#I've been craving them all week and I finally bought some

[the-bineapple]

the feminine urge to eat all six of these grocery store cupcakes in one sitting

[ellesthots]

Fateful Beginnings

XXIV. “natural curiosity”

parts: previous / next

plot: under extreme pressure to perform, you prepare for your first and final interview with Bruce Wayne. Batman learns intriguing info on the gruesome murder of John Doe.

pairing: battinson!bruce wayne x fem!reader

cw: 18+, mental illness, anxiety

words: 3.2k

a/n: this brings me to the end of my back-posting! we are now up to date across tumblr, ao3, and wattpad 🥳 excited to keep writing more soooon 👀

Was this some kind of cruel punishment?

If it hadn't been for Dr. Vry's unfortunately logical and desperate plea, you wouldn't have said yes—now you were left flying back for half a week. With enrollment for freshmen starting the first day of September, you had to have this in to Bridgit the morning after meeting with him. Thinking of all the belongings you'd just bought for the apartment you thought you'd be living in, you decided against a flight and booked a U-haul for that weekend instead. You'd see if Mar wanted to drive back with you in it, and if not you'd buckle down and do it yourself.

Your parents came back not an hour later. After a few minutes of hugs and chitchat they put themselves to bed, exhausted. Your mom didn't appear critically ill or markedly different in any way (besides a darker tan), so you let yourself relax for the evening out on the couch. A rerun was on the television, the air was stale, and the setting sun stabbed your eyes. You grappled with feelings of guilt as the minutes turned into hours of nothing. You loved them, but was this all you had to look forward to?

Bruce busied himself with monotonous tasks the rest of the day. The panic attack had wiped him out physically, but his mind was wired. A still-relevant yet menial task he felt he could get into a rhythm with involved stealing the giant stack of newspapers Alfred kept by his fireplace in his office for kindling. He flipped through pages and pages of decades-old Gazette publishings, refusing to indulge his curiosity as he passed the months directly preceding or proceeding his parent's murder. It felt like an impossible feat as he discarded them to his left, forcing his eyes to remain tethered to the current moment. Eventually he found clippings from the past few years, and he nestled into the corner chair to pore over their contents. Why was the Gazette failing? Why was the journalism department going to shut down? He distinctly remembered his parents reading the Gazette together every Sunday before church. On the walk to church, he remembered people sitting on park benches reading it. He only paid attention to the comic strip curated by the art majors, but even as a young kid he knew the paper was influential.

As he skimmed through the recent few years of publishing he couldn't discern why sales were lower. It was putting out relevant information that was decent to read... He stood up and walked down the hall to Alfred's room, and found him buttoning his cuffs. "Master Wayne, what's wrong?"

Bruce shook his head. "You read the Gazette, right? Do you know how many people read it?"

Alfred finished the last button and shook out his sleeves to straighten them. He shrugged. "I don't know precisely, but in concept it seems to be doing rather well. On my grocery trips I see lots of people reading it."

Bruce nodded and made some small talk for a moment about dinner ("I've been craving some sausage and cabbage soup, would you mind that, boy?") before making his way back to Alfred's office. He logged onto the computer and looked up sales for the Gazette. While there had been a decline, it had been slow and not enough to completely shut down a department. After looking into Gotham's budget, he realized there was enough budget and in fact, the majority of the Gotham finances were allocated between GCPD and GU. Looking into the school attendance rate there was still a good amount of students applying to the university; less people going into journalism, sure, but still enough to warrant continuing the major. Was Vry a particularly attentive and anxious president, or was it manipulation to get him to agree to be interviewed?

Alfred forced him away by physically walking upstairs to bring Bruce down, and they ate the soup in silence. It was warm, and soothed him enough to take the edge off his guttural sense of impending doom.

The next day he got a call from Gordon. A quick change into the suit and a back exit getaway later, Bruce found himself at the police station. The guards stiffened their spines and glared at him as he walked up; usually it didn't bother him, but after being discovered he felt every eye on him was an x-ray. He walked down a dingy, slim hallway to Gordon's office and knocked on the door. Gordon invited him in, appearing visibly stressed. "In the office on a Saturday?"

"Hey. I don't know what to tell you, but the results came in inconclusive."

Bruce narrowed his eyes. "No idea what the metal is?"

"That's not exactly the problem." He reached into the desk and pulled out a plastic EVIDENCE bag smattered with pokes from the sharp metal inside. It landed on the table with a sharp rap. "We know what it is, but we are lost as to its function."

Bruce swirled the bag so the shrapnel tilted and moved about its cage. Gordon continued. "We brought in a few dentists, even one doctor, to clarify why this might be used as a filling but no one had heard of it before." He quickly continued. "Well, one guy did. Said he used to be a chemist. He'd heard of the metal, but said it was bordering on corrosive. He couldn't make head nor tail of why it would be used in a man's mouth."

"What is it?"

"The man said 'Electrum'. I made him repeat it because it sounded made up." Gordon rolled his eyes and bit his lip, lost in thought. His tone was biting. "I just want to find these punks. Can't have someone causing crime scenes like that running loose."

He'd never heard of Electrum. He opened his mouth to speak but Gordon continued again. He's talkative today. "The man said its properties are that of a 'spark to light up the wire'. Something about conductivity. I think it's just some man who got an under-the-table dental. Probably cracked open a soda can and peeled off a clip to tuck into his gums." By the end he was mumbling, and quickly stood up.

"They were certain it's Electrum?"

Gordon nodded. "He said it was clear. Bet his life on it." And with that he left, motioning to be followed out.

Electrum. Nothing could be found on the web about it. Alfred didn't know, and there had never been a mention about it in any newspaper since 1800 (any further back he couldn't find). By this point he was exhausted, and hadn't even realized he'd pulled a whole weekend staying wide awake. He physically pored over every newspaper article himself pre-1900, his smart engine struggling and misreading the small, fuzzied print. There was nothing that could even be vaguely related to Electrum. Fuck. He dragged his feet up to bed and crashed early Sunday evening.

Had it really only been a strange, foreign filling? Usually this would be his favorite type of thing to sleuth out, something no one could find but he could; he would read the small print from an article in 1806 and solve the mystery, following its crumb trail to an ultimate victory. It was the perfect catharsis, but he was too in his head. All Monday afternoon he twiddled his thumbs and waited for evening, but when evening came he couldn't bring himself to put on his suit. That one scrap metal felt like it was lodged in his tooth, giving him an emotional toothache. He slipped into bed and laid on his back with his arms behind his head. He gazed up at the ceiling, drawing a mental map of the situation. The John Doe couldn't be traced back. Dentist, former chemist, clarified it was Electrum. Electrum can't be found anywhere. No trace of it. Testing was inconclusive. Bordering on corrosive. Man was stabbed repeatedly and hung by the blades. Owls were etched into hilt. Owls were etched into pins and rings of the Gotham University president... Bruce squinted. How could he gain more information on Dr. Vry? His first thought was a Batman interrogation, second idea stalking her in his car for a week to see what she was up to. Both options, especially the latter, caused an internal cringe. Much like he couldn't shake his suspicion about Electrum, he couldn't shake the thought you embedded in him that he was too invasive.

Being invasive to criminals isn't bad. Often, it's the only way to catch them. Your voice came into his mind. And you're assuming she's a criminal. What happened to probable cause?

Her jewelry insignias perfectly match those on the weapon in an unsolved murder.

Perfectly, huh?

Almost.

Almost, yeah.

Even imaginary you mocked him. He continued having a conversation with himself until Alfred knocked on his door. He bristled and sat upright in bed. The old man leaned against the doorframe and gazed at him, spectacled. "Wanted to check in. Social battery ran out, I assume?"

Bruce stared down at his sheets. "Unsolved murder. Can't find any clues."

"Peculiar. Not much stumps you these days."

He struggled not to receive it sarcastically given how vigilant Alfred had been about his mental wellbeing the past few months. He hoped this wasn't another request for him to meet with his therapist, but his hopes were quickly dashed. "I called New Discoveries, they have a few openings this week and next."

Bruce bit back a retort. "If I ever need her, I'll give her a call."

"Bruce,"

"Stop, please. I've got enough to deal with right now."

He leaned in and raised his eyebrows at the boy. "Your analyst could help with that."

"I don't need someone to tell me my parents died."

Alfred heaved a deep sigh. "I'm worried about you."

"I'm not talking about this." This was the push he needed to get out and into his suit. He jumped out of bed and strode firmly past him, ignoring Alfred's calls to get him to 'just make a phone call'. He was surprisingly swift getting into the suit and out on the town. Guilt plagued him at abandoning Alfred, but this was about the tenth time they'd had that conversation since June and it was making him ill. He wouldn't mind seeing his therapist again, he'd liked going after the murder, but he didn't think he could handle being forced to reckon with his mortality at this point in his progression. He still wasn't sure it existed, and until he tied up all the loose ends about the owls, or his symptoms got significantly worse, he was going to ride this last high as long as it let him.

The next few days with your parents went smoothly. It was almost like before your mom had gotten sick, plus Walter. Walter was ecstatic to see your parents back, and you no longer sobbed in the shower out of lonely desperation. You were able to distract effectively through various arts and crafts with your mom, and by the time you were starting to need 'me' time she would tire. You spent some time with your dad fixing the back deck and pulling some weeds out of the raised flower beds. You tended to the pumpkins your parents had planted in June, and harvested some bell peppers and blueberries.

You avoided thinking about Gotham until you were in Gotham; you hadn't even mentioned to your parents you'd been fired/quit, and figured they'd know when a U-Haul ended up at their house with you and Mar inside. The quiet neighborhood was relaxing when your family was around, but that desperate feeling of loneliness was pinned to your chest. The town felt more desolate after being in the city, the quiet felt heavier when they were gone, and knowing how fragile her health was you figured you'd spend more of your life without her than with her. The combination threatened to consume you, and you spent every lull in conversation and every night lying in bed unable to sleep from worry about finding your purpose in life. What interested you? What motivated you? What were your values? How could all of the above be translated into a livable life?

Where did you belong? Did you belong here, in the sleepy town with wide open skies? Did you belong in a city with skyscrapers and sardine-squishing sidewalks? You liked the access the city afforded you. When you'd first moved there, you'd been enthralled by the hundreds of restaurants and stores within a mile's radius. You'd maxed out a small credit card being silly and young, trying cuisines you'd never even heard of. You found cute themed shops that were abhorrently overpriced but nonetheless aesthetically pleasing to visit. But the city moved so fast, and just in time for you to settle into a routine with a favorite restaurant they'd be closing shop. It was cutthroat and intimidating, and you felt softer. Too soft. Life here was too slow as to be entirely, aggravatingly boring. There were only a handful of restaurants in town and they were all dying fast food chains strung out amongst various struggling mom and pop shops that wouldn't dare invite in a health inspector. But the nature was beautiful, and sometimes you loved the quiet breeze of it all. You had no friends besides Mar who you could never see leaving the city, a degree that was worthless in the current economy, and your extended family lived in south Florida for some unknown reason. You only saw them once a year at a family reunion that was usually in July, but had been postponed to Christmas. Ugh.

On Monday you set off for Gotham. You'd arrived on time a few days earlier to ensure you could properly pack your stuff. Day one was filled with throwing out the perishable groceries and giving yourself a moment to breathe outside of your childhood home. The food tasted bland, your favorite shows had lost their spark, and your bed was lumpy and hard. The floors were cement and made your feet ache with every slapping step. The water took ages to heat up compared to home, and you kept watching your step for Walter who never showed. The flight had been frustrating. Your head pounded. You felt like screaming into an empty field, creating a dust storm from pounding your hands into the dirt until you were bruised.

Day two after arriving back to Gotham, you sat down at your small desk in the corner to think up some questions. It was impossible to focus, but you kept yourself to task by repeating you'd be out of here permanently, genuinely, so, so soon. As you stared at the blank page, anxiety sprouted. It hadn't before occurred to you that everyone would be reading this; in fact, everyone would likely be seeking this out so much it would be translated to different languages hours after being published. For a moment you couldn't wrap your head around why this time felt so much more high-stakes, and then you remembered the fate of an entire university department rested on how marketable and quality this interview was... and remembered how obscenely rich and powerful the subject was. You twiddled your fingers just slightly above the keyboard, nervous to even begin to dive into it.

The first thing you did was peruse Scypher, especially their forum sections.

SEARCH: Bruce Wayne

SEARCH: Mr. Wayne

SEARCH: Bruce

SEARCH: billionaire

SEARCH: Gotham

SEARCH: Gotham City

SEARCH: Gotham and Bruce

SEARCH: Gotham and Bruce Wayne

You sifted through hundreds—if not thousands—of posts thirsting after him. There were pap photos, one-shots written daydreaming about him, some tweets hating on how rich he was (you liked those), but the vast majority were simply pining after him in a public arena. You got a small sense of what people wanted to see from him, but not enough to create a substantial question.

You went onto Google and searched the same things. A handful of articles from major news outlets were titled similarly: What We Know About Bruce Wayne, the Orphaned Billionaire. People generally knew about the circumstances of his parent's murder, that he lived at home with his maids and butlers (was there more than one Alfred?) and everything that he'd announced at Gotham University graduation. There was logistical data on his Wikipedia page such as his height, birth date, current age, and where he went to school growing up. Information for the past decade was slim, the only bits being where he attended college, his date of graduation, and his major. It appeared the only times since his parent's death he peeked out into the public eye were school-related.

No one knew anything about his personal life, and you worked yourself into a tizzy brainstorming ways to persuade him into talking about himself. Where was the line between too benign of a question and too invasive of one? What was relevant information to someone high-profile's first interview? You'd spent hours digging into the first interviews of now-major celebrities, but they all happened before they rocketed into fame. This was different: he was born famous, and now at age 30 he was finally speaking to someone. After a certain point in your research you feared you would need to be the blueprint for this kind of thing; even nepo babies had been interviewed as children, asked questions such as their favorite musicians, movies, books, and colors. How did you show the public he was normal, personable, even? Did you even want to make him appear normal, because he didn't seem it. He was an enigma. Someone you couldn't quite peg.

You took a deep breath and closed your eyes. What's my goal with this? No one else's, mine? What do I want to learn about him? What are my natural curiosities? This led to an immediate rush of creative energy, questions popping up left and right; you didn't care about how invasive or off-kilter they might seem. After the brainstorming, you gathered the questions into three categories: COMFORTABLE - DEEPER - DANGEROUS.

The first contained questions that were more basic, and likely wouldn't elicit an emotional response in any way to the interviewee. The second probed a bit more, considered more thorough and juicy. At this point an interviewee might be more choosy with their phrasing, or pause to think about it. The final category was fully questions of your own mind, questions you didn't think you'd ever ask but wanted to be put to paper. These were so juicy as to be intimate, so personal as to be disorienting.

When else would a woman have the leverage to ask such a dizzyingly powerful man anything she wanted?

[itrustmydiscoverweekly]

They took so much of my money this week

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5 out of 5 stars)(yes I'm very biased)

augh, I love twenty one pilots, I've been listening to them since before I was even old enough to comprehend anything they were talking about, and wow they have made another brilliant album.

I can't even begin to explain how hyped I've been for this album since the album art leaked back in February (?). I bought the vinyl and the digital remains (WHAT IS 25??) I'm so excited for the proper Paladin Strait MV. I LOVE THIS ALBUM. yes, I am biased. Glad I'm alive for this album. I don't think I've ever had lyrics so quickly memorized to any album before, I love this album. Trying to pick my favorite songs was impossible. Your honor, they're all my favorite. Anyways, I guess I picked 3.

opinion time! (as always, not opinion order, just album order)

"Vignette" THESE DRUMS oml I love them, if you get a chance, watch the mv and just watch Josh. And jesus the lyrics cut in a way so similar to self-titled, laugh this SONG. Big fan of the bird noises at the start too, wish is was a vulture to tie in with Trench but those things make nasty noises and probably wouldn't be too good for a song... Live laugh love Clifford... I think this song, although it doesn't state anything outright, is a song of hope especially with the line "Where do I grow from here". And that little instrumental before the final chorus, augh, I'm kissing Paul Meany on the mouth.

"Navigating" seems to be a lot of people's favorite and with good reason. Again, big fan of the drums here. It's such a hype song with such a painful bridge. Tyler can shush that he doesn't like this song and dear god how I want to hear Drag Path and the other scrapped songs because what else is Tyler hiding from us! Again, a lot of this album carries really, really heavy themes but with that theme of hope and Pushing through. That last chorus, man that second to last my oh my, I wanna scream with him, I love it. Super fun

"At The Risk Of Feeling Dumb" I think this song is really silly, it sounds super silly, but I can't sit here and act like the message is silly, it sucks, and it's really heavy, but it is classic tøp, happy sound, dark lyrics. this song is great, I love it, it hits deep, and the chorus is very catchy drums are less notable here but still amazing. Paul Meany struck again, I love the mixing on this song too

Honorable Mentions!!! 🥳🥳🥳

I'm gonna hold myself back, I would put every other song here but I'll pick some favorites.

"Midwest Indigo" I'm from the Midwest, I'm biased, this song is fun it's high-energy. I'm in love with the lines "I requested Counsel with the counselor/ And he canceled twice" and just the way Tyler sings them. And Josh singing "What's your ETA" and "Chill out man we're right on time" live was so cute <3.

"Routines In The Night" I feel is a sister song to "Navigating" This song is more chill, and super vulnerable aghhh. The backing vocals on the chorus at 2:10 are also so addictive, listen to just that section oml.

Both versions of "The Craving" are so sweet <3

"Lavish": the award for the most creative way to say get fucked goes to! What a wild way to end a song Tyler!

"Paladin Strait" BLURRYFACE!!!!

[chaotic-goodsir]

For day 2 of this Hatchetverse series thing, here's part of the sequel to You Could Call This Luck that I've been trying and failing to finish. Turns out plotting a thing about time travel with multiple POVs and timelines is hard.

To avoid confusion: in this particular timeline, (most of) the events of the musicals didn't happen. Time Bastard did, though, because we all know Ted can't catch a break.

(Also sorry for the long post - I don't usually post fic like this directly to Tumblr, but since this is unfinished I didn't want to put it on Ao3 just yet)

*

Pete Lauter sits at the desk in his science classroom at Hatchetfield High School, trying to finish the last of the week's marking. His eyes are dry from staring at his tablet screen, and the hum of the heating units is starting to get on his nerves. His students' lab reports all blend into one after a while - most of them are clearly written by AI. Getting teenagers to write anything as unexciting as a lab report on their own these days is almost impossible. He's not sure why the school still requires it, but then who is he, a mere teacher, to question the relevance of the national curriculum? Only the guy who sees first-hand how badly it works for his students.

Pete doesn't hate his job, most of the time, but it can get exhausting. This particular evening, he's ready to go home, heat up yesterday's leftovers - maybe make a hot chocolate, why not? - and enjoy the Friday-night peace and quiet. Theo will be out somewhere with his friends, and Steph's away on highly-classified work business. It's the perfect time to finally start that sci-fi novel that's been sitting on his bedside table for weeks. He's craving some decent, interesting writing that isn't the work of a teenager or a robot.

Sounds like a plan, he thinks, saving the report he's been working through and switching the tablet to sleep mode. He'll get the last of the marking done on Sunday night. For now it's future-Pete's problem.

He pulls on his jacket - his favourite, the one with the elbow patches that Steph bought for him last Christmas - and is about to pack the tablet away when the screen blinks into life again.

Ruth Fleming's icon (a photo from her honeymoon in Europe, Ruth and her wife smiling in front of a clear blue sky) flashes onto the screen. It's no surprise that she's still at work - drama club starts in an hour, and she has rehearsals to direct. Pete sighs and taps the icon, hoping she isn't about to ask him to help out again.

'Hey Ruth,' he says. 'I was just about to head home - do you need something?'

Ruth sounds a little out of breath, the way she always does when she's anxious.

'Pete, thank god you're still here. You need to come to the north wing staffroom, now. It's your son.'

Pete freezes. 'Theo?'

'Of course it's Theo. Do you have another son? Look, I don't wanna worry you, but he's hurt. You should come quick.'

'What do you mean, hurt?' Pete asks, panic rising. What is Theo even doing in school, on a Friday night? Something stupid and dangerous, clearly, if he's managed to hurt himself.

Pete swings his backpack onto one shoulder, carrying the tablet in his free hand as he rushes out of the room. He doesn't bother to lock the classroom door.

'How badly? Like, ambulance bad?'

'I don't know. I don't think so. But he's talking crazy.'

He's talking, Pete thinks, okay. He feels bad for thinking it, but he's not 100% convinced this isn't just Theo pulling a prank. He wouldn't put it past his son to do this kind of thing for attention. Theo Lauter is a lot of things, but a well-adjusted teenager doesn't seem to be one of them, no matter what Pete and Steph try.

Ruth knows that, of course, and the worry in her voice is making Pete worry too. She'd see through a typical Theo prank pretty easily. Which means this is probably real.

'I'm on my way.' He tells Ruth. 'I'll be five minutes.'

He hangs up and races down the corridor, cutting through the courtyard to get to the North Wing. The staffroom is upstairs, in the English and Languages corridor. When he gets there, the door is wedged open. Ruth is by the sofa, trying to comfort a teenage boy who looks a lot like his son.

But there's no sign of Theo's trademark denim jacket or band t-shirt. This kid is wearing a white shirt, suspenders, and bowtie, all stained with - Pete realises in horror - a concerning amount of blood. Instead of Theo's ponytail, this kid has his hair down, shoulder length, pinned back to keep it out of his face. And this kid is wearing glasses, with a crack across one lens.

Theo has his mother's eyesight. He's never needed glasses in his life.

Either Theo's pranks have reached a whole new level of elaborate, or this is not Pete's son at all. This kid looks more like-

Well, he looks more like him. Like Pete himself, when he was 25 years younger.

Not for the first time, Pete considers that he really needs to move his family out of Hatchetfield. Only in this messed-up town would something like that even be a possibility.

The kid notices him standing in the doorway, and his eyes go wide behind his cracked glasses. Then he says something that disproves neither the actual-time-travel theory nor the Theo-pulling-a-prank one, but spooks Pete either way.

'...Ted?'

*

Agent Stephanie Lauter is in a highly classified meeting at the PIEP HQ when the smartwatch around her wrist starts to buzz.

She glances at it, annoyed, and sees her husband's icon blinking at her. Pete knows she's busy today. He wouldn't call unless it was something urgent. He's one of the only contacts who can call her through the HQ's high tech digital barrier system.

Maybe it's just an accident. She swipes the icon away. If it's urgent, he'll call back.

She waits for a pause in General Lee's presentation, then raises a hand.

'I'm sorry, sir. My husband is trying to call me - I think it's urgent.'

'Well, you had better take it then,' Lee says, with his characteristic earnestness. No matter the situation, the old General has a way of always seeming that he knows more than anyone else about what's going on. It's a little disconcerting.

He waves towards the door. 'Good luck, Agent Lauter. I hope your family are all safe and well.'

She thanks him, apologises again, and leaves quickly. Outside the meeting room, a security guard in a bulletproof vest watches her pace anxiously up and down the corridor as she returns Pete's call.

'Steph,' he says when he picks up. There's an anxious note in his voice that she does not like the sound of. 'Sorry, I know you're at work. Are you busy right now?'

'It's fine,' she says. 'What's wrong?'

'It's Theo,' Pete says, then pauses. 'Well, no, it's not Theo. At least he says he's not, and I think he's telling the truth. I... I don't really know how to explain this, Steph. It's gonna sound crazy.'

'Breathe, babe,' Steph says, because Pete is talking at about a hundred miles an hour now. 'I work for PIEP. I can cope with crazy.'

'Okay.' Pete says, taking a breath. 'Okay.'

'Is Theo alright?'

