#It's bad enough in books 1 - 3 knowing where it's all going and that every woman is going to die violently for male arcs
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bonefall · 1 year ago
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Tbh I never read that far in DOTC but I heard so much about star flower from fandom that now hearing about it directly from you I feel so cheated. I was promised a femme fatale.. tho in hindsight considering how much these writers hate women I probably shouldn't have gotten my hopes up
I WISH we got a femme fatale. It would have been incredibly cathartic for her to make herself alluring to Clear Sky, turning his worst traits against him and getting both power and revenge. For Thunder to bond to her over it, reaching the conclusion in the end that they both had terrible parents that they need to reject.
but, knowing the Erins, they would have just had Clear Sky kill her violently and gratuitously for ever tricking him. Like how he gouged Willow Tail's eyes out. So... I guess we were doomed either way.
Anyway im cooking
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hrrtshape · 10 days ago
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fifteen days and fourteen nights. . what i did for the 15 days i was there.
  day 1 . . . ୨୧
it was a tuesday. woke up disoriented, like a victorian child revived with smelling salts. school was a blur, walls too bright, people too loud. my body knew before i did. the muscle memory of existing somewhere better. at some point, i found out i could drive. just got in a car and did it. nobody questioned it. like the laws of physics had rewritten themselves to accommodate my whims. later, i gave coryo a telepathic nosebleed, just because i could. watched him wipe the blood away, dazed and beautiful. later, walked around the city, let my feet carry me somewhere unfamiliar, found a bookshop, spent hours inside just running my hands over spines. that’s that.
  day 2 . . . ୨୧
school still. had the best bagel of my life (which you all might know about). a religious experience. warm, toasty, slightly crisp but still soft enough to make me believe in god. i don’t even remember the flavour, i just remember the way it made me feel. a biblical betrayal of my cr bagels. they will never measure up. spent the rest of the day exploring soho, drifting in and out of boutiques, trying on sunglasses and pretending i was famous. ended up in a tiny coffee shop where i wrote bad poetry and people-watched like it was an olympic sport. walked home as the sun was setting, the city glowing, everything perfect.
  day 3 . . . ୨୧
school, yes. moving through it like a ghost, touching nothing, absorbing everything. i felt untouchable, celestial (???). it’s just school, but it’s also an event. an ongoing theatre production where i am the lead, the writer, the sole investor. after school, went to a little diner with friends, ordered milkshakes and fries, felt like i was living in a john hughes movie. laughed until my stomach hurt. walked home, headphones in, soundtrack to my own life playing in my ears.
  day 4 . . . ୨୧
school again. the theatre production drags on. long corridors, laughter that isn’t mine, the undercurrent of something electric. i start counting the days like a prisoner scratching tally marks into a cell wall. after school, went to the park, lay in the grass, let the sun paint freckles across my skin. read a book, let time stretch and soften around me. ran into someone i vaguely knew, ended up walking with them for hours, talking about nothing and everything. the world felt infinite.
  day 5 . . . ୨୧
weekend. first on tried almost every article of clothing in my closet. me and lily-rose (not the actress, but also completely the same person!?!??!) go to central park. we sit on benches and watch dogs like we’re judging a competition that nobody else knows is happening. we get drunk and smoke, the city blurring at the edges, laughter sticky like honey. it’s so cutesy and intimate, i want to bottle it up and keep it forever. we wander aimlessly, end up in a vintage shop where we try on ridiculous coats and pretend we’re in a wes anderson film. later, we stumble into a tiny bar, order cocktails we can barely pronounce, let the night stretch long and sweet. they didn't ask for IDs.....which, like, great.
  day 6 . . . ୨୧
weekend still. wake up late, the city already alive outside my window. go to a cafe with my dad, order something overpriced but beautiful. wander into an art gallery, pretend to understand modern art, make up stories about the paintings. later, meet up with friends (read: lily), go to a rooftop party, dance under the stars, feel weightless. everything is golden. weird accident happens there.......ahem....moving on.
  day 7 . . . ୨୧
school. me and coryo (MY LOOOOOVEEEEE) giggle about our philosophy teacher. then me and my mum go to louis vuitton for absolutely no reason. sheer, reckless consumerism. we walk out with new handbags, just because. no birthday, no holiday, no excuse. pure indulgence. it’s euphoric. like a high without the comedown. when i think about it later, i start rioting internally because i want to be back in my dr so bad it physically aches. end the day in my room, staring at the ceiling, feeling the pull of something bigger.
  day 8 . . . ୨୧
school. had the best pizza of my life. it made me emotional. it was so good i nearly wept into the crust. after school, went to a tiny record shop, spent hours flipping through vinyls, talking music with the guy behind the counter. walked home in the rain, felt cinematic, romantic, tragic. think i got a cold.
  day 9 . . . ୨୧
school. moving through the motions, existing in the in-between. i think i’m starting to blend in. the idea scares me. went to a bookstore after school, got lost in the shelves, let the smell of old paper wrap around me like a hug. bought a book just because i liked the cover. then me and my mom went to le bernardin where we ordered four courses. gossiped. went home, lit a candle, read until my eyes burned...and then stalked coryo's instagram.
  day 10 . . . ୨୧
school. had the best pasta of my life. like i was dining in heaven’s personal trattoria. later, watched coryo play basketball. he’s the team captain…..moan. he moved like poetry, sharp and precise. i died a little just watching. afterwards, he walks past me, sweaty and glowing, gives me this look that makes my stomach drop. the world tilts on its axis!!!!! AAAH.
  day 11 . . . ୨୧
school. again. coryo put his arm over my shoulders. just casually, like it was nothing. like he didn’t just shake my entire existence to its core. i died. full obituary, funeral procession, dramatic weeping. spent the rest of the day floating.
  day 12 . . . ୨୧
athens!!!!!! to celebrate my friend’s birthday. a friend from my cr, somehow scripted into my dr without me even thinking about it. like my subconscious smuggled them in past security. it feels surreal. like i brought a piece of cr with me without realising it. spent the day exploring ancient ruins, touching history, feeling small and infinite all at once. drank wine under the acropolis, the city glowing around us.
  day 13 . . . ୨୧
birthday festivities continue. we get way too drunk, but in the poetic, filmic kind of way. like we’re characters in a movie about being young and reckless and impossibly beautiful. athens becomes ours for the night. we dance, we laugh, we exist so loudly it echoes.
  day 14 . . . ୨୧
back in new york. good old new york city, where the skyline welcomes me like an old friend and the streets remember the shape of my footsteps. i love it here. i love it all. spend the day wandering, reacquainting myself with the city, like a lover returning home
  day 15 . . . ୨୧
school. then, a full-blown bpd overstimulation attack. the kind that grabs you by the throat and shakes you until reality bends. my brain turns up the volume on everything, too loud, too bright, too much. the walls close in. i shift back. unceremoniously. like being kicked out of paradise for knowing too much.
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i simply adore how i managed to do absolutely nothing in my DR. a real stroke of genius. i kept thinking, oh, there’s time, there’s time, and then in the same breath, this is the final act, the curtain call, the last pathetic hurrah. so what did i do???? i oscillated…no, i languished…between school, home, and the occasional social gathering, like a sims character with low free will. and to top it all off, it was september. meaning: cold. meaning: the air had that sharp, academic cruelty to it. meaning: i should have been having moments but instead, i was merely existing. tragic, really.
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silverb0wties · 3 months ago
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Lemonade - Part 3
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leah williamson x alessia russo x child!reader
Summary: When something bad happens to your Mummy and Daddy, you end up living with your Aunty Lessi and Aunty Leah.  But is there room for you considering they have a new baby on the way?
Chapter Summary:  You go back to school and you try and make yourself useful
Warnings: bullying, homophobia, misogyny 
|| Part 1 || Part 2 ||
PART 3
“30 days has September, April, June and November…”
You had set yourself the task today to make yourself a calendar.  Maths had never been your strongest subject in school, but you were excellent at remembering, so you knew the month song off by heart and were mumbling it to yourself as you began digging into your desk draw to retrieve some art supplies.
The decision to make the calendar had hit you last night when you were reading one of your new library books before bed and the return receipt slipped out of the back cover and onto your lap.  Normally, it was the very first thing you retrieved when you got home from the library, making sure to mark the return dates down on your big white board calendar on the fridge.  But you were still getting used an entirely new routine in your new house and you’d completely forgot to look for the slip.
Now that you had it though, you had to make sure you noted down the dates somewhere you could easily see them.  So, with a few pieces of paper, a ruler and some markers, you drew up a calendar for the next few months.  By checking the borrow date on the receipt and counting how many days it had been since your library visit, you managed to figure out what todays date was.  From there, and with the help of that handy month song, you’d managed to fill in the rest of the dates.   
When it was all completed you stepped back to examine your work.  If you were honest with yourself, your lines could have been drawn straighter and your handwriting could have been much, much neater.  But you didn’t have the energy to redo it, so it would have to do.  For now. 
You surveyed your room for someone to put it.  In your old house your calendar was on the fridge, out in the open for everyone to see and help you keep track of.  Here, it needed to be hidden from your Aunties, so that it was your responsibility, and your responsibility alone, to make sure you were staying on top of everything.
Everything.
A wave of guilt crashed over you as you remembered all the other things you would keep track of on your calendar.  Now that you were a big girl, you had been helping around the house and you had chores.  You would set the table and help take the cups and plates and spoons out of the dish washer (only Mummy and Daddy could touch the knives).  You would also check for mail every morning and there was a pretty purple watering can you got use to water the flowers in the front garden a couple of times a week.
But you didn’t do any of that here at your Aunties house.
Selfish. Selfish. Selfish.
Part of you worried that your Aunties didn’t trust you enough to ask you to help out around the house.  Perhaps they thought you weren’t smart enough or strong enough or big enough to lend a hand.  Or maybe they were secretly mad that you hadn’t insisted on helping and were keeping a top-secret list of all the times you didn’t help out and they would present it to you on a big, long scroll on the day they kicked you out their house.
You shuddered at the thought of that.  That was a day you thought about often.  You didn’t know how many days or weeks or months it was until the baby was here, but surely your time here at your Aunties house was running out.  You needed to do everything in your power to be good until then so that they didn’t kick you out any sooner.  
That night before tea, you made sure to wash your hands extra good before heading into the kitchen where your Aunty Lessi was cooking.  
“Aunty Lessi, could I set the table?”
“Oh sure!  If you’d like.  Just give me a moment and I’ll show you where everything is.”
You grinned in silent satisfaction, glad that it seemed like your Aunty wasn’t outright opposed to you proving your worth.  After your Aunty Lessi finished with whatever she was stirring on the stove, she led you over to various cupboards and drawers and pointed out where the placemats, plates and cutlery lived.  Whilst there were a few plastic cups in the same cupboard as the plates for you to use, the glasses your Aunties drank out of were on a higher shelf that were too high for you to reach.
“Don’t worry about those, I can grab them” she insisted.
“I could get a chair or something to stand on?”
“Don’t be silly, Bun Bun.  I’ll get them.  Thank you for getting everything else though.”
Silly. Silly. Silly.
Once you were all sat down for dinner, you watched your Aunty Lessi spin spaghetti around her fork before you took a deep breath in and began.
“Did I do okay at setting the table?”
“You did a great job, Bunny!” Your Aunty Leah was smiling big and bright at you.  She had a bit of sauce on her chin, but you thought it would be rude to tell her.
“Do you think I could do it every night?” you asked.
“Uhh… I mean, if you want to, sure.”
Victory.  One chore to add to the calendar.
“What about the post?  Can I be in charge of checking that too? Does it come in the mornings?”
You observed as your Aunties caught eyes with each other across the table, seeming to have a silent conversation.
“Umm, yes I suppose you could do that if you like,” Aunty Lessi nodded.
“Great!  And I can help empty the dishwasher.  No knives of course, but I can do spoons and plates and bowls and cups and stuff.  And maybe I can water some of your flowers, or all of them?  Or I can learn how to do other stuff too.  Like I could figure out how to do the laundry or clean the bathrooms or anything you want really…”
You hadn’t really realised, but you had pulled your knees up to your chest as your rant had gone on.  Your head was now resting on top of them as you looked eagerly between your Aunties, waiting for their response.  They were doing the silent conversation thing again.
“You don’t need to do all those things sweetheart.  We appreciate you offering, but maybe we’ll wait until you’re a bit older to do things like the laundry and stuff, yeah?” your Aunty Lessi responded.
You felt your stomach drop.  Your Aunty Lessi’s voice was kind, but you knew what her words meant.  They didn’t think you were big enough to help.
“How about we start off with setting the table for tea and checking the mail?  You’re still just settling in here, so we don’t wanna overload you with too much stuff to remember to do.”
--
It may have been bright and sunny outside, but today was a day you had been absolutely dreading.  You had decided to hang your calendar on the back of your bedroom door so that nobody but you would see it, and you had made sure to mark this day with a bright red circle and big a sad face.  Today was the day you were going back to school. 
You weren’t sure how it was decided or who decided, but you’d had a couple of weeks away from school after the fire and now it was time to go back.
You had only been back at school for 3 weeks of the new school year before the fire happened, so your parents had only just bought you brand-new dresses and shoes to replace the previous ones you’d outgrown.  Your pencil case had been filled with fresh crayons and sharp pencils, and you’d only just put a really cool new bunny sticker that your Uncle Gio had given you on your lunchbox.  But now, you had to start all over again.
So today, as you sat in front office with your Aunties, you were wearing a brand-new school dress and shoes and socks and Aunty Lessi had done your hair in a pretty braid with some pretty ribbons.  You also had a brand-new backpack and lunch box and pencil case, and you even had a brand-new iPad in a shiny purple case. 
In theory, you were all set to go.
But just under the surface, just beneath the layer of hairspray and the stiff gingham fabric, you were absolutely dreading heading back to the big noisy classroom and scary, sticky playgrounds.
You didn’t have heaps of friends at school like most of the other kids seemed to have.  You did have one good friend though.  Nora.  She also really liked to read and was super into comic books and superheros.  You didn’t really understand why she liked them, but you were more than happy to listen to her when she wanted to tell you all about them.  You would then tell her some cool bunny facts in return. 
This year the school librarian, Mr Webster, had let you both work on a big jigsaw puzzle every lunchtime.  He kept it safe and flat on a special piece of wood that he hid on top of his bookshelf in his office when you weren’t working on it.  It was a really, really big puzzle with loads more pieces than any other puzzle either of you had ever done before.  You were both determined to finish it before Christmas, but you weren’t sure if Nora had kept going while you were away.  You hoped she had but you also secretly hoped there was still some pieces left for you to do.  
Unlike previous years, Nora wasn’t in your class this year.  You were in Mrs Green’s class, and she was in Miss Roberts’ class.  You’d both written a letter to each teacher requesting to be swapped into each other’s class, but it hadn’t worked.  You were stuck alone in the classes you were in, and honestly, you were miserable. 
You see, it wasn’t that you didn’t have any other friends, that didn’t bother you much at all.  It was the fact that a bunch of the other kids seemed to actively dislike you.  In fact, the thing they seemed to like most in the whole world was picking on you.  They called you names and pulled on your hair and threw things at you.  You couldn’r really pinpoint exactly when it all started, but your first and most vivid memory was when Mitchell Timms had snatched your copy of The Worst Witch out of your hands one lunch time.  He threw it in a muddy puddle and stomped on it until all the pages were torn and the words had jumbled together.  When you ran over to try and save the book, a gift you’d received on your latest birthday, Mitchell just laughed at you and called you a “loser weirdo”. 
For the first 3 weeks of school this year, you had been sat next to a boy named Ollie and it had been awful.  He kept bumping your arm on purpose while you were trying to write and had laughed whenever you got frustrated that you had to erase and redo your mistakes.  One time he had even pulled your chair out from underneath you when you went to sit down, leading you to land on your bottom on the floor with a thud.  The whole class had pointed and laughed at you.  You had run out of the classroom and hid under a bench to try and calm yourself down.
When the teacher came to find you, you were curled in a ball, rubbing your Pocket Arthur softly against your cheek.  Pocket Arthur was your school buddy.  When you’d moved up from Reception into Primary School, your parents had bought you a miniature version of Arthur that you could keep tucked away in your pocket.  They said that now that you were going to big school, Arthur could no longer come along with you, but they wanted to make sure you still had a little buddy to always keep you company.  So, he was your Pocket Arthur, or Pockie for short. 
But he died in the fire too.
Failure. Failure. Failure.
So, on the night before you went back to school, you’d searched through your room, trying to find something to fill the big empty space left by Pockie when he died – the pocket of your school dress.  You tried crumpling up a wad of tissues, but the texture of it was all wrong.  Next you tried a balled-up pair of socks, but it felt scratchy when you tried rubbing it against your cheek.  You looked over the stuffies your Aunties had bought you, but they were all far too big to fit in your pocket.    
One of the stuffies caught your eye however as your dug through the little pile of toys.  It was on the bottom of pile, and you hadn’t seen it since you moved here.  It was a lovely and soft grey kangaroo, with pointy ears and a long tail.  You rather liked kangaroos, because while they were a completely different species to bunnies and could only be found in the wild in Australia, they kind of reminded you of really big rabbits.  As you pressed the soft fur to your cheek, something small fell in your lap.  Picking it up, you realised it was a baby kangaroo.  It must have fallen from the big kangaroo’s pouch.  It was perfect.  The perfect size, the perfect feel, the perfect squish.  You rubbed it against your cheek.  Bliss.  Holding it gently in your little hands, you squinted your eyes and ran your thumbs across the soft fur trying to figure out the perfect name for your new pocket pal.  Bailey.  She seemed like a Bailey.
And it was Bailey who you clung to, you hand shoved deep in your pocket, when the Headteacher Mrs Brinley called you all into her office.
You watched as both your Aunty Lessi and Aunty Leah shook hands with Mrs Brinley and then you all sat down on big uncomfortable chairs across the table from her.  You’d never been in her office before, so you took a moment to look around, noticing a bunch of certificates in big frames on the wall, a huge bookcase full of books and some photos of who you assumed were her family.
“Well, while we were very, very sad to hear about what has happened, we are glad that Y/K is back at school with us.  Hopefully being back in class will help her with getting back to her regular routine and schedule and assist her in feeling more settled.”
Her voice wasn’t unkind, but everything she said always sounded like she’d been rehearsing for it like it was a speech she had to give in front of the whole school.
“We have both of your phone numbers, as well as the number for your workplace, and we will call you should there be any issues.  But I’m sure Y/K will do just fine.”
Your Aunty Leah gently squeezed your hand that wasn’t firmly stuffed in your pocket, clinging onto Bailey for dear life.
“Mrs Green is going to meet you just back out in the front office and she will walk you up to class.  So, unless anyone has any questions, I’ll let you all get to it.”
You all shuffled back out the front office, where your teacher was waiting for you.  Aunty Lessi knelt down and gave you a big cuddle.
“Okay Bunny. You have fun on your first day back, alright?  And if anything goes wrong, or you don’t feel good or you feel sad… you just let your teacher know to call us okay.”
Aunty Leah leaned over and gave you a kiss on the forehead and stroked your cheek.  “You’ve got everything you need in your backpack, so you’re all set to go.  You’ve got this.”
“Okay.”
“We love you.”
The walk to your classroom was mostly filled with your teacher telling you about all the things you’d missed while you’d been away from school.  A little bubble of dread was beginning to build in your stomach as you realised all the work you now had to catch up on.  But by lunchtime that bubble had been replaced by a boulder.
Holding your lunch box and book tight to your chest, you looked around the hall for a spare seat.  Normally, you and Nora would sit together to eat your lunch and then go to the library, but to make a bad day even worse Nora was away from school today.  You had spent a solid 5 minutes looking for her, but according to a student in her class she’d had to stay home because she a nasty tummy bug.
The hall was quickly filling up as students grabbed their hot meals or lunch boxes and sat down at their chosen tables.  It quickly became apparent that the only spot left was one on the end of a table filled with some of the children who didn’t like you.  You’d spent so long looking for Nora, you’d been left with no other option.
Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.
With a deep breath, you headed over to the table.  You sat quietly in the seat, hoping you would go unnoticed.
You didn’t.
“Why you sitting with us, Y/K?  Isn’t there anyone else you can sit with?” Jessica asked as you unzipped your lunch box.  You just shook your head in response.  A chorus of grumbles followed from the rest of the kids sitting at the table.
“Eww yuck, why does she have to sit with us?”  
“Where’s her weirdo friend?”
“Maybe she can sit on the floor instead.”
You just tried to tune them out, grabbing a sandwich out of your lunch box to munch on.  Your first bite was interrupted when the boy sitting beside you, Max, nudged you.
“Hey, were those your new Mums who brought you into school today?”
You hastily swallowed your sandwich, wanting to explain. “They’re my-” It was no use.  The group quickly began announcing their thoughts on the matter before you had a chance to correct them.
“Two Mums?  How can someone have TWO Mums?  That’s not right.”
“Yeah, my Dad says that it’s disgusting when two boys or two girls are married or kiss and stuff!”
“Oh yeah, like, have you ever saw two lads kiss? It’s weird!”
“I saw two ladies kissing when my Pop took me to the football last week.  He said they were going straight to hell!”
“As if she wasn’t weird enough, now she’s got two Mums too!”
Something inside you snapped, and you found yourself with your fists clenched and your cheeks red, Bailey long forgotten in your pocket.
“Yeah, well, they’re not my Mums, they’re my Aunties.  And they’re really nice and really clever and super cool.  And they play football for England, and and for the red and white club with the cannon!  And my Aunty Leah is the captain and everything! So that’s cooler than any of your families, ever!”
There was a short silence before they all started laughing.
“Girl’s football!  That doesn’t count!”
“That’s not real football!”
“Arsenal!  Pfffft.”
“I can’t wait to tell my Dad about this.”
“One of them looked pregnant when I saw them outside the office.  There’s no way they let her play like that!”
“That’s why they shouldn’t let girls play!”
“Wait, how is she having a baby if there’s no Daddy to put the baby in her?”
Whilst the rest of the comments had begun to muddle together and fade into the background as you tuned them all out, this last one pierced through.  Your head shot back in the direction of Jessica, the girl who had asked the question.  She was looking straight at you with her eyes squinted, twirling a strand of her hair around her pointer finger.
You hadn’t ever stopped to think about this.  To be honest you’d never really been interested in where babies came from.  You knew that whilst it varied from breed to breed, bunnies were pregnant for an average of 31 days and had litters of babies.  You also knew that humans usually only had one baby at a time and they were pregnant for around 9 months.  But you didn’t know how either bunnies or humans became pregnant.  Honestly, you were stumped.
“Guess you didn’t learn that in any of your stupid books, huh? Loser.”
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shiningjustforreid · 1 month ago
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aura
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where Spencer Reid meets someone who shares his pain - if only for a bit.
word count: 1774
a/n: hi! this is my very first published fic (even though i’ve read for years!) and it’s nothing major, but i thought it would be fun to finally write! i hope you enjoy <3
warnings/tags: 18+ (implied intimacy), migraine-era spencer reid, reader has migraines, reader is called ‘girl’ once, heavy themes at the end, spencer rambles about stars, hospitals, spencer calls reader ‘angel’, no use of y/n
- ✩ -
Hospitals may be one of his least favorite places.
“Did you know that actually on any given day 1 in 31 people in a hospital have a hospital induced infection? these include things like a surgical site infection, MRSA,”
Cue the smell of the antiseptic, drowning out the smell of people dying. It’s too clean.
Makes him on edge. But then again, most things do. When people give him that look that clearly says ‘shut up.’ He seems to pull in darkness, trouble, and maybe it’s because he creates it for himself.
Currently, he’s sat, in one of those uncomfortable hospital benches, foot tapping anxiously, sunglasses on, because everything hurts. Notably, his head and eyes.
The lights. The lights build a nausea in him that’s like a tidal wave, build an agony behind his eyes that threatens to reduce his thought process to ash. He still squints, behind the black plastic; it’s not enough, not enough to quell the pain entirely.
“No, I’m, about to go in, actually.”
Is what he should’ve said. But Spencer Reid, a forward man, an eloquent man, is not.
“Can I sit here?”
Quiet, but polite. He makes the mistake of looking up. Your hair is messy, probably from the wind outside, and tucked away from your face. The coat you have on is a deep admiral blue, and it just makes the lack of color in your face all the more apparent. A green bag, slung on your shoulder, as you fiddle with the zipper. Chapped lips form into a halfway smile, and, most noteworthy of all, you have black, plastic glasses on.
“I have an appointment, it’s probably, it’s right after yours, but if I can’t sit here, it’s okay, I-“
You’re backtracking, which means you’re nervous, probably because he’s just been looking at you with an impassive expression, even more unreadable due to the glasses. He clears his throat, and opens his mouth.
“No, um, actually I’m waiting. Hopefully not much longer though.”
God help him, because there’s a shared struggle here, between the two of you. He sees it, in your tense shoulders, the way you sit down slowly, as to not generate any more pain than necessary, the way your hands tremble like leaves in the wind when you adjust your glasses after slowly turning to him. Your halfway smile stays put, though, even through the slow movements.
You move like that, because every movement seems to intensify the burning hot behind your skull.
He knows. He doesn’t know you. Not at all.
But he knows your pain. And maybe that’s enough.
You don’t nod, because it’s unnecessary movement.
“Yeah, I finally gave in and booked an appointment. I’ve had to call out of work for them at least 3 times in the last two weeks.”
Them. The migraines. You don’t need to name them, you both just know. You’re clearly both there for a reason.
“I’m uh, Spencer, by the way. I’ve had mine for a bit now too.”
You tell him your name, and the sound makes a welcome warmth flood through his chest. A star, tiny, but burning, is born. Gravity in his chest, tugging you in, as your heat floods his heart.
Bad idea, bad idea - the alarm bells are clanging. He doesn’t know how sick he is, and he really doesn’t know how sick you are. This could spell disaster, and yet-
He’s intrigued. You radiate this nervousness, a distinct desire to be understood, seen, known. He knows that desire. He has that desire. He wants to know you.
“I think mine might just be due to stress, but, I don’t know. It’s the easiest explanation to deal with.”
For your sake, he hopes that’s all they are. Stress.
And, you’re still sitting there, head bowed, when the nurse comes out and asks questions.
She asks about hallucinations. As if this hell is all in his head. You sit there, silent, biting your lip, worrying the cracked skin in your teeth, your hands picking at the fraying edge of your coat.
When he comes back out, somehow even more tired, even though all he did was lie there and answer some questions, he speaks your name, softly.
As if he has the right to.
You jump a little, look up, and remove your glasses. He stares, he can’t help it. Visible, is the pain, the way your ocular muscles are tense, your skin without color, but you smile, still.
