#I'm grateful she let me have a few sips

[iamnotaman]

Ordered Indian takeout the other night. Now I (Miah) always have a mango lassi. They are the BEST. But this place has a rose lassi and my headmate Scarlett really likes them. She threw a fit and insisted that we had to have the rose lassi. Which is fine but I always have to have my mango lassi. So there I am with two lassis.

Which is fine but damn that's a lot of lassi.

DID but not as in presence of "evil murderer alter", DID as in buying two drinks instead of one because someone came to front after seeing a blue raspberry slushie and DEMANDED to have it, but the alter who walked all the way to the gas station refused to leave without getting what they wanted to get initially.

[dearhargrove]

summary Seeing him that first time, you never could have imagined what life had in store for you.

(short fluffy one shot of their first meeting and then the night after he took her virginity while they're dating, based on a request)

word count 1309

You don't think you'll ever forget meeting him for the first time. How could you, with the impression he left?

—

You're at a fancy restaurant for a work celebration. The ambiance is dark and rich, the people sitting at the tables have that same vibe. Except one group of guys. The one you had noticed as soon as you stepped into this place.

They're sitting in the far back in one of the more private booths, however still in the middle and with a good overview of the whole area.

If you had to guess, the eldest of the three is the father and the twenty something year old guys are his sons. However your attention is drawn to the one sitting on the far right, looking almost on edge as he quietly listens to the other two talk. His muscles are visible through his suit, coffee brown curls tucked behind his ears and there's a necklace that shouldn't fit but just does.

There's something wilder, more strong to him than his two companions. His eyes are strikingly blue, eyebrows pulled into an annoyed frown as he sips his wine. Among that you also note that while the other two have ordered big steaks with barely any sides, he has a salad.

You distractedly continue picking at your dish, stabbing the fork into one of the ingredients for long enough that your colleague looks at you in concern, making you fluster and smile awkwardly.

She grins in amusement and turns to follow your line of sight, looking back to you with an expression that clearly translates into what you've been thinking too ever since first noticing the man; wow.

He's just so – manly. And yet there's still an elegance to him.

You let a strategic few minutes tick by before you look back at the mouthwatering man, only to look right into blue eyes.

You almost flinch, getting flustered immediately and smiling tightly – apologetically? – before hurriedly taking a bite of your dinner to pretend to be minding your own business.

Luckily, no one seems to have noticed your mishap and with a few well timed deep breaths your heartbeat returns to normal and your palms stop sweating.

Nevertheless, you excuse yourself to the ladies room and grab your clutch, not even pretending to know where the hell the toilet even is. You worm your way through the tables to where you guess the restrooms should be, only to almost run into a server coming out of that door who shoots you a confused but kind smile.

“Restrooms are on the other side, dove.”

You tense up, slowly turn around and — oh. It's him. And, dammit, he's even more beautiful up close. He carries a nice scent to him, but not a typical perfume, more of a natural breeze. It's nice, you note. “I noticed... I've never been here before, so–”

He smiles gently and you relax, reciprocating a light but bashful smile. “Don't worry about it. Come on, I'll show you?” he offers. "Oh, I wouldn't want to keep you from your dinner…”

He shakes his head, gives you a calculating look and then softens up a tiny bit, “Trust me, I'm grateful for any excuse to step back from there.” That surprises you a bit but it's none of your business, so you ignore it. You step closer to him and he starts leading the way, obviously walking slower so you could keep up in your heels.

And there's another thing you notice; instead of having to squeeze by the people and servers they part before him like the red sea. The people scoot closer to their tables, the servers bow their heads the tiniest bit and the other customers just smile tightly.

Just who is he? you wonder.

You're more intrigued than before now, momentarily pushing the thoughts aside when you stop in front of two doors; the men's and the ladies room.

“I suppose you'll find your way back to your table?” he kindly but slightly playfully comments. You grin in a mix of embarrassment and amusement, “Sure I will. Thank you, though.”

He shrugs in dismissal, then after a short awkward moment shoots you another smile and leaves.

You take a moment in the – luxurious – bathroom to freshen up, reapply perfume and deodorant, check your phone and do your business. You feel better when you walk back out, already expecting the onslaught of questions from your colleague who had noticed your staring and the man just to then see him lead you through the restaurant.

After paying for your meal (which legitimately made you wince when seeing the actual price because the menu did not have the prices listed) and dodging the questions of your curious coworker, you leave with a small group from your office, engaging in small talk.

You don't even see him when you walk out the door, focused on the story your coworker was telling, but you definitely hear him.

“That's a nice perfume.” His voice is soft but steady, slightly raspy too. You wouldn't mind hearing it more often, you decide.

You halt in your steps and turn around, surprised when you see his cheeky grin. He stops holding the door open, his own jacket slung over his arm and steps the last step down to stand right next to you.

“Thank you–?”

“Sergei.” He introduces himself, nodding his head. “–Sergei.” You repeat with a small smile. He stills for a moment and then blinks, swallowing and nodding. “May I ask the name of this lovely lady?”

You chuckle, slowly continuing your ascend of the stairway, “You may.” And while he asks and you answer with your name he holds out his arm, letting you loop your hand to hold onto his arm for balance.

—

And that's how you ended up here. In his bed, naked except some panties and his way too big t-shirt with his arm snug around your waist and his nose in your hair as he sleeps.

The sun is just rising, the orange and pink hues lighting up the place, forming beautiful shadows and tricks of light.

You turn your head to look at him and take in his beautiful face, bathed in the sunlight. His eyes are still closed, his breathing even and for once his face is relaxed instead of scrunched up from another fight with his father or an upcoming hunt.

However, he also seems to have gotten an extra sense tuned in to you ever since you started dating, so at your stare his eyes open and the blue irises focus on you. It makes you snort a bit and flick the tip of his nose, then turn back to keep watching the sunrise.

His hand moves under the shirt you're wearing to spread out along your skin, calloused hands gentle. “Been awake for long, baby?” The question is soft with a hint of concern and his voice is still husky from sleep.

“Just woke up,” you yawn and stretch a little, he uses the chance and puts his palm in the middle of your torso, tugging you back into his chest. He doesn't say anything further as he tucks into the crook of your neck and grumbles appreciatively when he smells nothing but your natural scent.

Since he told you about his powers you had started to wear less perfume around him (at least when it's just the two of you), as his sensitive sense of smell easily got irritated by the artificial cologne.

It's not long before his nosing turns into nibbling and you can already feel the next few bite marks form, probably meticulously placed to not cover the hickeys he'd left last night.

“Sergei—” he interrupts your upcoming complaint with a grunt and swiftly rolls on top of you, leaned on his forearms as he looks at you like you're his prey. You feel dwarfed under him, his huge biceps and broad shoulders covering you entirely.

At your perplexed expression he chuckles and softly kisses your forehead, “Can't hold back when I remember you're all mine.”

[writerpeach]

Fantastic Breasts and Where to Find Them

aespa Karina x m!reader

10k words

---

Read on AO3

Masterlist

"What time is it?" Karina asks as she stumbles into the kitchen, a half awaken mess, dark locks all disheveled in a white top and tight shorts. "Jesus, my fucking head..."

"Nearly one." 

"Shit," Karina hisses. "I had a test in the morning, didn't you hear my alarm go off?"

"You think I can hear anything over you snoring?" you ask, glancing up with a playful smile as Karina sits opposite you at the kitchen table, resting her face in her palms. "You barely made it inside before I had to lug your body onto the couch.”

"Hey, I don't snore," Karina scoffs, giving you a dirty look with bleary eyes as she runs fingers through her messy hair in a feeble attempt to look presentable.

"Oh, of course you don't. Which is why I could hear you all the way upstairs. Pretty sure the entire neighborhood could." 

"Shut it," she snaps back with as much bite as she can muster, though can't keep that grimace on her features for long before a tired grin escapes. "The last thing I remember is Yizhuo holding my hair up while I—well, you don't need to know the rest."

“Sounds like you had a fun night.” 

"Fantastic," Karina responds with all the sarcasm she can manage. Her gaze immediately turns towards the coffee maker—the only thing that matters during this hellish hungover state. 

“Coffee should still be warm,” you say, not missing a beat. “But take this first, it'll help."

Karina eyes the two painkillers in your hand with a grateful look as she scoots forward and reaches to accept a glass of water, tossing her head back a bit before chugging it all a single gulp. 

"You're a lifesaver. I'm so embarrassing, you shouldn't have to keep taking care of me. Thank you," she says with a quick smile, gently placing the empty glass down, then heading straight for the coffeepot.

"Don't worry about it. It's what I'm here for."

"You should have been there last night then, maybe could have kept me in check. I'll never drink that much ever again."

Karina cradles a freshly poured mug of hot coffee as she makes her way back to the table, taking a seat ever so carefully, trying not to fall over in the process. She rubs her temple in gentle circles, feeling like absolute hell as she tests the coffee with a sip of uncertainty.

"You've said that the last couple times," you tease, leaning back in your chair as you focus back on your laptop screen and the paper that you’ve been working on all day. "You know that's not really my thing. As much as I enjoy watching other people make an idiot out of themselves."

"At least I could have had someone to talk to. The only person I knew was Yizhuo, and she was so busy making out with anyone with a pulse that I didn't say more than three words to her."

"Yizhuo?" you ask. 

"You've met her, haven't you? She's one of my best friends." 

"Don't think I have." 

"Right, well—she'll sleep with anyone that so much looks at her," Karina chuckles as she savors the delicious warmth of coffee down her throat. She takes another careful sip and her eyes close, wondering if the throbbing in her head will ever subside.

"She's learned from the best, I suppose."

"Hey!" she says, faux offense laced in her tone, placing down her mug. "Don't compare me to that slut. I've got standards at least."

"Really?"

“I'll have you know, I don't sleep with everyone,” Karina huffs, turning her face away to sip at her coffee some more, but you can't resist the urge to tease her even further in her current state. "Just a few lucky guys. Sometimes two at once. Or three. But nothing crazy, I'm not a slut."

"Wouldn't dare even think of using that word on you, Rina." 

"See, not like Yizhuo at all, not desperate and willing to suck and ride anything in sight. Besides, it's been like over a month since I've last gotten laid,” she says, out of nowhere. You let out a dry laugh, unable to believe your ears. It's strange, seeing Karina's pale skin so flustered, because clearly even she can’t buy that. 

“I’m serious!” 

"The walls say otherwise, you know. You're a terrible liar, Rina." From first hand experience, you know how thin these walls are—being able to overhear her muffled cries of ecstasy, every vulgar utterance from Karina's room, each time she sneaks home a stranger who has the absolute honor of getting to pound her senselessly. 

"W-what, I'm not!" Karina blurts out, face getting even redder, so frazzled with that thought. "That—you were probably just hearing all that porn you keep on your laptop. Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone about the weird, kinky shit you’re into.” 

Pausing for a moment, she gives an impish grin, so pleased with herself for trying to turn things around. You could call her bluff, but even better, you’ll come up with one of your own, something equally preposterous and absurd.

"Me? I don't even watch porn," you say somehow with a straight face, and it's such a ridiculous statement you can hardly finish getting the words out. Karina puts her mug down and brings her arms over her chest, letting out a small sigh before glaring across the table.

"Is that so? Now who's the terrible liar?"

"Believe what you want. This laptop is for school work only. Nothing else." 

"Didn't realize I was living with such a prude," Karina says, as a teasing grin slides along her features. "All those times I've brought home a guy to fuck my brains out—I guess I've been making you feel extra uncomfortable."

"No, not at all, Rina. I just focus on my studies instead of how loud I can hear you scream through the walls. Noise-cancelling headphones do wonders," you say, doing your best to keep a stoic expression on your face. But Karina isn't having any of your bullshit. Not when she's sitting across from you with a smug look and trying her damndest to get you to break this facade.

"Look," Karina sighs dramatically, turning her head to face you directly. "There’s no fooling me. You don't have to act like you don’t enjoy listening to me getting railed. And you'd be lying if you told me you've never been turned on from all that. Just admit you've touched yourself to the sounds of it, and we'll leave this alone."

"Can't say I've done that either."

"Stop—" Her brow arches in frustration, and she can't even hide the smile beginning to break along her lips. "I get it, you're a better liar than I thought. You don’t have to keep pretending."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." You think you deserve an award for not laughing your ass off at this point, but it's an ongoing struggle to keep this going. The best part is that Karina is so insistent on it, completely unwilling to let this go until she gets you to admit that she's caught you.  

"Oh, come on, you've jerked off at least once or twice while listening to me, don't play dumb. Like you said, the walls are thin. I can hear when you're getting off too, you know."

"You've got a wild imagination, Karina. I've done nothing of the sort. The only thing I care about is getting a good night's sleep and graduating with honors."

"Fuck that, no one can study constantly. If it wasn't for me getting railed on the regular, I wouldn't even survive. I'd probably drop out and become a bartender or something. Getting dicked down does wonders."

"Everyone has their own ways of dealing with stress. Sex obviously isn't mine."

"Stop, you're such a fucking liar," Karina almost yells, frustration bubbling up as her arms cross even tighter, unable to stop the laughter that slips out. "There's no way that you're studying, what, seven days a week, without getting yourself off? Everyone has horny thoughts, especially guys. I know there are hot girls in your classes, there's no way you aren't fantasizing about them."

"I’m not. Too busy learning about the wonders of—" 

"Shut the fuck up," Karina snaps in the most exaggerated tone, leaning forward, trying her hardest to hide her smile and fight whatever antics you keep coming up with. The longer this goes on, the more she breaks out into giggles. It's rather amusing seeing her get worked up like this, the little scrunched face she pulls and the exasperation that oozes from every word, knowing you aren't telling the truth one bit.

"You're not that studious. I've lived with you long enough to know that you're not the nerdy type. I'm right, I know I've seen you come home late. Don't deny it!"

"There's a really nice coffee shop that's by campus open rather—" you begin to say, not exactly sure how you haven't broken down laughing by now.

"Don't you dare tell me you're studying at one in the morning instead of getting your head trapped between some pretty girl's thighs," she interrupts in an instant, gaze piercing right through you. And no longer can you keep a straight face for another second longer, looking away to stop from grinning. But that might be a mistake. As you happen to glance back, Karina gets up out of her seat, this devilish expression as she strides around the table towards you. "If you aren't gonna be honest—maybe I'll just have to get the truth out of you."

Before you can even react, Karina swipes up your laptop with lightning speed and slams the lid shut, not caring for anything else as she drops her weight in your lap. It takes you by surprise, and by now, she has to know how close you are to breaking, deciding to pull out all the stops to try to win her little game of bullshit. "Oh, so you've suddenly gone mute."

And Karina gets impossibly close, staring into your eyes, enough so you have no other option but to look directly in her deadly gaze. She wraps her arms around the back of your neck, resting her hands there, a smirk curling up her lips as she tries to break your resolve all at once.

The way she looks at you is unbelievably seductive, which might be the reason your heart beats faster, with how gorgeous she is up close. That confident little smirk refuses to leave her lips, the scent of her perfume strong in the air, making everything more difficult to endure. It's impossible for you to hide all your weaknesses. And even more impossible to stash your sudden shyness while Karina traces light patterns upon your neck as she lets out another giggle when you start avoiding her eye contact.

"You're cute when you're nervous," she says, that deep voice dripping with nothing but sin and seduction as she takes your chin, lifting you towards her. It's difficult to look away or hide, with her looking right into your eyes—a sharp, penetrative gaze that you can’t flee from, especially not when she gets this close, feeling her warm breath on your skin. 

“Tell me—where's that confidence from a few minutes ago gone? A pretty girl sitting on your lap is all it takes for you to break?" Karina purrs against the shell of your ear, lips hovering dangerously close. 

You stay silent, muscles all tensed up, breathing audibly and wanting nothing more than to pull away. And it only gets worse when her fingers run lightly through your hair, messing it up playfully as her breath lingers. "Hm? Still not talking? When did you ever get shy with me?"

Karina knows she's won.

As she presses up against your chest, drawing ever so slightly nearer, it's in that brief second when the warmth of her body against yours completely overwhelms you. There's no defense left against her little game of interrogation.

"Let's be real, I know you're jerking off every chance you get, especially when I have a dick inside me," she coos with the most angelic smile you've ever seen, eyes brimming with delight, her touch following the path of your body and taking pleasure in seeing all the little reactions she steals from you.

"But there's nothing wrong with that. Hell, I want you to. The thought of you stroking your cock with the image of me naked and getting fucked turns me on. Knowing my loud moans and screams are the perfect inspiration for your orgasm—that makes it all better, doesn't it?" Karina brushes her lips right into the crook of your neck as she whispers all these obscenities, making damn well sure you hear every single word.

You’ve completely frozen up. It’s not like you to be so demure, but also this isn’t like Karina. 

"Oh, you wish it was you, don't you?” Karina asks, memorizing every detail in your expression. ”Poor thing, being stuck as my roommate—having to deal with the fact you aren't fucking me from behind, playing with my tits, and smacking my ass hard until my cheeks sting." 

Seeing the clear frustration in your expression puts a smirk on her face again, experiencing the thrill of finally having the upper hand on you. Karina knows she has all the leverage, right here, right now. 

"I know you're not the least bit innocent. Not with the way you looked at me when you saw me in nothing but a towel, fresh out of the shower, my naked tits still wet. I bet that made you jerk off right away, didn't it?"

"R-rina—" You finally manage to utter out her name after some considerable struggle, at a complete loss for words. Because this isn’t at all how you expected this to go, but she's right about every single detail, and you find it harder and harder to deny it. 

"What is it, sweetie? Have something you wanna say? Wanna tell me the truth? That you fantasize about me all the time, don't you?" And Karina keeps leaning in closer, getting all the answers she wants before you can speak another word. 

"Y-yeah, I—"

"Use your words. You can do that for me, can't you? Tell me all the things you can't stop thinking about." 

"Fuck, Karina—it's the only thing I think about in the mornings. And at night. Every single day. Even when you haven't had anyone over in a while, I just think about fucking you, what that body looks like naked, how those huge tits would look bouncing in my face.” 

You’ve cracked. And there’s no going back now. 

"Go on, don't stop there, sweetheart. It's too late to be shy now." Karina smiles so pleasantly and cups your face to keep you from looking anywhere else, her tone immediately shifting. "Tell me you wanna fuck me. You want my tight pussy to swallow up your cock until I can't walk properly tomorrow. You've always wanted that, right?" 

"Y-yes, god yes, that's—that's what I want. Wanna bury myself deep inside you, squeeze those perfect tits and fuck you so hard until I unload everything inside."

"See how easy that was? Turns out you’re not very innocent after all, are you?" And Karina seals your confession with a deep kiss, drawing you into a rather warm, heated embrace as she nips at the bottom of your earlobe, giving it the lightest tease before letting go. 

"Let's give you everything you've ever wanted, sweetie." 

Karina tears herself from the kiss, just so she can run her tongue along your bottom lip and get another taste for herself. A slight pant, and she doesn't waste another minute getting rid of her shirt, exposing her bare skin and massive tits no fabric can contain. 

Your pants, they grow tighter in an instant. Those huge tits, the deep cleavage—they're nothing but hypnotic. Karina watches you stare with wonder for several long moments before unhooking her bra to get the entire picture. You swallow hard, eyes going wide as her breasts spill out from their restraints, pale and so fucking perfect, and god, you can't even think straight from how absolutely delicious they look.

Karina leans back to unveil her bare breasts in full view, and even the slightest movement makes them bounce gently. They're practically begging to be touched, and there's no hope of looking away. "Are they everything you ever imagined?"

A nod comes almost automatically in response, captivated by those enormous mounds with the prettiest nipples you've ever seen. Your roommate takes hold of your wrists and leads you to feel every last inch of her luscious pair, right where she knows your fingers want to go. 

"Go on, show me exactly what you've always dreamed about, sweetie." Hardly able to believe what’s happening, you take the plunge as you indulge, these tits soft and supple in the palm of your hands. The full weight of her breasts is everything, Karina exhaling a breathy whimper when you massage them with a perfect grip, lightly squeezing, testing their sensitivity. 

“You don't have to be gentle. You've wanted to play with these tits so bad, right? Don't hold back now,” Karina says with such a sweet voice. So you take her permission to heart, getting two full handfuls of creamy flesh to squeeze greedily and grope to your heart's desire. 

You’re practically speechless. Nothing could ever match the way they fill your hands when you knead them, fingers digging into all that flesh to press them together, only to release and have them bounce, this recoil that seems almost unreal. 

"God, these tits—they're fucking incredible, you know that?"

"Oh these? I’m sure all those times you'd peek down my top gave me a clue you’d love them. And you haven't even had them in your mouth yet," Karina says as she reaches for the back of your head. In an instant, she shoves your face right into the delicious valley of her pale breasts, suffocating you with all the softness and warmth of her plentiful chest provides. Her huge tits completely consume your vision, and there is no fighting the urge to lick a stripe down that cleavage to take in the first taste. 

It only gets better as she encourages you, tightening fingers in your hair when you run your tongue around her stiff little nub before closing your lips around it, capturing it to suck softly. A delightful shudder rocks her, gasping loudly, and Karina guides your movements, keeping your attention spread out across both breasts to ensure the other isn't getting left behind.

"Good boy," she hums with all the satisfaction in the world, gripping harder when she presses you back into her chest, helping you indulge in this buffet that's been laid out before you. "You’ve been waiting forever for a chance to suck on these tits, haven’t you?" 

You refuse to answer with words, replying instead with more frantic sucking, the nipple between your greedy lips growing wetter and wetter. But your free hand stays occupied, as you squeeze the other breast not in your mouth not so gently, sinking into the softness even further. Hungrily, you move between them, feasting on those divine tits to satiate all of your desires, and you’ll suck on them forever if she'll let you. 

There's no better treat than the way she feels in your palms and all over your lips. Not now—not while all this lust floods your veins. Not while she whimpers, your actions gaining speed, faster and faster to keep Karina's sensitive nipples trapped in your lips and suck harder. She lets out her moans, a gorgeous sound that echoes, and you can feel every vibrating sound rippling through her ample chest.

"Jesus, your mouth is amazing," she breathes through all the gasps and the moans, all those noises a pure sign of encouragement that drives you forward, until you need a moment to draw a desperate breath. It doesn't stop there. You resume immediately, introducing a bit of teeth to nibble down into the smooth, pink buds, because like you've been told, there's no need to be gentle. Not when Karina clearly prefers it like that, tugging a fistful of your hair, hoping you'll get the message to apply just a little bit more pressure.

All of this attention you're giving her gets Karina nice and bothered, mouth hanging open as she pants to control her breathing. You could stay here forever, happily settled with a pair of tits stuffed into your mouth. Maybe she lets you. Maybe you spend an eternity exploring that delicious rack, because it can never truly satisfy your craving for them.

"Mmm, feels so fucking good," is how she answers your teeth dragging across those wet nipples, whining when it suddenly leaves, depriving her of your lips just you can stare longingly at the swell of her heavy breasts once again.

You have to admire your work on her sensitive breasts when you pull back, swimming in bliss as you see the sight of them glistening with your saliva, nipples so visibly hard and drenched now. There's no denying how much you love having Karina's huge tits all to yourself, how you just want to drown in all this soft, pale flesh. 

"Don’t tell me you’re done already?" Karina asks, disappointment in her tone while she strokes the back of your head. "I can feel how fucking hard that cock of yours is from just sucking on my tits…"

Once again, you have no response, still lost in a fog of lust as you squeeze those supple mounds, giving another tender lick to those nipples covered in spit to get the smallest gasp from her lips. "I could play with your big fucking tits all day.” 

Karina giggles, content to let you do just that. "Well, you've earned that, sweetheart. But I think we should move this to the bedroom, so we can get more comfortable, and maybe you can get me out of these clothes?” 

"Yeah—right, bedroom," you repeat, distracted by how tantalizing her perfect tits look still soaked with your spit. She laughs and offers up a hand to help pull you to your feet, taking the chance to sneak another kiss before you get too far apart.

You’re dragged along up to her room, left to gawk over her body as you follow obediently. Those shorts are just a bit too tight to hide any details of her curvy ass, which sways rhythmically with every last step. The second the bedroom door shuts behind you, Karina pulls you right into another embrace, a hot and needy kiss, your hands finding their place on her slender waist you plan to become familiar with. 

"Get me naked like you've always fantasized," Karina says the instant your lips separate, heading towards the bed without waiting for your response. You don't have to be told twice, too eager to find out how the rest of her body compares as she bends over, placing her hands on the sheets. 

The scene in front of you sends a rush of anticipation, and immediately, you reach for those ridiculously tight shorts, pausing a moment only to feel just how firm Karina's butt is under them. This all feels like a dream, one that you hope stays a reality as your eyes aimlessly wander all over this flawless skin. 

Her huge breasts push into the mattress, so soft and inviting, fighting for your attention from that backside, and this is already so overwhelming, before you’ve even seen what’s underneath here. 

"Taking your sweet time, hm?" she teases, rolling her hips ever so slightly, hoping to hurry your pace, a hint you gladly take without an ounce of hesitation. Undoing her zipper takes only seconds, and Karina's smooth, pale thighs become more exposed as you gradually peel her shorts down inch by inch. The curve of her ass nearly spills out from the pink thong you've seen for the first time, and this sight is almost as breathtaking as her massive chest.

"Only get to do this for the first time once." 

“You poor thing. Guess I can’t blame you.” Slipping out of her shorts with ease, Karina makes them drop to the floor where they can be easily forgotten. You're left frozen in awe at the perfection of her full, plump ass that looks far too good in this thong, and those creamy thighs that must feel like heaven wrapped around your head. 

"Come on, take my panties off too. You want a full view of this all, don't you?" Once you're done admiring her shapely ass, Karina turns her gaze over her shoulder, that smile far too much to deny. And as much as you want to keep staring, your hands already move on their own, desperate to finish what you've started.

Running your fingertips under the waistband, you tug that thin fabric right off, to reveal the fullness of those scrumptious cheeks and that pink, glistening pussy that looks too mouthwatering to resist. 

Now it all comes together. 

Karina is flawless, every deadly curve, every inch of milky white skin exposed, giving you yet another reason to stare at that sinful figure. There's no fighting the urge to squeeze what your fingers can sink into, taking a nice handful of her shapely rear that you can’t take your eyes off. It's an addiction without a cure, groping those juicy cheeks that are the definition of perfection, and you can't decide which part of her you want to worship the most. 

"Such a pervert," Karina giggles, and this time you can’t say you disagree with that. 

"Never said I wasn't." There's no point in denying what she clearly already knows, not when you can't look anywhere else. Not after being denied the privilege of her body until this moment—you've got some time to make up. 

"The first time you've seen me naked and all you can do is stare?" Karina quirks an eyebrow, putting her hand on her hips, to display that body deserving of all the praise you can give her. She closes the distance between the two of you in just a few short steps, grabbing hold of the collar on your shirt. "How about you show me something too while you're drooling?"

There's no hesitation on your end, knowing what’s expected as you pull your shirt over your head and drop it on the ground to join her clothes. Karina runs a fingertip along your bare chest, an approving smile spreading over her lips while her eyes glance over you carefully, this newfound hunger in her eyes. 

"Much better," she says, and now you're the one who's being gawked at, shirtless, under the gaze of your undeniably stunning roommate who can't help herself from exploring your body. You can’t say you don’t mind the attention at all. 

She traces the outline of your biceps, grazing along your shoulders, then down to your abdomen, leaving a faint, teasing touch to test the reaction she receives. And then, with no warning, those fingers move lower to palm your growing bulge so blatantly straining through your pants. 

"You're so fucking hard, it must be painful. But this time, I can help you with that. What do you wanna do with me, sweetheart?"

Where do you even start? Never did you expect to be caught in a moment like this, your roommate fully naked, stroking her hand along the length of your clothed cock, ready to finally do something about this pent-up tension she's caused. The possibilities are endless—but when Karina is looking at you like this, her fingers making your cock throb, waiting for you to choose, it's hard to think straight. 

"Can't decide? I don't blame you. But don't worry—I know just what we can start with." You don't have time to guess as Karina takes the lead and pushes you back towards her bed, patting the mattress. "Be a good boy and sit here, and I’ll take care of you."

Karina drops to her knees ever so slowly and licks her lips. Before you realize what's going on, she's pulling down your pants, boxers falling shortly after, and now she can see exactly what you were hiding underneath, this hard shaft that's been desperate to spring loose.

"Oh my god, your cock—it's gorgeous, sweetie," Karina gasps, staring right at your stiff shaft twitching impatiently just for her. 

There's barely a chance to process everything happening before she reaches forward, running a curious finger up the underside of your cock and watching the resulting shudder. Those pretty fingers wrap around your aching length, and Karina smiles up at you with pure delight in her eyes as she jerks your cock slowly, discovering all these new reactions you make. 

