tad unfair. He didn’t say this aloud though. The reproach on Jim’s face was enough.

“Alright, so…I’m back,” Jim’s voice broke. He wrung his hands in his lap. “I know I haven’t done anything to—to earn them yet, sir, but may I make requests?”

That seemed to get Kane’s attention. He stopped mumbling and his eyes flashed to Jim, although he still struggled to focus them. Jim flinched at the attention.

“I’d love to hear them,” Bellamy said. Anything to keep this conversation moving until Kane could handle it.

Jim cleared his throat. He glanced quickly from Bellamy to Kane, before lowering his gaze to the coffee table.

“Uh, okay. Umm. Food. There’s no food in the kitchen and if—if I’m to stay then I’ll need some. It’s a necessity,” he added, a touch defensively.

Bellamy nodded. Logical request. He’d have thought of it once he was done nursing Kane.

“A c-clock,” Jim continued. “Any clock will do. Just something to know what time it is.”

Bellamy glanced at Kane. “There aren’t clocks in your side of the house?”

That seemed odd. Granted, he’d never dreamed of restricting Caroline to one section of the house, so the positioning of clocks had never come up.

Jim shook his head, giving Kane a quick furtive glance. Kane had gone back to rocking.

“Okay, I’m sure one won’t be hard to find.” Bellamy shrugged. He wasn’t really sure how long Jim would be here for, but if it mattered to him, they could find a clock. Maybe it held more significance for humans to be near one? He’d have to ask Caroline. Cultural differences could be so interesting.

Jim swallowed hard. “Ummm, look. Last time—I—I ran. And Kane had said he’d….” Jim choked. Bellamy leaned forward, concerned. It made Jim flinch and shrink from him though, so he leaned back. “He said he would make sure I couldn’t run again. Like by smashing my ankles—”

Bellamy looked at Kane, appalled. “Really, darling.”

“—and I just wanted to say that there are other ways,” Jim finished with a squeak. “Restraints and stuff. See, if my ankles are crushed, I won’t be able to cook or anything for myself. I’d need help for a lot of basic tasks. That’s a lot of extra work for…for you. But if you used restraints, I’d still be able to do those things. It would save so much effort for you. Win-win!” Jim spoke quickly, a tone of desperation creeping into his voice. Bellamy felt his heart break.

~

Jim couldn’t tell if his sales pitch was working at all. He felt on the edge of hysteria, clutching at the last thread of his sanity with desperate hands. Kane looked like he wasn’t even here. Bellamy was listening at least, but who knew if he was actually receptive. Or if Kane would let him have a say in what happened to Jim next. Was he Kane’s human again? Or this Bellamy guy’s?

Jim thought of the one thing he really wanted above all else. It was risky to ask for it, but maybe…maybe. Bellamy was looking at him strangely now. An expression in his eyes Jim couldn’t read.

This may be his one chance though. He had to take it.

“Sir? There was one more thing.” Jim hated how his voice kept cracking. How he couldn’t hide his terror at this situation. Even if they were still just talking. Bellamy nodded encouragingly though.

“I know Kane doesn’t have a phone…but at the reunion Caroline said you do,” Jim started slowly, but the words came faster and faster. “I want to call my sister. Just once. Please. I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye last time, and this time she won’t even know what happened. Please, please. Just one call. Just—just to tell her.” His voice broke for real this time. Jim couldn’t help it. He started weeping.

That seemed to cut through whatever episode Kane was currently experiencing. He sat up abruptly, a move that startled Jim into falling sideways to the floor.

“No,” Kane said, the word crackling with power and anger.

“No to all of it? Or just the phone call?” Jim squeaked, terrified.

“No,” Kane repeated, seemingly so angry he couldn’t continue right away.

Jim shook so badly he thought his body would fall apart. But this was for Liz. He had to try. He pressed lower to the floor, abasing himself.

“Please, please! Just one call! I c-can’t. I need to tell her. I need to. There’s nothing I could say that could get me rescued. Please, man. Sir! Sir,” Jim corrected himself rapidly. “Master?”

Bellamy looked from one to another, alarmed. “Kane, darling…”

“No,” Kane took his head violently. “You’re going back.”

“Back?” Jim repeated. He looked from Kane to Bellamy to the door to the human quarters behind him.

“Right now,” Kane said with so much rage that Jim scrambled for the door to his side of the house. If Kane wanted him out of his sight, he was gone.

The move seemed to confuse Kane though. His expression shifted from outrage to befuddlement. Jim froze against the doorway to the human quarters, still half on the floor. Unclear on his orders. He hadn’t actually been dismissed. Kane might chase him. Beat him. He curled in on himself. There were too many options. He didn’t know what the right answer was.

“It’s still daytime, darling,” Bellamy murmured. “We have a few hours.”

Jim whimpered from his ball. They could do so much damage to him in a few hours. Please, please, God. Please, Mom and Dad. I just want to go home.

~

Kane didn’t know what to do. His arms hung uselessly at his sides. At some point he had stood up because he was on his feet now. Jim was crumpled into a ball in the doorframe, making small, distressed noises. Bellamy was looking at him in alarm. Probably seeing him for the monster he was for the first time.

Kane felt sick. He…he had to fix this. But how?

Against his better judgement, he walked slowly towards Jim who watched him with huge eyes from between his fingers. His horror at the situation had come out as anger and now Jim was scared. Kane had scared hm. Like he’d sworn to never do again. He tried to think what Jim would do if their situations were reversed.

“Jim,” he said softly, using his name purposefully. “It’s okay. No one is going to hurt you.”

Jim curled tighter like this was trap.

“It’s okay,” Kane repeated.

“Please,” he whimpered, “Please, I’ll do anything you want. I’ll be good, ma-master. Please.”

Jim tensed, clearly awaiting a blow. A continuation of the rage from a moment ago, only directed at him. But Kane hadn’t been angry at him. He was angry for him. He needed Jim to know that.

“The only thing I want you to do is calm down. You’re going home.” Kane turned to Bellamy. “Is my car still here?”

Bellamy shook his head. “I don’t think so. I bought the building as is, with all its objects included, but I didn’t look for a car.”

Kane sighed. “We’ll have to carry him then. I’m sorry, Jim.”

Jim looked a little dazed. “Wait, what?”

“You’re going home,” Kane repeated, trying to keep his voice soft but firm.

“R-really?” Jim’s eyes somehow got bigger. Then, to Kane’s horror, he began to sob anew. “I can—I can—go home?”

He looked at Kane with so much painful hope that Kane’s heart broke. He nodded.

“Thank you. Thank you!” Jim gasped out.

“We’ll only have to carry him to the border. We drove his car that far. It was only last night. I assume it’s still there,” Bellamy put in.

Kane nodded. Jim looked from one to the other, almost frantically. Like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing but was desperate to hear more.

“We’ll go as soon as the sun sets,” Kane told him, as reassuringly as he could. “I can’t…with the sun. The burning,” his voice wavered.

Jim nodded immediately. Of course, Jim understood. Jim always understood.

“I’m very sorry, Mr. Lieberman. It was not my intention to frighten you unnecessarily,” Bellamy said. “I was unable to facilitate a conversation between you and my dear friend while we were still in your home. I was hoping you both could come to some closure before departing each other, so I had brought you here simply for that conversation. I intend you no harm.”

“Me either,” Kane added, in alarm. “You know that right?”

Jim seemed to be calming down. “Yeah…yeah, man, I know. It was just…waking up here. Back.”

Kane shared Jim’s flinch at the thought. That was a horror beyond anything Kane thought he could survive. Waking up back in his cell. Back at the mercy of his tormentors. Jim was stronger than him. He would have been begging for death already.

Jim swallowed hard. “I—I can really go home tonight?”

Both vampires nodded.

“Oh, thank fuck.” Jim buried his face in his knees, seemingly in relief this time.

Closure, thought Kane. Something about that bothered him.

“As I said, it will be a couple of hours,” Bellamy reminded. “Perhaps, since we are waiting anyway, you two could discuss anything you feel needs airing?”

The two of them stared at each other for a long, awkward moment.

Bellamy cleared his throat. “I’ll excuse myself and wait upstairs. Unless you need me?”

He directed this last part at Kane. He shook his head. He was safe with Jim.

Did…did Jim know he was safe with Kane?

~

Jim sat back against the wall; legs stretched out in front of him once the other vampire left. He was going home. He was. To be sure though…

“You, you promise you’ll take me back? As soon as it’s dark?”

“I swear it,” Kane said with vehemence.

Jim nodded to himself. Okay. Okay.

“I’m going to—” Kane pointed at the couch. Jim waved an acquiesce. The silence between them stretched awkwardly again.

“It’s weird being back,” Jim said finally, looking around the room. He’d spent so much time here. It was familiar, but off. Old clothes that didn’t fit very well anymore.

“Yes,” Kane said. It had to be weirder for him, Jim mused. This had been his whole life.

“Is…is there anything about Vampire Territory that you missed? That you’re excited for?” Jim tried.

“No,” Kane admitted. “I didn’t have much here. …the lack of hunters, I suppose.”

Jim grinned half-heartedly. “I won’t tell Laken that.”

“Please don’t,” Kane agreed with an almost troubled expression on his face.

“They wouldn’t take it personally,” Jim said, aiming to reassure reflexively. “They’ll miss you during the next board game night though.”

I’ll miss you. The thought popped through Jim’s brain unbidden. It startled him to realize it was true. He’d gotten used to having a roommate after all this time. Granted it was a hostage situation, but still. The house would be weird with just him in it.

“Bellamy seems…” Jim actually didn’t know how to finish that sentence. “…like a good friend. Or someone who could be a good friend. Not that it’s any of my business,” Jim added quickly, remembering their fight the last time.

Kane’s expression softened. “He is. He came for me. I don’t know if he’s any good at board games though.”

Jim suddenly pictured the flamboyant vampire pitted against Laken in Uno. That would be a sight to see. He half-smiled at the mental image, but part of him was sad it would never happen. Jim glanced at Kane, who seemed absorbed in his thoughts. He seemed…like Kane. Like the Kane Jim knew. Not the old one. It was probably safe to say…stuff.

Jim tried to picture this as one of their last conversations, and it gave him an odd sense of panic. Like there were things he needed to say, would be upset he didn’t say later, but nothing came to mind exactly. The anxiety of losing his chance felt paralyzing.

“Hey, umm,” Jim swallowed. “I wanted to say…I didn’t keep you locked in my basement out of like, revenge. I didn’t really plan it. I just didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t want to let you go and have you take another human or something.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Kane said immediately. “I will never kidnap another person. If nothing else, know that…please.”

Kane stared at his hands in his lap.

“I believe you.”

Jim was a little surprised to find that he did. Kane looked up and met his eyes searchingly. His shoulders slowly lowered as he found whatever he was looking for.

“Jim, I—I know I’ve said it, but I need to say it again. I’m so sorry for what I d-did to you. I know I can’t ever fix it, but I wish I could. More than anything.”

“I know, man.”

Jim fidgeted. He wasn’t in danger so long as Kane was acting like the Kane he knew. And Bellamy didn’t seem all that threatening personality-wise. But Jim would never be able to relax while in this house.

