#I was going to tag this with “Clara what the fuck are you talking about” but I'm like 99.9% serious with this one

[aqueousablution]

He/him aroace tgirl MMZ-era Zero. You agree.

[babyonboard]

Ultraviolence | part 2

Bradley Bradshaw x F!Reader x Jake Seresin

click here to read part 1!

Summary: You and Bradley loved each other, and Jake Seresin was just your old friend from high school who you tried to pay no kind to. At least that’s how it used to be.

Word Count: 8.9k

Warnings/tags: 18+ MDNI, infidelity, Bradley sucks, angst, smut, oral, choking, Jake Seresin has a praise kink because I said so, a little redhead slander (I am so sorry if you’re ginger).

Announcement: Yes I know part one came out a year ago. Yes I know nobody cares anymore. I want to get back into writing again and this has been sitting in my drafts for so long.

It had been 2 weeks, and you hadn’t confronted Bradley. But, in terms of how he’s been treating you, it’s been paradise. Things were back to how they used to be, or at least that's how it looked on the surface. You wondered if the girl he was cheating with is still in the picture or not. You wondered about her a lot. It was really hard to not think about her. In fact, you thought about her so much that you had a clear picture of what you thought she looked like in your mind. Of course, she’s blonde. Shiny, silky, long blonde hair. She’s slightly shorter than you, with a slightly better figure. Her tits were bigger than yours, and her stomach is flatter. She had a bright white smile and a bubbly personality. 

You hated her. But you also felt sorry for her. 

Jake had been literally blowing up your phone. He called and texted you so many times. You responded at first, saying you hadn’t confronted Bradley yet, but you were going to. He asked you every day after that if you had done it yet, and you never responded. The only other text you responded to was when he said he was worried that something happened and you needed help. It was embarrassing, that’s the real reason you didn’t want to talk to him. It was embarrassing that you were prioritizing guilty attention over your own self respect. 

One day when Bradley got home from work, he was pissed. “What’s wrong, baby?” You asked from the couch as he kicked his shoes off. 

“Hangman’s just the same fucking dick he’s always been.” He mumbled.

At this point, you were all ears. “What’d he do?” You set your book down on your chest..

He shook his head. “Always in everyones fucking business.” He grumbled and went into the kitchen.

Interesting. You pulled your phone out and went to text Jake to ask him what he did, but when you opened his contact, you saw that he had texted you this morning and you didn’t see it.

Since you’re not gonna call him on it, I will.

On your day off, Bradley asked if you could bring his laptop to work because he forgot it. Of course, you eagerly got in the car and drove it to him. When you entered the office building on the base, you tried to remember your way around. And because you fucking deserve it, because of some kind of weird karma from the universe, Jake was the first person you saw.

“Hey.” He said slowly, his eyebrows furrowed. You half smiled and gave him a nod, hoping that was the end of the interaction. It wasn’t.

He came closer to you, ducking his head like he was trying to be secretive. “Can I talk to you?” He said softly. His presence made you want to break down crying in his arms. It made you resent Bradley in a way that was unlike you.

“Jake, no. Not now.” You shook your head, trying to move around him. He blocked you and you gave up all too easily. 

His hand came up to your shoulder, resting it softly on you. He towered over you, but he was still so gentle. “I’ve been trying to get a hold of you but you never answer. Me and Nat saw that girl with Bradley again, they were in his car, and we were able to find her on facebook. Her names Clara and-”

“God, you're a lifesaver.” Bradley groaned in delight, entering the lobby. Both of your heads whipped in that direction. You forced a smile and laughed, shrugging Jake’s hand off of your shoulder. As Bradley walked closer, you and Jake looked at each other. His eyes had sympathy and a little bit of anger, and yours said don’t-say-another-fucking-word. You could tell it made Bradley physically uncomfortable that you and Jake were talking to each other. Actually, the energy in that room made all three of you uncomfortable. It also made him uncomfortable that neither of you were saying anything. “Did I miss something?” 

“No! No, here you go.” You held his laptop out to him, forcing a smile. He wrapped his arm around your shoulder and kissed your forehead. You were so embarrassed you almost recoiled when he touched you. 

“I was just gonna show her where your office was. She looked lost.” Jake’s voice was noticeably different. It's almost like it went back to normal, he sounded so much softer when he talked to you.

The tension between Bradley and Jake was intense. They both had an obvious dislike for each other that was never there before.

“You wanna see my office, babe?” He looked down at you. You nodded enthusiastically. 

“See ya Hangman.” He said, pulling you away from the magnetic force of a man that is Jake Seresin. 

Back in Bradley’s office, you felt sick to your stomach. From the little information you were able to hear, he is not done with that girl. And now, you have a name to put to that stupid fucking face that you can’t stop thinking about. Leaning against Bradleys desk, you couldn’t help but stare at the picture of the two of you that sat front and center. It was from your wedding. You were both laughing, wrapped completely around each other. The happiness that you had in that picture, the happiness that was in endless supply, surrounding you every second of every day, was nowhere to be found now. You haven’t seen it for a while. 

It was different this time. When you first found out he cheated, you were sad. Cried whenever he wasn’t around, threw up, the whole nine yards. Now, just finding out that it is still going on, you were mad. So mad it was almost funny. For some strange reason, you wanted to laugh. An anger unlike anything you have ever felt in your entire life brewed in each and every cell of your body. It was white hot and it was making you sweat.

Sitting down at his desk, Bradley’s eyes were on you. “Are you okay?” His voice was worried, like he might be in trouble if you’re not. “You look sick.”

You nodded. “Yeah. I’m fine” You smiled. The familiar feeling in your stomach, the same one you got when Jake had first told you, started crawling up your throat. You were absolutely disgusted by him and it was making you sick to look at him. 

He reached out and touched your leg. “Come here.” He spoke softly.

You pushed off of the desk and away from his hand. “I have to go. I have a call- a work call- in a little bit.” You scrambled for an excuse. 

“Oh.” He said.

Backing up towards the door, he looked increasingly worried with each step you took. “Bye, see you at home.” You said, giving him no time to respond or question as you walked out. Out in the hallway, you could finally breathe. You stood still for a few moments, the cool air conditioning of the building filling your lungs as you took long, deep breaths. This time is different. He knows what he’s doing to you and he’s happily letting it happen. You were fucking done with him. Your legs started working again and you made your way down the eerily quiet hallway. That place feels like a museum, everything looks clean and untouched. 

As you were inspecting the cleanliness while you walked, you stopped in your tracks when you read “Lt. Jacob ‘Hangman’ Seresin”. This was his office. You looked around the hallway, saw nobody, then knocked lightly. “Come in.” You heard his muffled voice say on the other side. The door clicked as you opened it, peaking your head inside like you thought you would be bothering him if you came in. He was standing behind his desk with papers in his hands. When he saw you, his posture and his eyes softened. He dropped the papers onto his desk.

“Hey.” You said, still not fully stepping into the room. 

“Come sit.” He said. You shut the door behind you and you were finally able to let your guard down. You took a shaky breath and walked over to his desk. Not wanting to intrude, not wanting to make yourself at home, you stayed standing. 

You cleared your throat. More than anything, you wanted answers. “Can I see a picture of her?” 

He started walking around to meet you on the other side of his desk. His desk was much more neat than Bradley’s. Bradley’s was littered with pictures and trinkets and notes. Jake had a couple of awards on display off to the side, and that was mostly it. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Jake. Please.” You pleaded, trying to be as stern as you could even though your voice shook.

He looked down to the ground. Without a word, he pulled his phone out of his back pocket. It was silent as he typed a few words and your stomach started to twist again. 

He cleared his throat. “Here.” He had her facebook page pulled up.

To your surprise, she was not blonde. Well at least not all the way. She had strawberry blonde hair and dark eyes. And of fucking course, she had dimples. But the biggest thing that stood out was how young she looked. With a second more of scrolling, you saw “UCLA class of 21” in her bio. “Class of 21?” You gasped. You and Bradley were both 30. She was 22 at most. That pissed you off even more, you felt like you couldn’t even see straight. 

Jake grabbed the phone out of your hands. “That’s enough.” He said, putting it back in his pocket. You saw her full name, it’s burned into the back of your eyelids, you could look her up later. 

It was quiet again. Jake didn’t know what to say. He had a million things he wanted to say, but none of them were a good idea right now. 

“I’m sorry you got dragged into this.” You admitted shamefully.

“Y/N.” He sighed “Don’t say you’re sorry, none of this is your fault.”

Looking down at the ground, you were unable to meet his eyes. “I don’t know. She’s so pretty and she-”

“Hey.” His voice was stern, it made you flinch. His hand came up to your chin and lifted your head to look at him. “This was not about you. This is about Bradley being selfish. You are prettier than her. You understand me?” His hand was still gripping your chin. You nodded, eyes locked in his. “You are so god damn beautiful, and Bradley is fucking crazy for not giving you the world.” His grip got softer as he spoke that sentence, but he didn’t move his hand. “Got it?” He asked.

“Yes.” You agree softly. He was breathing hard and his jaw clenched like he was mad. Not that you would ever admit it, but it was sexy. Your knees started to feel weak. Jake has an effect on you that Bradley never did. Right now, it felt like Jake knew that. That he knew he had some otherworldly effect on you and your knees were getting weaker by the millisecond. 

“You promise?” He spoke, almost in a whisper. You realized he had dipped his head down at some point, and you tilted yours up. 

“Yes, Jake.” You whispered back. You could feel his breath on your lips, making your eyes flicker down at his. Now you couldn’t look up. 

Within seconds, everything that Bradley had done to you flashed through your mind in a blur. The most prominent image was him with that 22 year old fucking ginger underneath him. It only made sense to tip your head up further to kiss Jake. 

When Jake first found out about the other woman, he knew this day would come, and he swore he wouldn’t take it too far when it did. But right now, now that your warm lips were touching his and he could taste the toothpaste on your tongue and it felt like his whole body was completely lit up, he didn’t know if he could stop himself.

It felt good in so many different ways. It felt good, like a sort of revenge against Bradley. It felt good to be kissed by someone who actually wanted you. And it felt so good because it was Jake. 

His hand on your jaw threaded back through your hair, his other pulled you fully against him. He kissed you eagerly, like he couldn’t get enough. Your heart was pounding so hard that it felt like it was about to explode out of your chest, like your whole body was struck by lightning and each one of your nerve endings was on fire. It was feverish and nerve wracking and wrong but so fucking right. He backed you up until the back of your thighs hit the edge of his desk, making the desk shift slightly on the floor. Both of his large hands cupped your face, his fingers reaching to the back of your neck. 

His hips pushed yours back even further; he wanted you on his desk. Of course, you complied. His big, shiny desk creaked as you adjusted yourself on it and opened your legs to let him stand in between them. Your shorts rode up your thighs and his hands were on that exposed skin immediately. The only sound in the room was both of your heavy breathing. Your tongue swiped along his bottom lip, which he took as a green light to stick his tongue in your mouth. This was the most exhilarated you had felt in years. It was different from the many make out sessions you had with Bradley throughout your life, it was so much more intense. There was so much more meaning behind it, so much fire. 

It’s obvious to anyone with a brain that Jake is rough in nature, especially in bed. Oddly enough, he was taking it easy on you thus far. That is until you felt his fingers graze against your neck, seemingly testing the waters. You tried to kiss him harder, tried to say yes without actually saying it. He must’ve got the message, his huge hand covered your throat, his fingers wrapping around it. It wasn’t choking as much as it was holding you in place. His teeth pulling your lip made a short whine come from the back of your throat, completely unintentionally. This made him rip his lips away from yours, his hand still holding your throat. 

He held your face an inch away from his. “Did you lock the door?” He sounded so different, his voice was so much deeper, so much darker than normal.

You managed to shake your head within his grasp. The door isn’t locked, there is no way you could have predicted this was going to happen when you walked in 10 minutes ago. It was logical to assume he was going to go lock it, your husband was literally two doors away. Jake Seresin is anything but logical, you should know this by now. He kissed you again, so much dirtier this time. Wasting zero time, his hands were back on your thighs. Unexpectedly, your legs were lifted off the desk and pulled forward, leaving you laying on the desk. Jake pulling your shorts and underwear down your legs, kneeling as he did so, was a sight to fucking behold. 

A loud sigh left his mouth as he set his gaze on your pussy. It was nothing short of heavenly, celestial even. For the last 8 years, you were forbidden fruit, and now he’s on his knees right in front of you, ready to taste you, ready to sin. 

Stopping didn’t cross your mind once. Actually the only thing on your mind the whole time was more. It wasn’t even revenge at this point, it was desire in its purest form. Papers on his desk shifted under your hair, a few of them slipping onto the floor, not that you noticed. 

Slowly, almost experimentally, he runs a single finger through your slit. It struck you that it was gonna be really hard to stay quiet. “You this wet for me?” He faked flattery, pulling his finger away. 

“Jake, please.” You whined. Trying to get him to do something, you lifted your legs up so your calves rested on your shoulders. 

“I wanna take my time with you.” He pressed a kiss to your clit, the light touch sending jolts throughout your whole body. “Give you what you deserve.”

Apparently, ‘taking his time with you’ meant diving into you and going absolutely feral. It was feverish, the way he licked and sucked you was so greedy. There was no time for you to feel bad about squeezing his head between your thighs, but you suspected he liked it anyway. He does. His nails dug into your thighs so he could hold onto you for leverage. There was no way of telling if he was sucking or biting your clit, but whatever it was, it made your vision blurry and your thoughts completely disappear. It was necessary for one of your hands to cover your mouth or else this whole office would know how good Jake is. 

All this time, his cockiness was not for nothing. You understood why he had girls obsessed and delusional, you would do the same for this treatment. Maybe he’s had a lot of practice, but there is no way he is this fierce with every other girl. He was making you feel like you were the only girl in the world, like your head was spinning. He didn’t use his fingers, he really didn’t need to, his mouth already had you fighting to not cum so quickly. Ever intuitive, the only time he broke away from you was to say “Give it to me” against you. His deep voice sent vibrations through your core to your fingertips. The bright fluorescent light above you seemed to expand as your vision went white. The air left your lungs, your head spun, every muscle in your body tensed. His tongue worked you through your orgasm perfectly, and he let you grind against him as you hit your peak. “Good fucking girl.” He moaned against you.

Once he was positive you were done, he reluctantly pulled away. If he had it his way, he would keep you just like this all day. You couldn’t sit up yet, all you could do was lay there and catch your breath. 

Jake knew this was bad. Not because you were his best friend's wife, but because now he had a taste and he knows he won’t be able to stop any time soon. He picked your underwear up off of the floor and gently slid them onto your shaky legs. You let him dress you again, eyes still closed. When he was done, you sat up and the look he gave you was nothing short of sinister. 

He leaned his hands on the desk on either side of you, looking at you like he wanted you to say something. You brought your hands up to either side of his face and kissed him in response, words could not do what he just did to you justice. This kiss was much slower than the rest, he let you taste yourself on his lips. 

Two voices talking in the hallway passed his door, making the two of you jump apart. The voices faded down the hallway, leaving the two of you tensed. For a second, the only thing either of you could do was look at each other. Every emotion possible coursed through your body, and you didn’t know whether to smile or cry or laugh or kiss him again. 

“Jesus, Y/N.” He finally spoke, stunned and shakily. “I didn’t think that was actually ever gonna happen.”

That made you smile. He had thought about it before, which came as no surprise. The cold air of the office washed over you, bringing you back into reality. “You are…” Words failed you, nothing could describe how you felt. “So good.”

Of course, his cocky smile made an appearance. You could no longer judge him for it, he has every right in the world to be cocky. “You better leave before your husband sees you here.” He backed up to let you get off his desk. 

“Yeah.” You agreed begrudgingly, looking down at the ground. You got a sight of your legs, your thighs were glistening and there were nail marks in them. 

As you stepped away from him, he grabbed your arm. “This isn’t a one time thing. At least not for me.” He spoke inches from your ear. “And lock the door next time.”

You swallowed. “Okay.” 

Back at home, you had 2 hours before Bradley got back. You had done your mourning of the relationship, you had spent your time wishing Bradley was different for weeks. Wishing he was sorry. But he’s not. And he’s never going to be. You could continue to be sad, continue to be a victim, continue to cry every day. But there were some other options.

A quick google search of the name that was burned into the back of your eyelids; Clara Bitner, you found her facebook. There was a time where you felt sorry for her. Bradley had obviously lied to her and she got caught up in something she didn’t even understand, so she was probably hurt too. But now that you know she has chosen to continue seeing your husband when she knows he’s married, you hate her. It’s so unfortunate that she was pretty. It would help if you could look at her pictures and say she was ugly, but that wasn’t an option. She had long strawberry blonde hair with deep brown eyes and classic southern charm. She was from Tennessee, but she went to UCLA, and now she’s a kindergarten teacher. “Of fucking course.” You scoffed at her occupation. Is there anything bad about this girl? She had a lot of friends and she lived in a beach condo maybe 20 minutes from here. You had been scrolling for a while, and a certain picture made you stop in your fucking tracks. It was a picture from her 22nd birthday dinner, all of her friends sitting around the table smiling, and there was Bradley. He was sitting next to her with his hand resting on her leg, with a huge fucking smile on his face. It was posted 4 months ago. If he was important to her enough to go to her birthday dinner four months ago, you didn’t want to know how long they had been seeing each other. 

How did he have time for this? This wasn’t a hook up, it wasn’t an affair, it was a second life. You began to think about all of the flight tours, weekend trips, and week long missions he had gone on in the past year. How many of those were lies?

Your marriage is completely ruined, 100% done. You could mope about it. Or you could keep having fun of your own.

By the time you heard the garage door opening, you were in the kitchen making dinner. You played the song “Jolene” by Dolly Parton because it was ironic and weirdly specific to your life right now. And it was just plain funny. 

 The front door opened and you turned the volume up. “Hey baby!” He shouted from the front of the house.

“Hi!” You said. Acting normal was going to be harder than you thought. You heard him playing with the dogs for a moment, baby talking and petting them. 

His footsteps approached the kitchen and you took a deep breath. “God, you look sexy.” He said.

You were wearing shorts and a t-shirt and no makeup. You brushed off his comment as guilty flattery.