"Karina," you gasp out, almost choking, a shiver running down your spine at that light stroke—almost too fleeting for it to bring any pleasure. She repeats, with more enthusiasm, tightening her grip and using the clear liquid that leaks out to aid the movement of her fingers.

"Look at you, so fucking hard, throbbing so much for me. You like that? My hand wrapped around your cock?"

Karina has this look on her face that has no business being that damn innocent, not with those fingers squeezing you just right, or those huge breasts that shake ever so slightly with each pump of her fist. When she begins to pick up the pace, working you faster, twisting her hand up and down the length of your hard shaft, the urge to do anything but moan becomes near impossible. “You really do, don’t you? Well then, how about this—“

A string of spit falls onto your cock, smearing over her palm to slicken your shaft. She leans down to part her lips, hot breath hitting your shaft for the first time as she takes the entire head in her mouth and starts to gently suck, tongue working right behind. 

"Shit, oh my god, Karina—“ 

She’s got you in her sights, and there's nothing to do but surrender completely to the pleasure, eyes locked with her as she keeps those lips sealed tight, the wet warmth of her mouth engulfing you little by little. Karina's response comes in an instant, bobbing her head, slurping down on your shaft so greedily, showing all the appreciation you’ve earned. 

It's when her gaze flickers upwards to see your expression that it really becomes the death of you—the sight of her staring, with her round doe eyes, sucking and lapping around your shaft so eagerly is just too much to take. And if that wasn’t enough, her cheeks hollow out, every long pass making the view even better—this filthy slurping and sucking as her drool starts to run down your shaft, spilling from the corner of her lips to create the perfect picture. 

It's messy and wet, the sounds that accompany this sloppy blowjob only adding to the heat that's building. Her tongue doesn't stay dormant, sliding up and down and flicking around your swollen cockhead as she tastes what her lips aren't currently around. 

"Your mouth, god, your mouth feels fucking incredible—" is about all you can gasp. 

"Did you expect anything else?" Karina asks as she takes more of your cock, swallowing deep down without warning, bobbing faster and going just a little further to see how many inches you can handle down her throat. 

Her mouth feels like heaven, so slick and warm, with those luscious lips wrapped so tightly around your throbbing cock. A steady back and forth rhythm keeps up to take more, over and over, until every inch is nestled firmly into the tight grip of her throat. “I've been missing out on sucking this beautiful cock of yours—mmph."

Her mouth only gets messier as she slurps and swallows you down, resting her palms on your bare thighs, taking down your length with far more vigor than you could hope for. This blowjob is effortless on her end, a routine, and Karina doesn't pause to catch her breath or rest her throat—she’s driven, determined to keep her spell on you, without a moment where she even looks close to gagging. 

"How does that mouth feel on your cock, sweetie?" Karina asks. The words come so easy between slurps and sucks on your aching shaft, getting wetter from all the slick saliva that helps keep you buried down her throat. 

"So fucking good," you groan, tilting your head back, and there isn't anything else you could think of to properly praise this work. That's all Karina wants to hear.

"Then let me make you feel even better,” she tells you, flashing a wicked smile with a gleam in her eye that has your cock pulsing hard between her lips. Before you can question a thing, her mouth releases your slick cock, taking these lazy strokes to keep you nice and stiff. There’s a moment where nearly nothing happens, aside from her staring and pumping your cock. The silence lingers. Until finally, she takes your cock, hard as can be—

Karina guides it directly between her enormous breasts. You can hardly breathe, much less speak, and your jaw practically drops when you feel the soft flesh of her massive chest wrapped snugly around your shaft. Her hands come together, fingers interlocking, pressing those tits tighter against your length and that devilish smirk returns as she looks down at the surprise and joy in your expression.

And you can hardly believe the sight when she begins to rock her chest, trapping you between her tits with no chance to escape. The friction picks up, sliding the entire length of your cock with no intention of slowing down or stopping, and Karina stares right into your eyes, admiring the pleasure written all over your features to make sure you commit this to memory. 

With her tits wrapped so perfectly around your cock, you won’t last long. But that doesn’t matter. You’ll enjoy every second. Every delicate squeeze, every lingering moment her fingers massage the base of your needy, throbbing shaft. And when she spits between her deep cleavage to make the friction even better, a slicker mess for your cock to slide between, that’s how you start to lose it. 

“Jesus, Karina—feels so fucking good, oh my god.” It took so long getting used to the blissful suction from that pretty mouth, but this? There isn't any way to survive these full breasts that keep your entire length enveloped in such perfect warmth.

“Does it? Love how good your cock looks between my big tits." 

You can’t disagree one bit, because it looks almost as good as it feels. There's no describing how euphoric it all is, the way your shaft vanishes into that perfect valley of pale flesh with Karina squeezing firmly, grinding her chest up and down to let the slippery friction of her soft breasts coax those dizzying groans out of your mouth. "You love fucking my tits, don't you, sweetie?"

"Yeah—so much, this is just, fuck,” you moan, nearly collapsing back against the sheets at the intense sensations that jolt through your body. 

But Karina doesn't give you a chance to relax, quickening her pace, making your whole shaft throb with need as you continue to watch that massive pair of breasts move and bounce atop your shaft. She's loving this as much as you are, dragging out all these desperate moans that beg for more.

"Look how needy you sound—all because you get to fuck these huge tits," Karina teases you, grinding her upper body harder, massaging your achingly hard cock that looks devastatingly good sandwiched between her breasts like that. Your mouth stays open, but no words spill out, leaving room for more groans and she doesn't hesitate to keep that pleasure building and building with such intensity.

You know this can't last forever, but despite that, you're savoring this mind-numbing pleasure, doing what you can not to succumb and explode too soon. These tits are so soft, so warm, and you're throbbing so much from the friction alone, trying to delay the inevitable when your cock disappears and reappears between Karina's abundant cleavage. 

"Can't take much more—"

Karina smiles, smug and devious all at the same time as she doesn't bother to ease up, your stiff shaft begging to release all over those perfect breasts. There's not another moment to delay this endless bliss driving you mad, your balls tight and throbbing for an orgasm you can't ignore. "Are you going to cum, sweetie? Ready to make a huge fucking mess all over my tits?"

You're practically delirious, finding it harder to breathe, the weakest nod all you can give. But Karina can tell how close you are by how your cock endlessly throbs and leaks. She shifts forward again, squeezing as tight as possible, bringing you closer and closer to a long overdue release. All this delicious friction is too much, bringing that pleasure to the very edge, and when you look down at her again and share the next glance, the encouraging look in her eyes is the last thing that sets you off. 

"Be a good boy and cum for me. Cum all over these tits like you've always wanted to." 

That's all it takes. 

Your whole body tenses and stiffens as your climax swells up and hits you hard. With your cock nestled between her tits, you can see everything as the first blast of sticky, white cum fires up and explodes all over her pale skin, groaning with every spurt that splashes across her breasts and neck, one heavy, thick stream after another that leaves you shaking. 

Karina doesn't cease for one instant, her tits snugly pressed together as you fill up her cleavage with hot cum, keeping this explosive orgasm going strong. Her full lips part with surprise as your load leaves such a mess, this heavy warmth clinging all over her exposed skin, coating her deep cleavage nicely with that sticky sheen. Her breasts make you cum harder than you think you ever have. 

And even when it's all over, your load dripping down and oozing out between her huge tits, they stay where they are, squeezing it all out so she can ensure nothing gets wasted. Only when Karina is satisfied that you've been properly drained, your breath all heavy and weak, does she ease off, freeing your cock from her cleavage just to rub your sensitive tip against her hardened nipples to smear the warm mess you made. 

"Such a huge, thick load for me. You needed that so badly, right? Didn’t it feel so good to get it all out over my perfect tits?"

Words fail you, only able to muster a weak tilt of your head as you lean back, spent completely, eyes focused on the glistening mess on Karina's chest, all this cum that she wears proudly to put on a little show to display your work.

"Did I make you cum too hard for you to talk, sweetie? You poor thing, how long has it been since someone got you off like this?"

"D-dunno," you say breathlessly, watching her hand continue to work up and down your drained shaft, still twitching desperately, needing every second of her attention. "Can't remember—far too long."

"Oh baby, that's no good—this beautiful cock should always be given attention." There's no denying how right she is about that, but before you can even muster a sound in response, Karina is gripping your cock a little tighter in her hand to keep it rigid. While you stare at those beautiful, cum-covered breasts, the lust has hardly faded. "Think you can handle going again? Or does your cock need a little more time to rest?"

There's only one possible answer. As sensitive and sore as your cock might be after shooting a load all over those fabulous tits, your hardness makes its intentions clear when it pulsates with need in her hand. You'd be disappointed if you stopped now. 

"Need more. Need to be inside you, please," you respond, borderline pleading to finally feel what Karina's heavenly pussy feels like—how tight that immaculate grip must be. 

“Thought so. But there's no need to beg, sweetheart—now why don't you lie on the bed so I can ride your cock?"

You’ve never heard a more beautiful set of words. 

There's no second thought or hesitation. Karina is every bit willing to fulfill all your desires as you climb onto the bed and get comfy on the sheets. She crawls over on her hands and knees, but doesn't settle right into your lap. Instead, she presses her warm body atop your own, your naked flesh crashing together, those heavy breasts squashed tightly up against your bare chest as her lips find your own.

Her skin is so soft when you caress it, and the kisses come so abruptly, as does the hand that snakes down to lazily stroke your cock while she's busy letting her sweet taste linger on your lips.

"Tell me whenever you're ready, and I’ll take you inside me. This is just a nice little warmup," Karina promises in such a dulcet tone that you're tempted to respond immediately—but honestly, you don't know if you'll ever be ready for what she has in store. 

So you lie there, surrendering to those lips, and let yourself revel in this delightful warmth she presses against you. It's the kind of lackadaisical make-out session that could never end, with no urgent need to rush. Her kisses are slow and steady, lips claiming yours with the same care and attention her fingers give your stiff shaft, jerking you off at a deliberate pace that makes you leak more and more for her.

"Rina—" 

"Yes, baby? What do you need?" Karina responds as she pulls her face away, waiting for that answer, but doesn't dare stop pumping your needy, achingly hard shaft in her delicate fingers. "Need to be inside me, sweetie? Do you wanna know how good my pussy feels?"

"So badly, yeah," you answer with haste, nearly stuttering over the words as Karina pushes herself into a full mount to straddle your lap. She swings her thighs on either side of you, all spread out so you can get a teasing glimpse of her pussy while she gazes down at you with a sweet smile, your shaft aching against your abdomen. 

"Tell me exactly what you need. Wanna hear it from you, sweetie. Don't get shy on me now."

"Want you to fuck me—wanna be deep inside that beautiful pussy, want you to ride me until you cum. Please." The words  tumble right out, and it's all so embarrassing, but that's exactly what she wanted, isn't it? 

Karina takes your acceptance on her offer with a beaming smile, reaching behind her to grab your aching cock in her palm, keeping a firm grip as she positions herself to guide you inside. The anticipation hits its peak when she lifts her wide hips up, bringing you right against the warm entrance of her slick pussy. 

"Don't you worry. I'll ride you until we both cum." 

Before your next breath, Karina lowers herself—a slow descent onto your cock that spreads her pussy lips apart, sinking into that soaked, wet heat inch after inch. You're coated with all this slickness, and that tight cunt squeezes so goddamn hard as she works you deeper, breath shaky when you hit the deepest parts of her.

"Fuck—it's so big," Karina curses, shifting in your lap for the briefest pause to adjust, bracing herself to take more. “You still with me, sweetie? You’ve gone quiet again.” 

"How can I say anything, when your pussy feels this tight and incredible?"

Karina just laughs. The moment her hips lower again, she’s already in motion, gyrating on you, adjusting to the tight fit. There's no time to process it all, with that hot cunt sliding up and down your length. She doesn't tease, and her movements aren’t the least bit gradual, just the rapid rise and fall of her body.

“You fill me up so nicely, sweetheart,” Karina says, the praise sending you over the moon as she rests her hands on your chest for support.

It's every bit as mind blowing as you'd hoped it would be. Her wetness makes for an effortless movement of her hips, keeping a steady pace right off the bat that leaves you helpless beneath her. "Does that feel good? Do you like how my wet little pussy grips your big cock?"

You want to reply, but that pussy is so perfect, wet and warm all over your aching length. So all that leaves your lips is a strangled moan that has Karina lifting her hips up with more ferocity. You don't dare close your eyes for one instant as she rides you with that sinfully tight cunt, your shaft vanishing inside her slick entrance, over and over. 

Nothing surpasses this—to see Karina so beautiful on top, those luscious tits bouncing whenever she drops back down to fill herself up with your hard cock, only to ride up again and leave you gasping.

"Fuck, love being inside you," you say, trying your best to speak, but it's a challenge when her cunt gets tighter after each wild plunge. Those heavy tits move in motion with her hips, and the sight of her alone has you groaning as she gives it her all, relentless on that cock. "Can't believe how good your pussy feels, fuck—"

"Yeah? You like how I ride you? How I take your thick cock all the way in with ease?" she says, drawing you right back in. 

Karina doesn't stop. The pace gets faster with each drop down on your shaft. It's more than you can handle, watching that perfect body move so effortlessly as she takes you balls deep to make you groan beneath her, so utterly drenched and tight around you. 

You can’t take your eyes off her jiggling chest, how hypnotic the bounces of those breasts get, and this is the perfect chance to take them in your hands once more, squeezing and groping the flesh while Karina fucks herself harder on your cock.

"There you go, play with those fucking tits—squeeze them, smack them, do whatever you'd like." Karina gives the offer, and your fingers are already moving to obey, grabbing a perfect handful of those supple tits that can't even be contained in your palms. 

It's the distraction you desperately need, and the first slap to one of her pale breasts comes so quickly, the pliant skin rippling so nicely under the impact of your hand.

"Fuck, again—slap those fucking tits, baby, just like that," Karina demands, and who are you to deny her? There's not a thing to hold you back, taking turns to slap those wonderful breasts with enough force that they bounce against each strike, and they get so red under your fingers. Each slap gets harsher than the last, earning the best response from her—a tightening grip around your hard cock and loud whimpers whenever your palm makes contact with that supple flesh, turning her creamy skin a darker shade.

All this treatment leaves your cock dripping wet with Karina's slick juices, every part of you soaked as she keeps bouncing her gorgeous body atop your stiff length.

Her mouth stays open to voice her satisfaction with needy gasps and groans, every inch of her pussy stretched around your girth, keeping you deep. Those continuous smacks against her jiggling tits elicit the sweetest whines, reddened so beautifully from all this attention. 

Karina loves it all. So needy for your touch, for this sweet punishment she takes with all the desperation as you smack her tits while she rides your cock. Her movements, they’re hard to handle, hips slamming hard against you as that plump ass bounces on your cock, picking up all this speed. Fucking you harder and harder, those heavy tits never cease bouncing wildly, smacking together when you give a respite to let the sting linger. 

"Fucking love your cock inside me, sweetie—love it so fucking much," she tells you, hips rolling faster to keep the pace going strong, all this wetness and heat smothering you. 

And now you're content to just lie back, taking in the view while Karina rides you, how she takes every inch of your throbbing shaft like it belongs inside her. She keeps a perfect rhythm that buries your cock inside her tight pussy with every impale, so wet and slick when she brings those hips back up to start the entire process again.

"Gonna fucking cum, baby. Gonna fucking cum all over this hard cock. Can you last long enough?" Karina asks with a coy little smirk, not faltering for even an instant as she keeps fucking you, tight pussy clinging so harshly around your length. And to be honest, you don't even know yourself—but Karina seems determined to drain your balls, even if it has you finishing way sooner than you’d like. 

"D-dunno," you answer, knowing that with your hands on her body and those bouncing breasts so mesmerizing, there's only so long before you're pushing past the point of no return. "Probably not—"

Karina lets out a giggle in response that gets ripped right out when she takes you so unbelievably deep, all of your thick cock filling her up in the right way. She's so fucking tight, pale skin glistening with sweat in the light, adding to the view that could get you off from just the sight of her devilish body. "That's okay, sweetie. This cock feels too fucking good to stop."

The next few breaths are all a blur as this becomes a race to the finish. Your eyes stay glued to Karina, unable to look away as her hips move on autopilot. Amidst each movement, she moves quicker with every passing moment, that delicious wetness sliding along your hard length, bouncing her ass each time those thighs slam down on you. The bed squeaks and shakes beneath the constant, rhythmic impact, and you know this can only end one way—

"Shit, sweetheart, gonna fucking cum all over that dick, oh my god—" Karina falls over the edge first, and that cunt grips harder than ever like a vice, nearly unbearable, overflowing with arousal while she quivers above you. Her lips fall open as she looks down with half-lidded eyes, fingernails digging straight into your chest when it hits, every whimpering cry a lovely symphony for you to listen, to watch as it all happens, clinging for dear life while she climaxes so fucking hard all over your cock.

It's incredible, to see the way she loses herself completely to the pleasure, the mess that drowns your shaft while her tight pussy keeps spasming with every gush, and you have to grit your teeth to hold everything at bay. 

“You wanna cum in me, sweetie?" she asks, through ragged breaths, a proud look shining through the bliss on her face, still riding that intense high. 

A question like that only has one answer. 

"Y-yeah, so badly—wanna fucking fill you up," you say, with all the confidence you've ever had. Pushing herself into overdrive, Karina fucks you as fast as her body allows, this mindless, relentless motion of those hips that drives you to the very edge, those big tits bouncing wildly until there's no chance you'll hold back—not a second longer.

And then you fucking spill. You seize her body and keep those hips pinned in place, buried to the hilt as your cock pulsates and throbs inside her warm cunt. Everything fires all at once, flooding right into Karina, thick spurt after thick spurt as she watches the pleasure overtake you. Her walls clench down to milk it straight out of your throbbing shaft as your moans pour out, making sure this huge mess goes where it belongs while you pump her full of cum.

It feels like it’ll never end—so unbelievably overwhelming, your balls emptying right inside Karina, the relief of getting to blow your load inside her for the first time that keeps getting better and better. All your hot seed unloads into her warm pussy, filling her to the brim, and her euphoric gaze help your intense climax linger by the second. 

And when there’s nothing left in your balls, Karina still wears that blissed-out smile as she remains right on your shaft, the weight of her body coming to rest against yours. She weakly runs her slender fingers through your hair and kisses you tenderly, both sharing this moment of pure euphoria.

"Good boy..."

The weight of those words, they nearly make you blow again. 

Karina plays with your hair as she takes those sloppy, lazy kisses, with your spent shaft still nestled deep inside her dripping cunt. You don't dare move, or do anything else. She seems quite content to just stay there motionless, your bodies pressed so closely together as your cock stays warm in her pussy. "Didn't think you had that much left in you, sweetie. Fucked it right out of you, huh?" 

You're much too exhausted to respond, so instead you just lean in for more, letting those lips do what they do best, savoring the taste, the bliss, and all this sweat on your body and hers. 

It's in that moment the realization hits that your relationship has shifted. No longer do you have to listen to Karina get railed through the walls—because it's you who's in her bed now, naked, covered in sweat, with your cum deep inside her, and her lips feel so good on your bare skin that you don’t ever want to leave this position. 

"So—” she says, and her voice hardly sounds out of breath in comparison. “Do you wanna shower first or—do you wanna just go again?“ 

It's the most absurd thing to hear—as if she didn't just drain you, the evidence still deep between her legs. 

“Both."

Not the answer Karina was expecting, but one that leaves her more than pleased as she presses another kiss to your cheek before finally climbing off you. A few careful steps later and she makes her way across the room, your cum slowly trickling down her thighs. Not stopping to clean any of it, she just lets your load drip out as she saunters into the bathroom and leaves the door wide open. 

"Don't keep me waiting, sweetie."

✦ ✦

When you next get wrapped up in these sheets, it’s the exact same picture. But you’re the one on top, lips wandering all over Karina, fingers interlocked while she gets all giggly between kisses. The sweat is still there, and so are the handprints, but this time in a different location, imprinted all over her pale buttcheeks. 

And now you’ve learned that the view from behind is almost as impeccable as it is from the front, to see Karina bent over, those ridiculous breasts bouncing freely like there's no controlling them while you ram into her wet pussy. And then you cum, hard—inside her, of course, because how could you not when you’ve got both of her jiggly tits in your palms, squeezing that magnificent pair as you unload right into her pussy. 

With Karina, there’s no such thing as too much, or too often—not with that body. You make her cum on your face twice, and then she returns the favor moments after. This time, it’s all over her face, absolutely covering her, that fucking picture-perfect face that makes it seem like Karina isn’t real. But she is—and the way she smiles as your cum drips down her gorgeous features proves it.

No longer do you go to bed horny, but exhausted, with Karina lying beside you. Your own bed becomes neglected as your days and nights become spent in her room, listening to her fall asleep, head resting on those perfect breasts that put any other pillows to shame. 

Your mornings start with Karina, greeting her with your head buried between her creamy thighs while the coffee gets brewed. But she doesn’t need you to look after her when her head spins, because she doesn’t get as hungover anymore, with no reason to get drunk off her ass when she has you to help take the edge off whenever she needs it. 

It isn’t a relationship by title, but you certainly have all the benefits, the biggest one being your cum coating those big tits as often as it gets inside her pussy—

“Fuck me again,” she breathes in your ear one morning, seconds after you just finished all over her chest, your cock still painfully hard in between them. You’ve got your hands all over her messy tits when she asks it, fondling the soft flesh slick with cum, making shallow pumps between her deep cleavage, but her greedy little pussy calls to you. 

But before you slip out—a loud knock on the door interrupts out of nowhere. 

"Were you expecting someone?" you ask Karina, but her eyes tell you she's just as confused, face covered with sweat and her hair all disheveled from this hot and heavy session.

"No, I wasn't. Were you?" she asks in return, and neither of you pay it any attention. But the knocks continue, more urgent, more frequent. You don't think it's the neighbors coming to complain—that wouldn't happen this early, and you're mostly surrounded by other students and college grads anyway. "Ugh. Just ignore it. We can continue fucking—"

And that's what you both plan to do. It isn't until the knocks turn into full on bangs that Karina sighs and gives up. "God, fuck. This better be important."

You can see the anger and annoyance written all over her face.

Karina doesn't bother to throw a towel over herself before heading to the door in all her glory, naked and beautiful, still covered in your load, all the sticky, white mess dripping down her chest that she couldn't possibly clean in time before the door swings wide open—

Yizhuo.

It's fucking Yizhuo. Standing there at the doorstep. And there's Karina, all naked, and Yizhuo seems completely unfazed to see her without a shred of clothes.

"Hey," Yizhuo says casually, like this isn't the weirdest thing she could have seen standing in front of her. "Do you usually answer the door naked like this? Was there a fire?"

"When you won't fucking stop knocking and interrupting, yeah. What is it?"Karina sounds so angry that Yizhuo is almost taken back, and you just watch from a distance after slipping your boxers back on. 

"Well, I haven't heard from you in a while. Came to check how you're doing, you haven't shown up at any of the parties lately. Wanted to make sure you're still alive. You could have sent a message if you're too fucking busy to talk—"

"What? I'm not—sorry, I've had a lot of assignments, and—you know," Karina hesitates, stuttering to explain her absence to Yizhuo. She looks at you as if to plead for some support. "I-I'm...fine. Totally fine."

"Assignments, yeah, that's what it looks like you were busy with. Explains why you're all naked and sweaty," Yizhuo says, almost mockingly. But Karina just bites her lip and frantically waves you over.

"What the fuck were you knocking so loudly this early for, then?" 

"To make sure you weren't dead! That's it," Yizhuo retorts, and it's all too funny how this is turning out. Karina isn't even ashamed to have been caught—even more so when you stand at her side, half naked and covered with sweat, just like her. 

"Oh. Hi there, you must be Karina's new boyfrie—"

"He's my roommate!"

Yizhuo raises a brow at that, as if to challenge the excuse. "You have a roommate?"

"He moved in last year," Karina clarifies, with an exasperated sigh. But that isn't what Yizhuo cares about right now, or what she even wants to know—

"And you fuck him?"

"Yizhuo!"

"That's not a no. He's cuter than the last guy I saw you with. Does he have a name?" Yizhuo asks, turning to you instead, and she's all grins as you finally step forward to meet her. "You got a name, or is that only reserved for Karina to scream?"

"Okay, time to leave, you've seen enough."

Karina's more embarrassed than offended. And Yizhuo seems all too amused, but you don't miss that lingering gaze when she gives you a quick scan up and down, admiring all of you—from your bare chest down to your boxers. "Well, I'll let you two get back to fucking—"

"Alright! Time for you to go—have a good day, and text me if you want to meet up, yeah? We'll get something to eat, or have a coffee."

And just like that, the door closes shut behind her, and you can't help but laugh as Karina sighs in defeat and collapses onto the wooden frame. 

"So, that's Yizhuo—" you say, trying to keep it together, but she glares back at you as if it's all your fault that this happened.

"Don't," she mutters. "Not a word, sweetie." 

"She's cute, too."

"What? Oh my god, seriously, do not—" Karina protests, but she just rolls her eyes and gives this faux look of annoyance as she pulls you closer. "Do you wanna fuck her too?" 

"I didn't say that," you reply, and without even getting a chance to explain yourself Karina silences you with her lips. It's all tongue and teeth and it's so damn sloppy that it takes a while before either of you can get another word in.

"You can fuck her if you want. I don't mind. If you think she's cute, that is. Go and fuck her. You have my blessing."

You laugh, still finding all this absurd "I don't—Karina, that's not what I meant. It's fine. I like what I have." 

"And what is that?" Karina ponders, peppering your face with kisses.

"A hot roommate with amazing tits that lets me cum inside her everyday,” you blurt out, and Karina just turns beet red from embarrassment. 

"Yeah? Is that all I am to you?" she asks, almost cracking up at the end from her snorting laughter, her arms moving around your waist to tug you closer. "Maybe all you are to me is just a big cock for me to ride.” 

"Well, as long as we've got it all figured out—"

And just like that, your lips crash again in unison.

“But if you want, I can give you Yizhuo’s number. Pretty sure she would suck you off in the middle of a park if you just asked her for the time." 

"Jesus," you mutter, incredulous at the words slipping from her lips. "Didn't you say she was your best friend?"

"Oh, she is. But she's also the biggest slut I know." Karina has the widest grin you've ever seen.

You don't even have a word to say to that, but you don't need one when you let those lips overtake yours again. "Weren't we in the middle of something? We’ve still got an hour before I have to shower and get to class, so I better see you fucking me into next week."

And you can't possibly resist that. 

[written-in-knife]

Dressing for the Cloudcall

Leona Kingscholar x fem!Reader, pre-relationship

Word count: 4680 (dialogue heavy to start, stick with it, I find a rhythm in there somewhere)

Category: one-shot, fluff, angst if you squint really really hard

Leona's family is sneaky and knows him very well, and you get roped into some Cloudcalling dress up. And maybe Leona is into that.

I loved Cloudcalling on the Savanna but I was a little disappointed we didn’t get even a hinted outfit, and this idea has been bouncing around in my little walnut brain for MONTHS and it finally spilled out in the span of like two hours. Tried to keep Yuu ambiguous, female, hair long enough to braid and put into a bun, and she’s shorter than Falena’s wife. Your Yuu is six feet tall? Cool, Falena’s wife is taller 👏AS👏SHE👏SHOULD👏BE. Reading back, I think I have a crush on my own version of Falena’s wife, as I should. I just imagined the most beautiful woman I could.

Kifaji had to step away to take a phone call while everyone was checking out the food stalls and Leona almost looked grateful to see his back disappearing into the crowd as he handed you one of the baobab hibiscus teas. You thanked him quietly before sipping on the drink, as refreshing as promised. Grim was just about to pull everyone over to a meat vendor-- surprise surprise-- when Kifaji returned, a sly looking smile on his face.

"What's got you so happy, ya old bird?" Leona huffed as Grim drooled over the meat.

"My apologies, but I need to borrow Miss Yuu for awhile." Kifaji said simply, turning his ominous smile to you.

"What for?" Leona practically growled, putting a hand on your shoulder before you could even think to step away from the group.

"On such short notice, we could not procure an outfit for her." Kifaji explained, folding his hands behind his back. "I, however, did not want her to feel left out, so I made arrangements which are now ready. I will return her at your next destination."

"It's fine, Leona." You tried to assure him, patting his hand gently. "I do feel a little left out of the fun."

Leona clicked his tongue in annoyance before releasing your shoulder and crossing his arms.

"We're headed to Ivory Springs after this. Do not be late." He directed the command at Kifaji rather than you.

"B-But, Yuu look at this! And these!" Grim was actually drooling over the meat in the stall, turning back to you with tears in his eyes that practically begged you to let him stay.