He makes you smile.
“Everything okay?”
Spencer nods hurriedly.
“Fine, for now, I have to get to work. You uh-you’re next?”
“Mhm. Will I—is there any chance I’ll see you again, Spencer?”
You don’t know him. You know him, you must.
“Uh, I mean, I—you want to see me again?”
When will he learn to speak when it actually matters?
“Only if you want to, I-I know I would like to see you again.”
He leaves the hospital, that damn hospital, with a small slip of paper, with ten numbers scrawled in purple ink, and your name below it, a tiny smiley face beside it.
When he gets home from his next case, he fishes that paper out of his messenger bag and types each digit into his cell phone with shaky hands.
Is he tempting fate? Perhaps. But fate answers, your soft voice coming through the phone.
Soon, he finds himself at a café with you, sipping his saccharine sweet coffee and telling you about his job, or some book he just finished, in detail that you don’t seem to protest against. It’s refreshing, really - just to be listened to. To be heard. When you leave, you give him a barely-there kiss on the cheek, a soft goodbye. The star burns brighter.
“I had my follow up appointment.”
He tells you, on the third date, as you two sip coffee once more - are these dates? Would Morgan be impressed? - trying to keep the conversation casual, yet relevant. Your eyes widen with interest.
“And? Did they give you answers?”
He makes a face, shaking his head.
“No. Well, yes, but they told me it’s psychosomatic.”
All in his head.
Your face falls, and you look truly sympathetic.
“I’m sorry, Spencer. I knew how much you didn’t think that to be the case.”
He takes comfort, then, in the way you hug him goodbye, your cheek pressed against the cotton of his cardigan, eyes shut against the light. He tenses, only for a second, before his arms curl around you, resting against your coat.
“We should do dinner.”
He mumbles into your hair, before he can stop himself.
A real date.
And you do. You have dinner, and he makes you laugh, even though it’s quiet, like a bell ringing at Christmas, tiny, joy-filled, and the star in his chest just glows. Your face is tense, though, and he can’t figure out why. You won’t say. either. You never do. You keep your responses composed, and careful, calculated. Like you’re afraid. He wonders why, but won’t press it. You are made of nervous energy. He knows this now.
A few months, of appointments for both of you and cases for him where he aches for your hand in his and coffee and dinner and museum dates, and one ice skating excursion he will not mention, and then—
He makes another mistake then, when he asks you to come over, after a case.
“Just for coffee, or to talk, not to-you know, unless that’s what you want, I—“
Yet, that’s how he ends up with you in his bed, in his lap, your warm hands sliding over his skin like you’re in awe, your wide eyes meeting his own, because he dimmed the lights, and thank God neither of you are hurting right now.
He takes you apart, piece by piece, with his mouth on your collarbone and fingers across your ribs, learning, seeking to know. Because that’s what he wants, to know you, fully, in every way he can, until there’s nothing left for him to study.
After he watches you tremble under him, with his name on your lips, he realizes he’ll never be able to memorize all of you. You’re too extensive, with the blush on your cheeks and the way you cling to him and the way your eyes sparkle for a moment, just a moment, before they dim again.
You’re tucked into him, under his chin, as he traces shapes mindlessly into your back with his fingertips. He feels that star, burning bright in your arms, for millennia to come.
“I love you.”
You smile against his chest, before you speak again, choked up.
“You shouldn’t.”
“Whyever not, angel girl?”
Because you are like an angel, come down from the heavens, his angel, gracing his life during some of the most incredible pain he’s ever felt.
“They told me I’m dying. They found the source of it all.”
And the star fizzles, and sparks, and slowly, a cold ice begins to dwell where the star was. Months fly by, and yet drag, each day feeling long but the weeks short.
He finds himself in the hospital - miraculously, his migraines have given him respite today - your hand in his, his eyes on you. You don’t say much, you never did, but now, he feels like you don’t ever speak at all.
Until you do.
“Spence?”
The light in his chest flickers, illuminating his darkness.
“Yes, angel?”
“Can you talk? About anything? I just wanna hear you.”
He nods, and his voice gets quiet, almost breathless, the longer he speaks.
“Did you know that stars actually are simultaneously pulling apart and being pushed together? The heat from inside the star creates a pressure that causes the atoms to separate, but the gravity attraction forces them back together, as it burns. The bigger a star is though, the less time it takes to go through that fuel.”
He stops, looking down at you. He wonders if you’re listening.
“But when the heat is gone, when it stops burning, there’s nothing to counteract the gravitational pull, and—“
And it collapses in on itself.
“And it just sort of sucks everything else in without its heat, the light, if it’s large enough. Pulling everything in, everyone in-“
He’s said too much. You open your eyes, your voice barely a whisper.
“I don’t want you to do that. You won’t, Spencer, I swear.”
In a rare moment of strength, you tug yourself up, to hold his face in one hand.
“You burned before me. You’ll burn again.”
He nods, desperately trying not to weep.
But I won’t burn like I did with you.
“The brightest stars burn the fastest, so we must love them while we can.”
- Anna Todd
176 notes · View notes
selineram3421 · 6 months ago
Text
👁️
You're Off-key
Part 1
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Prologue
Reader X Gravity Falls
Warnings ⚠
⚠ italics=thoughts, swear words, some or many book of bill spoils, blood, mentions of a concussion, minor panic attack, we pacing now lol, ugh Disney mention ⚠
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Ow..
You woke up in pain and the sunlight hitting your eyes.
Everything hurt.
Like a lot.
Geez.. You thought with a groan. Why is everything so bright? What is this vividness? Disney?
Sitting up, you notice that you're still in the woods and it's around noon or at least in the afternoon. Rubbing the back of your head, you try to remember what happened.
I was in the woods..with spaghetti and..my best friend was going to take my picture. Ow-!
You hiss and you pull your hand away from your head, finding blood once getting a look at it.
"Oof ok, time to go get help.", you said to yourself and stood up.
Like any gamer out there, you checked your surroundings before checking your inventory. So far you were deep in the woods that looked oddly..cartoonish? And you had a backpack nearby with a water bottle, phone, and wallet inside.
Where's my flashlight? Wait, I had a flashlight? Also, where's by bestie?
Every time you thought about it your head would start hurting.
"Never mind that, I have to get moving before it gets dark out.", you sighed and began walking.
In all honesty, you did not know where you were going. Just picked a direction and decided that was good enough. Maybe you'll find civilization or maybe you're walking deeper into the woods. Who knows!
My brain is a little optimistic right now. You thought. Or maybe it's due to lack of sleep.. I was driving the whole time.
Then you started getting a little clumsy.
Tripping, swaying, falling flat on your face a few times, and overall just feeling drained. Also, you kept hearing maracas? Was that some kind of bird or something?
Ah, wait. Wasn't that the Hide Behind? You remembered about reading it in Journal 3 and that scene when Mabel says maraca owl. Maybe it is a maraca owl or maybe it's the tall thing that follows people.
Currently, you were laying on the ground because you fell..haha. AGAIN.
Thank Glob you landed on grass this time.
Ok. Do I or do I not take a nap? Probably not the best choice because I might have a concussion. Hm..the choices.
Deciding on one last try, you push yourself off the ground, take a quick sip of water, and continue on your journey! Nothing was gonna stop you now-!
Oh, a bird!
Then you ran into something, fell back and hit your head on the ground.
It was silly because it was kinda like a light switch.
You were awake and then you passed out,
Ha!
OW! How many times am I going to wake up in pain!?
"Great job Dipper! You killed someone!", a feminine voice said.
"They aren't dead! They just hit their head and passed oUt after they fell!", another voice says with a slight voice crack.
"Haha ha!", the girl laughs. "Your voice cracked."
Slowly waking up, you feel a type of rocking motion, like you're in a car or something.
A car!?
You sit up quickly. Too quickly and almost fall out of the golf cart but someone manages to pull you back to the seat.
"Whoa! Careful, you do not want to fall out of this thing when going almost full speed.", the female voice says next to you.
Looking over, you find a brown haired girl wearing a keyboard sweater.
"Hi! I'm Mabel! I have a pet pig named Waddles!!", she introduces herself loudly.
You feel your head hurt at her polite screeching.
"Ow. Hold on, give me a sec.", you say and rub your forehead.
"Uh.. Mabel? It's not a good idea to be loud around someone who just woke up after hitting their head.", the guy says, who you are assuming is driving the golf cart.
"Oops.", the girl, Mabel, smiles at you sheepishly. "My bad."
You wave her off.
"It's fine, I've dealt with worse.", you reassure.
"Let me start again.", she says and extends a hand for you to shake. "I'm Mabel and the one driving the golf cart is my twin brother, Dipper."
"STOP THE CART!"
The golf cart screeches to a stop and you hobbled your way out, beginning to pace back and forth.
Holyshitthisexplainsalot!That'swhyeverythingwassobrightandcartoonybecasuethisisfuckingDisneyshit!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHH-!
"Uh..you ok there?", Mabel asks.
"Um? Maybe? I-", you begin but then panic about what to say next.
Shitshitshitshit! Think of something! Anything!
"I don't remember how I got into the woods..", you say and cringe.
Yeah! Nice job! Now you're suspicious! YA DOINKUS!
"O..k, so you hit your head harder than we thought.", Dipper speaks up. "Let's get you patched up and see what we can do from there, ok?"
Pros: Going with two of your favorite characters will lead to adventures. Cons: They might try to read your mind to see if you're a threat and might threaten you with some random weapons..
.....
"I guess I can go with you guys until I can go to the hospital or something.", you say and finally stop imprinting foot prints into the dirt.
"Cool!", Mabel cheers. "Let's go! I've got Mabel juice in the fridge and I wanna see if the new dinosaurs inside taste different!"
"That's not how that works.", her brother mumbles and puts the golf cart in drive.
Hopping back on, you notice your backpack was opened.
"Uh? Who raccooned into my pack?", you asked.
"Racooned?", the Pines driving asks.
"Dug through your stuff? That was Dip.", Mabel says, completely understanding what you meant.
"Oh, sorry.", Dipper pipes up. "That was to see your ID, nothing else. I mean, wouldn't you try to identify someone after they passed out randomly?"
He is kinda right.
"Understandable racooning.", you say and start to brain storm ideas for a plan on how to stay under the radar.
Ok, so I might have/most likely freed Bill and now I have to do something about it before he's running wild around Gravity Falls again...fun.
You sigh and just decide to sit back and enjoy the ride for now.
Jerk didn't let me keep the pictures.
The sun was starting to set, within a few minutes you saw the Mystery Shack in the distance.
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23 1 12 11 9 14 20 15 20 8 5 16 9 14 5 19
~Seline, the person.
Part 2
Taglist@
@diffidentphantom @sleep-7372 @boredwithlifeatthispoint @mspurpl3 @+?
GF List🏞️ | YO-🎹
274 notes · View notes
juyeonszn · 1 year ago
Text
BAD IDEA RIGHT?
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PAIRING lee juyeon x f!reader
WORD COUNT 4.10k
GENRES … smut
WARNINGS 18+ MINORS DO NOT INTERACT, literally porn with plot. like i’m so insane, enemies to “we fuckin” as reese put it 🥰, frat boy tbz again!!!, juyo is literally so irritating in the first half im not even gonna lie, he’s also a manwhore, making out, reader is a bit of a brat, juyeon has a dirty mouth, kinda dom!juyeon, vaginal fingering, oral (m! receiving), SHOWER SEX !12!1!, he’s hitting it from the back btw, unprotected sex, creampie, juyeon is actually… i don’t even know how to describe him writing his character made me want to claw at the walls lol
SUMMARY deep down you’re fully aware that you’re probably making a huge mistake by giving into juyeon just like every other girl on campus ever has. but paired with how intoxicating his mouth feels on your own and the steam filled bathroom clouding your head, you can’t seem to find a logical reason to stop.
MORE heheheh im back 🤭 oh my god this was actually the cause of a week full of sleepless nights. i genuinely drove myself crazy writing this bc NEED FRRRR like idk i’m so 😭 delusional. ANYWAYS. ANON. THIS ONE IS FOR U. U REQUESTED THIS AND I RAN WITH IT. u wanted more juyeon, i deliver more juyeon ;) also shout out to ally, moni, AND reese for beta’ing 🥺 i love u my cupcakes!! prompt used: 18 <3
PERM TAGLIST @winterchimez @maessseongs @itsbeeble
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If there was anyone on Earth that you hated more than anything, it had to be Lee Juyeon.
To put things plainly, he was quite literally the bane of your existence. Being around him made your blood pressure skyrocket and gave you migraines that lasted for days. It was insane how one person could affect you so much by doing so little. It seemed as if he thrived off of getting under your skin.
Considering he was the captain and the pitcher of the baseball team, it wasn’t shocking. He was also a member of one of the most popular fraternities on campus. But he happened to be roommates with one of your best friends, and that made it ten times worse.
You’d known Changmin since third grade, along with Kevin and Chanhee. When he mentioned he’d be joining a fraternity in college, you were a bit apprehensive. All you knew about them was what you’d read in YA books and seen in movies. Neither gave them a good rep. Part of you wanted to talk him out of it, but you knew this was something you had to let him do, given you were adults and it was his college experience. At least you still had the other two under one roof.
The first time you met Juyeon was also the first time you attended a frat party. Changmin had just passed his initiation after waiting a year and he invited all of you to celebrate. You were excited for the most part since high school parties were more for an adrenaline rush due to the fact that your parents never let you go to them and you either snuck out or lied about going. You didn’t have to worry about the limitations of parents this go around.
The boys disappeared almost immediately upon arrival, leaving you to fend for yourself in the very crowded fraternity house. You could hardly pass through a room without bumping into somebody’s shoulder or elbow, huffing as you maneuver around the house equivalent to a sardine can. Your drink nearly spilled onto your top multiple times and you were glad you decided against the heels for the night.
You chugged the rest of the jungle juice in your cup as you stepped onto the patio, where it’s just as noisy and just as packed. You’re lucky enough to find an empty lounge chair near the house’s pool, unoccupied and calling your name. When your legs touch the plastic chair, you flinch at how hot it is, most likely from being in the sun all day.
“Woah, do you want a cushion?”
You look up at the source of the voice. You’ve seen him around campus before, and even at Changmin’s games. Lee Juyeon was just one of those people that you had to know, unless you’d been living under a rock. Just like everyone else in the world, you couldn’t deny how attractive he was. From this distance, you truly understood why girls would giggle like high schoolers over the guy.
“Uh, sure. Yeah, that would be great actually.” You nod, watching as he wanders towards the shed in the corner of the big ass backyard. He returns promptly, holding his red solo cup between his teeth and one hand on your lower back guiding you to a standing position so he could place down the cushion.
“As a thank you, can I get your name?” He gives you a cocky little smile that should’ve been a warning. And looking back on it, you should’ve seen his true personality sooner, to be completely honest. The way his lips curled at the corners, like a conniving bastard who got off on irritating others.
“It’s Y/N,” you say, messing with your empty cup. “I’d ask for yours, but I kinda already know.”
He laughs at that, scratching the back of his neck. “That’s not surprising.” It’s at this point that you’re starting to see through his sweet facade, but despite knowing better— despite always keeping your guard up— you let yourself fall for it just this once. All because you didn’t want to fuck things up for Changmin. He owed you big time.
“Well, you are a talented athlete.” You didn’t want to fuel what is probably already a massive ego, but you’d rather compliment his baseball skills than the fact that he was infamous for screwing around with half of the girls on campus. Technically, that was a feat of its own since he’d only been in school for a year.
“Oh, so you think I’m talented?” He rested a hand on your chair, leaning down to your level. Confidence oozed from every corner of his being and if you weren’t so self aware, perhaps you could’ve ended up like all those other victims of his charismatic behavior.
“I go to the games for Changmin,” you scoff, glancing away from his face to stop the heat rising up your neck. “I’ve only paid attention to you once or twice.”
“Yeah, sure. Let's go with that,” he bites his lip, blatantly checking you out. “I wouldn’t mind paying attention to you a little.”
“I’m unimpressed, Juyeon,” you snort, raising an eyebrow at him. “Does this shit really work on everyone?”
“I can drop the act if you want, baby. Just let me know when you’re ready to stop playing hard to get.” He stands upright, running a hand through his hair.
Every time you ran into Lee Juyeon after that, he was more and more insufferable. He knew his influence on you, too, if his smug fucking grin was anything to go by. You wish you could just slap it off of him. However, you stood by being the bigger person in any given situation, so that was off the table. (And half of you still felt a moral obligation to not get your friend into hot water.)
“Would it kill you to play nice every once in a while? I do live with the dude, you know.” Changmin whines, trailing you in the supermarket like a lost puppy.
“He’s got a point, N/N,” Kevin adds, humming as he tosses a boxed dinner into the cart. “I get that he’s a little bit of an overconfident douche, but rolling your eyes at him when he hasn’t even done anything just makes it worse on you. And JiChang, too, I guess.”
“Bro…”
You weren’t even sure why he decided to tag along with you and the other boys when you mentioned grocery shopping. In fact, he might as well have stayed his ass home if he was just going to gang up on you the whole time. Chanhee sighs dramatically, bringing your shopping cart to a halt.
“Can we not have a peaceful grocery trip? Is that impossible or something?” His lips form a thin line. “I swear, all we do is talk about how much Y/N hates Lee Juyeon. Can we please move on?”
“Thank you, Chanhee, I agree,” you nod along, walking backwards as you do so and ignoring the faces your friends make. “He makes me want to kill myself.”
“Who makes you want to kill yourself?”
You jump up, frightened by the sudden voice in your ear. Your friends all give you sheepish smiles, as if they’d already tried to warn you. (What shitty jobs they did.) With a hand over your heart, you turn around to meet— speak of the devil— none other than Lee Juyeon himself.
“What are you doing here?” Your eyes narrow and your arms cross over your chest. Luck could never be on your side when it came to this guy.
“Uh, last I checked, this was a public supermarket. Where I can publicly shop. I wasn’t aware that I had to run that by you. So sorry, sweetheart.” He pouts, his expression so theatrical you nearly give in to your constant urge to punch him in the face.
You feel your eye twitch, and it takes everything in you to step back and assess just how bad it would be if you committed murder right now. Changmin comes to your rescue, doing damage control as best as he can while Kevin attempts to talk you out of becoming a criminal.
The two frat brothers do their little fraternity handshake thing and then finally he’s out of sight, out of mind, allowing you to visibly relax. Chanhee purses his lips. “Okay, so maybe I do see where the anger comes from. And holy shit, Y/N, you have the patience of a saint.”
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“The person you have called is unavailable! At the tone, please leave a message. When you have finished recording, you may—”
“Goddammit.” You curse, ending the unsuccessful call.
The downside of working far from campus, was working far from campus. You didn’t have your own car and usually relied on one of your roommates for a ride to and from. But now here you are, stranded at work while it’s pouring cats and dogs outside. Kevin was in class and Chanhee wasn’t picking up his phone. You could call Changmin, but you’re pretty sure he also had a class around this time.
Just as you’re about to succumb to your demise, you receive a text from Chanhee.
[2:57 pm] michael jackson: IM SO SORRY AJNSSJNW BUT SOMETHING CAME UP WITH A GROUP PROJECT
[2:57 pm] michael jackson: DONT WORRY THOUGH, IVE GOT IT COVERED UR STILL GETTING PICKED UP
“Could today get any worse?” You mutter to yourself, locking your phone and tossing it into your purse. As if your timing couldn’t be better, you spoke entirely too soon. Your eyes squint at the unfamiliar car rolling up under the carport. Your brows furrowed in confusion, because you had no idea who could be your saving grace. Chanhee was a wild card so who knew who he had on speed dial.
But then the passenger window rolls down and you wish the ground would just swallow you whole. Lee Juyeon grins that stupid fucking grin of his, beckoning you to his car as it unlocks when he shifts into park. You shake your head.
“No way. There is absolutely no way I am getting into that car.” You shout over the pelting rain.
Juyeon tsks, his eyes rolling when he reaches over the center console to open the door for you. “Is there anyone else who would drop everything they’re doing to pick you up in this weather?”
Your lips pull into a flat line. The answer was no, you didn’t have anyone else who would drop everything they were doing to pick you up in this weather. That was the reason Juyeon was here, you supposed. It didn’t mean you weren’t at least going down without a fight, though. Except, Lee Juyeon was a man who was all too comfortable with how expressive you were. Most notably towards him.
“What? Cat got your tongue, sweetheart?”
“Fuck you. I’d rather walk.” You seethe, starting straight in the direction of your apartment. Juyeon groans at first, your constant need to prove yourself getting on his nerves for once. Then his eyes widen slightly when he realizes you’re not joking.
The truth was that the rain was freezing and you’d love to be in the shelter of a warm car. In fact, you didn’t really care that Juyeon was the person driving. But you were too deep into the bit now. You couldn’t just turn around and get in the car, for you had a pride to protect at this point.
“Shit.” Juyeon swears under his breath, reaching into the backseat to grab an umbrella. Sure he loved to tease you and rile you up, but he wasn’t cruel. Your friends would have his head on a silver platter if he let anything happen to you.
You pause in your steps when you’re no longer being showered in rain water. Juyeon holds the umbrella over your head with a worried expression. You feel kind of bad for making him chase after you even though he’d already gone out of his way to pick you up. Sometimes you wish your ego wasn’t so fragile. Maybe then you could accept help when you needed it instead of making things worse.
“Can you please stop being so stubborn and just get in the damn car, Y/N? Do you have to make everything difficult all the time?” Usually, pissing you off made him over the moon, but you can tell he’s not exactly pleased at the moment. You swallow thickly, nodding quietly and following him back to his car.
The whole drive to your apartment is silent save for the song playing on his speakers. It’s not as loud in comparison to the storm outside, but you’re grateful that it’s filling the space between you. If only Lee Juyeon hadn’t done such an excellent job ticking you off like a bomb, then maybe you would’ve just hopped in the passenger seat with ease. But no, he had to goad you until you made an irrational decision and now here you are.
As he pulls up to your building, you say a little prayer that you don’t regret your next actions. He stops as close to the stairs as he can, but you turn to him before unbuckling your seatbelt. With a deep breath, you ask, “Would you like to— uh— come inside?”
He glances from you to the stairs and then shrugs, parking in the nearest empty spot. He holds the umbrella over both of you as you make your way to your unit, lightly sprinting so you don’t get anymore soaked than you already are. You figured the least you could do was invite the dude into your home and offer him some hot tea, just so he could warm up before heading back to the TBZ house. Your roommates not being here to make fun of you was also a plus.
There’s still an unspoken tension even after you’ve shed your raincoats and shoes by the front door, settling into your apartment and its coziness. Juyeon sits at the breakfast bar as you busy yourself with preparing the kettle and getting a couple tea bags. His watchful gaze is a little intimidating now that you’ve seen his serious side.
Once you’ve finished making the tea, you set his mug in front of him. You look everywhere but him when you say, “I’m gonna take a shower if you’re okay waiting out here by yourself.” He doesn’t respond verbally, so you take it as your cue to leave.
You turn on the water to let it heat up before gathering your essentials. When you’ve completed your back and forth trip from the bathroom and your bedroom, you’re finally ready to just relax in your shower and forget about today’s events. But how could you ever truly relax with Lee Juyeon in your space, permeating your peace?
As you’re shutting the bathroom door, a foot jams itself between the threshold and stops you. You glance up from the floor to meet Juyeon’s eyes. They’re darker than you’re used to, a deep shade of brown that has your stomach twisting into knots.
“You know, Y/N, this game of cat and mouse is starting to get old,” he takes a step into the steaming room, locking the door behind him and trapping you. “Just admit to yourself that you want me.”
You sputter at his bold words, because you don’t. You don’t want Lee Juyeon. Why would you want Lee Juyeon? “I’m not gonna lie to myself. I don’t want you.”
He laughs humorlessly, closing the gap between you just a little more. You don’t have it in you to back away from him. He reaches a hand up to tuck some damp hair behind your ear. You’re still wet and cold from your stupid idea to walk in the rain, but Juyeon plans to warm you up perfectly. “You sure?”
“Positive,” you breathe.
“Why don’t we test that theory?” Now he’s got you backed into the wall, his face a hair’s breadth distance from your own. “I have a feeling I can change your mind.”
You don’t know if it’s the heat of the bathroom or Juyeon’s lips being so close, but so far simultaneously that has your brain turning into static. Your head feels fuzzy, like you’re watching TV on an empty channel through a blurry lens. You lick your lips, vision trained on his. “Why don’t we?”
That’s all the confirmation he needs to press your mouths together in a searing kiss, hotter than the temperature of the room. You feel him smile against you when you make no move to push him away, instead carding your fingers through his hair. He groans when you tug a bit, twirling the longer strands around your index.
His hands slip under your top, thumbs rubbing circles into your waist. This is a terrible idea. Deep down you’re fully aware that you’re probably making a huge mistake by giving into Juyeon just like every other girl on campus ever has. But paired with how intoxicating his mouth feels on your own and the steam filled bathroom clouding your head, you can’t seem to find a logical reason to stop.
When you part for air, you both start stripping your top layers, resuming your attacks on each other’s lips once you’re left in nothing but undergarments. Juyeon trails kisses along the side of your neck, nipping and sucking wherever he feels fit. You gasp when he finds that particular spot that contributes to the butterflies fluttering about your stomach. “God, you’re so annoying.”
“Yeah?” And despite getting ready to give you the pleasure of your life, his grin against your skin still manages to irritate you. “You hate me so much, huh?”
“Mhm,” you whine as his fingers dip beneath the band of your panties, toying with your sensitive cunt. “Hate you so bad— ah…”
“You might wanna shut up soon, sweetheart,” Juyeon warns, sliding his ring finger between your lower lips. “Or else I’ll give that mouth something to do.”
“I’ll do whatever I want,” you pull his hand from your underwear, kneeling in front of him when he furrows his eyebrows in confusion. Your nails scrape lightly down his abdomen before hooking into the waistband of his briefs, freeing him from the material. It takes a lot out of you to not visibly react at the sight of his cock, hard and flushed to the tip. You couldn’t dare inflate his ginormous ego, the situation you were currently in already doing enough on its own. His size is impressive too, making you wonder just how he expects you to take him like a champ.
“What a fucking brat,” he hisses, your tongue swiping along the underside of his dick. “Always gotta have the last word, don’t you?”
“Mmmm,” you moan, mouth full with just the tip. You’d never been the type of person who cared about size. As long as they knew what they were doing and made you finish, you held no qualms with their length. In fact, you don’t think you ever even paid much attention to anyone’s dick in your life. But if there was anything to back Lee Juyeon’s cockiness, it had to be, well, his cock.