He came up and you had to brace yourself. He wrapped his arms around your waist and kissed the side of your neck. It made you fucking sick. 

Not replying, you started humming along to the music. He swayed with you for a moment so you started singing.

You’re beauty is beyond compare,

With flaming locks of auburn hair,

Ivory skin, and eyes of emerald green.

“I love this song.” You stated. 

“Mhm. Dolly’s the best.” He unwrapped his arms from you.

Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene

I'm begging of you please don't take my man.

He side eyed you and you stared right back at him. Yet, in perfect Bradley nature, he played it cool, walking to the other side of the counter.

“Poor Dolly.” You sighed. “Especially since that bitch Jolene is ginger. That just plain sucks, getting cheated on with a red head.” Trying to focus on the pot you were stirring, you couldn’t help but look up at him. His tongue was in his cheek and he had a terrified glint in his eyes.

“What?” You asked innocently.

“Nothin’.” He shook his head and walked away. 

This was kinda fun.

“You have any plans tonight?” You asked Bradley over dinner. It was a Friday, so you figured he was going somewhere, be it with Clara or not.

“Eh, Jake and Javy wanna go watch the game at a bar, I’ll probably go.” He said. “D’ you?”

That was probably a lie. “I think Jenna wants me to come meet her baby, so I’ll probably go over there. Plus she said she needs a wine night.” Jenna was your coworker, and she hasn’t even had her baby yet. It was so empowering to lie back.

While Bradley did the dishes, you got out your phone to clear some things up.

Are you hanging out with Bradley tonight?

“What time do you think you’re gonna go?” You asked from the table. His eyes were on the dishes and it was incredible how he lied so often without flinching while it made your adrenaline rush and your heart pound. 

“7:30, 8?” He said. 

No? Is he saying I am?

The feeling you got was the perfect definition of disappointed but not surprised. It’s a confirmed lie now. “Okay, that’s probably what time I’ll leave too.”

Yes. He’s leaving at 8. Can I come over then?

Of course.

Were you doing this purely to get back at Bradley? No, not entirely. That was a huge driving factor in your actual actions towards Jake, but you’ve always wanted to, so part of it is something you’ve always wanted. 

Not long after dinner was cleaned up, Bradley was kissing your forehead and heading out the door. You watched out the window as his car pulled out of the driveway, and once it disappeared down the street, you rushed up to your room. There was a lacy black bra and thong set you had just bought waiting for you in your closet. Once you pulled it on, you admired yourself in the mirror. If Bradley won’t appreciate it, Jake sure will. You exchanged your t-shirt for a sweatshirt, you didn’t want to look like you were trying. Obviously, you were. 

After spraying yourself with perfume and taking too long to decide what scent of lotion you wanted to use, you nearly ran down stairs and slipped your shoes on. A quick goodbye to the dogs and you were out the door. It seemed that every time you drove to Jake’s you were rushing. While you were driving you thought about what you were going to do when you got there, fully intending to be bold and get straight to it. The fluttering nervousness in your stomach made you feel like you were a teenager again, you hadn’t been nervous to see a boy in years. When you pulled in the driveway, the boldness started to fade out, and you almost felt shy. There was a split second where you felt guilty, your conscience waved a huge red flag and your brain told you this was wrong. One thought about where Bradley actually was right now, and you swung the car door open and got out. The thought that Bradley probably just got to Clara’s fueled your steps, and by the time you made it to the front door, you were seething. Hopefully Bradley has fun tonight, because you sure will.

Despite the vengeance coursing through your body, you knocked lightly on the door. All too quickly, the lock clicked and the door opened. “Hey, Y/N.” Jake said casually, like you weren’t his best friend's wife. He was freshly showered, his hair was still a little damp. He wore gray sweatpants and a white shirt that was entirely too tight around his biceps. 

“Hi.” You said simply. He stepped back, allowing you to come in. It was quiet, and when he turned around to face you, there was an unmistakable anticipation present. It made a shiver run up your spine and goosebumps breakout on your arms. He nodded his head as a way to say ‘follow me’, and started leading you through the house. Silence still hung in the air. It felt like a volcano waiting to explode, like the calm before a storm. 

You made it to his room, and your heartbeat started to speed up. It was getting real now. You had never seen his room before, but it’s just as nice as you expected. Jake has expensive taste, and his whole house reflects that. His bed was lazily made, but the rest of the room was spotless. 

He reached his bed and sat down on the end of it. The way his hooded eyelids cast a shadow over his eyes made you notice how dark the lighting was in there. Unsure of what to do, you just stood and looked at him. He led you here without a word, he should know what to do now. 

“Come here.” He said darkly, the voice you heard in his office earlier that day made a return. He spread his legs open so you could stand between them, a complete contrast to what happened on his desk. You still hadn’t said a word since you walked in the house, but you didn’t need to, your body said it all. The back of your thighs fit perfectly in his hands, and his shoulders fit perfectly in yours. His huge warm hands on the back of your legs made you want to melt into the floor. “Do you want this?” He asked, looking up at you. 

Bradleys face flashed in your mind. So did Clara’s. You nodded.

“Say it.” His grip tightened on your thighs. 

“I want it.”

“You want what?” He was really making you work for it, apparently.

You went to say it, but you hesitated. It sounded worse out loud. “I want you to fuck me.”

You swear his eyes changed in that instant. He let go of your thighs and pushed you back lightly, confusing you for a moment. “Strip.” He said. Heart in your throat, your jaw could’ve dropped to the floor. This was a lot. But you liked it. 

Taking a deep breath, you started by kicking your shoes off. It only felt right to tease him, so you toyed with the rim of your sweatshirt for a moment. You slowly lifted it over your head, taking your sweet time. When you finally got it off, you heard him exhale. You secretly thanked yourself for wearing such a nice bra. The dim lighting made his face darker, but you could still see the pure lust in his eyes. Next, you hooked your finger in your shorts and pulled them down, revealing the underwear you picked out just for him. Once you kicked your shorts off of your feet, you reached your hand behind your back to unclip your bra.

“Leave it.” He said. You dropped your hands and let him look at you. He reached his hand out to you, making you step forward and grab it. As he was pulling you towards him, his eyes moved all over your body. “You pick these out for me or for him?” 

Your face grew hot. “You.” You replied softly, your hand still in his. He used his grip on your hand to pull you down to kiss him. It was searing, and for a second, both of you reveled in the feeling. Without him having to ask, you climbed on top of him, stradling your legs on either side of him. When your core felt how hard he was under his sweatpants, it made your whole body twitch. If that’s what simply feeling him through his clothes felt like, you had no idea what was going to happen when he actually fucked you. He must have felt it too, his hands gripped your ass and pulled you closer to him. 

Things were moving quickly, but it was still entirely too slow. He flipped you over onto your back and sat up to take his shirt off. This was by far not the first time you had seen Jake with his shirt off, but by god, it was the best. Maybe he was flexing, but you didn't care. He was sculpted like an angel, like there wasn’t a single flaw about his body. His hair got messed up when his shirt was pulled over it, it ruffled the top. It only made him look hotter. It was hard to not notice his dick through his gray sweatpants, and simply the size of his bulge made you nervous. When he bent back down to meet your lips, you kissed him in a rushed manner. It was beyond the point of wanting him, you needed him. “You want my mouth again?” He asked against your lips.

The thought made your eyes roll back in your head. Yes, you undoubtedly wanted his mouth, but you needed him inside you more. You hooked your fingers in his waistband and shook your head. He got the message, but that didn’t mean he was going to give you what you wanted right away. He used both of his hands to pull your underwear down. “Slutty fuckin’ panties.” He mumbled. Your lips met again and it felt like you couldn’t spread your legs any wider for him. Without warning, without a single preliminary touch, he stuck two of his fingers inside of you. This earned a theatrical reaction from you, like it was the first time someone has touched you that way. While it wasn’t the first time by a long shot, it somehow felt like it was, you had never been touched like this. 

“Jake” Was the only thing you could get out of your mouth as he pumped his fingers in and out of you. When you tilted your head back to moan, he took the opportunity to kiss your neck. He felt like he wanted to moan more than you did. His mouth sloppily worked its way down your neck and onto your chest. It would have been smart to ask him not to leave any marks on you, but you didn’t care one bit anymore. Not while his teeth were pulling your bra down. He sucked one of your nipples into your mouth, his fingers were still moving in and out of you. 

“You’re so perfect” He mumbled against your chest. You had never felt a complement that sounded so sincere, just the sound of him saying that made you feel perfect. Under his touch, under his body, under his lips, you were perfect. His fingers curled inside you and your back couldn’t arch any higher, your whimpers couldn’t get any more desperate. He used his arm next to your head to sit up, looking you up and down. His eyes roaming your body didn’t make you insecure or shy, they just riled you up even more. 

His fingers were amazing, but they could only do so much. You both knew what you really wanted. “Please Jake. Please fuck me.” You cried. With one last particularly harsh curl of his fingers, he pulled his fingers out of you. He brought his fingers up to your lips, only having to brush your wetness onto your lips for a second before you sucked them into your mouth without thinking. A low groan came from the back of his throat when you gagged on his fingers, licking your own slick off of him. 

He let his fingers stay in your mouth for longer than they needed to be, purely for the way you looked while taking them. Your eyes bore into his the whole time, and you thought that if he was going to humor himself with this for any longer, you were going to take matters into your own hands. The tips of your nails dragged down his chest, over his stomach, and to the waist of his sweatpants. Teasing was an option, but you couldn’t anymore, your hands gripped his sweats as you pulled them down. While doing so, a realization crossed your mind; he isn’t wearing any underwear. That’s Jake, ever classy. 

He enjoyed letting you do the work, so he leaned down to taste your wetness on your lips. His tongue licked into your mouth, trying to collect anything that was left; the taste of you was addicting, he had gotten a taste in his office earlier, and he knew he was already addicted. You didn’t see his dick right away, but you felt it when you wrapped your hand around it. When you realized how thick he was, your heart fluttered. He was thicker than anything you had ever taken, thicker than your husband. A moan slipped from your mouth into his, and that was his tipping point. Before you could make any further moves, both of your hands were pinned above your head with only one of his. He used the other to pull his sweatpants down further, then line himself up with you. The sound of his breathing was loud as he slid his tip up and down your slit, making you squirm. “God,” he shook his head, his eyes glued to your pussy “you are so fucking wet.”

“Because I’m with you.” You said. It sounded like a simple observation to you, but to Jake it meant that you wanted him, you have always wanted him, the way that he has always wanted you. It meant that you were this wet every time you were around him, the way that he was rock solid every time he was around you. That thought was his breaking point, there was no teasing left that he could do, he slid himself inside of you. You knew that he would stretch you, but the feeling still surprised you. 

“Oh my god.” You whined as he bottomed out. He stopped all of the way inside of you, partially to let you adjust, and partially to revel in the feeling of being inside you. Everything was hazy, his vision, his mind, but he still was able to think about how long he had wanted this. Just the thought of seeing you with Bradley at the bars every weekend, and the fact that you were now underneath him, was enough to make him want to cum. Sweat started to bead on his forehead, and he decided to wait a little longer to start moving, his hand came up to hold your jaw, making you look at him. “You’re so big.” You croaked under his touch. 

His lips were an inch from yours, you could feel his breath. “Take it.” He spat. With that, he started to move. Even with your head against his pillows, you felt lightheaded and your eyes fluttered closed as he pulled all of the way out and went slowly back in. From there, he was no longer slow. It only took seconds for his pace to quicken, until his skin was slapping into yours and the sound was infiltrating your ears. The stretch definitely hurt, but the pain was mixed with the most mouthwatering pleasure. Without even trying, he was hitting the perfect spot deep inside you, and soon the sound of skin slapping was overtaken by your high pitched moans. Without realizing it, he screwed his eyes shut and clenched his jaw, making this last as long as he wanted was going to be a lot harder than normal. You felt his lips against your neck and with his face closer to your ears, you could hear his grunts every time he thrust inside of you. 

His hand was still on your jaw, and even though your wrists had been freed above your head, you hadn’t even noticed. His other hand grabbed onto your hair for leverage. It seemed like his thrusts got harder each time he entered you. “Talk to me, pretty girl. Tell me how you feel.” His tongue swirled behind your ear. 

“So good.” You choked out. “You’re so good, Jake. So, so, so good.” Rambles fell out of your mouth as your arms wrapped around his back. The feeling of nails scratching down his back was one of Jake’s favorite things in the world, so when your long nails stroked all the way from his shoulders to his tailbone, he threw his head back. He sat up so his face was above you again, and slid his hand from your jaw to your neck.

Your eyes found his, and the sight of his tanned, sweaty, toned body above yours made you throb around him. His pace was insane, the pain of him slamming into you was drowned out by the tip of his dick hitting your g-spot with every single thrust. The sight of him, the power behind his thrusts, his size, it was all too much. The tears that had been stinging your eyes for the past 5 minutes started to fall. The throbbing of your pussy and the tightening of your stomach told you that you were close. “J-Jake…” You stuttered. “I’m… I…”

“Beg.” He squeezed your throat. 

“P-Please.” You said the word that you felt like you had already said 50 times tonight. “Please, I’ve waited so long. Please, please, please please please” You rambled, more tears falling. 

“Fuuuck, give it to me.” He groaned and dropped his head, the sight of your doe eyes and tears were going to make him cum himself if he didn’t look away. It didn’t take long after his demand for you to let the wave of pleasure consume you. Mouth falling open, your whole body pulsed and your mind went completely blank. More tears welled in your eyes and the only sensation your body could make out was the feeling of his lips on your jaw. It lasted long and it was powerful, and when you were finally coherent again, there was a noticeable wet spot underneath you. “Good job, sweet girl.” He praised, his sweetness making your stomach flutter. 

Coming back up to hover over you, he kissed you. Believe it or not, Jake is not a complete and total dick, despite popular belief. He had told himself he would not ask you this question, that it would be crossing a line and it could upset you. But, when he pulled away and he saw how fucked-out you looked, and the feeling of your pussy clenching around him clouded his mind, he couldn’t help himself. “Does he fuck you like this?” He asked darkly, his face close to yours.

There was a clear answer. It was staring you right in the face. But saying it out loud just felt wrong. Even more wrong than what you were already doing. “Jake…” You breathed as a surrender. 

“Tell me.” He said. Your mouth opened to answer, then closed again. He raised his eyebrows, his cockiness reflecting in his eyes. To his defense, he had absolutely every right to be cocky about this. You shook your head. “No. Say it.” He said through gritted teeth. 

“No. No he doesn’t.” It came out as almost a laugh. “Nobody ever has.”

“Yeah?” His arms flexed underneath your fingernails that were digging into them. You nodded. 

His energy had an obvious change, the admission had done something sinister to him. He sat fully up and pulled out, earning a loud wince from you. All at once, he grabbed your waist and flipped you over onto your stomach. With one hand, he reached under your stomach to pull you onto your hands and knees. Only having been out of you for seconds, he slammed himself back in. You were already sore, and he wasn’t even done yet. 

Now that your big, tear-filled eyes weren’t staring into his, he was able to start really talking. “Y/N,” one of his huge hands gripped your ass, the other held onto your waist. “I don’t even want to tell you how many times I’ve thought about this.” The only response he got from you was a high pitched whine. “I felt disgusting for thinking about you like that, but I couldn’t help it. It drove me fucking crazy, having to imagine taking you like this every night, my best friends wife.” That probably wasn’t the best thing for him to say right now, but he couldn’t control the words coming out of his mouth anymore. Unbeknownst to him, it just turned you on even more. His thrusts started to lose rhythm, and as much as he would like to keep this going all night, he was coming unraveled. “I always knew I would take better care of you.” He spoke through gritted teeth. “I knew he couldn’t fuck you the way I could. The way you deserve.” 

It felt almost like you were going in and out of consciousness, like you could barely even process his words. Without warning to him or yourself, you pulsed around him and another orgasm poured over your body. No words came from your mouth, and by the end of the second-most powerful orgasm of your life, your body was nearly limp and your face fell to press against the mattress. “Jesus, baby.” Jake breathed. “You just… so much… fuck, where do you want my cum?” he asked, almost rhetorically because of how little time you had to answer. He pulled out at the exact last moment, and you felt his warm cum start to run down your back. He collapsed, trapping your body underneath him as his armed caged around your sides. 

Time felt different, and your hazy mind didn’t know how long the two of you laid there, breathless. Finally, gaining full consciousness, you felt Jake get off of you and walk out of the room. You were smart enough not to turn over, his bedsheets were already wet enough. The feeling of a cold wet towel against your core made your whole body jolt. “Relax, relax.” Jake said, his voice completely different than just a few minutes ago. As he gently wiped your back with the towel, his other hand came to brush hair out of your face, noticing your completely blank expression. “Are you okay?” He asked.

A smile cracked through your lips. You could say the smile was sinister, a I-just-fucked-my-husbands-best-friend smile, or you could say it was pure bliss, a I-just-had-the-best-sex-of-my-life smile. You preferred the latter. “Yeah.” You giggled “You could say that.”

His shoulders relaxed, and a very similar smile spread across his face. While he was putting his sweatpants back on, you glanced at his alarm clock. Nine o clock, it had only been an hour since you left your house. You sunk into the bed with the realization that you had all of the time in the world. Unintentionally, the math of where Bradley is calculated itself in your head. Clara lives further north, on the coast, about 25 minutes from here. Bradley has just gotten started there. 

When Jake climbed in bed next to you, the thought of cuddling made a chill crawl up your spine. For some reason, that felt like crossing a line. It felt more intimate than anything else that had happened in this bed tonight. But, Jake didn’t seem to think twice about it. When his strong arms wrapped around you, and you pressed your cheek against his warm chest, all of your inhibitions melted away. His hand rubbed up and down your back, and your eyes fluttered closed. The feeling of your eyelashes closing against his chest made Jake’s heart swell. Fuck.

-

When you walked up the stairs to your bedroom, the house felt eerily silent. It was unsettling. The stairs didn’t even creek as you walked up them, and your dogs were nowhere to be seen. You started to move quicker towards your bedroom, and you flipped the light on right away when you opened the door.