You sighed heavily and shook your head. "Vil, can you keep Grim out of trouble for me? I won't be long."

"Of course." Vil nodded, glancing down at the direbeast as he cheered and danced around in a little circle. "I'll try my best to not let him eat through Leona's entire fortune."

"Good enough for me." You chuckled before turning to Kifaji, who smiled again and held an arm out for you to lead the way out of the markets.

You walked side by side with Kifaji to the entrance of the market, only for him to place a hand on your upper back to direct you towards a waiting black car just up the street. As you approached, a beastwoman in full guard regalia opened the back door for you to enter. You thanked her quietly before stepping into the blissfully air conditioned car, Kifaji getting in on the other side.

"It's not that far to the hotel," you chuckled as the driver reentered the car, "and I'm not as prone to heatstroke as Jack is."

"Oh, we aren't going to the hotel." Kifaji said, as if just remembering he "forgot" to tell you about it.

"Oh?"

There was a minute of silence as he didn't answer your unspoken question. A few turns through the city, he broke it, turning to you with a pleasant smile.

"Tell me, Yuu, what is the nature of your relationship with Prince Leona?"

You were shocked for a moment at the bluntness of the question. "Is this because I'm the only girl? Because I can assure you, we're all friends--"

"My apologies, that isn't what I meant." He cut you off with a small chuckle and a lift of his hand. "If you'd humor me?"

"I mean... we're friends? Friendly, at least." You explained, wringing your hands in your lap. "He's helped me out of a few tough spots, I've helped him. We hang out on occasion. He's nice, I dunno." You wouldn't dare say it out loud, especially to the chamberlain, but you sometimes secretly wished there was more there.

He gave you a warm smile, much like a father would give to a daughter talking about her crush. "I see. As you well know, I've seen to Leona since the day he was born, and I haven't seen him so... protective of someone since... well, ever. That boy has never exactly been friendly, let alone "nice" to just about anyone since his mother passed. It's refreshing to see."

You could feel your face getting hotter with each word the chamberlain said. You desperately wanted the subject to change. "S-So, if we aren't going to the hotel, where are we going?"

"The Royal Palace." Kifaji said casually, as if you were on your way to some unnamed park.

"What?! Why?"

"As I said, I made arrangements for your outfit. You need to look the part to represent your team!" He said, another sly smile on his face as he pumped his fist in front of him in an imitation cheer. "And, I regret to say, you stick out like a sore thumb among those boys."

"But-- I-I thought-- we--"

"And here we are. A short drive, is it not? The walk would have been significantly longer."

You looked out the window at the palace, a grand stone building at the top of the hill. It almost looked as if it were carved out of the rock itself. You were startled out of your thoughts as the driver opened your door for you again, the chamberlain outside waiting to give you a hand out. You thanked them both as you took the offered hand and stepped out, following Kifaji closely as he walked.

"So, uh... just pop in, change clothes, and head back down to the market, yeah?" You asked nervously as you glanced at the guards you passed by, feeling eyes on your back.

"Just so." Kifaji assured you, another sly smile as he stopped at a large set of doors already opened, swinging a hand out for you to go first.

You weren't sure what was about to happen. Maybe you'd be thrown in a dungeon for fraternizing with their prince, or maybe they meant to keep you here until Leona himself came to find you, or--

"There she is!" A booming and excited voice came from across the room as you entered, startling you to turn and look.

A mound of long ginger hair twisted into braids was running up to greet you, perched atop a muscle-bound mountain of a man. He was dressed similarly to Leona, but wearing white instead of black, still adorned in gold, an enormous smile on his face. The guards at the door stood at attention as he got to your side of the room, clasping your hand quickly in a firm and enthusiastic handshake.

"You must be the girl Kifaji told me so much about!" He beamed at you, reminding you so much of Kalim in this moment. Wait.

"So much?" You parroted, looking at Kifaji, who simply shrugged.

"Oh, you must tell me how you got Leona to be so... docile? That isn't the right word. He listens to you?! Insane!" The man rambled, still holding onto your hand. "You must tell me everything!"

"Falena, you'll scare the poor girl." Another voice rang out from the other side of the room.

The man, Falena, finally released your hand and turned to see the woman walking towards you. She was elegant and gorgeous and so poised, dressed in similar colors and patterns to her husband, also adorned in gold. You suddenly felt very intimidated as you finally realized just where you were standing.

"Oh, but my love," Falena sighed, still smiling, "think of everything we could learn! What's Leona like at school, anyhow?"

"H-He, uh..." you hesitated as the woman joined her husband’s side. It probably wasn't a good idea to tell them exactly how he was, and it wasn't a good idea to lie. Rock and a hard place. "He's certainly there."

Falena let out a booming laugh at this, his wife joining in with a laugh that sounded like bells in the large chamber.

"We know of Leona's troubles at school." She assured you, holding out a hand to shake. "I am Shani, and I'm sure my husband, Falena, did not introduce himself before launching into his questioning."

"I'm Yuu," you said, gently grabbing her hand and shaking it, "a pleasure."

"Likewise." She smiled warmly at you as you both retracted your hands. "Kifaji has asked me to dress you for the occasion."

"The festival?"

"Leona brought a girl home!" Falena cut in, the smile surely cemented on his face at this point. "A sign things are turning around for my little brother, to be sure!"

"O-Oh! No, wait, I'm--" You practically choked on your words trying to get them out fast enough, feeling your face burning again, "Leona and I aren't a couple!"

"I know! But everything Kifaji told us over the phone just makes it all the more interesting!" He gushed grabbing your shoulders. "Forgive me for being forward, but you smell like him! You must be together often!"

"I-I just keep watch while he naps, it's not like we--"

"Falena. You are making her nervous." Shani said sharply, trying to hide her amused smile as she swatted his hands off you and looped her arm into yours. "Come, we should get you into something else before Leona comes looking for you."

She didn't wait for a response before pulling you off towards the door she came through. You glanced back to Kifaji and Falena, seeing them both smiling at you, though Kifaji's looked nefarious. You faced forward again, looking up at the glamorous woman holding your arm, still amazed that you'd just met the crown prince and princess. Shani led you down the hall and into a large bedroom, turning quickly into a nearly equally large closet. Gorgeous outfits-- if you were to judge just based on the fabric-- lined the walls on either side, the far wall was large, open windows looking over the expanse of the savanna, and the wall behind was adorned with large mirrors. You couldn't help but be impressed as Shani practically floated across the room and picked up a dress that was already waiting on a chair and held it up for you.

"I hope you don't mind, I already picked something out for you." She explained as she approached. "Don't worry about the length, we can work with it however we need. This is going home with you."

"What? No, I couldn't." You said quickly as she deposited the dress in your hands.

"Do you see where we are right now? You absolutely can." She laughed, gesturing to the lines of clothes. "Go ahead and get changed, I'll be right outside, just let me know when you're ready."

Her nose scrunched up adorably in her excitement as she smiled even wider at your for a moment, her hands clapping under her chin once before she exited the room, closing the door behind her. Alone, you sighed at the absolute whirlwind you'd just gone through. You turned to the large mirrors on the closest wall and held the dress up to your body. It would definitely be long, but Shani was a tall woman who seemed to like wearing heels, so you weren't terribly surprised. Resigned to your fate, you began to change out of your current outfit. The dress had very thin straps, so your sports bra would have to go. Once actually in the dress, it fit remarkably well, other than the length. The thin straps spread down into a V neck and stretched to the skirt in the back, the skirt itself starting a little below the bust, similar to a halter top. You couldn't help but notice the patterns on the fabric coordinated to Leona's cloak, bright orange and black not helping the case. You folded your clothes into a neat pile in front of the mirror, honestly a little relieved how well the dress held up to movement, no risk of spilling out the sides or front when lifting your arms or bending over.

"Shani? I'm ready." You called to the door, hiking the skirt up to walk over.

She entered the room again with an excited smile, looking you up and down as you stood there.

"You are definitely shorter than me." She laughed as you let the skirt go, a few inches of fabric bundling up at your feet. "But we can fix that, easy. Ten minutes. First!" She walked over to a chest of drawers, pulling off a length of fabric she'd set on top. "Do you know how to wrap your hair? Keep it off your neck and out of your eyes."

"I do not." You shook your head prompting her to wave you off.

"I can teach you, it's very easy." She smiled, joining you at the mirror again.

She turned you to face the mirror, standing behind you and draping the fabric over your shoulders. She undid the braid your hair was always in, gently combing the knots out of your hair with her fingers.

"I always used to do this with my little sisters." She explained softly as she styled your hair to the top of your head in a large bun. "I love Cheka with all my heart and soul, but I do so hope we have a little girl some day, I miss having girls around to dress up with and do hair and everything."

"What, Cheka doesn't let you do his hair?" You smiled at her in the mirror as she began wrapping the scarf, making sure you were carefully watching her steps.

She laughed brightly. "He does! But as he gets older he may not. Plus, there isn’t exactly a ton of hair to work with, he prefers to keep it short."

"No, I get what you mean though." You said fondly. "I used to have my mom do my hair all the time, but she was always there to fix it when I eventually took it out and complained about it being in my face."

"Where are you from, by the way?"

Your face fell at the question. "It doesn't really matter. Crowley doesn't seem like he's able to send me back anyhow."

Shani looked like she was about to press further, but stopped herself. "There, all done." She said with another warm smile as she smoothed out some of the wrinkles in the turban style she'd done. "Not half bad, if I do say so myself."

"It looks great, thank you." You were smiling again, not pointing out the, again, same fabric Leona had on his scarf. Maybe it was a common pattern? You somehow doubted it.

"Now, I have a few accessories for you to tie it all together." She explained, walking over to a shelf opposite the chest of drawers. "I will have you put these on to see how they look, then you give me the dress and I will hem the bottom up for you."

"Thank you for this, Shani." You said sincerely, turning to look at her with a warm smile. "You really didn't have to go to these lengths."

"Nonsense, a friend of Leona's is a friend of ours." She assured you. "We want to make sure you enjoy your first time to the Sunset Savanna to the fullest."

..

Leona and the others had arrived at the palace, Leona planning to swipe a car to avoid having to take Kifaji with them. However, to his surprise, Kifaji was already outside speaking with one of the guards at the door.

"Oh for fucks sake..." Leona growled as he connected the dots.

"What?" Kalim asked, glancing over to the chamberlain. "Oh, it's Kifaji! Hey Kifaji!"

The chamberlain looked up in surprise at the call of his name, locking eyes with a furious Leona and giving him another sly smile.

"Wait here." Leona snapped at the group, not giving them a chance to protest before marching over to the door. "What the hell?!"

"Ah, Prince Leona." Kifaji said coolly as the guard stood at attention for the prince's approach. "I was under the impression you were not coming home during your visit."

"That why you brought Yuu here?" He spat. "Thought you were goin' to the hotel."

"I don't recall ever saying my arrangements were at the hotel." Kifaji said, though the infuriating smile and raise of his eyebrows suggested he knew exactly what he was up to.

Leona pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering expletives under his breath before looking back up. "Where is Yuu? We're goin'."

"She is changing, currently. You and your friends are more than welcome to wait inside, if you'd prefer."

"Yeah, ya’d like that, wouldn’t ya. Did Falena put you up to thi--"

"UNCA!"

Leona nearly instinctively side stepped the little ball of fiery orange that flung itself into his arms, grunting as the fuzzball impacted into his abdomen. Kifaji, while now safe from the verbal lashing Leona wanted to deal out, was not safe from the deadly glare that was shot his way.

“Quit clingin’ to me like that! Knock it off!” Leona snapped halfheartedly at his nephew who, undeterred by the tone, continued to beam up at him.

“I got so excited when I heard you were coming home!” The boy chirped quickly, grabbing his uncle’s hand and swinging it back and forth. “Can I hang out with you guys?”

Leona ignored the amused muttering of his schoolmates behind him as he rolled his eyes at the child’s antics.

Cheka continued, still swinging Leona’s arm around. “Mama said to be on the lookout for you! Do you wanna come play with me? We could play tag, or hide-and-seek, or--”

“Cheka.” Leona snarled, finally making the boy stop. “What was that about your mother?”

“Oh… I wasn’t supposed to tell.”

“Oh for fff…” Leona let the curse fizzle out into a loud grumble, trying to rub away the headache blooming in his temple. Of course it was Shani’s idea.

“I should go tell Mama you’re here!” Cheka said excitedly, darting off before Leona could stop him.

..

You slipped into the newly hemmed dress, a new length of fabric now flaring out the bottom that, once again, highly suspiciously matched the fabric of Leona's pants. Three times makes a pattern, damn if it didn't look good though. You were about to call out to Shani when you heard giggling through the door, and a boy's voice talking. You waited a moment before Shani knocked, sounding amused.

"All ready in there?" She called out.

"Yeah, ready." You called back, prompting her to enter the room.

Her smile grew ever wider as she looked at your outfit. "I've one more thing, and we need to be quick. Seems we've been found out."

There was a small gasp as Shani walked into the room, a tiny mess of ginger hair standing in the bedroom.

"I remember you!" Cheka said excitedly. "You're Unca's friend! From school!"

"I am! It's nice to see you again, Cheka!" You replied just as enthusiastically as Shani pulled one more thing off the shelf.

"It's nice to see you too! You match Unca!"

"I knew I wasn't crazy!" You nearly shouted, turning to Shani as your face burned again. She at least had the decency to look a little guilty.

"Yuu, you are a beautiful girl in an unfamiliar place." She explained, walking forward and wrapping something around your waist. "These are recognizable patterns of the leader of the Sunset Warriors, of the second prince, no one would dare do anything to you while you are wearing these."

"Do anything?" You echoed as she fastened the belt, which matched the rest of the boys'.

"Swindle you, pickpocket, worse." She listed grimly as she adjusted your necklace. "Sunrise City is as safe a city as any during a heavy tourist season. We want you to enjoy your time here, not wonder where your wallet may have gone."

"I..." you sighed heavily. "I get that. Thank you, really. This is all very generous."

"You can pay me back by marrying my brother in law." Shani teased as she exited the closet, making your face burn tenfold.

"Hey!"

"YOU AND UNCA ARE GETTING MARRIED?!"

"Oops…"

Cheka insisted you carry him through the halls, Shani nearly telling him to return to his studies before you assured her that it was fine. You spent the entire walk trying to explain to the boy that, no, you were not marrying his uncle. Cheka, however, kept talking about the imaginary wedding and all the things you needed to have there. You resigned yourself to not stopping him. He was talking about the cake when you entered the large room you'd first met Falena and Shani.

"Aha! There she is! A much more appropriate look for your guest, don't you agree, brother?" Falena said, prompting you to turn your gaze from Cheka to him, looking just in time to watch him clap Leona on the back.

Leona said nothing, just staring for a moment before clicking his tongue and looking away. You took this as annoyance for a moment before Cheka spoke up.

"Unca, unca!" Cheka said excitedly from your arms. "When you two get married you need to have a BIG cake, okay? And there needs to be chocolate, and 'biscus, and--"

"Married?" He asked incredulously, turning back to look at the boy, not able to hide the red on his cheeks now, before looking to Shani. "What did you do?"

"Children have impressive imaginations, don't they?" She asked pleasantly, taking Cheka from your arms to hers. "Thank you for letting me dress you, Yuu."

"Thank you for dressing me," you smiled at her, ignoring the burning on your own cheeks, "it was fun."

She smiled before taking your hand and leaning in to whisper to you. "If you cannot go home for school holidays, our home is open to you, just say the word."

You nearly teared up at this, simply nodding and squeezing her hand. "Thanks for everything, Shani."

Falena laughed as you walked over to join him and Leona, who had his arms crossed tightly over his chest. "I'd give you some words of warning, but you seem to know how to handle my brother better than I do at this point!"

"He's not so bad." You chuckled as he pointedly refused to look at you. "It was nice to meet you, Falena."

"You too! Come back anytime!" He beamed down at you before Leona grabbed your arm and started dragging you out of the room.

You waved back to the crown prince and princess as you were hauled out of the room and into the hall. Leona dragged you towards the entrance before making a sharp left a few doors down into another hallway.

"Leona--?"

"Shut up."

Your mouth closed with a clack of your teeth at his words, and you suddenly felt ashamed of your actions. Were you supposed to text him an SOS as soon as you realized where you were? When you realized what was happening? Before you could think about it further, he dragged you into a room at the end of the hall and shut the door, quickly caging you with his arms against it.

"What did they tell you?" He growled low, a dangerous tone you'd only heard a few times since you first stepped on his tail in the garden.

"N-Nothing--"

"Don't play dumb with me right now, herbivore, what did they say?"

"Kifaji and Falena kept saying that you're nice to me, and Shani said if I wore your patterns I'm less likely to get robbed." You said quickly, omitting her comment about marriage. "I was mostly with Shani, we talked about her sisters and my mom and the outfit, that's it."

His green eyes stared into your soul for a moment before he grumbled something under his breath, leaning forward to press his forehead against the wall next to your head.

"Leona?"

"Shani thinks she's funny." He said quietly, you could feel his breath against your ear as he spoke. "Makin' you match me, in public no less..."

"I'm sure she didn't mean anything by it--"

"Are you?" He asked, pulling back to look you in the eyes again, closer this time. "She's making fun of me."

"She's not."

"You don't know her."

"She's not making fun of you." You whispered, not breaking eye contact.

"You don't know what I say in those phone calls home." He muttered back. "Lemme guess, Shani already had that dress picked out for you, as if she plucked it from her own closet."

"...Yes?"

"You think the crown princess would ever wear the second-born's pattern?" He leaned in again, his jaw bumping your cheek as he moved to whisper in your ear. "She had that made for you, on purpose, for the day you eventually showed up."

"W-What do you say... in the calls home...?" You asked hesitantly, resisting the urge to reach your arms around him.

"Too much, apparently." He chuckled softly, lips grazing the shell of your ear. You felt like you would combust into flames any second. "Looks good on you though... suits you."

"L-Leona?"

He pulled back again, close enough to bump noses. "We have to get to the springs, otherwise our resident pretty princess won't play tomorrow." He whispered, still making no move to pull away.

"What..." your wet your suddenly very dry lips, not missing how Leona's eyes flicked down for just a second to catch the motion, "what did you mean by "when I eventually showed up...?""

"I said, don't play dumb, Yuu. You think I let just anyone braid my hair? You think I didn't notice that you do that while I'm tryin' to sleep?" He chuckled again, his grin almost looking like he was just flashing his teeth at you. "I pretend to not notice a lot of things."

"I'm not just anyone...?"

"You haven't been "just anyone" for awhile now." He muttered leaning in just a little closer, his nose brushing against yours gently before he stopped. "We need to go."

He let the moment hang in the minuscule amount of air between you for a second longer before finally pulling away, glancing over your outfit again as he did, making a triumphant little noise.

"Looks good on you." He muttered again before grabbing you by the arm to pull you away from the door.

Once you were out of the way, he opened the door again and walked out into the hallway, leaving you feeling like your knees were about to give out. With a moment to look around the room, you realized he'd pulled you into a bedroom that looked a little too similar to his back at the college.

"Herbivore." He barked from down the hall, kick starting you again.

"Y-Yeah!" You called back before hiking your skirt and jogging to catch up to him again.

If your friends, namely Vil, noticed the similarities between your outfit and Leona's, they were gracious enough not to say anything about it. You were, however, highly complimented on it, Kalim making a point to spin you around to see the dress twirl. Kifaji had a very self satisfied look on his face off to the side, which was quickly wiped away when Leona finally announced his plan to leave him in the dust.

..

Back at Night Raven College, you and Leona went back to your normal routine as if nothing had ever happened. You almost wondered if it had been a very sweet dream until you saw the dress in your closet again. You grabbed the skirt, rubbing the fabric between your thumb and index finger, as if to remind yourself that it was real. It had happened.

"What? You longin' for the Sunset Savanna again?" Grim asked from your bed, you'd nearly forgotten he was there. "I am. You really missed out on that meat, hench-human. I wouldn't mind goin' back."

"Yeah... me neither." You sighed, releasing the dress. You stared at it longingly for another moment before shutting the closet door to continue getting ready for bed. A very sweet dream indeed.

I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION TO USE MY WORK TO TRAIN AI

MASTERLIST

[no-goodbyes-no-regrets]

a little Tommy & Chim bffs for @rileychester

----

"Her ladyship requests, no demands, uncle Buck reading her a story before bed instead of her own mother." Maddie said, walking back into the livingroom after having gone to put Jee to bed half an hour ago.

"What can I say, it's not easy being this popular." Buck joked and extracted himself from where he'd been happily tucked under Tommy's arm on Maddie and Chimney's way too comfortable sofa. He quickly kissed Tommy, murmured something about being right back, and followed Maddie up to Jee's room.

Tommy watched him until he was out of the room and then turned back to Chim who was laughing at him.

"Damn Kinard you've got it bad."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Tommy said, trying to act somewhat cool and hide his reddening cheeks behind his wine glass.

"Yeah I'm sure you don't." Chim took a sip of his own drink. "I mean I love Maddie more than anything in the world, but I don't kiss her goodbye when she leaves the room."

"Well maybe you should start." Tommy told him. If he was getting called out, he might as well own it. "It's working pretty well for us."

"She'd probably think I was going crazy and call Hen to come check me over. Who would then also ask me if I'd lost my mind." He said and they both laughed. "But it's good to see you so happy, man. Both of you. Even if I never in a million years would have guessed that you two would end up together."

"Me neither really." Tommy admitted. "I actually almost let your call go to voicemail that night. My shift was almost over and there was bad weather coming in... I just wanted to go home and catch up on some sleep."

"And there was me asking you to steal a helicopter because of a hunch. I'm sure Bobby is still very grateful you didn't ignore me." Chim said and raised his glass at him. "To team who cares!"

Tommy clinked his glass against Chim's.

"Bobby isn't the only one who's grateful. If I hadn't answered that call, i would have missed out on the greatest thing that ever happened to me. i wouldn't have met the love of my life. I wouldn't be here now. I might have downloaded that dating app again that I'd deleted off my phone a few days before or taken Lucy up on her offer to set me up with her friend." Tommy shook his head. "I'm just glad I did answer. it definitely changed my life for the better."

"You're getting sappy in your old age, Kinard." Chimney teased. "When is the wedding? Do I have time to buy a hat?" he joked, expecting Tommy to laugh with him. Only when he didn't say anything Chim really looked at him. "What? Tell me you didn't..."

"I asked Evan to marry me last night." Tommy told him after a beat. "He said yes."

Chimney blinked a few times to process the information.

"Of course he said yes! He's just as crazy about you as you are about him." he got up to hug his friend. "Welcome to the family, man. We'll officially be brothers."

Tommy smiled and finished the last of his wine.

"There is one thing I wanted to talk to you about though..."

"Shoot."

"When Evan and I get married... will you be my best man?"

"It would be the greatest honour of my life."

---

Send me a prompt and I'll write you a ficlet!

[lovemybluebully]

A Small Lapse of Judgement

What do you get when you cross a drunk Wolverine? Tickled. You get tickled. 🤣

Okay, yeah sorry guys. This one is literally like twice as long as my last one, but Logan and Wade both needed to get wrecked good. lol I'm just having too much fun writing these guys. So get some snacks or something because you're going to be here for a minute.

More somewhat movie spoilers, and Wade saying inappropriate things to Logan's annoyance. lol Oh, and of course tons of cussing. And tickles. Lots of tickles.

"Deadpool and Wolverine"-verse

ler!Wade/Deadpool x lee!Logan/Wolverine

ler!Logan/Wolverine x lee!Wade/Deadpool

M/M Tickle Fic

Word Count: 4,372

At first Logan had declined Wade's invitation to live with him at his apartment. Having been on his own for so long Logan didn't want to accept the fact that anyone actually wanted him around, but after Wade's persistent prodding and convincing he finally accepted.

"Yes!! It'll be like a sexy slumber party!" Wade had whooped, but one steely-eyed look from Logan made him turn it down, "Ahem. Or, you know, just two guys hanging out together with no lewd activities of any kind...."

No doubt Wade pushed Logan's buttons and got on his nerves more than anyone he had ever met in his life, but after their ordeal together there was no denying the bond that had been created between the two of them. It was hard for him to admit it, but Wade was definitely someone Logan now considered as a friend.

Surprisingly he settled in quickly and had begun to make himself comfortable, allowing him to let his guard down and actually relax for once. It was only a one-bedroom apartment so even though he had to sleep out on the couch every night he was grateful to have a place to call home.

And Wade was thrilled to have him there. Unlike his other roommate, Blind Al, Logan was progressively becoming more tolerant of his off the wall antics so it was nice to have someone else there that he could really joke around with. And drink with, though Logan still tended to embark on some solo day drinking of his own.

Wade shuffled into the living room in his crocs one late evening with Dogpool cradled in his arm to find Logan slouched over on the couch in nothing but jeans and a tank top and a nearly empty bottle of whiskey in his hand. Further observation revealed there to be two more empty bottles laying around on the ground by his feet.

"Hey. Robert Downey Jr. Wanna take it easy on the booze?"

Logan lazily looked up at him, rolling his eyes when he saw Wade was allowing the dog to lick all over his face.

"I will once ya take it easy on always making out with that mutt."

Wade stared at him in defiance as he continued to kiss Dogpool's head while she licked all around his mouth, making Logan grimace in disgust before Wade set her down upon the ten-sizes-too-big dog bed he had bought for her.

"You know if you were jealous all you had to do was ask, baby girl. There's plenty of Wade Wilson to go around," he leaped onto the couch beside Logan and puckered his lips, making smooching sounds as he tried to pull the other man close while Logan cursed and struggled to hold him back.

"Hey hey! Fucking knock it off, asshole!" Despite his annoyance he chuckled a little with the alcohol lightening his mood and after a few more seconds Wade finally relented to sit himself back.

"You can fight it all you want, but I know you'll come around one day. There's no resisting my natural labido," Wade sat facing him as he gave a wink and a flirty grin, causing Logan to sigh with a shake of his head and take another sip from the bottle.

"See this is exactly why I still drink. I need something to help tolerate your obnoxious ass on a daily basis."

"Fine by me. It has its benefits. Number one being that you're so much less stabby when you're like this," Wade teased, wiggling a finger into his side as Logan squirmed and giggled before swatting at his hand with boozed up coordination.

"Why are ya always tickling me? I hate that shit," Logan was still smiling though as he rubbed at his irritated ribs.

"Because," Wade smiled and turned to look out at the audience before whispering quietly under his breath, "The people demand it."

He sat staring in silence for several seconds until Logan lifted a brow in confusion.

"The fuck you looking at?"

"Nothing," Wade turned back to him, "Well it's because I have to make you laugh somehow, grumpy pants. You're always so serious, and worst of all you never laugh at my jokes."

"Oh yeah? Have ya tried actually being funny?"  A big shit eating grin was plastered on Logan's face as he instinctively pulled his arms in close to his body, not expecting Wade to let that one slide.

"Ooh hoo hoo, you're going to pay for that one later. You know what, smart ass? Maybe I'll tickle you in front of Laura. I'm sure she'd love to help me double team you sometime. A little badger on badger action, if you will." 

It was Wade's turn to smirk as Logan just looked back at him with nervous eyes that he tried to hide behind the scowl now creasing over his face.

"You'd better fuckin' not."

"I don't know. It's sounding like a pretty good idea to me. Usually I have to pay to see that kind of thing but-"

Logan growled as his claws started to come out, but Wade just laughed and wagged a finger at him.

"Ah ah ah! Rule number one, no bloodshed in the house. So best keep those claws of yours in check, my little kitty cat."

"Just don't give me a reason then," Logan warned, retracting the claws before his eyes raised to focus on Wade's head, "By the way, how long are ya gonna keep wearing that stupid toupee? I already told you that you ain't foolin' anyone with that thing."

Wade looked positively insulted as he patted and smoothed down the hair on his head.

"Uhmm excuse me? As I've told you a thousand times, it's a hair system. It's so I can go out in public looking halfway decent. Not all of us were blessed with the perfect bone structure of a successful Broadway actor," turns his head briefly to look at the camera, "And besides, I think it looks quite distinguished."

"I've seen better looking roadkill than whatever that thing's made out of," Logan snorted and downed the rest of the bottle in his hand before dropping it on the floor beside the other empty bottles.

"Says the guy who looks like he has roadkill glued to the sides of his face," Wade gave a less than gentle tug on his muttonchops as Logan grunted and smacked his hand away.

"Oh yeah? Well at least I can grow facial hair, pal. You on the other hand don't have a speck of hair on your whole goddamn body. You're like a fucking pre-pubescent child. This is what a real man looks like," a tipsy smirk crawled across his face as he nonchalantly pulled up his tank top to show off his hairy chest and stomach.

