#I’m convinced the only reason he had a girlfriend in this series was so he would have something that kept him from being present at every

[sailforvalinor]

The Bloors’ biggest mistake was not taking Lysander “deus ex machina” Sage off of the chessboard, but at the same time, I get it, because…what could they have done. Literally what could they have done. If they had tried to do to him what they did to Billy and have him sucked through that painting, Harken would be run through with a ghost spear before he could say a vaguely ominous hello

[guess-my-next-obsession]

Guilty As Sin? — Chapter One

pairing: professor!javier peña x f!reader

rating: series is 18+ only, minors DNI, not a lot here beyond some world building, the party starts next chapter :)

word count: 3.6k

series masterlist

Though it was the first day of the fall semester and your first day as an official law student, you felt exactly the way you had the year before when you were a struggling undergrad. Same town, same friends, even the same apartment in the student housing complex right next to campus that you shared with three of your closest friends, Nina, Derrick, and Alondra, who just so happened to be law students as well. 

It seemed every aspect of your life had remained stagnant for the last four years, except for one critical thing—you were now a single woman. Four years of the most confusing, toxic, passionate relationship of your life now dead and buried thanks to your ex-boyfriend’s inability to keep his dick in his pants. You’d have to see him too this semester, though you tried to keep the prospect of an awkward run-in out of your head as you got ready for the day to the sound of a busy apartment. Nina and Derrick had breakfast duty this morning, the two of them shuffling around the kitchen as loudly as they could, it seemed. Alondra, like you, was sitting across the hall in her bedroom blasting Kali Uchis out of her speaker, though after two years of living together the noise didn’t really affect you at all anymore. 

“Food’s ready,” Derrick said, popping his head in the crack of your open door. 

Standing at six-foot-two with brown skin, hazel eyes, plump lips, and the sharpest bone structure you’d ever seen, Derrick was beautiful. The two of you had done an awkward dance ever since you’d known him, with Derrick silently crushing and you silently rejecting him. You didn’t know what it was about him that didn’t appeal to you; he was kind, handsome, and funny, all the things a normal girl could want. 

But you never really felt like a normal girl. 

You liked the men that didn’t like you back, the men who desperately needed someone to fix them, always convinced that you had what it took to do just that. Of course, you knew better than that by now, but there was a part of you that worried you. A part you always had to keep an eye on, too afraid of your naive, trusting heart taking the reins. 

“I’ll be out in a sec,” you said, coating your eyelashes in a decent amount of mascara. Derrick leaned against the doorframe, watching you with something too close to adoration for your comfort. You laughed it off, waving your hand at him. “Go away.” 

“Am I making you nervous,” he teased. Truthfully, he was. Just not in the way he probably hoped. 

“I’m trying not to stab myself in the eye,” you said instead. 

“Mmhm,” he chuckled, patting the doorframe. “Hurry up, your plate’s at the table.”

“If you’d let me concentrate.” 

Ten minutes later, you were sitting at the table with Derrick on your right—his plate conveniently set beside yours—and Nina and Alondra across from you.

“I’m swearing off of hookups this semester,” Alondra announced, earning skeptical glances from the three of you. “I am!”

“Until Sabina calls you up late at night claiming she’s lonely and sad,” Derrick teased. You kicked him under the table only to find out that Nina had done the exact same thing. “I’m just speaking the truth.”

“You’re a man, you don’t get to speak your truth here,” Nina said. “And as for you—“ She turned to Alondra beside her. “The minute you run into that bitch, you’re done for. Best to accept it now.”

“No, I’m done with her,” Alondra insisted, though you’d all seen this before. Every fall, without fail, Alondra and her toxic cheater of an ex-girlfriend, Sabina, get back together, and every summer they find a reason to break up, only to repeat the cycle the next year. “I might try dudes for a while.”

“Shut the fuck up,” you snorted, carrying your plate to the sink. “Since when are you into dudes?”

“Since Sabina ruined all women for me,” she sassed. “Besides, sexuality’s a spectrum.” 

“What about you?” Nina asked, turning in her chair to watch you wash your dish. “Any plans this semester? Hopefully ones that don’t include a toxic relationship?”

“Certainly not,” you replied with a laugh. “I’m gonna be the most boring fucking person at this school this year. No shitty men, no partying, just school.”

“Twenty bucks I get her to black out this weekend,” Nina challenged, turning to Derrick and Alondra. 

“I’ll take that bet,” Derrick said, shooting you a wink. 

“Alright, while you guys are betting, I’m gonna head out to class. You know, like a serious law student,” you teased, drying your hands off before making your way to the front door. “I’ll see you guys in class.”

The first class of the day was Dr. Brown’s Contracts lecture. You’d had him during undergrad for your Criminal Psych class and specifically sought him out while registering because of his laid-back approach to teaching. Though he appeared to be yet another stuffy old man at face value, his personality was much more in line with that of The Dude from The Big Lebowski. He reeked of weed, loved to curse, and didn’t give a shit about all the formalities the rest of your professors insisted upon. 

Dr. Brown’s class passed by with ease, his lecture on the contract breach between Apple and Samsung paired with a meme-filled PowerPoint amusing you enough that you forgot you’d been sitting there for two hours. 

The next class of the day—Dr. Arman’s Legal Research and Writing course—was far less amusing, but at least Dr. Arman didn’t ask much from her students besides following along with slideshows and turning in the occasional paper. Still, the next hour and a half drudged on like feet on sand, Alondra nodding off beside you in the back of the lecture hall. 

“Shit,” she whispered, snapping awake after a nudge from your elbow to her side. “Is it almost over?”

“Yeah,” you chuckled, backing up your bag. “I have to hustle to Criminal Law, you good?”

“Yeah, just gonna rest my eyes for a second,” she mumbled, already falling back to sleep. With a fond smile, you rolled your eyes at her and left the hall. 

The last class of the day was Criminal Law I, taught by Dr. Peña, a professor you’d never had in any of your undergrad classes. It was always a toss up every time you entered a new lecture hall whether or not a professor would end up on your shit list, and a sinking suspicion told you Dr. Peña would not be as casual as Dr. Brown nor as lenient as Dr. Arman. No, there was always one overly demanding, arrogant old prick of a professor each semester without fail. 

Though you’d arrived fifteen minutes before class, all the good seats were taken by the time you walked into the hall, leaving only a few seats at the very front. Sighing, you looked longingly at Nina as she sat in one of the back rows, surrounded by a flock of hopeful men desperate to make her laugh. She caught eyes with you and gasped when she realized where you were headed. 

“No, girl, not the front,” she called, earning a dejected nod from you as you reached the mostly deserted front row. 

As you unpacked your bag and notebook—you hated using your laptop in class—Derrick quickly slid into the seat beside you with a huff, as if he’d just finished a marathon. 

“Had to climb over a row of people to get down here,” he said, smiling at you.

“You didn’t have to do that,” you said, nudging his shoulder with yours. 

“Wasn’t gonna let you slum it down here alone.”

“Thanks,” you chuckled. “You know anything about this guy?”

“Yeah, my brother had him when he went here a few years back,” he said, opening his laptop. “Apparently he’s a dick.”

“Of course he is,” you sighed. 

“You have class after this?”

“Nope,” you shook your head. “You?”

“Nah, just the gym with Nina,” he said, stretching out his legs and relaxing into his chair. “You could come, if you wanted.”

“I hate the gym,” you said, scrunching up your nose. “Besides, I need to go get groceries and stuff. Maybe get a head start on Brown’s project.”

“Responsible,” he nodded in approval. “Boring but responsible.”

“All these boring years are gonna pay off when I graduate top of the class,” you quipped, earning a scoff. 

“That’s what you said in undergrad and who ended up graduating at the top?” he asked with a smirk, sticking his chin up with pride. 

“I was one percent away from kicking your ass,” you rolled your eyes and chuckled. 

“Maybe you’ll find another shitty boyfriend to distract you—“

Though you would have liked to hit him for his comment, you were stopped dead in your tracks as the most handsome, brown haired, broad shouldered, puppy-eyed looking man walked out of his adjoining office and up to the desk at the front of the class. He carried an air of authority with his furrowed brows and disapproving frown as he waited for the class to quiet down. 

“If you’re all finished,” he said, unpacking his book bag while scoping out the faces he’d be spending the semester looking at, starting with the back. You watched him with interest, hating that kick of adrenaline the moment his eyes met yours. He seemed to linger for a half a second longer than he had with everyone else before looking away, furthering your delusional thoughts. “Welcome to Criminal Law I. My name is Dr. Peña, you’ll refer to me as such. I except professionalism, conciseness, and competency from the lot of you. You’re graduates now. Time to act like it.”

“Jesus,” Derrick muttered beside you, shaking his head. 

“There will be no whispering, no texting, and for God’s sake, no music in my class. You’re here to learn and I’m here to teach.”

You listened as a few students gathered their things and silently made their exit from the hall. Dr. Peña watched them with a smug look that did little to shoo away your interest. Fantasies of receiving that same look in a far more inappropriate context flooded your mind, visions of you on your knees in his office. 

“Good, now let’s begin. We’ll be covering the penal code today, along with territorial jurisdiction. Can anyone give me a definition of the latter?” 

Never one to volunteer an answer without being called on, you waited for someone else to take the fall. Dr. Peña seemed just as patient, his arms crossing over his chest in a way that pulled at the fabric covering his arms. You quickly turned your eyes down to your notebook when he caught you staring, busying yourself with jotting down the date. 

“In the front,” he said, earning your attention. When you found him still watching you, you let out a small sigh. “Would you care to give us a definition, Miss…”

Giving him your last name, you searched your mind for the definition that you remembered learning at some point during your four years of undergrad. 

“Territorial jurisdiction refers to a court’s power in a certain territory,” you said, swallowing down your nerves as you began to feel your ears heat. 

“And in regards to Texas? Can you give me the section of the Penal Code that covers territorial jurisdiction?” he asked, his voice a deep, whiskey warm timbre that hit you like an aphrodisiac, your mind running rampant with all sorts of inappropriate scenarios of hearing that sinful voice up close and personal.

“I…don’t know,” you said, lowering your eyes down to your desk just to get a break from his steady eye contact. 

“Section 1.04,” he said, a hint of arrogance in his tone. “Now that you have the section, would you mind reading the text for us?”

Taking a deep breath, you flipped to the section in your textbook, hoping that your nervous stutter didn’t make an appearance today. 

“I can do it,” Derrick volunteered, mildly irking you. Did he think he was saving you? Or was this his attempt at competition? 

Dr. Peña waited until he was finished to admonish his interruption. 

“Thank you, Mr…,”

“Crawley,” he said, offering him a charming smile. 

“Yes, thank you, Mr. Crawley, but in the future, I ask that you refrain from interjecting. I’m sure your friend was perfectly capable of reading aloud,” Dr. Peña said, causing Derrick to scoff under his breath. “Alright, I need a volunteer from the second row to read the next section.” 

Derrick seemed to take it to heart, his ever-present smile long gone as he typed his notes on his laptop. 

“Sorry,” you whispered, tapping his shoe with yours. 

“S’whatever,” he shrugged, but you knew him well enough by now that it was far from whatever to him. Derrick was always the best in every class, always adored by professors. You weren’t sure he’d ever been scolded by a teacher in his life, let alone in front of the entire class. “He’s a prick.”

“He’s—“

“Are we interrupting?” Dr. Peña sighed, leveling a look at the two of you as if to say, really? You shrank in your seat, avoiding his stern eyes. “Anyways, you were saying, Miss Martinez?” 

After a tense hour spent listening to Dr. Peña pick on the class, it was time to pack up. You could practically hear your bed calling as you packed your things into your bag, except…

“Would you mind staying behind for a moment,” Dr. Peña asked, calling your name. You gave Derrick a wide eyed look, earning a raise of his brow. 

“Sure, um—“

“I’ll wait up for you,” Derrick offered, slinging his bag over his shoulders before filing out of the lecture hall with the rest of the class. 

Once alone with Dr. Peña, you began to feel sick with anticipation, especially as he sat quiet at his desk shuffling through papers. 

“I’d like to apologize for today. I’m afraid we may have gotten off on the wrong foot,” you said, carefully approaching his desk. “I assure you, this is nothing I take more seriously than this. I—“

“I asked you to stay behind because I’m in need of an assistant for my undergrad Intro to Forensics class and your name was given to me by the Dean,” he said, looking up at you with a mixture of exhaustion and boredom in his eyes.  

“Wait—what?” you gave him a puzzled look. 

“Your name is listed in the TA program, is it not?” he asked, leaning back in his chair. You tried not to ogle him, but the way his white button down stretched across his broad chest made it damn near impossible.

“It is, but—“

“You’re one of the only law students available who’s taken the class before,” he said, clicking his pen as he began to mark the syllabus sheets he’d passed out towards the end of class. “So, what do you say? Three labs a week. Paid, of course.”

“I’m not sure I can handle the extra load, honestly,” you said. Though you were sure the extra work would certainly up the pressure, it wasn’t the real reason you were so quick to decline. Truthfully, it was him. How were you supposed to be around him an extra three days a week when you were already worried about the three you’d be spending with him in this class? “But if you’re in need of a recommendation, Mr. Crawley took Intro to Forensics with me and—“

“Take a day, think about it. First lab is Wednesday,” he interjected, glancing up at you with those brown eyes that looked both innocent and dangerous at the same time, a confusing balance your overly romantic heart longed to study in depth. You chuckled, a sound of disbelief over his disregard for your rejection, as you watched him turn back to his work. “I’ll have the Dean send over a formal offer this afternoon.”

“What time are the labs?” you asked, slowly accepting your fate—or, more accurately, accepting his stubbornness on the matter. 

“Eight to ten in the evening,” he replied, sounding as though he might yawn at the prospect. “Not ideal.”

“No,” you agreed, offering him a small smile. “I, uh, I’ll think about it.”

Not wanting to embarrass yourself—or endure more of this delusional torture—you made your exit as quickly and gracefully as you could manage, waiting until you were out in the main hall to freak out. 

“What did his fine ass want?” Nina asked, approaching you with Derrick in tow. You snorted at her brashness and rolled your eyes. 

“His fine ass wanted me to TA for his Intro to Forensics lab,” you replied, shaking your head as you looked through your tote for some gum, hoping to distract your rampant fantasies about said fine ass. 

“What the fuck?” Derrick griped, shaking his head. “I’ve been begging the dean to get me a TA position this semester but he said all the positions had been filled.”

“I tried to recommend you,” you offered, giving him a sympathetic frown. “I don’t even know if I’ll take it—”

“Then let me,” he said, hope lighting up his eyes. Even though you still had yet to make up your mind on the matter, his assumption that you’d just give urubbed you the wrong way. 

“I’m gonna think about it first,” you said, sharing a knowing look with Nina. 

If there was one thing to fault Derrick for, it would be his tendency to step on people—even his closest friends—to secure an opportunity. Even when he didn’t need to, even when he’d already won over most professors on campus, even when he knew his female friends struggled to reach even half of the respect given to him strictly because he was a man. 

“You coming with us to the gym?” Nina asked, changing the subject as she watched you bite back the urge to tell Derrick that maybe, just this once, it would be you stepping over him to secure a good opportunity. 

“No thanks,” you chuckled. 

“Lame,” she said, glancing over at Derrick who seemed to be lost in thought. “Well I’m gonna go change.” 

“See you later on,” you said, watching as she made her way down the hall. 

“So you think you might take the job?” Derrick asked, sticking his hands in his pocket. 

“I might,” you admitted, shrugging your shoulders. 

“Just…be careful,” he cautioned, causing your brows to furrow. “Male professors can be creepy as fuck.”

“Men in general can be, yeah,” you laughed. “But I’m sure I can take care of myself.” 

He nodded, ticking his jaw. 

“Well, I gotta go get groceries,” you lied, desperate to get back home, crawl into bed, and maybe do something about those fantasies from earlier. “I’ll see you back—“

“Come to dinner with me,” he blurted, biting his lip as he watched you go through a rollercoaster of emotions. Shock, amusement, confusion, before landing on something akin to empathy. 

“What? Derrick—“

“Just one date,” he promised. “One date and if it doesn’t work out, you know…we can just stay friends.” 

“I don’t know that it’s that simple,” you said, looking anywhere but at him. 

Why was he so dead set on going down this road; of making this mistake that you knew would end terribly? 

“Just a date,” he coaxed. “And I promise no weirdness afterwards if it doesn’t work out.”

“You can’t promise that,” you muttered, shaking your head. “And even if you can, I don’t know that I can.” 

“That’s assuming it goes bad,” he said, nudging your shoulder with a smile. “Friday night, you and me, some fancy restaurant I can barely afford. What do you say?”

Perhaps it was the new year, or maybe just the endorphins brought on by the sight of Dr. Peña in his tight slacks, but what did you have to lose? A good friend that you weren’t even sure would be your friend if he didn’t believe it was his only way in? 

“Fine,” you said, sighing. “One date. No weirdness. No expectations.”

Derrick grinned, nodding as he pulled you in for a hug. “Won’t regret it.”

“Yeah, yeah,” you chuckled. 

“Excuse me,” Dr. Peña appeared, in the doorway the two of you were blocking, causing Derrick to pull you out of the way and into his side. You watched Dr. Peña’s eyes scan the proximity between the two of you, a hint of disapproval on his face that you were sure you were imagining. “Have a good afternoon, you two.”

“You too,” you managed, sliding Derrick’s arm off your shoulder. “Also—“

Dr. Peña stopped, turning back towards you. “I, uh, I’ll take the job.”

“What?” Derrick scoffed, earning a curious look from Dr. Peña. 

“Very well,” he nodded. “You’ll find the contract in your email tonight.”

“Thank you for the opportunity, Professor,” you said, trying your hardest not to purr the last word out the way your filthy mind yearned to. 

Thank you for the opportunity, Professor. Such a fucking cliche that you had no intentions on perpetuating. 

Except for the fantasies. After all, what harm could come from a silly little fantasy?  

[ynsvnte]

Everyone adores you (at least I do) — Park Jongseong

Genre: fluff, friends to lovers, slight angst, wc: 868 warnings: swearing, pet names, kissing, arguing, pairing: bff!Jay x fem!reader

Synopsis: Your were always well liked growing up even by Jay. Having a huge crush on you and trying to show signals. until that’s when he had enough.

Sing along at Lispenard St. (Series Masterlist)

Jay smiled hearing your giggles. Oh how downright bad this boy was for you. Little backstory, You and Jay grow up being neighbors and your parents thought about inviting their new neighbors over to welcome them. When you both first met, you both clicked instantly. Having a friend around during the weekends was great. As you and Jay were insuperable, growing up everyone knew how much Jay liked you. Everyone expect, you. You did like Jay at one point but just gave up as one of your friends also liked him too and you thought she deserved him more (she got rejected) Now in university you both are going to the same university. Still insuperable.

“Hey Jay look..” you show Jay your phone, a video of a puppy that you thought was adorable. Jay gets closer and watches the video. Laughing at the cute puppy. “Hmm, very cute..” He said. You turn off your phone and sit up. “So are you doing anything..this weekend..?” You asked Jay, curious what he's been up to. “Nothing really, just might just stay indoors all day maybe..” your mouth widens. “Staying indoors..? Jay you got to be kidding me. You should go out with your friends and find yourself a girlfriend..” your words seemed pathetic to him. Girlfriend? Who is he to find one when he has you..that’s if the feeling is mutual of course. “Yn look I’m not looking for someone right now..” all lies he wants you. “Whatever” you roll your eyes at him. Jay could only hope that one day you could realize his feelings for you..

2 days later..

You and Jay are now in his dorm room. Working on assignments that are due tomorrow. “Some professors should fucking rot in hell.” You muttered, making Jay laugh. “Yeah..but watch that pretty mouth of yours..” he warns. He glances over to you. Noticing you didn’t react to his words. He only signs before going back to work. Trying to ignore the feeling of annoyance.

1 week later

Jay visits you unexpectedly.

“Hey..” he said awkwardly. You wave at him allowing him inside. “So what brings you here?” You asked him. “Nothing just bored sweetheart.” Sweetheart..this made you blush a bit but you ignore the feeling. Jay settles down onto your sofa getting comfortable.

“Hey now you’re the guest..” you say giving him a glare.. “yeah but this is like my second home.” You shake your head in disappointment before sitting down next to Jay. Turning on the tv.

“You know I had one girl ask me if we’re dating..” you spoke up. It wasn’t new for others to think you both were dating. Everyone was convinced you were together. Just by the way you both interact with each other. “Oh..” Jay said.. He wishes it was real..

“It would be weird if we dated..” okay ouch..Jay wished deeply how you see his feelings and his thoughts about you. To him you were the most perfect person in the world. Jay goes silent. Making you worried.

“You alright..?” You asked him.. jay nodded a bit before speaking up.

“Are you sure it would be weird if we dated..” Jay's tone was stern, making you shiver a bit. “Y-yeah..”

“And how would it be weird?” He asked, that question caught you off guard. “Well to be truthfully honest. I don’t know.. I mean you don’t like me-“

“Says who..?” Huh..? What does he mean by that.. “what..?” Okay now you’re very confused. “How do you know I don’t like you..” Well you don’t have any good reason at all you just assume because you thought Jay would never like you. Especially considering a lot of girls like him. “W-well i-i don’t know..” Jay only sighs in frustration.

“Yn..this is all bullshit..Yn I want to say this..I like you. More than a friend..I keep giving you hints hoping you would notice one day. But no you never do. I liked you for years. And yet you want to say it would be weird? Yn we’ve known each other for so long..” what.. his words shocked you. You face him with your eyes wides

“Huh-..” you’re only shocked. Not knowing your crush likes you back. Yeah after all you couldn’t move on. “You like me..?” You asked him. “Yes..” Jay says, looking straight at you. You only looked down at your lap. Before you feel a hand touch your face, grazing your cheek. You move your head slightly before seeing Jay's face close to yours. You and Jay both make eye contact. Not breaking it.

“C-can I..?” Jay asked. You only nodded your head. You feel his lips meet yours. His lips felt so nice. You move your arms and wrap it around his neck. And you feel him move, making you sit on his lap. You feel him wrap his arms around your waist. Pulling you closer. You both kiss for a few more minutes before pulling away. Both gasping for air. Jay pulls you into a hug..

“I love you…” he says softly into your ear.. you sink into his hug and kiss his cheek

“I love you too..” ahh young love.

Author’s note: went overboard with Jay sorry but 800+ without me not losing motivation something is wrong.. 🦧 or it’s bc my drafts is filled and it’s annoying me so much

© ynsvnte copyright 2024

[throneofsapphics]

have your little girlfriend, part four

Rowaelin x f!Reader 

Summary: At first she thought everyone was so nice but the nasty things came quickly. Whispers when they thought she couldn’t hear, why a lowly common girl would be paired with such powerful people, even if she’d ensnared them somehow. If anything, they had ensnared her.

Warnings: dark-ish aelin/rowan, light d/s, blood, death (not shown), injury, bit of smut, drinking, minors dni!

Word Count: ~5.1k 

A/N: I intended for this to be the last part but I mentally can’t control myself 

series masterlist

She’d been close to giving in to their request, for her to move into the castle with them. And stay permanently. They promised she’d have her own space, and wouldn’t have to give up any of her work or other parts of her life. 

But, something happened to force her hand. 

Someone she never thought she’d see again showed up on her doorstep, after five gods-damned years. The one real heart-break she thought she experienced. They had met during the time she spent with the Wolf Tribe, waiting for their summons to battle. Maybe because she was young, she fell hard. And deep. 

But, after the battle was over, and she’d finally startled to settle into her new life, he told her he was done. 

“Why? Can you please give me a reason?” She nearly begged. Anything except, ‘I'm done.’ 

“I don’t feel enough for you.” The words were cold, and harsh, and something snapped inside her. 

“Get out.” She didn’t wait for an answer before shoving him out the door, slamming it behind him and locking every single one. She heard a few knocks, a few pounds, and knew what he wanted - some kind of break-up sex, a goodbye of sorts, but he wouldn’t be getting anything out of her. She could scent another female all over him. 

“I made the biggest mistake, leaving you.” He looked desperate. 

“It’s been three years.” She said through gritted teeth. 

“And I’ve been thinking about you still, ever since. Doesn’t that mean something?” 

“No.” Her voice was cold, but something akin to anger flashed through his eyes, and he shoved against the door, enough that she stumbled back in surprise, and he pushed his way inside. 

“Get out.” She demanded, and cursed herself for not having a dagger on her. Mentally she tried to figure out where the nearest one would be … behind her - on that counter. She slowly stepped back, watching as he pushed forward. Her door was still open, good. 

“Let me explain.” He matched each of her steps, moving slightly closer each time. She pressed back against the counter, hands seeming to clutch the wood - but one fist clenched against the small, recently sharpened - thanks to Rowan, knife. 

“I’m giving you one more chance to get the hell out.” She warned him. 

“Not until you listen to me, hear me out.” He grabbed her shoulder, hand digging in tight enough it would bruise, and she swung, cutting sideways across his bicep. 

“You bitch,” He snarled, and she twisted her hand to strike again, but a large gust of wind blasted him away from her, her hair flowing back slightly. 

Aelin and Rowan were by the door. One second later Aelin was above him, knife pressed sharply against his neck, saying something she couldn’t hear, and Rowan was before her, blocking her view, his eyes taking in every inch of her body. She winced as she shifted her shoulder, and saw his eyes darken. 

His magic healed the sore spot before she could say another word. 

“You’re carrion.” Aelin snarled, and y/n angled her head to try and see, but two fingers pressed against her cheek to guide her gaze back to Rowan. 

“Are you okay?” She nodded, keeping her eyes on him, but wondered if a male would be murdered in her living room today. Maybe she could convince them not to, to just let him go.

“What happened?” his voice was low enough only she could hear. “Who is he?” 

“An … he’s an old boyfriend. He wanted to talk.” 

-

Rowan snarled softly, his head turning to look at the male, his eyes meeting Aelin’s. 

He tried to get her back. To take her away. He hurt her. 

The look in Aelin’s eyes told him the male wouldn’t live the night. 

“He didn’t mean to -” 

“Don’t.” Rowan cut her off. Y/n would try and argue, try to get them to just leave him and let him go. They didn’t have to tell her exactly what would happen. But … he hurt her, and tried to take her away from them. Every primal instinct in him was flaring. “You’re moving in with us.” He told her. She’d stay where he could keep her safe, keep her away from anyone that might harm her. 

Her throat swallowed, but she nodded. 

“We’ll come back for your things later.” 

Are you taking her back, or am I? He asked Aelin. 

I’ll take her. She answered after a moment, standing up. Good, his wind could drown out any screams. The male seemed to sag with relief, until he caught sight of Rowan approaching, every step lethal. 

-

She was close to saying yes, to moving in of her own will, but now it felt a bit like she was forced to. She reasoned with herself, saying it would have happened soon enough anyways. 

“You did well.” Rowan said later that night, he came back after a few hours. He must’ve cleaned himself somewhere, because only a faint hint of copper remained. 

Y/n hugged her arms tightly around her chest. “With what?” 

“Defending yourself.” He answered, but there was a tension in him, a tension through his whole body. 

“I wasn’t in any real danger.” 

He looked at her incredulously. “Someone forced their way into your home, and you ended up cutting them.” 

She’s almost completely confident she would’ve been fine. He crossed the room, and gently grabbed her hands. “You’re safer here.” 

“I was safe enough in my own home.” She snapped, looking away from him. He curled his fingers around her chin, forcing her to look at him. Y/n expected some kind of remark, something that would undercut her, but his eyes only fixed on hers, on her face, before drifting to her shoulder and back up. 

“He hurt you.” There was so much rage in those three words. “I wasn’t there to protect you.” Her face softened slightly. 

“It’s not your fault.” She emphasized, but it didn’t seem to get through to him. “Rowan.” Her fingers brushed against his cheek, and his hand slid down to rest on the side of her neck. “I’m fine, you came. You came for me.” 

She didn’t think those words exactly fit the scenario, but could tell he needed to hear them, or something along the lines of that. Her finger brushed back and forth against his cheek, until some of the tension seemed to leave his body. 

“I won’t fail you,” he murmured, wrapping her up in his arms. “Not again.” 

“You never failed me.” 

-

A male was murdered in her living room. Rowan and Aelin didn’t say anything about it, but she knew. By the time she got back to gather her things, no scent of blood or copper remained. No trace of him, or what happened yesterday. But there was some kind of stain in the house. She couldn’t live here again, not knowing that happened. 

Both of them hovered as she packed everything up. There wasn’t much to take beyond her clothes and books. The rest of her work things - she decided she could at least work from here, until she could find a different place. Perhaps sell the townhouse and set up some kind of shop or get a small apartment and modify it. Or even expand beyond the markets and have her own little store. 

-

Aelin seemed to be bouncing on her feet when they got back, insisting they had something to show her. 

“We promised you a private space.” She led her down a few halls, to a more secluded portion of the castle, and on ground level. 

A large room, with a door leading out to a garden, and … a workshop, just for her. She turned around in awe, examining the space. Shelves for her books, a full kitchen area to make chocolates, and it looked so much like her own space - almost modeled after it. “You had this made,” she said softly, turning to face her. 

“Yes,” Aelin had a wide grin on her face, and y/n strode across the room to hug her and thank her. 

-

It took another week for her to realize how long they’d been planning this. It must’ve taken some time to re-do the space, and to have it done before she even decided to move in with them. That had never been a permanent thing, something set in stone that would happen. But to them, it was. A tiny bit of doubt crept into her, but she shoved it down, deep deep down where it wouldn’t emerge again. They’d transformed an entire set of rooms just for her. So she would feel more comfortable, feel at home. She let gratitude fill her instead.

Rowan grew to love y/n, it was natural. But - as an immortal, there’s some things he never forgets. Couldn’t forget, and hurting Aelin - in any form - was one of them. When Aelin took her first trip away from both of them, he took his chance. 

- 

“This is for making Aelin cry,” Rowan tugged her over his lap, her bare body brushing against his, feeling the rough fabric of his pants scrape against her. The female in question was gone on a diplomatic trip. Visiting Perranth, she thought, but couldn’t be too certain. Rowan and Aelin mostly kept her separated from court business. Y/n, however, was confused. Had Rowan waited specifically for when she’d be gone? 