The sight of strawberry blonde hair splayed across your pillow reflected the overhead light. Your mouth fell open, and you tried to talk, but nothing would come out. Furthermore, you tried to yell, but it felt like you couldn’t even get a breath in to do so. You couldn’t even move your feet. 

Clara’s eyes opened, and she didn’t look shocked to see you. She sat up and met your eyes. A smile spread across her lips. 

Your whole body flinched and your eyes shot open. When you realized you were laying in Jake's bed, you were finally able to take a breath in. The realization made you relax into his arms for a moment, closing your eyes again. When the clouds in your mind started to clear, and you finally had a coherent thought, you realized that you were just asleep. In Jake’s bed. Your eyes shot open again, and your head whipped around to look at his alarm clock. It was 12:30. “Shit.” You gasped. Moving on pure instinct, you rolled out of his bed and started to gather your clothes. By the time your shorts were on, Jake woke up. 

“What’s wrong?” He groggily spoke. 

“We fell asleep. It’s 12:30.” You pulled your sweatshirt over your head. “I have to go home.”

“Oh.” He said. He was obviously not as freaked out as you were, but he wasn’t the one going home to his spouse. The room was quiet while you put your shoes on, and in the darkness you were able to make out Jake’s figure standing up and rubbing his eyes. 

“I’m sorry.” You turned your head to say as you walked out of his room. Fully intending to book it to your car, your rushed movements were stopped by Jake grabbing your wrist right before you reached the front door. He pulled you to his chest and kissed you. His lips were soft, and his hands held your hips gently. Only letting the kiss last a few seconds, you pulled away. You could feel your heartbeat in your ears and you wondered if Bradley had tried calling you, if he was worried about you. Just past his shoulder, you saw Jake's couch, the one you were sitting on when he had originally told you about Bradley’s affair. Just the sight made your blood start to boil. 

You kissed him again. “Goodnight Jake.”

“Goodnight.” His hands left your hips and one last glance was shared between the two of you before you were out the front door. No promises of this happening again, no ‘text me when you get home’, just a pit in both of your stomachs that said this was wrong, but there is no way we are stopping. The air was chilly as you walked to your car and you didn’t have it in yourself to speed home this time. You didn’t care. Driving slowly, you let the radio play softly in the background and when you turned the corner to your street and saw Bradley’s car in the driveway, you hardly reacted. The lights were still on, and with a glance at your phone let you know that he still hadn’t texted or called. 

It was 12:45 and Bradley was on the couch watching TV. Not unusual, but you were still quiet when you walked in. “How’s Jenna?” He didn’t take his eyes away from the TV.

“Good.” You kicked off your shoes. “Her baby is so cute.” While you hoped the questions would stop there, you knew it would be suspicious to just go upstairs right away. How does Bradley do this every day?

He lifted the blanket he was using up so you could crawl under it. His warm skin felt safe and familiar. As usual, his hand fell to your hair to pet it. Closing your eyes, you could already feel the guilt seeping through your skin and crawling up to form a lump in your throat. “How was the game?” You faked curiosity. 

“Mm.” He grumbled. “Philly lost. Per usual.”

You began to wonder if he actually watched it. “How’s Jake?” 

His chest rose under your cheek as he took a breath in. “Good, I think. Same old same old.”

“Mhm.” You agreed. Fucking liar.

An overwhelming feeling of disgust overtook you. He was lying, but so were you. You were just as bad as him. You thought back to the early days of your relationship, when you said you would do anything for each other, you would never leave each other, that you loved each other more than anything in the world. What happened? Where did you go wrong?

Tears stung your eyes and nausea crept up your throat. "I'm gonna go to bed." You sprung off the couch and booked it towards the stairs.

Bradley didn't flinch. "Goodnight." He spoke, eyes glued to the TV "I love you."

You glanced back at him, and maybe if he was looking at you he would see the disturbance of disgust and infidelity on your face. Regardless, you said nothing in response and walked up the stairs silently.

[terry-perry]

if your still taking requests for the Alastor x carmine!reader how about this scenario for a one shot….

Carla and odette decide to take their sister to the club in hopes to cheer her up. And she runs into Vox who finds Carmine!reader attractive & flirts with her. Unknowingly to her, Alastor was at the club with Charlie and the others and sees.

~ em

Minding One's Business pt. 2

Previous Part: HERE

Tags: @mysterypotatoink @martinys-world @lonelysimp18 @readergirlstuff @lokis-imaginary-friend @amyking300 @for-hearthand-home @wonderlandfandomkingdom @purple-umbrella-girl @saccharine-nectarine @monomas-girl @ohmylovewhereartthou-blog @junieshohoho @yourmom132 @thebreadisthetruevillian @diffidentphantom @4lastrolynii @yui-onnero @shinji-lover @night-lol @yourdoorisunlocked @alastorsgirl69

The group peered over to the bar where Alastor sat alone. The space around him was clear as everyone at Consent chose to stay away from him, especially since he oozed more malevolence than usual.

"Boy, he's really taking this breakup hard," Angel noted.

It had been his idea for them to go to the club to help Alastor move on from Y/N. It wasn't exactly his scene and he was close to declining the invitation, but Charlie insisted and offered free drinks for the night.

Things were okay, at first, when they got there. Alastor kept to himself but interacted with everyone politely. Then he had said he was off to refill his glass of whiskey, but that was 20 minutes ago. Cut to him seated where he was at that moment.

"Well, this isn't exactly his scene Angel," Vaggie said, eyeing a nearby couple making out heavily while stumbling over to the nearest Sex Room. "I don't know why you insisted on bringing him to this place."

"What? Would you rather he spend his time moping around the hotel? At least, this way, he might find some good strange that can make him forget about Y/N."

"Humph," Husk uttered. "Might be easier said than done since no one is even brave enough to sit next to him."

Everyone turned back to the bar to watch Alastor demonstrate this by snarling at a random patron who oozed over to the seat next to him before realizing who he was and scurrying off like a chastised dog.

"He likes to play hard to get," Angel shrugged, downing another shot. "Worked on Y/N, didn't it?"

Charlie sighed, her eyes still on Alastor and noticing how forlorn he suddenly looked. "It was a nice idea, Angel, but I don't think he wants to forget about her."

"That's good!" Niffty chirped, suddenly popping up amongst the group to point to something across from them. "'Cause she's over there!"

"Wait, what?!" Vaggie exclaimed.

Everyone's eyes followed where Niffty was directing them and, sure enough, they found Y/N seated at a table alone with a drink, observing the crowd before her and looking lost in thought.

"Fuck! This isn't good." Vaggie said, her eyes darting back and forth to the bar and where Y/N was.

"Why? This could be better than my idea." Angel pointed out. "They see each other, talk, work things out, then they can continue making up in one of these rooms!"

"It's not that simple," Charlie said. "We might know Alastor could've developed strong feelings for Y/N, but she still sees him as the asshole who used her and lied to her. Everything is still fresh."

She looked back at Alastor whose back was still turned which thankfully meant he was none the wiser about his ex being there. "We don't want to risk drama brewing while they're still vulnerable. I'll go ahead and do my best to be there for him. You guys keep an eye on Y/N. Alert me about anything that might trigger any drama."

You continued to watch your sisters with a couple guys around them. You smiled and waved at one of them then shook your head when they motioned for you to join them on the dancefloor. You remained seated as you took another sip of your cocktail.

It was sweet of Clara and Odette to take you out, and the club was a nice change of scenery from Zestial's manor, but you just weren't feeling it. You'd rather stand by and play designated driver/bodyguard for your sisters. The last thing you wanted was for them to get mixed up with the wrong guy who says the right things.

You don't know why you still felt the way you did. You don't know why you still missed him, especially after realizing he was using you the whole time. You were angry, of course, and even made plans in your head to chop his head off, mount it on the wall, and feed the rest of his body to Hell hounds. You weren't just mad about him and your mother, however. You were also pretty heartbroken since all the times they were there for you were all a facade.

Looking back on your relationship, you wondered what was genuine and what was an act. Were the intimate details he shared with you real, or the love declarations he'd send through his broadcasts? Did every kiss and touch actually make him cringe? Did he only power through because you were promised by your mother to him?

"Well, fancy seeing you here,"

Your thoughts were interrupted by a not-so-pleasant and familiar voice. You turned your attention away from the dancefloor to see the seat across from you was now occupied. You did your best to hide your disgust at Vox's smarmy grin.

"Vox," you greeted him stoically with a curt nod before going back to looking at the dancing crowd, hoping he'd get the hint that you were in no mood to talk.

"I couldn't help but notice you from across the room," he claimed, taking your face in his hand so you'd be forced to look at him. "I gotta say the breakup agrees with you. I've never seen you look so ravishing."

You grimaced as you pulled his hand off you. "Thanks."

"My colleagues and I are seated in the VIP section if you care to join us. Drinks are on me, of course."

"Oh, are you sure you want to spend time with one of Carmine's brats?" You retorted, referring to the time he deemed you as such after the last Overlord meeting. Was every demon you knew so two-faced?

"Forgive me for being so rude before," Vox said, stretching out an apologetic smile. "If we're being honest, I mostly said what I did out of jealousy. I couldn't believe how lucky that asshole was to be with a beauty like yourself." He took your hand. "So you can imagine my joy when I learned about your breakup. That freak was stupid to let you go."

You hummed, smiling sarcastically. "And I suppose you're a better option for me,"

"Well, it goes without saying," he chuckled pompously. "The most that grinning grandpa has done since he's come back is help run a hotel doomed to fail at any second. Meanwhile, I have been a great success, producing amazing content for all of Hell to watch. It's made me rich enough to spoil anyone I deem worthy of my time."

"Lucky me, but I'm gonna have to pass. I'm not really in the mood to start anything new, let alone with another Overlord who talks too much." You stood up from your seat and began walking off to the bar, intending to freshen up your drink. "Good talking with you, Vox."

You barely walked three steps when he appeared in front of you, still with a smug look. "Come on, sweetheart, you know I'm your best option now, especially since you've cut off your best resources,"

You narrowed your eyes as something menacing began to bubble up inside you. "Excuse me?"

"Think about it," Vox continued, none the wiser about your silent rage. "It won't be long until Mommy and the best guard dog you ever had get bored of waiting for you to crawl back to them. Then what'll you do? Keep yourself holed up at Uncle Zest's place?" He took your waist and pulled you towards him. "It's better to go for someone who has the means to care for you and knows your worth."

He certainly gave you some stuff to reflect on, that was for sure. It was a hard pill to swallow, but it was true. If things didn't return to normal, it'd be time to plan your next step.

For the time being, you had to take care of the cocky prick smirking down at you.

"Vox..." you cooed suddenly, making yourself look as flirty and doe-eyed as possible as you slung your arm around his neck. His smile grew wide as he felt your other arm slide between you. He leaned closer to your lips but was halted by your hand tightly squeezing his groin as you kept your sweet persona on. "If you ever touch me or talk to me like that again, I'll film myself ripping your slimy dick clean off you and play the footage on a loop on your big, flat face. 'Kay?"

Since he was too busy groaning in agony from your touch, he simply nodded. It was your turn to smile triumphantly as you pecked his face and let him go. You paid no mind to him crumbling to the floor, holding onto his groin. You instead walked out of the club to get some air. What you did was certainly needed, but now it was time to break down in tears.

"Hey, Al,"

Alastor turned his head and found Charlie by his side with an awkward smile on her face.

"You never came back to join us. I just wanted to see if you were okay."

"I'm fine, my dear," he attempted to give her one of his big grins, but it was more forceful than anything else. "I just needed to take some time away from all the noise and depravity, nothing more."

"We know this isn't exactly your scene, but Angel truly was thinking about you when it came to going out tonight. At least the drinks are good, right?" She raised her glass to him, which he humored by lightly tapping his against it. "Maybe we can go to that jazz place you like and listen to some music there."

"Appreciate the offer, but that place is currently tainted with...memories,"

"Oh," was all she said, knowing what he meant.

A silence fell between them, the thumping music and crowd deafening it before Charlie spoke up again.

"I really did think the radio dedication was a good idea. It was very romantic. It just surprised me when Y/N called and...you know."

"That makes two of us," Alastor replied, his smile growing sardonic while he sipped his drink. It took a more tender turn as he looked ahead. "How'd you do it, Charlie?"

"Huh?"

"How did you manage to forgive Vaggie the way you did? She kept a rather large secret from you for three years, yet it only took a day for you to forgive her. So, I ask again, how?"

When she didn't answer right away, he looked back at her. She appeared shocked to hear what she did. Anyone would be due to how out of character this was for Alastor. This whole situation could be considered as such. She gave what he asked some thought, all the same.

"It definitely wasn't easy," she started. "I needed time alone to think about everything. I didn't know what to think. Thankfully, a friend of ours gave me some good advice about actions saying more than anything words could. It let me reflect on everything Vaggie has done for me. And she has done plenty."

Charlie smiled lovingly to herself as she thought more about this. "She's my rock who's believed in me when no one else would. When I couldn't believe in myself. Even though this big thing she kept from me was terrifying and heartbreaking, all she's done for me outweighs it." Her attention returned to Alastor, who was invested in what she had to say. For the first time that night, his smile held no negativity. "Right now, Y/N needs time to think about everything that happened, and so do you. You gotta figure out your feelings, consider hers, and then figure out what you want before you plan your next move."

It was his turn to glance away and look pensive. He supposed she was right. He knew though that he missed Y/N more than he cared to admit, but he was the last person she wanted to speak with after he broke her heart the way he did. He wanted another chance, but it would take more than cliche gestures. To start, it would take time.

He was ready to give the night another chance, for now, and was about to disclose this with Charlie, but she was looking at something among the crowd that made her look uncomfortable. He followed her gaze and what he saw made him darken his eyes and shatter the glass in his hand.

Not too far away was Y/N being held by none other than Vox. His eyes narrowed and his teeth bared further as he saw how receptive she was to the flat-faced fuck's moves. When she threw an arm around Vox, Alastor released a growl.

"That arrogant, loud-mouth, woman-stealing-"

"Easy, Alastor!" Charlie attempted to calm him down when noticing how he was starting to stretch into his demon form. "We don't know if it's what it looks like." She peered back at the pair and looked disgusted at the sight of Y/N's hand lowering. "Even if it is, remember: she has to figure stuff out. You gotta let her, no matter how painful it is."

Static buzzed around Alastor as he gave that some thought. He didn't have a right to be jealous of this interaction. He had to see it from her point of view: their relationship was nothing but lies. She had every right to move on. He really didn't want to, but if he wanted to show he could be a better man for her, he needed to change. Part of the change included easing his temper and letting her go, as much as it pained him.

He looked at Y/N one last time, taking in the beauty he missed holding so dearly. When she gave Vox a kiss, however, it was enough to make Alastor teleport away back to the hotel.

[burntheedges]

first line tag game

rules: share the first lines of ten of your most recent(ly updated) fanfics and tag ten people.

thanks for the tags @almostfoxglove @schnarfer @ace-turned-confused @arcanefox207 @sawymredfox !! I feel like I always start fics the same way so the variety here actually surprised me. here we go in reverse chronological order ~

1. Meet the Teacher (Din x f!reader)

You haven’t been on Nevarro long, but you’ve learned a lot about your new students already.

2. it's alright, darlin' (Joel x f!reader)

When the elevator doors closed with only you and him inside, you tensed. When the whole thing shuddered and came to a stop, somewhere between floors 8 and 9, you knew you were fucked. 

3. Loose Change (Marcus P x f!reader)

It was Tuesday, so you were at your spot near the Archives stop. Not inside the metro, since they could be a bit picky about that, but just outside. It was a good spot — you usually caught the suits going to work and the tourists heading for the National Mall or a museum. On Tuesday mornings it was busy but not so busy that you had to compete with other musicians.

4. 8 AMAZING Ballet Moments From NBT’s HOTTEST Couple! (A Pas de Deux Epilogue) (Din x f!reader)

“What’s that?” You feel Din come up behind you and lean in over your shoulder. You smile, leaning back against his chest. His arms immediately snake around your waist.

5. Awake (Marcus M x f!reader)

On Monday, Marcus woke up with his alarm.

6. long gone (Din x f!reader)

Din still dreamed of it sometimes.

7. hold me like water (Marcus M x f!reader)

Marcus is fidgeting again. He can’t seem to make himself stop. There’s a buzzing under his skin, a tension he can’t seem to shake.

8. Pas de Deux (Din x f!reader)

“‘In a surprise move that shook the dance world, the Concordia Ballet Company announced yesterday that they have parted ways with principal dancer Din Djarin.’” You could hear the sudden gasps through the open door of the large studio as you walked towards it. You recognized Clara’s voice as she read the news aloud, you assumed from her phone. 

9. Bits and Baubles (Dieter x gn!reader)

You were working your stall, talking to a customer, when you caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of your eye. Dark hair and a lurid green robe flashed by, but he was gone before you finished packing up the ornament. By the time you looked around, he’d disappeared into the market.

10. The Hunter (Din x f!reader)

You saw him once before he ever saw you.

np tagging: @katareyoudrilling @djarins-cyare @kedsandtubesocks @iknowisoundcrazy @sixhours @mustardprecum @guiltyasdave @the-mandawhor1an @wannab-urs @murder-wife @mysterious-moonstruck-musings @justagalwhowrites @toomanystoriessolittletime @evolnoomym @trulybetty

[bullet-prooflove]

6000 Follower Celebration Event: Fourteen Days - Rupert Campbell Black x Reader

Tagging: @kmc1989 @aureliacorvina @sunshines-princess25 @just-consume-it

Companion piece to:

The PA - Rupert's new PA isn't like the others.

Bore Da Gold - Rupert discovers you have a secret.

Lord Ashbury - Rupert learns the truth about your relationship with Lord Ashbury.

The Siren's Call (NSFW) - Rupert can't resist temptation.

The Morning After - The morning after gets complicated for you and Rupert when an unexpected guest turns up at his door.

Fourteen days, that’s how long it’s been since Rupert was last in your presence.

Fourteen long tedious days in the North of England attending meetings about football hooliganism while you’re sequestered in Westminster with the PM, filling in for her own Personal Assistant. It’s torture, really it is, because it’s the longest the two of you have been apart since you took up residence at his estate.

