#I’ve played more of my own music when in cars than I used to

[trash-bin-ary]

… my real life “character arc” has really always been about getting more social hasn’t it,,, like my goal has always been getting better at talking with people and I’ve always been getting better at it but always at such a slow pace that I barely realize it until I’m comparing it to the past,,, I think I really need to try out touring as an internship yeah, what better to work on socializing than having to do it for a job lol

[canthelpit0]

Enemies (With Benefits) PT4

Pairing: Cold!Chris x Reader

Wordcount: 4K +

Summary: Chris and reader have always been enemies ever since they’ve known each other. neither knew why they had this burning feeling in their gut. So one day they decide to fuck it out. Until, eventually doing it regularly

Warnings: Smut, language, mentions of insomnia, mentioned nightmares/dreams, slight facial dysmorphia (if u squint), mentions of crying, slightly toxic, party, use of y/n, nickname (cherry), pet names (ma, sweetheart, etc), fight (not graphic), switching, unprotected, creampie (she’s on the pill)

(A/N: hope you guys like this! got the idea from this request. Tysm again <33)

PT1 PT2 PT3 PT4 FINAL

Everything with Chris is so unnecessarily complicated.

Why does he act like a little bitch sometimes. Coming to my house, begging me and than being all sassy and annoying.

I let out a harsh scoff when I accidentally smudged my mascara a little bit. Rolling my eyes I pick up a make up remover and a cotton pad to clean up my mistake.

I’ve gone back to ignoring Chris, for my own sake. And he’s stopped attempting to talk to me fully.

I’ve been sticking to Ethan a lot recently. Just staying by his side and all.

We were both invited to this party. But we were both gonna Uber there separately.

I was thinking of getting wasted tonight. I haven’t done that in a while. The last party I’d been to was the party Evelyn forced me to go to.

Evelyn and I haven’t talked much, due to me distancing myself. But she hadn’t tried to reach out either. I’m sure though, that she’ll be at the party.

Having finished my make up now, I look at myself in the mirror. I color corrected my red eyes from crying, well. That as Well as my dark eye bags from sleeping bad.

I was never the type of person to cry a lot. But recently… i was crying because of Chris. But I hate him. Yet he was making me cry, wishing that he was here to comfort me

I hum a tune that’s been stuck in my head.

I just wanna rub my eyes harshly, and just start crying again. I’ve been dreaming of Chris. All in different scenarios.

Sometimes we fucked, cuddled, or even argued. Other times he was with charlotte; or someone else. And other times I was with someone else and saw him in the corner of my eyes.

I’ve been sleeping bad at night, so occasionally I’d have naps after school. Wich didn’t really help much since I’d dream again.

I sigh staring back at myself. And it feels like the more I stare into the mirror, the more my face morphs and changes. That doesn’t look like me.

I purse my lips. My hands slam on my vanity as I aggressively get up.

I let out a harsh sigh moving away from the vanity.

I get a notification from my phone, notifying me that my Uber is here. I snap out of my trance. Honestly I’m so glad that that caught me off guard because I actually might’ve broken that mirror if it hadn’t.

I grab my tiny handbag and shove my phone into it. Then I just walk outside.

Once I’m in the Uber again I drift away in thought.

Chris had done nothing but mess with me, since I’ve known him. Since forever.

Now I’m in my tiny dress, my ass probably showing slightly when I walk, and I’m gonna get laid from someone other than Chris.

Maybe I can obsess over someone else.

And maybe I can finally remember that Chris is not the only human with a dick. And not the only one who can use it.

Before I knew it we were already there. I could hear the slight music from outside blaring into the car.

I tip the dive and finally get out the car.

I heard the car speed say behind me. While the house party in front of me had loud obnoxious music playing.

I swing open the door. I sigh at the tight crowd of people and just decide to card through them.

I’m getting Deja vu from this really. But last time I’d been here I’d seen Chris almost fuck charlotte, and than proceed to fuck me.

Chris..

Chris?

I raise an eyebrow staring back at a person across the room. He was dancing a solo cup already in his hand.

Okay so I was extremely late, so what.

I need to stop going to parties ‘fashionably’ late. By the time I arrive everyone is already wasted.

I purse my lips pushing through the drunk teenagers to get to the kitchen. From where I was standing I could still see Chris.

I need to stop thinking about him.

But how could I do that when he is just a few feet away, probably drunk and dancing with charlotte.

I turn to the counter grabbing some random liquor and pouring it into a, presumably, clean solo cup.

I down half of it in seconds. I need to feel the rush. I need to get drunk.

Honestly I could go looking for Ethan, but than I’d probably hang out with him in the backyard and smoke all light. Or I could find myself some good dick.

★ ★ ★

After a good few drinks I was dancing with some dude. I don’t know his name, and I don’t care to.

This would be a simple hook up.

Before I know it he starts to guide me outside mumbling something to me about how we can fuck at his house.

And honestly I don’t know why I let him drag me out of the party.

I don’t really want to hook up with him, I want Chris. But I won’t stop him either. I don’t care to.

Suddenly we stop walking. And within seconds I feel his hands off of me, and a loud cry echo through the night air.

I turn around to see what’s happening.

It was Chris. He’d punched my possible hook up guy. My mouth falls open. I want to say something. To tell Chris to fuck off and leave. But I want Chris.

I don’t pay attention for one second and suddenly the guy is on top of Chris beating him up.

I can see from their faces that Chris had gotten a few punches in too though. The guy was taller and bigger than Chris. And I remember something about him being an American football player or something.

Chris manages to flip them around beating up the guy. They wrestle on the ground while I just stand there stupidly and watch.

My drunk brain was processing this way too slow.

Suddenly I see Ethan come into my field of view trying to separate the two on the ground, without getting involved.

I feel another presence next to me. And it’s charlotte. The girl looks as shocked as me. but she also looks more sober.

I snap out of my trance, my slow brain having finally caught up.

I put a hand on Ethan’s shoulder to tell him to back off. And once he does I pull them apart. And they let me.

I yell at both of them about how stupid they are to make a scene like this. Both of them look down in shame.

I turn fully standing in front of the random dude. I slap him across the face and tell him to fuck off.

After that everything is a blur really. Once I somehow got Chris to my house, and up the stairs without waking my siblings, we stand in my bathroom.

Chris is sitting on the closed toilet seat. I sprint downstairs really quick to get him some ice, because, half his face was definitely going to be blue by tomorrow.

Once I’m back I put some alcohol on a cotton pad gently dapping it in his skin as he occasionally takes in harsh breaths.

“Why would you hit him?”

I sigh. That’s the first question I’ve asked since we’ve gotten here.

He holds the ice on his cheek, while I tend to a wound on his forehead. He wasn’t cut up too badly though. It was just a fist fight after all.

“Because he was going to take advantage of you” he scoffs as if the answer to that was obvious.

I purse my lips. Honestly I was subjecting myself to it. I was literally begging for anything, I would’ve been fine with that.

“You had no right to intervene.” I purse my lips. I take the alcohol from the sink and put it back in its place in the cabinet.

I help him up. Chris wasn’t walking bad, I just wanted to touch him.

We walk to my bedroom where he sits down on the bed, and I once again stand between his legs.

I take the ice out of his hands to look at his cheek to see how bad the damage is.

And after a moment I feel his arms wrap around my waist. He berries his non-bruised cheek into my stomach.

“You don’t get it cherry” he sighs, relaxing more as he touches me. “He was looking at you in a weird way.”

“Like what?” I ask. My hand goes to his head. I card my fingers through his messy brown hair.

“Like an object.” He mumbles so lowly, I barely even understand it.

“Oh and you don’t?”

The question is asked flatly. I just look down at him blankly not thinking anything of it.

“No.” He pulls away to look up at me. He looks at me like he is insisting he’s telling the truth.

“I may be rude, but I never look at you like you’re an object.” He scoffs at the accusation. He rolls his eyes hard.

“You don’t?” I ask flatly, not bothering to even act surprised. As much as in hate Chris, he doesn’t treat me bad. Necessarily. He’s just a dick.

He grumbles disagreements turning his face fully into my stomach as he keeps holding me closer.

He starts to complain about his head hurting, and how he fought someone for me and whatever.

I pull him off of me slightly. I was still holding the ice in my hand. It was a bunch of ice cubes I had put together onto some towel.

I slowly sink to my knees between Chris’ legs. I look up at him through my lashes.

“Want me to take your mind off of things baby?”

I ask in a mildly mocking way. But I was dead serious.

Chris lets out a shaky breath. He tugs his shirt off, quickly throwing it off to the side. “Please” he sighs out.

I tug at his belt trying to undo it slowly, to tease him more.

“God I’ve missed you so much.”

His breaths are shaky. His eyes close for a moment. He was getting so worked up and bothered already.

“Have you?” I ask teasingly. He purses his lips slightly staring down at me. He undoes the button on his jeans and finally slides them down.

I help him take them off fully. Then I toss them away.

I look up at him watching him, as he sat only in his boxers in front of me.

“Fuck, you gonna be all submissive like last time?” I mock still looking up at him.

“Cherry, don’t tease please.” He sighs looking down at me.

I stand up quickly and turn to face away from him. Since the dress was a halter dress. I pull my hair to my from teasingly.

“Be a sweetheart and undo this for me real quick.” I don’t wait for long. His hands find my upper back undoing the string of the halter.

I turn back around again letting the top fall, revealing my lacy bra underneath.

I wiggle the dress around a little bit to slide it down. I slip out of it and then kick it away. I was standing in front of him in my matching lacy bra and thong sent.

His eyes trail my body. He looks hungry and needy. Looking submissive as ever.

I lean down to help him take his boxers off. And once he does I sit back down between his legs.

I look up at his dick. And it’s the only one I’ve seen in a while. It’s the only one that I’ve ever found pretty.

Never thought that was possible. But here we are.

The tip was the same red as he has on his cheeks. He was painfully hard and it had pre cum leaking.

I cup it in my hand starting to teasingly slowly jerk him off. “Y/n/n, cherry, please” he whines loudly, to wich I stop my movements.

“Chris” I hiss under my breath my expression harsh. I slap his thigh for a moment to catch his attention. I squeeze his cock lightly.

“My siblings are home. Shut the fuck up”

I hiss. Usually I wouldn’t mind, but my siblings are younger than me. 4 and 5 years. Me being 18, they’re 14 and 13. They don’t need to hear my childhood friend that they have also known for ages get fucked.

“Sorry, sorry” he huffs under his breath. I watch as Chris leans back in his arms looking down at me.

I take one of the ice cubes from the ice in the towel. I then proceed to put it right on his aching tip.

He flinches at the contact of the cold ice in his burning hot skin. I grin at the reaction, watching the way his dick twitches.

“You’re such a tease” he scoffs, to wich I just chuckle.

I drag the ice cube down his shaft before putting it back on the towel with the other few ice cubes. I knew it was gonna melt but honestly I couldn’t care less.

I start to jerk him off slowly again. I lean down to place a peck on the tip, and then proceed to suck him off slowly.

I swirl my tongue only keeping the tip in and staying teasingly slow.

I hear Chris let out a sharp huff, throwing his head back.

“Come on, ma” he says under his breath. His hand snakes into my hair, Slightly gripping at it. And then he harshly pushes me down, making me deep throat him for a second.

I choke on it for a second. Chris starts to move my head, yanking on my hair. I was deep throating him roughly.

I keep my hands on his thighs and pull off. “Don’t” I huff pushing away his hand from my hair, And then smoothing it down again.

I go back to licking a teasing stripe up his shaft, before I go back to deepthroating him, jerking off what I can’t fit in my mouth.

“Ma- I’m-“ he sighs. He was leaning back on his arms his head thrown back. He was trying so hard to keep his moans and groans minimal and as quiet as possible.

I pull off and chuckle. I kiss up his sensitive shaft while looking up at him. Then I get up and hover over him.

I connect our lips in a deep passionate kiss. And while I continue kissing him I lean over starting to straddle him.

Still while kissing him, I start to slowly sink down on his length making both of us moan.

When he bottomed out in me I pull away. My hands go to his shoulders as I just sit there for a moment.

My cunt was aching at the stretch. I had to get used to it again, since we hadn’t hooked up in a while.

I haven’t hooked up with anyone other than Chris in a while. And the last time I had it was not nearly as pleasurable as when I did it with Chris.

“So good for me, baby” I mumble under my breath leaning in more as I wrap my arms around his neck.

His hands trail over my thighs to my hips to hold me.

“Just for you ma.” He mumbles back. We’re so close I can feel his soft breath in my face. He just looks so kissable right now. With his lips plump and swollen like that.

“Oh yeah? Didn’t get pussy from someone else, hm?” I say again my tone low and harsh.

I start to gently grind into him. His hands on my hips don’t stop me or help me either.

“Fuck-“ Chris’ breaths are heavy as he tries to keep his voice low. “You’re the only girl I’ve been fucking.” He admits lowly, the blush on his cheeks only deepen.

“Oh, am I?” I mock as I start to slowly lift myself. I start to ride him, his hands on my hips only being there to steady my movements.

“God- you’re gorgeous” he breaths out staring up at me. His eyes stay locked on mine.

One of His hands starts to trail up my side. And once he reaches my bra, he pulls my body closer to him so he has better access to undo it.

Both his hands back down to my waist now actually helping me ride him harder.

I clench my teeth my moans coming out as sharp breaths as I try to keep quiet. I’m doing a better job than Chris is though.

I put a hand on his mouth to muffle his groans further.

“God- you’re doing so good for me baby.” I pant under my breath, still trying to keep as quiet as possible. My hips pick up pace even more. I continue moving, his tip pressing against my cervix repeatedly.

He mumbles back an agreement, my hand still keeping him quiet.

I continue to ride him at a harsh pace until I feel the knot in my stomach get tighter, ready to snap.

“Chris- I’m so close-“ I breathe out trying to keep myself from moaning.

Chris gently takes my hand from his face putting his own hand on my mouth to muffle my sounds.

“C’mon ma, come for me” he bites his lip. leaning back slightly, he watches as I do all the work. “Go on, get off on my cock”

My pace starts to become more messy and uncontrolled. Chris was also not helping, doing nothing except keeping his hands on my face.

With a muffled moan I slam myself down one last time. My head falls forward as I feel my orgasm wash over me. I feel warm and so relieved.

He takes his hand from my mouth, he then leads me to him by my neck and presses our lips together.

His hands both go back to My waist. just holding my body close to his.

I could still feel him rock hard in me. I knew we weren’t done, but I was appreciating the break.

Chris pulls me off gently and picks me up. He turns us around so he is on top of me.

Us fucking in missionary was always rare as hell. Because we’re there for the benefits. -And according to Chris, he hates my face so much he doesn’t want to see it.

well at least that’s what he used to tell me.

He slides his dick through my folds, before slowly pushing in.

I sigh feeling him fill me up again.

In our enemies with benefits situation we never did anything that felt intimate. The sex felt like sex, and not love. And that’s how it worked. It was good like that.

But like this, Chris, his blue eyes staring right into mine. The way he kept his hand at the curve of my waist, his other hand holding him up placed next to my head.

We were so close, I could practically feel him breathing on my face.

This felt so intimate, like something we, as people who hate each other, shouldn’t be doing

And that’s exactly what it was.

Well I guess we already made the first mistake when we first hooked up.

We were never meant to be. Not like that. Not like this.

So why did it feel so good though?

“You good ma?”

Have I been staring? Probably. But how can I help myself when he is so close to me, looking ever so handsome.

“I’m good. Please move” I whine trying to keep my voice low.

He sinks down, his face burying in the crook of my neck as he starts to move. All slow and sensual.

we barely ever did missionary, and when we did, his face was as far away from mine as possible. But right now it seemed like he was trying to be as close to me as possible.

He occasionally groans into my skin, sending tingles down my spine and right to my aching core. I try to keep my voice low, but still let a few soft moans slip.

“Y/n?” He says abruptly. He keeps up the slow sensual thrust, keeping himself buried deep. Yet he sits up slightly, his forearm next to my head holding him up.

“Mhm?” I say lowly not really trusting my voice.

Our eyes lock. Chris swallows. My eyes trail his features, trailing down to his chest, to his lips and back to his eyes again.

“Can I come in you?”

I raise my eyebrow at the question. Usually we used condoms. I mean I’m on the pill but according to Chris he ‘doesn’t want to take any risk’. But recently we had done it like that more than we had since the whole arrangement started.

“ ‘corse” I mumble back.

And before I know it Chris is picking up pace. He doesn’t move back, keeping himself hovering right above me our eyes connected.

My core was aching from all the over stimulation. So I shudder when he picks up pace.

He still keeps his strokes sensual and deep. I moan lightly, cautiously keeping my voice low.

He re-adjusts my legs, wrapping them around his torso for a deeper angle.

He picks up pace even more. I throw my head back at the overwhelming pleasure, my eyes closing, my mouth falling open in a silent moan.

Chris doesn’t even bother to make me look back at him. He just lets me enjoy this, and watches. Watches the way I look with my head thrown back in euphoria.

“Chris, Chris- chris-“ I keep my voice low but the more I chant his name the higher and squeakier my voice gets.

Chris takes that as a telltale sign that I’m close, but so was he.

He cups my mouth shutting me up. or atleast muffling my moans and whines.

He picks up pace even more. My eyes go back to meet his, my eyebrows scrunched in pleasure.

I tap his wrist to tell him I’m close. He licks his lips. Of course he knew I was close without me telling him.

His hand stays firmly on my mouth, keeping me quiet. “You’re doing so good, cherry”

His other hand goes to my clit in order to finish me off quicker. He rubs it harshly.

Suddenly I throw my head back again, clenching around him. I feel my release wash over me again.

He keeps pounding into me. But his thrusts get more sloppy and uncontrolled. Until his hips stutter. He gives me one last thrust before his spurts of cum shoot into me.

My legs are tense around his torso from the overwhelming pleasure.

I feel warm and so filled. It felt way more intimate than the countless times we’ve hooked up before.

And the fact that he stays there, collapses on top of me, his face in my neck, gently kissing, And not moving off, only made this feel even more intimate.

After a long while of just cuddling, and being in each other’s presence, Chris sits up. He gently and slowly pulls out, making me wince at the loss of contact.

He stares down at my cunt for what feels like a long time. Until his pointer and middle finger meet it again. Pushing the seed that was leaking out of me back in.

“Chris” I hiss my body shooting up. I was now half sitting my arm propping me up, my other hand going to circle his wrist to stop him from moving his hand.

“Awe poor baby does that hurt?” He huffs in a slight mocking tone. But for once it doesn’t seem menacing.

“Yes. don’t do that” I roll my eyes.

He chuckles at the sassy tone. “Well I gotta make sure you don’t waste it.” He sasses right back.

Chris already prepared for the worst outcome.

“I’m still on the pill.” I huff. I then slowly pull his fingers out of me, seeing the way they were covered in a whole lot of our mixed juices.

He chuckles popping his fingers into his mouth.

Matserlist

A/N: I loved writing this series. But it’ll probably only have one more chapter (so 5 in total). This was my first ever series, and it was so fun to write. Love y’all. My dms & req are open 🩷

‼️please don’t copy my work/idea‼️

Taglist: @muwapsturniolo , @sturnad , @iluvm4ttsturni0l0 , @evie-sturns , @me09love , @fratbrochrisgf , @spideylovin , @chrissgirlsstuff , @stunza , @whicked-hazlatwhore , @sturniooolos , @ecliphttlunar , @orangeypepsi , @klaus223492 , @t1llysblog

[mimimarvelingmarvel]

time bound part seven

pairing: worst wolverine!logan howlett x f!mutant!reader

Part Seven - Masterlist

summary: Y/n’s life takes a dramatic turn when the Time Variance Authority intervenes, pulling her from a critical moment in her timeline. The TVA sends her to the void where she eventually meets with Deadpool and a very familiar face. With Deadpool's universe in the balance, alongside his reluctant would-be pal, Wolverine, and the enigmatic time-bending mutant known as the Veil, the trio must complete the mission and save Deadpool’s world from an existential threat.

overall warnings: 18+, Fem!Reader, AFAB Reader, Use of Y/N, Her X-Men name is Veil, She/her pronouns, Swearing, Angst, Heavy Violence, Character Death, Deadpool (he’s his own warning), Hurt, Fluff, Angst, Eventual Smut, Slow Burn, TVA

word count: 2k

The road stretches out before us, a seemingly endless ribbon of asphalt cutting through the desolate landscape. The car, a beat-up old muscle car with a purring engine that speaks of too many miles and too many battles, rumbles beneath us. The seats are worn, their once-plush leather now cracked and faded, much like the people riding in them. The air inside is stale, carrying the faint scent of gasoline and sweat, mingled with the metallic tang of blood that seems to cling to everything we touch.