“I didn’t, I never -” 

A swat landed against her ass. Instantly reddening it, and she squealed, her body squirming to try and move away, but he held her down with one arm. He rubbed the sore area, soothing it gently before striking again - this time hitting the other cheek. 

Pain lanced through her as she whimpered, but stopped struggling. 

“I wouldn’t make her cry, I swear.” She whined. But - arousal started slipping through her, something tightened in her stomach. Why would that happen?  

“She came back, after you told her you were going to leave, and cried.” He said roughly, before laying a harsh series of smacks against her ass, ignoring the way she whimpered, the tears dripping from her eyes, but y/n didn’t tell him to stop. If she’d made Aelin cry … Gods she hated herself for that. Felt like she deserved it now. But … her core started to throb, that confused her. 

“Months,” she whispered, her voice hoarse, “that was months ago.” 

“I don’t forget.” Immortal. They were all immortal. Six months is nothing to them. It was six months ago. 

The hits grew more intense with each one, starting to spread through her entire body. The last one jolted her forward, rocking her against his knees. 

“You liked that, didn’t you?” His voice was mocking, teasing, and made a few more tears stream down her face. He pulled her up, moving her to straddle his lap, and pulled her tight against his chest, his arms wrapping around her. She stayed stiff, the fabric against her ass stinging. 

“I don’t like making her cry,” y/n mumbled into his chest. 

“I know.” It sounded like a warning. It was a warning, not to do that again. Not to hurt Aelin. She’d never would - couldn’t, not intentionally. “But you liked when I spanked you, didn’t you?” Words wouldn’t come to her - she couldn’t speak, didn’t know what to say, but he dragged two fingers through her core, her slick arousal gathering on them. 

“If I ask you a question, answer me.” 

“My - my body liked it.” 

“A little painslut,” he crooned, lips grazing just above her ear. “You took that so well.” 

The praise made her body shiver. Both him and Aelin had already figured that out about her. Just how much she liked it - being praised. 

-

Aelin returned without much fanfare, and made her way right to where she knew y/n would be at this time of day. Rowan, she knew, was likely stuck in a meeting - but would find them directly after. 

Sure enough, she found her fiddling with something. As soon as the doors opened, y/n dropped the tools and smiled, bounding across the room to wrap her in a hug. Aelin breathed in her scent, nutmeg and honey, and squeezed back before pressing a kiss against her forehead. “Have fun without me?” 

“Without you?” Her head tilted, “never.” 

But, something seemed off. She was hesitant - had something she needed to say. Aelin started to worry, she still had a fear that y/n would wake up one day and decide to leave. Not that she’d let her, not easily, but the fear still lived in some small, dark place deep inside her. 

“I’m sorry, for making you cry.” 

Aelin frowned. Y/n hadn’t … that day, when she said she was done. Rowan, he probably remembered it and took the first chance he had to - well she isn’t sure what he would do. 

“You’re forgiven,” she pulled her into her chest, stroking one hand through her hair. “More than forgiven.”

-

“We never see you any more,” her friend groaned, leaning back in her seat. It was a rare night when she could make her way out of the castle. They didn’t exactly keep her from her friends, but between her business and their close proximity, they took up most of her time. Despite everything, the bond was still new - they’d just fully accepted each other as mates a month or so ago. Well, she’d fully accepted them. 

“I’ll make more time.” She promised and accepted a glass of wine with a smile. 

One turned to two, to three, to four, and after that she lost count. She was hiccuping and smiling, sharing old stories and listening to her friends extravagant details about her love life. 

“Y/n,” she said in a sing-song voice. “Spill.” 

“I already spilled,” she frowned, looking down at the small red stain on her shirt. That would be a pain to get out, but it was a problem for tomorrow. 

“No,” she moaned, “your love life.” 

“Oh,” she squeezed her glass a little tighter. “It’s … fulfilling.” 

“Details,” she wiggled her brows, the liquid sloshing in the glass. 

“Maybe another time,” she grinned. Not. The details of her love life were private and she didn’t need her friend knowing how the Queen of Terrasen likes to tease her to unbearable levels, trailing her fingers dangerously high on her thigh during public dinners or how the King throws her over his lap and turns her ass red enough she feels it the next day.  

A polite knock sounded on the door, and her friend shot up, spilling her glass as she set it down on the table before darting to the door. Y/n scented the pine and snow before the door opened, and her temper flared. What the hell was he doing here? 

-

“I don’t need you to fetch me,” she snarled at him as he nearly dragged her out to the street. He rolled his eyes, scooping her up with one arm around her back, one under her legs, and ignoring her protests and grumbles of complaints. 

He deposited her on the couch, and she crossed her arms. Eyes glazed over, an alcohol flush covering her cheeks and chest - how much did she drink? Considering the stink of wine and spots on her shirt, more than she could handle. 

“You’re a bastard,” she hissed - spitting like a cat. And a mad one. 

“You were incapable of getting yourself home.” He dismissed her argument, turning his back. He felt the shift in the air, heard the whizz of something flying, and ducked in time to avoid a pillow launched at his head. 

“How dare you?” She nearly screeched, and he winced slightly. Aelin was away on one of her queenly duties, leaving him stuck with their pissed off mate. Who likes to throw things when she’s particularly upset. Maybe it’s a good thing Aelin isn’t here - when it comes to tempers, although it takes y/n a lot longer to reach hers, Aelin tends to match her energy. She rose to her feet, swaying slightly and clutching the arm of the couch to keep her balance. 

“Sit. Down.” A muscle in his jaw clenched. 

“Incapable? I’m not some gods-damned child who needs minding. I’m a fully grown female, fully capable of handling myself.” 

“Obviously not.” He hissed at her, and realized his mistake as tears pricked in the corner of her eyes. 

“Y/n,” he called, his voice softer than before as he forced himself to relax and held his hands up in a show of piece. 

“I’ll sleep on the couch.” She announced, and flopped herself back down, tucking a pillow under her head and turning to face the back of the couch. 

Rowan pinched the bridge of his nose. He could, and would clean this up. 

“I’ll take the couch.” He stalked over to her side, pulling her up by her arm and ignoring her protests. She was unsteady on her feet, enough that he visibly could see her swallow her pride and lean on him for support. That satisfied the part of him feeling the need to be useful, to serve in some way. As soon as he safely saw her to bed, making sure she kicked her shoes off and turned on her side, he left. One hand braced on the door, he turned to find her dozing into sleep, mouth parted - a few tears dripping down her cheeks, the flush from earlier still present. 

Space, he needed to give her some space. Not invade her privacy, just let her cool down some. His eyes shuttered closed and he gave himself a few moments to breathe before doing his best to make himself comfortable on the couch. That didn’t stop him from checking on her every hour.

-

“I’m sorry.” Rowan said over breakfast the next morning. She lowered her mug, her lips had just pressed against the porcelain, about to take a sip, but now she wondered if she was hallucinating. 

“Really?” It stung something inside of her that she doubted. Doubted his apology, or if he actually meant it. 

“Yes.” A muscle in his jaw flexed, but she couldn’t scent a lie on him. “You are capable, and it was wrong of me to say otherwise.” How long had he rehearsed this? Maybe had all night to think of it on the couch - too short to comfortably fit his body. 

“I’m glad you see reason.” He wouldn’t get a thank you out of her, not for something he should’ve already known - or for taking back hurtful words. It wasn’t some magnanimous gesture, and y/n refused to give him the expectation it was otherwise. Something else gleamed in his eyes, an emotion it took her a minute to place. Respect. For holding her ground.

���Fair enough,” he shrugged, and jerked his chin towards her cup of tea. “Drink that before it gets cold. Aelin isn’t here to warm it.” 

She rolled her eyes this time, a small compromise - but better than him dragging her out of her friends house. 

The small cracks started to appear, but they were easily mended for now. 

-

“Did he behave himself?” Aelin asked as she returned, peppering her face with enough kisses her mate let out an adorable laugh. If Aelin could record that sound and bring it with her everywhere, she would.

“He admitted to his mistake.” Y/n’s mouth indented at one corner. She already had Rowan wrapped around her finger, in her own way, if she could cow him into that. 

Her eyes glinted and a mischievous grin crossed her face. “And, pray-tell, what was this mistake?” 

“Something already taken care of.” Rowan grunted. Aelin huffed a laugh and let it go for now, knowing she’d pry the details out of him later. 

-

Y/n sighed as she sorted through some of the paperwork associated with her work. Permits, deals with local shops, orders directly placed through her. With her relationship public knowledge, interest in her goods had taken off over the course of the last year. Of course, she loved the new business but it became overwhelming. Enough that she drew away from the market she loved so much, instead working with local shops and private orders to long time customers. Exclusively. She missed the Saturday mornings, socializing with the other vendors when she was still a nobody. Well, not quite a nobody but not a public figure, in a way. When nobody tried to buy her things to gain advantage with her - to try and get an ‘in’ with her mates. 

She pinched the bridge of her nose and slumped down on her desk, fighting the urge to bang her head against the wood, instead settling for a groan. Resentment, ugly, vicious, and unwarranted resentment had settled inside of her - aimed towards her mates when none of this was their fault. There was no one to speak of it with, no one to confide in, and she didn’t dare write it down where they could read it - or any spies who might get a bit too snoopy, a bit too eager to look for any cracks in the relationship they might exploit. She caught Aelin skimming through one of her journals once, and launched into the most explosive fight they’d had so far. 

The castle, too, suffocated her. Maids - who she took great pains to become friendly with, given how skittish and closed off they were at the beginning, used to slip into her workshop to clean things. It came from a good place - or a sense of duty, but she didn’t let most people into her space, into her own little sanctuary. Even Rowan and Aelin had learned to knock and wait for her to allow them inside. Only one person was allowed to enter without asking, mostly because she couldn’t manage to keep Fenrys out, no matter how much snarling she would do, or things she would toss his way. 

She’d asked them to stop, but it took Aelin saying something to get them to actually quit. At first she thought everyone was so nice but the nasty things came quickly. Whispers when they thought she couldn’t hear, why a lowly common girl would be paired with such powerful people, even if she’d ensnared them somehow. If anything, they had ensnared her. 

Another ugly thought. Maybe if she took a trip back to the Staghorns and breathed some clean, nearly untouched, mountain air. Visit the cousins she hasn’t seen frequently, ones who chose to stay with the Wolf Tribe after the battle. They always came to Orynth, and she rarely went there. Yulemas was coming up in around two months, and it would be a lengthy trip. They already sent word they couldn’t make it this year and guilt rattled at her that she never went there, always assuming they liked to visit here.

When was the last time she shifted? Or used magic beyond what she did for her work. On another thought, had she ever showed them her animal form? In three years … she can’t remember doing it, or remember then asking. 

Pine, snow, jasmine, and lemon verbena flooded her senses, followed by a knock on the door. “Come in,” she called. If she was going to plant the idea, now was the time to do it. 

“You look exhausted, my love,” Aelin frowned as she approached her, perching on the one empty corner of her desk. Rowan surveyed the room, finding all of her tools still out - the benches and desks a complete mess. 

“Can I clean for you?” He asked and she nodded. Aelin was still banned from ‘helping,’ and finally stopped pouting over it. 

Aelin flicked her nose when she gazed off again, drawing an indignant cross between a grumble and a yelp, and grabbed one of her hands instead, running her thumb back and forth over the top of it. 

“What’s on your mind?” 

“I haven’t visited home in a while.” 

Tension flooded the room as they both stiffened. Rowan kept working - quickly, much quicker than she could, putting everything back in it’s proper place, but the silence disturbed her enough she started squirming. 

“Are you thinking of visiting?” Aelin said tightly. 

“I am,” she said cautiously. Not thinking of it, planning it, but she’d take baby steps. Would they stop her if she really wanted to go? She didn’t know, and it unsettled her. 

“It’s a long journey.” 

“Not if I shift.” She sucked her lips inside while checking Aelin’s reaction. Shock quickly passed, followed by curiosity. 

“I never asked what it is.” Y/n nodded her head in confirmation. 

“It’s a fox.” Rowan said over his shoulder. 

“How does he know everything?” Aelin grumbled. “Show me.” 

“It’s been a while.” She ran her hand through her hair. 

“That’s fine.” 

Aelin wouldn’t let this go until she showed her. Grumbling, y/n stood and gave herself some space, focusing on drawing inside of herself, to her magic, and finding that small vulpine part - and finding it nearly pleading and begging to be let free. So she did, and with a flash of light her body morphed, senses becoming sharper. 

Aelin cooed at the little white fox before her, ignoring Rowan’s snort. 

She reached a hand out, and y/n snapped her teeth, letting out a chitter of amusement as Aelin withdrew her hand with a huff. “Feisty.” 

This felt nice, and right. She wanted to stay here, to live where everything was simpler. Where human emotions didn’t interfere, and she could just exist on one plane. 

-

Rowan cursed himself for not encouraging y/n to shift before. He knew what her form was, but hadn’t told her how necessary it was for Fae to let out the more animal side of them on occasion. He doubted she’d want to come out of it anytime soon, and was certain it would take lots of coaxing to get her to. 

He caught Aelin’s glance, his eyes saying “she won’t come out of it anytime soon.” 

Aelin frowned, watching their mate almost prance around the room, investigating everything through vulpine senses. 

“Why?” 

“She probably hasn’t shifted in a good while.” 

“So there’s going to be a fox in our bed?” 

Rowan grimaced. “Maybe.” 

It took Rowan 24 hours, and several promises he’d take her out to the mountains before y/n relented. 

-

“I heard you’re looking to visit home.” Fenrys said three days later, barging into her workroom, as he always did when he was bored and in town. 

“I’m trying.” She huffed, cutting the fabric with a bit more force than necessary. 

“I’m due to visit the Wolf Tribe soon.” He said mildly, his eyes fixed on her knife. 

“Did they send you?” She made another slice, holding the fabric firmly. 

“No.” He sounded vaguely offended and rounded the table to stand in front of her. “I thought you might enjoy my company.” A hint of amusement was in his voice, “considering you need a break from them.” 

“I never said -” 

“You didn’t have to.” She frowned at the interruption, and he sighed. 

“They’re overbearing, at the best of times, and already driving you to the brink of insanity. You need a break before that happens.” 

“A break from my mates?” Before she had a mental breakdown, went unsaid. 

“You forget I’ve been stuck with them for much longer princess.” 

“Don’t call me that.” She snipped at him. 

“Why not?” He pulled out a seat, leaning back in it so it was precariously balanced on its back two legs. If it falls - good on him. “It annoys you. It’s my job as an older brother to annoy the shit out of you.” 

“I’m not your sister.” She hissed. 

“Might as well be.” He shrugged his shoulders. The thought warmed her heart more than she cared to admit. 

“I’ve …” she hesitated. He motioned for her to continue. “I missed being a nobody.” 

“You were never a nobody,” Fenrys said sharply, his chair slamming back forward to rest firmly on the ground, his hands gripping the edge of the table. 

“That’s not what I meant,” she sighed, and abandoned the knife. “I mean not having constant eyes on me. Not being called a ‘lowly commoner.’” 

His head tilted, and she saw the dangerous look in his eyes. “Who?” 

Y/n didn’t need to question him further to know who he was asking about. She shook her head instead. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t remember.” 

“Liar.” He purred, leaning back in his seat again. She knew Aelin could be insistent, but if Fenrys set his mind on something - if he decided one of his friends, or in her case his adopted sister, had been wronged - nothing could stop him from tracking down and making sure vengeance was served where it was owed. 

“Let it go, please.” She pleaded, and his lips pressed into a tight line. Fenrys narrowed his eyes, and she spent a few moments in anticipatory silence before he spoke.

“If you make a bargain with me.” 

Her back straightened. Bargain - there’s a lot of power in that word, especially amongst Fae, and they didn't take it lightly. “The terms?” 

“I accompany you to the Staghorns whenever you visit.” That would keep Rowan and Aelin off her backs. 

“What do I get out of it?” She had a feeling it wouldn’t be much. 

“I don’t tell Rowan and Aelin, and I don’t rip the tongues out of whoever you’re trying to protect.” 

She crossed her arms and leaned back. “That’s nowhere near fair.” 

“I could go tell them right now.” He said with an edged chuckle. 

“Fine.” If only to keep them from overreacting. 

“Shake on it.” He extended his hand, and she took it - reluctantly. Y/n would keep her promise, and knew he would keep hers. 

“You need to listen to the wording more carefully,” he sighed. “I’m almost disappointed.”

She thought over what he said, again, and her jaw dropped. Whenever. Not when, but any time she visits. “You conniving little bastard.” 

“I’m an emissary anyways, I like to visit there.” She gave him a soft smile in understanding. To visit, maybe even to be around the wolves - fresh mountain air far from the confines of a capital city. 

“Looks like we’ll have to make some more trips.” 

“You deserve to,” his throat bobbed, “spend time with family.” 

She kicked his shin lightly. “You’re my brother, aren’t you?” The grin on his face and lightness in his eyes made her think it wasn’t too bad of a deal. 

[stylesispunk]

"I couldn't want you anymore" | part 2

Artist! Joel Miller x Florist! Reader

series masterlist | previous chapter | next | masterlist |

summary: when Sarah's mom comes back into Joel's life to fight for their past relationship, Joel needs to convince her he is in a happy relationship with the florist next to his gallery in order to make her go away. The problem is, that he and the florist can't stand each other's guts or that it's what he thinks.

warning: no use of y/n, bee is the reader's nickname Joel gave to her. There is some slight angst, fluff, and an age gap(Joel is 36 and reader is 28)

a/n: Hello! chapter 2 is here. Firstly, I want to thank everyone for reading this fic, I was really excited about writing this story and I appreciated all your comments, reblogs, and all <3 Which, by the way, are always appreciated. I hope you like this chapter as things start to escalate from here. Happy reading! and please feel free to share your thoughts with me. If you want to be added to the taglist, please tell me 💌

“You did what?" Tommy asked Joel, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise.

Joel sighed, running a hand through his hair as he reluctantly admitted, "I asked her to pretend to be my girlfriend."

Tommy couldn't hide his disbelief. "I can't believe you asked her to pretend to be your girlfriend."

Joel chuckled, trying to downplay the situation. "Well, it's not like I had a lot of options, and it's just a temporary arrangement."

Tommy raised an eyebrow, clearly not buying Joel's nonchalant attitude. "You know, I think there's more to it than that."

Joel furrowed his brow. "What do you mean?"

Tommy leaned in closer, a mischievous grin on his face. "The only reason you don't like her is because you had a crush on her when she arrived."

Joel's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and he sputtered in protest. "No, I didn't!"

Tommy just shrugged, clearly not convinced. "Whatever you say, Joel."

“Look, the only reason I’m doing this is because I don’t want Lauren with me. One thing is she wants to know Sarah and another one her wanting to be a family”

“So, your only solution was asking her to pretend to love you? 

Joel didn’t reply.

“You’re fucked” he said laughing at his big brother. 

“It's not about love, Tommy. It's about keeping Lauren away from me"

Tommy's grin softened a little bit "I get it, Joel. You're trying to do what's best for Sarah, and I respect that. Just be careful, okay? These fake relationships have a way of getting complicated, if you know what I mean” 

With that, Tommy made his way upstairs leaving Joel alone with his thoughts. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he had put himself in a turbulent situation that could cost him something. 

At the same but in a different place of the city, the same situation was happening with you and your best friend.

"Wait, you did what?" Lily, your best friend, exclaimed in disbelief as you recounted the events of the past few days.

You leaned back in your chair, sighing. "I agreed to pretend to be Joel's girlfriend so he can convince his ex that he's moved on."

Lily raised an eyebrow, a sly grin forming on her face. "And why would you agree to that? You've never got along”

You rolled your eyes, knowing she had a point. "Trust me, I didn't want to, but he was desperate, and well, I think that maybe this could help us to get along.

Lily's grin widened as she leaned in closer, clearly enjoying the news "I can't believe you're playing his girlfriend. The same guy you've called a dick for years”

You sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and confusion. "I know, it's insane. But it's just temporary, and we both know it's just an act.”

“Oh, but do you?” she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?” 

“I just want you to be careful with your heart,” she said, taking a seat beside you “Remember when you and Conell broke up because he left for Europe? You were heartbroken and I don’t want to ever see you like that again.” 

“That was real. I loved Conell”, you reminded her. “And this is not real.” 

Her expression was still serious, so you gave in and nodded at Lily’s words, “I’ll be careful, I promise.” 

Lily gave you a reassuring smile. "Okay, as long as you're aware of the risks. Just don't forget that you deserve someone who's genuine and treats you right."

You leaned in and gave her a quick hug. "Like who?"

“Conell. He was the best boyfriend you had.” 

You smile at her, but you couldn’t help but feel this could lead you to have a real heartbreak. 

The following day, Joel was opening his gallery, trying to put the events of the previous day off of his mind. He truly thought he was stupid for asking you to pretend to be his girlfriend. He couldn’t sleep because of it, he felt he had made a mistake, especially because he found himself unable to stop thinking about you. 

Even when he unlocked the gallery doors and began arranging his art and tools, his thoughts kept drifting to you. The way you had looked at him, the unexpected spark when your hands briefly touched—it was consuming his thoughts.

Just as he was settling into his work, the sound of footsteps from behind caught him off guard. 

He turned around expecting to find you, but when he faced Lauren standing there, he felt disappointed.

"Lauren," he greeted her, his tone polite but distant. "What brings you here today, again?"

Lauren looked around the gallery with admiration. Joel was a really talented man and his work showed it. "I got a job in the building across the street," she said, gesturing to the building in front of Joel's gallery. "I'll be working there, so I thought we could have lunch together sometime."

Joel's heart sank at the news. Having his ex, who was trying to rekindle their relationship, working just across the street was the last thing he wanted. But he couldn't stop the nagging feeling that his thoughts were drifting back to you and how your (his) already complicated plan was going to become a harder task to do.

“I don’t feel it's correct for us to have lunch,” he said.

“Why? Your girlfriend doesn’t allow you to have female friends?”

“You’re not my friend Lauren” he replied shortly.

“But I’m the mother of your child.” 

“The one who abandoned her. Besides Sarah is 13, she is not a child anymore.”

Lauren's face twisted with frustration, guilt, and a hint of sadness. She had hoped that her return would be met with open arms and forgiveness, that Joel was going to be there waiting for her to return, but instead, she faced the truth of him moving on. 

"I know I made mistakes, Joel," Lauren admitted, her voice carrying the regret of her actions "Leaving you and Sarah was the biggest one. But I'm here now, trying to make amends. Can't we at least try to be civil for Sarah's sake?"

Joel hesitated, he had built a life for himself and Sarah in Lauren's absence, and he didn’t trust her intentions completely. “It's not that simple, Lauren. You can't just walk back into our lives and expect everything to be as it was."

Lauren's shoulders slumped, and she let out a heavy sigh. "I understand that, Joel. But I'm willing to work on it, to earn back your trust and Sarah's love."

Joel met her gaze, his eyes reflecting a tint of longing for her. After all, she was right, she was Sarah’s mother. Nevertheless, his thoughts inevitably drifted back to you.

And as he had called you with his mind, the gallery's entrance door suddenly swung open, breaking the momentary silence. Both Joel and Lauren turned to see you, entering the gallery carrying a cup of coffee and a bag of pastries.

You glanced between them, sensing the tension in the air, and cleared your throat before speaking.

“Joel?”

The sound of your voice broke Joel's tension and a sense of relief rushed inside him, and he managed a grateful smile at your arrival.

“Baby. I missed you” he said as he approached you, signaling you to keep the act. 

You fake the best of your smiles in order to follow the lines of this stupid plan he made up.

“Me too, my honey bee”, her smile was so big, and Joel knew he had continued the laugh at the name. 

“Honey bee?” Lauren interrupted, as she crossed her arms.

“Yes. It’s a joke, you know. Because I’m a florist, get it?” you said. 

Joel wrapped his arm around you, squeezing a little bit harder than he should.

“Look, sunflower. I didn’t really have the chance to introduce you both properly yesterday. This is Lauren, Sarah’s mother.” 

You extended your hand toward her with a tight smile. 

“Nice to meet you." She shook your hand politely, maintaining a composed demeanor. 

“Oh, I’m sorry for my behavior yesterday. I was stressed. ” You apologized, feigning politeness and keeping up the facade as you continued to play your part in this.

Lauren nodded; her initial reservations seemingly put at ease by your polite behavior. "No need to apologize. It's nice to meet you, Bee?"

You nodded “This is what this one calls me”, you smiled, looking at Joel.

Joel, relieved that the tension decreased a little, spoke "A special name for my special lady.” 

“Am I?” you asked Joel through your teeth.

He nodded, keeping his smile in place. “You don’t have to pretend you’re not, honey.”

You grit your teeth and bop his nose with your finger. 

Lauren's curiosity got the better of her as she looked around the gallery. "It's a lovely gallery you have here, Joel. You must be proud." 

Joel nodded, his pride in his gallery evident. "Thank you, Lauren. Then he directs his look at you. “Actually, in a few weeks, I have a new exhibition and my bee here is helping with everything. Don’t you honey?”

“I’m gonna make you pay, Joel Miller” you whispered in his ear, without dropping your smile.

“I wanna see you try” he answered defiantly. 

"So, how did you two meet?" Lauren asked, her tone casual but her curiosity evident.

Joel exchanged a quick glance with you, and for a moment, his guard slipped. He hadn't anticipated this type of question, and he knew that any answer he gave would need to be natural.

"We met at the gallery," Joel replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "She was a regular, always coming to see art, but I feel I was the art she wanted to look at.”

You laughed and nodded, playing your part in the charade. "Yes, I've always been a fan of Joel. It was only a matter of time before we connected on a more personal level."

Lauren raised an eyebrow, her skepticism growing. "It's just... you both seem so different."

Joel and you exchanged another look, this time with a touch of unease. "Well, you know what they say, opposites attract," Joel offered with a forced chuckle.

Lauren didn't seem entirely convinced, but she let the matter drop for now. 

Joel couldn't help but wonder how much longer he could keep this act, especially with someone as perceptive as Lauren watching every move.

“I just came to give this," you said. Giving the coffee and the pastries to Joel. 

Your nice act was unexpected for him. It actually warmed his heart how attentive you were, and the little details like this. he found himself in awe of you.

Joel accepted the coffee and pastries with a grateful smile, genuinely touched by your thoughtfulness. "Thanks, Bee. You didn't have to do this, but I appreciate it."

You shrugged casually, trying to keep up the appearance of a loving girlfriend. "I know you're always so busy with the gallery, and I thought you could use a little pick-me-up."

Lauren watched the interaction with a hint of curiosity, and Joel couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for the elaborate web of lies he had created.

He had to remind himself he was doing this to protect Sarah and his own heart, there was no way he was going to fall for you. 

“So, I’m gonna go now. I have things to arrange with the shop” you said, placing your hand delicately on his upper arm. 

Joel nodded, his eyes briefly meeting yours. "Of course, honey. We'll catch up later."

Lauren also gave you a polite nod. "It was nice meeting you, Bee. I hope we can get to know each other better."

“You too. You can stop by the shop anytime ” You offered a polite smile.

There was a brief glance between you two before you turned onto your heels to walk away, but before you could take a step, Joel gently grabbed your wrist to stop you.

“Bee, wait,” he said.

Joel's eyes locked onto yours, meeting with a questionable gaze. At that moment, it felt as if the world around you had faded away.

Then, without saying a word, Joel leaned in, closing the distance between them. His lips met yours in a passionate kiss that was meant to be a performance in front of a woman he once loved. It was a soft, lingering kiss as if the two of you were trying to convince the world you were madly in love.

Your eyes closed instinctively as the kiss deepened, and for a moment, it felt as if time had stopped. The feeling, the taste of his lips, and the desperation in the way Joel held you against him, made this feel like falling until your bones crashed against the ground.

The kiss eventually ended, but the lingering sensation of it remained. When you pulled away, there was a flicker of surprise in both of your eyes, as if you had just shared a secret only for the two of you to know

“Now, you can go,” he said, smiling as if that would help him to calm the crimson color of his cheeks.

But you were lost for words, so you just nodded in a daze, unable to form a coherent response. You turned away from Joel, your footsteps unsteady as you made your way to the gallery's exit.

Once you stepped outside, you took a deep breath, attempting to calm the racing of your heart. The kiss was a surprise and you needed a moment alone to process it.

Meanwhile, inside the gallery, Joel’s heart pounded hard in his chest, the thoughts in his mind were racing, and he was confused and conflicted about his own emotions. The kiss woke up something he hadn’t anticipated. 

As he stood there, he forgot about Lauren’s presence behind him. The only thing running in his mind was the feeling of your soft lips on his. One he had initiated as a part of the game he was playing, but the gravity was too much for him to handle and the spark was something he couldn’t deny. 

What had made him kiss you like that?        

You

Come asap to my shop.

Sent at 9:30 AM

Joel

Sorry, can't. Busy with work.

Sent at 9:32 AM

You

Do I care? Oh wait, No. Come here before I make you

Sent at 9:33 AM

Joel

If you wanna see me so bad, I’ll go. 😉

By the way, how did you get my number?

Sent at 9:34 AM

You

Tommy.

Sent at 9:35 AM

Joel sighed, setting his phone down for a moment. He had tried to resist, he didn’t want to face you yet, but your persistence had won out and he had to act like a man.

Minutes later, Joel entered your flower shop, the bell above the door chiming softly. He scanned the colorful array of blooms, then turned to find you. But before he could react, he was welcomed with a hard slap on his right cheek.

“Ouch. What the hell was that?” he asked defensively.

“What was that?” you asked furiously. “You kissed me!” You hit his chest. “Who gave you the right to touch me?”

Joel rubbed his stinging cheek, his eyes wide with surprise at your reaction. He hadn't expected a slap. That meant you didn’t feel anything after that kiss. 

"I... I didn't mean to upset you," he stammered, taking a step back to create some space between you two, avoiding making you more upset. "I thought we were just playing a part for Lauren."

You glared at him. "That doesn't give you the right to kiss me without permission, Joel."

Joel sighed, realizing he had crossed a line. "You're right, I shouldn't have. I'm sorry.”

You took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Just don't do it again, okay?” 