“How are you sleeping?” You ask over the phone from your hotel room in London. “I know it’s tough for you without the dogs to keep you company.”  There’s rustling in the background and he can imagine you settling down in those plush sheets, wearing nothing but one of his shirts.

This is the way the two of you talk, no real feelings, just veiled ones, hidden underneath other meanings. Neither of you have a great track record but what you have, it’s real. It’s the reason Rupert hasn’t so much as looked at another woman in the past fortnight because all he can think about you. The nights he spends tangled up in you, the mornings he wakes up to the featherlight brush of your lips on his temple as you slip from the sheets.

“It’s not just the dogs I miss.” He murmurs as he sits on his own bed with nothing but a white towel wrapped around his waist. The truth is he doesn’t sleep well without you curled up against him, he hasn’t since this thing between you started.

“It’s not just the dogs that I miss either.” You tell him and he can hear the smile in your voice. “I mean your cock… What I wouldn’t do to be riding that thing right now.”

His dick perks up underneath the towel and he sinks back into the pillows, cradling the phone underneath his chin. It’s been a frustrating day for you he can tell, you always need a good fucking to work out that tension after visiting Westminster. It has the biggest congregation of misogynistic assholes including himself.

“You think I don’t spend my time in all those meetings imagining my face between your legs, the taste of you in my tongue before I fuck you.” He murmurs, stripping the towel away from body to caress his hardening dick. “I would give anything to be there right now, to feel you coming all over my cock, to hear you say my name…”

“Well we can make one of those things happen.” You respond, your voice lowering an octave. “You can listen to me come while you tell me all the filthy things you’re going to do to me the next time you see me.”

“Oh Clara, aren’t you a naughty girl?” He murmurs as his hand grips his dick, thumb smearing that drop of pre-cum over the tip.

“Say that again.” You whisper and he can tell you’re already touching yourself from that breathless sound you make. “Tell me how bad I’m being.”

“Oh baby.” He drawls, imagining you on your knees ready to receive him. “Buckle in because I’m about to get downright filthy.”

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Like My Work? - Why Not Buy Me A Coffee

[eden-writes-stuff]

Febuwhump Day 2 - Pick who dies

context: Doctor Who, 11th Doctor, Doctor vs. Master tags: they/them for Master, fucking hell this is darker than I anticipated lol, doctor is kinda ooc bc have you ever tried to write the doctor in character?!, also for some reason I fancast Andrew Scott as the Master (he would slay), I also think it's pretty easy to read out my favourite companions xD

"It's your choice, Doc." The Master grinned their mad grin, walking around him, weapon ready to shoot.

His friends were all there, right in front of him. All lined and tied up, none of them able to talk, but still every one of them was yelling. He couldn't look at their faces. They were calling to him, counting on him to get them out of this. He had let all of them down before

"Which of your little pets do you like best?" The other Timelord started walking down the lineup.

"Your girlfriend?" They played with Rose's hair.

"The other doctor?" They tilted Martha's chin up.

"Your bff?" Donna spat at them before they could touch her. But they just laughed and wiped it off on her dress.

"Your mother-in-law?" Amy almost managed to get a kick in.

"Your father-in-law?" They patted Rory's cheek, earning a growl from Amy

"Your wife?" One look from River was enough for them to keep their hands to themselves.

"Or your newest conquest?" They turned Clara's face in every direction, inspecting her.

The Doctor didn't answer. He could barely get a single word out. Most of the people in front of him weren't even alive anymore. Or they were unreachable to him. Yet somehow- somehow this sick bastard had gotten a hold of them. All just to pay him back.

"It's up to you. One I'll let go, the others..." They laughed softly, lifting the gun. "Well, you can imagine what'll happen to the others."

"Why are you doi-" "NO!", The Master snapped, pointing the gun at him. "None of your little mind games. You choose or they all die."

He shook his head, leaning toward the weapon. He was tired. "Kill me. As long as you don't hurt them. My lifes for their." Obviously disappointed the Master clicked their tongue. 

"Oh, doctor. I don't want to kill you. You're my favourite." Laughing, the Master sat on the armrest of the chair, leaning into him. He could feel their lips on his ear and it took everything he had not to pull away. "But the question is, who is your favourite?"

"If I'm your favourite- If you really care about me, why do you make me do this?!", he turned his head toward theirs. Slender fingers traced along his jawline. "I just want to make you see the consequences of your little obsession with humans." The way they said it sounded sweet, almost kind, but the words stung.

"I can always save them." "Can you though?"

One simple motion later Martha's body sacked forward, only held up by the ropes. Her hair fell into her face, hiding the expression of terror and fear.

The Doctor lunged forward, making the Master jump up from the chair and laugh. The ropes tightened around his wrists, pulling him back against the solid wood.

"That was me being nice. One less to choose from. Oh, I know what we'll do." They walked toward the controls on the other side of the room. "Shall we hear what your friends have to say after this?"

There was a click and suddenly he heard River's voice full of suppressed fear and anger. "Doctor! Doctor, you need to think. I know you're angry, but right now you can't afford that. You've beaten him before, but you need to keep a clear-" The clicking sounded again and cut her off. "Boring!" The Master faked a yawn.

"What about the redhead?" Donna let out a row of very creative curses directed toward the Master. She and Martha had known each other, they had been friends. Martha had a sister. And parents.

Jackie would kill him if he let Rose die. Amy and Rory probably wouldn't even have the chance to hate him if River didn't survive. River would kill him - again - if she lost her parents - again.

"I can't choose. I can't. Please!"

The Master stepped back, raising an eyebrow. "Begging already, are we? But remember, if you don't choose, I will kill them all." 

He couldn't do it. He couldn't choose. All of them had saved him so many times in so many ways. And there was nothing he could do to save them now.

"Where should I start? Left to right? Right to left? Based on height? Based on age? So many choices... Then again..." The next one out was Clara. She didn't even have time to look terrified. "I never liked her. Too much flirting. And I'm pretty sure this one isn't your favourite either." Amy and River started silently screaming before the blast hit Rory's chest.

"Shame. He actually was nice. He was also good for you, really told you what you needed to hear. You know who also did that?" They took a few steps toward Donna.

"STOP!"

Smiling, the Master turned toward him, looking at him expectantly. He couldn't stop the tears anymore. "Stop it. Please! Please, I'll do anything to save them. You want a planet to rule? A species to oppress?" In the background, all remaining four shook their heads, yelling at him, but he couldn't hear a word.

"Whatever it is, we'll make it happen as long as you let them go! I'll give you the entire fucking universe!"

The master let the weapon sink slowly.

[slayerkitty]

Only Friends: "Hot Take - Do Not Fuck Your Boss"

Credit to @chalkrevelations for the title, that part of your post made me giggle and pointed out an undercurrent of a theme that's running far in the background of the show.

Hot Take: DO NOT FUCK YOUR BOSS

We actually see this concept in four pairings on the show (sort of).

Starting with Sand and Ray (yeah, they did start as an employee/employer relationship). Ray was paying Sand to hang out with him. He paid Sand to drive him home that one time. Now, since episode two, when they slept together, based on Sand's "If I like you, I'll do it for free" line (paraphrasing), we can assume that Ray is no longer/hasn't paid him since. Essentially though, Sand fucked his boss and now look where he is. Ray still thinks he owns him, that Sand is a possession.

They've explored this with Top and Mew, too. Technically, the Fab Four are/were Top's bosses. They employed him (and are/were presumably paying him) to redesign the hostel for them. Top ends up sleeping with two of his bosses (Mew and Boston). He's actually manipulated into sex by his boss (Boston) and when the news gets out, Mew and Ray essentially fire Top. Boston, as one of the bosses, is loosely exiled from the group but not the project. Top is out of a job and a boyfriend (on the flip of this here, we know this is not Top's only job, he works with his dad at the hotel, but still).

We're also getting ready to see this with Daddy Dan (never calling him anything else, I don't make the rules) and Nick. Nick's been hired on for this project; Daddy Dan is super shifty that whole scene, blatantly coming on to Nick the whole time (whether that translation was supposed to be "Lick my ass" or "Kiss my ass" really doesn't matter, both amount to the same meaning here, lol). We all know this isn't going to end well for Nick. How we get there remains to be seen. Is this going to ruin Nick's chance for a career he wants? Will this fuck up his graduation chances? Will he end up with a sex tape on the internet (ngl, legit worried about this last one)?

The fourth couple this applies to is Yo and Plug. Yeah. So, their relationship has been subtle, playing out in the background and aside from their very pointed break up today, we haven't gotten much detail on them... or have we? In episode three, Plug and Yo talk about Plug being at the bar so much because he's a bartender. In episode 8, Plug says that Yo flirted with him for like a month before they got together. What that says to me is, Yo hired this guy has a bartender, thought he was cute and proceeded to PERSUE HER EMPLOYEE. Now, they're broken up. Does that mean Plug no longer has a job? Is Yo out an employee as well as a boyfriend?

It's an interesting exploration of power dynamics that a lot of shows, even ones that are office/work based BLs, don't quite seem to focus on the bad outcomes of. It's literally saying this is a bad thing, it can mess up your life.

So yes, hot take: do not fuck your boss.

Tagging the Ephemerality Squad: @lurkingshan, @waitmyturtles, @wen-kexing-apologist, @chickenstrangers, @ranchthoughts, @twig-tea, @clara-maybe-ontheroad, @distant-screaming

Apologies to anyone I forgot!

[queen-of-elves]

Acceptable

Armitage Hux x reader - Modern Office AU + some background Reylo

Summary: You have been working for First Order for years now slowly giving up on the idea of your dream project ever gracing your presence until it finally happened, however, there is a slightly cold and rude problem, other team leader Armitage Hux. 

REQUESTS ARE OPEN (And I'm begging you to send me some)

A/N: There is not enough classic fanfics for Armitage and almost zero AUs so I am here to satisfy the bitches, it’s me, I am the bitches

+not betaread so be kind

Words: 5.8K

Warnings: some swearing probably, there is always swearing in my fics, talking about f themself cause corporate life is annoying, some inappropriate thoughts

Tags:@l0stinth3nightsky @this-harl0t-shant-be-unalive

Everyone in the company knew how mean and bossy Armitage Hux was, even if you were from a completely different department, but this project was going to pull you in his inner work team and it terrified you to get first hand experience with him. You heard plenty of times how he made new interns cry and the older ones want to commit a suicide. So you weren’t exactly thrilled at working with him even on a project you have literally dreamed of since being accepted to work for the First Order company, the most prestigious company among prestigious companies. The project required two different departments that almost never interacted which also didn’t help.

You were ready for the first meeting between two departments, each under the supervision of completely different people and personalities, to be just a horrendous trainwreck. But Armitage Hux being the team leader of the other one? You didn’t have to be some kind of prophet to know this was going to be painful just to watch. Even though you were anxiously expecting disaster to occur in the first meeting, the sunshine side in you just had to shine through. So you had an exceptionally good morning, you were on time, had a delicious bagel and the sky was sunny, therefore there was no chance of Hux fucking up your day.

The office building was huge but not exceptional among the other skyscrapers littering the city, molding it into cement block maze. The windows provide enough clearance for you to see the busy people already moving around in the offices above, you even noticed some of your own team members anxiously waiting for your arrival while preparing the rest of the documentation for today's team meeting. 

You knew you were ready, your team also knew but that didn’t put to rest the anxious little monster growing inside your stomach. Still, you put on your best brave smile and entered the lobby, greeted the receptionist Clara and continued down the hall to wait for the elevator. Beeping your employee card on the scanner, to let you proceed to the elevator, put you right back into your morning routine, well, just for your coworker and a sort of subordinate, Rey bombard you with questions in the waiting line. 

“Did you hear it?” Her voice sounded an octave higher than usual or maybe it was just your tired brain not used to loud sounds yet, nothing a good old coffee couldn’t fix in minutes.

“Hm?” Your brain was still too tired to properly answer and so you only mumbled an acknowledgement to her question. Slow sips of your latté seemed to clear your mind a bit, thank god for sales like bagel plus free coffee at the local cafe otherwise you would be unusable these days.

“You know what I mean.” You were sure if you were to meet eyes with Rey, she would pierce you with that intense gaze. 

“The merge.” There was no merge, so far you weren’t even aware of any cuts in finances for this year or the one to follow. Whatever Rey was talking about was most likely just a bunch of bored employees gossiping and conspiring together, nothing major, nothing serious. This realization calmed you down even though The Merge sounded quite apocalyptic.

“I can assure you there is no merge, especially not between our two departments, Miss-” A voice interrupted but it did not intend to finish that sentence as if the owner was too busy to learn Rey’s name at all. He turned his attention to you, measuring you over, his calculating glare went over the ink stained hands to your low set black heels with that tiny cut on the left side you were so desperate to hide with black marker.

Armitage Hux waiting in front of the elevator for your arrival was definitely not on your list for today. He looked like a pristine image out of some magazine with men’s suits, his deep blue shaded suit with silver cufflinks perfectly paired with an expensive looking watch he was now checking printing itself in the back of your brain forever. Quite a nightmarish image of a handsome man with such a cold and cruel demeanor.

“You are both late. Meeting room 3 in 5 minutes.” And with that he was gone again, like a ghost, maybe he is a ghost of this building, stackup nitpicking cold monster that was stabbed by his tired employee centuries ago and now has to haunt the rest of you. He didn’t even turn around making you puzzle if he was truly addressing you.

“What’s going on?” Whisperyelled Rey, her wide eyes scanning the surrounding as if Armitage was going to pop up from the corner to remind her she has now 4 minutes left to be present in the meeting room.

“Trouble.” You simply answered your bewildered friend, there was no better answer to it after all. The morning you dreamed of was slowly fading into a nightmarish mess but at least you had now caffeined your brain enough to proceed to normal functions. Plus your team had your back, there was nothing to be afraid of except Armitage Hux and he was simply a man in a suit. Just an ordinary man in a tailored suit with a stoic expression.

And you were right, the team really had your back but Armitage definitely didn’t, he was mean and bossy and nitpicking and just so fucking insufferable. However, the meeting ended with both departments and their leaders arriving at a consensus, not a happy one. It almost reminded you of those messy divorce screaming matches in tv shows, except this was veiled in professionalism and formal language.

Of course your suffering didn’t end just as did the meeting, he was probably a sadist, prolonging your pain with his “Word?”. You were sure it wasn’t even a question, it was just an order for you to follow him straight to his office.

Armitage Hux’s office was neat as it can be, if it weren’t for the few scattered papers on the desk you would guess this was one of those exhibitions of furniture in Ikea. Well, even the Ikea display has more personality, some fakeass photos of happy couple/family. His office is neat until it’s bare, devoid of indicating anything about the owner’s personality. 

That’s kinda sad.

“Listen, I know that the project is not top notch of the quality it could be but I think we have a solid plan we can now expand upon.” You had to win this argument, you wouldn’t let him defeat you over a project you so desperately wanted for years. So, if he wanted to fight you were ready to bare teeth at this twig in a suit. 

“Oh, and before you say it’s-,” you couldn’t even finish before he interrupted you, “acceptable.”

 “What?” You blurted out, completely stunned by his remark. Did Armitage Hux, after all that tousling about in the meeting room, admit the plan your team created is acceptable. Yes, there were few changes happening after the “discussion” of both teams but nothing you have not foreseen already that also didn’t mean you were happy with said changes. But consensus between two completely different departments is everything the leadership asked for.

“The proposal is acceptable, I don’t understand why I should be doubtful, so far you have only proven to be a valuable asset for the company.” Armitage was always the epitome of professional and now he was complimenting you. He was complimenting you, right? Maybe you had too much coffee, maybe you had not enough coffee and maybe God was spinning on his chair and laughing at you up in the sky.

“Oh, thanks. I will take it as a compliment, even though you sound like a formal email impersonator.” Gosh, did you really just say that to him? There was a cold sweat pooling down your back, anxiety ranking up. Was he going to yell at you for such a statement, what you have heard so far it wouldn’t be unusual for him to yell at people over smaller things.

“I don’t.” His expression could be only described as a deadpan expression. It’s actually kinda funny, not entirely scary. He doesn’t laugh, noted, but you do and you also make people laugh and so you set your new target.You almost look around to see a hidden camera or an entire camera crew as if in The office. And while you amused yourself in your mind Armitage sported back his expression to emotionless stare before turning his attention back to the documents on the desk. 

“You do.” A small laugh escaped your lips at that moment and with his attention divided elsewhere you took it as an ideal time to run away exit the situation and also the office.

But before you could escape this storm of a man, he had to add. “Until the next meeting I expect you and your team to finish said plans.” And with that the conversation and mess of a morning comes to an end. However, there is still a lot of time for unexpected surprises before the day ends.

And so it began, the little you running circles in your brain over the thoughts of your new co-leader, the cold redhead slowly sneaking in your head again and again. It helped the clock to tick faster which was a good thing but the constant train of thoughts disassembling every part of your interaction with him over the time was like a cold shower every single time.

The last time you checked the clock read 5 minutes after 8pm and with that you started to pack your things ready to head home, have little dinner and continue with the paperwork over a random kdrama playing as a background noise. And as you bid everyone goodbye you noticed Armitage’s crouched figure in his office, going over some even more boring paperwork than was the one waiting on you at home. It was probably true, the first one to be in the office and the last one to leave that was Armitage’s schedule.

Sad.

And so you set your mind on a new plan, a horrible and cruel plan to ruin your late morning and exchange it for an early cold shower wake up and speed walk to a cafe not only for your favorite bagel but also a special delivery of coffee.

God, what am I even doing this early?

When the alarm buzzed you were around 100% sure you were making a mistake. Waking this early should be a crime. No, It is a crime. Especially when you were a busy little bee like you always are and spent the whole night until 3am working. But part of you knew it was going to be worthy, today was the day you were going to crack that tough ice cold exterior of Armitage’s facade.

If waking up this early wasn’t a mistake the cold shower definitely was but in all honesty you were just afraid you would fall asleep on the bus, so cold shower it was. In the end it was kinda worthy, you got your favorite bagel without having to wait in long line; got another free coffee, you had no idea if the sale was still on or if you just looked so terrible they felt sad for you and just had to give it to you; you also got Armitage his coffee and as a big finale you were on time, actually very early overall. 