“You have no idea how many times I’ve imagined this moment,” he confesses, wrapping your hair around his hand into a makeshift ponytail. “But, fuck, this is so much better.”
The admission shoots straight to your core and you find yourself whimpering, the vibrations against his dick driving him crazy. He has to support his weight with one hand flat to the wall, the other still tightly fisting your hair. With every suck and flick of your tongue, he tugs a little more, the sting on your scalp providing you with more pleasure than pain. You pull off of him to take a breath, jerking him off as you do so.
“Am I meeting your expectations?” You bat your eyelashes up at him, drool sliding down your chin and makeup smeared under your eyes in tear streaks. He groans at the sight of you, forcing you to a standing position so he could kiss you again.
You start dragging him towards the shower, unhooking your bra and stepping out of your panties. He raises an eyebrow at you, amused. “You want me to fuck you in the shower, baby? Have you slipping all over my cock?”
“Duh,” you can’t help but roll your eyes at his question, practically pawing at his underwear to get him out of them fully. “Did you think I sucked your dick on the bathroom floor for fun?”
“That mouth of yours is gonna get you in trouble one of these days.”
He kicks them off, reconnecting your lips as you step into the shower. The hot water hits your back almost like a massage, synchronously getting in your mouth as you make out with Juyeon aggressively. It’s like he can’t get enough of you, big hands kneading and groping everywhere and nowhere all at once. You feel insane, especially with how good of a kisser he is. It’s like you’re on cloud nine and nothing’s capable of bringing you down.
When he’s finally lost his patience, he spins you around, pressing you cheek first to the shower wall. You feel him against your lower back, his lips leveling with your ear. In spite of acting as if he had himself under control, you can hear the pant in his breathing, deep voice a little desperate than usual. He has a hand gripping your thigh and picking up your leg.
“No protection?” He asks, his cock already gliding between your folds in anticipation.
“Mm-mm,” you shake your head as best you can with his body sandwiching you to the tiled surface. “Wanna feel you raw.”
“Fuck, you can’t say shit like that to me,” Juyeon groans into your ear, giving no warning as he spits down your front and hikes your leg higher, thrusting into your cunt. “You’ll make me wanna stay buried in you forever.”
You moan, hand coming up to hold the side of his head as he fucks you into the shower wall. If someone were to ask about this very moment, you weren’t too sure how you’d defend yourself. A moment of weakness, perhaps? But if a moment of weakness felt this fucking good every time, you might fall into a habit of judgment lapses.
He nuzzles his face in the crook of your neck, nibbling and biting your shoulder and the surrounding area with each snap of his hips. The angle he drives into you at has stars forming at the back of your vision, the tip of his cock brushing that one spot deep inside of you whenever he thrusts up. You don’t even think his entire dick is in you as he does this, but you also don’t really have the mind to care, way too focused on memorizing the veins of his shaft with your walls.
You’re far too gone to consider the consequences of your actions, the horizon of your release just beyond your fingertips now. You’d never needed someone so viscerally before, so carnally. Yet here you were, sucking Lee Juyeon’s cock in with your pussy like you were a damn vacuum. The sounds you’re making bounce back and forth on the walls, no doubt louder than the shower water itself.
“I— I-I’m so— fuck,” you mewl, words wobbling. “I’m so, so close, Juyo.”
“Yeah, baby?” He sighs in your ear, nudging your sensitive clit with his thumb while raising your leg as much as he physically can. “Me too, where do you want me?”
“Inside,” you don’t think you even make sense anymore, babbling as he continues to fuck you stupid. “Please. Want you to cum inside me.”
Juyeon grits his teeth, pleased with himself that he didn’t orgasm right then and there. He uses his last ounce of strength to get the two of you off together. “C’mon, sweetheart, cum for me.”
The fogginess subsides pretty quickly after you’ve finished, your brain registering what just happened almost instantaneously. If you weren’t so hypersensitive, you would’ve pulled him out yourself and scrambled to flee the scene. (And maybe even the country.) There are many more rational thoughts running through your head now. The entire trajectory of your life has just been changed, whether you realized it or not. But the biggest issue was:
What the hell do you do now?
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© juyeonszn. do not steal, claim, or repost.
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mortallydeepestobservation · 2 months ago
Text
The holiday pretense -2-
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Summary: Namjoon has never been a fan of the holidays. In fact, he could list more things that sucked about ‘The most wonderful time of the year’, than things that brought him joy. Yet, beneath his cynicism, a flicker of hope appeared this year, as the faint scent of homesickness hung in the air. Unfortunately, there’s one tiny little thing that keeps him from calling home- his lack of a girlfriend. But fear not; this holiday season, Namjoon’s smart mouth gets him in a situation where he has no choice but to approach you- his longtime friend and roommate- with an unexpected request. Pairing: Namjoon x f.reader Genre: fake-dating, idiots in love, friends to lovers/roommates to lovers au; crack, smut, fluff. Rating: explicit. Minors do not interact. Warnings: every single trope in the book; but with a twist. Dialogue heavy. OC is really bad at lying, they are absolute idiots. like, there is no way about it. pure idiots. anddd… I didn’t write in literal years so yeah, this is gonna be fun. Yes. It is a warning. Smut warnings: to be added~ Word count: Chapter 2-9k Credits: this was literally one of those ‘if no one is going to write this, I will’ because there are not enough friends-to-lovers Namjoon fics out there. And none (that I know of) where the main character feels bad for lying to his family when pretending to date him. This work would not have been possible without the very kind and patient @callmenoona25, who not only helped me beta-read but also served as a guiding light during those moments when I wanted to rage-delete everything. Thank you for all your help! (and please keep helping me coz idk what I’d do without your constant encouragement) Author's note: We’re already in December. Damn… Enjoy. Merry Christmas. part 1: here, part 2: reading, part 3: here , part 4: here
Namjoon peered down at your sleeping form, his tired eyes tracing the soft, quirky murmurs that drifted from your lips as you burrowed deeper into his chest. What started as a faint whimper blossomed into a quiet, endearing snore, drawing a gentle smile from him.
He hadn’t planned to wake this early, but sleep had eluded him for the fast few hours. These quiet pre-dawn moments usually brought him peace—a hushed pause before the day took over. Today, however, his mind was restless, skimming over scattered thoughts until it inevitably circled back to you.
You looked like a dream. The soft morning light seeped through the curtains, bathing you in a warm, golden glow even as you nestled deeper into his body. He couldn’t tear his gaze away, mesmerized by the delicate lines of your face. His eyes lingered on the gentle curve of your lips—the same lips he’d kissed just hours before…
Lost in his thoughts, he didn’t realize how intently he was staring, until your eyes suddenly fluttered open. Instinct kicked in, startled, you both reacted at the same time, and you jumped up just as he tried to lean back. The both of you groaning in unison as you cradle your forehead, which had slammed painfully against his chin.
“What the hell are you doing?” you cry, urgency quickly replacing the sleepiness in your voice.
“You were snoring. I’m sorry,” Namjoon defended, rubbing the spot where you collided.
“I don’t snore!” you glare up at him, eyes finally focusing enough to see the blood gushing from his nose. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry!” You leaned over him to grab a napkin from the bedside table. But still half asleep, the hand you’d placed between his legs couldn’t support your weight, and you crashed right onto his belly, eliciting a loud “oof” as he fell back on his pillow.
“I’m sorry,” you repeated, your face smushed against him as you struggle to grab a napkin. In your frantic attempt, you knocked the tissue box off the table, sending tissues whirling to the ground.
“Just- ow!” He winced when you pressed the napkin to his nose, confusion evident on his face. He clearly hadn’t expected blood or to be in such a vulnerable position so early in the morning.
“I’m sorry,” you say for the third time, slightly loosening your grip on his face.
“Stop apologizing,” he mumbled “It’s my fault too.” Namjoon took the tissue from your hands and pressed it harder against his nose trying to suppress the stinging sensation.
You lingered there for a moment, captivated by the tissue grazing his lips, until the warmth of his skin under your cheek snapped you out of it. His shirt had ridden up in the altercation, baring a sliver of his toned stomach, now conveniently pressed against your face.
As if sensing your awareness, Namjoon furrowed his brows and gave you a quizzical look, prompting you to sit upright, the blanket trailing behind you like a cape.
“Yes, it is! What’s wrong with you?” You scolded. “Do you always stare at people when you sleep next to them?”
“I wasn’t staring!” Namjoon’s head shot up; his voice defensive but laced with amusement. “You were snoring.”
“I don’t snore!” you shot back, despite having no evidence to support your claim. You struggled to untangle yourself from the blanket, nearly tripping in your haste to escape. The bathroom door closed with an accidental slam behind you, leaving you momentarily alone with your spiralling thoughts.
Leaning over the sink, you splashed cold water on your face, the chill biting at your skin and grounding you—if only for a moment. Yet your heart refused to cooperate, its erratic rhythm spiking again when you heard the faint shuffling from the bedroom, followed by a soft, frustrated “Damn it.”
You glanced at your reflection in the mirror, meeting your own wide-eyed, dishevelled stare. Tangled hair perfectly framing your flushed cheeks, the hoodie you’d borrowed from Namjoon sitting askew on your shoulders and remnants of sleep clinging stubbornly to your face.
Charming. Just the image you wanted to project.
Then, your gaze drifted to the mint toothpaste sitting on the counter, and a fresh wave of emotions washed over you. It hit you all at once—His lips pressed to yours, the warmth of his breath against your skin, and the look he’d given you after.
 The way he looked at you…like he was searching for something. Or maybe you were imagining it. God, you hoped you were imagining it.
You gripped the edge of the sink, leaning into it as embarrassment burned its way down your spine.
But deep beneath the flurry of second-guessing and distress, you manage to find a crumb of courage while quietly going through the motions.
Taking a shaky breath, you pushed yourself upright and finished the small, familiar task of brushing your teeth. As you twisted the faucet shut, you stole one last glance at your reflection, your eyes searching for reassurance.
With resolve that felt both flimsy and monumental, you stepped back into the bedroom, bracing yourself for whatever came next.
Namjoon was still lying on the bed, a new tissue pressed against his nose. He looked up as you enter, and an unexpected flicker of self-consciousness crept in, making you hyper-aware of every step you took.
 “Are you okay?” You asked, attempting a softer tone.
“Yeah,” he mumbled, lowering the napkin to inspect the bright red spot there. “Just a bit of a love tap, you know?”
“Don’t make it weird,” you shoot back, but the words only made him laugh softly, easing some of the tension in your chest.
You grab a clean tissue and lean in closer to inspect the damage. "I'm really sorry," you say, perching on the edge of the bed. You take the napkin from his hands with little resistance and replace it with your own. "I didn't mean to hurt you."
"It's okay," he replies, his voice soft. "But next time, maybe warm me about the snoring.”
"I don’t snore!" you exclaimed, the defensiveness in your tone spiking and earning another heartfelt laugh from him.
“Okay, fine. You don’t,” he said, raising his hands in mock surrender. But just as you were about to relax, he added under his breath, “Next time, I’ll record you.”
You narrowed your eyes and considered actually pinching his nose.
“You’re impossible.”
Namjoon only grinned, dimples deepening, as you carefully pulled the tissue away to dab the remains of the nosebleed. The softness of your touch seemed to quiet him; his teasing replaced by something warmer. There was a tenderness in the way you focused on his injury, small lines of worry forming on your forehead. He wanted to laugh, seeing as you dealt with more dramatic injuries in the past, yet he didn’t want to disturb you as you carefully touched his cheek with your free hand. The warmth of your palm contrasting sharply with the chill of the morning air.
As if you could feel the weight of his gaze on you, you look up, meeting his eyes.
“You’re blushing again.”
“Shut up.” You muttered, your cheeks heating further as you refocused on his nose, cleaning the surrounding area as if he were made of porcelain. You kept your attention on the injury, desperate to ignore the proximity—and the gentle warmth of his breath against your skin and the inexplicable tightness in your chest.
“There,” you finally murmured, your voice barely above a whisper, breaking the stillness as you placed the tissue aside. “All better.” To diffuse the tension, you gave his cheek a light pinch before standing up to tidy the room.
Turning your back to him, you busied yourself with cleaning, scooping up the crumpled tissues littering the bedside table. But Namjoon’s eyes never left you. He watched the way you moved, the way your hair caught the light, and the way you scrunched your nose in irritation when you realized how much of a mess you’d made earlier.
When you bent down to retrieve a stray napkin from under the bed, you caught him staring again. This time, a soft laugh escaped him when he realized he’d been caught red-handed.
Before he could say anything, you grabbed the discarded blanket and tossed it at him.
 “So, what’s the plan for today?” you asked quickly, moving toward your suitcase and fumbling with the zipper, your voice a little too casual.
“I’m taking you to a bakery,” his voice was muffled as he poked his head out from under the covers. “And my dad asked us to pick up a Christmas tree.”
Your heart skipped a beat at the mention of a Christmas tree. Even though the holiday spirit felt far away in this moment, a surge of excitement stirred in your chest. “A Christmas tree?” You echoed, trying to mask the intrigue in your voice with an air of nonchalance.
“Yeah,” he replied, running a hand through his messy hair. “I thought we could decorate it together tonight.”
“You hate decorating the tree.”
“True,” he chuckled, “but I’d rather suffer through it with you than alone. Besides, my parents have some ornaments that I think you’ll like.”
You paused, makeup bag in hand, feeling his words settle over you. In the two years you’d lived together, Namjoon had never once shown a shred of enthusiasm when it came to decorating the apartment. He was more the type to lounge on the couch with a book or a video game while you tangled yourself in string lights and sparkling baubles, only for him to chime in at the end with a “You missed a spot”. Still, he always helped place the star on top —mostly because you couldn’t reach it, and he was taller.
“You’re volunteering for your own torture?” You glanced over your shoulder, eyebrow raised, just as he swung his legs off the bed and stretched his arms high above his head.
Your breath hitched at the sight of him leaning back, his shirt lifting just enough to reveal the muscles flexing underneath. The morning sunlight steamed through the window, contouring his skin with an irresistible golden hue.
Quickly you turned back to your makeup bag, rummaging unnecessarily for a lipstick as warmth crept up your neck and onto your cheeks
“My mom will force us either way.” He declared, the faint defeat in his tone punctuated by a dramatic sigh ash he strolled towards the bathroom.
You let out a small laugh at his resignation, but it got caught in your throat when he reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled it off, tossing in onto the bed.
Your gaze betrayed you for half a second, flickering toward him before you could stop yourself. The lean lines of his back, the soft stretch of his shoulders, the way his skin gleamed faintly in the light—everything you weren’t supposed to notice left an imprint far too vivid in your mind.
Heart pounding, you forced your eyes back to your bag, gripping it as though it were a lifeline. But it was too late. You were certain he’d seen your reaction.
“See something you like?” His teasing voice reached you just as he disappeared into the bathroom.
Your face flamed, and you whipped around, glaring at the now-closed door. “You’re impossible!” You called out, loud enough for him to hear over the sound of the running water.
~~~~
The aroma of freshly brewed tea greeted you as you stepped out of the room, mingling with the faint hum of life coming from the kitchen. The soft click of the bathroom door shutting behind Namjoon grounded you, though your thoughts still spun wildly. You took a deep breath, willing yourself to regain composure, but the sound of running shower only stirred your imagination further—steam rising, droplets tracing the contours of his bare skin. Heat crept up your neck, and you shook your head sharply, chastising yourself. Get it together.
In a desperate attempt to regain control after the completely unfair sight of your sun-kissed, shirtless friend, you decided a little distance might actually do you some good. Grabbing the first cozy sweater and pair of jeans within reach, you tugged them on and practically bolted out of the room.
He’s your friend, you reminded yourself firmly, though the mantra did little to steady the pounding heart in your chest.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Kim and Minhi were seated at the dining table, morning sunlight streaming through the large windows. The golden light bathed the cozy space, catching on the delicate wisps of steam curling up from their teacups.
“Good morning, my dear,” Mrs. Kim greeted warmly, lifting her head to meet your gaze. “Did you sleep well?”
You smiled, pushing away any lingering thoughts from earlier, and took a seat at the table. “Yes, thank you,” you replied, carefully avoiding any mention of what had just transpired.
“Is Namjoon taking you out?” Minhi asked, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity over her teacup. You could almost swear there was a hint of a smirk forming on her lips.
You confirmed with a shy nod, but a new wave of heat crept up your spine, igniting your ears as if someone had turned up the thermostat.
Mrs Kim’s face broke into a broad grin. “Do you want me to whip you up something to eat first? Coffee or tea?” she asked, already rising from her chair.
“No, no,” you quickly interjected, waving your hands “We’re leaving in a few minutes. Namjoon’s just getting ready.”
Naked in all his glory in the shower…
You forced your mind back to the present as Mrs. Kim’s kind gaze lingered on you. Smoothing down your sweater, you took a steadying breath, doing your best to appear collected. You really had to pull yourself together.
“Is he taking you to Ajumeoni’s bakery?” Mrs. Kim asked, settling back in her chair with a huff. “At this rate, he’s paying for her grandkids to go to college.”
“C’mon Mom,” Minhi piped in. “The strawberry tarts are just-” She closed her eyes and inhaled dramatically, as if savouring the scent of sweet pastries. “They’re heavenly, I swear.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious, but Mrs. Kim merely waved her off.
“Alright, alright,” she relented, her own smile softening the mock exasperation in her voice “Just be home in time for dinner.”
“Yes, of course,” you nodded dutifully, resolute in your mission to be the perfect pretend-girlfriend today —a supportive friend, and nothing more.
“Jackson’s picking them up after work, mom, don’t worry.” Minhi said, her laughter cutting through your spiralling thoughts.
“He is?” you asked, blinking in surprise but taken in by her contagious laughter.
“Did you think you’d carry the tree in the metro?” Minhi giggled, her gaze flicking to the hallway as hurried footsteps echoed from upstairs.
Moments later, Namjoon appeared, his dimpled smile lighting up the room.
“Good morning!” he called out, running a hand through his freshly styled hair, the effortless charm in his voice matching his appearance. The brown sweater he’d chosen hugged his tall frame perfectly, drawing your attention to the way it accentuated the broad lines of his chest. The golden necklace at his collarbone caught the soft morning light as he bent down to plant a sweet kiss on his mother’s cheek.
Then, his eyes found yours, playful and warm before winking your way. “Are you ready?”
You fought to suppress the blush creeping up your cheeks, admiring him for a fraction too long. The vivid memory of his shirtless body flashed in your mind, and for a moment, words seemed to escape you.
“Hey, yeah, I’m all set,” you finally managed.
Namjoon’s smile just widened, a teasing softness in his eyes as he stepped closer. The scent of his cologne, fresh and warm, mingled with the aroma of tea as he leaned down toward you.
“You look really good.”  He said, his voice low and sincere.
All your mental preparations evaporated.
You glanced down at your grey sweater and jeans, disbelief flickering in your mind. Were you two looking at the same thing?
“Thanks. You don’t look bad yourself.” You replied, attempting a casual tone, despite yourself, but you’re certain your tomato red face gave you away.
Minhi and Mrs. Kim were shamelessly observing, their amusement barely concealed. Minhi raised an eyebrow, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips, while Mrs. Kim hid her laugh behind her teacup.
“Are you two going to stare at each other all day, or are you leaving?” Minhi nudged, leaning back in her chair with a knowing grin.
Namjoon chuckled, breaking the moment as he pulled back slightly. “We’re going, we’re going,” he assured, offering his hand to help you up.
As you stood, his palm rested briefly on the small of your back, sending a warmth through you that lingered. He shot his mother a cheeky smile as he led you toward the door.
“Don’t wait up,” he added with mock innocence, ushering you down the hall, and earning himself a pinch to the side form you.
~~~
The morning light was bright, yet it did little to chase away the frost in the air. All bundled up in your puffy winter coat, you walked through the bustling neighbourhood streets, the wind nipping at your cheeks as sunlight glinted off fresh snow. Beside you, Namjoon strolled at an easy pace, his tall frame hunched slightly against the cold.
 The shop windows glittered with seasonal displays- strings of lights, shimmering ornaments and snowy landscapes. Every so often, Namjoon would break the silence with a light-hearted comment or snippets from his childhood- stories that warmed you despite the cold.
“Look at that,” he nodded towards a window filled with beautifully wrapped presents underneath a grand Christmas tree. “I used to think those were real. I’d stare at them for hours, hoping someone would let me take a peek inside.”
You giggle, picturing a younger Namjoon, starry-eyed and full of wonder. “Did you ever get to sneak a peek?”
He shook his head, the soft pink on his cheeks deepening in the cold. “No way! My mom had a sixth sense for that kind of stuff. She always caught me.” His warm laugh carried over the frosty air, lifting your spirits even as the chill settled in your bones. Without thinking, his hand found, fingers curling gently around yours as he led you down the street.
A little later, he stopped again, his gaze stolen by a snug bookstore with a charming display in the window. The small shop exuded warmth, its large front window showcasing a centrepiece of fake snow, big red bows and a collection of carefully arranged books. His eyes lit up as they landed on a particular title propped up prominently in the centre.
 “Would you mind if we go in?” he asked, nodding towards the book, excitement brightening his face.
You followed his gaze, your heart sinking and cheeks flooding with heat the moment you recognized the book. Panic sets in as your mind scrambles for an excuse. It was a book from a Korean author who had recently burst onto the literary scene, earning praise for their intricate storytelling and philosophical metaphors. Naturally, Namjoon had fallen in love with their work, dissecting every layer of meaning in conversations that you secretly loved, but teased him mercilessly for.
You had heard so much about the author, that when you saw the newest release weeks ago, you knew it was the perfect gift for him.
“No!” you blurted out quickly, voice sharp enough to startle him.
“What?” He turned to you, eyebrows lifting in surprise. “Why not?”
“Because…” you hesitated, heat still rising to your cheeks as you struggled to find a good enough reason. But after a few seconds, you sighed in defeat and crossed your arms. “Because I already got it for you. You can’t buy it.”
His expression softened, a big grin spreading across his face as he stepped closer to you. “You got it for me?”
“Yes,” you muttered, averting your eyes as your blush deepened. “So, you can’t ruin the surprise. Keep walking, Kim Namjoon.”
He chuckled, his dimples making a brief but devastating appearance as he gave your arm a playful squeeze, holding you in place. “Alright, I’ll let it go. But…” He leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, “Did you see the decorations?”
You blinked at the sudden shift in the topic and followed his gaze. He was nodding toward the shop entrance, just a little further away, adorned with twinkling fairy lights and festive greenery. Your eyes drifted upward, landing on the small spring of mistletoe dangling above the doorway. Its pale berries glinting like snow in the soft light.
His hands burrowed deeper into the pockets of his coat as he tilted his head toward it, a playful grin spreading across his face. “Better be careful with that,” he teased, his voice laced with mock seriousness.
You raised an eyebrow, watching the delicate plant sway slightly in the winter breeze. “It’s bad luck not to kiss under it,” Namjoon clarified, watching you with a hint of challenge in his expression.
“Since when are you so superstitious?” you asked, a laugh escaping you as you shook your head in disbelief.
“I’m not,” he admitted with a shrug, though the sheepish grin that tugged at his lips made his intentions clear. “I just like covering all my bases.”
Before you could answer, Namjoon leaned closer, his breath a soft warmth against your skin. His lips brushed your chilled cheek in a quick, fleeting kiss—a touch so warm and unexpected it made the cold air around you feel sharper by comparison.
You stood frozen for a moment, your cheek tingling where his lips had been.
Namjoon pulled back, his grin deepening, dimples carving into his cheeks. “There,” he said lightly, straightening his coat as if nothing had happened. “No bad luck now.”
 Normally, you’d brush off his antics as harmless teasing meant to get a rise out of you. But this time, it managed to frits your brain. You stare at him, a mixture of indignation and disbelief sparking in your chest. “Kim Namjoon, you-”
He raised his hands in mock surrender, already stepping back towards the bakery door he’d been guiding you all along. “Don’t blame me, blame the mistletoe,” he quipped, holding the door open for you, the bell above it chiming softly.
Your cheeks still burned as you stepped past him, shooting him a glare that lacked any real heat.
Inside the bakery, the scent of sweet cinnamon and vanilla wrapped around you like a warm embrace. The bell above the door chimed softly again as Namjoon followed, the sound blending seamlessly with the cozy hum of conversation and the occasional clink of porcelain mugs.
The interior was just as inviting as the aroma —a rustic charm, with walls lined with wooden beams and subtle golden accents. Twinkling fairy lights cast a soft glow over the room, illuminating the rows of pastries displayed behind a pristine glass countertop.
Puffed-up croissants sat beside glistening hotteok, their caramelized centres looking absolutely delicious. Spiralled kkwabagi dusted with sugar and candied sweet potatoes. And then there were the cakes — delicate, crowned with fresh berries and swirls of vanilla cream, their perfect edges almost too beautiful to disturb.
Namjoon walked over to the counter, his tall frame leaning slightly as he studied the pastries with an almost childlike delight. The faint flush on his cheeks from the cold only added to his charm, softening his sharp featured and making him just the more endearing.
You couldn’t help but watch him, captivated the way his eyes shone with delight. There was something so disarming about his enthusiasm, so pure in its simplicity, that it made the flutter in your chest impossible to ignore.
“Will you let me order for you?” He asked, suddenly interrupting your thoughts.
“Yes, of course,” you smile, the slight flutter in your stomach making you laugh softly. As he turned to the counter, his brows furrowed in exaggerated concentration, you couldn’t help but admire him anew.  Namjoon has always been thoughtful, but this moment felt particularly tender, as though he was putting in the extra effort to make it memorable.
The bakery was alive with the bustle of other patrons, their laughter interlaced with the clinking of kitchen utensils in the back. A barista was busy steaming milk for lattes, while the warmth of the oven diffused toward you, chasing away any lasting chill from outside.
Namjoon finally ordered a selection of absolutely mouth-watering cream filled croffles and piping hot coffee. The lovely old lady at the serving counter lit up when she recognised him, leaning over to pinch his cheeks playfully. She gushed about how tall he had grown and how handsome he was, even calling her husband from the back to see Namjoon after all these years. You giggle softly, enjoying the lively exchange as Namjoon laughed, clearly relishing in the attention while trying to dodge her affectionate teasing. In the end, he walked away with an extra serving of milk bread as a ‘parting gift’ which he gratefully accepted, beaming as he thanked her.
The table Namjoon chose was tucked in a quiet corner, its window overlooking the bustling streets outside. The festive neighbourhood, framed by twinkling lights and snowy sidewalks, looked like a scene pulled straight from a snow globe. And as you settled into your seat, snowflakes began to drift gently from the sky, only adding to the hallmark-movie charm that seemed to influence the day.