I lean back, my body sinking into the seat as I close my eyes, trying to find a moment of respite. The gentle vibration of the road beneath the tires lulls me into a light, uneasy doze. But it’s not enough—never enough—to ward off the nightmares that wait just beyond the veil of sleep. Images of my world, my friends, everything I’ve ever known, shattered and dying, claw at the edges of my consciousness. The sounds of their screams, the scent of burning flesh, it all lingers, just out of reach, waiting to pounce the moment I let my guard down.

When I open my eyes again, the car is still moving, the road still stretching endlessly ahead. The world outside is a blur, the trees we’ve been driving in continue on for ages, but I can tell we’re close. Inside, the only sound is the soft strains of music playing from the car’s ancient radio, a static-laced tune that feels like a ghost from a time long past. It’s quiet—too quiet—yet I cling to this moment of calm like it’s the only thing keeping me tethered to reality.

“You enjoy your power nap, pumpkin?” Wade’s voice slices through the quiet, shattering the fragile peace I’d managed to find. The nickname, as ridiculous as it is, grates on my nerves. I groan, my eyes fluttering shut again, hoping to block him out.

“It was so peaceful before you opened your mouth,” I mumble, my voice thick with irritation. There’s a part of me that just wants to hold onto the silence, to bask in it a little longer before reality comes crashing back in.

Wade’s gaze meets mine in the rearview mirror, his expression playful, as if he’s completely oblivious to the tension simmering beneath the surface. “I don’t hear Logan complaining.” 

Logan, sitting stoically beside Wade, rolls his eyes. The subtle gesture, the way his knuckles whiten as he grips the steering wheel, tells me more than words ever could. I chuckle softly, a hollow sound that barely covers the unease gnawing at my insides. 

Then, as if he’s compelled to break the fragile truce, Wade blurts out, “Okay, I’m just gonna ask it. What’s with the suit?”

My gaze drifts to Logan, to the yellow X-Men suit he’s wearing. It’s a jarring sight, one that doesn’t fit the image I have of him—rugged, battle-worn, but never in something so bright, so out of place in this bleak world. The realization hits me hard: I’ve never seen him wear it before.

“The first thing I did when I flamed out, I took mine off,” Wade continues, his tone light, almost mocking, but there’s a sharpness beneath it that makes my skin prickle.

Logan’s response is immediate, his voice low and edged with warning. “Drop it.”

But Wade, relentless as ever, presses on. “It’s not that ugly.”

“Stop talking about the suit,” Logan snaps, his irritation growing palpable in the confined space of the car.

Wade, ever oblivious to danger or perhaps simply indifferent to it, persists. “Did you make it yourself? Been there.”

Logan’s tone darkens, a growl rumbling in his chest. “Quit now.”

But Wade doesn’t quit. He never does. “The X-Men make you wear it? Those sons of fucking bitches. They are not your friends, I’ll tell you that. Friends don’t let friends leave the house looking like they fight crime for the Los Angeles Rams.”

The words hang in the air, and I feel the tension coiling tighter, a noose around my throat. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to block out the mention of friends—our friends—who are no longer here, no longer anything but ghosts in a broken world.

“Shut the fuck up about the suit,” Logan’s voice is a razor, slicing through the air. It’s ice-cold, and for a moment, I flinch at the intensity of it.

Wade raises his hands in mock surrender, but there’s a seriousness to his tone that wasn’t there before. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Watch your frown lines, angel baby. I’m just trying to bond a little bit.”

“Yeah, well then talk about something else,” Logan’s patience is fraying, each word a thread pulled taut, ready to snap.

“Fine.” Wade’s voice shifts, losing its edge. “If they can fix your world, what’s the first thing you’re gonna do when you get out of here? Rubbing alcohol shots? Maybe a wiper fluid chaser?”

The word “If” lodges itself in my mind like a splinter, unraveling the fragile grip I have on my emotions. My ears start ringing, and suddenly, I’m not in the car anymore. The world blurs, and I see it—Wade, punching Logan in the face. The vision is jarring, disorienting, and then, just as quickly, I’m yanked back to the present.

“What did you say?” Logan’s voice is sharp, pulling me out of the haze, grounding me in the here and now.

Wade, his confusion plain, repeats himself. “So when you get back, what’s the first thing you’re gonna do?”

“No, no, no, before that,” Logan insists, his eyes narrowing, his suspicion flaring.

Wade hesitates, and I can see the moment he realizes his mistake. “If… they can fix your world?”

Logan’s expression hardens, anger and betrayal flashing in his eyes. Without warning, he slams on the brakes, the car screeching to a halt. The sudden stop jolts me forward, but it’s the look on Logan’s face that makes my heart skip a beat. “What do you mean if?”

“I mean…” Wade falters, his bravado crumbling as he struggles to find the right words.

Logan’s voice is a dangerous growl, the kind that makes your blood run cold. “You lied to me. You don’t have a fucking clue if they can help me fix things, do you?”

“No, I mean… No, fuck! Fuck!” Wade stammers, but it’s too late. The truth is out, and Logan’s claws are already extending, a deadly promise in his eyes. Before Wade can react, Logan stabs him in the leg.

Wade yelps, the pain clear in his voice. “I didn’t lie!”

“You lied,” Logan hisses, his voice as cold as the steel in his hands.

I sit in the back, overwhelmed by a tidal wave of guilt and the crushing realization that there’s no undoing what’s already been done. I could have stopped this. I should have stopped this. But it’s too late now—too late to change anything.

Wade, his tone desperate, tries to explain. “No, I made an educated wish. Because I need you.” He pulls out a photo, his hands shaking slightly as he holds it out for Logan to see. “This, this is why. Right here. Because if we don’t do something, they die. I don’t know anything about saving worlds. Why would I even care? Because my entire world is right here in this picture. It’s only nine people, and I have no idea how to save it alone. I know how to fuck people up for money, but you, you know how to save them. At least the other Wolverine did.”

Wade’s voice cracks, a rare moment of vulnerability slipping through his usual bravado. “Oh, fuck!” Logan twists his wrist. “I guess I’m stuck with the worst one.”

Logan’s eyes narrow, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. “Did you say you made an educated fucking wish?”

“They call me the Merc with the Mouth,” Wade tries to regain his usual humor, but it falls flat. “They don’t call me Truthful Timmy, the blowjob queen of Saskatoon.”

Logan’s hand twitches, his control slipping. “One more,” he demands, his voice a low, dangerous rumble. “Please, give me one.”

Wade, ever the joker, tries to lighten the mood. “Gubernatorial.”

But Logan is beyond reason now. He goes to stab Wade again, but Wade screams, the sound tearing through the car, reverberating off the walls of my mind. I’m sitting in the back, too shocked to move, too numb to process what’s happening. There’s no saving what I’ve done. No changing the hurt I could have stopped.

Logan turns to Wade, his voice dripping with contempt, his words a knife twisting in the wound. “You know what, you’re a fucking joke. No wonder the Avengers didn’t take you. Or the X-Men—they’ll take fucking anyone. I mean, you are a ridiculous, immature, half-wit moron. I have never met a sadder, more attention-starved, jabbering little prick in my entire life. And that says a lot because I’ve been alive for more than 200 fucking years. I’ll tell ya, that bald chick was right. You will never save the world. You couldn’t even save a relationship with a goddamn stripper. Motherfucker, I wish I could say you’d die alone, but it’s one of God’s best jokes that you can’t die, except that’s on all of us!” He slams his fist on the top of the car, the metal groaning under the force, and I flinch, my heart skipping a beat. The tension in the air is so thick it feels like it’s suffocating me, wrapping around my throat and squeezing until I can hardly breathe.

Logan stares at him, his eyes filled with a mix of pity and disgust. “You got nothing to say, Mouth?”

Wade flinches, the words cutting deeper than any blade ever could. His usual bravado crumbles, and for a moment, he looks like a lost child, the weight of everything finally breaking through the armor he’s built around himself. He looks away, his eyes dull, and when he speaks, his voice is barely a whisper. “I’m gonna fight you now.”

Logan chuckles darkly, the sound devoid of humor, and I feel my stomach churn, the dread pooling in the pit of my gut. The vision hits me again—flashes of blood, violence, and something far worse waiting just beyond the edges of my mind. My hands start to tremble, and I know I can’t stay in the car. I push the door open and step out, the cool air hitting my face like a slap. My legs feel like jelly, but I force myself to move, taking a few shaky steps away from the car.

Behind me, the fight erupts with a sudden, violent force. The car jolts as their bodies slam against it, and I hear the sickening sound of flesh hitting flesh, the wet splatter of blood as it sprays across the ground. The smell of iron fills the air, sharp and acrid, mixing with the earthy scent of the forest. My stomach turns, and I barely manage to keep myself upright as I stagger over to a tree and collapse against it, sliding down until I’m sitting on the ground.

I curl up, hugging my knees to my chest, trying to block out the sounds of their fight, the horrible, animalistic grunts and growls that seem to echo in my head. But it’s no use. The vision is getting stronger, more vivid. Bright, flashing lights sear across my mind, and I hear a scream ripping through the vision—a scream that’s mine, raw and terrified.

And then, as if the world itself is breaking apart, there’s a loud crash. Logan is shot through the front window of the car, his body flying through the air before crashing to the ground with a bone-jarring thud. He rolls past me, his body leaving a trail of blood in the dirt. I tuck my legs closer, curling into a tighter ball, trying to protect myself from the onslaught of sensations that are threatening to tear me apart.

The vision crescendos, a blinding storm of light and sound, and then, just as suddenly as it began, everything goes dark. There’s nothing left—no sound, no pain, no fear. Just an endless, consuming void.

Next Part

A/N: I’m so tired, I need sleep updates will probs be slow.

taglist: @oscarissac2099 @somiaw @100percentlazybonez @obsessedwthdilfs @sun7lowxr @corvid007

[starscabaret]

Hear me out…

Jaden getting addicted to reader’s smile as she becomes his own addiction

Smile Struck Introduction

pairing: yandere! Hood Drug Dealer Jaden 💸 x Fem Reader

summary : meeting of course, its a little long but enjoy n give feedback! I love Jaden omg

warnings: drugs will be involved in most of his stories… he’s a drug dealer duh! and cursing

Authors note : check out my oc profiles to learn more about jaden

Jaden liked to drive to clear his head. Of course, he could relax at home. But something about driving with no purpose other than to think and listen to music calmed him. There was no destination, that would ruin the relaxation. He just drove until he felt calm. He could think straight. Breathe easy. 

And he loved his car. He cared for it like it was his first and only child. He never let his car get dirty. Never missed an oil change. Hell, he never even let the gas go below a quarter of a tank. His car was just one of the things he was proud of. His career choice although illegal, he was proud of.

He always made sure his family was straight. He played it safe, he had little to no enemies, and his criminal record was clean. He also had respect. In his hood, people knew and respected him. He didn’t sell to kids, he didn’t go around starting fights, and he didn’t bring the cops snooping around in the area. 

It was a Monday night, people weren’t exactly blowing up his phone trying to get served, so he had time for his relaxing drive. As his drive neared its end he stopped at a nearby gas station. His car would attract attention of course, but nothing most folks weren’t used to. This was the inner city, with plenty of tricked-out cars. 

He wanted a pack of gum and a bottle of water. Also to fill his beloved car with premium gas. He loved to chew gum. Later you’d notice when you kissed him you could taste it. 

He hopped back on the highway to head home. He felt great. Things were good for him. Business was good. Life was good. His mom didn’t have to worry about much. That’s what mattered most to him. 

A smile on his face as he drove, was soon removed. He felt the powerful jolt of another car hitting his rear. He was a player but not too player for a seatbelt luckily. He was unharmed …. But his most prized possession was not. His jaw clenched as he unbuckled his seatbelt to get out of his car and assess the damage. Oh, and curse the other driver the fuck out! 

They were 100 percent at fault. They rear-ended him. He would never drive so recklessly not in his baby! When he stepped out of his car he was bombarded by you.

“OH MY GOD, ARE YOU OK??? IM SO FUCKING SORRY PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE POLICE!!!”, you screamed frantically with tears streaming down your face. In your disheveled state, you grabbed him, hands all over his chest checking for injuries. 

Wow, you were breathtaking even in tears and in shock. He had expected some ugly ass old man had hit his car. Not you, the most gorgeous woman he had seen in a while. He had to get on your good side. So instead of cursing you out as previously planned he grabbed your hands and held them to his chest, “I’m fine, are you ok? no cops sweetness I promise.”

“Oh hello, my goodness, yes I’m ok, but I’m sure my car isn’t, and I don’t even want to think about what I’ve done to yours.” You replied hands still in his against his chest.

“Don’t worry we’ll get it fixed, from the looks of it mine is still drivable… but yours … you should probably call your man to pick you up.” He was fishing, he hoped and prayed you didn’t have a man. And even if you did, no one he couldn’t get rid of.

“Uh no actually I don’t have a boyfriend, I’ll call my dad, he’s going to kill me …fuck.” With that realization, you began to sob. Cute, you were a little crybaby. 

“Shh shhh, I can drive you, and I can get it towed I know a guy it’s free.” He cooed; he already didn’t like to see you cry. Especially if he could fix it. He had tons of connections, none with a tow truck though, no worries he’d pay. 

“No that’s too much, I fucked your car up, and now you’re helping me, you should be getting my information and taking my dumb ass to court.” You replied. 

“Oh yeah that, let’s exchange information, I just need your name and number my insurance company can sort the rest out.” That was a lie, he didn’t plan on filing a claim, and he had enough cash on him to cover the repairs. But he did need your name and number. 

“Of course, it’s f/n l/n, 000-000-0000” you spoke while he inserted it in his phone and texted the tow company. 

“Got it, my guy is on the way with the tow truck, oh and I know a nice repair shop it’ll be the cheapest I told him to take it there. I’m sure I can get you a low price.” Now that was the truth, his uncle had one of the best repair shops in the city. The price would be free because he would pay and not tell you. 

“My gosh I can’t thank you enough sir, you are so nice, especially considering the circumstances” You couldn’t believe the kindness and mercy of this handsome … very handsome stranger after you hit his very expensive car. 

“No problem, it’s what I do. You can call me Jaden, not sir, sweetness. Hop in, I’ll take you wherever you need.” He replied with a smirk. 

And that’s when he saw it…. Your smile. Your smile was so big, bright, and beautiful. He swore he almost fell over. Your smile was natural he could tell you never had braces but cared for your teeth. They weren’t fake like the veneers lots of girls would get these days, they were natural in color. He swore he could count all 32 of them. 

You were gorgeous before. but something about that smile. It did things to him, his mind, his body. He knew he would do literally anything to keep that smile on your face. Whatever it took, whatever he could do. And if it was something he couldn’t, he’d become a better man for you so he could. 

He had to see you again. He had to make you want him like he wanted … no needed you. Even though you had nearly demolished the back side of his first love, and when he thought about the damage, he damn near threw up. You had given him the opportunity to insert himself into your life, so maybe it wasn’t so bad after all. 

So, as he drove to your apartment, you two talked, starting to get to know each other. You both liked what you saw and what you heard. He realized you were new to the city, no close friends, or relatives. No way to get to and from work while your car was being repaired. So, he offered. Of course, at first, you declined it was too much. You barely knew each other, he had already done so much, what about his job? He reassured you and told you he owned his own business it was fine, what else would you do? So, you agreed. He was elated, now he could see his sweetness every day. At least for a little. But no, it wouldn’t end there, he was smooth. He’d ask you out before your car was fixed. Fuck that he’d ask you as soon as possible. He didn’t mean to rush things. He just knew you were perfect for him. 

The first day he came to pick you up, you texted him to honk and just text he was outside. But he was a gentleman at least for you. He came to your door and knocked. You were shocked but smitten by the gesture. Even more so when he had breakfast ready for you in his car, opened all the doors for you, buckled you in, and asked what you wanted to listen to. That same evening, he asked you on a date at the end of the week. To which you agreed. You were excited, he was kind, and so many other things. Your rides to and from work were filled with laughs and smiles from both of you. 

On that Saturday evening, you two went on your first date. He made sure to trap all week so he could spoil his darling. He took you to a very nice restaurant. He sat beside you in the booth, not across from you. He liked to be closer to you. His large body blocked you in and you couldn’t even be seen by outsiders he liked that. Your outfit was beautiful. For work, you still looked stunning, but you dressed more formally, not yourself. But here with him on this date, you let your creativity flow in your outfit. He was fly, and you matched it. It wasn’t revealing but man did it arouse him, you always did.

At the end of your date at a mom-and-pop ice cream shop. Where of course once again you insisted on paying, he frowned at you and pulled out a stack of cash. Your displeasure disappeared once you two were at the table sharing ice cream. You even used the same spoon. You didn’t realize it, but he did, it was intentional he was even feeding you. He made sure you got a spoonful first, so he could taste you off the spoon. When he drove you to your apartment and came to a park you turned to him, “Jaden, I don’t want to seem fast, or like a hoe or something but I really like you. Thank you for everything, from my car to the perfect date.”

If he could Jaden would dap himself up. He knew he had a game. But with you, he had to be careful, you were special. He turned to you and spoke up, “It’s no problem sweetness, any man would do it for the woman he’s interested in.” He said as he grabbed your hand from the console intertwining it with his and kissing the back of it. 

Whew, your pussy was on fire. You had to get out of this car before he had you in the backseat. Then he’d really think you’re a hoe. Of course, he wouldn’t but you thought so. “Jaden uhm I should probably head inside, would you … would you like a kiss?” You could barely get it out before he grabbed the back of your neck kissing you deeply. You were starstruck, while he seemed so calm, so reserved. But inside he was crazy for you. The kiss was perfect, your lips and his lips together sent a chill down his spine and made this dick throb. He willed it down. He would be good to you. 

“Goodnight y/n, let me walk you up, I’ll text you when I get home. You will call me before you go to sleep, sweetness?”, He asked. 

“Of Course, Jaden,” you replied. 

He planned on making you some part of his life the day you met but this week and tonight’s date sealed the deal, and if that wasn’t enough, you smiled at him with all 32 of your teeth before you closed and locked the door to your apartment. There it was that smile; damn he was absolutely sprung. 