The office was ruefully empty. And there was no Rey to talk to, you knew she wasn’t going to be in the office until 9am but you still hoped even she would find the idea of early start amusing. In reality you expected to get laughed at when she finally decides to grace the office with her presence.

You might have felt alone in the empty corridors of the building but it was not so empty after all. The curtain might have been drawn but you could see a slim light escaping in between them from his office, the artificial light was definitely not sunshine. 

He must have stayed up all night.

Mustering courage you knocked on his door before waiting on an invitation to let yourself in. It was useless, there was no sound coming from the office and so you knocked again and then again. Realizing he was not going to answer you decided to open the door and check up on him anyway.

He was sleeping on his desk with his suit jacket over the chair behind him and loose tie around his neck. The dress shirt slightly crumpled at the edges, his red hair tousled around and neck craned in such an uncomfortable position you were sure of his incoming back pain.

“Knock, knock.” You tried to say softly, just lightly waking him up but instead you groaned, your voice still not comfortable from no use this morning, startling him awake.

“I-” His form jolted, eyes flying open and searching the room for the culprit of his rough awakening. Blue eyes finally gazing upon you, Armitage looked boyishly handsome that morning, it was not just the wide expression but the state of disarray you found him in.

You decided against speaking, part of you afraid your blushing form would say something stupid, the stupid thoughts of the redhead not leaving you alone. The, almost like a cardboard, coffee cup made an uncomfortable noise once you pushed it on the table toward its owner, making the moment even more awkward.

He took a slow sip, still not fixing his hair or attire and part of you wished he never would, it suited him and you probably liked it even more than it actually suited him. 

“How did you know what coffee I drink?” His voice still hoarse and laced with sleepiness painted your cheeks even more crimson red. God it made you imagine things, you didn’t even know from where the thoughts were coming but there was somehow no way to stopping them. Your view of Armitage Hux completely shattering and rearranging itself into a different image.

“It's just black coffee, Hux, I assumed you would like black coffee, you are like the embodiment of black coffee.”

“Thank you, that's very considerate of you.” His lips touched the cup in a cautious move before he took a sip, trying to hide his small smile but you noticed it, you definitely noticed it and you knew you won. You won Armitage Hux over with a simple gesture of kindness.

”Was it a compliment or?” You wanted to laugh and you wanted to see more of a happier Armitage from now on. You felt like you got closer to Hux at that moment, a possible friendship started to blossom between the two of you. 

“Who knows.” Shrugging, he moved on to finally fix himself a little, smirk still apparent on his lips complimenting his tired stare. In that moment you wanted to experience more moments like this and you sure were going to try.

********

Finally it was the day the board would either accept the project or deny it. You couldn’t sleep for two days prior and even before that you slept only around 15 hours in a week, you felt almost dead. Both of you, Armitage and you, were now staring at your notebooks, ready to receive the final answer to your now weeks long struggle. 

Armitage's notebook beeped, a notification sounding off, sending you flying across the desk almost into his lap, not even considering it could be a completely different email or even personal thing.

You and Armitage got closer, just as the both of your teams, over the weeks you spent on this project, countless nights together in the office seemed to harden your relationship even more. You had fun, Armitage was not only a hardworking perfectionist and handsome man, he was also very funny, like ridiculously funny in your opinion.

The email was long, like unnecessarily when it comes to formal corporal emails but the end of it was just so promising. Both of you skimmed over the words, searching for the phrases denied. There was none, the only thing in the end it contained was so sweet and wanted approval for your project, relieving you both of disappointment.

You were not sure who was the first, if you or Armitage, but now the both of you were jumping as high as you could while clinging to each other, a victorious hug. It could take only seconds or minutes, you squealing and Armitage yelling, hugging each other and jumping once again, but when it was over, the embarrassment in both parties was apparent. 

Anyone could come into this office at any time, it was not uncommon for most of the higher ranking employees to just not knock and barge in and if they saw the team leaders of the current biggest project in the company disheveled and out of breath, who knows what they would think.

There was a common understanding of this premise and so the following actions were understandable, while you tried to smooth your skirt down, Armitage did the same to his hair and also his tie. He was still out of breath and a bit flushed, his look of happiness making you warm again.

“You should trust your guts more.” And again with his disheveled appearance, this man was going to be the death of you for sure. And while he was busy sporting himself back into his usual calm and perfect form you had to admire how far the both of you have come. 

“Trust my guts? Armitage, I have a crippling anxiety.” Wholehearted laugh clawed its way out of your throat, making him smile. “That’s like the worst advice ever.” You continued still giggling like a little girl with your cheeks starting to hurt from all the happiness flowing inside you.

“I tried.”

“I appreciate it.” You gave him a small shy smile, your cheeks were still too warm for you to completely concentrate. “Thank you.” You whispered in the end.

“You are welcome.” Nodding fondly over this conversation, Hux gave you a smug expression, which you have completely missed because you turned your attention back to the documents you had to prepare for the next meeting.

“Even though you should be the one thanking me for my amazing advice.” Armitage chimes in, relaxed expression kept in place while he slightly nudged you in the ribs.

“Was it a joke?” Your face morphing into a shocked amused grin, you turned to him, observing the man momentarily. “Did Armitage Hux just make a joke?” You were not aware that Armitage Hux, the cold hearted redhead, could joke but you liked it and hoped it would stay like this for a while.

“I regret ever interacting with you.” You could see the slight smirk forming on Armitage's face when he spoke, unable to contain it. Since starting working on this project you and Armitage really got close, you would even call him your friend now. Yeah, he was still sometimes a cold prick but you could see the appeal of him. Handsome, smart and very passionate for his work with a decent sense of humor, Armitage Hux was definitely a catch. This project really opened your eyes when it came to him.

“You don’t.” Your elbow met what you firstly assumed would be a bony mass but in reality was well defined muscles under what you deemed was branded suit.

“I do.” He couldn’t fight the smirk off now. It was awfully obvious. The past you would probably be slightly horrified over the thought of Armitage Hux smirking. The picture of it being painted under the impression that he is obviously an evil corporate man. However, seeing him smirk now sparked something completely different in you. The silly picture of an evil man from a cartoon you used to hold in your mind when someone said his name was replaced with a charming looking redhead man in a suit with a warm aura around him. 

“Nah.” You felt silly, stupid and giddy over this man and how warm he made you feel even though everyone viewed him as a cold and mean man he never was. “You love it.” 

“Yeah, I do.” The stare he gave you made something carnal turn in you, it was not an alien feeling but with Armitage there was a new intensity to it. Red liquid heat pooled inside your belly under his loving gaze.

Oh.

“I-I have to go and- inform the team, you know- so they like- know and- stuff.” You titered a bit, unsure how to continue such a conversation. Did Armitage Hux really make your heart skip a beat now? First he jokes and now he makes your heart flutter, the world truly is full of wonders

.

“Yeah, totally. I-” He seemed absentminded for a second, something you could hardly ever see on the young team leader’s face. Everyone might talk about his cold attitude but no one could deny how dedicated Armitage was to his work. Even though you weren’t from the same department you knew long before this project presented itself in front of you, that he was the first in the office and also the last one to leave. His workaholism seemed even more prominent with his quick responses to your emails regarding the shared project no matter at which hour you would send them. It was something worth admiring and fearing at the same time. And now you were the one stuck in their mind and still staring at him. 

“Hey, would you like- to go for a coffee or something?” His voice cracked in the middle, maybe it was trying to stop him from continuing but he still pushed through, the final bits of courage sending him past the finish line, finally asking.

OH.

“Your proposal is acceptable.” You tried to imitate his voice, those words as a reminder to the conversation you had with him after the first meeting.

“Thank god.” The relief on his face was comforting to see. Armitage was really keen to go out with you and it made you happy beyond anything.

Bonus little bits with Armitage’s POV:

He really hoped he could avoid Ben this morning but luck seemed not to be on his side this time. Armitage and Ben have been friend-workers since they both started in the company. They actually knew each other even before since they both went to the same college. At first they were not awfully close, Ben liked to annoy the fuck out of Armitage while he was trying to enjoy his morning coffee, lunch or evening run. Basically destroying nice things he liked but somehow the two of them stuck together and formed a sort of friendship over some time. That of course didn’t change anything on Ben annoying him with every single ounce he had in himself, which was the exact reason he really wanted to escape him this morning. This perfect late morning, he decided to enjoy himself and to read in bed until it was completely necessary to go to work. He never did that but recent sunshine in his office seemed to brighten his life and mood all the time so why not to enjoy a slow morning, he was after all always on time for 5 years straight now.

Armitage could see Ben towering over the cubicles scattered over the big room on the second floor of the company building. Ben was currently laughing over something some brown haired woman said, Armitage recently learnt her name was Rey and Ben was incredibly fond of her. This information was obviously carefully and pragmatically locked down inside his brain to be used later if the time called for it.  

And so Armitage hoped he could silently walk down to his office without Ben annoying him so early in the morning, leaving him to reminisce about what today could bring him, especially if it was in the form of a cute co-leader he recently had the chance to meet. He was wrong, obviously, well not really, but yes, he was wrong.

The young redhead was correct when his thoughts browsed back to you and if you would be as cheerful in his presence as you were yesterday. What he however didn’t mean to summon was not only your attention but also Ben’s.

“Armitage!” And there you were, a sunshine smile and loud voice directing everyone's attention, including Ben’s, to yourself before they turned to see him.

He simply nods in acknowledgement without realizing his face was graced with a slowly spreading smile. Ignoring his previous distaste in morning conversation, giving her a small wave didn’t seem so annoying as greeting Ben.

“Well, well, well, who is trying to sneak by.” God, just his voice could irritate Armitage to death on most days but today it was exceptionally nightmare inducing.

“I wasn’t sneaking by. I was simply walking to my office.” He answers curly, not giving even a glance to Ben, his expression still souring into deadpan one.

“You should take your coffee with some milk, you are awfully bitter in the morning.” Ben sniggers, amused at his joke.

“You're the one who is quite giddy today. Did the board meeting yesterday go that well?” But Armitage is ready to fire back right at him.

“Nah, not really.” This finally got Ben to shut up and Armitage to go about his morning in silence.

******************

“I didn’t think you were the type to go crazy over a woman.” Ben’s laugh is loud and childish, echoing on the open walls of the main hall between offices. 

“Don’t be ridiculous.” The look he gave to Ben was one of his favorites, offended and beyond believe irritated. It was a perfect illusion for him to uphold, ‘cause in reality Hux’s mind was in a midst of complete panic but still he kept on his killer pace to his office, maybe to lose Ben in the big space where the rest of the desk of their subordinates was located.

How much does he know?

This thought however, stopped Armitage in his walk, contemplating if he should address it more. And finally where he was sure his tongue wouldn’t twist itself in his mouth when he spoke of you, he turned around. 

“You talk like a cartoon villain, you know that, right?.” Ben’s tall form was not leaning on the side of one of the tables , his gaze partly fixed at his phone before it’s lifted to assess the redhead’s reaction. It was deliberate, it was all planned out, a humiliating and uncomfortable situation Ben could trap him in easily, to get all the answers he wanted.

Now he knew he couldn’t win against that ridiculous giant, this was always a losing game. If he took it too seriously Ben would admit to only be joking, trying to get a rise out of him, if he continued to ridicule or ignore his questions Ben would only tease him more, a truly lost game in Armitage’s eyes. “God, please go and do your job.” But still he could try to collect any advantage he could get his hands on, the advantage being taking everything and shutting himself in his office until the end of the day.

-collects all his things and gets up to leave

“I am working.” Ben’s cheerful voice still followed him, digging into his back in a teasing manner. “No, You are not!” Armitage was aware how his voice boomed through the office making some employees turn their heads over the ruckus but Ben was quite oblivious to his friend’s voice’s effect. He actually couldn’t help but laugh at his friend for moments still unaware of the attention he was given by his colleagues hidden among the various desks in that room. However, even Ben was deemed to notice the confused look he was given by one of the younger secretaries over the small cubicle wall.

“Sorry.” His hands flew up in an apology or a manner that reminded most of them of surrender, before he decided to lift himself up from the desk and proceed to an elevator. Ben of course caught a glimpse of her, so familiar brown haired woman who was already entering one of the elevators. Feeling his chance, Ben's quick walking, caused by his slight embarrassment from the situation prior, turned into jogging when he thought he was already out of sight for the rest of his colleagues.

“Hi.” The elevator was empty except for the said brown haired woman, she looked pretty, exceptionally pretty. Well, she always looked beautiful and so to level the playing field, Ben put on one of his charming smiles before he glanced her way.

**************************

“You should ask her out.” This was coldly stated in the midst of conversation about going for a drink since both of the men’s projects were going to finish soon. The sentence positively stunning Armitage into a statue with a cold sweat pooling slowly down his back while his dark haired counterpart continued to munch on his sandwich.

“Ask her out or I will.” This time those words were slurred between Ben finishing the prelast bite and attempting to stuff the rest of the sandwich in his mouth. Ben’s tall form was stashed between the seating area and one of the tables, he was crunched over but no one of it helped to not make him stand out in the crowd of eating people with his broad shoulders. Ben always towered over everyone, except over Phasma from accounting actually, but everyone else was a victim to his high stature. It was almost comical just as his words. Still, Armitage fumbled with his hands, dropping from one the document he was reading while not being able to control the other, his grip on the sandwich slipping until it unceremoniously slammed in his lap and into the napkin he thankfully unfolded on it.

“What?“

“Ask her out or I-”“I heard you the first time.” Ben was used to Armitage’s cruel remarks or even interruptions but this was the first time he did so with such a vigor.

 “Why did you ask then?” There was a knowing smirk painted on his lips, the redhead falling into his trap one more time.

“I know you won’t ask her out.” This confused Ben greatly. What did he mean? The dark haired man adored teasing his pale friend on a daily basis but it was almost unheard of Armitage opposing him. He did attempt to oppose several times and it was not exactly as playful as Ben wished for, usually it consisted of Hux reminding him to get back to work and where is the fun in that? But this time, this time Armitage had something on Ben and he absolutely didn’t like it.

“Rey wouldn’t like that, would she now?” What was left of the knowing smirk on Ben’s face disappeared seconds after those words were muttered into the air between the two men. This time it was Ben who was left with red cheeks and ears, absolutely flabbergasted and fumbling hands with the wrappers of his now gone lunch.

************************

Armitage didn’t even realize how organized you were but now that he had the chance to see inside your office he was lost for words. Who would have thought someone like you would have neatly organized folders with color marked projects and spreadsheets for time management not only for your team but your work.

“You are awfully organized.” He truly was in awe at how your space looked. 

“Thanks?”

“I expected to find a battlefield in your office but it’s- surprisingly tiddy?” He didn’t mean tiddy, he meant a perfect, absolutely and adoringly perfect environment for him to exist, something that almost seems to be made just for him.

“That’s kinda rude, Armitage.” He was not known for making a lot of people laugh, maybe Ben but it was more of a laugh at his own account, with you it was somehow ridiculously easy, apparently.

“I was complimenting you.” He objects, trying to defend his honor, it was not in his intentions to come off as rude as it might have seemed. 

“Sure.”

 Again with the laugh.

“You should take it as a compliment. Organized people are h-,” he paused, gulping down his words until it weighed heavy in his stomach,”good.” 

“Good?” There was a suspicious smirk playing on your lips as if you knew what he wanted to say but Armitage almost sure you had no clue, you simply wanted to tease him a bit more.

 But God, what if you did catch his misstep? No, surely you didn’t. He gave you one more questioning look to make sure you were none the wiser. 

“Yes.” He had to clear his throat, to compose himself a bit by bit but there was an unbearable weight at his chest, almost too consuming. “For business. Organized people are known to be very reliable and hardworking employees.”

Yes, good. They are good. I totally didn’t mean hot. Because organized women are totally not absolutely hot. And I totally just didn’t realize it’s a thing for me. Ha ha. Please, act normal.

Armitage’s brain must have looked like a scrambled egg now, trying to unravel all his thoughts into a coherent solid state so he could function properly while unsuccessfully avoiding all his thoughts involving you and this office.

“Found it.” You held up a blue folder with a little yellow sticky note poking out of the main pages.

Oh, yes, the scripts for the main document, that’s what brought the two of you inside your office. That’s why he was now stuck between walls adored with shelves upon which sat dozens of cute plants. A complete opposite of his office but very cozy, it was obvious you decorated the room with a clear idea of making it a positive and comfortable environment. The purple sofa in the corner ideal for-

Yep, Armitage was fully aware he was fucked.

[waitmyturtles]

To my taggers @hughungrybear, @ranchthoughts, @he-is-lightning-in-a-bottle, and @telomeke, this one's for you!

GET TO KNOW ME TAG :)

do you make your bed?

Not until I sleep in it!

what's your favorite number?

Feel like I don't want to spill it because I use these numbers in passwords lol

what is your job?

Executive management

if you could go back to school, would you?

Such a good question. I already did it once, mid-life, and it was THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE, and one of the first decisions I truly made just for myself. Would I go back AGAIN? I would have considered it if I didn't know so many PhDs who are at various levels of happiness with their decisions. So: maybe. What I really look forward to is being retired so that I can take free classes at local colleges and have all the time in the world to read through the syllabi.

can you parallel park?

Fuck yes, who do I fucking look like, someone that can't parallel park? /end-East-Coast-road-rage

a job you had that would surprise people?

Hmmm. I don't think I have one that fits this category!

do you think aliens are real?

I think humanity's definition of "life" is too limiting

can you drive a manual car?

UNFORTUNATELY NOT, and I really wanna learn

what's your guilty pleasure?

Watching dramas, honestly. I shouldn't feel guilty about it, but I'm Asian, so I feel guilty about everything

tattoos?

Love them on other people, never made up my mind on what I wanted to get, and I feel like that ship has sailed for me

favorite color?

My kids ask me this all the time: pine green, rich purple, deep pink, all oranges, aquamarine blue, and black

favorite type of music?

I can't choose one. My playlist is all over the place. Korean hip-hop and New Orleans bounce (THANKS @bengiyo) have been my workout go-tos lately

do you like puzzles?

I will when my kids have more patience to do them

any phobias?