He emphasized his point by running a hand over his hirsute, muscular torso while Wade just stared very, very hard.

"........Are you trying to turn me on right now? Because it's working," Wade was smiling deviously and reaching a hand out as Logan chuckled dryly and gave him a hard shove, sending him flying to the other end of the couch, "Just so you know, I'm adding that one to the spank bank."

"You fucking wish, bub. Think ya got a better chance with that ugly ass dog of yours," he nodded over towards the sleeping pooch while tugging his shirt back down. 

It was rare to see such a repulsed look on Wade's face as the man always seemed to be down for whatever but apparently messing with the dog was where he drew a line.

"Woah woah, that's just going too far now. You need therapy, my friend."

"Oh please. I forgot you were the fucking poster child for mental stability," Logan muttered as he lifted his legs to prop his bare feet up on the coffee table in front of him.

"Heyheyhey! What in the ever-living fuck do you think you are doing? That's where we cut up our Bolivian nose candy-"

"I thought Feige said ya can't talk about that."

"Well what Feige doesn't know won't hurt him. Now let's go. Chop chop. Feet off the table, bud," Wade scolded and kicked Logan in the leg as the man rolled his eyes and begrudgingly pulled his feet down.

"You are such a fucking caveman. That table is an antique. Furniture crafted from the finest-OOof!" Wade grunted in pain as Logan dropped his feet onto his lap with his heel coming down hard onto his groin, "Uh uh nope. Not happening. Feet off the Deadpool too." 

"Well I gotta put 'em somewhere. What? Offended that ya weren't my first choice? Be flattered I finally found a good use for you," Logan smirked big time at the genuine outrage that now displayed on Wade's face.

"What the fuck do you mean?! You've seen what a phenomenal cook I am!"

"Almost burned down the apartment."

"I'm the king of late-night karaoke!"

"Got the cops called on us three times already."

"Well I'm good at making friends everywhere I go."

"I had to beat the shit out of all those bikers to get them off of you. Not to mention you almost got us banned from my favorite bar, you dumb fuck."

Wade started to pout from Logan shooting down all of his claims, but was quickly back to grinning as he thought of something that Logan couldn't possibly argue against.

"Okay, you know what? You wanna see something I'm good at? I'll show you something I'm very good at," Wade smirked and grabbed ahold of Logan's legs, securing his ankles in one arm as he began ruthlessly tickling the bottoms of his feet.

Logan lost any sense of calm he had as he immediately broke into a hysterical laughing fit, figuring out too late that he had made a huge mistake. There weren't many things in life that could get the Wolverine to lose his cool, but Wade Wilson the Tickle Monster never failed.

"Baahahahahahaha! Wahahahahade, dohohohon't!! Okaahaahaahaay! I'll mooohoohoove 'em!!"

Logan was far too buzzed to pull his usual act of fighting back his reactions and trying to pretend that he wasn't as horribly sensitive as he really was. Not that any of that ever discouraged Wade since he knew he'd always get him to crack eventually.

"Nah, that's okay. You just keep them right where they are, Giggles. Maybe this'll teach you some manners. Or not, that's okay too. I wouldn't want to run out of excuses to do this....," he scratched at the soles with Logan going nuts and frantically pulling at his captured legs while Wade's arm only squeezed tighter around them to ensure he wouldn't escape.

"Stahahahaaap, ya dihihihick! Fuhuhuhuckin' lehehehehe-lehehet me gohohohohooo!"

"What's that? Aww did you forget your safe word again? So confusing. How do I know if you really want me to stop or not?" The merc teased with his fingers scribbling at Logan's arches as the X-man's laughter surged in volume.

"Fuhuhuhuhuck you! Aaaheheeheeheehee nohohoho! Waahaait! I'm sohohohohorry!" He howled with tears already in his eyes as Wade found the weak spots under his toes; his body twisting and flopping around as he braced his arms on the couch in his clumsy attempts to get free.

Wade always enjoyed when Logan was in this state. Not only was he a lot less homicidal than if he was sober but he wasn't nearly as uptight and didn't even fight the tickles as hard. He practically just rolled over and took it and didn't hold much back. 

He suspected that Logan didn't hate being tickled nearly as much as he made out and loved to tease him about it much to the older man's insistent denial of the fact. It's likely that Logan would rather die than ever admit something like that.

Wade then cleared his throat and began to speak in his best exaggerated Australian accent.

"Crikey mate! Here we have the Wolverine. Best known for its violent tendencies and natural ability to be a complete jackass. When confronted by a stronger and more powerful predator it begins to make the most adorable snorting sounds that are meant as a sign of his submission. Let's listen in, shall we?"

Logan had been belting out uncontrollable snorts all throughout his laughter and it was one of Wade's favorite things to poke fun at him for.

"Shhh-Shuhuhuhut uhuhuhup! You're sohohohoho fuhuhucking stuhuhuhupid!"

"Oh, I'm fucking stupid? Who's the one making all the little piggy noises, Wilbur? Speaking of piggies....," Wade smirked as he started to play with his toes again, "This little piggy was an alcoholic....This little piggy was always so mean to his friend, Wade.....This little piggy talked shit about sweet little Dogpool....This little piggy..."

"Fuhuhuhuhuuuck! Alrihihihihight I gihihihive uhuhup! Haahahahaah! No-No mohohohore!" Logan had managed to pull a foot free and was now kicking Wade in the back as hard as he could, which wasn't very hard at all due his weakened state from laughing so much.

"No more? No MORE? Sorry, sweet cheeks. But I've got plenty more," Wade then threw his foot aside as he turned and dove onto Logan's prone form to now attack his very ticklish stomach, "That was for treating me like an object! This is for saying I'm not funny!"

Wade snickered with glee as the feral man expelled a less than manly squeal of giggles and immediately curled into a protective ball, though all attempts to evade were useless. Deadpool was positively relentless.

"Nooooohohohohohoo nohohohot thehehehehere! Okahahaay you're funny! You're fuhuhuhuhuhunnyyyyyaaahahahahahaaStaahahahahahaaap!"

"Oh sure! All of a sudden I'm just magically funny now! Don't insult my intelligence! You can't bullshit a bullshitter!" Wade managed to get his hands underneath Logan's shirt, raking his fingers up and down his bare stomach and forcing him to dissolve into a lengthy, mirthful wheeze.

"Why are you so ticklish? Is it part of your mutation? A result of a Weapon X experiment gone horribly wrong? Talk, damn you! I need answers!"

Not that Wade actually expected him to answer, but Logan was laughing entirely too hard and fighting it even less. He had his head thrown back in hysterics that exposed his oversized canines, writhing feebly while tears were leaking down his reddened cheeks.

It was a sight to see the normally powerful X-man rendered helpless from such a soft touch, but it just goes to prove that healing factors and big muscles were completely useless against a tickle attack.

Wade would have loved to keep tickling him all night, and he knew the man technically could take it with the high amount of stamina he possessed, but it was time to let him go now and save it for another time. Logan had been a good sport, and he didn't want to push it too far.

Pulling his hands back he now stood triumphantly hovering over the still giggling and plastered Wolverine, who kept his body all curled up in case the crazy merc decided to come for him again.

"Are you sure you're the Wolverine of legends? I mean, this isn't exactly what I had pictured. If I hadn't personally seen you in action then I'd have some serious doubts," he smirked as Logan finally relaxed and slowly splayed out on the couch.

"Heehehehe-That's the worst Wolverine to you, bub. You-hehehee-fucking suck," Logan continued to giggle as he struggled to fight off the dizzying high of the combined tickle assault mixed with the alcohol in his bloodstream. Wade was pleased to see he hadn't soured his mood.

"But do I swallow is the real question? Hehehe, sorry, I couldn't help myself. Now did you learn your lesson, you drunken idiot?"

Logan regained some sense of focus as he slowly sat up and looked up at Wade with the most cocky grin.

"Of course not. Gonna take a lot more than that, fucker."

"Do not tempt me, Peanut. I showed you mercy this time, but I cannot guarantee this next round I will be as charitable," Wade smirked and cracked his knuckles, surprised to see Logan lean back onto the couch with his arms folded behind his head.

"Pffft. You don't fuckin' scare me. You can do your worst. Though I'm sorry to say you're not gonna get the chance. Ya wanna know why?"

"Why?" Wade practically demanded with his hands on his hips.

"That's why." Logan lifted a hand to point behind Wade as the merc whirled around to confront what may have got the drop on him and found.....nothing. Nobody.

"Wait a minute.....did I really just fall for the oldest trick in the bo-AAAHCK!" Wade let out a scream as he was pounced from behind by a playfully growling Wolverine and landed hard on his stomach with his face hitting the floor. He had seriously misjudged the other man's current ability to fight back.

"Heheh, you really are a fucking idiot. Now let's see how you like this shit...," Logan immediately dug into Wade's ribs from where he sat perched on his back and was more than thrilled by the scream that ripped out of the merc's mouth. He knew there was no way a loudmouth like Wade wouldn't be ticklish.

"Nohohooo Logan wahahahahaait! Ahahaheeheehehehehe! You cahahahan't tihihihickle meheheee! I'm-I'm the 'ler! Nohohot yooooou!"

"The what? What the hell are ya talkin' about now?" Logan didn't let up though while Wade tried to sputter out an explanation.

"The cohohohommunity! Ihihihit's a thihihiing! I g-guess tehehehechnically I'm a swihihihihitch buhuhuhut stihihill!"

Logan raised his brows, looking more confused than before as he ended up just shrugging it off and shaking his head.

"Nevermind. I really don't wanna know. Now shut up and laugh, asshole," Logan's big hands ran up and down his sides, squeezing his waist and making it back up into his armpits as Wade flailed and shrieked and desperately tried to clamp his arms down.

Logan couldn't help but laugh at Wade's reactions with how he had barely started in on him yet.

"Geez. Have ya really been this fucking ticklish this whole time? Looks like we've got some time to make up for," his fingers fluttered around under Wade's arms, producing wild cackles as he wriggled like a worm and tried to scoot across the floor.

"Get off get off! Nooohahahahahaha! I'm nohohohohot tihihihicklish! I'm nohohohohohohot!"

"Well if you're not ticklish then all this shouldn't be botherin' ya, right? Or do you prefer me stabbin' ya better?" Logan smirked as he used the three middle fingers on each hand to simulate his claws as he repeatedly poked at Wade's ribcage with rapid fire speed, "Hehe, now you're dead."

"Gaahaahahahahaha!! Nohohohohot the clahahahahaws! Mehehehehercy!" Wade begged, trying to reach behind him to smack Logan's hands away. Spoiler alert, it didn't work.

"Mercy? Ha! That's a fuckin' good one. Hey, whaddya know. I guess you are funny after all. Hehehe, tickle tickle tickle, fuckface."

Wade's hysterics were increasing in volume by the second and Logan snorted in amusement at the thought that they might get the cops called on them for a suspected murder happening in the apartment.

"Holy shit. Keep it down, will ya? You're gonna wake the-"

"What in the name of Satan's asshole is that horrible noise?!?!" Blind Al shouted in annoyance as she wandered into the room and nearly tripped over the two men roughhousing on the floor.

"Blind Al! Blind Ahahahahal! Hehehehelp mehehehehe!" Wade screamed as he managed to roll over underneath Logan and reach out a desperate hand towards his elderly roommate.

"You're such a dick. Ya know ya don't have to emphasize that she's blind all the time, ya inconsiderate moron," Logan rolled his eyes with a smile as he now had better access to Wade's ribs and stomach and dug right in.

"Baahahahah-Buhuhuhut thahahat's her nahahahahame! B-Becahahahause she's blihihihind! Gehehehet ihihit?!"

The older woman's lips pursed with disdain.

"Please keep torturing him. I will sleep good tonight knowing that stupid motherfucker is suffering," she gently patted Logan on the shoulder as she turned around and made her way out of the room.

"You got it, boss lady," Logan nodded with a smirk and scratched furiously at Wade's stomach, easily avoiding the flailing hands trying to stop him.

"Blihihihihind Al! Aahahhahahha! You trahahahaahaahaitor! Ahahahafter ahahall I've d-dohohohone for yooohoou!"

"Maybe you could gag his bitch ass too," she yelled back over her shoulder, making Logan chuckle.

"She's got a point. You're loud as fuck. Always makin' fun of how I snort while you're over here shrieking like a fuckin' little girl."

With that, Wade was struck with inspiration as he thought of a way to get Logan to stop.

"Yehehehes! Oh yehehehes Lohohohogan! Dohohohn't stop! Th-Thahahat's ihihihit! Tihihihickle me! Tihihickle mehehehe untihihihil I pahahahass ouhohout!" Wade pretended to moan between his laughs as he put his hands flat against the floor to demonstrate that he had no intention of preventing the tickling, though it was a major struggle for him to keep them there.

Logan tilted his head as he stared down at Wade in bemusement.

"Can't tell if you're tryin' to psyche me out into stopping, or if you really do like it that much. I wouldn't put it past ya to actually enjoy being tickled. Not the weirdest thing about you. Either way, if ya say not stop then I won't," Logan smirked and proceeded to tickle him even harder as he kneaded into his hips.

"Noooooohohohoooo! Okaahahaay! I lihihihied! I cahahahan't tahahahahake it! Pleasepleaseplease stooohahahahoooop!" Wade squealed and kicked his legs around and uselessly tried to grab at the other man's wrists to pry him off.

"Now was that really a lie? Are ya sure it wasn't an educated wish?" Logan loved to bring that stupid shit up every once in a while, knowing it would get under Wade's skin.

"So fuhuhuhunny I forgohohot to lahahahaugh, ahahahasshole! Nohohow gehehet off meeeheeheeheee! You fuhuhuhucking mahahahade yohohohour point!" 

Logan was about to make another quip when he heard loud barking and turned his head to see Dogpool come flying over the back of the couch towards them in superhero slow-motion.

She then rushed in to grab Wade by the hair as she pulled with all of her tiny body weight trying to free him.

"Yehehehes! Mary Puhuhuhuppins! Saahahahave pa-pa! Thaahahahat's it!"

"Yeah.....that dog weighs like eight pounds. Hehehe, don't think you're getting away from me just yet, bub," Logan snickered as he dragged Wade closer and plunged his fingers into his armpits, earning another shriek as the merc futilely clamped his arms down and thrashed even harder.

"Looohohohogaaan staaahahahahahahap! I'm-I'm sohohohohoh glahahad to seeheehee-ahahahahhah-see yohohou ehehehembrace thihihis sss-sihihide of you buhuhuhut-AAAAHH! FUHUHUHUCK!!"

A loud ripping sound was heard as Logan looked up in wonderment to see Wade with a hand gripped to his now bald head as Dogpool stood there with his whole hair piece in her mouth.

Logan couldn't help it. The sight of Wade laying there with those fucking staples sticking out of his head and the dog now gnawing on his toupee like a chew toy was just too comical.

He started to laugh. Really laugh. Laughing too damn hard to keep tickling Wade as he literally fell over, holding his sides while his whole body shook in uncontrollable guffaws.

Wade was finally able to sit up as he glared at his hysterical friend, but he had a smile on his face too.

"Really?! That's what makes you laugh?! You seeing me getting hurt is funny to you? Pretty fucked up, you sado," he pretended to sound annoyed, but really he was anything but. It was rare to see Logan laugh like this besides when Wade was tickling him half to death so he'd let him have this for the moment.

Still he had to strike back somehow for this indignity.

"Puppins attack! Kill, my little munchkin! Kill!" Wade shouted as the dog rushed towards the fallen man and jumped onto him. But Dogpool didn't have a mean bone in her body and only knew how to attack with love as she affectionately licked Logan's face much to his aversion.

"Blech! Wahahade! Gehet your dohohog!" He bellowed as he continued to laugh, but other than trying to shield his face with his arms he didn't do much to stop her.

"Okay okay, come here, sweetie pie. Lets get you away from the bad man who tried to kill your pa-pa," Wade reached over and pulled her off of him, setting her into his lap.

Logan finally fought down the giggles as he sat up to find Wade staring longingly at the destroyed toupee in his hand. He kind of felt bad for the guy and thought he should offer some words of encouragement.

"Yeah, that thing's fucked. Big time. But hey, I think you look better without it," he nodded, using his shirt to wipe off his face as Wade gave him a genuine smile.

"You're only saying that because you're drunk," the merc teased back as Logan shrugged in response and grinned broadly.

"You're probably right. I wouldn't touch ya with a ten foot pole."

"That's okay. I don't mind doing all the touching...," Wade gave him a quick squeeze on the side as Logan snorted and lurched away from his reach and got to his feet.

"Don't fucking start that again. I'd say we're even now. Besides, you don't wanna fuck with me now that I know how damn ticklish you are. It's a stalemate. We can put this all behind us and move on. Now if ya don't mind I'd like to get some sleep," he waved the other man away as he grabbed some blankets off the back of the couch to set up his sleeping area.

Wade just smirked as he began walking out of the room with Dogpool in his arms.

"Silly silly Wolvie. I'm not sure you realize the implications of your actions. But I'm afraid this is far from over. You, my friend, have just started a war."

Logan's face fell as he only stared back at Wade in wide-eyed silence.

"Nighty night, Peanut. Sweet dreams," Wade smirked devilishly, waving with wiggling fingers as he flicked off the light switch on the wall.

[inkspiredwriting]

Stubborn as a Hargreeves

Five Hargreeves x Fem!reader

Warnings: none

As Five lay on the couch, his body aching and head pounding, he stubbornly refused to admit he was sick.

Y/N, his ever-patient wife, walked into the living room carrying a tray with a bowl of soup, a glass of water, and a box of tissues. "Five, you need to rest and take care of yourself," she said, her voice gentle but firm.

Five sat up, wincing slightly. "I'm fine, Y/N. It's just a little cold. I've faced worse."

Y/N rolled her eyes, setting the tray on the coffee table. "You look like you've been run over by a truck. Just admit you're sick and let me take care of you."

Five crossed his arms, a stubborn glint in his eyes. "I don't get sick."

Y/N sighed, knowing that arguing with Five was like trying to move a mountain. "Okay, Mr. Invincible. At least humor me and eat some soup. It's chicken noodle, your favorite."

Five glanced at the steaming bowl, his resolve wavering. He was hungry, and the aroma of the soup was enticing. Reluctantly, he reached for the bowl. "Fine. But only because I'm hungry."

Y/N smiled, watching as he took a few tentative sips. "See? Not so bad, right?"

Five grumbled something incoherent but continued eating. Y/N sat beside him, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "You're burning up, Five. You need to rest."

"I can't afford to rest," Five muttered between bites. "There's too much to do."

"Like what?" Y/N asked, raising an eyebrow. "Saving the world can wait a day or two. Your health is more important."

Five opened his mouth to argue but was interrupted by a violent sneeze. He groaned, finally conceding. "Alright, maybe I am a little under the weather."

Y/N chuckled, handing him a tissue. "Thank you for finally admitting it. Now, lie back down and let me take care of you."

Five sighed, lying back on the couch. Y/N covered him with a blanket and sat beside him, gently running her fingers through his hair. "Just relax, Five. I've got everything under control."

As the day went on, Five reluctantly allowed Y/N to fuss over him. She made sure he stayed hydrated, brought him more soup, and even read to him from his favorite book. Despite his stubborn nature, he found himself appreciating her care and attention.

"You're really good at this," Five admitted, his voice softer than usual.

Y/N smiled, leaning down to kiss his forehead. "That's because I love you. And because I'm not going to let a little flu take you down."

Five chuckled, his eyes closing as he relaxed under her touch. "I love you too, Y/N. Thanks for putting up with me."

"Always," Y/N whispered, continuing to stroke his hair.

As Five drifted off to sleep, he realized that sometimes, even the most stubborn of heroes needed to be taken care of. And he was grateful to have Y/N by his side, through sickness and health, for better or worse.

[writtenbymoonflower]

Could I request a poly!marauders comforting a close friend(possibly someone they have feelings for but she was dating someone else.) Just broke up with my boyfriend tonight; he wasn't honest about something vitally important and things just weren't work out out before he even came clean and I feel sick and just need comfort. Please and thank you.

hi baby! i'm so sorry about your breakup. i know there's nothing i can say to make it easier, but i hope this helps. please take it easy on yourself, and my dms are open if you need anything <3 poly!marauders x fem!reader (romantic if you squint)

cw: mentions of drinking, breakups, swearing

880 words

In your defense, when you had initially made the call you didn’t expect all this fuss. Your intention was to kindly let your friends know that you didn’t feel up to going out that night due to your unexpected heartbreak. If you had known that your call would result in two bottles of rose, a gallon of moose-tracks frozen custard, and three borderline sickeningly benevolent boys infiltrating your house, you probably would’ve gone with a vague text. Even so, you couldn’t deny that deep down, you were grateful. 

However, sobbing into the sleeves of your borrowed sweater, with a Disney movie playing in the background while you were periodically fed bites of ice cream and sips of wine was a level of vulnerability you did not expect to reach with your friends.

Every time you thought your sobs had subsided, another wave welled up inside you. You sniffled miserably, pinching your irritated nose clean. Your hands were batted away. 

“Gentle, sweetheart. Your poor face is already rubbed raw.” James kindly scolded you. You nodded, the movement making you feel more lightheaded than before. You were handed a glass of water, not the wine you were hoping for but you still took it. After taking a few sips you set it down, feeling the tears welling into your eyes again. Remus tugged you into his side, letting you nuzzle your face into his soft sweater. 

“Babe, I’m not sure that prick is worth this amount of tears.” Sirius’ tone was sweet, if not a little venomous. He was still cuffed on the back of the head by Remus. 

“Tact, pads. Have some tact.” Remus huffed, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Cry as much as you need to, dove.” 

Strangely, now your tears had stopped. You sat up, though Remus still held onto you. 

“You wanna talk, now lovely girl? Or do you want to be distracted?” James held you from your other side, brushing your damp hair out of your face. 

“I don’t think I have coherent thoughts right now.” You tried to joke but your tone just came out pitiful.

“That’s okay.” Remus said, thoughtfully. “Just say what's going through your head. This is for you, dovey. It doesn’t have to make perfect sense to us, we just want to be here for you.” 

You nodded, more gently this time, and took a deep breath. “I’m just-” The lump was still in your throat, making it hard to get the words out. “I’m just so hurt, you know? Like I gave everything. I gave fucking everything to this. To him. And I guess I just thought that he would do the same. And I- I’m just so fucking stupid, because I never expected he would do something like this.” Your face screwed up like you were in pain and you fell back into Remus’ chest, silent sobs shaking your body. 

“Oh, baby.” Sirius placed a hand on your leg, rubbing his thumb back-and-forth. They let you cry for the nth time that night, never rushing or scolding you. When your cries slowed again, Sirius spoke up. “I know it hurts, dollface. I know. And I know there is nothing we can say to make it go away.” There was hurt in his voice as he said that. Sirius despised feeling helpless. And emotions were one of the things that made him feel that way the most. He always thought he was shit at comforting people, but in reality, he’s far better than he gives himself credit for. 

“Can you look at me, sweet girl?” James leaned over to catch your eyes. You let him. “Listen to me, what he chose to do says nothing, and I mean nothing about you, okay? You are not stupid, or anything of the sort. It says everything about him, that he knew he had your trust and chose to not be deserving of it. Just because he didn’t love you right, doesn’t mean that you were wrong for loving him anyway. So please, don’t ever for a moment, let his bad decisions affect how you see yourself, precious thing.” 

His words made you cry all over again, but it was different this time. James pulled you into his lap, cradling you like a baby in his arms. 

“Look at what you’ve done, prongs. You’ve broken her all over again.” Sirius said incredulously. For the first time that night, you laughed. It was wet and choked, but it still felt good. 

“There you go.” Remus squeezed your calf. “Didn’t quite like seeing you like that.” You nodded. 

“I don’t quite like being like that.” You half-laughed. James squeezed you again. 

“But if you need to be, we’re here for you, yeah?” Sirius poured you more wine. The other two boys let out loud affirmatives. 

“Thank you guys, really. I think I needed this.” You hoped the way you were looking at them showed how grateful you really were.

“Anytime, lovie.” James kissed your cheek. “Now, I think we need a movie yeah? Something silly. Like Sausage Party. Or one of those shitty horror movies that only scares Sirius.” He grinned cheekily. 

“Oi! Those are really fucking scary!” Sirius squawked. You rolled your eyes, filled to the brim with affection.

[2i1han]

Slowly, Then All at Once

4 : try, just for once

pairing: classmate!leehan x fem!reader | word count: 8.6k

genre: fluff, slow-burn, young adult, romcom, coming-of-age

tags: boynextdoor , non-idol au, high school/college au , first love , neighbor!leehan , extrovert!leehan , cold!leehan , extrovert!reader

characters mentioned : kim leehan , park sungho , sakai moka , kim minji , bae jinsol, gyuvin , park minju , jung wooyoung

warnings: no warnings! sfw

summary : you and leehan have known each other for years—classmates since ninth grade, always familiar but never really close due to leehan's indifference. but when his brother enters the picture, everything starts to change. unresolved situation that were once buried begin to surface, and leehan must decide: let go or finally take a chance.

a/n : hi, everyonee! i'm sorry if part 4 took so long. my schoolworks piled up these past few days and i was CRAMMING. but nw since i'll update as soon as i can, and whenever i can<3 happy weekends!

♪ playlist : canna/rio , heavy heart/rio , so let's go see the stars/boynextdoor , so tender/say sue me , bad/wte , light/wte , can't go/ben , chocolate/bol4 , would you love me/stella jang , everyday/haebin , star drawing/yuziii

scrambling your blanket up to your body, you flinched at the sudden voice from your bedroom doorway.

"hey! who do you think i am?"

it was moka.

you exhaled sharply, your shoulders finally relaxing as you placed your phone back to your ear.

"never mind, it's just moka. i'll catch up later," you said before hanging up.

"you freaking scared me," you grumbled, rolling your eyes as you swung your legs over the bed, only to immediately regret it when a sharp, throbbing pain pulsed through your skull.

oh god. hangover.

moka scoffed, already making her way to the kitchen. you dragged yourself after her, each step making your head pound even more.

"you were a mess last night," she informed you, grabbing a bowl and ladling soup into it. "you puked on your clothes, and sungho had to call me through your phone to come save your sorry ass." she cringed at the memory.

"oh. my. god."

you slid into a chair at the dining table, covering your face with both hands. the embarrassment was creeping in like a parasite.

"that's so freaking humiliating," you muttered.

"oh, hell yeah, it is," moka chuckled, shaking her head. "lucky for you, i happened to be at a friend's place nearby, or you'd have had to sleep in your own mess. gross."

"you wouldn’t let that happen." you peeked at her through your fingers, recalling the countless times she'd sworn off babysitting your drunk self, only to always show up anyway.

moka scoffed. "don’t test me."

you leaned forward, fidgeting with your hands on the table. "so… sungho called you?"

"mhm. when i got here your mess on the floor and bed had already been cleaned." she said, stirring the soup. "y'all partied without me. never babysitting you again, i swear." she frowned but still placed a steaming bowl of hangover soup in front of you with the care of a mother bird feeding her dumbest chick.

"it was a welcoming party for my university. are you from k-arts?" you deadpanned.

"no," moka mumbled.

"exactly. don't worry, we'll all go out when we’re not busy." you offered, hoping to appease her obvious fomo.

grabbing the spoon, you took a small sip. the warmth and spice rushed through your system, sending a shockwave to your half-dead cells. you cleared your throat and exhaled.

"thank you, moka," you murmured, sending her a small, grateful smile.

she pouted, clearly pretending to be annoyed. "yeah, yeah. don't make it weird."

you snickered, but then your mind drifted back to something else.

sungho.

you set your spoon down and picked up your phone, planning to send him a quick message. but as you pulled up your contacts, realization smacked you in the face. you didn't have his number.

your eyes widened. but wait, hadn't he given it to you back then? on a tissue or something?

you shot up from your chair. "wait a sec."

you rushed back to your room, grabbing the coat you had worn that day which you never wore again so you didn't have to wash it. praying to whatever higher power existed, you dug into the pockets.

please still be there. please still be there.

your fingers brushed against crumpled tissue, and you nearly cheered when you pulled it out. it was a little worse for wear. pulps flaking off, with some of the ink fading, but the number was still legible.

relieved, you walked back to the kitchen, plopping down into your chair. moka didn’t even look up from her phone.

you carefully typed sungho's number into your phone, saving it as sungho.

slightly hesitant, you finally sent the message.

"hey! it’s me, y/n. i just wanted to thank you for last night. it really meant a lot."

you quickly flipped your phone screen down on the table, like that would somehow make the anxiety disappear. with a deep breath, you returned to your soup, the headache slowly fading—helped by both the food and the painkillers you'd took earlier.

with a relieved sigh, you stood and stretched before turning to moka.