'Yeah. At least I hope so. He's at his friends, probably. I'm at school, and there's a kid here that looks like him. Ruth thought it was Theo, and he's covered in blood - not hurt, thank god, just covered in it - so she called me. But it's not. Not Theo, I mean.'

'What? Who is it?'

'I think it's me.'

To anyone else, in any other context, those words wouldn't make sense. Pete is a 41 year old man, and their son is 16. It would be insane to mistake one for the other. Not to mention that Pete is Pete. This kid that's shown up covered in blood can't possibly also be him. One person can't possibly be in two places at once.

But in Hatchetfield, anything is possible. And then, on top of that, there's the Spankoffski Effect.

Steph has often wished she could tell Pete more about the work she does for PIEP. About the data that shows his brother Ted's disappearance, back in 2019, wasn't just an unexplained tragedy but a large-scale temporal incident affecting multiple universes. Pete doesn't even know that there are multiple universes. It would probably break his little nerd heart if he knew she wasn't telling him.

Nor does Pete know about how, the day she told the now-retired General MacNamara that she and Pete were engaged, his congratulations came with a warning:

'By all means, marry a Spankoffski if you wish, Miss Lauter. But a word of advice. I'd strongly suggest you don't take that name, and don't give it to your children.'

When she asked him why, he'd told her that was classified. It wasn't until she graduated from training that she first heard about the Spankoffski Effect, and put two and two together.

In every timeline known to PIEP researchers, something with the power to sever a person from the flow of time itself has an interest in - no, more like an obsession with - Pete's brother, and possibly his entire family.

She's not sure she could tell her husband that part even if she had clearance.

And now Pete's younger self has appeared at the school where he teaches. Steph does not like the sound of that at all.

'You're sure it's not Theo pulling a prank? I wouldn't put it past him.'

'If it is, he deserves an oscar. And this kid has my phone, Steph. From years ago. With my medical alert details, everything. I don't think Theo would go that far.'

Probably not, no, but she wants to be absolutely sure. 'Have you called Theo? Checked where he is?'

'Shit,' Pete says, then catches himself for swearing in front of a student. 'I mean, uh, shoot, no. I should have done that.'

She tries adding Theo to the call they're already on. The line rings out, so she tries again. No answer.

'Steph, if you're calling him, I can't hear it ringing. I don't think this kid has Theo's watch.'

A message appears on Steph's watch screen:

< Fuck off, mom, I'm busy :) >

'Well,' She says, wondering briefly about nature and nurture and whether it's some failure of parenting that turned her son into such a little shit, 'our son just messaged me. Unless he can do that with only his mind, I don't think he's with you.'

'Okay,' Pete says. Then, 'shit.' He doesn't catch himself this time.

Shit is right, Steph thinks. 'Wait there. Keep the kid calm. Stay calm yourself, okay? I'll come to you.'

She doesn't tell him she's planning to bring PIEP agents with her, but he's probably figured that out already.

'Aren't you in DC?'

'Yeah, so you'll have to hold out for a few hours. Anything weird happens - anything else weird - you call me straight away, okay?'

'Okay. Yeah. Love you.'

'Love you too.'

Steph hangs up. She pinches the bridge of her nose with one hand and groans, wondering why she never had the sense to move her family out of Hatchetfield.

Would that have helped, though? If something from the Black and White is after Pete, couldn't it find him anywhere, if it wanted to?

The security guard is staring at her.

'Everything okay, ma'am?'

'Yeah,' she says. 'I'm fine. Just - don't ever marry a Spankoffski, no matter how cute he is.'

The guard blinks, clearly baffled.

'Um... right.'

[captmickey]

Gonna take a page from @telthor book and post good things that happened because maybe writing the good things will trick Germey into shutting the hell up about all thr bad things.

Yesterday, I woke up to the weather being in the 50s/60s and finally got to wear a cute sweater I've been dying to wear, I felt very cute with the looks I pulled off that day.

I got my nails done after not having it fixed since October, got to do it in a massage chair and I have never heard so much popping in my shoulder blades but it felt very good.

I bought some sushi to munch on after craving it for weeks and my nail technician and I wouldn't stop talking about sushi and how to make it the entire time. It was practically inhaled.

I drew for several hours and finished this week's 3adv page in spite of this week's tech fiasco curse I've been dealing with and got to work on next week's and the week's after pages with one of them getting the rough started and the other a completed thumbnail and panel layout. I got really excited because the jokes I personally laughed at while writing is coming up.

I watched with my family my favorite rom-com The Holiday because my sister never saw it, my mom wanted something mindless and light hearted, and my dad found himself pulling a chair and swept up with the plot. It was a hit and I was grinning, especially with Iris's story because oofa I can relate. Afterwards I binge watched Ranma 1/2 with my sister and binged on my own Dandadan (I really love both of these shows and am fussy that I have to wait every week now)

And today, I woke to the weather being in the 60s again, Winston is a cuddle bug, and I plan on working a bit more on 3adv because I feel a spark I hadn't felt in so long.

[frogofalltime]

12.02.2024

i didn't get to sleep until super late due to extremely painful cramps, so i didn't set myself a morning alarm, and i woke up around 12:30pm

i stayed in bed for another hour because of the pain but i finally got up, took a shower, and got dressed

then i ate some soup and a toasted bagel really quickly before therapy. i was slightly late for therapy because my laptop shut down unexpectedly (it doesn't recognise the battery so if you accidentally knock out the charger it turns off lol)

my therapy session was good !! i love my therapist. they get me very well.

after that my dad facetimed me and i panicked (ever since my mother warned me about my aunt thinking i'm a lesbian — which i'm literally not, i'm a trans guy in a queerplatonic relationship with another trans guy, but my family is very transphobic and homophobic and they don't care about semantics — i've been constantly on edge worrying that my dad is going to find out) but he just wanted me to show him what was wrong with my laptop. alhamdulillah

my parents are coming to visit me on wednesday and i am very anxious about that especially because they make me doubt things and worry that i am going to hell, so my therapist recommended me to spend time in the morning before they arrive doing something / with someone that affirms my identity to remind me that being myself isn't something to be ashamed of. so i messaged @etherealspacejelly asking if they wanted to feed our pigeons, and robin was like YES OF COURSE, and also reminded me that day would be valentine's day, which i had completely forgotten existed lmao. since we are an aroace couple (and we are both staunchly against capitalism) we decided to just spend time together in nature rather than doing anything commercialised !!

then i went for a walk to watch the sunset from my favourite place, and joined in with an emergency protest calling to stop the attack on rafah (and gaza in general). after that i got some things i needed from a shop on my way home, then sat in my room for a while to decompress.

my childhood friend was going to call me in the evening, but they had a really long day at work and needed to go to bed, and i was also pretty tired and extremely dysphoric from being on my period, so we decided another day would be better.

then robin messaged me to tell me about a funny youtube video he just watched and i needed cheering up so i decided to watch it while eating dinner. i had no energy at all to cook, so i just made myself some sandwiches which i heated up in the microwave and i had them with some bombay mix and nuts. then i really craved chocolate so i ate the rest of a big hazelnut chocolate bar that i had left over from yesterday with some fruit to balance out the meal.

after eating i washed my dishes and went back to my room. i needed to wrap up my brother's 21st birthday gifts; his birthday was actually the day before mine but the book i bought for him is really big and heavy so i decided to give it to my parents to bring to him when they come to visit rather than spending a lot of money to post it in the mail. so i did that and made him a pokémon-themed birthday card using random scraps of paper and stickers that i had in my room, and it turned out pretty cool if i say so myself !

i kept listening to youtube while doing this which was very fun. i also got advice from @wiggles-mcgee on how to sign the birthday card because i haven't properly come out to my brother yet and he would probably open it in front of our parents so i didn't want to surprise him with my "nickname" turning out to be my chosen name, but i didn't want to use my birth name either, but lucy said to just sign it "your favourite sibling" which is funny because i'm his only sibling. so that was a very genius idea !

then i randomly had a burst of productive energy so i tidied up the huge mess in my room, i had done a lot of art / scrapbooking / card making in the past week so there was Debris™️ from that everywhere and it took quite a while to sort it all out.

finally i brushed my teeth, put my pyjamas on, and went to bed. unfortunately i couldn't sleep at all until around 2am or even after that idk, i had a headache and i kept needing to get up and use the bathroom which was very annoying because i had to wake up at 7am for class :')

but i must've fallen asleep eventually because i woke up on time to my alarm !! and i have to go get ready so see yall later :)

[nsk96]

Rant

Feeling overwhelmed and like I really hate pharmacy right now. Why would I like it anyway? It's not like I chose it for me. My mom chose it for me. She told me that herself.

I have so much things to get done by February 9th for onboarding for rotation that starts around March 25th, but my school has so much work for us to do. So many quizzes and assignments, and exams, and we got this Pharmacon group project in which we got to present our powerpoint last week and this coming week have to present our poster. Then there's the Pharmacon event in February where we present our final project. It's all so extra.

On top of that, for onboarding, I still have yet to get another PPD and there's this orientation course thing I have to complete for my site by the 9th as well. I also still have yet to complete FAFSA.

And since I can't stay focused long enough in class to understand lectures, I have to rewatch these 2-3 hour lectures at home which takes much longer than the actual length because I have to rewind multiple times to make sure I get all the notes I need, or just to understand what some of the professors are saying. What I thought was an accent issue was actually just an enunciation issue. Because they have so much material to cover in such a short span of time, they have to talk fast and some of them just end up mumbling or run words into each other. Not great when I have issues with processing what people say. They'll say one thing, and I'd hear another or hear absolute gibberish. So bad combination overall.

Then just running out of time to study for exams because I can't focus because of my own issues as well as my parents making noise, and feeling burnt out since P1 year without much of a break because nearly every break I've had to take a remedial exam for a class that I've failed. And after working a ton of group projects with a group that was run by a tyrant for a whole school year, honestly has made me feel so worn out, I need rest. Glad she left over the summer though but her tyranny left me feeling extra burnt out this year like I just can't get myself to do anything.

I'm feeling like this career path just isn't for me especially considering that a large portion of it is listening and my attention span ain't long enough for that, nor is my brain able to process what I hear accurate or quick enough.

Then having to finish these co-curriculars before rotation starts. Thankfully I got the majority done last semester and only have two left. I managed to get the community service one done last weekend. While it was great feeding the homeless, the whole event, there was so much people, it left me feeling so drained which made my fatigue feel so much worse. I don't just need leisure time at this point. I need isolation. I crave isolation at least for 24 hours. Like a lone walk through the woods or just alone in the house with no one else there. I've been thinking about it. Maybe it's just that I don't feel safe in my house considering who I live with. Neither parent makes me feel safe honestly.

And if I wasn't overwhelmed enough as it is, the pinning ceremony is coming up. I don't even know what it is but I'm guessing it's like a mid-program graduation. My mom bought some dresses for me to wear to it though I don't even know what the dress code for the ceremony is yet. She keeps bugging me to choose which one I want to wear which is kinda triggering for me because of having a bad history with trying clothes on and constantly being shamed for not fitting into clothes that are not my size. Not to mention, I don't have time to be selecting clothes, when I have so much to get done.

But anyway, it's annoying af that she keeps buying me clothes despite me constantly telling her that I don't have any storage space for these clothes (because as of right now, a good portion of my clothes are in storage containers), and that I'd rather her buy me clothes while I'm with her so that I can have a say in what she buys for me, so to avoid spending money unnecessarily and I would only get things that I would wear. While, yes, much of these clothes are being bought from thrift stores, costs add up no matter how low the prices. Not to mention the storage situation in my room is dire enough for me to try to get rid of clothes I don't wear often enough. And I have to get rid of them in secret sometimes because she guilts me into keeping stuff. ("in secret" meaning that when we put stuff in bags to donate, I hide them under other things)

Then all of this while trying to come up with an escape plan and organizing all my things so I can keep track of what to take and what to leave.

I'm exhausted. I feel like I'm falling apart and everything about it all just feels so wrong. The other career paths I wanted felt right. This one felt wrong from the very beginning but yet I let her choose it for me. Don't get me started into how much she manipulated me into choosing this career field. It started all the way in middle school back when I had to choose what high school to go to. If she had let me go into the military like I wanted to, I could have gotten the both of us out of this mess way back then instead of having to put up with my dad and living this way right now while she waits for me to finish pharmacy school as if it will be this magical cure to our situation.

No, mom, money is the cure to our situation. I would have gotten financial help and even health insurance. I would have even gotten some financial help for college and wouldn't be as deep in student debt as I am today. We could have already been moved out. I could have been going through pharmacy school or whatever profession I chose without the unnecessary stress of our current living conditions. Or maybe I would have been living alone. Maybe she knew that all along and just doesn't want me out of her sight because she's afraid to let go...because like some other parents out there, her children were her retirement plan.

Just yesterday, we were talking about rich people and she was like "be careful, you'll become a rich person one day." I said I won't because I'll never be a billionaire. Also because pharmacists don't make much and at this rate the way things are going with the economy, I'll be lucky to even make it into middle class. Then she was like, "you'll build your business (pharmacy-related) and invest smart..." blah blah. Stop choosing for me.

I wish I had time to schedule an appointment with a therapist or psychiatrist this semester but it seems it's not going to happen considering everything I have to get done, on top of dealing with focus issues and constant stressors and feeling constantly fatigued.

I hate pharmacy school so much. I have 7 rotations coming up. Back to back. And to think that I want to do residency after this shit...I don't know if I can put up with this torture anymore.

Maybe I'll just keep going until I graduate and forget residency. Then retreat into a forest somewhere on the planet. That sounds good right now. With my knowledge of pharmacy, herbs, and crafting things, maybe I can become a forest witch.

And occasionally come into town to the local library computer to check up on my lovely tumblr mutuals 💙 Or maybe find a way to set up an internet connection out there idk. Or maybe live on the outskirts of town will do, at the edge of some kind of forest. Far enough from people to get privacy, but close enough to civilization in case I need anything. Yeah...

[letters-between-friends]

on random unexpected ways

I just put that title but I am really not sure of what I really want to say to you. I always think I need a thesis statement for these letters but I always reminded myself that this project of ours is for simply writing.

Anyway, yes it is true that I am impatiently waiting for your letter. It become one of the highlights of my week so please write to me every week. Hahaha! I know that I can write to you anytime but I want to have letters too! If I'm going to write with no reply, then I should just have blogged on my own. HMP. Hahaha

But seriously, your letters give me ideas on what to write about. It sparks a topic that I will not think about on a normal day. It kind of makes me think outside my main thoughts and excited about what I might uncover while writing these letters.

And for today, I want to tell you about my day. To give a background, for the past few weeks, my life became somehow routinary. It is more of work, thinking of what time I should sleep since I haven't fully adapted to being awake all night, sleeping, and being in my head most of the time.

This afternoon, I have a lot of conflicted feelings. I know what I want to do in my life but for some reason, I think I'm scared to do it when I don't think my dream is not that scary. I am scared that I might fail even if I tried my best, of discovering it is not my dream after all and I am scared because it's a dream of doing this thing alone. I am so afraid of being alone, no let me correct that, I am scared of being lonely while achieving my dreams.

As you know, back in college, I have various big groups of friends but when I went out of college, those groups were depleted by almost 3/4. I am not complaining about losing them. I like that I only have good and sensible relationships, I like that I can be alone with myself. But there are times I crave the company of big groups. Have those moments that you won't remember after a while but the feeling it gave you stays. Or I don't know maybe I'm just looking for a distraction for my thoughts.

Going back to this day (or yesterday), I was on the verge of another breakdown. I haven't seen the sun for a week, haven't seen any other people, I hardly see my brother and father. It is just me in my bedroom, in my own world. I feel like I can't do anything even if I wanted to because I don't have any cash to splurge.

But I decided to still go out. I have this sudden surge of energy to say that I will go for a walk in Freedom Park (spoiler, I didn't go to Freedom Park). I wore leggings and a big T-shirt and pulled out this belt bag I bought last June which was specifically for when I go on walks in UP which I just used for the first time today.

When I was about to ride the tricycle, I was a little bit shocked, that I asked the driver to drop me off at the church in Bay. I found myself inside the church talking to God casually (as always). I told him my main concern and told Him do not to test me anymore regarding that thing. Maybe in about 6 months or a year but not now. Haha! I told Him I am so bothered that I even went to "His house". Dinayo ko pa Siya, kaya mahabag Siya sa akin. Hahaha

(btw, there was no one selling candles so I wasn't able to light one for you)

After that, I thought about what should I do. I still don't want to go back to my room. UPLB is too far away (3 rides, about 45 mins). So I was thinking of going to Sta. Cruz to try this restaurant that I've been wanting to go to back in college but there weren't any jeeps. And then I remembered, there was a new restaurant on the highway that is about 1.6km away from where I was during that time.

Of course, me being me, I decided to walk that 1.6 km. I convinced myself that it is my practice when I finally do a spiritual pilgrimage, that I need it because I haven't had any physical activity for a while now and hadn't seen the sun for a week.

As I was walking, I was smiling, thinking how random I am, and didn't think it would be more random in the next scene.

As I was walking, I saw this:

I didn't know there was an event happening in the road that's why there were no jeeps to Sta. Cruz. I was amused by this random thing that I got to experience on my own just because I decided to go out. It was so funny for me.

It made me feel comforted and a little bit nostalgic. It made me feel okay that doing things on my own is going to be great. It doesn't mean that things like this will always happen but rather knowing myself enough that I can make myself happy by doing random choices or finding random things to amuse me. I really like that about me.

Still, it would be nice to share those random moments with someone. But in the meantime, I am going to enjoy my alone time. I can't wait for other priceless, random moments to happen to me.

Learning to love myself wholeheartedly is really a fluctuating thing, there are days that I hate myself so much, and there are days I love myself. There are days I count the things I don't have and get frustrated about it. But during those trying days, I always remind myself, that hey no matter what happens, I can pull myself through it because that's just who I am. I just wish I don't have to do it a lot of times.

I don't know how to end this. Hahaha, so I'm ending it here.

To showing up for ourselves even if it can be tiring and difficult,

Ana

[iwannabangchan]

안녕! I really like your blog, and a personal fav is “Sweet” (Hyunjin bias here) !! Anyways I saw your requests are open and I’d like to request sneaky late night phone s*x with him pleaseee !! xx

His and Hers

Pairing: Hyunjin x Fem reader

Word count: 0.9k

Content Warnings: Smut (minors dni); Mutual masturbation (F+M); Established relationship; Phone sex (thats pretty much it lol)

A/N: 안녕! 질문 보내주셔서 정말 감사합니당~ ^-^ How u guys doin’? Hope you’re well! This is just a quick piece I wrote at 3am before going to college that same morning, so if it’s sorta crappy I’m very sorry lol. Also, I hope you like the little audio, I thought it sounded like him so I just threw it in to add some sparkle :D (you gotta follow to hear it!)

Anyways, pls feel free to send in a request, or just a message (I like chatting to u guys :P) Lots of love,

~ ♥ Li ♥

*Ring Ring* 

“Hello?” you croaked, squinting your eyes from the bright light of your phone.

“Did I wake you? I'm sorry, baby” 

“No worries,” you yawned, finally zoning into reality. “What's up?”

“ I just miss you...” 

 “I miss you too, so much” 

“Tell me, baby, what are you wearing right now?”  

You chuckled at his forwardness, “ Your shirt, why?” you answered, running your hand down the soft fabric of the oversized shirt he left in your apartment. 

“I'm intrigued. What else?” 

“Laced panties”, you replied, trailing your finger lower, “The ones you bought me. Your favorite.” 

He bit his lip and palmed his semi-hard cock. “God, you're such a tease-” 

“What! How?”, you giggled, “I did nothing.” 

“Maybe I'll fuck you in them while the members are home, what do you think about that?” 

“Are you for real?”, you asked, trying to stifle your laughter to not be heard by your roommates.

“Seriously, I miss your taste,” he said slowly stroking his bulge. “I wish I could be with you right now. Kiss you, touch you… bury my face between your legs.” He leaned back and slipped his hand through the waistband as raunchy sex flashbacks raced in his mind. Particularly, the moment he met your teary-eyed gaze, while he worked magic on your heat with his tongue; your fucked out expression as your eyes struggled to gain their focus was permanently engraved in his mind.

You rid yourself of his shirt, your nipples hardened at the sudden contact with the cold air. You closed your eyes and massaged your breasts imagining that it was him touching you so gently. “And don't even get me started on your dick,” you began, “remember when I sucked you so good you came 3 times in a row?”

“I really need that again.” he shuddered,  stroking his dick faster as his breaths got heavier. “I need to kiss you so bad. I've been thinking about it all week. Are you touching yourself?”

"Mhmm, wanna hear?” you lowered the phone in between your legs and dipped a finger into your soaked cunt to let him hear the squelches as you fingered yourself. 

“Fuck, you’re that wet for me?” he groaned lowly, and just like that Hyunjin slid his sweatpants completely off, cock springing free.  

Your eyes rolled back at the thought of him stretching you out again and pounding into you relentlessly.

“Please cum with me!” your legs began to shake as your moans got raspier and you felt your high sneakily approaching. You both increased the pace, both desperate to reach the peak of your self-pleasure.  “Ah! Hyunjin, I'm so close,”

“Fuck. Me too, Y/N” Hyunjin’s groans increased on the other end of the phone from hearing your breaths and the sweet squelches of your sopping pussy, pushing him to pump his dick faster in his fist, towards the release he craved and deserved. 

He called out your name as he ejaculated, white cum squirting onto his clenched thighs and dripping down the back of his hand. His ragged heaving breaths eventually stilled, uniting you both to a brief silence. 

“Hyunjin, you made me make a mess in my underwear.” you giggled “ Maybe I'll give you these ones to add to your collection. You'd like that wouldn't you?” 

“Who said I have a collection??” 

 “You really thought I didn't notice?” 

You both let out weak laughter, not having the energy to even tease each other.

“Mmh, baby I want you right now.” he sighed, “come over, and let me sneak you in by the back door.” 

“I'm on my way.”  

♥ Thank you for reading  ♥  

Taglist

@newobssessioneverymonth  @planetdemon @notrafespouge @whatudowhennooneseesyou

If you would like to be tagged or removed, please comment or send me a request! I also accept tags for specific memebers :)

[captainaikus]

ℍ𝕆𝕎 𝕃𝕆ℕ𝔾 (𝟛/𝟜)

♱ Parings : Pro hero! Bakugou Katsuki x fem! reader (They are 24)

♱ Tags : Reader cries alot and is lonely, Katsuki is an asshole in this part (sorry guys, I've been craving angst and fluff), mentions of mental wellbeing, mentions of toxic relationship, yelling, screaming, humiliation and anger, strong/ vulgar language.

All written in bold italics is a flashback.

MDNI. Minors stay the fuck out.

♱ Synopsis : Realizing how much she had been neglecting herself for the man she loves and is married to, (Y/N) leaves him with the promise to come back once she rediscovers herself. How long would it take for him to break and her to heal? Would it be enough to salvage their marriage?

♱ Word count : 8.9k words

♱ Warnings : 18+ content. Cunnilingus, unsafe sex, emotional sex, dacryphilia (kinda) , overstimming, mentions of body hair, cream pie, car bonnet sex.

♱ Mentions of accidents, near death experience and blood

♱ Status : Unedited. If I find mistakes while re- reading it, I'll edit it.

♱ Do not copy, repost, edit or translate any of my works.

♱ Tag list : @donthurtmeimbaby, @ashisbored, @v-mythos-v, @idimmadontgiveashit, @samkysnks, @aceleb4life, @the2ndl, @peacchfuz, @myekim, @bitchyzombienacho, @iloveinej, @seriusamatbois, @s0y-mi1k-0

Apologies if I tagged the wrong account. The ones that are unliked wouldn't work 0T^T0 (I tried)

Links for other parts : 1/4 , 2/4

Time and tide wait for none. 