HEIGHTS :(

favorite childhood sport?

Ice hockey

do you talk to yourself?

Absolutely, and I've needed to use meditation to manage the inner monologue over the years

what movies do you adore?

Oh gosh. All I think about lately are Thai BLs, so I think a lot about the impact of The Love of Siam and Dew, two movies that are so tough to digest, but are really well done. I've also had two wonderful Japanese movies on the mind for no reason, Like Father, Like Son: Soshite Chichi ni Naru, and Drive My Car.

coffee or tea?

Both, all the time, often mixed

first thing you wanted to be growing up?

I wanted to be a journalist. I was such a rabid sports that I thought being a journalist would get me the closest to sports that I could go without being an athlete. And I actually got to do sports journalism for a while, and it was fun! (But I quit media, which is a whole other thing, and now I'm much happier)

Who hasn't been tagged? How about the old Only Friends Ephemerality Squad, how y'all doing?! @lurkingshan (I think you already did this Shan) @neuroticbookworm @twig-tea @slayerkitty @thatgirl4815 @distant-screaming @clara-maybe-ontheroad

[skele-bunny]

Please more silly Special and Cowbell of when they were growing up!

Omg say less snjejdjx also I <3 giving Bell my speech patterns 💪💪 no c.... No o...... Frfr

Teen Years. (No CW) Special & Cowbell/Doves

CW - NONE

Tags: Teen shenanigans, fluff, bigender Cowbell, sibling teasings

Characters: Cowbell, Special/Phil, Doves

(Divider by @ wrathofrats !)

One thing that always got the Doves curious was their human-like mates and how they shared traits without realizing that deep rooted to their once element. More specifically how they had human traditions called birthdays the replicated moon cycles, school dances that mimicked bonding rituals, but one that got them the most was piercings. In their culture, piercings were a sign of status and proposals. Little did they know the rabbit hole they'd be led down from a simple question.

Aqua tilted his head as he asked one fateful day as he eyed Cowbell's bellybutton piercing, a rarity only shown when she'd wear her crop tops in the den. "Is it also a human tradition to be pierced?"

The Null's tail went up to signify he heard the question. "N't really." Bell rolled over so he can sign, bringing his hands up. "I was just a dumb teenager and Special had access to sewing needles sooner than he should've."

"Phil!" Aqua turned in his chair. "What is Bell meaning by you had access to a sewing needle in relation to a piercing?"

Loud, genuine laughter suddenly came from the kitchen, Special turning the corner while holding his glass of water. "Oh fuck! When we were younger, I watched this Sister of Sin pierce her friends ear in the school's bathroom and I wanted to do it. So I started piercing myself, and then Bluebell wanted one."

Bell's face went red in embarrassment, grumbling. "It su'ked!"

"Because you wouldn't stop squirming!"

The youngest ghoul sibling grabbed the pillow under her head, throwing it at the eldest who laughed and let it hit his shoulder. "It ti'kled!"

Aqua blinked somewhat, tilting his head. "I still don't understand how a needle plays into this."

Phil held up his index as he pulled his phone out, pulling up an image to show an 18-gauge sewing needle. "That's what I used."

"How unsanitary." Gaia added, looking over the kitchen counter. "And it didn't get infected?"

"Oh, not Bell's, but mine definitely did." Phil put his phone away to lift his sweater, showing the small scar from his piercing. "Did that stop me? No, but it should've. Now look at me, ear gauges!"

The two Doves chuckled at their smaller mate's tease, watching him go over to Bell and shove her hooves off the couch so he could sit — only for them to return on his lap.

"Now if you want to talk about mistakes, you should ask Bell about Clara."

The hoof near his stomach kicked sideways, Phil grunting and slapping his siblings knee which now started a small war.

"Fu'k y'u f'r that!" She squealed, watching Special hiss and move to bite his knee.

Cowbell kicked again before both his and Phil's ears were grabbed, grimacing and looking up at Iris who raised an eyebrow. "No rough housing on the couch."

"Phil started it!" Bell whined, swatting his husband's hand away.

Iris gave one last tug to his mates. "And what would that be?"

"Clara," Special stuck his pierced tongue out which Bell returned. "Her first girlfriend."

The water ghoul simply clapped with interest, his gills fluttering just as much as his wings. "Oh, do tell. I love hearing mating stories."

The two nulls were in a glare off before Bell moved his hooves behind Phil's bone wings just to inconvenience him. "Clara was a sister of sin I really liked when I was... What? 15? Prettiest thing ever. We dated for exactly six hours and when I unmasked she fainted, and I got grounded for revealing myself and dating."

"Oh that's a terrible mating story." Aqua corrected himself.

"You win some you lose some." Special shrugged, standing up and pulling Bell's leg fur just to be annoying.

He earned another hiss before Bell stood up as well. She stomped over to their bookshelf, causing Special to stare and gasp as he pulled out a purple photo album.

"You wouldn't dare..."

"I w'uld."

The eldest instantly chased after his sibling, yelling loudly. "Bluebell Emeritus I will end your fucking life!!"

"'At'h me first, bit'h!"

The doves watched the altercation as Bell ran around the common area while flipping through the book, laughing maniacally. Sarra stood in the doorway, eyeing his fellow packmates who simply shrugged. She jumped over the coffee table and into Iris's lap who sat on his rocking chair, shoving the photo album in his hands.

"L'k at his fa'e!— AH!" Bell started before squealing as her hair was yanked back, Phil dragging him before Bell grabbed his shoulder and pulled him down.

Sarra lifted the coffee table as they rolled around, hitting and poking at each other's sides. Iris hummed, both Gaia and Aqua looking over his shoulder at the photos. It had photos of Phil during an event called 'homecoming', his face covered in acne and braces tight. He looked... Awkward. They couldn't help but smile at the obviously embarrassing photos fondly, admiring their husband and now flipping through the pages.

"Turn to the sixth page!" Phil shouted, straddling Bell's stomach while she thrashed before slamming them upwards in a vice versa position, twisting Special's arm behind his back.

"D'n't!!" Bell whined in response, distracted but yelping as legs wrapped around her neck and twisted him back down.

Doing as told, Iris moved to the sixth page, stifling his laughter as Bluebell stood with an angry face as she was dressed as a variant of an Easter bunny. The icing on the cake was the carrot she angrily held, a death grip like he was ready to throw it at whoever was behind the camera. Iris turned the book so Sarra could look while he still held the coffee table up but also monitored the two siblings still going at it.

The quint cooed. "Oh, that's just precious. You should dress up as a bunny for us, Bell."

"What?!-"

"Why not me?!-"

The two looked up at the same time, knocking their heads together and groaning, holding their respective impact marks. They hissed at each other, glaring and a new found fire as they went back to fighting, Phil grabbing a previously thrown pillow, hitting Bluebell with it who quickly got her own to retaliate.

Slowly flicking through the pages, Gaia pointing at a baby photo of the two, their hearts melting with a shared 'Aww.' It was one of them matching for their first Halloween, Phil as a ladybug, Bluebell as a bumblebee.

Sarra reached up with his other hand as a pillow went towards his face, quickly throwing it back to Phil who resumed beating his younger sibling while laughing.

"Look at this one! Aw, Phil, you were smaller than a Firebird!" Aqua smiled wide, seeing the picture of the kit being held by Papa Nihil who compared him to the body of the guitar.

Their response was Phil yelling as Bell had adjusted her hooves on his stomach and kicking overhead, sending the doctor onto the floor and groaning at impact. They both panted, catching their breath. She tilted her head back just in time to see Phil slowly raise his middle finger, responding in the same way.

Agni, who had been watching from his doorway hummed. "I don't even want to think of you two doing this when you were younger."

Iris laughed. "My guess is broken bones. Plenty of them."

Very delicately, Sarra placed the coffee table back down and picked up his two husbands, them resting in his arms but now glaring as they were in eye contact again. "I don't think they're actually grown." Sarra teased.

Immediately, the two snapped their head at the quintessence, then back to one another.

"Truce?" Phil huffed.

Bell nodded. "Tru'e."

Sarra quickly lost his balance as Phil wrapped around his neck and pulled back, Bell dropping and quickly tackling his waist. They grabbed their pillows and went to beating their mate with more laughter, Sarra holding his hands up to protect himself from the throw pillows.

"We're older than you, you overgrown grape!"

[writingforstraykids]

Addicted to you - Chp.10

Pairing: Minchan (mention of Changlix)

Word Count: 6309

Summary: The night Felix and Minho have shared raises questions amongst their friends and Minho feels pushed into a corner. Another fight with Chan escalates and Felix and Changbin step in. Minho and Chan try to work on their differences and get closer.

Warnings/Tags: emotional breakdown, panic attack, emotional hurt/comfort, mention of alcohol, mention of sleeping pills

A/N: Another bit of drama but we're getting there🤣~🌙

Chp.9 | Chp. 11

Getting heavy to breathe in this room together It's so awkward, we can't seem to do it better Can't we just fake a smile, put our shit to the side? Loved You Once - Clara Mae

The next morning everyone was already seated at the table as Minho made his way downstairs. He was wearing a loose shirt, not wanting them to notice that he lost weight and his hair messily fell around his face. His eyes looked a little swollen and his neck was covered in dark bitemarks. 

Everyone stared at him as he made his way to the fridge and poured himself some juice. "What?" Minho snapped as they still remained silent. 

"What the fuck happened?" Seungmin was the first one daring to speak up. 

Minho blinked at him in confusion. "What's that supposed to mean?" 

"Uh, your neck," Hyunjin said, vaguely gesturing at his own. 

He sat down at the other end of the table and tried to ignore Chan's observant eyes resting on him. "Felix happened," he said. 

Jisung choked on his drink. "What?!" 

"Yes, I went back to what I started with. Any more stupid questions?" he asked. 

"Why?" Jeongin asked confused, looking at Felix, who was gently shaking his head. 

"Why?" Minho asked him and raised his eyebrows. 

"Okay, sorry for asking," he rolled his eyes at him. 

"This is hardly the place to discuss this," Felix said gently. 

"Why would we even discuss that?" Minho asked and huffed as everyone avoided his eyes. "I can't believe you guys sometimes," he said firmly, getting up. 

"Minho," Chan said warningly, sensing another breakdown. 

"Everyone in this fucking house did that before, but when I do it, it's suddenly an issue?" he asked, ignoring Chan's utterly confused look and the nervous glances of their friends at him. "Why? Because my last lover was so sweet and supportive of me that I have no reason to?" 

"Minho, let it be," Chan told him firmly. “This is between you and me; don’t take it out on the others.”

Minho slammed his glass back down at the table and glared at him. "You shut up. You're the whole reason this shit is happening. The only reason you took me was because I was the easier option since I was around the house already. Now stop acting like I'm the asshole just because I had sex with someone else for once." 

"Oh, the way you panicked after it yesterday seemed like you surely enjoyed it," Chan said coldly, and Minho's face fell in betrayal. 

"You..what?" Felix asked worriedly, and Minho glanced at him anxiously. 

"You're such an asshole, I can't believe I fell for you," Minho said, staring at Chan with tears in his eyes. 

"I have no idea why I wanted you so badly either," Chan fired back. "You're completely unstable." 

"Seriously? You desperately kiss me and you begged me to talk to you about something else yesterday," he spat out, a tear running down his cheek as he desperately tried to save himself.

"Oh my fucking god, you guys. Go get a room, have some fucked up hate sex, and then move on," Jisung said and grabbed his plate, getting up and leaving. 

"Don't start making this a routine when the rest of us are trying to eat," Changbin groaned softly. 

Minho looked at Chan for another moment. "I quit." 

"Minho hyung," Seungmin tried gently. 

"No, you fucking don't, Minho. Go and sober up, I can smell the alcohol from here," Chan snapped at him, and everyone looked at him in shock. 

"I’m not doing shit this week, just make something up. You're good at that," he spat out. 

"You won't risk the reputation of the group just because we don't get along right now. Get yourself together! We have a fucking job to do!" Chan shouted and slammed his hand on the table, jumping up. Minho didn't know what got into him as he grabbed his glass and threw its contents right at his face. Chan stared at him in pure shock, juice dripping down from his curls onto his sweater. 

"What is wrong with you?" 

Jeongin quietly handed him a tissue and exchanged an awkward glance with Seungmin. 

"Okay, that's enough," Felix said, grabbing Minho's wrist and pulling him. "Binnie, you take Chan."  

"What the fuck?" Hyunjin said to no one in particular, wiping off a few drops of juice that had landed on his sweater. 

"This is getting exhausting," Seungmin sighed agreeingly. 

Minho stood as far away from Chan as possible as they brought them to the same room. Changbin pulled the door closed loudly.  "What the hell?" he asked sharply. "Why the fuck would you talk about that during breakfast?" 

"Why the fuck do I have to explain everything around here, and he doesn't?" Minho snapped right back at him. 

"Why didn't you cover it up?" he asked. 

"Because I didn't thinking about it, okay? I'm sorry that I can't think of everything," he groaned, frustrated. "I should've stayed upstairs in the first place." 

"And why the fuck would you say those hurtful things to Minho again?!" Changbin asked Chan, clearly frustrated. "If you saw him panicking, that's between you and him, not for the whole table to discuss. Neither is pointing out that he had a little too much." 

"I wasn't thinking," he huffed. 

"Wow, that's a new thing," Minho pressed out. 

"You're day drinking now?" Chan asked harshly. 

"Why? Does it bother you? Great, I'll do it again tomorrow," he said angrily. 

"Oh, for fucks sake- Shut up, both of you!" Felix snapped at them, and they all grew quiet. He didn't lose his temper often, so seeing him like this now prompted the silence. "Listen, you're both hurt and can't stand each other at the moment; we get that. But stop putting it on everyone and dragging us down with you. We're a team and need to trust each other to function." 

"You can't keep on fighting in front of everyone else. This is your shit. If you need help, go see a couple therapist or some shit like that." 

"We're not exactly a couple," Chan noted. 

"That's the point they were trying to make," Minho nodded sourly. "It's actually not a bad idea when you think about it," he agreed. 

"You're kidding," Chan laughed darkly. 

"I'm not," Minho said firmly. "I'd have enough mental issues to talk about, and don't get me started on you." 

"Nice one," he huffed. 

"I mean it, you could use some yourself," Minho sighed. "But you didn't want to hear that the first time, I doubt you want it now." 

"Damn right," Chan nodded and crossed his arms in front of his chest. 

"Guys, this isn't working. We can't go on like that," Felix sighed. 

"I want a break," Minho said firmly. 

"No," Chan said just as firmly. 

"Why?!" he asked, slowly losing his mind. 

"There's no chance they'll let you take a break right now, you know there's tons of important stuff coming up," Chan reminded him. 

"It's not like I'm contributing anything useful at the moment anyway," he said defensively. Minho slumped back against the window, his will to fight slowly crumbling. "Chan, I can't do this right now," he said tiredly. "Blame it on my injury. I don't care, but I can't go out there and pretend I'm okay," he told him, his eyes filling with fresh tears. He hated himself for being so damn emotional at the moment; it wasn’t like him to show that so openly all the time.

"Chan hyung, he's right. It just keeps on raising more questions," Changbin tried gently. 

"You know I don't like to quit, you know I always push myself way beyond my limits for the group," Minho said shakily, searching Chan's eyes. "I'm not asking for much, give me a week. Chan, if you care about me even for the tiniest bit, help me out here. Please," he begged through tears. 

"I said no," Chan said, hating himself for it. He knew there was no chance they'd allow him such a break. Not at the moment. Not without a profound reason, and having a fight with him wouldn't work for that. Watching Minho's eyes fill with betrayal, he knew he lost him. If there had been any hope left for them, he just destroyed it. Chan felt sick to the core, blinking back tears burning in his eyes. 

Minho whimpered as if he had hit him, tears streaming down his face. He flinched away as Felix reached out for him to comfort him, and Changbin quickly took his hand, seeing the hurt that filled his boyfriend's face. "I'm sorry, Minho, I can't make that happen," Chan tried timidly. 

"You're the worst," he pressed out. 

"You're probably right about that," Chan nodded before leaving the room, feeling like he couldn’t breathe.

Changbin and Felix stood still for a moment. "You need some space?" Changbin asked, and Minho nodded, not even looking up. 

Minho couldn't believe the shitshow his life had turned into within weeks. His friends hated him by now. He misplaced his trust once again in someone who hurt him in the end. His body was a wreck, his mental health even more. He noticed he had forgotten his phone and blindly stumbled down the stairs to get it. 

Chan swallowed hard seeing him and stared down at the table, unable to watch how devastated he looked. 

"Minho hyung?" Seungmin asked worriedly as Minho fumbled over his chair, searching for his phone. He was trembling, tears streaming down his face, and his body was shaking with heavy sobs he tried to hold back. 

"I'm okay," Minho pressed out, finally finding his phone. 

Chan closed his eyes, inhaling shakily at how broken he sounded. It felt like being punched in the face. A few hot tears slowly started to make their way down his cheeks, and he pressed his lips together tightly. 

"Chan hyung?" Jeongin tried gently, placing his hand on his. 

"Don't," he whispered, shaking his head. He didn't deserve their comfort one bit. 

Jisung came back to return his plate, stopping in his tracks seeing them. "What the hell did I miss now?" 

"Minho wants to take a break, but Chan can't help him because they wouldn't allow it," Felix summed it up. 

"That's bullshit," Jisung shook his head, turning 

toward Chan. "His injury would be reason enough." 

Chan looked up, and everyone swallowed, seeing the tears on his cheeks, realizing it didn't leave him as cold as he pretended to. "I already tried, okay?" he asked, voice laced with emotions. "I asked them, not only once…I tried, kitten." 

Minho flinched heavily and took a step back. "Don't call me that," he whispered pleadingly. 

Chan swallowed hard. "Sorry." 

"Why wouldn't they let him go on a break?" Changbin asked. "We've gone for lesser reasons." 

"He's the main dancer, people love watching him tease the shit out of all of us, and he's a visual," Chan said, unable to look at Minho. "Not during promotions." 

"It's always during promotions," Seungmin tried.

"I tried my best, okay?" Chan asked weakly. "I told them he's injured and unstable, but that didn't seem like it was enough." 