“Here you go,” Namjoon settled the croffle in front of you. It was golden brown, with a crispy exterior that cradled the rich cream filling inside, adorned carefully with gingerbread crumbs — arguably, it was a masterpiece on a plate. He didn’t sit down yet, instead turning to fetch the coffee from the café counter
“Kim Namjoon?” a voice called out, and you looked to see a beautiful girl with big doe eyes shining once she looked at him, her pouted lips curving into a charming smile “I’m Min Iseul, do you remember me?”
Namjoon seemed shocked for a moment, but quickly regained his composure, his smile widening as he replied, "Oh my god, yes, hi! How have you been?"
“You know,” she smiled “life in a small town tends to be quiet. But what about you-?”
You watched from the corner of the table, feeling a tightness in your chest as Iseul place a hand on Namjoon’s arm. A frown formed involuntarily on your face as a pit began to settle in your stomach. Their conversation continued, the sound of their voices becoming a distant murmur as you forced your gaze downward, glaring at the croffle on your plate.
It felt horrible to realize that the sudden pang was indeed jealousy —raw and undeniable, it seemed it had taken root in your heart without your consent.
What was happening to you? You had always viewed Namjoon as a friend. You had watched him flirt with countless girls without a second though, yet now, here you were, on the verge of snapping at the mere sight of a pretty girl touching his arm. And of course she was perfect for him. She looked up at him as if he single-handedly hung up the stars, with her perfect hair, perfect smile, and that perfect body that made even the bakery apron look like high fashion.
It wasn’t just about Iseul, though. It was about something deeper, something you couldn’t quite explain. It was about not wanting to be replaced and a fear that quietly whispered to you that perhaps, you already had been.
As they continued their chat, the world outside quietly transformed. The snow began to blanket the streets in a delicate layer, framing the moment like a quaint, picturesque postcard. Inside, however, it felt like a different story. You picked at the croffle, the rich cream suddenly feeling too sweet compared to the bitter twist in your mood.
Finally, Namjoon returned, coffee in hands, a bright smile still lighting his face. “Sorry about that! Iseul and I used to be in the same classes at school,” he said, then paused when he noticed your expression. His brows furrowing in concern.
“Is everything okay?” he asked, his voice gentle as he reached out, taking your hand in his.
You forced a smile, trying to shake off the weight of the moment. “Yeah, just… it’s nothing.” You lied, tasting the bitterness on your tongue. God, you hated lying.
He studied you for a moment longer, and for a brief second, you swore you saw something shift in his eyes.
“Alright,” he said slowly, a hint of uncertainty lingering. “Well, let’s dig in! You have to try the milk bread. I promise it’s worth it!”
As you took a bite, followed by a big gulp of coffee, you resolved to push away your insecurity, even if only for today. After all, the reality of your friendship was simple: while you may never make his heart flutter like Iseul seemingly did, you could certainly raise his blood pressure.
Namjoon started a new conversation about the last book he read, and you fell into the familiar flow of dialogue as the snowy scene outside continued to unfold. But every now and then, your gaze would drift to the window, catching a glimpse of the town dressed in white. You found yourself wondering if it was possible to be both happy for him, and fearful of losing him, all while managing to still be his friend amidst the chaos of unbidden feelings.
“Do you remember Hoseok?”
You answered Namjoon’s question with a nod, seeing as he pulled you too abruptly from your thoughts. “He’s the pretty one that stayed over for spring break?”
Namjoon laughed, his eyes gleaming with the unmistakable light that made your heart skip a beat —even as you fought against it. Usually, his laughter would unravel the tight knots in your chest, but now, it seemed to tighten them further.
You remembered the visit well — Hoseok rolled up all the carpets in your living room, turning it into an impromptu dancing studio. He was kind, like all of Namjoon’s friends, but he also ate all your snacks and took great pleasure in flirting with you every time you ran into each other, much to Namjoon’s discomfort.
“Yeah, you two broke my laptop,” you started, but he cut you off.
“And I got it fixed!” he countered, defending his clumsy actions, which only made you laugh.
Namjoon chuckled, stirring his coffee absentmindedly. “He invited us over for a Christmas party tomorrow. It’s a little get together, if you want to go,”
“Definitely,” you replied, though your enthusiasm felt forced. The prospect of a party sent a thrill through you, but underlying that was a twinge of uncertainty. Would Iseul be there? Would it be just another night of watching Namjoon flirt with someone else knowing you’re just playing the part of girlfriend?
As you took another bite of the croffle, its sweetness still felt bitter, much like the turmoil in your heart. You wanted to be happy for Namjoon, wanting to fulfil the role you signed up for, but now, beneath your smile, there was a complicated mess of fear and longing. More than ever, you felt like all your walls might come crumbling down.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Namjoon’s voice cut through your thoughts again, concern lingering beneath his words “You seem distant.”
 You force a smile, but the ache in your chest screamed at you to be honest, to share your doubts instead of masking it under a façade of indifference.
“Yeah, I’m fine,” another lie. How could you possibly explain the heaviness that sat at the bottom of your stomach, the envy bubbling silently inside of you, the tightness in your throat that made it hard to breath?
Namjoon leaned back, his warm gaze unwavering, clearly unconvinced. But for the rest of the meal, he didn’t press further. You both continued to eat in comfortable silence, even as the air thickened with unspoken words.
The snowfall outside intensified, painting the windows with a blur of white by the time you were done, and you feared, once again, that the outfit you had chosen was ill-fitted for the icy weather.
Namjoon picked up a box of strawberry tarts for Minhi on the way out, and as he opened the door for you, you saw Iseul waving at him—a darling wave that ignited a firestorm of nerves deep within you.
In that moment, logic fled your mind. Without thinking, you grabbed Namjoon’s coat collar and pulled him towards you, pressing your lips to his. His eyes widened, a mixture of shock and confusion flickering across his face. The warmth of his body felt so close, yet the distance between you —created by your impulsive actions — seemed insurmountable.
You can’t believe what you were doing!
Namjoon was frozen for one second, but then he melted into the kiss. His free hand gently cupping your face, as if he were afraid, you’d run if he moved too quickly.
Namjoon’s lips were soft against yours, his warmth seeping through the layers of your clothes and spreading through you like a slow burn. The world outside seemed to blur even more, the cold, the noise of the streets, the snow rushing into the bakery, it all faded into an unimportant backdrop. All that mattered was the feeling of his lips against yours —gentle, hesitant, yet impossibly comforting.
For a moment, you almost didn’t regret it.
Then, just as quickly as it started, the kiss ended. Namjoon pulled back slightly, his hand still cupping your face, his thumb brushing gently over your cheek as if seeking reassurance. His gaze flickered between your eyes, searching for something.
You felt the rush of heat flood your face as reality hit like a ton of bricks. What did you just do? The panic set in, an overwhelming wave crashing against your chest. You tried to swallow it down, but the vulnerability felt raw, exposed.
“I-I’m,” you stammered, stepping back slightly, your hands trembling as you pushed them into your coat pockets. “Mistletoe!”
Namjoon blinked, his brows furrowing in confusion. His hand remained where it was for a moment, as if unsure whether to pull away or reach for you again. The warmth of his fingers against your skin was grounding, but the panic in your chest made it difficult to breath. You could hardly believe what you’d just done, but somehow, you still managed to squeeze out the most absurd explanation you could think of.
“Mistletoe,” you repeated, almost too quickly, the word falling past your lips like the snowflakes around you, each syllable hanging in the frigid air like a whispered secret.
His hand dropped to his side, the warmth from his touch slipping away as a flicker of something—concern, confusion, or maybe disappointment—crossed his face. It was hard to pinpoint, but whatever it was, it left an uncomfortable weight settling in your stomach.
He blinked, as if trying to make sense of the situation, then glanced at the mistletoe above the door. His expression shifted again, more uncertain now, and for a brief moment, there was a palpable silence between you, the world around you swirling in a soft flurry, but it felt like everything had stopped.
“Mistletoe?” he repeated, almost tentative. His eyes didn’t meet yours immediately; instead, they lingered on the mistletoe, as if searching for an answer in the small plant.
You nodded, fighting to keep your voice steady, but your throat felt tight, like the words were getting stuck somewhere between your chest and your mouth.
“Yeah,” he concluded, “I guess we could always put the blame on the mistletoe…” he said, his voice a little quieter now, as if he was still trying to grasp what had just happened.
You were about to argue further, to say something—anything—that would ease the tension building between you both, but just then, someone called out from inside the bakery.
“Hey! Make up your mind! Are you leaving or staying? You’re letting snow inside!” The voice was half-joking, but the discomfort in it made the moment all the more awkward.
Caught off guard, you and Namjoon exchanged a glance, and you both quickly moved toward the door, apologizing profusely to the patrons and the owners as you stepped outside.
“Sorry, sorry, we didn’t mean to make a mess,” Namjoon said, his words coming out rushed as he quickly pulled the door closed behind you, sealing off the chilly gust of wind that had followed you out.
You stood for a moment on the snowy sidewalk, the light of the bakery still visible through the frosted windows. The snowflakes seemed to have grown heavier, each flake falling in delicate patterns, as if trying to make the moment less heavy. But it didn’t. The air was cold, the street quiet, and despite the wintery beauty around you, your stomach twisted further and your heart beat erratically. Now it was just you and Namjoon in the silence of the day, both lost in thoughts you wouldn’t put into words.
Namjoon shifted slightly beside you, glancing down at the ground before speaking up. His voice hesitant, but there was an underlying softness to it that made your face heat despite the cold.
“So…” he began, trailing off as if searching for the right words. “No tongue this time?”
You blinked at him, your heart skipping over a few beats. The cold seemed to freeze in your lungs as you tried to process what he had just said. For a second, you were sure you hadn’t heard him correctly. You turned your head slightly, trying to gauge whether he was joking or not, but his expression was unreadable.
“Excuse me?” you asked, your voice coming out in a small, nervous laugh. You couldn’t tell if he was trying to lighten the mood or if he was just poking fun at you.
“I mean,” he continued, scratching the back of his neck, “if we’re going to blame it all on the mistletoe…” He trailed off, his tone playful but laced with a hint of something deeper, a flicker of curiosity behind his words.
That’s when you caught it. That familiar teasing glint in his eyes, the expression he had whenever he managed to make you fluster, and you huffed out in indignation, your breath transforming into a small cloud.
You crossed your arms, trying to gather your composure as you glared at him. The cold air biting at your skin, but the warmth of your embarrassment was far more overwhelming.
“Oh, so now it’s my fault?” you shot back, your voice teasing but with a hint of defensiveness, as if you were trying to cover up how much his words had affected you. You couldn’t help it. The playful look in his eyes had a way of making your pulse pick up, and it didn’t help that every word he said seemed to sink deeper into the awkwardness of the situation.
Namjoon raised his hands in mock surrender, the grin on his face only growing wider “No, no! I’m not saying it’s your fault,” he said quickly, trying to reassure you, though the amusement in his voice didn’t quite match his words. “Just—y’know, I thought we were sticking with the mistletoe excuse. But, uh, it’s all on you now. You started it.”
“Me? I—” You opened your mouth, searching for a retort, but your brain was still scrambling to catch up with everything. Nothing coherent came to mind, and his look wasn’t helping in the slightest. “You kissed me first!” you blurted, the words tumbling out before you could stop yourself.
Namjoon arched an eyebrow, his smile turning smug. “Yeah, on the cheek,” he countered, giving a little shrug as if that settled the matter entirely. He tilted his head slightly, an eyebrow raised as if he was waiting for your response, but when none came, the smugness in his expression only grew. For a moment, you considered whether it was worth the effort to argue with him. But then, his look softened, just enough for you to notice the shift in his expression —something that made your heart pick up again.
You opened your mouth to speak, but the words caught in your throat. The absurdity of the situation—the way it had spiralled from a jealous outburst into whatever this was—left you feeling strangely vulnerable. His presence, so close beside you in the cold, seemed to magnify everything.
“Fine.” You finally muttered, crossing your arms tighter and shifting your weight from one foot to the other, almost chasing the cold away.
Namjoon’s dimples deepened; the teasing look in his eyes returning full force. “Fine?” he repeated, his tone dripping with amusement. “Is that you admitting defeat, or are you too cold to keep arguing?”
He collected your hand in his free one, leading you down the street towards the Christmas market.
You gave him a fleeting glare, narrowing your eyes. “Neither,” you shot back, though the warmth in your cheeks betrayed the confidence you were trying to project. “I just don’t see the point in arguing with someone who twists everything to suit their narrative.”
Namjoon’s heartfelt laughter made any of the lingering tension dissipate, his expression taking on a look of sheer mock offence. “Twisting everything? Me?” He shook his head, his expression turning playfully solemn. “I’m just stating facts here. You’re the one who escalated things. I was perfectly content with a friendly mistletoe kiss. No drama. No tongue.”
Your eyes widened, and your jaw dropped at his audacity. “I did not escalate—oh my god, would you stop saying that?” you hissed, your voice low but filled with exasperation.
“Hey, you won’t see me complaining,” he replied smoothly, his voice softening just enough to send your thoughts spiralling. “But I never pegged you for the jealous type.”
“Gah! You’re insufferable!”
Namjoon’s grin grew as he watched you fume, his fingers tightening around your hand, as he led you down the snowy streets with easy confidence. The twinkling lights of the stalls cast a soft glow over the scene, the cold air whipped around you, but somehow, the heat between you kept the chill at bay, even if your cheeks were flushed from both the cold and the heated banter.
“Jealous? Who’s jealous?” you scoffed, trying to sound unaffected, but the way your beet-red face betrayed you. “I’m not jealous. I’m just…” you trailed off, realising you had absolutely no excuse lined up. The last part came out quieter than you meant, your voice showing more vulnerability than you were comfortable with, and you quickly buried your face in your scarf.
Namjoon tilted his head slightly, his smile not quite fading, but the glimmer of something more thoughtful flickering in his eyes. He slowed his pace, just enough to match yours, the quiet hum of the market and the soft crunch of snow beneath your feet filling the space between you.
"You’re just... what?" he prompted gently, his voice laced with curiosity and that familiar edge.
“Just acting like a good fake girlfriend would.” You concluded, trying to keep your tone casual, but you felt your stomach churn slightly as you lied, like you were trying to brush off something that had begun to feel a lot more real than you expected.
Namjoon’s expression shifted — just a little. His face softened as he thought it over, then he gave you a playful nudge with his shoulder, his voice light as he responded, “Ah, I see. Well, I’ll admit, you’re pretty good at it.”
His tone made your heart settle a bit, but you couldn't shake the underlying tension that had suddenly crept in. You hadn’t meant to sound so serious, and yet there was something in his eyes now that made you second-guess everything. He gave a small chuckle, the kind that felt like distance—just enough to make you realize he wasn’t leaning in any closer, but not pulling away either.
He let go of your hand for a moment, running it through his hair, then casually reached for it again, as if nothing had changed.
“Well, as long as I’m the good fake boyfriend, we’re golden.”
You nodded, still completely flustered, but grateful for the shift back to something a little more familiar. He wasn’t pressing anymore. He wasn’t trying to read your true intentions. He was just… being Namjoon, your friend, your roommate, the guy who could make you laugh and leave you absolutely wrecked emotionally.
The rest of the walk was quieter, but not in an uncomfortable type of way. He kept walking besides you, hands stuffed in his pockets, occasionally throwing out a random comment or nudging you along with him as you made your way through the busy market and to the small Christmas tree lodge.
You two picked a tree without much debate. The scent of pine and oranges filled the air as you threaded through the festive area, the twinkling lights surrounding you. Namjoon’s presence besides you was oddly comforting—like an anchor in the whirlwind of noise and flashing lights. As you both made your way to the tree lot, he casually pointed out the skinniest, most scrawny-looking trees, joking about how much he’d like to buy one just to see his mother’s reaction.
You couldn’t help but giggle at his commentary, the tension from earlier completely forgotten. The awkwardness in the air had faded, at least for the moment, and you were thankful for it, seeing as you didn’t need more things to overthink tonight.
After a bit of back-and-forth, you both finally settled on a tree—a little taller than you both had anticipated, but perfectly symmetrical, with just the right amount of fullness.
The rest of the day went by in a blur. You two stopped to grab lunch at a modest-looking food stall, the inviting scent of fishcakes winning Namjoon over. You both enjoyed the warmth of the food as the wind continued to bite at your cheeks, the steam rising from your cups offering the briefest respite from the cold.
You tried mulled wine for the first time—warmed, spiced, with a tangy sweetness, but most importantly, warm—and to your surprise, you liked it.
The two of you wandered a bit more, chatting idly and laughing at each other’s jokes, not caring much for the crowds around you.
And before you knew it, Jackson had pulled up in his car to take you both home. The drive was quick and quiet, with the warm glow from the streetlights casting soft shadows across the interior of the car. Namjoon leaned back against his seat, looking content, while you sat in the front, trying not to overthink everything that had happened in the last few hours.
Namjoon teasing you about ogling his naked chest felt like it happened an eternity ago.
And now, here you were, getting ready for bed again.
The tree got decorated under Minhi’s careful supervision, looking more like a Pinterest masterpiece than a simple holiday decoration when she was done with it, and Namjoon, to his credit, managed to break only one bauble during the whole process.
The evening wound down quietly after the tree was finished. Minhi insisted on taking a dozen photos of her work, including some with the whole group in front of the tree. Jackson wrapped an arm around her shoulder, grinning like he’d won the lottery, while Minhi tried (and failed) to strike a serious pose before dissolving into laughter in his arms.
You stood off to the side, trying to figure out what to do with your hands, but Namjoon made the decision for you. He tugged you closer, wrapping his arms around you like it was the most natural thing in the world.
The flash went off, capturing the moment forever, but you couldn’t seem to focus on anything beyond the warmth of his body and the quiet weight of his laughter in your ear. It felt so unguarded, so easy, that for a fleeting moment, you could almost forget it was just pretend.
Later, Minhi pulled a mistletoe plant from her bag with an exaggerated flourish, announcing it was tradition. She delighted in the awkward reaction it drew from both you and Namjoon, who immediately avoided eye contact with each other, mumbling something about “respecting personal space.” But Minhi didn’t press too hard, instead planting a sweet kiss on Jackson’s cheek that had him grinning like a fool in love.
After that, their parents got home, dinner was served, and you finally got your turn taking care of the dishes.
You quietly tiptoed your way to the bed, shivering slightly once you felt the coldness of the room, but careful not to make a sound. Your nighttime routine had taken longer than usual, and you were doing your best to avoid waking Namjoon, who fell asleep while waiting for you. The room was dark except for the faint glow of the little reading lamp he left on for you, casting a soft shadow across the space.
Slipping under the covers, you turned off the light and shifted, trying to find a comfortable spot. But before you could settle, Namjoon stirred, and with almost no time to react, he turned around and wrapped an arm around you.
Your breath caught as he pulled you close, his chest warm against your back, his movements unhurried and natural, as if this was something he did all the time. You felt him bury his head into your hair, his voice low and groggy as he murmured, “It’s cold. Don’t stay so far away.”
The weight of his arm was grounding, but your heart was anything but steady. You lay there stiffly for a moment, your mind racing again. But his breathing slowed, steady and even, and the warmth of his presence started to seep into your bones, melting the tension little by little.
You didn’t move or speak, afraid to break whatever spell had been cast over the moment. Instead, you let yourself slowly relax into his chest, his arm tightening slightly as if he could sense your shift.
The cold, the overthinking, the lingering awkwardness—it all faded, replaced by the quiet sound of his breath and the calm rhythm of his heartbeat against your back.
You were absolutely hopeless.
149 notes · View notes
doctor-dusk · 6 months ago
Text
𝐛𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧 | 𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐱 𝐭.
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well, your second time on omegle definitely wasn't that bad.
warnings: male masturbation, nipple playing, exhibitionism and voyeurism.
word count: 2.4k
part. 1
well, everyone was hyped for part 2 and consequently me too lol, hope you enjoy it :3
your week passed slowly. torturously slowly. all you could think about when your mind was empty was him. you replayed the scene in your head like a movie. your favorite movie, actually.
‘’you've been having your head in the clouds lately,’’ your mother would say when you were caught too distracted. all you could do was smile and agree with her. you really were too distracted to think about anything other than alex.
in the nights that followed, you found yourself sighing between your sheets, vividly remembering every detail, every moan, every eager stroke, and you couldn’t wait to see him again. you found yourself asking too much if your parents were going out again on this friday, needing to contain your excitement as much as possible when your mother confirmed that they were going to a company party where your father worked.
‘’don't forget to take the trash out.’’ your mother told you for the second time as she walked to the door, your father was already waiting for her inside the car.
‘’yeah, don't worry. will you be back long?’’ you asked, but you weren't genuinely worried about whether they would be late, but rather how much time you would have alone.
‘’i don't know. i'll text you, but if it gets too late, don't forget to lock the doors and windows.’’ she said, giving you a brief kiss on the cheek, leaving the mark of her red lipstick like a soft tattoo on your skin.
‘’alright. bye, have fun!’’ you said waving excitedly at them, watching the car leave the garage, the anticipation running through you from the inside out, you just wanted to see the car disappearing from your field of vision so you could finally run to your room.
you left the door ajar, running to the kitchen just to take out the trash, and when you finally found yourself free, you ran back to your room.
your laptop was already on above your bed, the lights on the same way you had left them last friday. you looked at yourself in the mirror on your vanity, seeing if you looked presentable enough for him. you had even put on some mascara, it was almost pathetic to think that you weren't even hoping to want anyone to see your face.
but as you always told yourself, he was different.
you typed the website so quickly that you even got some letters wrong, but the search engine was equipped enough to already have the website saved in the search bar, since you had visited it once.
and of course, you covered your face again. you were no longer interested in talking to strangers and learning about their crazy addictions. now, you just wanted him.
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you had been there for almost 40 minutes, jumping from conversation to conversation, hoping to find him, like in a cliché where you accidentally bump into your love interest and end up knocking your books to the floor. but here, as time passed, the uncertainty became greater than your hope.
did he lie? did something happen, did something unexpected prevent him from showing up tonight? did you go to the site too early? too late?
the questions ran like a carousel in your head as you watched the different people in different scenarios pass by like photographs on your laptop screen. you swallowed hard, thinking about giving up. maybe he can show up next friday. or maybe you should stay a little longer. just a little longer...
you stopped skipping conversations as the familiarity of the scene hit you. was it finally him?
you could only see from his chin down to part of his waist. this time, he was facing forward. last time he was sitting on his side. the angle was different, certainly. 
but oh, it could be him, it had to be him. you knew you had seen that fist clenched around that cock before.
you were silent for a while, clearing your throat before speaking.
‘’alex?’’ you asked, bringing your face a little closer to the screen. his hand stopped, and just like you, he also came closer to the screen, and now you could see his face.
‘’there you are.’’ he smiled warmly. ‘’i was waiting for you.’’
‘’and i was looking for you.’’ you answered, pulling the blanket off your face since you no longer needed to hide. ‘’i thought you wouldn't be here tonight.’’
‘’told you i’m here every friday. it's like going to church on sunday.’’ he joked, relaxing a little more in his chair, his toned muscles flexing a little as he found a comfortable position. ‘’is the angle okay for you? i can change it if you want.’’ he asked, adjusting the height of the camera a little.
‘’yeah, that's fine. as long as i can see you.’’ you suggested, seeing a little smirk sprouting on his lips.
‘’oh, i see. you seem to have been really looking forward to seeing me again, huh?’’ he deduced, resting his elbow on the arm of the chair, his right hand resuming his slow and subtle ministrations. as always, you could only see the tip smeared with precum, but it was enough to make your body a little warmer.
‘’i'd be lying if i said no.’’ you bit your lip. something about him made you feel bolder, you didn't know exactly what.
‘’mhmm, that's what i thought. do you want to tell me how your week was? you know i like to hear your voice.’’ he suggested, starting a conversation so you could say something, his breathing was calm, as were the movements of his hand. you could tell that he liked to build the mood of the moment before intensifying it.
you summarized your week as much as possible, sparing some details because you weren't that interested in talking about your week when he was slowly masturbating in front of you, surprisingly attentive to what you were saying, humming in agreement without interrupting you. as much as talking about something mundane while he did this was unusual, you enjoyed it.
‘’it seemed like a pretty tiring week. i'm glad you're here, by the way. i was also looking forward to talking to you again.’’ he admitted, making you raise your eyebrows.
‘’you were?’’ you almost giggled, but you couldn't help it.
‘’oh, you know i was.’’ he said in a purr. ‘’i kind of like seeing you look at me like that. you're an excellent spectator.’’
you felt a knot in your stomach, like butterflies circling inside you like a whirlwind.
‘’can i see more?’’ you asked anxiously. he tilted his head, looking at you.
‘’wanna see more, baby?” he chuckled, his head falling back against the back of the chair as he pretended to think, his thumb ghosting on the tip, spreading the wetness around it in a lazy motion. ‘’let me see... do i get something in return?”
you thought for a moment. it was fair. whether you liked it or not, the only thing you showed him was your face. and deep down, you wanted to be seen by him, little by little.
‘’what do you want to see?’’ you asked, settling yourself in your bed.
‘’anything you want to show me.’’ he replied, his tongue ran over his lower lip, wetting it a little with saliva. ‘’but it's okay if you don't want to show me, i just thought it would make things more interesting.’’
you chuckled. as always respectful. well, he certainly deserves this.
you sat on the bed for a moment, out of his field of vision. you took off your shirt, keeping your black bra. you made the right choice, it accentuated the curve of your breasts, giving the impression that they were bigger. plus, there's a cute bow in the middle.
you lay back down on the bed, your almost bare torso on full display for him, his eyes going a little wider as a lewd smile appeared on his lips.
‘’boobs. i like it.’’ he said and you chuckled, he looked like a child in a candy store, like he wanted to grab you through the screen if he could, his grip on his cock getting stronger without him even controlling it.
‘’yeah? wanna see more?’’ you giggled, playing with the right strap of your bra, stretching it as much as you could to loosen it, the elastic hit your skin and it stung a bit, but it was worth it to see how his eyes darkened at the sight of you.
‘’hell, yes. show me your tits, babe. they must be as beautiful as your face.’’ he instigated you, shifting in his chair, his hard cock was more exposed to you now, the tip was almost red, the excitement was already starting to take over him.
you giggled, your hand ran up to your back, unclasping the bra with one swift motion, you were so used to it that it was no surprise when the straps became looser and you could let the piece slide down your arms, and your chest was finally bare for him to see.