Part of him wanted to ask to go outside. Get some air. Demonstrate he really wasn’t trapped here. But if he saw that gate right now, he might lose it. And he couldn’t be sure his instincts wouldn’t take over and he wouldn’t just book it. That would be a stupid move when he—allegedly—had a secure trip back to Human Territory planned. Jim took a careful breath. So long as Kane kept his word.

Kane looked weirdly miserable for a guy who just got rescued after years of captivity. Jim felt his heart twinge against his better judgement.

“I—I hope the basement wasn’t terrible for you,” Jim blurted out, no idea where he was going with it. “I know it was…prison and all, but I hope it wasn’t like, awful. The idea wasn’t for you to suffer.”

“I’d have deserved it…if you had wanted to make me suffer.” Kane’s voice was steady, sure of what he was saying, but he shivered at whatever memory his statement dredged up. “I made you suffer after all.”

Jim started to say there was a difference. Kane hadn’t tortured him…but he kind of had. Just…there were degrees here. Kane could have been worse than he was. That didn’t make any of it right. Just…

“No one deserves to suffer like you did. That was wrong. Nothing you’ve done could have warranted it.”

Some tension seemed to bleed out of Kane at the words.

“I’m still sorry,” he said. “For everything, but especially that you had to come back here. Look at all this again.”

Jim gave a shaky laugh, looking around the room. “It’s surreal. But as long as it’s temporary…I guess. I’m going home soon.”

He couldn’t help but glance at Kane as he said it, reassured when Kane immediately nodded.

“It’s weird, man. For both of us. It kinda felt like I handled it better than you did. Coming back,” Jim tried to tease him, lighten the mood. Some part of him knew he was testing the waters. The Kane he knew nowadays could take a gentle joke. The old Kane decidedly could not. Which was he speaking to?

Kane slumped. “Yeah.”

Jim drummed his fingers on his knee. He remembered Kane from back then. Angry. Bored. Friendless. Lonely.   

Granted it seemed he had at least one friend now, but…this probably wasn’t exactly a joyous homecoming. Somehow Jim doubted Kane’s family would be knocking down his door in excitement. Kane didn’t have a Liz.

“It was…it was the nightmare,” Kane said in a small voice. “This is how it starts. We’re back here and I’m trying to make it right. Only I can’t. I can’t move. Or you can’t. Or we can’t leave the house. T-then the hunters come. And they take me b-back.” His voice got progressively quieter as he spoke until Jim found himself leaning forwards to hear.

“I’m back here in my nightmares too,” Jim admitted, not for the first time. “You’re…how you were before. And you’re furious with me and I’m trying to fix it but nothing is working. And—and…” Jim sucked in a breath. He dug his fingers into the doorframe to ground himself. “But it’s all dream logic bullshit. That’s not real. I mean, this is but…”

Jim waved a hand at the room, unsure of how to finish. Kane was nodding though.

“It wasn’t…it wasn’t like that when we were together at your house though,” he said, voice still small. “It wasn’t—”

He seemed to search for a word. Jim let him. He didn’t what adjective described that either.

“We were better than we’d been,” Kane settled on finally.

“Well, the bar was low, but yeah—” Jim cracked a half-smile. “—yeah, we were.”

They sat there for a moment in a silence more comfortable than before.

“The basement wasn’t terrible,” Kane said suddenly. “You—you said before that you hoped it wasn’t terrible for me. It wasn’t.”

“Oh,” Jim nodded vaguely. “That’s…that’s good. I knew I wasn’t the worst captor you had, but it’s good to hear—”

“You were the best,” Kane interrupted. “You’re the best human I’ve ever met.”

“Well, Laken.” Jim tilted his head jokingly considering. Kane could be intense sometimes, and it was good to head him off at the pass before he spiralled. It might weird out his friend if he started calling Jim a god.

“Laken didn’t save me like you did,” Kane said, still serious but not spiralling. “They weren’t the one spending time with me every day, feeding me every day. They weren’t…”

Kane trailed off. Jim knew this wasn’t about Laken.

“They weren’t your friend, the way I was,” Jim said. The words sounded firm coming out of his mouth. Like they weren’t the most insane thing he might have ever said. Like they weren’t the most insane thing to have ever happened.

Vampires and humans were not friends. Sitting in this house, Jim was about as far from his comfort zone as he’d ever been save his original captivity. Maybe it had broken his brain?

His words certainly seemed to have broken Kane’s. He was staring at Jim with an expression he couldn’t read. Jim felt a twinge of panic. Was that too far? Sitting in this living room, pushing Kane, had literally never ended well for him. Oh, fuck. Oh, God.

“I think liv—being in your basement—” Kane said, choosing his words with evident care. “—was one of the happiest times in my life.”

Suddenly neither of them could really look at each other. This was weirdly embarrassing.

“You could come back,” Jim said. The words out of his mouth before he’d even thought them through. “If—if you don’t want to leave, you don’t have to. Don’t get me wrong,” Jim added, hurriedly. “I know there’s no power I’ve got that could force you to come back. But if you wanted to be there…”

Jim shrugged. “Just an idea.”

“I could…” Kane seemed to be working through the idea. “No hunters?”

“No hunters,” Jim confirmed. “Fuck those guys.”

Kane twisted a throw pillow in his hands. “Just like before?”

“Just like before. Well, I guess we could discuss the ankle restraints since running off won’t be as much of a concern.”

Kane shrugged one shoulder. “I never minded them.”

He went back to twisting the pillow. Jim glanced at the door, wondering how soon nightfall was. He so wanted to be out of here.

“I think…I think I’d like to come back,” Kane said quietly.

“Alright, man. If that’s what you want.”

A sudden thump from above them abruptly reminded Jim they weren’t alone. The thought occurred to Jim that vampire hearing is very good. Was Bellamy able to hear this whole conversation and was just politely pretending not to?

Kane seemed to have a similar thought. “We should talk to Bellamy.”

~

Many hours later, Jim watched the dawn break over his backyard. He cradled the phone in his hands for a moment before dialling.

“Hey, Jim, what’s up?” Liz’s voice sounded tired. She was probably just getting home from a shift. “Did something happen?”

“I need to see you.”

“Jim, are you okay? What’s wrong?” She sounded much more awake now.  

“Something’s happened. Nothing’s wrong. I need to see you."

****

And that's a wrap! Thank you for reading this very long piece. Please excuse any typos. I wrote much of this in one sitting and editing it was a beast.

[twisted-wonderland-shenanigans]

So...

Do you guys know that thing about creative writers with ideas (plot bunnies) and how they always seem to multiply one after the other? That's me with Twisted Wonderland AUs. I can't help it! The series just reminds me of all the stories I loved as a kid, with characters that had depth and / or developed or we got to learn more about--even if it was stupid little things they do in their everyday life! I've grown to appreciate it in ways I never imagined I could any form of media. ;;v;;

To be honest...this game has given me the creativity to consistently create and build upon ideas, and the support you all have given me has meant so much. I can't thank you all enough for sticking with me for so long, and for sending me all the ideas or scenarios you all have been daydreaming of. ;;v;;

So I wanted to give a bit of an update on a few things I'm going to do with the blog:

1) Create a rules page. I've gone far too long without updating my original set, and I feel it's long overdue 😂 Plus, it'll help me keep track of certain things!

2) Go back through and update the links on the Masterlists with posts I may have missed. I didn't realize that some things I was referencing in some of my latest posts (aka the grape incident in the monster!AU) were missing, so I'm gonna comb through my posts and make sure I label and organize them easier for you guys to find (and for me to refresh myself on what I write)!

3) Answering asks (of course). Things are a little slow going and my muse has been getting finicky with me, but I will make sure I get to everyone's asks! Some I may answer because they're quick and easy, others...I may end up getting an idea for something more expansive, so that'll take a bit longer. 😅

And finally, 4) Introducing a(nother) AU:

Twisted Wonderland!Mermaid AU!!!

Honestly, this started because I got inspired by the artwork by this artist here where they drew the characters based on Floyd's nicknames for them, and it started as a Marine Biologist AU where Yuu is a marine biologist and taking care of the mermaid bois (all 22 boys + one fire-breathing cat) buuuuuut...at the moment, Yuu getting shipwrecked and living on the island with the mermaid boys wouldn't leave me alone. 😂

As well as an idea where Yuu is a full-blooded Kaiju/born a Kaiju and has Land Before Time like adventures because I got emotional at baby Littlefoot hatching, but who's counting the ideas? Certainly not me!

Anyway, I wanted to share a snippet of the prologue I have written that's currently under construction, so the final product may differ. I'm honestly really excited about this AU too, and I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do~ ;;v;;

Snippet under a read-more because this post is going to be long anyway 😂 Enjoy!

Oh, and if I need to tag it a certain way for future posts, please let me know and I'll be sure to add them!

//////------------//////

If anyone were to ask Yuu what they were going to be doing over the summer, they likely would have told them: catch up on their reading, or playing video games, or any number of different things they had planned. Even just relaxing at home or on the beach would have been an enticing offer.

A scuba diving trip was not something they expected to get dragged into.

“First time diving?”

“Was it that obvious?” Yuu asked, one hand gripping the bar on the seat next to them until their knuckles were white while the other kept hold of the oxygen tank sitting in front of their flippered feet.

“Yeah…kinda obvious for a first timer,” the instructor said with a chuckle, the man giving them a reassuring pat. “It can be a bit nerve-wracking for new divers, but you’ll be fine. You’re one of the contest winners, right?”

“I put my name in as a joke, I didn’t think I’d actually win!” Peering over the edge of the railings, Yuu couldn’t make out anything in the dark water. “I…thought we were going to dive near the shallows closer to land. What are we doing so far out?” they asked, swearing they saw a big shadow pass by…only to realize it was the ship’s frame reflecting on the water.

“I know we’re a lot further out than we normally would for first time divers, but we had problems with our normal ship and the only one that was available was this ship a couple of marine biologists were using.”

“…why didn’t you just cancel and set it for another day?”

“Try telling that to my bosses,” the man muttered under his breath before the smile was back on his face. “Anyway, I think this will be a fun change to the program! These biologists are actually working to explore the reactions of marine life to musical instruments, and we’ll get to see it firsthand ourselves!”

Before Yuu could respond, the ship came to a stop and the driver said, “We’re here! You folks ready to go diving while we get set up? There’s a coral reef not far below us, so you’ll have plenty of time to sightsee.”

“Yup! Okay, so let’s go over the basics again, and I’ll make sure your gear is on properly.”

Yuu listened nervously as the instructor walked through each procedure and rule of diving, the wetsuit sticking tightly to their body as the tank weighed heavily on their back. This was not how they imagined their first time scuba diving would be—they could barely even make out the shore from a wave in the distance. Finally—with mask secured and breathing apparatus in—the instructor gave them a reassuring nod…before falling backwards into the water with a  ‘sploosh!’. For a brief moment they froze, but the motion of the ship and the weight on their back knocked them off balance and forced them backwards.

Fwoosh!!