[peterm4rker]

¿dónde está la biblioteca? || z.cl

twenty four. are you shitting me? (written)

🕸🕷✮⋆˙ wc. 1.4k w. curse words! ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 .ᐟ

you hoped whoever princess was had a shitty day.

it was nothing against her, really (yes it was). but mostly against the fact that the simple knowledge of her existence had ruined the last few days of your life.

after realising that there was no way that chenle had anyone but a girl named like that on his phone, you had spent the last two days dragging about in your apartment, bored out of your mind and a tiny bit sad.

you have grown accustomed to chenle’s presence in your life. his texts, his twitter interactions, the hours upon hours he spent inside of your head. so now that you had decided to take your time and distance from him, everything was oddly quiet. you spent the first two days simply moping around, watching straight seasons of new girl and eating away your feelings with cookie dough ice cream, which oddly enough, you had never liked that much until it began to remind you of chenle.

it was day three on the “forgetting about my feelings for chenle and going back to being best friends with him” agenda, and the outro to the last episode of new girl played on your computer screen. you stared at it with a blank face and teary eyes, feeling hollow once again as there was nothing to fixate on to make you feel better.

as you picked up your phone to call sunwoo and cry to him about everything but chenle (he vetoed his name for the next week), you found your own teary eyed reflection and it was nothing more than pathetic.

since when did you let yourself cry over boys and mope around for days on end?

absolutely not.

you turned off your phone and got out of bed, grabbing a towel and heading straight to the shower. music blared through the alexa on the counter as you let water wash the negativity away, allowing a smile onto your face. you picked a cute outfit and grabbed your bag, putting one airpod on before leaving your house and jumping into ludovica.

the drive to the coffee shop was pretty long, but it didn't bother you. that was what you needed, fresh air and some sun.

you parked your car and happily got out of it, making sure to greet the workers as you approached the counter and ordered your favourite drink and a pastry. once the order was placed you walked to a nearby table, pulling out your computer and your notebook, deciding to get some work done.

the music playing through your headphones drowned out any other thought that could have crossed your mind. the melody tingling your brain and the lyrics sinking into your skin as you tried your hardest to write your report on one of your biggest musical inspirations. 

right then and there, everything seemed to fall into place. the coffee was exactly as you liked it, the pastry was beautifully done and the words seemed to just flow out of you. 

you didn't need chenle. you didn't need anyone.

but of course, if being run over and stranded at an airport had taught you anything, was that these feelings normally didn't last for you. and still, you were a little surprised as you felt a tap on your shoulders, raising your head only to be met by none other than hong seunghan.

he smiled brightly at you, the corner of his eyes brimming with joy as he waved. you took your headphones off quickly, trying to match his smile and hide your surprise. “hey, seunghan!” you greeted happily.

“hey ynnie, what are you doing here? i don't think I’ve seen you here before” he says, but he has, because you used to go to that exact coffee shop whenever you thought he would be there. 

“just getting some work done, you?” you answered.

“I was supposed to meet maru but she couldn't make it” he shrugged, looking at the chair in front of you “is this seat taken?”

“oh, no, go ahead” you nudged towards the chair, allowing him to sit with you. 

a few months ago, hell, even weeks, you would've been elated to be sitting with seunghan out of all people. but as you saw him sit and give you that astonishing smile of his, there was nothing.

because it wasn't his smile that made your stomach erupt into butterflies anymore.

★🎧⋆｡ °⋆

conversation easily flowed between you, making you set your work aside completely to focus your attention on him.

“can i tell you something a little embarrassing? i'm only comfortable saying this now because i’m madly in love with my girlfriend” he asked as he calmed down from a fit of laughter you had very proudly caused.

“yeah, of course” you smiled reassuringly, suddenly curious at what his next words would be.

“i used to have a huge crush on you but i was too scared to say anything” he admitted bashfully. your jaw fell open for a couple seconds, before erupting into laughter and hiding your face in your hands “hey! don't laugh at me!” he exclaimed with a soft laugh.

“i'm not laughing at you! its just” you cut yourself off and took your hands away from your face, looking at him once again “i had a massive crush on you for about two years” 

“you're shitting me right now” he deadpanned, and you shook your head as a chuckle escaped your lips. “i was scared for nothing!?” 

“yup, i would've given you everything i've ever owned if i knew” you chuckled.

“thats crazy… When did you stop liking me?” he asked curiously, and you pursed your lips a bit awkwardly.

“maybe around a month ago?” you said, doubt making your voice high pitched. his jaw fell open once again.

“that little ago?” you nodded, sheepish smile still on your lips “then… i'm guessing chenle happened?”

you nodded once again.

“well then, I'm happy it worked out for the both of us” he chuckled as he sipped his drink again.

“i wouldn't say it has worked out for me” you commented, stirring the liquid of your second cup of coffee of the day.

“how so?” he asked, curious once again. who would’ve thought he liked chisme so much?

“well, chenle has no idea i like him and also has a girl, so” you pursed your lips once again.

“huh? chenle doesnt have a girl” seunghan replied, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. 

“he doesn't?” your eyebrows moved to match his, his confusion contagious.

“nah, he is pretty bitchless” the way he said it made you laugh, rolling your eyes.

“then who is princess?” you asked. you didn't know why you were having this conversation with seunghan out of all people, but if it was giving you good information then it was totally worth it.

“princess?” he thought about it for a second, his furrowed eyebrows falling into a deadpan as he seemed to remember “thats literally jaemin”

“wait, what?” you asked, even more confused than before.

“that's how he has him saved, with a little bow, right?” right.

you had never felt so stupid in your life.

you just had spent two days moping around your room for nothing.

you had spent two days ignoring chenle for nothing.

“i might end it all” you groaned and let your head fall into the crook of your arms, resting on top of the table. seunghan let out a loud laugh.

“no way you thought he had a girlfriend” he laughed “its so obvious that he's–” he cut himself off suddenly, making you look up at him

“hes what?”

“nothing, forget it” he dismissed it. he wasn't going to rat out his boy like that. “i can help you”

“help me with what?” you sat up once again, feeling defeated by your own dumbness.

“chenle, i know him very well, and i think i can help you confess” he said, decided smile adorning his pretty face.

“you really think so?” you asked, a tiny bit of doubt in your voice.

“of course, i'll need some help but i definitely can” he nodded, convincingly.

“then let's do it.”

previous ★ masterlist ★ next

★ blue's corner ;; SEUNGHAN IS BACK I REPEAT MY MAN IS BACK !!!!!! sooo incredibly grateful that i chose him as the crush because i can post this chapter and introduce their beautiful friendship the day after he was announced back !!!! ★ tag list ;; @yutarot @chenlesfavorite @fullsunbabe @taroddori @morkiee @jovialdelusionbouquet @winwintea @flaminghotyourmom @haechskiss @xuimhao @dudekiss3r @neozon3nha ★ back to the main masterlist ★ please do not copy, adapt or steal any content !!

© peterm4rker, 2024

[v1nsmoke]

𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐘 // 𝐂𝐎𝐏!𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐊𝐒 𝐗 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑

oneshot - cop!shanks x fem!reader

tw: age gap (both are adults though), mention of guns, smoking

summary: when your cop dad brings you to his promotion party at the police station, you don't expect to meet a red-haired coworker of your dad

fandom: one piece

a/n: remember that zoro oneshot i wrote back in 2023 october with a tiny cop shanks cameo at the end? and how i mentioned that i might make it a full length oneshot? yeah, this is it! I never wrote romance oh lawd and this feels new��

tags: stargirldelight 

wc: 1.2k

notes: modern au, first person pov. 

Dads with daughters - if they don’t despise them - usually threaten boyfriends or suitors with something along the lines of “if you cross my daughter or make her cry, i’ll break your jaw,” and mine was no exception. Unlike most of those dads, he actually could. His ultimate, go-to threat was that if any boy hurts me, he will take them to jail. He did once. That guy was involved in some illegal marihuana deals and owned a gun without any permission, so he went to jail for actual reasons. 

With my single dad being a cop, I used to spend my free time at the police station where he worked whenever he couldn’t find anybody to babysit me. Luckily, his co-workers didn’t mind, and often took care of me while I was there. The last time I visited that station was when I was around fifteen, after that I was allowed to stay at home alone for days. Up until that, I had to be supervised at the station. It wasn’t as boring as it may sound at first, there is lots of exploring to do and many gadgets to ruin. I didn’t do the latter. Maybe once, as an accident, but it got fixed up real quick. My dad’s colleagues taught me how to shoot a gun, which my dad disapproved of. I was seven years old back then, of course he did.

It’s been almost a decade since that happened, and now, I’ve been invited to a get-together to celebrate my father’s promotion at the station. It was well-deserved, he’s done many great deeds and had been working hard, harder than anyone. I was tasked with the food. I thought that the best would be to make pizzas and something sweet for dessert, maybe some of those mini pretzels for a snack, but there was no way I’d make the latter. There are shops for that.

“How’s the progress?” My dad asks, sneaking up on me.

“Almost done,” I answer, adding the finishing touches.

“Hm, they look good,” he says, taking one of the freshly prepared cupcakes.

“You’ll get them at the station, until that, no more!”

I load the two boxes into the car, dad sitting in the driver’s seat picking the music while he waits.

“I could use a hand here,” I call out.

“Grow a third one,” he replies calmly.

I hop into the car. Dad revs up the engine, and the vehicle finally gets moving.

“Lots of things have changed since you were last there,” he starts the conversation. 

“Like what?”

“I got some new coworkers, you’ll like them. We also renovated some rooms.”

“You mentioned the renovations before. I remember that you ruined most of your jeans because of it, we had to throw out like ten pairs because they all had paint on them and I couldn’t wash it out.”

“The good old times,” he sighs. “It’s been real lonely since you moved away. Feel free to move back if you feel like it.”

He parks the car in the tiny parking lot of the police station. He sits in the car, immersed in the song playing on the radio.

At the ripe age of twenty, I moved to my own tiny house. Up until that point, I didn’t even stop to think that he might feel alone. I made a mental note that I’ll make sure to visit him more often now.

“You’re not going in?” I ask.

“Do I need to? There’s gonna be lots of people,” he whines.

“I thought you were my dad, not my son.”

“Go, get the food out from the trunk, in the meantime, I’ll mentally prepare myself,” he instructs.

With a sigh, I get out of the car, and lift the trunk open.

“You need help with that?” an unknown voice asks.

I turn around to find a man leaning against the wall, a cigarette between his fingers. Light smoke swirled around him as he stepped forward.

“I think I can handle it,” I nervously answer.

“Here, let me,” he says, taking one of the boxes from my hand with a gentle move.

My dad gets out of the car.

“Shanks, good to see you!” He greets the man next to me. “I see you already found my daughter.”

“This fine lady is your daughter? You better watch out, then,” he smiles at him mischievously.

“Don’t you dare, Red Hair!” Dad replies.

“At least he helped me with the boxes,” I intervene.

“Your pa didn’t?” 

“He told me to grow a third arm.”

The red haired man chuckles, looking over to my dad.

“Not too nice of you, Hank,” he says, walking off with the box.

Inside gathered a swarm of people. Some people I knew, some I didn’t. Dad did say he got some new coworkers, and I assumed this red-haired man was one of them. Most of them wore their regular uniforms, some, who were off-duty that day, had casual clothes on.

I place the box on one of the tables, the red-haired man following suit. I take the food out of the said boxes, placing them onto separate trays and plates.

“Where can one get this food from? Looks delicious,” he speaks, picking up a slice of pizza. Luckily it was still fresh enough.

“From me,” I answer.

“Thank you, it’s nice to hear someone appreciating it,” I reply.

“You made all this? Impressive, I might just move to your house only for the food,” he says before taking a bite of the dish. “No, not might. Definitely.”

I chuckle at his statement.

“Your dad doesn't? He should, it’s amazing,” he says, his mouth still stuffed.

“Even if he does, he doesn’t say it out loud.”

“Are you a chef or something? Or is this just a hobby of yours?”

“More like a hobby. I work in an office, I hate it. I want to see the world or do some action, y’know.”

“Of course I do. I wanted action too, that’s why I’m an officer. They still give me paperwork, but when there really is some action, it’s worth it. We can teach you some things if you want.”

“You really would?” I enthusiastically inquire.

“Why not? I’ll do it in exchange for more food of yours. Deal?”

“Deal,” we shake hands.

“So first, I really want to teach you how to shoot a gun. You did that before?” He asks, walking back and forth in front of me.

“A few times, many years back.”

“You remember how to do it?”

I hold the handgun firmly, bringing it upwards. I lock my eyes on the target, an old soda can that he likely got from the trash, and I pull the trigger. The bullet was close, but flew by the can. I lower my hand in defeat.

“Mostly.”

“Here,” he says, handing me a handgun, “aim at that can right there.”

“Give it another try,” he encourages.

I lift my arms back up, aiming again. This time, the bullet made a dent into the can.

“That’s it! Off to a good start,” he speaks, patting my shoulders. “Maybe your posture is the only problem I had, though really minor.”

He comes closer, behind me. He gently places his hand on my arm and adjusts my shoulders. 

“There you go,” he whispers next to my ear. 

“Officer,” my dad interrupts.

“Yes sir?” The red-haired man turns to him. “Keep the posture,” he instructs me.

“Is that my daughter?”

“Yes sir.”

“Please don’t call me sir. Makes me feel old,” my dad grunts, walking closer. He comes to a halt next to me, observing me. Please don’t take the gun away, please don’t take the gun away…

“Keep up the good work. Teach her good, officer,” says my dad, walking back to where he came from.

red-haired shanks belongs to eiichiro oda.

© v1nsmokes 2024. Do not modify, translate or rewrite.

[vanfleeter]

My Love: Chapter 3

Characters: Jake Kiszka x Sara Warnings: 18+ || Language. Gore. Mentions of blood. Dead body. Stabbing. Angst. Threats. Betrayal. Smut. Allusions to sex. (let me know if I missed anything so I can add it.) A/N: Posting this early because I have a family reunion tomorrow and won't have time to do all the tags ;) ENJOY!

The morning soon comes and the dread of leaving her fills my body. Her own is draped over mine, her legs entangled with mine and her arm draped over my chest. Her chest expands with each breath she inhales. I absentmindedly trace the curve of her bare shoulder. Leaving her for who knows how long is going to be absolutely horrible. I’ve never gone more than two days without seeing her, and even then it was never a good feeling.

I would miss her entirely too much. And who would protect her while I’m away? Surely not my own brothers. Not when they have their own responsibilities.

Looking down at Sara once more, I gently kiss her forehead. She stirs slightly but moves to rest her head on my shoulder before her body relaxes again. Carefully I slide out from beneath, careful not to wake her. After redressing, I leave her a note on the pillow, informing her of my departure but that I will be home as soon as I can, and then I am leaving.

Chris had sent a car to pick me up, almost as if he’s assuming that I cannot drive myself to the airport. Though seeing his presence inside when the door is pulled open is quite the surprise. He gives me a smile and holds out a glass of whiskey.

“Surprised?” He says as I slide inside the car.

“I thought I would be meeting you in Boston?” I say as I swirl the amber liquid in the glass.

“I figured we could ride there together.. Discuss the murders of this newborn.”

I hum in acknowledgement and take a drink of the whiskey. “Soo.. Any updates on this newborn? Any witnesses?”

“Well,” He takes a drink from his own before continuing. “Any witnesses would no doubt have been murdered..” He shifts in the seat. “I had the body of the latest victim brought to somewhere private.”

“How did you get it from the coroner?”

Chris smirks. “The same way I always do..”

I roll my eyes and finish off my drink. “One of these days, your little trick won’t work.”

Chris shrugs his shoulders. “We’ll see about that.”

The rest of the ride was quiet, save for the soft blues music playing over the speakers. My mind drifted off to Sara. A couple hours into the trip, I received a text from her. A solemn one, wishing she could have seen me to say goodbye before I had left. I do agree that I wish I would have woken her up but I had kept her awake late the night before, tangled in the sheets of the guest bed. She needs her rest, unlike myself, for she is still a human. God, how am I to survive this trip for who-knows-how-long before I can get my hands back on her body?

I left strict instructions for Josh to keep his eye on Sara while I’m away. Though I know she is capable of handling herself, I still want some form of protection around her with this supposed newborn on the loose.

Why must I be roped in to solve this problem? Sometimes I curse myself for possessing so much knowledge on how they operate. There have been no dealings with newborns since.. Well, since myself and my brothers. And that was nearly five hundred years ago. So how did this newborn come about? Especially here? We know of all of the vampires within North America, all of whom are in their respective areas and living as normal as possible. None of which have been careless to kill another soul, nor turn someone.

Chris shoves my knee and nods his head towards the door. Looking over I find the driver holding the door open. Sliding out from the car, I step out onto the pavement and adjust the ring on my right ring finger. Chris leads me into the nearest alleyway and to a solid wood door. He knocks a few times in a certain pattern and soon the door is being opened. I follow him inside and the door is shut tightly behind us. Candles flicker to life along the walls, illuminating a long hallway and there he leads me down to a separate room guarded by two taller men. Men that I’ve never seen before.

They let us through the guarded doorway and we enter into what I presume is the makeshift autopsy room. The body of the latest victim is laid out on a table, a female, a sheet covering most of her body except for her neck. For obvious reasons.

“This is–” Chris starts before I stop.

“I do not wish to know,” I say, holding up my hand to silence him.

He nods his head and steps around the table. “I have forgotten that you do not like knowing who they are.. Too personal.”

It is too personal. Even though it is not my doing, I do not want to know who they are, for the guilt would be too much. Looking down at the woman again, all I can see is Sara. The guilt of leaving her alone fills me more than the secondhand guilt of this woman’s untimely death.

“The gashes on her neck indicate to me that this newborn has no self control.” I say as I bend down closer to examine the woman’s neck better. “He ripped out her jugular vein when he was done feeding.”

“You suspect it to be a male?”

“I’ve learned newborn males have less control than the females do. They feel less guilt, even less so if they have learned how to turn off their emotions. The females, before they learn of the switch, are more likely to be guilt ridden just from feeding on a human. Newborns also have yet to learn how to compel someone to relax and to not be scared.”

“Is that what you did with Sara?” Chris says, making my head snap upwards to glare at him. “What? No human in their right mind would fall in love with a vampire.. They only say they would because we are romanticized in movies and tv shows.”

“She fell in love before I had told her what I was.”

“What, not a who.” Chris hums as he circles the table again. “Interesting.”

I straighten back up and clear my throat. “I’m going to talk to the locals, see if they know of any newborns running around here.”

Turning away from the body, I leave the room and make my way back down the hall and out to the alley. My phone rings in my pocket and I pull it out to see Sara calling. Timing could not have been better.

“Hello love,” I say when I answer the call. “I was just thinking about you. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah, I just wanted to call.. I miss you already.”

I smile and turn on my heels to go back out to the street. “I miss you too.. I’m sorry I couldn’t stay longer for you to say goodbye this morning.. I fear that I wouldn’t have left if I did let you say goodbye.”

“And what makes you say that?”

I chuckle. “You may be human, but you have this way of making me do things against my will.”

“Oh really? I was not aware that I could.”

“Mmhmm..”

She giggles, the sweet melody filling my ears. “How long do you think you’ll be gone?”

“Honestly? I’m not sure.. I’m on my way to talk with some of the local vampires around here to see if they know of any newborns.”

“Ah well, I will let you go-”

“Wait!” I exclaim. “I want you to do something for me.”

“And what would that be?”

“Every night before we go to bed and every morning, I want you to call me.”

“Okay?”

“I.. I just want to know that you are safe.”

“Are you afraid this newborn might make his way inwards?”

“I don’t know.. But just please call me.”

“Okay, I will.” She says.

Chris steps up beside me and I glance over to him before going back to the phone call. “I have to go, I’ll talk to you tonight.” I say before hanging up.

“No ‘I love you’?” He questions as he sticks a cigarette in his mouth and lights one. He offers me the pack but I decline.

“I should get going. The sooner we find this newborn, the sooner I can get home.”

“Missing your human already?” He teases.

I roll my eyes and turn to face him. “I get it, alright? You don’t approve of our relationship, but last time I checked, it’s none of your concern. I do not care what you have to think about it.”

Chris’s demeanor changes and he pins me to the nearest brick wall with his hand gripping my throat tightly. “And the last time that I checked, I am the one who turned you and your brothers. So I would be careful how you speak to me.. I turned you, and I can easily get rid of you.” I claw at his hand, trying to free myself from his grasp. “I’m not just here to catch this newborn, Jacob.. Onyx sent me here to take care of that human.. I do not want to hurt her, because I know how much you love her, and it would pain me to see you go through the pain of losing someone again.. So, do not cross me again and we won’t have problems. Am I understood?” I nod my head and he drops me to the ground. “Good.. Now go talk to the locals and try to find out any information.”

Standing back to my feet, I straighten out my clothes. I wait until he gets into the car and it drives off before I start going down the street. There’s a clan of vampires that don’t live too far from here. They own a small boutique that’s open at all hours. They had to have seen something.

The bells chime above me as I push the door open. The air conditioner is blasted on high, already chilling me to bone. As if I wasn’t already cold to begin with.

“Jacob Kiszka..” I hear a male call as he steps out from behind the counter. “I have not seen you in a very long time.”