‘’gorgeous.’’ he praised you, his eyes watching you like a prey, his hand almost twisting around his cock, pumping up and down. “play with them, can you do that for me, love?”
you nodded, moving your hand up, tracing a path from your belly to your torso, feeling the bones of your ribcage as you ran your fingers tortuously over your skin, getting close to your left breast, supporting the weight of your body on your right elbow, laying on your side.
your palm landed on your left breast, the contact made your skin shiver, your nipple automatically stiffened, perking up as you squeezed it softly, as if you were kneading bread dough. 
you watched his every reaction, his mouth agape, his breathing starting to get ragged as the strands of hair started to fall down on his forehead because now his hand was moving eagerly, stroking his cock faster, fucking his fist like a desperate. 
you moaned softly when your thumb and your index finger trapped your nipple, squeezing and twisting it, the sensitivity was practically at its peak, your panties were so wet that it was almost uncomfortable. you wanted to touch yourself, but you weren't ready to show him that, not yet.
“fuck, you're so pretty.” he panted, his voice was stained as he watched you giving slight slaps on your breast, making it bounce a bit. “i wish i could cum on those tits, cover you with me.” 
the mere thought already made you delirious, your two hands gripping your breasts tightly, your skin flushed right where your fingers pressed, like a blank canvas being painted red. 
“yeah, just like that, baby. so fucking beautiful, playing with your tits for me, you like that?” he asked you, pausing for a moment to spit on his own cock, the saliva sliding down the tip, down the rest of the length, and soon he moved his hand again, spreading it and making it slide easier. 
you nodded, your lip was trapped between your teeth, but soon you opened your mouth, adhering to his idea, bringing your fingers to your mouth, your tongue running along your digits to make them wet enough so you could spread saliva across your nipples, the wet feeling made everything better not only for you, but for him as well.
he panted desperately, nearing his climax and you wanted to keep your eyes very wide to see him, your boobs almost sticking to the screen of your laptop, as if you wanted to rub it in his face.
“god, i'm gonna-” he said, his sentence being replaced by a broken moan as he came, the jets of cum shooting out of his slit as he spasmed slightly, his hips jerking against his closed fist around the base. “oh, fucking hell…” he trembled, his body completely spent on his chair, just like the last time.
“are you okay?” you chuckled, moving back a little to get back to your starting position, supporting your body on your elbow. 
“yeah, yeah, just… fuck, give me a minute.” he gestured with his hand, he was clearly still recovering, his body was experiencing slight spasms as he wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. 
you gave him time to recover, he blinked a few times, taking a few deep breaths before settling back in his chair and looking back at the screen, widening his eyes a little.
“shit, can you believe it splashed a little on the screen? it even looks like it's on your face, how i wish.” he joked, cleaning the screen of his laptop with a clean tissue, looking for more places where there might be more residue. 
“i do believe.” you chuckled, watching him grab a small bottle of water from behind his laptop to take a few sips. you couldn't explain how wonderful it was to see him like that. 
“tell you what, girl... you wrecked me and i haven't even fucked you. how do you do that?" he laughed, like he didn't even believe it. it inflated your ego.
“i don't know. guess i'm just charming." you said modestly and he chuckled. you adjusted yourself in bed, the material of your panties was sticking to your pussy, your wetness was too sticky and slimy at this point. 
“what?” he asked curiously.
“nothing, i’m just… too wet.” you answered, watching his smile grow. 
“yeah? can i see it?” he asked eagerly, shifting in his chair and getting closer to the screen.
“nah.” you teased, watching him pout. 
“oh, c'mon, you can't just throw this at me like that. now i won't be able to sleep.” he spoke in a dramatic tone and you laughed. “you're a bad woman.”
“maybe next time?” you suggested. oh, of course you wanted a next time. and another, and another.
“ugh, such a bad woman. i don't think i’ll be able to wait until next friday.” he said, his playful dramatic tone still on, making you laugh again. it was true that he wanted to see every bit of you, but you were willing to make him wait. maybe beg for it.
he took his cell phone from the desk, unlocking it after entering the password, looking at the screen again.
“can i have your number? i definitely want a next time.” he asked politely.
“a private session, you say?" you raised your eyebrows, seeing him smile. you both knew very well where this was going. and you couldn't deny that you loved it.
“a private session, baby.”
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nofomogirl · 9 months ago
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We need to talk about body snatching
I'm not a massive fan of the 1827 minisode - if you're curious why it bothers me, I've explained it in my post about two GO canons - but there's no denying it does an amazing job at exploring the complexity of morality and moral choices. It starts with a very black-and-white two-dimensional image and gradually adds shading and perspective, making it harder and harder to judge as we go along.
I think it's worth digging into (pun not intended but I'll take it).
Layer 1: body snatching bad
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We learn someone did something
It's those first few seconds where we see a person robbing a grave, and since we know that robbing graves is a crime and generally not a good thing to do, we can quickly form a tentative conclusion that this is wrong.
Okay, in this exact instance, we immediately get enough context clues to see that this kind of judgment would be oversimplistic and superficial. Only Aziraphale, who for some reason acts as if it was his first day on Earth after a thorough memory wipe, is ready to condemn Elspeth based on just that.
Nevertheless, this is the first layer - the deed itself with no context.
Layer 2: body snatching acceptable
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We learn about the person who did the thing
That's the whole journey with the first dug-up body where we get to know Elspeth and become privy to her circumstances - she's desperately poor, she has another person depending on her, she robs graves to survive. Aziraphale's suggestions that she might earn her living by selling books, weaving or farming just serve to prove how inaccessible more honest and dignified professions are to her. In turn, her comment about how she's not hurting anybody who isn't already dead hints that from the realistically available options, Elspeth could have chosen something much worse.
Technically this layer is a significant step up from layer 1 but it still isn't really challenging. Things are spelt out really loud for us, and most importantly everything we learn about Elspeth is just attenuating circumstances. To top it off both she and Wee Morag are immediately endearing. The takeaway is that sometimes things that in theory are bad can be excused which is important but the verdict still comes without any second thoughts.
Layer 3: body snatching complicated
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We learn the larger context around the thing
This mostly happens when Aziraphale and Crowley discuss body snatching with Mr Dalrymple. We learn that the stolen corpses are used for a medical study that can advance human knowledge and make it possible to save living people and that surgeons have no legal means to obtain enough of them for their research - hence their need to buy them from body snatchers.
At first glance it's just more of what we got in layer 2 - more agruments in favour of body snatching that aren't all that nuanced and don't really give us any pause - just from a larger perspective, beyond Elspeth's individual experience. But if you glance more than once you'll notice this is when things stop being straightforward and easy to judge.
The moment we enter a proper grey area is when Aziraphale asks why Mr Dalrymple doesn't acquire the bodies himself. This is a very valid question - while we might easily agree that studying the human body to further medical knowledge is a good thing, and with just the slightest hesitation admit that it's acceptable to resort to using stolen bodies if that is the only way the research may continue, it's not as easy to excuse taking advantage of the poor and the desperate to do the actual stealing that we know is very dangerous.
The moment we know without a doubt we are in a proper grey area is when Mr Dalrymple laughs at Aziraphale's concern.
Objectively, the surgeon is right that it's more effective if he doesn't risk his own life in the graveyard and uses his time on actual research, teaching students and saving lives. But it's also clear he doesn't exactly see people like Elspeth as actual human beings and feels he has every right to use them. On the one hand, he is paying, on the other, he happily benefits from the cruel class system and is not even one bit remorseful about it. On the one hand, he takes risks too, on the other he has a chance of rewards Elspeth will not benefit from. It's not the poorest whose lives will get bettered by the progress of medicine, even though they're the ones who pay with their lives for that progress. And if Mr Dalrymple gets lucky and is knighted for his work (we know he wasn't in the end but it was a possibility), the poor still won't be pardoned for stealing for him. Nevertheless, he has no issue with that.
As I said, things get nuanced.
Layer 4: it's different when it's someone you know
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The thing actually happens in your life
I think you'll all agree that the turning point of the minisode is when Elspeth decides to sell Wee Morag's still warm body. This is what finally leaves us speechless.
That's because up until now we've been approaching the issue intellectually. It's not that we didn't care about the characters, but we were allowed to keep a safe distance. The whole thing was like a problem to be solved - "Is body snatching right or wrong? Discuss in 500-1000 words" - and everything we've learned so far was data for this assignment. I believe that one of the reasons why this detachment came naturally was that there was a very thick line between people involved in body snatching and the bodies that were being snatched. The former were, well, people, obviously. The latter were inanimate objects.
It isn't until Wee Morag is to be sold that we are forced to see a person in a dead body. This is also when real emotions enter the equation.
This shift forces us to question our judgment for the first time. It was easy to justify Elspeth when she was selling a nameless corpse. But the fact that she decided to sell her closest companion - and most likely lover - shocks us. Something inside us strongly objects to how quickly she makes the decision.
And then there's the transaction, and it is also different when it's someone we know. The fact that we knew Wee Morag fully exposes Mr Dalrymple for the heartless jerk that he is. The way he treats Elspeth is the absolute worst and if you haven't realized he was a hypocrite earlier, you should be disillusioned by now.
But at least Elspeth is not a hypocrite, right? It may seem cold that she sold Wee Morag but it just proves she simply believed it's all right to sell a dead body, doesn't it?
Well, about that...
Layer 5: it's different when it's you
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You are forced to face the thing happening to you
This layer is reached when Elspeth plans her suicide and asks Aziraphale and Crowley to bury her "somewhere where no ghouls will ever dig her back up again".
It turns out Elspeth McKinnon really was a filthy liar.
Not long ago she was insisting that body snatching doesn't hurt anyone who isn't already dead, and asking why she should let Wee Morag rot in the ground when she starves. But she wants to make sure it doesn't happen to her own body. The idea that someone might dig her up terrifies her and she calls people who do it ghouls. So why was digging up other people okay again? Why should she rot in the ground while other people suffer? There were other people living in the street where she and Wee Morag hid. Why not ask Aziraphale to give the money to them? Or just anybody in need? Why not ask to sell her body as well and use the earnings the same way?
Also, if you look at it from a certain perspective, Elspeth betrayed Wee Morag in the worst possible way. Wee Morag believed that if someone's body gets cut, that person's soul cannot enter Heaven. Yet Elspeth sold her to Mr Dalrymple, claiming that Wee Morag would have wanted her to have the means to survive. Perhaps she was right. Perhaps Wee Morag would have made that sacrifice. But then Elspeth decided to kill herself and use the money she got for Wee Morag's body for her own funeral.
But does it make Elspeth wicked? Certainly not. She's simply torn by grief. I seriously doubt she's been planning to commit suicide when she was taking Wee Morag to Mr Dalrymple. She might have genuinely tried to carry on but the reality of what happened caught up to her. Mr Dalrymple's cruel words certainly didn't help her cope with a personal tragedy. I even suspect one of the reasons she sold her friend was that she had no idea what else to do with a dead body.
Does this excuse her actions? Kind of, but not really.
Elspeth was a tragic character, not an innocent lamb with a heart of gold.
The point is - can any of us really judge her?
Which, coincidentally, is a question that the original Good Omens book toyed with quite a lot.
If you've reached this far, thank you for reading!
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floatingcatacombs · 2 months ago
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The Normal Author’s Girlfriend’s List Of Bad Yuri Anime
12 Days of Aniblogging 2024, Day 11
So you’ve seen some good yuri anime: Revolutionary Girl Utena (and the movie, if you want), Bloom Into You, Puella Magi Madoka Magica (plus, of course, Rebellion, which is essential), Bocchi: The Rock!, Girls Last Tour. You know HaruMichi and Farcille and poor sweet Tomoyo Daidouji and Quanxi’s whole deal. You’ve been queerbaited by Kyoani, or maybe you got lucky and watched Dragon Maid which was actually gay; you no longer get weirded out by incest; you wanted more Utena and got The Witch from Mercury S1 (good) or Revue Starlight (bad); maybe you’ve even gone back to Oniisama e and discovered Ryoko Ikeda’s incredible butch-for-butch technologies.
You’ve seen some good yuri and that’s been great. It’s just… there isn’t that much of it. Well, you could start reading manga, or books, or talking to actual women, but you want more yuri anime specifically.
To you, dear reader, I offer up this solution:
Bad Yuri.
Floating Catacombs 2025 Presents:
A Normal Author’s Girlfriend Production
The Normal Author’s Girlfriend’s List Of Bad Yuri Anime
Before we get started, let’s define our terms. First: Bad Yuri must not be in good taste. Second, let us consider some ‘ungood’ yuri, that we might understand what we aren’t looking for:
Case 1: Liz and the Blue Bird.
Boring and forgettable. Bad Yuri must be watchable.
Case 2: Shoujo Kageki Revue Starlight.
Yeah the butchfemme was good but I spent this entire show waiting for KuroMaya and they only got half an episode. I don’t fucking care about ‘childhood friends’. Bad Yuri must be enjoyable.
Case 3: Hibike Euphonium
It has to be gay. Come on. This is like the most basic requirement.
Case 4: MagiRevo, Undead Murder Farce
Being gay is not enough. You have to have actual characters.
In sum: Bad Yuri must be in bad taste; it must be watchable on a minute-to-minute basis; it must not leave the watcher with a bad taste in her mouth; it must actually be gay; and it must have some semblance of characterization. In practice it is basically always violent and horny. We’re talking like Kill La Kill levels, although if you ever want to watch that you should just go see Promare instead. Also, I reserve the right to break any and all of these rules whenever I feel like it. Without further ado:
Cross Ange
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Content Warnings: Blood, Violence, Death, Sexual Assault, Ryona, Incest, Bad Taste, Needlessly Edgy, It’s Just Porn At This Point, Incredibly Stupid Plot Twists, Pretty Much Every Fetish
Princess Ange’s traitorous older brother exiles her to an island full of lesbians, where she must pilot a mech to fight dragons in incredibly revealing clothing.
This is Code Geass if it was about a girl and also worse (sorry Roze of the Recapture). This show starts with a baby being arrested. They put the baby in a special little baby jail cage in the back of a police car. The first episode ends with lesbian rape under the justification of a strip search. The weak girls on Pussy Fight Island pull knives on each other at the slightest provocation; the stronger girls pull guns; the strongest girls just use their hands.
It’s got all the subtlety of villainess manga. It’s got girls pissing themselves. It’s got a girl named Riza, short for Lizardia, because she is secretly a DRAGON. Forget ‘Lesbian soldier hopelessly in love with her commander’ – it’s got that too but it has I kid you not a lesbian harem where the top dies in combat so one of the four harem girlies has to turn into a top like a clownfish undergoing sequential hermaphroditism and take over. And then she dies too and the next one in line has to take over and then it happens again and then when it’s down to two one of them leaves because she can tell the current top’s heart isn’t in it and defects to Akio Ohtori’s side, because at least he’s willing to fuck her (lesbian cuckold count: 1) And everybody’s ass is out at all times.
It’s also got a surprising amount of Gundam intertextuality? The comparisons to Iron-Blooded Orphans are obvious; Kira Yamato is there, for some reason; her mecha is the Zeta Gundam but if it was the Strike Freedom with the TR-6 Woundwort’s Psyco Blade Goddess Antenna from Mobile Suit Gundam: Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans; the girls in Ange’s squadron each map perfectly to Shaddiq Zenelli’s Grassley girls.
But that’s not what you’re here for. You’re here for the scene where Hilda confesses that she’s in love with Ange but understands that Ange can never love her back, because Ange is already in love with Kira Yamato, and also with Salamandinay, a DRAGON princess from the True Earth who arrived through a dimensional rift to free Aura, the first DRAGON and the source of all magic, before Ange grabs her and gives her a full kiss while telling her that the world she’s fighting to create will have all kinds of relationships.
God Jill is so hot.
Shlock: Maximum
Lesbian: Yes, somehow, and bisexual as well. It is a male gaze thing but that’s going to be a constant with this microgenre. The vast majority of people who like women are men statistically and sometimes thank god they produce something like this
Watchability: High, if you have covid
Quality: Awful.
The Executioner And Her Way Of Life
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Content Warnings: Death, Ryona, Incest, Bad Taste, Needlessly Edgy, Incredibly Stupid Plot Twist
Menou is a priestess in Isekai World whose job is to hunt down and kill Isekai Boys before they start causing problems with their Isekai Boy Powers. But this latest Isekai Boy Target… is a Girl With Enormous Tatas who she can’t kill because she auto-rewinds time to erase any wounds.
What really does it here for me is Menou’s relationship with her mentor, Flare, who groomed trained her from a young age to cut off all her emotions in order to make her a better executioner. I’m not immune to Empty Spaces/Combat Dolls/Signalis. What if Christianity wasn’t about raising girls as lambs to the slaughter but was instead about raising girls to use knives to kill people? A seductive premise for those with my particular flavor of religious trauma. Akari is fine, although I feel like Smith (Bravern) did Homura better.
I also like Momo, although I have a weakness for lesbian cuckolds (more on that later, possibly).
Shlock: High
Lesbian: Lesbian
Watchability: Moderate
Quality: Mid
Kakegurui
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Content Warnings: Bad Taste, Needlessly Edgy, Boy Protagonist before the story thankfully gets bored of him, It’s Just Porn At This Point
Yumeko Jabami transfers into Gambling Academy, where everybody gambles and failing to pay your debts means being forced into petplay slavery. Luckily for her and unluckily for everyone else she is the world’s most perfect gambler because it turns her on.
Maybe the highest exposure show on this list? It’s got gambling, and sexual gambling, and a girl who can only orgasm if she’s actively taking place in a gamble where she could die. At one point she whacks off in a bathroom playing solo Russian Roulette. It’s got a Netflix original season 2 villain who was a girl forced to dress as a boy for years in ways that drove her sexually insane. It’s got The Tower of Doors, which is the most woman game that any woman has ever played.
My favorite bit character is probably the early villain who collects fingernails from everybody she beats because that’s her fetish, or the hopelessly-devoted Student Council Secretary who wants only to lay her face on the chair where her beloved Student Council President sits (lesbian cuckold count 3; 4 if you count Midori). She asks to gamble with her life and Yumeko says that that’s boring, and that there are things she values more – and that they’ll gamble with one life vs her relationship to the Student Council President instead.
Watch the opening for this one – it’s very clear about what it is, and if it doesn’t hook you it isn’t the show for you.
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Shlock: Very High
Lesbian: Surprisingly
Watchability: Very high
Quality: Fine
Akuma No Riddle
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Content Warnings: Violence, Sexual Assault, Death, Ryona, Bad Taste, Needlessly Edgy, Fanservice, Various Fetishes
Bishonen girl assassin Tokaku Azuma has received her first assignment: attend the Black Class at Killing People Murder High School and kill sweet and innocent-seeming Haru Ichinose, who she immediately falls in love with. Unfortunately the other eleven members of the Black Class are also there to kill Haru.
And they’re all lesbian or bisexual. And they’re all freaks.
They’re constantly pulling guns and knives on each other. Like every conversation a weapon will come out – possibly two. There’s a lesbian serial killer who really likes using scissors on girls. Sexually. The Student Council President is sexually devoted to the school principal. There’s a twenty-year-old spoiled rich girl with a boy’s name because she was named after her mom, who was a gay man. Her dad was also a gay man. If you dare say anything homophobic about this she will kill you. Two of these girls locked eyes right as they transferred in and immediately dropped everything to engage in a 24/7 ageplay dynamic. The other spoiled rich girl is secretly a cyborg and in love with the multiple personality girl, who wants to kill her as well.
This is by the author of infamous shotacon BL manga Loveless, so I guess all that is to be expected.
Also… Akiko Morishima got really into making doujinshi for this one? Sure.
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Shlock: High
Lesbian: Yeah
Watchability: Pretty decent
Quality: Sure
Yuri Kuma Arashi
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Content Warnings: Sexual Assault, Bad Taste, It’s Basically Just Porn At This Point, Bears
Lesbian Bear Storm.
For my money, the best Ikuhara post-Utena work is Sarazanmai, but Yurikuma Arashi absolutely earns its spot on this list. The pieces of a story about how lesbian desire is used to titillate a male audience but never fulfilled, how desire is regulated and rendered hideous, and how girls enforce heteropatriarchy by manufacturing consensus completely independent of men are in there somewhere under the moaning naked girls licking honey off precisely-positioned lilies. I think? It’s well-directed, at least.
Shlock: Ikuni
Lesbian: Ikunirappa
Watchability: Ikunichauda
Quality: Ikunigomamonaka
(the first half of) Birdie Wing: Girls Golf Story
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Content Warnings: Violence, Bad Taste, Incest but not really, Golf, The Threat of Having To Resort To Survival Sex Work Underlying This Stupid Golf Show
Birdie Wing is the story of a girl who hates golf and a girl who loves golf. Season two fails to make par because it loves golf too much; season one, with the baffling metaverse vr episode, the underground mafia roguelike golf-to-the-death course, the woman who golfs so hard her robotic arm explodes, and the inexplicable Bandai property references, is the way to go.
I hate golf in the way only an eldest daughter forced into golf lessons hates golf. When Birdie Wing hates golf – when Eve swaggers onto the course in her stupid outfits, refusing to adhere to any etiquette, uses only three clubs and slaps a ball directly into the flag to drop it straight down? I love that. When she lifts her driver and points it and says she’ll kill somebody with it? I love that.
Also like when Aoi says she’ll get her attention with this and pulls her extra long driver out and holds it like a strap. And then her beleaguered caddie talks about how Aoi pierces everyone through with an innocent smile. That was good.
The thing that stuck with me the most wasn’t actually any of the golf shenanigans – it was the way that Eve effectively shoots Aoi down when they discover that they shared a father and were therefore half-sisters. Well, it’s yuri – incest is just something you get used to. Except then it gets revealed that that was a fakeout, because Aoi’s dad was actually her dad’s best friend and her parents were in a throuple that the dad who raised her left behind to secretly raise Eve. Also her dad is Amuro Reiya and also Char Aznable is in this one? And the HG Turn A Gundam? Don’t forget to increment the Lesbian Cuckold clock up to five – Aoi herself and her poor caddy, who didn’t deserve a mysterious blonde swooping in like that.
Oh god I didn’t even mention Vipere, the slutty snake-themed bisexual underground mafia golfer (you know, for the underground golf mafia) who uses pheromones to control her opponents, gets outgolfed, and then shonen-rival style sticks around to help out whenever somebody needs a car (as the girls are too young to drive).
Shlock: Absolutely
Lesbian: Somehow
Watchability: High
Quality: Better than it had any right to be
Maria Holic
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Content Warnings: Transphobia, Bad Taste, Fanservice
Kanako Miyamae is a hopeless hapless lesbian excited to attend Lily Yuri Girls Only Academy. She falls in love with a beautiful blonde girl, the queen of the school – and discovers her ideal gf is actually a boy crossdressing to attend the academy who wants nothing more than to torment her sexually.
Maria Holic works like this: Mariya wants something from Kanako, and wears a sexual little outfit/exposes his feet/blows her a kiss/strips his maid’s top off to control her through her sexuality or just because he feels like it and she falls over of anime nosebleed disorder before she remembers “oh right Mariya is a boy” and starts eating her own organs Pearl Steven Universe style. Occasionally a girl who calls herself god will say something uninteresting. Kanako has a little pervert fantasy about one of her classmates. The cast has a reference-heavy Studio Shaft Conversation. Kanako can’t get Mariya out of her head. God I had to retype every ‘him’ up there from a ‘her’ because there is no way that little bitch is anything but a girl – it just doesn’t stick in my head. They don’t make boys like that. Torturing a girl like that is a female trait.
If you don’t want to watch a lesbian get relentlessly edged by a brat this show may not be for you. In all honesty even with Studio Shaft direction I found this almost completely unwatchable but it does earn its slot here. If you want a good Studio Shaft yuri show? Go watch Madoka Magica or Hidasketch.
It does have an excellent opening though.
Shlock: High
Lesbian: Well it has at least one
Watchability: No
Quality: No
Re: Cutie Honey
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Content Warnings: It’s Basically Just Porn At This Point. but god. Natsuko Aki
“Honey Flash!” yeah she sure does huh
Transforming android Honey Kisaragi fights against evil organization Panther Claw, with the reluctant help of her annoyed cop eventual bestie Na-chan. This is good, actually. Go watch it.
Seriously. The animation is so fun and vibrant! They do the super-cost-saving stills being moved thing in a very high-energy way that comes across as a reference to the original manga format and then every so often they’ll pull out absolutely incredible action sequences.
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Look at this!!! Her triangular stompy steps! The super low line count on her as she slowly advances with the gun flying toward her hand! Her Go Nagai snarl!!!!! It’s a real treat for the eyes even without the naked women. There’s only so much “saving your best friend by the power of being naked and kissing” you can do before it stops being bait and starts just being They Are In Love.
Shlock: Absolutely
Lesbian: NATSUKO AKI
Watchability: High
Quality: Yeah
Akiba Maid War
Content Warnings: Genre-Typical, No Spoilers Don’t Worry About it
Go watch this right now.
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Shlock: Less than you’d think
Lesbian: Yes
Watchability: Extreme
Quality: Genuine
A Very Specific Set Of Monogatari Arcs
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Content Warnings: yeah that guy is sexually harassing that 11 year old and also that tiny little vampire and also both of his little sisters.
Show beloved by pretentious internet perverts.
Alright. You are going to watch Episodes 1-8 of Bakemonogatari Season 1, (skipping 3-5 depending on your tolerance for watching small girls getting sexually harassed) and then you are going to watch the five episodes of standalone arc Hanamonogatari, halfway through Season 2. If you really like Hanekawa, who is bisexual, watch 11-15, Neko Black and Neko White. If you really like animation, watch Kizu. Do not be tricked into thinking more of this show will be gay because Hanekawa and Senjougahara had sex in a shower once. If your goggles are really on tight, enjoy Nadeko Draw but you’ll have to sit through the previous Nadeko and Yotsugi arcs to get there and I can’t in good conscience recommend you do that.
Shlock: Less than you'd think
Lesbian: One
Watchability: SHAFT
Quality: Yes
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mactiir · 1 year ago
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ranking baldur's gate characters by how i think they smell
#9) Minthara. Because she’s a corpse, next question.
#8) Lae'zel. You know this woman has never bathed. Washing is for the weak, is'tik. She says this is because needs her musk to attract mates but mostly it's cuz Gith education doesn't exactly make time for personal hygiene. Once it got so bad that Tav dragged the whole party through a chest-deep stream and stood there for 20 minutes to take a "breather" while Laezel stared daggers at them the whole time.
#7) Karlach. I want Karlach to smell nice so badly, and Karlach probably wants Karlach to smell nice too, but you know this woman smells like brimstone and engine exhaust and sweat. On good days she smells like the fine char you get on burgers on a summer day. On bad days she smells like a truck stop at peak hours, and the truck stop is also on fire. She's not happy about this either.