[sakurangelic]

Love Fool (3/?)

pairing: student!minho x student!gn!reader feat. student!seungmin and student!jeongin genre: enemies to lovers combined with school au summary: Lee Y/N is the new student of the MAXIDENT university. Though, it seems like Y/N gets in some trouble with the popular guy, Lee Minho, right in the first day. Do they grow to hate each other or... love each other? warnings: swearing word count: 2.7k words (2,721) a/n: make sure to read the other parts if you haven't done so! i was originally planning to write more than this, but i ran out of ideas TT 1 | 2 | 3

The busy halls, chattering echoing in the school, loud walking steps, and random laughter's here and there were something you needed to get used to hearing only at 7am for the next few years. You really couldn't understand how some people had this amount of energy at this time… You felt like a walking zombie compared to them, feeling like you could fall asleep at any time. Getting used to the time zone was still a struggle, and… let's just say you stood up till 3am to complete your first assignments after realising at 12am while scrolling through your phone that you didn't even start them in the first place. Maybe you should've paid closer attention to what Seungmin sent, and this wouldn't have happened. Rookie mistakes.

Despite the fact that you also felt like you were going to get lost in this hallway at any time, you somehow made your way to your locker. Opening it, it was still something simple, only having your schedule and books in it, just because you didn't get the chance to make it look pretty. As you were studying your schedule for today, you were thinking of the endless ideas of how you could make your locker look pretty, just like everyone else's. You could pick up so much inspiration from some, combine them, and adjust it to your liking…

"What in the actual fuck is wrong with you?", a familiar voice cursed and aggressively shut the locker.

You rubbed your eyes and looked to your left to meet Minho's angry face. Oh, great. This is the last thing you needed. Start your day with an angry Minho, who probably found another dumb reason to get mad at you. "Huh? What is it this time?", you slurred as you yawned.

"Don't play dumb. You know exactly what you did." His left hand that shut the locker was now clenching into a fist, looking at you with a burning passion of hatred and anger. What happened this time, and why did it make him so mad?

"I barely got sleep last night, so it's funny to expect me to remember what I 'did' that got you boiling at 7am", I answered and opened my locker again, only for it to get shut by Minho again. I got startled by it and looked to my right and crossed my arms. "Okay, okay, jeez…"

You didn't want to make eye contact with him because you felt awkward about how you kept getting stuck in these situations with him. Why does this have to happen to you? All because you bumped into him when he wasn't the one who was watching where he was going? Do you have to pay for this by getting picked on for the rest of your life? Maybe you were being a bit dramatic, because he could get bored of you after a week and you'd be just fine. That's at least what you hoped to happen, and try to see this situation in a positive light. Maybe it will, just not in the way you think.

Minho wanted to yell and curse at you, but he just couldn't. All he was doing was standing there with his left fist, having the same angered gaze on you. It drove him insane that whenever he saw that birthmark of yours, it would remind him of a certain someone. He couldn't get his head around it. Who were you truly, and why would you haunt him with these flashbacks? Maybe he didn't hate you, but what was happening to him whenever you did something so similar to that someone that… reminded him of that someone?

"Hyung! C'mon!", a tall man with a mullet and plump lips called out for Minho. Next to that man stood another one that also had a mullet and slight plump lips but was shorter. You assumed it must have been his friend group, as Minho quickly looked behind him and then back at you.

"You're lucky this time."

That was what he murmured to you before walking to his two friends. I watched how the tall one told something to Minho while grinning and laughing, as the short one had a confused expression on his face and seemed to ask Minho about something. They must've watched and heard everything. You slowly opened your locker, your eyes glued on the trio group, till they faded into the crowd. The bell rang. You had to grab your stuff for the next classes and go on with your day like nothing happened.

-

It was lunchtime. As usual, you were met by the same image that you see in the hallways at 7am. What was more painful compared to this morning was the fact that you had to wait in a long line. Probably the thing you hate most about this new school is the long classes that get your stomach growling and dying to eat some food. At least it provided food compared to some other schools, so you were at least grateful for that.

After what seemed like years of waiting, you were finally able to grab some food. You took your tray and looked around the canteen. A lot of tables were already occupied by other groups of friends. You didn't want to just sit down there out of nowhere.

Your eyes travelled all around the room to find an empty table, slowly walking until you heard someone call out your name.

"Y/N!"

The voice this time wasn't familiar. You were pretty sure that the only person in this whole school who knew you was Minho, because you still didn't have the courage to make friends after the incident from yesterday.

Then you look at the table from where you got called out.

Oh.

You still have no idea who it was.

But you don't want to just awkwardly stand there and stare at them, right? So you slowly went over to them.

"Take a seat", the guy who called out your name told you and motioned to the seat next to the other guy who was eating like he hadn't eaten in a week.

Once you sat down, he continued. "You seem confused, so let me introduce myself. I'm Kim Seungmin, the class president of 'S' Class (pun hehe) and the guy you messaged yesterday about the notes. Remember?"

Your mouth formed into a little 'o' and you nodded, feeling embarrassed that you didn't recognise Seungmin. But, well, after all, you never met him face-to-face… till now.

The other guy who was sitting next to me seemed to only notice me now, smiling and waving at me. When finishing the food in his mouth, he chortled, "Hi there! You're Y/N, right? The new student in our class?"

You nodded. "And… you?"

"I'm the one and only, Yang Jeongin!", A proud smile formed on Jeongin's lips as he introduced himself. You assumed that it was probably his iconic introduction that he uses whenever meeting someone new at this school.

"He's the class clown", Seungmin glanced at Jeongin before looking over at you as he spoke with a pretty serious tone and expression.

"And hyung is always sooo serious and boringgg", Jeongin pointed his fork at the other male, like he was telling him to stop taking everything so seriously.

Seungmin blinked. "You do realise that you could take my eyes out with that fork? And I'm not serious; I'm just always observant of what's happening around me. Like, right now, behind Y/N, Lee Chaeryeong from 'I' Class and Seo Changbin hyung from 'S' Class are fighting for the 12th time this week about who's taller."

You looked behind yourself and tried to spot the 'Lee Chaeryeong' and the 'Seo Changbin'. You eventually were able to do so because they did look like they were arguing over something, which must've been their height, like Seungmin said.

"You… actually kept… count?", You slightly doubted the idea and turned back to your table.

"Well, Lee Chaeryeong might be the shortest girl in 'I' Class… but we all know she's taller than Seo Changbin hyung from 'S' Class!", Jeongin whispered to us, like this 'Changbin' could somehow, from 3–4 tables across from us, hear what he said.

The man shook his head. "Jeongin, Lee Chaeryeong isn't the shortest. Choi Jisu is the shortest. Besides that, Lee Chaeryeong also wears some black heels that are probably around 7 and 10cm", he scratched his head.

"How do you know what kind of heels she wears, including the colour and approximate centimetres?", the other yelled whispered and furrowed his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Because Lee Chaeryeong just grabbed her heel to throw it in Seo Changbin hyung's face."

Jeongin widened his eyes and turned behind him, quickly cracking up at the scene. You also turned and rather questioned if this was really an university or a kindergarten. Actually, kindergarteners don't wear heels. So it was between the fact that this is an university or a high school.

"Is this something that usually happens here?", you muttered and rested your head in your hand, taking a bite from your food.

"Not really. But I can't say there aren't any troublemakers in every class", Seungmin shrugged and spoke like he was used to this stuff. Well, of course he was. After all, he was the class president of 'S' Class and probably already dealt with lots of them. "I saw and heard worse in the student's council. Jeongin is nothing compared to the stuff I heard", he added.

"Hyung, I thought you were a walking dictionary! There's an obvious difference between being the class clown and the class troublemaker. I'm not like them. I make people laugh, not cry!", Jeongin whined and looked offended by what his friend just said.

You tucked in your lips. "I'm probably asking too many questions at this point, but… what do you mean by 'them'? Is it a certain someone or multiple people?"

Seungmin and Jeongin glanced at each other like they were talking through blinks and looks.

Jeongin snickered. "I thought you already knew them. Or at least one of them."

"Well, the only people I know from my class are you, Seungmin, and…", That's when the sudden realisation hit you.

You contiuned with a mutter, "Lee… Minho."

They're talking about Minho's friend group.

Jeongin nodded, understanding that I realised who he was talking about. Seungmin, instead, sighed and shook his head.

He seemed to hesitate for a moment and think about how to say it. "Minho is… well, really unpleasant to be around, if I had to put it like that."

"Gosh, hyung, just say 'pain in the ass'. It's not like you're in the student council to talk diplomatically about that asshole!", Jeongin raised an eyebrow and wanted to continue, but his friend placed a finger on his lips. "This is another 'diplomatic' way to tell me to shut up, isn't it?", he mumbled, slowly pushing Seungmin's finger away. Seungmin continued; "Anyways. Minho and his other two friends always get in trouble, but are really popular, somehow..." "It's because of their visuals, obviously. That's the only thing saving them from their trash attitude... Felix hyung does seem nice though!", A grin formed on the man's lips as he continued eating. As they were talking, you were listening to them while eating. "Who..?" "Oh, right, I forgot you don't know them. So there's Lee Minho hyung, which you already know, Hwang Hyunjin hyung and Lee 'Felix' Yongbok hyung. They're often called the 'visual trio'. A lot of people say Minho hyung represents Japanese visuals, even though he's Korean, Hyunjin hyung represents Korean visuals and Felix hyung represents Western visuals, because he's half Australian!", Jeongin explained to you each one and the whole thing about them being popular. You were chewing on your food and staring at Jeongin. Shallowing the food, you blurted: "Isn't this a dance university? Since when being 'a visual' matters?"

"I would say the same if I had that face", an unknown voice said behind you.

You turned to where the voice came from and saw the same tall man with long hair and plump lips. Once you noticed that he was standing next to Minho, you quickly realised that it was his friend group.

"Get lost. Quite rude for you to get into a conversation that you weren't even involved in in the first place", you scoffed and rolled your eyes in annoyance. Why did they have to be everywhere you were? It's like you were a magnet for this 'visual trio' or whatever their name was.

The man seemed surprised and, in fact, offended by what you'd just told him. "Excuse me? Do you know who I am?"

You stared at him, your fork tapping the plate as you thought for a moment. "I might know your name, but your face doesn't seem similar", you shrugged.

Seungmin and Jeongin weren't saying anything, looking back and forth at you and them. Jeongin seemed surprised by this suddenly happening, and Seungmin felt tired just by the sight of those three troublemakers.

"You're acting quite superior for someone who doesn't know their place here, aren't you?", he chuckled and looked over at Minho. "What do you say, Minho hyung?"

"I say that you should know your fucking place and stop acting like I can't fucking handle situations by myself, dumb fuck that's named Hwang Hyunjin", Minho snapped at Hyunjin and quickly shut down the younger one.

Seungmin didn't seem quite pleased about how this situation was turning out, so he stood up and cleared his throat. "Y/N, I need to introduce you to our homeroom teacher, Ms. Kang. Let's go."

"But—" You quickly stopped yourself and didn't say anything, getting up. Seungmin dragged Jeongin along with him, who was whining about wanting to see the rest of the fight between Hyunjin and Minho.