It was a common phrase used in Literature, but none knew the true meaning of it until they themselves had had the taste of the experience. Four weeks could change a lot in a person; the question left to wander about was, was it for good or for worse? Sadly, only time could tell, yet it waited for no one. 

On the first day of being away from home, you felt light, but guilty of the fact that you had chosen to run away from your problems rather than stand your ground and face them. Raising your voice during arguments against Katsuki was not uncommon, but to lose your temper? It only happened during a blue moon. 

The first week began with a break from everything; which included social media, going to the school to teach and instead investing more time into yourself coming to terms with the fact that this was self care and not selfishness. The thought of removing the rings from your finger  had crossed your mind, but your heart wouldn’t allow it, clenching at the thought of taking off the belongings Katsuki had given you on the day you had vowed to live a life together.

With the cleaning of the attic on the second day of the first week, you found your father and mother’s tape recorder, making a mental note to buy empty tapes so that you could record some things you wished to say to Katsuki with the sliver of hope that maybe he would change and have the patience to listen this time. Every day you would look forward to doing something new with one of them being to cut your hair. Staring at yourself in the mirror as you sat in the chair that faced the mirror, you knew you were ready to abandon a part of yourself on the impulse of cutting your hair. When a woman cuts her hair, it means she was willing to change from who she was. Never would you have thought such a small act would be of such a large significance as you walked out of the saloon after thanking your stylist for she had turned you into a new person. 

Hair shorter now, you decided to go shopping for clothes for that was another way a woman could change. With katsuki’s black card secured into your purse, you knew you could shop to your heart’s content, maybe more; but it was merely a choice. Walking in with bags filled with clothes and setting them on the floor, you were satisfied with what you had purchased. Although it was cheap and not the expensive outfits Katsuki picked out or bought for you, you were happy that you were finally beginning to function independently rather than depend on him. Presentation mattered as it created the first impression about you in a person’s mind, one of the reasons why Katsuki would pick out clothes for you, his parents working in the fashion industry merely added as a bonus. Picking out clothes from the rack and among clothing hangers, you realized how taxing the hero world could really be. It not only demanded the blood, sweat and soul of your husband, but it also demanded that of you too. Just how many spouses were dragged into this world where they could possibly see the last of their lover each time they walked out of the door? 

Not only was the harsh truth of the hero weighing on your shoulders but so was the guilty choice of leaving Katsuki to fend for himself when he could be injured. You knew he hated Hospitals; neither could you stomach the number of times you prayed by his bedside, hoping he wasn’t at heaven’s door. Even at your parent’s home, there would be times when you would turn away from the screen of the TV either muting or opting to switch channels when the news anchor would begin to talk about the latest hero news or fights that were caught by reporters or cameras. Was it really a poor role on your part as a wife to hold a grudge against her husband who had dedicated more value to the lives of citizens, his stature in society and the hours of work he had dedicated his body to only to return home exhausted and find the few moments he had with you as a burden? This was a life you had signed up for. You had decided to carve that rule into stone the day you had decided to marry him. What had given you the right to turn away when you knew that there would be hard times such as these. Being a hero and a husband was not an easy feat, but your heart was greedy and you wanted much more.

What you forgot was the fact that alongside being the wife of a hero you were also a teacher and maybe… a mother one day. Would the life of your child, if you were to have one with Katsuki, not be as important? Considering these factors in hand, you were relieved to live in a space far away from him, hoping that you would make the right decision when the time came. During those four weeks, you also attended a counselor, something you made a mental note of to do in the future even if you returned home. Sessions made you tired and sleepy as revisiting certain memories or instances or the pressure hero society had put on you were too much at times, causing you to fall asleep for a couple of hours when you reached back home; you looked forward to staying awake at night and recording tapes that you hoped Katsuki would hear before you went to bed once more and rise to another morning without him beside you. As days went by, you learnt to start taking joy in small things once more, often treating yourself to an ice cream or talking to an occasional stranger in a park. 

“(Y/N) sensei !!” you heard a shriek behind you. Turning back, you saw a girl who was no older than twelve, dragging the hand of her younger brother with her mother following them in a haste. 

“Ahh Yumiko!” you said with a chuckle as the girl smiled at you. “This is my younger brother Hikari! I haven’t been seeing you around school lately… and everyone in class was asking about you! Thinking ‘Where did sensei run off to?’ We were all worried if you had left without telling us, so we were all on a look for you! But now that you are here, I am so relieved!” the younger girl blabbered as her brother stared at you. “Yumiko! Let us not bother Bakugou san. It’s rude to call out strangers behind their backs!” Yumiko’s mother scolded while the child pouted. “Bakugou… san?” Hikari repeated, eyes squinting. “Hikari! She knows Dynamight!” Yumiko said, shaking Hikari’s hand. “Dynamight!” Hikari squealed as he looked up to you, eyes filled with excitement and wonder. “Now now, Hikari,” Yumiko’s mother said, bending down to take his free hand into one of her own, “We mustn’t bother Bakugou san… I’m sure she has many other things to do and we must be on our way.” Yumiko’s mother said with a pleading smile as she ushered the smaller framed child in the opposite direction. “Bye (Y/N) sensei! We really hope to see you in our classes soon!” the girl said, waving goodbye. Waving gently towards them with a smile on your face, you began to continue your way home as the sun had begun to set. 

Living with your parents reignited childhood memories where everyone would sit around the table to eat; it was also the first time you hadn’t eaten alone as nights were lonely with nothing or no one to talk to but the wind and emptiness of the house you lived in. Sure, it was the dream house every woman in Japan wanted along with a handsome and successful husband who earned a lot of money that was more than enough for three or maybe four people to live a life filled with luxury; but at the end of the day, it was just an empty building you lived in along with a marriage that was on the verge of falling apart. 

Recording voice tapes whilst laying in bed and staring at the ceiling had become one of your favorite pastimes, speaking about anything and everything from the way your days had begun to the times you had therapy to just speaking about things you wished to have in the future; it had started to become a daily routine with each night ending on the note of pushing the stop or the pause button. With one tape finishing, you would put it away in an empty shoebox, only to bring out another one and put it back in. Soon, you had nearly filled the empty shoebox with many tapes; some of them were long while the others were short, each playing a different memory and words you wished to convey to Katsuki. 

Days went by and you began to feel you were in a much better space, opting to go home at the end of the fourth week. 

“Bakugou (Y/N) san, 

We cordially invite you as host with Bakugou Katsuki san for the fifty eighth hero gala. Details for the evening have been listed below. We humbly request to please be present for the evening. 

Regards, 

Dynamight Agency.” 

Pushy yet subtle. Your lips dipped in a frown at the end of the email. The gala was scheduled for the next day and you had nothing to wear. ‘Why didn’t Katsuki say anything about this?’ 

Admitting it was a mistake on your part for cutting off contact with everyone, your heart clenched in thought at the status you now held in Katsuki’s eyes. Had he labeled you as a runaway not worth working on? Holding your phone close to your chest, you felt it vibrate. Pulling back at the lit screen, you were surprised the name of none other than your husband had flashed across the screen. Jumping a bit back in surprise you stared at the contact as your phone continued to ring. 

‘Should I decline it or watch it ring?’ The phone continued to vibrate within the palm of your hand. ‘Maybe he would give up after the first call.’ you thought in agony. But it continued to ring. 

Deciding to answer the call instead of declining it or not answering it, you spoke into the receiver. 

“Hello?”. Upon the utterance of the salutation you were met with the sound of a shaky breath. 

“Tenshi?” Katsuki whispered in a scratchy voice. You felt your breath hitch; hearing Katsuki’s voice. “Hi,” you said gently. You heard a noise come close to a grunt from him along with shuffling in the background. 

“How… how have you been?” you said, scratching the back of your neck in awkwardness. 

‘Were you alone without me?’ 

“There have been better days… How have you been?” he asked, voice raspy, swallowing the spit that was beginning to build at the back of his throat. 

“Been doing okay… Went shopping, doing lots of new stuff… I feel like I’ve set my pace now…” you said, relaxing into the sofa near your window as you looked out into the quiet city. 

“That’s good to hear,” Katsuki said, clearing his throat. 

Letting a few moments pass by in silence with nothing but counts of breath, Katsuki spoke again. 

“Tenshi?” 

“Hm?” you responded immediately, with a raise of your eyebrow at the sudden nickname that was only used during rare times. “Is it okay if I video call you?” Katsuki said, biting his lip from nervousness. Your lips broke out into a small smile as this sparked a hope that your husband was willing to try. “Sure.” you responded. 

With such a simple answer, you were surprised to see your phone vibrate with a call from Katsuki, this time with your face in the picture. Tapping over the answer button of the call, you set your phone on the window pane, waiting to see Katsuki’s face. Upon illumination you were met with the unusual sight of a blonde haired man with a trimmed but noticeable beard. Eyebrows furrowing to get a more clear view due to the camera moving around the other end, your eyes widened at the sight of Katsuki who was squinting from the sheer amount of light that came from his illuminated screen. 

“(Y/N)?” he said, eyes narrowed as he blinked brearily into the camera. 

“Who are you and what have you done with Katsuki?” you asked, biting your lips to prevent your laughter. 

“Fuck off…” he said in a small voice with betraying smile at your remark. 

“You sure puberty didn’t hit you again or you’re keeping the beard and it’s not a phase?” you said with a laugh. 

“Haha, very funny. Someone’s on a fucking roll with the way I look now even though the same damn person suggested it…” he said with a roll of his eyes, lips forming into a playful angry pout. 

“Well… it does look good on you, and I like it.” you said, ruffling your hair out of the state of nervousness. Crimson eyes scanning your face, his lips parted to talk. 

“Did you cut your hair?” 

Grabbing a lock of your hair, you looked at yourself in the camera with a meek smile. “Yeah… I had it cut three weeks back… might’ve grown a little…” you said with a small laugh. Letting a few moments of silence pass as Katsuki continued to look at your hair he spoke once more. “Can I take a look at the back..?” 

Taking your phone to the side of your head, you angled it towards the shortened length at the back. You could hear a sound come out of him that was similar to a sigh before you brought the phone back to the front of your face. 

“It… it suits you. You look as pretty as you did before… maybe more happy…” Katsuki said with a sad smile. 

“Katsuki… being happy without you was not the reason why I left…” you said in a gentle voice, eyeing the man on the other side of the camera. 

“But you do look better without me…” Katsuki said as his eyes glazed with a layer of salty tears. 

“I won’t deny that I was sad and lonely without you… but I’m here to take the blame as well. Maybe if I had done something about it instead of being too dependent on you, then maybe I wouldn’t have had to step out of the house. Maybe if I was more grounded and put my foot down instead of being pushed over with things like your hero work…maybe something would have changed. Even though we are bound by marriage, you and I are two different people Katsuki… and sometimes during cases like this, it is a time of need for one to adjust. Only difference is… none of it worked… until the both of us snapped. The only healthy thing we could use at the time was for one of us to step back… and that’s what I did.” you explained. Silence washed over the both of you as Katsuki stared at you. He was the first to break the silence.

“I thought you were gonna leave me.” 

Eyes widening at the declaration, you used both your hands to hold the phone as if you were talking to him in person instead rather than on video. Trying to find the right words, your lips pursed into a thin line. 

“Why would I want to leave you…” you cooed to him. Biting his lip with one hand on his phone while the other ran through the short beard on his face, Katsuki breathed in a shaky breath before answering you. 

“My mom dropped by the house the day after you left. Knocked some fucking sense into my head…I just… I didn’t realize just how much of a burden I had left on your shoulders. I was caught up in my own problems and yours seemed so small compared to that, that it didn’t seem to matter... Belittling someone was something I thought I had left back in UA... when I was still learning how to be a good hero… seems like some of us don’t change for the better huh?” Katsuki said as teardrops began to roll down his cheeks. Staring into your screen you felt your nose burn from the onslaught of tears that were bound to break loose as you watched Katsuki’s body shake from the heavy breaths and sobs that had begun to escape him. 

“Katsuki… look at me.” you said with a firm yet tender tone; catching the blonde’s attention as his bloodshot eyes stared into your’s. “Let’s save this conversation for home, okay?” 

His eyes widened at your words. Wiping his runny nose with his forearm, he looked at you. 

“You’re coming home?” he asked, bashfully.

“Well… therapy is about a two hours' worth of drive, but my life is not here Katsuki. This is a home I have moved on from. My life is with you now, and besides that you will need me for tomorrow evening…” you said with a small smile on your lips. 

Eyebrows furrowing into the camera, katsuki gave you a grave expression. 

“I don’t want you to come here because of some stupid gala (Y/N). I can host it alone if I have to-” 

“Not without me you can’t. I left home for my sake and you had to pay the consequences of it with the name of your agency being mentioned in tabloids. I don’t want your reputation taking a hit for the sake of me, Katsuki. When I decided to marry you, I also knew what it would demand of me. And at best, it is the right thing to maintain a balance. You can’t leave everything for the sake of me and neither can I for you. If it takes one gala to sort things out, I am willing to attend it.” you interrupted. 

“Why are you selfless for me… I don’t even deserve it.” Katsuki said, turning his head to the side from shame. 

“You take care of more than a million people in Japan, Katsuki. That itself is a self sacrifice; yet there is no one to do the same for you. So, lean on me. I might not have a quirk and I might be just a school teacher… but I do have what it takes to keep up with you.” you said with an ear to ear smile. 

Giving a small nod after being convinced of your decision, Katsuki relaxed into the couch behind him.”Do you want me to come pick you up? I can do that.” he said, stroking the screen of his phone with his thumb, desperately wishing you were near. 

“There won’t be a need for that. I plan on driving in the morning and you have work tomorrow. Besides, I don’t have a dress and it would be like killing two birds with a stone if I decided to pick one up along the way. What you need is sleep… you have eye bags and dark circles under your eyes; and I feel sad because you didn’t take care of yourself while I was away.” you said sadly, thumb swiping under the image of his eyes in thought of what he had been through once you left. 

“It was time where you put yourself before me, (Y/N).” 

‘You’ve changed.’ Katsuki thought with a small smile. People had always changed for the worse, but he thanked his luck this was not the case. The days and nights he spent wondering if you would ever leave him now came to a standpoint of it being written in stone that you weren’t leaving him; yet the question still stood if you were there to stay. Deciding to leave that pestering thought for the night, Katsuki rolled onto his side, resting the phone on the armrest of the couch. 

“Don’t sleep on the couch, it’s bad for your back.” you said, getting up to sleep in your own bed. 

“Whatever… doesn’t feel the same as sleeping in that bed. Need the couch till you get back.” Katsuki slurred as he laid down folding his arms. You felt your lips curve into a gentle smile as this one of the rare cases where Katsuki had shown you a shade of his vulnerability. 

“Alright… get some sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” you said, pulling the covers up your feet. 

“Could you stay? At least until I fall asleep?” Katsuki pleaded in a small voice, tucking his chin into his chest, shy at the words that betrayed his tough exterior. 

“Of course…” you replied, watching him ease into sleep as his eyes began to shut and his shoulders began to fall into his rhythmic breathing. 

‘I love you so much, Katsuki.’ 

“Don’t you think the back is a little too high?” Ochako said as she turned around to look at herself in the mirror. 

“It is the latest dress that was designed by none other than Kawakubo Rei herself. It fits in the image for the event tonight Uraraka- san.” her assistant Junko said, analyzing Ochako’s figure in the mirror. 

‘Can it get me a man who is taken by another?’ she thought. Working alongside Bakugou had its pros and cons, but the thing that attracted Ochako the most was his masculinity. Katsuki was a perfect description of the kind of man she desired. Strong, dependable, smart with a fire-like personality. There were men who had thrown themselves at her offering their money, inheritance and anything that could be easily bought, yet her heart yearned for more. Sadly, the man she wanted had already married another. Ochako felt envious whenever she would see you. You had contradicted the type of woman she had built in mind for Katsuki. You weren’t by any means successful, rich or even had a quirk that could save people. You didn’t belong in the hero world. And after you had left him by running away from home, her envy had grown into hope. Hope that she could get close to Katsuki, hope that she could be noticed by him and hope that she could stand beside him. Seeing him at the office this morning, she knew there was something different about the way he looked. He looked relieved after a really long time; including the fact that Mina had waltzed into the office happily at the fact that you were indeed attending the gala for tonight. Looking at the dress in the mirror, it had contradicted her gentle like appearance, the color of the gown being black littered with sparkles of beads, complemented with a tube top like appearance and a slit that ran down from the expanse of her thigh to the bottom of the dress. With the sound of the bell ringing on opening the door, she turned back to see you standing in the section of gowns, looking for a dress. 

Looking through the dresses, you were determined to find one that was meant for the evening. Combing your hands through the different clothing hangers, your fingers stopped at a white coloured dress. Taking it off the hanger, you went before the mirror to see how it would look on you. 

“Can I help you, miss?” the store attendant asked, coming behind you. “Yeah… Can I try this outfit out?” you asked, handing out the dress. Bringing you before the changing room, she held the dress out to you. “I’ll need to help you with the zip at the back…” she said and with a nod, you closed the door of the changing room behind you. The dress seemed to hug your figure well, but it needed to be zipped at the back. Stepping out of the changing room, the attendant helped you with the back of your dress before asking you to step onto the pedestal that was in front of the mirror. 

Looking at the dress, you felt beautiful. Turning around you saw the dress was littered with exquisite beads that glittered under the light where you stood. 

“This is the one and only existing piece made by Tae Ashida. Showcased on the Tokyo runway last sakura season. It suits you.” 

As much as it was beautiful, it was also expensive. Yet, image mattered in the hero world. Deciding to use the black card on this one occasion, you had already made up your mind on buying the dress. “I’ll take it.” 

Standing at the billing counter, you handed over the card when a stranger stood next to you. Looking to your side, you were surprised to find Ochako. “Uraraka - san” you said with a small smile. Ochako returned your plight with an awkward smile of her own. “Bakugou san… you’re back in town?” she asked, taking her bag from the counter. “Yeah… How’ve you been?” you asked with a gentle smile. “Supporting the hero society… as always.” she said curtly before grabbing her bag and heading towards the door. Your eyebrows knit in confusion at her reply. 

“Thank you for shopping with us Bakugou san” the attendant said, handing you your bag with a polite bow. Returning the gesture, you stepped out of the store into the parking lot, heading for your shared home this time. 

Dropping your packed bags on the doorstep, you dug into your purse to find the key to your house. Opening the door to your shared home with Katsuki, you entered, eyes wary of the space around you. Closing the door behind you, you walked the empty hall, coming to a stop before a wall where the pictures of your days together hung.You tilted your head in confusion finding the spaces of your wedding photo frames to be empty. Walking away from the wall with a sigh, you moved towards the couch to find it in a disarray. Picking up the discarded blanket, you were surprised to find a bunch of photographs out of their frames in spaces between the couch. They were taken on the day of your wedding. Looking at the coffee table near the couch, you saw a filthy sight of empty ramen cups, empty glasses that seemed to contain alcohol. 

Just how much of a mess had Katsuki made of himself when you were away?

Thinking that you would sort the matter out once you were done with the gala, you planned to take your own sweet time with Katsuki, either comforting him, hurting him or confronting him. There was a lot left unsaid on the night you had decided to leave, it was only a matter of time before you had decided to open Pandora's box once more. Gathering your packed bags along with the dress you decided to clean up the mess made beside the couch and change into your attire for tonight was the time to turn things around for your husband. 

Long days were not foreign to Katsuki. With the passing of each day away from you, he had become accustomed to the feeling of feeling empty and alone just as you had. He was against the idea of a gala to get you back home, but he took it as an excuse to get you into his arms again anyway. He knew the conversation between the both of you once you returned from the event was to be dreaded, but he was also looking forward to facing a reality where you were and he wasn’t alone. Entering the house, he was surprised to find the spot where he laid in misery to be clean. Photos were back in their frames, Ramen cups were in the dustbin and glasses were washed and kept in their cabinets. With the sound of steady footsteps making their way down the staircase, he looked up to find you in a stunning dress, with a small pout playing on your lips. Dropping his suitcase and duffel bag near the end of the staircase, he took hesitant steps towards you, making his way up the flight of stairs. Coming near you, he reached a hand out to touch your face. Using his other hand, he pulled you into him, breathing in your scent. 

“Katsuki… we have to leave.” you said with a chuckle, your hands joining at his back to return the gesture. “It can wait.” he mumbled, nuzzling his face into your hair. “Let me take a good look at you.” he said, pulling away from you to look at you. Turning around, your eyes looked down at the zipper which needed to be pulled up. Eyes following your gaze, Katsuki cleared his throat, fingers fiddling with the zip, until you heard the sound of it being slide up.

Twirling around with a shy smile, you came to a stop before him. Taking your hands into his, he thumbed over your wedding ring, glad that it still remained where he had left it. “So fucking beautiful” he said, leaning into you for a kiss. Feeling his lips brush against your’s, Katsuki pulled you by the neck into him till your chest came against his body. The tip of his tongue had parted your lips before it slipped between your teeth to meet with yours. The kiss was filled with nothing but the raw emotion of two lovers who were reunited after eons. Pulling away from the kiss you gave a playful smile, patting your hands on his chest; a silent signal for him to stop. “We have a gala to attend, might I remind you Bakugou san. It would certainly be a shame for you to miss the opening of such a night.” you whispered with a cheeky smile. 

“Fine… even though I told those idiots to not call for the gala. But after, I get to have you all to myself.” He said stubbornly, hands around your shoulders. 

“Of course.” you said with a shy smile, stepping to the side. “I’ll wait downstairs. Get ready and we can leave.”

With a nod, Katsuki turned to the shower room, ready to get dressed for the eventful evening that laid before the both of you. 

“Dynamight san, it is rather lovely to see you!” Momo said as she extended a hand towards Katsuki as he curtly shook it, one arm secured around your waist. “Bakugou san, it is a joy to see you this evening! You look stunning in that dress.” 

“Thank you Creati san. You look beautiful yourself.” you returned the compliment with one hand clutching your purse. Katsuki and you were the model couple for the evening, with him wearing a simple crisp white shirt with rolled up sleeves, black dress pants along with a pair of brown shoes. To the media, it was as though it was the perfect cover of a magazine for the gala, but it was far away from being picture perfect for the responsibility that came with it often led to the exploitation of the said happy couple in tabloids. Compared to the grandiosity of the event for the evening, these things seemed trivial which could be fussed over later. 

Entering into the grand building of the agency, Katsuki was the first to take the floor for welcoming all guests as host. “I also give the equal amount of credit and importance to my wife who has had to take care of me during difficult times. She is equally as important a member to hero society as any other hero who stands in the ranks with me.” He said, extending his hand towards you who stood beside, causing the flash of cameras to move towards you. Reaching a hand down to hold yours you felt him squeeze your palm, letting you know that you weren’t alone. The evening was followed with a round of drinks for all guests and interaction. Entering one of the rooms, the guests had a pleasant time with waiters carrying around their empty glasses, ready to bring them more. 

The evening had been going swimmingly well for nearly everyone except a certain hero who drank alcohol out of her glass in bitterness, eyeing the host couple for the evening in envy. 

“Ochako… slow down. You won’t be able to make it home at this rate!” Tsuyu said, one hand on her shoulder. Ochako couldn’t understand where this burst of anger and spite had come from. She wanted to blame the alcohol for her envy, but knew that it was more than just the burning liquid. Getting up from the table, she made a beeline for the restroom, unable to stand the sight of Katsuki standing next to you with one hand secured around your hip. 

Getting into the car, Katsuki laid his head back against the plush leather of the carseat. Looking over to you he was met with the sight of you leaning your head into the side of the window, watching as the guests left for their respective cars from the building. “Oi…” Katsuki called out to you in a gentle tone. Turning to face him, you gave him a gentle smile in response. 

“Did you have an enjoyable evening, Bakugou san?” you asked, playfully. 