#6) Gale. Gale tries to keep himself groomed, he really does. But he looks like he is perpetually just a tiny bit smelly. Like he hyperfocused on a book slightly too hard for slightly too long and as a result he forgot to shower for a week. He acts like he bedded Mystra because of his towering intellect but really it's cuz gods don't have human senses of smell. His nightshirt looks velvet, too, and you KNOW it can't be easy to get smells out of that shit without a washer. He is one of those poor guys who is cursed to always stink a little bit no matter how much he showers. When Tav confronts him about this he decides, on the spot, that deodorant is for anti-intellectuals, actually, which he wouldn't have expected Tav to know but it's okay, we can't all be enlightened.
#5) Minsc. He doesn't reek exactly, but you know he's 100% man musk, hamster bedding, and butt-kicking
Tied for #5) Jaheira. You know 100 years of living in forests and adventuring with Minsc has endowed her with exactly the same level of manly perfume as Minsc (except with notes of cedarwood).
#4) Wyll. He used to be the best-smelling until Mizora pulled him through every level of hell in rapid succession, and now he smells a little bit like brimstone all the time. He sometimes rubs fragrant herbs on his horns to counteract it, which doesn't get rid of the smell, really, but it gives his smell an interesting dimension. Otherwise, he has enough experience with adventuring, and is well-bred enough, that him and his things are usually well-groomed (and also because his dad was a freak about it).
#3) Shadowheart. This woman puts on tragic makeup every morning and changes her hair to reflect her religion. Appearances are EVERYTHING (especially when it comes to keeping secrets). Shadowheart smells exactly like she thinks she needs to smell to be religiously pleasing to her goddess and/or coMplEtE thE mIsSioN. She does get anxious sweats though, which are very distinctive if it's been a long day of adventuring. She never admits this, though. Ever.
#2) Astarion. Okay, so, sometimes, he smells just the teensiest, tiniest bit like dried blood. But mostly, he smells like baby powder and potpourri. It is a waste of good fashion sense and his pretty face to go about stinking like a beggar. (He does go through a brief 'Cazador can't tell ME what to do' phase where he stops bathing for a day, but he grosses himself out so much that he resumes his normal routime before anyone notices.)
#1) Halsin. You'd expect him to stink, with his whole smelly-hippy free-love vibe, but nah. The man smells heavenly. He spends all his time frolicking through fragrant herbs and lounging in scented hot springs with whomever strikes his fancy. He probably has a whole ass medicine cabinet full of stuff he uses to freshen up. His breath probably smells like mint and his hair like cedar. He probably puts coconut oil or smth in his hair. He knows how to smell good as literally any animal in the realms. Wanna know why? Dogs have a sense of smell several thousand times better than people. I bet bears do, too. You do Not Fuck As A Bear without understanding not only how to WASH your ass, but also perfume it. Halsin also knows: thou shalt not give yeast infections. And if you got bear dick, that means HYGIENE. It's a point of pride for him, actually.
BONUS: WITHERS. Withers smells like nothing. Like, freakishly, unsettlingly like nothing. Like, you expect him to smell like dust or pitch or smth. Nope. He's a black hole of smell. You come near him and if you ask, he resets your entire hygiene routine for 100 gold and leaves you smelling like roses.
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bonesxbows · 5 days ago
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Once Upon A Dream - Chapter 5 (Lucifer X Reader) (Alastor X Reader)
My Masterlist
In a sleeping beauty-inspired AU, a curse is placed over you when you strike up a deal with Heaven to protect baby Charlie, causing you to lose your memory. You remember nothing once the curse takes over; not your marriage with Lucifer, not the family you had with the two of them, nothing. So when a strange smiling demon offers you a place to stay when you can't remember where 'home' is, you take him up on his offer. 
(WARNINGS)
Heavy depressing themes
Loss of a parent (temporary)
Minor assault - Chapter 3 only
Relationship coercion/manipulation - Chapter 4 and onward
this chapter really ran away from me lmao, next one will be shorter to make up for it. I'm having a little *too* much fun writing Alastor into this so next chapter will also be focusing on him, but Chapter 7 will be a major turning point for sure!
Link to Chapter 1
Link to Chapter 2
Link to Chapter 3
Link to Chapter 4
Banners by @strangergraphics
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It had been a few days since your arrival at the hotel, and for the most part, the passing time had been uneventful, except for every time you came into view of Charlie. Her eyes seemed to follow you wherever you went around her building, not necessarily staring at you accusingly, but staring at you nonetheless. It put you on edge. Made your skin tingle any time you were near her. 
Alastor had never left your side, seemingly always glued to you anytime you left your room, never letting anyone else get close to you for more than a few minutes. You were starting to get suspicious, but overall you didn’t mind the attention. So long as he played nice. 
One particular day he had approached you, materializing from the shadows in front of you as you were walking down the hall towards your room. You nearly dropped the stack of books in your hands as he startled you. 
“So jumpy, my dear! As if I’d ever hurt such a pretty thing like you. May I ask what you’re reading on such a fine afternoon?” He was leaning all of his weight on his cane, dropping his height to be more at eye level with you. 
You shifted from foot to foot, adjusting the stack of reading material in your grasp. “A little bit of everything, not much to do in this place, and I was hoping reading might jog a memory or something, I don’t know. Might be wistful thinking…but why do you ask?” 
He hummed, as if contemplating what you had told him. “Mind if I join you?” 
“You…want to read with me?” 
“Only if you’ll allow me as company, that is. I don’t mean to impose.” You were beginning to hate that smile of his and the way it so easily hid his true intentions. He sounded sincere, and despite your incessant decorating your room was still rather cold and dreary, perhaps his company wouldn’t be so bad? If only for just a little while. 
“Alright, Alastor. This way.” You began walking towards your room again and he followed behind, his cane clicking off of the hardwood excitedly with each step. 
When you reached your door you arrived at a conundrum; you didn’t have enough hands to juggle a stack of books and fumble with your keys at the same time. You groaned lightly under your breath, shifting to place the stack of books on your hip and hoping you could hold them with one hand long enough to unlock your door. But before you could shift the goods in your hands a green glow had surrounded the reading material and they floated a good few inches out of your reach, taking the pressure of their weight with them and off of your body. 
“I’ve got this, dear. You go ahead and let us in.” Alastor piped up from behind you. When you turned your head back to look at him you saw his pointer finger outstretched and pointing towards the floating books, the same swirling glowing green light dancing around his hand. He tilted his head slightly when he saw you looking at him, making his ears lean to one side, as he gave you a little shooing gesture with his free hand, motioning you back towards your door. You whipped your head back around and dug into your pocket for your key, trying to fight the slight heat rushing to your face. Was his hair always that fluffy looking? 
Once the door swung open and the two of you walked inside Alastor set the books onto your bedside table, the green glow disappearing as each one plopped down onto the other. You made yourself comfortable on your bed, sitting against the headboard with the table within reach and Alastor sat next to you, swinging his legs out and crossing them, with his cane lying against the nearby wall. You picked up the first book. 
“An argumentative on the mortality of sin? I never took you for a philosopher!” His radio-filtered voice sounded…different, being this close. But you ignored that feeling for now, for fear that your face would turn pink again, and instead looked down at the cover of the book in your hands. 
“Neither did I,” You let out a dry chuckle. “But the title felt familiar. I…I have no idea why. Do I seem like the type of person to read stuff like this?” You asked him with a lopsided, self-deprecating smile. 
“We’re all full of surprises, dear.” His voice dropped, a throaty whisper in your ear. The radio fuzziness accompanying his words sent goosebumps down your spine. You cursed silently in your head. His smile deepened, eyes glowing red in the faint dimness of your room. You had been staring. 
Bravado struck, and you decided to seize the reins of the moment at hand. Swallowing your nerves you snuggled into Alastor, propping yourself against his side and leaning against his chest. He tensed under your weight but made no move to shrug you off. You pulled your knees up, creating a platform to prop your book upon, and cracked the spine open to a chapter that seemed interesting. It only took a few seconds before Alastor’s arm found its way looped around your shoulder, drawing you closer to him. You were grateful you were facing away from him; your face turning pink at the thought that your spur-of-the-moment decision was being received so well. His chin found the top of your head, leaning over you to indulge in the book sitting in your lap as you did. 
Focusing on the pages became increasingly difficult with his devilish warmth surrounding you. 
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Another particular day you found the little girl you had come to know as Nifty skipping down the hallways, singing a child’s nursery rhyme as she went, the words changed to paint a far more gruesome picture than the original. When she nearly came crashing into you, oblivious, you held out your hands to stop her in her tracks before she could. 
“Oh! Hi, Ducki!” She gave you a small but enthusiastic wave. “Did you like my rhymes? They lure the bugs out of hiding so I can catch them!” She curled her hands into fists, her eye narrowing into a threatening look with a smile that could rival a certain other hotel resident. 
She was…certainly something, you had come to learn. You pursed your lips but still forced a smile. “They were lovely, Nif. Do you by chance know where Alastor is?” 
She kicked her tiny foot, her needle-like shoes scratching the wood. “He’s in the kitchen. Kicked me out and sent me bug killing.” Her eye began to follow the walls and up towards the ceiling, distracted by something that you couldn’t see or hear. 
“The kitchen? Why would he be in there?”
“He’s got a thing for cooking. Likes to keep it a secret from most people. Said it was okay to tell you his secrets though. I think he likes you!” And with that she was off, scurrying down the hall with her giant needle in her grasp, chasing something only she could see. 
You walked off towards the hotel’s kitchen, mulling over her words deeply. It was a gamble if Nifty ever told the truth, she was the hotel’s resident wildcard, but Alastor’s recent actions had been rather…telling, to what she had suggested. And it was known that he was closest to the little bug-killing girl more than anyone else in the building. Fuck, this was the last thing you needed on top of everything else happening to you. 
Regardless, you pushed all of the complicated feelings aside as you approached the door to the hotel’s kitchen. Soft jazz drifted to your ears as you walked inside, static humming accompanying the music. 
And there was a downright wonderful smell wafting throughout the entire room. 
“Alastor?” You called out timidly, not wanting to startle him. Your steps were uneven along the tiles, not entirely sure if you were welcome here or not yet. He had kicked Nifty out, after all. 
A puff of fluffy red hair peeked out from behind a full wall cabinet, followed by an abnormally large smile. “Ah, hello there my dear! I didn’t expect you to find me here, but come in, come in! No sense in you standing there by yourself.” His head disappeared back behind the cabinet and you hurriedly followed after him, walking into the kitchen proper. 
It led to the source of the music, one of Alastor’s old radios, and the source of the smell, the kitchen was a mess with cooking supplies and food. The radio demon was busy practically dancing around the place, hopping from one cooking station to another, all while humming along to the tune of the music. You propped yourself up on one of the bar stools nearby, watching the scene unfold in front of you. 
He looked so different, contently gliding amongst the kitchen appliances. You had never seen him so at peace before. It was an odd sight, to be sure, this usually threatening and ominous demon reduced to domestic work. It was…oddly cute. His smile seemed actually genuine for once. 
You hopped off of the stool and walked over to him, peering over his arm at his latest task; his clawed hands expertly working a sharp knife through a mangled-looking piece of chicken. He stopped when you placed a hand on his forearm, turning his attention towards you. 
“Can I help?” You asked shyly, not quite sure what his answer would be. But when you looked from his cutting board and up to him his smile grew. He flipped the knife in his hand, grabbing it by the blade and offering the handle to you. Once you took it he stepped aside, letting you take over where he had left off. The meat sitting before you suddenly looked utterly intimidating. When was the last time you had cooked? Let alone held a knife to do so. 
Alastor must have sensed your nervousness. With a soft hum, he came up behind you, boxing you in between the counter and his body. “It won’t bite, darling, it’s already dead.” He exclaimed, amusement coating his words. The curve of his chest slotted against your shoulder blades as he leaned over you, taking gentle hold of both your hands in his own as he began guiding your motions. The slices and cuts were clean, accurate, precise. Clear signs of years of skill, even through the use of your hands. You cringed to think where he had learned them from, what else had been underneath his tools besides a dead hellbred bird. 
“What’s all this for, anyway? What are you making with all of this?” You asked, using conversation to distract yourself from the darker thoughts that wanted to poke at your mind. You wanted to kick yourself for asking as soon as you felt his chest rumble against your back with every word. 
“Jambalaya, my dear. A New Orleans classic.” He said it with such nonchalantness but you almost dropped the knife out of your hand. The chicken beneath your blade was replaced with a link of smoked sausage and he was still directing your hands, slicing the new meat into perfect disks using the same fluid motions as before. 
You were oblivious to the change on the cutting board in front of you, instead more interested in the detail you had just learned. He had mentioned the world above. The world you had come from, originally. “You’re from New Orleans?” 
“Born and raised since before the turn of the century!” He sounded so prideful a swell in your heart wanted to ask more, walk down memory lane with him through the world you had nearly forgotten about after all these years. But Alastor seemed like the demon that would close himself off if you poked too hard at personal topics. 
So instead of asking the burning questions sitting on the tip of your tongue you merely hummed happily. “Sounds like a lovely place, Al.”
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After the kitchen scene, you spent a lot of time in your room alone, thinking over what Nifty had told you and comparing it to the way Alastor had been treating you. You knew you were special to him, it was obvious by the way everyone else looked at him; they were scared of him. But yet he willingly put himself in your space, spent time with you, was nice to you. Who else in the hotel could say that, maybe besides Nifty?
This feelings bullshit was driving you mad. You liked him…didn't you? So what was making this so difficult? 
You groaned and thudded your head into your hands, forcing your eyes closed in the process. Pain throbbed behind your temples, the inside of your mind set to a spin cycle, except half of the damned washer was missing; a whole chunk of your memories still scooped out and discarded no matter how much you tried to wrangle them back. It was becoming futile. 
A knock rang out against the wood of your door, but you ignored it, too caught up in your emotions to care. It rang out again and you rolled over in your bed with another groan, shoving your face into a pile of blankets. You squeezed your eyes shut, holding back tears and willing whoever was at the door to just go away. You’d be out later to talk, you reassured them silently in your own mind. Just go away for now. Please. 
The room suddenly felt colder, a lot colder, and a shiver ran down your spine. You peeked your head up, twisting in place to look back at the door. It was still closed, but you swore you saw something moving out of the corner of your eye. When you looked in that direction, towards the shadows thrown by the lamp in the corner, it was gone, whatever it had been. Another shiver racked your body, but this time not from the cold. 
However, the table next to the lamp had been touched. A piece of yellowed paper sat on the wood, edges crisped with blackened char. You scrambled off of your bed, nearly tripping and face planting into the floor as your feet got caught and tangled in the mess of blankets. When you righted yourself you simply stared at the strange addition to your room, too afraid to touch it. 
The writing on the paper was too well scripted and detail-oriented to be from anyone else but him. 
Dearest Ducki, 
Would you be so kind as to grace me with your presence this evening? There’s something I would like to show you that I think you would find great joy in. Hide away from the others if you would like, but I ask that you at least give me the honor of one final evening with you before you lock yourself away from me as well. Find me in the foyer if you wish to take me up on my offer. I’ll be waiting. 
Yours, Alastor
You scoffed, but an amused smile sprouted on your lips. He wrote like a radio broadcaster too. It sounded like something out of a Shakespearean romance novel. Cheesy, but somehow also adorably cute. The shadow you had seen earlier and the mystery of how the note had gotten inside your room with the door locked had now fled your mind, being replaced with the notion of whatever plans Alastor could have possibly concocted for you. It sent butterflies to your stomach, kicking your legs into motion to find something more suitable to wear other than the pajamas Angel had lent you. 
You settled on something more eye-catching, but not too flashy, and rushed out your door. 
You were surprised to find the sun had already set, darkness spilling in through the numerous windows lining the hallways. Had you been sulking for that long? But regardless you kept moving at whirl wind speed, practically flying down the main steps and into the foyer. 
He was sitting there, legs crossed and ears perked up, like he knew you would come. Nerves started to chew away at you again, the sight of him always working you up into fight or flight. You tamped them down.  
“You…wanted to show me something?” Your voice was soft in the open room, the overhead silence suffocating. 
He didn't say anything, but merely stood up and outstretched his hand, offering it to you. You took it and immediately his clawed fingers laced themselves through yours. He pulled you slightly closer to him, and you were about to ask what was going on, but then he tapped the bottom of his cane onto the floor and a frigid cold started to overwhelm your senses. Instinctively you turned to clutch on to Alastor, wrapping your arms around his torso to fight off the sudden cold. His free hand wrapped around your shoulders and rested on your back, pulling you closer to him, just as the two of you were encased in total blackness. You turned your head into his chest, burying it into his clothes as the cold bit at your nose. 
But not three seconds later it was over and Alastor let go of you. You took that as your cue to unbury your head, and when you did you found that your entire perspective had shifted. No longer were the two of you in the foyer of the hotel, instead you found yourselves in one of the many residential rooms, except this was one you hadn’t seen before.
The place was swathed with shades of red and mahogany, dressed up like a hunter’s lodge, complete with a, currently roaring with flames, wood-burning fireplace adorned with a rack of massive deer antlers settled above on the stones. The layout was more or less similar to your own room, except for the entire side wall being gone, replaced with an expansive swamp that stretched as far as you could see. It entranced you as soon as you saw it, the lights of the room gleaming off of the water’s surface drawing you in. It was hauntingly beautiful. 
Alastor followed behind you silently as you walked closer to the bog’s edge, crickets beginning to echo in your ears the farther you got from the hotel room section. A swirl of fireflies circled around your head, making you spin around as your eyes followed them, their glow reflecting off of your face. When they disappeared Alastor was in front of you, his smile warm as your eyes widened at his closeness. But you weren’t frightened. You never were, not anymore. 
“This is New Orleans, my dear. Or part of it, anyway.” His smile seemed to drop on those last words, causing a frown to crawl onto your face. He missed his home an awful lot for someone who rarely talked about it. But he was quick to recover, almost as if his smile had never faltered at all. “Now then, there’s something I’ve planned for you. This way, dear.” He sprung up, energy revitalized, grabbing your hand and gliding you over another section of the bayou. 
It was closer to the water, the grass practically mush under your feet, but a cloth-like blanket had been set out for the two of you, candle-filled glass jars holding down the edges. Fireflies swarmed overhead, lighting up the entire area with a soft yellow glow, revealing what the blanket had been holding; a small feast, including snacks of a varying variety, some of which you knew Alastor had seen you eating at the hotel recently, and some of which you didn’t recognize at all. It was something akin to a movie scene. 
“Oh, Al…you didn’t have to do all this.” You exclaimed breathlessly, your eyes still taking in every detail.
“But I wanted to, my dear. Here, come have a seat. I promise they won’t bite.” He took your hand again, leading you towards the blanket and gently pulling you down into a sitting position next to him. 
You were so caught up in the scene in front of you that you didn't register his words until you were already seated. Your face twisted in confusion. “...bite?” But your question was answered for you when the water started to move. You jolted, wanting to get up and run, but Alastor placed a hand on your thigh, stilling you. You whipped your head towards him, looking for answers, but all he did was smile at you and pat your leg. As if that was supposed to make you feel safe. 
When you looked back towards the swamp you were met with four tiny red glowing eyes staring at you from the water’s surface, small bump-like heads peeking out from the stilled muck. 
You froze. And time seemed to freeze right alongside you in this portaled-from-earth pocket-sized dimension. Your breath caught in your throat as those red eyes stared at you, seconds ticking by. That is, until they started to move towards you, cutting through the water and creating jagged ripples in the dark murky surface, far faster than any normal beast had any right to be moving. You yelped, nearly screaming, and practically jumped up onto Alastor’s back, clutching at him as you buried your head into the crook of his neck. Rightfully putting him between you and whatever horrid abomination he had spawned here. 
He, however, merely chuckled at your fearful antics. But otherwise didn’t seem to mind how grabby you were currently being. 
You kept one eye peeked over his shoulder, trained on the beasts zooming out of the water. It took them only a few seconds to reach the shore, their snouts emerging from the surface first with a loud and dramatic splash. But when their long snouts filled with nasty-looking-razor-sharp teeth were followed up by tiny stubby legs you couldn’t help but poke your head up in curiosity. They took a big uncertain step onto the soft and semi-squishy land, both of the creatures, and they began to waddle over towards Alastor, big fat lizard-like tails dragging behind them. They stopped at his lap, looking up at him with those glowing red eyes, the same eyes that had seemed so terrifying before, but now looked akin to that of a scaly puppy; wide-eyed, pupils blown, and mouths agape with a smile of teeth as they gazed up at their master with affection. 
“…Alastor?” You called out to him quietly, a silent question hanging between the two of you. 
He seemed to understand, his smile deepening out of love for his pets before him. “Meet Odele and Eula, Ducki.” He gestured a hand towards the two animals in front of him. “Aren’t they just the most adorable deadliest little things you’ve ever seen?” He ran a hand over one of their scaly heads, rubbing a knuckle in between the bumps of their jutted-out eyes. It hiccuped from the attention, its mouth falling open into a smile that matched the one on its owner’s face, rows of sharp teeth glistening in the low light. 
The twin became agitated from the lack of affection and snorted, padding her short chubby feet over to you and bopping her snout against your leg with enough force that sent herself stumbling backward. You let out a laugh at the unexpected tantrum and the animal looked up at you with wide happy eyes, appreciation of your praise gleaming behind them. 
Your hand was shaking as you reached out towards her head. Alastor had said they wouldn’t bite, even promised, though you assumed that word meant very little to him, they were still animals. Those capable-of-tearing-flesh-from-bone teeth were still frightening up close, especially when you knew of these creatures back during your time of being alive. But the little thing was patient, plopping back on her hind legs and waiting for her eventual head pats and affection. Her skin was cool to the touch, scaly, wet, but not unpleasant. She began to croak out a hum as you mimicked what Alastor had been doing to her sister. Your body began to relax a little and a small smile creeped onto your face as the little animal melted underneath your touch, turning from a toothy killer into a cuddly softie. 
The thought made you think of the demon sitting next to you; did you have the same effect on him? 
“Oh I just knew the three of you would get along swell! They seem quite fond of you already.” He spoke up, a static-y rumble coating his words as he kept his voice low. 
“They are quite lovable, once you get past the terrifying part. But I never took you for a ‘pet person’, Alastor. Do…do they remind you of home?” You weren’t sure if it was a question he would answer willingly, but you asked anyway, curiosity getting the better of you. You wanted to learn more, uncover what hid beneath that defying smile all the time, no matter how off-putting he seemed some days. 
But he merely hummed in response, not really agreeing, but not really denying your statement either. He gave the little alligator one final pat on the head before letting out a harsh high-pitched whistle between his teeth, which the two creatures seemed to understand as a command of some sort. Within the next second they were both teetering back down towards the bayou’s waters, diving in and gliding off underneath the surface, leaving little more than tiny ripples in their wake. He then snapped his fingers and the silence was filled with the sounds of a radio, records of old jazz playing at a soft volume, mixing with the sounds of cicadas and bullfrogs coming from the nearby forest to create a euphonious lullaby-esque melody.  
“Al…” You started, looking over at him. He had his usual smile stuck on his face, his emotions too hard to read beneath it all. The dim lighting created shadows underneath his fluff of hair, his red eyes casting a soft glow amongst his cheekbones. You swallowed thickly. “All of this is wonderful and all, truly, but…but why bring me here? Why show me all of this?” 
He chuckled lowly, as if you had uncovered some sort of secret of his. “Come now, darling. You haven’t noticed? You’re…what’s the word?” He paused, leaning closer and grabbing your hand within his claw and lacing his fingers within yours with such a featherlight touch you wondered if he was even really there. “Special.” He whispered, finishing his statement, his face nearly inches from yours. The sound of his radio filter coating his words left a white noise buzz echoing in your ears. 
Your eyes went wide, mesmerized by his closeness. Your heart thudded in your throat. He heard every beat, tantalized by the increasing rhythm that he was causing. Seconds passed by, feeling like hours, but you never pushed him away, never flinched from his touch, never looked away from him. 
His smile curled into a smirk before he leaned in even closer, making a move you hadn’t anticipated. His lips were a hair’s breadth away from yours when you finally pulled away, yanking yourself out of his grasp. The static surrounding him turned into an ear-splitting screech, the glow of his eyes intensifying as he narrowed them. 
“Wait, Alastor. I…I shouldn’t. I can’t. I…I like you, I think, don’t get me wrong, you’re wonderful to be around, but…but I…” You stumbled over your words, struggling to get your thoughts out. His actions had left you nervous. In a good way, you had to admit, you wouldn’t have minded kissing him honestly, but every time you thought about it there was a terrible sense of guilt eating away at the back of your mind. Like you subconsciously knew you shouldn’t. 
He looked at you with his head cocked to the side, waiting, patiently, but aggravated. He hated being interrupted. Especially during a hunt. 
So you finished your thought process quickly, before he became more irritated. “What if there’s someone else? From before, I mean. What if I already have someone, and I just can’t remember who they are? I can’t just abandon them like that. It isn’t right.” You looked at him, hoping for understanding. He had been during this whole situation, so far at least. Though that was before you had refused him. 
He hummed, sitting up to his full height and cupping your jaw with his other hand, gently running his clawed thumb over your face. You leaned into his touch despite yourself. “If there was someone waiting for you back home, don’t you think they would’ve come searching for you by now, dearest? You’ve been gone an awfully long while. You deserve far better than that if they can’t even come fetch you when you’re missing.” 
You were stunned into silence by his words, mulling them over in your head for a moment. He lets you think, continuously caressing your face while you do. Was there some sense to his words, or was it just the swamp air and lulling jazz muddling your sense of reasoning? But no one’s shown up to the hotel asking about you. No one’s come looking for you since that day Alastor took you under his wing. Why would they be waiting so long to find you, if there even was someone out there searching? 
No. He had to be right, didn’t he? You were worrying over nothing; there was no one out there waiting for you. You had no one; otherwise, they would have found you by now, surely. 
So you looked up at him, conclusivity shining in your eyes, a newfound softness overtaking your features as you stared at this demon who had found you that day, heartwarming feelings swirling around in your chest. He treated you with such love and kindness, a true rarity down here. 
He leaned in closer again, and this time you let him, meeting him halfway as he pressed his lips to yours. He was gentle, warm, like fire on the very tip of your skin. It was quick, a small and soft kiss, but full of unsaid promises of love. 
When he pulled away he didn’t go far, his nose still tickling yours. His eyes shone brightly, reflecting off of your face as he narrowed them in satisfaction, his grin widening inhumanly. 
You should have been scared. He looked scary. Intimidating. Frightening. Like he would snap your neck in two with his teeth alone within a second. 