“What do you want me to do? Boyfriends and girlfriends kiss each other” he said, as a matter of fact.

“And we aren’t. Remember?” You felt your anger dissipating as you saw the look in his eyes.

“We are going to have to spend more time together, by the way,” he announced, already taking a step away from you in case you slap his face again.

“What? Why?”

“Lauren found a job in front of the gallery” 

You sighed, the news about Lauren working nearby adding another problem to deal with. "Great, just what we needed, more opportunities for her to snoop around."

Joel nodded in agreement. "I know it's not ideal, but we'll have to be careful and make sure our act is convincing."

You reluctantly nodded. "Fine, I'll try to be more convincing, but please, no more surprise kisses."

Joel snorted. "Agreed”. He closed his mouth for a moment, as he was contemplating something. “Maybe we could sit and talk about what we can or can’t do.” 

“Like a date?” you asked skeptically. 

He snorted “I would never take you on a date” His tone was like a knife stabbing your ego, and at your expression, he regretted his words immediately "I mean, not that you're not... I just mean we're pretending to date, and it's not a real date” 

You gave him a pointed look but decided to let it go.

“Today. My place” he said. 

You sighed, realizing that it was necessary to discuss the boundaries of their fake relationship. "Alright, today at your place”

Joel nodded "Great. I'll see you later then."

With their plans set, you and Joel parted ways, each of you feeling the weight of this act, and as the day passed, you found it increasingly difficult to focus on anything other than Joel.

That same evening, as the day cast the last ray of light. You were closing your shop without noticing Joel was waiting for you leaning on his car. 

"Bee Bee” he called out softly, careful not to startle you.

You turned, your heart skipping a beat as you saw him standing there. "Joel," you replied, a hint of surprise in your voice. "What are you doing here?"

“We are having dinner tonight. Don’t you remember?” 

“I thought-"

“Get in the car,” he said, interrupting, as he opened the door for you. 

You hesitated for a moment, something in the air was thick with tension. But something in Joel's gaze made you take a step forward. Without a word, you walked forward and got into his car.

When you arrived at Joel’s house, the warm and cozy atmosphere of his house felt nice. 

As you entered the living room, there stood Sarah. She had a mischievous expression on her face as if she had just found out a secret. Her eyes flicked between the two of you, and there was a hint of amusement dancing in her gaze.

"Hey, Dad. Hey, bee” Sarah greeted you both with a knowing smile.

Joel cleared his throat, his cheeks faintly tinged with a red color. "Sarah, we didn't expect you to be home."

Sarah raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. "Clearly."

You couldn't help but feel a flush of discomfort at the situation. It was one thing to pretend to be Joel's girlfriend in front of adults, but having his own daughter catch you in the act was a whole different situation.

Joel shot you an apologetic look as if silently acknowledging the awkwardness you felt. 

"Sarah, let me explain..."

But Sarah waved a hand, still wearing that amused grin. "No need, Dad. I think I've figured it out."

You exchanged a glance with Joel, both of you unsure of how to act in front of her. It was clear that Sarah had pieced everything together. 

As Sarah turned to head upstairs, she couldn't but say something else “By the way, you guys make a convincing couple. Almost had me fooled."

With that, she disappeared up the staircase, leaving you and Joel standing in the living room without knowing how to address the situation. 

“Well. That went well.” 

You couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, she saw right through us, didn't she?"

Joel ran a hand through his hair, his expression conflicted. "I didn't want her to find out like this. It's just... complicated."

You nodded in understanding. "I know. No one would like to let her daughter know that she had a ridiculous father.” 

Joel couldn't help but chuckle at your choice of words. "A ridiculous father, huh? Thanks” 

You grinned, the tension in the room gradually easing. "You know what I mean. This whole situation is just... well, ridiculous."

Joel nodded, but still, he gestured for you to take a seat, and you both sank down onto the couch. 

"I didn't want her to think that... well, you know," Joel began, struggling to find the right words.

"That we're actually together?" you finished his sentence, your voice gentle.

Joel nodded, his eyes meeting yours. "Yeah. I didn't want her to get the wrong idea."

You sighed, “Would it be that bad if she had believed it?” 

Joel hesitated before answering, his gaze fixed on a distant point, “I don't want her to get attached to something that's not real."

You nodded in understanding, appreciating his concern for his daughter. "I get it, Joel.”

He offered a small smile, grateful for your understanding. 

But then, Joel's expression shifted, and he looked directly into your eyes. "Maybe this will help us to get along. There's something about you that I didn't see before.”

Your heart skipped a beat at his admission, and your heart should be skipping at that. 

Joel cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So, I guess we should discuss some boundaries."

you nodded, meeting your gaze with his. 

“Do you like wine, right?” He asked.

“Sure.” 

Once Joel came back from the kitchen, taking a sip of wine, he began talking about the boundaries you were both setting up.

 "First off, we need to maintain a certain level of physical contact, like holding hands or the occasional kiss in public." 

You raised an eyebrow, "But it should be natural.” 

Joel nodded in agreement. "Absolutely, we'll keep it subtle. And not touching when we’re alone."

"Agreed," you replied. "Now, about spending time together. We should aim for at least a couple of nights a week, maybe dinner or a movie."

Joe smiled, appreciating your help in all this situation. "That sounds reasonable. And we can attend some social events together, like gallery openings or parties."

Your conversation continued as you laid down more ground rules. It was a strange situation, talking about their fake relationship as if it were real.

As the evening wore on, they finished a takeaway meal, and Joel poured more wine into your glasses. You chatted about other topics, gradually letting go of the tension that always existed between both of you. 

You couldn't help but notice that, despite the differences and the odd circumstances, there was a certain comfort in Joel's presence. There was a genuine connection you didn’t expect. 

Joel also found himself strangely at ease with you, despite his initial thoughts. There was a depth to your personality that he had never got to appreciate before, and he was beginning to see you in a different light. 

 "So, Joel, tell me more about your art. What inspires you?"

Joel leaned back; his gaze thoughtful. "Well, art has always been a way for me to express things I couldn't put into words. It's a way to capture emotions and moments, you know? I find inspiration in life, in the people I meet, and the stories I can tell through it.”

You nodded, genuinely interested. "That sounds amazing. I've seen your gallery, and your work is incredible."

Joel smiled a hint of warmth in his eyes. 

“So when will you show me?”

“Show you what?”

“The things you’re working on now” 

“Soon” he replied, gracing a smile at him.

“What about you Bee? What made you become a florist?" he asked, in order to continue the conversation.

You chuckled. "Oh, that's a long story. I've always had a fascination with flowers and their symbolism. They're like nature's way of speaking to us. Plus, I love the idea of brightening someone's day with a bouquet."

Joel found himself captivated by her passion. "That makes sense.”

“Why?” you genuinely asked

“You’re a sweetheart to everyone.” 

A hint of blush colored your cheeks at his compliment. "Well, thank you, Joel. I try to be."

Joel smiled warmly.

You continued sharing stories about both of you. Joel listened to your own stories about moving to Texas and opening your shop, and you got to learn so many things about Joel, some struggles he had at the beginning of his career, how he raised Sarah on his own, and things you could never have thought of him.

"And what happened after she was born? I mean, how did you end up raising her on your own?"

Joel took a deep breath "Lauren and I were together back then. She was thrilled about having a child at first, but after Sarah was born, something changed in her. She became distant, started going out late at night, and eventually, she left."

Your heart skipped a bit as he spoke. "That must have been incredibly difficult.”

Joel nodded, with a sadness that also showed nostalgia "It was. I never expected to be a single parent, but I had to step up for Sarah. I couldn't let her down."

And there was a time when you understood why Joel was so afraid of letting Lauren back into his life. 

After the night wore on, you left Joel's house, and the atmosphere inside his home shifted, now it felt empty.

Joel sat back at the table, nursing what was left of his wine. He knew inviting you over was a risky plan, but the night was a pleasant surprise, you were a pleasant surprise in his life. He got to know glimpses of you he didn’t know existed. 

As he pushed his glass away, Tommy entered the house, scanning his surroundings. At the state of his brother, he couldn’t help but tease him. 

"So, Joel," Tommy said with a mischievous grin, "How was it dinner with bee?”

Joel rolled his eyes, knowing exactly where this was going. "It's not what you think, Tommy. We're just pretending” 

Tommy raised an eyebrow. "Pretending, huh? Tell that to your face”

Joel chuckled, shaking his head. "Tommy, you wouldn't understand. It's complicated."

Tommy leaned in closer, a sly grin on his face. "Complicated, huh?”

"It's complicated, okay?" Joel finally admitted, rubbing his temples. "I didn't expect any of this to happen."

Tommy chuckled, clearly enjoying his brother's discomfort. "Is Joel Miller falling for Bee?”

Joel shot him a warning look, but Tommy just grinned wider. "Relax, brother. I'm just teasing”

Joel didn't respond, lost in his own thoughts. He couldn't deny that something had changed over dinner, something he couldn't quite put into words.

Over the next days, Joel and you continued to play your act as a couple, and your interactions became less about pretending and more about genuinely getting to know each other. You were sharing time, laughing together, and interacting in a way that was unexpected for Joel and you four years ago. 

Joel was surprised to find he was enjoying your company more than he had expected. He appreciated things about you, your dedication, your dreams, and especially the look on your face when you talked about something you love, the sparkling of your eyes that could light up the whole city.

One evening, as you were closing up your flower shop, you received a text from Joel.

Joel

 Can't get enough of me? Dinner tonight? My place.

Sent at 4:30 p.m.

You couldn't help but smile at the message and reply to it. 

You

 You're becoming quite the charmer, aren't you? Dinner sounds good.

Sent at 40:30 p.m.

You ended up spending time with Joel, Tommy, and Sarah at their home. You were even invited to spend their traditional movie night with them. Joel had picked a classic film, and the living room was enveloped in the soft glow of the television screen. Popcorn bowls were passed around, and Sarah curled up in an armchair while Tommy claimed the couch.

You found yourself sitting next to Joel on the couch, and as the movie played, you couldn't help but feel the consequences of a tiring day. The soft lighting and the comfort of the living room made your eyes feel heavier, you fought to stay awake, but without even realizing it, you leaned on Joel’s shoulder and rested your eyes for a moment. 

Joel glanced down at you, noticing that you had fallen asleep on his shoulder. He didn't want to wake you, so he simply adjusted his position, to allow you to rest your head on his chest, making sure you were comfortable. The way your face seemed to be at peace melted his heart, and he couldn't help but smile.

The movie played on, and Joel allowed himself to relax, as you slept soundly on his chest. He couldn't help but wonder why the nagging feeling in his stomach was intensifying.

The next day, you were back in your flower shop, tending to vibrant flowers as usual. Autumn was arriving and the cozy environment and scent were filling the air. The scent of flowers filled the air, and the soft music playing in the background added to the nice atmosphere. It was a simple but normal day. 

Just as you were arranging a bouquet, the bell above the door chimed, signaling a customer's arrival. When you turned to greet them, you froze in your tracks. It was Lauren, wearing a polite but insincere smile.

“Lauren,” you said, a sense of unease settling in the pit of your stomach. " How can I help you?”

Lauren's smile didn't reach her eyes as she leaned on the counter. "I just wanted to stop by and have a little chat."

You couldn't help but feel a growing tension in the air. "About what?"

Lauren's tone remained polite, but there was a soft threat in her words. "About me, about you and Joel, of course. I hope you're not getting too comfortable in his life."

You maintained a calm expression, despite the growing unease in your stomach.

She leaned in slightly, her voice lowering "I just wanted to remind you of something, dear. You see, Joel and I have a long history, and Sarah is our daughter. I'm sure you understand how important family is."

She paused for a moment, as if considering her words carefully, and then added, "You are just a girlfriend he is going to get tired of."

You felt a surge of anger at her words. "I understand your concern, Lauren. But my relationship with Joel is our business.”

Lauren's smile remained, but there was a glint of steel in her eyes. "Oh, I'm not trying to say anything bad about it. I just thought you should know where you stand. After all, Joel and I have a daughter together, and that's a bond that can't be broken."

With that, she turned and walked out of her shop, leaving behind a flame threatening to hunt you with the venom of her words. 

Joel had made you stand in a mess that wasn’t yours, but now you were too deep into it and you didn’t know where it would lead you from here. 

tags 💌: @joeldjarin @borhapparker @fatima-marisa @kirsteng42 @paleidiot @harriedandharassed

[beyondthesefourwalls]

This Love Came Back to Me (8)

Summary: You and Bradley hadn’t ended on bad terms; really, you stopped before the two of you could even truly begin. Still, in the last seven months, you had never completely left his mind. So when you suddenly appeared in front of him at the bar, asking for a favor and pulling him into a kiss, he thought maybe it was the perfect opportunity to see if this time, things could be different. But what neither of you realized was that there’s more going on than just rekindling a lost romance, and it might not be as easy as simply just wanting it. 

Pairing: Bradley Bradshaw x Reader (no use of y/n)

Warnings: second chance romance, language, allusions of smut and potential full smut, stalking, unhealthy obsessions, delusions of feelings, unwanted attention.

Part Eight Word Count: 4K

Part Seven :: Series Masterlist

-----

-----

“Are you kidding me?!” 

Anna’s squeal was so loud it drew the attention of the nearby tables and you laughed as you shushed her. Simone was just as bad, reaching over to grab your arm and shake you as much as she could while you were both seated. 

“You bitch!” she accused, and you laughed harder at how absolutely scandalized everyone looked. 

“I’m sorry,” you said, “I just…forgot to mention it.” 

You winced before you were even done speaking, knowing how they’d react to the excuse. They didn’t let you down as another of your friends threw a cloth napkin across the table. 

“You start seeing the hot pilot again, and you forget to mention it?!” 

“One who it was dumb to break up with anyway, for the record,” Anna added on, just for good measure. You rolled your eyes but you couldn’t help but partially agree with her, too. 

“It’s only been a month!” you exclaimed, though you knew it was a useless defense. “And technically, he’s an aviator.”

“He flies something that goes in the air. He’s a pilot.”

You didn’t bother to hide your grin as you took another sip of your peach mimosa.Your friends had immediately turned into a firing squad launching questions at you when you casually mentioned you had been running late because Bradley had been trying to convince you to let him drop you off instead of you driving yourself. He had brought it up with a kiss to the top of the head and his arms wrapped around you from behind when you were getting ready. He was going to the driving range with some of the guys, and had insisted that if it went how it usually did, he’d be finding excuses to leave after an hour or two anyway. 

“They’re too competitive, and they’re cheats, and my wallet can only take so much, okay? What better excuse is there than having to go pick up my girlfriend?” 

You had turned down his offer with a playful roll of your eyes and a comment about how maybe he shouldn’t make bets when he knows he’s not all that great of a golfer. He had gasped in mock outrage and tickled your sides, which had led to you kissing him in apology through your laughter, and before you knew it, he was lifting you onto the bathroom counter and had made you both a little late leaving your house. You bit your lip at the memory, your body tingling for another reason besides the champagne. 

“So, do you think it’s serious this time? Like…in it for the long haul?” 

You thought about how the last month of your life had arguably been one of the worst of your life because of work and those that came with it but how despite all that, when you thought of the passage of time, the first thing you thought of was how happy it was because you had Bradley back in your life. You were able to, for the most part at least, forget all of the bad when he was there. You thought of how glorious it was, falling asleep and waking up with him, and all of the little things he did that made it so obvious how he cared for you. He was simultaneously able to light you on fire in the best of ways and offer you peace to any situation, all at the same time. He was so beautiful, so kind, and he made you feel like no one else ever had. He never let you feel like a burden, and instead made you so confident that he felt all these things, too. 

Those words you hadn’t said flashed in your head again but you swallowed them down with another sip of champagne. 

“Yeah,” you grinned into the rim of your glass, unsure if it was the champagne or your thoughts that were making you feel warm and giddy inside. “I think so. I hope so.” 

There was cooing and awwing that broke out around the table but you didn’t even care, too content and happy to do anything but laugh. 

It was over two hours later that you were hugging them all goodbye on the sidewalk outside of the restaurant, stomach full from brunch and your sides aching from how much you had laughed in such a short amount of time. It was so nice to just sit and talk and laugh with them, catching up on life and gossiping about relationships and things going on in the world. You were so glad that Bradley had convinced you not to cancel. You didn’t realize how much you had missed your friends until you were around all of them again. 

Anna hung back when everyone had dispersed, handing you a business card out of her purse. You raised your eyebrow in question. 

“It’s a friend of mine who works in your field,” she told you with a smile. “I know you’ve been on the market for a while. He’s a manager, and he’s going to have a spot opening up on his team soon. I mentioned your background to him, and he said to have you reach out if you think you might be interested. Not a guarantee, obviously, but I don’t think it’d hurt either. I think you guys would vibe really well together.” 

You read the details on the card and clutched it a little bit tighter. It was a company you had briefly looked at during your job search, but they hadn’t had any openings at the time. Excited anticipation rose in you and after carefully putting it in your purse, you threw your arms around your friend. She laughed off your thank you as she squeezed you a little bit tighter. 

“I hope it works out. But at the very least, even if it doesn’t, I can say that I’m at least responsible for bringing you and Bradley back together, since you were supposed to meet me at the bar that night. So I’m not going to feel bad anymore for ditching you at the last minute.” 

You threw your head back with a laugh. “Fair enough. Thanks for being a flake.” 

She shoved you, rolling her eyes and scowling at you playfully. “You’re so welcome,” she said sarcastically. She winked as she started walking away. “Have a good rest of the weekend with your aviator,” she called as she opened her car door.  “We’ll have to get our Navy men together for a double date soon!” 

And then it was just you, standing there on the sidewalk on a sunny San Diego afternoon, contemplating what to do. You grabbed your phone out of your jacket pocket when you felt it buzz. Like you always did, you smiled when Bradley’s name popped up. He was checking in to see if brunch was still going. His friends were going another round at the driving range, and he wanted to see where you were to decide if he was going to participate. It made you giddy how if you were home, he wanted to be there too. 

You thought over your options for a moment, chewing the inside of your cheek. You hadn’t been planning on doing anything after you separated from your friends. But you were in a great mood, feeling better than you had in a while in regards to being out on your own. The restaurant you ate at was in one of the shopping districts you liked and it was a beautiful day. Since you were already here, you decided you were going to walk around for a little while. Setting off in the direction of the coffee shop a few stores down, you responded to your boyfriend's text, telling him to enjoy the next round. 

___

A bag from the jewelry store next door hung on your wrist. You had popped in in hopes of finding a similar necklace to the one you had lost and were pleased that they had the exact duplicate in stock. Now, you were sipping on a latte as you browsed the shelves in the bookstore. You had already mindlessly looked through a few genres and, without finding anything new that caught your eyes, decided that you would look for the next book in a romance series you had started a while ago. 

You were humming along to the song playing over the speakers as you walked down the aisles of paperbacks and hardcovers, your finger tracing the spines as you went. “Ah-ha!” you muttered to yourself, finally finding what you were looking for on one of the shelves in the corner of the store. You flipped the book over to read the synopsis on the back and were so engrossed in the synopsis that when you heard your name from right behind you, you startled so hard that the novel flew out of your hand and your hot coffee sloshed out of the lid and onto your skin. 

You whipped around and your eyes instantly widened in alarm. All at once you felt anxiety spread through your body like wildfire, your heart racing dangerously. 

“Paul,” you gasped. 

He was there, standing so close to you that you had felt his breath on your neck when he spoke your name. You nearly tripped over your own feet when you quickly took a step back. He was smiling broadly at you in the same way he always did. 

“I was hoping I’d find you!” he exclaimed, “I saw you earlier at the restaurant, but I didn’t want to interrupt your time with your friends.” 

Your mind whirled at his comment. He had been there? He had seen you? 

“You looked like you were having so much fun,” he continued like what he was saying was completely normal. Your stomach dropped. He hadn’t just been there. He had been watching you. 

“I-” you started, shaking your head. You didn’t know what to say. Your mouth felt so dry all of a sudden. 

“You look pretty today.” 

Bradley had told you more than once how beautiful you looked before you left the house in your sage green sundress and denim jacket, white tennis shoes on your feet. And you had felt it, too. But in an instant, you were uncomfortable in your own skin. You felt dirty at his praise and the way he was looking you up and down. 

Paul looked at you expectantly, waiting for a response. But you had nothing to say. Your mind was moving so quickly that it was hard to remember how to form sentences. You stared at him with wide eyes. A beat passed before he sighed, his smile dipping. His eyebrows knitted a little tighter together as he cleared his throat. 

“I’m sorry we haven’t been able to talk at work the last few weeks. I was told I should stay away from you for right now.” 

You processed the words slowly, because they didn’t make any sense. He genuinely sounded apologetic, and was looking at you with something that looked like sympathy. But not for anything he had done. But because you hadn’t been able to talk? 

“You’re….sorry?” 

“Yes,” he nodded. When he nodded in emphasis, his glasses slipped down his nose. He pushed them up as he continued. “I forgive you, by the way.” 

“Forgive me?” you stuttered out, sounding incredulous.

“For turning me in,” he explained. The look on his face darkened as he clenched his jaw. “I’m sure it was your boyfriend who told you to do it.” He practically spat the word out, but then he quickly schooled his features, resuming the smile from before. “Anyway. I’m sure it will all be resolved soon. They’ll see that nothing is wrong and it was just an overreaction on your part.” 

You didn’t understand anything that was happening right now. You couldn’t. You stared at Paul in disbelief, unable to comprehend how he honestly believed the words coming out of his mouth. Every one felt like little pellets being thrown at you, each one stinging more than the last. Your fight or flight instinct was finally coming online and you swallowed thickly, trying to figure out what to do. 

“I - I need to go.” 

You startled again when you shuffled to the side, because Paul was quick to mimic the movement, staying in front of you and blocking your way. 

“Do you need a ride home?” 

You nearly choked at the question. “Do I ne- no,” you said vehemently, shaking your head. “No.” 

“I saw you drinking. I don’t mind taking you home if you drank too much,” he said, taking another step toward you. You stepped back, your shoulder blades digging into the books behind you and leaving you with nowhere else to go. Paul moved closer, so close you could see the smudges on his glasses and smell the cheap scent of his cologne. It reminded you of a high school locker room, and something flickered in the back of your mind. You had made that comparison before, a few weeks ago at the farmer’s market with Bradley. You had felt like someone was watching you and had smelt this same smell then, and your anxiety spiked when you realized what that meant. 

God, he had been there.

“You don’t live too far from here. It wouldn’t be an issue.” 

You had averted your gaze to the floor, purposefully avoiding eye contact. But your head snapped up so fast that you felt a twinge in your neck. Your already fast beating heart seemed to double down, your pulse thundering so hard beneath your skin that you could practically hear it. Bile rose in your throat as panic started to claw at you. 

“How do you know that?” you asked, pressing yourself further into the shelf behind you. “How do you - do you know where I live? Do you know my address?” 

He cocked his head to the side, looking at you with genuine confusion and curiosity, like it was you who was spouting off nonsense. “What do you mean?” he asked. “You gave it to me.” 

“I never told you that,” you spat. Your voice came out higher pitched, shaky and incredulous. You were so certain you had never done such a thing. 

“You shared your location with me, remember? At work that day? You wanted me to know.” 

He said the words slowly, like he was explaining something difficult to a child. He was looking at you like he was concerned for you for not remembering. Like you were dumb. You had never felt so small in your life in the worst of ways. Your mind searched through every encounter you ever had with him, trying desperately to figure out what he was talking about. 

And then you remembered. It was the month he had started, and your team was doing a happy hour after work. He was new to the area and wasn’t familiar with where the bar was. He had asked to ride with you, but you had been uncomfortable with the idea, so you had shared your location with him instead to help him get there on his own. But it had been a temporary share, just for an hour. That was it, you were sure of it. There was no way…

You scrambled for your phone. Your hands were starting to shake as you went into your contacts. Dread settled heavy in your stomach when you clicked on him. 

Oh, god. 

You had blocked his number months ago after the first time you had reported him to HR, when he had started texting and calling you all the time. Tears welled in your eyes when you saw that, despite that, you were still actively sharing your location with him. You hadn’t hit the hour setting that day. You had hit indefinitely. He had had access to it all this time. 

It had been months. He had known where you were for months. All those times he had shown up where you were. The grocery store. The gym. Restaurants. The Hard Deck the last two Fridays in a row. He had figured out where you lived by monitoring where you were. 

And you had done it. It had been an accident, but you had done it. And he interpreted it as you wanting him to know. As…as wanting him. 

And it was because of you. It was your own doing. 

“Oh! I almost forgot!” 

You watched in what felt like slow motion as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a familiar piece of jewelry. It was simple, a single small charm with your initial on it dangling from a thin gold chain. It was the same one you had worn for you don’t even know how long. The same one that had gone missing two weeks ago, that you had just bought a replacement for less than an hour ago. It’s the same necklace that you were so confident had been on the jewelry plate on your dresser, where you always put it when you take it off, but that you couldn’t find anywhere.

“I found this by your desk. I know you wear it all the time, so I figured you missed it and would want it back. I kept it safe for you.” 

He held it out to you with a large grin. He looked proud of himself, smug. You knew that your face was horrified in return. 

Your desk, he said. 

But it was on a Monday morning before you left for work that you couldn’t find it. You had it on in the picture you and Bradley had taken together the day before, when you wouldn’t have been anywhere near the office. He couldn’t have found it near your desk. 

He had your necklace. He knew where you lived. 

You felt like you were going to throw up. You could taste it in your throat, feel it all through your body. 

Your eyes flickered down to your phone and then back up at him, before repeating the pattern one more time. You stared at each other for a beat before you swallowed and tapped the screen. You were looking him in the eye when you hit “stop sharing.” His eyes widened as he realized what it was you had just done, and the friendly mask he had carefully maintained throughout the entire exchange disappeared in an instant. 

“Why would you do that?” 

Paul’s blue eyes were as dark as the ocean and as cold as it, too, and he was reaching for you. His clammy hand clamped around your wrist and squeezed tightly, and he was trying to yank you against him. Panic gripped you. He was saying something, but you couldn’t hear it. There was a ringing in your ears and it was like the aisles of books were closing in on you. 

You had to get out of here, away from him. You had to, and you were acting on pure instinct when you finally moved. You popped the lid off of your cup and threw the still hot coffee at him. Paul shouted in surprise as the liquid hit his face and covered his glasses. He was so close that some of it splashed back on you. When he stumbled back, he let go of your wrist as instinct took over to wipe at his face. 

“Stay the fuck away from me,” you hissed. And then in the same moment, you ran. 

Paul called out as you turned the corner and you pushed yourself faster. You didn’t even pause when you burst out of the door of the bookstore. You narrowly avoided running into several people as you darted through the shopping district in the direction of where you parked your car. The tears started as you ran. You didn’t even see the dip in the sidewalk until you were hitting the ground. You let out a sharp cry of surprise, but even then, you didn’t stop, struggling quickly back to your feet. 

You could see your car now. You tugged your keys from your bag, nearly dropping them in your haste. You scrambled to hit the unlock button and slid into the driver’s side.

Tears blurred your vision as you pulled out of the parking lot and after a minute of driving, the first sob worked its way out of your throat, followed quickly by a second. 

Paul knew where you lived. He had tracked your movements. This was your fault, your mistake having led you here.He had been following you for months, and it had all been because of your own carelessness. Your chest felt so tight - you could barely breathe. 

You made a sharp turn onto a different street at the last second, and then another after that. You were nearly hyperventilating by the time you finally stopped in another busy parking lot. 

Your hands were shaking so hard when you grabbed your phone from where you had thrown it in the passenger seat. You had to enter your passcode three different times because the trembling was so bad before it finally unlocked. Paul’s contact profile was still pulled up; you choked on another sob as you closed out of it and went to another. Once the sound of ringing echoed through your bluetooth you lost the grip you had on your phone. It fell to your lap and you clenched the steering wheel instead, your palms stinging, trying to remember how to take a deep breath. 

“Hey, baby. You all done?”  

Bradley’s voice surrounded you as it echoed from your speakers. In any other situation, you would have been able to hear the smile in his voice and would be delighted in knowing you were the one that put it there. But as you choked out his name, all you could think about was Paul. He had been watching you. He knew where you were all the time and it was all your fault. You let out another sob. 

The shift in Bradley’s tone was immediate. “Bug? What’s going on? What’s wrong?” 

You felt like you were drowning, sinking deeper and deeper into your panic. Bradley called your name and you didn’t think it was the first time. You tried to get enough air into your lungs to force words out. “I- Bradley,” you gasped. 

“I need you to take a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong. Please, baby. Please.” He was begging you, he was so worried, and another wave of guilt washed over you. “Just take a breath. In and out, sweetheart. Come on.” 

You tried so hard to match the exaggerated breathing he was doing through the phone. You wanted to say something to him, to explain what was going on, but whenever you opened your mouth, another violent, gasping cry came out.

“B. He-he-he-” Black dots started appearing in your vision and you knew if you didn’t get ahold of yourself, you were going to pass out. With all the strength you could muster, you sucked in one deep, choppy breath. It left you in a painful exhale, your chest so tight it physically hurt. With violently shaking hands, you picked your phone up again. A brand new bout of nausea overtook you when you sent Bradley your location. 

Paul had known where you’ve been for months, yet you had never even shared it with your own boyfriend. 

“Can you - come - come get me?” you managed to choke out. “Please? I - I can’t -” 

“I’m on my way, baby. Don’t move. I’ll be right there.”

-------

Part Nine :: Series Masterlist :: Main Masterlist

Notes: So.....Paul is the worst. Yikes. AHHHHH. I am so damn nervous about your reactions to this one. I hope it lived up to expectations.

Likes/comments/reblogs are the best encouragement for posting more🖤

Thank you to Mak and Em for all of your help making this story come to life. And thanks to Mak for the AMAZING banner!