“Hey Anthony,” I say as we hug. “It’s been what–sixty years?”

Anthony chuckles. “Try eighty four. I’m wasting away like Rose from the Titanic.”

I playfully roll my eyes as we pull away. “At least you survived the Titanic.”

“So did she!”

“She’s fictional!” I laugh.

“Alright, alright.. What brings you up here anyways?”

“There’s a newborn on the loose.. Leaving bodies along the coast.”

Anthony hums and turns around to go back to the counter. “A newborn you say?”

“I guess so..”

“You guess so?” Anthony says. “You aren’t sure?”

I shrug my shoulders and lean on the counter. “This last victim is consistent with the patterns of a newborn..”

“You would know,” Anthony smirks. “Though I sense a ‘but’ coming.”

“But…” I lean on my chin. “I feel like there’s something off about this.. Yes, newborns can be erratic and uncontrollable, but this seems messy.”

“Well they are newborns. They crave blood and that’s all they want, they don’t care about being clean.”

“I know, I know, but still.. This doesn’t feel like a newborn.”

“I can tell you that I haven’t seen a newborn running around here. Their scent is very distinguished for the first year. If there was a new one, we would’ve known already.”

“That’s it!” I say as I push off the counter. “Anthony, you’re a genius.”

“Well I did study at Oxford so..”

“I gotta go.”

“Don’t fucking disappear for another eighty-four years, got it?”

I chuckle and shove open the door. “I got it.” I say before stepping out of the boutique and back out to the street. Going back down the street and slipping down the alleyway, I knock on the door in the same pattern that Chris had done moments ago. The door is pulled open and I am allowed inside. Making my way down the same hallway, the candles lighting up as I go. Finding the room again, the guards stare at me before allowing me to pass. If I had just a few more inches added to my height, I wouldn’t feel so intimidated by them.

Closing the door behind me, I walk over to the table and pull the white sheet away from the woman’s face. Leaning in close to her neck, I take a long sniff. Her scent mixed with the dried blood has me clenching my jaw. A secondary scent lingers lightly.

Not a newborn.

It’s a familiar scent.

Taking another whiff, the realization dawns on me. My blood stills and a chill runs down my spine. This is definitely not a newborn. Rather someone experienced. Someone who knows exactly what they are doing but chooses to be reckless.

“I always knew you were the smart one..” Turning around, I am faced with Chris. A knowing look on his face.

“It was you..” I say as the pieces finally fit together in my mind. “You have been the one terrorizing the coast..”

“Twas I..” He sighs. “I’m surprised it took you this quick to figure it out.”

“Why are you doing this?” I say as I walk around the table, putting distance between us. “Why bring me into this? Were you trying to get caught on purpose?”

Chris chuckles. “It was indeed a ploy to get you involved and away from home..” The wicked gleam shines in his eyes. “Remember what I told you earlier.. I was sent here to take care of Sara.. I needed you to be distracted. Though I really was hoping that you would have taken slightly longer to figure it all out.”

“Chris, you said it yourself you didn’t want to see me go through this pain again. Why are you doing this?”

“Because Jacob, you have broken the rule.. You didn’t think you could hide this from the Onyx, did you? They know all and they see all.”

“No, you can’t let them do that!”

I start to lunge at him but he only grips my neck again. I feel something pierce through my chest and I look down to see the silver dagger that Josh threatened me with just last night. I look back up at Chris, betrayal evident in my eyes.

“How could you?”

“I’m sorry,” Were the last words to leave his mouth before I fell into darkness.

if i have missed you and you would like to added to the taglist for this, please do not hesitate to comment or message me!

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[johnnycakesswitch]

Evie hcs bc I’ve claimed her as my sweet girl and since there’s basically zero description of her that means I can make her whatever I want. These hcs are in a more canon compliant universe so her and Steve are together. If anyone wants I can do hcs abt wlw Evie in a Stevepop universe in which her and Steve are each other’s beards if anyone would be interested

• her full name is Evangeline but almost exclusively goes by Evie. Steve really likes to call her by her full name every now and then though

• I feel like she’d be such a girly girl like she loves wearing dresses and makeup and styling her hair, she’s just a complete princess

• but also- don’t fuck with her. She can and will fight people, especially if you hurt someone close to her

• she is definitely friends with Angela Shepard ❤️

• was friendly with Sandy and eventually got closer to her over time but it was only really because of Soda and Steve. She was devastated when she heard that Sandy cheated. At first she felt sorry for both her and Soda when she found out that Sandy was pregnant but once she found out that the baby wasn’t Soda’s, she felt so betrayed on Soda’s behalf

• can def be a little rebellious- her parents often don’t like the clothes she wears bc her skirts and dresses tend to be shorter than they’d like and she loves wearing heavy eye makeup but she rly dgaf and continues to do what she wants

• will sneak out her window at any time of the night

• has these gorgeous big brown doll eyes- part of why she loves doing heavy eyeliner and mascara, they make her eyes look huge

• very much an extrovert and loves going out and doing things- dancing, rodeos, drag races, you name it and she’ll be there

• I picture her as either SarahGrace Mariani from the outsiders musical who actually plays Marcia or Jackie from That 70s Show, so basically just tiny brunette with beautiful eyes. I picture her style to be similar to Jackie’s even though it’s not super time period accurate because 70s vs 60s yk

• definitely has a little temper, she can go from the most innocent looking sweetheart to an absolute devil in seconds. But also has the biggest heart- she is extremely loyal and loves so deeply

Specifically Stevie hcs

• her and Steve are definitely that couple that have been together since they were like 15 and will absolutely be together for the rest of their lives

• always use pet names for each other they like hardly use each other’s real names. The only exception for this is that Steve likes to add her name before the pet name if that makes sense- he’ll be like Evie baby, Evie honey, Evie doll, etc. She usually calls Steve things like honey, sweetheart, or handsome but there are other names in the mix as well

• they are that super romantic couple that do these super detailed romantic actions for each other. They write each other love letters, she’ll always decorate hers with very carefully placed lipstick stains. He writes his super neatly and always leaves them places for her to find like in her pocket. She brings out the sappy side of him

• are the couple that everyone knows they’re together because they don’t let anyone forget it. Super proud of being with each other also, at drag races Evie is always cheering so loud for Steve and is like “that’s my boyfriend Steve Randle is MY boyfriend!!!”

• literally can’t keep their hands off each other Steve’s arm is always around her waist and she loves holding onto his bicep

• Steve definitely has her name tattooed on him somewhere

• each other’s absolute biggest supporters. Evie encouraged Steve to one day open his own mechanic shop (with Soda ofc) bc he’s so good at cars and he always made sure that she had the option to do whatever she wanted, whether that be get her own job or be a stay at home wife/mother, Steve was alright with whatever as long as she was happy

• they get married young and have like 2 or 3 kids and live happily ever after

[sabsturned]

ABOUT ME!! 🎀

NAME: hi!! my name is sabrina, but my close friends call me sab, and you’re all my close friends 🩷🩷

AGE: i’m eighteen years old and i still don’t know how to drive a car

GENDER: i’m a female and i use she/her pronouns :)

BIRTHDAY: june 24th 2006 (and i’m a cancer!)

🎀 i also love pink and bows as you can tell!! 🎀

HOBBIES!! 🎀

WRITING: i really enjoy writing and have ever since i was young. when we wrote essays in ela class i went all out because i just loved shit like that

CROCHETING: i first self-taught myself how to crochet when i was like seven or eight, and started doing it again when i was ten. now i crochet gifts for my friends birthdays, for christmas, and i also make myself clothes a lot

VOLLEYBALL: volleyball was just always my go-to sport and i still love it now. i love going to the beach and playing beach volleyball

NAILS: i also really enjoy doing gel and acrylic nails on people. obviously getting your nails done is kind of expensive, so i just learned how to do it myself and now i do my own nails and my friends nails for free. i also do nail services for random people and that’s where most of my money comes from.

SINGING: don’t really know if it counts as a hobby but i absolutely love love love singing. i’m constantly singing around the house. i also did musical theatre in high school and i was in drama club in middle school. my favorite role i played was regina george when i was 15. i also just have a passion for theatre and musicals.

MUSIC TASTE!! 🎀

i have very generic white girl music taste, so it’s not really anything special lol

TOP ARTISTS (NOT IN ORDER): taylor swift, olivia rodrigo, kesha, melanie martinez, billie eilish, ariana grande, madison beer, chappell roan, doja cat, megan thee stallion, rihanna, katy perry, macklemore

TOP SONGS RIGHT NOW (IN ORDER)

1. joyride - kesha

2. femininomenom - chappell roan

3. you need to calm down - taylor swift

4. hope ur ok - olivia rodrigo

5. all american bitch - olivia rodrigo

CONCERTS I’VE BEEN TO: kesha, billie eilish, olivia rodrigo, melanie martinez, taylor swift

i absolutely love concerts. i think they are so fun and i enjoy them sooo much.

STUFF I WATCH!! 🎀

FAV SHOWS: grey’s anatomy, victorious, sam and cat, icarly, stranger things, creeped out, jessie, heart stopper, never have i ever, sofia the first (hey don’t judge)

FAV MOVIES: fear street part one, fear street part two, jumanji, jumanji : the next level, legally blonde, ten things i hate about you, inside out two, mean girls (2024), sleepover

FAV YOUTUBERS: sturniolo triplets, brittany broski, quenlin blackwell, larray, kamryn cain (check her out she’s so underrated), flamingo, avascreams, caseoh

give me show and movie recs!! i always need them

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE STURNIOLO’S!! 🎀

WHEN DID YOU FIRST START WATCHING THE TRIPLETS: late 2022!

ARE YOU A NICK, MATT, OR CHRIS GIRL: chris girl all the way no doubt about it

FAVORITE YOUTUBE VIDEO: we filmed this video as bros….

FAVORITE CHALLENGE: disgusting food roulette *matt almost throws up*

FAVORITE VLOG: nick gets his wisdom teeth removed!!

FAVORITE FRIENDSHIP: madison 🩷🩷

FAVORITE MERCH/BRAND: space camp

WHAT WAS THE FIRST VIDEO YOU SAW: sturniolo zombie apocalypse survival guide

HAVE YOU EVER MET THEM: nope, and i don’t plan to or rlly want to because i feel like i would be way too awkward 😭😭

WHY DO YOU LIKE THE TRIPLETS: a lot of it is their humor and the fact that they make me laugh more than literally anybody in this entire world, but i also just love watching them live life and hang out with their friends. i find joy in seeing other people happy, and seeing them live happily like this makes me happier than ever. i love vlogs and watching them have fun. their bond together is also unmatched. they love each other so much and it’s so clear to see that, and i just love it. i also just feel so safe when i watch them. i feel like i would trust them with my life. they’re the only grown men that don’t absolutely terrify me 🩷

thanks for reading!! with love, sabrina 🤍🎀

(working on a fic rn!! please leave requests and lmk if the “leave requests” box doesn’t show up in my description)

[writingforfishes]

Otto and Atticus Part 9-extended: The Antique's Store 1/4, 2/4 (reblogged), 3/4 (reblogged)

This is a continuation of Atticus' Birthday story found here: https://www.tumblr.com/writingforfishes/756206256931405824/otto-and-atticus-part-9-atticus-birthday?source=share

The story above is much more sexual in nature.

These next stories follow Atticus and Otto through the Antique's Store where Otto is taking his spouse for their birthday and back home. They will, as far as I have planned, be much tamer and won't require a filter.

CW

Mentions of alcoholism and sobriety.

Fast but short-lived hiccups.

Generational gaps in understanding gender nonconformity.

Accidental misgendering of off-stage minor character.

Hiccups triggered by food.

Mentions of arousal/teasing.

Mentions of anxiety arising from being taken to a new place.

Mentions of anxiety/over-stimulation in being in a new place that is quite large and populated.

Mentions of soft bellies and body shapes.

Manual driving? I dunno, maybe someone out there has a trauma response to manual driving?

I use ellipses here to denote trailing off or uncertainty in dialogue. They do not mean anything nefarious. Just in case. I dunno. I'm 41. Please don't hate me.

Mild discomfort while hiccuping.

Disparaging Korean made clock movements.

Minors, do not interact.

Part 1: Soup

They had been driving away from town for a while now. Atticus looked out the window as they watched exit sign after exit sign pass. The writer was excited, but antsy. Classical music was playing from one of Otto’s playlists. It was helping to quell the anxiety somewhat, but their mind still swam as miles of road kept going by.

“You’re gonna love this place,” Otto said, noticing the nervous thrum of his partner’s fingers on their knees.

“Yeah?” Atticus asked, using Otto’s voice to ground them.

“Yeah. It’s in this big warehouse. There’s a food market there, too. We’ll get some lunch while we’re there,” he said. He took a moment to sip some water from the tumbler he’d brought.

Atticus sipped some from theirs as well, using his action as a cue. The water felt good and soothed more of their anxiety.

“Lots of clocks?” Atticus asked with a smile.

“So many,” Otto confirmed with a smirk in return. “And a whole slew of other things. It’s got old books, hats, belt buckles. Lots of old art, too. And there’s a lot of space, y’know? The aisles are wide. Super accessible. A couple started it back a few years ago. They had their own antique’s store, but when they started inviting other vendors to open booths in the first storefront it got so big they went in with the people that ran a small food market in the same strip mall and got this place. It’s a bit out of the way, but worth it for the quality of things you can find there.”

Otto drummed his fingers on the steering wheel a little and shifted as the speed of traffic changed. One day Atticus thought they might try to learn how to drive manual. Otto liked it because it kept his hands busy. He was naturally a high energy person and having something to do with his hands for long stretches of time was a plus. He also liked manual because he understood how it worked better than something like a CVT transmission. He had more faith that he could fix, if need be, his transmission than a newer car that depended more on electricity to accelerate and change gears.

“They sell tools too!” he continued. And Atticus smiled, enjoying the excitement in Otto’s voice. “I mean, they have the vintage tools like manual screwdrivers, but they have specialty tools they order new. They started ordering bulk from Timesavers sometime last year because so many of their vendors have clocks in their booths and some of them have missing parts and keys. So they sell a lot of clock and watch tools and parts. Really convenient. That’s how I first heard of it. One of my customers who’s a hobbyist told me about them. And the people who rent out their booths that I’ve talked to are just—they have some phenomenal stuff, man. Super nice people, too. The ones that I’ve met. Most actually know what they have and what it’s worth. They don’t up-charge from Google searches. They actually research it. Very few resellers, too. You know, people that order lots of cheap things from other countries and sell it for profit?

“Helped a few of them service a couple of clocks to sell or help them decide whether it would be worth the repair or not. Korean movements? Not really worth it, you know? Really cool atmosphere, though. It’s kinda like family even though it’s in this great big place. Everyone takes care of each other and has each other’s backs. They even buy stuff from each other’s booths!” Otto said and took another sip of water.

He downshifted as they finally turned on an exit Atticus wasn’t familiar with.

“Kind of like an...antique commune?” they asked.

“Yeah, kinda!” he agreed.

Atticus stretched with a yawn suddenly rubbing their belly, still accessibly soft with the heavy breakfast this morning.

“Think you’ll-um-get them again?” they asked shyly rubbing at the stubble on their face and neck. For all of the anxiety of being somewhere they’d never been, Otto’s hiccups were definitely causing some of the energy their body was interpreting into anxiety. They were full of anticipatory excitement at the possibility.

“I will definitely get them again,” Otto said with an amused sigh. “I can sort of feel it? In my chest and throat? It’s weird. On hiccupy days like this it’s like they’re just lying in wait. I do want to eat something before we start looking around, though.”

“Ooh, yeah. I could go for something to eat,” Atticus agreed.

From the outside the antique’s mall/food market didn’t look terribly impressive. But Atticus noticed how full the parking lot was as they stepped out of the passenger seat.

No sooner had Otto stood from the car than a man in a polo shirt exiting the front door called to him.

“Otto, man! You gonna buy some more clocks today?” he asked coming over to them. He seemed older, perhaps in his late 50’s early 60’s. He had a stout body-type, stomach hanging a little over his belted khaki pants. His beard was nearly all white. He seemed to have a lot of energy but his mannerisms implied an ability to be patient as well when he stopped and acknowledged first Otto with a pat to his shoulder and nodded to Atticus, clasping his hands in front of his belly while in conversation.

Atticus took a moment to consider why Otto was buying clocks. They hadn’t noticed any new clocks in the house. They tried to catch his eye but Otto flitted his gaze away as soon as they had locked eyes questioningly.

“Hey Gar! Yeah, man, we’ll see if we find anything. This is my partner, Atticus. It’s their birthday today,” Otto said with emphasis causing the other man to pull a quick face of recognition and then nodded, making a motion of closing his lips. “Atticus, this is Gary. He’s one of the owners of the antique’s gallery along with his wife Rose.”

“Hey, Atticus, Otto’s told me a lot about you! It’s really nice to meet you,” Gary said, holding out a hand.

“Uh, good to meet you, too,” Atty said. They subconsciously shifted their voice down. Talking to cis men gave them a desire to puff out their chest and make their mannerisms more guy-coded. They added a quick nod as they shook the man’s hand. “Hopefully he hasn’t told you too much!”

“Nah, only the good stuff! That you’re a writer and that you’ve been there for him through a lot. I’ve not known this guy for long, but glad he has someone like you on his side. Him and me, think we’ve been through some of the same struggles. We’ve talked a little about that. Anyway. I’ve also got a daught—sorry. Shit, I always flub that up. I’ve got a kid. They came out to me earlier this year that...uh...they’re non-binary,” Gary said.

“Yeah, it’s one of the first conversations we had, I think,” Otto interjected, having leaned a hip against the car in realization that this was going to take a second. He was used to Gary’s tendency to babble. Another quality, the clock maker mused, both of them shared.

“I think it was! But yeah, Otto told me about you and, I dunno, it made me a little less nervous for he-them,” Gary sputtered. “Sorry, I still mess it up a lot. I’m working on it.”

“It’s okay to mess up,” Atticus said. They’d made their way to stand beside Otto and their husband laid a soft hand around their shoulders. “As long as you correct yourself. It shows you’re trying. That means a lot.”

“I definitely am. Anyway, knowing there’s, you know, an adult out there that’s-uh-that’s non-binary and stuff. I was scared for them, y’know? How were they going to grow up? I mean, it’s not like there’s a path or...I dunno...I don’t know what to tell them or how to...help? But Otto told me about you and that you’re a writer and that you’ve sold your books and it’s just,” he sighed, seeming frustrated in his inability to articulate what he meant. “It gives me hope that they’re gonna be okay. If that makes sense.”

Gary laughed nervously.

“It does,” Atticus said with an encouraging smile. “They’ve got a dad that loves them so...I feel like they’re off to a pretty good start.”

“Yeah...yeah, damn. I’m sorry for talking your ears off! You know how I am, Otto. I gotta get going. The Mrs sent me on an errand and she is going to bite my head off if I get distracted! Anyway, good to see you again, Otto!” Gary reached in and Otto accepted a little hug from him. “Really nice to meet you, Atticus. I hope you have a good birthday. Cause this guy got you...well…”

Gary waggled his finger teasingly at Otto and the clock maker’s eyes widened and then narrowed as he batted the hand away.

“Dude!” he warned at Gary’s hint of what Otto’s plans were.

“I have had a pretty good birthday so far,” Atticus said, looking between the two suspiciously. “I feel like it might be a theme…”

“Get out of here, Gary! Stop talking!” Otto exclaimed, thwapping the older man on the back good naturedly as he finally started to leave.

“Report back!” Gary yelled.

“Shh!” Otto spat out as Gary went out of sight. “Jeez...can we just ignore that bit? Also, I’m sorry if that made you uncomfortable. He really is a good guy…”

“No, I can tell,” Atticus reassured him. “Really bad at keeping a secret, though.”

“The absolute worst. I dunno how his wife deals with him…”

“Well, you deal with me, so…” Atty said.

“Hm, true,” Otto responded smartly as he led his partner into the front door. He felt a pinch on his side and jerked. “Ow!”

“Oops,” Atticus responded curtly.