“Only because you were there, Bakugou san.” He said with a signature smirk. Extending his arm until his calloused fingers touched your skin, he leaned into you, kissing your lips. Pulling away from the peck, you watched as Katsuki’s face contorted into that of disappointment. “I thought you were waiting to reach home?” you enquired. 

“Can’t. I’ve waited long fucking enough to get you back.” Katsuki growled, leaning across his seat to claim your lips once more. Putting both of your hands on his shoulders, you pulled away from him. “We can’t do it in the parking lot of this building! The journalists haven’t left yet… and we also have to sort some messes out before doing something like this and-” you nearly moaned as you felt his hand grip your thigh. “Fine.” he said, licking a stripe up your neck, pulling away to rev the engine of the car. Staring out of the window, you watched buildings in the crowded city of Tokyo pass by until you had appeared in the forested region, which had a steep yet steady climb. Turning to Katsuki, you watched as his steady hands turned the wheel of the car, eyes trained on the road ahead of him. 

“Where are we going Katsuki?” you asked, looking ahead. “You’ll see,” he said with an all knowing smirk. 

After a while of driving, Katsuki pulled to a stop near the edge of what seemed like a cliff. Opening the door on his side of the car, he quickly moved around the bonnet of the car, pulling the handle roughly, asking you to step out. With a gentle breeze, you watched in awe at the sight before you. 

“Tokyo looks beautiful at night doesn't it?” he asked, resting his back against the car. 

“How did you know of this place?” you asked, turning around to see him with a gentle grin. 

“Used to come here a lot. On nights that I couldn’t sleep, I’d take her out for a spin…found this place.” he said, tapping the hood of the car. 

“Are there no people here?” You asked. “Barely.” Katsuki quipped.

“It’s got quite the view…” you said, folding your arms as you stared into the city. Stepping away from the car, Katsuki walked around you, stopping before you, blocking the view of the city before you. Walking into you, you were forced to take a step back. With every step Katsuki took, you took a step back until he cornered you into the bonnet of the car. As he leaned forward, you leaned back, resting more of your weight against the metal of the bonnet. “I promised to take you, didn't I?” Katsuki said with a smirk, hand inching towards your thigh. You felt your breath hitch when Katsuki’s fingers began moving up the inner sensitive skin of your thighs. “Katsuki…” you complained, pushing his hand away with futility. It wasn’t until he had begun rubbing through your clothed slit his eyebrows furrowed at the rough texture that lay under the cloth rather than the smooth texture of your skin. With the quirk of his eyebrow, you spoke, holding his hand up, entwining his calloused digits between yours. 

“I didn’t come with the intention to have sex with you Katsuki. I figured this would be the night where we could talk, maybe sort things out but it didn’t work.” you said with a sigh of heaviness. Pulling his wrist away from you, he placed his fingers under your chin. Tilting your head towards him, you felt his warm breath fan over your face. 

“Something as little as body hair won’t stop me, tenshi.” he said with a small yet genuine smile. Taking your palm into his other free hand, he placed it on the side of his cheek, nuzzling his trimmed beard into your hand. “Can I take you?” he asked. 

“Only you can bring me to my fucking knees, tenshi. Can I have you? Prove to you how much you fucking mean to me?” Katsuki cooed and pleaded in a small voice into your ear, his voice low and raspy, only for you to hear. With your free hand, you traced the contour of his back, hand entwining into his hair, fingers scratching softly at his hair. “Love me, Katsuki.” you whispered.

Setting you onto the bonnet of the car, Katsuki took off your shoes, making your feet more comfortable against the metal of the vehicle. “Lay back.” Katsuki said, pulling your legs towards him, setting your thighs onto his shoulders. Looking up at the stars in the sky, you felt Katsuki’s heated kisses trail from your calf to the back of your knee, his low beard tickling your skin. You drew in a shaky breath, feeling his cheek nuzzle against the sensitive skin of your inner thigh, mouth leaving a trail of kisses. Setting his tongue to action, Katsuki licked the warm skin of your thigh, heightening your arousal. Pulling away from your body, he drew a needy whine out of you. Perched on your elbows, you watched his nimble fingers pull at the underwear that lay beneath your dress. “Patience.” he said with gentleness in his eyes, lurking with lust as he eyed your arousal. Pushing your dress up, he brought the lower half of your body to his face. Laying gentle kisses on the plush skin of your stomach, he moved towards your needy core. Warm breath fanning over the delicate skin, he slid his thumb over your wet slit. Pulling away the tip of the calloused digit, he watched in awe as the string of your arousal glistened under the moonlight. Sticking the finger into his mouth, he moaned at your taste, craving for more. You moaned as you felt the flat of his tongue tease the entrance of your dripping pussy. Hands circling around your thighs, he spread your wet cunt before him, admiring the mess you had created from his ministrations. “Katsuki… don’t tease me” you huffed. Vermillion eyes gazing into yours, he extended his tongue out, tip moving from the bottom of your pussy to your sensitive clit. Thrusting his tongue in and out of your dripping core, he pulled out moan after moan from your lips. Fingers pulling at your folds, he exposed your clit. Blowing over the sensitive bud, he felt your leg shake. Giving it a few experimental licks, he proceeded to swallow it, tugging at your clit with every suck. You felt your elbows give out, hands finding their purchase into Katsuki’s hair. Tugging at the roots of his ash blonde hair elicited a breathy gasp from him, causing him to nuzzle his head sideways into your core, nose brushing against the bush you hated. Katsuki felt his pants become tight at the sight of your chest heaving from the sheer pleasure he had given you. With every lick of gratification, you felt your back arch away from the metal of the bonnet, eager to watch Katsuki take you. Each time you tried, you felt his hand crawl higher to rest on your abdomen, silently telling you to lay back while he did as he pleased. You could feel yourself come close to an orgasm from the sounds of his licking and sucking, the pressure building down your core, ready to snap and let go. Before you could have your way, you felt his hands move away from your body. Looking down, you saw him stand up, pulling at his crisp white shirt, exposing his chiseled body. 

Getting up into a sitting position over the bonnet of the car, Katsuki placed himself between your thighs. Taking your hands into his, he placed them on his chest. Craning his neck, he laid gentle kisses on the expanse of your neck while his hands wandered to the back of your dress. Hands finding the zip, Katsuki pulled the metal down, exposing parts of your lower back. Shy eyes turned towards his muscular chest, as your hands began to trail down his set of muscles. “Do you want me to take it off… or would you like to?” He murmured into your ear with a soft tone, kissing the shell of it. Dragging your fingertips down his abs, you began to unbuckle his belt, pulling away at the cloth to expose his raging boner that was held back by the expanse of his boxers. Hand slithering into the cloth, your fingers pulled his member out of his boxers. You watched in awe as you rubbed your thumb over the building pool of precum, drawing out a sinful moan from Katsuki's lips. “Touch me more.” he said, kissing the side of your face. Giving into his words, you moved your hand up and down his shaft, spreading the mess he created. You felt Katsuki rut gently into your hand, moaning into your ear while his hands found their place on your neck and lower back. Deciding that he had enough, he pulled away from you. Letting his large palm lie against your stomach, he rubbed your clit with this thumb before grabbing his cock and sliding it onto your warm folds. 

“Put it in… please.” You whined in a small voice, hips rutting towards him in desperation, taunting him to give into temptation. 

Pushing the head into your core, Katsuki began to ease most of his body weight into you, until there was no more left to push. Holding your face close to his while his other hand entwined with yours that was resting on the bonnet, Katsuki looked at you with a mix of need and love. “Whatever my Tenshi wants.” he said, pulling you into a passionate lip lock, the scruff of his beard tickling your chin. Giving a few experimental thrusts, he began to move his hips against yours, sounds of your wetness mixed with his precum creating filthy and sinful sounds. You moaned into the kiss, giving Katsuki the opportunity to slide his tongue into your mouth. Pulling away with a wet pop of your lower lips, Katsuki watched as his dick disappeared into your warm pussy, the velvety walls making him greedy for more of you. Looking at the sky as Katsuki thrusted into you, he left bites on your neck, making you scream. Extending the joint of his neck out to you, he used his hands to push you towards the untouched skin, begging you to claim him. Lips kissing the expanse of his skin, Katsuki hissed at the sensation of pleasure he was receiving. 

He began to pour every emotion he had from the amount of time he spent away from you by giving you everything he had. The memories nights he spent alone on your shared bed, the flashbacks of the house you had decided to spend the rest of your life in, the emptiness of the halls where the both of you would push and shove each other before getting into a playful fight in the living room lit the need for proving his worth in wanting you stay. With a new found compassion over these silent thoughts that lurked in the dark corners of his mind, Katsuki began to rut his hips at a much faster pace. Skin slapping against skin, you felt your body shake back and forth from each of his powerful thrusts. The clinking of the rings on both your hands as they entwined once more made Katsuki go feral, his other hand moving towards your clit. Tugging and rubbing at the pearl that lay on top of the fold, Katsuki was desperate to watch you come undone before him.  

“Cum for me.” he pleaded with a hoarse voice, as you were on the verge of tears, eyebrows furrowed, breathes and cries escaping between your clenched teeth. You felt the feeling of pressure build once more at your core, knowing that a thrust or two would make you break. 

“I promise I won’t leave you alone ever again. I’ll… haah.. I’ll do fucking anything to make you stay.” Katsuki moaned as his fingers entwined into your’s pressing them against the surface of the car while the other continued to rub your poor clit at a rough pace. His eyes glazed with the fear of you leaving once more. In desperation, he left more open mouthed kisses on your neck, a last futile attempt, hoping it would get you to stay. You felt yourself snap from both his actions and words, legs shaking from the mind blowing orgasm. 

“I fucking love you. Don’t leave me…” he whimpered, a tear slipping from the corner of his eye, falling onto your heated skin. He thought you hadn’t heard him, but you did. Taking a deep breath in, you began to rock your hips back and forth, eyes rolling from oversensitivity of the first orgasm. Removing your free hand from his shoulder, you titled his face towards you, watching him groan from the clenching of your pussy around his dick. Tears spilled from Katsuki’s eyes, making your gaze widen at his vulnerability. You knew what you had to do. “Look at me.” you commanded him, bringing your hips to a still. Looking at you with shame from exposing his raw form, you stroked your husband’s cheek, kissing his lips softly. With shallow moves of your hips, you made him moan and whine in contentment. “I am not leaving you. I came back looking for a reason to stay and you have given me one, my love.” you said, hands now wandering to his lower back, pulling him into you. Katsuki could feel his body responding to your touch. 

“Let go, Katsuki.” you whined, legs closing around him to keep him locked within you. Katuski let out a string of breathless moans as he felt close to cumming. “Let go for me, baby.” you cooed gently. Breaking all of his self restraint, Katsuki finally let go. You felt a flood of warmth through your core from Katsuki’s cum. Resting your head against his sweaty chest, you could hear his heart wildly beating. Katsuki rested his chin on your head while his hand stroked the back of it. “I love you.” you said into his chest. Lifting your head up to see him, Katsuki leaned to your height, repeating the same words with a grateful smile. 

“I love you too. So fucking much.” 

Pulling away, Katsuki hissed as he tugged his sensitive dick away from your warm and wet walls. He cringed at the sight of watching the mix of his cum and yours spilling onto your dress. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a kerchief, crudely wiping away at the remnants of your sex. You grunted from the feeling of the cloth against the sensitive skin of your folds. 

“You know… this dress was one of a kind and expensive…” you pouted. 

“It would’ve looked better on the floor of our house anyway,” Katsuki said with a mischievous grin. 

Throwing his shirt back on, Katsuki leaned to pick up your discarded heels placing them in your hands before placing his arms under your thigh and back. “What about my panties?” you asked as he walked you around the car.

“That is for me to keep and for you to buy.” he said with a smirk tucking the material into his pocket, setting you onto the leather seat.

Settling into the driver’s seat on the other side, Katsuki ran a hand through his sweaty hair, causing it to be slicked back. Before he revved up the vehicle once more, his phone began to ring. “Kirishima?” he mouthed, sliding the button to answer the call whilst you placed the pair of heels in the empty backseat.

“Bakugou, can you come to the building quickly?” Kirishima whispered into the phone, hand covering the receiver from the commotion in the background. 

“We just came out of the agency.” Katsuki said, rubbing at his pants. The concern in his voice made you turn towards him. 

“Uraraka has had too much to drink. We told her we would take her home but she refuses to leave unless you meet her.” Kirishima said desperately, the girls now yelling in the background. Running a hand through the back of his head, Katuski let out a frustrated groan, before letting it come to a rest over the steering wheel of the car. “Fine. I’ll be there.” he sneered, dismissing the call, sliding the device back into his pocket. 

“Is everything alright?” you asked, hand coming to rest on his thigh. 

“Everything’s alright. Uravity had too much to drink for the evening and refused to go home. Kirishima tried to convince her, but she said she wants to see me.” he said, pinching the bridge of his nose. Staring into the view ahead of you, you remarked. “That’s Odd. We should get there as soon as possible. Could be something serious.” 

“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine, just some fucking temper tantrum when you’re drunk.” Katsuki said, turning the keys and starting the engine of the car. 

“Katsuki, I am worried for her. Checking up on her wouldn’t hurt a little right?” you reasoned, hand squeezing his knee for compliance. 

“Fine. But after, we’re going home.” he said, stepping on the gas. 

Upon reaching the building, you watched the group of people that included Mina, Tsuyu and a worried Kirishima, with a very drunk Uraraka stand in the parking lot. “Stay here. This shouldn’t take more than ten minutes.” Katsuki said, getting out of the car, walking towards the small group of heroes. Choosing to rest your head against the seat, you felt your lips stretch into a smile at the fact that Katsuki had changed. Even though he might not admit it to himself, he had changed, allowing you to understand him through the cracks. With a sudden gasp from the said group of people, you were pulled from your train of thought. 

Crawling across the driver’s seat, you were met with the groundbreaking sight of Uraraka throwing herself into Katsuki’s arms, lips locking together in a passionate kiss. Blinking at the scene before you, you felt the wind get knocked out of your gut at the sight of Katsuki being cradled in the arms of another woman. 

Has it been too long since I left the house? 

The longer you stare, more vivid pictures began to be painted in your head. Horrible images of the empty side of your bed being occupied by none other than Ochako, Katsuki’s arms holding her instead of you. Soft mornings were now replaced with images of Uraraka and Katsuki. You felt your jaws clench at the sight of another woman kissing your husband. You wanted to blame it on her drunken stupor; but you knew better. Those were not the actions of a drunk woman. 

It had been the actions of a woman consumed by sorrow.

In desperation, you felt the need to get away from the heartbreaking sight, save yourself the embarrassment of thinking you had a place in Katsuki’s life. Eyeing the keys that were still dangling from the engine, you placed your feet on the pedals. With the twist and turn of the key, you brought the engine to life, driving away from the isolated street. 

For How long had you not been a part of Katsuki’s life? 

I promise I won’t leave you alone ever again. 

For How long have you been selfish? 

I’ll do fucking anything to make you stay. 

You heard ringing from your ears as your body racked with sobs, the heel of your naked foot pressing into the pedal in spite. 

I fucking love you. Don’t leave me… 

Time and tide wait for none. Yours had nearly come to a stop, as the blinding headlights of a truck crashed into the side of the car. A drunk driver with a lost control over his vehicle was not what you thought fate had for you. The harsh truth was… fate had a way with everyone, leaving you no exception to the rule. The car twisted and turned as it landed upside down in the middle of the street for the spectators to see. 

I love you too. So fucking much. 

With a final breath, you felt your legs become numb as the warm and wet red liquid ran down the side of your face. The sound of sirens blaring in the distance had begun to fade as you went in and out of consciousness with every blink. 

I love you too. So fucking much. 

Time and tide wait for none, leaving no exceptions to buy it over with money, regret or wishes. It was something that could never come back. Closing your eyes you felt your shoulders relax as darkness took over your vision, coaxing you into sleep. Sleep away your sorrows, your pain and most of all… succumbing to the feeling of numbness. 

I love you too. So fucking much.

I’m sorry, Katsuki.

[betbeton]

HEYY!!

I also had another idea!! Let’s make this one also very fluffy as well, i think this one’s gonna be really adorable 😭😭 so here I go

Can you do Lawrence Oleander with a Fem! S/O who’s pregnant? and with the kicking at night, food cravings, etc, etc, and then the birth & where they get to meet the twins?? One boy & One girl !!

Thanks again!! And I hope it makes sense lolol

Lawrence × Pregnant S/O

Warnings - Explicit Mentions of Pregnancy, Possible Inaccuracies

Cut added for length

· Afab - Fem Reader ·

· A/N- i've never been pregnant before so this was a brain scratcher, and have mostly amab family members and friends so the well for asking was a lil dry lol. it was really fun to write though, i love babies and all that jazz. ·

The moment you mentioned you might be pregnant to Lawrence he debated just locking you in the bathroom and forgetting about his issues, he panicked okay-! Though after having you talk him down . . . a lot . . . he came to terms with the idea of a small version of you running around. He didn't want to say it, but he doubted he would like the child if it looked like him, he has enough problems without there being a mini Lawrence waddling around. The first few weeks were peaceful, actually it was peaceful until your stomach popped. Once the bump came out in full force so did the little feet digging into your stomach and distorting it, low-key freaking Lawrence out. Your cravings weren't anything too odd, he even bought a fruit tree sapling, and some indoor veg, to nurture so you two didn't have to venture out during the day to get fresh produce when you were going through that craving kick. Though the one craving he never caved and got for you was fast food, or unhealthy food, you two already eat quite a bit of take away so he didn't see the point in the craving, he would however heat you up any leftovers you two had in the fridge as a peace offering.

When it came to the baby stuff Lawrence bought one crib and a half working stationary to wobble about above it. It was the only one with a deer, he had to get it- So to say you two were unprepared when two little babies popped out, when he finally took you to hospital, was a massive understatement. The first few days Lawrence refused to touch the babies. Don't get him wrong he loved them and would hand you anything you needed, but he didn't want to actually touch them yet. . . he has to get to know them first. Over all a five out of ten on the parent skill.

[softboydrew]

nausea and never enough ice cream

The fire crinkled and sparked as the group sat around, marshmallows and coffee's as the cool air blew around them. The woods grew darker and the stars littered the sky causing y/n to close her eyes, feeling Drews soft caresses against her thigh.

Drew's parents decided to invite everyone for a week long cabin getaway, with sweets and boardgames included. Drew and y/n happily accepted the invention by being the first ones to arrive, their excitement bounced around every new comer making Drew's parents marvel over the fact that their loved ones were having a good time.

Today was a long day. Today consisted of fishing, hiking, cooking, and card games... lots and lots of card games. Drew, pleasantly surprised at how competitive y/n was made the games they played even better with light bickering and playful teasing.

But y/n grew tired by six o'clock and she was surprised at how tired she's been getting recently, even before their cabin getaway she'd been feeling off. Restlessness and cravings for Ben and Jerry's increased as days passed, y/n didn't really think anything about it so she never brought it up or gave it a second thought. Ben and Jerry never let her down so she welcomed the newfound cookie dough cravings.

Until two nights ago, violent nausea kicked her hard causing her to stay bedridden. She felt horrible, trying to sweep it under the rug by telling everyone it must have been something she ate. Everyone seemed to agree but not Drew's sister, she let it slide the first night but as she watched y/n worsen she knew that 'bad food' was not making y/n sick.

So, here y/n was, finally up to sitting outside with everyone, sipping on some green tea that Drew's mother had made for her, making sure to add ginger and honey to calm her nausea. She leaned into Drew and shuffled uncomfortably against him, her stomach twisting and turning at the sight of burnt, gooey marshmallows. The smell making her grow pale and groan causing Drew and his sister to snap their focus on y/n.

"What's wrong baby?" he asked in slight panic.

Y/n sat up slowly and held out her hand, motioning for him to stop talking as she set down her mug and took a deep breath to try and settle her stomach. "I- I need to go inside." she nearly whispered.

Drew quickly stood and held out his hands for y/n to hold onto as he helped her up. She screwed her eyes shut as she felt the fire in front of her spin. "It's okay y/n were gonna take you to bed." Drew said as she whimpered at the feeling.

Drew's sister stood and patted y/n's shoulder before calling over for Drew to lead y/n back inside as she held the door for them to enter the warm cabin. "I'm sorry, I don't know what I ate but I feel like it was that chicken." she gagged making him nod in response.

"Probably." Drew's sister said, pressing her lips together to hide what she was really thinking.

"Don't be sorry, you just need some water and some sleep. You'll be all good in the morning." Drew urged making y/n nod as they made their way up the stairs. Their bedroom was one of the bigger rooms, the oak floors and dark green walls called y/n to bed, plopping down onto the pillows and groaning as her stomach churned at the sudden jolt of her body hitting the bed. "I'll go get some water and pepto bismol, need anything else?" Drew asked, leaning down towards y/n and pushing her hair back from her face.

"Get a bin or something so she can have it by the bed." His sister suggested making y/n nod at him. "I've got her." she smiled.

"I'll be right back."

Y/n sighed, snuggling into her pillow as she watched Drew's sister snap her fingers, pointing towards the bathroom and motioning for her to get up.

"What?" y/n questioned as she watched her lock the bedroom door.

"Okay, listen, I have a feeling that chicken isn't making you feel like shit." she said, pulling her from the bed and dragging her to the ensuite.

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about this!" Drew's sister whisper yelled, pulling out a box of pregnancy tests that she bought at the supermarket earlier in the day from under the sink.

"What the fuck!" y/n nearly yelled making Drew's sister slap her hand over y/n's mouth.

"Just try! You might be pregnant and it's not like it's likely that you aren't!" She said throwing her hands up in the air.

Y/n scoffed as she shook her head and looked around the bathroom in shock at what was being said. "This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

Drew's sister shoved the pink box into y/n's hands with wide eyes as she peered over at the bedroom door. "I suggest doing it now before he comes back. Y/n lets just see." she said. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Y/n gripped onto the box and sighed, her heart fluttered at the thought of carrying a child... her and Drew's child. Her hands began to shake as she began to connect the dots of the days that lead her to this moment. "Fine!"

"Hurry, I'll distract him if he gets back."

Y/n watched as Drew's sister closed the bathroom door leaving her to stand alone in the bathroom that felt like it would cave in on her at any moment. Y/n began taking out the test as she read the instructions and gulped as she unhooked the cap to the test. She froze once she heard Drew knock on the bedroom door, groaning at it being locked.

"Go get, uh, go.. get the dog!" Drew's sister shouted.

"Why?" he yelled.

"Because we- we want him. and y/n wants to cuddle." Y/n sighed in relief as she heard him curse from behind the door and stomp off into the distance. She rolled her eyes at his childish behavior, giggling at how his sister covered for her. Y/n cleared her throat as she set the test on the toilet cover and slowly shuffled out of the bathroom with flushed cheeks and worried eyes. "Don't stress, whatever happens I know it will be alright."

Y/n nodded as she sat on the door of the bed, twiddling her thumbs to pass the time as they waited for time to pass. "I think it's ready." she said quietly.

"Okay."

The girls stood and slowly made their way to the bathroom, clutching each others hands tightly as y/n reached for the test. With a pounding heart she flipped the test in her hand, revealing two small red lines on the little circled screen. They bother gasped, the test falling out of y/n's hand and onto the tiled floor, her throat hitching as they both look at each other with disbelief in their eyes.

"Holy shit! You're pregnant!" Y/n nodded, her eyes not being able to focus as she felt Drew's sister throw her arms around her in excitement. "You're gonna be a mom!" She whisper yelled.

"I-" Y/n started the they suddenly heard knocks coming from the bedroom door.

"I got the dog..."

The pair both inhaled as y/n stared at Drew's sister with panicked eyes, her hands shaking as she watched her take the test and hide it in mirrored cabinet. "You don't have to tell him right now. And you know you don't have to keep it if you don't want to." she said quickly, placing her hands on y/n's shoulders.