Tag List: @roosterforme @mak-32 @wildxwidow @gretagerwigsmuse @lilyevanswhore @too-fangirl-to-fuction @fav-fanficssss @notroosterbradshaw @teacupsandtopgun @sometimesanalice @sunflowersteves @littlezee80 @je-suis-prest-rachel @khaylin27 @infamous-reindeer @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @yanna-banana @avengersfan25 @wkndwlff @sylviebell @lt-spork @indynerdgirl

@mssleepy876b @kassieesworld @mizzzpink @a-serene-place-to-be @sexualparkour @sadpetalsstuff @almostgenerallyalways @alilstressyandlotdepressy @ccbb2222 @taytaylala12 @shelbycillian @mavrellover91 @vici111 @lunamooncole @blackwidownat2814 @pisupsala @bellaireland1981 @jynxmirage @shanimallina87 @greatszu @na-ta-sh-aa @callsign-magnolia @chaoticassidy

[sluttywonwoo]

instead of you [part twenty-five] || l.mh

pairing: [best friend’s brother] lee minho x college!reader ft. han jisung

summary: you didn’t expect to spend your summer pretending to be your best friend’s girlfriend- then again, you didn’t expect to fall for your best friend’s brother, either. 

warnings: swearing, angst, mentions of sex (mdni)

word count: 5.7k

a/n: revamped my tom holland series from my main blog ( @wazzupmrstark ) to try and motivate myself to finish it!!

series masterlist | early access to the next chapter on ko-fi

Your cheeks were hot with embarrassment, but you nodded in understanding even though you didn’t want to have this conversation. You were ashamed enough already, you didn’t need to be reminded of what a shitty best friend you were. You wondered what Minho must think of you. How could he still be attracted to you when you were practically throwing yourself at your boyfriend’s brother? How could you be attracted to him when he was willing to fuck his brother’s girlfriend- well, almost fuck his brother’s girlfriend. Minho was clearly the better person here, because he was the one who’d stopped it from going any further. Not only that, but he was the single one here. Being a homewrecker wasn’t great, but at least he wasn’t the one cheating on his significant other. 

Of course, you weren’t actually cheating, but he didn’t know that. What you were doing was breaking a whole bunch of rules you’d agreed to with Jisung and going behind his back and breaking his trust-

“I won’t tell him if you won’t,” Minho suggested, putting your spiral on pause. 

You sighed and crossed your arms over your chest. “We can’t keep doing this.”

“I know.”

“I’m surprised you still…” you trailed off. What were you supposed to fill in the blank with? I’m surprised you still want to fuck me? Talk to me? Acknowledge my existence? You settled for “want to be around me” and left it at that. 

“Why?”

“You must think I’m a horrible person.”

“We’ve already been over this,” he pointed out. “If you’re a horrible person, I’m a horrible person.”

“Yeah, but, I just feel like it’s worse on my side.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know if I can explain it in a way you’ll understand.” You must have made a face because he was quick to backtrack. “Not in that way! Like, I don’t think you’re dumb or anything, it’s just that- god, I’m a fucking idiot. I don’t know how to explain-” he was fumbling, but you weren’t sure how to help. You weren’t sure if you wanted to help. “I thought that if we- if we, just once, then I’d get it out of my system, but I don’t think I can do that.”

You didn’t have any idea as to what he was talking about, but you had a feeling it wasn’t just about his brother anymore. “I thought you said this was about Jisung.”

His lip twitched, eyes widening in thinly veiled panic. “It is! That’s why-”

“What do you mean by ‘getting it out of your system’, then?” you pushed. 

Minho winced. “I don’t- uh, they’re probably wondering where we are by now.”

He was right, but you weren’t about to let him off the hook that easily. 

“Fine, but this isn’t over. We need to have this conversation.”

“I thought we were keeping our distance from each other,” he tried. 

“Yeah, and look where that fucking got us!” you hissed, leaning toward him. “We’re clearly not very good at avoiding each other so it’d be better to just talk about it, right?”

Minho didn’t look convinced, but he nodded anyway. “I guess. But not right now.”

“Yeah, whatever,” you huffed. 

You knew he could tell that you weren’t happy about the compromise, but you didn’t care. It was obvious that he was running away from confrontation, though you didn’t understand the reasoning behind it. Sure, it was going to be an awkward conversation to have, but you both already knew you were attracted to each other seeing as you had almost just fucked in the bathroom of a bar. It may have been more than just stupid hormones for you, but you weren’t about to tell him that. 

“You go back to join them,” you said, smoothing your dress. “I-I can’t see Jisung right now.” Minho nodded in understanding. “Tell them that you ran into me back here and that I’m going back to the room. Just make something up, but don’t say that I’m feeling sick or Jisung will want to come up to take care of me.”

“Okay,” he agreed. “I can do that.”

You both took another moment to freshen up, checking your reflections in the dim light. You wiped the smudged lipgloss from the corners of your mouth, not missing the way that Minho tucked his dick into the waistband of his slacks before heading for the door. 

“Wait, shit, I don’t have a key,” you muttered to yourself. “Jisung brought his for both of us.”

“Take mine,” Minho offered. He turned back around and reached into his pocket, fishing out the plastic card and handing it to you. 

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

You waited for a beat after Minho left the bathroom to follow, not wanting to get caught leaving together. Still, it felt like everyone knew. You felt like everyone was watching you as you made your way through the bar’s lobby to the elevators. 

You didn’t have time to dwell, too paranoid to even check if your suspicions were correct. 

The penthouse was thankfully empty when you returned. The main area was empty, at the very least. Nikki and Dom were either still out or had already gone to bed. Either way, you were relieved to be alone. You weren’t sure how long it would be until the boys got back so you took advantage of the solitude and jumped in the shower. 

It was nice not to have to worry about taking too long, or someone waiting to go after you. Sharing a bathroom with three men was more of a hassle than you had expected, but maybe that was because they were all high maintenance. 

You washed your hair and your body, but you didn’t focus too much on it. You knew there was no amount of scrubbing that could make the dirty feeling on your skin go away. It was ridiculous, how far you’d let this get. You didn’t know what was wrong with you, what had made you lose all sense of control and boundaries when you were around him. 

It was like you didn’t care about throwing your friendship with Jisung away, but you did. It made you sick to your stomach to think about the damage this might do to your relationship. You knew he’d be furious if he found out, and you knew he might never forgive you. So why couldn’t you stop?

The mirror was completely fogged up by the time you got out of the shower. You weren’t sure how much time had passed, but your fingers were all wrinkly, which told you it had been a hot minute. 

You hadn’t brought a change of clothes with you again so you were forced to retreat to your room in nothing but a towel. Minho, Jisung, and Felix were clustered in the hallway having a conversation because of course they were, and all three of them turned their attention to you when they heard the door to the bathroom open. 

“Sorry,” you squeaked, and scurried off to your room, but not before catching Minho’s eye and Jisung's smirk. 

Jisung was right behind you, leaving the two other boys in the hallway as he followed you into the bedroom. 

“Sorry,” you repeated to just him. “I didn’t know you guys were back already.”

“It’s okay. You always forget to bring your pajamas with you when you shower anyway.”

“I know! Why do I do that?”

He shrugged and took a seat on the edge of the bed. “You don’t like having to put your clothes on while you’re still in the bathroom because you’re all wet and the air is sticky.”

“Yeah, but I usually just suck it up when I’m with other people.”

“It’s not a big deal. I mean one of my brothers has already seen you naked.”

You scoffed, burying yourself in the task of pulling clean pajamas from your suitcase. “Please don’t remind me.”

“You missed a great Meg cover,” he said, taking your request to heart. 

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah, they were a cute couple. They did that one song with SZA. You would’ve liked it.”

“Oh, bummer.”

Jisung laid back on the bed, training his eyes on the ceiling as you changed. It was a force of habit, something he still tended to do even though you had changed in front of each other and seen each other naked countless times. Honestly, it was an improvement from when he had used to fully turn away from you every time you started to strip, so you tried not to make too much fun of him for it. 

“Of course, no one beat our performance.”

“Of course not. We were naturals up there,” you agreed, jumping into bed next to him once you were dressed. 

“We hit every note. The track was off, not us.”

“The microphones warped our voices.”

“The speakers were broken.”

Jisung chuckled and propped himself up on his elbows. “Hey, we should probably have sex tonight.”

“Why, did one of your brothers say something?”

“No, no, nothing like that,” he assured you. “Just for consistency’s sake… unless you aren’t feeling up to it?”

“No, yeah, we can totally do it,” you answered quickly. Stupidly.

You zoned out while Jisung gave you a hickey on your neck, trying not to think about how Minho’s mouth had felt in that exact spot just a few hours ago. You moaned softer than you usually did, telling yourself that it was because you were sharing a space with Jisung’s parents, but you weren’t fooling anyone. 

You knew Minho would be able to hear you anyway, the walls had already proven to be awfully thin, and he’d see the hickey tomorrow regardless. There was no way around it. He’d know that you’d run to Jisung when you weren’t able to have him- except that wasn’t the case at all. But what would he think? Why did you care so much? 

You wished you could just tell him the truth, but then what would that solve? The whole reason you were on this stupid trip anyway was to convince Jisung’s family that he was in a relationship- Minho included. 

-

He managed to avoid you almost entirely the following day. You spent the afternoon with all of the Hans at The Bund, Shanghai’s most well-known attraction. It was a mile of skyline nestled against the Huangpu River with dozens of shops, museums, and galleries interspersed among the buildings. 

Jisung geeked out over the architecture, rambling about how there were over fifty-two styles of it present in the area. You listened intently, while his brothers pretended to fall asleep. You knew they were secretly interested, but they couldn’t let him know that. 

The day was warm, a bit uncomfortably hot if you stood in direct sunlight, but it was manageable in the shade. Dom bought everyone popsicles from a cart parked on the promenade to cool down. 

You shared with Jisung, trading your ice pops every few minutes. He’d gotten blue raspberry and you chose cherry, making both of your tongues turn purple. 

“This is how they invented the bisexual pride flag,” you said, licking a drop of juice from your hand. 

“You’re full of shit,” Jisung sighed and shook his head. 

“Fine, it wasn’t exactly like this. The inventor was at a party and they made out with a girl eating a blue popsicle and a boy eating a red one, and then when they saw that their mouth turned purple they had a eureka moment-”

“There isn’t even red on the bi flag!” your best friend pointed out. “It’s pink.”

“Fuck.”

“You forgot what your own flag looks like?”

“Would you have believed me if I said it was a pink popsicle?” you asked, ignoring his question. 

“No! It was a ridiculous story.”

“Damn.”

You stayed at The Bund until sunset, deciding to find a place to eat dinner when the sun kissed the horizon. 

You tried to enjoy the sights, but Minho was making it difficult. Every time you tried to corner him, get him alone to talk to him about the night before, he managed to change the subject or slip away. Most of the time, he’d just call one of the twins over to join your conversation, eliminating any chance you had of bringing up the incident. You wondered if the giant hickey on your neck had anything to do with it. It was clear that he hadn’t wanted to talk to you about it even before he thought you slept with his brother last night, but maybe that had made him even more hesitant. 

You eventually gave up trying to get him alone, not wanting to raise any red flags. Minho seemed to relax once he realized you’d laid off. He was much more conversational at dinner and even cracked a few jokes with his parents, who seemed oblivious to any tension. 

You didn’t even bother trying to talk to him the next morning. It was too early for that shit and you wanted to have a good time at the aquarium without worrying about your best friend’s brother. 

He said good morning to you in the kitchen as everyone was grabbing breakfast to go, but you ignored him. If he wanted to act immature, then you would too. It honestly seemed to be a better arrangement than whatever horny nonsense had been going on for the past few weeks. 

The aquarium was beautiful. This one in particular was known for its underwater tunnels with moving sidewalks. They stretched on for what felt like miles, taking you through all the different sea life enclosures. 

It was one of the more quiet activities, which you appreciated, and since it was so early it wasn’t too crowded either. The only time the silence was broken was when either you or Jisung would point out a funny-looking fish to one another. 

At first, Jisung had made jokes about spotting different kinds of fish that he’d cooked before, but that upset you so he stopped pretty much immediately. 

To your surprise, Minho pulled you aside in the aquarium gift shop. You were looking at shark stuffies while Jisung was over in the book aisle so you assumed that he was finally ready to talk about that night, but you were wrong. Instead, he grabbed one of the sharks off the shelf and pretended to look it over before turning to you and giving you a very serious look. 

“What?” you asked in annoyance, frustrated that you had to drag whatever it was out of him even now. 

“Do you still have the postcard?”

“The one you gave me in Italy?” you asked, cocking your head to the side. Minho nodded, rocking back on his heels awkwardly. “Yeah, why?”

“I… kind of need it back.”

You blinked, honestly taken aback at his sudden key change. “What? I thought you said I could keep it even after we called it even.”

“I know, I just- changed my mind.”

“Is this about Jisung, because he knew you gave me-”

“No, it isn’t about Jisung,” he cut you off and looked away as if he was paranoid about someone listening in on your conversation. “I don’t really want to get into it right now-”

“Okay, fine, whatever. I don’t have it here, though. It’s in my backpack back at the hotel so you can have it when we get back.” You folded your arms across your chest as you spoke, tone icy. 

Minho winced at your reaction. “I’m sorry, it’s just-”

“Don’t be. It’s whatever.”

Instinctively, you turned to search for Jisung, seeking comfort in his presence like you had done so many times before. You could see the top of his head over the aisles so you made your way over to him, abandoning Minho amongst the stuffies before he could respond. 

Jisung was still looking at books, seemingly trying to decide between a marine biology guide and a novel about a shipwreck based on the covers. He perked up when he felt you approach and turned around to face you, holding both of the books out. 

“Which one should I get?”

“I feel like I’m biased because I hate survival stories, and a survival story at sea sounds even worse.”

He sighed, turning the hardback over in his hand. “Yeah, you’re the hopeless romantic out of the two of us. Always reading love stories with the same tropes.”

“I wouldn’t say I’m hopeless,” you argued. “I found you, didn’t I?”

“I don’t think that’s a great point for your case.”

You rolled your eyes. “Shut up, you’re a great boyfriend.”

“Well, I’m glad you think so.”

“And for what it’s worth, I don’t only read romance.”

“Oh yeah, you also read a lot of smut.”

“Ji!”

“What? You do!”

“Yeah, but can you not advertise that so publicly?”

He laughed and nudged your shoulder playfully. “There’s no one around to hear.”

“If no one’s around, then why was I just hyping you up as a great boyfriend?”

“Because I am one.”

“You’re annoying, is what you are,” you huffed. 

“You say that, and yet continue to spend time with me.”

“Because I have no one else.”

He grinned at you before gazing down at your hands. “That’s cute. Are you going to get it?”

You looked down to see what he was talking about and realized you were holding a stuffed shark from the plushies section. You hadn’t even noticed that you brought it with you when you walked away from Minho. You’d been gripping it so hard that it was a little deflated and a couple of its felt teeth were turned inward. 

“Oh, um, I don’t know. Do you think I should?”

“Yeah,” Jisung answered with a shrug, “Why not?”

He grabbed it from you and placed it on top of the marine biology book in the crook of his elbow, sliding the novel back onto the shelf. 

“What are you doing?” you asked, following him through the store up to the register.

“Buying you the shark,” he said as if it should have been obvious.

“What, no! You don’t have to do that!” you protested. 

“Y/n, how many times have we been over this? I dragged you all the way across the world, the least I could do is buy you a stuffed shark.”

“You use that excuse with everything you buy for me!”

“Yeah, because it’s true. And as your boyfriend, it’s my job to do nice things for you. It’s literally, what, a hundred yuan? That’s like fifteen dollars.”

You knew you couldn’t argue with him about it in the store, seeing as the only valid point you could make was that he wasn’t actually your boyfriend.

“Fine,” you muttered. You could Venmo him for the stupid shark when you got back to the hotel. 

He smiled victoriously and placed both items on the counter for the cashier to scan. 

“What do you want to name it?”

“I don’t know. Do you have any ideas, since you’re the one buying it?”

He tilted his head back in thought, humming. “What about Shang? Because we’re in Shanghai? And Shang is also your favorite Disney prince.”

You bit your lip in embarrassment, suddenly wishing you had asked the question after purchasing the animal. Not only was his suggestion the most touristy thing you’d ever heard, but it was also exposing your crush on a fucking cartoon character in front of this stranger. 

“Well, they’re pronounced differently,” you pointed out quietly. 

“Yeah, you’d have to pick one and just know he represents both.”

You kept Shang tucked under your arm on the ride back to the hotel, letting Felix hold him when he asked how soft he was. It was a pain to hail a cab big enough for all six of you so Nikki made the executive decision to take two separate taxis. She and Dom would take the first, and then the four of you would squeeze into the next one. 

You sat squished in between the twins while Minho took the passenger seat. You were surprised that he remembered enough Mandarin from tours years ago to exchange pleasantries with the driver. The driver was impressed too and laughed heartily at something Minho said. 

“Butcher it that bad, huh?” Jisung joked, earning a glare from his older brother. 

“No, it was a joke. He was supposed to laugh.”

Jisung smirked and nodded like he was unconvinced. You almost scolded him for giving Minho a hard time, but then you remembered you were still mad at him so you held your tongue. 

“What’s for dinner?” you asked instead. 

“I don’t know,” Jisung replied. “We’re either going to try and find a place to get xiaolongbao or I’m gonna cook. Do you have a preference?”

“I am feeling a little tired, but I also have your food all the time. We should go out and get something while we’re here, right?”

“If that’s what you want to do, then absolutely.”

-

Once back, you set Shang at the head of your and Jisung’s bed, fluffing him gently so that he’d hopefully plump up again.

“It’s his bed now,” you’d announced to your best friend. 

“As it should be,” he agreed. “He is a benevolent ruler and reigns over his kingdom of the bedroom with a gentle hand.”

“How noble of him.”

Jisung nodded and yawned, stretching his arms over his head. “What do you want to do until dinner?” 

“How long do we have?”

“Few hours, probably.”

“Wanna check out the pool?”

“Yeah, I’ll ask Felix and Minho if they want to join us.”

“Actually,” you reached out to stop him, “can it just be the two of us?”

He seemed surprised by your request but was quick to reciprocate. “Sure, let’s go.”

-

Your hair was still wet by the time you were seated in the restaurant for dinner. You tried not to let it drip down the back of your chair, but that was proving to be difficult. Jisung’s hair had dried significantly more than yours had. It was damp, but only barely, and curling up at the ends. Each time he ran a hand through it, you’d be flicked with water droplets. 

“Was the pool any fun?” his mother asked, sipping from her cocktail glass.  

“It was nice,” Jisung answered for both of you. “It was really quiet because we were the only people there, but that was kind of a bonus.”

“Thanks for the invite,” Felix muttered, making you feel a little guilty for specifically not wanting them to join.

“I wanted to spend some time alone with my girlfriend, sue me!” Jisung shot back. 

You were thankful he didn’t throw you under the bus, even though you knew he wouldn’t anyway. 

“You get alone time with her every night, asshole,” his twin brother pointed out. 

Your hand shot up to your neck, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the hickey Jisung had given you the night before. Next to you, he clenched his jaw but didn’t say anything. Whether or not Felix had intended to make the innuendo was unclear, but knowing him it was easy to guess. 

“What should we order, Jisung?” Dom asked, expertly changing the subject like he had so many times before. 

You had noticed that anywhere you went, Jisung’s parents were always asking his opinion on what to eat. They assumed that because he was a culinary student he knew everything there was to know about food, and therefore knew what everyone would like. It was partly true, which was one of the reasons you always let him order for you. You were guilty of making the assumption too, but even though he acted annoyed by it you knew that he secretly liked being asked for his opinion. 

“We should get at least one order of the traditional xiaolongbao,” he suggested. “They’re pork dumplings full of soup, which is what Shanghai is famous for.”

“Sounds good, anything else?”

You tuned out as Jisung listed off a few other dishes to get, watching Minho out of the corner of your eye. He wasn’t paying attention either. He was scrolling on his phone, looking incredibly bored. 

You nearly scoffed. He could at least pretend to be interested in what Jisung was saying. You knew Jisung had done the same for him God knows how many times. 

You cleared your throat unsubtly, getting his attention immediately. Men were so easy. But you had also gotten everyone else’s attention, stopping the conversation altogether. 

“Yes, dear?” Jisung asked, leaning in your direction.

“Nothing, sorry,” you sputtered, still eyeing Minho. He held eye contact with you, eyebrows raised in question. “Swallowed wrong.”

Of course, you had to use the word swallow while staring down the guy you wanted to fuck. If he caught it, he didn’t show it. 

Jisung rubbed your back soothingly. “Oh, you alright, baby?”

“Fine, thanks.”

The conversation picked back up and you were able to fade into the background again. Minho contributed this time, presumably adding his thoughts on the food to the collective ordering process. 

“Does that sound good, baby?” Jisung’s voice snapped you out of your train of thought, and you realized you were still glaring at his brother. 

 “Hm? Oh, sure. You know I trust your judgment on food.”

“I know. Half the time we go out you don’t even open the menu.”

“I like to be surprised!”

He chuckled, the hand that was still on your back making familiar circular motions. “I know, I know. I just wanted to check to make sure there wasn’t anything in particular you wanted.”

“I’m ok. You’re very sweet, though.” You punctuated the statement with a kiss to his cheek. 

“I know.”

“Jesus Christ, I take it back.”

“Too late!”

“You’re impossible.”

“Thank you.”

-

After dinner, the Hans decided to attempt taking the metro back to the hotel rather than a cab. It took an hour longer because Felix misread the map and had all of you get on the wrong train at first, but eventually, you made it back to the square you all recognized and walked the rest of the way from there. 

Jisung jumped in the shower first, and you followed him, washing all of the chlorine from the pool out of your hair and off of your body. You remembered to bring your change of clothes with you this time and threw your wet hair up in your towel so that you wouldn’t drip everywhere as you had at the restaurant. 

Shang was sitting on Jisung’s lap when you joined him in the bedroom. He was absorbed in the book you’d lent him, highlighter balanced between his teeth as he jotted something down in the margins with a ballpoint pen. 

“Shang better not end up in your room instead of mine when we go home,” you warned. 

“Be prepared for him to go missing,” he mumbled. 

“I’ll just take him back!”

“You won’t be able to find him. And you’ll never be able to prove it was me.”

“We’ll see about that.”

You were about to crawl into bed next to him when Nikki calling for the boys stopped you. You weren’t included in the roll call, but Jisung dragged you out into the living room anyway to see what was going on. 

Felix had beat you there and was standing behind the couch where his parents were gathered around an iPad. 

“It’s your cousin!” Nikki exclaimed. “Come say hi!”

The twins rounded the sofa and sat on either side of their parents, leaning into the frame so that the boys on the other side of the screen could see them. 

“Jeongin, Yoon! How are you?”

“Good! It’s hot here!” the older one, presumably Jeongin, answered.

“Where’s’here’?” Felix asked. 

“Florida!” the younger one exclaimed. 

“We’re in the States for vacation,” Jeongin explained. “I dunno how you lived here for so long, Jisung.”

“To be fair, I was a little further north than you are, but yeah, summers are brutal. Oh, by the way, this is my girlfriend!”

You were still standing behind the couch, not wanting to encroach on their family discussion, but when Jisung mentioned you he motioned for you to bend down into the frame and introduce yourself. 

You waved, hoping he could see you. “Hi! Nice to meet you, I’m y/n.”

Jeongin shot you a polite hello before addressing Jisung again. “I honestly thought you were lying when you said you had a girlfriend.”

Felix burst out laughing from the other side of the couch. “I miss you guys. It’s not as fun to make fun of Ji without you. Minho’s been lacking!”

“Oi, at least I have a girlfriend,” Jisung butt in. “I reckon you four will be single for the rest of your lives.”

“I bet Jeongin’s found himself a summer crush,” Felix reasoned. “He’s always had the most game out of all of us.”

The youngest boy scoffed. “Yeah, okay. One of us is a famous K-pop dancer, but I’m definitely the one with the most game.”

“Talent doesn’t equal game,” Jisung added despite being roasted within an inch of his life seconds earlier. 

“Where is Minho?” Nikki asked the twins suddenly, looking around the room for her eldest son.

“He’s at the bar we went to the other night,” Felix answered. “The one on the roof.”

“Can one of you go grab him? He needs to say hello to the boys.”

“I can do it,” you volunteered automatically without thinking. You didn’t want either of the boys to give up time talking with Jeongin and Yoon, but you hadn’t considered that you would have to see Minho and be alone with him if you were going to take their place. 

“Are you sure?” Jisung asked. 

“Yeah, totally,” you replied, trying to control the shakiness in your voice. “You guys stay here. I’ll go get him.”

You kissed Jisung before you could change your mind as if the decision had been sealed by your lips. 

You ran back by your room to slip on some shoes and took your hair out of the towel it had been drying in, hanging it on one of the hangers in the bedroom closet. 

The bar was only a few floors above the one you were staying at, but you decided to take the elevator anyway, not wanting to get sweaty after having just showered. You tried convincing yourself that being alone with Minho would be no big deal, even after what happened last time you were at this bar. Maybe you would finally be able to have that conversation you had been trying to have with him. 

Doubtful. He’d been acting weird all day. Certainly, he’d find another reason to blow you off and you’d be right back where you started. 

As soon as the elevator dinged at the floor you were headed to your heart dropped into your stomach. You told yourself that the nerves were because of the height. It was a rooftop bar after all. But you had been perfectly fine the last time you were here, so you couldn’t even attribute your anxiety to that. No, you knew exactly what it was. You just didn’t want to admit it.    

Even though the bar was dark, it wasn’t hard to find Minho. The place was practically empty. He was seated on one of the plush velvet couches facing the windows, looking down at something that was in his hands. As you got closer, you recognized something beside him. It was a bag. More specifically-

“Is that my backpack?” you demanded, making him jump up in surprise. 

All of the nervous energy dissipated instantly, quickly replaced by anger and confusion. Minho clutched what he was holding to his chest. His eyes were wide with panic and his cheeks were already turning pink. 

“What the fuck, Minho?” you hissed, continuing when he didn’t say anything. “Care to explain yourself?”

Suddenly, the shocked expression on his face fell into one of… what you thought might be anger, only confusing you further. 

“I should be asking you the same thing,” he spat.

“What? What are you talking about?”

“I know I shouldn’t have taken your stuff without asking-”

“Yeah, you shouldn’t have.”

“Let me finish,” he grumbled. 

You rolled your eyes, honestly in disbelief that someone who was snooping through your things could have the audacity to be upset with you. 

“I just went to get the postcard I gave you.”

The postcard. You had forgotten that he asked for it back. Still, that didn’t give him any right to-

“You said it was in your backpack so once we got back to the hotel I was just going to grab it from your room. I didn’t want to have to ask you again since you were clearly upset about it, so I thought that I’d find it myself. That was all I was going to do, I swear, but you had a lot of things in your backpack that looked like postcards, and some of them mentioned me so… I took the bag with me so that I could look at them all later, after dinner. I didn’t know what I was looking at, at first…” he trailed off. 

A slight shift in his hands revealed what he was actually holding. Flashcards. The flashcards. Fuck. The room began to spin and you genuinely thought you might be sick. You wanted the ground to open up and swallow you whole. You wanted to break one of the bar’s windows and leap out of it, even if it meant facing your greatest fear. But you couldn’t move. Your mind screamed at you to do something, say something to explain yourself, but you were frozen in place, unable to say a word, let alone string an entire sentence together.

“What are these, y/n?” he asked, taking a step toward you. 

It was a rhetorical question. He obviously knew what they were. “Dates, fun facts, stories about you and Jisung... either you have a really shitty memory, or you’re not actually dating my brother.” His tone was taunting, he was smirking, but the way he was looking at you, the way he clenched his jaw, told you that he wasn’t amused in the slightest. 

“I-”

“Are you really in love with Jisung?”

“I love Jisung,” you whispered quietly, desperately. You couldn’t even look Minho in the eye. 

“Are you in love with him?” he repeated. “Don’t fucking lie to me.”

You sucked in a breath, forcing yourself to meet Minho’s gaze. 

“No.”

lmk what you think i always appreciate feedback!!

iou tags: @gimmeurtmi @fuckvernon @phobia0325 @fwess @hipsdofangirl @galaxleeknow @urmomma0324 @bangmechanpls @102598s @farfromsugafanfic @ritzy-roo @dimpledsatan @wonderfulshinee @imwithurmother @smollquokka @rosexjimin @skizzel @endzii23 @lady-lena @kwanisms @ch4nniebang @lilramennoodle @babyphotos0325 @dearalice @sojohns @mistlitmoonlight @yoontaethings @babebatter @mal-lunar-28 @shy-kisu @zerefdragn33l @downbadreading @sana-within-you @saquso @bunnispaces @reianagarcia @hyunehans @imtooyoungforthisshit @i8rsie @honeslykindahorny @214racha @hgema @chillllllli @vixensss @smhlino @feiyaa @borahae-reads @bigbearenergy @hoodiesandicedcoffee @darkacademic2512 @y00nzin0 @i8yul @shinypieceofgarbage @woozarts @just-a-little-delulu @djeniryuu @hbzzzbork000 @mimzibee @sofiaslayed @kangyounghyunhands

add yourself to my taglist here!

[f4iry-bell]

Grayson x reader argument angst/comfort

dates and bags

this was supposed to be in my current series but I've decided to stop it and so it's here!! idk if it'll come under comfort tho because it's just vvv little confort but YEAH!!!!!

It has been exactly a month since things started becoming a bit serious with Grayson and her. A month of pure contentment. But it didn't last long, it was like someone was praying for them to seperated because Grayson started being distant. Everyday phone calls became text messages, text messages became one word reply or being left on read. Weekly dates or just them going out together became rare. He barely answered her calls, he'd text her ‘im bust’ after ignoring her calls. At first she believed that he was actually busy with work, after all he had his own life. But how long can one stay busy? Probably Grayson Hawthorne but this time Grayson Hawthorne has a girlfriend or whatever they are right now. A serious commitment.

It took her three phone calls and use of imperative sentences to convince him to meet her at a cafe they used to meet. Neither of them spoke much once Grayson arrived at the cafe late. 

“So, how are you doing?” She asked him with a bland tone. 

“Fine” He replied with an aloof tone.

“Are you sure?” She asked with her eyebrows raised. 

“Yes.” 

“Then why have you been acting like an asshole to me all week?” She snapped.

Grayson was taken aback by her snapping. But he kept his cool. “No need of vulgar language to resolve whatever silly reason you're mad at me for” 

“Silly reason?” She scoffed.