The inside of the warehouse was completely different from the out. There was a huge open space in the lobby with a secondary set of double doors leading to the antique mall portion but down a hall were various food market vendors and following that hall was the other half of the warehouse, more food vendors, and a large sitting area along with a secondary access to the antique’s mall space.

While the venue was bustling with business the open space made it seem much less crowded.

Decision paralysis and overwhelm kicked in as soon as Otto asked them what they were in the mood to eat and Atticus let Otto pick where to go as they followed taking in all of the visuals, smells, and sounds around them as they tried to adapt to the environment and space.

Otto ended up ordering a tomato basil bisque with a grilled cheese and Atticus waffled a little until they decided on a salad with grilled chicken, something to balance out the heaviness of the breakfast they’d eaten that morning.

Atty didn’t even really know what food vendor they’d ordered from or what had been available alternatively as they were so overwhelmed by exploring the atmosphere and people who walked by.

“I thought you said it was a small food market that partnered with...um...Gary and Rose?” Atticus asked as they took their food to the table Otto was walking toward. Otto being so tall offered a great guide to Atty as they often got lost in places like this.

“Yeah. Oh yeah, initially it was just that. Then they put the word out about the space and food vendors started opening shop. Lots of start-ups took advantage that wouldn’t have had the money to buy a store front otherwise. Rose comes from a lot of old money, apparently. Though you didn’t hear that from me. She put a lot into making sure everyone got an opportunity to take advantage of this spot since she knew the mall wouldn’t take up half the space of it,” Otto explained.

“Gary really does have no concept of secrecy, does he?” Atty noted.

“Not really, no. I think he spent a lot of his life trying to run away from connecting to people. Best way to do that is through alcohol, honestly. Even while you’re partying with hundreds of people you’re not really ‘there’, y’know? But yeah. He’s got some stories. Things that sort of shocked me. When he learned I was sober, I think he knew he could trust me and that I’d get it. I think he’s trying to make up for that lost time, now. He loves his wife and kid more than anyone I know. Guy’s got a damn big heart. And a really fucked up liver,” Otto added mirthfully.

Atticus snorted and then caught themselves, “Shit, should I laugh at that?”

“Yeah,” Otto said with a smirk. “He would.”

They finally sad down and Otto unpacked the soup. The smell was comforting and he found himself quite hungry despite still being a little bloated from last night’s antics and this morning’s food fare. Perhaps he was just as excited as Atticus seemed and that translated to wanting to eat? And he was excited. He really couldn’t wait to see his partner’s face at the surprise they had planned.

Otto swallowed the first spoonful of soup. It was very warm, slightly spiced, and he could feel the warmth go down his throat and immediately his diaphragm reacted to the change in temperature. He felt his body convulse involuntarily causing him to jump a little. Amazingly, Atticus was busy on their salad and hadn’t noticed.

He waited a second for any other hiccups, but none followed. Cautiously he took another spoonful, let it savor in his mouth and swallowed. The warm liquid triggered another spasm. He grunted softly. That hiccupy feeling in his throat intensified and he knew he was only a few more spoonfuls away from a full attack. That second spasm was more forceful, too. He wondered if he cold hold it off until he at least finished the meal. He paused, considering.

Atty caught him, body still and waiting, with same hand holding the spoon pressed against his mouth in a loose fist, spoon dangling from the tips of his fingers as he focused on something inwardly, eyebrows pinched a little.

“You okay?” they asked. The writer had been enjoying their salad more than they thought they would. They’d also been watching people pass by and taking in the social scenery. Otto being motionless caught their attention more than anything.

“Yeah,” Otto said tentatively, eyebrows pulling together all the more. “Every time I take a sip of soup I hiccup. They’re right here.” Otto tapped the base of his neck above his collar bone.

Atticus stopped chewing their salad to hone their eyes in on that place.

“Oh,” they said. “Um...you don’t feel sick, do you?”

“No-no,” Otto said, reassuring them quickly. “Just wondering if this is gonna turn into a full case...guess we’ll find out, hm?” There was a glint in his eyes. Of course there was always going to be a possibility of this becoming a day of hiccups, but part of him was delighted that it was actually happening. There would, of course, be consequences to his purposeful induction, but it was worth the adorable flush that came across his partner’s neck and wideness of their eyes.

Atticus swallowed their salad a little too eagerly and took a drink of water. They were extremely disappointed they’d missed the previous hiccups but, eyes trained on him now, they were determined not to miss anymore.

“Excited?” he teased, smiling knowingly.

“A little,” they admitted. “Not to an...actionable level.” They kept the statement diplomatic. Atticus really had no need to take care of their arousal again. But their body was going to react and they were going to be interested no matter what.

Otto chuckled at the terminology and jumped a little with another spasm.

“Hm,” Atticus said, feigning casualness.

Otto grinned a little and rolled his eyes in mild exasperation. Even though he’d only had the hiccups one time that day it was a strong and fast enough case that he knew any additional cases would be a little more exhausting than normal. But that excitement at seeing Atticus’ excitement was enough to be ready for the possible onslaught.

His hiccups persisted as he continued to eat his soup. His diaphragm reacted with each gulp and sometimes without the trigger of swallowing. They weren’t very strong, but he did still have to time his eating around them when they started to go off script of being triggered.

They got a bit more forceful when he started on the grilled cheese. Bread was the ‘enemy’ on his hiccup-sensitive days. He should’ve known that. Perhaps part of him had known that and wanted to give Atticus another show. Or perhaps it was just his absent mindedness forgetting what his triggers were on days like this. Regardless, the bready sandwich certainly encouraged the hiccup fit to strengthen. They became more audible, though still easily muffled.

Atticus continued to eat their salad, but they hardly tasted it as they watched Otto’s suppressed hiccups as he continued to eat despite them. His head and chest would jerk up and he’d have to pause for that half-second before taking another mouthful. As he began to muffle the sounds they started to make the writer pulled their legs together subconsciously. They were also getting faster and the adorableness of Otto trying to navigate the fit paired with the mild arousal they felt was almost too much. But it was an almost too much they could handle as they felt safe experiencing it.

A couple of times he was hit with a cluster of hiccups which he would let out a small grunt or sigh after before resuming eating. He probably didn’t even realize he was making the small sounds, but Atticus soaked up every movement and sound watching Otto in adoration. His hiccups and reactions were endearing to watch and their body let them know that it was paying attention, but Atty never felt the need to give into their arousal in the way they had this morning.

When he started in on his sandwich he jerked so powerfully and quickly that Atticus startled in how closely they’d been paying attention and the break in pattern of his hiccups. They heard a little thump in the back of Otto’s throat at that hiccup. The case also increased in speed and it was obvious Otto noticed as he chewed carefully and timed his swallowing.

A ‘hik’p!’ slipped out and Otto muttered, “Oh man…” He was no longer able to keep them all quiet or muffled with how hard they’d suddenly become. He could feel his stomach jiggling from under the table, how it jerked in and out. His neck movements caused his head to jerk hard as well, having to time eating even more carefully to line up the food with his mouth.

“Higgup! You just gonna-higgulp!-just gonna watch hilp!-watch me ea-hugguck!-eat this whole time?” he asked, amused.

“That was kind of the plan,” Atticus teased.

“Damn bre-herp!-bread made them wo-erp!-worse! Hickulp!” he said.

Even though, he used the last bit of that sandwich to sop up the last dregs of his soup, all the while jerking as his diaphragm and glottis continued to argue loudly over when to breath and when to not.

Eating that last bite definitely didn’t help. He took a few large straw-fulls of water but continued what seemed to have developed into a pretty powerful hiccuping fit. Otto was thankful for the food court being boisterous with activity as he’d yet to see anyone looking over his way despite how more audible they’d become.

But as much as he was enjoying the way Atticus was looking at him his neck had started to hurt again. It hurt in the back right where it met his shoulders. He couldn’t even suppress the motions on this case. Every hiccup came as a surprise to him. Usually, when he had them, he had the feeling he would hiccup a little bit before the next one, but as this case got worse he lost the ability to feel when the next one was going to hit. It was a bit unusual to not be able to predict them like he normally was. As a result his body was at their mercy even more.

Otto’s hand pressed against his chest and Atty noticed that his face had lost some of the mirth it had when his hiccups had begun. He didn’t look distressed, necessarily, but he didn’t really look like he was wholly unbothered, either.

“Oh man HUCKULK-man! These are hu-ULK!-are hard. ULK!Huck!-ugh! I can’t-ulk!-can’t tell when the-h’mlk!-their coming next ei-ulp!-either. Damn,” he finally admitted. He rubbed the back of his neck trying to take a measured breath through the onslaught. It was interrupted by more sharp hiccups and he winced, eyes closing for a moment at a particularly fast cluster. “HULK!HU-CULK!ULK!H’MUCK!mmk!”

A small hand slapped three packets in front of him so loudly he jumped a little (before he jumped with another hiccup). When he looked down Atticus’ hand lifted to reveal a packet of Real Cane Sugar, a white paper packet from a fast food restaurant marked ‘Salt’, and a plastic packet with yellow writing on it that said ‘Pure Lemon Juice’. Otto looked up to his partner’s smug face (as much as he could give them a steady gaze with how much he was jerking) and they grinned, lips pushing up the sides of their mustache into the apples of their cheeks.

“Never leave home without them,” they said a little haughtily.

“Do you HUCK-UCK!-always keep-HUCK!-alw-ulk!-ways keep these wi-UCK!-ith you? Huck!-HUCK’M!” he asked, grunting out another sigh as he started opening the sugar packet.

“Only when my extremely sweet husband decides to indulge in me for my birthday in a way that could bite him in the ass later on,” Atticus said.

“I think-HUCK!-there was-hulkUCK!-a compli-ulk-ment in-hulk!-in there-HUCK’L! some-uck!-somewhere Huck’l!HUCK!-uh!”Otto said.

“Otto,” Atty implored. “Sugar.”

“Yes hon-HUCKAH!-honey? Huck!HUCK!HUCK!Ow...” Otto exclaimed with a scowl at his interrupted joke. He wordlessly (though not soundlessly) opened the sugar packet and dumped it in his mouth.

The cure did the trick. For a few seconds he sat after he’d downed the lemon juice with some deep breaths, still holding his chest.

“You good?” Atticus asked. For some reason their hand had found his and was holding it as if giving him comfort. It seemed silly to do so for someone having something as seemingly harmless as hiccups, but those sounded and looked incredibly uncomfortable. And all of Atty’s research on hiccups led them to believe that hiccups could potentially cause great discomfort; they never wanted that inflicted in their husband.

He took another deep breath.

“Whew. Yeah. Sorry about that. They kind of got out of hand,” he said sheepishly. “Um, how was your salad?”

“I honestly have no idea...” they admitted looking down at their empty container.

“You got a little turned on, right?” he asked, voice low.

“Right up until the end, yes,” they said.

“Still…” Otto waggled his eyebrows suggestively.

“You’re just a little self-destructive, you know that?” they said.

“Listen, you’re the one who married an alcoholic.”

Atticus reached across the table and put either hand on the side of Otto’s face rubbing his short beard with their thumbs before squeezing his cheeks gently between their palms.

“I married a beautiful, intelligent, compassionate man who is also an alcoholic,” they said, amending the statement. “And it’s my birthday so I’m right and you can’t argue with me.”

“I don’t think that’s how that works,” Otto said, diction affected by his lips being squished between the hands on his face.

“It is,” Atticus assured him. They finally released his face and Otto grinned back.

“And it’s your birthday so…” he said, trailing off.

“Exactly!”

Cleaning up their trash and putting the reusable trays in a marked spot above the trash cans they both finally made their way into the antique’s mall area.

[silentglassbreak]

Anonymous

Noah Sebastian x OFC

-

This story is flying out of me folks. Hope the few readers I have so far are enjoying! Again, if you want to be tagged, lemme know.

Warnings: Alcohol abuse, overall abuse, mild violence (ie. bar fights), smut, swearing, and altogether just a lot of fuckery.

+It goes without saying, this is a work of fiction. All of my words are my own. Plagiarism is a crime.

Part 4 - Never Know

The ride back to Calabasas was surprisingly more comfortable than I expected. Once it was just the two of us, Noah had become rather chatty, going on about the show, the crowd, the lighting that kept pissing him off, the meet and greet.

“It always amazes me how many people walk around with my face on their shirts.” He laughed to himself.

“Yeah, I’ve always found that kind of strange, wearing another human on your body.”

I felt his eyes burning a hole into the side of my head.

“That sounded very serial killer-ish?” His tone was apprehensive and playful.

“Who says that’s not what I meant?” I managed to hold my composure for about 30 seconds before bursting into a fit of laughter, him following right behind.

“Yeah, sure pipsqueak.”

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me! Not all of us are walking Elm trees, okay?!”

“Yeah, and not all of us are shorter than 5 feet!”

My hand batted over at him, his arms flailing in defense while he laughed at me.

“I am five-foot-one, mister!”

He held his stomach, his laughter roaring.

I set my head back on the headrest, my wheels inching forward at a snail’s pace. Normally, a drive to Calabasas from Hollywood would only take about 45 minutes, but a wreck on the 101 Freeway had us in gridlock. We had already been sitting, barely moving for about thirty minutes.

Normally, I wouldn’t mind. We had good music on the radio, it was a cool, crisp evening, and Noah was plenty good company. However, my bladder was going to betray me soon, and I could feel it.

I squirmed in my seat for a moment, trying to arrange my jeans to take some pressure off my bladder. I must have been obvious, because Noah spoke up.

“You okay?”

I stopped wiggling immediately. “Hm?” He raised an eyebrow at me. “Oh, yeah. Just getting restless.”

“You sure?”

I smiled earnestly. “Yeah.”

“Well I don’t know about you but I’ve got to pee like a motherfucker.”

I sighed loudly. “Oh my GOD me too!”

He laughed and turned the heat up in the car. I looked over at him inquisitively’

He put his hands up. “It helps. I don’t know why, but it helps.”

-

Thirty more minutes of traffic and we were finally driving winding roads through neighborhoods I had only dreamed of. I helped sell houses, but not houses like this. He finally directed me to a gated driveway, where he got out and held his wallet up to a small terminal. Slowly the gate creaked open, and he jumped back in the car.

“You want to come in and use the restroom?”

I bit my lip, staring up at the huge house before me. It was intimidating just to look at, let alone imagine myself inside of.

“Erm…” I nervously picked at my fingernail. “That’s okay, I can wait.”

He gave me a look that told me he wasn’t accepting that. “No you can’t, c’mon. No one will be home for a while.”

He hopped out before I could protest further. The call of nature was stronger than my will to fight, so I followed, hastily grabbing my purse and hitting the door locks.

I followed him up a pathway through a large grassy yard, through a door that I couldn’t even guess how tall it was.

When we walked in, I was surprised. It wasn’t how I pictured a rock band to live. He had mentioned him and the entire band lived there. I’m not entirely sure what I expected, piles of beer cans? Guitars everywhere? Random studio equipment? It felt silly now, thinking it back over.

It was normal. Sure, there were guitars hung over the mantle neatly, obviously not played much, with framed records hung between. But the couch looked so comfortable, a throw blanket draped over the back. The staircase wound through the living room, and beyond I imagined the kitchen was somewhere deeper into the home.

“Bathroom’s right there.” Noah pointed to a door just off the staircase. “I’m going to use the one in my room. I’m going to change real quick too. I’ll only be a sec.”

And with that, he was bounding up the staircase, two steps at a time. He really did have to pee.

I cautiously made my way over to the door he pointed out. Inside I found a half bathroom, only a toilet and sink. Black rugs lined the floor and bright red towels hung from the holders. I locked the door and quickly made my way to the toilet.

Washing my hands, I happened to glance at myself in the mirror. Holy fuck, I was a mess.

My eyeliner and mascara were smeared under my eyes, my jet black hair was frizzed, and I had something on my sweater. What the hell did I manage to spill on myself?! Nachos. The god damn nachos.

I quickly took my sweater off, exposing my plain black tank top underneath, tying it around my waist. I pulled my contact case from my purse and easily removed my lenses, before splashing water on my cheeks and rubbing dampened toilet paper under my eyes to rid the excess smudgy liner.

I slipped my glasses on quickly, cursing the metal frames for aging me at least ten years, and threw my hair up in a ponytail, smoothing it out as best as I could.

When I came out of the bathroom, I heard footsteps from the top of the staircase.

“Better?” I looked up at him, hands clutching around the strap of my cross-body bag.

“Much, thank you.”

Noah had a curious smile on his face that made me rebalance my weight in each foot. “What?”

He shook his head and made his way down the stairs. “Nice glasses.”

I instinctively turned my face away. When I looked back, he was next to me. His eyes caught mine in a trance, dark and looming. I couldn’t feel if I was breathing anymore, and I’m not entirely sure if I cared in that moment.

That ‘moment’ went on for longer than I would’ve liked before his eyebrows shot up.

“Sugar!”

This broke me from my daze, confusing me. I raised an eyebrow but too quick, he grabbed me by the wrist and started leading me to the kitchen past the staircase.

“We need sugar.” He let go of me at the counter, opening the freezer drawer of the fridge. He came out with a tub of vanilla ice cream, and loudly pulled two spoons out of the drawer next to me, dropping one in front of me.

Flipping the top off of the tub, he dug his spoon in and stuffed it into his mouth, his tongue swiping over his bottom lip. I tried not to stare at him.

“I think I’m okay.”

He shook his head at my argument.

“Nope. You said that as my sponsor, you’d eat ice cream with me if I needed it.” He pointed at the tub. “Eat.”

I raised my eyebrow and picked up the spoon, getting only a touch of ice cream on the end.

“I don’t remember saying exactly that.”

He shrugged, but I still put the sweet, cold spoon in my mouth. It did help.

We sat in silence for a moment, devouring the fresh tub of ice cream for a few minutes before he grabbed it and headed for a tall black table near the countertop. I followed.

We sat adjacent, tub in the center, and continued to gorge.

“So, am I going to get fat from all the sugar?”

This made me chuckle and shake my head. “You’ve got to counteract the carbs. Work out. That also helps because of the endorphins.”

“That sounds like a lot of work.” His tongue was cleaning the underside of the spoon, and I had evidently stopped mid-bite to ogle this, because he smirked at me.

“Sorry.” He sheepishly put the spoon down.

I blinked rapidly and coughed out a giggle. “No, no, I’m sorry.”

Standing up, I turned around and headed for the sink. Quickly rinsing water over my spoon, I set it in the metal basin with a loud clink.

I felt his arm come up beside me, setting his down as well. I hadn’t even heard him walk over.

He didn’t move away from my side, just standing directly behind me. I felt the warmth of his breath on the bare skin at the nape of my neck. His hand was still resting on the countertop to my right and I saw his knuckles turning white where they grasped the edge.

This was bad. I didn’t know what it was, but it was bad.

He did back away after a moment, breathing loudly. I took an extra second to compose myself before turning around.

When I did, there were those eyes again. Boring into me. However, after a second, he smiled, lifting his hand to my face. I was frozen, entirely unaware of what was happening.

His thumb reached up, and swiped across my bottom lip. Is he serious?

When he pulled his hand back, however, the creamy white liquid made me chuckle. I had ice cream on my lip. I reached up and wiped my mouth, while he laughed and just wiped his hand on the sweat pants he was wearing.

“I’m such a mess today.”

He shook his head in response. “I don’t think so.”

And suddenly, the air was thick. Thicker than water. Thicker than syrup. I couldn’t even breathe. His lips were so close. It wouldn’t take much, just a swift movement. A trip? A leer in the wrong direction?

His eyes were studying mine, back and forth. Mine were fixated on his mouth, pink from the cold. Puffy. Absolutely mouth watering.

My body began pulling back, when a hand grabbed me by the back of the neck, fast as lightning, and pulled me in.

His mouth was hot, despite our dessert. His tongue was searching through my mouth, my eyes rolling back behind my lids.

My instincts kicked in and my hands grabbed his shirt, pulling his body closer.

A low, guttural growl escaped his throat before his hand reached down and grabbed my ass, lifting me in the air. He pushed me back onto the countertop so we were at an even level.