As all of you three got on the hallway, Seungmin looked around to see if, possibly, Minho, Hyunjin, and Felix could've appeared out of nowhere.

Sighing and running a hand through his hair, he looked over at Jeongin and spoke with a blank expression. "You're so unserious sometimes."

"You're so serious sometimes."

Both of them said it at the same time and stared at each other as an awkward silence fell for a few seconds. You tried your best to hold back your laughter by rubbing the back of your head.

"You guys are probably the kind of friendship dynamic I wouldn't have believed would actually somehow work out", You couldn't help but let out a quiet laugh.

"That's why we need you to balance it; I'm unserious, according to hyung, hyung is serious, and... you're in-between!", Jeongin wrapped his arm around your neck and did dramatic hand movements when explaining, like it was something revolutionary for you to become their friend and form a trio.

"I want to point out, once again, that I'm not that serious. So to prove you wrong, Jeongin, how about we go out to the mall tomorrow after school?"

Jeongin was surprised by Seungmin's words and his desire to have fun in the first place.

"After we study and do our homework, of course", he made sure to add that and watched how the other's face expression was saying 'I knew it', making it harder for you to hold your laughter back.

"Okay, but Seungmin is right... Like this, we have more time to stay at the mall without any stress."

"Someone finally understands me", Seungmin gave you a sly smile, high-fiving you.

"Nevermind, both of you are lame", Jeongin pretended to sulk, and we all started laughing at his acting.

As you were walking towards your guys lockers to get your stuff for the next classes and feeling good for making your first two friends, you still couldn't ignore a feeling that someone from behind was staring at you.

You stopped walking for a moment and looked behind. Far away, at the entrance of the canteen, you noticed Minho, who was standing there with his friends and watching you with the other two. Before you got the chance to study the expression on the man's face, Jeongin took your wrist and started mumbling about how slow you are.

You seemed too busy having fun with your friends. So did Minho.

[scyphosunny]

wasn't planning on doing it , but , vargastober day 9 was posted !

i knew for a fact i'd skip day 8 or 9 . either of them . the prompts were just too similar , and even if i already explained that i had different things in mind for both of these i still couldn't find references i liked . i would still fail , too . . .

still , i had two references set for nothing . i remember having this concept in mind and wanted to search for a random reference to use it but i also didn't want a background . told myself i'd just make it a black void and fixed but still ! found something i liked more .

mm . . . i'm sleepy and i didn't write any notes . . .

i watched the new tadc chapter with nyne , then talked to brusk for a while and i did manage to get the smallest sketch ever .

of course i had to draw his face . glad i did , he looks so pretty . you know i like a sketch when i add freckles or blush to it lulz

then took a break , got distracted talking to ai bots and i didn't pick this up until past midnight . 2AM maybe .

i usually take a long time drawing , and i just had less than two hours to finish it ! it wasn't anything super complicated , so maybe i could get it done ? or finish it next day . any of them worked just fine .

still , i kept working on it ! just watched some random vids on yt , added some text from chapter 8 . . . i remember just opening the whole fic and searching the word empty . then i browsed through it until i found a paragraph i liked lol . had to add the same text twice ! just for it to take enough space . god , csp didn't like the text . it was lagging a lot , so i get paranoid and save the canvas just in case the app crashes . i try to modify the text once again and the app crashes . SO CLOSE . once i finished the drawing , it was almost 4AM and my honest reaction was to look at it , smile , sigh and say

god . i told myself i wouldn't stress too much about these but here i am looking at my piece and thinking god this is lame and not worth posting

okay . i've made some great pieces so far ! specially the first two . i really think i outdid myself with those . so , getting everything with the same quality level is HARD as someone that keeps on insisting can't think properly . i swear . so i just look at this one like man ts is straight buns

i don't remember how ? but i just got this idea of adding a tv screen effect . might look super cool . even if it makes no sense . hahahaha . alright i already said this most of these will just , look cool . ough . so i go to alight motion , search for a tutorial on tiktok and add it to the drawing . looks slightly better ! i think

i added a tv frame on it but i don't think it's like , super noticeable considering everything's pretty dark already .

so , this is how it looked at first !

and . well . i still thought it was lame . i go to twitter , post about it . . . hawker encouraged me to post it so i was like alright mmmmaybe i will ? something i do like about this version is that i was able to add some smart blur on the picture . i've been a smart blur enthusiast since i edited kpop pictures back in 2020 lolz makes everything soft and hazy . i really love it . also , the tv effect is much more noticeable here , now that there's not that much movement going on .

i keep looking at it and i'm like . . . . . . i'll try to get it better . maybe add actual static on the face . that would be cool . before going to bed i exported everything in separate pieces , the background and the character in png . should work ! then i'm like hey but i also need to have a bit of transparency on the background if i want to stack the pic above the static thing . okay . i screenrecord a video from youtube with the shittiest wifi ever considering it was now past 4:30AM and i was in bed already , add the effect , get it red and realize that idk how i liked it better , export the thing , change the pic i used first time i edited the gif to avoid adding all of the effects again and well that should work . well , alight motion didn't like this . i already had trouble trying to export butterfly ,

FILE TOO POWERFUL , i guess . i spent some time trying to get it to export and eventually it did . so , now we have this version !

the static thing did made such a big difference . it also made more sense this way , why add the effect in the first place ? looked so pointless and out of place . so having more movement going on in the whole thing helped a lot . i removed his glasses , added some shading on his clothes and ta-dah ! should be everything !

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤshould be everything

FORGOT THE SHADING ON HIS NECK . UUUGGHH

i'd just fix it after waking up .

next day , both brusk and meta told me the thing was really cool and that i should post it so i just thought about it for a while . whatever . . . it was already done ! so why not post it ? i added the shadow and exported it . sssso now , for REAL we have the finished gif !

i honestly don't think it's that terrible anymore . still kinda lame . this one was originally for nothing , but works great with empty too . so i just posted it under that prompt . LOLOL i did end up doing nothing for day 8 . great . i didn't really care for tumblr ruining the quality , like it did with butterfly . this one isn't really about having great quality .

i'm sleepy . what else . . .

idk if i'll work on lies . i thought i wouldn't , but i checked on the thing i got to get my ideas together and i do have a reference set for that one , so it looks like i'll have to wake up early . UGH today i knew i wouldn't work on a piece so i tried to get myself to sleep past 12 and i woke up at 11 . I'M ALREADY SLEEPY AND IT'S JJJUST 1:30AM . i'm actually considering going to sleep earlier today because hawker won't come to twitter tonight . i'll miss her . don't tell her , but first time she had to stay away from social media to focus on school , i had a super bad meltdown and i cried myself to sleep because she wasn't there . i really enjoy talking with her ! it's one of the best parts of my day . she's chinese , so i need to wait until 4AM so she gets back from school and we get like 30 minutes to talk before i fall asleep . she's just the sweetest , i swear ! so endearing and nice . i really like her . and , i started waking up earlier recently to try and take care of vargastober's pieces before 3:9999999999999999AM and that small thing actually threw my whole internal schedule off . it's annoying , because i get sleepy as soon as i lie down in bed and i don't get to talk to her . i keep struggling to even write a good night text . ssssigh !

anyway . . . right know i think i'll work on a small sketch for a birthday gift i want to make for a friend . i've been wanting to draw her william design for so long now ! and today's her birthday , so i'll make a small sketch . . . god , i also need to take care of brusk's bday gift . WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAPPEN IN OCTOBER !!!!!! i already have three more parties to attend throughout the month . one of them is mlp themed lolz

might be all . see you later !

edit : i said i'd draw william for my friend and here it is lolz

[harleyquilt]

hi !!! ^^ for the fanfic questions (I got a bit carried away but ahem): 3, 5, 8, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22

Hi!!!! wowie, so many numbers, you didn't have to go so hard with it djsfkfkf

3. What’s your favorite fic that you’ve written?

Oooh, hmm, I really liked The Feeling of being Loved, though I always lamented not being able to figure out how to continue it. Sin of Greed was fun, but I kinda forced myself to rush through the latter half of the series. Reconciliation has been a lot of fun so far too ^_^

5. What’s a fic idea you’ve had that you will never write?

Well, I don't know about NEVER, but I am a disgusting sucker for those typical 'arranged marriage with the archduke prince tyrant?!' kind of au for touken or twiyor jskdkf. It requires a commitment I am not willing to dedicate myself to...yet.

8. What project(s) are you currently working on?

There's Reconciliation, which is both much longer and taking more time than I initially anticipated lol, and I will be returning to The Fire that Burns (etc.) eventually, I swear! I am also working on a small project for a Nier Zine I am collaborating with.

I would like to continue that Missing You fic at some point, and if time allows it, I would like to rewrite a few older fics, though maybe that's a waste of time?? Idk?? I just have ideas for how I would've written them differently now.

13. How much planning do you do before writing?

Um....I..imagine it? Repeatedly. Maybe a doodle or two...yh..

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

Ah, jeez, I dunno, that feels too flattering sflskf. Ummmm, Sin of Greed, possibly, I imagined that series quite vividly, though I do have future ideas I would like to see as animes or whatever...

Gonna combine 15, (How do you come up with titles for your fics/chapters?), and 16, (At what point in the process do you come up with titles?), for this one:

More often than not, I decide on one after I've written it and have a better grasp of what would be most fitting, either thematically or visually. Makes it sound more professional than it actually is, lol.

17. What’s something you’ve learned about while doing research for a fic?

Mmm...research...hmm...I suppose...synonyms...and the sensation of various wounds, their severity, other very important details like that. And clothes.

18. What’s one of your favorite lines you’ve written in a fic?

Ah, jeez, my memory sucks. Uhh ehh umm let's see...I quite liked this one I wrote recently: The pressure of the city seemed to slip away the further they drove, despite knowing that the chain that kept them there was rattling loudly behind him, promising them their eventual return to the hellscape they call home. I hope it's a good line, lol.

19. Give us a small teaser from one of your WIPs.

Dang...I just posted a new chapter dkfkfks. I promise I'll post a teaser some point in the future!!

22. Do you know how your fic will end before you start writing?

I make it a rule to know how it'll end before I start writing. It's one of those writing rules I took to heart when I was younger and I think it helps! I think...of course, it can always change as it develops.

Happy now?? Was this enough for you??? (Kidding, thank you for so many questions, I hope the answers were at least worth it jsjfkfl)

[ducknotinarow]

With how reckless Raphael can be isn't he scared of dying on a mission? Leavening his brothers behind? Or Casey and their kid(s)?

| Anon Ask

Imma have to say BIG OOF on this ask here cause uh short answer? No he isn't scared about his own death. If his death meant saving his loved ones he'll tell the grimm reaper hi with a smile. But it sort of vaires so imma answer for 87,03/07/12 and SF Raphs below uwu

Raphael often struggles with what his place on his team is. 87 Raphael doesn't really know what he has to offer he tries the most to keep his anger in check using humor as a coping tool. But sometimes thats not enough and he gets worried about what he even has to offer to his brothers. When his anger gets the better of him it tends to be in a pinch to help. He never tends to care about his own saftey even getting so worked up over the mere idea of Mikey getting hurt or how reckless Don can get over his inventions that he started acting like a jerk to them when Don nearly died over them even. Raph feels if he died? his brothers would be just fine sure sad and miss him but they get on just fine. Casey? he would hate to leave Casey behind of course especially since Casey been slowly letting him in and well he would regret not fully ever getting to be there for him in the end and feel he failed Casey most.