"thank y-you?" Y/n gulped as she watched the door being unlocked and Drew strolling in with the dog behind him.

"Goodnight guys!" his sister sang, winking at y/n before skipping down the hall.

Y/n watched as Drew placed the bin onto the floor and chucking her newly filled water bottle onto the bed. She watched as he close the door and bend down to pet the dog, cooing and laughing with him.

Drew glanced up at y/n with worried eyes as he watched her dig at her back pocket of her jeans before she quickly shuffled towards the bed. She smiled at him slightly as she watched him lean onto his side, stretching his body over the bed to look over at her. "You feeling any better?" he questioned.

"Mhm."

Drew nodded and reached for her hand, leaning back in surprise as she flinched her hand away and clutch her chest. Drew's eyebrows furrowed knowing that she did that whenever she was stressed or upset. "What?"

"Nothing!" y/n squeaked out as she sat back against the headboard, biting her bottom lip. Her chest tightened at the thought of him being upset with the news, what if he was mad? or what if he walked out? where would she go, because she's at his family's house, she'd be alone and scared if he was mad at her.

Drew chuckled, reaching for her again as he crawled closer to her, "I know you. What's on your mind, pretty girl?" Y/n jumped from the bed making Drew gasp at her sudden movements. She ran her hands through her hair and took a deep breath, placing her hands out for him to stay where he was. "Y/n.."

"Okay just-" Y/n sighed as she paced around the bedroom, "Just listen to what I'm going to tell you because I don't know how to tell you and I don't know how you're gonna react because we never really talked about this."

Drew started at her with pure confusion, he sat up straight as he watched her pace around the room in pure panic. he nodded and arched his hands out for her to take and in couple surprise, she took his hands into hers. He watched her take a deep breath as he smiled at her lovingly, his thumbs caressing her, encouraging her to tell him whatever she had to say.

"Okay."

"I- I love you so much." Y/n started making Drew nod, "And I know that you love me so when people love each other... they... they do things-"

"Are you giving me the sex talk?" Drew laughed loudly. "Because if you are then I'm sorry to inform you but I-"

"I'm pregnant." Y/n blurted.

Drew's eyes shot up and a gasp fell from y/n's lips as he jumped off the bed, his frame towering over her small one causing her heart to drop as she watched him walk away from her. "You're pregnant." He said with his back facing y/n.

"I just took the test. Yes.."

Drew jumped up, his fist pumping the air as he turned around, jumping side to side like a jumping bean causing y/n to cover her hands over her mouth as she laughed. Drew quickly made his way over to her and threw his arms around her, y/n squealed as he picked her up effortlessly and spun her around once, twice, three times as her laughter vibrated between them. "I'm going to be a father?"

"Yes." y/n hummed as he set her down, his hands cupping her cheeks into his hands as he watched tears pool at the corner of er eyes.

"We're going to be be parents. We made a tiny human!" Drew nearly screamed as he poked y/n's stomach lovingly.

She giggled at his touch and nodded, pulling out the test from her back jean pocket, "See!" she said holding the test in between them both.

"About time I put a baby in you." Drew smirked.

"Oh, so this was your plan all along?" y/n teased making drew chuckle as he pulled her towards the bed with a plop- causing them to both giggle in bliss.

"Definitely." he teased before tracing spongy kisses against her soft skin, y/n's giggles filling the room as she ran her fingers into his hair as he hovered over her. "Having a little you or me running around it everything." "I love you so much. And I'll love our baby... so, so much." Drew whispered.

"We know." Y/n hummed, gripping Drew's hand and placing it over her soon to be ballon like stomach. "We love you too, so much."

"We know." Y/n hummed, gripping Drew's hand and placing it over her soon to be ballon like stomach. "We love you too, so much."

-

taglist: @pogueslandia @carolineworld

[seacottons]

—ateez as boyfriends [ domestic au ]

notes: swearing. suggestive dialogue. fluff. i blame a certain someone for this, not gonna say who. @kireiwoo

— hongjoong

very caring and attentive towards you

so much so, that even his friends have complained how it isn't fair he doesn't scold you like the way he does to them

he enjoys many activities with you, such as

helping him dye his hair an ungodly color every other month

he'll insist you try experimenting with your own tresses

but you only have the courage to dye the very ends of your strands

"i don't think i can pull off that color as well as you do," you'd say.

"that's a load of bull. you'll suit every hair color."

you'll just roll your eyes playfully at his biased behavior.

other activities include getting tiny matching tattoos together.

the tiny flower and butterfly on your wrists was most likely your favorite due to its simplicity in design and the meaning behind it as well.

spontaneous dates are his favorite.

behind closed doors, he loves to constantly shower you with pecks and smooches.

often gets teased by his friends from how whipped he is for you.

randomly books vacations for you two to relax and unwind every so often.

although he enjoys it, he is a big, tired baby when it comes to traveling

always wanting to lean his head against your shoulder

or cuddling you close for warmth due to the airport's air conditioners blasting frigid air.

has written many songs about you

and when he's finally ready, he'll not only ask you to listen to them, but to also spend the rest of your life with him and share his last name as well.

— seonghwa

constant pet names

"darling."

"the sun to my stars."

"the moon to my sun."

"love of my life."

you like to call him mars, mostly.

but he revels when you call him 'twinkle eyes' for some reason.

has a habit of pulling you into his lap.

you'll subconsciously play with the strands of his hair as he does so, him being too distracted bickering with his friends to realize sometimes.

will always give you pleading looks whenever wooyoung or san tease him.

sometimes, you walk in to find wooyoung settling onto your boyfriend's back while he greedily devours the bowl of popcorn entirely by himself.

or other times when both wooyoung and san constrict his limbs with their arms whenever you're near.

"y/n can't save you now, so cut the whining."

you'll only sigh and shake your head in amusement.

"what are you guys doing to my poor boyfriend?"

"he changed the movie we were watching without our permission!"

"because i have no damn clue what's going on, and harry potter is too confusing!"

coffee dates.

loves to sleep with you tucked against his chest.

always has an arm draped around your frame.

butterfly kisses on your neck.

soft touches against the small of your back and waist.

his favorite pastime with you would be stargazing.

"baby, look. it's me, mars-io," he'd say whilst pointing up to the large, bright star in the night sky.

when it's too cloudy outside, or when the weather isn't forgiving, he'll turn on the indoor star projector he bought so the two of you can stargaze in the comfort of your own bed.

— yunho

is the epitome of romantic.

is constantly smothering you in love and affection.

always has heart eyes and admiration in his eyes at whatever small task you do or say.

rant about an ancient dynasty?

heart eyes.

bombard him with useless information about a certain abandoned island.

heart eyes.

gush about the new cute bakery that recently opened up?

heart eyes.

if you had a money jar for every time he says 'i love you', you'd have enough money to buy a plane ticket or two.

always willing to drop everything to help you with whatever it is you need.

will wake up in the middle of the night when you text him to ask if he's awake or not.

willingly stays up to keep you company.

but sometimes, when he's too tired, he'll knock out accidentally and profusely apologize to you in the morning.

very supportive of your life choices.

hates seeing you cry because it makes him want to bawl his eyes out as well.

his hugs are bone-crushing.

but he is a gentle giant nonetheless.

likes to attempt to bake pastries with you.

half of the time, the goods either turn out undercooked or burnt.

"they have love in them, that's all that matters."

will always insist that you can rant to him about anything and everything.

you've never felt so valued in your life before meeting him.

is the most understanding human being you've ever gotten the pleasure of knowing.

"i wish we were vampires," he says one day.

you give him an amused look, lips outstretched into a smile, "why, silly?"

"so we can spend an eternity together."

— yeosang

his heart flutters when you notice the smallest things he does.

it makes him feel appreciated and acknowledged.

like when he changes up his hairstyle or earrings.

or when he wears a new sweater.

a big, big softie when it comes to you.

can and will want to spend all day in your arms on his days off.

quick witted and has a knack for noticing the tiniest detail.

very shy and awkward at first.

but when he gets more comfortable as time passes on, you won't be safe from his snarky little comments anymore.

will constantly bring up the thing you said or did months ago to prove a point.

"oh, you like this flavor? three months ago you told me it tasted like vomit."

"remember that time you woke up in a rush to get to work thinking you were late, only for me to drag you back inside because it was three in the fucking morning?"

you stop mid-chew and peer up from your plate of rice.

"your point, yeosang?"

"oh, nothing this time. i just wanted to tease you."

is the type to have a mid-life crisis when you can't decide on a restaurant.

"but i don't want to eat at the chicken place again," you'll whine.

"it's been thirty minutes, and you still haven't decided what you want!"

"you're rushing me!"

"y/n! just pick!"

loves to cuddle with you, especially in the colder months.

wraps a blanket around your frame and tugs you in closer against his chest.

pretends not to understand your jokes just to spite and tease you.

loves when you cling onto him.

his favorite pastime with you would be just walking around together at night and trying out different types of street food.

or even visiting any of the local beaches for a relaxing walk together.

— san

persistently keen about whenever you feel upset or down.

he reads you better than any open book.

sometimes, it scares you, but you appreciate how he's always so eagle-eyed about your behavior.

loves to hug your head.

you allow wooyoung to crash some of your dates with san sometimes.

other times, san will whine and tell him to go find his own date.

"if y/n accepted you as a boyfriend, then you should've disclosed that i'm part of the deal as well. buy one get one free."

"as what exactly?"

"the hot, clingy best friend."

will take numerous duck-faced selfies of himself because you think they're cute.

often times, he'll ask you to mirror his expression, only for him to press his lips against yours a second before his phone snaps the picture.

likes when you kiss his dimple.

"y/n! it looks like a crater from the amount of times you've kissed it."

he likes to tease you.

a lot.

touchy.

very touchy.

always has an arm around you.

rests his chin against your shoulders.

playfully smacks your rear when you're sassy with him.

or leans in to hold your jaw whilst whispering teasing words into your ear that has you becoming docile and bothered in mere seconds.

has you wrapped around his finger as much as you have him wrapped around your own.

likes to have weekly picnics with you at the park and admires all the dogs running about.

"i should bring byeol next week. maybe she'll like to play fetch too."

"i don't think that's a good idea.."

you often find him fast asleep holding onto a plushie for dear life whenever you're away.

you'll pull it away from his arms, causing him to stir awake groggily.

he'll stare in confusion as you throw the plushie aside, before pulling you in tighter as you wriggle into his arms.

"you're softer than shiber," he'll mumble sleepily against the crown of your head.

— mingi

mingi is sometimes self-conscious around the public eye and others, but when it comes to you, those layers of fear and insecurity get stripped away instantly.

doesn't mind being vulnerable with you.

he craves affection, adores it even, but is insecure about not being able to return it well enough for his liking.

likes when you give him attention.

easily gets jealous when someone else grabs your interest.

reassuring him 24/7.

"yes, mingi. you're the love of my life."

kissing his pouting lips for good measure.

the smallest of gestures has him a blushing mess.

even holding hands in public.

when he's not being a sentimental sap, he'll like teasing you lovingly.

"wow, you have this many photos of me in your phone?"

you'll scrutinize him in confusion.

"are you that obsessed with me, y/n?"

"mingi! you told me to take half of those photos of you!"

"oh, right. i forgot."

a silence weighs down onto the two of you.

"but would you have taken them if i never asked you to?"

constantly laughs about the things you say, although you don't think you're that funny.

always seeks your approval subconsciously.

will always shield you from the rain, playfully yelling at the droplets sometimes.

"you can't make y/n wet! only i can!"

"mingi! we are in public!"

wanted to go strawberry picking because he saw a celebrity try it out on instagram live.

accidentally steps on many berries though.

"it's okay, they'll just make another plant. i did them a favor."

brags about you like no tomorrow.

even for the tiniest, minuscule thing.

"oh, i've already tried the brand of ice cream. y/n always buys that for me."

"i don't need to pay all this money for a measly slice of cake. y/n's cakes are much better."

"no, wooyoung. i'm not jealous of your new shoes." he'll lightly pinch the boy's side, "y/n and i have already bought ourselves matching pairs."

"you two are so fucking cheesy, it hurts."

when he's not bragging about you, he's boasting about himself.

but if that's what helps him raise his confidence levels up, you'll gladly sit down hours on end listening to how he has more 'swag' and 'charisma' than all of his older friends combined.

— wooyoung

teases you like his life depends on it.

says you can't get enough of him, when in reality it's the other way around.

but you let him believe whatever he wants.

but deep down he just really gets satisfied with himself if he raises your mood and makes you smile.

especially when you're not having a great day.

uses way too many emojis when texting you.

"wooyoung, why am i saved as as 'clingy bug' on your contacts?"

he'll squawk indignantly and laugh awkwardly for a second.

"who told you this lie!?"

"seonghwa?"

always wants to show off your love in front of his friends.

"no, i don't want my early birthday gift now. wait until the others show up, and do it front of them."

"but why?"

"so everyone can see how much you love me. can you also cry for good measure?"

"absolutely not."

he enjoys the dates you have in his apartment the most.

the ones where he cooks for you and asks for your help, only for him to pester you about over-seasoning or undersalting something.

"okay, fine! we'll just order take out if it tastes that bad," you pout, flinging a small piece of onion on his face.

his head instantly snaps back to eye you judgingly, fist gripping the poor spatula.

"over my dead body."

"so, y/n. how does my plating look?"

"it's beautiful, wooyoung. you've outdone y-"

"what else is beautiful?" he demands, face leaning over the table to give you a knowing grin.

you shove a piece of meat and rice into his mouth, shrugging nonchalantly.

"me."

he deflates at your answer, spluttering pieces of rice onto your face.

"jung wooyoung, you slob!"

— jongho

is the type of boyfriend to stop you in the middle of the road to tie your shoe for you.

very charming and goofy in his own way.

takes pride in himself and his abilities to cater to your every whim and need.

even when you don't ask for his help.

aggressively opens jars for you when you struggle to pry them open.

"no one messes with my y/n."

"you're fussing at a jar of pickled radish, baby."

the type to cling close to you in public in fear of any of the bicyclists or pedestrians bumping into you and harming you in any way.

sometimes acts like you're made of glass.

while it's endearing occasionally, it is a bit suffocating at other times.

doesn't believe you when you say you're tough and don't need protection.

very selfless and willing to help you with anything you need.

never one to shy away from social gatherings with his friends, always pulling you along with him despite you being shy and clingy most of the night.

also a big tease.

when you help him hold down his legs for sit ups, he asks for a smooch.

pulls away from you when you try to kiss him.

and will laugh at your pouting face as he urges you to try once more.

"stop moving, i just want to kiss you!"

after numerous tries, he finally allows you ( you truly think you over-powered him though ) to kiss his cheeks or lips.

he then proceeds to squawk loudly in retaliation and playful disgust.

although he loves teasing you, when the game is flipped the other way, he'll be a shy mess of embarrassment.

"i don't mumble your name in my sleep."

"you always do, silly."

tucked underneath his macho exterior, you know he's prone to criticism and takes it to heart much more than he likes to show and admit.

so, whenever you get the chance, you always fulfill his need to be appreciated, loved, and taken care of.

is utterly and extremely protective of you.

"who just whistled at you?" he grumbles, "i'll break their jaw like an apple, you know i will."

[erensproudsimp]

Experiment

Hange Zoe x fem! reader Oneshot

⚠ Sexual Content Ahead ⚠

Summary : Hange and you have been dating each other for quite some time. One day due to rain, you went over to Hange's and hehe hot stuff happens.

I've used they/them pronouns for Hange due to them being non-binary, hope y'all don't mind. :)

"HANGEEEE!" screaming down the hallway near the university laboratory, you entered said place joltily.

By this time all the science students were used you to coming by everyday while causing a ruckus to meet your significant other. You couldn't help yourself being always excited to see the only person who could make your day a million times better and today as usual you had something interesting to show them. Well, by interesting you meant something random you saw that day and just picked it up to give it to Hange. Never were they ever weird out by this as they were as eccentric as you.

"Look what I found today!" proudly bringing your hand close to their face to show them the red rock you saw in your yard.

"Heh, as usual my dear y/n, you never fail to fascinate me," they chuckled eyeing the objet closely.

"I shall add this wonderful rock to my series of collection of stuff you keep bringing to me everyday!" smilingly Hange took it.

This brought a faint blush on your cheeks as just the thought of Hange keeping the random stuff you bringing daily made you feel somewhat special.

" Sooo, what are you working on today?" you questioned them while looking at the equipment on the table.

"Ohohoho you don't know what I've just made!" they excitedly said dexterously arranging the mess to show you.

While they were enthusiastically explaining to you her recent invention, you couldn't help but stare at their jolliness. The way they made absolutely anything sound captivating just spellbound you. To describe it, it was like a meteor shower falling enlightening the night sky which you could gaze for hours, yeah, that's how Hange was.

"Hihi, that's awesome! I'm so proud of you!" you praised her happily.

"Hehe, I'm glad you appreciated my invention, after all I am your better half," haughtily they said which made you subconsciously smile.

Right at that moment a loud thunder was heard making you jump. Since morning it's been cloudy and you really hoped that it wouldn't rain in the evening as it would pose a problem for you to travel home by bus. The droplets were hitting hard against the window panes indicating it was a heavy shower. Disappointment filled your being.

"Noo, now how would I reach the bus stop on time with this weather," you complained utterly dejected and tensed.

"You know y/n, you can always ask me for a ride in my car right?" Hange said while pouring a clear liquid in a testing tube.

"I know but I don't wanna bother you."

"Oh come-on y/n, how can you ever bother me?" they reassured, "and if you really don't want to sound like a trouble then come over to my appartment. It's win-win situation, you reach home and I would get more time to spend with you."

"W-what, Hange please, ugh okay then I'll come with you," sighing you responded.

Waiting for Hange to finish up whatever they were doing but it wasn't as though you as a finance student would understand it to be able to help her out. Instead you were scrolling on Tiktok when they came up to you without warning making you jerk, "GOSH HANGE! YOU COULD HAVE CALLED FOR ME."

Chuckling, Hange grabbed your hand to make you stand up. Losing your footing, you fell in their arms which they gladly grabbed you. Giving you a brief forehead kiss, they proceeded to drag you to the parking lot. At first you didn't process the action making you scream but when you got the hang of it, you ran alongside with them hand in hand laughing.

Hange unlocked the car and you got into the front passenger seat. Both of you were laughing while still catching your breaths.

"Now off to my house we gooo!" Hange yelled as you were wearing your seatbelt.

Throughout the whole ride both of you conversed about each of your days and the daily news.

"Can you believe that Sasha and Nicollo are finally going out with each other? I always knew that they were a match made in heaven," you rambled as Hange listened to you intently while also focusing on the road.

"I mean I could see it happening seeing their compatibility and the way they complete each other, just like you complete me," Hange added.

Her last words made your face heat up which you hid by looking outside. Luckily for you, you finally reached your destination. It wasn't the first you came over to her appartement so you took her keys and ran inside. Normally her place would be messy like a dumpster because that human barely had time in her hands to take care of their house but for once it was spotless clean.

"Did Levi come over?" you asked them, hand on your hip.

"I-yeah. Yesterday he did. But I swear I'll try to be more responsible from now on!" Hange affirmed.

You took a deep breath and asked, "so what are we eating tonight?"

"I don't know y/n, you choose," they replied kicking their boots off to enter the residence.

"How about we order Pizza?"

"Sure thing love," grabbing her phone to order said food, Hange said.

"How about you go take a bath while I take out plates?" you suggested.

"I mean only if you're willing to join me," they smirked while leaning on the door.

Out of embarrassment you threw a pillow laying on the couch at her, "NO!"

"Sad, I was really hoping for some fun in there," they replied before running into the bathroom as you were about to hit them with another pillow.

While you waited for her to come out so that you in your turn could go freshen up, you arranged everything to be able to eat. Having such nights with Hange is always something you've dreamt of doing but you never had the courage to ask.

A few moments later, Hange came out with hair dripping wet which they were trying to dry with a towel. Damn they looked hot in that condition. Before you could start simp over them, you excused yourself to go bathe.

Feeling the warm water touch your skin evaporated all your stress from you as you relaxed. Coming out of the bathroom wearing Hange's clothes, you went to sit next to them on the couch. You noticed that the pizza had already arrived so you took a piece of it to eat. You two watched this popular series called 'Attack on titan' together until the pizza was finished.

Throwing the pizza cardboard in the bin, you went to see Hange already laying on the bed. Scooting to them, you placed your head on their shoulder as they held you tight with one arm and the other holding their phone. You were watching memes with her laughing when suddenly there was a video of two girls kissing came up which made your heart beat faster. You could tell Hange felt so as well as she swiped quickly to prevent awkwardness.

A little bit of tension remained in both of you yet no one made the first move. It kept growing as you felt their hot breath on your face because you were leaning on them.

Feeling bothered and assuming that Hange wasn't going to initiate it, you snatched their phone from their hand and kept it on the table next to the bed for you to straddle on them.

Shifting yourself to be more comfortable, you leaned down to smack your lips against theirs. Still processing whatever just happened, Hange went with the flow. For this moment at least. Hands on your ass, they squeezed them as you laid your body on theirs.

Lips still crashed against each others and tongues still fighting over control, Hange's minds began to fill with sexual fantasies that they could enact on you in this precise moment.

Pulling back from you, they settled your body on the bed to go search for something in the wardrobe. They came back with a blindfold facing you.

"Do you mind if I take your vision away for a while? I don't want to ruin the surprise of what I'm going to do to you."

Gulping hardly you took the black cloth and blinded yourself.

"Good girl," Hange praised giving you a headpat to continue their rummage.

With no warnings, you were pushed on the bed lightly. At first you didn't understand what was going on but that was before you felt a rope on your wrists which was being wrapped around them individually then pulled upwards signaling it was being tied down to the bed. The same thing was done for both of your legs.

Anticipation mounted in you as you felt hands running from your chest to your stomach.

"I hope that the ropes are not too tight, are they?" they concernedly asked.

You shaked your head to say no still having the blindfold on.

"No? Well, then I think you would love this being in your mouth," they said coming closer to you. You were expecting her to stuff her fingers in but it ended up being something you certainly didn't anticipate at all.

Holding your head up, they made you wear it. Initially it was uncomfortable but you managed to deal with it as it only turned you on more. It was a gag ball.

You laid your head on a pillow desperately craving Hange's touch but of course they were still searching for something.

"Don't worry y/n, I'll come to you as soon as I find that one thing I bought last week I wanted to test out," Hange spoke from the other side of the room.

Trying to keep your growing lust in control, you fidgeted with the device in your mouth.

" Ah-ha! found it, now wait for me y/n, I'll fuck you into oblivion soon," their voice coming out breathless.

Feelings the sides of the bed sink and a presence hoving above you, you became more excited to what Hange was going to do this time.

Their soft lips colliding again against yours as their hands ran down to unbutton your shirt leaving your bare chest naked as you weren't wearing any undergarments. For a few seconds Hange didn't do anything. As you were ripped from your eyesight, you couldn't see that Hange was in fact staring at the prefect roundness of your boobs displayed to them .

Unable to contain themselves, they ran their tongue on one of your breasts while the other was being fondled with their hands. Your breathing was quickening at their doings. Out of nowhere they bit your nipple softly making you bit the gagball stifling a moan.

Going lower on you they pulled down your pants while they kissed you on your bellybutton. Without warning again you felt a pain on your hip and teeth leaving your skin. Biting you again on the other side of your hip, Hange caressed your inner thighs. This time you couldn't contain the moan as it escaped your mouth through the gag ball.

Looking at your entrance, Hange saw that though they didn't yet completely lay hands on you, you were soaking wet. Then they assumed that it was probably from the long amount of time you had to wait for them.

You heard the opening of the cap of a tube. Your mind raced through all the possibilities of what it could be.

But of course it was the least thing you could expect as you felt something touching your cunt.

It was a lukewarm rubbery thing that was being ran through your swollen folds.