“I don't think I have done anything for you to be this mad” He said.

“You've been distancing yourself from me and ghosting me for a week!” She tried hard not to yell.

“I told you, I have been busy. Plus, I do answer your texts.” 

“No, you don't. You say ‘ok’, ‘i'll text you later’, ‘i’m busy’. You don't answer me.” She cleared it for him.

“I thought you'd understand that I'm a busy man, I don't have time for you all day”

“But you did when we met! If not all day, you had time for me for at least an hour. Now you can't even spare me a minute” She breaks down, the anger now turning into hurt.

Instead of giving her a reason, a real reason. Grayson tried to leave. “Look, I don't have time for this. I'll talk to you later,”he said.

“Screw this. Don't bother. If you even bother enough to think about me.” She stood up, grabbing her bag and taking out a bill to pay. “I'm out of this. I'm done” 

“What do you mean?” He asked as he watched her move out of their table.

“You know what I mean.” With that the one romantic relationship that worked out well for Grayson ended.

_

She tried not to think about Grayson and how he used to treat her, she tried not to care at all so she wouldn't be hurt. But she failed every time. It has been exactly four days since she called it off and blocked his number, not that she was expecting him to call or text. At 1 in the morning someone knocked on her apartment door. She walked out of bed and started to think whether or not to answer the door, it's 1 am, who could it be? 

Sighing she opened the door just 3 inches to see who it was while holding a broomstick behind her. She was surprised and angry to see who it was. 

“Grayson?”

He smiled. “Hello, love” She can smell the alcohol in his breath.

“What are you doing here?” She asked, and she noticed he was still holding a flask. How much did he drink?

“I missed you” He looked at her how he used to.

“Well keep missing me, cause I'm not talking to you. Go back to your place” She said and was about to slam the door but stopped when he gagged like was going to puke. 

“Sorry about that. Anyways, you look so beautiful,” he commented with a cheeky smile. Her anger only grew.

“Did you drive here?” She asked and he nodded. “Are you stupid? Driving while you're this drunk?” She asked, followed by an annoyed scoff.

 She shook her head and asked him to book a cab and go back to his place again, when he tried to get closer to her he almost lost his balance.

“You're so frustrating.” She said and grabbed his arm to help him inside her apartment, she helped him to sit on the couch and went to grab a glass of water for him. When she came back he was drinking from the flask again, she snatched it from his hand and handed him the glass. “Drink this”

“Thank you” He drank it. “Shouldn't you be mad at me?” He asked. 

“I am.”

“Then why are you offering me water?”

“So you can sober up and leave”

“Wrong. Because you're nice,” he said. “Too nice. Too pretty, too adoring, too passing, too considerate” He kept going.

“All that and yet—” Grayson cut her off mid sentence by talking.

“I told my brothers about you” He said. “And what happened”

“What did they say?” She tried not to think that Grayson told his brothers because he thought he messed up.

“They called me an idiot” He smiled.

“You are”

“I know. They also said you deserve an explanation. I guess that's why I'm here” 

“Go on, explain”

“Like I said, you're just too good. Too good for me, I don't deserve you but I decided to be selfish when I asked you out. But I started to panic because I was getting attached to you, I thought this would just be a fling but it was becoming so much bigger. It wasn't supposed to be like that for me, I can't stay selfish for a very long time. If you know my family history you'd hate me.” He explained.

“You think you don't deserve me? Grayson, I'm not special. And that is no excuse to distance yourself from me. Do you know how much you've hurt me? And I don't care about your family history, I liked you for you. You as an individual.”

“You liked me? You don't like me now? I understand. It was a false hope for thinking you'd still like me, I did act like an asshole to you” He let out a fake chuckle.

She thought for a moment before speaking. “I still like you, you know. You can't dislike someone just like that, especially someone like you.” She said.

Grayson blinked “You do?”

She nods.

“Does that mean you'd be willing to forgive me? My brothers said I should at least try and ask you for another chance” He asked.

She rolled her eyes. “First of all you didn't apologise yet.”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For pushing you away because I hate myself and can't allow myself to have nice things” 

She sighs. “It's gonna take a lot more than a drunken apology.”

“So you'd be willing to try?” He asked with a hopeful smile.

She shrugged. “Now come on, let's get you to bed.” She said and took his hand, and laid him on her bed. “And don't you dare puke on my sheets” She warns.

He moved to the corner giving her some space, she climbed next to him and he wrapped his arms around her. “Is this okay?” He asked.

“It's fine.” She said, totally not bothered by his touch.

After five minutes of silence she spoke. “You know, you deserve to be loved. I don't why you think you don't, but you're a nice person, Grayson. And if you let me, I might fall in love with you”

“Thank you for saying that. Also, take back what you said earlier.” He said.

“What?”

“When you said you're not special. Because you are, to me.”

 She turned to his side. “Don't sweet talk me. You owe me multiple dates before I officially forgive you”

“Just dates?”

“And a bag, maybe.”

“Dates and bag it is then”

She smiled. “You're really good at pushing people. But this better be the last time. Okay?”

“Yes, ma’am” 

[cloveroctobers]

FEBRUARY FLUFF — JUAN “JUICE” ORTIZ.

A/N: Juice was always my man when it came to SOA and I’ll forever be traumatized and bitter over his storyline + how he was treated. That’s probably one of the reasons why I’ll never do a rewatch tbfh. In my mind he’s thriving and I’ve always wanted happiness for him and that’s what he’s gonna get here! Also my first time ever writing for this man so go easy on me although this is more HC (my version) form. Have a happy love day whether it’s with a significant other, family, friends, or just yourself! know that you’re always worthy and capable of receiving and giving love and not just on this one day of the year 🩷🫡

PROMPTS ARE FROM HERE + I’m using: 19. "can i see your hand?" / "sure, why?" / "so i can see how well it fits with mine." + 35. "let's take a stupid walk for our stupid mental health!"

જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩

When you got word from your mother that Juan was back in town for good, you had to see so for yourself.

January’s always been gloomy but when you came face to face with the man you haven’t seen in years at the front door of his mother’s, you wanted to collapse but managed to keep your composure.

Juan’s sad but somewhat still warm eyes are unsure at first, taking in your facial expression but you clear his concerns as you’re yanking him tightly to your body in a tender embrace.

And he feels like he might just break down himself in your arms.

You were just what he needed.

The both of you had to make up for lost time and Juan had to keep convincing you that he wasn’t going anywhere.

Things didn’t work out in his favor in California (little did you know, he barely made it out alive) and Juan never wanted you to visit, although your older brother and his girlfriend, Saskia lived out there—which means you took trips but in a sense you learned to accept that was Juan’s way of protecting you from the demons that latched onto his soul.

You couldn’t take it personally since Ms. Hilda, his mother never visited either but spoke to him every couple of months—which may have been hard or if not harder for her.

Although the both of your mother’s were good friends that didn’t mean the both of you didn’t have your share of childhood trauma’s (because of them) that bled into your adulthood.

Nonetheless the both of you spent a month reconnecting, taking each day by day as it took to rebuild a friendship.

It felt right having Juan back in your life and he can honestly say the same.

“I never knew how much I missed you until I saw your face again,” he said to you over the phone one night.

Juan’s always been a sweetheart and never had an issue expressing his love for you to the point many kids back in school questioned if you were dating.

It never happened but that didn’t mean Juan didn’t want it to yet you found yourself in a few relationships here and there. Which was brought up by your mother during a birthday dinner for your brother (who was visiting) that February.

“I find it hard to believe that you’re still single. I mean hell, when is anybody going to give me a grandchild?” Your mother chatted over a glass of Cabernet playfully glaring at your brother who cleared his throat before setting her eyes back on you, “You know I saw Marlon just the other day?”

You fought the urge to roll your eyes at this. You’ve only been at the table for ten minutes, supposedly going over the menu and yet here your mother was worrying about children and your love life.

And she just had to bring your college ex into it.

“Really,” you gave faux interest as you viewed the entrees.

“Mhm. He’s been divorced for a few years now and he’s single. I even showed him a picture of you to see if he remembered you. He laughed about it and said he thought you were with Juan now.”

Your brother is coughing now on his own drink and his girlfriend of four years is patting him on the back.

Glancing to your right you stare at Juan rubbing at his face in thought, who mentally seemed to be having a tough day today. He stayed at your house last night and apologized over breakfast about how he got into these dark moods.

You assured him that he didn’t have to apologize for his feelings. Asking if he wanted to be your plus one tonight, only if it was up for it.

He’d push through it for you because he was devoted to being near you as much as possible since he didn’t want to lose anymore time with his best friend.

How would Marlon assume this? You’re turning back to your mother now, furrowed brows while you reply, “why did he think that?”

“He said he saw the both of you running around the park together. He wanted to say hi but you and Juan seemed to be racing and he didn’t want to interrupt.” Your mother informs, staring at you two underneath her eyelashes with her lips moving back to the rim of her glass.

This didn’t make you feel any sort of way because you also haven’t seen Marlon in years either. You weren’t really checking for him but—the breakup didnt turn sour—it was mutual! however it was interesting to see different perspectives on how people viewed you and Juan.

Juan was gone from New York by the time you both reached your early twenties and by then you were still with Marlon. Juan would visit up at school and hung out with you two a couple of times! even when Marlon tried to put him onto some college girls…there was a part of Juan that felt like he was guilty of something.

Even when he engaged in activities—sure it may have felt great in the moment but he always ended up feeling like shit since he wanted it to be you.

So yes you were part of the reason why he got out of New York and to find a better sense of direction for himself.

You’re shrugging your shoulders redirecting the conversation, “well..I’m sorry things didn’t work out with his wife.”

“Are you?”

“Mom! Chill.” Your brother stepped in which you were somewhat thankful for. Why were you always getting shit on when you knew it was on the tip of your mother’s tongue that your brother “should” be thinking about marriage since she hinted at you once before during your girl’s day.

Although you and your dad both were aware that your brother didn’t want to get married.

“I’m just saying you should think about it or what about that guy from high school? The funny looking one.”

“They were both goofy to me. Especially Stu.” Your brother snorted while you shielded your middle finger from your mother to direct at your sibling.

Your first boyfriend was senior year and he cheated on you with a redhead because he got dumped prior to asking you out. It made sense to him but definitely not to you.

Yeah that’s highschool stupidity for you!

Juan shuddered at the mention of your first boyfriend, “man that guy? He was ridiculously obnoxious in and outside of class and hung out with that other guy…the one who gave me serious serial killer vibes.”

“You did always say that,” you laughed to yourself and couldn’t deny it. You never wanted to be alone with Stu’s best friend at the time, the way his dark eyes bored into yours always made you feel uneasy.

“He’s harmless!” Stu would persuade you before always leaving you with him for at least a minute or two.

Your mother pried, “Well where is he now?”

“Hell if I know? Probably married to another redhead with three or four kids? Still possibly cheating? What is this, a walk down memory lane?”

Juan could sense you were getting agitated about this and placed his hand right above your knee which made you exhale.

Your mother is raising her hands, “I’m just looking out for you and your brother’s happiness. That’s all.”

“I am happy. Go dig in his business then, it’s his birthday anyway.” You suggested while your mother just scoffed.

Raising your brows, your mother continued knowing that you were always ready to challenge her, “I will but when’s the last time you’ve been in a serious relationship?”

“Are you the expert when it comes to relationships now? You waited six months after the divorce from dad to get married to someone else. You settled for dad’s bullshit for years and now suddenly you want to micromanage what goes on in mine? Are you keeping this same energy with your step kids?”

Your brother is calling your name as a warning now but you couldn’t lie and say you weren’t triggered.

growing up having your mother constantly in your ear saying to you, “you’ll never get a bf because of xyz.” Simply from little stupid things you would do as a pre-teen to teenage years was damaging because you were just an insecure kid not worrying about romantic relationships in the slightest. Although you had a mother who seemed to be more concerned about the male gaze for you.

So what if your room got messy? So what if there were days where you didn’t want to be bothered with your hair? Or was too much in grown folks business when your mother would gossip on the phone about inappropriate subjects right in front of you! while also bringing up all of your business to her friends or family members like some sort of humiliation tactic and then never taking your emotions into account when you voiced your discomfort?

Don’t get it wrong, of course you had love for your mother but you couldn’t erase what was said and done. A list of things that still stuck with you and things that you should perhaps just “let go of,” yet she still felt comfortable to talk about your love life like you were some low self-esteem kid.

You never had that relationship where you felt safe to share anything with your mother because of her critiques.

“Hold on now, I’m just trying to make conversation—

“You don’t need to. Not when it comes with an opinion i never asked for to match.”

Then comes the tears and Saskia is tending to her, whisking your mother away to the bathroom with her crying to Sas about how she, “tries to be a good mother and these are the things she gets.”

“Did you have to do this on my day?” Your brother sighs while your eyes are in slits.

“You and dad are the exact same, always expecting me to just take it. I don’t give a damn if it was Easter, if she’s coming at me then I’m going to let her know. I know she’ll always be mom but she refuses to ever see my side on anything.”

“Why does it have to be about sides? We’re family at the end of the day.”

The famous excuse for it all so it seems!

“And we must always be on some we are the world bullshit too, no matter what huh?”

Juan covers his snort at this, which earns him a look from your brother, leaving Juan to mumble out an apology.

It’s quiet for a moment as your brother tries to figure out how to make this okay but you don’t want to stick around to continue this dinner. In your eyes it felt ruined already.

Only seconds pass when you decide it’s best if you go. You’re on your feet, slipping back into your outerwear before wrapping an arm across your brother’s shoulders squeezing him as you peck his temple.

“Love you, mean it. I’ll take you out myself at another time.” You say as all your older brother can do is nod his head, briefly resting his hand on top of yours before you let go.

You’re peering at Juan who’s still seated and say, “want to take a walk with me?”

“Sure, whatever you want, yeah!” He sits up before grabbing his beanie and jacket, “I don’t care.”

You quickly begin to walk off before your sas and your mom come back, sending a silent message to your old friend that you’ll be outside.

Your brother tells Juan, “look after my sister, okay?”

“You got it,” Juan says, wishing the older man another birthday wish before making his way out to you.

The both of you are now walking side by side, enjoying the city’s lights and each other’s company.

“Thanks for coming with me. The longer I sat there getting into it with my mom the faster my brain was telling me to get the fuck out. I figured: let's take a stupid walk for our stupid mental health!"

Juan chuckles at this, “I know what you mean. I also had a disagreement with my sister too before I crashed at yours.”

That revealed just a dash about what led to Juan’s mood last night.

“Yeah?” Your eyes peep to the left of you at the beanie-wearing man, “You want to talk about it?”

It wasn’t much different with what went down with you and yours. Except Juan’s mother was the one to break it up and scold him for defending himself against his sister.

She still felt like he didn’t have himself together (despite the fact that he was now working at a mechanic shop and had a side tech gig at an outlet mall—paid under the table now! If you’re talking about his mental then that was a different story!) either and was the main one who told him not to go out to California. She begged him to stay and that began their estrangement.

His sister blamed him for his own unhappiness and if he would have stayed here maybe he wouldn’t have dealt with that darkness charming brought him.

Which hurt to hear.

He walks even closer to you now as he said, “nah, not really if that’s okay?”

“What?” You lightly bumped his shoulder, “Course it is, just know you can when you want to.”

He gives you a lopsided smile, “Thanks.”

You loop an arm around Juan’s waist, resting your head against his shoulder, as you blended into the city together.

Juan’s dreamed of times like these except you were miles apart but hearts still in sync.

The silence between you two lets you know that you’re both holding onto something so heavy but find that it doesn’t weigh as much when you’re both near each other.

By the time you’re making your way back to your side of town, one subway ride later and more miles to walk back to your place—the night feels like any normal routine.

Eventually the both of you fall into chatter and soft smiles as you continue your rest on the subway, head tucked underneath juice’s chin that his facial hair still pricks your thick hair but you don’t mind.

You’re both laughing about old times when you reach your 1975 raised ranch, half standing on the steps and you’re wiping the tears from the corner of your eyes, “you coming in?”

The last thing Juan wanted to do was head back to his ma’s side of town so a dip of his head was all that you needed, sending him a smile and a nudge of your head to welcome him back inside.

“We gotta eat something although you’re really not supposed to eat after seven…”Juan says to you after kicking off his shoes and heading straight from the main entrance pass the living room right to the kitchen.

“I forgot how much of a health freak you are.” You tease, hanging up your coats in the near by closet.

Juan’s mumbling to himself as he moves around the cut off kitchen, “And you need more fruits and veggies in here. What’s the point of having a juicer and having nothing to use it?”

“My common law sister in law? If you believe in that sort of thing! got it for me. It works as decoration,” You argued, “I can just go buy me a fruit or veggie juice.”

“And be wasteful of this beautiful gift?”

“If you want it, I’ll regift it to you for a belated Christmas gift then.” You sass, going to lean in the archway.

Juan shakes his head while he’s eyeing all the ingredients he’s laid out on the counter, “no point in doing that if I’m just going to be over here majority of the time anyway.”

“Oh is that right?”

“I mean…yeah…if you’re comfortable with that.”

You roll your eyes, “I’ll take you for as long as I can have you, Juanie and you know that.”

He casts a smile over his shoulder at you before waving his hand along formally towards the dining room, “have a seat. This won’t be anything extravagant since your selection of food kinda sucks…we’ll talk about that later but I need my work space clear.”

You saluted, “heard chef,” before you walked into the next room over.

Which leaves you to send off a text to your brother letting him know you both made it safe before choosing to browse social media.

The words of your mother did get into your head as you’re sitting here searching up your two exes and you laugh to yourself at how foolish you were being. You haven’t though about either of those two in a long time, not in the same way you thought about Juan nearly every day.

Yet here you were letting your mother get into your head again: about two men that didn’t hold meaning to your life now.

“Bon appetite.” Juan tells you after awhile, placing the plates down on the table and picking the seat right next to you.

“And what do we call this meal?”

“P.O. In 10. Which stands for: party’s over in ten minutes.”

You both stare at each other and let out a laugh, “how clever.”

A struggle meal of: ground turkey on ranch Doritos topped with cheese and left over black olives with a side of strawberry moscato was your dinner for that night and you didn’t dare complain.

Juan’s gone into one of his rapid conversations of one of his old friends, a guy named chibs that he would have loved for you to meet and of course you find it sweet that he still found someone to speak highly of when he’s vaguely told you that all was not well in charming.

“can i see your hand?" You suddenly ask the man who’s grown out his hair and sported facial hair that made him appear older.

Juan’s finishing off the last of his homemade nacho’s, stuffing his face but doesn’t hesistate as he places his smooth veiny but much larger one into yours, “sure, why?"

You’re tracing the lines of his palm and recall the time the both of you went to a palm reader on senior skip day for shits and giggles although Juan seemed to believe every word the lady said.

He said he had a great tía from Puerto Rico that he met once or twice who was very spiritual but different from a palm reader. His mother got pissed off when she brought her work to the house that one time when she was supposed to be looking after him and his sister.

That soon became Juan’s job.

You wondered about how these hands had to scrap their way through just to survive.

Then you explain, “so i can see how well it fits with mine." Before interlacing your right with his and Juan can’t help but to grin at you.

And there’s that boyish smile that spreads to the corners of his eyes that you can’t resist while he speaks with you, “You’re so cute, you’re corny. If you wanted to makeout, all you had to do was just say so.”

You don’t think about it, “alright, maybe I do.”

“What?! Don’t joke like that.” Juan’s eyes are wide now, ready to slip his hand right from yours.

“I’m not.” You lift your shoulders as Juan sits back in the chair with a sigh.

Juan’s staring at you with a curiosity that makes you want to look away but you can’t.

“What if all we needed was to just be honest with ourselves and look at what’s directly in front of us.”

“…I don’t follow.”

“Us, Juan! I always felt like i was waiting for something, even with the others after Stu and Marlon. There was always this pull and maybe that was you…and if this is all in my head just say that. You can tell me.”

Juan rubs at his face in thought. He already knew how he felt about you and how it never went away.

“No…it’s not all in your head. I don’t know if you know this but…you’ve always been it for me and I—learned to be okay with just being your best friend since that’s what you always wanted from me. I thought moving across the country was the answer but that only hurt us more.”

“Part of me felt like you didn’t care who I was with. You just took it for what it was.”

“You’re so wrong,” Juan scoffed out some laughter, “I just wanted you be happy and not be selfish about wishing it was me that got to do everything with you all the time. They took my space.”

You instantly reply, “Never could.”

“No?”

“No, blockhead.” You lightly grip and shake his shoulders.

“Now we’re down to the insults I see.”

You shrug with a smirk, “Let me kiss you…just to see.”

“See what?” Juan felt his heart hammering in his chest now, “That we’re completely in love with each other? A kiss won’t tell me what I don’t already know, babe.”

A scrunch of your nose is present, “Not you sounding like you don’t want to kiss me—

“What—no—

Sighing you got up from the chair and plopped right down in Juan’s lap, wrapping your arms across his shoulders and staring into his eyes that softened as they settled on your close proximity.

“You smell nice,” he awkwardly says, carefully placing his hands right down on your hip.

You laugh as you move your hands to cup his face, lightly caressing your thumbs over his facial hair, looking at his lips and then back to his eyes before you lean forward to place your lips right on his.

His hands tighten around you but his shoulders seem to relax. Juan can’t hold back the moan in the back of his throat that escapes his parted lips but that doesn’t stop him from kissing you back.

There’s tongue in there somewhere in the mix and the hold the both of you have on each other is enough to erase the miles that were once placed between you.

His hooked nose brushes against yours as you pull back, eyes closed and trying to catch your breath. His forehead rests against yours and Juan has to clear his throat and blink several times in hopes of getting rid of the static that sits in the center of his bottom lip.

“Wow,” he exhales with a grin while you’re playing with the strand of curls at the back of his head.

A satisfied smile is on your face, “What was that shit you were talking?”

“I wasn’t talking shit,” Juan frowns, “I was just saying that my heart already knows what it wants without putting my lips on yours. I loved you the moment your mom forced you to be my friend.”

You shake your head with a smile, “that didn’t take much force, Ortiz. I always thought you could be the one.”

“And…you never said anything why? That would have saved us a lot of time!”

You shrug, “I think our love story is meant to start now.”

“Nope it’s been a W.I.P. but now the progress is actually progressing…”

You squint, “With both of us tasting like Doritos and strawberry wine?”

“If it makes sense to mother universe then who am I to argue with her?”

“At least one of us gets it then.” You kiss his cheek and go to move off his lap but he yanks you right back, burying his face into the crook of your neck.

“Yeah, that maybe love’s always got our back in the end.”

“So…that’s what’s poking me right now?”

Juan feels his face burn, “Sorry—I—couldn’t help it.”

“I could—

“No. Nope. Not yet, let me just hold you and get used to the fact that I get to kiss you from now on. If…we get to labeling each other that is.”

“You want to be mine, Ortiz?”

“Don’t tell me you can’t tell.” He groans pressing his forehead into your shoulder leaving you laughing.

“Only if I get to be yours.”

“Fuck yeah!”

You nuzzle your face against his profile as you hum, “I’ll love you even more for the rest of my life Juan Carlos Ortiz…sounds like a plan?”

And he feels his heart swell at that, knowing that he didn’t have to be alone anymore the longer he had you in his arms.

“Sounds like the best plan, yet. And I love you too, so much.” He gently says into your ear before you turn to him again, capturing his lips once more.

જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩 જ⁀➴ᡣ𐭩

February fluff anthology series continues here.

[fornshinoyaz]

HOW TO: LOSE FEELINGS FOR AN IDIOT

01. HOW TO: FORGET ABOUT A WITCH

series masterlist | previous | next chapter

wc: 4.2k

how to lose feelings for a CERTIFIED, government approved idiot. it should be easy right? wrong. you are absolutely, positively, done for. you have no idea why you’re writing the guide book when you can’t even get past the first step! first step, the only important step really: don’t have your best friend be kei tsukishima. then maybe, just maybe, you’d have a chance.

You were the go-to problem solver. The one with the all the answers. Someone’s cat died? You could help. Did you lose your job because of a stinky corporation? You could fix it. Your friend group of annoying volleyball boys were convinced, there wasn’t a problem you didn’t know how to solve.

But they were wrong. So so wrong. Because when it came to Kei Tsukishima?

Yeah, maybe you didn’t have all the answers.

Your best friend's ringtone yanks you from your sleep. You let out an exasperated sigh and begrudgingly answer the call, "Tsukki. I swear. This better be important or I’m going to kill you." You glance around your studio apartment, the world still hazy and unfocused around you.

"Did I wake you?" He asks.

"No shit sherlock," you grumble as you toss around in your covers, the warmth making you want to close your eyes again.

"Good. I'm not sorry."

"I know you're not, asshat. You know it’s my day off right? I want to sleep in for once," you say, trying to force back a yawn.

"I know."

The silence on the other side of the line really starts to piss you off. Did this man want anything or was he just being an asshole? While you enjoyed hearing his voice, you'd much rather hear it at a reasonable hour.

"Tsukki. say something or I'm-"

"She broke up with me,” he says, cutting you off.

You pause.

"What?" You ask again. Just to make sure you heard him correctly.

"I got dumped, Y/N. Over text."

You wince. Really? She couldn't even give him a call?

"Okay,” you sigh and lift out of bed, "I'll be there in 30."

And that's not a lie. You're dressed, ready to go, and in a taxi towards his apartment in 20 minutes and there in 10. You couldn’t say you were the biiiggeest fan of his ex-girlfriend. For obvious reasons. A small part of your heart cracked when he told you about her. It was a painful reminder that it would never be you.

The first time you met her, it was game night.

You came with Kageyama and Yamaguchi per usual. You carried the dip, they carried the chips. But when you three walked into his living room and found a woman - oh, you were sick to your stomach.

Kageyama gave you a look, that 'oh, damn, i know this shit sucks' look, while Yamaguchi tried his best to be friendly to her while checking up on you throughout the night.

It hurt. But you accepted her. Tsukki was your best friend. If he was happy, you were happy.

You thank the taxi driver and pay, before running up the steps of his apartment complex to the fourth floor. You had been there for several of your others friends during their breakups. Kageyama had been in the dumps. Asahi was even worse. But like always, you had all the solutions.

But when Tsukki opens the door, you're not sure what to say.

"Sorry...I got here... as fast...as I could," you say in-between breaths, struggling to catch your breath. Why did you run?

His eyes quickly scan you from top bottom. "I can tell. Your socks are mismatched. And is that my shirt?"

You insecurely cover yourself from his eyes. For someone whose suppose to be heartbroken, he had a lot to say.

"I hate to ask, but she really only sent you a text message? Like one?"

Tsukki nods. You shake your head, bewildered. Seven months and he only got a text?

"Did she say why?"

Tsukki's lips press together, and he shifts uncomfortably, "I never made time for her. Or something like that. I don't know."

"Oh."

You couldn't say you didn't see it coming. You knew from the moment you met her, it wasn't going to work. That wasn't your jealousy speaking. It was just the truth. But you didn’t have the heart to tell Tsukki that.

After all, he liked her. Was it your place to interfere? Maybe, but you wouldn't. It wasn’t that she was needy, and that Tsukki was cold, they both just needed and wanted different things that they couldn't give each other. His ex-girlfriend needed him around, but his schedule was demanding. It was no one's fault.

"Yeah. Can you come in? I don't want anyone else to see the abomination on your feet." He holds his apartment door open for you.

"Shut up. You look like an abomination," you mumble back.

He chuckles a little as you walk inside.

Tsukki's trying to act like he’s fine and for a moment you believe it. Everything seems normal with him. It was one breakup. But when you walk into his home and see clutter, you know it’s bad.

"What in the world..." you whisper, and you're sure he hears you. As you step further into his apartment, you catch the faint scent of his favorite jasmine tea. Something he only brewed when he was stressed. And then there's a lingering aroma of a convenience store meal. You walk by the familiar bookshelf you guys had bought. It was a pain in the ass to build. You both took five hundred breaks before completing one half of it.

"I haven't seen you in a while, Tsukki. You've started reading again?" You ask.

His eyes follow yours to the bookshelf, "A little. When I have the time."

A collection of books occupy the corner, some haphazardly placed with bookmarks peeking out, while others were still carefully arranged just the way he liked them. You raise an eyebrow as your eyes roam across the cluttered table next to it.

There are stacks of papers scattered about, a mishmash of calculations from his stats class, and crumpled attempts at writing essays. This was a mess. 

Kei Tsukishima was a lot of things—reader, asshole, the smartest man in the room (debatably), but he was not messy.

"Tsukki.." you half-attempt to take a seat on the couch, but it’s strewn with clothes and a half-unpacked bag.

"Hm?"

"Why is there-" you wince at the sight. How could you forget? Weren't they supposed to be heading to a nearby city for the weekend? She had terrible timing.

"Nevermind," you finish, but you've said enough to reopen the scar. He nods his head in understanding.

A lonely volleyball sat on the edge of the couch, staring at you, silently begging you for help.

‘work your magic,’ it seems to scream. ‘do something, anything, just fix him.’

“Are you okay? How many cups of tea have you drank?" You ask slowly, your eyes thoughtfully studying him as he moves across his apartment. You assume he’s getting another cup of tea. His hair is a mess, much like his apartment, and his face lacks any color, like a white canvas thrown away and discarded.

“I'm fine. Maybe three cups, or four, I haven't been counting," he says, but he walks past the clutter in his living room like it’s nothing. You make a face. You definitely need to help him.

Standing up from the couch, you reach for the volleyball and pass it around by your fingertips, "Tsukki, you’re a terrible liar, you know that?”

“I'm not,” he shoots back, stopping in front of you and taking a sip of his tea, “I told you, I'm fine. So I'm fine. Drop it.”

"You know I can't just drop it-"

"Yea, I know," he rolls his eyes, "But today? You can and you will," he cuts off.

You point to the area around you, and he sighs. You weren't gonna drop it.

"I can't! This place looks like crap!" You say, louder than you intended.

He narrows his eyes at you and places his mug on the coffee table, barely making enough space for it. “You look like crap on the regular. I don’t say anything about it.”

You gawk at him. Low blow. You hit him in the chest, making him hiss. “Stop being an asshole. I'm trying to help you."