03/07 Raph? his anger issues have always been very well known and he dose work on them meeting casey seems to help him handle them better or at least work out a better outlet to them. But he still gose in blind when hes been ticked off enough Mikey even takes advantage of it. Raph more fears his brothers dissappering the amout of times he losses it when any of them dissaper like Donnie. Raph already knows his roll is to protect his family he only ever worries being away from them because who will protect them then? He dosen't live for himself he lives for others. So of course he would hate leaving Casey and Summer behind, but if what got him killed was to keep them safe? he do it with a smile.

2012 Raph felt like being leader was meant for him due to his ego and need for approval from Splinter. Always questions Leo's orders and gives them a hard time at the start. But Raph quickly learns if he is in a leader role than he cant be the one to protect his brothers. They nearly lost Mikey when he was put in the role and Don had to take over and make the call for them to bail out because Raph froze up. Raph's a bit better about not wanting anyone to be left behind to nearly die especially since he did almost see that happen with Leo He is also a tad scared for all the deaths he has seen and nears ones. (Leo, Donnie, Mikey, Slash, the triceraton who commits suicide in front of him, Splinter, Casey.)

Raphael dosen't care to much if he gets hurt, but he sure damn well cares if those he cares about do get hurt. The idea of losing any of them? scares him more than death scares him, he's good about falling back or retreating when with someone else on his own though? not so much. His own well being isn't important to himself every new scar on him is one someone else didn't have to get. Casey and his sons? Well Casey is the reason raph changed his mind set because he promised casey he wouldn't leave them alone then with thier sons? he promised he would let them grow up how he had so they are his reasons to make sure he comes back alive to even if its just barely.

SF (hes new yeah but i have him heavily on my mind u-u so this is a nice excuse to write him)

Raph aint the best about retreating from a fight he swears he can take on bigger fights than he likely can getting upset when they bounce out of a fight that was getting to close to the chest even getting mad at Leo over it when it was Don's plan in the end. Raph's the kind of insane of never knows when to give up sort. Considering the story of the game he turly feels just going in firsts ready will slove the issue with Spliter being kept from them. And is always ready to jump back into the fight he honestly would fight when badly hurt. But hes a bit better about what begin a team means he gives Leo a hard time sure but he knows hes not better off with out his brothers, and them with out him. HE may chance it a lot but he can be smart enough to know when a fights a bit to much. Beside someones gotta be around to look out for Casey as well so he can't go dying.

[seidenbros]

Happy Birthday Princess

Hello there! This is the first time I'm writing for this fandom (or any fandom apart from The Witcher) but after stumbling upon @holamishamigosj2gotmegood in the tags last night, I had this idea, that I needed to write down, get it out of my head, write this little (it was supposed to be short, I swear) birthday fic, so here you go. I really hope I captured the characters well.

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Warnings/Tags: mostly fluff, friends to lovers, a bit of pining, fluff fluff fluff Word count: 3754 Read on AO3

It wasn't easy to get through work today, not directly because it was your birthday, more because nobody seemed to care. Yes, your boss had congratulated you on your 18th birthday just like your parents had, but apart from them, none of your friends had bothered. No calls in the morning before you'd headed to work, nobody had showed up here, and nobody had said anything beforehand that they wanted to do something with you, maybe go watch a movie or something, just spend time with your friends. Sure, you could have initiated something, but after hearing that they'd already had plans for the weekend, you hadn't even bothered. Well, good thing there was still ice-cream in your freezer and ordering a pizza while watching a movie wouldn't be so bad in the end, right? Still, it stung a little that seemingly everyone had forgotten your birthday.

You changed out of your working clothes into your denim shorts and plaid shirt. It wasn't a long way home, but maybe you could get something at the store for your one-person-pizza-party tonight.

“Hello princess,” you heard immediately when you exited the building. Swirling around to the source of that voice, you couldn't help but smile in surprise.

“Eddie? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with Dustin and Mike?” At least that was what you'd overheard. Well, they'd talked about it loud enough for pretty much everyone to hear.

“Nah, already finished with that.” He pushed away from the car he was leaning against, grinning to himself. “Planned it so I was finished when you got off work.” Closing the distance between the two of you, he pulled a single sunflower from behind his back and held it out to you. “Didn't think I'd forget your birthday, did you?”

“I...” You didn't know what to say, because yes, you'd thought all of them had forgotten, but that Eddie was the one to remember made you heart beat faster. The sunflower was a nice touch as well, made your smile widen even more when you took it in your hands. “Thank you, that's really sweet.”

“You deserve it.” For a moment there, his grin turned into a warm, sweet smile. A smile that you didn't see often, but that you loved all the more.

Eddie and you had been friends for roughly two years now. You were the new kid, shy, hiding behind books, but Eddie hat taken it upon himself to draw you into his group of friends, after you'd bonded over The Lord of the Rings, the books he'd always seen sou read at lunch break. At first, you'd been apprehensive about the whole situation, but you'd soon discovered that you fit right in with him and his friends. After the first evening you'd spent together just the two of you, you'd fallen for him, but had never said a word about it. To anyone. Moving to Hawkins had been hard enough as it was for you, so you'd been more than happy to finally have made friends. Ruining this by telling the one person who'd gotten you out of your shell again, that you were in love with them could ruin all of that. That's why you'd kept this to yourself and had enjoyed the friendships that had bloomed in this time. You couldn't imagine your life without this assortment of different people, because they all had a special place in your heart, but Eddie was still in its throne.

“Hop in.” Eddie opened the passenger door to his car for you, gesturing for you to take a seat.

“Where are we going?” Not that it really mattered, because you were already getting in, going wherever he'd take you with him. Spending your birthday with Eddie? That won over pizza and a movie all by yourself.

“Now, now, it's a surprise. See it as an adventure.” With a wink he closed your door and got in on th other side, firing up the engine.

“Adventures are nasty disturbing uncomfortable things that make you late for dinner, remember?” you said with a grin on your lips, never one to pass upon a Tolkien quote.

“Want me to call you hobbit then?” Eddie stole a quick glance at you before he kept his eyes on the road ahead again.

“I don't think they'd accept me as a hobbit. I'm too tall for one, my feet are not hairy, but I would love to attend one of their parties, that's for sure.” You closed your eyes for a moment, enjoying the warm breeze that came in through the open windows. “Besides, hobbit or not, I'd always join you in an adventure.” You still kept your eyes close so that you wouldn't see his reaction. It wasn't exactly something that showed what you really felt for him, but to you it felt like he could see right through you. Better not look at him.

“And I'll always make sure you won't be late for dinner. Though dinner might consist of takeout now and then.”

His words made you laugh. Takeout was more than fine, and for the first time today, you felt yourself relax completely. Not all of your friends had forgotten your birthday. Eddie had remembered.

When the car slowed down and stopped, you opened your eyes, only to find yourself in front of the trailer Eddie was living in.

“You do know that I’ve been here before, right?” Raising a questioning eyebrow you look at him. What kind of adventure was this?

“Trust the process,” he simply said before he got up to open the door for you again. Eddie extended his hand so that you could place your hand in his and you did. Trust the process.

“You’re not gonna show me your collection of magazines, are you?” Another grin appeared on your lips, making Eddie roll his eyes.

“Only if you want to see them,” he managed with a chuckle. “Come one, we need to get inside.”

“And I won’t break an ankle trying to walk through your room?”

“Bet you’ve never seen it as clean as today.” Of that much, he was sure. He’d done his best to tidy his room, clean up, and he was rather proud of himself. Sure, you’d seen it in all kinds of states, so he really didn’t need to worry about what you might think, but it was your birthday, and he had a plan. That plan included a clean(er) room.

“Close your eyes,” he said, unlocking the door and leading you inside the trailer, but instead of closing them, you narrowed them at Eddie “Really? Okay, then you leave me no other choice, my lady.”

Eddie was behind you in a second, covering your eyes with his hands. Your back hit his chest, making you hold your breath for a moment. There had been body contact here and there, once you’d even kind of wrestled because he’d wanted to get a book out of your hands to see what you were reading, but this… this felt different. The warmth from his body seeped into your skin, as the smell of cigarettes mixed with his cologne and his own scent filled your nose, leaving you a little lightheaded.

“Ready to walk?” Eddie’s voice was so close, his breath tickling your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. There were no words coming out of your mouth, but you managed to nod, putting your right hand on his forearm to have at least something to hold onto, while you walked step after step into his room.

When he eventually took his hands from your eyes, breaking the contact when stepped next to you, you wanted to protest, but didn’t say a word. That would only lead to problems that you didn’t need. So, instead you blinked to get accustomed to the dim light in here, and looked around.

“Eddie Munson, I never thought I’d see the floor of this room one day, but apparently… it does exist.” Turning your head to look at him, you couldn’t help but grin. Was he blushing? It was probably just a trick of the light in here, but it did look like it.

“Well…” he said, looking for the right words, running a hand through his unruly locks. “While I’m proud of that achievement, that’s not what I brought you here for.” With another wink, he walked up to his bed and picked up the guitar lying on top of it. It wasn’t his usual one - his baby was still hanging on the wall - but apparently a new one. A beauty, that much was for sure, but none that you’d seen here before.

“You got a new guitar! She’s beautiful!” Not that you were able to play, but you knew a couple of things about instruments, guitars especially. 

“It’s not mine,” he said, sitting down on his bed, patting the spot beside him. You follow this invitation and sat down next to him, a frown on your face waiting for him to explain further. “It’s yours.”

“What?” Surely, he must have been joking. Yeah, you’d always said that you wanted to learn how to play, but you’d never been able to teach yourself

“You said you wanted to learn how to play. Means you need your own guitar so you can practice.” He handed it to you, positioned it in your lap. “Happy birthday, princess.”

His gentle words, the soft voice with which he said them, and the way he called you princess made your eyes water for a moment. All this was more than you ever could have expected. Your birthday had turned from a miserable day into a rather special one, where the guy you had feelings for, was the one to give you one of the best presents you’d ever gotten. Why? Because he’d listened to what you’d been talking about, had listened to what you really wanted, had remembered that and gotten you a guitar.

“Thank you, Eds!” Blinking away the tears, you turned a little so that you could hug him, press a kiss to his cheek. When you sat up again, you could see the sheepish smile on his face, because he hadn’t expected that kind of reaction.

“But I still need lessons. You know I suck at teaching myself.”

“That’s the best part, sweetheart. That guitar comes with a teacher.” Eddie winked at you, before he reached for the guitar again to adjust it so that you could get a good grip on the neck of the guitar. “I’ll teach you.”