"let's go out together. i have to head to uni in an hour."

moka, still lounging on the couch, hummed. "alright. i'll be heading out around that time too. just hurry up."

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

everything in the visual arts building buzzed with chatter, students carrying large portfolios, canvases, and sketchbooks as they ran through the corridors. the scent of oil paint and lattes hung in the air.

walking side by side with minji and bae, you trailed slightly behind, hands buried in your hoodie's front pocket, brows knitted together in deep thought. the more you thought about last night, the more your stomach churned.

"ugh, god, i'm so embarrassing," you groaned, letting your head fall dramatically onto bae’s shoulder.

bae, who had long grown accustomed to your whining, barely reacted. she simply nudged you off and chuckled. "i'm sure he doesn't mind. the guy looked pretty genuine when he insisted on helping you last night."

you straightened up, scoffing. "yeah, but that doesn't mean i'm allowed to do cringy shit around him," you muttered, groaning into your hands. the mere thought of what else you could've done in your drunken state made you want to dig a hole in the ground and disappear.

minji, walking on your other side, rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "you were drunk, y/n. i'm sure he understands."

bae nodded, a smug grin forming on her lips. "exactly. and let's not forget—he even called moka to have your clothes changed out of respect."

you pursed your lips, thinking about it.

they had a point. sungho had gone out of his way to make sure you were okay, even going as far as to clean up your place before moka could even get there. and he didn't have to do that. most guys would've just dumped you on your bed and left you in your misery. that had to be one of the most thoughtful things a man could do.

you exhaled through your nose. "yeah, i guess you're right," you muttered, deciding to just agree before they lectured you further.

"good. now let's get going before you spiral again," bae said, grabbing your wrist and dragging you forward.

you stumbled slightly but followed along, grumbling. "still embarrassing, though."

minji let out a laugh, shaking her head as she walked beside you. "only you would find a guy being nice to you a source of stress."

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

the entire morning had passed with just class introductions, some more bearable than others. a few professors were merciful, easing the tension with icebreaker games or casual q&a sessions, while others dove straight into full-blown lectures as if they'd been waiting all summer to unload academic hell upon everyone. and then there were those who, with an evil glint in their eyes, assigned an art project on the first day, due by the end of the month.

if it weren't for the fact that bae and minji were in your class, you were pretty sure you'd already be drafting your dropout plan. but knowing you had at least two people to suffer alongside made things a little more manageable.

now, the common cafeteria was packed, buzzing with life. groups of students squeezed through the maze of tables, some balancing trays piled high with food, others scanning the area for an open seat. a few unlucky ones walked alone, looking like lost souls in need of a companion.

luckily, you weren't one of them.

settled comfortably at a table with bae and minji, you took a sip of your banana milk, letting out a sigh.

"i should probably thank sungho in person later," you mused, swirling the straw in your drink.

"orrrr," bae drawled, gaze flicking behind you, "you could just do it now."

your brows furrowed, confused, until you noticed minji subtly nodding in the same direction. curious, you turned around, only for your breath to catch slightly at the sight of sungho approaching your table.

even from a distance, he was already recognizable. his neatly styled black hair, the way his brown knitted sweater complemented the white trousers he wore, it was unfair how effortlessly put-together he looked. the moment he saw you notice him, his relaxed walk turned into a light jog.

"hey," sungho greeted with a small wave as he came to a stop in front of you, his usual warm smile making you feel comfortable and at ease than earlier.

"hey, sungho," you replied, a little shyly. "i was actually just about to look for you. i never got to properly thank you for last night."

his smile widened slightly, but he simply shook his head. "don't worry about it. i'm just glad you’re feeling better now."

the sincerity in his voice made you relax, and before you knew it, the two of you had settled at the table, effortlessly falling into conversation. sungho listened attentively as you half-jokingly recounted your embarrassment from last night, occasionally teasing you about your drunk state but never in a way that felt mocking. it was nice, and funny.

the atmosphere was lively, full of laughter and banter between you and your friends. for a moment, it felt like nothing could ruin the easy-going mood. but then, that familiar presence approached from behind. you didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

"what's up?" it was leehan's voice.

unlike before, though, his presence didn't send an immediate wave of tension through you. it was different. not as suffocating, not as cold. maybe even a little hesitant, but certainly not as distant as it once was.

minji's head snapped up, her eyes flickering between you and leehan before she wiggled her eyebrows very unsubtly.

you shot her a glare, rolling your eyes before turning your attention back to leehan. "oh, hey. have a seat." you gestured toward the open chair in front of you, beside bae and minji.

leehan hesitated for a second before nodding, slipping into the chair.

sungho, who had been casually engaged in conversation just moments ago, went quiet. his gaze panned toward leehan. there was no hostility, no obvious tension, but there was definitely something.

leehan, surprisingly, had struck up a pretty lighthearted conversation with everyone at the table. you had expected at least some awkwardness, but he blended in so smoothly it was almost unsettling. you never saw him like this before. he was funny—annoyingly funny, actually, and just as engaging as sungho. the entire time, it felt like watching two suns trying to outshine each other.

at one point, leehan smirked and leaned forward, resting his chin lazily on his hand. "you know," he started, glancing at sungho with faux innocence, "this guy once tripped over absolutely nothing in the middle of the basketball court last year. right in front of the coach. he tried to play it off like he was stretching, but—" leehan chuckled, shaking his head, "he was just laid out on the floor for a solid minute."

sungho groaned, burying his face in his hands. "oh my god, you said you wouldn't bring that up."

minji burst out laughing, nearly choking on her drink. "wait—was this before or after he lectured the entire team about grace and balance?" sungho added.

"oh, right after," leehan confirmed with a grin. "like, literally five minutes after."

sungho shot him a look. "okay, but at least i don't spend every match arguing with the referees like some people."

leehan gasped dramatically. "excuse me? those calls were objectively unfair! i had to say something."

sungho smirked. "did you have to get benched because of it, though?"

leehan waved dismissively. "that’s beside the point."

the table erupted in laughter again. the competitive yet easy-going energy between the two guys was unexpectedly enjoyable, until sungho, seemingly out of nowhere, dropped a comment that made the entire atmosphere shift.

"leehan did nothing the entire summer but brood in his room, talking to his pet fish about this one girl that he no longer sees," sungho quipped, a teasing lilt in his voice.

bae snorted, slapping the table, while sungho chuckled to himself. even you and minji let out small laughs, but something felt off. you glanced at leehan, expecting him to roll his eyes or fire back with a witty remark, but instead, his expression flickered, but for a moment, his gaze snapped toward sungho, his eyes flashing like a lighter flicking to life.

then, just as quickly, he forced out a laugh, the sound slightly strained. "he's bluffing," leehan said, waving a hand dismissively. he played it off so smoothly that if you weren't paying attention, you wouldn't have noticed how his shoulders tensed ever so slightly.

sungho, picking up on something, simply nodded and let it slide, shifting the conversation elsewhere. the moment passed, and soon, the table was back to its usual energy. but something about it lingered.

with classes finally over, you and minji strolled down the street together, the golden light of the sunset casting long shadows across the pavement. bae had gone home early, leaving just the two of you to talk about the day's events like any friends would. and naturally, the main topic on your mind was what had happened at lunch.

"i wonder who sungho was talking about earlier," minji said, hands tucked into the pockets of her jeans. "you know, about leehan."

you shrugged, pretending not to care. "who knows." you were curious too—annoyingly curious, but you weren't about to admit that. "i mean, he spent all of high school avoiding us, so god knows what he's up to. how are we even supposed to know what's going on in his life?"

minji hummed in agreement, but you weren’t done yet.

"and besides, it's none of my business," you added, voice a little sharper than intended. "like, why should i care? he can talk to his pet fish about whoever he wants. not my problem."

minji gave you a look.

you met her gaze, only then realizing how animated you had been. your hands gesturing wildly, your tone was defensive. the eye-rolling, the scoffing, the way your eyebrows had lifted off your face, it was all a little too much for someone who supposedly didn't care.

minji's lips curled into a smirk.

"what?" you snapped, suddenly feeling self-conscious. minji just snickered. "nothing."

"then stop looking at me like that."

she held up her hands in mock surrender, but the mischief in her expression didn't fade.

"chill, dude," she chuckled, taking a step backward while still observing you with a grin.

you groaned. "can you not? i’m just not in the mood right now."

minji just simply turned on her heel and walked ahead, still laughing under her breath. and even though you wanted to ignore it, you couldn't help but replay sungho's words in your mind, over and over again. who was the girl leehan spent his summer brooding over?

you shook your head, dismissing it as just a bad mood—or hell, maybe even an incoming period dragging your emotions to rock bottom. either way, it didn't matter. that conversation was nothing more than casual banter, something that should’ve been funny.

this dynamic between you and leehan carried on for the next three weeks leading up to the membership training. it wasn't quite the same as how things had been back in middle school or high school. no, that dynamic had been colder, distant. this, however, was different. by it, you meant the mildly annoying way sungho kept bringing up that girl—this mysterious someone from his brother's old school that leehan had supposedly fumbled so badly he locked himself in their family house all summer.

and every time it was mentioned, you felt something prickle inside you. it wasn't anger, not exactly. not jealousy either—or at least, that's what you kept telling yourself. but it bothered you, even if you couldn't quite pinpoint why. yet, just as quickly as the feeling crept up, you shook it off, unwilling to confront the unknown reasons behind it.

at one point, your friends—who, for some reason, absolutely couldn't stand you being "moody" again, turned an entire hangout into a full-blown conspiracy session. half the conversation revolved around guessing who sungho was talking about, as if solving this mystery would somehow fix your unspoken irritation.

"maybe it’s minju?" you had blurted out once, the thought slipping before you could stop it.

and from that moment on, it never left your mind. minju here, minju there. of course it would be her—who else? it was almost like you were suffering from a disease without knowing the symptoms or the cause. but at the end of the day, you always pushed the thoughts aside with a dismissive whatever before moving on. before seeing leehan again.

because, despite everything, you were weirdly okay with how things were turning out. leehan was catching up to you, bit by bit. and though there were times when he would go nonverbal or hesitate to approach when sungho wasn't around, progress was progress, as your friends liked to say. 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

the bubbling excitement in your chest all but drowned out any thoughts from the past few weeks. it was finally here—freshman membership training day. a much needed getaway where all the first-years, regardless of department, would head off to a resort or campsite for a day packed with team-building activities, games, and enough forced socializing to either break the ice or break your spirit.

and being the extrovert you were, this was the kind of thing that scratched your brain in all the right ways.

buses lined up in front of the university gate, engines rumbling, ready to take dozens of eager students off to what was basically an overnight camp. you, bae, and minji stood beside your assigned ride, surrounded by the buzz of students lugging their belongings.

unlike your friends, who had each brought a single backpack like they were minimalist monks on a pilgrimage, you had an actual small suitcase—because, unlike some people, you weren't about to survive on just a bar of soap and a spare pair of clothes.

bae snapped a selfie in front of the bus, grinning as she admired her phone screen.

"moka would've loved this," she sighed dreamily, still fixated on whatever conversation she was having.

you and minji locked eyes knowingly.

"of course, moka would love this," you sneered, shaking your head as minji crossed her arms.

ever since the café incident, things between moka and bae had been going suspiciously well. it wasn't surprising when moka eventually asked for jinsol's number, and even less surprising when their conversations became an all-the-time thing. at this point, whenever the four of you went out, it was as if bae was the only person in moka's universe.

and to no one's shock, bae didn't seem clueless about it either.

before you could tease her further, the bus driver's call rang out, signaling the final boarding. minji and bae hopped on first, disappearing into the crowded aisle. you were about to follow when something in your peripheral vision made you pause.

across from your bus, at the baggage compartment of the next one over, leehan was crouched down, shoving his suitcase away.

as if sensing your stare, he turned his head, and for a moment, his dark eyes met yours. then, a small, casual smile flashed across his face.

you blinked, caught off guard, but instinctively returned the gesture before quickly stepping onto the bus. squeezing through the narrow aisle, you tiptoed slightly to shove your small suitcase into the overhead compartment before sitting down beside minji.

bae, now seated across from you, was already glued to her phone, fingers moving rapidly, with an ear-to-ear smile on her lips. no doubt texting a certain someone.

you leaned your head against the window, the cool glass pressing against your temple as the bus rumbled beneath you. outside, the campus gates were already shrinking into the distance, giving way to open roads and rows of trees that motioned together in blurs of green. this was going to be fun. you told yourself that at least five times now. an overnight membership training trip with your friends, new faces to meet—your kind of scene. but despite all the excitement, your mind had the audacity to wander somewhere else. or rather, to someone else.

leehan, of course.

you frowned slightly at your own thoughts, shifting in your seat as if that would shake them off. it's also going to be okay since he's there. maybe we can get closer too. the idea came naturally, and you almost wanted to groan at yourself. not like that. just as friends. obviously.

it wasn't weird to think about a classmate, right? you'd known leehan for years, even if you two barely interacted back then. there was no reason for this to feel like something more. yet, for some reason, the thought of the departments being split for the trip made your stomach sink just a little.

you let out a sigh and leaned back against your seat, ready to shut down that train of thought before it went any further. but then,

"i heard they're not separating the departments this year," a voice from the seat behind you said.

your ears perked up before you could stop yourself. the tiniest smile tugged at your lips before you even realized it, but the second you felt it, you immediately forced it away, scrambling to put on a neutral face. you plugged in your earphones in a hurry, shoving the thought deep, deep down. what was i thinking? of course i'd like it if leehan was there. he's my classmate. my friend. that's it.

minji, who had been silently scrolling through her phone beside you, suddenly muttered without looking up, "sure, keep telling that to yourself."

for a  moment, you thought she had unlocked some kind of psychic ability, or worse, could hear your thoughts. but then you realized that you weren't just thinking those things. you were mumbling them out loud.

heat crawled up your neck as you shot her a glare, trying to play it cool. "i don't know what you're talking about," you said, turning to stare aggressively out the window.

minji let out a chuckle but didn't push further, too busy on her screen. thank god.

still, you made a mental note to never let your thoughts slip past your lips again.

you had almost dozed off for the entire ride, your head lolling slightly against the window, but just as you were about to fully drift into sleep, the bus came to a sudden stop. blinking groggily, you rubbed your eyes and looked around, realizing that you had finally arrived at the campsite.

the moment you stepped off the bus, a fresh breeze greeted you. the area was breathtaking—an expansive field surrounded by towering trees, their leaves rustling softly in the wind. in the distance, the city skyline twinkled under the sun, tiny and far away.

excited murmurs filled the area as students scrambled around, pulling out their phones to take pictures, pointing at every little thing that caught their attention. someone from another group had already started a mini-photoshoot under a particularly aesthetic tree, while others were busy inspecting the camping grounds.

your group had already decided to bring just one large tent—moka's, which bae had to practically beg to borrow. you, bae, and minji set your bags down at a good spot as they started unfolding the tent, the two already bickering about the instructions before they even began.

"i'm telling you, this pole goes there—"

"bae, you don't even know how to set up a tent—"

"neither do you!"

you took that as your cue to step away before you got roped into their struggle. wandering off toward the edge of the field, you took a deep breath, feeling in the peaceful atmosphere.

"what do you think of the site?"

the voice beside you made you blink in surprise. you turned your head, meeting leehan's eyes. he stood there casually, hands in his pockets, looking out at the scenery.

you hesitated for a second before offering a small, tight-lipped smile. "it's nice here," you mumbled, shifting your gaze back toward the horizon. "away from the city pollution."

leehan nodded in agreement, his eyes still fixed on the view.

you stood side by side, both staring at the scenery, neither saying a word. you weren't even sure why, but every interaction with leehan felt like this. awkward, stiff, like your usually endless vocabulary shrank to fifty words the moment he was around. you weren't even sure if he felt the same, but judging by how he never really tried to start conversations either, you figured he probably did.

what were you supposed to say? the weather's nice? and then what? you could already hear the conversation dying within seconds.

eventually, leehan let out a soft sigh and broke the silence. "i'll see you later at the activities."

you blinked at him blankly before giving a small nod. "alright, see you later."

without another word, he turned and walked back to his group, where his friends were still setting up their tents.

before you could even process the encounter, minji appeared by your side, arms crossed.

"wow, didn't know you and leehan were buddies now." she nudged your side teasingly.

you rolled your eyes and let out a chuckle. "shut up."

the two of you made your way back to your tent just as the upperclassmen and club leaders began gathering everyone for the welcoming speech and an overview of the team-building games.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

the afternoon was a pack of excitement and laughter as the games began. you had expected them to be fun, but they were even better than you expected. your department was in high spirits, the energy was contagious as you all threw yourselves into the challenges. every win felt like a small victory, and every loss was met with dramatic groans and playful jokes.

you knew this kind of fun wouldn't last. soon enough, university life would hit like a truck, drowning you in exams and deadlines. so you let yourself enjoy every second of it, living in the moment.

as expected, you, minji, and bae weren't allowed to be on the same team, much to bae's dismay. "we're literally the glue of this department," she whined as the department head dragged her away to a different group.

but the team you ended up with was fun, and it was nice meeting new people.

still, you'd be lying if you said you weren't a little disappointed that you weren't on the same team as leehan. not that it mattered. okay, maybe it mattered just a little.

unfortunately for you, the teams were formed by department, meaning you wouldn't be working with him anytime soon. however, that didn't mean you wouldn't be competing against them.

the final game of the day before dinner was announced, and a wave of excitement ran through the crowd.

"whoever loses will be on grill duty for the night," a senior called out, smirking as students groaned and laughed.

you barely had time to react before you felt hands pushing you forward.

"y/n, go!!" someone shouted.

before you knew it, you were standing at the center of the field, blinking in confusion as your entire department cheered wildly behind you. apparently, your earlier victories had already made you a fan favorite, and now, they were practically throwing you into battle.

"that's our girl!!" bae's voice rang from the crowd, earning more cheers.

you let out a breathy laugh, shaking your head as you turned to face your opponent.

the roar of the other team's cheers suddenly grew louder. intrigued, you glanced over at them, only for your stomach to drop slightly.

the performance arts department was celebrating loudly, their voices echoing across the field. and at the center of it all, stepping forward with the casual confidence of someone who knew they were about to put on a show—leehan.

hands in his pockets, he walked toward the middle of the field, he was relaxed, almost lazy. then, as if he had been expecting you all along, he simply smiled and raised his eyebrows at you.

the senior hosting the game smirked, clearly enjoying the situation. "alright, the mechanics are simple," he announced, arms crossed. "palm push. no hard shoving—just light, strategic pushing. whoever falls first loses, and their department gets stuck on grill duty for the night."

of course, out of all games, it had to be palm push. and out of all people, it had to be leehan.

just the thought of standing inches away from him, hands practically touching, forced to look straight into his eyes made you want to dig a hole and never come out. your friends were definitely going to drag this up until the end of university. scratch that—the entire department was about to witness your awkward chemistry unfold in real time.

but it was too late to back out now.

taking a deep breath, you stepped onto the log, wobbling almost instantly. the wooden surface was rough beneath your feet, the bark stripped away in some places, making it dangerously smooth. your arms flailed as you tried to steady yourself, and you barely noticed leehan flinch beside you, his hand twitching slightly like he was ready to catch you if you fell.

you managed to stay upright somehow, but the difference between you and leehan was already obvious. where you wobbled like an inflatable tube man, leehan stepped onto the log with ease, his stance was solid, and a relaxed posture. he barely even shifted his weight, while you were one wrong breath away from falling face first.

a loud groan erupted from the performance arts students behind him.

"don't lose, leehan!" one of them called. "we don't wanna smell like charcoal for the next three days!"

"yeah, no pressure," minji added with an evil grin, winking at you from the sidelines.

you turned to face leehan, standing only a breath apart. his hands hovered hesitantly in front of him, and for a good second, neither of you moved.

a beat of silence, then another.

and then—

"oh my god, are they just gonna stare at each other?" someone groaned from the crowd.

"just push already!"

leehan exhaled, his gaze flickering to the side for half a second, just enough time for you to notice. his ears were turning red.

he wasn't making the first move.

so, you took a deep breath and pressed your palms against his. the moment you made contact, leehan's reflexes kicked in. and, he dodged.

his hands swung back, completely avoiding your push at the last second, and then— your own momentum collapsed.

your foot slipped. your weight tipped forward. the log suddenly felt like the most unstable thing in existence as gravity won.

gasps rippled through the crowd as you flailed, arms reaching for anything, anyone.

leehan moved.

his hands caught your shoulders in a firm grip, fingers tightening instinctively. but it was already too late. you were falling, and instead of pushing you back up—he pulled you toward him.

a rush of wind filled your ears as the two of you went tumbling down. you barely processed the feeling of his chest against yours before you crashed onto the grass, landing right on top of him.

the world tilted. the shouts from the crowd muffled. for a split second, all you could focus on was the solid warmth beneath you—the rise and fall of leehan's chest, the way his dark lashes fluttered slightly as he blinked up at you. his hands were still gripping your shoulders, his brows furrowed slightly like he was still processing what just happened.

the realization hit you just as you lifted your head, only to see him staring up at the sky, lips pressed into a tight line, his face was burning red.

the entire field erupted—some students were groaning in disappointment, others were screaming like they had just witnessed a scene straight out of a romance drama.

"yo, leehan took the fall!!" someone from his team yelled.

"did he just sacrifice himself?!"

"that was so dramatic, what the hell—"

your own department wasn't much better. minji and bae were practically dying in the background, their laughter was hysterical.

"oh my god-oh my god," bae wheezed, gripping minji's shoulder for support. "that was the most awkward slow-motion fall i have ever seen in my life—"

"leehan, buddy, you're getting grilled for this one," another guy from his team teased, making the rest of his department cackle.

you, on the other hand, were still frozen in place, staring down at leehan, who seemed to be mentally processing his life choices. his arms had already dropped to his sides, but his eyes refused to meet yours.

"…did you just let yourself fall?" you finally asked, voice barely above a whisper.

leehan's jaw tightened. he exhaled sharply through his nose before muttering, "you were gonna fall face-first into the ground."

you blinked. "yeah, but-"

before you could even finish your sentence, he suddenly sat up, shifting you off him gently that made your face heat up. "forget it," he mumbled, finally looking at you quickly before standing up.

you stayed seated, still trying to process what just happened as the senior clapped his hands together.

"well! that was… an interesting match," he said, barely holding back a grin. "congrats to the performance arts department!, you know what to do—get the grill ready."

a wave of groans and playful complaints came from leehan's team, but they didn't seem all that upset, more entertained, if anything.

leehan, meanwhile, didn't say another word as he dusted off his clothes and walked back toward his department, his ears still visibly red.

minji and bae wasted no time sprinting toward you. "you have to be kidding me," minji said, breathless from laughter. "that was the most painfully awkward yet cinematic thing i've ever witnessed."

bae grabbed your shoulders, shaking you slightly. "he let himself fall, y/n. fall."

"i know—" you stammered, still completely overwhelmed.

"oh, we are never letting this go," minji smirked. "your future grandchildren will hear about this."

you groaned, burying your face in your hands.

you finally pushed yourself up, brushing dirt off your clothes while shooting a glare at minji and bae, who were both clearly enjoying themselves way too much.

"come on, save the shit for later. the table's waiting." you furrowed your brows and quickly jogged toward the open field, where a designated dining area had been set up—foldable tables lined up neatly under hanging string lights, with food stalls stationed nearby.

behind you, minji and bae exchanged a look before following, still grinning like they had just witnessed the juiciest scene of the year.

the scent of grilled pork and sizzling spices wafted through the air as you approached the grilling station. the area was mostly empty except for leehan and his two friends tending to the food. he stood near the grill, tongs in hand, flipping pieces of marinated pork. the glow from the flames reflected an orange light on his face, making his usual sharp features seem softer—though the redness on his ears tells the fact that he was definitely still thinking about what happened.

unfortunately, so were you.

but if nobody else in the field seemed to care about your very public fall and totally-not-a-hug, except for your nosy friends, then maybe, you could pretend it never happened.

with a quick glance back at your table where minji and bae were already watching like they were waiting for more drama, you sighed and walked toward leehan.

"hey." you bit your lip, shifting your weight as you awkwardly patted the sides of your jeans.

leehan glanced at you, his grip on the tongs tightening for half a second before he quickly snapped his attention back to the grill. "uh—hi." he stuttered slightly, eyes locked on the sizzling meat like it was the most fascinating thing around.

the air between you felt weird. not bad, just charged. and the last thing you wanted was for your friends to have more material to tease you with, so instead of bringing up the fall, you latched onto the first neutral thing that came to mind.

"why are you and your two friends the only ones grilling?" you asked, arms crossing as you tilted your head.

leehan exhaled, scratching the back of his neck. "oh, well. i fell on purpose, and i didn't exactly lose because of—uh, skill issue." his voice dropped slightly at the end. "so i told them i'd just stay here and handle it while they took a break. my friends decided to stick around."

at that, you turned your head slightly, only to find his two friends watching with matching shit-eating grins. one even wiggled his eyebrows at you.

your throat went dry. "oh."

feeling the weight of guilt creeping in, you lowered your voice. "i'm… sorry about that. you could've just let me fall. literally that's the purpose of the game."

leehan's brows furrowed. "no, no, don't worry about it." his reply was quick, almost automatic, but he still didn’t dare look at you for more than half a second—like prolonged eye contact might make him explode.

you nodded, deciding not to push further. "okay, well… i'll be at our table." you gestured vaguely in the direction of your friends, who were still watching from across the field, minji giving you an exaggerated thumbs-up.

leehan finally glanced at you, just for a second before nodding.

as you turned and walked away, the moment you were just barely out of earshot, one of leehan's friends, gyuvin, wasted no time.

he bumped his shoulder. "what was that about?" his grin was obnoxious.

leehan rolled his eyes. "nothing."

gyuvin's smirk widened. "you like that art kid, don't you?"

leehan shot him a glare, but his damn ears and smile were giving him away again. "it's not like that," he muttered, flipping another piece of pork with slightly more force than necessary. "i just—she was gonna fall face-first. i was just helping."

gyuvin raised his hands sarcastically. "sure, sure. i didn't even say anything about what happened earlier. defensive punk." he snickered before turning back to the grill.

leehan let out a deep sigh. his gaze drifted toward your table, where you were now laughing at something minji said, eyes crinkling, completely at ease.

and somehow, despite everything, he didm't feel the need to avoid you anymore. if anything, the whole thing just made him less tense around you. he then looked back down at the grill, the corner of his lips quirking up slightly, especially knowing that sungho wasn't around. 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

hours had passed, and everything had gone as smoothly as it could for a night filled with alcohol-fueled chaos. the majority of the students were sprawled across tables, completely blacked out, while the slightly more functional seniors—who weren't much better off, had taken on the duty of dragging everyone into their tents. your two friends were no exception, and you had just finished dragging their deadweight bodies inside, tucking them in like unruly toddlers.

unlike them, you were still fairly sober, well, at least sober enough to remain functional. you couldn't afford to be wasted like the last time, not when leehan was also among the last ones standing. the thought of embarrassing yourself in front of him isn't in your bucket list.

with the last of the stragglers taken care of, you helped leehan and the remaining seniors clean up the field. tables were folded back into place, chairs stacked, grills set aside, and stalls closed. most of the lamps had been turned off, leaving only the dim glow of the ones hanging from wooden posts scattered around the area. the atmosphere had shifted from lively chaos to a sleepy, dreamlike haze.

it was already past 11 pm, but exhaustion hadn't caught up to you yet. instead, a restless energy buzzed under your skin. you grabbed a chair and positioned it a few steps away from the tents, facing the open view of the night. the sky stretched before you.

you cracked open a bottle of soju, deciding that now was the perfect time to have your drink. the night was winding down, and for once, you could just sit back and enjoy it.

then, you turned your head just as leehan walked over, dragging a chair beside yours. a can of beer dangled from his fingers.

"can i sit here?" he asked, glancing at you.

you hummed in response, nodding as you popped a chip into your mouth. "mhm, sure."

the two of you sat in comfortable silence, the distant conversations of the last few awake students—two seniors who were obviously a couple and three freshmen still lingering on the field, filled the background.

"i had fun today," you murmured absentmindedly, crunching on another chip.

leehan let out a deep sigh. "me too. today was great."

you glanced at him before speaking again. "thanks again... for earlier."

he simply smiled, shaking his head. "no problem. don't mention it."

a beat of silence passed, but something passed by your mind—a spark of curiosity you could no longer ignore.

"leehan, by any chance…" you hesitated for a second before looking at him directly. "did you used to hate me?"

he froze mid-sip, his can of beer hovering just before his lips. his expression flickered before he placed the can down beside him.