But yet you weren’t. That fear had long since twisted into affection. He had you curious. You were left with nothing, after whatever happened to you, but now you had Alastor. Something to fill that gnawing void of emptiness you felt in the pit of your stomach, where something was missing. 
“You taste even more lovely than you look, ma chérie.” 
Static rang in your ears.
To be continued in Chapter 6...
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Taglist - Let me know if you would like to be added!
@kyo-kyo1 @voxslays @the-enderwolf-princess @fangthesandwing @hayamie @qardasngan
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dreamwatch · 3 months ago
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Part 1 Part 2 AO3
Written for the @corrodedcoffinfest Black Friday pop-up event.
Prompts: Black, Friday, "I'm not standing in line for that", Leftovers, Trampled, One Day Only, "I am giving thanks."
Yeah... all of them, and you're right, it was a stupid idea.
Word Count: Pt3 - 4954 | Rating: M | CW: Past suicidal ideation (very subtle, blink and you'll miss, I'm just being cautious) | POV: Mixed - Pt1 Eddie, Pt2 Steve, Pt3 Eddie | Pairing: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson | Tags: Eddie Munson, Steve Harrington, Gareth CC, Jeff CC, Matt CC, Wayne Munson, disabled Eddie Munson, pining, protective Gareth, protective Steve, kissing, guitars, reference to canon typical injuries, references to blood and injury - please let me know if you think I've missed any.
Part 3
For the first time in years they get lucky; Wayne gets Christmas off. He says it’s because he worked Thanksgiving, but Eddie overheard phone calls that maybe he shouldn’t have been listening to, and he has a suspicion it’s more to do with the fact that for a while there Wayne was facing all his future Christmas’s alone and this one’s kind of special.
They’re watching the TV, eating too much, and sipping on beers. It’s normal. Just regular Christmas Eve in the Munson home, but the weight of it, the what ifs, hang in the air. It’s not oppressive, or sad, it’s just … there. It should be a sign, probably, that he and Wayne need to have a good talk, maybe work through a few things. But Wayne isn’t a talker, doesn’t understand why anyone would go to a shrink, he buries his shit deep. When Eddie thinks of his father, he was much the same. It probably shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone, then, that Eddie likes to keep things locked away, hidden from public view.
He sips on his beer and he eats his cookies, and he smiles at Wayne and Wayne smiles back. They know what they have. It’s enough.
They don’t get visitors often and he can’t think of a single Christmas where they’ve had one that wasn’t a cop, so when they hear the knock at the door they both look at each other like deer in the headlights. The bad knocks, the ones that end up with shit on the doorstep, or notes on the door telling him to move away if he knows what’s good for him, they don’t come as often as they used to. The last one was around Halloween, which in some regards he kind of expected; every town has a boogeyman and sadly he’s it for Hawkins. They keep a baseball bat behind the door where most people store their umbrellas. 
Wayne answers the door, fist twitching, but then Steve is wandering into his home, flakes of snow on his eyelashes and in his hair. 
“Hey sorry, I didn’t want to disturb you, I just wanted to give you these.”
He hands over two badly wrapped gifts, something bottle shaped for Wayne who seems a little shellshocked at getting anything, and a small navy blue package for Eddie, with way too much tape holding it together. And he knows gifts aren’t a quid pro quo kind of situation, but he’s honestly been back to back with appointments and just life in general, and he doesn’t get out as much as he would like, seeing as he still can’t drive, so his heart sinks a little at it.
“Shit, I didn’t— sorry, I was just so caught up—”
“It’s nothing. Honestly, it’s just something I saw that reminded me of you.” 
His voice peters out as he says it, and Eddie feels that little kick, the little squeeze in his core, but he just can’t help it. Reminded me of you. Like he’s important enough for Steve to think about. And isn’t that something?
Reminded me of you.
It’s a little fan, breathing life onto a flame that he just can’t afford to have lit any further. Tamping it down is getting harder and harder.
They talk for a few minutes, but it doesn’t matter how many cookies or beers or sodas Wayne offers him, he declines them all with a sorry, got to get back. He gets up to leave and Eddie walks him to the door.
“What are you doing on Friday?” Steve asks.
“Hmm, I’ll have to check with my secretary, my diary gets booked up so far in advance these days.”
“He ain’t doin’ nothin’!” Wayne shouts. “And close the goddamn door, you’re letting all the heat out.”
“Jesus Christ, old man, keep it down. No fucking privacy here. Well, as you heard, I ain’t doin’ nothin’ apparently.”
It’s a pretty accurate impression, which he knows Wayne heard and he’ll be paying for that for a while. But he made Steve laugh, so it’s entirely worth it.
“Cool. I’ll pick you up at four, be dressed and ready to go.” Steve hops down the porch steps back to the car. 
“Where are we going?”
“You’ll find out on Friday. Get inside before you freeze to death, Munson. Merry Christmas!”
“I’m going, I’m going, why is everyone such a nag? Merry Christmas, Steve!”
He should wait until tomorrow, but the little blue package in his hand feels like it’s burning him. He sits on his bed and tries his best to peel each piece of tape carefully, but the fucking thing is covered in it so he ends up ripping the paper off anyway. 
The guitar strap is neatly folded, blue embroidery singing against the black leather. Guitar picks slip onto the floor at his feet. 
His breath falters, trapped in his throat, and it’s several long seconds before he takes a deep breath again.
His guitars were some of the only things saved from the old trailer. Wayne told him how lucky he was to be at the back, how most of his precious possessions survived. He even hung the Warlock on the wall of his new bedroom. It felt like he was being watched, like an eye following him around the room. It felt like a living thing in a way that scared him. 
And it wasn’t just the thing of it, the object that got carried into battle - even if that one was a version from another world - it was the way it sounded in his hands now. He tried to play it just once, and once was enough to know it would never happen again. The shake in his hand was frightening, the lack of control, the dissonant noises that rang from it. He chalked it up to some weird phobia, a reaction to what the guitar meant now. But then he picked up his old Fender knock off and it wasn’t any better, and it hit him that it was gone, everything he had practiced, everything he worked for, it was gone just like that. Now he had a shaky left hand and no grip strength and moving his fingers along the fretboard was an effort not an instinct.
It was over. And he never wanted to see that fucking guitar again.
But now he’s sitting here with a beautiful guitar strap in his lap and guitar picks all over the floor, things that Steve chose for him, because they reminded me of you, and it’s painful in a different way, in a way that he can’t examine right now because he just doesn’t have the strength for it in the middle of a Christmas he was never meant to see. He wraps them both back up in the crumpled blue paper and puts them in the bottom drawer of his dresser, pulling a pair of sweats over the top.
Christmas is… emotional. But like in that quiet ‘we’re not gonna talk about it’ way that he and Wayne have perfected over the years. There are pats on the head, hair ruffles, side ways glances when Wayne thinks he’s not looking. Weighty, but not unpleasant. It’s a lot to know you’re loved so deeply, a lot to know how difficult this would have been for Wayne if Eddie hadn’t been here.
(There’s things about that day, about the decisions he made, that he tries to keep hidden from everyone, himself included when he can manage it. They haunt him at night when he’s alone in the house by himself and has time to dwell on them, but when Wayne rests a calloused hand on his head, it’s almost like forgiveness. He hopes Wayne doesn’t know. He hopes none of them know.)
When Friday swings around he feels entirely too much like a kid in a candy store, and if Wayne notices his slightly hyper demeanour when Steve pulls up outside, he at least has the grace not to mention it. 
Steve doesn’t open the car door for him. Anyone looking on, watching Eddie potter down his steps unevenly, crutch in hand, would read that as rude. Eddie reads it as trust, as being listened to, and most importantly being heard. Other people struggled with that, so many of his friends, fuck, even Wayne, wanting to step in whenever they thought he needed a hand, but never really hearing him when he said he was fine. And look, he’s a stubborn fuck, he knows this, and he hasn’t made this easy on people, he could have - should have - asked for help at times, but having one person in his corner that listened to him made him feel less powerless. That it was Steve made his heart sing.
Steve still won’t tell him where he’s going, so they do what they usually do, argue over the radio while Eddie tosses tapes around in the glove compartment. Eddie doesn’t get out often, mostly of his own choosing, so these moments mean a lot to him. Painfully normal. 
Painfully normal with Steve by his side.
He starts to nod off to the sound of Cyndi Lauper coming through the speakers, but he catches sight of the sign to Indy and it wakes him up with a start. He glances at Steve who definitely knows he’s being stared at because the little smirk on his face grows. Something in Eddie grows with it.
Twenty minutes later they’re pulling up outside Sandy’s.
“Holy shit,” he says, almost under his breath. “I haven’t been here since… fuck, last year I think? How did you find this place?”
Steve unbuckles his seat belt, that smirk firmly still  in place. “Friend of a friend.”
And then, because Eddie’s world hasn’t spun out from beneath him enough this year —
Steve Harrington winks at him.
And it’s not a wink like, sports and jocks and rough-housing with the kids wink, it’s a wink. It’s loaded. It takes up space in the car. It passes between them, a little bird Steve set off into the air for Eddie to catch with careful hands.
He doesn’t know what’s happening, but it feels like it will collapse around him if he asks, his little tower of cards that just got to the second level will flutter to the ground. So he laughs it off, calls him a dork and then gets out of the car.
They take a booth at the back, sliding in, face to face. 
“Have you eaten here before?” Eddie asks.
“Just the once.” And there’s that smile again, and that little thing in him that keeps so deeply hidden continues to unfurl.
The waitress approaches to take their order, and Steve gets in before Eddie can.
“Two chilli dogs with extra onions, two sides of cheese fries, and two peanut butter malts, please.”
He didn’t even look at the menu.
The moment she walks away, Eddie leans forward.
“How do you know my order?” He’s a little rude with it, though he doesn’t mean to be, and for the first time Steve looks unsure.
“I told you, a friend of a friend.”
“Gareth. You can say Gareth, Steve. I’m not stupid.”
Steve picks up the salt shaker, rolling it idly between his hands. “I just wanted to do something nice, for Christmas, you know? Is that so bad?”
“You did something nice for Thanksgiving.”
“Uh, no, I tried to do something nice. Consider this a do-over.”
Eddie does his best, tries not to read too much into the fact that Steve knew his order, or that he asked Gareth for help, or that he ordered the same thing, or that he spends the entire time practically moaning as he slots the hotdog into his mouth in a way that honestly looks filthy as fuck, but he can’t possibly know what he’s doing, or what he’s doing to Eddie specifically.
He does his best. But a boy can dream. 
Steve pays, which just makes it all so much worse. Is this how they feel? All those girls from Hawkins High? Is this what it means to be wooed by the Steve ‘The Hair’ Harrington?
They get back to the car, and Steve starts her up, the cool air from the vents turning warmer as they sit there. 
“That was… that was really cool, actually.” 
“Yeah, those hot dogs were awesome. Seriously we need a place like that in Hawkins.”
Eddie shakes his head. “No I mean… you bringing me here. It’s my favourite place to eat. It was a really nice thing to do. Thank you.”
Steve looks delighted. “Good, I’m glad you liked it. And hey, it wasn’t burnt this time, right?” 
Steve laughs and Eddie tries to but he can’t, is the thing. It’s all kind of caught up in him, like a tangle. He’s confused, and warm, and happy and a little sad, actually. He surrounds himself with things he wants and can’t have. Sometimes he can live with that, but sometimes it hurts.
“Thank you. Like, honestly,” and he let’s a puff of air out of him, blowing his bangs out of his eyes. Blowing the sting from them. “I haven’t been there since my birthday last year. It was kind of a tradition, you know? I didn’t get to go this year, so… yeah, thanks.” And he means it. Truly and honestly means it.
Steve taps the steering room, out of rhythm to the song on the radio, a nervous little tick Eddie’s noticed before.
“So, there’s one more thing. Uh, one more place I want to take you. If that’s okay?”
He looks so earnestly at Eddie, like he’s honestly scared Eddie will say no to him when right now Eddie doesn’t think he would deny him a fucking thing.
“Yeah, of course. Lead the way, sire.”
They don’t drive far, but they move into the suburbs on the other side of town and into a little neighbourhood Eddie recognises, before pulling up somewhere Eddie knows very well indeed. 
Wayne was the first one to bring him to Rudy’s Music Shop back on his twelfth birthday, when he got that old Fender knock-off from Gary at the plant. It needed strings, and it buzzed like crazy and Rudy’s was cheaper than the big store in the middle of the city, so they visited and Rudy fixed it up for him, almost as good as new. And when he was finally ready for his first serious guitar, something metal that he would take the world by storm with, it was Rudy’s that he went to. He couldn’t afford a lot, but the Warlock was a trade in, barely used but with a couple of big chips in the paintwork. Rudy cut him a deal, and Eddie spent three bucks on red nail polish and you could never tell they were there unless you knew where to look.
“Steve… ?”
“I um… Wayne told me about this place. I thought it would be nice to visit. It’s been a while, huh?”
“Yeah,” Eddie whispers.
Steve taps him across the chest. “Come on.”
This time he does let Steve help him out of the car, the long journey and the cold starting to wear him down. They walk over to the window, the red neon sign glowing bright into the dark street, the guitars stand like soldiers under it, and he feels the pang of want. It feels like the twist of a knife.
“You wanna go in?”
Eddie’s not sure where it comes from. But something in him stirs, something that feels like bravery, and he finds himself wanting just that. But…
“It’s closed,” he says, trying his best to keep the disappointment from his voice. “But thanks for bringing me here, it was a really lovely thought, you know.” 
Steve walks right past him to the door and knocks three times, and in a moment Rudy is there, unlocking the door and ushering them in.
“It’s good to see you, kid,” says Rudy.
“Uh— shit.” He starts laughing, it bubbles up from nowhere and he feels a little delirious with it. “It’s good to see you too. Sorry, it’s just a lot, being here.” He gestures around the store at the walls of instruments.
Rudy laughs softly, “Yeah, I bet.” Then he looks at Steve and says “You got half an hour then I got to lock up. You want the, uh—” he gestures over his shoulder with his thumb.
“Uh, give us ten minutes?”
Rudy nods before heading out back, pulling the office door closed behind him. Then it’s just them, and Eddie’s head is spinning like a fucking top.
“What the fuck is going on?”
“Promise not to get mad?”
Eddie’s eyes narrow. “Why would I get mad?”
“I thought maybe it was time to get that new guitar.”
Eddie tips his head back, looking up at the ceiling painted with famous musicians. He stares B.B. King straight in the eye. B.B. Stares right back at him.
“Steve, I just… I can’t.” He blows out a huge puff of air, and it feels like he’s emptying his heart as much as he’s emptying his lungs.
“I know you sold the Warlock. And I get why.”
“No, you don’t!”
“Okay, so explain it to me.”
“I don’t want to have this conversation.”
“You can’t run from everything, man.”
It’s like a slap and Eddie turns on him. “Oh fuck you!”
All of it’s falling to shit, all the good, summer, the trips to the drive through, the summer spent in the Harrington’s pool. Cold nights tucked up against each other watching horror movies. A burnt Thanksgiving dinner. 
A guitar strap.
Steve reaches out to him, squeezing his wrist. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just. You’re so fucking talented, Eddie, and I hate that you lost the thing you loved the most. You deserve better than that.”
Eddie scoffs. “How do you know I was talented? You’ve never heard me play.”
Steve smiles softly and digs into the pocket of his coat, pulling out a cassette before waving it gently in the air. 
“Borrowed it from Wayne. Blues, huh?” And there’s that smirk again, like he’s won something, and fuck it. He has.
“Fucker.”
“Me or Wayne?”
“Both of you.”
There’s a pause, Steve opening and closing his mouth like he's working out what to say next.
“Why did you lie? Why did you sell it?”
It’s not an accusation, just an honest question. If it were anyone else Eddie would fob them off. But it’s Steve, and he deserves so much more than that.
“Because it wasn’t the same, Steve. I couldn’t look at that fucking guitar, I didn’t want it anywhere near me, man. It just didn’t sound the same anymore. I didn’t sound the same. And it just reminded me of everything, every time I looked at it, Chrissy, and Patrick, and the bats--” He heaves in a breath. “Do you know what it’s like when your dreams are stolen? For them to just disappear overnight?”
Steve’s eyes drop to the floor, but he replies with a nod.
“I had a basketball scholarship lined up. Until Billy smashed a plate into my head, anyway. It’s not the same, I know, but I do get it.”
Billy was a bastard, and Eddie never liked him, and it’s awful but all he can think right at this moment is that he’s glad he’s dead.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t know that,” he says softly.
Steve shrugs. “Shit happens. It’s what you do after that matters. Come on,” Steve takes him by the hand, locking their fingers together, and Eddie’s breath slams to a stop as Steve leads him to a stool and amp. “Rudy said you can play whatever you want. Just point and I’ll grab them. But there is one, I kind of put aside for you. If you want to try it?”
Alternate dimensions haven’t got a thing on what ever the fuck is going on here today. He barely nods before Steve runs off like an excited puppy. He returns a moment later, carefully holding a guitar. 
“So, I know this isn't like, metal, or whatever. But Rudy said it’s got a really nice tone? And it’s a lot lighter than your Warlock, so I thought… “ He coughs, suddenly sounds embarrassed, “I just thought it would be easier for you.”
He recognises it immediately; a Gibson ES-335. But not sunburst or cherry red, like everyone knows it for, but in a washed out sky blue. It’s scratched, the paintwork chipped in places, but it’s clean and otherwise clearly well looked after.
“It’s beautiful.”
Steve’s eyes light up. “Yeah?”
Tentatively, Eddie reaches out for it and Steve hands it over almost reverently. It is lighter than the Warlock, though it’s bigger. But the rounded cut outs make it fit him better, it rests comfortably on his thigh. He runs his fingers up the neck, feels the comforting grab of the frets under his finger. The loss of it all hits him so suddenly he feels himself fall back, like a gust of wind carrying his grief slammed into him. 
“Yeah,” he manages to say, but his throat is closed tight and theres no way Steve doesn’t hear it. 
Steve kneels in front of him, places his hands on Eddie’s knees and a spark fires through him.
“Play me something.”
“What?”
Steve beams at him. “Anything you want.”
He feels a tear slip over his lashes, and he watches as Steve traces it down his cheek, wiping it away before it falls from his chin.
“No tears on the guitar,” Steve whispers. “Not good for the paint.”
“Fucker,” Eddie laughs wetly. “Plug me in.”
Steve sets him up, with a little direction, then sits on the floor in front of him, legs crossed, like a toddler at story time, his attention undivided.
It’s rough, the first chords are chunky and stilted, he doesn’t have the strength or the dexterity that he once had, certainly not the speed. But as his hands warm up, as he falls into it, the rhythm, the vibration of the strings under his fingers, the callouses softened from all these months without steel underneath them. His eyes slip closed and he plays by feel again, and without thinking he starts striking chords, the D, into the F sharp, G into the A. He smiles to himself, before opening his eyes, and he and Steve lock eyes, sitting in the dark in Rudy’s, just the neon red lighting them up. 
You’re the one I’ve waited for
He sings it openly, part challenge, part declaration. 
I need your love more and more
His breath is knocked from him as Steve rushes forward, hands on Eddie’s cheeks pulling him in, his lips pressed deeply into Eddie’s. Eddie grips the guitar in one hand, covering Steve’s hand with the other, holding it there. When the shock passes, he kisses back just as fiercely, lips finding one another in the red glow.
Steve breaks apart first, breathless with giggles before leaning in for another quick peck. And then another. And then he takes the guitar from Eddie, gently places it on a stand before standing in between his legs, his hands on Eddie’s face, tipping him back, before leaning down to kiss him again, slower this time, more softly.
“I’ve thought about this for so fucking long.”
A sound escapes Eddie, air rushing out after a punch to the solar plexus, to a place deep within him.
“You have no idea, man,” is all Eddie can manage in response.
There’s a cough from behind them and they split apart as fast as they came together.
“So, uh, we taking that guitar, boys?”
“Yes,” answers Steve, at the same time Eddie says “I don’t know.”
“Do you like the guitar?” Steve asks.
“I love it.”
“Good. Then we’re taking it.”
Rudy carefully places it into a case and hands it over before letting them out onto the street, and wishing Eddie well.
“But I haven’t paid—”
“He’s all paid for kid. All yours.”
Eddie is dazed when he makes it back to the car. He looks at the little store front in the dark, the neon fighting the orange glow of the street lamps for the honour of lighting the sidewalk. It was a minute ago but it seems like a dream already, like a spell was broken the moment they walked back onto the street, and he’s not sure it happened. It’s too ridiculous to imagine that it happened.
Steve climbs in beside him, looking every bit the King of Hawkins High, smug bastard.
“What just happened?” Eddie says to no one.
He catches movement beside him, Steve pushing his fingers through his hair, checking himself out in the rearview mirror before repositioning it.
“Well, I took you to dinner, then I brought you to your favourite guitar store, bought you a beautiful guitar and basically took you out on the best date you’ve ever had.”
Eddie nods absently. “Oh, is that what happened?”
Steve looks like he’s actually thinking about. “Yeah, pretty much,” and he winks again, like he doesn’t know exactly what he’s doing to Eddie now. 
They drive back to Hawkins, Steve stretching his hand out to hold Eddie’s every time they come to a stop light, Eddie squeezing it tightly like it might disappear, like it might be the last time he gets the chance.
They pull up outside Eddie’s little house, just as snow starts to flutter to the ground again. Steve leaves the car running, the heat blowing out onto their faces. Eddie feels a little flushed. He’s not entirely sure its the heater though.
“So…” he starts.
Steve throws his arm across the back of Eddie’s seat. “So.”
“Did that really happen? Because, I was dead for about five minutes back in March and they said there could be lasting consequences from the oxygen deprivation and—”
Steve shuts him up with a kiss and not for the first time Eddie’s pleased they moved to a private little house where they can’t be seen from the street.
“Firstly,” Steve says when he let’s go, “Don’t ever joke about that.” Steve’s cradles his jaw, thumb stroking at the raised pink of the scar that sits there. “But yes, it happened. All of it. Maybe I was a little slow off the blocks. Let’s just give thanks for me getting there sooner rather than later, huh?”
Eddie can’t help the bubble of laughter. “Oh, I am giving thanks, trust me, big boy.”
Steve’s eyes narrow as he leans in for another kiss.
“Oh we are totally circling back to that,” Eddie says gleefully.
“Shut up.”
They lean in again, and this time he wraps his arms around Steve’s neck, pulling him close, his lips parting ready to kiss, until a loud knock knock knock on the window has them flying apart.
Wayne peers in at the two of them as Eddie rolls the window down.
“Jesus Christ! You scared the shit out of us.”
“This strikes me as something you might want to do inside.”
Steve combs his hands through his hair, nodding. “Yep, absolutely. We will definitely do that.”
“Not tonight though,” Wayne adds, and honestly, Eddie loves this guy, he does, but fuck does he pick his moments to get parental. “Goodnight Steve.” And then, because Eddie’s suffering is his greatest pleasure, he smirks and says. “Hope it all went well.”
“Would you just leave, please, now. Thank you.”
They both watch Wayne walk back up the porch steps, a sly smile on his face.
“Fucker.” Eddie sighs into one more kiss, Steve meeting him across the console. “I should go.”
Steve hops out to grab the guitar - his guitar, and that’s going to take a while to get his head around - and carries it up to the porch for him.
“Call you tomorrow?” 
“Please,” Eddie says, feeling for all the world like a fucking schoolgirl with a crush. So, this is what it’s like?
Steve gives him that stupid little wave and smiles at him, but as he’s about to get in the car he calls back.
“Hey, what was that song you were singing?”
Eddie laughs. 
“Oh, uh, Love Hungry Man. AC/DC.”
“Holy shit,” Steve laughs. “Don’t hold back, Munson.”
He shrugs, delighted. “What can I say? Speak your truth, right?”
Eddie stands in the cold as he watches Steve drive off into the night. Flakes of snow begin to fall again, shimmering in the amber street lighting. He sticks his tongue out to catch them. He feels giddy, kind of light headed and for a second he thinks he’s over done it today, he should get in, get his pills and sleep. 
It takes a moment for it all to filter through, for his brain and his body to catch up with one another, but eventually it hits him; he’s happy. He’s never let himself want before, not big things, not things he can’t buy. He’s spent years hiding big parts of who he is, even from his closest friends, with only the dream of moving to a city to give him real hope for a connection with someone. For love.
And then Steve Harrington, brave, smart, wonderful Steve Harrington, knocks the wind right out of him, turns his world upside down, the good kind this time, and now not only does Eddie get to want, he gets to have. 
He sticks his tongue out again to catch a last, fat flake of snow, and then carries his guitar inside. 
He has a lot of practicing to do.
****
Holy shit. Full disclosure, I wrote most of this today and I'm sleep deprived and I can't bear to think how many typos and errors there are in this, but I'm trying to hit a deadline. Feel free to let me know what I fucked up. 😂
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missmugiwara · 2 years ago
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Got It Bad ♡ Part 1
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summary: fem!reader x Luffy. You ogle the Straw Hat captain, and he takes you for a ride. Make of that what you will! warning: 18+, slightly NSFW, very suggestive Note: IF YOU AREN'T A LUFFY SIMP, THEN I WILL MAKE YOU ONE. First tumblr fic, let's gooooo! Kinda long. I'm so nervous.
♡ You can read Part 2 and Part 3 here! ♡
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God, you had it bad. How long were you going to last like this? You were sure to snap at any moment. And when you did snap, you would go right after your captain. Could he not feel your gazing eyes boring into his back?
You licked your lips. They were suddenly feeling dry. So was your throat, and that meant it was time for a sip of the drink Sanji just gave you. When you were done, you placed the drink back on the table where the cook had lovingly placed it. You lowered the book from your face and tilted your sunglasses off your nose. Your attention was directed elsewhere at the moment. The laughter of Usopp, Chopper, and Luffy was much too distracting to focus on reading right now. However, it was one special person of that trio that had your undivided attention.
Oh. Your captain.
There he was in utter perfection.
You longingly gazed upon the rubber man who was smiling, laughing, and just enjoying the day. Everything went silent around you - the only thing you could hear was your heart thundering in your chest. All you could focus on was the captain. Your god, your rock, your heaven - and yet he had no idea how you felt. It was killing you, honestly! You wanted to tell him how you felt… but how would that go? Luffy was a simple man - you were positive that he could understand these types of feelings, but… has he ever really interacted with these types of feelings from others? Surely, he has to know something - or at least understand why people want to kiss or get married. You shook your head. It didn't matter here, and you wanted to stop asking yourself these difficult questions.
Besides, it wasn't fair! He was just running around with no shirt on - getting sprayed by a hose Usopp was wielding. These sunny days were amazing (but also tortuous) because it allowed your captain to run around like this and left you to ogle.