“You’d really do that?” You didn’t even know why you were surprised, because as much as Eddie portrayed the metalhead, he had a really soft heart, and that was one thing you really loved about him. You’d never met anyone as genuine, as caring as him, which especially showed when he was with the other guys, with the younger ones that still needed a little guidance here and there.

“Who else is going to teach you to play Dio’s Sacred Heart?”

True. At every guitar course, they’d come up with all kinds of songs, but not the ones you’d want to learn, and ever since Sacred Heart came out, you’d heard it once a day at least. It was one of your favourite songs at the moment. You couldn’t help but giggle at his words, while you nodded. He definitely had a point there.

“C’mere!” He gestured you towards him with his hands, but then he thought better of it and got on his knees, moved around a bit so that he could sit behind you, his legs to your left and right, your back leaning against his chest again. “Here…” His hand covers yours, adjusting your fingers on the strings. “The first chord.” His head nearly leans against yours, distracting you, so you need a moment to react and play the first chord, but you manage to do it. His locks are tickling your cheek, the plec on his necklace dangling just right above your shoulder. “And the next one.” His voice was now barely above a whisper. How were you supposed to concentrate, when he was practically hugging you to his chest? You were closer than you’d ever been before and the certain kind of intimacy wasn’t lost on either of you.

“Okay,” you still managed to whisper back, letting your fingers be guided by him, trying your best to memorise what he’d just shown you.

“Now just switch between these two chords. You can do it.” He let go of your hand, let you try that all by yourself now.

Your nose scrunched up in concentration, as you positioned your fingers on the right strings. It sounded right, but still a little bumpy, which was only natural. After all, you were just a beginner. Still, your fingers didn’t start cramping up which they’d done the first time you’d picked up a guitar just to try it out.

“Perfect,” you heard Eddie say as his hand landed on your waist. He didn’t need to adjust your hands anymore right now, because you knew where your fingers belonged and were getting better and faster at switching from one chord to the next. Eddie wasn’t looking at your fingers, though, he was looking at you.

“I'm far from perfect, but I’m trying.” With a laugh, you turned to look at him and found him looking straight at you. The grip he had on your waist tightened just a fraction, but you felt it in your whole body.

“Maybe that’s your point of view. But to me, you’re perfect.”

“Eddie…”

He hadn’t planned on this day turning out like this, had kept his feelings to himself, because he hadn’t wanted to ruin a wonderful friendship. Losing you was something he wouldn’t be able to deal with. Dustin knew about his feelings, because Eddie had told him at one point, but he’d made him swear that he’d never breathe a word. Dustin had also been the one who’d told him to shoot his shot or regret it, because you would find someone else. Little did he know that you didn’t want anyone else, because you’d kept your feelings completely to yourself.

“No, I mean it.” His right hand came up to brush some loose strands from your face, tuck them behind your ear, his fingers lingering for a moment before he cupped your cheek. “You’re kind, you’re intelligent, you’re funny, you’re-”

“Eddie!” you stopped him. If he kept on talking, you’d probably melt completely, while your heart gave out due to his words, to this moment. You knew that it was the right moment, to show him what you thought, not with your words but with your actions. And so you leaned in, placed your hand on his chest and brought your lips to his.

It was almost innocent, lips lingering on lips for a moment, before you drew back a little bit, suddenly not so sure anymore whether this had been the right decision or not. Doubt was clouding your eyes when you looked at him, but the grin on his lips eased that doubt at least a little bit.

“My, my, who would have thought that you’d be the one to surprise me today.”

“Believe me… that wasn’t on my agenda at all,” you whispered, leaning your head against his shoulder and closing your eyes, hoping that you hadn’t interpreted his words wrongly and ruined a wonderful friendship now.

“I think that should be on your agenda every day.” His chuckle vibrated through his whole body, as he put his fingers beneath your chin to make you raise your head again. “On our agenda,” he corrected himself, before he let go of your chin and instead ran his fingers through your hair to pull you close and kiss you again. Not another innocent kiss, but one that made your toes curl as you felt his tongue against the seam of your lips and you opened them for him. Eddie managed to snatch the guitar from your hands and put it aside so that he could pull you completely into his lap. Your fingers raked through his hair, your fingernails scraping against his scalp until you reached the back of his neck, enjoying every second.

It almost felt like a dream. A dream that was interrupted by the phone ringing, that you could only hear because for once Eddie wasn’t blasting some music - due to teaching you how to play guitar.

He ripped his lips from yours, as the phone rang for the second time. There had only been a couple of seconds between these two phone calls.

“You need to get that?” you asked with a chuckle, lips slightly swollen from the kiss you’d just shared that was still leaving you a little lightheaded.

“Nothing important,” he said, his eyes still fixed on you, dropping to your lips, then back up to your eyes. His hair was dishevelled due to your hands, so you tried to smoothe it down a little bit. 

There was silence for a moment, before the ringing picked up again, making you laugh.

“You sure? Don’t think they’ll leave you alone.”

“Fuck,” he grumbled. Heaving a sigh, he lifted you from his lap,turned around with you to prop you up against the pillows. “Don’t go anywhere!”

It was a fair warning, but you really didn’t want to be anywhere else than here right now.

“For fuck’s sake, WHAT?” he said as he answered the phone. You could hear every word of that conversation, were rather sure that he’d tell the person on the other end to go to hell and leave him alone, but that was not what happened. “Ah fuck… I forgot the time. Be there in a minute.”

You sat up, scooted to the edge of the bed, waiting for an explanation when he returned to you. He was already donning the puppy eyes as an apology.

“We have to get going. There’s another surprise I got for you.” Well he didn’t technically have that surprise for you, but he was supposed to take you to that surprise.

“Okay, let’s go.” When you got up, you reached for your guitar but then thought better of it. Eddie wanted to teach you, and this was the perfect place, wasn’t it? As long as you didn’t get distracted again, but with that distraction, you were willing to put off learning how to play the guitar a little bit longer.

“Can’t wait to get out of here, eh?” he teased, reaching for your hand and not letting it go until you were at his car again.

“I’d love to pick up where we left off,” you admitted with a sheepish grin. “But since your first surprise was already wonderful, I’m curious about this one.”

“Fair enough.”

You both got in, but before Eddie started the engine, he stole another kiss from your lips. Something he wouldn’t get enough of, especially now that you both didn’t need to worry about how the other felt. That had been pretty evident in his room just minutes ago.

When he stopped the car in front of your house, though, you were a little confused.

“Why are we at my house?”

“Patience, sweetheart.” He knew that you weren’t the most patient person out there, which was why he took his time getting out of the car. You would have already been halfway to your door if it weren’t for him reaching for your hand again, slowing down his steps a little more.

“Eddie, come on.” You couldn’t help but chuckle. He behaved as if he’d rather stay out here with you than get inside, which… was the truth. He’d rather have you to himself a little longer than share you with your friends again, but that was why he’d brought you here. There wasn’t even a chance to tell you this, when the door opened and Dustin appeared.

“Finally, we’ve been waiting for you!”

“What?” You looked from one to the other, confusion clouding your face, but in the next moment, Dustin was by your side, taking your hand and practically pulling you inside.

Every one of your friends was here. They’d asked your parents if they could arrange this, and they’d happily agreed, were even staying the night with some friends, knowing that they’d only be in the way. Your friends had arranged this without you even having the slightest idea - and Eddie had kept quiet about it as well, as he’d spent the afternoon with you. 

“Surprise!” they yelled in unison, though Dustin’s voice was the loudest of them all. They’d decorated the living room, had taken care of food and drinks, and the music was already playing. Just a little get together between friends. It was perfect and a real surprise after you’d thought that all of them had forgotten. Your friends had really managed to lead you on.

“You’re crazy! All of you!” you managed to choke out, wiping the few tears away that had fallen.

“Nah, we just love you, so we made this plan.” Dustin spoke up again, grinning at the others. “Eddie was supposed to distract you until we were finished here to surprise you. And it worked.”

You stole a glance at Eddie, who was already on his way with a drink for you, trying to hide his grin behind his own glass.

“I’m surprised none of you blew this,” he said with a laugh, handing you the glass that was meant for you.

“We did our best. It was an important matter,” Steve chimed in carrying what looked like a birthday cake to the table. He only lit the candles before he gestured for you to come over. The cake looked delicious, though all of you would probably get a sugar rush from all chocolate, but honestly? Who cared?

“Make a wish when you blow out the candles,” Eddie reminded you, placing his hand on the small of your back, a smile on your lips.

Surrounded by your friends, having spent the afternoon with the man who’d stolen your heart, what was there left to wish for? The two of you would have to talk about what this was, where this would lead at one point, but right now, you were more than happy. So you blew out the candles, made your wish, and got ready to enjoy the rest of your birthday with the people you loved.

______

AND I'm tagging @astrangegirlsmind for the wonderful support and hyping me up <3

[tomhardyspinkyfinger]

A Simple Life

Masterlist

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Summary: Alfie takes on domestic life and makes it look good.

A/N: Part four! I have done so. much. writing. in the past two days. I was going to take a break after my last request but it's been too long since I've updated my OG story. I took some smutty inspiration from @hecatemoon87 's incredible Leo Demidov fic. Check it out!! I love the idea of using a mirror 🤤 enjoy y'all!

Warnings: language, smut (finally), body imagery issues, body insecurities

Alfie told me to dress comfortable and wait in my room before he and Mauve told me I could come to the dining room. I had no idea what they were planning, but I was told it was an important event. I laid around reading for about an hour before I got bored and snuck to the kitchen where my heart was officially melted.

There stood Mauve on a dining room chair leaning over a steaming pot while Alfie held her from behind, helping her stir the soup.

"Why are we making this again?" Mauve questioned. I watched with a smile out of my face while hidden from their eye line.

"Well your mother, right, deserves a meal fit for a queen. I ain't no chef but my Bubbe taught me the right and proper way to make matzo ball soup, a Jewish delicacy. We're cooking for 'er so she can be treated like the queen she is." Mauve nodded at Alfie's response and kept stirring.

"... But why? Matzo is a lot of work." Mauve complained.

"Who makes us dinner every night? And breakfast every day? Who gives you your baths and does your hair before school? Eh?" Alfie questioned.

"...Mummy." Mauve responded.

"Right, and she's a fuckin' queen for it." Alfie responded, placing his arm on hers and speeding up the stirring.

"Swear jaw Alfie!" Mauve exclaimed. Mauve implemented the swear jar after hearing Alfie on a business call in his office. Needless to say she was becoming the richest six year old in Camden Town. He laughed and lifted her from the chair, placing her back on the ground.

"Thank you for your help, Princess Mauve, go on and get your mother for dinner." Alfie instructed. I walked in with a smile.

"No need, I'm here." I said. Mauve pouted and crossed her arms.

"You were supposed to wait in your room!" She exclaimed, huffing. Her new tiara Alfie got her gave her a new royal personality. It happened to also occasionally be a royal pain in my ass. She insisted everyone refer to her as a princess. Although it was tiring, Alfie never let it show, even going as far as referring to me as his queen. He walked up to me and pressed his lips to mine. I grabbed his face and kissed back with a never ending sense of joy. Mauve groaned and entered the dining room. Alfie slapped my ass and sent me in after her as I squealed.