"I don't need your help," he blows off.

You sigh. This was going to be difficult, "Reminder! You called me here! What did you call me for if you're not going to take my help!"

Tsukki averts his eyes and folds his arms against his chest, "Maybe I just wanted to spend time with you."

You give him a look.

He laughs, "Yeah, I know. I don't believe myself either."

"I hate you," you mumble, before refocusing on what matters, "if you don't wanna talk to me, you could try writing out your feelings?” You suggest.

Tsukki scoffs, leans forward, and steals the volleyball from your grasp, "Be honest with yourself, y/n. Do I look like I would ‘write’ out my feelings?”

You frown. How dare he steal from you. “Maybe if you did, you’d be less of an asshat. Strong maybe."

"Shut up," he rolls his eyes, "next option. Aren’t you suppose to be the notorious ‘problem-solver’? You say I have a problem, then fix it,” he says, heading back into his kitchen. You know he's being sarcastic, but you follow him anyways.

You pick up an old convenience store wrapper on the counter, "When was the last time you had a real, quality meal?"

He grabs it and tosses it into the trash, "A week, I don't know. Been busy. Studying. Volleyball. No time to cook. Is this how you problem-solve? By going through my trash?"

“No. It's not. Okay, Tsukki. Lets talk the next options,” you say. Tsukishima turns, leaning against his fridge, interested in what you’re going to say.

“You're gonna be officially enrolled you in my high-rated, greatly endorsed ‘how to’ class.”

Tsukki groans as if on cue. “Huh? I didn't sign up for this."

“First session! How to: Forget About A Witch!” You come up with the name on the fly. You’re sure it needs some work, but Tsukki doesn’t immediately throw you out of his apartment. That means he’s humoring you. For now.

“You can just say ‘bitch’, y’know.” He says through a smirk. 

“I don’t call woman bitches," you wave him off and start again, “How to: Forget About A Witch. Step one, Operation Clean!”

“No.”

Those were words you never expected to hear from him. Shocked for a moment, you quickly sputter, “Hey, you’re enrolled in this class now. You don’t get to say no!”

“I could throw you out right now,” Tsukki scoffs, but you firmly grab onto his elbow and lead him into his living room.

“But you won’t. C'mon. I know you. You hate all of this. I'll help you," you offer gently.

Tsukki looks like he was considering it for a moment, then he sighs and nods his head, "I want to, I just don’t have the energy.”

“Well,” you smile as you lift a book and put it back on the shelf, “I can be your energy.”

You love the way his corners lift into a smile. Then, the operation is on! You're pretty sure it’s working. You can’t help but notice how cute Tsukki looks as he folds his clothes, ensuring everything is perfectly neat. The way he arranges the decorative pillows on the couch makes you want to stay and watch him forever. Then, that smile. Oh my god. No. Focus! This is really not the time for distractions.

But your eyes keep wandering back to him. He seems so calm, so at peace in this moment. Like nothing else matters. You quickly avert your gaze when he turns his head.

“Is there something wrong?” He asks.

“Nope!” You say, turning around so he can't see the stupid blush that rises to your cheeks.

Damn it.

You snap back to reality, taking a moment to admire your hard work. With a sense of accomplishment, you survey the now-tidy living room. And it only took an hour.

“Now,” you flash him a million dollar grin, “onto step 2!”

"There are multiple steps?” He groans. Though he had asked for this, he wonders for a moment if he could rewind time. 

“Yes. It's a course. Step 2: Distraction," you announce, making him raise an eyebrow. 

“Will I like this distraction?” Tsukki asks as you gently guide him out of the kitchen and into the hallways. He only narrowly manages to grab his keys by the front door as you nudge him along.

“Of course. Don't you worry your pretty head about about a thing, princess. I'm gonna take good care of you.”

“Princess?” he repeats in disbelief. Tsukki reluctantly steps out of his apartment, and the cool afternoon breeze hits you both.

“Lets goooo!"

"As long as you promise to never call me that again."

Yamaguchi called you magic once. That every single time you came, he felt like all his worries were gone. You get a text from him while in the taxi. It's simple and sweet. 'Is he going to be okay?'. It makes you smile. A few minutes later he follows up, 'If anyone can help Tsukki, it's you.'

But he never makes it easy.

“Ice cream…” Tsukki says slowly, eyes blinking from sign to sign of the different posted flavors. The tinkle of the door's bell went off behind them, alerting the workers to their presence. The cool air was refreshing to you both, a nice break from Japan's radiating heat.

Your eyes dart around the displays, your stomach wrestling with happiness, "Nothing says ‘screw you, heartbreak’ like a pint of soft vanilla!”

Tsukki focuses his eyes down on you, "Why do I have to pay to solve my heart break? Can I get a refund on this class?”

"Oh, please. Shut up,' the workers are amused by your banter, chuckling as you two approach the glass, "I’m paying, dummy."

“Oh," he smirks, "then great idea, Y/N. I love ice cream.”

“Uh huh. Now order, before my next How-To class is about hiding a body.”

You both thank the worker before finding a small table near the entrance of the shop. Light pools in from the large windows, making your ice cream look even more delicious.

"Thif ice cweam ish sho delishush," you say with a mouthful of the tasty treat.

Tsukki looks at you with a small chuckle, "Are you four? Eat with your mouth closed."

"I love vanilla,” you repeat once the last spoonful has made its way to your stomach. It was a never-ending classic. You never expected too much from it. It was sweet, simple, just the way you like it. It reminds you of your relationship with Tsukishima.

You both never expected too much from the other. You could go days, sometimes even weeks without contact. You both knew it wasn’t purposeful. You both got caught up in your own lives. It's just the way it went sometimes.

Every bite of vanilla is perfect. Tsukki hates the noises you make when you eat. He's side-eyeing you for the fifteenth when he finally says something.

“Do you have to be so vocal?”

“Yes!" You nod excitedly. If you were going to be shoved out of bed early in the morning, you might as well get some enjoyment out of the day.

You continue talking to him, honestly about something stupid, but as always, he listens. You hope it's helping, even just a little to take his mind off everything.

But then you both notice a couple passing by, their laughter echoing in the air. He looks at her like she's his everything. She looks at him like he's her world.

Tsukki’s eyes lower. Shit. Operation Distraction is going south. From beside him, it's almost like you can feel his stomach drop. It was like he was wearing his heartache on his sleeve to you. He puts down his cup of vanilla ice cream.

“I'm not hungry anymore. Here. I know you probably want more.” Tsukki says, trying stupidly hard to make it seem like he didn’t care.

You try to ignore what he's implying (that you're just a vaccum who will eat up anything, aka the truth) and frown. You place your hand on his shoulder.

His eyebrows furrow, "What?"

“This might have to be a two-day class,” you say softly. 

He pauses, and his eyes narrow, “I didn’t agree to spending this much time with you.”

You shrug your shoulders. "Should’ve read the contract of being my friend when you first met me,” you tease lightly, placing down your spoon and immediately reaching for his cup of ice cream. you both stand up, and you make sure you have all your things, before leading him back out into the small town center.

“I was seven. I didn't even know what a contract was." The bell behind you rings again as you exit. The Japan heat tickles your skin.

"Take it up with someone who gives a damn." You say as you look across the busy street for a taxi.

He sighs, surrendering to you and whatever plan you make for him, "Fine. Y/N. What are we doing tomorrow?”

You smile and he knows he’s in trouble. “It's a surprise~”

He frowns. “I don't like surprises."

"You're gonna like this one."

The next day, you've got it all planned out. And of course you do. There was no room for post-breakup boredom. You stayed up all night, crafting the perfect Tsukki hits that would stay playing on his signature white headphones. Then, at 9 a.m. exactly, you’re at his front door step. You ring his stupid smart bell and look straight into his camera.

It clicks, showing it’s recording you. You give it an annoying wave as usual. The door opens after what feels like an eternity, with Tsukki squinting at you, wondering if he should slam this door in your face.

“Are you kidding me? Do you know what time it is? And can you stop making weird faces at my ring?” he complains.

You shrug playfully, not taking his complaints too seriously. “No, and no. You can sleep in the car. Get dressed, and let’s go!”

He does his little grumble, grumble thing but takes a nice shower that takes way too long. He gives you the middle finger as he walks around you to get ready. When he’s finally done, and dressed, you make it to the taxi you ordered. He asks you one too many times where the hell you're going. You ignore him every time.

“Here,” you say as you pull his headphones up from his shoulders and place them over his messy hair. “I made a playlist for you.”

He blinks, looking utterly confused. “You did what…?”

“Just listen,” you murmur, averting your eyes. He always manages to make things awkward as hell.

As you go through the ride, he stops talking. He slightly bobs his head to the music. You smile. All that hard work actually paid off. As you reach your destination and get off the taxi, you thank the driver, and Tsukki tips him generously. He always did, wherever you went. A restaurant, a cafe, if someone was working - they were getting tipped.

“Good playlist,” he comments, glancing around at the area you’ve brought him to. You find yourselves in front of a beautiful temple. “Have you taken me all the way out here to kill me? Why the fuck are we in the next city?”

You don't want to give him the real answer, so you bend the truth a little bit, "Chill, Tsukki. This isn't Criminal Minds. I thought we'd be tourists for a day. Thought you'd like it."

"Since when have you been this thoughtful?" he asks with a scoff. "Did the real Y/N die?"

"Eat shit. Come on," you say, walking down the hill toward a street buzzing with activity. It was the weekend, so the crowds were to be expected. But you knew Tsukki wasn't fond of crowds, which is why you planned to take him somewhere calmer.

"I'm serious," Tsukki continues as he catches up to you and walks beside you. "Did the real Y/N get replaced by an alien or what?"

"Real Y/N is standing right here and will throw you into a bus."

"Ouch. Real Y/N is a bitch."

"Looks like we have a lot in common," you reply with a humble smile.

Tsukki hums. "That and now we're both gonna die single."

So much for distraction. You both wait by a crosswalk to go across the street. You don't respond, and he continues.

"At least we'll be single together?"

You look at him, your best friend, and it hurts. He doesn't know, and how could you tell him, especially right now? So you swallow the burning feeling in your chest and snap back with your usual sass.

"I'm not dying single," you assert as the light turns red, and you both walk across the street.

"All the years I've known you, and you've dated one guy. And he was gay."

You sulk at the reminder. He was so cute too. "And I support him in all his future endeavors. Still, that doesn't mean I'm willing to die a virgin."

Tsukishima laughs in the most cruel way. "Imagine dying a virgin? Haha, that's gonna suck."

You push him, maybe a little too hard, and he almost goes flying into a car. Oops. "Fuck off."

"It's okay, Y/N," he says, patting your back. "One day."

"Fuck all the way off."

He wasn't entirely wrong, though. It had been too many years, and maybe you would die single. If he wasn’t such a government-approved idiot, perhaps things would be different. But here you were.

You both walk a little more before ending up at Japan's most famous geology museum. Tsukki’s eyes twinkle with excitement, and you can’t help but smile, knowing him well.

“I dislike you a little less right now,” Tsukki says.

You chuckle. "I love you too, Kei."

The entire morning and afternoon are spent exploring the museum. You enthusiastically run from one exhibit to another, discovering towering fossils, mesmerizing mineral specimens encased in glass, and interactive displays. Tsukki makes sure to touch each rock formation. His interest is child-like but so genuine. You even manage to catch the attention of one of the workers, who kindly offers you both a specialized tour. Tsukki asks a plethora of questions, using terms you couldn’t be paid enough to understand.

"Nerd," you murmur after he asks a particularly difficult question.

“You failed geology,” he reminds with a smirk, causing the worker to stifle his laughter.

“Your dumbass failed anatomy," you shoot back, making the worker double over in laughter.

“It's only because YOUR dumbass was impossible to cheat from."

The worker at the museum seemed to have a blast with you, and he ended up letting you two keep a small dinosaur toy meant for the kids. You couldn’t resist teasing Tsukki, saying that the little figurine has to be his long-lost cousin. He pretended not to care, but you knew he secretly loved it. You bet he’d sneakily put it on his shelf later, trying to act all cool about it.

The ride back is quiet. You must’ve dozed off without realizing it. Your head was resting comfortably on Tsukki’s shoulder until he gently wakes you up, once you reached his apartment. He insists on you staying over, not wanting you out late like this.

Now, you're wrapped in the softest blanket you've ever felt in your life, watching Jurassic Park. You’ve both been incredibly quiet since you got back. Tsukki had said maybe three words in total.

You worry for a moment. That maybe, even after all that, he's not okay.

“I’m sorry if I’m being boring right now. I’m just lost in my thoughts,” His voice almost startles you. It’s not how it usually is, heavy and strong. He seems tired. You both sit on opposite ends of the couch, a bowl of popcorn between you.

"You’re always like this,” you reply with a casual shrug.

Tsukki rolls his eyes, but then you lean closer, lightly bumping his shoulder. “I don’t mind being bored with you.”

A rare smile sneaks onto Tsukki’s face, and that’s enough to make your heart skip a beat.

“You’re so irritating.” He says.

“But you love me,” you counter.

He sighs but then unexpectedly reaches out to pull you closer. Your eyes widen as he moves you towards him. Fuck.

“I don’t love you,” he claims, his voice oddly cool. However, to your surprise, he leans down and rests his head on your shoulder, and in that moment, you melt.

Damn it.

“Okay,” you respond softly. What else is there to say?

He pauses, as if carefully choosing his words. “Thank you for today. Seriously. I know I can be an ass, but this meant a lot.”

Why does he have to say things like this?

“Don’t mention it,” you say with a smile, trying to hide the butterflies swirling inside your stomach. Tsukki shakes his head and shifts his focus back to the movie.

While you managed to solve one issue, your own only grew more and more. Kei Tsukishima. He would be the death of you.

How To: Lose Feelings For an Idiot?

You don’t. They only grow.

a/n: when i said slow burn i rly did mean slow burn lol. i like this opening to the fic! the others boys will show soon i promise hehe, mostly yamaguchi honestly.

taglist !!! @kei-tsuki21 @marga-j @xxizuchanxx @horr0rvacu1 @lavenderhotcoco @sami-stable @awkwardaardvarkforever @rorygilmoreclown

[sergeantbuckybarnes]

you belong with me (part 3) // fred weasley

Summary: You’re stubborn, so when your best friend tries to convince you that Bucky Barnes isn’t the right guy for you, you try to prove him wrong. In the process, you end up in a place you thought only existed in books, where you meet the one.

Pairing: Fred Weasley x Reader (eventually)

Word count: 4k

Warnings: angst, mentions of past bullying

A/N: As always, remember English is not my first language. Also, thanks to @error501beta​ for proofreading this!

main masterlist  |  series masterlist

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland, Great Britain, 1994

It had been a few weeks since you had unexpectedly landed in this reality, and you might say things were going well for you.

The arrival of Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students and the announcement of the Triwizard Tournament had set Hogwarts ablaze with liveliness. The halls were teeming with excitement, as everyone busily prepared for the grand event.

You'd become close to Hermione and spent nearly all of your time with her. It felt good to have a genuine girlfriend; while you were very fond of Peter and treasured your friendship with him, but sometimes you just needed a girl — who wasn’t your sister– on whom you could rely, and sadly you didn’t have that back at home.

“Hey, America,” you sighed in annoyance when you heard the voice you'd –unwillingly– become accustomed to calling you from the end of the corridor.

When you turned your head, you saw a pair of indistinguishable figures with bright red hair. “Yes?” You asked with a forced smile.

“Is it true that you can see the future?” This question does come out of George’s mouth.

You knew it was George and not Fred, because you had since learned all the subtle differences between the twins. They were minimal, but they were there. Also, you were proud to say that you had a keen eye.

You rolled your eyes, recognizing the source of that strange query, “No, I’m not.”

Since you mentioned Ludovic Bagman and the letter to Fred on your first day at Hogwarts, he'd been bugging you, speculating that you were a seer. It wasn't your intention to be serious about it, you just wanted to mess with him, but your "prediction" of what would happen later in the story had stuck with the curious redhead.

“Fred says you are.”

You squinted at him, “And do you believe all the bullshit that comes out your brother’s mouth?”

“Hey!” the aforementioned brother exclaimed, offended.

You just shrugged, not regretting your words. It's not as if you had lied.

“You’re a seer!” He declared with unwavering conviction. Very sure of his words. Something that did not surprise you, because Fred Weasley was defined by his self-assurance.

“What makes you believe she's a seer?” Fred looked at his brother as if he was being incredibly stupid.  

“I already told you!” He threw his arms up in frustration. “She knows stuff,” he mumbled under his breath, not wanting to be heard; something improbable given that you three were the only ones in the corridor, everyone else being in the Great Hall since it was dinner time.  

Your stomach rumbled. You hadn’t eaten since noon, which was hours ago. Eating at set times is something you hadn’t done since your days at the orphanage. Living in the Avengers Compound came with various perks, including the freedom to indulge in any food item at any given hour.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you replied with a puzzled expression on your face.

You would never want someone to be falsely accused of lying, but you and Fred had gotten off to a bad start, and it must be confessed that you were a little spiteful.

Fred widened his eyes, “You told me about Mr. Bagman!”

“Who?”

“Fred, she can’t know about Bagman because she doesn’t even know who he is,” George pointed out. Oh, the voice of the reason.

“But she knows,” Fred insisted, stomping his foot on the floor like a five-year-old throwing a tantrum

“I don’t have time for this. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to have dinner.”

You left the twins behind as you made your way to the Great Hall. Their voices were faintly audible in the distance, as the Weasley boys continued to debate whether or not you were a seer.

“Well, the goblet is nearly ready to make its choice,” Dumbledore explained. “I believe it will take another minute. “Now, when the champions' names are announced, I would direct them to come to the top of the Hall, go along the staff table, and enter the next chamber,” he pointed to the door behind the staff table, “where they will receive their first instructions.”

He drew out his wand and swung it in a graceful motion, causing all the candles in the room to be snuffed out except for the ones inside the intricately carved pumpkins. The sudden lack of light left the space shrouded in a dim and eerie atmosphere. The Goblet of Fire now shone brighter than anything else in the Hall. The flames within flickered a vibrant, electric blue and white that burned so brightly it was almost painful to look at.

“Hope it’s Angelina,” Fred said.

“So do I.” Hermione agreed with a nod.

Oh, boy, if they only knew…

The flames within the goblet burst into an intense crimson hue once again. Small sparks began shooting out of it. Then a flicker of flame suddenly shot up, followed quickly by a scorched piece of parchment – the entire room gasped. Dumbledore quickly grabbed the parchment and held it out in front of him, the flames flickering white and blue again. Raising his voice so that everyone could hear, he read out loud, “The champion for Durmstrang will be Viktor Krum.”

“No surprises there!” Ron screamed as the hall erupted in applause and cheers.

Viktor Krum slouched up from the Slytherin table towards Dumbledore, turned right, strolled along the staff table, and disappeared through the entrance into the next chamber.

The room fell silent as everyone's focus shifted back to the goblet, which rapidly transformed back into a vibrant red color. Suddenly, the flames erupted once more and a second parchment shot out of it. “The champion for Beauxbatons is Fleur Delacour!”

Hermione, amidst the bustling commotion, gestured towards the remaining Beauxbatons group and said, “Oh look, they’re all disappointed.”

“‘Disappointed’ was a bit of an understatement,” you thought. The girls who hadn't been selected appeared utterly devastated; two of them were now crying uncontrollably and hiding their tear-streaked faces in their arms. Seeing such raw emotion on display made it clear just how much this opportunity had meant to them.

When Fleur Delacour disappeared into the adjacent room, silence fell again, but this time it was a silence so stiff with excitement you could almost taste it. The Hogwarts champion was about to be announced next…

Your stomach had knotted up for no apparent reason. Perhaps it was the anticipation of what was to come.  You knew everything would be okay –except for Cedric– but the terrible taste in your mouth would not disappear.

Although you had only been here for a short while, you had grown fond of these people. You cared about them even before you knew they were real and they were just characters in the pages of a book.

You got attached to people fast, which could be an issue here given what was to come.

Once again, the Goblet of Fire turned red and emitted sparks, shooting a large flame into the air from its tip. Dumbledore retrieved the third piece of parchment and announced with enthusiasm, “The Hogwarts champion is Cedric Diggory!”

As Cedric strode towards the chamber behind the teachers' table, every Hufflepuff student sprang up from their seats, cheering and pounding their feet in excitement. The ovation went on for so long that Dumbledore was forced to pause briefly before he could speak again.

“Excellent!” Dumbledore exclaimed with joy once the noise settled. "So, we now have three champions. “I am confident that I can count on all of you, including the remaining students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, to give your champions all of your support. By cheering your champion on, you will contribute in a very real —”

However, as Dumbledore cut himself off mid-sentence, it became evident to those present what had diverted his attention.

The fire within the goblet had once again flared red and tiny flames were bursting from it in various directions. A lengthy flame shot upwards, bearing along an additional piece of parchment.

Dumbledore extended his hand and seized the parchment, raising it aloft as he scrutinized the name inscribed upon it. As the room waited in silence, Dumbledore contemplatively examined the note in his grasp, while all eyes remained fixed upon him. Ultimately, with a throat-clearing, Dumbledore readout —

“Harry Potter.”

You already knew how everything had gone down. Harry was forced to participate in the tournament, and Ron was fuming with him as he had not believed his friend's denial of putting his name in the goblet. Since then, he had been giving him the silent treatment.

The rest of Hogwarts seemed to be against him as well, and they took every opportunity they had to make it clear that they supported Cedric and not him.

This behavior did remind you of your high school in New York. Apparently, fiction was not far detached from reality.

“Hey, America,” you rolled your eyes at the nickname.

“What do you want?” You were surprised, when you turned around, to only see one redhead. You wonder where George was, or if he was hidden somewhere nearby and you were about to be pranked.

“No pranks for the lady today.”

You wanted to smack your face for speaking your mind aloud. Instead, you repeated your question, “What do you want?”

Fred’s face morphed into a serious expression. “I want you to be honest with me. How did you know about Bagman, and why did you lie to George about it? You made me look like a liar.”

“Why are you still sulking on this? It’s been weeks, let it go.”

“I won’t let it go.”

As you let out a deep breath, you rubbed the bridge of your nose with your fingers in frustration. You knew he was tenacious, and he wouldn't let go of the issue until you provided him with a satisfactory answer. You'd always been a brilliant girl, so you had to think of something. And fast.

“I already told you. I have a gift,” you reiterated with a confident tone.

Fred's eyes rolled in a show of disbelief at your feeble excuse.

“No. Listen, it’s true,” you said as convincingly as you could. “It’s been a thing in our family for decades. My sister has it. My mother had it, pretty sure grandma had it as well,” you mused. “It's a gift that every Maximoff woman is born with.”

Oh my… The whopper you were dropping on him.  You didn’t even believe yourself, so how could you expect him to?

When you caught Fred's blank stare, you figured he wasn't going to buy your story. Without hesitation, you spiced up the lie to make it sound more convincing.  “When we touch someone, we can glimpse inside their soul and thoughts. When I held your hand at the Black Lake I saw you and George at the World Cup, I saw the bet you made with Bagman. I saw how he duped you.”

Fred's face began to show an increasing sense of surprise with each word you said.

“I’m not a seer. I cannot see the future.”

Despite everything you had unfolded, the older twin remained unsatisfied with your answer and pressed for more proof to be presented.

“What do you want me to do?”

He reached out his hand for you. You gazed at it, then at him, perplexed. “Take my hand. I want you to tell me what more you see.”

You lifted your brow at his mistrust, but you took his hand nonetheless. Your small hand was wrapped around his large fingers once again. You shut your eyes and began to perform your role.

While you pretended to be focusing, your thoughts were actually buzzing with potential things to say to him. This time you weren't messing with him; instead, you wanted him to believe you had a gift.

A moment later, your eyes fluttered open and you released his hand.

“Well?”

“You dropped one of your and George’s ton-tongue toffees on the Dursley’s floor and Harry’s cousin picked it up and ate it. His tongue looked like a great python,” you smiled, “Nice one, by the way.”

Fred's eyes grew wide. “Oh, and I know your mom isn’t very fond of — what was it the name?” you pretended to think about it, “Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes! I'm sure she'll change her mind once she sees the amazing things you and George have invented.”

“How do you even —”

“And, I know you put bulbadox powder in Keeneth Towler’s pajamas last year. He erupted into boils! Honestly, Fred. What did the poor guy do to you?”

Fred found himself at a loss for words.

“Do you believe me now?”

He nodded quietly, his gaze fixed on you.

“Good.”

You were ready to leave when Fred grabbed your arm. Obviously, this conversation wasn’t done for him.

“And now what?”

“Why did you not admit this to George?”

“Because it’s meant to be a secret. I can't go around shouting it from the rooftops.”

“You told me.”

“Yeah, Because you can be so incredibly annoying.”

That made him smile broadly. Not taking it as an insult but as a compliment.

“I guess you expect me to keep your secret.”

“That would be very thoughtful of you.”

But you knew it wouldn’t be that simple. It never was when it came to Fred Weasley.

Avengers Compound, New York City, USA, 2016

You strode into the room with anger bubbling inside, and hurled your backpack carelessly onto the floor. You slammed the door shut, not caring that your sister was coming up behind you.

You were seething with anger. Angry at the stupid people in high school, angry at that entitled brat Ashley Miller, and you were especially angry at Wanda.

Without even bothering to knock, your sister stormed into the room, a matching angry expression visible on her face.

“Like she had a reason to be mad,” you thought.

She just stood there, without saying anything or moving a muscle. Her arms were tightly folded across her chest, and her gaze was unwaveringly focused on you. If she was expecting an apology from you, she had another thing coming.

She looked at you expectantly. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

You shrugged, indifferently. “What do you want me to say?”

“Are you serious right now, Y/N?” she asked you incredulously. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”

There it was again. ‘What you’ve done’. It was always what you had done. Never what others had done to you. That never seemed to matter to her. Or to anyone else.

“She deserved it.”

Wanda gave you a disappointed look, and even though you didn’t show it, it pierced you.

“Why can’t you just behave for once?”

“I have to behave?” you snapped. “What about them? Why do they have to be a bunch of assholes?”

“Same old story again, the world is to blame, and you’re the victim.” Wanda’s voice was dripping with sarcasm, hitting the perfect note of mockery you knew she was clearly aiming for.

“You didn’t even care to ask me what happened.”

“I couldn't care less what happened, Y/N. Nothing justifies what you did.”

“Yes it does!”

“I will not justify your actions any longer. You’re not a child anymore, so quit acting like one.”  Wanda’s words were sharp. And they hurt. They hurt a lot.

You bit your cheek. You weren’t going to cry. Crying is for weak people who lack emotional control.

You were unbreakable.

“Well, I’m sorry I’m not the perfect sister you wished for. But what I’m not sorry for is not letting a bunch of spoiled morons treat me as if I’m less than them, 'cause I’m not.”

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland, Great Britain, 1994

You caught up with Ron and Harry as they were exiting Trelawny’s class, and a few seconds later Hermione joined the group.

“How are classes going, Y/N?” she asked you brightly. “Are you adapting well?”

“Oh yeah, I adapt very easily to changes.”

Lie.

You arrived at the entrance hall, which was crowded with people queuing for dinner. You and the Golden Trio had just joined the end of the line when a loud voice rang out behind you.

“Weasley! Hey, Weasley!”

When you turned around, your eyes fell upon Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle who were all standing there, each with a look of utter delight on their faces.

“What?” Ron asked.

“Your dad’s in the paper, Weasley!” Malfoy said, waving a copy of the Daily Prophet and speaking loudly enough for everyone in the crowded entry hall to hear. Malfoy straightened the paper with a flourish and read on:

ᴀʀɴᴏʟᴅ ᴡᴇᴀꜱʟᴇʏ, ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴄʜᴀʀɢᴇᴅ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴘᴏꜱꜱᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴ

ᴏꜰ ᴀ ꜰʟʏɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʀ ᴛᴡᴏ ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴀɢᴏ, ᴡᴀꜱ ʏᴇꜱᴛᴇʀᴅᴀʏ ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ

ɪɴ ᴀ ᴛᴜꜱꜱʟᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ꜱᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴍᴜɢɢʟᴇ ʟᴀᴡ-ᴋᴇᴇᴘᴇʀꜱ

(“ᴘᴏʟɪᴄᴇᴍᴇɴ”) ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀ ɴᴜᴍʙᴇʀ ᴏꜰ ʜɪɢʜʟʏ ᴀɢɢʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴠᴇ

ᴅᴜꜱᴛʙɪɴꜱ. ᴍʀ. ᴡᴇᴀꜱʟᴇʏ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀꜱ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʀᴜꜱʜᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ

ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɪᴅ ᴏꜰ “ᴍᴀᴅ-ᴇʏᴇ” ᴍᴏᴏᴅʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɢᴇᴅ ᴇx-ᴀᴜʀᴏʀ

ᴡʜᴏ ʀᴇᴛɪʀᴇᴅ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴɪꜱᴛʀʏ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɴᴏ ʟᴏɴɢᴇʀ ᴀʙʟᴇ

ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇ ʙᴇᴛᴡᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ʜᴀɴᴅꜱʜᴀᴋᴇ ᴀɴᴅ

ᴀᴛᴛᴇᴍᴘᴛᴇᴅ ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ. ᴜɴꜱᴜʀᴘʀɪꜱɪɴɢʟʏ, ᴍʀ. ᴡᴇᴀꜱʟᴇʏ

ꜰᴏᴜɴᴅ, ᴜᴘᴏɴ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴀʟ  ᴀᴛ ᴍʀ. ᴍᴏᴏᴅʏ’ꜱ ʜᴇᴀᴠɪʟʏ ɢᴜᴀʀᴅᴇᴅ

ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ, ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍʀ. ᴍᴏᴏᴅʏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴏɴᴄᴇ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ ʀᴀɪꜱᴇᴅ ᴀ ꜰᴀʟꜱᴇ ᴀʟᴀʀᴍ.