I can’t say how long this went on, our mouths fighting each other, my hands gripping his hair. His hands were sliding up and down my thighs, fingertips touching my hips. My body was electric white hot need.

It had been so so long.

But at that moment, that stupid, idiotic fucking moment, my brain kicked in.

He has a girlfriend.

He has a girl-friend!

He has a girlfriend!

YOU’RE HIS FUCKING SPONSOR!

This brought me back, my hands forfeiting his hair, and pushing my body backwards. The back of my head bumped the cabinet behind me, but not hard enough to care.

His pupils were blown wide, making his irises appear to be entirely black.

“Leena…I…I’m so fucking sor-“ But before he could finish, I had hopped down from the counter.

“I have to go.” I padded to the front door, not looking back. I jumped in my truck and nearly peeled away from the driveway, only slowing down to allow the gate to open again.

What the fuck did I just do?

-

I forced myself to sleep that night, refusing to process what all had just happened.

I regretted it the next day, when I woke up with blackened eye crust and stiff from wearing my hair in a ponytail over night.

I had only the forethought to take my jeans and bra off. I cursed myself when I saw my reflection the following morning. It was horrendous.

My hair was askew, half ripped from the ponytail. My eyes were bloodshot, which is odd given I didn’t think I had cried. Maybe I cried on my way home? Who knows. I actively tried to block it all out.

This was unacceptable behavior from me. I’m the responsible one. The older one. The sober-senior, so to speak.

To only add insult to injury, I had forgotten to grab my energy drinks last night, so I was stuck making a good old fashioned cup of coffee with my barely used Keurig.

While I waited for it to brew, I grabbed my phone out of my purse, groaning when I saw it was on 24% battery. I didn’t even plug it in.

I did notice that I had several fresh texts. One from Laura, one from Abel, and one from Noah.

Naturally, I wanted to open Laura’s first, but my morals forced me to open Noah’s first. He might need his sponsor (which is all I am to him).

Noah: Leena, I can’t even begin to tell you how awful I feel. I’m so so so so so so so sorry. I completely understand if you don’t want to sponsor me anymore. Please just let me know you made it home safe.

Fuck that guy, and how god damn sweet he was. He shouldn’t be apologizing, I should. I should know better.

The text had come in at 11:46PM, right after I left. I sighed, typing a fast response.

Me: Please don’t apologize. It’s not your fault. I’m sorry. I can still sponsor you, maybe we just see each other in group only?

I added a smiley face to hopefully convey that I wasn’t actually angry at him.

His response came too fast for me to ignore.

Noah: I understand. See you Tuesday. I’ll call if I need you.

I felt like the message was almost cold, but I ignored it.

I didn’t even bother texting Laura before calling her.

“Hey babes! I’m so fucking tired this morning. I don’t know how I thought I was going to make it through work today. My back is kill-“

I had to cut her off. “He fucking kissed me.”

The other end went completely silent.

“What?!?!” Her shrill voice mimicked my own panic.

“Yup.”

“I fucking knew you liked him!”

I sneered. “Didn’t you hear me?! He kissed me!”

“Oh okay, so you pushed him off?”

I hesitated. I did, just after being an entire fucking moron for at least two minutes. “Y-Yes.”

My voice was such a God damn traitor.

“Oh no, Leena.” Her tone was serious now. I didn’t even have the balls to respond. “This is bad, babe. You can’t fall for your sponsee.”

“Fall for him?!” My turn to be shrill. “I don’t even know him!”

Poor Angel whined at me from down near my legs. I padded to the back door and let him out.

“Exactly! And see how drawn to him you are already! You need to stay away from him.”

“I’m his sponsor, Laura. I can’t exactly ditch the guy.”

She sighed. “No, but you can keep a distance.”

“Yeah. I told him we should only see each other in group.”

“What did he say?” I read her his response. She tsk’ed. “He’s butthurt.”

“He has a girlfriend.”

“Apparently one he can’t care about too much.”

I sighed. “It’s the alcohol withdrawal, dude. It makes you do stupid shit. Makes you crave…stuff.”

“Like hot little brunette girls?” I rolled my eyes.

“Oh my fucking god.”

She laughed then. “I’m fucking with you.”

“Please don’t. I’m fucking struggling here.” I groaned loudly. “I want a drink so bad.”

Her tone changed. “Babes?” I hung my head over the kitchen counter. “Maybe you should call your sponsor.”

My head snapped up. “You’re right. I’m going to.”

“Call me later if you want.”

I agreed and hung up. Scrolling through my phone, I called the one person I trusted more than myself.

The phone rang only a second before his voice rang out on the other end. “Hey! You okay?”

“Hey Daddy. No, I’m not.”

-

After a good two hour talk with my Dad, a scalding hot shower, and three pieces of cinnamon toast, I was curled up in bed, arm slung over Angel who thoroughly enjoyed our lazy days, watching The Conjuring. It was nearly 8PM, and I had no other plans. My day off tomorrow would be for laundry and cleaning. Maybe a run? Today was for sulking and healing.

Which I could do, if my phone didn’t start ringing.

Noah’s name flashed across the screen and I groaned before fixing my tone.

“Hello?”

“When does this stop being so fucking hard?” His voice was agitated, and much louder than I was used to. He was worked up, which was dangerous when you’re trying not to drink.

I sat up straight in bed, hitting pause on my remote.

“Noah, what happened?”

I heard him huffing on the other end of the phone. “No, answer that for me. Fucking, please!” He was yelling now.

I stiffened my voice. “Noah, please don’t yell at me.”

I heard him take three calculated breaths.

“I’m sorry. I’m just pissed off.”

I nodded, as if he could see. “It’s okay. Talk to me, what happened?”

“Lily and I got into a fight.”

“Lily?”

“My girlfriend.” I felt my confidence slip.

“Oh.”

“Yeah. I tried to tell her I didn’t want to meet her for drinks. That I was still sick. She told me I had been acting so weird and told me I’ve been so off lately.”

I laid back on my pillows, letting him continue to vent.

“Which says a lot because the only difference is, I’ve been fucking SOBER! I’ve been working my ass off to get better, and she tells me I’m essentially boring. Like, I’m a vocalist for fuck’s sake! Alcohol murders my voice! I can’t sing for shit when I’ve been drinking! And I always end up fighting someone. Some rando at the bar, or Nick, or Jolly. It’s a miracle I haven’t been arrested!”

His rant was only getting stronger.

“I want to get healthy. I want to be better. And that’s me being off? She hasn’t even noticed I’ve been sober!”

He made a sound that was something of a growling, which made my stomach flip. I ignored it. But I could hear his breathing slow.

“Feel better?” My voice was small, unsure if he was quite done.

His voice snorted on the other end. “Yeah, I do, actually.”

I smiled, sad. “Good.”

The line was quiet for a few, just breathing from each end.

“Maybe it’s time to tell her, Noah? Maybe you should tell all of them. You’ll be surprised who may support you.” He shrugged.

“I don’t know how.”

“I get that, but you know them better than anyone else. You got this. I’m sure they love you, and will understand.” I’m not sure, but he needs the comfort right now.

“Thanks Mileena.” I had never heard him say my full name. “Sorry for calling.”

I laughed. “Never apologize for needing your sponsor.”

“My friend?”

This made me pause, but I did respond. “Of course.”

[5and3nevermind]

🐱: Jimin, let’s get you shirtless and do a dance just like that.

🐥: I’m on it.

🎬: [cut]

⚠️ 🤡 Speculation ahead:

Ok, I included that moment at the top because I want to start with something positive before we get into this.

I don’t believe in the “2018/2019 break-up” theories. I just don’t see it. And trust me, I’ve looked for it because let’s be honest…you can’t have a break-up without a relationship to begin with, right? In other words, you could argue that it would actually help prove that yoonmin is “real.” Not to mention the fact that many yoonminers see a rift during that time. It’s human nature to want to see what everyone else is seeing. No one likes feeling like “I must be missing something.” But…I have looked and I don’t see it. During that time, we do see some restraint when it comes to their physical affection, but there are enough wonderful moments scattered throughout that time that I just don’t see a break-up. That’s my opinion, and I understand I’m kind of on my own on this. 😉

Now…where I do see some bumps in the road is late 2019 and early 2020. This includes Jimin’s visit to the Shadow set, which clearly didn’t go the way Jimin had hoped and which was still the subject of some debate a couple months later at the MOTS7 purple sweater day. (Sorry, I can never remember the official name of anything.)

The Black Swan contemporary dance reaction video, where that screenshot at the top came from, was released on 200119…in other words, right in the midst of this period.

I see good and bad here. Yoongi says Jimin should do a shirtless dance too. Jimin says that Yoongi’s video (I assume this was a reference to Interlude: Shadow) was amazing.

On the other hand, there were some little bickering moments in this video that don’t quite feel like the “for fun” Tom-and-Jerry bickering that we’re used to.

But enough about that! Rather than dwelling on the negative, what I find incredible is the way we are able to see them repair this problem (whatever it was). Because that’s what people who are extremely close do. With Yoongi and Jimin, we see them making extra efforts to fix things throughout mid 2020. They put in the effort and emotional energy to rectify things. And we see the result of this effort during surgery era when Jimin was so attentive and concerned about Yoongi, and Yoongi in turn was appreciative and outspoken about Jimin’s support.

- at the MOTS7 event, Yoongi mentions that Jimin showed up at the Shadow set and that he appreciated it even though he didn’t express that at the time. Remember, at this point we hadn’t seen the visit yet. So Yoongi isn’t saying this for our benefit. He’s saying it for Jimin.

- radio live in May 2020: Yoongi brings up the fact that Jimin did not show up to the Daechwita set and asks why. They discuss it pretty openly, the fact that Jimin had wanted him to ask. He wanted to be appreciated more fully/openly. 🐱: “Do I have to beg?” 🐥: “Of course!” Bravo to Jimin for being up-front about this and telling Yoongi what he wants. And bravo for Yoongi for listening and then demonstrating that he understood…

- also during that live: Yoongi lists the times in which he’s publicly stated that Jimin is special to him. He also mentions that he originally wrote People for Jimin.

- and let’s not forget Yoongi’s absolutely glowing intro for Jimin that day, and Jimin getting so giggly and telling Yoongi he loves his radio voice.

- during ITS, Yoongi invites Jimin into the trailer to listen to songs he is working on. We know one of those songs was Amygdala, which is very special and personal to Yoongi. We also know this song was for Yoongi’s solo album, not BE. So, Jimin’s role as Music PM was not the reason Yoongi invited him to hear the song.

- also during ITS, we see Yoongi make an effort to spend time with Jimin. They ride together in the car, do woodcarving together, play video games. Yoongi makes an effort to invite Jimin to participate, especially in the gaming.

- Yoongi was very vocal about wanting Jimin to be the music pm for BE, and he praised him more than once for his efforts during the BE promotional period.

- and then sprinkle in a dash of matching shirts during the yoonminjin dance live.

We are talking about real adults in a real relationship/friendship/partnership/whatever you want to call it. There will be challenging spots along the way. That’s an absolute guarantee. What tells me a lot about yoonmin and their bond is that we see a problem and then we get to see them implement a solution. To me, from my perspective as a yoonminer, I think all of this shows that they’re willing to put in the effort to overcome hurdles when they come across them. It also shows a lot of emotional maturity/emotional intelligence on both of their parts.

Sorry I didn’t link to receipts for all of this because I had a lot to say, but feel free to ask if you’d like a source for any of this.

[theirishwolfhound]

Kyle "Gaz" Garrick Headcanons

My thoughts on pretty boy Kyle are actually relatively new. The longer I spend reading and writing about him for my own purposes, the more I absolutely fall in love with this man. As a collective whole here on Tumblr, as far as I’ve seen, we’ve collectively decided that Kyle is the heartthrob of the Task Force.  In this I'll cover the basics that will be prevalent in my own fics, if you wish to use any feel free, they're mostly rambles as is :)

“Oh come off it, sweetheart.”

Age: I wholeheartedly believe he’s older than Soap, but younger than Ghost, so between 27- 33. Personally I think he would be 29-30. With a bit of research it is said he enlisted in 2008 when he was 16, so I’m more inclined to believe he’s 30. (not me having to fix my own fucking story because I fucked the math up and got their ages wrong like a stupid moron) Sexaulity: Omnisexual, like he’s definitely some sort of queer and it’s hard to place him. Would he love a pretty lady or man? Absolutely, just as much as he would love a more rugged woman or man. -As for his own gender, I don’t think he would really care what pronouns he’s given so he could just be a cisgendered man who’s comfortable with himself or he’s just gender nonconforming. Height & Weight: Definitely 6’/182 cm and weighs roughly 198 lbs, I see him as a toned athletic man for sure.  Personality: Just like in the game, Gaz has to be sassy. We love sassy men who can match vibes. He’s the guy you want to go clubbing with, not only because he’s fun as hell but because he makes you feel safe at the same time. You give him an attitude he returns it with little effort and it either matches the energy you gave or it surpasses it. -He’s very comfortable with himself. Secure with showing both masculine and feminine traits. Give the man a crop top and a skirt he’ll wear them for you. He’ll let you paint his nails, do his makeup, ect.  Birthday: September 26th, 1992 (I'm using 2022)

Car Or Truck?: It honestly depends. I feel like he could potentially have both given his current vibes. But I would see him with a car, a nice sleek car with leather seats and a bumper sticker that says: “If at first you don’t succeed, call an airstrike.” given to him by Soap. -Specifically thinking of a core model BMW 740i xDrive Sedan, dark charcoal grey in color, glossy coat and dark windows. Cat or Dog?: He has the silliest dog that stays with his parents. I think it is a boxer, or a boxer mix of some sort, that has almost the same personality as Kyle. Boxers are a hyper and goofy breed of dog, and he is very certain that if he knew Soap before he got the dog he would've named it after him. Favorite Food: Vindaloo, specifically lamb Vindaloo. He just seems like the person who would prefer the more savory foods. As well as spicy foods. And if he had to go with something sweet, he’d go for a lemon drizzle cake.  Favorite Drinks: This man drinks fruity cocktails without fear of judgment just as easily as he drinks whiskey, and for non-alcoholic drinks he's a big tea, latte, and ginger ale fan for sure.  Favorite Music: 2000-2010’s music for sure. This man knows Britney Spears’ Toxic like us Americans know the pledge of allegiance.  Song I think Fits their Vibes: Feel The Way I Do- The Jungle Giants Hobbies: Gives off the vibes of a man who taught himself how to play guitar and jewelry making. Makes Soap bracelets and teaches him how to make them as well. More physical activities might be running and swimming. Fears: Oddly enough, not really, falling. It's not a terrible fear, it just gets his heart racing enough that he steers clear of the helicopter doors until they land. 

“Why don’t we go this way? Y’know, away from the edge, yeah?”

Familial Relationships: Has a relatively good relationship with his mom and dad, they probably live somewhere closeish to his flat in London. They would have a key to take care of the plants on the inside for sure. Has an older sister and a younger brother. They’re all fairly close and he’ll visit them on his leaves if he has the chance, otherwise they all have a group chat to check in with one another.  Relationships with the team: I definitely think this varies based on what sort of relationship you’re seeking to read/write about. I try to always write polyamory, as a poly-person I like having the representations.  Price: Coming from someone who loves PriceGaz, they are either the best mentor and trainee coupling or the most judgemental couple. They can read each other relatively well and work together rather well. (Though they equally get on each other's nerves.) Soap: Definitely best friends if they’re not dating, they get up to the most interesting shenanigans. They’d go clubbing in matching outfits and are annoyingly catty together.  Ghost: As lovers and friends, they’re totally the ones that would seek quiet comfort from one another. They have secret tea time and share snacks. Totally make fun of Soap's hair if it's in need of a shave.  Love Language: Physical Touch and Gift Receiving/Giving. He'll do a skin care routine with you, massages, and he'll make sure to buy the stuff for it to give to you or you to him if you get him something. He knows what makeup you wear or what size to buy your clothes in to surprise you. 

Civilian or Military Lover: Prefers civilian lovers over other soldiers, but like he’d date other soldiers given they’re the right person.  What would their civilian job be?: I see Kyle being a Paramedic, like he’d be the one I’d ask for if I fell in the shower because he’s not gonna make fun of me and he’s hot. How’s their charisma: Rizz Master, man. I'm convinced he's got a smolder that'll knock the clothes off of anyone lucky. Voice is smooth like honey and sweet to boot, he's an interrogation expert— he's gotta have a way with words. What would your first date be? Hard to say. I think he'd take you out to a coffee/tea house or you'd go get Ramen. But in reality I know it would be put up to a mutual agreement. He’d totally pay the bill and makes sure you never even get to see the slip. What would they call you? “Baby” is definitely one of the top ones, but I think the next contenders are as followed: “Sweetheart” and “Pretty/Handsome”

“Gonna make me feel pretty, baby?”

Size: Gonna have to say he's not the biggest or longest but I agree with the post that said he's the prettiest of the four cocks. A neat 6.5 in, circumcised, hits the right spots and he knows how to use it well.  Kinks: Bondage, Exhibitionism, and Sensation Play Position?: Pretty boy Kyle is a complete switch, though has a more dominant leaning personality. He’ll let you top, but he's gonna boss you around while you do it.  Sharing?? Kyle loves to share. He is inclined to share with his team, after all those are his best friends and his brothers-in-arms, they saved his life many times— just a little peek won’t hurt. Song that fits his vibe in the bedroom:  Swim - CHASE ATLANTIC

[emchante]

You captured the moment when Daniel would see you pull up and jump in excitement SO WELL, you absolutely understood what I had in mind 🫶

Passenger prince Danny has three modes — jamming his heart out, recline the seat and take a quick nap or stare at you as you drive. When he’s not singing along to his car playlist, he’s either passed out, mouth open, not even driving over a bump wakes him up type asleep and you have to shake his ass awake when you get home OR he’s unabashedly admiring you, taking note of the way you switch gears or park in your own specific way and he’s just so happy to be with you in the car 🥰

~🫠

IM SO GLAD!! we share the same brain cell, i’m so sure of it.

AND OH MY GOD YES!! let’s delve into the three moods, shall we?

jamming his heart out — oh this is just.. absolutely daniel. we’ve all seen the old and newer car singing videos, we know what he’s like. he’s so expressive too, using his hands to mimic the words or instruments— you’d honestly be having your own private show in the car.

a happier, upbeat song? oh he’s singing as loudly as he can, hitting the (invisible) drums as he sings along. a sad, more quiet song? oh he’s singing quietly, there’s emotion in his voice and he often reaches out for you, and when you go to grab his hand he moves it away, out of reach. a more metal type of song? oh, he is screaming his heart out, eyes screwed shut as he makes sure to sing shout every lyric correctly.

he absolutely loves playing some of the songs that you both have deemed your songs though, and when he does? my god, daniel is singing to you the full car ride, leaning over for small pecks or kisses on the cheek between each song.

sleeping — oh this boy is a heavy sleeper, i’ve seen the photos. at first you always had your music lowered when he fell asleep, you know.. to be respectful. but soon into the relationship you realised it could be almost at full volume, and daniel would still be snoring away. you take great pleasure in taking photos of him sleeping when you stopped for a read light— mouth opened with a little drool falling from his lips.

when you arrive home and he’s still sleeping, you do your best to wake him up. it starts with a soft call of his name and a gentle shake. but he sleeps through it. so then, it’s a more rough shake, you’re speaking at your normal tone as you call out a “daniel.” he’s still sleeping. so then you’re shouting his name, shaking his body and it takes a few seconds before a mix of a gasp and snore escapes him. he slowly opens his eyes, turning to you before shutting them again. he stretches, groaning until he lets out a deep sigh, falling further into the seat.