"no, y/n. i didn't hate you," he said simply.

but that wasn't enough for you. "then why?" you didn't elaborate, but you knew he understood exactly what you were asking. "and don't avoid my question."

he let out a sigh, as if he's caught in a corner. "i just… didn't know how to talk to you, that's all," he admitted before taking another sip of his beer.

you scoffed under your breath, "you could've just said hi. or, i don't know, maybe actually responded when i tried to talk to you a million times?"

leehan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "it's easier said than done."

you narrowed your eyes. "what’s that supposed to mean?"

"i did try, y/n," he muttered. "it's just… there were reasons."

before you could press further, his phone buzzed in his pocket. he barely glanced at the screen before standing up.

"i have to take this. it's sungho."

you watched as he walked away, pressing the phone to his ear. you exhaled, swirling your drink before downing the shot in one go. by the time leehan returned a few minutes later, the mood had already shifted.

neither of you spoke, but the itch to start another conversation is still there. you weren't about to bring up the previous topic again, at least not now. so instead, you went for something else.

"by the way," you started, tilting your head slightly, "who was the person your brother was talking about during summer vacation?"

leehan, now slightly buzzed himself, didn't seem as guarded. he simply hummed, pretending to think.

your lips curled into a teasing smirk. "was it minju?" you nudged his shoulder playfully. "moka and minji swore you had a thing for her. can't blame you though, she's pretty."

your voice started lighthearted, but by the end, your playful sneer faded into something softer. you turned away, pretending to focus on the open view again, but the slight crease in your brows said otherwise.

after a second of silence, leehan spoke.

"it's—" he hesitated, his fingers twitching against the beer can. "it's not…"

you turned back to him, eyebrows raised. "what?"

he shifted in his seat, finally facing you fully.

"it's not what you think," he said, his voice quieter this time.

there was something about the way he said it—something hidden between his words. his gaze met yours, intense and unfazed, and it felt like he was trying to tell you something without actually saying it out loud. just like he did during orientation.

"it's really not… y/n." his fingers curled slightly, as if resisting the urge to reach out to touch your hand resting on the armrest.

your breath hitched. then, his gaze dropped, and his expression hardened. "i regretted shutting you out for years. and i thought…" he swallowed. "i thought i'd never see you again."

your heart stumbled over itself. but before you could even begin to process what he was saying, he shook his head abruptly.

"no, forget it." his tone shifted back to dismissive. "i just felt guilty, that's all."

and just like that, he stood up, smiling down at you as if the conversation never happened.

"good night."

you blinked, still reeling from what you just heard. "...good night, leehan."

as he walked away, disappearing into the field, you sat there, gripping the soju bottle a little tighter. yes, you were buzzed. but you weren't that drunk. you heard every single word. you absorbed everything.

and honestly? sometimes, you just wanted to punch the truth straight out of his stomach.

for weeks, leehan had been confusing. but now it was getting worse. still, your sister's words, wooyoung's advice, and your mom's reminders echoed in your mind.

"give it time." you exhaled, leaning back in your chair, the night air cool against your warm cheeks.

easier said than done.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

after that evening, the fragile bridge between you and leehan seemed to be crumbling again—slowly this time, like glue unsticking at the edges rather than shattering all at once. it wasn't like in high school, when he'd casually strike up a conversation with you one day and then act like you didn't exist the next. no, this was different. leehan was still around, but there was a distance creeping in. he avoided certain conversations, left texts on read a little longer than usual, but he didn't leave you hanging or outright ignore you either.

you hadn't told your friends about what you and leehan talked about that night. you already knew they wouldn't let it go, the same way they still hadn't stopped hounding you about what happened during the game. and when they told moka? oh, it got worse.

"ugh, i would pay to see that firsthand."

"i bet leehan couldn't sleep that day."

"do you have a video of it?"

it was like they were tuning in to some long-awaited high school drama, hanging onto every detail as if they were watching a season finale. meanwhile, you were just confused.

but soon enough, life caught up.

hell period arrived in full force—projects piled up, deadlines loomed, and sleep became a myth. for three months straight, you barely had time to think about anything except surviving the academic hell. even leehan, whose presence had occupied too much of your headspace before, became just another background character in your overloaded brain.

so, when sungho's voice echoed through the empty art studio one night, it startled you out of your exhaustion.

"need a lift?"

you blinked up at him, paint-streaked and sleep-deprived, having spent the past day and a half obsessing over a portrait for your professor, because, of course, your perfectionist tendencies wouldn't let you submit anything less than flawless.

letting out a sigh, you stretched your stiff arms above your head. "yeah, might not have the patience to wait for the bus tonight." you chuckled, tugging off your apron.

sungho leaned against your desk, watching as you packed up. "band practice ended earlier, figured you'd still be here. this place is basically your second home at this point."

"tell me about it." you slung your bag over your shoulder.

"oh, by the way, thanks again for designing our band logo. that probably ate up a lot of your time."

you waved him off with a smile. "no worries. happy to be part of your future world domination as a band."

sungho laughed, but before he could offer anything in return, you quickly shut him down. you weren't taking any grand gestures as a 'thank you'—except maybe a ride home, since the two of you lived in the same apartment complex.

as you walked through the dimly lit corridors of your building, sungho glanced over at you. "you should eat something proper. come have dinner at my place. i insist."

"nah, i'll be fine with ramyeon," you replied without hesitation.

sungho clicked his tongue and stepped in front of you, blocking your way. "please? just this once? think of it as a proper thank-you, and then i won't insist anymore."

you rolled your eyes but couldn't help smiling. "fine. alright."

grinning in victory, sungho led the way to his apartment and entered the passcode. "welcome," he said, stepping inside and neatly placing his shoes on the rack. you followed, taking in the surroundings as you set your bag down on the sofa.

to your surprise, the place was spotless, organized. almost disturbingly clean.

"this is not what i expected." you smirked, leaning against the kitchen counter as he disappeared into his room to put away his guitar.

"what, you thought i'd be a mess because i'm a man, and in a band?" sungho chuckled as he emerged, heading straight for the fridge. "i clean pretty often."

"i can tell." you glanced around, noticing small personal touches—decorations on the shelves, a game console by the tv, a fish plushie resting against the couch. "you've got a lot of stuff for someone who lives alone."

sungho snorted, pulling a frozen steak from the fridge. "alone? oh, no. i live with leehan."

you froze mid-scan of the apartment.

"—what?"

before you could fully process that bombshell, a door creaked open across the room.

"who the hell are you talking to—"

leehan's voice cut off abruptly.

your eyes met his. his eyes met yours. both of you stood frozen like deer caught in headlights.

"what are you doing here?!" leehan demanded, whipping his head toward sungho like he had just betrayed a sacred brotherly code.

you opened your mouth, then closed it, still too baffled by the revelation to form a proper response.

of course, he'd be living with his brother. why did your brain automatically assume he lived with his parents?

still, the fact that he looked just as shocked as you felt was almost funny. you cleared your throat, pointing weakly at the wall next to you. "uh… i live next door."

leehan's face twisted in a mix of disbelief and regret, like he had just realized there was no escaping you.

sungho, meanwhile, simply turned back to the stove and muttered, "why are you two so shocked to see each other?"

- to be continued

[goldenwilliamson]

hard conversations | leah williamson

pairing: leah williamson x reader

summary: another angsty one featuring the game of 'we're not really strangers'. reader and leah end up having a fight about different feelings towards having kids and getting married. it turns out alright in the end but. does discuss poor relationship with parents/family.

word count: 1.9k

You and Leah sat down on the lounge, crossed legged and facing each other while you sipped on some wine. Leah's phone played music through the speaker and you had decided to play a little game that Leah had bought called 'We're Not Really Strangers'.

"So it gets us to ask each other thoughtful questions?" You asked, flicking through the red cards in the box.

"Yeah, it's supposed to help people feel more connected," Leah explained.

"Fun," you said, always happy to engage in a deep conversations.

You leant back on the lounge as Leah rifled through the cards, pulling out the first one.

"Alright, in one word, describe how you feel right now," Leah flicks the card with her other hand as she watches you expectantly.

"One word?" You sigh with a smile on your face, "Grateful."

"Grateful for what?" Leah asks.

"For a night in with you," you say, taking a sip of your wine. Leah lifts her glass off the coffee table and holds it out towards you.

As your glasses clink together Leah says, "I'm grateful for this too."

You're already enjoying this game, feeling excited over what questions might come up.

Your first question to ask Leah was 'How would you describe me to a stranger?'. She smirked as she let her mind wander.

"Well, I would say that you're the best footballer I've ever seen. You are the most loyal friend. You're the smartest person I know, and I learn so much from you daily. I'd say that you're the most beautiful girl in every room, and probably that you're great in bed," Leah says, making you laugh with her final statement.

"I mean, I hope you wouldn't tell a stranger about our sex life, but I'll take the compliment," you say proudly.

It's Leah's turn to pull a card again, this time asking 'What dating advice would you give your younger self?'. The question makes you both laugh, your dating history being almost a joke in your relationship.

"Stop dating boys, you're not attracted to them," you say with a laugh.

"Easy one for you," Leah shakes her head, tucking the card in the back of the pile.

It was your turn again and your eyebrows raise as you quickly glace over the question, "Ooh, deep one. What fear do you think holds me back the most?" You ask, unsure about what Leah might say.

She looks at you, as if weighing up how best to say what she wants to say.

"Honestly?" She raises her eyebrows, and you nod, urging her to continue.

"I think your fear of the future might be holding you back a little bit," she says, and you look into the wine in your lap while you process the words.

"What do you mean by that?" You ask, trying not to let your defences come up.

"Um," Leah rolls her lips together as she tries to find the best explanation.

"I just think whenever I try to bring up the future of our relationship you can shut down a bit," she says, and you nod.

You know she has a point. You being a few years younger than Leah, you struggled to envision those big life events like getting married or having kids. For you, all those events seemed rather inconceivable, especially since your own parents had gotten divorced and you don't have the best relationship with either of them. But for Leah, these were things that she desperately wanted, so when they came up in conversation, knowing it might cause friction, you tend to stay silent.

"You mean when we talk about getting married or having kids?" You question.

"Well when I talk about getting married and having kids, yeah," Leah affirms.

"I mean, that's just not really something I think about," you shake your head, not sure how else to explain that at this stage of your life marriage and children isn't a priority. Of course you love Leah and want to spend the rest of your life with her, but you have never felt like you need a ring on your finger or a marriage certificate for that to happen.

"But see, that upsets me Y/N," Leah places her wine glass back down on the table and you see her eyebrows knit together, frustration building. You sigh and copy her motions, placing your glass down as well.

"I see my future with you, and when you say that you don't think about it, it makes me feel like you don't want me to be a part of yours," Leah explains and you instantly reach out to grab her hands, rubbing them soothingly with your thumbs.

"Lee, I want you in my future. I love you so much, and I don't want to be with anyone else."

Leah gently tugs her hands out of yours, "But you don't want to marry me, or start a family. Those things are important for me!" She stresses.

You rub your face with your hands, "I understand they're important for you Leah, but right now at this stage of my life I don't want marriage and children."

"You don't want them now, or you don't want them ever?" Leah asks, crestfallen.

You pause, not knowing what how to respond without breaking Leah's heart, but it seems that you do that anyway. She sucks in her bottom lip and shakes her head before storming out of the lounge room and up stairs, distantly slamming a door as you stay seated with your head in your hands.

You're overcome with emotion, not knowing how such a lovely night could turn so sour. Wiping tears away you stand from the lounge and take the half full wine glasses to the kitchen and pour them down the sink, knowing your nice evening together was well and truly over. As you give them a rinse you try to collect your thoughts and work out how to approach this topic with Leah.

After setting the glasses down to dry you walk tentatively up the stairs, feeling nervous for how Leah might respond to you. Your bedroom door is shut and you knock lightly before turning the handle and pushing it open slowly. Leah is laying in bed, turned away from the door, giving you no response.

"Leah, darling, can we talk this out?" You ask, staring at the back of your girlfriends head and stepping into the room, closer to the bed.

"There's nothing to talk about," she says sharply.

"There clearly is," you respond as you sit down by her feet at the end of the bed. You reach out to squeeze her leg through the duvet but she scoffs and pulls away, sitting up so her back is resting against the headboard. She crosses her arms as she looks at you, waiting for you to continue.

"I'm sorry for upsetting you," you say, feeling genuinely sick to your stomach that Leah has gotten to this state. She just shakes her head.

"I just need you to know that while I don't see myself as a mother or married in the next couple of years, that doesn't mean it's off the cards for me," you say.

"But what if you're never ready for those things? I can't wait my whole life for you to want it Y/N," Leah sighs.

"Well, what if I don't want it?" You ask now, eyes welling with tears, terrified of what this conversation could lead to.

"I know how badly I want kids of my own one day, and how I want to start a family with the woman I love. But if you're not sure that you will ever want that, I'm not sure if we're right for each other," Leah says, voice breaking as she talks.

"See this is why I shut down when this comes up," you are unashamedly crying now, "I just need time Leah! I'm only 23 years old, how can you expect me to know this just now?"

You sob into your hands and Leah moves on the bed, crawling beside you to hold you against her. She wraps her arms around you and guides your head onto her shoulder, rubbing soothing circles into your back.

"I'm so sorry," Leah sighs into your ear.

"I don't want to lose you," you cry even harder as you vocalise your biggest fear.

"You're not losing me, I'm right here," Leah says, stabilising herself to comfort you in your obvious state of distress.

"You deserve someone who wants what you want," you say, gasping for breath between words.

"Shh, it's okay," she leans back to hold your face between both hands, trying to look you in the eyes. You pull your hands between Leah's, covering your face. She grabs your wrists gently and lowers them before wiping your damp cheeks with the cuffs of her jumper.

"I'm sorry, baby, you're right. I shouldn't expect you to give me an answer right now. I think just because I've always known what I want, I find it hard to imagine that it might be a more difficult decision for other people," Leah says, and you nod, knowing where she's coming from.

"It's just hard for me, you know, obviously you're close with your family so it's different. I've always been scared to get married and have kids because my parents had such a hard time with it all, and I'm not very close with them because of it," you say honestly.

"I know, baby, I understand," she says.

"But if I was to build a family with anyone, I'd want to do it with you, Leah. Do you know the first time I met your whole family I went home and cried," you admit, thinking back on that first Williamson family lunch where you'd felt so embraced by them.

"You cried! Why?" Leah says with concern.

"No, it was more happy tears. I'd just never seen a family that loved each other like you guys do, I guess I was crying for younger me who wished I could've had that type of upbringing."

"Oh, my girl, you'll always have that love from me and my family," she assures you.

"I hope so. And it brings me comfort knowing that any child of ours would be loved like that too," you say.

"Of course they would," Leah nods, pressing her forehead against yours.

"I just need you to know that I do want that with you Leah. Just probably a bit further down the line," you say.

"Okay, I can wait for that," she says.

You press your lips against Leah's and she kisses you back gently, apologetically.

"I love you," you say, and she says it back.

"But we're not playing that bloody card game again," you say, making Leah laugh.

"Hey, it did bring it closer didn't it?" She smiles and you shake your head. In some strange way it did.

You and Leah decide to call it a night, crawling under the sheets together. She holds you tightly against her, kissing you softly on the back and side of your neck as you both calm down from the heightened emotions. For the first time you do actually let yourself think about being a mother, and it isn't the scariest idea in the world. You fall asleep with ease in Leah's arms, feeling your future together stretching out before you.

[cheegu3]

Hii bbg 😘 💓 💖 💗 💕

If you remember, last year for my birthday on 14th March, I asked you a request for hyunjin-birthday gift and I still read it multiple times time cuz it's just....so arousing and fab...

I've been following you since an year now...and would really love and appreciate if you write another fic for my birthday on 14th March.....and my bias is ofc hyunjin...

I love your intense yandere theme....just write whatever you want....because I trust your writing 🥺😍☺️....and I'm ready for a surprise from you 😉

Also, I'd love to be your 💌 anon pleaseee....

hii babyy, u know I had to come back and deliver for you 🫶🏻 I'm so happy that you're still here after a whole ass year, supporting me and showing so much love, so how could I not write this!!! I hope you have the most amazing birthday <3

for my dearest 💌 anon

genre; yandere, thriller/suspense warnings; yandere themes, unhealthy relationships, toxicity, sex (18+), manipulation, underage drinking, underage smoking, swearing, slut-shaming, etc!! synopsis; after hooking up with a guy that your friend introduced you to on your birthday, you expected it to be the last day you talked to him, as that was your wish. but hyunjin had other plans, and he wasn't going to let you get away so easily. wc; 4.6k

hyunjin - wolf in sheep’s clothing

The rain pattered comfortingly against the window you were leaning against. It shut all of the noise around you out for a few seconds, that was the only calm you got.

Then you were yanked back by your arm and came face to face with a boy about the same age as you. Your brows furrowed as you searched the room to lock eyes with your friend, Liz. She had been the one in charge of planning your birthday outing. You internally sighed, what had she planned now?

The boy took a seat next to you while four others sat down elsewhere, one each for every girl. You had specifically asked her not to bring any boys. Sending a glare her way, you bitterly started sipping on your drink while avoiding the guy’s attempts to talk to you.

‘’ Oh relax, I just invited some guys. They’re from another high school, so there’s no need to worry. ‘’ 

You felt tired all of a sudden. What was supposed to be a small get-together with your friend at a restaurant suddenly turned into a small party that never seemed to end. For once, you were grateful for her fake ID that made it possible for you to have some alcohol though.

‘’ Not having a good birthday? ‘’

You jumped. The guy next to you had just spoken. He sounded very rough and direct, seemingly not caring if you were going to continue ignoring him, he must’ve really wanted to talk to you. 

You finally looked at him. He was handsome, with dark long hair that almost reached his shoulders, plump lips and cat-like eyes. Even though he was sitting down, it wasn’t hard to guess that he was tall from the way his legs stretched out under the table slightly uncomfortably. 

Really, you were lucky, but you were almost certain you’d never go home with him. You had never had a hookup before and the likelihood of you seeing him again was low. You made a mental note to let him down gently at the end of the night.

Still, there was no point in being rude the rest of the outing so you gave him a slight smile and shrugged nonchalantly. ‘’ Could be better.‘’

He laughed, and his laugh was just as beautiful as his exterior, you felt your stomach jolt with butterflies.

‘’ Has it at least gotten better since I got here? ‘’

You considered it while looking around the room. You didn’t like the people your friend had brought, the ones she claimed wanted to get to know you better, so they begged to come with.

‘’ Yeah, I guess so, ‘’ you finally admitted.

That made him satisfied. You saw him smirk to himself before leaning back, his shoulders slouched and he looked a lot less tense. You wondered why he’d been tense at all, maybe he also got nervous when meeting new people. 

‘’ I’m Hyunjin. ‘’

‘’ I’m y/n, ‘’ you quietly answered.

A tap on your shoulder shifted your attention away from the stranger. You saw one of Liz’s friends looking down at you.

‘’ I’m leaving now, ‘’ she swayed from side to side, almost tipping over from the alcohol coursing through her veins, ‘’ happy birthday. ‘’

You gave her a small smile and waved her off; due to not feeling close with her, you didn’t mind that she was leaving early, besides, she’d looked bored the whole night like she couldn’t wait to leave anyways.

Another one of Liz’s friends must’ve overheard the conversation, because she quickly butted in as soon as the other one left. She told you that she and another girl were leaving, taking two of the guys with them and only leaving Liz and the last guy, except for the one glued to your side of course.

The night dragged on, but you were starting to enjoy yourself a lot more as it progressed into something more calm and relaxed. The rain outside continued to patter against the window, increasing in heaviness the later it got.

Around 2 am, everyone’s attention was drawn to Liz yawning dramatically. She stretched her arms up and then stood, the small smirk she gave the guy didn’t go unnoticed by you.

‘’ I think it’s time for me to go home now. But I had a good time, and I hope you did too, y/n. ‘’

She came over and pulled you into a hug, drunkenly mumbling in your ear, ‘’ I love you, happy birthday. ‘’

‘’ Are you sure you’ll be okay? ‘’

Gesturing at the guy, she winked. He had started standing up and getting ready to leave too, you weren’t that surprised, they looked like they’d been hitting it off.

‘’ Definitely, he’s taking me home. You should let him do the same with you, ‘’ Hyunjin blushed as she nudged her head towards his direction. 

You didn’t get a chance to reply. She turned and threw her arm around the guy. You couldn’t help pouting slightly as you watched them go, knowing that you were alone with Hyunjin now; it was bound to get a little awkward when you’d try to get home and also gently reject him.

As if he could read your mind, he stood up too and started reaching for his jacket. He handed you yours and the two of you made it to the entrance. It was pouring outside now, so loudly that you could barely hear his voice.

‘’ Do you live close by? ‘’

You sighed, contemplating how on earth you’d get home. ‘’ No, I took a taxi here. ‘’

‘’ I don’t think you’ll get home. There’s a storm coming, ‘’ he said gently, sounding sorry for you.

You felt sorry for you too, but mostly stupid. How could you have missed the weather report on today of all days? That should’ve been the first thing you checked in the morning. Mentally preparing yourself, you turned to him and began with a small smile, which undoubtedly came out more like a grimace. 

‘’ Listen, I’ve had a really good time but I should go. Thank you for keeping me company. ‘’

He frowned and almost looked at you like you were stupid, which made you shy away from his gaze; you felt like sinking into your spot. 

‘’ But how though? ‘’

‘’ What? ‘’

‘’ How are you going to get home? ‘’

‘’ Oh, well I guess I’ll just stay at a motel or something. ‘’

‘’ No way. They’re quite expensive around here, only creeps stay in those and most of them are closed or have shut down in this area. ‘’

‘’ None in a walking distance? ‘’ you disappointedly asked, hoping there was at least one you could stay at.

‘’ None. ‘’

Silence filled the air between you two. During it, you were pretty certain that you were thinking of the same thing that he was. Your eyes met and he immediately looked away, rubbing the nape of his neck awkwardly.

‘’ You could…you could stay at my place. I only live five minutes away.‘’

‘’ By car? ‘’ you shamelessly asked, looking for a way out.

‘’ By foot. ‘’

‘’ Oh. ‘’

He quickly said, ‘’ you don’t have to. I just think it’s best, with the weather and everything. ‘’

‘’ Yeah, ‘’ you absentmindedly said, already thinking of all the ways it could go wrong if you came with him. 

He was a complete stranger that you had met for the first time just a few hours ago and you knew nothing about him. But you were also realistically thinking of your choices and what few safe and cheap options you had, or rather didn’t have. You were also a student after all, you couldn’t spend too much.

‘’ Have you decided yet? ‘’

You looked up from the ground and saw he was half-way out of the door. The chilliness from the outside crept in and swooped in some water that splashed on you, it only made you more confident in your choice.

‘’ Yes. I’ll go with you. ‘’

*******

His apartment was actually five minutes away, just like he had said. That gave you some inclination to trust him. 

You briefly traced your fingers over the different books he had in his shelves as he left you alone for a few minutes. You weren’t sure what he was doing, probably not showering since you couldn’t hear it running. But you didn’t question it. You felt too curious to resist snooping around in his apartment. 

After taking another lap around, you sat down on the couch. What you had gathered was that he was a very clean and organized person. Despite being a high-schooler like you, there were no signs of dirty laundry, stains on the white carpet or even a speck of dust.

When he came back, you could see from afar that he was holding something in his hands, it looked like one of those masks that you could buy at the Halloween stores. While making his way over to you, he dimmed the lights and then sat down very close, so close that your knees were touching.

‘’ Do you like it? ‘’

Your cheeks burned hot. ‘’ Did you…see me? ‘’

‘’ Yes, it’s not a big apartment you know, ‘’ he laughed heartily, you swooned quietly at his smile. He had a little bit of a golden retriever type of personality, it was very comforting.

A question that had entered your mind a while back reappeared and you felt quite intrigued to hear his answer to it.

‘’ Do you live alone? ‘’

‘’ Yeah, since a few years back. It’s nice but expensive. ‘’

You wanted to ask about his parents but there was likely a good reason that he lived alone at such a young age, so you didn’t push it further. You only nodded and gave a half-smile. Yet, your mind couldn’t help spinning with theories - were his parents dead? Was he not close with them? Was he rich? Was this not his apartment?

So caught up in your mind, you didn’t notice when he started leaning into you. You jumped loudly when his hand was gently placed on your thigh.

‘’ Should we go to my room? It’s getting late. ‘’ 

When he saw that your eyes had fallen to his hand, he slid it down to your lap where he intertwined your fingers. You let yourself be pulled up and dragged away, almost in a daze. 

One moment, you were looking around his room with a puzzled expression, the next you were sprawled out on the bed with Hyunjin on top of you; his mouth lowering down to meet yours in passionate kisses that knocked all air out of your lungs.

The rejection you had been preparing before was long gone from your mind.

All you could think of was the slight taste of alcohol on his lips and how he occasionally teased the inside of your mouth with his tongue, sending chills all over you. You obliged silently when he started pulling your clothes off and almost looked at him like a puppy waiting for its treat while watching him get undressed with your widened eyes.

You parted your lips, ready for him to come close to you again. But he surprised you instead by leaving you hanging. He went somewhere in the apartment and came back holding the same mask he had brought to the living room.

‘’ What’s that for? ‘’

He stirred in place, his back muscles flexing in tension. Then he turned and the smile was back.

‘’ I’ve heard that some girls like when guys wear masks, ‘’ he shrugged, ‘’ it’s not Halloween but we’re only seven months away, never too early to celebrate. ‘’

You moved back on the bed so you could lie on the pillows. Biting on your lip with a feeling of anxiety that you weren’t quite sure where it came from, you only hummed in response.

‘’ What’s wrong? Do you not want me to use it? ‘’

‘’ No, it’s-, ‘’ you rolled your eyes at yourself, you were being ridiculous, this was not something that needed to be made a big deal out of. ‘’ It’s okay, just hurry back here. ‘’

He flashed you a grin again, went over to the bookshelf and adjusted what looked like a book that had fallen out of place and then came over to you. Immediately, his lips found yours again hungrily, like being away from you for a minute or two had left him starved.

With two fingers he separated your legs and then he looked down at you for approval. You nodded, feeling your breathing hitch and grow heavy in anticipation. He placed himself between and slowly eased in, lowering himself so your foreheads were touching just as you both sighed in pleasure.

You thought you saw something or someone flicker in the background, but the next second your eyes were closed and it slipped out of your mind. Ungodly sounds filled the room instead, drowning out every possible thought you could have.

With every movement he made, euphoria filled you. More and more, until it was about to spill over. Your legs wrapped around his slim waist, hands clawing frantically at the sheets. You gasped, ‘’ I’m- ‘’

He hushed you, ‘’ I know baby. ‘’

You tried to make eye contact with him, only to be met with uncomfortable, empty eyes staring back at you, framed by the mask. It made him look scary, not sexy. He didn’t seem half as sweet now; the golden retriever persona was long gone.

But you couldn’t hold it back any longer, you arched your back as the euphoria spread from head to toe in your body, letting small whimpers slip past your lips with its release. 

Your eyes rolled back and when you fluttered them open again, he was already off of you, half-way across the room and putting his clothes on. 

You felt your stomach sink. He must’ve just viewed you like a hookup that he’d fuck and then just leave there to sleep through the night alone. You grimaced and rolled over on your side, feeling like an idiot and wishing you had stuck to your planned rejection from before.

Then he surprised you.

‘’ We should do this again. I know I’m gonna miss you when you leave.‘’

The smile in his voice was evident, yet you still felt a bit bitter. In pettiness, you just hummed in response and then went on your phone. He left and closed the door not long after.

It was hard to fall asleep that night, something was off, but you had no idea why. Your mother always used to say that you were paranoid whenever you stayed at people’s houses as a kid, but then again, if you felt an energy when you walked in - that person always turned out to be bad some time afterward. 

You just hoped you were wrong about this one. 

*******

The next morning, you didn’t wake up in the most pleasant way. Right before falling asleep, you’d imagined how the morning would turn out; maybe he’d wake you up with breakfast or gently nudge you while smiling down at you lovingly, or he would just leave you to wake up on your own.

But the reality was far from your fantasies. You woke up because you felt like someone was watching you. 

With your heart hammering in your chest, you were scared to move, so you slowly rolled over to the side against the window, squinting before it felt safe enough to open your eyes fully. You rolled out of bed and turned. Your whole body was tense and you felt like you couldn’t breathe.

But no one was there. You frowned. Had you had a bad nightmare? No, not that you could remember. 

The feeling hadn’t entirely left when you started making your way towards the door. Outside it, you could hear sounds of pans and something frying. Upon opening it, a smell of bacon hit you.