Shirtless. Wet. Gorgeous.
Jeans shorts that were soaked so badly that they clung to his skin. Denim gets quite heavy when wet, so they clung to his hips in desperation of staying up - but no good. They rode a little lower as they began to slip, but not quite enough that they would fall completely. Hmm, was he even paying attention to that? You took the sunglasses off your face for a better view in the sunlight.
Luffy's dark-as-night black hair stuck to his forehead in cute, messy waves. The small little scar under his left eye almost grinned at you like the grin upon his lips. Your eyes lowered from his sun-kissed face to his scarred chest. Beads of water glistened on it as it heaved up and down from his breath while he ran. You took a few moments to stare at his musculature, wondering how would it feel if you could just lick every part of his abs? How would it feel if you could just kiss each part of his body?
Luffy let out a loud laugh, and your eyes darted back up to his face.
And that smile? You swooned. Oh, his warm, beautiful smile. There was so much in that smile. He was genuinely happy being with those he cared most about, and the simple things made him so joyous. You couldn't help but tilt your head to the side and beam at him. His personality was contagious. How could you not step back for a second and appreciate these little moments together of playing in the sun? He taught you that. As high-maintance as Luffy was, there were always these slowed-down moments where you could just genuinely feel so happy near him. Not a care in the world. His smile was ear-to-ear, and he let out a laugh you could never get sick of.
It was hot out enough already, but goodness. These feelings for your captain made your heart skip a beat. You would have been fine just admiring from afar, but there was a moment when the three goofballs stopped for a second to catch their breaths. Then, they were nonchalantly walking toward you for a drink break, but you weren't ready for social interaction yet as your head was still in the clouds, daydreaming of Luffy. Instantly, you sat up and grabbed the nearest thing you could to appear as natural as possible - the plate of drinks Sanji left on the table.
Shakily holding the tray, you called out, "Hey, guys! Thirsty?"
Did that sound natural? Did they sense you were lusting? Or thirsting? Did anyone see you stare at Luffy with amorous eyes?
For a split second, you turned to reach for a towel to wipe up some lose water beading on the glasses, only to feel yourself being slightly launched off your chaise. You turned around to find Luffy, nose-to-nose with you, who happily took a seat. You froze, clutching the towel close to your chest.
"What did Sanji make?" Luffy grinned, not giving a damn about how close he was. You quickly forgot how to speak and words and… oh god. Luffy stuck his tonge out from his mouth and let out a deep exhale at the unbearable weather.
"Whew, I'm soooo hot!"
Oh, he had no idea.
Your mouth salivated, staring at the scar on his chest and having your mind fantasize about all the ways you could just run your hands over him. Could you stare any harder? God, how many ways could that rubber body bend if you could just have your way with him all night long? You looked back up at his soft, gentle face. He was waiting for you to do something, say something, anything! You realized you hadn't responded to him once, but you were out of words.
Just… try to act normal.
The only thing you could do was smile at him. You reached out and dabbed the towel softly to his cheek to soak up any sweat or water, not like you'd be able to tell at this point. It was something you always did, and Luffy let you. Whether nursing him back to health from battle or cleaning his face after he ate - he'd willingly let you do this, and no one else. Luffy let out a hum, closed his eyes, and proudly pointed his face upward to bare his neck, waiting for you to dry it next. That was new, and it was freaking adorable. Becoming a tad flustered, you looked down immediately out of sheer bashfulness. Your eyes landed on his shorts, and using every fiber of your being, you restrained from asking him if he wanted help out of those later.
Now kiss him.
Wait… no!
This internal battle caused your face to erupt in volcanic heat. Usopp and Chopper's comments sounded like white noise in your ears, and you realized you weren't even paying attention to a word they said. They took their drinks and thanked you while you mumbled a bunch of yeah's and sure's after they merrily ran away.
"Feels soooo good when you do that!" Luffy said as you continued to half-assedly dab his face. Your froze at those words. He had to stop saying all this… this stuff! He slapped his hand over your hand, and you squealed at that. You've held his hand before but only when he was helping you up if you fell, yet this was so much different! It was so… much gentler than you anticipated considering how boorish he was at times. But that slap was the momentum you needed to get moving again like a normal person instead of this horny animal out for flesh and rubber.
"Um, let me get-"
You managed to come back down to earth and reached for the last drink saved for Luffy, managing to grab it before he did - but not fast enough for his next motions. With a slight misjudgment of time, he brushed his hand onto your fingers just as you grabbed the glass. In your not-so-right state of mind your brain just decided to turn to mush… and you dropped the drink all over your lap. You had zero control of your fingers and Luffy's touch made you open your hand on command. How the hell did that work? The drink had spilled all over your thighs, and you thanked yourself for wearing a bikini today so you wouldn't have to worry about washing any pants later. Or maybe later you could use laundry as an excuse to get Luffy out of his.
Luffy pouted for a second upon seeing he could not drink his beverage. Then, a smile reappeared on his lips before he let out a, "Shishi! You spilled!"
He seemed rather amused at your clumsiness. Usually, you didn't screw up like this at all, and even Luffy knew you didn't screw up like this at all. Clumsiness wasn't part of your nature so this was like a great new thing for him to poke at and tease you with later. You felt a tad embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, Luffy! I'll go ask Sanji to make another one," you stood up, but took a moment to look down at yourself, "Oh, I'm all sticky now!"
It was as if that were a cue, because Luffy let out a mischievious laugh as he grabbed your wrist, "Then you need to get cleaned up!"
You turned to him. What did he mean?
"Luffy, please let go - OH!"
Before you knew it, he had lowered himself to swoop his arms around the back of your knees, lifting you up into the air. He held tightly but with care. You knew he would never let you fall, but what an embarassing position to be in. Especially in front of everyone! Every one of your friends was outside, enjoying the day much like the three troublesome boys, save for Sanji who was still cooking and out-of-sight. Again, the heat blossomed to your face as your crewmates laughed and jeered at your compromising position. Before you had time to even think, Luffy was once again faster.
"USOPP! CHOPPER! GET HER! GET HER!" Luffy roared while bearing a huge grin.
Luffy took off like lightning, running full-speed ahead while still somehow maintaining a perfect hold onto you as Usopp and Chopper screamed in triumph, holding the hose high into the sky. You gripped Luffy's shoulders for extra balance, and his grip tightened once more around your legs as you began to slip. Your face flushed as his head was pressed into your thighs, the water from his face somehow suctioning your skin to his. You were slipping, and Luffy's face was definitely getting closer to your -
Oh good god!
You looked down at him, and he up at you.
He smirked, "No escape!"
Then, Luffy wrapped his rubber arms around you and himself several times. He pressed his grin against your groin, and you nearly toppled over because of this. Feeling this topple about to happen, Luffy tightened his strong grasp so that you couldn't fall.
"Put me down, put me down, put me down, put me down!"
You shrieked over and over as Luffy's lips were just pressed into the warm space between your thighs, letting out hot breaths against your groin that reduced your legs to jelly. You weren't worried about falling, no, but you were concerned you might just pass out from the feeling of his mouth and the amount of intimate contact. Not to mention, you both were practically naked! You pulled your hands from his shoulders and covered your face. Screw balance. The urge to hide was much greater! You could just feel the sensation of warm, wet skin on skin rubbing and rubbing and -
Usopp yelled once more and put the hose on full blast, dowsing you and Luffy with ice cold water from the sea. The kind of cold that was shockingly painful and yet so refreshing all at once on a hot summer day. You and Luffy screamed from the coldness, and after Usopp stopped running after you both - you and the captain burst into a fit of laughter.
"Okay! Enough! Cold!" You begged Usopp to stop, and he turned off the hose.
As the laughter subsided, both of you panting heavily to try and catch your breaths - you realized Luffy did not let go of your legs. His touch was so soft. Again, you thanked the heavens for this intimate moment with the rubber man. You both stared at each other while panting, you still wrapped in his arms so masterfully. Luffy's muscles flexed in the sun, more water beading on every part of him - completely soaked head to toe. He then lowered you gently, your hands moving from his shoulders to his neck as you readjusted yourself as he did.
Smiling, he let out a laugh as your thumb brushed his jaw up to the corner of his lips. The captain twitched at this, and a small pink blush feathered over his face. He wasn't stopping your touch though. You just reached for him so intimately without realizing it. You weren't even thinking! Would he say something?
You quickly retracted your hand from his face as he unwrapped his arms, placing his hands on your hips to steady you. He could sense you were recovering after being attacked with cold water, but he gave a look that asked if something else was the matter.
After a moment of composing yourself, you pouted at him and lazily slung your arms around his neck.
"That was dirty, captain. I'll get you back for this!" You whispered with a smile.
A smirk worked its way onto Luffy's face. He stared at your lips before blinking and averting his eyes to meet yours.
"That's what dirty girls get!"
He whispered to match your playful tone. Luffy let his hand linger on your waist for a split second before Sanji came out of the kitchen, and immediately Luffy was off. He left you standing with wide eyes and butterflies deep in your stomach. Did he understand what he even said? Did he know what a double entendre was? Those words left your ears burning. You took a moment to stare after him. No, he probably meant you were dirty because you spilled a drink on yourself. Of course! Right?
Yet there was something else in those wild eyes of his that left you feeling otherwise. Especially when he turned once more and flashed another smirk at you before yelling at the cook. Was it just playful teasing or something more? Fighting the growing heat to your face, you smirked and placed a hand over your mouth.
No fair.
Luffy was such a tease, and he didn't even know it.
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mosscreektarot · 1 year ago
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Pick An Image: Who will you MARRY?
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All about your FS!
To book a personal reading, DM me or visit my Etsy: https://mosscreekpsychic.etsy.com
Group 1~ Top Left
Group 2~ Top Right
Group 3~ Bottom Left
Group 4~ Bottom Right
Group 1: Liberation: "The Doubts and Fears still come up; you don't believe anymore that they're you."
Your FS sees your "brokenness" and loves the light shining through your cracks. You've been dealt a rough hand in the matters of love, and your FS understands your trauma. Your FS supports you by CHOOSING you. Again and again, no matter what, your FS chooses you. This steadiness and steadfastness to them is love.
Your FS is a bit of a loner, preferring to enjoy the company of few, rather than casting a wide social net. They are an outdoorsy person, frequently camping, hiking, and staying up till morning just to watch the sunrise. Your FS is kind of scatterbrained ("where are my keys!?"), but HIGHLY intelligent. Your FS is the type of person to observe in social settings rather than put themselves in the mix.
Your FS may come from a different country/ethnic background than you, and has deep cultural roots they are proud of. They do things differently than most people and are never phased by the judgement of others.
Group 2: Right Now: "Stay in the present and don't get too far ahead of the Flow. You'll soon trust that nothing more will come than can be handled each moment."
Your FS is one of the most honest people you know. Sometimes their insight into your mind is a little creepy. They are gentle and kind but are unafraid to speak their mind, even if it hurts some feelings or steps on toes. Your FS is the type of person who loves to debate in the comment section and is really fucking good at it. Not to say they are argumentative, but if they see someone saying/doing something blatantly wrong they will not hesitate to put that person in their place when necessary.
Your FS may struggle with their mental health/self care at times and is extremely good at masking their true feelings. To everyone else they are the happiest, bubbliest, most outgoing person. It's not a lie, but there is a duality between their public and private self.
This could be someone you already know who provides you with guidance and support, never letting you guess they are in need of the same. Your FS is their own harshest critic and is constantly working to better themselves. They are a warm and loving person with a pink and blue aura. You may feel like this person could ~never~ be interested in you or is out of your league but your intuition is wrong in that regard!
Group 3:
Change: "When the ego finally sees the utter madness of trying to control everything, you come to a sacred crossroads in your own evolution."
Your FS is a spiritual "go with the flow" type of person. They believe everything happens for a reason, and live very unconventionally. They're the kind of person who communes with trees and spends their free time barefoot in the grass. "Wild and free"~positive vibes, the type of person to look for the best in every situation, no matter how dark or dire. Loves social gatherings and connecting with new people. Your FS may come off as a bit awkward in social settings sometimes, but despite that are well-received and liked.
Your FS is always smiling and wants to bring the sunshine into your life every single day.
Your FS may be a little out of touch with reality and believe they can positively affirm their way out of situations which cannot be changed. They're the kind of person who would get sick and refuse to go to the doctor for a month, even if it's really bad because they think they will magically get better through willpower alone. Your FS will need to find a balance between their spiritual self and mundane reality. They may need you to be the "authority figure" in their life when necessary.
Your FS is disciplined and responsible when it comes to their career and finances. Oddly enough they have a very "serious" career like an accountant or lawyer and make a lot of money. They spend a lot of it on crystals though ;) .
Group 4:
Gratitude: "Fill me with gratitude for all You give! May I be a vehicle for You wherever I go."
Your FS is an introvert who likes to spend their time with their nose in a book at home with their cats. They love to help others and often rush around trying to provide assistance to anyone who asks. They are the kind of person who sees a car on the side of the highway and pulls over to change their tire.
Your FS is pretty quiet and likes to keep their thoughts to themselves. It can be hard to read them or to get them to talk about how they feel. They have their reasons, so please be patient with them. They are a slow and methodical person who always makes lists and ticks off the boxes of what they need to do in life. They live by a routine and aren't one to make rash or reckless decisions.
They often feel left out of their family/friend circle and feel like nobody understands them or that people wouldn't like the "real" them if they said what was actually on their minds. When you come into the picture they let go of a breath they have been holding their entire life. You connect with them in a way they never thought possible and they realize that it's okay to be themselves and that there is such a thing as "true love". They are forever grateful for your presence in their life and show it to you every day by bringing you tea in bed or buying little presents to show you they are always thinking of you.
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entitled-fangirl · 1 year ago
Text
Two idiots in love. (P4)
Joel Miller x anemic!reader
Summary: Joel and the reader continue to navigate their feelings for each other, but it starts to become more and more clear as time progresses.
Warning: blood, guns, death, cursing
Masterlist
Parts 1, 2, 3, 5
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..................................................................
Ellie walked out of the building to join Joel and Y/N.
Joel was knelt down by a car, his hands prying at the gas cap. Y/N was leaning against said car, and the two seemed to be arguing.
"Joel, please. I can help you sometimes…"
"No. You don't need to be doing any of this stuff. Bad for you."
Siphoning another car.
Ellie sighed as she neared, "We have to do this every hour?"
The two peaked their heads up at her.
Joel calmly explained, "Gas breaks down over time. This stuff's almost water. Back in the day, we'd drive, 10, 12 hours on one tank. You could go anywhere."
She nodded, "So where'd you go?"
Joel looked up at her again, finally rigging up the tubing. "Pretty much nowhere." And he brought the tube to his mouth.
He blew into one tube, making gas come out of the other and into their small fuel tank.
Ellie smiled, "Nice! How does that work?"
He tilted his head back and forth, "It's a siphon."
Ellie looked confused, and Joel realized he needed to dumb it down a bit.
Y/N smiled as well. Joel was such a patient man.
"It's when liquid travels against gravity," he looked a bit confused, "…because pressure…"
"You don't know."
Joel became defensive, "I know it works."
Ellie turned away, walking towards another car.
Joel reprimanded, "No wandering."
The girl sighed, "Okay." And set on the hood of the closest car. "This is your fault then."
Y/N laughed as Ellie pulled her joke book out of her bag, watching Joel become more annoyed at each joke.
"Alright. I think that's enough for today."
Joel turned the truck off the road and into the forest.
Y/N got out carefully, and moved to the bed of the truck to get the small camping grill Bill had left them.
Joel stopped her, "I'll get it, sweetheart."
He set it on the ground where they would make their camp.
She smiled, "Well, you get us unpacked, and I'll make dinner?"
He considered her proposal, "Alright."
The two adults watched Ellie eat her food with an animalistic speed. 
"Slow down," Joel reprimanded.
"This IS slow." 
Y/N smiled with a small chuckle.
Ellie finally slowed down, "What am I even eating?"
Y/N finally spoke up, "That is 20 year old Chef Boyardee ravioli."
"Well, that guy was GOOD."
Joel grimaced, "I actually agree."
The silence ensued until Ellie spoke up, "Can we start a fire though? I'm freezing."
"Now, why am I gonna tell you no?"
"Because infected will see the smoke…"
Y/N spoke up again, her plate untouched, "…no. That's not it at all…"
Joel nodded, "Fungus isn't that smart. This is too remote for Infected anyway."
Ellie gulped slightly, "…People?"
Joel just gave a look, but it was enough to tell her she was right.
"So, what are they gonna do? Rob us?" Ellie scoffed.
Joel stared down at his food, "No. They'll have way more in mind than that." He glanced over, seeing Y/N's untouched plate, "Eat."
She sighed slightly, "I… I'm not that hungry."
He straightened his shoulders, his voice becoming demanding, "Eat, Y/N."
She shook her head. She didn't mean to be defiant, but she couldn't bare to eat food at the moment. 
Joel set his plate down. She knew his tone well. He was angry, but trying to mask it for her. "Sweet girl…"
But she stopped before he could continue, "Joel, really. Please don't push it."
He stared at her for a while before nodding, going back to his food.
Joel and Y/N woke up early, under the same covers as they always did. Joel began to pack up as Y/N offered to start a small pot of coffee.
Joel took the offer, running a hand over Y/N's messy hair. He took note of her puffy eyes from sleep and the sweet smile that she wore.
He wished he could hold that picture forever.
They began their duties, as made quiet small talk to avoid waking Ellie. "Joel..?"
Joel turned to look at Y/N over his shoulder, "..Yeah?"
"Somedays I wish I had your accent…"
Joel actually smirked at the woman. God, she was a treasure. "My accent?"
"Yeah. You have this accent. I don't know. I like it, I guess."
He nodded, unsure of what to say.
So, she continued, "I think I just like your voice. It's… soothing. I don't think the accent would sound as nice with me."
Joel just let her talk. She hadn't spoken this much since Bill and Frank's. 
"…I wish I could've met you before all of this…"
This made the man stop packing. "…what?"
"I.. well… you know? What you were like and… what you did, what you wore, how you talked. What you were like with your daughter…."
Joel was unmoving. He was thankful his back was to her, or she would've seen the expression on his face.
"…Can't I be a little curious?"
He sighed. Of course, she could be. He would tell her anything in the world her heart desired if she asked.
Finally, he spoke. It was slow and calculated, "You can be."
"Do you think we would've been friends? Our old selves?"
This woman would be Joel's end. And he would love her for it.
He finally turned to look at her. She sat on the ground next to the pot of coffee. Her big eyes staring back up at his in concern for his answer.
He sat in the silence for a moment as he thought of what to say. He settled on, "…you wouldn't have liked me." And he moved back to the truck to pack.
She tilted her head, "You don't know that."
He spoke over his shoulder, "I do. And I don't even know why you're around me now, if I'm being honest."
She misinterpreted him, her eyes saddening, "Well… do… Do you not want me here?"
Joel immediately turned around with wide eyes and slight panic. His voice hardened, "That's not what I said. And don't say that ever again."
She was thrown off by his sudden defense. It confused her, "…but you said.."
"You're not leaving. I won't let that happen."
A nod and a confused look was all Joel got from the woman in front of him.
She stood up, walking her bag to the truck. She stood next to Joel, and placed the bag in the bed.
They said nothing. They weren't sure if there was anything to say.
Joel finally sighed, turning to her. He reached up with one hand, placing it on the bag of her head, letting his fingers play with the strands of hair, "Listen, sweet girl. I only meant-"
"What the fuck is that?"
Ellie interrupted the two.
Joel sighed as he dropped his hand and looked over to Ellie, "You don't like coffee?"
Y/N sighed at the lost moment, her shoulders slumping.
Ellie woke up in the backseat as Y/N muttered road names under her breath to Joel as she stared at a road map. Joel would only nod or hum lightly at the names.
Ellie thought it was strange, their little secret language to each other.
But she only opened her eyes when she felt the truck stop.
They were at the outskirts of an abandoned city.
And the underpass needed to keep driving was blocked by a semi truck that had crashed.
"Stay put." Joel muttered as he got out with his gun to investigate.
Ellie took this time to get caught up. "Where are we?"
Y/N looked over her shoulder, "Kansas City."
Ellie nodded, "So, you and Joel are..?"
Y/N sighed, "You heard us this morning?"
"Yeah. I think he likes you a lot."
The woman leaned back in her seat. "Doesn't matter, Ellie. You shouldn't get too attached to people. They always die."
"But Joel-"
"-I said, it doesn't matter." Her voice grew pleading, "Don't get too attached to us, Ellie."
The girl knew she didn't really mean that.
Joel got back into the truck, his hand reaching out for the map in Y/N's hands.
Ellie noticed the way their fingers grazed each others. "So how far back do we have to go?"
Joel stared at the map, tracing potential roads until he sighed. He gently set the map down in Y/n's lap. "Screw it."
He turned the truck around, driving through the city to get back on the highway. 
But half way through, he cursed under his breath, "Where the fuck is the highway?"
Y/N hummed, "I'm turned around now. Just… give me a second."
Joel spoke up, "Don't look at the state map, hon. Look at the inset."
"Either way, I'll still be confused."
She spoke under her breath, trying to figure it out.
Joel turned, "It's gotta be the right…"
"STOP!"
Joel hit the brakes at Ellie's plea.
A man was in front of the truck, holding his side, "Please! Help me!"
Y/N's head perked up at the cry, "Joel…?"
"Put your damn seatbelt on."
Ellie stared at the man, "Aren't we gonna help him?"
"No."
And Joel hit the gas, making the man jump out of the way.
Y/N noticed the person on the roof of the next building, their feet kicking at a barrel.
And it fell towards the truck.
"JOEL!"
Joel tried to swerve, but couldn't avoid it.
It hit the windshield. 
It made Joel blind to the row of nails that now pierced the tires. 
The truck swerved, crashing into a building harshly.
Joel immediately reached out for Y/N, his hand on the back of her head like earlier, but in a more panicked state, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah."
"You're not hurt or nothin?"
"… I don't know…"
When Joel pulled his hand away from her head, it came back slightly red with blood. 
"Shit."
Y/N noticed the blood too, looking at Joel with a worried expression.
He wanted to comfort her, but the bullets that pierced the truck reminded him of the situation. 
"Belts off. Get out."
Ellie and Y/N got out on the passenger side, blocking themselves from the bullets. 
Joel followed suit.
He reached into the backseat through the window, grabbing his gun.
He turned to the girls, "You see that hole over there?"
They looked over to the hole in the wall.
"Can you squeeze through?"
Y/N only stared.
"When I say go, you crawl to that wall, and you squeeze through and you don't come out until I say, okay?"
A bullet broke one of the windows.
"And they're not gonna hit you." 
Joel noticed Y/N's wandering gaze. He wanted to be soft, but he was too panicked to go so. "LOOK AT ME!"
She did.
"They're not gonna hit you. Take Ellie with you."
She stopped, "but I can't leave you."
He took her jaw in one hand, "You sweet, sweet girl. I'm gonna be fine. Let me worry about you. Stay down, stay low, and you stay quiet."
She knew not to argue.
"Alright. Go."
And with that, the two girls crawled to the hole in the wall with determination. Joel peaked over the top of the truck bed to shoot back.
He made sure the two got through.
He shot one easily, but another man was still out there. And judging by his taunts, he was enraged. 
Silence.
Ellie and Y/N only stared at each other with wide eyes. Unsure of Joel's safety.
A gunshot.
Y/N couldn't help it. She just barely peeked out from the hole to check.
Joel stood tall, the end of his gun smoking just slightly. 
He reached down to reload.
And it was jammed.
The door opened and a young man stepped out, ready to fight.
Joel was too.
Y/n heard the sound of rustling and the occasional grunt from a hit. 
She wasn't sure who was winning. 
But she was going to make sure it was Joel.
She stepped out while the man had his back to her.
Joel noticed and his eyes widened.
When the man saw Joel's gaze, he followed it. To which Y/N threw a heavy punch to the man's face.
The man was thrown off but not for long enough. 
He reached forward, grabbing Y/N by her hair and pulling her to him.
Joel took that as an advantage and wrapped his hand around the man's neck, the other over his head, ready to snap his neck. He growled in the man's ear, "Don't fucking touch her."
Though the man was the only one with the gun, he was at the disadvantage.
Y/N stared into the man's eyes, trying to read his thoughts.
Finally, he muttered, "You're gonna fucking pay, old man."
This angered Joel. He didn't want to just kill the man. He wanted him to pay.
So, he threw the man backwards into the floor, continuing the fight.
Y/N fell to the ground herself, cradling her head in pain. She was already losing blood from earlier, and she was beginning to see stars.
So, when Joel was on the ground, being choked by the man, Y/N was of no help.
Ellie stepped out, shooting the man in the leg. 
It gave Joel a moment to collect himself and his breath. His eyes immediately flickered between Ellie and Y/N. 
The man backed up to the door on the ground. 
He was just a boy.
And he began to plead, "NO, no, no it's okay. It's okay. It's over. We're not fighting anymore."
Y/N pushed herself up onto her knees. Her face contorted in pain.
She couldn't help but feel bad.
Especially when he continued, "I'm gonna go home. I'll tell everyone you're good. I… I don't know what to do. My legs don't work."
He started to weep. "My mom isn't far, if you could get me to her."
Joel started to get up.
"Please. We could trade with you guys. We could be friends. I didn't know. I'm Bryan."
Joel approached Ellie was an angry expression, holding his hand out for the gun in her hand.
She sighed and handed it to him.
And Joel took out a knife, turning back to the boy.
The boy began to plead again, "Wait, wait, wait."
Joel turned to Ellie in rage. His voice was low, "Get back behind the wall."
Ellie just stared.
Finally, Y/N spoke up quietly, "…just go."
When Ellie turned to leave, Bryan began pleading loudly, "I'm sorry! Please, no! I'm sorry!"
Y/N turned to Joel once Ellie hid. A tear fell down her face at the sight. Her voice was almost a whisper, "Joel?"
But he wouldn't listen. "Close your eyes."
Joel was an unmovable force. Merciless and cruel. For everyone that stood in his way. 
It scared her slightly, watching his eyes turn murderous.
She had killed before, sure. But never had she looked so… bloodthirsty.
Not like he did.
She closed her eyes, listening to the man's cries for his mother until they were silenced.
She didn't dare open her eyes until she felt Joel's breath on her face. 
His eyes scanned her carefully. "You okay?"
"No."
Joel's jaw clenched. "Alright. We'll fix this. Let's get you cleaned up, Darlin."
And just like that, the murderous glare was gone, and Joel had returned.
And this Joel was hers.
............................................................
Author's note: I'm gonna make a tag list for any continuing parts I make. Comment if you want on it and I'll add you!
Part 5
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