"Wanna guess what it is? Y/n," Hange said as you felt the object or whatever it was penetrate you. An 'hmm' came out of you as your back arched graciously making Hange widen their eyes.

"Ahaha, y/n you beautiful creature! You never cease to amaze me the more I explore you,"Hange complimented pushing the thing deeper into you.

" Lemme reward you for blessing me with his gorgeous sight and return you back your vision, "they continued.

Your insides felt empty as Hange had to remove the item to open the blindfold. You must say you had quite of the shocker to see them. Straddling you was a Hange that you didn't recognize.

They were wearing a black lingerie delicately complimented with black thigh highs and on their pelvis area was a strap-on-dildo.

"I wanted to experiment this on you," they gave you a light smirk before positioning themselves in front of your pussy. Taking the small bottle thrown on the bed nearby, Hange opened it. It was lube. Dropping quite some on the dildo, Hange jerked it to spread the lubricant.

Placing their hand on your hips for support, Hange inserted it again.

They couldn't describe how much they ravished to look at you in this state. As they were thrusting their hips in and out, the room became filled with your moans and Hange's name.

"Yes y/n scream my name louder. Make the neighbours hear how good I'm making you feel," Hange panted.

'Hmmm Hange I'm getting close, go faster please, "you begged them.

Taking your wishes into consideration, Hange did not double up the speed but rather trippled it. You were practically shaking on the bed as your screams got louder and louder.

Not late enough, you released yourself on them. The pleasure was so unbearable it almost hurted. Panting on the bed, you looked at the ceiling to regain control of yourself. Then looking back at Hange, only to see that they were already staring at you lovingly.

"Can you untie me now? I need to pee," you coughed.

"Ahaha, no piss on the bed," Hange declared as you were startled by their statement.

"Just kidding lemme help you refresh yourself," Hange joked making you feel relieved.

End.

Thank you for reading this. :)

[viking-raider]

Southern Generation - Part VI

Summary: Sy officially moves in with Lily and they go on a road trip to make amends.

Pairing: Austin Syverson/OFC (Lily)

Word Count: 11,965

Warning: PG-13 - Language, Fluff, Angst, Smut, Oral - F Receiving, Drama, Pregnancy Cravings

Inspiration: Syverson is OP

Author's Note: Thanks to the wonderful @wondersofdreaming

Author's Note 2: Make sure to follow and turn on the notifications for my Tag List blog @viking-raider-taglist to stay up to date on this and all my other stories!

“That's the last of them.” Sy smiled, setting the last box of his stuff down.

With Lily pregnant and them making their relationship official, Sy moved all of his stuff from his Austin apartment into the farmhouse with Lily.

“Well, officially.” Lily replied, resting her hands on her hips and looking up at him. “Welcome home.” She smiled, giddy and proud.

“Thanks, Darling.” He grinned back, cupping her face and kissed her.

Lily smiled, as she woke up from her nap, feeling the warm and heavy weight of Sy's body in bed with her, his head in its customary place, on her chest. She usually woke up from her naps with Sy, whether or not he was with her, when she fell asleep or not. Sighing and moaning softly, she lifted her hand to twist the short, curling ends of his hair between her fingertips.

“Hm.” Sy hummed softly, rubbing his scruffy face against her chest and hugging his arms tighter around her middle, thumb stroking her tummy.

“I'm surprised at you.” Lily whispered, still playing with his hair.

“Why?” Sy moaned back, turning his head to look up at her.

“When I first met you, I half wondered what your hair would look like if you let it grow out.” She explained, running her fingers through it.

“Oh?” He chuckled, smirking at her.

“Yeah.” She blushed at him. “But, I just didn't expect the Bear, Austin Syverson, would have curls.” She grinned at him, twisting the ends of his hair between her fingers, she loved his developing curls.

“My hair hasn't been this long in ten years.” Sy laughed, blushing and biting his lip. “I've been thinking about cutting it again.”

“I will end you, Wyatt.” Lily threatened, touching the tip of her finger to his nose.

“Oh, busting out the middle name and everything.” He smirked, taking a playful snap at the tip of her finger. “Lily?” He whispered, biting the inside of his lip as he stared into her eyes.

“What?” She replied, tilting her head at him.

“Have you thought about going back?” Sy murmured, brow creasing. “Back to Middleburg, to see your grandparents. Jak isn't a threat anymore. I'm sure they would love to see you and I'd bet my life, you want to see them again. Especially now, with the baby on the way.”

Lily pressed her lips together, resting her hands on Sy's shoulders. “It would be nice to see them again.” She answered, after a long pause.

“But?” He pressed, sensing it coming next.

“What if they don't want to see me?” She asked, searching his eyes for comfort, and found it. “What if they don't want me in their life anymore?”

Sy took a deep breath, sitting up as he did, and brought Lily up with him. “Then, that's their loss.” He told her, folding her up in his arms and pressing his lips to her forehead. “If they don't want you in their life, then they are missing out on knowing one of the most amazing gals, who can light up a room, simply by walking into it.”

“You're just buttering me up, Austin.” Lily mumbled into his neck.

“Woman, have I ever lied to you?” Sy grinned into her hair.

“No.” She chuckled, blushing shyly.

“I don't intend to now, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her temple. “But, you won't know their reaction, unless you go and see them.” He added, softer.

“I know.” She whispered back, leaning against his chest. “You're right. I owe it to them and myself.”

“Whatever choice you make, I'll support you, every step of the way.” Sy told her, gently tipping her head back and tenderly kissed her.

“I think I want to go see them.” Lily said, later that night, while she and Sy sat at the dinner table.

Sy looked up from his plate of spaghetti and garlic bread, slowly lowering his fork. “All right.” He nodded, straightening his back and giving her his full attention. “When do you wanna go?”

“The sooner, the better, I think.” She mumbled, shifting in her seat, her own dinner mostly untouched.

Sy nodded his head again, quietly regarding Lily from across the table. He could see the worried and fearful anxiety on her face, still mulling over every worst case scenario about seeing her grandparents again, he could almost see every one of them tick by her eyes. Afraid that her grandparents would disown her, the moment they laid eyes on her. Blaming her for what transpired with Jak. Afraid of what their reaction would be, when she showed up at their door, after five years of silence, pregnant with the baby of man they had never heard of or met before, especially since they were incredibly religious.

He reached across the table, just in time to catch the tear that escaped and started to slip down her cheek, then rested his hand over hers. “No matter what happens, Lily. You still have me.” He told her, lovingly.

“You still have us.”

Lily grasped Sy's hand and tried to smile at him and not cry at the same time, which was hard with the way her hormones were starting to really get out of control. “I know.” She choked back.

“Let me finish painting the rest of the house and go to your twelve week baby appointment on Friday, then we'll pack a bag and ourselves into the car and drive out there.” He told her, making a game plan, so her frazzled and tired mind could relax.

“It's only a twenty-ish hour drive.”

“I think, that's a good idea.” Lily nodded, chewing on her lip, taking deep breaths.

Sy smiled and squeezed her hand. “Good.” He chuckled and let her hand go, before picking his fork back up and dug into his spaghetti.

Sy double checked his large, Army issued duffel bag, making sure he and Lily had enough clothing, he had her zofran, nausea medicine, and prenatal vitamin, along with everything else he, Lily and Aika would need for the almost nineteen hour drive from Celina to Middleburg, Virginia, having already put her pregnancy pillow in the car, before tugging the bag closed, slung it over his shoulder and went downstairs.

“Billie promised to keep an eye on the place and pick up the mail for us.” Lily said, meeting him in the entryway hall.

“Great.” He smiled. “Well, I got all our stuff packed.” He said, jostling the duffel bag.

“I already packed some snacks in the truck too.”

“Then, we're all set!”

“No, I have to pee, one more time.” Lily giggled, and rushed into the half bath.

Sy laughed, shaking his head and took the duffel bag out to the truck, dropping it in the back seat with Aika. “All set?” He asked as Lily came out of the house.

“I am now!” She nodded, crossing the yard to the truck and got into the passenger seat.

“Did you lock up?” He asked, getting in with her.

“Yep.”

“You good, Aika?” Sy asked, looking to the German Shepherd, who let out a loud bark. “All right, let's get this road trip underway!” He pulled up Google Maps on his phone and entered the address to Lily's grandparents' place, then set the device on its dock and started the truck.

Sy and Lily laughed, as they sang along to a song that came on Sy's playlist that they both liked, Enemies by Shinedown. But, Sy turned the song down, when Lily suddenly stopped singing and quickly identified the look she got just before she threw up. Quickly popping open the center console, Sy reached inside of it and pulled out a circular, blue and white object and opened it, holding it out to her. Lily took it from him, without question and threw up in it, once or twice.

“Where did you get this?” She asked, looking at it, realizing it was a hospital-grade nausea bag. “Did you rob a hospital?” She chuckled, looking over at him.

“No.” He laughed back at her. “I bought them off Amazon. I wasn't sure if you got car sick on long rides or not. But, I was sure the baby would make you nauseous, at least, once on the drive. So, I wanted to be prepared and make you as comfortable as possible in the process.”

Lily tied the used bag closed, then opened the center console and found another twenty-plus of the blue emesis bags inside. She smiled up at him, shaking her head in disbelief of his utter and complete thoughtful and preparedness.

“You never cease to amaze me, Austin.” She said, sitting back up. “You see how amazing your Daddy is.” Lily grinned, looking at her belly, and making Sy blush.

“Well, I gotta take care of ya, don't I?” He smirked, resting his hand on her thigh.

“Yeah, I suppose.” She sighed, smirking back at him.

“There's some Listerine strips in the center console, by the way.” Sy added, after a few quiet moments.

“I'm sorry, am I offending you?” Lily giggled, opening the console again and fished around for them, before finding the small blue case.

“No, no.” He grinned, chuckling. “Just figured you'd want to get the taste out of your mouth.” He explained, finally getting them on the interstate highway.

“Did you pack my nausea meds?” Lily asked, feeling another wave wash over her.

“Yeah. It's in our bag.” Sy nodded, brow creasing, as he tried to figure out what stupid shenanigans the car in front of them was up too.

Lily twisted in her seat and pulled the worn green bag between the front seats, tugging it open and riffled through it, until she found the little prescription bottle of tiny, white oval tablets, then turned back around. She removed one of the pills and cracked open one of the two bottles of Voss water in the cup holders and downed the pill.

“Why don't you rest?” Sy suggested, reaching behind her seat for her pregnancy pillow. “It's just going to be annoying highway stuff for a while.” He said, giving her the pillow.

“I don't want you to get lonely.” Lily protested, maneuvering and situating the U-shaped pillow into a comfortable position.

Sy smiled over at her. “I'll be fine, Angel.” He assured her. “If I get lonely, I'll talk to Aika and we'll play the quiet game.” He chuckled, looking at the dog from the rear view mirror. “I'll wake you up around one, and we'll find some little place to have lunch.”

“If you're sure.” Lily yawned, she was usually already in the middle of a nap by now.

“Positive, Sweetness.” He nodded, turning the heat on a bit to make sure she was kept warm.

Lily contorted her body in her seat, drawing up her legs and propping her head and the curve of her pillow against the window, wrapping her arms around it and hugging it against her body, before dozing off to sleep. Sy reached out and rested his hand on her leg, gently massaging it as he kept his eyes on the road, just listening to the hum of the tires on the worn asphalt of Interstate Forty fill the silent cabin of the truck; Aika curled up on the backseat. The quiet boredom of the road allowed the devil to whisper into Sy's ear.

He wasn't sure what to do, if Lily's grandparents, the people that raised her, rejected her, and not only her, but their great grand-baby, his child. He knew he had to be strong for Lily, it would crush her, if they wanted nothing to do with her and the baby, but Sy wasn't so sure he would be able to keep himself under control. He had a feeling he would end up giving the couple a very big piece of his mind, before bringing Lily back home to Celina.

“It'll be fine.” He said aloud, glancing over at Lily. “It'll be all right.” He assured her sleeping form, leaning over just enough to lay his hand on her belly.

Sy found a turn off into Memphis just before one in the afternoon, parking at a small riverfront park in downtown Memphis, giving Lily a quiet place to wake up and all three of them a place to stretch their legs, and Aika a place to pee.

“Hey.” Sy called, softly, shutting off the car and leaning across the console. “Lily. Wake up, baby.” He cooed at her, brushing his knuckles against her cheek and tucking her hair behind her ear, kissing the corner of her mouth. “Hey, sweet pea.” He grinned, watching her eyes slowly flutter open, blinking at the bright sunlight glittering off the murky river water.

“Where are we?” She asked in a sleepy voice, rubbing her cheek against the microfiber cover of her pillow.

“The home of the King, Memphis Tennessee.” Sy chuckled, teasingly, and kissed her again. “So, love me tender.”

“I'm all shook up.” Lily chuckled, unfolding herself and sitting up in her seat.

“Well, it's now or never, baby doll.” Sy roared, his head going back.

“Oh, don't be cruel.”

“But, I can't help fallin' in love.” He chimed back.

“What now, my love?” Lily asked, smirking at him.

“I knew there was a reason I loved you.” Sy commented, finding more and more of them every day. “But, I thought we'd get some fresh air and stretch our legs, I'm sure Aika has to pee. Then, we'll find some lunch.”

“I like that idea.” Lily nodded, pushing her pillow into the back seat, then climbed out of the truck, taking the used nausea bag with her to throw away, while Sy put Aika on her leash.

Sy took Lily by the hand and strolled down the little sidewalk along the riverside, watching the various types of boats go by them on the water. The weather was nice and warm with pleasant enough humidity, a few clouds floating in the baby blue sky.

“Are you craving anything specific?” Sy asked as they patiently waited for Aika to do her business in the grass beside them.

“Hmm.” Lily hummed, pressing her lips together and considering if there was something specific she wanted for lunch; she hadn't had any definitive cravings yet, other than the three days she really needed to eat Mac and Cheese.

But, something specific did strike Lily.

“A pretzel.” She purred, already licking her lips at the thought of the salty baked good.

Sy chuckled at her, amused at the expression on her face, eyes closed and dreamy. “All right. I'll get you a pretzel then.”

It was like a ding went off in Lily's soul. “I want a lot of Pretzels.” She said, eyes popping open and looked up Sy, almost manic and desperate.

“Okay.” He replied, brows raised and blinking at her. “I'll get you a pretzel for lunch, then some to munch on.”

“Yeah.” Lily nodded, staring down at their feet, eyes wide. “Pretzels are good.”

“That they are.” Sy agreed, snickering, unable to keep back his amusement.

Lily's eyes snapped up at him, watching him laugh at her, his eyes practically teasing and making fun of her. “Shut up.” She snapped, but started to laugh back at him. “I can't help it.”

“I know you can't.” He nodded, trying to stop, but it only made him laugh harder. “That's what makes it even better.”

“I hate you.” Lily giggled, playful punching him in the arm. “Now, I want my pretzel, Captain.”

“Yes, Major!” Sy replied, saluting her, then quickly cleaned up after Aika and took them back to the truck. “I just need to find a place to get you one.” He sighed, taking his phone off its dock and googled where to get a pretzel in Memphis, Tennessee.

“Okay, there's an Auntie Anne's not that far from us that does pretzels.” He said, saving the directions and setting them in that direction.

Leaving Aika in the car, Lily and Sy went into the shopping center the Auntie Anne's was in, navigating the crowd and line to the counter. Lily chewed on her lip for a moment, torn between getting a regular pretzel or the pretzel bites, before finally deciding on the bites with the nacho cheese dip. With her food, they navigated their way around again and Sy got himself something from the Wendy's the center had as well, before going back out to the truck to eat there; Lily stealing a couple of Sy's french fries and sharing a couple of her pretzel bites.

Once their lunch was finished and they tossed their empty containers away, Sy made a quick run into the Mega Wal-Mart across the street from the shopping center to buy a big bag of mini pretzels and a case of Voss water for Lily, knowing she was going to get very thirsting from devouring them.

“Thank you.” Lily said, when Sy gave her the bag as he got in the car, her eyes glued on the bag.

“Just don't turn into one.” He teased her, chuckling. “All right, let's get back on the road.”

“I don't want you driving all night, Austin.” Lily mumbled around a mouthful of pretzel.

“I know and I won't.” He replied, reaching a hand into the bag. “I'll go until sun down, then we'll find a place to sleep for the night.” He said, then crammed the four or five pretzels into his mouth.

“Good.” Lily smiled, passing back a pretzel to Aika, who quickly devoured it and came back for more.

Reaching Blacksburg, Virginia just after dark, Sy found a drive-thru to order them dinner and a motel for the night, parking out front of the motel's office. Sighing, he rested back in the driver's seat, scrubbing his palms over his tired face and lulled his head to the side to look over at Lily, who had fallen asleep again, twisted around her pillow and her half eaten bag of pretzels clutched to her chest. They were three hours away from her grandparents' orchard, three hours from finding out whether or not they would be in Lily and the baby's life.

“Watch her, girl.” Sy said to Aika, before slipping out of the truck, locking the doors for extra measure, and going inside the office to get a room.

Once he had the room, Sy got back into the truck and parked as close to the room as he could, before going around and opening Lily's door, careful not to let her slip out. Then, gently took the pretzel bag from her and set it aside, unbuckled her seat belt and tried to figure out for a moment how to untangle the mess of limbs and pregnancy pillow, but quickly gave up with an amused chuckle. He just picked up both her and the pillow to carry her into their room and laid her down on the bed, tugging the turned down blankets over her, then went out to get their bag, dinner and Aika.

“Hey, Angel.” Sy smiled, closing the room door with his foot as Lily sat up, rubbing at her face and pushing her hair out of her face. “I got us some food.” He said, holding up the bag.

“You hungry?”

Lily nodded, still sleepy. “Where are we now?” She asked, sitting cross legged on the bed, beside Sy as they ate their food.

“Blacksburg.” He replied, shoving fries in his mouth. “About three hours away from your grandparents' place.”

Lily bit her lip and nodded her head, staring at the half eaten, plain chicken sandwich in her hand, suddenly losing her appetite and set it down. “I'm gonna take a shower, I'm sore.” She mumbled, getting off the bed and headed into the tiny bathroom.

Turning on the light and closing the door, Lily let out a heavy breath and tugged her tank top off over her head, followed by her elephant patterned leggings and underwear, before turning towards the shower, the walls were dingy and discolored, but clean. Spinning the hot and cold taps, then stepping under the shoddy shower-head, she leaned her forehead against the cracked acrylic wall, letting the pleasantly warm water cascade down her back, like a waterfall, with a soft moan. She was starting to have second thoughts about going to see her grandparents. She wondered how upset or disappointed Sy would be, if she told him she wanted to go back home to Celina in the morning, instead of going the three hours to Middleburg to see them.

She wondered how disappointed in herself she would be later on, if she chickened out this close to their destination.

The bathroom door opened and closed, followed by the rustle of clothing, before Sy stepped into the shower behind Lily, resting one hand on her hip and brought the other one around to cup the gentle slope of Lily's belly, pressing his lips to the base of her neck. Gulping down a thicket of emotions in her throat, Lily turned in Sy's arms and pressed herself against his chest, nuzzling her face into his neck. He smiled against her wet hair, gently kneading her hips and lower back, knowing after so many hours in the car and the way she contorted her body to sleep, she must have been in pain.

“Let me take care of you.” He whispered, kissing her forehead.

Sy picked up the little bottle of travel sized, hotel shampoo, broke the seal on it and poured it into his broad palm, then gently massaged it into her hair, stealthily wiping away a line of soap that dripped down her forehead and almost in her eye. Lily closed her eyes, softly moaning at the gentle and pleasurable pressure of Sy's strong and blunt fingers working the scentless shampoo into her scalp, his thumbs moving out to methodically rub her temples, easing the edge off of the tension migraine she had all day. Sy tipped her head back into the spray of the shower, combing his fingers through her wet and soapy strands to rinse out the shampoo. With her hair washed, he found a small wash cloth and bar of soap, and started to wash her body, beginning with her shoulders and applying a little bit of pressure as he did to massage the cramped muscles there.

“God, that feels so good.” Lily sighed, melting under his tender affection, a smile twitching on her face as he rubbed the cloth over the ticklish spots of her sides.

Sy smiled, kissing the bridge of her nose. “Anything for you, Angel.” He cooed back, paying special attention to the beautifully growing bulge of her belly.

“Thank you.” She whispered, relaxed and sleepy, after they got out of the shower, letting Sy dry her off and secure the towel around her body.

“You're welcome, Sweetheart.” He replied, kissing her cheek.

Lily went back into the room and opened their duffel bag, just pulling out the first article of clothing that her hand came in contact with, which was Sy's worn, Jack Daniels, Tennessee Whiskey t-shirt and let the towel slip off her and pulled on his shirt. Sy stood in the bathroom doorway, still naked and dripping from the shower and smiled at her, loving how the black garment hung on her like a dress, her shoulder length hair dripping and making it wet as she brushed it.

He had never seen anyone so beautiful in his life.

Moving over to the full sized bed, Sy situated her pregnancy pillow, then turned towards Lily. “Lay down, Angel.” He cooed at her.

Frowning at him for a moment, but seeing the look in his blue eyes, Lily chuckled and laid down, situating herself with her head and neck propped up on the belly of the pillow and her body comfortably cradled in the middle of it. Sy picked up her discarded towel and used it to dry off some, before turning off the room lights, then crawled into bed with her. Moving between Lily's legs and gently bending up her knees and pushing them apart, Lily's startled gasp filled the dark room as Sy's warm breath wafted over her exposed folds, just before his wide tongue took one long and leisurely lick.

“Jesus H. Christ!” She cried out, gripping the arms of her pillow.

“Just me, Angel.” Sy chuckled, hooking his arms around her legs, so they rested on his shoulders, and pressed his palms down on top of her thighs, to keep her still, before dipping his head back down and pressing an open kiss to her clit, flicking the tip of his tongue against it, melting Lily into a sweet and needy whimper.

Sy licked and suckled at her delicate pussy, slipping his tongue between her folds to tease her entrance and get a deeper taste of her, lewd noises filled the room as neither of them hid the pleasure they were in and having. Lily rocked against his mouth, her hands pressed to the back of Sy's head to hold him in place, eyes rolled and fluttered, her anxiety of not wanting to go to her grandparents' in the morning completely forgotten in the heady peak of her orgasm.

“I love your mouth.” Lily sighed, out of breath, exhausted and pleasantly numb.

Sy roared with laughter, laying down beside her. “Good to know.” He grinned, pulling the blankets over them and draping his arm over her. “Good night, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her cheek.

“Night, Bear.” She mumbled back, starting to drift off.

Sy stayed awake for a little while, his hand slipping up inside the shirt she was wearing to gently caress her belly and stared at the back of her head. “God,” He whispered, careful not to wake or disturb her. “I don't ask much of you. But, for whatever my word is worth, please don't let these people hurt my girl. She needs and wants them in her life, so does our little one.” He said, lifting his hand to gently stroke her damp hair.

“Let this meeting tomorrow go well, for all of us.” He sighed, squeezing his eyes shut and hugging Lily back against him.

Lily took a deep breath and held it, as Sy turned the truck off the main road and onto the dirt road leading onto the Warren Orchard farm, seeing the tall apple tree shaped sign with Warren Apples carved elegantly in its trunk. It wasn't long before they came to the closed security gate, shutting them off from the rest of the farm. Sy rolled the truck to a stop and looked over to Lily, lifting a brow at her, waiting for her to tell him what they should do next, when a voice came to life next to him.

“Welcome to Warren Apple Orchards, what can I do for you?” A deep Southern drawl asked from a mounted intercom box outside the driver's side window.

Sy rolled down his window and leaned closer to the box, spotting the security camera mounted above the one side of the gate. “Yeah, we're here looking for the owners of the place.” He replied, glancing over at Lily again.

“Mr. and Mrs. Warren aren't taking visitors just now.”