You moved to the kitchen and saw Hyunjin standing at the stove, back turned to you. He wouldn’t have had the time to run from the room to the kitchen without you hearing his steps.

You tilted your head and clicked your tongue. But maybe he was in your room, watching you sleep right before you woke up. The thought sent chills down your spine. Hyunjin turned and smiled, his puppy-like personality back again like nothing happened. 

It was weird. Was he the type of guy who acted completely different in bed versus out of it? You thought back to the mask and how it didn’t fit the image you were looking at right now. 

‘’ Hey, you woke up just in time. ‘’

You wanted nothing more than to leave and call Liz, even if you felt a bit embarrassed about the whole thing. However, out of politeness, you sat down at the table and returned his smile, shifting awkwardly.

When you saw that he noticed your stiff body language, his smile faded and his eyes almost returned to the way they had looked the night before. Hurriedly you tried to relax.

‘’ This looks amazing, thank you. ‘’

That seemed to ease him up a little. He stopped observing your every move and instead turned his attention to his plate. In the absence of surveillance, you managed to push the food around and only take a few bites to make it look like you’d eaten almost half. You weren’t sure if you could stomach too much right now.

‘’ I, um, ‘’ you began feeling uncertain on how to express yourself, ‘’ I have this thing- my- my parents, they want me to come home early! Otherwise, they will be worried. ‘’

That was the best excuse you could come up with. With bated breath, you waited for his reaction. He put his fork down, almost dramatically slow, which made you nervous. You started glancing at the door in case you needed to make a run for it.

‘’ Okay. I understand, ‘’ he flatly said at last.

You had to stop yourself from sighing in relief loudly, but you accidentally stood up a little too quickly; the chair scraping against the wooden floor, so you practically gave yourself away anyways.

He watched you as you went. Your hands were shaking and it was hard to focus with the harrowing gaze on you as you tied your shoes. 

‘’ Bye, thank you for everything, ‘’ you pressed out and almost bolted out of the door.

‘’ I’ll call you, ‘’ he shouted.

Your blood froze. Call you? You ran out into the street now that he couldn’t see you and waved down an Uber. You only felt safe once you were inside and the vehicle started moving, so that’s when you took out your phone to look at it.

Sure enough, it was as you had feared. He had somehow gotten into your phone while you were asleep and he’d added his number. Panicking, you started flicking through every single app, note and photo you owned, only to find it exactly as you had left it.

You texted Liz a summary of what had happened and asked if she’d be at school the next day. As you arrived home, your phone pinged with an answer from her, and just when you were about to put it back in your pocket, it pinged again.

Your face twisted in horror and disgust - it was him, ‘ baby, I miss you so much already. ‘ Baby? You definitely weren’t close enough for that, besides, he’d given you a lot of mixed signals, constantly switching from one mood to another and then leaving you like that after you had sex.

You ignored it and went inside. There was no doubt in your mind that you weren’t going to leave for the rest of the day. You’d just spend it replaying everything he said or did, over and over again, until you could finally see Liz.

*******

‘’ What a fucking creep! ‘’ Liz squealed.

She had your phone clutched in her hand, staring at the text from Hyunjin which was the cherry on top at the end of your recollection of the night before. Liz was not having any of it. She said that Hyunjin had given her the creeps ever since he walked into the restaurant with the other guys.

Not much was known about him either. He had transferred just a few months ago and was just starting to get to know his class. When you told her the rest, it definitely didn’t help to make Liz see him in a more positive light.

‘’ Don’t you feel like he’s hiding something? ‘’ she asked when you approached the school’s buildings.

People stood in the alleyways of them, smoking and keeping watch for teachers passing by. You hurried your steps a little more when you saw them.

‘’ Maybe…but what? ‘’

Liz was about to respond, but you were caught by surprise; a scream torn from your throat when you were yanked into one of the alleyways. 

You expected to see one of the bullies of the school being pissed that you had taken the route that passed by them to the main building. Instead you were face to face with Hyunjin.

‘’ Hyunjin? What are you doing here? ‘’ you harshly whispered, turning to see if anyone had spotted you.

Liz looked at you questioningly and you gave her a thumbs up, a nervous laugh bubbling up inside. She stood by the entrance of the alleyway instead, out of ear-shot.

‘’ Sorry. I don’t think Liz told you. When she said that I go to ‘ another high school, ‘ she meant the one next to yours. ‘’

‘’ Oh. ‘’

‘’ I just wanted to talk to you, ‘’ his eyes flickered over to Liz, he had that same look on his face that had unsettled you before, you took a step back. 

‘’ Can she leave? ‘’

‘’ Why would she need to leave? ‘’

He leaned his arm on the wall and rested his head against the palm of his hand, lips twitching in barely concealed annoyance.

‘’ Can she? ‘’ he repeated, more forcefully this time.

‘’ No, ‘’ you spat back, equally as forceful even though you were masking your fear.

The corners of his mouth quirked upward, he had noticed; nothing slipped past him.

‘’ We have to talk about us. So I’d just like some privacy. ‘’

Against better judgement, you waved Liz off. He seemed like he wasn’t going to let you off until he’d said whatever he wanted to say. Besides, you weren’t completely alone anyway. If you had to scream, someone would hear you…you hoped.

With his free hand he nudged you toward the wall and switched so it was his right hand leaning against the wall instead as he faced you. The maneuver felt a little controlling or almost territorial; essentially he was caging you in so you couldn’t run away the easiest escape route.

‘’ We should date from now on. ‘’

His golden retriever smile that crinkled his eyes returned, but it felt wrong this time, very wrong. You didn’t feel butterflies in your stomach like the first time he’d shown you it, now all you felt was ice.

‘’ I’m sorry. I don’t know you well enough. ‘’

‘’ You will get to know me when you start dating me, ‘’ he scoffed like he couldn’t believe how stupid you sounded. It reminded you of his reaction to you trying to get home in the rain no matter what.

‘’ I’m not ready to date right now. I wasn’t looking for anything serious. ‘’

His eyes narrowed and he looked away from you, turning to the side just as a laugh of disbelief came out.

‘’ Nothing serious, huh? ‘’ he murmured to himself and took his hand off of the wall, starting to pace back and forth, occasionally throwing you glares. ‘’ So you just go around looking at every guy like that? ‘’

You were stunned and also a little offended. ‘’ Like what? ‘’

‘’ Like a fucking slut! ‘’ he screamed, turning to face you fully now, he got closer and closer; pointing his finger at you accusingly until he’d reached you and his finger poked your upper chest. 

‘’ Don’t deny it. You tried to do the good girl act when really you were feeling sorry for yourself and any guy there would’ve been good enough just to fuck you and make your birthday great again. ‘’

Your mouth opened and then closed again. You weren’t sure what you’d say, even if he stopped his manic rambling to give you the chance to get a word in.

‘’ But you chose me! And I chose you, ‘’ his finger poked into you again as he pushed you against the wall with it harshly, ‘’ Now you’re just trying to run away. ‘’

‘’ No, I- ‘’ you felt tears threatening to fall and cleared your throat in a pitiful attempt to stop them, ‘’ I think you misunderstood. I wasn’t even planning on hooking up with anyone, but I had nowhere to sleep and you seemed really sweet so I changed my mind. ‘’

Now he was the quiet one. You had expected it to calm you, but it only made you more anxious. What was he thinking right now? What was he going to do next? Should you not have argued back at all?

You wished you hadn’t turned Liz away now. Silently you pleaded that she’d come back to check on you; that the clock would go faster and the bell would ring so she would have to come get you. Then she could save you.

Maybe there was still time, you could stall this a little longer.

‘’ I- I don’t want to date you, ‘’ you quietly finished.

A snicker caught your attention. First your head snapped up in curiosity, then your eyes widened like you were a deer caught in headlights.

He came closer to you again, completely forcing you against the wall. In his hand, he held his phone, which he brought up to your face.

‘’ No, ‘’ you breathed out, the first tear falling despite your efforts to stop it.

On his phone was what looked like footage from a hidden camera. It was high up, with a view of the whole room. And in said view, was Hyunjin having sex with you - his face masked up, yours on full display.

‘’ The bookshelf, ‘’ you sighed to yourself, realization hitting you. 

He had been setting up the camera when he pretended like he was putting a book back into place. It had seemed unnatural then, but not enough to raise alarms. It also explained the feeling of being watched, and the mask.

He didn’t bother to hide his smirk of satisfaction when you pieced everything together and looked absolutely defeated. ‘’ Do you remember at the beginning of the year, we got that system where you can search up anyone at the school’s email? ‘’

You already knew where he was going with this. He nodded, as if to respond for you.

‘’ What do you say, should I send this video to everyone at school or will you go out with me? ‘’

You swallowed thickly, feeling the hate in your hot tears. He scooped one up on his thumb and brought it to his lips.

‘’ Your choice, ‘’ he added condescendingly.

‘’ Fine, ‘’ you said, sounding very tired.

‘’ Good, ‘’ he smiled triumphantly, giving you a wink.

There was no way out of this for now. You’d have to go along with his games. 

‘’ I just have to tell Liz. ‘’

‘’ Oh, ‘’ he snapped his fingers. ‘’ She won’t be a problem anymore. ‘’

‘’ What? What do you mean? ‘’

‘’ A few of my friends from my old school are here, just visiting. There are a couple more alleyways except for this one. In particular, one of them is very dark and secluded. It was good that your little friend decided to walk past that one. You know, it’s quite perfect when you want to get rid of things that scream - no one will hear them. ‘’

[heartmaddie]

heartmaddie's christmas event; ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡ stars align

hello my loves !! welcome to my first ever event ₊˚⊹ ᥫ᭡.

this is a small tribute to all the love & support i've received over the last few months that i've been writing on tumblr. i'm overjoyed that each and every one of you have enjoyed my writing, and i'm eternally grateful for every reader, i love you all so much.

unwrap here, my heart °ᡣ𐭩 . ° .

ᯓᡣ𐭩.ᐟ CHAPTER ONE - yoichi isagi.

[DEC 11TH 𝜗𝜚 SANTA BABY] there's only one thing on isagi yoichi's christmas wish list this year; and it's her! for the past year he's been all flustered & red around her, so when she invited him to go gift shopping with her, yoichi knew he had just managed to make the 'nice' list.

ᯓᡣ𐭩.ᐟ CHAPTER TWO - keiji akaashi.

[DEC 17TH 𝜗𝜚 WINTER WONDERLAND] keiji doesn't think he's seen her in years, he's overjoyed when they bump into each other at the metro station. walking down the ornate streets together, reminiscing about their high school romance, keiji's heart beats just a bit faster when those feelings spur once again.

ᯓᡣ𐭩.ᐟ CHAPTER THREE - sae itoshi.

[DEC 22ST 𝜗𝜚 BABY IT'S COLD OUTSIDE] sae's the biggest grinch she knows, absolutely apathetic towards the holiday season, much unlike herself. so imagine her astonishment when he's almost begging for her to take him to the nearby festival. 'maybe christmas miracles are real' is what she'll decide for herself.

ᯓᡣ𐭩.ᐟ CHAPTER FOUR - osamu miya.

[DEC 25TH 𝜗𝜚 LET IT SNOW] it never snows in tokyo during december, so the miya parents are awoken to quite a commotion early in the morning. between jumping children practically assaulting their mattress, osamu can't help but fall more in love with the woman they call their mother.

ᯓᡣ𐭩.ᐟ CHAPTER FIVE - tobio kageyama.

[DEC 31TH 𝜗𝜚 LOVE TO KEEP ME WARM] tobio likes christmas, but he prefers the days afterwards when it's just them together. warm mornings cuddled on their couch, sipping on leftover hot chocolate bombs & munching on sweet gingerbread cookies might just be his favourite part of the year.

bye bye for now !

please like , reblog or follow if you enjoyed © heartmaddie all rights reserved. please do not repost my work.

[nessieart]

The Way Back. XII

WC: ~5k

Summary: These powers were meant to help people. Help The Avengers, your family. It felt like every time you used them, something bad always happened. Maybe someone has the answers, somewhere.

Bucky x reader(past) || Steve x reader

AN: HI! i'm so sorry this took SO long! Not proof read, I just wanted to get this out. Please enjoy, let me know what you think :)

Masterlist

Previously:

You both study each other for another moment. Carol smirks after a long moment, "Show me what you can do," it's not a question. She nods her head to the side. "I'll race ya."

A small smile curves your lips. When you go to take a step closer, Steve puts a hand on your shoulder, stopping you. "I'm not sure if she should. Y/N just woke from a month long coma. Maybe she should take it easy." There's a squeeze to your shoulder.

Carol looks you in the eyes, raising her eyebrows in amusement. "Yeah? She needs to take it easy? Seems like you've gotten enough rest to me."

You huff out a laugh, smile tugging wider, "I'll be fine, Tough Guy. Thanks," you step away from him, and Carol ignites her powers first, then you do.

She takes off like a shot, a bullet through the sky as she gets farther away. You haven't used your powers like that in a very long time. At least, that's what it feels like.

"You don't have to do this, sweetheart. You have nothing to prove." You look back at Steve then, resolute in your decision.

"Yes, I do."

Flying through the skies with Carol was exhilarating. She never asks if you're ok, or if you need a break. She waits and lets your powers surge and grow. Because if anyone knows something about what your powers could do and what they're capable of, it would be Carol.

You both landed hours later, you felt better than you had in a long time.

Stretching muscles that you had never known to be there.

"I've never flown like that before," you let out a breathy laugh. "never knew I could do half that, really."

Carol smiles at you, bumping her shoulder with yours as you both make your way back to the compound.

"stick with me, kid. I'll help you out."

"I'm in my 30s. Why does everyone call me kid?" you heave a sigh.

"I'm 64," Carol smirks at you. You squawk in surprise, tripping over yourself as you try to keep up with her.

**

A while later, you and Carol were in the kitchen. You sipping tea, and her going through a bag a pretzels.

"So," she hedges, "you knew Nick?"

You huff a laugh, "Sure, not enough to openly call him by his first name to his face," a fond smile spreads across your face. "After New York, he wanted me to work under Maria - train and learn from her - in D.C."

"And, did you?" Carol perches herself on the counter top, another pretzel crunching in her mouth.

"Nah, turned him down," you laugh. "I don't think Fury ever heard the word 'no' before."

You both share a laugh.

"I've been meaning to ask," you set your cup down, leaning your arms on the counter next to where Carol sits. "How come I've never felt you before? Until now, that is."

Carol hums, thinking for a long moment, she studies you, eyes searching for something you aren't sure of.

"Maybe we were too far apart. I could feel it as soon as we entered the solar system."

After another long moment, you fidget with your now empty tea cup in your hands. "do you ever feel like you aren't enough? Even with these powers?" your voice is small and quiet, unsure. And when you glance back up, Carol just smiles.

"At first, maybe. When I was with the Kree and lost my memories of home and the people I cared about. Then I Remembered," there's a fire in her eyes as she talks to you, it burns bright the more she speaks. "There's people that care about me, that can't fight. So I have to."

You try to suppress the emotions that want to bubble out of you, but you can't fight back the few tears that blur your vision before you blink them away. You swallow around the lump in your throat. Give her a grateful smile and a nod.

Maybe that's all you really needed to hear. Reassurance.

You know you're more than capable of fighting and protecting others, but sometimes it's nice to hear. That you can do it. It's all worth it. It makes your chest warm, your lungs don't constrict with the anxiety of letting your friends down anymore.

Carol steers you out of the kitchen, her touch leaves you when you follow her, "Let's find the others, they're probably worried about you."

**

"…Missed your sense of humor, Rodent," you hear Tony's sarcastic comment as you and Carol near the garage.

"The Flark you do," Rocket snarks back.

"I know you missed me, it's ok, you can say it."

Rocket spies the two of you before Tony does, his ears perk up and he puts his tools down. "Oh, about damn time! Can we go now? Terrans are so primitive, I literally wanna rip my fur out," he groans.

Tony grabs his chest, mocking hurt, "Ow, you wound me, Rocket. I thought we had something."

Rocker snickers, a toothy grin on his muzzle. "Flark you, Stark." But he makes no move to leave like he said he wanted to.

"Ms Y/N," FRIDAY calls over head.

"Hey FRIDAY. What is is?" There's a pause, and your eyebrows scrunch in confusion. You share a look with Tony.

"Fri?"

"Ms Y?N. Captain Rogers is looking for you. He's in his room."

"Ok, thanks, FRIDAY," you wave to everyone around the room before you leave.

As you near Steve's room on the other side of the compound, you can hear things being moved - heavy things. Frantic movement, things being thrown against a wall.

"Steve?" you call as you near the door. Its ajar enough for you to see inside a little, you push the door open more so you can step inside. There's shuffling and mumbling. You call out for him again, and step into Steve's room.

It's a mess, furniture upturned, papers everywhere. His bed sheets are in a tangle on the bed - messy and wrinkled.

Steve is standing in the middle of the room, the bathroom door is open, steam still curling out of it. HIs back is to you, bare chest and feet, low hanging sweatpants on his hips.

He's panting, chest heaving in ragged breaths, hands clenching tight and releasing at his side.

You call out to him again, but he doesn't seem to hear you. You place a hand on his back, the muscles under your hand tense, he whips his head around so fast you think you heard it crack.

His eyes are wild, stormy blue and so deep, bloodshot with dark circles underneath. His nostrils flared, chest heaving. But then his eyes refocus, he blinks long and hard, and notices you. Steve lets out a shuddering breath, his eyes glaze over and he reaches for you.

"Yo-you're here," its rough and raw, he has to swallow against the tightness in his throat as his large hands grasp onto you. His arms wrap around your middle and he hoists you up and your wrap your arms around his neck. He tucks his face in your neck and takes big, deep breaths. A satisfied hum vibrates through him.

You run your fingers through his hair and your legs lock around his waist. One of his hands cup the back of your neck to keep you there.

After several minutes go by, you place a hand on Steve's cheek, urging him to look at you. He peeks up, barely leaving the spot he was previous.

"Are you ok?" you ask softly. "Do you want to sit down?" Instead of answering, Steve carries you over to his bed, kicking the door shut with is foot before he sits. He pulls you along as he rests his back on the headboard and tugs you tighter in his lap.

"I'm here, Steve. I'm not going anywhere," you mumble into his hair. His arms cling tighter in response.

"I-I had the briefest moment where I thought - thought it was all a dream. And you were still gone." He mumbles into you skin, nose running along the column of your throat. Your fingers grip tighter in his hair, pulling him back to look at you all the way.

There's a small whimper that gets stuck in his throat, his pleading eyes search your face. You're not sure what's going through his mind.

You lower your face to his, lips ghosting over his, a smile pulling at the corner of your lips as he inhales sharply.

"Let me show you that I'm right here," your fingers run across his cheek, Steve's eyes flutter closed and his breath stutters out of his lungs.

"H-how?" he whispers. You grind your hips down to emphasize your meaning. His fingers grip you tighter, he goes to move his lips closer to yours, but you pull back, only slightly.

"Will you let me show you, Stevie baby?"

"Yes," he whispers again. "show me." You kiss him, deep and raw. Like you want to consume him, body and soul. He moans into your mouth and you swallow it whole. When you tug his hair again, he gasps, you plunge your tongue in his mouth, he tastes like cinnamon toothpaste. And he chases your lips when you pull away.

In the early morning, when the suns rays were finally peeking through the blinds, you stirred a little. Something feather light running up your bare spine, it pulls you from consciousness. You him, turning your head into the warmth beside you. There's another groggy hum that leaves you, followed by a low rumble of a chuckle.

You peek an eye open to see Steve awake, his fingers running up and down your back. "It's way too early for you to be this awake," you curl into him more, swatting his hand away. Steve chuckles again, pulling you tighter against his bare chest.

"Y'know… Tony told me you had a beard," you hum. Your lips kiss up his chest, Steve groans in exasperation. "You should grow it back," you smile into his skin. Steve groans again, his head falling back into the pillow, you shake with laughter, but he smiles despite his attempts not to.

**

Weeks go by, months, you've finally adjusted to being back in your time. It was different at first, trying to navigate life with technology you had to live without in the '40s.

But, it was like riding a bike. That's what Tony had said, anyway.

Everyone went back to their normal lives. You had fallen into a routine of helping Nat with the goings-on around the compound. Sitting in on holo-com meetings with Rocket, Carol, and Nebula. The three of them kept you and Nat appraised of the news in Space. Nothing that either of you could do from Earth, though. But it made Nat fee better knowing everything.

The other part of your routine was spending time with Steve, the two of you growing closer, loving each other. Most nights you'd spend in his apartment, some nights he'd stay at the compound. But the nights at the compound where few and far between.

Steve likes to say it's just easier for you, because you can portal to him in an instant.

One afternoon, your StarkPhone vibrates, a message from Tony asking if you're around, and when you tell him yes, he very casually asks you to come by the cabin. You put your shoes on and Portal, no ones around the compound today, and FRIDAY can forward all holo-coms to your phone - just in case.

You step through your portal, the gravel of Tony's driveway crunches under your feet. You can see the garden on the side of the house. A shed that looked too out of place to be just a normal shed.

As you ascend the porch steps, you hear the screen door slap closed, quick footfalls running in your direction. Then a squeal of laughing as she turns the corner, you kneel down just as Morgan launches herself at you. You laugh as she squeezes you around the neck. Your eyes snap up to approaching footsteps, Tony stands casually with his hands in his pockets.

"Pwincess Charlie!" She adjusts herself in your arms as you stand, one arm around your neck as she pointed to Tony. "Daddy never tolded me you were coming. Will you play with me?" Her large brown eyes turn to you and you smile.

"Later, pumpkin. Auntie and I have some grown-up things to do first," Tony raises and eyebrow when Morgan pouts.

"Promise we can play before I leave, ok?" Morgan seems to find that suitable enough, and she shimmies out of your hold and runs back inside.

Tony stars at you for another moment, a small smile on his lips, "You're really good with her, Y/N."

You scoff, "She's the best, it's not that hard." You push him back towards the door, "Ok, Old Man, what did you want to show me?"

Tony leads you to his study, he walks around his desk and places his hands on a large box. His fingers drum against the cardboard for a second before he heaves a large sigh, then pushes the box across the desk towards you.

You arch and eyebrow, "What's in the box?" Tony shakes his head, a scoff leaving his lips.

"Certainly not the worst thing you can think of," he motions toward it again. An uncomfortable noise leaving his throat.

"Tony…"

"Just- please. Open it."

Inside the box are a bunch of papers. Folders stacked sideways with worm out notebooks -no, journals. There's an envelope with your name on it. It's stuffed to the brim. You run your fingers over the lettering, your breath catches.

"It's - oh," when you flip the envelope over, there's an H under the seal. You glance up at Tony, his brows are drawn close, a half grimace on his lips.

"Only read one of two, they're from dad," he clears his throat. "didn't feel right reading them. He wrote to you. A lot. Birthdays, holidays, every day in between. The, uh - The day he died."

You eyes burn, and the tears well up. "Thought you didn't read many of them," you try to tease.

Tony slides a piece of paper to you, "He wrote me. Just one, and it was about you, too." You feel overwhelmed. Your chest aches. You missed Howie so much. But this, this is too much. You still reach out and read Howard's letter to Tony. You feel almost sick.

"God, yo- you must hate me, Tony…" you whisper.

"What? No! Of course not - Y/N- "he stumbles over his words as he comes around his desk to hug you.

"Why…?" you mumble into his chest. "If I were you, I'd hate me. It's my fault Howie was the way he was. To you. Your mom… If I had only listened - maybe-"

Tony pulls you back by your shoulders, and gives you a small shake, "No, Dad was dad. He drank and he was mean. He didn't drink and he was still an asshole. The only time he was ever anything different was in front of a crowd or those old reels from the '60s. He loved my mother, he just couldn't look at me and-" Tony shakes his head a little.

"Still," you say. You shrug your shoulders.

"Things happened. There's no going back. We can't change the past, honey. Them's the breaks."

You glance at the box again, "did you read my journals?" Tony takes his hands from you and rubs them together. "Tony…?"

"Uh- well," he clears his throat again. "To be fair, I thought you were dead?"

A heat of embarrassment crawls up your chest. A whine leaves you. "To-o-onyyy!"

**

You spend the rest of the afternoon at Tony's. Going through old photos Howard had taken with the camera you bought him. One or two old reels from the '60s no one has ever seen. One was to Tony, he told you about how it saved his life with a new element for his Arc Reactor.

The second reel was about you.

The room, Howard's office, you assumed. Was dark, the only light was the one on his desk. The camera was unfocused, staring off into the distance over Howard's shoulder. He's hunched over some papers on his desk, his hand skims down a few lines, the other holds a cigarette between his fingers as his thumb runs at his forehead.

He exhales a large cloud of smoke, it billows out onto the desk and around him. He then tosses the papers aside and leans back in his chair. He looks tired, dark circles and bags under his eyes. There's a knock off screen and Howard grunts.

"Mr. Stark, your wife is on line 3," a woman says quietly.

He hums, placing the cigarette between his lips, "Thanks, Helen. You can head out for the night." She gives a quiet thanks and Howard takes a deep inhale, then the click of a phone. "Honey," he greets and lets the smoke out through his nose. There's some shuffling of papers before Howard stands, the cigarette still in his mouth.

"No, no, you're right," Howard chuckles. "Of course, you're always right. Maria - " he stops. One last drag of his cigarette before he snubs it out. "You know what today is - yes I get it." Howard scrubs a hand down his face and sits on the edge of his desk. He picks up his glass next, downs the liquor contents in one swift gulp. He kisses his teeth, a grunt of disapproval leaves his throat.

"Not this again. I told you I don't like to be at that house around this time of —"

He stops again, a click of a case, another cigarette between his lips before the flick of a lighter ignites it.

"My sister was my whole world, honey — God knows I love you, but please, just allow me two days a year to feel like shit. Please —" Howard inhales deep from his cigarette, then exhales after a second.

He's quiet for a long moment, you assume to listen to Maria talk.

"No - no, don't call Peggy. Ugh, I already get an earful during the week. I don't need it today."

Howard stands, twisting around like he wants to pace his office. His eyes scan around until they fall on the camera. He must notice it's still filming. He swallows thickly, then places the cigarette in his mouth again.

"Oh, yes, darling. - I'll call Peggy tomorrow. No- I'll be home in a few hours. - Yes, alright," Howard hums a goodbye and hands up.

He then moves around his desk, the camera lens finally focuses on him as he sits on the edge. He's silent for a moment.

"I think I've written you a few dozen letters over the years, kid," he chuckles humorlessly, taking another drag of his cigarette.

"When did he start smoking?" you ask Tony. Tony just shrugs.

"Picked it up a few years ago," Howard seems to answer. He rolls it between his fingers. Carelessly flicking the ash onto the carpeted floor. "I know what you're gona say - don't think I don't know. Sure, they might kill me, but we both know that's not true-"

"Howard!" you screech.

Howard raises his hands in mock surrender. A bitter laugh leaving his lips. "Alright, that was too much," he shrugs.

"You're a mess…"

"You know he can't -"

Your eyes glass over as you stare at the grainy film.

His eyes come back to the camera. His hand rakes through his short graying hair, "yeah… you're right," he huffs out a cloud of smoke.

"He can't, huh?"

"Sometimes," he chuckles again, "Sometimes I talk to you. Maria thinks I'm crazy. So does Peg. Shit, maybe I am…"

It's quiet for awhile. Howard doesn't move from his percho n the edge of his desk. The cigarette between his finger tips smokes slowly, he picks at his lip with his teeth.

"That might be it, Y/N. We can turn it off."

"No, wait," you inhale a deep breath, waiting.

Howard's eyes look into the camera lens. And you think he can almost see you, there's a small smirk on his lips. "I love you, kid. Don't think I've ever said so to your face. But I do. Love you, Y/N."

You sniffle, Tony's hand covers yours and you cling to him to him like a lifeline. "Love you, too, Howie."

There's a wet laugh that comes from Howard, he scrubs a hand down his face and inhales the tears that burn at his eyes. He smiles, then. He moves toward the camera, "See you later, kid," and the film shuts off.

It's silent in Tony's study for a long while. It's quiet, but not lonely. You can feel the love in the room. from Howard, from Tony. You lean your head on his shoulder and the two of you enjoy just being present.

**

A year goes by faster than a blink of an eye, you've moved into Steve's apartment in the city. It's quiet in the city. Less cars, less people.

The once busy streets of New York are almost laughably barren. The people that were once here, either moved away or were Dusted.

"You should come today, doll," Steve calls from the kitchen. When you don't respond he finds you on the ouch, the book you were reading open on your chest, brows furred and a frown on your lips. "Doll face?" Steve calls your name again, this time pulling you out of your daze.

"Hmm? What'd you say?"