ᴍʀ. ᴡᴇᴀꜱʟᴇʏ ᴡᴀꜱ ꜰᴏʀᴄᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏᴅɪꜰʏ ꜱᴇᴠᴇʀᴀʟ ᴍᴇᴍᴏʀɪᴇꜱ

ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇꜱᴄᴀᴘᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴏʟɪᴄᴇᴍᴇɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴇꜰᴜꜱᴇᴅ

ᴛᴏ ᴀɴꜱᴡᴇʀ ᴅᴀɪʟʏ ᴘʀᴏᴘʜᴇᴛ Qᴜᴇꜱᴛɪᴏɴꜱ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ᴡʜʏ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ɪɴᴠᴏʟᴠᴇᴅ 

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍɪɴɪꜱᴛʀʏ ɪɴ ꜱᴜᴄʜ ᴀɴ ᴜɴᴅɪɢɴɪꜰɪᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴘᴏᴛᴇɴᴛɪᴀʟʟʏ ᴇᴍʙᴀʀʀᴀꜱꜱɪɴɢ ꜱᴄᴇɴᴇ.

“There’s even a picture!” Malfoy stated as he flipped the page over and held it up. “A picture of your parents outside their house — if it can be called that! Your mother could do with losing a bit of weight, couldn’t she?”

Ron was trembling with rage. Everyone in the room was staring at him.

“Stuff it, Malfoy,” Harry said, “Come on, Ron…”

“Oh yeah, you stayed with them this summer, didn't you, Potter?” Malfoy sneered, “So tell me, is his mother really that porky, or is it just the picture?”

“You know your mother, Malfoy?” Harry said — both he and Hermione had grabbed the back of Ron’s robes to stop him from launching himself at Malfoy — “That expression she’s got, like she’s got dung under her nose? Has she always looked like that, or was it just because you were with her?”

Malfoy’s pallid face went slightly pink.

“Don’t you dare insult my mother, Potter.”

“Keep your fat mouth shut, then,” Harry snarled as he turned away.

BANG!

Several people screamed, and Harry felt something white-hot scratch the side of his face. He reached inside his robes for his wand, but before he could touch it, he heard a second tremendous BANG, and a roar that rang throughout the entrance hall.

When Harry looked around, his gaze was drawn to a pure white ferret shivering on the stone-flagged floor, right where Malfoy had been standing.

There was a frightened hush in the entrance hall. Nobody knew what had happened.

You had distanced yourself from the trio at some point when the argument started, and by staying back, you blended into the sea of students and went unnoticed. As you delicately flicked your fingers, the ferret took off, soaring through the air with ease, before crashing down onto the ground with an audible thud. Despite the impact, you weren't deterred and the furry creature sprang back up into the air once again. As you persisted with your action, the sound of the ferret's painful shrieks filled the air. It bounced relentlessly, reaching higher and higher heights.

“Stinky, cowardly, scumbag asshole,” you muttered under your breath. You were sick of bullies.

The ferret haphazardly soared through the skies, with its legs and tail flailing about uncontrollably.

“What is going on here?” a shocked voice inquired.

Professor McGonagall descended the marble stairwell, her arms laden with books. She watched as the ferret leaped and jumped through the air before her eyes eventually landed on yours. As soon as she caught sight of you, your hand stopped moving and the ferret slipped out of it, hitting the ground with a thud.

She drew her wand, and with a loud snapping noise, Draco Malfoy returned, laying in a heap on the floor, his sleek blond hair all over his now vividly pink face. He winced in pain as he slowly got up on his feet.

He, Crabble, and Goyle ran off immediately, streaking for the dungeons.

“Miss Maximoff,” Professor McGonagall's harsh voice summoning you drew the undesired attention of the entire hall, which was now fixated on you. “My office. Now.”

Peter Parker and May Parker’s Apartment, New York City, USA, 2016

“You know she didn’t mean it, right?” Peter spoke, “She was just upset.”

“I was upset too. And she didn’t even bother asking me what happened,” you settled onto Peter's bed, expressing your frustration. “She just put the blame on me.”

“It wasn’t your fault,” you looked at your best friend, and you felt so lucky to have him in your life.

You and Peter had a connection you had never experienced with anyone else before. He was your first real friend, the one person who truly understood you and whom you could count on for anything.

“I would have reacted the same way if someone had insulted my mother,” he continued.

You let out a humorous laugh, “Would you have turned Flash into a rat?”

You knew Flash usually picked on Peter, but you were sure he would never stoop so low as to make a hurtful remark about Peter's deceased mother. And even if he was, Peter would never have lost control of himself as you had.

“I would have.”

You gazed at him with a puzzled expression.

“I would have!”

“You’re too nice to hurt anyone, Peter.”

And you believed this. Peter Parker was kind and caring, known for his selfless and generous nature. Throughout his life, he was always eager to help others, never once displaying any malice or ill will.

“You’re nice, too.”

“You've got to be the only one who thinks that.”

“Hey,” Peter said, placing his hand on top of yours, “Ashley had it coming. You never let anyone walk all over you, and you always protect the ones you love. That’s so freaking admirable. You are admirable.”

“You know, Wanda is everything I aspire to be one day. And I want her to be proud of me, but I just feel like I’m a constant disappointment to her. No matter how hard I try, it seems like she only sees my flaws,” you swallow the lump in your throat, chest trembling in anticipation at the words you’re going to utter, “Sometimes… Sometimes I think she wishes I was the one who died that day, instead of Pietro.”

“Don’t say that, Y/N,” Peter gasped, his face contorting into a horrid expression of shock and disbelief.

“It’s true,” you said, “They were twins. They had a special bond that she and I would never share.”

“Wanda loves you, Y/N,” Peter tried to reassure you. He was determined not to allow any doubt to arise in your mind regarding the love that your sister has for you. He knew Wanda wasn't perfect and she had messed up by refusing to listen to your version of the story. However, that didn't mean she didn't care about you, or that she hoped you'd died instead of Pietro. “You’re her whole world. You’re the only family she has left. You’re her little sister.”

“A child she has to keep justifying actions for.”

The echoes of her words reverberated in your mind, leaving a lasting impression.

“No. A little sister she feels she must protect and for whom she wishes the best,” Peter interjected, kindly correcting your statement. “She doesn’t want anything bad to happen to you.”

You shifted your gaze towards your friend, the realization dawned upon you that Peter had your best interests at heart. His genuine concern for your well-being touched you deeply, prompting you to open up after all these years of shielding yourself from emotional vulnerability. As the overwhelming wave of emotions crashed down upon you, a sob escaped your lips, highlighted by shimmering rivulets of tears flowing down your face.

Peter swiftly embraced you, and you clung onto him as if he were your sole anchor for survival. You buried your teary face into his chest, releasing all the emotions you'd been repressing for who knows how long.

[thebibutterflyao3]

Day Twenty-Eight - Prompt: Touches @rosekiller-microfic

March Daily Series - 774 words

<<<Previous Part OR Start Here

Barty drummed his fingers against the steering wheel as he waited. He didn’t know why he was so fidgety. It wasn’t as though he’d never picked up a bird before.

When he was with Evan, he felt like a taxi service half the time since he didn’t drive. Not that he minded when it was Evan. Most of those drives ended with Evan’s head in his lap or his hand down Evan’s pants. Only giving him gentle touches to drive him mad.

He shook his head clear and reprimanded himself to focus. This wasn’t the time for his fantasies. Barty stayed up late on the phone to plan this out. Everything was prepared, he just needed to wait and keep his wits about him.

The clock on his dashboard read 10:40, ten minutes late. She’d said to wait at the kerb, exactly like a taxi service attendant. This was beginning to feel like deja vu.

Don’t you dare.

Suddenly, the passenger door flew open and her pale blonde ponytail nearly slapped him in the face as she climbed in. Barty immediately straightened up in his seat and gripped the steering wheel. His heart pounded against his chest as he waited for her to settle in.

“Alright?” he asked, shifting clumsily.

Pandora arched an eyebrow sceptically, then nodded. “You have twenty minutes to explain yourself, Crouch.”

He cleared his throat as he eased Heather into traffic. Twenty minutes to convince the one person who held the key to his happiness in her hands that he wasn’t the horrible person that he had been with Regulus. This was fine.

“Right, so Lily explained the whole—”

“Keep my future wife’s name out of your mouth, if you value your life.”

Barty swallowed hard and tried again. He and Lily had practised this speech three times, he knew it by heart.

“I meant to say…I-I apologise for how awful I was to Regulus, and to you. I let my insecurities overrule my common sense. It was absolute shite and this is not an attempt to excuse it, I swear. I…fucked up, then kept fucking up to cover up the first fuck up.”

So much for memorising the speech.

He snuck a glance at Pandora. She stared out the window and avoided looking at him. Barty wondered if she was even listening, or if she’d only agreed to this because her girlfriend coerced her into it.

“I should have been honest with Regulus. He deserved to hear the truth, instead of my shite attempt to weasel out of it.”

“What is the truth, Barty? Do you even know?” she snapped. “Why did you cheat on Reg?”

“I knew he was breaking up with me, so I gave him a reason.”

Her head snapped to the right as a deep scowl marred her pretty features. “What does that mean?”

“I heard him talking to you on the phone, Pandora. He told you that I wasn’t his type and that he should have known better than to date below his standards.”

Pandora’s eyes widened, then she looked away. “Well, he had a point.”

“He did,” Barty agreed. He forced back the bile rising in his throat and continued. “And you were both complete snobs about it. Which is why I proved him right. It hurt to hear you two ragging on me. I decided that I’d rather be dumped for fucking up than be discarded like a piece of rubbish.”

“Oh, so it’s our fault then?”

“No. I could have walked away, but I didn’t. I thought I was evening the odds and…I was wrong.”

Pandora eyed him narrowly. “You admit that you were in the wrong?”

“Yes,” Barty said, nodding calmly. “I knew that Regulus was struggling with his self-esteem and I used it to my advantage. It was manipulative and self-serving.”

“But you’re all better now?” she retorted.

Barty sighed, pulling off the road to park behind the building. “I’m better when I’m with Evan because we take care of each other. We’re even. I want to be the best version of myself for him, so I try.”

“You try? That’s it?”

“You don’t understand.” Barty turned off the car and turned to face her. He remembered Lily’s advice and breathed deeply to calm himself first.

“I think…I think I might be in love with him, Pandora. He is the most important person in my life and I would do anything for him. Do you understand how terrifying and amazing that is? I’ve never felt like that before and I’m still figuring it out, but I’m trying.”

Pandora’s jaw worked from side to side as she stared him down. He didn’t flinch, or look away this time. Barty held his ground.

“Fine. I’ll talk to Regulus…and Evan.”

[phantomwritezstuff077]

The Runt - Billy the Kid

Summary: The runt is the smallest and has the least advantage in a group - commonly used when talking about a litter. And that is what Lauren is in the Seven Rivers gang:

The runt.

(PLATONIC! Billy the Kid x OC)

Warnings for this series: parental death, child abandonment, grief of a parent slight verbal abuse, physical abuse, mentions of sex, guns, violence, misogyny, use of a homophobic slur, complex feelings, drinking, underage drinking, smoking, drug usage.

THIS IS ALSO CROSS-POSTED ON MY WATTPAD: PhantomWritez2

Chapter One

Laurie had somehow convinced Jesse to let her go on a little cattle run with the rest of the guys. She was almost never allowed to go on those things because she was ‘too young’ or ‘too small’ or ‘too weak.’

Laurie, also known as Lauren (if you were to call her by her full name), was what the Seven Rivers gang called the runt of the litter.

The runt of the litter.

That was what Laurie was.

The smallest of the group, and often seen as the weakest even though she could do anything they could do, maybe even better than they could. And she hated being seen as some little fawn that needed to be coddled and looked after. 

The group galloped to the entrance of the ranch where Jesse dismounted his horse and was greeted by his girlfriend whom Laurie couldn’t really be bothered remembering the name of. And with that girlfriend, Barbara, if Laurie remembered correctly, stood the man the group had brought back to the ranch a few weeks ago.

Jesse said something about his name being Billy.

The 13-year-old tilted her head as she observed the strange guy. He looked a lot better than the last time she saw him. The last time she had seen him, he was lying on Artax’s back like a sack of potatoes and looking like he was about ready to kill himself. 

“Fellas, this here… is a very old friend of mine, Kid Antrim,” Jesse introduced, “Billy, Bob Olinger, John Beckwith, the runt back there is Lauren Casely.”

“Good to meet you,” Billy said, looking at the guys before his eyes fell on the little red-head girl. He could definitely see why Jesse referred to her as ‘the runt.’ You could tell right away she was the smallest and the youngest out of all of the guys here. Laurie sighed at the use of her full name, she didn’t really like it but she knew there wasn’t too much she could do to get the gang leader to stop calling her that.

She was just the runt of the litter, after all.

And she should be grateful Jesse didn’t shoot her on the spot when he found her, shouldn’t she?

Later that night, while all the guys sat around the table inside Jesse’s house, getting drunk or smoking tobacco. Or both. Laurie sat outside on the front porch, picking apart a twig she had found quietly. She never really felt like she truly belonged with the Seven Rivers gang, she was only here in the first place because Jesse caught her stealing supplies from his barn and decided to just take her under his wing instead of shooting her on the spot. But she was barely even acknowledged by him anyways, she was just another mouth to feed and body to bury to him. 

Her head perked up when someone sat beside her, she looked over to see Billy, nodding in acknowledgement before going back to tearing apart the twig in her hands. That was how the two sat for a good few minutes, sitting in the dark in silence until Billy spoke up.

“Lauren, correct?,” he inquired, watching the younger girl.

“Laurie,” Laurie replied, “I don’t like being called Lauren.”

The outlaw nodded, making a mental note about the fact that this kid didn’t like being called by her full name.

“So how’d you get here, running with a gang?,” Billy questioned, looking over at the young teenager next to him. “You don’t look much older than 12.”

“I’m 13,” the teen corrected, throwing her stick to the side. “Jesse caught me stealing from his barn when I was 10. Instead of shooting me on the spot he decided to spare me and just have me living under his care for some reason.”

Billy nodded, looking up at the full moon in the dark night sky. It had been a while since he had actually taken the time to appreciate the small things, like how bright the moon looked and how pretty the stars in the sky were. 

“Where’re your parents?,” the outlaw suddenly asked and Laurie sighed.

“Gone. My dad was killed, don’t know what happened to my ma, I just woke up one day and she had just disappeared, never heard from her since,” Laurie explained, clearly not really in the mood to talk but she knew that it would be rude not to answer Billy’s questions.

ⅠⅠⅠⅠ

The next morning Lauri found herself doing yard work while the other gang members worked on training new horses. Billy sat on the fence, talking with Jesse and Barbara while watching Jesse lunge one of the new horses. Laurie picked up a bag of some horse feed, tossing it into a wheelbarrow, ever so slightly eavesdropping on the conversation a few feet away from her. Jesse was talking about how the gang was thinking of going out to El Paso, and Laurie immediately knew she would probably get left out of that trip because she was too young or too weak, just like she always did.

The only reason she went on that trip that they returned from yesterday was because Jesse was “feeling nice.” 

“Hey, why do you call that one over there ‘runt’?,” Billy questioned as he looked over to where Laurie was working and then back at Jesse.

“Because that’s what she is, really,” Jesse answered, continuing his work with his horse. “She’s the smallest out of all of us, probably the weakest as well. Sounds like runt material to me, don’t it?”

Laurie rolled her eyes with a quiet sigh, she hated that nickname. Runt – the smallest and more often than not in a group, specifically used when you’re talking about dogs and other animals. But according to Jesse, it can be used on people too – given the correct circumstances, of course. And here’s the funny part, no matter how much Laurie disliked the taunting, the names and the constant reminder about the fact she would be nothing without him – Laurie always found herself trying to seek out Jesse’s approval one way or another.

That’s the beauty of Laurie’s life.

The red-headed teenager watched as Billy got up and followed Barbara down into a slightly wooded area where a few horses stood loosely tied by the mangers and water troughs. She rolled her eyes and continued working, Laurie never understood romance nor did she ever experience it or want to experience it. She didn’t really ever have those urges. 

After a few minutes Billy came back from the woods and approached her, Laurie slowed her movements for a moment. Trying to figure out why the new member was going to attempt to talk to her. 

“You need help with those?,” Billy asked, gesturing to the few bags of feed that still needed to be hauled into the wheelbarrow and brought into the stables. Laurie shrugged, picking up another bag and almost dropping it. Why did these things need to be so heavy?

“If you want to help, you can,” the child replied, putting the bag into the barrow with a small but tired sigh. Billy felt his face soften a bit when he noticed how tired the kid in front of him was. So he did what he believed was right and picked up the last few bags with ease and hauled them into the wheelbarrow. 

Laurie would be lying if she said that she wasn’t shocked that Billy helped her, because she wasn’t expecting him to actually do anything to make her life easier. In fact, he had been the first person in three years to actually help her with any of the chores she had been assigned. She stood there for a moment, glancing at the feed in the wheelbarrow before her blue eyes met his and she gave him a small smile.

“Thanks,” was all she said before pushing the wheelbarrow in the direction of the barn, not with ease though. She strained her muscles as she pushed the heavy supplies towards the barn, taking deep breaths as she did so. 

Billy watched Laurie and he couldn’t help but wonder why Jesse was having this child do this kind of work without at least a little bit of help, especially considering the fact she was a little bit small and naturally scrawny for her age. 

Why was there child labour going on at this ranch?

A/N:

Ok so this is my first time posting any of my writing on Tumblr so if you all have any kind of constructive criticism it would be much appreciated :D

Also if y'all wanna follow me on TikTok my user is: _phantom._.editz2

tag:

@slutforsnow

[cer-rata]

Fic WIP: "Welcome home(?) Chris Kent!"

Chris sighed. “...So yeah, I don’t really remember being an adult. Just bits and pieces. I remember Thara, and the Nightwing. Um. That’s about it on details.”

B+ nodded and rubbed his chin. Chris was intentionally leaving things out, that’s what his spot analysis of his body-language, mannerisms and tone told him. Perhaps he’d be willing to share more later when they were friends…if B+ didn’t manage to mess it up.  “Fascinating series of events for a twelve-year-old. Disturbing, in many ways.”

Chris rolled his eyes. “I’m not really twelve, I’m actually an adult, I just look like--”

B+ shook his head and looked down at the datapad that was monitoring Chris' vitals. “No. No, I'm pained to inform you that you’ve misunderstood the flow of your life.”

Chris frowned. “...What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, from what I can tell, you didn’t live an accelerated life in that you lived at a normal pace in a pocket of reality that moved faster along the timeline than the one you originated from. Rather, your body aged more quickly than it should have on a purely physical level. Sure, that meant your brain reached a certain stage of development sooner, but you didn’t gain the experience you would have had from living into adulthood naturally, so experientially you didn’t really age at all. Legally, and ethically you were always a child. And that would be true even if you did remember everything. 

“So really I could still say you were six or seven, but with the accumulated experience you lived through and do remember...and though you were incorporeal when you were in the phantom zone the second time, and I have no concrete way of knowing how long you were there for…I do know that Kon-El is also from your timeline and only remembers a year passing between when he was lost and when Impulse found him. That was five or six years ago now, and you were conscious for that period of time. Meaning: I think eleven or twelve is probably fair. I can go with twelve if that makes you feel any better. Luckily, that’s about where your body ended up as well.”

Chris stared at him with wide eyes. Then his lips twisted and he sat back down on the floor of his containment chamber. “...Oh. I…I guess that makes sense.”

B+ nodded without looking up from the data he was reading. “It does, but I still think it’s kind of messed up, actually. The adults sent me to talk to you because they’re all upset and didn’t want you to pick up on it. Subconsciously they seem to think that I don’t process emotion still and as such wouldn’t bother you by being agitated. Bias from experience with my predecessor. I am not hurt by it, but…I do hope to at some point convince them that I am truly a separate being.” His third eye flicked up and over to look at Chris and caught the alarmed recognition in his eyes in the second before he was able to hide it. “...Sorry, I didn’t mean to talk about myself. I was going to say that I am also upset: You shouldn’t have had an adult girlfriend when you were cognitively six or seven. Very weird for both human and Kryptonian standards. Bird gods be damned.”

Chris hugged himself. “I mean…I mean from what I remember, she was nice.”

B+ desperately wanted to break down the reasons why that didn’t matter, but it wasn’t the right moment, and he felt it would be better coming from someone like Ms. Lane. So he smoothed it over. 

...Well, he tried to. “She could have been, I’m not implying that it was…”He paused. “...Well maybe I am implying that it was somewhat predatory, but I doubt she really considered the implications enough for me to judge her as anything more than shortsighted. Perhaps neither of you were completely acting on your own volition even, because again, bird gods. I’m…not trying to make you feel bad, am I making you feel bad?”

Chris looked away. “...A little.”

B+ winced and looked directly at him with all three eyes. He even devoted half of his processes to the conversation, which was dramatic overkill really, but he felt bad.

 “I apologize. Sometimes I talk through thoughts that I should probably process silently. Um…wait, hold on.” He closed his eyes for a second and then opened them again. “Okay, the likelihood that they’ll bother us in the next half hour is low, they’re tending to a minor disaster.” 

Chris’ mask dropped and B+ could see how nervous he was.

“...Why…what are you going to do to me?”

B+ had been reaching towards the containment field, but when Chris asked that fearful question, he pulled his hand back like he’d been burned.

“Nothing! I wouldn’t--I don’t…” His lips wobbled as he tried to not get upset. It was frustrating sometimes, being so young and knowing so many things. On the one hand he wanted to be taken seriously, to be seen as competent…but on the other, he was still chronologically two, developmentally nine, and that meant that it was hard to mitigate his feelings sometimes. Conrad had reassured him that it was normal, but he knew that already. Normal or not, it was still embarrassing. He sighed. “...I was just going to sit next to you. I thought…I thought it might make you feel better after I upset you by being callous. I don’t have to, I can just--”

Chris’ expression softened considerably. “Wait, what? Wouldn’t the Phantom Zone energy be bad for you?”

“No, I can handle it fine.” It was a lie, it was going to be incredibly uncomfortable, but not so much that he couldn’t hide it from Chris, so it was acceptable.

Chris stood up. “Well…I mean yeah, then that would be okay. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to freak out, just--”

“You’ve been treated as an experiment and tool before…and in a sense I am…Brainiac. That was…that was the kind of thing he did, so it is not inappropriate to be...vigilant.” B+ was thankful at that moment that he’d decided not to install synthetic tear ducts into his current iteration. “Um. Step back just a little? Please?”

Chris pressed lips together in concern, but took a step back. B+ reached out again and touched the containment field, and his skin shifted color just slightly from its bright turquoise to something closer to matching the shade of the barrier, before he walked through said barrier like it wasn’t there. Chris looked him over cautiously. “...You sure you’re okay?”

B+ nodded. “I am sure.” He stretched a bit to try to look casual about the fact that the way the zone energy interfered with his connection to turquoise light made his synthetic muscles burn. It was fine. He wasn’t a baby. He took a seat on the floor, and Chris sat next to him.

“If you would like to ask me questions, you may, I think that’s fair. You aren’t my experiment, friends share information reciprocally, and I’d…I’d like to be…that.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “Metron’s countenance, I am awkward.”

Chris giggled. “No, you’re fine. This is all kinda awkward I think. For most people it’d be worse. You use a bunch of words I don’t know, though.”

“Sorry.”

Chris offered him a warm smile and patted him on the shoulder, and B+ had to stop himself from wincing at the pain. This was a good sign, a positive interaction that suggested Chris had not decided to fear him. The discomfort had purpose.

“So,” Chris went on, “How old are you? Cause I dunno what your deal is, but you seem to have a lot going on.”

B+ snorted. “Yes that…yes. Um. Technically I…emotionally I am about nine or ten, experientially…is complicated, because I have the knowledge of…quite a few civilizations stored in my mind, so I know and understand quite a bit. Chronologically my body is roughly…two years old at this point?” B+ knew that he was exactly eighteen months, three-hundred hours, thirty-two minutes and fifteen seconds old--but he thought rounding it up sounded better. 

Chris slowly turned to him and smirked. “So I just got a lecture about how my girlfriend was inappropriate from a toddler?”

B+ rolled all three of his eyes. “I’m not a toddler!”

“Awww look at the little guy!” Chris teased and poked B+ in the side.

…Which was not something B+ expected him to do, and so he wasn’t prepared to stop his automatic reaction. It tickled as intended, but it also hurt because at that point everything hurt, and he made a sound that was something between an embarrassed giggle and a pained groan. You could probably call it a whimper. 

Chris pulled his hand back. “Wh--did I hurt you? I thought I didn’t have my powers, I’m sorry--”

“No!” B+ waved him off and then winced at how much that action hurt. “It’s fine, you did nothing wrong, my chassis is strong enough that I wouldn’t be concerned if you did have your powers, it’s just--”

“You lied to me about the zone being fine?”

B+ sighed. Why couldn’t he have been somewhat dense like the other Lor-Zod?

 “...Yes. I thought it wouldn’t be this bad and wanted you to feel better--ahh!”

B+ yelped in surprise (and pain) as Chris gently picked him up and brought him back to the edge of containment. “Out! Go! Before you hurt yourself any more.”

“But--”

“It’s fine! We can hug later or whatever!”

B+’ cheeks warmed, which was confusing for him because he didn’t really have blood, but he stepped back through the barrier like he was told to. Instantly he felt his connection return, and the pain was replaced by the strength he hadn’t realized he’d lost. He turned back to Chris. “Sorry--”

“Please don’t do that again.”

“Well, I wasn’t planning on--”

“I mean hurting yourself so I don’t think you’re bad. Don’t do that.”

B+ was somewhat disturbed that Chris had picked up on that. “I…what?”

Chris looked directly into B+’ two primary eyes. His expression read as genuine concern and compassion. It made B+ nervous. “I don’t think you’re Brainiac, and I don’t think you wanna hurt me, okay? We’re good. I like you. You’re kind of funny in like an alien way. Which, as an alien, works for me.”

B+ rolled his eyes and snorted. “...Alright. I appreciate that.”

“Plus, I’m not gonna be scared of a two-year old.” Chris smiled.

“I’m not--” B+ shook his head. He had to claw some of his dignity back somehow. “I’m going to get you out of that tube before the day is out.”

Chris balked. “...What? But...but Kal-El and Batman and Mr. Terrific said it could take--”

“RIP to them, but I’m built different. Literally. Besides, I understand your biology better than any existing being. If I can’t figure this out in the next six hours, I might as well retire and go live on a farm. Ew.”

“Farms are cool!”

“Farms are outdated, just synthesize the food with an atomic reconstructor, they’re not hard to--you know what, I’m actually going to focus all my processes on you, which means I really like you, because I was watching ‘The Great British Bake Off' for most of this conversation. I love that show. But…I still think the British owe this planet more reparations. Anyway, give me seventeen minutes.”

Chris was about to ask another question, but B+’ face went blank and his eyes all started glowing bright turquoise at once, so it was clear that the conversation was over. Or at least…paused.

[cupoftaae]

Forever and a day (KTH x READER) series♡ •liar liar• chapter 2

Summary: your lifelong friend is forced to face his true feelings for you once he breaks the number one rule of becoming friends with benefits: dont fall in love. He knows he loves you, but you on the other hand need more convincing of the most important thing: the right decision.

Genre: fwb. Roommates, friends to idiots to lovers, fluff, angst, smut, the whole 9 yards tbh.

Pairing: taehyung x female!reader

Rating: 18+

Word count: a little under 5k

Chapter warnings: smut!!! Confusing emotions, so much angst omg. Tae is kinda an idiot. You’re confused. It’s a mess. Also not a warning but we see chaeyoung and dahyun!!

Read part one https://www.tumblr.com/blog/view/cupoftaae/705377053503094784

A/N

Ok so ...wow!! I didn’t expect so many people to enjoy this story. I kinda threw it together but I’m beginning to really fall in love with writing it. Thank you all so much for reading, liking and reblogging. It seriously means so much to me. •••Tag list is open so if you wish to be tagged with each new chapter please feel free to lmk. •• happy reading!!!

—————

Taehyung and you had continued to watch movies throughout the evening, eventually moving back into your room to lay down, because you were complaining of back pain from leaning against the couch.

“Go refill this” You laughed and shoved the popcorn bowl into taehyungs chest. “God you are so aggressive, remind me why I decided to be your roommate?” He spoke louder as his footsteps led him into the kitchen. “Because I’m adorable, now shut up and be quick, I’m gonna pick my own choice of movie” you spoke, throwing the blankets over you and turning the lights off.

When taehyung had entered the room again he stood at the doorway and peered over at you, you looked so cute under a mountain of blankets, bangs hanging messily over your forehead as you appeared to be extremely invested in whatever was on tv. “What?” You spoke, looking at him as he walked over, he laughed and shook his head. “Why are we sitting in pitch black? Did we forget to pay the electric bill?” Taehyung sneered as you pulled him into the bed. “Aww are you scared of the dark tae?” He scoffed and sat down, pulling his body under the covers as well. “Don’t worry I’ll protect you” you joked and wrapped your body against his, leaning into his side. His breath hitched, silently cursing himself for feeling so awkward around you. He felt like he was the one making it weird.

A few minutes had past when he felt your eyes staring at him. “Are you not paying attention?” He asked, without looking down at you. “Oh, I’m paying attention....” you mumbled, finger picked up to drag along his jaw and across his nose, an action that you always did with him, but haven’t done for a while....for, well, obvious reasons. “Y/n” he spoke sternly, shifting uncomfortably, he couldn’t be the only one seeing the wrongness in this. He was laying in bed with someone else’s girlfriend, a girl he was IN LOVE WITH. You sighed deeply, hot air brushing against his neck as you pushed yourself up to his ear. “this movie is boring...let’s do something” You nearly whispered, tae wanted to punch himself for how fast he got hard. This was definitely wrong, no denying it. “Y/n...” he turned his head to you, and that’s when your lips met his. Taehyung would be lying to say he pushed away, how could he? You were the one in a relationship, technically he was doing nothing wrong!