“one minute sweetheart, i’ll be out in a minute.” he is much longer than a minute.

admiring you — honestly, this is the most common of the three. daniel is so loved up with you, he just loves to stare at you. it’s not creepy or weird, he’s just.. so enamoured by you, how could he not? he’s so fascinated by how you have your own little way of doing things. whether it’s the way you slightly hover above your seat as you look into the rear view mirror, or how you stick out your tongue when you’re focusing on parking the car perfectly— he loves all of your little quirks.

you’ll often catch him staring at you as you drive, and you love to tease him about it. “all good, lover boy?” is your go to, and you revel in the bashful smile that takes over his face, and the red that tints his cheeks. or, sometimes you surprise him by leaning to place a quick kiss on his lips suddenly, and it leaves daniel with widened eyes. teasing daniel isn’t something you get to do often— he is the teaser of the relationship— but you love being able to get your chance at doing so, as his bashful, shy reactions are something you never want to forget.

NONNIE PLEAAASE this is actually the cutest thing EVER my heart is so full and i’m so <33 UR IDEAS ARE ALWAYS THE GREATEST!!

[frankenjoly]

Kiss me or crash me

tachigin + things you said i wish you hadn’t // things you said when you thought i was asleep (+they both get to drive)

“You’re obviously mad at me, and–” Tachihara had barely finished talking when Gin already started rolling their eyes, careful enough to not lose sight of the road ahead while doing so; she would be guilty of recklessness, but that was more about speed and disregarding a signal every now and then than not paying attention to what was going on around him.

Instead of replying with words, also, they simply offered him a huff accompanying the aforementioned gesture.

“Lemme finish? Please?” He replied, and that was how Tachihara earned himself another eyeroll. “Oh, c’mon. I know it’s legit, with what I did. Just– please, hear me out for a sec.” Groaning, Gin changed directions slightly, pulling over on the road’s shoulder to stop the car and properly reply with signing. No, they wouldn’t give him spoken words, not yet at least. 

Not after that had happened.

‘Four years, Tachihara.’ They started out, pointing at him straight on the chest with more force than necessary. ‘Four fucking years. All lies. And you’ve been to my place, slept there, shared meals with me and Ryû. Everything.’ For fucks’ sake, he even had a toothbrush in Gin’s bathroom at that point, and some spare clothes in their closet, pajamas included. ‘All lies.’

“Gin, I–” As they spoke, Tachihara’s expression changed from bothered to clearly upset. To his credit, he only faltered slightly. “That was all real, Gin. Wasn’t part of the plan, wasn’t supposed to happen. But it did, and I don’t regret it. Please never doubt that.” 

To be fair, Gin didn’t know if that was better or worse. 

Had it been all part of the facade, they could be angry without regrets. But, at the same time, knowing their relationship was true brought a comfort he hadn’t felt in quite some time around him. And it was eating her up from the inside.

[Hours later]

“I’ve royally fucked up, I know.” They heard Tachihara say from the driver’s seat, in barely a whisper. There was no music playing and the road was likely as empty as when she had curled up in the backseat trying to sleep at least a little, so listening was child’s play.

Besides, Gin prided himself in having a great sense of hearing, cultivated ever since their days at the slums.

“I– I know you and the old man knowin’ I did it all so you’d get as less harmed as possible’s barely enough to still lemme be part of the team with no issue at work, and things ain’t gonna be the same between us anywhere else.” Tachihara’s voice started to break, but they didn’t open his eyes just yet; no, Gin wanted to hear it all first. It might be a bit selfish, but damn, after all that had happened he very much had the right to. “I know that’s what I deserve for lyin’ to you all this time. And yet–”

There was a pause then, but not silence, for it was filled with some muffled sobs coming at regular intervals. Plus, soon Gin too found herself trying to fight their own tears, which could come off as an obstacle in pretending to be asleep.

Good thing they were facing away from him.

“I still hope things’ll change and you’ll forgive me one day.”

Gin changed her mind in a matter of mere seconds, when they couldn’t take it anymore and his current position posed a bit of an obstacle in reaching Tachihara, even if nothing that could stop them for long since the only thing needed was rolling over. Then, once she was facing forward instead of towards the backseat, they also stretched out one arm to grab Tachihara’s hand.

Words would come later on, when they were both in a better mood to talk.

(Also on ao3.)

[luvrsux]

𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒊𝒙

❝ 𝒅𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒌 & 𝒋𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒐𝒖𝒔 ❞

other chapters

➠┊word count: 7.7k

➠┊characters: trafalgar law, shachi, penguin, ikkaku, roronoa zoro, portgas d. ace, sabo, nami, monkey d. luffy {mentioned}

➠┊cw: mentions of alcohol use, mentions of marijuana use, arguing, minor swearing, angst

➠┊modern au !!

𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒑

❛ after you two finally sealed the deal in laws car, you and law have been dating for quite some time. you two built a strong connection and strong love for eachother for a few months, but relationships aren’t perfect… ❜

{colors for dialogue may switch when other characters are introduced}

»•» song choice: whats up - malcom todd «•«

・❥・

Girl I wanna play the game

Baby you know what's up It's always been the same

Cause you just need my love

And I need you to stay

Baby you know it's hard I'll make it go away

You hummed the song playing before you in a chair. You had a loving smile plastered on your face while gazing at the person in front of you playing music beautifully. You were caught in a complete trance, and nothing could rip you away from it. The Earthy scent of marijuana flooding the room, the people sitting around you, nothing could rip you away from giving your new boyfriend the attention his voice deserved.

Law performed his small band in front of you and his other friends in his basement. You and the raven boy have been in a relationship for roughly a few months or so, and each day has been better than the last. Law, surprisingly, took you on frequent dates and surprised you in your window at night whenever he pleased. You couldn’t have asked for a better partner, and here he was. You’d been attending his little performances every weekend to show your appreciation, sometimes even after school during the week. Not only did you fall in love with the man himself, but his music was nearly impossible to not get hypnotized to.

You sat next to one of Law’s band members, who would be in the performance in front if Law hadn’t taken the spotlight in singing, Ikkaku. She pulled the rolled-up drug out of her lips and exhaled.

“So you and Law have been dating for a little now, huh?” She asked with a sluggish smile and rose eyes. You finally disconnected your trance from him and paid attention to the intoxicated vocalist, the music playing in the background.

“Oh, yeah we have” You smiled proudly. Ikkaku nodded slowly and nudged your shoulder.

“Aren’t you one of a kind then. I’ve been trying so hard to get that loser a girlfriend since freshman year” She giggled. You reciprocated and turned your head back to the singing boy.

“I guess I am. I’m honestly surprised” You gushed. You never would’ve thought out of all people, Law would pick you as a partner in crime.

“I remember the day he told us he got a girlfriend, it was hilarious” Ikkaku smiled. You raised an eyebrow, remembering that Law never told you how his friends reacted to the rather big news.

According to the girl, everyone was baffled. Especially since it was you, of all people. They’d assume you were popular and well known considering the jock you were latched onto throughout the halls of Grand Ocean. Upon hearing the news, they treated it as of Law survived a terminal illness or a train wreck. You couldn’t help but giggle at Ikkaku’s explanation, that could’ve been fabricated to her own amusement.

I thought that you would want my hand but now

I love you can't be sad

Go be free I'll get on with no dread

I'll find a new focus to free me

I thought that you would go away but we would always feel the same

More dummy more money you think the things you show me are so funny it's not funny

Law began the song's iconic guitar solo. The way his hands fluently plucked the strings with complete ease made your cheeks flare up. The music made goosebumps trail up your spine and body. Law had his eyes shut and a prideful grin on his face as his solo filled the entire room with his sheer talent. You slowly grew a beaming smile, all the way to the very end.

You clapped your hands and gave a small cheer at his talent. You caught a glimpse, even through the colorful LED lights and slight clouds of transparent smoke, of his happy smile with your loving support—which he appreciated more than anything. Law pressed his lips close to the mic and performed the last verse.

I thought that you would want my hand but now

I love you can't be sad

Go be free I'll get on with no dread

I'll find a new focus to free me

I thought that you would go away but we would always feel the same

More dummy more money you think the things you show me are so funny it's not funny

Shachi hit the last note on the drum and Penguin let go of his guitar that was supported by a strap once the song concluded. Law ran his fingers through his damp locks that were caused by his own sweat. He had a smile as soon as you lifted your relaxed body to jump on his own. His chest was slightly moist but you didn’t care. You absolutely adored his performance like any other.

“You liked it?” He chuckled, supporting your body with his arm and holding your cheek with his palm. You looked up at his steel eyes with excitement.

“Duh, of course! You always do amazing” You giggled. Law planted a chaste kiss on your lips in front of everyone. Law loved one main thing about you, and that was how you weren’t afraid to publicly display your affection towards him—in a moderate manner, of course. You heard Shachi playfully gag from behind.

“You two are gross…” Penguin sighed, leaning over to another person in the basement to grab ahold of the rolled, smoking drug.

“Get a room!” Shachi said, cupping his mouth with his hands to project his voice louder.

Obviously, you two both heard the teasing boys loud and perfectly clear. Law had a smile on his face as he continued to leave kisses on your happy lips, all while pulling up a loving middle finger to both Penguin and Shachi.

“Alright, lover boy” You cooed, pulling your body away from your boyfriend. He took your separation as a chance to finally pull off the instrument on his body and place it gently on its designated stand.

“Have somewhere to be?” Law asked as he watched you step down from the mini, hand-made stage and to grab your jacket you immediately tore off from the high temperature of the room.

“I do, yeah” You responded. Law stood closely next to you while you situated your belongings in your palms.

“I’m throwing Ace’s birthday party at my place. Nami and Sabo are helping me set it up” You explained. You finally turned your body to the raven boy that had his hands on his hips.

“I see, I can give you a ride and help out if you’d like” Law offered. Your face grew a happy smile knowing you’d be able to spend more time with your lover like you always yearn for.

“Of course, baby” You sang, kissing his cheek in the process. Law chuckled and ruffled your hair, turning his body to Ikkaku who was in the middle of rolling a new round.

“Meet me outside in a few, just need to grab my things” Law informed, snagging the freshly rolled drug from Ikkaku and receiving an angry punch in his thigh in the process.

You hummed and waved the room goodbye, to which you were quite fond of by your frequent visits. You thought Law’s friends were a pleasure to be around, despite the fact they were barely sober half the time. You always reeked of the iconic smell back at home and prayed your mother didn’t catch on. She loved Law and she’d hate to find out he actually did a few things here and there that people wouldn’t take too kindly. You didn’t want to be the one to jeopardize that.

Luckily, you wouldn’t have to deal with that. On this current weekend that dwelled upon you, your mother was out on a business trip that would pay her more money than usual. You thought it’d be perfect to celebrate your dear friend’s birthday on the day you had zero supervision.

There you stood outside of Law’s car, dowsing your body in your handy perfume to dull the pungent smell of weed. As soon as your body smelled more like strong chemicals than the infamous drug, you stood there satisfied and waited for your tall, tatted boyfriend to arrive.

“Sorry, that idiot Shachi moved my keys and we spent ages trying to find them” Your boyfriend huffed after he bolted to the car. You had been standing beside the vehicle for a few minutes and figured Law had been so high, he'd forget about your newfound plans. You giggled.

“I thought you passed out. I was ready to hijack your car” You watched him walk to the driver's side to finally unlock the doors.

“Just because your car is bad doesn’t mean you have to steal mine, sweetheart” He laughed. He placed a hand on the headrest to turn his body towards the back window. You watched him pull out of the driveway, and this position was oddly attractive to you.

“Hey, my car isn’t that bad! Respect your elders!” You crossed your arms. Law just replied with a chuckle and turned his body to proceed down the road.

Now, in contrast to the first few visits you had in Law’s car, he had a tender hand squeeze your thigh each drive you had with him. Each time you felt his printed hand on your thigh, you formed a sheepish smile with tinted cheeks. You’d gaze at it like it was painting in a museum each car ride. Sometimes, Law would rub your thigh as a silent way of saying ‘I love you, and I got you’, and you’d feel a fuzzy blanket form around your body each time. Sure, Law displayed a stone-cold, nonchalant attitude in front of anyone, including you, but he did the subtle things that made you feel loved.

“How many people are going to be at the party?” Law asked. You were locked on your phone that you were mindlessly scrolling onto to pass the time. You hum and click your tongue at Law’s question.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if the majority of the school came. I invited everyone” You replied. Law blew a raspberry with widened eyes, seemingly not expecting an answer like that.

“Good luck cleaning that up, (F/N)-ya” He reminded. You shrugged, fully aware of what the aftermath may look like but your mother wouldn’t be home until after the weekend came to a close so you had plenty of time to tidy up the reckless mess.

“You’re coming, right?” You asked, turning your head to the focused driver beside you.

“Yeah, I will. Just for a little, I don’t do parties” Law sighed. Law didn’t want to go at all but considering his partner was going to be there, probably intoxicated, he had no other choice but to go.

“Party pooper…” You muttered.

“Don’t make me cry, (F/N)-ya”

Law finally pulled up to your home only to see two other cars in front you were familiar with, unlike your boyfriend beside you. His overprotectiveness completely washed over, making the grip on your thigh get firmer. You giggled, admiring his protectiveness.

“Relax, it’s just Nami and Sabo. I gave them keys to my place just in case I was late” Those words eased up Law’s tension.

You both exited out of the car and into the house. Law was right behind your tail, keeping a comfortable distance. Although he had his hands in his pockets and his head turned away, you knew he always had his guard up to protect you. You secretly gave a sweet smile before entering the building.

“(F/N)! You’re here!” Nami, who was standing straight up on your kitchen island hanging decorations, gleams at your entrance. You gave the orange-haired girl a happy wave.

Sabo comes cautiously down the stairs with a box of what seemed to be more party supplies. He placed the box down beside the couch, wiping off his forehead and exhaling.

“Good to see you, (F/N). Oh, and you too Law” Sabo greeted. Law only hummed nonchalantly at Sabo’s greeting. Your eyes trailed to a tall, bulky, green-haired man sprouting from the same steps Sabo was once on.

“Zoro?” You asked. He cluelessly looked in your direction and just waved his hand.

“Oh, yeah I brought him along to help with the heavy lifting and stuff” Nami finished hanging the decorations up top and plopped on her bottom on the island.

“Awesome! Now we have two tall guys helping out” You giggled, turning up to your tiresome boyfriend behind. Law placed a hand on your head before he strutted passed you.

“Let’s get to work. Party’s in a few hours” He says, lifting the party box on the counter to lift the lid off.

Everyone agrees and proceeds to finish decorating the house from top to bottom in decorations. Each piece of decor was a shade of red or orange for Ace’s typical color pallet. On the very front, big shiny lettering displayed ‘Happy Birthday, Fire Fist Ace!’ and under displayed an ‘18’ at the bottom. All that was left was food, drinks, and, of course, the guests.

“Sanji should be coming with the food soon. Zoro is getting the booze” Nami stated. You happily clapped your hands together in excitement, knowing that your dearest friend would be through the roof of happiness by this party.

“Why do I have to get the booze!?"

“Because you’re always drinking, moron! Be useful!”

“I have been, you witch! I might as well have skipped gym day today with all this heavy lifting I’ve been doing!”

“Oh, shut up! You’re lucky I’m not even compensating you that much for the drink run”

“You what!?”

You giggled at the big brother, little sister troupe Zoro and Nami displayed. You felt a hand turn your body to meet a bigger, taller one. You looked up to see your exhausted boyfriend standing in front.

“I’m gonna head out and study for my medical exam. I’ll see you at the party, okay?” He held your hands from below. You exhaled, the sight of those dark circles was concerning to you.

“Are you sure you won’t overwork yourself? You’ve been studying for this exam forever. You’ve barely gotten sleep!” You trailed your thumb to his dark eyes. Law carved a side smile.

“Relax, I’ll be fine. I wanna pass this, that’s all” He grabbed your hand that lingered on his face to give it a quick peck.

“I’ll miss you…” You murmur. Law plants a soft kiss on your forehead and ruffles your hair once more.

“I’ll be here soon, don’t worry. Be safe” He gave you one tender embrace before pulling away to leave the house. You gave him a small wave, slightly pained to see him go so soon.

“You two must be really happy with each other,” Nami says from behind. You hum and turn your body. Nami was far from wrong. You smiled proudly.

“Of course, he’s the sweetest if he’s not a sarcastic prick” You giggle. Nami smiles, sliding her body off of the marbled island.

“I honestly thought you and Ace would be together, not ever Law” Nami giggled, stretching her body.

You couldn’t help but exhale a nervous laugh, not really sure of what to think by that statement. You were sure you strictly displayed your and Ace’s relationship as sibling-like. On top of the fact, you took pride in your relationship with Trafalgar.

“I’d rather die than be in a relationship with that idiot” Is all you could muster up. Sabo and Nami exchanged laughter at your comment. You decided to brush off the discomfort for now.

Law, not even a few feet off the steps, heard the conversation from beyond the door. Nami’s comment made his heart sting just a bit, already slightly on edge of your inseparable relationship with the fire fist. He just exhaled and proceeded to his own car to make his merry way back home.

・❥・

Law found himself staring at a blank notebook page with a cracked open textbook that’s been sitting on the same anatomy page for over a half an hour. He had his clouded head resting on his palm, tapping his mechanical pencil on that same blank page. Law barely studied for his upcoming exam, mainly because it wasn’t necessary, but also because his brain was preoccupied from you.

The boy found himself wondering why of all people you chose him to be with and not Ace. Law wasn’t the insecure type, but based off of Nami’s judgment and assumption, it left him a pit of despair. He loved you, dearly, but he couldn’t help but wonder why he got to have this type of relationship with you. He internally began to make a venn diagram of him and Ace with their talents and attributes. So far, Ace slowly exceeded. To prevent his mind from going further into the trenches, he drew a quick sketch of your own side profile—knowing it from the back of his hand. He smiled, seeing how it progressively began to look more like you. His heart was truly full of nothing but you, aside from music and art of course.

Law’s phone finally buzzed.

(F/N) - 8:46 P.M

[Attachment: 2 Images] how does this outfit look???

There you sent two images to Law of yourself. One of which was, what he thought, your adorable face, and the second was the single weakness Law had upon seeing it. You wore a dress that wrapped around your body beautifully and Law felt his cheeks burn up several degrees. He felt his thumbs tremble before beginning to type a response.

Law - 8:48 P.M

thank god i’m going or else everyone would be gawking over you

(F/N) - 8:49 P.M

never saw you as the jealous type &lt;;33 i’ll see you soon, luv i love you

Law smiled at your message, completely at ease by your simple notification. All his negative thoughts began to wash away knowing you loved him just as much as he loved you. Finally, Law began to scribble down words that were relevant to the medical field.

Meanwhile, you were welcoming guests inside. You wanted everyone to arrive before Ace did, and you had the perfect plan for it. No one spoke a word to the jock about his surprise birthday party just as you asked. Sanji was cooking in your kitchen, despite him already bringing platters upon platters of food. He insisted, all while rather flirtatiously, to you that’d he cook a bit more considering Luffy would be running around. Zoro already helped himself to some alcohol but that was no shocker to anyone. The last few stragglers came in until nine o’clock finally struck; the official time of the party.

“Alright everyone hide!” Nami instructed with her powerful voice. Everyone scrambled behind tables and the couch while you dialed the number of the birthday boy.

“Hello-“

“Ace Ace! Please come over now! I think a wolf broke in and I need your help!” You shrieked. Your tone made the party guests believe you for a moment before they realized it was fake. There might as well be an actual wolf.

“Wha-!? Seriously!? I'm on my way, just stay locked in your room or somethin’” Ace said frantically. You held in every bit of laughter in your system to avoid giving away your award-winning act.

“Hurry! I hear it coming up the stairs!” You say, finally hanging up the phone.

“Was that actually necessary?” Zoro said, sitting on a still on your kitchen island sipping on a glass bottle of beer. You glared at him.

“Yes, now go hide. He’s speeding down here as we speak” You pointed your finger. Zoro groaned and sluggishly leaned against a wall that was a fairly long distance from your door.

You peeked through the window that perfectly displayed your front yard. You could see familiar headlights in the long, night distance and scrambled to shut off the lights.

“He’s coming! Everyone be quiet!” You whispered.

Your hands yanked the party popper off a nearby table and held it in your hands. Your body hugged the wall right beside the door, intentionally avoiding where the door would slam against from Ace’s hands.