Lily huffed through her nose and leaned over the center console and Sy. “Tell them, Liliana wants to see them, Judd.” She called out, biting and pressing her lips together.

There was a long pause with a bubble of tension, before an electric buzz filled the humid air around them and the metal gate rolled out of their way. Lily sat back in her seat and Sy gave her a concerned look, before driving though.

“You know him?”

“He's worked here as long as I can remember.” Lily replied, staring out her window to the immaculate lawn and row of trees beyond that. “Just keep following the road, you'll find the house at the end of it.” She added, picking at the hem of the shorts she was wearing.

True enough, a few minutes later, a massive colonial, plantation house appeared behind ancient weeping willows. Made mostly of white stone with two stories of wrap around porches and ornate black railings, tall marble columns, from the foundation to the roof; what looked like five chimneys, three turrets and an apple tree weathervane. The driveway looped around the front of the house, leading up the stairs onto the porch was double french, front doors.

Sy was in complete awe of it as he pulled around to the front of the driveway. “This place is amazing.”

“Yeah.” Lily gulped, biting her lip and stared up at the house. “Oh dear god.” She whimpered, shrinking her seat, trying to hide.

“What?” Sy frowned, then noticed a whited haired man step out of the house, wearing a pair of light brown khaki pants and a black pull over sweater with the Warren Orchard's logo on it, an apple with an arrow threw it, the front of the arrow's shaft bent in the shape of a W.

“I'm guess, that's--”

“My grandfather.” Lily nodded, peeking over the edge of the door to look up at him. “Yep.” She sighed, squeezing her eyes shut and pressed her forehead to the window.

“Well, you can't hide forever, Angel.” Sy told her, tilting his head at her. “He knows we're here and this is more than likely us, sitting here.”

“I know.” Lily huffed, chewing her lip. “I know.”

“You can do this, babe.” He encouraged her. “I'm right here, Angel.”

Lily looked over at him, looking at him like a lost puppy, before taking a deep breath and fortifying herself. “You're right.” She nodded, leaning over and kissed him.

Taking another deep breath, Lily opened her door and stepped out of the truck, gulping as she looked up the steps to her grandfather. Her heart felt like a war drum in her chest, she was excited to see him again, he didn't seem any different from the last time he had seen him, at least, not from the distance they were at.

But, she was also afraid of what was about to happen next.

“Paw-Paw.” She called out to him, softly, her voice shaky.

“Liliana.” He replied, lifting a snowy brow at her, his honey-brown eyes scrutinizing her.

“I've missed you.” Lily blurted out, sniffling, tears burning her eyes. “I'm sorry I disappeared. I'm sorry I just ran away and I didn't tell either of you where I was going or why. That I stayed away for so long without a word.”

“But, I thought about you all the time.”

He stared hard at her, crossing his arms over his chest. “You scared the daylights out of your grandmother and I, Liliana. We tried looking for you everywhere, but you just vanished into thin air, like you never existed.” He told her, his anger slowly showing on his face.

“We thought you were dead.”

Lily bowed her head, ashamed for what she had put her grandparents through. “I'm sorry. It wasn't my intention, Paw-Paw.” She choked, looking back up at him, breathing hard.

“Then, what was your intention, Liliana?” He barked at her, his eyes glowing with rage. “Who are you?” He hissed, as Sy came around the front of the truck to wrap an arm around Lily's waist, to comfort her.

Sy looked up at him for a moment, his eyes hard at the man. “Austin Syverson.” He replied, hugging Lily against his side and rubbing her back.

“Your relation to my granddaughter is what?”

“I'm her boyfriend.” He replied, narrowing his eyes at the other man. “Look, she's come here, because she misses you both, very much, and has regretted the way she left. But, she had to leave, she had a very valid reason in doing so. In reality, she's an adult, more than capable of making her own choices and doesn't have to answer to anyone as to why she's made them.” He told Lily's grandfather.

“That includes you.”

“But, she's gained the strength to come here to try and make amends with you both, for more than one reason. You can either accept that or you can not. What happens now, is up to you.”

“Davy, who is it?”

A voice called from the double doors behind Lily's grandfather, before it opened to a thin, elderly woman with a short, curly pixie cut, who struggled to wheel herself out of the house and onto the porch. Her dim and pale blue eyes almost instantly found Lily at the bottom of the porch stairs, her hands flew to the front of her flower pattern dress, mouth dropping open.

“Liliana!” She exclaimed, reaching out a hand to her husband.

“Mee-maw.” Lily sniffled back, smiling at her grandmother through her tears.

“Thank the Lord, you're all right, my sweet child.” She cried, pressing a hand to her mouth.

“I am.” Lily nodded, wiping at her eyes. “And, I wanna be part of your lives again. I want to make amends for what I did by running away and disappearing. I'm sorry, I hurt you and Paw-Paw.”

Lily's grandmother looked up at her husband, who was still glaring at Lily and Sy, pressed her lips together, then looked back at them. “Come inside.” She said, letting his hand go and turned her wheelchair around and headed back towards the door.

“Davy.” She called over her shoulder.

Sighing, he turned and pulled the door open for her, eyeing Lily and Sy as they mounted the porch stairs, then followed his wife inside the house, before doing the same. She rolled down the hallway and turned into the private study, motioning to the long leather couch and parked herself in front of it.

“Hello.” She said, looking at Sy as he sat down beside Lily on the couch.

“Ma'am.” He replied, politely nodding his head to her.

“Who might you be?”

“Austin Syverson, Ma'am.” Sy answered with a sweet smile. “I'm your granddaughter's boyfriend.”

“Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Syverson.” She replied, regarding him. “I'm Violet Warren, and this is my husband, Davis.” She said, motioning to him as he took a seat in a chair to Lily and Sy's left.

“Sir.” Sy said, nodding his head stiffly to him.

“You're looking well, Liliana.” Violet commented, turning her attention to her granddaughter.

“Thank you.” Lily whispered, licking her lips. “I just go by Lily now.”

Violet nodded her head. “Very well.” She acknowledged. “Where've you been, Lily?”

Lily drew a deep breath through her nose and slowly let it back out. “It's a long story.” She whimpered, gripping Sy's hand for support, chewing the inside of her cheek to bits.

Davis and Violet glanced at each other, before she leaned forward and took a small hand bell off the coffee table between them and rang it. A moment later, a young lady appeared in the doorway of the room and Violet asked her to serve them some tea. The tension was tight and thick in the room while the tea was being made for them, no one saying a word to each other. The servant returned, carrying in a highly polished tea tray and set it down on the coffee table, setting out teacups for the four of them and filled the cups, before leaving the room again.

“What is your story, Lily?”

Carefully drizzling a bit of honey into her tea with a honey dipper and taking a fortifying sip of it, Lily started her story. “You know that I had been seeing Jak.” She said, looking between her grandparents.

“We did.” Violet nodded, taking a sip of her own tea.

“Well, what you didn't know was Jak had been abusive to me.” She continued, staring into the rich and steamy liquid in the expensive china teacup. “He had been the entire time we were together. But, I was too naive and silly to break it off with him for the longest time. But, after a particularly bad incident, I decided I couldn't take it any longer. So, I packed a bag and went to live with Maggie. I didn't tell you-” She paused, brow creased, she had often thought about why she hadn't told them, but had never really pinned down a specific reason to why she hadn't.

But, she shook that thought off.

“I honestly don't know why I hadn't. All I knew was I was terrified of Jak finding me again and dragging me back into the life and situation I had been living in for so long with him. While I was with Maggie, I changed my name from Liliana Jade Warren to Lily Ana Moore, to make it harder for him to find me, which made it hard for the both of you to find me, and finished university.” She continued on. “After I did that, I moved to a very small town in Texas and started my own company for my Graphic Design and Photography.”

“It's how I've been supporting myself.”

“I was so consumed by my paranoia and fear of Jak finding me, that I never left the house I bought in Texas, five years ago, this is the farthest I've been from it, since I've moved there.” She confessed, looking to Sy, who smiled at her, supportive and proud.

“What's changed?” Her grandfather asked, his own teacup still where the servant set it, ignored and cold. “Why are you here now?”

Lily cleared her throat and set her tea aside. “I left and became reclusive, agoraphobic, because I felt unsafe and afraid. That Jak would end up finding me and hurting me. He did end up finding me, but Austin...” She looked to Sy, her eyes filled with appreciative love and pride. “Austin makes me feel safe again. He's protected me, in more than one way, and he's shown me what real love is. I owe him so much.”

Sy grinned brightly at her, gripping her hand, a bit choked up at her words.

“He's helped me get back to this place, a place I've held onto, wanting to be a productive member of society, to be back in your life and be your granddaughter again. I miss you and I love you both. That never changed and it will never change.”

“That never changed for us either, Lily.” Violet replied, resting her teacup back on its saucer. “You will always be our precious granddaughter and we have always loved you; from the moment you were born to this moment right now.”

“I hope you could find it in your heart, to have a little more love.” Lily whispered, biting the inside of her lip, gulping.

“For what?” Violet frowned, brows drawing together and head tilting at her.

Lily looked to Sy, who nodded his head at her. “Sy and I are expecting.” She mumbled, not meeting either of her grandparents' eyes.

“You're with child?” Violet asked, shocked disbelief in her voice.

“I am.” Lily nodded, whimpering.

“I hope you're not here, thinking this little reunion will get you money.” Her grandfather snapped, coldly.

Lily's eyes snapped over to him, a cold knot of shock, hurt and anger in her stomach, she could feel the tension stiffen Sy's body. “We don't need any of the family money.” She hissed, eyes hardening. “My business alone is quite well off, thank you; and I'm more than offended at the accusation.”

“That's putting it politely.” Sy chimed in, staring daggers into the old man.

“Davis.” Violet barked, offended at her husband's insult as well, she had no feeling that Lily and Sy were there looking for money or assistance with their lives or the baby.

“Excuse me, for the last time I recalled a couple sitting on that very same couch to tell us they were expecting a child, it was our sweet Daisy and that good for nothing, Palmer, and we all saw how that ended.” Davis replied, his voice cold and sharp.

“Austin isn't my father.” Lily barked, her voice mirroring her grandfather's.

Lily and her grandfather glared darkly at each other, before Violet grew annoyed with their childish behavior and clapped her bony hands together, catching the room's attention.

“That is quite enough.” She scolded them.

Sy hid his smirk around the rim of his teacup, already liking Lily's grandmother.

“How far along are you?” Violet asked, looking at Lily.

“Almost thirteen weeks.” She replied, unconsciously touching her belly.

“Do you know what you're having?”

“Not yet.” Lily grinned at Sy, giddy at the thought of finding out the gender of the baby, she didn't care if it was a boy or a girl, she was just excited in general. “We won't know for another five weeks.” She added, glancing over at her grandmother.

“Well,” Violet grinned, her eyes lighting up. “I can't wait to meet my great-grandbaby.” She said, sounding overjoyed at the prospect. “Davy?” She looked to her husband, her eyes still filled with excitement, but outlined with warning.

Davis looked at her for a moment, then over at Lily, before looking down at the watch on his right wrist, then stood. “I have to meet Mac in the south orchard.” He said, tonelessly, and left the room.

Lily let out an uneven breath and painful tears punched her in the chest, turning her face into Sy's collarbone as he wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her against his side, pressing his lips to her hair. Violet's mouth was pressed into a thin, angry, lipstick red line as she continued to stare out the study doorway after Davis, the rapturous event of finding out about their great-grandbaby being overshadowed by his stubborn pigheadedness.

“I think we should go.” Sy said to Lily, gently wiping away her tears.

“Please, do stay.” Violet chimed in, turning her attention back to them. “There's more than enough room right here.” She said, looking back and forth between Lily and Sy. “Please, it's been so long, Lily. You've been gone and so far away. Town is twenty minutes away and with you here now, two minutes is too far away.”

Lily looked up at Sy.

“It's up to you, Angel.” He whispered, brushing his thumb against her flushed cheek.

She looked over at her grandmother. “Of course, I would love that.” She whispered, wiping her nose on the back of her hand.

Violet smiled at her, relieved to have her granddaughter under the same roof again. “I'll have Clara set two extra places at the table.” She grinned, overjoyed. “I'll even have her make your favorites for lunch and dinner.”

Lily smiled at her, touched at her grandmother's sentiment. “Thank you.”

“You remember where your room is?” She replied, lifting a brow at her.

“I do.” Lily nodded her head.

“Then, I won't keep you any longer. I'm sure you must be tired with the baby and the long journey from Texas.”

“I am.” She agreed, sighing softly.

“Off you both go then, the bell will ring, when lunch is ready.”

“Thank you, Mee-Maw.” Lily said, nodding her head and stood up, Sy standing with her.

“Ma'am.” Sy nodded his head to Violet, then followed Lily out of the room and down the hall to a flight of stairs. “Well, that didn't go as badly as the two of us thought it would.” He commented, mounting the stairs behind her.

“No, it did not.” Lily replied over her shoulder, going up the three sets of stairs. “I just hope my grandfather comes around.” She added, coming to the second floor and going down to a door at the very end of the hall. “This is...was—my room.” She said, turning the vintage, metal and ceramic door knob that had a hand-painted gold floral design on it, and pushed the door open.

The bedroom was spacious and bright with the mid-morning sun shining in through four windows, between one set of windows sat a squat, five compartment, vintage chest of drawers, across from that was a full sized, poster bed, with the doorway to a bathroom to the left and a walk-in closet to the right. There was a bookcase and table against the wall by the door, mostly filled with church and home school related things.

“It's a nice room.” Sy commented, picking up one of the books on the table, a bible.

“Thanks.” Lily smiled, shyly, seeing that her grandparents had left her room the exact way she'd left it, when she moved out.

“Do you wanna rest for a little while?” He suggested, stepping up behind her and resting his hands on her hips, gently pressing his thumbs into the small of her back and massaging them.

“Yeah.” She moaned, her head dropping back against his chest, turning to kiss the underside of his bearded jaw.

“How about a nice warm bath first, maybe a cup of tea?”

Lily chuckled into his neck, grinning. “So dotting, Captain.” She teased him.

“I love you.” He cooed, kissing her forehead, then moved away from her and went into the bathroom, plugging the drain on the ancient claw-foot tub and turned the X-shaped tap handles.

Lily padded into the bathroom, sitting down on the closed toilet seat and pushed down the stress of her grandfather's behavior towards her, to watch Sy fill the bath for her, a soft smile on her face. She stood up for a moment and reached underneath the sink and removed a small bottle and handed it to him. Sy smiled at her and took it from her, uncapping it and getting the strong snap of eucalyptus and sprinkled the Epsom salt into the delicately warm water, before turning off the tap. He grabbed a towel and folded it, then situated it at one end of the tub, to pillow her head, when she started to soak.

“Now, where is the kitchen?” He asked, looking at her.

“Down the stairs, first door to your right.” Lily replied, getting out of her clothing.

“Cool, I'll be right back.” Sy told her, kissing her temple and stepped out of the room to go downstairs to get her tea.

Lily finished undressing and carefully stepped into the pleasantly warm water, leaning back with a soft and satisfied moan, focusing on the warm water enveloping her body easing away her aches and pains, melting away the anxieties that had accumulated during the drive over from Texas and the visit. While Sy found the kitchen and pushed open the swinging door, finding the cook, Clara, inside, who looked up as she heard him come in and wiped her hands on her apron.

“Can I help you?” She asked, lifting a brow at him.

“Um, just need a cup of tea.” He replied, licking his lips and glancing around the kitchen.

“Oh, of course, right away.”

“I'd hate to put you out.” Sy said, alarmed.

Clara chuckled at him, pulling down a cup from a high cabinet. “It's what the Warren's hired me for.” She assured him. “I'm guessing it's for Lily.” She added, moving about the kitchen as she put the things together to make the tea.

“Yeah.” He nodded, then patiently waited for her to finish and took the cup from her. “Thank you.”

“You're welcome.” Clara smiled, and returned to what she had been doing.

Sy carefully took the cup back upstairs to Lily, smiling as he stepped into the bathroom and saw her lounging comfortably in the tub. He was glad she could relax and let the stress go, even if it was for a little while. Lily stirred as he sat down beside her, smiling at him and taking the cup of tea from his outstretched hands and let out a pleased moan.

“Feels like a spa day.” She chuckled, handing her teacup back to Sy for him to hold, so she could relax back again.

“You deserve to relax.” Sy replied, softly. “You've got an important job to do.”

“Yeah, I'm growing a Syverson.” Lily chuckled, teasingly.

“Exactly.” He laughed back. “That's no easy feat to bring one of us into the world.”

“Bringing a Syverson into the world is just the start of it, then we have to raise them.”

“Oh, trouble, trouble, trouble.” Sy grinned at her. “Nothing, but trouble.”

“Toil and bubble.” Lily giggled, fully amused and lighthearted.

“Come on, sleepy, out with you.” Sy said, setting her empty teacup on the vanity counter and pulled the towel off the bar and held it open for her.

“Okay.” Lily replied, stifling a yawn with her hand.

Stepping out of the tub and into Sy's arms, she rested her forehead against his chest and let him dry her off. Sy had taken a liking to drying her off after she showered or bathed, since she'd become pregnant, none of which Lily protested to, she was usually very sleepy by the time she got out of them, so having him there to finish up was always nice.

“Oh, fuck.” He barked, after helping back into her clothing. “Your pillow is still in the truck.”

“It won't kill me to have one nap without it.” Lily said, through yet another yawn.

“You were a very cranky mama bear the last time you didn't have that thing to sleep with.” He reminded her. “I'll go down and get it, just sit tight.”

“I'd rather lay tight.” She huffed, starting to get cranky as she shuffled over to her bed and laid down.

Sy rushed back downstairs and nearly collided with Violet. “Oh my god, I am so sorry.” He panted, making sure she was all right. “ Are you okay?”

“I'm fine, where's the fire, Mr. Syverson?”

“Lily's laying down for her nap and I just realized she doesn't have her pregnancy pillow and she always wakes up very cranky, when she doesn't have it to sleep with.” He explained, calming down.

Violet smiled up at Sy, touched and pleased at the plain devotion he had for her granddaughter. “Well, we can't have that, now can we?” She chuckled, rolling back out of his way.

“No, ma'am.” Sy shook his head at her.

“Violet, Mr. Syverson. Just call me Violet.” She informed him as Sy reached the front door.

He paused, hand on the door and smiled at her, remembering when Lily told him to call her by her given name. “Of course, Ms. Violet.” He nodded at her, politely.

Violet smiled back at him and Sy went out to his truck.

“Hey, girl.” Sy said, opening the passenger door of the truck and only to get attacked by Aika's tongue. “I know, I know. I haven't forgotten about ya. I promise.” He chuckled, petting her. “I'll come back down in a couple minutes and take care of you. But first, I have to take care of your mama.” He said, reaching in the back seat for Lily's U-Shaped pillow, pushed Aika back and closed the door again, before rushing back upstairs.

“Okay, pillow.” Sy said, bursting into the room, only to find Lily curled into a ball and sound asleep, making him chuckling. He situated her pillow and gently unrolled Lily from her ball and slipped her between her pillow, before covering her up.

“Sleep sweet, Angel.” He whispered, kissing her cheek softly, then went back downstairs. “Um, do you know where Ms. Violet is?” He asked the servant that had served him and Lily tea when they had first arrived.

“Yes, she's in the private study, right through there.” She replied, pointing the way.

“Thank you.” He nodded, then went down, gently knocking on the door.

“Enter.”

“Ms. Violet?”

“Ah, Mr. Syverson, I'm trusting the pillow crisis was averted?” She asked, an amused glitter in her eyes.

Sy chuckled. “It was, thank you.”

“Then, what can I help you with?”

“I, uh, brought Lily and I's dog with us...” He said, sheepishly, though Lily's grandmother seemed like a very sweet woman, Sy got the vibe she was the authority in this household and crossing her wasn't the way to go. “She's in my truck and I didn't want to take her out without asking first, so I didn't step on any toes and cause any issues with you and your husband.”

“What kind of dog is she?”

“She's a German Shepherd.” Sy replied, licking his lips. “I found her in the war-zone on my last deployment.” He half explained to her.

Violet blinked several times at Sy. “You were in the military?”

“Yes, ma'am.” He nodded, with a deep sense of pride. “I was a Captain in the U.S Army, Special Forces, for more than ten years.”

“What's the pup's name?”

“Aika.”

“Well, Aika is more than welcome here.” She told him. “As long as she behaves herself.” She added, a soft smile on her face.

“She's a very well behaved dog, you have my word.” Sy replied, smiling back at her.

“Good.” Violet nodded. “Just make sure you keep her out of the orchards or Davis will have a never-ending fit.”

“Will do.”

Excusing himself, Sy went back out to the truck and put Aika on her leash, walking her around the front of the property and away from the orchards, making sure to clean up after her, then brought her inside, taking her upstairs to Lily's room, where she curled up on the bed with Lily, before he decided to do a little exploring himself before lunch.

He wandered into the orchards, seeing the short trunks, but wide crowns, light green and shiny apples weighing down its branches and a couple littered the ground. There easily had to be a hundred trees of the same sort for as far as Sy could see in the area he was in, before he moved on. Sy came to a small dirt lane and crossed it into a totally different portion of the orchard, these trees were still squat and wide, but the apples on their branches were medium sized and mostly two toned, a dull red that faded into a yellow-y green color.

He crossed another dirt road and found another orchard of another kind of apple, this one a light yellow color, when he heard voices and then his name and turned, seeing Lily's grandfather, realizing he had wandered into the south orchard.

“What are you doing out here?” Davis asked, approaching him.

“Just looking around.” Sy replied, keeping his tone guarded. “Lily's told me a lot about the place.”

“And where is she?”

“Back at the house, sleeping.” Sy told him, his shoulders stiff. “She gets tired a lot with the baby.”

“Hm.” Davis huffed and turned on his heels.

“What's your problem?” Sy barked after him, unable to hold his temper any longer. “She just wants her grandfather, the man that raised her, back in her life, in her child's life. Not your money or your business, just your love and affection.”

Davis spun around on his heels to face Sy. “I might have raised her, because my Daisy died, and her father was an unreliable scum, but she's making the same mistake her mother did. I won't be part of that again.”

“I won't be there when it kills her too.” He hissed, then stormed off.

Lily woke up to Sy's angry pacing at the foot of the bed and cursing under his breath, and sat up, rubbing at her eyes. “What's wrong, Bear?” She asked, frowning at him.

“Your grandfather is a pigheaded, son of a bitch.”

Her mouth fell open for a moment, then her brows drew together and her eyes narrowed. “Did the two of you get into an argument?”

“Sorta.” He huffed back.

“For the love of Jesus, Austin.” Lily barked at him, pressing her hands to her face. “Why?”

“I didn't go lookin' for it, Lily.” He retorted, stopping his pacing. “I was just checking out the orchards and ran into him. One thing came to another, I asked him what his problem was, all you want is his love and affection back, not his damned money or his orchard, and his reply was you're making the same mistake your mother made and you'll end up dying because of it too.”

“Which you will fucking not!” He added, a panicked fright breaking through his burst of anger.

“Of course, I'm not going too, Bear.”

Lily sighed, shaking her head and running her hand through her hair, before getting up out of bed. “I'll be more than all right. We have a great doctor and an amazing hospital back home. Plus, I have you to take care of and look after me, the whole time. I'll be perfectly safe and sound.” She told him, hugging her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his chest.

“Don't listen to him, Sy. He's just a grumpy old man, set in his ways.”

“What's that make me?” He asked, half jokingly.

“My boyfriend and Papa Bear.” She giggled, tilting her head back to look up at him.

“Good to know, Mama Bear.” He teased back, dipping his head to kiss her. “The fuck was that?” He asked as two loud dinging sounds filled the house.