He followed soon after and placed the large pot on the middle of the table, put a serving of matzo ball soup in each bowl. We began eating and talking about Mauve's very eventful day at school. Alfie kept his hand on Y/N's during dinner, stroking it with his thumb. Ever since my drunken confession a few days ago, Alfie and I have been inseparable. We spent all our time together at home and at work, basking in the honeymoon phase. We have yet to sleep together and honestly I've been terrified.

The first time we tried I was tipsy, so my insecurities didn't waver me as much as they usually would. My body changed drastically after Mauve. I was grateful for it, my body housed and produced an entire human so change was inevitable. I just didn't love the change. My body was bigger, my hips wider, breasts bigger, thighs and tummy littered with stretch marks. I hoped it wouldn't bother Alfie.

"And then Anna took my crayon! But I told her my dad is the Alfie Solomons and no one messes with him!" Mauve exclaimed with a prideful smile. I dropped my spoon and it clanked against the bow before dropping to the floor, where Cyril happily licked up the mess. Alfie also froze in shock but Mauve just kept on talking about anything that came to mind. I squeezed Alfie's hand and he looked at me.

"I'm sorry, we haven't had that conversation yet." I muttered quietly as not to disturb Mauve's story telling. He nodded and we went back to eating (after cleaning my spoon) and listening to Mauve. After a while Alfie spoke.

"Mauve, can I ask you somethin'?" Alfie questioned. Mauve halted her story and nodded eagerly.

"You said I was your dad earlier, what made you say that?" He questioned softly as to not upset the young girl. She shrugged before responding.

"My teacher said a mummy and daddy are two people you love and who love you and take care of you. I love mummy and she loves me and takes very good care of me. And I love you the same way I love mummy, and you take care of me too.” She explained simply. I pushed back tears and looked away.

"I love you too, Mauve." Alfie responded. She smiled and hopped right back into her next topic of conversation. Alfie squeezed my hand this time and I looked at him.

"You alright with all 'is?" He questioned quietly. I thought about it for a moment before nodding. Alfie had been filling in as her father and then some for the past few weeks. He really went all out, reading to her every night before bed, helping her with homework, taking her to and from school. He really cared for her and I trusted him to be such a big part of her life. After dinner was finished and cleaned up we all moved to the den where Alfie put on a classical record for Mauve to dance around to. She was practicing her ballroom dancing for when a prince comes and sweeps her off her feet, something Alfie said she was much too young for.

Alfie and Y/N sat on the couch, his arm around her shoulders and her hand on his chest as the watched Mauve dance around. Eventually she wrapped both of her small hands around Alfie's big one.

"Come dance!" She demanded. Alfie chuckled.

"I ain't much of a dancer, treacle.” He responded. She rolled her eyes and kept pulling. She gave up and pouted, her eyes going wide and her bottom lip twitching. Before I could scold her for manipulating Alfie he gave in.

"Fine, you conniving child I will dance with you but it will never leave this room." Alfie tried to command with a stern voice as he stood. Mauve cracked a big grin.

"Sure!" She exclaimed, back to the happy go lucky kid she is. Alfie chuckled at her ability to play him and held his hands out.

"May I have this dance princess?" He questioned. Mauve did a curtsey and grabbed his hands, standing on his toes to try and reach his towering height. The spun around the room as I watched. As endearing as the view was, I was undeniably horny.

Seeing the way Alfie interacted with Mauve was just, well it was arousing every now and then. Seeing him sensitive and sweet with her just got me going, and it filled me with the desire to bear his children. I bit my lip and watched his muscular back move. He spun around and caught my eyes, giving a knowing smirk. After a few rounds of dancing Mauve decided to take a break, laying on the couch in front of the fireplace.

After all of ten minutes, she was knocked out. On Friday's, like today, Mauve would come home exhausted from the week but excited for the weekend. This range of energy also ensured she would be dead asleep the second her head hit any soft surface. Alfie stood in front of my sitting form and held a hand out.

"May I have this dance my queen?" He asked. I smiled and took his hand, standing into his embrace. We slowly moved across the room, the soft classical music swaying us.

"Was 'at lust I saw in your eyes just then?" Alfie teased. My face flushed and I rolled my eyes.

"No, I was just admiring your dancing skills, that's all." I lied, smiling nonetheless.

"Well I dance like a baby giraffe walks, so that's a right fuckin' lie." Alfie spoke. I chuckled quietly.

"It's the truth." I lied again. He smirked.

"Ah, so if I offered to take you upstairs and put my face between those beautiful legs you'd decline?" Alfie whispered in my ear, biting the lobe gently. I let in a sharp intake of breath and felt wetness pool in my panties.

"Well, I couldn't deny such a generous offer." I responded. He chuckled and we swayed for a while longer before Alfie pulled away.

"Let's get the babe tucked up in bed and then I will take you to our bed and destroy your heavenly cunt, 'ow does that sound?" Alfie questioned. My legs clenched. He smirked and moved his way to where Mauve was sleeping, gently reaching under her and scooping her up, holding her like a baby. We walked upstairs quietly, Cyril following suit. Alfie tucked Mauve into her bed, kissing her forehead gently. Cyril hopped up next to her and curled up in his usual spot. Alfie turned and scooped me up with one arm, my legs going around his waist.

He carried me to our shared room and laid me down on the bed, kissing me and beginning to unzip the back of my dress. I shimmied out of the dress as Alfie pulled it off. I halted for a moment.

"Can we turn the lights off?" I questioned, trying to discretely place my hands over my stretch marks. He glanced at my hands and back at my eyes.

"What're you hiding for?" He asked. I sighed.

"I'm covering the things I don't like looking at. I figure if I have trouble looking at my marks and bigger spots, no man would want to see them." I explained. Alfie pondered for a moment before standing up and going to the other side of the room. I laid confused, covering myself still. After rummaging the furniture around he came back and lifted me off the bed leading me to his armchair.

He sat in the chair and pulled me in front of him. I watched silently as he unhooked my bra and pulled it off, my breasts sagging a bit from the size and weight. I closed my eyes as he pushed my panties down to my ankles. He turned me around and placed me on his lap. I felt his member pressing into me and I grinded on instinct. He groaned under his breath and moved his hands up my torso to my breasts, cupping them and rolling my nipples between his fingers, the cold of his rings making me shiver.

I opened my eyes and finally understood what he was doing. In front of the armchair we sat on the floor length mirror faced us.

"Alf-" I began to protest.

"No, hush. We're going to watch how beautiful you look when you come undone." Alfie explained squeezing my breasts.

"These are fuckin' flawless. These beautiful things fed our child, absolutely incredible, that is." Our child. My heart fluttered.

His hands continued moving down, gently tracing my stretch marks.

"These marks are fuckin' paint strokes from the gods." He whispered in my ear, kissing the back of my neck gently, his beard tickling my skin. His hands continued their path, meeting my wet clit.

"This cunt is mouthwatering, yeah? Could spend my days drownin' in it an' die a happy man." Alfie muttered. I moaned as he circled my clit. He inserted one finger and began pumping. I moaned a bit louder.

"That's right, moan for me and look at that pretty cunt in the mirror." Alfie instructed, adding a second finger and moving faster. He reached deep inside of me and touched my walls in the exact right spot. I moaned out and threw my head back on his shoulder. He used his other hand to raise my head back to its original position, facing the mirror.

"I'm close Alf." I moaned out as he thrusted his fingers faster and faster.

"Let me see you come in the mirror, we'll both watch how fuckin' beautiful it is. Come on then, let go." Alfie spoke, sending me over the edge. We watched in the mirror as my mouth dropped and my walls tightened. I moaned out through my climax and laid back on Alfie's chest with my eyes closed afterwards. He slipped his fingers out and put them in his mouth, sucking me off of him.

"Fuckin' delicious that is." He picked me up and brought me back to the bed before stripping off all of his clothes. I moved to the edge of the bed on my knees and grabbed him in my palm, moving it back and forth. He moaned and placed his lips against mine as I worked him to become fully erect. He laid me back down and spread my legs, entering himself slowly. We both moaned out together as he slipped in.

"Such a tight cunt, squeezin' me like a fuckin vice." Alfie groaned, beginning to move his hips against mine after I adjusted to the feeling. He moved in and out, drawing loud moans from me with each thrust. He leaned in and silenced my volume with his lips. I kissed back, slipping my tongue into his mouth.

We moved in sync with each other, our moans and kisses in perfect harmony. Alfie moved his hand between us, circling my clit with the perfect amount of pressure. I broke the kiss and threw my head back with an open mouth moan, my eyes wrenched shut.

"I can feel you, love. I know you're close. M' almost there too just a bit longer." Alfie breathed out, quickening his thrusts. He got sloppy the closer we both got and with one final thrust hitting my g-spot, we both erupted. He captured my lips with his, knowing my moans would be too loud as I came. His thrusts became slow as we both finished. He pulled out gently and got out of bed, entering the bathroom and coming back out with a wet rag.

Alfie cleaned my body gently, kissing as he went. I laid in complete content, fully satiated. He placed the rag on the nightstand and crawled into bed, holding me close. We laid quietly until I broke the silence.

"You never did put your head between my legs." I pointed out coyly. Alfie let out a deep chuckle.

"Add 'at to the list of things I'm going to do to you." He responded.

"Noted."

[missvelvetsstuff]

Low Expectations

Bucky Barnes x Reader

Reader has low self esteem when she meets Bucky. Can he convince her that she's the one he wants?

Chapter 6

Warnings: swearing, angst, sexual situations and thoughts

Notes: I just keep writing and writing. This should have been 1.5 chapters but we'll just call the extra .5 a bonus for taking so long to update. Sorry!

Y/N woke up in a pool of sweat and breathing heavily from the dream she was having about Bucky. She shook her head, she wouldn't last very long waiting for sex if her mind and body kept rebelling like this. She pulled out her favorite toy and tried to get off but couldn't finish. Nothing worked the toy, her fingers, she even tried humping her pillow but all she got was frustrated.

Throwing the pillow across her bedroom, she gave up on the idea of sleep or getting off, got up and took a cold shower, she would have to let Bucky know he wasn't the only one. Thinking about him made it worse and the shower didn't help. She saw it was 4am and sighed, annoyed at being up so early on a Sunday. She was tempted to text Bucky, knowing a bit about his nightmares and challenges getting a decent nights sleep, but refrained because she didn't want to come across like a horny teenager. She turned on her tv and looked for something to distract herself only to find nothing and turn it off again. She played on her phone until the sun came up and she had to get up and do her shopping for the week.

Bucky didn't fare any better tossing and turning with short bouts of sleep plagued by erotic dreams about Y/N that turned bad and woke him with his heart racing.

They went on like this for weeks. Talking on the phone, dates, making out until one of them pulled back and they said good night. Bucky was determined to respect her decision to wait but he had never wanted anyone so badly. Just being in her presence made his body light up like a Christmas tree. The closer they got the more difficult it was to stop before he showed her how beautiful and sexy he found her. Cold showers and his hand were a poor substitute but he knew he had to wait. He didn't want her to feel like sex was all he cared about after what she had told him about her experiences.