He burst the door. The sudden shockwave made your body flinch, you thought you almost gave yourself away for a moment. Ace was met with complete darkness, not to mention an intact house despite your cries for help. He expected the place to be in shambles.

“(F/N)!? Are you okay!?” He yelled out. At the sound of his worrisome voice, lights beamed at his freckled face as well as pieces of colorful paper from the party popper you carried.

"Surprise!"

The crowd cheered off in different pitches and volumes. The “audience” clapped and cheered, some even latching onto the man himself who was baffled, to say the least.

“What is this…?” Is all the brunette could say.

You giggled and wrapped your arms around his body. Your giggles, as well as your safe body, made Ace holler in laughter. Ace finally adjusted to the sudden shock and realized it was nothing but a false alarm.

“I was wondering how a wolf would come in if the door was closed” Ace spun your body around in circles before placing you back on your feet.

“You did all this?” He asked. You nodded, picking off bits of colorful paper off of his shaggy hair.

“Yep! All afternoon! Happy Birthday, idiot” You nudge his toned arm. Ace gave you a ruffle of your hair, similar to your boyfriend, and filled the room with more laughter.

The music was now blasting its way down your entire neighborhood, letting all the peaceful sleeping households know the party only just started. You raised a drink in the air with Ace and cheered, but little did you know that wouldn’t be your only drink of the night.

About an hour into the celebration, you were growing slightly tipsy, but you could still speak coherently and control your thoughts. The door opened, revealing a familiar presence you have been missing for hours.

“Laaaaaaw~” You sang, latching your entire body on the raven boy. He chuckled, supporting your loopy body with an arm. He was met with chaste, sloppy kisses on his cheek and lips.

“Hey, hey…” He pulled you off by your shoulders to get a better look at your slightly intoxicated face. He planted a soft kiss on your forehead.

“Missed me that much?” He smiled. You nodded profusely.

“Always” You giggle.

You pull Law into a larger crowd. Seeing the immense crowd was a one-way ticket for his social anxiety to flood his insides, already wanting to bolt out that very door he walked into. Law signed up for this the moment his hand turned that same doorknob, though. Besides, he did this for you and only you. He promised to only stay for about an hour or so.

But Law felt himself wanting to leave earlier. Your clinginess only lasted so long until your body became glued to the man of the Party; Portgas D. Ace. Law drank bottles of beer to fit in, but realistically only had a drink or two. He watched from afar to your friendliness to the birthday boy. He felt himself wanting to smash the bottle in hand and swing it over someone’s head from his pent-up anger.

“I can’t believe (F/N) isn’t dating Ace! I thought they were together until she posted that she’s going out with that Trafalgar guy!”

“I know, right? They’re still cute though”

“But I thought Ace and her would’ve been the cutest!”

“You’re not wrong!”

Those words would be jumbled around over the course of the night Law stayed. He had to faintly hear almost every conversation about it on the sidelines. All his insecurities came flooding back from a small cooldown, but this time you weren’t there to help it relax. In fact, Law felt like you only made it worse.

As soon as he caught a glimpse of you with your arm around Ace’s broad shoulders sharing the same bottle, he felt like he lost it. He threw his bottle somewhere on the table, completely soiling whatever was in its radius.

To be frank, you were drunk out of your mind. What started as a slight buzz turned into a complete blackout. You weren’t thinking. If you were sober, you’d hate to be this close to Ace but nothing stopped either of you. Ace was just as, if not more, intoxicated as you were. Although, neither of you did anything with each other besides drink and obnoxiously sing the lyrics of the songs loudly playing around you.

You felt your arm have a sudden, firm grip around it and detach your arm away from the drunken jock. You yelped. Ready to start throwing punches at whoever grabbed you, you realized it was none other than Law himself. He dragged you upstairs where no one stayed, and the music was beginning to muffle out. The hallway was dark and mellow. You had a loopy, dumbfounded face while Law had eyes ready to murder. He held a strong grip on your shoulders.

“(F/N)-ya I-“

“Babyyyyyy~ I missed youuuu~ Where have you been?” You slurred, swaying your body left and right before you leaned your face against his. Law quickly jolted his head away, which was completely new to you. You raised an eyebrow.

“Hey, what gives? You don’t like my kisses anymore?” You puffed out your bottom lip dramatically before coughing out a fit of giggles.

“Stop, you’re so drunk I can smell it off of you,” Law said, completely unamused. You rolled your eyes and pressed your back against the wall.

“Whatever, whatever. What’s upppp~? In the mood to make out or somethin’?” You winked. Law scoffed, his patience wearing dangerously thin.

“Stop it, (F/N). Please” He said sternly. The fact he didn’t use the iconic nickname he gave you made you pause, but still wobble on your own balance.

“Look, you’ve been glued to Ace all night and… I need you to cut it out. Get some rest while you’re at it” Law said with a pained sigh. You burst into a fit of laughter. The jealous boy couldn’t help but lift an eyebrow.

“You’re funny, babe! C’mon, it’s his birthdayyyy~” You said, your body almost collapsing on itself the more you tried to stand still.

“(F/N), people are starting to think you’re cheating on me with that guy. Relax a bit, would ya? Please, I know your room is this way-“

Law tried extending a hand to escort you to your room, but a sloppy hand slapped it away. Law stared at you with hurt, yet angry, silver eyes. You couldn’t even make out his own face from the immense alcohol intake, but you could make out his words. You glared at him.

“Stop being such a party pooper, Law. I’m trying to have fun!” You scolded.

“Excuse me? So you dancing and being with him all night long is having fun? I’m right here!”

“And? It’s his birthday! Can I have fun just this one day, jeez!” You began to sound like a pre-teen yelling at their parents. Law felt like he was about to burst a blood vessel.

“I get that, (F/N)-ya but you're being ridiculous”

“Well, if you’re so bothered by it then just leave! You don’t even like parties so just leave me alone and let me have my fun! I set up this party, y’know!”

Your words might as well be a harpoon the way it plunged into Law’s heart. He stared at you with widened eyes, not saying a single word. Law couldn’t even give you the benefit of the doubt of the fact you were drunk off your mind so whatever you were saying was deemed fabricated and false because of how distraught he was by your words. The words didn’t hurt him as bad, though. What made everything a hundred times worse for the boy was your angry, careless expression to go along with it like it didn’t phase you a second that you shattered his heart.

“So can I go now?”

After those words, Law pushed passed you with zero remorse left. You were left there in the hallway, whose atmosphere was now filled with despair and animosity, all by yourself. You glared at Law with each step he took downstairs.

The crowd made its way for Law. His steps could bash someone’s skull in and his demeanor gave off the vibe he was about to murder anyone that dared spoke a word to him. Everyone grew quiet once the loud, slamming sound of the door echoed in the room. You stood up top on the steps with a careless smile.

“C’mon! Who said this party was over!?” You shouted, raising a fist. Everyone cheered to your voice as if nothing happened. As if you didn’t unknowingly ruin your relationship.

The rest of the lively night was a blur. The more you took, the more you began to lose control of your body and became blackout drunk. The last thing you remembered was screaming Happy Birthday over cake and everything went dark. To your surprise, you woke up in your bed the following morning.

You never thought sun rays could burn your eyes so bright in the morning but here you were. Wincing like a vampire as soon as you realized the bright morning sun flooded up in your windows to peek through your curtains. Your head was on the verge of exploding from the grueling headache. You winced as you sat up from your bed to realize you were still in your party attire, minus the absence of your heels.

“Fuck, what happened…” You murmured.

You didn’t hesitate to slip your body into more comfortable clothing compared to the tight dress causing more discomfort in your distressed state. Your legs were wobbly and weak but you still managed to make your way down the steps. The living room was not only several times brighter than your room but also looked like a hurricane went through it. A happy, morning Sabo was slowly cleaning up the place while the birthday boy was snoring on the couch with drool.

“Sabo?” You said groggily. Sabo flinched at your voice and quickly exhaled.

“You scared me, (F/N). Slept okay?” He asks with a smile, carrying a full black trash bag. You nod slowly, making your way to the messy kitchen.

“Last night was pretty crazy, huh?” Sabo hummed. He made sure his voice was quiet for you and Ace.

“I barely remember it…” You murmur. The main thing you focused on was grabbing a crisp bottle of water to soothe your body at least a little.

“I don’t doubt it. You were pretty crazy” Sabo gently placed the bag by the door with the rest of them. He began to continue cleaning the place little by little.

“I’ll help out,” You say, grabbing the wooden stick of the broom to sweep the floor from the party.

You two silently cleaned the place from top to bottom. The party aftermath left about five full bags of nothing but trash. You dusted your hands together and shared a high five with Sabo now that the place was clean.

“Free of any evidence” Sabo chuckled. You nodded.

Nothing prevented you from slapping your hand against the slumped boy's cheek to wake him up. Ace didn’t budge until your force grew harder and harder. He groaned and flailed his arms around to push you away.

“Okay, okay I’m up!” His eyes still closed, he sat up from the couch and palmed his eyes. You gave one last light smack beside Ace’s head.

“Morning”

You sat in the seat across from him, yawning. Ace finally fluttered his eyes open with a scrunched-up face.

“What even happened last night?” Ace said groggily. Sabo sighed, ready to explain the chaos he caused.

“You were off the rails with (F/N)” Sabo replied. He turned his body to a growling coffee maker.

“Why are you two here, anyway?” You asked curiously. Ace just replied with a dumbfounded shrug. His response didn't surprise you a drop.

“You two were the drunkest people here, so I stayed to put you both to bed after I forced everyone out. The police were almost called by your neighbors” Sabo chuckled, pouring a steaming hot cup of coffee in a mug.

“Jeez, I guess I threw one hell of a party” You giggled. You flickered your eyes around to see a tall, raven-haired, tattooed boy but nothing. You thought Law would’ve stayed to nurse your hangover but to your surprise, he wasn’t there.

“Where’s Law?” You abruptly asked.

Both of the brothers exchanged eye contact like they knew the answer. Ace said he wasn’t going to be the one to say it through Sabo’s eyes, and he sighed in complete defeat.

“He… left long before the party ended. He seemed pretty upset”

You raised an eyebrow, completely dumbfounded. You traced back the entire night but could only see your moments with the hungover boy in front of you.

“Upset? Why would he be-“

The air in your lungs is suddenly squeezed out by your terrified gasp. Sabo jolted and Ace just looked completely concerned. It finally clicked. The angsty conversation you had with your boyfriend flickered in your brain enough for you to piece it together. You rose up from your seat so quickly, that you grew slightly lightheaded. Your head whipped around your surroundings.

“Wha-? What’s wrong, (F/N)?” Sabo shifted his body away from the kitchen and immediately to you, looking like you’d been attacked by a ghost.

“My phone! I need my phone!” You shrieked. Ace groaned, your voice piercing through his brain.

“I’ll help look. Ace! You too!” Sabo said sternly as if he was a mother of ten kids.

You, as well as the two brothers, scurried around to find your missing cellular device that could’ve been absolutely anywhere. Thanks to your foggy memory and reckless drinking habits, your phone was tucked away in an absurd hiding place that Ace ironically found. You gleamed at the mere sight of it, snatching it off his tired hands.

“What’s wrong anyway? Never seen you so passionate about your phone” Ace said, scratching the back of his head.

“I think I just ruined my relationship while I was drunk out of my mind…”

You frantically turned on your phone and saw that Law hadn’t messaged or called you once all night. That simple sight made your hopes plummet and your heart shatter. You realized this was entirely your fault and looking back at the argument made your heart sink even further.

“Sabo,” You said sternly. He felt a shiver run alongside his body. “Please tell me I didn’t do anything with Ace. Y’know, like…?” You said, insinuating anything that wasn’t platonic. Sabo frantically shook his head.

“No, no! Of course not! All you did was share drinks and be annoyingly loud” Sabo reassured. You exhaled in complete relief knowing you had the control to prevent anything from happening.

“If I so much as kissed that moron I would’ve jumped off a bridge”

“Same here, asshole!”

You quickly opened Law’s contact and didn’t hesitate to call his number. You realized it was rather early in the morning for him to be awake but it didn’t hurt to try. You felt like crying as soon as you heard his voicemail instead of the loving voice you desperately longed for in this current situation. You tried again, but the same fate occurred. You collapsed on the couch once again, sluggishly sitting there in complete defeat.

“No use?” Sabo asked. All you could do was give him a slow nod while you typed out a message to him for him to see when he awoke.

(F/N) - 6:56 A.M

hey law we need to talk. i remember what happened and i really need to talk to you. call me as soon as you can i love you..

The last message was something Law read over and over. Truth be told, Law didn’t sleep since he left your place full of anger and frustration. As soon as he got home, he let out a few tears that not even his guitar could dry. He sat on the corner of his bed in quiet sobs, not really wanting to throw you away by your drunken words. Despite that, your words still pained his already shambled heart past its extent. He couldn’t sleep. He knew the moment he’d shut his eyes, your words would only replay through his eyes.

So Law broke nightfall to now stare at your two messages. He read the ‘I love you’ and reconsidered your relationship with him. He figured that if that were true, you wouldn’t have said what you said back at the party. He didn’t want to talk to you—not yet. Law watched your caller I.D buzz until the line disconnected. Even if he did answer, he wouldn’t know what to say to you, let alone your physical face. He desperately wanted to grab the phone and cry to you about his feelings, but that sense of vulnerability petrified him more than anything as well as the fact that talking to you wouldn’t help his wounds. Law silently told you he wanted space.

Sabo and Ace ended up spending the entire day at your place to comfort your current lovers quarrel. They kept you good company in playing games with you and spending brotherly time together but that didn’t erase Law from your overthinking brain.

5:34 P.M. - You sat on the couch with a fuzzy blanket wrapped around your body. You stared blankly at a movie displaying in front of you on the big screen TV. Sabo was on the other end of the couch mimicking your demeanor, the only difference was he was actually intrigued with the movie.

“Ace, while you’re there can you pour me somethin’ to drink” Sabo called out from the living room. You could hear Ace sigh.

The room began to flood in with the buttery aroma of freshly made popcorn. Granted, it was made from the microwave but it was still delicious. You let out an audible sigh. Sabo noticed your distressed state never vanished all day since the morning. He’d catch you checking your messages to see if Law messaged you under your nose, but nothing. Your inbox was filled with notifications that didn’t matter to you. You only worried about your boyfriend.

“What am I gonna do at school tomorrow?” You asked. Sabo hummed while he averted his attention from the TV to you.

“With Law?” His question made you hum and nod. You couldn’t maintain eye contact with the blonde, but you could tell he was concerned. The aroma grew stronger when Ace plopped in the middle of you two with a steaming bowl of popcorn. Ace shoved a fist full into his mouth.

“Talk to him, duh” He muffled out. You rolled your eyes at the oblivious jock.

“Not as easy as it sounds, Ace” Sabo added. Ace pointed the bowl towards his brother while chewing on his mouthful of popcorn. “If he’s ignoring her online, what makes you think he’ll welcome her with open arms in person”

“I guess, but think of it like this” Ace grabbed the remote that lingered on the glass coffee table innocently. Ace paused the movie that was playing, which you weren’t even paying attention to, panning his attention between you and his brother.

“If he’s ignoring you online, he can’t ignore you in person? Hm?” Ace felt like he was the smartest person to ever walk the planet while you and Sabo gave him eyes that said otherwise.

“Ace, I’m sure he’ll just ignore me in person. Plus, I don’t want to embarrass myself” Sabo hummed in agreement.

“Besides, I think (F/N) must’ve hurt him so bad that he needs time to recover” Sabo hit you where it hurt and you flickered your eyes away in embarrassment. Sabo cringed. “Sorry, (F/N)… Didn’t mean it that way-“

“I get it. No reason to sugarcoat it…”

The two sat in silence for a moment. They equally felt bad for your current situation and seeing you hurt only pained them more. Sure, Ace was an oblivious, one-track-minded guy but he still cared for the people around him—especially you. Sabo was in the same boat.

“I think you should give him some space until Tuesday or so…” Sabo recommended and you couldn’t object.

“What did you even say to him anyway?” Ace abruptly asked. He leaned back against the couch with his arms spread. He rolled his head towards you.

Ace’s question made you realize you kept whatever you told Law a secret. This entire time they’ve been clueless of the actual situation and assumed it was pretty bad for Law’s ghosting absence. You felt cold and bare, despite being wrapped in warmth, when you opened your mouth to explain.

“I barely remember, but he said he was uncomfortable with how I was with Ace last night and I told him to just leave…” Is all you can manage to describe the quarrel. You saw Ace cringe at your explanation, knowing that he was a major part of it. Sabo was left somewhat speechless.

“To be honest, I figured that was the case” Sabo spoke. You shrugged in defeat.

“Yeah, that’s sort of embarrassing…” Ace exhaled, rubbing his back as a nervous stim. “Does he know about our relationship?”

“I’ve told him numerous times but I guess I was just too clingy because I was drunk and it was your birthday”

“Well, take this as a learning experience to never drink like that again” Sabo laughed. His slight sprinkle of humor to the painful situation made a soft giggle escape your lips.

“First and last time…”

Suddenly, the doorknob from behind began to jiggle and rumble. A shiver went down your spine, wondering whoever this was trying to break into your home. Your delusions began to take over and the only person you could think of popped out of your mouth as the door swung open. Your legs moved on their own to an abrupt rise from your seat, the blanket pouring onto the floor.

“Law…?”

The door revealed an exhausted, tall woman sighing in complete relief to be in the comfort of her home. She tossed her keys by the steel bowl beside the door where the rest of the keys lingered. Your body relaxed at the sight of someone you didn’t expect to see, while the two brothers smiled in delight.

“Hey mom…”

You say lowly. Your mother smiled, seeing the surprise of both brothers in front of her. She hugged them both ever so lovingly, leaving a tighter embrace around your disappointed body. You were happy to see your mother, of course, but you oddly expected the raven-haired boy instead to come out and spin you in his toned arms.

“What are you boys doing here while I’m gone?” She said, her voice spewing a bit of animosity towards you. You remembered she strictly told you to not have anyone over unless it was an emergency.

“(F/N) was helping us study for a really important exam before Christmas Break. Sorry if you didn’t want anyone over” Sabo saved your skin to your mother, who had eyes ready to pull you by your ear to lecture you. You silently thanked him.

“Well, I expected nothing less from my little scholar” She giggled.

“Why don’t you two stay for dinner and I’ll drop you rodents back home. Sounds good?” She gleamed, her hands placed on her hips.

You hear the two agree with excitement. You sighed, hoping your lovingly warm mother's cooking would warm your tainted heart. You decided to cover the lover's quarrel with your mother to keep that perfect picture in her head. That is until the dreading thought of you two breaking up occurred. It was all you thought about. It’d make your stomach turn and your throat tighten at the mere thought. It’s only been a couple months or so, but you loved Law more than anything. Knowing that you were the very cause of your perfect relationship only made you want to crumble before everyone.

That night you lay in the comfort of your bed, imagining what would happen in the familiar hallways of the building you were scheduled to arrive to the following morning. It’d be exactly like how it was the very first time you met the boy. You didn’t expect him to hold you in that tight, warm embrace he’d usually do whenever you were stressed or overwhelmed. He wouldn’t kiss you with those lovingly soft lips with an arm on your back that silently spoke; ‘I’ve got you’. He’d push passed you like you were a stranger with those mysterious, steel eyes. Only this time, those eyes had more sadness and sorrow buried within them than before.

The imagery flashed before your eyes, and in your, what you thought would be, peaceful slumber. You didn’t have high hopes of getting good enough sleep that night. With your body coiled in a fetal position and your arms tucked in your chest, you can only think of saying one thing.

“We’ll be okay, Law…”

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𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒔

✎ ❝ idc law smokes weed because just LOOK at the people hes surrounded with. anyway ive been slacking so much so im sososososos sorry but YAYYYY ITS OUTTT since im more than halfway, im thinking of making a new novel long after this one is over so if you have any suggestions id love to hear it!! thank you so much for the massive recent support, i genuinely love everyone that enjoys my work YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!!!!!!!! ❞

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