“That is the lunch bell.” Lily replied, pulling away from him. “One ding is breakfast, two is lunch and three is dinner.” She explained to him, finding her shoes and slipping them back on. “Old Virginian hospitality, Syverson. I know you Texans aren't used to it.”

“Oh, you posh and polished Southerners.” He teased back, following her downstairs. “Give me the ringing of a triangle any day and this cowboy will know the way to the dinner table.”

“Remind me to buy one for our house, then.” Lily giggled, showing him into the family dinning room.

“Buy what for your house?” Violet asked, already seated at one end of the table.

“Oh, Sy was making fun of us for being—what did you call it?” She asked, looking at him as he vigorously shook his head at her. “Ah yes, posh and polished Southerners, for having a meal bell.” You grinned at him, impishly. “While, pointing out the Texas Cowboy in him could only find his way home, if he heard the call of a triangle bell.”

“I said, I would be able to find my way to the table. I know my way home, thank you very much.” He spoke up, his cheeks pink underneath the hairs of his beard.

Both Lily and Violet's laughter filled the dining room, but Sy soon joined them. But, the laughter died down as Davis entered the room, taking his place at the other end of the table, practically sucking the air out of the room as he took his seat.

“How is the south orchard doing?” Violet asked, as lunch was being served.

“One of the original York apple trees is starting to fail for some reason.” Davis replied, picking up the salt shaker. “Mac and I were running through a list of things we can do to save it.” He explained, paying closer attention to his food than to the others at the table with him.

“This looks really good.” Sy commented, licking his lips at his plate.

“It's one of Lily's favorites.” Violet smiled at him. “Creamy Shrimp pasta.”

“I used to try and bribe Clara into making it for every meal once for a whole summer.” Lily chuckled, twirling the angel hair pasta around her fork. “Never worked out.”

“Didn't deter you from trying though.” Violet chuckled, smiling fondly at her granddaughter. “I'm more than sure you'll love what Clara is making you for dinner.”

“I have no doubt.” She smiled back.

“Oh, Mr. Syverson, if you'd like a place to park your truck, I'm sure Davis could show you where the garage is.” Violet said, her eyes on her husband.

“Thank you, Ms. Violet.” Sy replied, smiling at her. “And, please, call me Sy or Austin, whichever you might prefer.” He told her, a bit shyly.

“Austin, it is.” Violet answered, giving him a sweet smile. “But, you can do that for him, can't you?” She said, lifting a brow at her husband, with an expression that dared him to object to her request.

Davis stared at his wife, his hard brown eyes holding Violet's stern blues, before his shoulders dropped slightly. “I'll show you after lunch.”

“Thank you.” Sy replied, stiffly.

Lily rested her hand on Sy's thigh, gently squeezing it, trying to keep him calm and relaxed. “How have the orchards been?” Lily asked her grandfather, trying to open any sort of connection with him. “I know picking season is coming up soon in the next few months.” She pointed out, gathering up a forkful of her shrimp pasta.

There was a long silence at the table, each second made Lily's heart clench tighter, fearing her grandfather would just continue to ignore her and pretend she didn't exist. She didn't know how much more of his coldness she could take, before it became too much to bear and she would just want to leave again.

No matter how much it would hurt.

“Other than the York tree showing signs of white rot, the orchards are as productive and fruitful as ever.” He finally spoke.

“What happens if you don't cure the white rot?” Lily frowned, concerned for the tree.

“We lose the tree.” Davis sighed, resting back in his chair and tossing his napkin onto the table beside his plate. “It'll only be the third originally planted tree on the farm we've ever lost. Well, with any luck the rot won't spread and it won't hit us too hard.” He explained, looking at her.

“Just because you lost one, don't mean you'll lose more.” Lily replied, holding his gaze.

Davis dropped his eyes and nodded his head, sighing, then looked up at Sy, noticing his empty plate. “You done?”

“I am.” Sy nodded, wiping his mouth.

“Come on, and I'll show you where the garage is and you can park your truck.” He said, standing up, leaving his half eaten lunch on the table.

“I'll be right back.” Sy whispered to Lily, kissing her cheek and stood, following her grandfather out of the house.

The walk from the house was silent as they stepped off the paved driveway and onto a pea gravel lane that led a little ways away from the house, through a small grove of very ancient looking weeping willows to a large building with several vehicles parked outside of it.

“You can park it here.” Davis said, motioning to the area in front of them.

“Thanks.” Sy nodded to him, then turned back to get his truck.

Bringing his truck around and finding a place to park it, Sy got out and and grabbed their duffel bag out of the back and locked up, heading back up to the house; when Davis stopped in his tracks, noticing the duffel bag slung over his shoulder; the worn military green and the faded, black U.S letters.

“Something the matter?” Sy frowned, turning back to him.

“That's a military bag.” Davis replied.

“Yes, it is.” He nodded, shifting it on his shoulder and tilting his head at the other man.

“It's yours?”

Sy's shoulders slumped and he stared at the old man. “I served more than ten years in the U.S Army as a Captain in the Special Forces.” He explained to him. “I retired almost a year ago.”

“How did you and Lily meet?”

“As I said, I retired almost a year ago and I returned home to Austin, Texas.” Sy replied, sighing. “Even though I could live quite well on my retirement, I don't like not having a job or being idle. So, I went about applying for jobs, mostly jobs I could do with my hands, construction jobs and such. A construction company told me about a contract that they had gotten from a young lady, who needed help fixing her place up in Celina, which is about three hours south of Austin. I called about it and got the job. I'm sure you guessed, it was Lily.” He smirked, chuckling to himself.

“I started fixing the place up for her and we grew close, especially after we helped each other through a few traumatic things.”

“Like, what?”

“I have pretty severe PTSD from my time in deployment and Lily's gotten me through more than one episode.” Sy smirked, blushing slightly and toeing the ground with the tip of his boot. “She's the guiding light to holding them back.” He whispered softly. “As for her, she's been through a lot in the last five years, especially the fear and turmoil caused by Jak.” He said. “There's nothing on this planet, there hasn't been anything on this planet, I wouldn't do to ensure her happiness and safety.”

Sy looked Davis dead in the eyes, a deep seriousness coming over him, even though he had a knot in his stomach. “Listen, your granddaughter isn't a little girl anymore. She's a grown woman, and a beautiful, loving and intelligent one, at that. She's so incredibly caring for the people around her, even when she's been so hurt and her trust in people has been cut deeply. Her work ethic is admirable, she built a company from the reclusion of her own home, that she hadn't left in more than three years, and it is thriving. She's even currently in the process of interviewing people to fill two positions, because she has so many clients, that she's in need of the extra help.”

“You're projecting the fear of your daughter’s mistakes and death on Lily and it isn't fair to her, or to you and your wife.”

“My Daisy Mae's misfortunes aren't the only failures that have me disappointed in the situation.” Davis said, rolling his jaw at Sy.

Sy huffed at him, biting his lip and nodding his head at him. “You think I'd be some, what was it, unreliable scum, like her father?” He asked, lifting a brow at him.

Davis sighed back at him, scrubbing a palm over his wrinkled forehead and lifted a brow at him. “Come with me.” He said, motioning him back towards the house.

Pressing his lips together, Sy followed him back up to the house and into Davis's private study, setting the duffel bag down by the door as Davis closed it behind him. Davis motioned to a leather and mahogany upholstered chair in front of a cold fireplace, then moved over to a small table of bottles and glasses, pouring them both a drink. He handed Sy a glass and took the seat across from him, taking a long sip.

“Smooth stuff.” Sy commented, licking his lips and admiring the rich, amber liquid.

“Maker's Mark, Kentucky bourbon whiskey.” Davis replied, smirking at his glass, appreciatively.

“Anyhow.” He cleared his throat, balancing his glass on the arm of his chair. “Palmer Hughes. He came to work here in the summer of 1985, he was twenty years old and Daisy was eighteen. I knew the boy was trouble the moment I set eyes on him and knew I should have sent him picking.”

“But, for whatever reason, and against my better judgment, I didn't.”

“He took an instant liking to our Daisy, who was ordinarily a good mannered, well behaved and proper girl. But, as soon as he set his eyes on her, he started corrupting her. He would stop coming to work in the fields to sneak himself and her off the property and go into town or wherever it was they would go to. Daisy started to become more defiant and rebellious. One of our church elders even spotted her and Palmer with a group of their lowlife friends in a questionable area of town, getting high, smoking and drinking.”

“It was such an embarrassment.” He sighed, taking a deep gulp of his drink. “When Daisy was twenty-one, she came to her mother and I and told us she was pregnant. Palmer had split the moment he found out about it. But, I tracked his no good ass down and dragged him back. He and Daisy got married just before Lily was born.”

“What happened?” Sy asked, frowning at him, the burn of the alcohol melting through the knot in his stomach as he thought about it. “How did her mother die?”

“She developed a hemorrhage that the doctor's couldn't get under control, so she ended up bleeding to death.” Davis explained, growing pale at the memory of the doctor's telling him and his wife the news of their daughter’s death, their only child. “For his part, Palmer did seem distraught over her death. But, he blamed Lily for it. So, he spent the rest of her life coming in and out of it, before Violet and I finally just adopted her and permanently took care of her.”

“It was Violet and I that ended up naming Lily, as well. Daisy hadn't picked one, that we were aware of, and Palmer wasn't being cooperative with anyone, us or the hospital staff.”

“Where is her father now?”

Davis sighed and carefully regarded Sy for a long moment, before replying. “He died, some years ago.”

Sy blinked at him, shocked. “You never told Lily this.”

“No.” He shook his head, guilty. “Vi and I thought it would be best that we didn't.”

“That's not really for either of you to decide.” Sy frowned at him, annoyed. “Lily deserves the truth.”

“I know she does.” Davis agreed. “I'll tell her, one day. As for you, Austin.” He met Sy's eyes. “I've unjustly projected my prejudices of Palmer onto you. You are, not even an ounce, the man he was. You are a man I wish my own daughter would have met and fallen in love with. But, I am glad my granddaughter met, fallen in love with and is having my great-grandbaby with you.”

“Thank you.” Sy answered, taking his compliment and finished off his drink.

[babylooneytoonz]

The Vessel [Pt. 3]

Pairing: Geralt of Rivia x Fem! Reader

Summary: While you are trying to figure out why the Witcher is so abhorrent towards you, he finally gives you a hint as to why he doesn't like you. Also, you realize something— Yennefer and her spells can never go wrong.

Warnings: Geralt being a dick is what.

[My Masterlist] [My Witcher Masterlist - Read the other parts here!]

It had been weeks since you slept with Geralt of Rivia, but you hadn't been feeling any different. If it were up to you to say, you would say that Yennefer's plan didn't work— although you couldn't muster the courage to ask her directly if it did.

What made you so sure that the plan hadn't worked was the fact that Geralt and Yennefer had been fighting about something since a few nights and you could feel the strain in their relationship starting to show up. This hunch that you had only strengthened when one day, you unknowingly stumbled upon an argument between the Witcher and the Mage.

It was almost a week after that night on the Great Mount. Geralt had been indifferent towards you since then— not even bothering to spare a glance in your direction when the four of you were in the same proximity.

You were now back at Redania— your home, but so were Yennefer , Geralt and Jaskier— staying at your place like unwanted guests who were exceeding their stay.

Jaskier held two heavy logs in either of his arms, while your own hands were stuffed with the eggs from your coop, that you were intending to cook up for dinner tonight, when you heard shouting from one of the rooms upstairs.

"It was you that said that the plan would work. It didn't work, clearly."

You could recognize Geralt's voice from afar; broody, low and devoid of any emotion.

"Aren't you going to go check in on them?" You turned towards Jaskier and frowned, your eyes shooting upwards, fixing on the topmost stair before you withdrew it and fixed it on him again.

"Me? Stuck between a broody Witcher and a scary Witch? God save my poor soul then." Jaskier commented back as he placed the logs by the fireplace and began to light it.

"Jaskier—" You couldn't help but smile at him, as you placed the eggs on the table and blinked, turning towards him, "Yennefer isn't a witch, she is a mage. Besides—"

Before you could complete your sentence, Yennefer's shaky voice reached the both of you, and you couldn't help but wonder what was actually going on between the two of them.

"I don't understand what's gotten into you, Geralt. These things take time. Why won't you let the spell take it's due course?"

"Yen, your spell failed. It's high time you realize that."

You shook your head to yourself as you busied yourself with trying to prepare the stew for dinner, but your ears were fixed on them.

"You don't question my spells, Witcher. I know what I'm doing. Besides— now to come to think of it, did you even fuck her right?"

Jaskier couldn't help but snort, but when he looked at how red you suddenly were, he immediately masked his expressions as he propped himself next to you.

"Did he, [Y/N]?"

"Jaskier, I'm not having this conversation with you," You shook your head at him, exasperated that he was still bugging you with this question, "Now can you please help me out? I need help with the stew, Jas'." Jaskier stood up, whistling to himself as he fixed himself next to the pot, stirring it while you began working on getting the bread ready when the door above slammed shut and heavy footsteps began descending down the stairs. Both you and Jaskier turned to see a very annoyed Yennefer walk towards the front door, without her Witcher in tow, just like he already was.

"I've got some business to attend to in Novigrad, Jaskier." She pointedly ignored you, and you couldn't help but bite back the words threatening to spill out of your mouth. Living under your roof, she was behaving like you were an outsider. Secretly, you were thrilled that she was leaving , even though it was for a short while.

You watched, through the window as a portal suddenly emerged just outside of your barn, and she disappeared through it, leaving you and Jaskier gawking at each other, Jaskier finally speaking, "I say, trouble in paradise?"

"It's none of your concern, Jaskier. You really need to stop meddling with other people's businesses. Now would you be kind enough and go ask your friend to come down? Dinner's almost read—"

"Jaskier, come on now. We're leaving." Geralt cut you off as he finally appeared, all dressed in his tunic and breeches, his sword peeking out from behind him. You parted your lips, ready to ask him where he was off to but it was like he had already anticipated that this was going to come, so finally he looked at you, but with the same indifference with which he had treated you so far.

"It's time we move on. Keep the coin. Seems like Yennefer's plan failed after all—"

The sheer coldness in his voice stung you like a thorn but you didn't let him realize that. Slowly, you lifted the cloth, wiping your hands with it, trying to act just as indifferent towards him— even though you felt like you had been betrayed, which you mentally cursed yourself for.

This was going to happen one day or the other— and wasn't it better that they were finally going to be out of your life now? And not later when they would mercilessly pull your babe away from a mother's breast and call it their own?

"Where are we going, Geralt? We can atleast stay for dinner, a man needs to eat—"

"We will roast a deer on our way, Jaskier." Geralt's irritation was evident from his tone, so the bard turned towards you, choosing now to ignore the Witcher with a sulk on his face.

"Oh Jaskier," you whispered, softly, "Don't you worry. I'll quickly pack some food for you, for the way."

"Oh hush, woman, don't go so soft on me, I would want to switch the roles with that broody gentleman over there."

Your cheeks suddenly felt like they were on fire; and you were sure you had turned a tomato red. You instinctively looked away, quickly finding yourself a distraction at the table as you began packing some bread and ham in a cloth satchel for him to take along with him— fighting back the smile that craved to break out.

"Jaskier, you are free to stay here for as long as you want, the minute I get on Roach, I leave," grumbling, the White Wolf slammed the front door shut as he walked off, your eyes suddenly widening, as the smile was quickly replaced by a lingering hurt upon listening to his words. Why did he hate you so much? Was it because you couldn't give him— them— the child they so desperately wanted?

"Okay thank you for the dinner, and don't, like DO NOT mind him, he has always been a grumpy ham."

Jaskier took the satchel, flinging it over his shoulder, whilst at the same time grabbed his lute and immediately darted out, and by that time, the Witcher was already trotting towards the main path. You fixed yourself by the front door, watching the poor bard struggle to catch up with him and once the two of them were out of sight, you went back inside.

If there was anything that turned a bright way for you after the three of them stepped out of your life for good was the fact that you had enough coin on you now to last for atleast a year. You bought three new goats so you could milk them and sell the milk in the village, along with the eggs.

But the void remained—

The night's were the most difficult, because there were nights when you woke up to a dream where a certain white haired, amber eyed man was laying in bed with you, his thick palm resting on your waist, your back pressed against him as he spooned you.

Maybe it was because you couldn't sleep that night too, that you did not miss the strangled groan that you heard from outside your window. You forced yourself to sit up, rubbing your eyes as you leaned over the window to look out but you couldn't see anything. Just then, someone began pounding on your front door, startling you.

It didn't take you long to run down the stairs, still dressed in your chemise, your arms wrapped around your arms as the knocking became frantic and urgent. When you opened the door, you felt like someone had kneed you in the gut—

"Jaskier?" The bard looked a mess, his clothes were bloody and dirty, his hair slick and sticking to his face.

"I didn't know who else to go to nearby. Geralt needs—" Jaskier began, and the two of you turned towards Roach. Geralt was although perched atop, he was now arching forward, his body almost limp, his head resting against the saddle.

"What happened, Jaskier?" You ran out towards Roach, who whinnied at you, perhaps having sensed that something was wrong with her owner. You placed your palm on Geralt's shoulder, but the minute your palm came in contact with him, he grunted and looked up, and you saw how weak and pale he looked, "I told J-Jaskier — I'm f-fine.. Jaskier.. Jaskier..fuck.. Novigrad.. I asked you to take us to ... Novigrad."

Geralt of Rivia was injured, the flesh on his side had almost been ripped apart by what looked like claws, and yet he was being a stubborn pig. You grabbed him by the fabric of his tunic, balling the fabric as you began literally dragging him off the horse, paying no heed to his annoying murmurs.

"Jaskier, can you help? I alone cannot get him off, you know?"

Helping Geralt walk into your home was a difficult task but somehow, you and Jaskier convinced Geralt to do it. You sat the very injured Geralt by the fire and knelt down in between the space of his legs, using gentle fingers as you rolled up the torn fabric of the tunic. He hissed when your fingers came in contact with his clawed flesh and that's when you saw how massive the claw marks were.

"Who did that to him, Jaskier?" You let go off the big man as you stood up, your hands now caked in Geralt's blood. You ran up to one of the wooden racks that stood by the fireplace with a dozen glass bottles on it. You grabbed the mortar and pestle, placing it on the table in front of you, as Jaskier lowered himself on a chair, now wiping the blood off his face with a washcloth.

"I swear you should have seen it, it was the tallest harpy I have ever seen— well technically, it's the first harpy I've ever seen," he mumbled, and you couldn't help but give him a weak smile as you began to look for the ingredients to make a paste for Geralt's wounds.

"What are you looking for?" Jaskier asked, intrigued, as he watched you fiddle with the glass containers.

"Turmeric, Jaskier. It will stop his bleeding, although had he been human, that injury would have killed him— instantly," you pointedly stared at Jaskier, and he gulped nervously when your words finally registered into the back of his mind. You quickly turned away, resuming your search for the other ingredients. You pulled out two containers; one with lotus petals and the other one containing chamomile, placing it on the table, next to the mortar and pestle.

"Jaskier, while I prepare the paste, can you get Geralt to lie down by the fire? And take off his—" You pointed towards his tunic that was already ripped apart, hanging loosely by his side. Jaskier immediately nodded, getting to work.

You knelt down next to Geralt. His eyes were open, but his face was sweaty and his breathing was uneven; his lips tightly pressed together as he stared at the fire. Your fingers delicately moved over the gashes on his side, and he didn't flinch as much now.

"Can you sit up, Geralt? I need to bandage your waist."

That's when he turned towards you, regarding you briefly as he grunted, pushing himself up slightly and you quickly bandaged his wound with a cloth, securely tying it around his waist before he fell back against the makeshift bedding you had created for him by the fireplace.

You were finally done tending to the man's wounds so you stood up, moving to wash your hands by the sink, when Geralt's voice reached you, startling you.

"I told Jaskier not to bother you. Yennefer could have fixed this."

Your head sharply turned towards him, and you parted your lips, but it was as if your words were lodged to your throat, refusing to come out.

"You can't put all the blame on Jaskier. He could have left you to rot, stolen your mare and left, but he stuck around to ensure you were brought back to safety. You need to learn to swallow that thick ego of yours and give the bard some credit," you intentionally chose not to talk of Yennefer.

He grunted in response, shifting slightly so he could get comfortable, his body tilted at an angle towards the fire that you could see more of his back— full of old scars— this one will be adding to it soon.

"Are you a healer?"

His question pulled you off track.

You shook your head, wiping your hands with a clean cloth, reaching out for one of the blankets that you had stored for yourself as a winter supply, placing it over Geralt's legs— with half a mind that you will have to fight him for this act too— but much to your surprise, Geralt of Rivia accepted the blanket, pulling it over his chest.

"No, not a healer, just a woman with a passion to know things. You see, living alone you need to know certain things as you never know what life is going to throw your way."

"Hm," he fell quiet, and all the two of you could now listen to were the embers erupting from the fire.

The next few minutes, Geralt was quiet, so assuming that he had fallen asleep, just like the bard had; already snoring away to glory, you pulled your chair closer to the fireplace, lowering yourself against it as you began working on another blanket for Jaskier.

"You should have said no."

Startled to hear the low broody voice again, you looked up but this time found Geralt sitting on the makeshift bedding, the pads of his feet resting against the floor, his back turned towards the fire but his face turned towards you.

"Geralt, you should lie down—"

"You should have said no to Yennefer, but you agreed although you knew what she wanted to make you do."

"Says the man who makes a living slaying monsters. Would you say no to a good bounty if that meant being paid enough to last you a year?" You snapped at him, not meeting his gaze.

"You needed coin, there were thousand other ways to do it."

"Like what, Geralt? Don't you think I tried all these ways you are talking about?" The half done blanket now lay forgotten at your feet, and you were standing, towering over Geralt, your lips trembling with rage. How dare he?

"There are many brothels in Redania that I know of that would have gladly taken you in."

"You know what, Witcher?" You spat, "I'm NOT having this conversation with you. I don't like you anymore than you like me, so there's no point in even speaking. Once you are well enough, I would gladly have you out of my home."

You turned away from him, and then blinked, for you couldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing you cry, as a thick chunk of a tear rolled down your cheek. Swallowing bitterly, you began climbing up the stairs, rather loudly, when Geralt mumbled, "You won't see us when you wake up tomorrow, don't worry."

Ignoring him, you reached the topmost stair, but when Jaskier began speaking to Geralt in a low voice, you couldn't help but pause, inching your ear towards them so you could listen to what they were saying.

"Why do you insist on being like that with her, Geralt?"

Jaskier's words were followed by what sounded like a bitter laugh, and a cough.

"I knew you were awake. I wondered why you didn't jump in to defend her like you always do, Jaskier."

"That is not the point, Ger—"

"If you must know why I can't stop being the way I am around her is because every single time I see her, I'm reminded of the false hope that Yennefer gave me, Witchers are sterile, and that's how it is, I should have known than to fall into Yennefer's words."

He was hating for you something you hadn't even done. You gave him hope, or Yennefer did?

You would have stood there and continued listening to what more he had to say, but you couldn't help it— your face turning sour, when sudden nausea hit you. Your palm instinctively flew up to your lip; making you almost double over and your eyes lifted up, scanning the area for anything you could use to relieve yourself. Grabbing an empty basket that lay close by, you fell down on your knees, your knees scraping against the wood of your flooring and you began wretching out the contents of your stomach, sweat trickling down your forehead as dread filled you up. You were scared that Yennefer's spell had worked. Your palm flew to your flat belly and you pursed your lips together, blinking away the tears and wiping the corner of your lips.

Now that you had wished for the spell to fail, it had perhaps, worked. Maybe things weren't destined to go about the way you wanted them to— all you wanted was to watch Geralt of Rivia leave you alone for good and never come back [Wishful thinking]. But if, the spell had worked, it meant that you were probably carrying his Witcher baby, and that meant, you will have to see more of the white haired man with amber eyes, whether you liked it, or not.

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