One Saturday night he planned to take her her for a nice dinner and a show. Y/N bought a new dress and had her hair and nails done. She also bought lingerie to go with the dress including a corset with garter belt and silk nylons in an attempt to copy the styles from the 40's. It had been a couple of months and she was done waiting, she needed him and planned on showing him tonight. There were still fears of rejection especially once he saw her without clothes, the stretch marks, not even close to six pack and less than perfect tits but she pushed those thoughts down, reminding herself of how his eyes always darkened when he looked at her.

That morning, Bucky was cleaning his apartment before their date, which didn't take long since he didn't have much. He picked up his bedding and pillow from the floor then made his new bed up with new pillows, sheets and comforter set. It wasn't fancy but he did spring for the softer cotton and higher thread count, on the salesman's advice. Didn't want Y/N on scratchy sheets and he wanted to look as normal as possible. He had a drawer full of condoms and bought a key lime pie since she told him it was her favorite. He had a coffee maker, coffee, creamer and sugar in case she stayed the night. He really hoped she would stay the night.  He also had eggs, bread and bacon for breakfast.

Bucky had body issues as well. Y/N had completely accepted his vibranium arm after spending some time carefully checking it out but she hadn't seen the scars and he was afraid she would be disgusted with his body that had been through so much. He hoped she was as good as she seemed and didn't care. He had been with a couple of women but they were just hero groupies who wanted to say they slept with an Avenger, even if he never actually was one. He noticed most of them never touched his arm or scar covered shoulder, they just ignored them to get on with things. Those women never wanted to trade phone numbers or stay for breakfast. They simply got what they were after, not that he didn't enjoy the act too, and left or asked him to leave shortly after.

They were both full of nerves when he knocked on her door at the beginning of the evening but Bucky was blown away with her 40s style dress and hair.

"Damn doll" he whistled as he looked her up and down "You look gorgeous. I mean not that you don't always look great but that dress. I just-"

She chuckled "It's ok, Buck. You look pretty spiffy yourself."

Bucky smiled and blushed "Thank you, sweetheart. I have something here for you" instead of a bouquet he pulled a corsage with red roses and baby's breath out and slid it onto her wrist. He kissed her hand and offered his arm for her to hold.

They took a cab to an early dinner and then walked to the theater. Y/N giggled "Rogers: The Musical? Won't it be weird since you know all of the real people?"

Bucky shrugged "I was still under Hydra control during the battle of New York and didn't really know any of them well besides Steve and Nat. The producers contacted me and were pretty insistent on giving me tickets to see it. I hope it's ok." He smiled at her nervously.

"Of course it's ok, I like musicals thanks to my dad, Camelot is my favorite. I'm sure it's good if not perfectly accurate. No one sees a musical for historical accuracy. I'm just happy spending time with you." She squeezed his arm and smiled back.

The play was.....interesting. Y/N remembered the battle but since she lived in Brooklyn only saw tv footage and the aliens from a distance. She and Terri had considered getting out of town at the time but the roads were a mess and aliens unpredictable so they just hunkered down until the fight was over. She giggled at the over the top dance and acrobatic moves that were made to look like fighting.

When it was over they walked back to his apartment, laughing and joking at how silly some of the play had been. Bucky tried to keep his mood light but the play made him miss Steve all over again. How could he expect a woman he had only met a couple of months ago to stay and deal with his baggage when his childhood friend wouldn't?

Both of them were too wrapped up in each other to notice that a couple of paparazzi had seen the Winter Soldier with an unknown woman on his arm and were following them.

As they waited for the elevator his phone rang and he quickly rejected the call. Bucky pulled Y/N close to him, kissing all over her face until he reached her lips. He nipped at her bottom lip until she looked up at him with half closed eyes and swollen lips. He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her even closer until their lips met and he groaned. He licked into her mouth and deepend the kiss, the taste and feel of her waking his entire body. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair, tugging gently.

When the elevator door opened he gently picked her up and moved her inside, he spent the ride up kissing her like he wanted to devour her. When they got to his floor he pulled away, breathing heavily and carried her to his front door.

"You're making me crazy, doll. I need to feel you-"

She nodded and moaned "Please James. I need you too. I don't want to wait anymore."

His knees buckled when he realized what she was saying. He leaned against her into the wall "Are you sure? I don't want to rush you"

She leaned back into him "I'm sure" and before he could say anything else she wrapped her legs around his waist and he carried her into his bedroom before gently setting her down. His phone rang and he quickly rejected the call again without even looking.

She smiled softly at him "I could use some help with my zipper" and he pulled her close so he could reach back and unzip her dress. She looked at him shyly as she let her dress fall to the ground, leaving her in her corset, silk stockings and pumps.

He stepped back to look at her and groaned deep in his chest "Jesus doll. You are the sexiest pin up I have ever seen, like a fuckin dream. Sit back"

She sat down and slid up to the head of the bed while Bucky stared, practically tearing his own clothes off in record time. When he was down to just his briefs he started crawling up the bed. Then his phone rang again, he snorted in disgust found it in his pants and turned it off, tossing it over his shoulder.

He took off her shoes and kissed his way up her legs until he was able to unclip her stockings and roll them down one leg at a time. He lay down over her kissing her like his life depended on it, holding himself up with his left arm and letting his right hand roam all over her until they were both ready to explode. He reached for her thong and before he could start pulling it down, he heard someone pounding on his front door.

Bucky looked towards the door angrily and decided to ignore it, hooking his thumbs into her panties when there was more pounding on the door "Sargent Barnes?! It's Torres, Sam tried to call you but he needs help. It's urgent"

Bucky growled and Y/N clenched her thighs together at the vibration. He grinned at her response, taking a moment to inhale, scenting her before leaning in to kiss her again.

More knocking on the door "I'm sorry Sargeant but he really needs you."

Bucky pulled away "Fuck! Don't move doll I'll be right back." Grabbed a robe and stomped to the door, wrenching it open before Torres could knock again. Joaquin looked at him, eyes wide with fear and backed up.

"What the fuck do you want Torres? I'm a little busy right now."

Torres stammered "I I I'm sorry. Sam said he needs you right away. I uh I'm not supposed to take no for an answer."

Bucky growled "Fine! I'll meet him at-"

Torres backed up even more "N n no, he, he, he said to wait for you."

Bucky glared at him "Wait here!" And slammed the door.

He stalked back into his room where Y/N was still spread out on his bed like the most tempting dessert he had ever seen.

He groaned "Fuck I'm so sorry doll but apparently Sam needs me and I have to go." He sat on the side of the bed and pulled her into him, kissing her softly until he forced himself to pull away. "I don't want to go. Fuck, got you right where I need you and I don't know if I can leave you like-" more knocking on the door. He quickly stood and started getting dressed.

Y/N pulled the comforter up over herself, watching him "I guess I should-"

"No doll. Please stay. It's too late for you to be out there alone. You can stay as long as you want, borrow something comfortable to sleep in. Make yourself at home and I'll let you know as soon as I know what's going on." He sat and kissed her again until Torres started knocking.

He cursed "Persistent little fucker. I'm so sorry honey." And he stomped out of the apartment, glaring at Torres.

Y/N got up and looked out the window to see him get into a black car with Torres. She didn't see the photographer in the shadows.

She sighed when the car drove off and closed the blind. Looking around she tried to figure out what to do when her phone buzzed. It was a text from Bucky

I mean it, stay until morning. Or forever.

Y/N shook her head and decided to listen so started looking in his dresser for a shirt to sleep in. It was practically empty a drawer with socks and underwear, one with one stack of black tshirts and one stack of white and one with 2 pairs of black pants plus 3 more drawers that were completely empty. She took off the corset, hung her dress up and put a tshirt on. Once she took her make-up off she climbed into Bucky's bed, snuggling into the soft sheets and fell asleep surrounded by his scent.

Bucky spent the night on a military cargo plane headed to Australia. Unable to sleep due to the untimely interruption and lingering desires, no cell service while in the air so he alternated between daydreaming about Y/N in his clothes, in his bed and then talking himself down before he made a mess in his pants. He hoped that she would still be there when he returned but it seemed unlikely he'd be home that quickly so he'd be happy with her lingering scent and hoped she wouldn't write him off considering this was the second time work with Sam interrupted their time together.

Y/N woke up moaning amid a wet dream induced orgasm and sat up confused over the strange room. After the haze cleared she grimaced at the wet spot under her. She couldn't just leave that for Bucky to find, how embarrassing, but she didn't see a washer and dryer in his apartment and she didn't have his key to get in and out of the building or into the laundry room. She got dressed and paced around in a panic before her phone rang. Terri was freaking out because she had broken a tooth and couldn't find the emergency credit card they kept in the apartment.

Y/N completely forgot about the wet spot and raced home to help Terri. Once again not noticing the photographer who snapped her picture as she left Bucky's building.

Once Y/N had taken care of Terri, who insisted on being knocked out at the dentist, and set her up in bed with some water she sat down to relax. She had a snack and walked to the corner store to pick up food for the week. She spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning and doing laundry.

While she was waiting for the last load in the dryer she was checking her social media when she saw received a bunch of notifications. She had been tagged in some pictures on a gossip page, unclear pics of her leaving Bucky's building. Sheila from work asking 'is this u?'

Y/N shook her head. There were pictures of her with Bucky outside of the theatre as well. The headline speculating about the Winter Soldiers mysterious lady friend. The comments a typical mix of supportive fans and hateful creeps. She scrolled down and gasped when she saw pictures of her in her corset, looking out Bucky's apartment window. It's dark and hard to make her face out but still, she shivers. She wasn't thrilled but figured it came with dating someone famous. Or infamous really.

After 4 days without contact Y/N was feeling pretty glum again. She felt like they took 2 steps back for every one forward. Terri tried to convince her to relax and reasoned that this was part of dating an almost Avenger. Y/N just tried to keep herself busy. 2 more days was Saturday and she was home relaxing watching tmz and saw something about Captain America so she turned up the volume. She could see Bucky off to the side looking uncomfortable with a short, dark haired woman in business clothes fawning over him. She saw he looked tired and his jacket was torn up. She sighed and went to change the channel when she heard the announcer speculating "Sargent Barnes looks like he's making friends with the senators aide. She looks too short to be his mystery lady from last weekend, he must be a player" her stomach dropped and she turned the tv off. She looked at the corsage that she had hung up to dry and tried to shake off the sadness and convince herself to ignore gossip hosts and to believe that Bucky would call her soon.

@jesuisbenny

Bucky finally made it back to his apartment late Sunday night. As he unlocked the door he imagined that Y/N was still there, waiting for him, and looked around but the place was empty. He looked around again because he could smell her but she wasn't there. He went thru his room towards the bathroom but stopped by the bed and sniffed. It was like she was right there, in the middle of his bed. He pulled the sheets back and her scent almost knocked him over. He could see the spot she left, stuck his face into it and groaned before heading to take a shower, promising himself he would text her in the morning.

Chapter 7

@lokisasgardianvampirequeen

@jennyamanda8

@geeky-politics-46

@vicmc624