Minho braced himself on the backrest of his chair, burying his face in his arms. "Channie, please," he whimpered. 

Hyunjin got up at the same time as Chan did and stepped next to him, soothingly rubbing his back. "Minho, you don't have to do this alone, okay?" he asked softly. 

"I can't keep up with it," he told them, backing away from Hyunjin, denying himself the comfort of his friends once more. "I'm not okay, guys," he whispered, grabbing the kitchen island to steady himself. "Please don't force me to pretend I am," he whimpered and sank down on the floor, leaning against the kitchen island, feeling a little dizzy. 

Jeongin gave Chan a gentle push and nodded toward Minho. Chan anxiously glanced at his friends, and they all seemed to agree with him trying to comfort him. Hyunjin stepped aside to make room for him. Chan hesitantly crouched down and rested his hand on his shoulder. "Minnie, look at me," he said very softly. Minho looked up, pressing his lips together tightly as their eyes met. 

Chan hesitated for a moment before cupping his face. "I didn't mean to start another fight, I've been an idiot, okay?" 

"Okay," Minho whispered. "Me too." 

"I swear to you, I tried to get you some time off," he continued. 

"Why didn't you say so?" Minho asked shakily.  

"I don't know," he said, chewing his lower lip. "I promise we'll figure this out," he told him, soothingly caressing his cheeks. 

Minho reached up, grabbing his wrists, and for a moment, Chan thought he'd pull him away. But Minho smiled sadly, thumbs fondling over the back of his hands. "I fit right into them, right?" he whispered. 

"Yeah," Chan laughed weakly, almost choking on his tears. 

"In another life, we could've been perfect," Minho said quietly enough for only him to hear, remembering Felix's words of last night. 

"Being perfect is completely overrated," he said, and Minho's lower lip quivered. "Come here," he said gently, and Minho gave in, burying his face in his chest. Chan held him close, soothingly rubbing his back as Minho held onto him tightly. His own tears dripped down into Minho's hair, and after a moment, he buried his face in it, hoping he wouldn't have to let go of him that quickly again. Minho held onto him as if his life depended on it. 

Four days later

Felix sighed softly, pulling the door to Minho's room closed behind himself and making his way over to his own. Jisung would stay for tonight, and he himself felt like cuddling with his boyfriend for a bit. 

Just as he reached his room, Chan stepped out of his own, meeting his eyes before signaling him to follow him. Felix bit back a groan but stepped into Chan's room. "How is he?" Chan asked quietly. 

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Felix answered tiredly. 

"Seriously? He isn't exactly letting me close," he sighed. 

"Yeah, who can blame him?" Felix mumbled, but Chan heard him contorting his face. 

"I thought you were my little brother, Felix. Can't I even ask you something now without you being sassy?" he asked, getting frustrated. 

"Minho's like a brother to me, too, you know? And you've been a complete dick to him," he said gently. 

"Don't you think your relationship goes a little beyond that?" he asked, and Felix simply stared at him. "Is that why you're pissed? Because I took away your casual lover and only hurt him? Is that what you tried to undo a few nights ago?" 

"You're so fucking dumb, Chan if you seriously think this is a jealousy issue," Felix told him. "We've been having fun, and yes, it has been amazing, but we've talked about what we were, you know? We were both fully aware that this was a friends-with-benefits situation since, deep down, his heart belonged to you, and I had a crush on Changbin." 

"You…what?" Chan asked, confused. 

"Wake up, Channie, you two weren't the only ones. Binnie and I have been in a relationship since the day Min and I ended our little agreement," he sighed softly. “All I did was try to help him forget, which Changbin was alright with.”

"So he knows?" he asked quietly. 

"Everyone kinda knows," Felix told him. 

"Everyone but me," he nodded sourly. 

"We didn't exactly hide; we just didn't feel like kissing in front of you guys," he tried gently. “That’s why I got so upset that day. You think I’d cry like that because of a friend avoiding me?”

Chan shrugged his shoulders. “Wouldn’t be the first time, Felix; you’re a softie.”

“Wow, thanks,” Felix snorted. "So no, you didn't take away my casual lover, as you call it…but maybe that's the issue here," Felix nodded gently. 

"If that's all you saw in him, it's no wonder you can look him in the eyes and say all that horrible stuff about him in front of your shared family." 

"Careful, Felix," Chan said firmly. 

"Why, Chan? It doesn't seem like Minho meant any more than one of your one-night stands," he shrugged. "You're right, he deserves better than that, and I'm praying he'll believe in that." 

Chan stared at him, tears forming in his eyes. "Wow." 

"I just don't get it, Channie. You've always wanted to call him yours, you longed for him to love you back. You had it all, and you ruined it by denying it, hurting him, pretending that having sex with him was just him using you…What the fuck, mate?" he asked quietly and squinted his eyes at him. "I don't know what's been going on in your head those past few weeks, but you need help, Chan. I'm saying this as your little brother, who loves you a lot." 

"Fuck off," he shook his head and opened the door. "Seriously, move it." 

"That only shows me I'm right," he shook his head sadly but did as he said. "I really hope you come back to us, I miss you." 

Chan just shook his head and slammed his door closed. He sank against it and buried his face in his knees, tears spilling down his cheeks. He quickly covered his mouth with his hand, not wanting anyone to hear how hurt he was himself and how guilty he felt. Chan looked up, spotting the bottle of sleeping pills on his desk, and thought of the envelopes in the drawer beneath it. He got up and went over there, taking them out and spreading them on the table. The names of his six friends stared back at him, and he hesitantly took out the last, thicker envelope with Minho's name on it. He opened it up, and a few pictures poured from the envelope down onto the table. Chan picked up one of them, a weak laugh falling from his lips, seeing Minho and himself pulling a stupid grimace. There was another one of them kissing and another one where Minho looked at him behind the camera, full of love. Chan's thumb softly brushed over Minho's cheek, and hot tears shot to his eyes again. He really fucked that up. He had it all and ruined it. 

Why did he always ruin everything? They’d seriously do better without him.

He reached for the bottle of pills and looked down at the table, breathing in shakily. Minho’s beautiful brown eyes stared right back at him. He could practically hear him, telling him to get help when he couldn’t deal with things on his own anymore. Telling him that he was loved, that he mattered, and that he’d always be there for him and…

Chan sucked in a sharp breath, scared of himself, before dropping the bottle and leaving his room. He felt like he couldn't properly breathe anymore, and before he knew it, he was in front of Minho's room, knocking hesitantly. 

Jisung opened the door, and his eyes widened seeing him. He quickly stepped outside and closed the door. "Chan hyung?" 

"Hannie, I can't -." He rubbed his chest as a sharp pain shot through it, and he gasped for air. 

His face softened, realizing what was happening, and he gently squeezed Chan's hand. "Look at me," he told him, and Chan's panicked eyes met his. "Deep breaths, okay? I'll breathe with you," he told him and helped him find a proper rhythm. Chan focused on him and slowly felt his chest opening up again. 

“Is Minho here, I really need to talk to him,” Chan asked timidly.

Jisung contorted his face. “I’m not sure if that’s a good idea,” he said gently, feeling bad at the pained look on his friend’s face.

"Hannie, I'll be out for some - What the fuck?" Minho asked, stepping out of his room and seeing them. 

Jisung glanced at Minho, wearing a jacket and holding his sneakers in his hand. "You'll be out for what?" he asked calmly.

"A walk," he said, not even looking at him. His eyes were stuck on Chan. "What do you want?" he asked. 

"He had a panic attack," Jisung answered for him, still holding Chan's hands. 

"Why?" Minho asked. 

"You know there doesn't have to be a reason," Jisung sighed softly. 

"Hannie, he's old enough to answer for himself," Minho told him. “Why, Chan?”

"I don't know," Chan said quietly. 

"Huh," Minho nodded before dropping his shoes, pushing past them, and walking to Chan's room. Something told him Chan knew damn well what was wrong. He didn’t know what made him think he’d find a clue in his room, but who knew? Maybe he had already packed up his stuff.

"Minho, don't!" Chan called out for him, but Minho was faster, already in his room, as he reached the door. 

In shock, Minho stared at Chan's desk, seeing the letters and the bottle of pills. He shakily picked up the envelope with his name on it and spotted the unseen pictures on the table. His heart hurt seeing them, and he turned to look at Chan standing in the doorway, seeming way smaller than he was. "What the hell are you doing?" he asked quietly. 

"Minho," he tried. 

"Just answer the damn question, Chan!" he snapped and frowned as Chan flinched heavily. That was new. 

“I-I wanted to - I don’t know what I thought,” he stammered, and Minho frowned at him. 

“Please tell me you didn’t,” Minho whispered, tightening his grip around the envelope.

“Just for a moment,” he said, starting to shake a little. "I got into a fight with Felix and felt like you’d all be better off without me," he said timidly and pulled at the sleeves of his sweater. 

"A fight with Felix?" he frowned. It took a lot to make Felix mad. 

"I'm an asshole, okay? I know that already. I don't need everyone to rub it in," Chan said, looking down as fresh tears filled his eyes. 

Minho chewed on his lower lip nervously and looked back at all the letters. "What are those?" 

“The letters you would’ve gotten after I quit,” he admitted.

Minho carefully picked up the bottle of pills. "Are you still thinking about that?" he asked, rubbing his neck tiredly. Chan only shook his head, pressing his lips closed as tears started spilling down his cheeks. "You promise?" he asked gently, unsure how to handle the situation. He didn't feel like comforting him, but acting like he didn't care didn't feel right either. Chan nodded but stayed quiet once more. "Are you...gonna be okay?" 

"I don't know," Chan whispered helplessly. "I thought I was,” he added and wiped his face with the sleeve of his sweater. “I scared myself just now.”

He stared at him and couldn’t help but think that he looked like a sad kid who needed a hug right now. Minho closed his eyes defeatedly and nodded softly to himself. He couldn't leave him like this. Minho always hated seeing him cry; what he just admitted worried him. He gathered all the envelopes from the table and took Chan's pills as well. He walked past him, handing Jisung the pills and sending him off after a few whispered words. "You'll go ask Hannie from now on if you need some to sleep, alright?" he asked, and Chan nodded reluctantly. Minho chewed on his lip before giving himself a push and holding out his hand for him. "Come on." 

Chan looked at him through tears in confusion but took his hand. The familiar but very missed feeling sent shivers through both their bodies. They both stared at their hands for a moment before their eyes met. 

"You can stay here tonight," Minho offered hesitantly. 

"Are you sure?" Chan asked quietly. 

"I don't know..right now, I am," he said, gently pulling at his hand. "Now, come on before I change my mind." Chan followed him silently and picked up Minho's shoes for him, stepping into his room with him. Minho put the envelopes on his desk and took the shoes from him, removing his jacket again. "Sit down," he said, gesturing towards his bed. "You want some tea?" 

"I'm fine," he shook his head. 

"You don't look fine," Minho sighed. 

"Then stop looking," Chan answered and pulled down the sleeves of his sweater. 

"Channie," he said gently and rolled his eyes at him. 

"Sorry," he mumbled, looking up surprised as Minho wrapped a soft blanket around his shoulders. 

Minho gently rubbed his shoulders and sighed softly. "You stay here, I'll make some lavender tea to help you calm down." 

"Okay," he said quietly, swallowing at how close Minho was to him suddenly. "Min?" 

"Yeah?" 

"They're…they're not goodbye messages," Chan spoke up quietly. 

"What?" he frowned softly. 

"They're just stuff I wrote for each one of you in case one of you would feel bad or get into a fight with me," he told him. "I was thinking about giving Felix his." 

"Oh," he nodded dumbly. 

"But…yeah, I guess today I thought about them being just that," he admitted. 

"Thank you for being honest with me," he nodded gently. 

Minho went downstairs and stared out of the window as he waited for the water to cook. He rubbed his face tiredly and groaned softly, bracing himself on the kitchen counter as his stomach cramped. Now that he thought of it, he hadn't eaten anything all day. "Fucking hell," he sighed before putting their bags in the cups and pouring some water in. 

"Can't sleep?" Changbin asked, strolling into the kitchen. 

"Shouldn't I ask you the same?" Minho gave back, putting some honey into one cup and shoving a cookie into his mouth.

"Felix came over for cuddles. We're about to watch a movie, and he wants popcorn," he rolled his eyes fondly before glancing back at Minho. "Who's that second one for?" he asked curiously, knowing everyone should be in their room by now. 

"Chan," Minho said after swallowing his snack, and Changbin looked surprised at him. "Apparently, he and Lixie had a fight or something…he had a panic attack."

"That's why he's so caught up in his thoughts," Changbin nodded gently. "And now you and Chan..?"

"He had some sort of goodbye letters and his pills on his desk. I didn't want to leave him alone," Minho admitted. 

"And you're okay with being the one to be there for him tonight?" he asked caringly. 

"Honestly, no idea," he told him with a weak smile. 

"I'd do it, but I have Lix over." 

"Don't worry about it, I'll be fine," he waved him off, and Changbin looked at him doubting. "I promise, go and enjoy some time with your boyfriend," he smiled bravely. 

Changbin nodded slowly, grabbed the bag, and pulled him into a hug. "I hope you know we care about and love you a lot, Minho hyung." 

Minho smiled sadly and patted his back gently. "Of course," he lied. 

He watched him leave before stuffing the pack of cookies into his sweater pocket and removing the teabags. Minho grabbed their cups and went back upstairs, wincing softly as his knee protested with every step up the stairs. He pushed the door open and balanced the cups in one hand, trying to close it again. Some of the hot tea swapped over the edge of the cup and right onto his hand, making him curse and bite the back of his free hand to cancel the noise.

Chan got up worriedly and carefully eased the cups out of his hand, putting them aside. He automatically took Minho's hand and inspected the damage. "Come on, let's pour some cold water over it," he said, leading him to the adjoined bathroom. 

Minho watched him silently as Chan held his hand beneath the water, thumb carefully brushing over the burnt skin. He swallowed hard as Chan applied some cooling cream, careful not to hurt him. Now, in the bright light of the bathroom, Minho saw how messed up Chan looked. His eyes were reddish and swollen, his curls framing his face completely untamed. He fought the urge to brush them back and tried not to pay too much attention to how good it felt to feel his skin against his. 

"Told you I don't need tea," Chan joked lightheartedly. 

"Fuck off," Minho gave back softly. "I was trying to be nice." 

"I know," he assured him gently before letting go of his hand. "There you go." 

"Thanks," he nodded before quickly leaving the bathroom again and grabbing himself a cup. Minho went over to his window and sat down on the pillows draped across the window sill. He leaned against the wall and stared outside into the night sky, trying to sort his thoughts. Chan got comfortable on his bed again, wrapping the blanket around himself and carefully blowing into his tea. 

Minho took a sip before contorting his face. "Let's switch," he said, and Chan frowned at him. "I don't like honey in my tea, remember?" 

"Oh," he nodded dumbly and handed Minho his cup. He stared down at the new cup in his hands, his heart warming at the thought of Minho remembering to add honey for him. They remained quiet for a while; Minho stared outside, and Chan tried to look everywhere but at him, which was hard because Minho looked beautiful with the moonlight dancing across his face, highlighting its finest features. It was moments like this when Chan realized how beautiful he was. "Uhm, about our recent interview-," he started, and Minho shook his head. 

"No, I know. It was highly unprofessional to storm out like that, and it won't happen again. I'm sorry about what happened after they sent me back in, my brain wasn’t functioning," he apologized and rubbed his neck. “Believe me, I’ve got my fair share of scolding for it already.”

"What? I…no, no, that's not what I was trying to say," he shook his head, and Minho glanced at him. “Wait a minute, you got in trouble after that?”

“It doesn’t matter,” he shook his head.

“Minho,” Chan said firmly, and Minho swallowed.

“They told me to get myself together or stay away from group interviews for a while. Apparently, I’m too quiet and look too depressed for the cameras,” he shrugged and chewed on his lower lip. “Bad for business or something like that. I didn’t really listen.” Another lie. He had memorized every word, taking it all in and making it his new reality. He was starting to see himself the way his haters did more with every day passing.

“I’m sorry, Min, I’ll talk to them,” Chan said, but Minho shook his head.

“Please don’t, it’ll make things only more complicated.”

"I was going to apologize. Given the circumstances, I should've known that saying you're the most important person in the group to me would upset you. I wasn't thinking." 

Minho tilted his head softly. "You act like that's something new." 

"Ouch. Fine, I deserve that," Chan nodded almost timidly. 

Minho squinted his eyes at him. "You know there was a time you could take a joke." 

Chan shortly raised his eyebrows. "There was a time you meant it as a joke."

Minho took a sip of his tea and watched him for a moment. "I was joking, Chan." 

"Well, I wasn't," he gave back, and Minho's expression faltered. Insecurity flashed back into his eyes, and the grip around his cup tightened. 

"Why would you say that?" he whispered. 

"Say what?" Chan asked. 

"Why would you say some bullshit like that in public and act so differently when the cameras are gone? How fucked up is that?" he asked. 

Chan closed his eyes and shook his head. "Minho." 

"What? You don't have an answer for that either?" he asked, getting offended.

"I was talking bullshit that night, and I'm sorry, okay? I don't know how often I'll have to tell you or the others that I'm sorry, but I'll do it if that means you can stand staying in the same room with me again," he burst out. 

"I currently am, aren't I?" he huffed. 

"I meant what I said during that interview; I was being honest. I should've known you'd get upset or angry or whatever, but I saw a chance to say something to you without you avoiding me," he explained tiredly. "Again, I'm sorry and-." 

"Yeah, I got that," he said sourly. "You think sorry will fix things? It'll make me forget about what you said, how you portrayed our whole relationship in front of our friends. You think I'll forget what you said about me?" he asked, his voice growing shaky. "I trusted you with all my fears and deepest insecurities, and you smacked them right back in my face. You said I'm cold, I don't care about your feelings and-" his voice broke, tears shooting to his eyes, and he stopped himself, looking away from him. Minho stared outside, trying to blink away his tears and swallow down the lump forming in his throat. “You think it’ll make me forget how you asked if I enjoyed you telling me that I’m not all of those things? That I'm just some sassy asshole?” he asked shakily.