"I asked if you wanted to come to the session today," Steve leans over the couch, placing his palm on your cheek. It's warm and you nuzzle into it.

"Promised Tash I'd drop by before heading to Tony's," Steve runs his thumb over your cheek, and sighs as he straightens up. He takes a step back, arms crossed tight over his chest. "Skip the meeting today, come with me," you plead. "Morgan would love to see you."

"You know I can't," he shakes his head. You sit up and lean of the back of the couch, reaching for him. But he steps back again, out of reach.

"Steve, they can miss you for one day. C'mon -"

"Forget it. Have fun with Tony."

"What - that's not. Hey!-" Steve turns to leave, you portal in front of him, hand on his chest to stop his retreat. "Talk to me, Tough Guy."

There's a storm brewing in his eyes, his nostrils flare as he stares down at you. His hand comes up to cover yours on his chest. "For once, I want you to choose me." He says low, voice dropping to the space between you. His hand travels to your wrist, gripping it and moving your hand off him so he can step around you.

As he walks around you back towards the kitchen, you follow him. "I did choose you. I chose you when I got back here. I love you, Steve."

He scoffs, "you only chose me because -" he stops. A sharp inhale and he turns away again.

"No, say it. I wanna hear it," you stop on the other side of the island from him.

"You're only with me. Because Bucky is dead," he says bluntly. And it stings more than you think it would.

"Being with you is always like waiting for the other shoe to drop," you mumble. "You're here, but you're never present. At least not with me," your confidence wavers, voice going soft and cracked towards the end. "Maybe I want you to choose me first. For once, Steve. I'm always the last person in your list of everything else in your life. We may life together, but you're just going through the motions. Do you - do you even want to be with me?"

When you glance back up at Steve, he can't meet your eye, you click your tongue. "I'll be here, Steve. Whenever you're ready to actually talk to me and not a support group. We lost people, too. Just remember I'm right here."

You portal away, stepping back and then you're at the compound.

You find Nat in the kitchen, making lunch. She turns her head to see you over her shoulder.

"Hey, stranger," she greets. "made you a PB&J," she points to the plate with the sandwich on it. You mutter a thanks and follower her to her office.

Nat studies you for a moment, her green eyes searching your features. "what did he do now?"

You sigh, picking at the bread, "He said I never pick him. Over everyone else. He's never my top priority."

Nat's face scrunches as she takes a bit of her sandwich, "But you moved in with him. Instead of of staying here. And it's not like you two need jobs - cause Tony owns the building. You're always around each other."

You hum.

"And I only see you on the weekends. He has you the other five days."

You scoff, "You make it sound like you're sharing custody," you roll your eyes.

"Nah," Tony won that custody battle the minute you reappeared back in this time," she tries to joke.

You glance away from her, picking at the bread of your sandwich.

"Oh. It's about Tony, isn't it?" Nat sighs when you let out a hum. "Don't think too much about it, Y/N. Steve's always been jealous of your relationship with Tony."

"That doesn't make it better!" You slump back in your chair with a huff. "Tony and I are just friends. He's married with a kid. I love him like family - its -"

"Complicated?"

"No, not really. I - I'm in love with Steve. But sometimes, I don't know," your voice goes soft. "I feel like he's never really here with me. That his mind is somewhere else and he won't let me in." You look back at Nat, her smile is encouraging, and a little sympathetic. "Does that make sense?"

Natasha hums around her sandwich, and puts it down as she finishes chewing before she speaks.

"I think - Do you wanna know what I think?" you nod. "He's restless, or his body doesn't know he can just stop. We've all been constantly on the go since the alien invasion back in New York. To Ultron, and then Thanos. The treats were getting bigger and badder and we never stopped."

Nat waits, for just a moment, "Maybe I've never stopped either. I'm still here, listening to the world's - the universe's problems." She shakes her head, "I think it's just a distraction -"

"From not thinking about what we've all lost…"

"…Yeah."

You're both quiet as you finish you lunch. The both of you content with just being there for each other. No matter how that is.

You give Nat a hug before you go, a long squeezing hug, like you don't ever want to let her go. Not yet.

"Let me know if someone needs saving, ok?" You tease.

"Yeah, yeah. Tell the troublemaker I said hi, and Morgan too."

You laugh as you step back into a portal. Then the crunch of gravel under your feet as Tony's cabin comes into view.

Tony and Morgan are in the yard, she sees you fist - like always. Her face lights up with a huge grin, its magnetic. The hold this little girl has on you. You'd burn the world to the ground, all for Morgan H. Stark.

She wiggles out of Tony's arms, and skips toward you, "Princess Charlie!" she launches herself into your arms with a squeal. You laugh and twirl her around.

"Hello, Lady Morgan," you peck her on the cheek.

"Auntie," Tony greets with a smirk as he makes his way over. His brows scrunch as he eyes you. "What's the matter?"

You hate that he can tell when something is bothering you, or you're upset. Howard could tell, too. Maybe it was a Stark thing.

"Nothing for you to worry about," Morgan maneuvers herself so she's on your back, hands and feet hugging you like a koala bear.

Tony grunts, skeptical of your answer, he just shrugs and motions for you to follow him back inside.

The rest of the day is spent at Tony's. You help pepper make dinner, and play with Morgan until Tony and Pepper tuck her in for the night. The three of you share drinks out on the porch well into the night.

It's peaceful here. It's quiet here. Like this is where Tony was always meant to be. Him and Pepper cuddling on the porch swing while they look out onto the lake in the backyard. You don't feel like an intruder, not anymore. You feel like part of their small family, like you matter just as much to Morgan, too.

"I'm gonna head out," you say as you stand from the steps. "Thanks for today." You stretch your arms above your head.

"Are you sure? The guest room is there, if you wanted to stay," Pepper says around a yawn. You shake your head, and hug her when she stands to say goodbye. Pepper kisses Tony on the cheek before she bids you both goodnight.

Tony motions with his head to the side, "C'mon, I'll walk you out." He leads you around the porch to the front yard. It's quiet. Only a few crickets break the silence, an owl hoot far in the distance.

But it's so damn quiet.

As you stand side-by-side next to Tony, he lets out a heavy breath, he glances at you a few times before he speaks. "You gonna tell me what's wrong?" he says quietly. When you don't answer right away, he says your name. Pleading for you to just open up.

It takes you a minute, another sigh leaving your lips. "Steve and I had a…disagreement. It'll sort itself out. Don't worry."

Tony turns to face you, "I'll always worry about you, kid," and it's soft and meaningful. You know he means it.

"I know, but you don't have to, Tony," you shrug.

"Yeah. Doesn't mean I still won't worry. It's in the job description," he smiles when you playfully shove him away. "Come by tomorrow, yeah?"

You hum, "We'll see." It's something you've both been saying since you got back. But you always see him the next day, even if it's for a little while.

Tony pecks you on the forehead before he bids you goodnight. "Love ya, kiddo."

"Night, love you, too," and then you portal back to Steve's and your apartment.

It's dim, the only light on is the stove light. It's quiet here, too.

You call out for him, the only answer is your heavy sigh as you make your way to the bedroom. It's empty. Maybe he needed space. Or he's out running to let off steam.

There's no note where he usually leaves one, so you send him a text saying you're home, and crawl into bed.

**

Next>>

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tags: @valckenaux ; @yunloyal

[lottiembae]

𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉; alex dunphy x fem!reader

Summary: in which alex asks her family to be normal when she introduces y/n, her girlfriend, for the first time. they didn't do it.

Warnings: fluff.

Note: English is not my first language.

Alex sighed for the sixth time, her eyes glued on the screen with Y/N's chat open. Haley walked into the kitchen and heard her sister, she could see the stress on Alex's face.

"It's only dinner, Alex. Stop worrying." Haley reassured her, grabbing a water bottle from the fridge and walking towards the cushion where her sister is. "She met us before."

"Yeah, don't remind me that." Alex muttered, blocking her phone and throwing it at her lap. "This time is different, Haley. It's the whole family." She pointed out, biting her nails.

Haley grabbed her hand, stopping the damage she is doing on her nails. "Well, if she didn't run away with dad, there's no necessity to worry." She tried to light the mood, sipping from the bottle.

Alex let out a small smile, remembering when her dad said some of his silly jokes and Y/N laughed, then her father leaned on her and said that she needed to keep that girl. Alex knew that there is no necessity to worry, not when Y/N had the approval from her parents and siblings. Claire was sceptical at first, someone dating her daughter or any of her children was difficult for her, but after meeting Y/N, Claire adores her too.

Maybe Alex is being a little paranoid.

"You are right," the brunette murmurs, looking at her old sister and giving a grateful smile. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." Haley said smiling. "Well, are you going with that clothes?" Alex rolled her eyes, used to Haley's criticism of her style.

"No, Haley. I will change, but if you want to choose the clothes for me,-" Alex was interrupted by Haley excited squeal, not letting her finish and grabbing her hand, the older sister dragged Alex upstairs. "It's my fault to not explain to her how sarcasm works." Alex muttered to herself.

•••

"Alex! You need to pick up Y/N. Hurry up!" Claire yells from the living room.

"I know. I'm grabbing my keys car!" Alex went there, making Claire frown because she thought her daughter was in her bedroom.

"Let's go then. We will see you in your granddad's house." Her mother said, disappearing in the bathroom momentarily.

Alex scoffed. "You seem more excited to see Y/N than having dinner with the whole family." She mutters, leaning on the frame with a ghost of a smug smirk.

Claire looks at her with a raised eyebrow. Alex rolls her eyes and walks to the front door. "Also, you look beautiful, honey!" Her mother complimented her, coming back to the bathroom.

"Haley picked it up." Alex states, pushing her glasses up and closing the door, going to her car.

She drove towards Y/N's home. They are on vacation, and they would pass a period away from each other. Y/N going to a new job to save some money and Alex doing the same thing, they barely would see that summer.

"You have a dress!" Was the first thing Y/N told Alex when she entered the car.

"Really? Almost two weeks apart and you told me that?" Alex said reproaching while crossing her arm, an indignant look on her face.

Y/N rolls her eyes with a smile. "You look beautiful, Al. I missed you." These words soften Alex's features, the start of a blush creeping on her cheeks.

"You look beautiful too and I missed you." Alex said too, in a low voice. Their arms go down and put her right hand on the gear lever, gazing at her girlfriend. Y/N grabs her face between her hands and pecks her lips, receiving a whine from Alex when she separated. "A proper one." She mutters on her mouth, her hand sneaking behind her back and closing the gap in a tender kiss.

They separated after a few minutes, Alex intertwining her hand with hers and caressing the palm of her hand with her thumb. Y/N peck one more time on her lips and hurry her up.

"You don't seem nervous at all. Usually people feel like that." Alex points out, starting the engine and driving to her granddad's big home.

Y/N snorted. "Yeah, like you with mines." She murmurs, Alex scoffs offended. "It was sweet, baby. Alex Dunphy nervous. I will never see you like that again." She said, chuckling and caressing her arm playfully.

Before Alex could answer and give a long explanation, a call from her phone interrupted the moment. She reads the name on the screen and curses under her breath, Y/N looking at her with a teasing smirk. Since she saw Alex doesn't go to answer the call, Y/N presses the green button, gaining an incredulous look from Alex.

"Hi, Ms Dunphy!" Y/N said cheerfully, her eyes never leaving Alex's indignant face.

"Hello, Y/N! How are you? And I told you to call me Claire, sweetie." Claire greets back. They engaged in a conversation, for Alex's dismay. It worsened when Phil, Alex's dad joined the conversation. "Alex, honey I almost forgot. Can you go at home and bring the cake I made last night? I thought Luke grabbed it."

"Oh, I exist again." Alex annoyed said, gaining a slap by her girlfriend on her arm for that. "Yes, mom. I'm on my way." She said in a monotone voice.

"Thank you, darling. Don't be late!" Claire warned them gently and hung up after Y/N's reply.

"She thinks we would have sex in your home?" Y/N asked curious when Alex parked the car.

Alex made a thinking face before getting out. "Maybe you should get in too. I can show you my bedroom." She said in a suggestive tone, making Y/N laugh.

"Nice try, baby. But the first time we make it in your house, there needs to be people. I like the risk." Y/N held her laugh when saw her girlfriend do a grimace.

"Stay here." Alex lowly said and went to her home, letting behind Y/N laughing for her reaction.

•••

Y/N walked to Alex's side when she got out of the car, the cake in her hands. She perceived Alex was nervous, her demeanor radiated it.

"Are you sure about it?" She asks gently, starting to walk to the front door.

Alex looked at her with a confused face but nodded, her left arm finding comfort on Y/N's waist. "Yes. It's... I don't know. I don't want them to make you feel uncomfortable." She half confesses, stopping a few centimeters away from the front door.

Y/N gives her a reassuring smile. "Baby... What would be more embarrassing than my family picking you over me because I'm not that good at that silly game or calling you to ask you if you still are in love with me?" She saw how Alex relaxed a little, a tiny smile on her lips now.

"They are joking when they ask that." Alex said, kissing her cheek.

"Well, maybe I can joke with them just like you joke with my family." Y/N said, seeing Alex nod and resume the way towards the door. She knocks a few times.

Not passed about five seconds that the door opened and revealed a beaming Claire. "Thank you so much girls! Come in." She said, grabbing the cake from Y/N's hands and giving her a quick hug before going to the kitchen.

"Woah. It's really big." Y/N commented, her eyes scanning the place.

"It is." Alex said, closing the door.

"There she is!" Phil exclaimed, walking towards them and engulfing Y/N in a warm hug. Alex's heart melts a little seeing not only her mother, but her father too to have a soft spot for Y/N.

"Hi, Mr Dunphy! Sorry, Phil. I'm glad to see you again." Y/N happily said, correcting herself when Phil gave her a warning look for calling him Mr Dunphy.

They exchanged a few words before the rest of the family came. Haley and Luke approached Y/N to greet her just like their dad. Then, Alex introduced the rest one by one.

"And he is Jay, my grandad." She finishes, seeing her granddad gift her a smile and hug briefly Y/N. It surprises them a little, usually Jay is not a person who shows love publicly easily. Only Gloria and Stella are the lucky ones.

"Hi, Mr Pritchett. Nice to meet you." She said politely, unaware about the gesture received.

"Nice to meet you too, Y/N. Call me Jay, do you? What?" He asked when saw the receiving looks from his family. "Excuse them, they are sometimes weird people." He said in a teasing way, making Y/N chuckle softly.

Then, Y/N's eyes illuminated when she saw Stella approaching, going to greet her immediately. Jay makes a cheerful sound, pointing the scene not only at Alex, to Gloria too, who rolled her eyes and called them to go to sit down.

"I don't know why you are so worried. She has the big boy in her pocket." Haley whispered at Alex, seeing Y/N play with Stella.

•••

Alex thought the same when Haley said these words.

She sat down between Y/N and Luke, meanwhile her girlfriend had at her left part at her mother. They all seem very interested in Y/N, making her questions, something that Claire did ten months ago when they met for the first time. Until her mom, who else, started to say embarrassing stories about Alex, making her blush and shutting her up without success. It's not only her mother, they all joined against her for some reason and recalled the very embarrassing moments about her.

"OKAY! I think she knows all of your stories about me! Can we move on, please?" Alex exploded, throwing her napkin on the table and standing up, walking outside.

The whole table stayed quiet for her outburst. Y/N follows her figure until she disappears. An awkward silence installed, and Claire stood up to go where Alex is. However Y/N stood up and asked her if she could go, something Claire nodded for.

She walked slowly towards the pool, where Alex was sitting with her feet on it, playing with the water. She chose to sit down on her lap, Alex hiding her face on her neck immediately, wrapping her arms on her hips.

"I know for you it is embarrassing... But for me it is really cute." Y/N commented softly, playing with her hair.

Alex frowned, raising her head and letting it to centimeters of hers. "How? For me it isn't only embarrassing. It's humiliating. Some of them I felt out of the family." She confesses, some frustrated tears forming on her eyes.

Y/N softens more, grabbing her cheeks with both hands and looking directly into her eyes. "Maybe, but they treasure those moments because you are involved. I don't think they wanted to feel humiliated. I only see pride when they speak about you." She wipes the tears that fell for her cheeks with a smile. "I can't wait to say this type of thing to our children. God, I'm going to embarrass them so much." She said looking dazed, making Alex laugh.

For Alex, every time Y/N spoke about their future and she included her, forming a family, she thinks she could do the same all again if she would meet you every time. She leaned and captured her lips in a sealing kiss, a promise one.

A noise made them separate and look where it came. Y/N smiled but Alex painted an exasperated expression on her face, seeing her dad with a phone directed towards them, the sound was a photo he took of them.

Y/N stood up and tended a hand towards her, who grabbed it and they walked hand in hand. Cam was a little emotional, Mitchell gave them an apologetic smile. Gloria went to hug them both, the rest quickly following.

"Y/N, do you have a sister for Manny? I don't trust anyone for him. He is too good and someone like you is what he deserves." Everyone let out a laugh for it, less Manny who protested for it. Maybe Gloria said it to distract or not, but Alex thanked her with a look. It means the whole family approves of her girlfriend.

"Oh! I have a story," Y/N said when they separated, walking in. They looked at her curiously, Alex confused. "The story about me and Alex meet. It's so funny." She said cheerfully, clapping with her hands and ignoring the whine and the begging look Alex threw at her.

They all cheered, wanting to know everything.

[melminli]

phone time

summery - you and satoru have been together for a long time now, like really long. next week marks your nine year anniversary, actually, and your friends think that it's a bit weird that you two are not doing anything special on that day.

contains: fem reader, fluff/crack, utahime being in your business, gossip, meimei hate, suggestive joke at the end

"we were thinking about going shopping with mei mei this weekend, you want to come with us?" utahime asked you as you stepped into the living room after leaving the kitchen. it took you a second to answer her, as your attention was focused on the tray in your hands. you really didn't want to risk one of the three cups of hot coffee spilling over and doing a mess. as well as getting a third-degree burn.

when the tray finally touched the small table, you got around to answering. "i don't know. i've been spending too much money lately." you admitted, making yourself comfortable on the soft carpet. sitting across from the sofa also helped the conversation flow more smoothly. "i would still come just to hang out with you guys, but you know i don't like meimei that much..."

shoko was about to add something when gojo interrupted her. "you can just take my card, you know. and meimei isn't much of a talker anyway. you should go if you feel like it." he suggested from his position on the pastel pink armchair. "you can also go to starbucks together. they should have pumpkin space latte on the menu again now that it's fall."

you thought about the proposal once more at his argument while holding your cup in your hands. the girls on the other side sent disgusted looks to the man. even though he spoke in their favor, they weren't really interested in hearing his input. "and why are you still here? i thought you told your crusty boyfriend to leave for a few hours." utahime complained to you.

"and i did." you replied and sensed the mean looks he gave you when you didn't correct her after she described him as crusty. you just shook your head to signal him that she didn't know what she was talking about. "weren't you gonna meet up with suguru?" you asked him, looking in his direction.

i can't believe i'm getting kicked out of my own place. he leaned a little deeper in his seat at that thought, but didn't really mind since it was you who asked him to. he wasn't really authorized to participate in girl talk and was, to be honest, a bit butt hurt about it. he would do anything to participate in a session. "we are. that asshole is running late, so i would be very grateful if you ladies could show me some mercy and let me wait inside since it's like two degrees outside."

you raised an eyebrow at his wording and spoke up with a grin after taking a sip. "what's the matter, elsa? can't handle the cold?"

satoru just rolled his eyes. "i can't wait until it starts snowing. doesn't it ever get boring? making the same jokes over and over again."

you pretended to give his question serious thought until you finally answered. "no, not really."

utahime watched the interaction between you with a furrowed brow. "i can't believe you two are a couple." she finally said, abruptly changing the subject. "you just don't act coupley at all."

shoko disagreed. "what does that even mean? they've been together for like forever."

it felt a little strange to gojo that she was kind of supportive of your relationship right now. she wasn't really, but it felt that way to him, and he was happy about it and agreed with her. "exactly. that is a heavy accusations you're throwing in the room, that i'm not going to tolerate. i would literally die for my girlfriend, which is like the bare minimum, i know. but still." he spoke in a completely serious voice.

you hummed in support of him. "yeah, i mean men are meant to die in war anyway, so it's good that you know."

there. you guys were doing it again. "that's what i'm talking about. nothing about how you behave with each other is romantic in the slightest way." she said, a little disappointed. "i've also never seen you kiss or heard that you're going on dates. i mean, do you even have anything planned for your anniversary?" she continued to enumerate, getting seriously worried.

you didn't take her worry serious since you did all these things in private. you just preferred it that way. "we live together, and we spend a lot of quality time together. just because we don't call everything a date doesn't mean we never do anything as a couple." you retorted, and satoru supported what you said with adding period. "i've been a little lazy lately due to it getting so cold again, and i don't feel like doing anything extravagant because it just mentally exhausts me on top with work. so we'll probably just chill and have some phone time in the evening." you answered her question about your anniversary. maybe you would get satoru a little gift like flowers. yeah, he liked getting flowers. you mentally made a note to look on the internet for some with a nice meaning.

shoko repeated questioningly. "phone time?" somehow, she imagined it to be something very strange.

"yeah, you know." satoru began, although the two had no idea what you two were talking about. "lying in bed. scrolling on social media - mostly tiktok. showing funny or stupid videos to each other and laughing about it."

you raised an index finger to add. "or cat videos." you reminisced about some silly trends in the past. "i kind of miss dabloon cat..."

so the two are just some sort of ipad kids.

"that's pretty weird, actually. you two are weird." said utahime in conclusion, not knowing what else to say.

you just rolled your eyes as you took another sip of your coffee. "last time i checked, you were single."

a sigh escaped her at the remark. "well, i can't argue against that. my dating life has been drier than a desert lately..."

at that, a slight giggle escaped satoru's lips, reminding you all that he was indeed still present in the room. "you know what's not dry after i - "

"satoru."

"what? just because she doesn't see us kiss doesn't mean that we don't do it."

[woantohae]

Are you with me? || Gong Yoo x reader.

Summary: Annie is tired of the fights between her parents every time she visits them. She doesn't let it affect her professional life, because it's something she loves to do. However, Gong Yoo can't help but notice the lost look on her face every time he sees her from his office.

"Why do you have to talk about money every time she comes home?"

"Excuse me if I complain about having to bring up the subject, if I'm the only one who works to put food on the table"

"You are unbearable"

"You wanted to marry me"

Everything ended the same as always. Annie finished listening to her parents' fights, while leaving her fork on her plate and with a weak smile. She was grateful and promised to come back to see them once, but it was difficult for her to promise that if she knew how everything was going to end.

Exactly the same.

She wanted to stay strong, so every time she came home she let the tears fall down her cheeks without any shame. She was alone, surrounded by the four walls of her apartment. Nobody saw her. She would go to bed without wanting anything and cry until she fell asleep, with a latent headache that she would have to endure until the next morning at work.

That morning she had forced herself to get up earlier than normal so she could take a shower and take some aspirin for the headache caused by the memory of the previous night with her parents. She put on her most formal and—despite everything—most elegant clothes that she had to go to the office. She put on her makeup calmly and smiled when she applied the lip balm. She left as soon as she was ready from the apartment, promising to eat something as soon as she arrived.

"Good morning, Mr. Johnson," she greeted the janitor who always greeted her in the building where she worked as an editor for a publishing house.

"Good morning, Miss Grady," he waves back.

She smiles at him and enters the elevator. She presses the button for her floor and lets out a sigh to prepare her face for the entire day she had to be in the office. The elevator doors open and she walks optimistically to her workplace. She greets some of her classmates with a kind smile, thinking that maybe that could brighten their day. Then, she takes off her coat and leaves it hanging behind her chair, along with her purse. Annie adjusts and smoothes her skirt to sit down and start working on the files she has left to review that day.

"Good morning, Annie. How was your night?" Susie, her closest friend in the office, asks.

She swallows and smiles.

"Everything is fine. Although I must say that I didn't get my 8 hours of sleep well," she tells her in a funny tone. "It's very cold at night."

Annie lies.

Susie makes a face and nods her head.

"Tell me, I have to sleep in like four layers of clothes." Annie laughs.

The two of them chat for a while longer until Annie decides to go get a coffee in the break room. She's thankful there's no one in the space and allows herself to look vulnerable for a few seconds while she makes her coffee. It doesn't last longer than 10 secons before she is interrupted by the presence of a new person entering the room.

A man's voice greets her.

"Good morning, Miss Grady."

She knows that voice.

Gong Yoo. The head of the publishing house.

She turns around with a smile plastered on her face. "Good morning, Mr. Yoo."

He lets out an amused snort and rolls his eyes. "I've told you many times not to call me Mr. Yoo," he says.

She smiles.

"That wouldn't be professional of me," she clarifies.

Gong Yoo smiles sideways and walks past her to make himself a coffee.

"I must say that I liked the comments on the manuscripts you sent me for the new book," he admits as he pours the hot liquid into his cup.

She raises an eyebrow.

"Oh really?" she asks "Well thank you. I spent days trying to get it perfect and suitable for you to review."

Gong Yoo nods and takes a sip from his cup, maintaining eye contact with her.

He clicks his tongue.

"I think you're one of the best on the team," he says with complete honesty. Annie smiles flattered at the compliment "But I don't want you to overexert yourself for it. I understand that perfection is something we inevitably seek, but we must not forget how that affects us the end of the day"

Annie's face falls for a few seconds before she smiles again. "I know"

That is something that is more than clear to her.

----------------------‐-----------------‐--

Gong Yoo knows something is off with her.

During the day he was attentive to her every movement and how her face fell when she thought no one was watching her. He always watched her. But not in an obsessive or uncomfortable way. He really saw her. Perhaps it was because as a boss he had to ensure the health and well-being of each of his workers. But he knew perfectly well that it went far beyond his professional ethics. Even his person.

Annie had captured his attention since the day she, with a sweet voice, offered to stay late to review some documents that he urgently had to deliver until midnight. Gong Yoo thought it was unprofessional of him, but Annie just smiled and told him that she would hate to know that he got in trouble for not delivering them on time.

It wasn't even her fault. It was his fault. But she always thought about how others might feel.

That simple action was enough for the man to not stop thinking about her.

The day in the office had passed faster than he thought. The night had fallen and he was already watching as his colleagues took their things and left without looking back. He didn't blame them. But his gaze stopped at the girl who was still looking at her screen, while she said goodbye to her coworkers smiling from ear to ear. But without reaching her eyes.

When no one was left in the office, Gong Yoo decided to go talk to her. Annie was putting her things away and putting on her coat without much encouragement. Gong Yoo walked up to her desk and when Annie looked up she smiled again.

"Gong Yoo" she started saying "I thought you were already gone"

He just smiled slightly and shrugged.

"I was finishing sending some emails"

Annie nods and raises an eyebrow. "Everything okay? Do you need help?" she offers him.

Gong Yoo narrows his eyes and shakes his head. Annie, with a characteristic gesture of her, smiles again. "If you need help, just let me know" she says "Well, if you don't need anything, I'll leave you now. See you on Monday."

Gong Yoo lets her take a few steps forward until they are shoulder to shoulder.

"Are you ok?" he asks seriously.

Annie looks at his profile and he looks at her. He is a few centimeters taller than her and his gaze is attentive. Annie frowns slightly and lets out a small laugh.

"Yes. Everything's fine," her voice falters for a moment. "Why do you ask?"

Gong Yoo turns around to face her. Annie holds her bag on her shoulder and feels her heart race. Heat covers the girl's cheeks.

"I've seen you," the black-haired man admits. Annie swallows, "I know you're not okay."

She opens her mouth letting out a humorless laugh.

"I'm perfectly fine" Annie lies "I don't know why you say that. I've kept my schedule, I've done my chores..."

Gong Yoo stares at her.

"Annie"

"I try to help with everything here. I never speak ill of anyone and I always try to arrive early so that I don't miss any details with the documents...." At this point, Annie speaks quickly and in an almost agitated manner. She feels her throat slowly closing, while a pain spreads through it.

Gong Yoo watches as the girl's eyes fill with tears. He doesn't wait for her to finish the sentence and is already hugging her to his chest.

"I..."

"Annie. It's okay," Gong Yoo whispers against her hair.

Annie breaks down and lets the older man completely wrap his arms around her. She lets out a whimper, feeling how the man caresses her head tenderly and in a gesture that says: I'm here, everything is fine.

“Oh, Annie” Gong Yoo says.

"Everything is so hard"

Gong Yoo hates seeing her cry. He doesn't want to see her cry again.

"I just want...," she tries to calm herself. Gong Yoo rocks her in his arms "peace".

"I'll try everything in my power to give you that" he promises to her.

He promises that he will do anything not to see her cry again.

Well, i hope you enjoy it.

I'm thinking about writing a part 2 to this.....