“Hmmm missed you” you moaned into his mouth before pulling the covers back and moving to straddle his thigh. Taehyungs hands moved from your waist to your ass, pressing it against him harder as he buried his face into your neck. “This is wrong”

He mumbled, a slight bite to your earlobe. “Then why are you hard, you lair” you teased, taking his hands off your waist to pull back, pulling your shift off your body and tossing it to the side. Taehyung was sitting against the headboard, practically sweating as he watched you. When did you start buying lingerie bras? When the two of you hooked up, you always wore a sports bra of some sort. Something about just wearing lingerie turned him on even more for some reason, maybe because it was red. Somewhere in the back of his mind he believed you wore it tonight for him. “You’re so pretty, baby” he spoke quietly, watching as you carefully picked up his hands and pressed them against your chest, biting your lip as you watched his reaction. “Y/n, I....we shouldn’t be doing this” he stuttered, seconds away from giving into temptation. “baby please, touch me, please baby” you practically moaned as you leaned against him further, legs digging into the mattress on either side of his thigh. “I don’t care I don’t” you shook your head, trying to convince him you wanted this. “It’s ok” you affirmed, watching the cogs turn in his head.

Without saying anything, taehyung leaned forward to kiss you once more, this time rather harshly. His hands gripped your breasts before sliding their way around to find the clasp. He quickly undid it before throwing it somewhere off the bed, he can Thank the experience he’s had with you for that trick.

You moaned loudly as he pressed his mouth against your breast, swirling his tongue around slowly as he stimulated your nipple. “Tae...” you pushed your hands against him, practically melting into his touch. His other hand lifted back to the other breast, running his finger over the delicate center as you hummed contently. You were becoming needier by the minute, rocking your hips slowly against his leg, throwing your head back slightly.

“Shit baby, ride my thigh” taehyung grunted and ran his hands to unbutton your jeans, moving you up as he slid them off. You watched his fingers cling onto the sides of your underwear, taking them off with a swift motion.

“You’re so fucking wet” he mumbled, running two fingers over your folds, moving up to press against your clit. “Ah!” You leaned forward, hands gripping his shoulders. He pulled his hand away to position you over his thigh, pulling you down once you moved closer. “Mmmmm” you moaned, beginning to rock carefully against him. “Feels good baby” you sighed, feeling his mouth begin to attack yours, tongues practically down each others throats. His deep grunts were enough to leave your body vibrating. “Ta-ah! Fuck!” You dug your nails into his shoulder when he pushed his thigh up, helping you move more swiftly. “Is that good, angel?” He asked so teasingly. “God, you’re nasty” his fingers pushed into your thighs. “I should’ve fucked you first but” he began, “this, this is more enjoyable”

“Shit, I’m gonna cum” You whined, picking the pace up as your grind your bare cunt against his thigh. “Fuck! fuck, Ah-“ you moaned loudly into the air as your orgasm crashed over you, face falling into his shoulder as you pressed up to him, pathetic whines filling into his ear, “taehyung” You whimpered

Taehyungs eyes shot open when he realized what had happened. Suddenly he was awake, sitting behind you on the couch, incredibly hard. Holy shit. He just had a wet dream...ABOUT YOU.

Quickly sitting up, he watched your expression. Ok, you were still asleep. He made his way to the bathroom and stared at himself in the mirror, god he was an awful person. This is his best friend, this was you, and he just dreamt of getting you off with his thigh when you have your boyfriend coming to visit in less than 12 hours.

This shit was getting worse by the minute, perhaps in times like these he wishes the two of you never started hooking up in the first place.

—

“Why’d you leave last night?” You asked, watching taehyung walk into the kitchen. “Oh...i was getting sore laying on the couch, I’m too tall to sleep there” he mumbled as he watched you prepare kimchi for later.

You nodded in understanding as you turned around to reach for some pots and dishes. He watched as your stretched your back, shirt hugging your curves just right. He had to look away, how could he even be in your presence right now after what occurred just a few hours ago. He could only imagine how much of a pervert you’d think he is if you knew.

“Can you help me?” You asked, watching tae spring over to help grab a few plates from the top shelf. “Thank you” You mutter, continuing your cooking. “Oh by the way your parents called me”

Tae turned around to see you, “what?” He seemed confused. “They said they are coming to Seoul in 2 weeks and wanted to plan a dinner with us” you shrugged, turning to him. “I think that’s nice taehyung”

“It’s nice...but I don’t know” he plucked at the collar of his shirt. “y/n, Last time I spoke with them wasn’t very enjoyable for either of us I think”

About a year ago, taehyung got into a fight with his parents about dropping out of college, he works for a business Corp now, which he thoroughly enjoys because he can work in office or at home whenever he chooses. However his parents are disappointed in him not becoming a doctor like they had hoped, and they actually ended up blaming you for his lack of studious determination. You were in college to become a theatre actress, it was your major anyway. You knew that this is what you had wanted for a long time, but in the eyes of his parents, they saw it as useless. But you knew you’d rather make less money and be happy than he unhappy and make lots of money.

“It’s been a while though, and who knows? Maybe they want to apologize for being wrong!” You giggle as you watched him open the fridge.

Taehyung shrugged before looking at a pack of desserts, reaching his hand to look at the labels. “Don’t touch those” you whine, knowing how much of a snack thief he is. “They are for later” you pat his back as he pouts, making your heart soar. “When is he coming over?” He asks. “It’s not just him coming, I invited some other girls from my theatre class too, but they are coming at 1” you mumble, too focused on cooking.

Tae looked at the clock, it was 11:50, he only had a little over an hour to get ready. “Okay, let me know if you need help with anything” he spoke cheeringly as he left the kitchen, leaving you at the counter with Yeontan by your feet, attempting to catch droplets of food.

Taehyung showered and shaved, brushing gel through his hair after blow drying it. Now, he knows it’s weird to say he’s dressing to impress kaito, but that’s exactly what he’s doing, just not for the reason you’re thinking. He wants to basically show him up in typical taehyung fashion, perhaps make him jealous?

He rummaged through his closet before deciding on a blue Hawaiian shirt paired with black jeans.

Across the hall, you were panicking in the bathroom as you tried to straighten your hair but it only ended up looking flat and weird. “Stop being so....UGLY!” You whisper yell to yourself as you point to your reflection in the mirror. You ultimately decide to wet your hair so it can curl up again, opting for it to just be natural and messy. After throwing on makeup (you indeed did not just “throw on” makeup, you spent 20 minutes on eyeliner) you put on a white long sleeved shirt and put black overalls ontop, you looked cute you supposed, but you couldn’t help but wonder what you’d look like in taehyungs eyes. Was it wrong to want to be seen as prettier to him when your literal boyfriend was on his way over.

You walked out to the kitchen when you saw taehyung grabbing a beer out of the fridge, your mouth grew dry just seeing him. He looked like walking sex. You cleared your throat, “you look handsome” you Shyly mumble and make your way over, hugging him playfully. His eyes dart down to you, feeling his heartbeat quicken from just how stunning you looked, unaware of the difficulties you had getting ready, and you called him handsome, YOU!

“Oh, thank you y/n, you look beautiful.” He spoke, turning back to the counter, “kaito is a lucky guy huh” he spoke quietly. “I suppose so” you joked, brushing your bangs out of your face and looking at him. “You smell nice” he added, the perfume infiltrating his nose as an all too familiar scent, suddenly drawing him back to the dream he had last night as he awkwardly tried to step a few feet away from you.

“Thanks bubs” you smile, grabbing a water to cool your nerves down, at this point you couldn’t even pin point why you were nervous in the first place. “Are you ok?” You asked, eyes drawing to the fidgety boy in front of you. He shrugged and looked down, the guilt was eating him alive, “y/n, can we talk later?” He sighed.

You tilted your head, confused but willing. “Yeah? Are you ok th-“ you were interrupted by the doorbell, both you and your roommate sharing a frightful look.

You ran to open the door, adjusting your hair as taehyung stood behind you. “Hi!” You said sweetly as the door opened, your friends and boyfriend present with foods and drinks in their arms. “Hi baby” kaito spoke, walking in to press a quick kiss to your lips. Taehyung clenched his jaw and noticed how much taller he was compared to him. Not to be an asshole and make everything about masculinity, but he hated seeing his height. Kaitos eyes looked behind you to meet taehyungs, his body halting as taehyung just raised his eyebrows teasingly, a look that read “go on, say something”. You looked between both of them before speaking up, “kaito this is taehyung, my roommate and best friend, tae, this is kaito” you cheer, wrapping an arm around your boyfriend. “ I think we’ve met” kaito bit, “really?? When?” You peered up. “Oh somewhere at the coffee shop, I think” taehyung spoke, biting back a giggle as he walked away to meet your other friends.

“You look so good” You spoke, playing with kaitos hair as he kissed your forehead. “Thanks baby” he led with you into the kitchen.

He couldn’t even return the compliment to you? This only left you feeling insecure, checking your appearance in every reflection available.

“You have such a cute apartment you guys!” Your friend chaeyoung cheered, looking around at all the decorations. “I was gonna say, it’s perfect” dahyun added, moving to the wall of photos and smiling. “What are these?” She asked, you pulled away from kaito to walk over and look. “Oh this is from last summer when taehyung and I went on this Europe trip for his work, it was so fun and we even got to go to Paris for a night” you pointed at the picture of you and taehyung by the Eiffel Tower.

Taehyung stood in the kitchen, smiling to himself as he thought of how fun that trip was, it was just you two alone. Kaito looked and scrunched his face up, opening his beer before looking at taehyung. Would it be wrong for taehyung to say he found joy in how much your boyfriend seemed to despise him? Because he now had the urge to pull every string.

About an hour later, all of you had eaten, and now were sitting in the living room eating desserts and drinking wine, lost in random conversations. Taehyung impatiently tapped his foot against the other, waiting for you to come back out of your room you had fled to randomly 15 mins ago. “Where’s y/n?” Chaeyoung asked, frowning as she opened up the cinnamon bread, “she is gonna be back and hate me because this is gonna be gone” she pointed down at the dessert, earning a laugh from dahyun. “Just be patient” she pushed her, the two girls giggling as taehyung sat up and walked over to your door. Kaito watched him from the couch, scanning over him and paying attention to his actions.

Carefully, he knocked against your door, whispering into the frame. “Y/n, it’s me, can I come in?”

There was a moment of silence before you walked over and whispered, “yeah”. You stood back and watched the boy come in, him completely unaware your boyfriend was watching the whole thing as he shut the door behind him. Taehyung was taken back when he saw you “Why are you crying?” He asked softly, cupping your face and wiping your tears. You shrugged and sniffled, “it’s stupid” you sigh and look away. “Obviously not if it’s bothering you. You never cry” he pointed out. You bit the inside of your lip as you looked down at your feet next to his, he was right. You never cried, maybe it wouldn’t hurt to confide in him.

“Do you think I’m pretty?” Your voice spoke shakily. Taehyung scanned over your face, unsure how to approach this. “I don’t feel pretty” you shrugged, tears welling up. He couldn’t help but smile a little, “see! It’s stupid! You are laughing at me” You whined before he grasped your hand. “I’m laughing because how could such a beautiful girl say that about herself?” He spoke meaningfully. Your eyes looked up at his so softly he could have melted into the floor at that moment. “Do you actually think I’m beautiful?” You whispered. “Absolutely” he nodded and brushed your hair back, squeezing your hand as you leaned forward to hug him tightly, making him rock a bit before catching his footing. He wrapped his long arms around you and rubbed your back, head resting on top of yours.

“Can I come in?” Suddenly the two of you broke apart at the sound of kaitos voice by the door. You wiped your tears and looked over. “Are you ok?” He asked, eyes darting to Taehyung. “I am, let’s go have dessert” you grab his hand and lead him out of your room. Taehyung stayed in there for a moment to catch his breath, mentally preparing himself to go back into the living room.

If taehyung hadn’t known any better, he would say dahyun was flirting with him. “Honestly your skin is so fucking smooth, how do you do your routine?? Or- wait! I bet your one of those guys who just naturally have nice ass skin even though they wash their face with like a fucking bar of soap or some shit!” She laughed, moving practically into his lap as she examined every pore on his face. He beamed over at you, across at the other couch and sent a very telling ‘help me NOW’ look, you simply giggled, knowing dahyun pretty much did this everytime she was within 5 feet of a male. She’s always been boy crazy, but you still kept an eye on her while she was conversing next to taehyung. You knew in the back of your mind that the reason taehyung skin is so nice is well, because of YOU. You lend him all your products and even have occasional skincare nights, though, he would never admit it to dahyun. “Genetics” he shrugs.

As the next hour went on, more drinks were ingested and you all sat on the floor around the living room table. “Baby, did you know chaeyoung’s roommate moved out?” Kaito turned to you, hopeful eyes as he rubbed your lower back. “Really??” You turned your head to your friend, “yeah, she had to go back home and she actually dropped out I think” chae nodded. “Aww” you respond, kaito grabbing your attention. “You should move in with her! Wouldn’t that be fun!” He pokes you with his elbow.

This conversation grabbed taehyungs attention, looking away from dahyun’s phone where she was showing him pictures from her own trip to Europe. “Wha- why, why would she need to move out?” He panicked slightly, feeling anger at his sudden attempt to pull you away from him. Kaitos eyebrows raised as he looked at the boy across from him. “Because they’re friends?” He stated. “Ok? Y/N and I are friends too? We have been since we were 12. I think we are content living together” he laughed at the end of his words. You looked at taehyung sympathetically, appreciating his effort of defense but also warning him to not pick a fight like he tends to do everywhere he goes. “Plus chaeyoung is welcome over here anytime if she wants to” tae nodded. “Yeah sure, you’re friends, but it’s different” kaito adds.

“How so?” Taehyung chucked, “please enlighten me!!” He sat up.

“Tae” you warned, his eyes ignoring yours. “I’m just saying, I think she would be more comfortable with a female roommate” kaito sipped his drink as chaeyoung and dahyun watched with awkwardness. “First of all, you can’t speak for her. Second of all...Why? You don’t trust me? It’s not like we have sex” he casually said, your face turning to a red fire as you pounded your fist onto the table. “Stop taehyung!” You were in shock of his behavior, what the fuck was up his ass. Kaito looked taken back as well, watching the boy in front of him seem to lose his mind. “Or maybe it’s some excuse so you can have her all to yourself, here’s a little tip buddy, if you wanna keep a girlfriend maybe you should stop trying to be a control freak, also compliment her once in a while, it’s nothing off your back, you self centered asshole”

You stood up at his words, embarrassed that he would mention the reason of your tears earlier. You couldn’t tell if you were more ashamed of taehyungs actions, or the fact taehyung himself saw how unperfect you and Kaito actually were compared to what you’ve been telling him. “Enough!!!” You spoke shakily, tears brimming your eyes as you walked off, turning around to speak. “I’m sorry to end tonight like this, but please go home.” You sadly spoke, pushing taehyung and kaito away when they both approached you. “Get away from me!! Both of you!!” You shout, tears falling down your cheek in embarrassment. “You” your finger pointed at taehyung. “You are so much better than this!” He looked down in shame, he hurt you and he didn’t even realize it, he was being selfish. “And you” you pointed to your boyfriend. “Why would you even bring that conversation up? I’m quite happy living here, you just started a whole issue!!” You wipe your tears in frustration and turn to your room, everyone looking around as chaeyoung awkwardly walks out, followed by an angry kaito.

Dahyun grabs her purse and walks up to taehyung, who had been hiding and pushing down his tears. “It’s ok” she whispered, rubbing his arm. “Dahyun please, I’m sure you are a nice gi-“

“You love her.” She simply interrupted.

“What??” He was taken back, watching the girl in front of him speak. “You love y/n. And that’s ok” she comforted. “Go apologize to her, she’ll....come around” a soft smile and weak hug left her grabbing her coat and heading out, taehyung standing in confusion once the door shut. His eyes darting to the locked bedroom door that you were in, contemplating his entrance.

You paced your room, skin red and hot as you wiped your makeup off with a single wipe. You changed out of your days outfit and put on a shirt, that happened to be taehyungs, and sweatpants. You climbed into bed, sniffling as you laid against your pillow. Your phone rang with notifications from kaito, some messages asking wtf just happened, and others asking when he can see you again, this time without the others. You scoffed and threw your phone across the room.

You looked up at the ceiling before turning to your side, grasping one of your pillows and spilling tears into it. Your fingers ran delicate patterns on the side of the pillow, you wanted to pretend it was taehyung you were holding, inhaling deeply and pressing your head against the top of it. You felt guilty. For two things, actually. One, for yelling at taehyung. You knew he was a hot head and started getting angry and defensive when he was uncomfortable, you couldn’t blame him, the tension in the room could be cut in 4’s. The other was, well, the fact you currently wished to be cuddling next to someone who isn’t your boyfriend. Sure, you lied to taehyung about how great you and kaito were, but you didn’t want him to think you just picked the first boy who gave you attention. As the weeks have gone by, perhaps you realize you did just that. Maybe you weren’t ready for a relationship, maybe you pushed yourself into the dating world just to get taehyung out of your mind. You sigh deeply and sit up, looking at your appearance in a mirror across, hanging on the wall. You were a fucking mess, physically and mentally. You were going to just head back to bed but it’s then when you remembered how taehyung asked to talk with you this morning. You knew he probably wasn’t up for it anymore, but you didn’t want to leave him with a full chest to sleep on when he had an opportunity to talk with you. You peeled the covers back and tiptoe over to the door, opening it quietly.

He wasn’t in the kitchen or living room so you assumed he was in his own room.

You quietly walk over and knock on his door, when there is no response you worry, opting to creek the door a little and find him already passed out in bed. You looked down and shut the door. He never sleeps this early. Oh you felt bad....real bad. Making your way into the kitchen for a cup of water, you found a small sticky note attached to the edge of the counter. You picked it up and held it close, reading it.

“I’m sorry :(“

You let out an audible “aw”, sighing and beginning to feel emotional for some reason. You didn’t mean to hurt him, he’s probably sleeping with the assumption you hate him now. You made a mental note to speak with him first thing in the morning to clear things out, tucking the sticky note into your pocket and going back to bed.

Throughout the night, your mind raced of only taehyung. It was wrong to think of him like this....right?

Maybe you were the one in the wrong here. You clutched your head in confusion, you thought you were doing yourself a favor pushing taehyung out of the picture to focus on a relationship, but the truth is that you should’ve said something to him. You should’ve told him how you felt. You really can’t predict how he would have reacted, maybe he felt the same for you. You regret this with your entire body, You loved taehyung, and you hated yourself for it.

Perhaps it was kaito you needed to talk to instead.

—-

Current tag list @

@turnthepageandbeburnt

[callme-dickmaster]

Sweetheart - (eddie munson x reader)

Ch. Seventeen - Let's Have A Ball

summary: for some reason you let dustin and your sister convince you to do things you would never do in a million years

cw: 18+ (minors dni) this is obnoxiously long, afab!reader, language, fluff, getting revenge on middle schoolers, just a snowball part -i think that’s all-

author’s note: soo i literally have another version of this story but it’s with steve instead of our boy eddie. lol you wanna see it? lemme know. love you <3

Series Masterlist

You huffed and flopped back onto your bed. “I don’t wanna chaperone a dance!” You whined like a toddler. Max snickered and sat at your vanity.

“You shouldn’t have promised! You know how Dustin feels about promises. And me!” She said.

You pouted and sighed. “I’m just gonna have Eddie pick me up after. I’ll probably end up staying at his place if you think you‘ll be okay for the weekend?” You asked, sitting up. Max shrugged and nodded before their mom called her down to get her hair done. Max rolled her eyes and trudged out of the room, flipping you off at your laughter.

Somehow Dustin had convinced you to come and chaperone the middle school Snowball. He was lucky you had a soft spot for him. You sat down and swiped on your lipstick before she picked up her bedside phone and dialed the number to Eddie’s trailer.

“Wayne Munson speaking.”

“Hey, Wayne! It’s Shaggy. Is Eddie home?” You asked, putting some eyeshadow on. Wayne mumbled a ‘yeah, hold on’ and you giggled when he teased Eddie about his girlfriend being on the line.

“Hey, pretty girl!” Eddie said happily into the receiver, choosing to ignore Wayne’s teasing.

“Hi, love! You wouldn’t wanna pick me up after the Snowball would you? I’m not staying to clean up so I should be done around nine,” you said, twisting the phone cord. Eddie smiled and nodded, forgetting you couldn’t see him.

“Yeah, of course I will! You wanna come back to mine?” He asked.

You smiled and glanced at the overnight bag you already packed. “Yeah, if it’s cool with you guys. But, hey, my mom and Neil are going to California for Christmas, and I don’t want to go because my grandma’s a bitch, so I’m staying here. You maybe wanna hang at mind over break?” You asked, shoving your makeup into a bag to take with you. Eddie’s enthusiastic “hell yeah!” Made you smile and once you highlighted the fact that Max and Billy would be going with the parents, it was solidified that he would definitely be at yours over break.

After you hung up, you went downstairs to sit and watch TV until Max was ready to go and your mom could take you both.

“Could you get the phone please?” Your mom called from the bathroom where she was braiding Max’s hair. You sighed and grabbed the phone off the wall, pushing yourself up to sit on the kitchen counter. “Mayfield residence,” you said.

“Hey, kid, it’s Hopper. Listen, I got El here and she’s insisting that you help her get ready for this dance… I already had the Harrington kid over and I was gonna give her some of the kids makeup I had left over, but she only wants you…” Hopper sighed.

You smiled, “Oh, okay! Yeah, I’ll help you out. Just meet up at your cabin, right? Same one Will was at?” You asked.

Once you got confirmation from Hopper on where his cabin was, you explained the situation to your mom and came up with a story about how Hopper had taken in a niece or something and she wanted to go to the Snowball, but Hopper didn’t know shit about makeup.

Your mom simply shrugged and agreed to take you after she dropped Max off at the school. Susan promised she would wait for you outside, so you went in with your makeup bag in hand.

“Bitchin!” El exclaimed when she opened the door. You grinned and waved, stumbling when El hugged you tightly with a smile. You pat her head awkwardly, shrugging at Hopper who was laughing at you. El led you into her room excitedly and sat you down on her bed. You smiled, asking El what she wanted to look like.

“Um, I wanna look like y-you,” El said, poking your cheek. You raised your eyebrows, knowing you looked like you work in a haunted house.

“Uh… well, what color is your dress?” You asked, rubbing the back of your neck. El ran to open up her closet to show the blue dress hanging on the door. You smiled, taking out one of the lighter colored palettes and some clean brushes.

“How about this? I’ll match your makeup with your dress and make you look even prettier than you already do. We can always hang out and I’ll make you look like me another day,” you offered, hoping that would sugarcoat it good enough for her. El smiled and agreed, plopping down in front of you so you could pat the eyeshadow on her lids. You went the extra mile and put some sparkles and drew on a small cat eye wing.

“You are going to be the prettiest girl at the ball!” You smiled, squeezing El’s shoulders as you both stood in the mirror. El smiled widely, almost pressing her face to the mirror before you put a hand on her forehead so she didn’t actually smush her face to the glass. “Thank you!” El squealed, hugging you again. You giggled, hugging her back and wishing her luck before packing up your makeup. You discreetly left the palette along with the brushes you used on El under the blanket and ran back out to your mom’s car.

“Thank you for waiting. I’m sorry that took so long…” you said, tossing your bag in the floor.

Susan shook her head, “I don’t mind at all. It was very nice of you to do that for the chief. Are you leaving with Max? Or do you have to stay later?” She asked.

“I have to stay until the dance is over. But I was gonna go to a friend’s house for the weekend if that’s cool?” You asked, crossing your fingers and hoping your mom wouldn’t ask too many questions. You should’ve known better by then that your mother is just as nosy as you are.

“Yeah, of course! Which friend?” Susan exclaimed, pulling into the middle school parking lot. You mentally sighed, running through the list of people you hung out with that would cover for you. “Uh… Nancy?” You said, sounding more like a question but Susan didn’t notice. She said ‘okay! Have fun!’ And dropped you off. You checked in with Mr. Clarke at the door and he showed you to the snack table that was filled to the brim with sliders, candy, chips, and other snacks you would definitely be eating throughout the night.

“Thank you for helping us out by the way! Dustin speaks very highly of you,” Mr. Clarke said, smiling kindly. You waved at Nancy who was standing by a punch bowl across from Jonathan who was taking pictures.

A group of rather bitchy looking popular girls stood whispering purposefully loudly about you not that far from the table. You glanced at the floor and noticed a black cord that wound itself directly under their feet. You looked around to make sure no one was watching and yanked the cord out from under them, making them all spill their punch as a couple of them fell and the others tried to catch the girls that fell. You snickered to yourself when they started crying and stormed out of the gym towards the bathroom.

“Hey…” you winced, slowly turning to face Nancy who saw the whole thing. “Did you trip those girls?” Nancy asked like you were a little kid. You smirked and crossed your arms, shrugging.

“Dude, they’re middle schoolers!” Nancy scolded, “Bitches are bitches regardless of age!” You exclaimed in your defense. Nancy laughed and put an arm around you to pull you into a hug.

You worked the snack table together for nearly an hour before Dustin came walking into the dance, looking like a curly headed Steve Harrington. “Jesus…” you sighed, looking at Nancy. You huffed, knowing you were going to have to tell Dustin to stop taking Steve’s stupid ass advice. People barely took Steve seriously. And no one took Dustin seriously, so him following Steve’s advice and wanting to look like him was not helping his case.

What seemed to be the first slow song of the night came on and you dragged Nancy over to Jonathan to take some pictures. “Get in ‘ya goober,” you laughed, grabbing Jonathan’s arm. If Steve and Eddie were there it would’ve been perfect. But the pictures they got would be memorable enough.

“You guys don’t take enough pictures. I mean, obviously you do, Jonathan, but you’re the camera dude,” you said, nudging the boy. Jonathan smiled sheepishly and shrugged and Nancy giggled. Her outgoing friend and her introvert boyfriend getting along was nice to see.

“Guys, is that Dustin?” Nancy asked, looking at the bleachers in the back. The rest of the group turned and saw Dustin sitting in the bleachers, trying very hard to make it look like he wasn’t crying. You glanced at the dance floor and saw your sister dancing with Lucas, and you connected the dots.

Oh…

You sighed, straightened your dress, and marched through the crowd of middle schoolers. “Move, troll,” you scoffed, pushing through Max and Lucas. Looking over your shoulder with a smile to see them go back to dancing without a care in the world.

“Hey, dude,” you said, nudging Dustin’s foot with yours.

Dustin quickly wiped his tears and looked up at you, “H-hey…” you smiled and held out a hand, “You wanna dance?” You asked.

Dustin’s eyes widened and he looked like he was about to pass out. “W-what?” He stuttered, face bright red.

“Come on. We’re dancing,” you said, making a ‘come on’ motion with your fingers. Dustin grabbed your hand and you led him to a free spot on the dance floor where he looked around smiling until you grabbed his hands and placed them on your waist, putting your own on his shoulders. Dustin smiled nervously, looking up at you with wide eyes. You kicked off your shoes to be more level with him.

“You’re going to have to come closer,” you said, pulling Dustin closer, “Dustin. Come on! Don’t wuss out on me!” You said, stepping closer and wrapping your arms around his neck. Dustin was burning up, being way too close to you for his heart to handle.

“You have no idea how to dance, do you?” You asked. Dustin looked down and shook his head.

“Well… you feel the music, then you just sway,” you said, swaying dramatically to demonstrate. Dustin laughed and swayed as “Every Breath You Take” started playing over the speakers. You scrunched up your face, wishing they would play something other than pop and lame bands. Not necessarily Megadeath or Judas Priest, but something cool. Definitely not The fucking Police.

“You look like Harrington, man,” you said, pulling a stray curl. Dustin smiled and shrugged, saying something about how Steve gets all the ladies.

“Well, hey, you’re already a lady killer in my opinion. Plus, you’re my favorite person under eighteen,” you joked, scratching his back.

Dustin smiled, “Really?” He asked, “Really,” you replied.

They glanced to the side and saw the same group of girls you knocked over and who also rejected Dustin and laughed in his face staring at them. Regardless of what they thought of you, you were a high schooler. And any middle school boy who got to dance with a high school girl was the envy of the entire grade.

“Hey. Girls your age are… well, they’re bitches. But give them a couple years and they’ll wise up. And you’ll drive them nuts. A true player,” you said, getting a grin out of Dustin.

“You think so?” He asked, “I know so,” you replied, kissing his forehead.

Dustin went fire truck red, glancing out of the corner of his eye to make sure at least one of his friends was seeing this. You and Mike made eye contact and you gave him a thumbs up, winking afterwards. Mike smirked and rolled his eyes, returning the thumbs up. You snickered and let Dustin go hang out with the others when an upbeat Madonna song came on and everyone else started hopping around.

You wiggled your way through the crowd now that you had your heels back on and could see over everyone’s heads. “That was nice,” Nancy said, linking her arm through yours. You smiled and shrugged cheekily, making the girl laugh.

You and Nancy worked the snack table until the dance ended with you smuggling all the left-over M&M’s in one of the Ziploc bags Mr. Clarke gave you to pack up the table.

“Hey, I’m heading out. I think Eddie’s here,” you said. Nancy gave you hugs and said goodbye, so you ran outside before Mr. Clarke could find you.

You pulled on Eddie’s your jacket when you got outside and scanned the parking lot for his van.

“Babe!” Eddie called, leaning out the window to wave at you. You grinned and ran across the parking lot to clamber into the van, leaning over the center console to kiss him.

“Hmm, I missed you,” Eddie said, taking your hand and starting the van.

“I missed you! I am so ready for this weekend,” you grinned, squeezing his hand.

You knew you were both still very much in the honeymoon phase. And you knew the honeymoon phase would end eventually. But the way things were looking, you didn’t see it ending any time soon.

taglist: @sisgotdemons @tlclick73 @deafeningmoontragedy @marjoriea13 @playfuloutcast @twosluttychains @leetaeilsnecktattoo @lil-quinnie @razzles-bottom-lip @originalstar1 @yessargeantbarnes @bebe07011 @shotgunhallelujah @uselessastheginlasagnaa @mynameismothra @niragis-right-hand-rabbit @shecagobaby @moviefreak1205 @munsonmunster @chonkzombie @sadbitchfangirl @screaming-blue-bagel @urdad-hot @kjaxm @xxaestheticboyxx @ok-boke @coffeeaddictednymph @ohmeganav

small author’s note: what y’all think of the second person? Do we like third better? Or is this good? let me know pls pls thank you love you