"I know I can't fix this by saying sorry, but I want you to know that I am," he said, getting emotional again. "I know I fucked up, and I probably won't be able to fix this. But please, if there's a way, let me know," he pleaded.

"You can't just undo the damage," he pressed out and sniffled. 

"I know," he said defeatedly, big tears spilling down his cheeks. 

"Just like I can't undo it by saying sorry for revealing how shitty you actually felt. That wasn't my decision to make, and still, I did it on purpose to hurt you back," he told him and sucked in a sharp breath. "It's my own fault you snapped at me after that, I know that. I just didn't think you'd go that far."

Chan messily wiped his cheeks with his sleeves, but new tears kept on making their way down his cheeks. "I was talking shit, and you reacted. That's okay."

"No, it's not, we both know that," Minho said, and Chan didn't know what to say since he was right. 

But then..he wasn't okay with it. "No, it really isn't. I trusted you with that, and you decided that was the first thing to throw at me when I hurt you. You used my darkest moment to protect yourself," he said, pulling the blanket around himself more tightly. "You broke your promise and lost my trust." 

"I know." Minho closed his eyes, hot tears dripping from his face. "And still, you hold me when I panic and come to me when you do. How does that make any sense?" 

"I guess deep down I knew only you have truly seen that side of me, and you didn't fall apart because of it," he confessed and felt his heart break at Minho's tortured expression. 

"We both fucked up big time," Minho said after a long moment of silence. 

"I lost you with what I said, didn't I?" he asked timidly and bit back a sob as Minho didn't answer. “Min, please, just answer the question.”

"Right now, you did, yes," Minho nodded, holding back a sob at that confession. It was the first time he truly admitted that to himself. 

"Will I ever get you back?" he asked. 

"I don't know, Channie," he laughed weakly and almost choked on his tears. Minho flinched heavily as Chan buried his face in the blanket, sobbing quietly. "Please stop," he begged him quietly, putting his cup aside. 

Chan mumbled an apology, hiding even more as his body shook with heavy sobs. He couldn't help it, reality hitting him full force. Something in him had still believed in a happy end for them and that something had shattered into pieces. "I'm such an idiot, I mess everything up," he sobbed. 

Minho’s body moved before he realized it, and he stepped in front of him, fondling his head. "Channie, love, please," he whimpered, crying hard by now himself. 

Chan whimpered at the pet name and soft touch. Minho cupped his face, making him look at him, and Chan's stomach turned, seeing that he was crying just as hard as he was. 

"Please don't make this harder than it already is," Minho whispered, wiping his cheeks with his thumbs uselessly. 

"I'm sorry, Minho, for everything," he sobbed and closed his eyes as Minho planted a soft kiss on his forehead. "Don't give me hope. Please, don’t give me hope," he whispered. 

"I hate seeing you cry, that's not fair," he confessed weakly and held back a sob as Chan covered his hands with his own. "Can you hold me again?" 

Chan opened his arms for him and pulled him into his lap. He wrapped his arms and the blanket around him at the same time as Minho sank against him. They held each other tightly, trying to calm down at the familiar and missed touch. "I got you, Minho baby," he whispered, and Minho buried his face in his chest, stifling a sob. 

"I'm so sorry, Channie," he whispered, gripping his shirt. "I need time to figure this out."

"We have time," Chan told him and buried his face in Minho's hair. 

"We both need some space to work through that stuff," he said, and Chan's hold on him loosened. 

"You're right," he agreed quietly. "I can leave." 

"Please don't," he shook his head. "Not tonight." 

Chan pulled him close in response and closed his eyes. Maybe there was still hope for them. They'd have to work through their hurt on their own until they were ready to forgive each other. "I'll stay as long as you want me to," he promised. 

Chp.9 | Chp. 11

Taglist: (Please let me know if you want to be added to/ removed from the taglist)

@soullostinspaceandtime @mal-lunar-28 @malfoygalaxies @brownieloved @rebecca-johnson-28 @euphoric-univers @hyunniebunni

[flowerslut]

Popped on to wish you a speedy and healthy recovery from your procedures 🖤

Also, thank you for updating Roots, and I hope it’s because you wanted to and not because you felt you had to. Please put yourself first right now 🖤

But since you updated…I wanted to say on first read this is my instinctive raw gut reaction without analysis…I was loving you having Jasper come back to himself so much…when he first recognises Edward, then when he sees Emmett - the burst of rage and regret and guilt he has! Remembering Alice, running to check on her… until a certain someone snapped him back into his automatic response and the thought he had….makes me feel sick. But I know he wouldn’t do that to Alice, and you mentioned something in your tags about infidelity not being a tag..

(I also hope Alice didn’t see that particular vision with her fragile state right now, would not be helpful for her)

I’m really hoping you let him come back to himself soon and see Alice even though it’ll rip our poor troubled Jasper’s heart out at seeing her like that/knowing what was done to her 💔

My heart is breaking for Rosalie!

And being the Peter/(Charlotte RIP) stan I am, I kind of lowkey love the fact he was stinking of venom and rot because that screams to me that he carried and held Alice all the way back home and we love that for his character 🖤

tldr; take care of yourself and Roots is better than the entire plot of The Twilight Saga altogether, sending positive vibes and all the Jalice love 🖤

Clara x

(PS, I may be back with a more in depth analysis once I’ve reread this chapter after some sleep after a 12 hour working day)

thank you so much!!!! I'm feeling better every day and I'm in good spirits so that's a huge plus!! and omfg lmfaooo don't worry!! every single time I've worked hard to squeeze in a roots update is because I'm fucking feral about this story and I LOVE thinking about it and posting it and talking about it etc etc!! 🥰 for as obsessed with roots as everyone says they are, just know that I'm over here also feeling the same stuff!!! sure there's a sense of obligation there since I like posting regular updates but it's 10000% percent because I love! to write!!! and I love! the fics!! I write!!!!

gonna reply to the rest under a cut bc of spoilers! ♡

don't worry, if jasper's disorientation/current mental state is making you feel sick or nervous or anxious then that means my job here is done 💀 this poor man is still trying to mesh the good (his current life) with the bad (his past life) in his brain and it's causing a full fracture to happen. we (jalice stans) often talk a lot about jasper's trauma because it's a really interesting subject to dive into, but being able to write and explore a traumatized character going through psychosis has always been something I like to explore in fanfic and with characters I like (who are all very traumatized individuals. hm. wonder what that says about me 💀)

anyways you'll have a better idea of what alice is and isn't seeing two chapters from now! but don't worry, I will give you one assurance and say that this past chapter (48) is as disoriented as jasper gets in the fic. he starts clearing up more little by little as the story progresses. unfortunately, I can't say the same about alice

and poor rosalie oh my godddd :( I think that whumping emmett (or renesmee, if we're being real here) is probably the best way to get rosalie to break down. and rosalie is interesting because she's so quick to anger. but when there's no immediate target for that anger, and when the person she loves more than anything is in such a state, you can only imagine what she's going through right now. (which is why edward's current job is keeping rosalie from trying to fight maria because she badly needs something to tear into) you definitely get a little more peter & alice content in the next alice chapter, but not a wild amount. peter's main job right now is 'keep alice alive' and if that means having to begrudgingly follow maria's orders...well, he'll do it, but he won't like it...

thank you again for always being so sweet!! I'm so happy you and other people love this story so much! it feels so good to have a fic that I was insane about for a year straight finally infect my readers in the same way that it did me 💀 I can't wait for you guys to have the full thing by the end of the year!!!!!!! thanks again! ♡

[macbethz]

1, 10, and 15 for the choose violence ask game :)

THIS IS A LONG ONE SORRY. I guess I had violence in my heart.

1. The character everyone gets wrong

Ok im aware this is like the most predictable answer for me but its true. CLARA!!! People don't get her at all and it absolutely infuriates me, because she's pretty much the only companion in nuwho who is hated to this extent (ie, people saying mean shit about her on my posts ABOUT HER) Oh does she annoy you by having the exact same traits as the doctor? Do you not like her egotistical and controlling behavior? I wonder why. Perhaps there is a point there.

Sidenote - it annoys me when people will call her a mary sue and simultaneously get mad at her being an asshole and yk, having character flaws, as if those terms aren't mutually exclusive & her hyper-competence that gets read as "mary sue" isn't an intentional choice by the narrative and a result of her being DEEPLY unwell in other aspects of her life.

I feel like a lot of people judge her based on the second half of s7 which, to be fair, is awful and I don't think they knew what they were doing with her yet. But in the context of her whole run she is genuinely one of the most evocative characters to come out of doctor who for me, especially in the way she serves as a kind of commentary and subversion of companions as a whole. I genuinely could talk about clara forever but yeah I do feel like a lot of the hate comes from the fact that people Don't Get Her.

And then among fans who do there's always a risk that they see her as this blank slate twee girl to self-project onto which again, to be fair, is how she was written in season 7. But so many things from supposed fans of her as well that I'll read and be like she would not fucking say that. she does not have the emotional awareness to say that. and/or she is not like a uwu quirky shy girl she would fucking speak her mind about that. She is deranged and I love her. I have to shut up abt clara or this will be the whole post.

10. Worst part of fanon

I honestly cant get TOO annoyed with doctor who fanon because i am a comics fan AND a danny phantom fan and its surprisingly common practice for people in both those fandoms to be a "fan" of something they have not consumed the media for in any form, resulting in this horrible mess of fanon with no connection to what makes the original compelling. + doctor who is such a mess of canon anyway basically everything has been canon at some point even if its shit.

But I think in the end the worst part of DW fanon is, like all fanon, the flattening of really compelling characters to fit trope archetypes. I see this especially with tenrose, where they're just turned into this kind of generic ship that you can plug n play into any situation with little connection to the interesting ways they actually behave in canon.

As a kind of interesting reversal, though, fanon will often expand out dw's most generic characters (ie most chibnal companions. sorry), but only for the purposes of shipping and not in ways I myself find particularly interesting. Like imo Yaz is probably the least developed chibnal companion but pretty much the only one I see expanded on in this way because of the shipping potential.

15. that one thing you see in fanart all the time

im probably gonna get slaughtered for this but i think maybe weve had enough crowley in doctor who outfits or 10 meeting crowley fanart. maybe im bitter because i dont really care about the GO show and I feel like it fills up the dw tag to the brim these days

[bonesandthebees]

Okay I’m starting at the catacombs because I love that Wilbur willingly walked in there to find Phil while knowing what was on the other side. What I love even more is that Phil can pick up on someone else being there so fast (I wonder if Kristin told him he had company). And the cherry on top is the fact that Phil gets taken out by it being Wilbur rather than one of the Deathlings. Maybe he’s surprised because he didn’t expect Wilbur to come talk to him. Or maybe it’s the fact that Wilbur walked into the catacombs by himself.

Also, there’s the thing with him feeling Kristin presence again. Like he always feels it in the temple, especially when in sight of a statue, but the catacombs really are Kristin’s domain, even more so than the rest of the temple. And it’s interesting that he also feels Clara’s presence now, because he didn’t at the start or he thought he didn’t. And then that changed when he started getting visions, but it makes me wonder how much of it is really there presence and him much of it is just Wilbur’s imagination/state of mind.

Also, I’ve said it before, but Wilbur so would have an non-believer like Quackity is he hadn’t been yoinked to be the Pythia. [He didn’t want Her watching him. He was here for Phil. Not another goddess.] my man is so done with the whole religion thing. I hope going back to the palace doesn’t fuck him up too much.

(Side note: [Despite the serene look on his face, the Pythia could still see the worry brewing behind his eyes. Whatever Kristin told him might’ve reassured him for the time being, but it wasn’t enough to abate Phil’s concerns entirely.] This might be about the whole coup in general, but I am very worried about Tommy, though there’s no major character death warning, and if I remember correctly you always put those there beforehand (though that might have been a different author.)

(1/?)

-🌲

okay now time for the more recent asks lol

like I said in the older ask of yours I answered, kristin didn't have to tell phil wilbur was in there. wilbur was just really fucking noisy opening that door like he wasn't subtle at all

he was definitely surprised that wilbur walked into the catacombs on his own though. that was something he wasn't expecting.

I won't confirm or deny anything you speculated about kristin vs clara's presence, but I will say a LOT of it is dependent on wilbur's state of mind and his own feelings. like, this story is told entirely in his head. whenever he feels something, it's through his subjective point of view. if you're ever wondering how much of it is influenced by his own head, it's always going to be more than you think.

don't worry I will tag my fics properly if the need arises. though on rare occasions instead of MCD I might tag a fic with creator chose not to use archive warnings instead, if I felt that it was necessary not to spoil things. (that's not to say any fic I write with creator chose not to use archive warnings is going to have MCD in it, just that if MCD does happen and you think I didn't tag for it, look to see if I tagged it creator chose not to use archive warnings bc I almost certainly did)

either way though, rest easy bc glass doesn't have MCD or creator chose not to use archive warnings tagged lol

[soulless-angel25]

Doctor Who Masterpost pt 4

[Hi. Part 4 of my Doctor Who Masterpost! Jesus... I'm going to link the other parts + anything that is technically part of this but also another one of my masterposts. March 2024-June 2024 Riverrose Week Part 1, Part 2, Part 3]

MY ART

13riverrose

Ghost's Romance May day 14

fem!11

doctorroseriver "how much the doctor loves them" given art form

POLLS

doctor who ship you can't get behind?

PROMPTS

GENERAL/THOUGHTS

rose edit idea

"10 didn't love rose"

what is a god?

contribute more to 13riverrose

missyrose ao3 stats

rewatching father's day

rewatching father's day pt 2

rewatching father's day pt 3

rewatching father's day pt 4

rewatching father's day pt 5

rewatching father's day pt 6

finished rewatching father's day

my drrose moon will sing a song explained

3 drrose fics with the same name

I hated "Rogue"

why so many tags for dr/rogue????

i love 9jackrose

rewatching boom town

pls send me fic prompts

ANALYSIS/THEORIES

MY FIC UPDATES/DISCUSSIONS

Multiamory March day 2

Multiamory March day 10

Multiamoey March day 11

Multiamory March day 16

Multiamory March day 20

Multiamory March day 28

Angsty April day 3

Whumpril day 8

Ghost's Soft April day 12

Whumpril day 12

Ghost's Soft April day 16

Whumpril day 19

Ghost's Soft April day 22

Whumpril day 23

Angsty April day 24

Angsty April day 26

Angsty April day 27

NWWNW Chapter 8 is Out!

Ghost's Soft April day 30

Whumpril day 30

Ghost's Romance May day 10

Ghost's Romance May day 21

Chapter 10 of NWWNW is out!

Chapter 11 of NWWNW is out!

FIC RECS

post doomsday rose fic recs

HEADCANONS

ASKS

missy x rose

harriet arbinger going back to work after Sutekh

twissy telepathy fic

victorian clara meets jack

REBLOGS

which companion do you think the doctor...

what did it mean when it said rose was compatible...

velichorus-k rose art

'Next time on Doctor Who!'

rarepair ships

the doctor would benefit more from hallucinating companions in time of need (+mini fic I wrote)

9/rose fic find, help?

73 yards

Doctor Who novelisations (2005-2023)

73 yards and music

dot

Doctor Who Video Essays

fuck, marry, kill, or travel with X character

Doctor Who mass crossover fancomic

legend of ruby sunday causes weird weather

rose art

RELATED TO DOCTOR WHO

which doctor who/percy jackson interaction would i like most?

send me an ask about...

about to meet the last character you wrote about...

send me art asks!

projecting onto characters

my oc v in nwwnw

talked with my mom about doctor who

(reblog) more stuff about being a god being dehumanizing

[melancholiaenthroned]

10 characters | 10 fandoms | 10 tags

i was tagged by @bladeofavernus tyyyy<3 i rlly struggled to think of 10 fandoms im currently in (that had characters i care a lot about. sorry malevolent) but this was fun! not tagging 10 ppl bc im insecure and dont want to be a bother but ! not in any particular order but here they r

michelle carter (dc comics) the realization that i can only pick one dc character for this... so scary. idk if michelle is my favorite dc character ever but shes certainly up there and right now shes at the top of my brain... what does it mean to walk out of the fridge... what does it mean when everyone remembers you dying except for you... hes mourned you but youre back and you didnt even know you were gone... funerals are for the living....

paige duplass (the silt verses) my girlllll augh. augh. my false prophet... its been going not great for her lately and every scene with her recently makes me want to rip my heart out and sob and sob and sob. she just wants to fix the whole world. is that too much to ask. it might be. ill support her forever tho idc if her godchild fucks up and destroys the whole earth i will always be on her side. she went to business school shes a star employee shes an alcoholic shes mother mary. shes everything

amanda young (saw) you knew she was gonna be here i love her so bad. ive spoken at length about amanda before u all know my thoughts. saw iii you will always be famous

jung heewon (orv) thought id throw in a recent interest even tho im still no where done orv^_^ jhw is my favorite so far ever since her scene where she first used judgement day... i love the avenging angel type of character esp the way she does it (attack dog baby!) and i love her dynamic with the rest of the group.

kim kitsuragi (disco elysium) everyday i am thinking about him if you dont see me post about him know that im still thinking about him. i miss him bad

clara (pathologic) shes just a baby... i love her... i love a girl who is silly but so tragic i love a girl who was born in an empty grave i love a girl with frightening powers she doesnt understand i love a girl placed in a situation outside of her control who is still blamed when it goes wrong.

apollo (wildstorm) doesnt count as dc ok. im reaching here im rlly not into that many things its mostly just dc comics. but its his wildstorm self i actually care about sooo counting it. i miss when he killed ppl

calroy cruller (dimension 20) sorry im gonna be a calroy head forever probably hes so special to me. i love villain monologues i love treason i love betrayal.

sasha (borderlands) not into borderlands anymore but she makes this list bc sasha isnt a borderlands character to me ok shes a dear friend. i love her forever even if i will probably never play those games again. ok thats a lie but ill probably never talk about them online again. ok thats a lie too

eddie brock (marvel) it was truly a struggle to think of ten fandoms i currently care about um. i dont even like current venom comics. but eddie will always be special to me i love u insane girl<3

not tagging anyone today im way too tired to think of ppl sorryyyy but if u want to do this just say i tagged u 👍